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In the command room in a DC base, Colonel Van Vat Tran welcomes the latest group of DC remnants back into the fold.



Van: "Comrades. Thank you for coming all this way."
Soldier: "Sir. If you will continue Commander Bian's mission, we can only follow."
Van: "Then, as the representative of those who seek a new order, I welcome you to the Divine Crusade."
Soldier: "Thank you, Colonel Van."



Van says that the campaign will begin soon, and invites the man to take some rest, once they've finished loading their mechs onto the Rhinoceros. Hearing that the entire group is exhausted, he opens the private officers' quarters to them and makes preparations to see them given a decent meal - a welcome change from the synthetic fare they've been living on.



Soldier: "To go so far for mere soldiers... you're just as the rumors say. I believe you are the one who can safeguard humanity, Colonel."
Van: "I can only hope to fulfill Commander Bian's dream."



The soldier leaves, and Archibald enters.



Archibald: "'I can only hope,' indeed. You have quite the silver tongue, Colonel."
Van: "Do you have some complaint, Major?"
Archibald: "Not at all. One must maintain a good relationship with one's subordinates. Though our supplies of food are running low."
Van: "If our... negotiations... are successful, that will not be a problem for long. In the meantime, our new comrades braved Federation patrols to come here. That deserves a reward."
Archibald: "While it may not be the cuisine of Elzam Branstein, I'm sure they'll appreciate a decent meal."



Van: "Major Elzam... do we know his whereabouts? If Maier's eldest son were to rejoin the cause, it would be a great boon to morale."
Archibald: "Assuming he's still alive, he won't join us. Not while I'm here."
Van: "....."



On that slightly ominous note, discussion turns to the next move. Van will be taking his Rhinoceros and leaving shortly; he will go to the Earth Cradle to meet their new "benefactors." Archibald has his doubts; why would the people behind Project Ark offer to assist them now? Van reminds him that they were originally Divine Crusaders, and that the Earth Cradle served as a base when Adler led the DCs.



In turn, Archibald reminds Van of exactly what happened to Adler in the end. According to his information, the Cradle's administrator Sophia Nate had grown pessimistic about the ongoing human conflict. Following Adler's death, but before the Federation troops descended on the Cradle, DC forces investigated the facility and discovered that she had already sealed it off, placing herself in hibernation. Why would this change now?



Van acknowledges the concerns, but the Cradle is too valuable of a base to pass up; he has no intention of simply locking himself within and hiding, as Adler had done, but he will take no chances. While he pursues negotiations, Archibald will be taking his own course - drawing the Federation's attention.

---



Back on his ship, Archibald enjoys some tea while tracking Van's progress; he'll be keeping a close eye on the man's aptitude as a leader.



He's interrupted by a coded transmission from "Rose," informing him that the supplies he requested will be there on schedule. He wonders what new treasures the young lady wants today...



Meanwhile, the Shirogane has passed their first picket and will be making contact in half an hour. Archibald orders his subordinates, Yuuki Jaggar and Ricarla Borgnine, to give their guests a warm welcome.



Yuuki: "....."
Carla: "What's wrong, Yuu?"
Yuuki: "Major, is it true that we're accepting the Earth Cradle's offer?"
Archibald: "Yes, that's right. Some tea for Yuuki, if you please."
Grunt: "Sir!"
Yuuki: "Major...!"



Archibald: "Surely you won't refuse some tea. It's assam, I had a quite a time acquiring it. Delicious, yes?"
Yuuki: "...Yes. But---"
Archibald: "I share your concerns about Colonel Van's judgement. But for the time being, you need only concern yourselves with my instructions... Ah, but advice will always be welcome."



Yuuki: "Then, Major. I'd suggest that you warm the cups before pouring such fine tea."
Archibald: "Oh? And?"
Yuuki: "Also, fresh water will extract the flavor better than the hard water from these parts."
Carla: (Oh, boy. Here we go... Yuuki's a real stickler for his tea.)
Yuuki: "In fact, it's best to heat a second pot for the purpose of filling the first."
Archibald: "I see. Your suggestions have been noted, Yuuki."



Yuuki: "One more thing... why the assam tea at a time like this?"
Archibald: "Oh, I'm quite fond of it. The color reminds me of blood..."
Yuuki: "...Then we'll be going."
Archibald: "Show your distinction out there. For the sake of our great dream."



Yuuki: ("Our" dream, or yours...)

-----



The alarms sound in preparation for the battle, and Carla runs to catch up with Yuuki in the hangar.

Carla: "Hey, Yuu! Come on, can't you wait up for your partner?"
Yuuki: "Since when are you my partner?"



Carla: "Since I decided."
Yuuki: "....."



Carla: "What's with the scowl? Was the tea that bad?"
Yuuki: "No. Why didn't you get off the ship? Colonel Van gave you permission."
Carla: "But if I go, who knows what he'll do to me?"
Yuuki: "The Colonel's not like that."



Carla: "Not him, the other one. He's a killer, for sure."
Yuuki: "Other one? You mean Major Archibald?"
Carla: "Yep. He claims he's from British aristocracy, but---"



Yuuki: "...That's enough."
Carla: "Oh, are you worried about me?"
Yuuki: "I'm serious. You had a chance to get out. Why didn't you take it?"
Carla: "I've told you before. You saved my life, and I'm paying you back. Plus, I kinda like you now."



