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At the Far East Base, Lefina and Daitetsu meet with Laker about their respective missions. With the liberation of Riksent, Aviano Base has reestablished a defensive line. That should keep the NDCs contained, for now, giving the Far East Base time to focus on Operation Plantagenet. Unsurprisingly, the Hagane and Hiryu Kai will be the cornerstones of the counteroffensive, and their task is now to prepare themselves. Lefina leaves to return to her ship, but...



Laker: "Daitetsu, a moment. I wanted to speak with you."
Daitetsu: "...? Yes?"
Laker: "Have you given any thought to the other matter I mentioned?"
Daitetsu: "Taking charge at the Academy? I think Sean would be more suited to that position."
Laker: "You do? I thought you wanted a chance to guide younger officers?"
Daitetsu: "I do. But I've found that opportunity in the field."
Laker: "The field?"



Daitetsu: "Aboard the Hagane. I can't retire as captain yet; there's too much I still have to teach my men."
Laker: "Have you spoken to Tetsuya about your plans?"
Daitetsu: "Mm. Should he survive the war, he'll be worthy to command his own Space Noah vessel. I won't retire until I've seen that come to pass."
Laker: "....."
Daitetsu: "Once that happens, you can place me on a ship as an advisor. That's the role I'd prefer."



Laker: "Teaching from the front lines... it suits you."
Daitetsu: "...I'm sorry."
Laker: "Don't worry. I won't ask again about the Academy."



Laker: "...By the way, I just got my hands on some top-class Daiginjo. Make some time later and we'll open it up. Sean as well."
Daitetsu: "Heh... as you wish."

-----



Ryusei: "Oh man oh man oh man, it's actually the Mechanoid! This is so freakin' sweet... an actual, honest-to-god ancient super robot! Somebody pinch me!"
Kusuha: "I thought you'd like it, Ryusei."
Ryusei: "Hey, can I ride the Ryu-Ko-Oh? Just once! Can I? Can I?"
Kusuha: "Um... I thought you'd say that, too..."



Ryusei's hopes are dashed as Kusuha, Bullet, and Eri explain about how the Mechanoid selected its own pilot. Then dashed further when Masaki explains that Cybuster works the same way, so he'd best give it up.



Ryusei: "I... I guess so... ah, man, I want to ride a super robot again..."
Bullet: "Isn't Captain Aya coming back for the next operation? You'll be using SRX again before too long."
Excellen: "You know what they say, super robots come to those who wait. So hang in there, Ryusei!"
Ryusei: "Yeah, I got it."



Arado: "SRX... you mean, when the R-1 and R-2 and R-3 combine together, right?"
Ryusei: "That's right."
Arado: "I can't wait! Looking at the R-1 and R-2, I can't figure out how they fit together."
Ryusei: "Oh, yeah, it surprised me when I saw it too."
Excellen: "The R-2 splits right in half. It still creeps me out whenever I see it..."
Arado: "It splits in half? You mean, like fileting a fish, or something?"
Excellen: "Y-yeah... exactly like that. I'm surprised Handsome has the guts to do it..."

Interestingly, Excellen isn't creeped out by the SRX combination in the original version.



Talking about mechs leads Bullet to ask Arado about the Wildwurger, which in turn leads into a summary of their clashes with Seolla and Ouka.



Masaki, meanwhile, hasn't been able to take his eyes off of those two weird units in the corner. Shine comes in to explain about the Fairlions; everybody's surprised to hear that she'll be fighting alongside them, but when they hear about her resolve to protect her country and the world, they're only too glad to welcome her aboard.



Kusuha: "But, still... will you be all right piloting?"
Ryusei: "Actually, Latooni's the one controlling the princess' Fairlion, remotely."
Kusuha: "What?"
Arado: "The Princess reads the enemy's movements, and Lat does the controls. That's about how it works..."
Bullet: "So it's like they're both sharing a mech, sort of."



Excellen: "Wow, Lat's got a lot of responsibility... bit scary, isn't it?"
Ryusei: "I think she can handle it."
Shine: "I do as well. I will do my best, so I don't burden Latooni."
Masaki: "So now we've got us a warrior princess... well, where the princess leads, we'll have to follow."
Bullet: "Yeah..."

