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Hagane – Bridge
Eita: What!? Rio’s gonna be a pilot!?
Tetsuya: For now, yes. We need all the PT pilots we can get…
Tetsuya: The Hagane is only one ship, and Major Ingram wants more PTs put into operation.
Eita: Aw, man, that’s gonna increase my workload…
Tetsuya: I’ll find a replacement. Just hang in there.
Eita: Shoot…I should’ve turned in my transfer request sooner…
Tetsuya: Wait, you want to be a pilot too?
Eita: Not really. But when you become a PT pilot, you get promoted to a Master Sergeant, right?
Tetsuya: Right.
Eita: So, not only is she taller than me, but now Rio out-ranks me too.
Tetsuya: Taller, huh…
Eita: She gets to be a PT pilot while I’m stuck here in the bridge…it’s just not fair.
Tetsuya: Do you have a problem working under me?
Eita: Huh? O-Oh, no, sir.
Eita: I love it when you say “What!?” after you hear the situational report…
Tetsuya: I have no idea what you’re talking about…
*3, 2, 1…*
Tetsuya: What!?
Hagane – Hangar
Garnet: W-What happened!?
Giado: D-Dere was an explosion!
Garnet: Ah! Was it…that AM we just captured…?
Giado: No, dat’s in de hanger behind us. Da explosion came from de deck.
Garnet: Th-Then…what blew up?
Rob: *hack**cough*
Garnet: Doctor, what happened?
Rob: *cough* Whew, that was close…
Giado: Seriously Doc, what happened?
Rob: …Just as I expected. That Lion was rigged.
Garnet: When yo say rigged…you mean, with a bomb!?
Rob: Yes. And it was well-hidden.
Rob: I detached the detonator, and tried to disarm it on the top deck…
Rob: But there was another explosive inside the detonator.
Giado: So it was da detonator that exploded. Glad you’re OK, Doc.
Rob: Yeah…but that trick won’t work on a TLI-trained scientist.
Garnet: But it did work, since it exploded on you.
Rob: Uh…
Hagane – Interrogation Room
Ingram: Ryoto Hikawa…you were going to compete in the Burning PT nationals in Makuhari, but you suddenly went missing.
Ryoto: …..
Ingram: But in actuality, you were drafted by the EOTI?
Ryoto: Y-Yes…
Tetsuya: Burning PT is…
Ingram: The same method they used to recruit Tenzan.
Tetsuya: So it’s really a method for finding people who can pilot AMs…
Ingram: The Advanced Children…people with a natural talent for operating and fighting with humanoid machines.
Ingram: These pilots would not require long-term training or intense medical treatment. The EOTI’s Dr. Adler Koch should be the one behind it all.
Ryoto: …..
Ingram: I don’t know why you decided to join the DC…but they decided to use you as a sacrifice pawn.
Ryoto: Wh-What do you mean…!?
Tetsuya: There was a bomb hidden onboard your mech.
Ryoto: Huh!? Are you sure!?
Tetsuya: Yes. It’s been disarmed now.
Ryoto: (…Th-Then I…Captain Thomas…he had this planned from the start…)
Tetsuya: …From your reaction, I assume you weren’t aware of the bomb.
Ryoto: (Ngh…! I-I was just a pawn to the DC…?)
Tetsuya: Now do you realize how they operate?
Ryoto: …..
Tetsuya: …Now are you willing to talk? We could use any information you have, especially on the DC bases en route to Aidoneus…
Ryoto: …..
Ryoto: Sir…may I have some time to think it over…?
Tetsuya: …Very well.
Hagane – Bridge
Daitetsu: And so…you gave him some time?
Tetsuya: Yes…
Tetsuya: It may just be wishful thinking, but I want him to make the decision on his own.
Tetsuya: Otherwise, he may never find the courage to do the right thing…
Daitetsu: …..
Daitetsu: Very well. I’ll leave the matter of Ryoto to your discretion.
Tetsuya: Thank you, Captain.
Hagane – Briefing Room
Masaki: What!? That Ryoto guy…he had a bomb aboard his mech!?
Ryusei: Yeah. And he didn’t know anything about it…
Rio: (…Poor guy…)
Masaki: Tch, killing one of their own to get us. They don’t have any respect for human life.
Ryusei: Just another pawn in their game, like Tenzan said. It makes me sick.
Rai: But, we’re pawns of the EFA’s top brass.
Ryusei: !
Rai: Moreover…pawns sent to a battlefield of no return.
