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Izu Base – Dr. Kobayashi’s Lab

Kenzo: It’s been a while, Aya.

Aya: It has, father…

Kenzo: I read the results of T-LINK test conducted aboard the Hagane.

Kenzo: At that rate, completion of the R-3 will be far behind schedule.

Aya: I’m sorry… There isn’t much I can do…

Kenzo: Unlike the R-1’s T-LINK System, the R-3’s is custom made. Only you can use it.

Aya: No, I can’t…every time I’m linked, I remember them.

Aya: The incident that killed my mother and Mai…

Kenzo: It was an accident. The lab was destroyed because Mai couldn’t control her power.

Aya: I wonder, is the T-LINK System worth risking so many lives?

Kenzo: …The aliens’ mobile fortress has appeared in Sector L5. We can’t stop them without the SRX.

Kenzo: And, in order to make it operational…

Aya: …I know…

Kenzo: Very well then. We’ll use the data from a past subject to aid in adjusting the R-3’s system.

Aya: Whose data are we using?

Kenzo: …A former ICS asset from before you were born…her name was Yukiko Date.

Aya: Date…?

Aya: I-Is she…Ryusei’s…!?

Kenzo: …..

Izu Base – Command Center

Operator: The Hagane has lifted off. Exiting the atmosphere in five minutes, four seconds, sir.

Laker: And the Hiryu?

Operator: They are headed for the meeting point as we speak.

Sakae: Commander, a coded message has just arrived from HQ.

Laker: What does it say?

Sakae: It’s top secret, so I can’t read it out loud.

Laker: …That’s not a good sign. Give it to me.

Sakae: Yes sir.

Laker: …..

Laker: ( ! What…)

Hans: (A top secret message from HQ…what could it be?)

Laker: Ready a plane and an escort now. I’m going to Geneva.

Sakae: To EFA HQ?

Laker: Yes. The Earth Defense Committee has called a meeting.

Laker: I’ll be gone for a while. Take care of Princess Shine.

Sakae: Yes, sir.

Hans: (…With the Commander and the Hagane gone…now’s my chance.)

Chapter 24: Lune and Valsione

Earth Orbit

Tetsuya: Captain, we have left the atmosphere.

Daitetsu: Stop the engine. We’ll wait here for the Hiryu.

Tetsuya: Understood.

Eita: I’m transferring a visual of the White Star. It’s up on the main monitor.

Kyosuke: Forty kilometers in width…that fortress is the size of a space colony.

Ryusei: They were hiding that thing the whole time…

Excellen: Literally the ‘hidden ball’ trick?

Ryusei: Ha ha! That’s a good one!

Excellen: Wow! Give me more praise!

Kyosuke: Stop goofing off, you two.

Rai: It’s ridiculous.

Excellen: My my…our teammates are real killjoys, huh?

Ryusei: Seriously.

Rai: …Killjoys?

Daitetsu: Eita, is there any enemy movement?

Eita: No, sir.

Daitetsu: I see…

Tetsuya: Strange. I expected them to attack in full force…

Daitetsu: Yes. They did enough recon work on Earth with the Bugs and Spiders already.

Kyosuke: Do the Aerogaters have some other goal?

Tetsuya: That’s why we’re here.

Eita: Captain, the Hiryu Custom has arrived.

*Hiryu Kai and Cybuster appear*

Lefina: Captain of the Hiryu Custom, Lt. Col. Lefina Enfield reporting.

Daitetsu: Captain Daitetsu Minase of the Hagane.

Sean: It’s been a long time. Space really suits you, Captain.

Daitetsu: It’s good to see you again.

Sean: I hear the Hagane’s full of beautiful women.

Sean: That said, I’m eager for the full tour.

Lefina: Uh…XO, what…?

Sean: Just talking to myself.

Daitetsu: …Same old Sean.

Ryusei: Hey, is…is that the Cybuster?

Eita: I-It is!

Masaki: Yo! Long time no see, Ryusei!

Ryusei: Wh-What…what are you doing here!? Did you get lost or something?

Masaki: Man…you really think I get lost that often?

Ryusei: Like you don’t?

Masaki: W-Whatever…

*Alarm*

Tetsuya: What the!?

Eita: We have an object approaching at high speed!

Tetsuya: An Aerogater!?

Eita: N-Negative! It’s the DC! One unit approaching head on!

Daitetsu: All hands, Battlestation 1!

Lefina: Launch the PT units at once!

