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Merit Island Base – Hiryu Kai – Hangar
Tasuku: *sigh* We’re going into space. And I just finished tuning up the land mechs…
Soldier: Tell me about it. I wish they’d respect us for once.
Tasuku: At least we’ve got the cutie from Mao Industries coming with us.
Excellen: Grrr…
Tasuku: What the?
Radha: No, Lt. Excellen. Move like this…
Excellen: Wait, wait!
Tasuku: …What’re you doing?
Excellen: Oh, Tasuku. Did you hear me…groaning…?
Tasuku: …You sounded like a frog being squashed.
Excellen: I was learning yoga beauty poses.
Tasuku: Right, Ms. Radha is also a yoga master.
Radha: Well, I wouldn’t call myself a master…but the results of my teachings speak for themselves.
Excellen: I’ll try again later when I’m more flexible.
Excellen: I think I’m going to be sore tomorrow.
Tasuku: (What kind of posing does Ms. Radha do?)
Excellen: Sorry that I have to stop, Ms. Radha. I’ve got to get back to work.
Radha: I understand. Mr. Tasuku Shinguji…where is the Giganscudo?
Tasuku: Gigan…! We’re gonna use that thing!?
Radha: Yes. Dr. Kazahara asked me to convert the cockpit section.
Excellen: (…Well, we don’t have much of a choice. Since our boss joined the DC and all…)
Tasuku: Well, in that case, I’ll give you a hand. That PT in particular is hard to maintain.
Radha: Thank you Tasuku. I appreciate it.
Excellen: Ugh, Tasuku. He’s acting like a fool in love.
Excellen: Ms. Radha? If he starts acting weird, just put him in one of those back-breaking yoga poses.
Tasuku: For reeeaaalll…?
Radha: Um, well…yoga isn’t meant for…
Hiryu Kai – Briefing Room
Gilliam: You wanted to talk to me, Lt. Kyosuke?
Kyosuke: Yes sir. About Sanger Zonvolt…the former ATX Team leader…
Gilliam: Yes, I know.
Kyosuke: I don’t think he’d defect just because we’re facing difficult times…
Kyosuke: Then again, I don’t really know him. But…
Kyosuke: You do…so as a former member of the Aggressors, what do you make of his actions?
Gilliam: Sanger is a man of conviction. He will fight for what he believes in…even if he has to do so alone.
Gilliam: And if that’s what he intends to do…we must meet him head on.
Kyosuke: …Yeah. That’s what I thought.
Kyosuke: (…He destroyed the shuttle’s launch pad…but left the cargo unharmed…intentionally.)
Kyosuke: (Then, he’ll show up again…once we’re in space…)
Earth’s Aerospace – Hiryu Kai Bridge
Eun: Captain, we’re out of the atmosphere.
Lefina: Any signs of pursuers or interceptors?
Eun: No…there aren’t any signs in the immediate area.
Sean: Well, let’s run the search again…just to be sure.
Eun: Affirmative.
Lefina: …XO, is Giganscudo operational?
Sean: We could deploy it as is, but there’s one problem…
Lefina: One problem…?
Sean: Giganscudo’s more like a Super Robot than a Personal Trooper.
Sean: And it has idiosyncrasies in its control system…we can’t apply our PT know-how to it.
Sean: Ms. Radha is currently converting the cockpit into a standard PT system.
Katina: XO, you can keep the cockpit as is. I’ll pilot the Gigan.
Sean: I can’t allow a hellcat to pilot that giant shield.
Katina: Hellcat!? I’m serious here!
Lefina: Um…I’d prefer not using Giganscudo as much as possible.
Katina: Why not? The UCC has been dropping onto the Earth since they secured Columna…
Katina: Which means we’re being overlooked…
Lefina: Or, are they setting a trap?
Katina: …Maybe.
Lefina: …..
Katina: In any case, I’m tired of sitting around like this!
Katina: Come, don’t come, who cares, just make up your minds!
Russel: Watch out, when she gets all riled up like this…that means there’s going to be an earthquake.
Katina: I’m not a starfish!
*Maybe not, but…*
Sean: I knew it.