Masaki: Hmph…I’m not their pawn, and I won’t follow unreasonable orders.
Masaki: Until I’ve defeated Shu, I have to stay alive.
Rai: Nonsense. There’s no place for personal feelings in war. Being hot-blooded will get you killed.
Masaki: What…!?
Rai: (No…I’m in no position to be saying that to anyone. Not after how I lost it with Elzam.)
Rai: …I spoke out of turn. I apologize, Masaki.
*Rai leaves*
Masaki: …What’s his deal?
Ryusei: Rai’s been acting strange lately…
Ryusei: (Could it be…because of his brother?)
*Explosion*
Rio: Aaaaugh!
Masaki: W-Whoa! Another bomb!?
Ryusei: N-No, it’s too strong for that! It must be….!!
Hagane– Bridge
Tetsuya: Status report!
Eita: Cannon attack from a distance! Similar to the one on Wake Island!
Tetsuya: From where!?
Eita: The trajectory line leads to Starbuck Island!
Tetsuya: What…? But that island is sinking due to tectonic shifts.
Tetsuya: And with the massive coral reef surrounding it, it’s impossible for any kind of cannon battery to be mounted there.
*Explosion*
Tetsuya: Argh!
Eita: Direct hit on the 3rd block on the port side! 2nd layer of armor has been breached! Heavy damage to blocks 5 through 7!
Tetsuya: That’s major damage…! Just what is attacking us!?
Daitetsu: All hands, Battlestation 1! Hard starboard, 30 degrees! Engines, full speed!!
Tetsuya: Captain, are we heading for Starbuck Island!?
Daitetsu: We are. If we want to make it to Aidoneus Island, we have to get through this stretch of ocean.
Tetsuya: R-Roger that! Bearing for Starbuck Island!
Hagane – Ryoto’s Brig
Ryoto: Uh-oh!
Ryoto: …A blast that powerful…could it be from a Rhinoceros class…!?
Ryoto: At this rate, the ship will…
Ryoto: (…I might be able to unlock the door of this cell…)
Ryoto: (Wh-What should I…!?)
Chapter 16: Starbuck Island1
Waters near Starbuck Island
Thomas: Good…Rhinoceros, cease fire.
Tenzan: Nice job, Major. You’ve drawn the Hagane close.
Thomas: I figured out their standard operating procedure.
Tenzan: Oh, and that is?
Thomas: They’re like curious children. They see one of our toys, and they just can’t resist checking it out.
Thomas: So it’s easy for us to lure them in. If we have the right bait.
Tenzan: I see…so the bait is the Rhinoceros?
Thomas: Right.
Tetsuya: Is that a land-based DC battleship!?
Eita: I-It appears so!
Ingram: With that thing, they can easily cross the large reef area off of Starbuck Island.
Daitetsu: All PTs, deploy at once!
*Prep screen, Units deploy*
Tenzan: Let’s get this party started, Major!
Thomas: Yeah. Unlike last time, let’s start it with a bang!
Rio: That mech…there’s no doubt. That was the command unit in the last attack…!
Thomas: I hope you’re ready to…die!
*Conditions shown, Battle starts*
*Turn 2 Player Phase, Lion appears*
Tetsuya: The Lion has deployed!? Who’s in it!?
Eita: I’m checking now, sir!
Eita: …..
Eita: Vice-Captain, it’s the DC P.O.W.!
Tetsuya: Ryoto!? How did he get out of his cell…!?
Ryoto: …..
Giado: Dat kid wants to go back to da DC?
Garnet: No way… Why would he want to? He was betrayed by his C.O…
Tetsuya: Ryoto! What are you doing!?
Ryoto: …I-I…
Thomas: Wait, you…you’re still alive? You must have the devil’s luck.
Ryoto: !!
Thomas: So, what’re you up to? You wanna come back to us?
Thomas: Or, are you gonna fight us?
Ryoto: …..
Thomas: If you do, you know what’ll happen to you, right?
Ryoto: …I…I…
Thomas: What’s that? Speak up boy.
Ryoto: Uh…
Thomas: What, are you scared?
Thomas: Why they ever chose a wimp like you, I’ll never know.
Tenzan: Same here, you gutless wonder!
Ryoto: Urk…!
Rio: Ugh, enough! I can’t take this anymore!!
Ryoto: !?
Rio: Hey, you! Are you just going to take that!?
Ryoto: Huh!?
Rio: Speak up for yourself! You’re a man, aren’t you!?
