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Langley Base – Command Center
Greg: Well, you’ve been here for two weeks…how’s it going?
Kyosuke: Good. The mechs are in great condition, and everyone’s nice.
Greg: Hahaha, well we’ve got some hellcats around here. Especially…
Marion: Commander…
Kyosuke: …?
Greg: Well, speak of the devil…what can I do for you, Dr. Radom?
Marion: Have you heard anything from Lt. Corporal Brooklyn since he left Florida?
Marion: Already he’s 12 hours behind schedule…that’s half a day wasted!
Greg: Calm down, Doctor. Wasn’t the delivery initially scheduled a month from now? I’m sure nothing…
Marion: But I can’t continue my work on the project’s two units until those parts arrive. I feel like pulling my hair out.
Greg: OK, OK. I’ll call Corporal Brooklyn.
Greg: I’m looking forward to seeing those two mechs, though. Especially the Altei…
Marion: Commander…it’s formal name is the Gespenst MK III.
Marion: I won’t allow it to be called that code name. It’s crude…
Greg: OK, OK. Anyway, I look forward to seeing the two mechs that will back up the Type 0.
Marion: Yes, well, please remind him not to be late again.
*Dr. Radom leaves*
Kyosuke: …..
Greg: My apologies, Lieutenant. That was Dr. Marion Radom…Project ATX’s lead scientist.
Kyosuke: I see. She is kind of—
*Dr. Radom returns*
Marion : I almost forgot.
Kyosuke: Urk…
Marion: You are…Kyosuke? Lt. Kyosuke Nanbu.
Kyosuke: Uh…yes?
Marion: Your mechs have a high rate of sustained damage. Do you think you could avoid close range combat?
Kyosuke: …..
Marion: The mass production MK II is modeled after the Type-R…
Marion: So even though it has close-combat weapons, you should really limit your use of them.
Kyosuke: …..
Greg: *sigh*…Dr. Radom, at ease. This is my office, remember?
Marion: Very well. But, Lieutenant…come to MY office later.
Kyosuke: …Commander
Greg: Hahaha, didn’t I say we had some hellcats here? Be careful.
Kyosuke: …Roger.
Langley Base – ATX Lab
Marion: (Lt. Kyosuke’s high damage rate…isn’t due to poor combat skill…)
Marion: (The mechs here just aren’t built for his…aggressive fighting style.)
Marion: (However, he might be able to handle my MK III.)
???: …What’s wrong, Doctor? If you think too hard, you’ll get wrinkles.
Marion: …Such a rude comment could only be from Master Rishu Tohgo.
Marion: Have you finished analyzing the Colossal Blade’s motion input data? Or is it still…
Rishu: I was about to tell you. The Type 0 is now able to swing the blade.
Marion: …Is that it…?
Rishu: Why, yes…that’s all it needs to do.
Rishu: One strike with the Colossal Blade inflicts the desired amount of damage. It is an unstoppable force.
Marion: One strike…? But what if it can’t use the Colossal Blade?
Rishu: That would be preferable. ‘A good sword is the one left in its scabbard’, as they say.
Marion: ‘Left in its scabbard’…? I don’t understand your way of thinking.
Rishu: Similarly, ‘There is no need to have two swords’…well, to put it in modern terms…
Rishu: It is not your weapon that wins the battle. It is your will.
Marion: *sigh*…Your outdated concepts may work for Project SRX, but they don’t work for me.
Rishu: I disagree. Your two mechs are very similar to theirs.
Marion: Hmph…not true. My mechs don’t run on this suspicious EOT that was found inside a meteor.
Marion: …Anyway, how is Major Sanger doing so far as the pilot?
Rishu: Quite well. His swordsmanship is improving every day.
Marion: I hope so, because what would happen if he were to fail? Some may begin to doubt your ability to teach, Master Rishu…
Rishu: Good grief…talking with you is more difficult than sparring with Sanger or Bullet, you know.
Langley Base – Briefing room
Kyosuke: A distress signal?
Sanger: Yes. A carrier arriving from Florida was attacked by bug…no, unknown hostile machines.
Kyosuke: (…Bugs? Is that a code name?)
Excellen: Boss… is the carrier you’re talking about Bullet’s T3?
Sanger: Yes.
Kyosuke: Bullet…?
Kyosuke: Our other member, Master Sergeant Brooklyn Luckfield?
Excellen: Yeah. He’s completely hopeless with girls…
Kyosuke: I don’t think that has anything to do with this…
Sanger: I’ll be taking the Type 0. You two take your Gespenst MK IIs.
Kyosuke: Type 0? Is that a new mech?
Excellen: The Grungust Type 0…it’s a humanoid type mobile weapon created by Tesla Leicht Institute.
Kyosuke: TLI? So it’s not a Personal Trooper?
Excellen: No…it’s a Super Robot.
Kyosuke: Why didn’t I see it in the hanger?
Excellen: That’s because it’s not maintained there. That’s done underground.
Excellen: Anyway, are you ready for a surprise? You’ll love it!
Sanger: Enough chitchat. Prepare for combat!
Kyosuke: Roger.
Chapter 3: Kill or be Killed

*Thausendfessler, Gespenst MK II TT and AGX-01s appear*
Bullet: Tch…are they still after us!?
Pilot: Lt. Brooklyn! We aren’t going to make it!
Bullet: (Looks like this is the moment of truth.)
Bullet: This is Assault 3! I’ll cover you while you evac the T3 from this area!
Pilot: Y-Yes sir!
{Conditions shown, Battle starts}
*Defeat three enemies*
Bullet: This is too much for one mech. I need to think of a plan…!
*Enemy teleports in next to T3*
Pilot: Aaaagggghhh!
Bullet: Oh no, the carrier!!
