Previous Chapter: Broken Wings | Next Chapter: Kill or be Killed
USA – Langley Base
Greg: …You’re here.
Kyosuke: Yes sir. Lt. Kyosuke Nanbu reporting for duty with the EFA North American Brigade.
Greg: At ease. I’m the Commander of this base…Greg Pastral.
Greg: I heard what happened…bad luck, huh?
Kyosuke: …No, sir. What happened was due to my lack of ability as a pilot.
Greg: I think it was the fault of the one leading the test.
Greg: (And who sent you here. But that doesn’t sound like Laker.)
Greg: (Most likely it was Hans Weber’s doing…)
Kyosuke: …? What is it?
Greg: Oh, nothing. Your new assignment will be…
Excellen: Excuse me.
Kyosuke: Hm…?
Greg: What is it, Lieutenant? Didn’t I tell you I’d send him to you later?
Excellen: Well, I just couldn’t wait to check him out.
Greg: Well, there you are…
Kyosuke: (What’s going on…?)
Excellen: So this is him, huh? Hmm, I see…
Kyosuke: …Huh? I’m sorry, but have I met you somewhere before…?
Excellen: Hm? *giggle* Maybe…
Kyosuke: (I think…though I can’t remember where…?)
Excellen: …Very nice!
Kyosuke: …?
Excellen: …Commander, can I take him to my room…ah, I mean, to our unit?
Excellen: I promise to behave…
Greg: In a moment…any questions, Lieutenant?
Kyosuke: I’m sorry, sir…but I don’t understand any of this…
Greg: Right. This is Excellen Browning, a member of your team. She’s a Lieutenant, same as you.
Excellen: *giggle* Pleased to meet you, handsome.
Excellen: By the way Commander, the boss wants to “test the newcomer to see if he’s any good”…
Greg: Again? OK, just don’t send him home crying.
Excellen: Yes, sir…*giggle* This is gonna be fun.
Kyosuke: (I’m still confused…what’s going on? Just…who is this Excellen…?)
Chapter 2: A New Beginning
*Kyosuke and Excellen deploy*
Kyosuke: Combat training already?
Excellen: Sorry about this. That’s how the boss is.
Kyosuke: Boss? Lieutenant, I’m not sure I understand…
Excellen: Calling me by my rank is lame, so could you not do that?
Kyosuke: Lame…? Alright, Excellen…is that better?
Excellen: Ooh, you’re not so straight-laced after all, I like that.
Kyosuke: (…Straight-laced?)
Sanger: …You ready to go, rookie?
Kyosuke: Ah…What!?
Excellen: Uh-oh! Wait!
Sanger: Then begin the exercise!
*Enemies spawn*
Kyosuke: …Alright, I got it.
Excellen: Uhhhh, Kyosuke? I didn’t have time to explain, but…
Sanger: Listen up, the target drones are loaded with live rounds. Shoot them down if you want to live.
Excellen: Whoa boss, wait! Listen to…
Sanger: Enough! Fire at will!
Excellen: Oh…sorry, Kyosuke. That was Major Sanger Zonvolt…
Kyosuke: So he’s the boss…well, I’m only concerned with the enemies in my way.
Excellen: Wow…
Kyosuke: I like the Gespenst…
Kyosuke: And, that guy’s style…here I go.
Excellen: (He’s gonna get along just fine with the boss.*giggle* And, with me.)
{Conditions shown, Combat Starts}
*Turn 2 Player Phase*
Excellen: Hey, can I ask you something?
Kyosuke: …What is it?
Excellen: Was it your fault the test model went down?
Kyosuke: It was defective…but, I won’t deny I wasn’t skilled enough to control it…I have no excuse for that.
Excellen: Hmm…you know, you’re just like the boss.
Sanger: Focus! If you can afford to talk during battle, should have no problem with these enemies!
Kyosuke: …I think I’m a bit more reasonable than that.
Excellen: I agree…let’s finish them off!
*Turn 3 Player Phase*
Kyosuke: Excellen.
Excellen: What?
Kyosuke: …Why are you holding back? What does the boss…Major Sanger want from me?
Excellen: Oh….well, um, I don’t know? Just concentrate on your job at hand.
Kyosuke: …..
Sanger: (…Kyosuke Nanbu, you are better than I had thought. Intelligent, and quick to adapt to new situations.)
Sanger: (Excellen was right after all.)
Sanger: (They’ll be able to handle Project ATX’s mechs, no problem.)
*All enemies destroyed*
Kyosuke: That’s it.
Excellen: Wow, good job. I thought it was going to be more difficult.
Kyosuke: That was about all that my mech could handle. Myself as well.
Sanger: Excellent…terminate the exercise.
Kyosuke: Roger, Major…or is it boss?
Sanger: Heh…either one works.
Kyosuke: …..
Excellen: Ooh, I have an idea. How about… the Japanese word for boss, ‘Oyabun’?
Sanger: That will do just fine.
Kyosuke: (…Is he serious?)
Langley Base Hangar
Kyosuke: *sigh*
Excellen: Good work. So…what’s next? Eat dinner? Take a shower?
Kyosuke: …First, the report.
Excellen: Hey, here comes the boss.
Sanger: Good, you’re both here.
Kyosuke: Major…Sanger?
Sanger: You may call me ‘Honcho’, if you wish.
Kyosuke: (Again…is he serious?)
Sanger: …Lt. Kyosuke Nanbu, you’ll test pilot Project ATX’s prototype mech.
Kyosuke: I suppose…that’s the main subject. What is Project ATX?
Sanger: The purpose of this project is to develop mobile assault weapons here at Langley Base.
Kyosuke: Then, the prototype I’ll be piloting…
Kyosuke: Will it be the Personal Trooper that takes the place of the Gespenst MK II as the military’s mass-produced model…?
Sanger: You’re half right.
Sanger: There are other prototype mechs that are being tested as part of Project ATX as well.
Excellen: Right. And I promise you the boss’ mech will blow you away!
Kyosuke: …You don’t need to promise me anything.
Kyosuke: …So then…I take it there’s more to this project. It has multiple objectives, right…?
Excellen: Wow, you’re not only handsome, you’re smart, too?
Sanger: Your instincts serve you well, Lt. Kyosuke.
Sanger: Project ATX was initiated to protect the Earth from…future threats.
Kyosuke: (…That’s rather vague. Does he have connections to that organization…?)
Sanger: Sadly, our top brass doesn’t fully comprehend the severity of the situation…
Sanger: So we’re training our soldiers to handle the impending crisis.
Kyosuke: …..
Excellen: Kyosuke, you’re the last member of our team…Number 4.
Kyosuke: Number 4?
Excellen: Yes. There’s one more member of the ATX Team.
Kyosuke: ATX Team…?
Sanger: That’s the name of our unit. We’re happy to have you onboard, Kyosuke Nanbu.
Kyosuke: Likewise.
Excellen: If there’s anything you want to know, just ask. Like, maybe my favorite date spots?
Kyosuke: …..
Kyosuke: (Oh well…I don’t know how this will turn out…but at least I won’t be bored.)
A New Beginning End
Previous Chapter: Broken Wings | Next Chapter: Kill or be Killed