*Prep screen, Units deploy*

Kuro: I wonder why they would only send one fighter…

Shiro: Sounds pretty Masaki-esque to me, meow.

Masaki: I like being decisive.

Masaki: Someone that gutsy was probably a ranking officer in the DC.

Rai: (Is it Elzam…?)

Eun: The DC mech is here!

*Valsione appears*

Irm: Wh…What is that!?

Bullet: Lt. Kyosuke! That mech looks like a girl!

Kyosuke: Affirmative. It’s neither a PT nor an AM.

Excellen: Wow, nice body. Maybe I should put that on my Weissy?

Rai: …No.

Irm: Yeesh…who do you think made that thing?

Tasuku: I dunno…I think it’d make a nice action figure.

Ryusei: It’s…

Garnet: What? Cat got your tongue?

Ryusei: So cute…!

Garnet: And yet…you have no interest in real girls?

Eita: Captain! We’ve made contact with the DC pilot!

Daitetsu: Patch him through.

Lune: At last we meet, Hagane!!

Rio: It’s a girl!?

Masaki: Who’re you?

Lune: I am Lune Zoldark! Daughter of Bian Zoldark, the man you killed!!

Ryoto: ! Doctor Bian!?

Masaki: Yeah, that guy said he had a daughter…

Lune: I know you were enemies…

Lune: But he was my father!

Masaki: !

Lune: It’s true, he was far from perfect.

Lune: But…I’m going to avenge his death!!

Ryoto: That’s pointless! Revenge only causes further revenge!!

Lune: Don’t talk like you know anything about this!!

Masaki: Huh, I wondered what Bian’s daughter would look like…

Masaki: You’re actually pretty cute.

Lune: Wha…What are you saying!?

Masaki: (Heh…sounds like she’s pretty naive too.)

Masaki: Hey…let me ask you something.

Lune: What!?

Masaki: Are you with the DC?

Lune: …What the DC has become is not what my father envisioned! I am not connected with them in any way!

Masaki: What’s that over there, then?

Lune: Huh!?

*Enemies swarm the area*

Lune: ! They’re…!

Kyosuke: The remnants of the UCC!

Katina: That DC girl…! She tricked us!!

Kyosuke: We don’t know that yet…let’s see what happens.

Siebel: *chuckle* If I can sink the Hagane and the Hiryu here…my power will become absolute.

Siebel: And then Sanger Zonvolt won’t be so insolent.

Excellen: Ahh, Siebel Mistel…he’s still alive.

Garnet: You know him?

Excellen: Sort of. He’s petty, persistent…the type women hate.

Siebel: Lune Zoldark, as the daughter of Bian, you must help us!

Siebel: We’ll sink the Hagane and the Hiryu, defeat the EFA…

Siebel: And then unite the world under the DC and the UCC!!

Lune: …..

Masaki: You sure you’re not with the DC?

Lune: Enough!! I’ll show you the proof you want!

*Valsione destroys a group of fighter jets*

Siebel: What!? You’re betraying us!?

Lune: I’M the traitor!? You’re the one who betrayed everything the DC stood for!

Lune: Commander Maier of the UCC and my father…

Lune: Would never had used poison gas!

Siebel: …What are you talking about?

Lune: Don’t play dumb.

Lune: I know you tried using poison to obtain Columna!

Rai: Is what she says true?

Radha: Yes… We managed to save Columna from him, but…

Rio: Th…that monster! Using poison gas on a space station!? Unforgivable!

Lune: Now, how do you justify yourself!?

Siebel: Hmph…Maier and Bian died because they were too soft.

Siebel: But, they’re gone! I’m going to do things my own way!

Tasuku: *sigh* Typical villain stuff.

Excellen: He won’t stop at anything.

Lune: All of you, stay out of this!

Lune: I’ll stop them myself! You guys will just have to wait!

Siebel: All units, attack!

Siebel: Lt. Leona Garstein, I need you to defend my ship. Understood?

Leona: …..

Tasuku: ! That mech…it was always next to the Treue Unit captain…

Excellen: Now that you mention it…I didn’t see her during the battle with the flagship fleet.

Tasuku: (…I see…she’s alive…)

Rai: (Leona…you knew my father’s true intentions…)

Rai: (…Yet you still wish to stay in the UCC…?)

Leona: (…..)

Leona: (…Commander Maier’s will…doesn’t exist in today’s UCC.)

Leona: (Chief Julia…Major Elzam…what must I do…?)

