Other Side of the Raid
Preparations (Part 2)
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Previously on “The Other Side of the Raid”
Chapter 11, Part 1: Preparations
With a secret international Explorer operation taking shape, Aria’s first challenge was securing official backing. The Prime Minister agreed with surprising speed once she mentioned a live video broadcast—declining Explorer recruitment numbers and the prospect of international broadcast royalties made the proposal impossible to resist. Team assembly followed: the Neo Tokyo Raiders were immediately enthusiastic, Marco “Ritmo” Santos and Anastasia Volkova accepted despite the complication of extracting Anastasia from a classified Siberian military base, and Jack “Dusty” Thompson and Dr. Priya Patel both signed on readily. Aria also planned to approach her former London Guild party, but the logistics of gathering a global team without revealing portal technology left her exhausted and without a solution as she went to sleep.
The answer arrived the next morning in the form of Captain Whiskers, who had heard about the operation and appeared at Aria’s flat with a full sponsorship offer—travel, gear, branding opportunities—and, crucially, access to a private jet ready for wheels-up within the hour. His connections proved deeper still: a mysterious radio exchange at precisely 3:33 AM smoothed the way through the Siberian base’s security, allowing Anastasia to board without incident. With Captain Whiskers managing logistics from a secluded rear cabin amid the soft glow of his recording equipment, the jet collected Dr. Priya Patel in Mumbai, the Neo Tokyo Raiders trio in Tokyo, Anastasia in Siberia, and Dusty in Sydney before returning to Heathrow. All were installed at The Langham, with full details of the operation withheld until the following morning.
The final task of the evening took Aria to the Guild, where she found her four former party members training together—an unusual occurrence since her departure for government work. Richard “Thunder” Blake greeted her with barely concealed hostility, his lightning arcing close as he dismissed her as their “former B-rank” playing politician. Diana, Marcus, and Elena were more measured, each noting that Aria’s visit carried greater weight than a casual reunion. Despite the tension, Aria pitched a special training opportunity alongside international A-rank Explorers—and though Richard’s contempt was undisguised, a flicker of genuine interest crossed his face before the chapter closed.
Key Takeaways:
The Prime Minister approved the secret operation quickly, persuaded by the recruitment and broadcast royalty potential of a live international event
Captain Whiskers arrived uninvited and solved the transportation problem entirely, supplying a fully equipped private jet and luxury hotel arrangements at The Langham
Captain Whiskers has unexplained connections to a Russian military base commander, which facilitated Anastasia Volkova’s extraction in the middle of the night
The assembled team spans four countries: Dr. Priya Patel from India, Neo Tokyo Raiders Kaoru, Ryusei, and Hina from Japan, Anastasia Volkova from Russia, and Jack “Dusty” Thompson from Australia
Hina immediately began documenting the “mysterious international Explorer mission” for her online followers, creating a potential secrecy risk
Aria’s former London Guild party—Richard “Thunder” Blake, Diana, Marcus, and Elena—rarely train together now, signaling a fractured dynamic since her departure
Richard “Thunder” Blake remains openly hostile toward Aria, though a spark of interest in her A-rank proposal was briefly visible despite his contempt
The full nature of the operation is still concealed from all recruited Explorers, to be revealed at a meeting the next morning
Preparations (Part 2)
The next morning, Aria awaited her new recruits in front of an unassuming door in London’s industrial district. The entire building seemed large enough for training, though the stark contrast between its weathered exterior and her recent experiences with travel luxury was almost comical.
Thunder: “Planning your little magic show in this worthless dump?” he sneered, electricity crackling subtly around his fingers. “Though I suppose illusions don’t need much space to be convincing.”
Ryusei: “Such poor taste,” he observed, shaking his head while adjusting his chef’s collar. “Like adding ketchup to fine wagyu. A proper venue, like a proper dish, reveals its quality gradually.”
Aria ignored Thunder’s barb - his attitude might be toxic, but his combat skills were undeniable.
Aria: “Welcome everyone, and thank you for coming,” she greeted as the last recruits arrived. “Shall we proceed inside? There’s quite a bit to discuss.”
The interior defied all expectations. Not only did the training area appear at least twice the size of the building’s external dimensions, but the windows visible from outside had vanished entirely. Of course, none of the recruits could know they’d stepped into a Training Room in an entirely different dimension.
If they’re already confused by the space, wait until they see the paperwork. Aria watched their reactions carefully.
Aria: “Before we delve into NDAs and detailed explanations,” she began diplomatically, “let’s discuss what you’ll gain from this project.”
Kaoru: “The brief mentioned specialized training buffs!” she noted with her characteristic gamer enthusiasm. “Though this venue’s giving me some serious secret dungeon vibes.”
Aria: “Exactly,” she confirmed, producing a small, fully charged crystal from her pocket. “You’ll receive combat and magical training far beyond standard methods. Plus,” she held up the crystal, which pulsed with unusual power, “a generous supply of these.”
And probably an interdimensional fan club, but let’s save that surprise for later.
Ryusei: “That crystal...” he leaned forward, professional interest piqued. “It has the same extraordinary energy signature as the one you provided last week. Like a perfectly aged wine, its potency is off the charts.”
Dusty: “Hang on, mate,” he adjusted his ever-present survival gear. “When’d you get your hands on something that powerful?”
Ryusei: “Last week, actually. Most peculiar circumstances,” he gestured expressively. “Lady Aria requested some culinary preparations for a gathering, then presented this crystal while conversing with a rather... uniquely equipped feline. The cat had more broadcasting gear than a television studio.”
Please, please forget about that particular detail. Aria felt a headache forming.
Aria: “Since everyone seems interested,” she smoothly redirected, producing a stack of documents, “let’s begin with the first round of paperwork. Please review these NDAs thoroughly.”
Anastasia: “Black site protocols,” she observed with clinical precision while scanning the document. “Though these security measures exceed standard military classification parameters.”
She has no idea how far beyond ‘standard’ we’re going.
Aria: “The project’s confidentiality requirements are... unique,” she replied carefully. “Complete discretion ensures everyone’s continued well-being.”
After collecting the signed documents, Aria took a deep breath.
📡 End of Transmission
Oliver here - That was quite a chapter! Our dimensional frequency is picking up intense emotional resonance from Aria’s world. What did you think of her decision? The comments below are buzzing with theories from other interdimensional travelers...