Operation GEAR

Operation GEAR is the collective name for a trilogy of Pokémon fanfics written by The Great Butler/Nando. It is the successor to the Enigma Shadow series, and is comprised of The Firestorm Rebellion, The Victory Star of Fate, and The Angel of Reckoning.

Five years have passed since the Downer Ending of Pokémon XD^3: The Waves of Truth, and for many of those who were involved, things have not gotten better. Still unaware of her father Rich's death half a decade ago, Olivia Mistbloom ardently believes that he abandoned her and disappeared. As per Rich's final wishes, his daughter has been in the care and teaching of Matt Chiaki, whose own scars - both literal and figurative - have also deepened. While preparing Olivia to finally become a Pokémon Trainer in her own right, his Survivor Guilt and feeling of responsibility over the whole thing has led to his obsession with finding the truth behind it all. Early on, they pick up a small handful of teammates - a rude and thieving but generally good-natured woman named Nekou and Matt's old archeologist friend Bunny Spruce.

In The Firestorm Rebellion, Matt and Olivia arrive at the Indigo Plateau to attend a special tournament sponsored by the Frontier Society, the new battling circuit Rich was developing during the last months of his life; it is now under his widow Anabel's control. There, they meet Nekou and Bunny, encounter a hobbled, weakened Team Rocket, and ultimately go on an archeology expedition to investigate a ruined town. Through a series of bizarre events, they accidentally Time Travel back to the nineteenth century and become entangled in the revolution that destroyed the town in the first place, forcing them to solve the crisis of the past while still finding a way back.

The Victory Star of Fate, which takes place immediately after The Firestorm Rebellion, sees the dysfunctional foursome head for Whitegold City in southeast Kanto. There, Matt is to give a speech about an alternative energy source he developed at the headquarters of the oil magnate Liam Everton. Little does he know that there are sinister motives afoot in the city, surrounding the city's festival, its folklore and even Matt's speech itself; this grand plan is orchestrated by Liam Everton himself, and is part of his decades-long quest to capture the Pokémon Victini and make its powers of victory his own. Matt, Nekou, Olivia and Bunny quickly become embroiled in a race to stop Everton's plot before it comes to fruition and destroys Whitegold City and all inside.

The final installment of the trilogy, The Angel of Reckoning, started May 5th, 2012. It has been hinted that the story will involve Olivia's quest finally starting, Matt, Olivia and Nekou seeking their own truths, and the rebellion of the oppressed people of the Tenganist religion framed by the moves of the mysterious cult, Polaris.

Surprisingly enough, despite the trilogy's connections to the Enigma Shadow trilogy, it can be easily tackled as its own work, and Word of God has given hints that it's probably not a bad idea.

Tropes found in Operation GEAR include:
"Matt: "Did you kill this guy?"
 * Artificial Limbs:
 * The Atoner: Matt is driven by guilt for his (perceived) failures of five years ago and tries to help Olivia as a result.
 * Awesome McCoolname: Most of the names are (generally) normal, but then there's Nekou Langley, whose name is the least unusual thing about her.
 * Ax Crazy: Nixon fights Matt with a huge axe singlehandedly.
 * Badass: A lot of characters. Matt and Nekou are two good examples, while Bunny gets her moments and Olivia is developing into a Little Miss Badass. On the antagonistic side, points can be given to Liam Everton for sheer insanity.
 * Badass Beard: General Bjorn Zerossen and Liam Everton both have one.
 * Badass Bookworm: When not fighting, eating or complaining, Nekou can usually be found reading, including chemistry books.
 * Badass Family: Agenta and Althea. The former has no fear even when facing
 * Badass Longcoat: Matt has one.
 * Batman Gambit: Liam Everton is a master of this,
 * Big Damn Heroes: Hethna makes a well-timed return to Whitegold City to save its trainer and his friends from Liam Everton's Hydreigon.
 * Black and Gray Morality: On one side, a brutally violent oil executive who will drive the world into poverty in order to subjugate nations to his rule. On the other, the head of Team Rocket, who only seems to care about stopping said oil executive because it will protect his interests.
 * Bodyguard Crush: Nekou shows fleeting hints of it.
 * Celibate Hero: Matt deliberately ignores or plays down Nekou's (insincere?) attempts to flirt with him.
 * Cliff Hanger: Most notably Chapter 5 of The Victory Star of Fate and Chapter 1 of The Angel of Reckoning, in which Professor Juniper is at Professor Elm's lab instead of him.
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive: Liam Everton
 * Crap Saccharine World: Vaguely hinted at in The Firestorm Rebellion, but made very clear in The Victory Star of Fate.
 * Crushing the Populace: Liam Everton makes it very clear he intends to do this to Sinnoh.
 * Cyborg: Matt became one as a result of severe injuries he suffered in the past.
 * Darkest Hour: Chapter 6 of The Victory Star of Fate is even titled "Whitegold City's Darkest Hour." Are you surprised it's titled that?
 * Death Is Dramatic: In full effect for . Subverted for
 * Death Trap:
 * Defeat Means Friendship: Happens after Matt defeats Katorena, bringing her onto the team for the rest of The Victory Star of Fate.
 * Diabolus Ex Machina:
 * Disproportionate Retribution: Because his own bad judgment resulted in his leading his soldiers to their deaths during the war, Liam Everton now wishes to destroy Sinnoh and drive the survivors into poverty to punish them.
 * Do Not Adjust Your Set: A potential heroic version averted.
 * Driven to Suicide:
 * Early Bird Cameo: Members of Polaris play a minor role in the plot of The Victory Star of Fate before their role in The Angel of Reckoning.
 * The Empire: The Tohjo Continent was previously this, led by the ancestors of the Battle Castle's Caitlin. It fell apart some time after the events of The Firestorm Rebellion.
 * Evil Tower of Ominousness: Everton International's headquarters. It's based on a real-life building, no less.
 * Exotic Eye Designs: Matt's artificial eye has rings in its middle.
 * Eyes of Gold:
 * Face Heel Turn: pulls one, but
 * Fortune Teller: Aurelie
 * For Your Own Good: Liam Everton briefly tries to use this as an excuse for his actions, but quickly drops it.
 * Golem: Hethna, Matt's Golurk.
 * Hair of Gold: Agenta and Althea in The Firestorm Rebellion, Katorena in The Victory Star of Fate.
 * Heel Face Turn:
 * Heroic BSOD:.
 * Heroic Sacrifice:
 * Hidden Depths: Below the constant profanity and vulgar behavior, Nekou is suprisingly thoughtful, intelligent and caring.
 * Knife Nut: Nekou, full stop. She won't kill you, but she will hurt you.
 * Knife Nut: Nekou, full stop. She won't kill you, but she will hurt you.