*Conditions Shown, Battle Starts*

*Turn 1 Enemy Phase*

Siebel: What are you doing, you imbeciles!? Get them!

Leona: …..

Leona: (…I’d rather die in battle like Chief Julia than serve a man like him.)

*Guarlion dashes out*

Siebel: Lt. Leona, where are you going!? You’re to protect ME!

Leona: Only Commander Maier V. Branstein was worthy of my service in battle…

Siebel: What!? Are you disobeying me!?

Leona: Yes. I don’t intend to live in disgrace.

Leona: I will fight and die…in the name of the Treue Unit!

Seibel: T-Traitor…!

Leona: Hiryu Kai, Hagane…I will show all of you my final stand!

Tasuku: !!

Rai: Leona…you intend to die…!?

*Battle resumes*

*Defeat Leona*

Leona: This is it…Commander Maier…Chief Julia…

Leona: I’m on my way.

Leona: The escape pod activated!? I survive again…!?

Leona: Is this my fate…?

{Rai defeats Leona}

Leona: How ironic that you would be my last opponent, Rai.

Rai: I have no intention to kill you.

Leona: Now’s not the time for sympathy!

Rai: My father is gone… This is pointless.

Leona: Shut up and send me to meet him!

Rai: I doubt that’s what he, or Bian, would have wanted.

Leona: !?

Rai: I’m taking your cockpit block with me.

{Tasuku defeats Leona}

Leona: …Go on. Finish me off.

Tasuku: I’m not into killing people who have already lost.

Leona: ! Do you think I want your pity!?

Tasuku: It’s not like that, it’s just a waste to die here, y’know?

Leona: What do you mean!?

Tasuku: You have luck. You couldn’t have survived without it.

Leona: I…only because I didn’t take part in the final battle against the Hiryu…!

Tasuku: That was luck too. To just toss it all away…it’s a waste.

Leona: Wh-What are…!?

Tasuku: Don’t mind me. I’m just taking your cockpit with me.

*Guarlion explodes, Leona is taken alive*

*Destroy Siebel’s Peregrine*

Siebel: B-Blast it! Secure my escape route!!

*Peregrine explodes, remaining enemies retreat*

*Valsione fully heals*

Lune: There, that’s out of the way. It’s time we finished this!

Masaki: Wait, Lune! Your father entrusted us with the future!

Lune: You don’t know anything!

Masaki: Listen! He predicted the alien strike, so there’s no reason for us to be fighting!

Lune: Shut up!

Masaki: Fine! You obviously won’t listen to me!

*Defeat the Valsione*

Lune: …..

Lune: Ahahaha…I knew I couldn’t win. But, I feel much better now.

Lune: Like you said, my dad believed in you. So, I want to believe in you too.

Masaki: Lune…

Lune: And you, Masaki…you’re definitely my kind of man.

Lune: You’re the first guy who’s ever though I was cute.

Masaki: Wh…what?

Ryusei: A-Actually, I said that too…

Rai: You said her MECH was cute.

Ryusei: Come on, can’t I catch a break?

Lune: Well, you seem like decent enough people.

Lune: I came here from Jupiter to fight aliens anyway…

Lune: So? Will you let me aboard the Hagane?

Masaki: You’re asking for favors all of a sudden?

Irm: Major Ingram…what should we do?

Ingram: All right. We need all the help we can get right now. I’ll talk to the Captain.

Lune: Thanks guys. Let’s all try our best to get along.

{If Leona was defeated by someone other than Tasuku or Rai}

Eita: Captain, I’m detecting an escape pod that was ejected from an enemy AM.

Daitetsu: Is the pilot alive?

Eita: Affirmative.

Daitetsu: Have someone recover the pod.

Eita: Yes sir.

Hagane – Interior

{If Tasuku defeated Leona}

Irm: So Tasuku, I heard that the pilot you saved is a total hottie.

Tasuku: News travels fast. As a matter of fact she is.

Tasuku: Ah, but…since I saved her, I have first dibs on asking her out.

Irm: Tch, I should’ve saved her then.

{If Tasuku did not defeat Leona}

Irm: So Tasuku, I heard that the enemy pilot we recovered is a total hottie.

Tasuku: News travels fast. As a matter of fact she is.

Tasuku: Ah, but…since I technically have a history with her, I have first dibs on asking her out.

Irm: Tch, I should’ve been the one to recover her.

*Either way*

Bullet: Tasuku…do you really think you should be calling dibs on a girl?