Ryoto: !
Thomas: Listen to that saucy little lass.
Ryoto: …..
Thomas: What was that? Oh?
Ryoto: …I-I…!
Ryoto: …I’m not coming back. I won’t fight for the DC…!
Thomas: What…?
Tetsuya: Ryoto…!
Ryoto: Captain Thomas, if I don’t stop you, you’ll hurt more people…!
Ryoto: And…I…can’t allow that to happen!
Tenzan: Ha ha, cute. Now he’s mad.
Thomas: Well said, Ryoto. Now I guess…I’ll just kill you myself.
Ryoto: !
Tenzan: You do know, right? There’s no way you can beat the Major.
Ryoto: Uh…
Ryusei: Ryoto…listen. Don’t worry, man.
Masaki: If you want to fight them, we’ve got you covered.
Ryoto: Huh!?
Rio: I’ll help you too! We can’t let them get away!
Tenzan: What? You guys want to end this exciting game already?
Masaki: Shut up! I’m not playing your stupid game!
Masaki: I’m sick of you running your mouth, you vermin!!
Rio: Here we go! Let’s do this, Ryoto!
Ryoto: O-Ok…!
*Battle resumes*
{Ryoto VS Tenzan}
Tenzan: I thought you were smarter than this, Ryoto.
Ryoto: Whaddya mean!?
Tenzan: You never even beat me once at the Burning PT.
Tenzan: And yet, you want to fight me in live combat…how stupid can you get?
Ryoto: …I’m determined…to defeat you this time…!
Tenzan: Wooow. Then, show me how determined you are!
{Ryoto VS Thomas}
Thomas: You never really had a choice, Ryoto.
Ryoto: What choice!?
Thomas: To live. I had orders to kill you if you came back to the DC.
Thomas: Adler wanted you disposed of, one way or another.
Ryoto: Why you…!!
{Masaki VS Thomas}
Thomas: Nice to see you again, Lord of the Wind. I’ll be your opponent today.
Thomas: …Oh, and don’t bother trying to learn my name. You won’t remember it when you’re dead.
Masaki: I don’t care who you are! You used a human for a bomb…
Masaki: I can’t forgive someone who’s willing to do that!!
*Defeat Tenzan*
Tenzan: I lost!? Uh-oh! If I stay here, it’s gonna be game over!!
*Tenzan escapes*
*Defeat Thomas*
Thomas: Whoops, I’ve sustained too much damage.
Thomas: Well, this sure was fun…but I should get out of here now.
Thomas: Anyways, they’re the ones who will fight the Hagane…
*Thomas escapes*
*Defeat all enemies*
Eita: Incoming from the southwest!
Tetsuya: Enemy reinforcements!?
Eita: ! N-No sir! I-It…it’s h-him…!!
Tetsuya: Calm down and tell me who it is!
Eita: S-Sorry, sir! It’s the one who sank the Shirogane…he’s here!!
Tetsuya: What!?
*Granzon appears*
Ryusei: The dark blue robot from Antarctica…!
Daitetsu: …The Granzon!!
Masaki: Shu! I finally tracked you down!!
Shu: Ha, Masaki. What a coincidence. When did you join the EFA?
Shu: Aren’t you more of the “lone wolf” type?
Masaki: What about you!? Why are you helping the DC…!?
Shu: I don’t think you’d understand, even if I told you.
Shu: Anyway, aren’t you going to introduce me? I see you’ve made some new friends.
Masaki: Do it yourself!!
Shu: Very well, if I must.
Shu: My name is Shu Shirakawa…and this is my pride and joy…the Granzon.
Shu: I feel terrible meeting you under these conditions…
Shu: So please forgive me. We all have our duty to do.
Giado: Wh-Who’s dis guy…he’s crazy…!
Shu: I’ve heard great things about you. So, I decided that I would see your prowess for myself.
Shu: So please, attack me at will.
Irm: Is this guy for real?
Ingram: (So that’s Shu Shirakawa. I see, he’s no ordinary pilot.)
Ingram: (He destroyed the Shirogane single-handed with his Granzon…)
Ingram: (This is a great opportunity to get first-hand data on his combat abilities.)
Tetsuya: Captain, now is the time to avenge the Shirogane! Order us to attack!!
Daitetsu: …..
Tetsuya: Captain!!
Daitetsu: Vice-Captain, leave the area of Starbuck Island at full speed. Order all units to cover us.
Tetsuya: Why!? Aren’t we going to avenge our fallen comrades!?
