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Archibald's sub is entering Hawaiian waters; Yuuki informs him that the ASRS is installed and ready to go when needed. A moment later the door opens and Cuervo enters to introduce their new pilots.



Cuervo: "Go on, you two. Introduce yourselves."
Seolla: "Yes, sir. Master Sergeant Seolla Schweitzer, reporting. I won't let you down, sir."
Arado: "And I'm Arado Balanga... um, ditto."
Yuuki: (These are our reinforcements? They're just kids!)



Seolla: "Hey, Arado! What kind of introduction was that? And you're supposed to salute!"
Arad: "Aw, lay off me already."
Seolla: "What was that!?"
Arad: "Oh, whatever. If I do it all proper, will you leave me alone? You're gonna pop a blood vessel at this rate, Seolla."
Seolla: "If that was going to happen, it would've done it a long time ago!"



Cuervo: "H-hey, you two... you're in front of the Major. Behave yourselves, please?"
Seolla: "No, this guy will never learn if you're not firm with him. Get it, Arado? You need to fix your attitude."
Arado: "I was born like that. Just like you were born with your lousy temper."
Seolla: "Come on, already! Just do the introduction right!"
Arado: "Fine."



Arado: "Major Archibald Grims! Master Sergeant Arado Balanga, reporting! And everything else she said, sir!"
Seolla: "You're hopeless..."
Yuuki: (What the hell is with these two...)



Archibald: "Dr. Cero. I don't recall agreeing to run a middle school."
Cuervo: "S-Sorry about this..."
Archibald: "Ah, well. So, our reinforcements are children - and rookies."



Seolla: "If I may, sir? Arado and I are both graduates of the School."
Yuuki: (The School? That's the Feds' special PT training institute...)
Seolla: "We may not have live combat experience, but our training is very extensive."



Archibald: "Dr. Cero, I hope you're not just taking this opportunity to get rid of a pair of nuisances."
Cuervo: "Th-that's not..."
Archibald: "Well. Rookies or not, the additional manpower is sorely needed... but you do both realize that we will be fighting the famed Hagane, yes?"
Seolla: "That's what we're hoping for. To destroy Bian Zoldark's enemies..."
Arado: (Tch... here we go again.)



Archibald: "Very well. Then, Yuuki... take them with you on your next sortie. See if they're up to specifications."
Yuuki: "Understood."
Arado: (Specifications? We're not machines...)
Yuuki: (I guess I've drawn the short straw again.)



Yuuki leaves with the two newcomers, and Archibald comments that this was a surprise: he'd heard that most of the School children died in training, and that the institute was dissolved. Now that Adler is dead, who's left to carry on the research? Cuervo says that Dr. Agila Setme has since taken the reins of the project; after the DC War ended, she brought the children to the Earth Cradle for continued training.



Archibald asks about their performance. Bronzo 27, Seolla, should have no problems. Bronzo 28, Arado, is another story, with his reactions and personality still uncertain. That being the case, Archibald asks why they've been brought here together, and Cuervo explains that the Boosted Children of the Bronzo class were trained in pairs, with the express purpose of working as a team. For the time being, Archibald is willing to wait and see how they perform.

-----




At Hickam, Latooni has finished the latest set of adjustments. Kai apologizes for keeping her; surely she'd like to visit the beach while she's here? It is Hawaii, after all, and it'd be a waste not to take advantage - Garnet even sent her a swimsuit!



Latooni mumbles something about the design not really suiting her, even if it fit, which it doesn't; the one Princess Shine gave her is still more her speed. Kai remarks that she's just like his daughter - but not to worry, she'll grow into the other suit in time. Latooni tries to imagine herself looking like Garnet, without success. In any case, going to the beach is evidently out, so there's nothing left but to prepare for the prototype test.

-----



Elsewhere on the base, Rai is in the middle of a transmission with Irm, discussing the recent theft of the Huckebeins. Whether it's a direct response to the Tokyo Declaration or not, the news that the Divine Crusaders are rallying under a single banner again is not welcome. Rai warns Irm that Mao Industries could become a target as well, so he'd better take care. Irm is fully aware; between the Wurger, the Blade, and the Mk. III, it's a veritable buffet of tempting targets.



Irm: "Well, at least the SRX and ATX projects will be unfrozen again."
Rai: "It looks that way. All the critics in the brass have suddenly lost their nerve."





