Draco: Final Fantasy Type-0 is awesome. I will accept no quarrel on this matter. I briefly considered doing a literation (novelization, whatever) of the game, but I decided against it - largely because I suck with timing Fantasian overworld travel. They give me dates, but I can just tell I would eff it up sooner or later. Plus, with my luck, Type-Next would be a continued story (somehow) and I would feel compelled to keep writing another Square-wrenching series. I had a few ideas for a post-game fanfic, but I rather enjoy the way the game ended and I don't want to ruin that. I could work off Another Spiral, but I'm no good with slice-of-life writing and I don't want to undermine the happy ending by adding conflict.

So why would I write a fanfic for Type-0?

Because I came up with an Orience version of the expression "fox in the henhouse" and I couldn't think of a place where anyone in Class Zero could reasonably say it in the game's story.

No, really.

Okay, this takes place some good months before the Akademeia Liberation, so there shouldn't be any major spoilers... but on account of my inability to not make passing narrations of petty obscurity that may or may not be spoileriffic, and my tendency to ramble in the author's comments, I'd like to insist that anyone who intends to read this have cleared the main story, all seven Code Crimson missions, all twenty-one Expert Trials, a good number of Requests, and any plethora of Free Time Events, as well as opened and read 80% of the Rubicus and kicked Gilgamesh's eight-armed rear end a few times just to be safe. (What, you didn't think they were going to include Gilgamesh and not let you fight him eight-armed, did you?) You better have seen Machina cry, at the absolute least.

Final Fantasy Type-0 © Square Enix

Call of the Black Tortoise

=Gelumens XX, 841 RG=
Akademeia's remote training facility for Sorcery external branch
Codename: Vermilion Nest

"Walk on, wandering souls
For your respite we pray
Let our humble song clear your hearts of dismay
Rekindle the flame in your souls and set you free
So walk on and become the light that guides the way..."

Ace often found himself singing this song - a song that Mother had sung to him when he was younger. He also enjoyed spending his time at the facility's waterfront, watching the waves crash against the shore. Thus, it was little surprise that when Deuce came looking for him, she found him at the docks, and heard his vocals a good deal before she saw him - though mostly because he was sitting next to a large wooden barrel. The skies were slightly cloudy, and the sun was on its way down, but the air was windless, and the waters were calm.

Only after the last line had faded out did she make her presence known, and that was with the query, "Does anything come after that?"

Her voice caused Ace to glance over his shoulder with a light start, a smirk rising on his face on realizing the flautist had snuck up on him. "Probably," he admitted, turning back to the water. "I can't remember, though. Mother never sings that song anymore."

Deuce gave a soft chuckle before hunching down next to him. "She actually sent me to come find you."

"Did she?" Ace was surprised at that. "She usually comes to get me herself when she needs me."

"She usually comes to get all of us herself," Deuce agreed. "But even Mother can't be in twelve places at once."

Now that got Ace's attention; the gambler got to his feet in short order as Deuce stood tall. "What does she need all of us for?" he inquired.

Deuce shook her head. "She said she'd tell us when we were all there."

"Must be serious," Ace realized. "We'd better-"

He was silenced when something landed on his nose, causing him to flinch. It was a drop of water; he and Deuce both glanced up and realized that those clouds were full of rain.

+x+x+x+

Sice's derisive snicker greeted them as they stepped into the facility's council room, dripping with rain. Ace was the last one to enter; the other ten were already there, gathered around Mother's 'clock table', as Jack often called it - thirteen seats along the edge of a round table, one for each of them, and one for Mother. Deuce and Ace quickly took their seats, and Ace was surprised to see the table was in 'active' mode; the surface doubled as a projector, and though normally bearing a simple vermilion surface, it took a light green hue when the enchantment was active - to indicate that anything on it needed to be removed in short order.

The thirteenth space was empty, but that didn't last very long; no sooner had Ace flung his cape over the back of his seat, to let it dry, than the door opened, and the scent of smoke wafted in.

Arecia Al-Rashia stepped up to the remaining seat as her children - the Agito Cadet Class Zero - turned to face her. She offered the gathered faces a gentle smile as she arrived at the table (although she did not take the seat), lowering her cigarette in its holder away from her head. "Glad to see you've all made it," she greeted them.

