Chapter 6 (Ryusei)

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EOT Council

Nibhal: …I see. So, you’re saying EOTI, the researchers of Meteor 3 on Aidoneus Island…

Nibhal: Developed and mass-produced Armored Modules, those humanoid mechs…and lead a revolt against your people.

Karl: Do you think I was behind all that, Nibhal Mubhal?

Nibhal: No. You were preparing to negotiate with our “Guests”.

Nibhal: Yet the incident resulted because the EOT Council was careless, don’t you agree?

Karl: …..

Nibhal: And on top of that, Bian revealed our secret…

Nibhal: The existence of our “Guests”…the aliens.

Nibhal: Who’s going to take responsibility for this mess?

Karl: No matter. We can use the media to deceive the masses.

Nibhal: What about the DC? How will you deal with them?

Karl: They’re no match for the feds or the EFA, we’d crush them.

Nibhal: I disagree, Chairman Karl Schtleseman.

Nibhal: The United Colony Corps is sympathizing with Dr. Bian’s actions.

Karl: …I’m surprised that you already know.

Nibhal: Wouldn’t it be inconvenient for the EFA if they take control of space?

Karl: That’s an army matter. It’s not our place to interfere.

Nibhal: …I see…

Nibhal: I understand your concerns and will report them to my superior. Now if you’ll excuse me…

*Nibhal leaves*

Karl: Hmph. Pig.

Karl: So, what is the extent of the damage in Antarctica?

Senator A: The Shirogane and Coatsland base were hit hard.

Karl: How is President Albert Grey?

Senator A: His injuries aren’t life-threatening.

Karl: And how did the EFA’s invasion of Marquesas go?

Senator A: It failed. The DC launched a counter-offensive…

Senator A: And with the aid of the UCC, they quickly seized the military’s satellite network.

Karl: Hm…They couldn’t take out the DC’s stronghold.

Karl: Have the Feds control the media coverage on the aliens.

Karl: That’s more important than Bian’s revolution, for now.

Senator A: Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Karl: (…..)

Karl: (Bian Zoldark, Maier V. Branstein…they ruined our efforts to negotiate with the aliens…)

Karl: (But, I won’t let them get away with this.)

Izu Base

Laker: …The DC’s hybrid mobile squad conquered the East Asia Brigade?

Sakae: Yes, sir. Our allied forces in Eastern Asia were vastly overpowered.

Sakae: Our enemy not only had submarines, but also land and air based battle carriers…we are now developing a counter strategy for these units.

Laker: Hmm…

Hans: ..Along with the Far East Branch, they invaded southern China and wiped out the Okinawa base.

Hans: It’s only a matter of time before the enemy invades central China and southern Japan.

Hans: Commander, why don’t we align ourselves with the DC…?

Laker: Nonsense. If we abandon our duty, who will protect those in the Far East?

Hans: The DC has only targeted military facilities. I don’t believe they’ll attack civilians.

Laker: Do you want us to take Bian’s word at face value? While we are at war with him?

Hans: But…there are many federal troopers who sympathize with the DC’s actions…

*Alert Siren*

Operator: Commander! DC units are approaching the Sasebo base in Kyushu, sir!

Laker: What…!?

Hans: The massive DC invasion of Japan has finally begun….

Operator: Both Sasebo and Kasuga bases are requesting assistance!

Laker: Go to DEFCON 1.

Laker: Scramble PT Platoon 1 and Air Squadrons 304 and 305. And get me Komatsu.

Operator: Yes sir!

Izu Base – Hangar

Ingram: Five minutes ago, we received reports that Sasebo base was attacked.

Aya: Really!?

Ingram: Yes. Our unit, as well as Major Kai Kitamura’s, were ordered to sally.

Rai: Bringing out our secret PTs for a non-Aerogater battle…

Rai: We’re assuming the flyer is among the enemy units, right?

Ingram: That’s right.

Ryusei: …..

Ingram: The SRX Team is also on alert. If need be, we may have to sortie.

Ryusei: U-us…?

Ingram: Yes even though you’re test pilots. However, we’re at war, and we don’t have enough PT pilots.

Ingram: We can’t afford to be selective.

Ryusei: (…W-War…)

Ryusei: (Here…in Japan…)

Chapter 6: Menace of the Divine Crusaders

Sasebo Base

Garnet: Hey, what’re we gonna do!? We’re the only survivors!

Giado: I can see dat! Stop screaming like a little girl!