Eun: Enemy attack!
Russel: I told you…!
Katina: Never mind that! Russel, let’s go!
*Russel and Katina leave*
Lefina: XO…
Sean: What is it, Captain?
Lefina: I thought it was…catfish…that could predict quakes…?
Sean: Yes, well…let’s just focus on the battle, shall we?
Chapter 10: Giant Cursed Shield
Space
*Enemies arrive*
Eun: ID confirmed, UCC space fighters!
Kyosuke: …Strange. Their setup is slow…
Excellen: Yeah, most of our mechs are Gespies…
Excellen: But this atmosphere better suits their AMs.
Katina: No time to mess around! We gotta get going NOW!
*Prep screen, Units deploy*
Bullet: As expected, they’re not going to let us reach the Moon without a fight.
Kyosuke: This is their backyard. Beware of guard dogs.
Gilliam: Yes, but I don’t see the owner around.
Katina: We’ll meet him soon enough. Let’s get going!
Gilliam: We may get pursuers from Earth. Watch your backs.
*Area shown*
Radha: Make sure we don’t get sandwiched…got it.
*Conditions shown, battle starts*
*Destroy all Rangzens, Julia, Leona, and Cosmolions appear*
Julia: It’s the Hiryu Custom, just as we expected…Leona, what’s the status on the shuttle?
Leona: It’s on its way to Sector L4, ma’am.
Julia: Good…we’ll buy it some time until it reaches there.
Leona: Roger that, Major.
Kyosuke: That’s…!
Gilliam: Those markings…that’s the Treue Unit.
Bullet: Treue Unit?
Gilliam: The UCC Commander’s royal guards…an elite unit made entirely of female pilots.
Excellen: Wow! Tasuku will definitely want to see this!
Julia: I’m surprised you made it through the DC barricade…Hiryu Custom.
Julia: But, your luck…will soon run out.
Katina: Ha! Treue Unit, Troye Unit, whatever…
Katina: I’ll get you all for Langley!!
Kyosuke: (…I don’t see him…where are you, Sanger…?)
*Conditions updated, battle resumes*
{Kyosuke VS Julia}
Julia: I didn’t expect to see you guys here.
Kyosuke: Likewise. I didn’t expect to have a chance at revenge.
Julia: We’re at war. Do you think soldiers should harbor such emotions?
Kyosuke: No matter. This fight…will be your last.
{Excellen VS Julia}
Excellen: An all female unit. Mmm…can I join?
Julia: …Do you think you’ll get in just by asking?
Excellen: No, I guess not. Alright, let’s get serious then!
{Bullet VS Julia}
Bullet: I don’t care if you’re an elite!
Julia: Your fighting spirit won’t be enough to defeat us!
Bullet: Well, we’ll see about that!
{Katina VS Julia}
Katina: I’m gonna make you pay…pay for what you did at Langley!
Julia: Let’s see you try. Come…!
{Russel VS Julia}
Russel: The UCC Royal Guards…! What’re they doing here!?
Julia: When you reach the afterlife…tell them that I was the one who sent you!
{Gilliam VS Julia}
Gilliam: Alright, Treue Unit…let’s see what you can do!
Julia: His fighting style is…similar to Major Elzam’s…?
{Kyosuke VS Leona}
Leona: This is our territory…think you’re up for it?
Kyosuke: You may have the home field advantage, but that alone won’t decide the winner…!
Kyosuke: Don’t underestimate your enemy.
Leona: …Thanks for the lecture.
{Excellen VS Leona}
Leona: This pilot…she’s good…!
Excellen: You beat us when we were the home team, so I gotta win this away game!
Leona: Ha…so we’re playing on my home field? Well then, you won’t defeat me…!
{Bullet VS Leona}
Bullet: C’mon…!
Leona: This is our domain. If you don’t want to die, back down.
Bullet: I’m not gonna back down from your challenge!!
{Katina VS Leona}
Katina: Stay away, small fry!
Leona: Ha, I shouldn’t have much trouble with you. Insults won’t win you this war!
Katina: Then come at me shrimp! Let’s fight…!