"What's this about, Mother?" Cater inquired. "You never need all of us."

"And I wish I didn't need all of you now," the sorceress agreed. "But this is a bit bigger than we usually deal with. Earlier today, I received a message from Lorica."

That had everyone exchanging glances. They had all done missions before - smaller groups, usually four or five at most - but they were usually covert operations, 'Code Crimson' orders from the Dominion of Rubrum to deal with attackers from the Milites Empire or the Kingdom of Concordia. This was the first time their orders had anything to do with the Lorica Alliance.

With her children's gazes on her, Arecia tapped the surface of the table with her empty hand. The surface lit up, becoming a map of Orience; with a wave of her hand, the projection zoomed in on Lorican territory. The Black Peristylium rested in the Lorica Region, in the pit of a great sinkhole; around it was the city of Lorica, where the bulk of the Alliance's population rested. Mother had centered the projection on the mountain range between it and the Berith Desert, a lifeless expanse of sand under Lorican purview where nothing but beasts could survive for long.

Or so the class had been taught.

All but centered in the Berith sands was a large base of sorts, in the silvery hues usually used for Militesi territory or encampments; however, this one was streaked with three gold stripes. There was also a small marker on the western mountain range - at the Berith Tunnel, which led to the Northern Valley in the northwestern corner of Orience.

"What are we... seeing?" Trey inquired, raising his gaze to Mother.

Cinque hummed concernedly. "Is that...?"

"Yes," Arecia confirmed. "This is a Militesi encampment. It seems that renegade soldiers from the Militesi army have taken up position here, and intend to attack the Black Peristylium. They're very well-equipped; Lorica can't attack them directly without exposing themselves to counterattack, and doing so would get their attacking force slain - mostly at range."

She tapped the fingers of one hand against each other, causing two smaller projections to appear - two men in white Imperial officer's garb that had been covered in gold streaks, with simple gold masks that framed their eyes. "These are their leaders: former corporals Biggs and Wedge, who have named their group the V&W Faction. They were disgraced for unauthorized use of an experimental military serum outside of battle, and absconded with anyone willing to aid them, twenty weapons for every man, and enough Magitek Armours and automaton weapons to take a dominion town if they struck in the night. They've been in Berith since Terramens, waiting for Lorica to make the first move."

Queen furrowed her brow at Mother's description. "Why doesn't the Militesi army deal with the betrayers themselves?" she inquired. "The renegades can't possibly be so numerous as to leave the imperial militia short-staffed."

Arecia shook her head. "Sympathizers to the renegades are keeping the empire busy, which prevents them from striking the desert encampment. Milites actually sent a messenger to Lorica to tell them that the V&W Faction is acting against orders, and encourage them to wipe them out fully and completely."

"Which means that they can't bluff about backup," Eight observed. "That camp is all they've got."

"Exactly." Reaching up to adjust her glasses, Arecia continued; "However, the Lorican king has refused to call for aid from Rubrum or Concordia. They don't want any military bigwigs getting ideas about attacking the White Peristylium after the renegades are finished. Which means the only assistance they can ask is from independent groups - such as the external branch of Akademeia Sorcery."

She raised her gaze to the children, who had all taken on expressions she had seen on each of them several thousand times - the focused gazes of Agito Cadets ready for a mission.

"I want all of you to lend Lorica your aid. Deal with Biggs and Wedge, sabatoge their machines, and take out as many renegades as you can."

Seven only smiled. "You don't need to ask, Mother."

The other eleven only nodded in agreement, their own smiles decorating their faces.

Arecia smiled back to them, waving her hand again; the projections of the V&W leaders vanished as the map zoomed in closer on the encampment. "Lorica has details concerning the renegade base, but has refused to disclose any further information unless we agree to aid them. However, with the information they have given us, I've figured out a reasonable base startegy. I want you children in four teams for this operation.

"Ace, you will lead the Phi team. You are to infiltrate the base and take out the leaders as soon as you can.

"Cater, you will command the Gamma team. You'll need to watch the perimeter in case the faction decides to act.

"Seven, you will lead the Omicron team. If diversions become necessary, it's your task to start diverting.

"Jack, you will take charge of the Eta team. Your job is to strike at the main body of the renegade forces.

The sorceress took her seat at this time. "Choose your teammates now. Ace, you first."