-----



Then there's more summary of one anothers' routes; this time covering the fake Sanger (and the real Sanger), Archibald (who Rai suspects is still alive), Axel Almer, and Shu Shirakawa. It looks like we have no shortage of enemies lining up to take shots at us. And considering what Axel did to the Alteisen, Kyosuke is beginning to worry that he doesn't have enough power...

-----



Giado: "So, you finally found your friends, and..."
Latooni: "I'm not giving up. On Sis, or Seolla."
Giado: "That's what matters. We told ourselves the same thing."
Latooni: "....."



Giado: "When we found you lying in that cockpit, we thought you weren't gonna make it. Garnet and I swore we'd do whatever it took to save you. When the doctors told us you'd never live a normal life, we took you in anyway. We believed in you... and just look at you now, girl. If you have faith, you can do the same for them."
Latooni: "Yeah... I will."



Garnet: "Giado! Shove over, it's my turn!"
Giado: "All right, all right... you could try saying please, y'know."
Garnet: "Hi, Latooni! How've you been?"
Latooni: "Garnet!"



Garnet: "So? How are you and Ryusei doing?"
Latooni: "U-um..."
Garnet: "Ooh, I know that face. Something happened, didn't it? C'mon, tell me everything!"
Latooni: "We, uh... we went to the arcade together and played games..."
Garnet: "Mm-hmm... and then?"
Latooni: "W-we had our picture taken together the other day..."
Garnet: "And then?"



Latooni: "T!hat's all..."
Giado: "That's all!? What the hell? Somebody's gotta teach that kid how to treat a girl right."
Garnet: "Oh, like you should talk!"



Latooni: "S-so, Garnet... how is the baby?"
Garnet: "Oh, that's right! Guess what? We're going to have twins! Now we just have to worry about feeding them both on Giado's pay..."
Giado: "Well, excuse me, lady..."



Latooni: "Giado, Garnet... congratulations!"
Garnet: "Thanks, Latooni!"
Giado: "So that means your family's getting two new additions."
Garnet: "We'll be waiting for you when you come home. And bring your friends with you, okay?"
Latooni: "I will..."

-----



Tsugumi and Ibis apologize to Robert for letting Tesla Reich be captured, but Robert isn't worried at all. In fact, he has some news to cheer them both up: retaking Tesla is their objective in the next operation. In the meantime, he's just glad to lay eyes on the Astelion, and to see the fruits of Project TD for himself.



Ibis asks if Robert knows Filio, and he elaborates. During one of his visits to Tesla, there was to be a party, and he happened to see Filio singing karaoke - specifically, songs by a certain pop idol duo. This happened to be the same duo whose dance moves provided the motion data for the Fairlions - oh, and sometimes while watching their recorded performances, Filio would get up and start dancing along.



Tsugumi laughs, thinking that this sounds just like Filio, but Ibis' mental image of him has taken a bit of a shock.



Changing the subject to more serious matters, Robert mentions that he'd wanted to see the Calions - but with one destroyed and the other handed over to the NDCs, that clearly won't be happening. Things turn somber when the subject of Sleigh's defection comes up, but Ibis says with certainty that Sleigh's just confused; surely, she'll come back and they'll all be reunited in the end. Robert shares her optimism - the bonds of the Terrestrial Dream are too strong to just break like that.



Kirk barges in with Ryoto to discuss development. With the new condensers they've developed for the R-GUN Powered, they can finally move ahead with the AM Boxer module. They'd like to begin work at once, and Tsugumi volunteers to help. Figuring she has the day free to do more training drills, Ibis heads out as well.



Kirk: "Rob. How is the R-GUN Powered?"
Robert: "The T-LINK's Twin Contact mode is having its final adjustments now."
Kirk: "Is the pilot still going to be..."
Robert: "Yeah... if she doesn't have any problems."
Kirk: "Problems? The last report said her TP levels were much higher than expected."
Robert: "N-no... I, uh... never mind."
Kirk: "....."

-----



Viletta: "With these numbers, using the HTB Cannon will be no problem."
Kenzo: "Engaging in Twin Contact also raised Aya's levels. With luck, we can repeat the process while using the actual R-GUN."