Yuuki: "I don't believe you. You're in this for revenge, and we both know it."
Carla: "What's with that? That kind of thinking's a couple centuries out of date."
Yuuki: "Are you trying to tell me you're fighting with us for another reason?"
Carla: "....."



Yuuki: "Enough. Let's go."
Carla: "OK."
Carla: (But I'm not lying, Yuu...)

Yuuki and Carla are the last of the four main-character couples from SRW Alpha, with the first three being introduced in OG1. While it's not the first time an Alpha character has been an enemy, what with Leona and Ryoto in the first game, the fact that both are enemies here threw me for a loop originally.

-----



The Shirogane takes a minor hit, and Lee orders return fire. Heat scans pick up a single Rhinoceros at 12 o'clock. Lee fumes at this; clearly, Kenneth sent the ship all the way out here after a decoy, while the main body of the DC forces is moving elsewhere. Enemy infantry units are fleeing to a nearby forest; he orders the fuel-air mines deployed to raze it to the ground.

-----



Bullet is furious that we're stuck fighting fellow Earthlings again; it's like the DC War didn't change anything. Excellen suggests that you can't argue with somebody who thinks they're fighting for justice, but he's not having it. Angrily, he responds that we can't afford this when the Aerogaters could be coming again.



Lamia: (Aerogater?)
Bullet: "A civil war, now? It's leaving us wide open for an attack!"
Excellen: "Well, you're assuming the DC remnants care about that. They might be after something else."
Bullet: "Something else? Like what?"



Lamia: "Ensign Brooklyn, ma-ay I ask a questi-ion?"
Bullet: "What?"
Lamia: "What are 'Aerogaters?'"



Bullet: "You... don't know? They're the aliens who just attacked the Earth."
Excellen: "That's weird. Mr. President talked all about it in the Tokyo Declaration, it was all over TV."
Lamia: "It... it was? I don't watch much te-elevision... Ohohoho..."
Kyosuke: "....."



Lamia: (That was careless of me. But, Aerogaters... that code name doesn't match the aliens in my data.)



The warning comes in for the PT drop, and everyone prepares for launch. Lamia comments that they've been ordered to wipe the enemy out, rather than pursue; it looks like they intend to fight to the death. Excellen mutters that they've drawn the short straw again, but that's just business as usual for the ATX team...



Mission 8: Vestiges of the Crusade



Lee: "This is Lee. Judging by the situation, these hostiles were just a decoy. We're changing the strategy accordingly; PTs, mop up the enemy units in the area."
Kyosuke: "Understood."
Excellen: "We missed the real target, so we're trying to console ourselves by racking up a few points?"
Lee: "What was that?"



Excellen: "Oh, you he-eard tha-at?"
Lee: "Lieutenant Browning, you are out of line---"
Lamia: (Is she copying me? I... suppose it's not a problem.)
Kyosuke: "Assault 1, requesting permission to launch."
Lee: "Ngh... very well. Go."



Bullet: (No sign they're planning to escape... they're really going to fight to the last?)
Archibald: "Oh? They're stopping to engage rather than try to break through. Their captain's quick to adapt... but this will make things go more smoothly."



Excellen: "Hey, Kyosuke. What are those tanks and fighters? I don't have any codes for them."
Kyosuke: "Me neither. Are the DC remnants doing new development?"



Lamia: (That aircraft... that's FI's Sorpresa fighter.)



Lamia: (And over there... Z&R's Fylgia hovertank. But those two have never seen them before...)



Archibald: "All units. You'll be fighting the vaunted ATX Team today. I know what you'd like to do, but do try to restrain yourselves. Remember to be at the rendezvous at the designated time."
Yuuki: "Understood. All units, spread out and engage."



Bullet: "Wait a minute! Didn't you all hear the Tokyo Declaration? This is no time for humans to be fighting each other!"
Excellen: "B-Bullet?!"
Lamia: (Contacting the enemy on an open channel? Is he insane?)



Archibald: "Ah, the naivete of youth. And such passion..."
Bullet: "We have the same enemy! There's no point in exhausting our forces against fellow humans! If you care about defending the Earth sphere, stop this!"
Archibald: "Hmph... to think that there are still people who can speak such drivel with a straight face. Well, talk if you wish. It will change nothing in the---"



Yuuki: "Federation pilot. I have one thing to say to you."
Archibald: (Yuuki? Well. I see you can't turn down a challenge.)
Yuuki: "You cannot protect the Earth sphere."
Bullet: "What!?"

I love Archibald's face here. "Oh. There's one on my ship, too. Isn't that nice."



Yuuki: "It was luck that saved you in the L5 campaign. Do you know how many suffered due to the Federation's incompetence?"
Carla: (Yuu...)
Bullet: "But we were---"
Yuuki: "It's not a question of methods. You're simply not capable of the task."
Bullet: "!"



Yuuki: "The next war has already begun. Our fight here is just a small part of it."
Bullet: "Are you saying even more people need to be sacrificed!?"
Yuuki: "Our sacrifice has already been made."
Bullet: "Wh... what...!?"