Ace nodded, turning his fellow Classmates Zero. After a moment, he announced, "I'll take Cinque, and Deuce."

Cinque gave a cry that was somewhere between surprise and cheer.

Queen coughed pointedly. "Mother said you were the infiltration," she reminded the gambler.

"Yeah, and that's why I'm taking Cinque," Ace insisted. "Deuce and I are the best here at sneaking around, but if things go south, we need someone who can deal with White Tigers. Cinque is the heaviest hitter here."

The mace-swinger giggled, punching the air cheerfully. "Leave it to me!"

Mother only nodded. "Very well. That's the Phi team. Cater, your turn."

Cater's gaze shifted left and right before she announced, "Eight and Nine, with me."

Half of the Classmates groaned when she said Eight's name. Neither of them were about to admit it, but the whole class knew Cater and Eight were tending something between them. Eight only swept a hand up at his side dismissively; Nine, however, crossed his arms in confusion. "Why me, hey?"

"Because you can keep up with us," Cater insisted. "If we're watching the outside edge, we need to get to the enemies when we see them, and if they're half the length of the camp away then we need speed. Me, Eight, and Ace are all fast, but Ace has his own team. When you get in the air, you're the only one who matches the tier."

Nine smirked, closing his eyes and hooking his hands behind his head. "Yeah, I'm up for it, yo."

Arecia turned to the whipblade artist. "Very well. Seven, who will you take?"

Seven's gaze went to the projection of the camp, thinking for a good while. "How about... King, and Sice."

A foul utterance of protest was halfway out Sice's mouth before she thought better of it. "You had to rob me from the strike," she protested.

"Because you're violent," Seven insisted.

"I should hope so," Sice protested. "I finally get a chance to reap some Whites, and you put me on the diversion?"

King leaned forward. "It's not because violent is bad for the strike," he insisted. "It's because it's good for the diversion."

"What?"

Seven beckoned to the encampment. "With a place this big, diversions need to be set up on the inside. And if something blows up inside, they're going to assume that the one responsible is inside. If we don't want Ace's team captured, we need them to see us. Which means we'll need to fend them off. That'll let you reap more White than that vacation in Meroë last Caelusmens."

Sice shrunk back into her seat, crossing her arms indignantly. "You didn't tell me they were holding a snowman contest."

Arecia glanced at the others. "Jack, that will leave you with Queen and Trey."

Jack threw his hands up, a grin on his face. "Oh, great," he cracked, "I've got a bookworm and an encyclopedia to trash Milites with."

Queen glared at him. Trey shook his head. "If you don't believe that my archery and Queen's swordplay will be of service, we can always find a way to-"

"Hey, hey!" Jack insisted. "That wasn't all complaints! You two are the biggest readers here! If they've got MAs big enough that there's a way to shut 'em down fast, you guys can tell me exactly where to put the business end of my katana. Bigger they are, harder they fall, right? You guys can show me how to drop a Colossus on their coeurl cubs."

"That's..." Queen's gaze fell mid-retort as she admitted, "actually a good point."

Trey nodded lightly, an expression of impression adorning his visage. "Very well. My arrows strike to your mark."

Mother got to her feet at that. "One more thing," she insisted. "In order to stop the renegades from retaliating against the dominion if things go wrong, Lorica has asked that you not wear your Akademeia uniforms to the operation... where people can see them. Furthermore, Berith Desert's arid terrain means that the only cover for kilometers is the base. Taking both of these into consideration, I asked for a little help for you kids from Sorcery's... developmental section."

That had the Classmates exchanging glances again. Ace was the one who vocalized their confusion.

"What do you mean 'developmental'?"

+x+x+x+

"I feel like we're missing something..."

The 'little help' that Arecia had requested turned out to be a new product of Sorcery, dubbed the "Camouflage Cloak". Being still in the experimental stage, the cloaks didn't look like Akademeia's legionary uniforms; at present, they were jet-black and nondescript, with bulky hoods that would cast a mask in shadow if they were raised, and worn silver zippers with draw tabs on the top and bottom.

The end result was that when they all had the hoods up, Class Zero would become a group of twelve cloaked nobodies.

Mother smiled as the Classmates threw the hoods back. "Wonderful," she praised. "Now, these cloaks are designed to automatically cast Inviga on the wearer and any allies in their vicinity once activated. Cinque," she prompted, "unfold your sleeves."

