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There's no sign of the retreating DCs on any long-distance radar or AWACS; it looks like they've given us the slip for the time being.



Meanwhile, Latooni has finished debriefing the hostages - specifically with regard to the Valsion. Isurugi Heavy Industries has been developing it in secret since the DC War ended, at the federal military's request. In other words, this very site was actually meant for its testing. Not a word was spoken about this at the Aegis Plan meeting that Kai attended.



That still leaves the question of what, exactly, just happened. Kai suspects the new commander at Langley, Kenneth, had a hand in this. Somebody had to have clued Lorenzo in on the machine's location; the commander could have planned to use the threat of a theft to scare Isurugi into placing the Valsion under his jurisdiction. Kenneth is currently working in the shadow of Commander Laker, as well as his own predecessor Greg Pastral. By the looks of the Valsion, it would have been sent to Tesla Reich or assigned to the SRX project once testing was complete. If Kenneth could get it attached to the ATX project instead, it would be an immediate sign of his increased authority.



More troubling is the discovery that the Divine Crusaders are far from defeated. Our own ability to respond to this is limited; but whether the day's events were due to DC spies or political machinations, one thing is clear: war may be brewing again.

-----



Bullet: "Kusuha... I'm glad you're safe."
Kusuha: "Thank you for coming out here for us, Bullet."
Bullet: "No, it was nothing, really."
Excellen: "Wait a minute, you were in a real fix back there. I was a little worried!"
Kusuha: "...Huh?"
Bullet: "L-Lieutenant!"



Excellen: "Oh, he got whupped but good by that samurai robot. But you know what they say, samurai are murky and all that."
Kusuha: "...Murky?"
Bullet: "Lieutenant, please stop. And it's called a samurai's mercy."

She actually says bushi no namako, "samurai sea cucumber," and has to be corrected by Bullet to bushi no nasake (武士の情け).



In any case, it looks like all's well that ends well here. Well, maybe not, since the DCs escaped with their prize, but if Kusuha and the others are safe, they can take comfort in that.



Excellen: "By the way, what are you two doing down here? Oooh, are you here for your honeymoon?"
Ryoto: "Eh!? N-no, that's..."
Excellen: "Aww! You need to give me advance notice before the ceremony! I have to make sure my bunny girl outfit still fits!"



Bullet: "Um, doesn't the honeymoon usually come after the wedding?"
Kusuha: "And I don't think you'd have a bunny girl for that in any case..."
Excellen: "Urgh... I can't deal with you two anymore. Well, Rio? I'm right, aren't I?"



Rio: "I-It's not a honeymoon!"
Ryoto: "R-right. I only came because she made me."
Rio: "Oh, really, Ryoto? So you wish I wasn't here!?"
Ryoto: "Th-that's not it! Not what I meant!"
Excellen: "Oh, my..."



Kyosuke comes back in, putting an immediate stop to the levity. The ATX team and Aggressors will be heading back to Langley. Ryoto finally asks the question we've all been wondering: what's with the Alt's new paint job? Turns out that it's actually very simple - their previous outing was a night mission, and the blue paint was for camouflage. Excellen helpfully adds that it's a big hit with the kids, who were all over it at the exhibition on the base a little while ago. Ryoto has also read the recent article on the Alt and Weiss in the military journals, though Kyosuke isn't comfortable with the attention and will be painting the Alt in its proper colors once they're home again.



They'll be bringing Kusuha back with them as well, though there's work to be done before that; the runway is strewn with debris and needs to be cleared. Bullet acknowledges, but then winces - guess he took a bruise or two during the battle after all. Kusuha whisks him away for some proper first aid.



Excellen: "Ooh, the sun shines on Bullet today. It's good to be young..."



Excellen: "Hey, Kyosuke. We can't fall behind, can we? How about a hug? Or two?"
Kyosuke: "When we get back. The transports are coming and we have to get this debris out of the way ASAP."



Excellen: "....."
Kyosuke: "What?"

Poor Excellen.



Excellen: "You... will? Really?"

Oh.