Viletta: "But there's heavy fluctuation in Mai's data. Do we know the cause?"
Kenzo: "...Residual thoughts."
Viletta: "...! You're talking about Levi!?"
Kenzo: "Yes. Mai still retains memories of her time as Levi."
Viletta: "And we're having her use the R-GUN in that state?"
Kenzo: "Yes. You can see the results, Captain."



Viletta: "Are we going to tell Mai about Levi?"
Kenzo: "No. Doing that might empower Levi's memories. We can't let Mai know the truth, not yet."
Viletta: "But...! Sooner or later she'll learn about her past. The Hagane and Hiryu Kai are full of people who fought Levi during the L5 Campaign."
Kenzo: "But none of them saw her face. And Kusuha Mizuha has no recollection of her time aboard the White Star, correct?"
Viletta: "....."
Kenzo: "The only ones who know the truth will be the SRX team, Captain Daitetsu, and Radha Bairaban."
Viletta: "And you're going to force them to hide it from her."
Kenzo: "The situation in the Earth sphere is critical. If we don't use SRX's power, none of us will live long enough to tell her."



Viletta: "Lies upon lies... this can't hold forever. Ryusei and the others will start to suspect. I'm already following in Ingram's footsteps."
Kenzo: "I won't tamper with Mai's memories. It's one mistake I won't repeat..."
Viletta: "Mistake?"
Kenzo: "Yes... a mistake I made during my time at the Institute."

-----



Latooni delivers the happy news about Garnet and Giado to the others, triggering a mini-celebration in the briefing room. They collectively decide that they should give the couple something as a gift, although that starts to look like a bad idea as people brainstorm. (Radha suggests a book of asanas for children, Irm figures he can get his dad to make another rocket tricycle, Kusuha happens to have a catalog full of baby-sized exercise equipment...)



Lamia: "Ms. Exy... who are Gia-ado and Garnet-et?"
Excellen: "Our friends. They fought with us on the Hagane during the last war."
Kusuha: "They left the military and got married right after."
Excellen: "And they say kids are the fruits of love, right? They've been busy..."



Lamia: (Children... are the fruits of love? That sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?)



Kai: "Well, now it's more important than ever that Operation Plantagenet succeed."
Kusuha: "Right... we have to end the war, so Giado and Garnet's children can live in a peaceful world."
Lamia: "....."



Lamia: (...That's it. Mistress Lemon. When I was activated, she said the same thing. My W-Series... my beloved children...)



Lamia: (They say we have to end the war for the children's sake. But I was born to ensure that the war continues... I exist to fight. Mistress Lemon... I do not comprehend...)



In the original, this little bit of self-reflection on Lamia's part was different. Rather than thinking about her relationship with Lemon and questioning her role, Lamia just wonders why she isn't filled with contempt over how the crew wants the war to end.



Kai: "By the way, Excellen. I'll be meeting Captain Daitetsu in his quarters tonight. Are you coming as well?"
Excellen: "Ooh! Is this what I think it---"



And then Excellen starts hearing things.



Excellen: (I'm hearing voices... in my head? Are you...)
???: (Excellen... come to us...)
Excellen: (I thought so... it is you, Alfimi...)
???: (Come to me... Excellen... you...)
Excellen: (I wanted... to talk to you... too...)
Alfimi: (That is good... we should be united... Excellen... you are... my...)



Excellen:
Lamia: "Ms. Exy?"
Excellen:
Latooni: "Excellen?"



Excellen: "I have to go... she's waiting... for me..."
Without another word, Excellen walks out the door.
Radha: "Excellen! Where are you going!?"

-----



Alarms sound on the bridge as one of the hatches is forced open. Tetsuya brings Excellen up on the monitor, but she only says "Weissritter... launching..." before departing. Kai is hot on her heels after her odd behavior, and is already mobilizing the fastest units to go after her.



Mission 31: The Uninvited (Part 1)

Spoiler: The next mission is Part 2.







Excellen: "H-huh? Th-this is... oh, I get it."



Excellen: "Okay, I'm here! Alfimi, you can come out now! Didn't anybody tell you it's rude to keep your guests waiting?"




Excellen: "Oh, wow. Alfimi, you've lost weight."



Excellen: "...OK, enough playing around, I didn't come out here for you guys! Where's the little girl in the red mech!?"
Einst Knochen:
Excellen: "Oh, the silent treatment, is it? Don't you know that's rude, too?"