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Three Trilobite-class transports head out across the ocean.
On the lead transport, an unidentified woman says that it looks like they've escaped their pursuers. Her male companion is hardly satisfied, as only the Neverland, the Wonderland, and their own ship managed to escape - a disgraceful showing by any measure.
As for their pursuers, the Wulves only had three units in addition to the Space Noah-class vessel. Nonetheless, the operation can hardly be called a success, as they've failed to draw out the Beowulves' commander - Kyosuke Nanbu.
She remarks that it's probably just as well, since Axel isn't with them. But something was wrong - different about him. The man agrees; their strategy hadn't accounted for the Gespenst Mk. III's level of power. Did it receive some sort of upgrade? It almost looked as if it was repairing itself...
"So, what now?"
"...We're shifting to Plan EF. We'll go to the Tesla Institute."
"Well, nothing we can do. We're being pushed into a corner..."
"Have the preparations been made?"
"Axel has it under control."
"And Fel Graden's new engine?"
"Once it arrives at Tesla, we'll claim it."
"Good. Activate the Stealth Shade, and set course for Tesla Reich."
Meanwhile, in a different transport flying over Colorado...
Raji Montoya and the pilot try to raise Tesla Reich on the radio, but without success. Raji's fellow engineer Mizuho Saiki worries; could something have happened at the Institute? He agrees that it's a possibility - they have all sorts of prototypes under development there, and an accident isn't out of the question. It's certainly ominous.
Raji thinks it would be wise to turn back, but another passenger, Fiona Graden, isn't willing to back down now; the Federation has already promised that they can use Tesla's facilities if they go (that's if the Feds are impressed with their test results, Raji adds). She won't be dissuaded, as the news from Europe hasn't been good. The remnants of the Divine Crusaders are staging an uprising, and the fighting has resumed. While it's unlikely that the battle could extend this far, the Federation troops at Tesla could make it a target.
Raji: "Look, that just makes it more likely that something could be wrong."
Fiona: ".....Raji. Weren't you the one who wanted to go to Tesla the most?"
Raji: "Yeah, I wanted to see the Grungust Type-3 and Soulgain with my own eyes. That was then. This is now. There's a Federation base nearby, why don't we head there?"
Fiona: "No, we're going to Tesla. If something's happened, we need to know."
Raji: "...What do you think, Mizuho?"
Mizuho: "I... I'm with Fiona. If there was an accident, we should..."
Fiona: "Welp, that's two to one. Looks like you're outvoted."
Raji: "Hold your horses. Raul hasn't weighed in yet."
Fiona: "No need."
Raji: "Hey, I know you're twins, but shouldn't you at least let him speak for himself?"
Fiona: "And start prepping the Excellence."
Mizuho: "Wh-why...?"
Raji: "Having another premonition?"
Fiona: "Yeah."
Raji: "....."
Fiona: "We need to be prepared. The DCs might be making a push into North America... and c'mon, you know me, don't you?"
Raji: "All muscle under a gentle exterior?"
Fiona: "You said it..." "
fiona: "...Hey, wait a minute!"
Raji: "Easy, I'm joking."
Fiona asks Raji to humor her; with all the news, she just doesn't like the current situation one bit. At length he gives in - on the condition that if the worst comes to pass, they're getting out of there at top speed. Mizuho doesn't quite get what he's suggesting, and he clarifies that Tesla Reich may have been occupied by DC remnants. With that settled, Fiona announces that she'll be taking the Striker, since the Flyer frame is still under adjustment. She heads off to get Raul, while the two engineers get to work.
Fiona: "Hey, Raul! Raul, wake up!"
Raul: "Ngh... just five more minutes..."
Fiona: "Don't give me that! C'mon, rise and shine!"
Raul: "I was up all night doing adjustments... just... let me sleep."
Fiona: "Will you get your butt out of bed!?"
Raul: "If it's about the Excellence BS test... you can handle it."
Fiona: "Ugh, fine! You leave me no choice..."
Fiona: "Oh, big brotheeerrrr... <3 wakey-wakeeeeey... <3"
Raul: "Wah! Wh-what are you doing!? That's creepy!"
Fiona: "That's the point... still makes me a little mad to hear that, though."
Raul: "Ugh... why?"
Fiona: "Oh, you know. Aren't you happy to wake up to a hug from your adorable little sister?"
Raul: "Whatever."
Raul: "So what's the deal?"
Fiona: "Stand by in your Excellence."
Raul: "...! Did something happen?"
Fiona: "Could be."
I should probably point out now, for people who don't already know, that Raul and Fiona (and Mizuho and Raji) are characters from Super Robot Wars Reversal on the Gameboy Advance. They weren't in the original OG2 at all; nor, for that matter, do they do very much in the remake. In fact, this first couple of missions were pretty much added just to tell fans that the R originals were in the OGverse now, and that they should buy OG Gaiden in a few months if they wanted to see more. Oh well.