Everyone glanced at their sleeves, realizing that the ends of were folded back on themselves - the sleeves were long enough that it would cover their hands (though maybe not their fingers) if they weren't. Cinque held one hand out and folded the sleeve forward, seeing there was a velcro strap around it to hold it in place; when she had done the same to the other sleeve, a ripple of magic crossed her, Cater, and Sice as their bodies faded out.

"Wagh!" Cinque glanced around - when she was still, there was no sign she was even there, but movement caused the invisibility to leave ripples around her. "Woah...! That's so cool!"

Cater was glancing at her hand, watching the air ripple as she angled it back and forth. "I hate Invis magic," she muttered. "It's so weird, looking at yourself and not seeing it there."

Sice scoffed, movement around her chest heigh implying she had crossed her arms. "For something that's still in development, it looks like it's pretty solid already."

Arecia nodded. "Yes, well, as far as the activation goes, everything is in order. However, they found that there's problems for extended solitary use."

Deuce turned to her. "Problems?"

"Gyah!" Cinque stumbled back, turning around; the trio's invisibility started to ripple even where they were keeping still. "It's getting hotter!"

Mother quickly stepped forward. Her hand caught Cinque's, and in short order she folded a sleeve back, securing them in place as the magic faded. "The magic starts to act up the longer it's active," she explained. "If you keep it on too long, the invisibility will cut right out. It usually takes at least three minutes for it to recover, though they're designed to stop trying before it's irreparable; once it's recovered, you have to fold the sleeves again and then unfold them to trigger the Inviga again."

Queen unfolded her own sleeves, vanishing herself, Jack, and King. "Do you have any data on how long it takes for it to cut out?"

"It fares worse in colder conditions," Mother explained. "Anything warmer than this room, you'll have half an hour before forced visibility."

"And the heat waves in Berith will stop the motion ripples from being too noticeable..." Queen quickly reached for Jack's arm, causing the jokester to yelp. Against his protests, she quickly unfolded his sleeves, causing Nine to vanish out as well; then she folded one of her own sleeves back, causing King to reappear.

Trey snapped his fingers. "There," he observed. "If we alternate whose cloak is actively maintaining the Inviga, that'll prevent our enemies from taking notice of our presence for however long we-"

"Trey, you're rambling again," Ace reprimanded.

The archer fell quiet, shrinking into his collar.

Jack quickly folded back one of his sleeves, turning him, Queen, and Nine visible again. "So, it only needs one up to turn off?" he mused.

"Yes," Arecia confirmed. "Sorcery keeps them both folded when they're not active, as a safety measure. Nobody wants to go looking for something that's invisible."

Everyone quickly unfolded the sleeve on their indominant hand.

Mother chuckled. "Well, if you're all ready, I've arranged transport to Alliance territory. You'll be meeting with a paladin by the name of Ishme, in Jubanla. He'll take you to Lorica, and brief you on the situation."

"Yes, Mother!"

Draco: Orience runs on a clock of thirteens. If you pay attention to the introductory pan when you step into Akademeia's entry hall, you'll see the banner above Central Command has a clock of thirteens, not twelves. I mean, the use of military timestamps on the cutscenes naturally makes me think 24s, but I'm pretty sure Orience has 26-hour days.

Also, I gave the Rubicus a good read and took a look at the official map while I was at it. Said official map is far more haphazard than the in-game one, but I suppose the in-game map was simplified to make gameplay easier. Something around the Black Peristylium is labelled "Molech", but the convoluted labels include a lot of stuff that isn't in the game so I'm hesitant to make use of that. From the Rubicus, though, it looks like Lorica is the name of the region and the city, from which grew the Lorica Alliance, so that's what I'm using. Including Lorica, in and of itself, means that I'm going to be taking a lot of artistic license, so prepare for that.

The Lorica Alliance, wherein lies the Lorica Region and the city of Lorica. You know, for all that Black Tortoises are buff brutes, they are a terribly unimaginative lot when it comes to naming things. #JackSparrow #PiratesOfTheCaribbean

On the other hand, those convoluted labels provide a good way for them to include new cities in Type-Next if they're still in Orience without rearranging the map like they did in Bravely Second.