Tasuku: Ha! You’re one to talk, Bullet.

Bullet: What do you mean by that?

Tasuku: I heard it from Lt. Excellen. You’ve been hitting on a cutie in the Hagane.

Bullet: ! Th-Th-That’s…

Excellen: Hee hee…are you still trying to hide it?

Bullet: L-Lieutenant!

Excellen: Your teacher is just happy that you’ve finally found a girl, Bullet.

Bullet: Ms. Browning! Please, don’t go telling other people about this!

Irm: (Ms. Browning?)

Bullet: Anyway…weren’t we talking about the captured pilot?

Excellen: Oh, yes…I hear her cousin is a nice piece of man.

Tasuku: Cousin…oh yeah, Lt. Raidiese from the SRX Team.

Excellen: Bingo. He’s an heir to the Branstein family.

Bullet: (Branstein…as in the Commander of the UCC…?)

Irm: She’s gotta be a ranking officer in the UCC then. That IS hot…

Excellen: Uh…are you sure you want to say that, Lieutenant? What about Ring?

Irm: You…you know her?

Excellen: Of course. She’s the CEO of Mao Industries, we met her on the moon.

Irm: Did…did she say anything about me?

Excellen: Hmmm…It’s probably best if I don’t say.

Irm: H-Hey! What’s that supposed to mean!?

Tasuku: (..So then, if she’s Rai’s cousin…then her family must be rich.)

Tasuku: (Heh, talk about my type…)

Hagane – Captian’s Quarters

Leona: …These questions are useless. I refuse to disgrace myself.

Leona: Torture me, if that’s what you want.

Daitetsu: …What we want is help from you.

Leona: ! Help…?

Lefina: Yes. Now that the White Star has appeared, humans shouldn’t be fighting each other.

Lefina: The EFA, the DC and the UCC should unite together to protect the Earth.

Leona: …Easier said than done.

Leona: I don’t think the UCC or the DC would agree with you.

Leona: (Except for…Lt. Col. Lily, Major Elzam and Major Sanger…)

Lefina: What’s your opinion, then?

Leona: …..

Daitetsu: If we trust Bian and Maier…

Daitetsu: Then they chose us to fight the Aerogaters.

Lefina: That’s right…

Daitetsu: We’re going to need all the help we can get.

Lefina: So, we’re hoping to get help from a UCC pilot…specifically, a Treue pilot.

Leona: So you’re saying I might as well die fighting the aliens…?

Daitetsu: If that helps you understand the concept.

Leona: …Why put your trust in an enemy?

Daitetsu: …Lt. Raidiese speaks highly of you.

Leona: (…He does…?)

Leona: …Understood. My life is in your hands. Use it as you see fit.

Hagane – Hangar

Ryusei: Awww. I can’t believe that cute lil’ thing is a robot

Ryoto: This mech…it must be related to the Valsion model.

Ryusei: Really!?

Ryoto: Yeah. It’s smaller, but they have similar weapons…

Lune: You’re right. My Valsione is the second version of the Valsion.

Masaki: Then, why does it look like that?

Lune: My dad changed it. I didn’t want to pilot the Valsion.

Masaki: What was wrong with it?

Lune: Duh…that thing looked totally weird.

Masaki: (I’m not so sure about this one either…)

Ryusei: Hmm…so your dad designed it?

Lune: It’s his only legacy now.

Masaki: Lune…

Lune: Don’t wuss out on me. My dad, he died following his beliefs.

Masaki: Yeah.

Lune: On top of that, I’m glad you guys stopped him.

Ryoto: …Why’s that?

Lune: When a man attains so much power, he becomes consumed by it.

Ryoto: …..

Lune: Oh, sorry. I’m the one wussing out.

Lune: Say, Masaki…wanna show me around the Hagane?

Masaki: OK, sure.

*Masaki and Lune leave*

Ryusei: (…Consumed by power, huh…?)

Ryusei: (I guess we mustn’t follow the same path as Bian…)

Ryoto: Hey, Ryusei. Those two…you sure it was OK to let them go?

Ryusei: Why wouldn’t I?

Ryoto: Well, Masaki isn’t…

Ryusei: You’re right! They’re gonna get lost! Let’s go!

Hagane -Ingram’s Quarters

Ingram: So you want to be a test pilot for the R-Series?

Katina: Yes sir, just let me prove myself.

Ingram: We have more than enough pilots.

