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The transports come in for a landing at Langley.
Excellen: "Attention, passengers! We have completed our landing at Langley Airport. Please proceed to the doors in an orderly fashion. We'd like to thank you all for flying Excellen Airlines, and have a safe and pleasant day!"
Bullet: "...Do you really have to do that every time we come back?"
Excellen: "I'll have you know that I'm very serious about my job."
Kyosuke: "If you have time to screw around, get ready to disembark."
Excellen: "Roger."
As their transport receives its clearance, the ATX crew takes note of a large vessel already present. It's Space Noah 1, the Shirogane, its repairs finally completed after Operation SRW. They wonder who the captain will be, given that it's most likely not Daitetsu Minase.
In the original this scene includes a bit that will be covered in the next mission instead.
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This scene is new. In the original the ATX trio are the only characters on the base.
Once they're on foot in the hangar, Excellen immediately starts to unwind from the flight, earning her a reprimand from Kyosuke. She suggests Kusuha get some rest after her ordeal, and Bullet volunteers to take care of unloading the Type-2, but Kusuha insists on doing her part. Excellen remarks on her toughness, then wonders if there's something to those health drinks after all...
Kyosuke: "Anyway, I know we just got back, but don't relax. We're not going to have time to rest."
Excellen: "This rotation is getting ridiculous. Don't you think he's doing it on purpose?"
Bullet: "No point in complaining. It just means Commander Kenneth is counting on us."
Excellen: "Wow, check out Mr. Positive Thinking here. Maybe he's just got it in for us."
Kyosuke: "That's not funny."
Kai comes to inform Kyosuke that Kenneth has called for him. That didn't take very long at all; Excellen suggests that Kyosuke should discreetly disappear somewhere for a little while, but Kai implores them both to behave for a while longer.
It's time for Rio and Ryoto to head back to Washington, so they say their goodbyes. Kusuha promises to write once they're settled back in on the moon (Rio tells her there's no need to send any more weird health-supplement catalogs). Kai asks them both to take care, and adds that Rio should try not to worry her father so much. Bullet asks them to send his regards to Dr. Radom when they get home. Rai hopes that the next time they meet, it's not on a battlefield.
Excellen: "Ryoto, you've got to practice being more assertive with Rio. Strike a pose, make a stern face, and say 'Shut up and listen!' Put your heart into it!"
Ryoto: "Um... yeah."
Kai: "Isn't that what Sanger used to do?"
Excellen: "Mm, yeah. Anyway, girls go head over heels when a quiet, pretty boy shows some steel. Go for it!"
Ryoto: "I'll, uh... I'll keep that in mind."
Rio: (I don't think he's got it in him...)
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In the briefing room, Kenneth immediately tells both Kyosuke and Kai that a gag order is in effect regarding what they witnessed on the mission; they're to forget everything that they saw. Isurugi Industries is conducting an investigation, which makes the situation "complicated." It looks like Kai's assessment of Kenneth was on the money. Kenneth tells Kai that he's dismissed and to go conduct his screening of the Aggressor candidates (his original reason for coming, after all). Kai leaves, silently wishing Kyosuke luck...
Kenneth: "Now, Lieutenant. As for your request to Lt. Colonel Warren..."
Kyosuke: (Telling me himself... I can already guess the response.)
Kenneth: "...Denied."
Kyosuke: "Then when will our rotation be changed?"
Kenneth: "Hm. The other squadrons are upgrading to the new Huckebeins. They'll need time to get acclimated."
Kyosuke: "....."
Kenneth: "What's that look? Does the hero of the L5 campaign have a problem with this?"
Kyosuke: "No, sir. But if we continue to push our machines this hard, their effectiveness will start to drop."
Kenneth: "I'm the commander here. Is that too hard to grasp, Lieutenant?"
Kyosuke: (Easy for him to say. Looks like we won't be getting a break...)
Then the door opens and somebody new comes in. You can start humming the Superman theme now.
Lee: "Lieutenant Colonel Lee Linjun, reporting for command of the Shirogane."
Kenneth: "So you made it, Lt. Colonel. Here's your new subordinate, Lieutenant Kyosuke Nanbu."
Kyosuke: (New subordinate? What is he---)
Lee: "So you're the ATX team's leader. I've heard about your work during the DC war and the L5 campaign."
Kyosuke: "....."
Lee: "But don't expect any special treatment. On my ship, you'll be expected to pull your weight."
Kyosuke: "...Yes, sir."
Kyosuke: (So they're taking the first opportunity to send us away. They don't want us spending time on the base. That explains the heavy rotation, as well...)
Lee: "The Shirogane will depart immediately once it's finished resupplying. We'll be heading to the Mexican plateau to root out the DC remnants hiding there. I expect your machines to be on board by that time."
Kyosuke "Understood..."
Kenneth: "Lieutenant Nanbu, Lt. Colonel Lee graduated at the top of his class at the Academy. Show him your full potential."
Kyosuke: "Sir."
Kenneth: "And Lieutenant Colonel... I'm expecting good results from the Shirogane."
Lee: "Leave it to me. I'll show you how a proper captain runs his ship."
Kenneth: (Hmph... arrogant little snot, isn't he? Well, small price to pay if he can secure my status...)
Kyosuke: (I think I'm cursed to always have superiors like these. Good grief...)
Mission 6: Beautiful Intruder
An unusual mech flees from pursuers.
...But doesn't get too far before being hit.
???: "Jump complete, but the situation's bad. Running diagnostics... radar and ASRS offline. Mobility looks unaffected... I shouldn't have trouble getting around. But this is nowhere near the target point."
Mystery Woman detects the approach of some unidentified units.
They're equally surprised to see her and her strange mech; it might be a new Federation model, but either way, since they've been seen, it will have to be destroyed.
Being in an unknown location is already causing the woman problems, and long-range comms are out, meaning no help will be coming. She prepares to fight her way free.