*Enter Kyosuke, Excellen, and Sanger*
Sanger: The Grungust Type-0, at your service…!
Bullet: ! Th-That’s Major Sanger…!?
Sanger: I see an opening!!
*Commence Smiting*
Sanger: Focus!!
Sanger: I am Sanger Zonvolt! The sword that smites evil!
Sanger: Final technique! Zankantou! Shippu Dotou!!
Sanger: There is nothing I cannot cut!!
*Smiting Finished*
Excellen: Wow! You already used your finishing move? You should’ve waited…
Sanger: …This sword is strong. It cuts clean. I must thank Master Rishu.
Bullet: A-Amazing…! Look at the size of that sword…
Kyosuke: (Quick moves, fast kills. Project ATX…it is amazing, all right.)
Bullet: Major Sanger!!
Sanger: …You failed to finish them off, Brooklyn. Remember, on the battlefield…it’s kill or be killed.
Bullet: S-Sorry, sir. There were too many…
Excellen: Hey, no excuses. When the time comes, even a rat becomes a puppy…right?
Bullet: I’m not a rat! Also, it becomes a CHEETA, not a puppy!
Excellen: Wow, look who’s got Japan mania. You’ve been studying your proverbs.
Kyosuke: …Actually, it’s a tiger.
Bullet: Huh? Who’s this?
Sanger: The newest member for the ATX Team, Lt. Kyosuke Nanbu.
Bullet: So, you’re the third member?
Kyosuke: Pleased to meet you, Master Sergeant Brooklyn.
Bullet: Likewise! But please, call me Bullet, Lt. Kyosuke.
Sanger: OK. Escort the Thausendfessler out of here safely.
Bullet: Yes sir!
Excellen: Right.
Kyosuke: …Roger.
Kyosuke: (…What are those? Obviously not PTs or jet fighters…)
Kyosuke: (Are they new EOTI mechs…?)
Kyosuke: (New enemies for the new member…something’s up.)
*Clear the map*
Excellen: It’s over.
Pilot: T3 to Assault 1! We’re leaving this area!
Sanger: Roger.
*T3 leaves map*
Bullet: Can we take a break now, Major?
Sanger: Stay on guard, Bullet. We’re not finished yet.
*As if on cue…*
Excellen: The gang’s all here…boy, they sure are fast.
Kyosuke: I don’t get it…are they really after the carrier…?
Sanger: (…No doubt they’re here to observe my Type-0.)
Sanger: I’ll leave the rest to you guys.
Bullet: Huh!?
Excellen: What!? Boss! Wait!
Sanger: Enough! Defeat every enemy present. And don’t come back until you finished your job!
*Type-0 leaves*
Excellen: Ugh, he makes it sound like we’re delivering pizzas! What do you think, Kyosuke…?
Kyosuke: …These are tough enemies for our first combat exercise.
Bullet: No time to talk! Here they come!
Kyosuke: Right…let’s get ‘em…!
*Clear the map again*
Excellen: Phew. Hey Bullet, are there any enemies left?
Bullet: I don’t see any.
Kyosuke: That was some exercise.
Bullet: Yeah, that’s how the Major operates – quick and without warning.
Excellen: Girls don’t like guys who move too fast, you know.
Kyosuke: They can hate me for all I care, as long as we win the war.
Excellen: Oh, you don’t really mean that, do you? Let me tell you something about girls…
Bullet: (Now that Lt. Kyosuke’s here…)
Bullet: (Maybe Lt. Excellen will stop teasing me.)
Langley Base – Command Center
Greg: Good job Major. Your team is doing well.
Sanger: Of course. I handpicked them for their toughness, sir.
Greg: Good. Hm…you certainly were the right choice for the ATX Team leader.
Greg: With all your experience as an Aggressor…
Sanger: …Please don’t mention that.
Sanger: My past…I haven’t told my team about it yet.
Greg: …I see.
Sanger: By the way, sir…about the Aerogaters…
Sanger: They’ve been appearing in certain location more frequently lately.
Greg: You’re referring to North America, Southern Europe, and the Marquesas Islands, correct?
Sanger: All of those areas have facilities that create anit-Aerogater weaponry…
Sanger: So those recon units were most likely dispatched to scout the Type 0 and Project ATX’s two other units.
Greg: It’s hard to believe they have that much info…are we reading too much into this?
Sanger: …..
Sanger: (Either way, the Aerogaters will make their move soon…)
Greg: Anyway, the cargo has arrived…begin the testing ASAP.
Sanger: Yes sir.
Langley Base – Living Quarters
Excellen: Oh, I feel refreshed!…Hm? Kyosuke isn’t back yet?
Bullet: Dr. Radom grabbed him…he won’t be back for a while.
Excellen: Ouch. Bad luck just seems to follow him.
Bullet: I think she’s talking to him about…one of the new models…
Bullet: Um, Lieutenant…?
Excellen: Yes, what is it?
Bullet: …Could you not walk around like that? Y-You know…in a towel.
Excellen: What, is my gorgeous figure too much for you? *giggle*
Bullet: Gyaaa!
Excellen: …What is it now?
Bullet: Please! This isn’t a joke! What if someone sees you like that!?
*Ask a stupid question…*
Kyosuke: I’m back. ATX Team, let’s start the…huh?
Bullet: Lt. Kyosuke!? Ah, uh, this isn’t…
Excellen: Oh my, this is a bit awkward isn’t it?
Kyosuke: …I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.
*Kyosuke leaves*
Bullet: Huuuuuuuuuuuuuhh!?
Excellen: No, no, no! You’re not supposed to say that! Wait! Kyosuke!
Bullet: A-Anyways, we’ve been called for a meeting…
Excellen: …Fine. Darn, and I just took a bath.
Kill or be Killed End
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