*Shoot down Julia*
Julia: The Cosmolion can’t take anymore…we’ve stalled them long enough.
Julia: Treue Unit, retreat.
*Cosmolion explodes, Julia escapes, Leona and remaining units retreat*
*Or shoot down Leona*
Leona: We had the advantage in outer space…!
*Cosmolion explodes, Leona escapes*
Julia: …We stalled them long enough. Treue Unit, retreat.
*Julia and remaining units retreat*
*Either way*
Eun: ! Incoming contact from Earth!!
Lefina: A shuttle!?
Eun: Negative! It’s…!!
*Grungust Type-0 appears*
Bullet: I-Is that…!?
Katina: …No mistaking it…
Excellen: Boss…!
Kyosuke: …..
Gilliam: That Type-0 is amazing…it made it into outer space on its own.
Gilliam: Sanger…explain your actions.
Sanger: Gilliam…we are destined to fight…that is all.
Gilliam: Heh…you never change.
Bullet: Is…is this for real…? I have to fight my former leader…!?
Lefina: Major! Tell us why! Please, tell us…!
Sanger: You don’t need to—
Kyosuke: …Captain, wake up!
Lefina: Huh…!?
Kyosuke: …Sorry. But we’re in the middle of a fight…and that man is merely an enemy backup.
Sanger: That’s correct. I’m a traitor. I am…your enemy…!
Kyosuke: If this battle means something…
Kyosuke: I’ll fight you…Sanger Zonvolt.
Sanger: Yes. You are a soldier. When you are on the battlefield…
Sanger: Focus your energy on defeating your enemy.
Sanger: Then, you will find the answers the Aggressors…were once seeking.
Kyosuke: …The answers the Aggressors were once seeking…?
*Conditions updated, battle resumes*
{Kyosuke VS Sanger}
Sanger: The more you fight the UCC, the more ground you lose!
Kyosuke: We’ll never stop fighting…
Kyosuke: Either way, we don’t have a choice.
Sanger: I see, Kyosuke…you may be the only one who knows what this war is leading to.
Kyosuke: I don’t know. And I don’t care…!
{Excellen VS Sanger}
Excellen: This is the first time I’ve seen you in space, Boss.
Sanger: I’m glad you made it this far. I knew you could do it.
Excellen: What I don’t get is…why won’t you tell us what’s going on?
Sanger: …It’s meaningless if you don’t figure it out yourself.
Sanger: Now, show me what you can do!
Excellen: Aw, even quiz shows give you some kind of hint…
Sanger: Enough! Here I come!
{Bullet VS Sanger}
Bullet: Major! I don’t want to fight you!
Sanger: You’re too soft, Brooklyn! If you loose your will to fight on the battlefield you die!
Sanger: If you don’t want to fight…then I’ll send you to your grave!
Bullet: !!
Sanger: Don’t you get it? I’m not the leader of the ATX Team. I’m your enemy!
{Katina VS Sanger}
Katina: You betrayed us out of the blue…why’d you do it, huh!? Answer me Major!
Sanger: …Find the answer out yourself…if you can defeat me.
Katina: Hah, I know how most traitors end up.
Sanger: I’m no ordinary traitor.
{Russel VS Sanger}
Russel: I-I can’t believe I’m fighting you…!
Sanger: If you hesitate, my Colossal Blade will slice you. No matter who your opponent is, you must defeat all who stand in your way!
Russel: H-How can it be so clear cut for you…!?
{Lefina VS Sanger}
Lefina: You once told me…to defeat anything that stands in my way, Major Sanger Zonvolt…!
Lefina: So, I will fight you. This is what I must do…as Captain of the Hiryu Custom!
Sanger: That’s good, Lefina Enfield.
{Radha VS Sanger}
Radha: …Why don’t I feel any guilt from you…? Did you mean to betray us all along…?
Sanger: …..
{Gilliam VS Sanger}
Gilliam: Something the Aggressors were seeking…is that so, Sanger?
Sanger: Yes. The goal that we ultimately…failed to achieve…
Sanger: We must complete our mission quickly…for the sake of mankind.
Gilliam: Is that why you betrayed the EFA, Sanger…!?