Garnet: ! Are you trying to say I’m undignified? Do you want me to SHOW you!?

Giado: Show me WHAT? …Guess you’re OK den, givin’ me lip like dat.

Garnet: Why don’t YOU stop giving ME lip and give it some thought!

Giado: Well, dey’re next-gen fighters with superior firepower.

Latune: …And their pilots…are better trained than ours…

Giado: Da DC’s mechs may be betta, but dey’ll never out-pilot me!

Garnet: I knew you’d say that. I’ll go with ya…but you’re buying me dinner later.

Giado: If we make it out alive.

Latune: …..

Garnet: Latune, you get out of here…you shouldn’t die in a place like this when you’re so young.

Latune: Why…? My assistance might be useful.

Giado: Darn it girl, you’re as helpless as da rest of us!

Kai: …What’s left of our ground troops?

EFA Pilot: The tank and infantry units are all wiped out…!

Kai: Then, retreat with the units in the rear.

EFA Pilot: B-But!

Kai: We can’t afford to lose another PT. Now leave this to me.

EFA Pilot: Y-Yes, sir. Good-good luck…

*NPC Gespenst leaves*

Kai: 305 Air Squadron, do you copy? This is Geist 1, Kai Kitamura.

Giado: Sorry, Major. De com link is acting up. Can’t hear your order to retreat, sir.

Kai: What…!?

Giado: However, YOU betta retreat, sir. The PT is too valuable, yah?

Kai: I won’t move until I see the DC’s new weapon.

Giado: You got da Aggressors’ blood, mon! Roger dat!

Kai: OK, let’s take the fight to them!!

*Conditions shown, Battle starts*

*Turn 3 Player Phase, Prep Screen, Ryusei, Rai and Aya deploy*

Kai: Is that…Ingram’s SRX Team!?

Giado: SRX Team? Aren’t dey just a bunch of test pilots?

Garnet: Can we count on them?

Giado: Nah, nevah trust a test pilot.

Ryusei: Urk…they…destroyed everything…!

Rai: What’s wrong, Ryusei? Have you lost your nerve?

Ryusei: S-Shut up!

Aya: Ryu, Rai, take out the DC fighter jets!

Rai: Affirmative.

Ryusei: …..

Aya: Ryu, pull yourself together! They’re right in front of you!

Ryusei: I-I know!

Giado: Is dat kid OK? Freaked out, jah?

Garnet: Dunno. Maybe he’s just green?

Giado: Cha, why don’t dey give US a PT, since de greens got ‘em?

Rai: Ryusei, this is it… If you can’t fight, get out of that PT.

Ryusei: What…Whaddaya mean!?

Rai: A coward can’t help anybody. You’re wasting a valuable PT.

Ryusei: Y-You smug little…! Don’t lecture me!!

Rai: If you’re going to get angry, use that to fight our enemies.

Ryusei: !

Ryusei: (…Right…! If I don’t fight…!)

Ryusei: (…Just like in Antarctica…! We’ll all die if we don’t fight!)

*Conditions updated, Battle resumes*

*Clear the map*

Giado: Odd…dey didn’t even show off da new mech.

Garnet: I know…and their tactics were working for them.

*Taussendfussler appears*

Ryusei: ! Is that…Major Ingram’s Taussendfussler?

Ingram: All units, an enemy sub has launched an MAPW.

Ingram: Retreat at once. I’ll retrieve the survivors and remaining PTs.

Kai: What!? A MAPW!?

Giado: Da DC are nuts! Why’d dey go and use dat for!?

Ryusei: MAPW…what is that!?

Rai: A ‘Massive Area Pre-emptive Weapon’.

Ryusei: !

Rai: An MAPW from a combat sub…must be a non-atomic missile.

Ryusei: S-So what…what happens if it hits!?

Rai: The entire base…will be annihilated.

Ryusei: Wh…What!?

Ingram: Hurry. We don’t have much time before the MAPW arrives.

Ryusei: M-Major, wait!

Ingram: Didn’t you hear my order, Master Sergeant Ryusei?

Ryusei: What’re you saying!? We can’t just abandon the base!

Ingram: …Hurry up.

Ryusei: !

Rai: Ryusei…you’re a soldier, obey your orders

Ryusei: Huh…!?

Rai: It’s impossible to shoot down a MAPW with our current mechs.

Rai: Not to mention your piloting skills…

Ryusei: Then you do it…!

Rai: If I could, I’d have done so by now.

