The State-Authorized Strategic-Class Magicians—The Thirteen Apostles.
In a world where nuclear weapons have been effectively neutralized, these individuals serve as the ultimate deterrents and the final trumps of national power. It is perhaps a cruel irony of history that this list often includes those whose loyalties are questionable.
While thirteen are officially recognized, it is estimated that approximately fifty unofficial Strategic-Class Magicians exist worldwide. For any nation-state, securing such individuals as a contingency for the unthinkable is a matter of basic survival.
February 24, 2097.
As the fires of anti-magic sentiment—fanned by the Humanist movement—smoldered across the globe, President George D. Trump sat in the Oval Office of the White House, having summoned Colonel Virginia Balance for a private briefing.
The subject was the final report regarding Gu Jie, who had been handed over to them days prior.
"—And that concludes the final report on Jied Heig," Balance stated. "The execution was carried out as scheduled, overseen by STARS personnel specializing in mental interference."
"You've had a difficult road, Colonel. Or perhaps, in this room, I should address you as my advisor," Trump replied.
"I am happy to be addressed however you see fit, Mr. President."
Though a serving officer, Virginia Balance had been appointed as the President's personal advisor on military affairs—specifically regarding STARS. While having a military officer so close to the heart of political power was often scrutinized, the President had framed it as a necessary measure for oversight following the recent desertion incidents. As the Commander-in-Chief, he argued that direct access to information was vital, and none could find a strong enough foothold to oppose him.
"So, Mr. President," Balance continued, "what is the nature of our business today?"
"Tell me. Have you heard that Lina has been formally listed as a candidate for the Yotsuba engagement?"
"Only rumors. Though I hear some within the Joint Chiefs are practically foaming at the mouth, claiming this is our chance to infiltrate the Yotsuba."
On February 22nd, the Yotsuba family had released a list of preliminary candidates. For the notoriously secretive clan, this was a rare public move. Their official stance was that since other male magicians were involved, they wanted to settle the matter quickly to avoid unnecessary jealousy or friction.
Trump sighed. He had sent his granddaughter away purely out of a grandfather's wish for her happiness, yet the Joint Chiefs remained pathetically transparent in their greed. It was a sentiment Colonel Balance clearly shared.
"Good grief... they are obsessed with getting their hands on the Strategic-Class magic used during 'Scorching Halloween.' They don't seem to realize that even if they succeeded, the risk-hedge our country would have to pay would be on the scale of the national budget. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve both came to see me recently, practically begging me to keep the military in check."
The USNA's financial system, inherited from the old United States but expanded to include Federal Reserve Banks in Canada and Mexico, allowed for rapid policy execution. The reason the heads of the Fed were bowing to the President was simple: a single individual in Japan held 100 trillion yen worth of US Treasury bonds.
If that individual decided to dump those bonds all at once, it was projected to trigger a Great Depression far worse than the crash of 1929 or the recession of the early 21st century.
"I've heard the whispers, sir," Balance said. "I take it you are not in favor of provoking them?"
"Of course not. From what I gather, as long as we don't show hostility, they won't treat us as an enemy. But soldiers are a different breed; they have a pathological need to suppress any threat they can perceive. You know better than anyone how frantic they've become."
Trump reached into a drawer and tossed a document onto the desk. "Take a look."
Balance gave a brief, "With your permission," before picking it up. As she scanned the pages, her posture stiffened. She looked back at the President with an expression of disbelief.
"Are they insane? Who even authorized a plan this absurd? ...Forgive me, Mr. President. My language was unseemly."
"No, your assessment is correct, Colonel. This comes from my sympathizers within the Joint Chiefs. It seems the Headquarters is going to tacitly approve the operation, provided they don't have to use official USNA military assets."
The plan involved inciting factions within the Great Asian Alliance who opposed the peace treaty with Japan. By destabilizing the equilibrium between the two nations, the USNA hoped to stir the waters. It was a reckless gambit with a high probability of failure, yet the plan actually accounted for that failure—intending for those captured to be used as pawns to investigate the Yotsuba.
To Balance, the plan was so poorly constructed it was insulting. The fact that Trump was showing it to her now meant that the Joint Chiefs had essentially given it a silent "Green Light."
"I've already lodged a complaint with the Secretary of Defense, but it seems the wheels are already in motion," Trump said. "The USNA can no longer claim it isn't involved."
"Then shouldn't we relay this information to Japan immediately?"
"I've already sent it. The problem is... the British might be getting involved as well."
According to Trump's intelligence, while many factions in the Great Asian Alliance opposed the peace, British intelligence agents in Hong Kong were becoming increasingly active. Reports indicated that military magicians on the mainland were deserting in waves.
"I don't believe the UK can achieve what we couldn't," Trump mused. "They likely expect a certain level of failure. But too many people don't understand what it truly means to make an enemy of him."
In Trump's mind, the magic known as Shining Buster was far more terrifying than the Great Bomb. After all, when that magic passed through, it left nothing behind. It had even erased the activation sequence of Tuman Bomba as if it had never existed.
"The fact that he is now engaged to Seria is, frankly, a godsend for us. In the worst-case scenario, I am prepared to fly to Japan and offer a formal apology on my knees—even if it costs me my political career."
"If it comes to that, sir, I will be right there beside you," Balance said firmly.
"Is that so? Thank you, Colonel."
It was a tragedy of the modern era: while the leader of the USNA was thinking realistically about the survival of his nation, others were obsessed only with removing perceived threats. With the Humanist movement still active, the advanced nations of magic had a duty to lead. The fact that people with the common sense of Trump and Balance were in the minority was the world's greatest problem—and it wasn't limited to the USNA.
Darwin Base, Australia.
Once a bustling international civilian airport, Darwin had been closed to the public following the global wars, as Australia adopted strictly isolationist immigration policies. In its place, a massive magic research facility had been constructed with British backing.
While the British Commonwealth had effectively dissolved after the Third World War, the historical connections remained potent. Though a "New British Commonwealth" was a possibility, both the UK and Australia understood that formal titles weren't the only way to exert influence.
A hypersonic transport touched down at the base. It was a state-of-the-art British military craft capable of flying at Mach 6 in the upper stratosphere. The reason such a high-end vessel was used was simple: the passenger was a VIP of the highest order to the UK.
The base commander and his staff stood in a perfect line, saluting as the hatch opened. The flags of both the United Kingdom and Australia flew prominently. The man who disembarked was not a high-ranking officer or a powerful politician, but a civilian researcher. Yet, to Australia, he was the man who had brought them magic technology; to the UK, he was a pillar of national defense.
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