*Deplete Type-0’s HP to less than 19000*
Sanger: …You’ve improved. But, you’re still not good enough!
Kyosuke: What…!? Blast!
*Type-0 moves adjacent to Hiryu Kai*
Katina: ! The Hiryu!!
Bullet: He’s going after it!?
Lefina: Evasive action!
Eun: W-We’re not going to make it!!
Sean: This isn’t good! If the Hiryu takes one hit from that Colossal Blade…
Sean: We’ll be done for…!!
Lefina: Turn the ship to reduce the damage…!!
Eun: C-Captain! The bottom hatch is opening!!
Lefina: What…!?
Sean: You don’t mean…!
Eun: G-Giganscudo… it’s being prepped for deployment!!
Lefina: N-No! Wh-Who’s in it!?
*Comm channel opens*
Tasuku: Good…! Lock bolts, released!
Lefina: T-Tasuku!?
Tasuku: Electrodes, set! Tesla Drive charging!!
Tasuku: Boost on!! Time to test my luuuuuuuck!!
*Giganscudo deploys*
Radha: Giganscudo!?
Katina: Wh-Who’s in it!?
Radha: ! Tasuku, stop!! Gigan isn’t ready…!
Sanger: Hm!? They’re playing their trump card…!
Sanger: However! If you stand in my way, I’ll slash you in half!!
Tasuku: Like I said! Time to test my luck!!
*Combat starts*
Sanger: If an enemy appears in front of me, I will crush them!
Sanger: Sanger Zonvolt, ready!!
Sanger: Chestooooooo!!
*Giganscudo support defend*
Tasuku: Gigan and I will stop that blade!!
*Gigan survives*
Tasuku: Argh! H-Hang in there, Giganscudo!!
*Combat ends*
Tasuku: U-Ugh…ugh!
Radha: Tasuku!!
Tasuku: Arg…M-My ribs…I think I broke two or three of them…
Bullet: Tasuku! Are you OK!? Hang in there!!
Tasuku: Ha, Haaaaa…I can do this…if I focus on…on defense…urk.
Excellen: So the Hiryu is safe, but now Tasuku’s in trouble!?
Lefina: What’s Giganscudo’s status!?
Eun: It’s primary armor and drive systems are down…it can’t move!
Kyosuke: No…!
Lefina: All units protect Giganscudo…!!
Sanger: Tasuku…you are brave. But…!
Tasuku: Ah, ha ha ha…Major…do you realize…the paradox here?
Sanger: What…?
Tasuku: …An unstoppable…force…an immovable object..when these two…collide…
*CRACK*
Sanger: …Hm…?
Tasuku: …Well, you can see…the result…
Sanger: The Colossal Blade is…broken? Heh…ha ha ha…I see.
Katina: He’s…not gonna finish off Giganscudo?
Sanger: …Very well. This will serve as my…souvenir.
Tasuku: Wh-What…?
Sanger: A tough but cursed shield…To wipe the slate clean, you must continue to win.
Sanger: Remember that, Tasuku Shinguji.
Tasuku: …Wipe…the slate clean…?
Sanger: …We will cross swords again. I’ll let you live…until then.
Kyosuke: …!
Sanger: Farewell!!
*Type-0 leaves*
Tasuku: He didn’t…kill me…?
Katina: You little rat! I won’t let you get away!!
Radha: Wait! We must help Tasuku first!
Katina: Grrr…!
Sean: We should retrieve the Gigan and leave this area. Is that alright, Captain?
Lefina: That’s….that’s right…!
Bullet: The Major…so…he’s really…
Bullet: I wish I knew…what he’s trying to accomplish…
Excellen: Our fight has meaning…doesn’t it, Kyosuke…?
Kyosuke: I don’t know. Only we can decide…whether or not it has meaning.
Hiryu Kai – Medical Room
Tasuku: Ouch! Owwww!
Eun: Can’t you hold still?
Tasuku: H-How can I when my ribs are broken!?
Eun: They’re not broken. Just bruised. Thanks to the airbag.
Tasuku: W-Whatever, just be gentle…I’m begging you.