Rai: …We retreat like Major Ingram ordered us to, Ryusei…!

*All units except Ryusei retreat*

Ingram: What are you doing, Ryusei…?

Ryusei: Grrrr…! All we can do is run!!

Ryusei: Blast…! BLAST IIIIIIIIIIT!!

*Ryusei and Taussendfussler escape, MAPW comes and wipes out the base*

Hospital

Kusuha: What!? Sasebo was…!?

Doctor: Yes.

Kusuha: But…

Doctor: This is war. Not a movie in a theater, but reality.

Kusuha: …..

Doctor: Oh, I almost forgot…you’re being discharged soon. You’ve been summoned by army orders

Kusuha: Army…?

Doctor: Yes, to a base near here. I heard it’s because they have a shortage of on-hand staff.

Kusuha: R…Really? Well, If I can be of help…

Doctor: …..

Doctor: That being said, you were once an aspiring nurse, correct?

Kusuha: Y…Yes…

Doctor: Well…once you leave here, are you going to offer your services as a nurse?

Kusuha: Huh? I-I…

Doctor: If you do, I can prepare a special learning course for you. However, there is one condition…

Kusuha: …..

Izu Base

Ryusei: …..

Aya: Don’t be so down, Ryu.

Ryusei: …..

Aya: I understand the feeling. It’s painful, but…this is part of war.

Aya: Yes…this is…

Ryusei: It wasen’t zero…

Aya: Huh?

Ryusei: If I had stayed…I might have shot down the missile…

Ryusei: There might have been a 99% chance of failure. I may have been blown up with the base…

Ryusei: But we retreated…and Sasebo lost its 1% of hope.

Aya: You…

Rai: …Are you planning on including all of us in that 1%?

Ryusei: Wha…?

Rai: I thought you had grasped the reality of the situation..but apparently I misunderstood.

Rai: Someone who loses sight of the big picture and acts without thinking…has no place in the military.

Ryusei: Then tell me…tell me what your answer is…!

Rai: …..

Rai: …There is no choice but to accept the facts. That’s all. And it’s what you need to do.

Ryusei: Don’t make me laugh! That’s no better than being a robot!!

Rai: …Talk to me again when you’re a full-fledge pilot!

Ryusei: Ouch! Y-You little…!

Aya: What are you doing!? Both of you stop! Ryu! Rai!

Ryusei: Rai! Why are you only fighting with one arm!?

Rai: …..

Ryusei: You’re just mocking me again!!

Aya: Ryu, stop! Rai’s left hand is…!

Ryusei: What!? His left hand is what!?

Aya: …His left hand is…

Ryusei: !?

Rai: Hmph…one arm is all I need to handle someone like you.

*Rai leaves*

Ryusei: Wait, you weasel!!

Aya: I said knock it off!!

Ryusei: !

Aya: Ryu, this is no time to be fighting!

Aya: Don’t forget, other EFA bases are under fire as we speak!

Ryusei: Tch…

Aya: You know…Rai’s hurting too.

Ryusei: You’re telling me that he’s hurting!?

Ryusei: ‘Follow your orders, accept the facts’…it’s as though he’s not human…!

Aya: Listen, Ryu. Rai’s left hand is—

Ryusei: I don’t care about his hand!

*Ryusei leaves*

Aya: Ryu…

Izu Base – Command Center

Kai: …That concludes my report, sir.

Sakae: Sasebo is gone… and we’ve lost the stronghold in Kyushu.

Laker: Unlike Wake Island, the enemy was able to take out our bases in those locations.

Hans: It seems like a premonition for how this war will go.

Laker: …..

Ingram: We have learned something from the DC…in our current situation, we cannot hold our own against the Aerogaters.

Kai: We paid quite the price to learn that. But it’s too late to have our tuition fee returned now.

Ingram: However, it may have been a necessary lesson.

Kai: What exactly might that lesson be?

Ingram: We need to use whatever weapons we have that they don’t.

Kai: You mean…our second Space Noah class battleship?

Ingram: That’s it.

Kai: However, the DC still have…

Ingram: We are the only ones that have a Space Noah battleship which carries that weapon.

Kai: But, how…

Laker: …We will now employ a plan for using the second battleship.

Kai: Commander…

Laker: And as the commander of this strategy, I know just the man to captain the ship.

Hans: …Who is it?

Laker: The Captain of the Shirogane…Daitetsu Minase.

Menace of the Divine Crusaders End

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