Daitetsu: Our mission is to invade Aidoneus Island. Let’s not forget that.
Tetsuya: But, we can’t just run away from him…!
Daitetsu: I know how you feel. But he’s not being serious about fighting us.
Tetsuya: Huh!?
Daitetsu: If he were, we’d already be dead. Just like the Shirogane in Antarctica…
Tetsuya: Ah…!
Daitetsu: I don’t know what Shu Shirakawa is planning to do, but we have a chance to escape from that machine.
*Escape area highlighted*
Tetsuya: V-Very well, sir…!
Shu: …Oh, I see the mighty battleship is fleeing.
Shu: Heheheh…based on what happened in Antarctica, that’s a very wise decision, Captain Daitetsu Minase…
*Conditions updated, Battle resumes*
{Shu VS Masaki}
Shu: …I’m really am surprised to see you assisting the Hagane.
Masaki: Oh yeah, well why did you side with the DC!?
Shu: …You can try to guess…
Shu: But I assure you, you’ll never understand my motives.
Masaki: Enough talk! Let’s fight!!
{Shu VS Ingram}
Shu: …So you’re Major Ingram Prisken. I’ve heard of you.
Ingram: …Likewise.
Shu: …You studied EOT without any help from the EOTI…
Shu: Heheheh…where on Earth did you obtain the knowledge to do that?
Ingram: …I could ask the same of you.
*Defeat Shu*
Shu: Although it’s still in its test phase, you managed to defeat my Granzon…
Shu: …Heheheh…I applaud your efforts…
Shu: …And I would like to thank you for all the data I collected. Until next time.
*Granzon explodes, Shu escapes*
*Hagane reaches the evac point*
Tetsuya: Good, the ship is leaving Starbuck Island! All units, return!!
*All units escape*
Hagane – Bridge
Daitetsu: …Then, you wish to cooperate with us?
Ryoto: Y-Yes, sir…I have no intentions of returning to the DC.
Ryoto: And…I want to make amends for assisting them…
Daitetsu: …..
Tetsuya: Captain, I think we can trust him.
Daitetsu: …Very well.
Daitetsu: Ryoto Hikawa. As of now, you’ll be considered a full-fledged crew member of this ship.
Daitetsu: You will be under the command of Major Ingram.
Ryoto: Y-Yes, thank you sir!
Tetsuya: (Don’t let me down, Ryoto…)
Hagane – Briefing Room
Aya: …And so, that’s why he decided to join us.
Ryoto: I’m Ryoto Hikawa. Pleased to meet you.
Giado: Same here, mon.
Garnet: Don’t worry, we won’t hold your past with the DC against you.
Giado: Dat’s right. We’re happy to have ya on da team.
Ryoto: I’m relieved to hear that…
Rio: Ryoto, I…I changed my mind about you. You’ve got guts after all.
Ryoto: Th-Thanks. But, I’m really not—
Rio: Not like that…just say “That’s right!”. You need to show more confidence.
Ryoto: S-Sorry…
Rio: Don’t apologize!
Garnet: (Awww…they make a cute couple.)
Masaki: …..
Garnet: What’s wrong, Masaki? You look troubled…
Masaki: …..
Garnet: Masaki?
Masaki: O-Oh…it’s nothing.
Aya: You’re thinking about Shu Shirakawa?
Masaki: …Yeah. I let him get away again.
Aya: I see. Though just like Bian, he didn’t seem serious about killing us…
Masaki: Tch, that monster…where did he go this time?
Ryoto: Um…Masaki? About Dr. Shu Shirakawa…
Ryoto: I think he’s headed for the DC headquarters on Aidoneus Island.
Masaki: ! Really!?
Ryoto: Yeah…all of the DC’s top officers are gathering there.
Masaki: Ha…just you wait, Shu!
Masaki: I’m coming to Aidoneus Island…to put an end to your madness!
Aidoneus Island
Soldier: Commander, Dr. Shu Shirakawa is here to see you.
Bian: Shu…you’re late.
Shu: My apologies. I was conducting a test on the Granzon.
Bian: …I assume the results were satisfactory.
Shu: No, not quite.
Shu: It pales in comparison to the Valsion you created.
Bian: Heheh…I doubt that.
Shu: So then…what are my orders?
Bian: I want you to remain here on Aidoneus, and bear witness to our battle.
Shu: Hah…as you wish, Dr. Bian…
Starbuck Island End
1 This joke will make sense if you skip to about 2:08 in the video
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