Nekou: "No, I stabbed him where he’ll lose just enough blood to pass out for a while. If there’s one thing I know it’s where to hit to get the results I want.”"

"Matt: "Nekou!"
 * Knight of Cerebus: Colonel Nixon in The Firestorm Rebellion and Liam Everton in The Victory Star of Fate, befitting of their positions as the central antagonists.
 * Lady of War:
 * Mad Scientist: Several. Dr. Zager is a morally ambiguous one working for Team Rocket, but generally seems to be trying to accomplish good things for the world as long as the team benefits. Then there are the scientists working for Polaris, up to and including Polaris's "Father" appears to be another.
 * Nekou makes herself out to be one.
 * Meganekko: Nekou.
 * Nice Hat: Matt has two: a wide-brimmed blue hat with a yellow crest, and a white fedora.
 * Perma Stubble: Matt.
 * Precision F-Strike: Nekou is a master of these.

Polaris member: "So that was her name? It’s a shame that a good collection of DNA had to go to waste like that. But, I’m done playing games. It’s about time the mission is fulfilled once and for…"

Nekou: "Shut the fuck up!""


 * Rapunzel Hair: Nekou.
 * Shout Out: Unsurprisingly, they're all over the place.
 * Star Driver
 * Puella Magi Madoka Magica
 * RChannel is a clear shout-out to 4chan, and also incorporates elements of the Dollars website.
 * On the aforementioned site, a user shows up with the username "The Second Diary Holder" and begins posting creepy Yandere messages about Matt. Given the Durarara influence, this might also be a reference to Saika as well.
 * Mamma Mia
 * Bibliotheca Mystica De Dantalian
 * Virus, a 1999 sci-fi film
 * Matt's white suit is designed as a shout-out to Solf J. Kimblee.
 * Ship Tease: Nekou kisses Matt at the end of The Victory Star of Fate but immediately makes it sound as if she did it out of respect.
 * Sleazy Politician: In additon to being a billionaire oil tycoon with more money than he could possibly spend in his life, Liam Everton is also the "mayor" of Whitegold City.
 * Strong Family Resemblance: Colonel Nixon is noted to be very similar to his ancestor Marcus, while Matt immediately notices that Bjorn Zerossen looks very much like his future descendant Viktor Zerossen (aka Zero).
 * Sweet Tooth: Dear God, Nekou.
 * The Omniscient Council of Vagueness: The Sacred Helix
 * Time Travel: In The Firestorm Rebellion.
 * Too Kinky to Torture: Liam Everton tries torturing Matt's friends by binding them in his Cryogonal's ice chains. Nekou ends up liking it and mocks him for not making it tight enough.
 * Villainous Breakdown: Nixon gets his when Meanwhile, Liam Everton spends much of The Victory Star of Fate slowly losing his composure until he finally snaps once
 * Would Hit a Girl: Liam Everton and Baker.
 * You Can't Fight Fate: