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Izu Base – Briefing Room

Tasuku: What? We’re having a party?

Excellen: Yep. Before we head to the big showdown…we have to do something fun.

Russel: Is that OK? Having fun at a time like this…

Excellen: Of course. That’s the whole idea behind this.

Excellen: It’s all about team spirit.

Tasuku: Is it that…or do you just want an excuse to drink?

Excellen: Eh, whatever works.

Rio: We’ll need some food, too.

Excellen: Okay. So, then…I’m in charge of drinks, you handle the food. 

Rio: Sure thing. Alright…I know a Chinese dish that I can cook. Leona, would you help me?

Leona: Me…? Why?

Rio: Well…you already have an impressive array of skills. So I figured you would be pretty good at cooking.

Leona: B-But that’s…

Rio: If I invite Eun, Kusuha, Latune, Aya, Garnet and Radha…

Rio: We can have a multi-cultural food festival. Ooh, it’s gonna be great!

Excellen: Yeah! I’m excited!

Russel: I’ll arrange for the other supplies.

Tasuku: Woohoo! And I’ll put on a magic show!

Leona: …..

Tasuku: Hm? What’s wrong, Leona? You look concerned.

Leona: I…It’s nothing.

Tasuku: You sure? Okay, then I’ll be looking forward to your German cuisine.

Leona: Um, sure…

Izu Base – SRX Lab

Jonathan: Hmm…how can we still not solve this problem?

Rob: For the time being, I think extending the SRX operating time is all we can do.

Kirk: Doubt it. The R-Series transformation circuit is really complex.

Jonathan: How am I supposed to react when its creator says that?

Rob: I think we should concentrate on the joint strength…

Jonathan: No, we don’t have time to devote to that one issue.

Rob: You’re right…

Marion: I thought you were supposed to be the top minds in your field.

Rob: P-Professor Radom!?

Kirk: …..

Jonathan: You’re…alive?

Marion: How rude! Of course I’m alive!

Jonathan: Take it easy. We haven’t heard from you since Langley Base.

Marion: A lot has happened. Master Rishu is well also.

Jonathan: He is…! That’s a relief.

Kirk: Why are you here, Mari…

Marion: You should probably stop calling me that.

Kirk: Oh…right.

Rob: ?

Marion: I’m here to give you a new type of Servo Motor.

Jonathan: A new type…?

Marion: Yes. I designed it specifically for the Gespenst MK III.

Marion: Fortunately, I have a few spares I can give you…free of charge.

Marion: They should be enough to enhance the SRX joints.

Rob: Th-Then…we’ll be able to extend the SRX combination time?

Marion: Exponentially. I also took the liberty of standardizing them…also free.

Rob: Th-Thank you!

Kirk: We appreciate it, Dr. Marion Radom.

Marion: Don’t worry about it. Just thought you could use my help.

Jonathan: We mortals appreciate it.

Marion: Cut it out. Besides…it wasn’t just to help you, Dr. Hamil.

Kirk: I understand.

Rob: Dr. Kazahara…do those two have history together?

Jonathan: Well, they’ve been rivals since back at Mao Industries…

Rob: No, I already knew about that…

Jonathan: So, you haven’t heard about their past…

Rob: Their past?

Jonathan: Believe it or not…those two were married.

Rob: Whaaaaaat!?

Jonathan: Yeah…nothing’s ever simple between a man and a woman.

Rob: …N-No way…

Izu Base – Briefing room

Kyosuke: I’m glad you’re safe, Master Rishu Tohgo.

Rishu: As am I. I’ve heard about your accomplishments. And, also, about Sanger.

Kyosuke: A lot’s happened…but now we know his intentions.

Rishu: Indeed. I should be happy that my students don’t have to fight each other.

Bullet: Master Rishu!

Rishu: Ah, Bullet. You look well. How has your sword training been?

Bullet: Fine, sir!

Rishu: I suppose I’ll have to take a look…we’ll run some drills later.

Bullet: Yes sir!

Ryusei: Who’s the old man?

Ryoto: An advisor at Tesla-Leicht Institute…he created the sword data for the Grungust units.

Ryoto: He’s a master of the Jigen-ryu style.

Ryusei: Ohhh. Maybe he can teach me to use a sword later.

Rishu: Perhaps…the SRX does use a sword.

Ryusei: Yes, it’s the Heaven-Splitting Supreme Sword.

Ryoto: I-Is that…the official name of that weapon?

Ryusei: I came up with that myself. It’s cool, right?

Ryoto: S-Sure…h-heh…

Rishu: Heaven-Splitting Supreme Sword? It has a certain ring to it. A good name.

Bullet: (I guess they must think alike…)

Kyosuke: By the way, Bullet…didn’t you want to tell us something?

Bullet: Right, almost forgot. Everyone please start heading to the mess hall, the party will begin soon.

Kyosuke: Sure.

Izu Base – Mess hall

Giado: YEAH! T’ank you, everybody!!

Irm: Great job, Giado!

Giado: Hah, t’anks. Maybe I’ll do an encore after de big mission.

Lune: Wow, Giado’s a really good singer.

Latune: …I heard that was his dream before he joined the EFA.

Lune: I can imagine. He’s certainly make a good living that way.

Tasuku: Ladies and gentlemen!

Tasuku: Now for tonight’s eye-candy, please give a round of applause to…

Taskuk: Lt. Garnet Sunday and Lt. Excellen Browning!

Garnet: Hey!

Excellen: Hi everyone!

Ryusei: Wh-What are they wearing!?

Kyosuke: Bunny outfits.

Ryusei: Yeah, I can see that…

Irm: Oh, yeah! We’ve been waiting to see this!

Bullet: L-Lieutenant! Aren’t you embarrassed in that outfit!?

Excellen: You say that…but I can see your eyes are roaming.

Garnet: Is this a little too much for you?

Bullet: S-Stop teasing me like that…

Masaki: It’s way too much for him.

Kusuha: Bullet, are you OK? Your nose is bleeding…

Bullet: Huh…? H-Help me out, Lt. Kyosuke! You’re actually OK with this!?

Kyosuke: …They appear to be having fun. I think we should let them.

Bullet: O-Oh…

Giado: Tasuku! Let’s hurry dis up!

Tasuku: OK, OK!

Rio: Calm down, everyone. There’s still plenty of food left to eat!

Ryoto: …Delicious. You’re a great chef, Rio.

Rai: Yeah, I’m impressed.

Eun: Make sure you try some of this too, Lt. Rai.

Radha: Eun and I made special curry.

Rai: Sure, I’ll try a bite.

Rai: …Huh!?

Ryoto: What’s wrong?

Rai: …I-I need water…!

Radha: Oh…? Do you think it’s a little too spicy?

Masaki: Wait a sec…were you using him as a guinea pig?

Ryoto: With an Indian and a Korean collaborating on it, no wonder it’s spicy.

Excellen: Tasuku…you’re stabbing me with the sword.

Tasuku: Huh? That’s weird…have you gained weight, Lieutenant?

Lune: Um, Tasuku. Maybe you picked up the wrong blade?

Tasuku: O-Oops! Y-You’re right…

Katina: Hahaha, give me a break.

Excellen: Oh well, can’t be helped. Though I dressed up and everything…

Excellen: So, Garnet. Should we move on?

Garnet: Sure! That’s the main attraction anyway!

Tasuku: Hey, Russel. Have you seen Leona?

Russel: Nope…

Aya: She’s in the kitchen. I think she’s still cooking her dish.

Kuro: Something smells funny…is she alright?

Aya: Well, this isn’t Kusuha. I don’t think Leona would…

Leona: …..

Tasuku: Yeah! I’ve been looking forward to Leona’s cooking! Down the hatch!

Leona: Uh…! Wait…!

Tasuku: *Chomp**Chomp*…*Gulp*!?

Aya: Wh-What’s wrong!?

Tasuku: Uhhhh…!

Russel: T-Tasuku!

Tasuku: U-Uh…urk.

{Thunk}

Shiro: H-He just collapsed!

Aya: Tasuku, can you hear me!?

Leona: …I-I’m sorry…I can’t really cook…

Aya: N-No kidding…

Kuro: …I guess nobody’s perfect…

Izu Base – Daitetsu’s Quarters

Sean: Well, the younger ones certainly are having fun.

Daitetsu: That’s good. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to relax. Especially the two of us.

Sean: Yeah. Not since the good old days, when you and I went into space.

Daitetsu: Hmmm…

Sean: …Something on your mind?

Daitetsu: …I was just thinking, this could be our last drink together.

Sean: Captain…

Daitetsu: Sean, if the worst happens…I’m counting on you.

Sean: Sheesh, you know that only an old man would say that? Just think young…

Garnet: Hi!

Excellen: Pardon us!

Daitetsu: !? W-Wh-What are you two…dressed in!?

Garnet: Bunny suits, can’t you tell?

Sean: Apparently you’re quite the knockout. I’d say your measurements are about 93, 58, and 88, yes?

Garnet: Oh great! Nice of you to notice, sir!

Sean: Hm. At least we know I haven’t lost my eyesight yet.

Excellen: Haven’t you forgotten something, Captain Daitetsu?

Daitetsu: Pardon?

Excellen: You know, THAT!

Daitetsu: “That”?

Excellen: *sigh* The SAKE from Kyoto!

Daitetsu: Oh, of course…I did promise you.

Sean: Well, why don’t we have our two lovely ladies serve it?

Daitetsu: Uh…

Excellen: It’s party time…shall we?

Daitetsu: (Great…just great. Lt. Garnet is here too. I won’t have any to save for later…)

Hagane – Bridge

Eita: *sigh*…Man…

Tetsuya: What’s with the big sigh?

Eita: I’m in here, while everyone else is out having fun…

Tetsuya: You’re on duty. It can’t be helped.

Eita: Ugh…I was looking forward to having some of Eun’s Korean dish…you understand how I feel, right sir?

Tetsuya: Not really. Orders are orders.

Eita: *Sigh*…man…

Tetsuya: …OK, OK. I’ll stay here. You go have fun.

Eita: R-Really!?

Tetsuya: Sure. I’ll give you twenty minutes.

Eita: U-Understood! Thank you, sir!

{Eita leaves}

Tetsuya: *Sigh*…

{Door opens}

Tetsuya: What are you doing, Eita? Hurry up and go.

Lefina: Huh?

Tetsuya: ! Ah…Lt. Col. Lefina.

Lefina: …Is something wrong?

Tetsuya: N-No…it’s nothing. Aren’t you going to the party?

Lefina: Well, I can’t exactly leave my post.

Lefina: Besides…you’re here if anything happens, right?

Tetsuya: Well, yes…I can’t drink, anyway.

Lefina: Hmhm…very serious. I can see why Captain Daitetsu puts his trust in you.

Tetsuya: N-No…not as much as you.

Tetsuya: You graduated with top honors from Icarus Base…

Tetsuya: And you’re the Captain of the Hiryu when you’re ten years younger than me…

Lefina: I’m only here thanks to XO Sean…

Lefina: Besides, didn’t you graduate with honors as well?

Tetsuya: Yeah, well…next to top in Class B.

Lefina: Still, that’s outstanding.

Tetsuya: …I’m flattered, but…I’m…not really cool under pressure…

Lefina: ?

{Alarm}

Tetsuya: It’s…!

Lefina: The enemy…!!

Chapter 36: Marionettes

Izu Base

*Enemies swarm the area*

Gaza: Tch, why must I wait for those fools?

Gaza: And with Galuin the mute cyborg.

Galuin: …..

Gaza: Well then, why don’t I just destroy the area for fun…?

Galuin: …!

Gaza: Huh?

{Allied Battleship arrives}

Excellen: Come on, Kyosuke. Do I really have to keep doing sit-ups?

Kyosuke: Yes. Until the alcohol is completely out of your system.

Irm: Kyosuke, what about you?

Kyosuke: I was drinking oolong tea.

Irm: …What a newb.

Garnet: Stop talking, and just do your sit-ups!

Irm: Nope, sorry. All I had was iced tea.

Garnet: Huh!?

Excellen: What a wimp. It must be hard pretending to be a tough guy, Lieutenant.

Irm: That’s none of your business. Especially since you dressed in a bunny suit and drank alcohol.

Excellen: Yeah, yeah. I didn’t even have time to shower…great.

Kyosuke: …Anyone who’s ready needs to deploy immediately.

{Prep screen, Units deploy}

Gaza: Heheheh…I was getting tired of waiting.

Lune: Those enemies…why didn’t they attack the bases?

Latune: They probably didn’t want to damage our firepower.

Lune: So they can fight us at our best. Seems a little cocky.

Gaza: It’s about time I put an end to this headache! Hahahahaha!!

{Conditions shown, Battle starts}

{VS Galuin}

Galuin: …..

Latune: (The way that it moves…)

Gilliam: (It’s similar to Col. Kar-Wai’s movements…!)

{VS Gaza}

Gaza: C’mon, let’s have some fun! Give me all you’ve got!!

Ryusei: !?

Rio: Ryusei, doesn’t he sound…familiar?

Ryusei: Y-Yeah…Tenzan…Tenzan Nakajima…

Masaki: Don’t be stupid. He died with the rest of the DC.

Excellen: Is it a ghost? Or maybe a twin brother?

Masaki: Why the heck would his twin be an alien!?

Radha: (Can it be…)

Gilliam: (…..)

{Defeat Galuin}

Galuin: …..