Katina: But, except for Lt. Rai’s R-2…

Katina: The R-1 and the R-3’s pilots are unskilled, so…

Ingram: Those two units are adjusted for Ryusei and Aya.

Katina: Then, give me the R-GUN!

Ingram: …Alright. I’ll consider you for that mech.

Katina: Thank you, sir.

*Katina leaves*

Radha: Are you sure about that, Major…?

Ingram: Yes. The R-GUN wasn’t designed for me anyway.

Radha: Actually, I was talking about Lt. Katina…

Ingram: ..She’s taken quite a liking to the test models.

Radha: Yes…

Radha: I can see she has heart…but she’s also a loose cannon…

Ingram: You’re good with that sort of person, aren’t you?

Radha: Well…lately, people have been avoiding me when I try to teach them yoga.

Ingram: I think you mean forcing them to do yoga. That’s what Viletta told me.

Radha: Oh no, not at all. It was just an easy pose…

Radha: Here, I could give you a quick example. Why don’t you give it a try, Major.

Ingram: Sorry, I think I’ll pass.

Radha: Even though Viletta has mastered this form?

Ingram: Viletta did?

Ingram: In that case…

Radha: That’s good, now bend your leg like…this…

Ingram: Not…really my thing…

Radha: Oh…you’re not as flexible as I thought, Major.

Ingram: …By the way, did Viletta stay on the moon?

Radha: Yes sir. She was given an important mission…

Ingram: I see…

Ingram: (Then, I must hurry mine too…)

Hagane – Bridge

Daitetsu: We received an order to return to the Far East Brigade?

Tetsuya: Yes. The cryptogram came straight from HQ…

Daitetsu: Who sent it?

Tetsuya: It doesn’t say. But, the code is unmistakable.

Daitetsu: We’re just supposed to ignore the White Star and return…?

Sean: Hm…this may be interference from the EOT Council or the federal government.

Daitetsu: Tetsuya, confirm this with Commander Laker.

Tetsuya: Actually…the Commander has already left for Geneva.

Daitetsu: …..

Lefina: Commander Laker is a member of the Earth Defense Committee, isn’t he?

Daitetsu: That’s correct.

Lefina: And he’s off to Geneva…could there be some trouble with the top brass?

Daitetsu: …..

Sean: I think it’s best to follow orders.

Daitetsu: Hm. Captain Lefina, we’re returning to base.

Lefina: Understood.

Offshore Peru

Soldier: Major, you’ve returned. How was your trip?

Elzam: I gathered quite a few supplies.

Elzam: I’ll need the Kurogane’s kitchen to try this recipe later.

Soldier: Yes sir. I’m sure the others will be delighted.

Kurogane – Bridge

Elzam: And…any word on the EFA?

Kurt ¹: The Hagane and the Hiryu have turned back towards Earth…

Kurt: But they seem to be unaware of the location of the Kurogane, and the Earth Cradle.

Elzam: I see.

Kurt: Also, we completed the sound integration. Would you like to hear it now?

Elzam: Yes, please.

???: …In the name of Levi Tolar, I declare to all earthlings…

???: You have thirty days to disarm all of your weapons…

???: And surrender to us…

Elzam: It’s a female voice..and she’s speaking our language.

Elzam: Whatever their plan is, they’re definitely confident.

Kurt: …The Aerogaters, are they physically similar to humans?

Elzam: According to our research, it would seem so.

Elzam: That’s why the EOTI’s Chairman, Karl Schtleseman…

Elzam: Held that secret meeting at Coatsland Base in Antarctica…to negotiate with them.

Kurt: What idiocy…! The EOT Council planned to surrender the Earth and everyone on it!?

Elzam: It is one way to save humanity. Though I disagree with it.

Kurt: Should we join the other remaining units, or head to the Earth Cradle?

Elzam: The current members of the DC don’t hold to the ideals of Commander Bian and my father. So, the Kurogane must act independently.

Kurt: …..

Elzam: From now on, we must fight our own war.

Elzam: Those who object may leave.

Kurt: Sir…I speak for all hands aboard the Kurogane when I say we are willing to follow you.

Elzam: …I appreciate that. Now, I must go to the kitchen. If you’ll excuse me.

Kurt: Yes sir.

Lune and Valsione End

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¹ I know that this is just a generic DC battleship captain, and that Kurt Bittner wasn’t a character until OG2nd, but I’m going with that name over DC Captain because I feel that if OGs got an HD re-release, this character would be changed to Kurt over a generic DC captain.