Katina: Don’t be such a baby. It’s not like I’m punching you.
Tasuku: That’s true…ow, ow!
Tasuku: Eun, what do you have against men? Were you dumped?
Eun: ! Wh-Why would you…?
Tasuku: Hit a nerve, didn’t I?
Radha: How’s Tasuku?
Katina: Just a bruise. Nothing to worry about.
Radha: That’s good.
Tasuku: Tch…I wish Ms. Radha was treating me. She’s gentle.
Radha: Would you like to try some therapeutic yoga?
Tasuku: N-No, thanks…
Katina: Hey, Radha…have you finished converting the Gigan’s cockpit?
Radha: Not yet. It’s going to take a little longer to finish.
Katina: Then I’ll be able to pilot it, right?
Radha: Yes…But you can’t be afraid to use it against the UCC.
Katina: I know the story behind it. But we have no choice.
Katina: We must use whatever it takes to survive.
Tasuku: What’s the story behind it?
Eun: You’ve never heard of the Hope Incident?
Tasuku: N-No…
Katina: Ask Excellen about it, then.
Tasuku: (Is that…what Sanger meant by, ‘wipe the slate clean’…?)
Hiryu Kai – Briefing Room
Bullet: …..
Excellen: Hey Bullet, why so depressed? Want me to cheer you up?
Bullet: Lieutenant Excellen, please stop!
Excellen: Wow, you’re moody.
Bullet: Major…Major Sanger…he’s betrayed us all!
Bullet: He’s not with us anymore! Aren’t you upset!?
Excellen: …That’s just reality. What do you want me to do…?
Bullet: Huh…? W-Well…
Kyosuke: She’s right, Bullet. Sanger Zonvolt is our enemy now.
Bullet: I just can’t believe it…
Kyosuke: But, I don’t think he betrayed us.
Bullet: Huh!? Why’s that!?
Kyosuke: Perhaps, the boss turned on us for a reason?
Bullet: …What reason!?
Kyosuke: That we don’t know. But he didn’t finish off Giganscudo…
Bullet: T-True…
Excellen: Bullet…I also want to believe in him. The boss…
Excellen: I worked with him a lot longer than you guys did.
Kyosuke: We don’t know his true intent. But, I’m sure…the Major doesn’t want us to stop fighting because of our feelings.
Bullet: Yeah…I know that’s not what he’d want…
Kyosuke: (What I don’t understand…is how the DC can trust him…)
Kyosuke: (Elzam V. Branstein…he mentioned something about dramatic trials.)
Kyosuke: (Is the war with the DC setting the stage for…something bigger…?)
Kyosuke: (It seems ridiculous, but…the chance for a big payoff…might make betting on the long shot worth it…)
Elpis Space Colony
Maier: …You must be Sanger Zonvolt. I’ve heard a lot about you.
Sanger: Sir…
Maier: What’s wrong…first time in Elpis?
Sanger: No, sir. Not so long ago…I was an enemy of the DC and the UCC.
Sanger: Don’t you think that letting someone like me meet you directly…even if Commander Bian trusts me…is too risky?
Lily: What are you trying to say, Major?
Sanger: This would be a good chance…for me to assassinate him.
Lily: …!
Maier: Then…why don’t you kill me?
Sanger: Because I know you’re testing me.
Sanger: And…I don’t kill those who are looking to die.
Maier: Heh…a perceptive man.
Maier: Sanger…Elpis was the first space colony ever built.
Maier: Even with the failure of the space adaptation operation, oppression by the Earth Federation, and terrorism…
Maier: The colonists still built ten colonies for our motherland…and do you know why?
Sanger: To explore the uncharted worlds of outer space.
Maier: Yes. We live in an enclosed space, surrounded by a vacuum…
Sanger: …..
Maier: But, the Aerogaters threaten our path to glory.
Maier: This time, not just us…but all of mankind must overcome this tribulation…
Sanger: I understand that you and Commander Bian started this war…to let the world know the truth.
Maier: That is true. And we need you to be our sword and fight for our cause.
Sanger: Yes, sir…I’m willing to tarnish my name for that cause.
Giant Cursed Shield End
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