{Ezekiel Lavan explodes, Galuin retreats}

{Lower Gaza’s HP to 50%}

Gaza: I’m impressed. The monkeys have managed to corner Gaza Haganer.

Gaza: But, this game’s far from over. Now it’s my turn to have a little fun!

{Gaza’s Will is boosted}

Masaki: Game…?

Ryusei: Could it…really be him!?

Gilliam: (If the Aerogaters are planning what I think they are…)

{Lower Gaza’s HP to 40%}

Gaza: Tch, you’re a pretty tough one…!

Gaza: !!

Gaza: Uh…ugh…! M-My head…my head is pounding!!

Kyosuke: What’s going on…!?

Gaza: U-UAAAAGH…!!

Leona: That pilot’s…in pain?

Radha: (Could it be TK power? No…that mech’s not equipped with any TK devices.)

Gaza: Y-You worms…! This is the second, no, third time this has happened…!

Latune: Third time…? We’ve only fought that mech twice…

Gaza: Y-You’ll pay! I’m going to return the favor!!

Gaza: I don’t care about Mistress Levi’s orders! You’re all going to die!!

{Missiles appear}

Rai: Is that…MAPW!?

Irm: Is he trying to obliterate us all!?

Rai: Seems like it.

Katina: Didn’t you say they weren’t attacking Earth’s military facilities!?

Irm: Considering the situation, I think he’s gone rouge…this is bad.

Gaza: Hyahahaha! One you go away, so will my headache!!

Masaki: Shut up! You can’t blow up cities just because your head hurts!!

Gaza: YOU shut up! You’re going to die when you attack Neviim anyway!

Gaza: So, I’ll kill you here instead! Gah Ha Ha Ha!

Masaki: That monster…!

Kyosuke: Those missiles are…aimed at our ship.

Kyosuke: Assault 1 to all units. Destroy the propulsion unit of the missile before it reaches our ship.

Bullet: So just damage it enough to immobilize it?

Kyosuke: Correct. Make sure you don’t destroy the missile.

{Conditions update, Battle resumes}

{Defeat Gaza}

Gaza: W-Wh-What is this feeling…!? Why is it so familiar…!?

Gaza: Ugh! Gah! What is it!? I can’t remember…th-the pain…!!

Gaza: Tch…! I’m outta here!!

{Ezekiel Adom explodes, Gaza escapes}

{Disarm all the missiles}

Hagane – Bridge

Gilliam: From what we gathered in that last battle…

Gilliam: The enemy in the White-colored mech matches Col. Kar-Wai’s data by 96.4%.

Daitetsu: But, could the Aerogaters simply have obtained the Colonel’s data?

Gilliam: …It’s only my opinion, but…

Gilliam: Col. Kar-Wai’s motion data isn’t only input into that mech…

Gilliam: But we can assume the Colonel is inside of it.

Lefina: But, that’s impossible…! You’re saying Col. Kar-Wai’s alive and with the Aerogaters?

Gilliam: The Colonel’s body was never recovered. It certainly could be possible.

Radha: Though I would hope not, the Colonel could have been abducted by the Aerogaters…

Radha: If so, his memories may have been erased.

Radha: And…just like Major Ingram did with Kusuha…

Radha: Through his encounters with us, his memories could have begun to resurface…

Lefina: …..

Sean: Now that you mention it, I believe Ryusei and Masaki recognized the other pilot.

Sean: Maybe, he’s in the same situation as Col. Kar-Wai…?

Gilliam: Based on the commonality in past cases, we may finally be able to figure out the Aerogaters true goal.

Sean: I believe Dr. Marion Radom has a report on that.

Daitetsu: Alright…we don’t have much time before Operation SRW.

Daitetsu: Let’s head back to Izu.

Izu Base – Hangar

Kyosuke: At 1200 hours, we’ll be briefed on the operation, which we’ll execute two hours later.

Kyosuke: Please gather in briefing room three, and don’t be late.

Russel: Yes, sir.

Katina: I guess this is the countdown for the final battle…

Russel: Yeah. This time, I’m sure the enemy will be playing for keeps.

Excellen: Looks like we’re going to be ‘love on the cutting floor’…I think.

Ryusei: Wait a sec. It’s ‘come on the cutting board’…right?

Masaki: ‘Carp on the chopping block’. It’s a common saying in Japan.

Excellen: Oh, is that how it goes? I’ll have to make you student council president, Masa.

Kyosuke: Quit while you’re ahead. Or behind in this case, Excellen.

Masaki: Seriously, Earth’s fate is in our hands.

Masaki: This is where we make it all worthwhile.

Ryusei: Yeah…!

Marionettes End

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