Irm: "Yeah, I guess some government suit is leaning on them to reactivate as much military hardware as possible."
Rai: "A suit?"
Irm: "Yeah. President Midcrid's new special aide... a guy named Nibhal Mubhal."





Irm asks how the Aggressors have been doing. Right now it's just Kai, Rai, and Latooni, and it's been pretty peaceful so far, given that they're just developing motion data for the new machines. Good news, overall. In any case, the test will be proceeding shortly, so Irm is off to Izu to deliver the Blade prototype; Ryusei will be testing that particular toy. He wishes Rai luck with the Falken and signs off.



Mission 9: Boosted Children



Carla wonders if they're at the right spot. After all, this looks like it's just a training ground. Yuuki's information was clear, though, so this is where they're waiting.



Whether from nervousness or boredom, Arado keeps fidgeting, and Seolla tells him to stop. He grumbles about the nagging in response. She thinks that if Ouka were here he'd be perfectly obedient; why does he have to give her so much trouble?



Carla: "Say. Are you two going out?"
Seolla: "Huh!? Wh-why would you think that!?"
Carla: "Well, you seem like you get along well."



Arado: "Um... Lieutenant Ricarla? You've got totally the wrong idea."
Carla: "Oh, really?"
Arado: "If I had to choose, I'd definitely go for an elegant lady."



Seolla: "Well, sorry if I don't meet your standards!"
Arado: "I didn't say anything about you!"
Carla: "If you can bicker and still be friends, you really do have some good chemistry."



Arado: "Yeah? Well, how about you, Lieutenant? Are you and the Captain..."
Carla: "Hmm... well, if I had my choice, I'd prefer a younger guy."
Seolla: "Huh!?"



Carla: "Ahaha! Just kidding."
Seolla: "Y-yeah... of course..."



Arado: "What are you so worked up about?"
Seolla: "Sh-shut up!"
Carla: (Oh ho... I see how it is.)

I actually like Seolla quite a bit, but damn if they don't hit every generic tsundere note with her as soon as possible.



Seolla: "A-anyway! You're being rude to a superior officer!"
Arado: "Yeah, yeah..."
Yuuki: "Cut the chatter, you two. It's here."




Latooni is liking the Wildfalken's mobility and ranged-fire capabilities. Kai explains that it's a refinement of the Weissritter's design - although this makes him a little worried about the future of its sibling unit, the Wildwurger. It'll probably end up with a pile driver attached to it.



To gather the data they need, Latooni will conduct a mock duel with Rai in his MP Huckebein. A squadron of Lions is patrolling the periphery, so they should be able to focus on their work. Rai tells Latooni not to worry about holding back...



Yuuki: "No mistake, that's the Wildfalken. Get ready to move."
Carla: "Roger. Arado, Seolla, are you ready?"
Arado: "Yeah!"
Seolla: (Finally, time to show our training. For the sake of the Divine Crusaders... and for our friends...)



Seolla: "Arado, stay close to me, all right?"
Arado: "What are you, my mom? I'm taking the front."
Seolla: "What are you saying! Even at the School, my scores were always higher than yours. If you go in front, you'll die!"
Arado: "God, you never stop. Just let me be already."
Seolla: "You--!"



Yuuki: "If anything gets you two killed, it'll be your lack of focus on the battlefield."
Seolla: "S-sorry..."
Yuuki: "You two move in and take the Falken. We'll handle the rest."
Seolla: "Sir!"
Yuuki: "Quartier 1 to all units! Disengage your ASRS. Move out!"



Our friends are caught completely off-guard by the sudden appearance of enemies, and at such close range.



Carla makes her move first, wiping out the Lion squadron in seconds; Kai narrowly escapes.



Then Yuuki calls in some Lions of his own, who rush Rai with unexpected speed and surround him.



That leaves just the Wildfalken. Seolla tells Arado not to fall behind... but he suddenly can't find the switch for his Boost Drive.



Kai: "They're after the Falken! Latooni!!"



Seolla: "Got you!"
Latooni: "No you don't...!"



"You're mine, Wildfalken!"



Latooni: "...! That attack pattern..."




Seolla: "They dodged, at that range!? And... that pattern..."
Latooni: "It can't be..."



Seolla: "L... Lat...?"
Latooni: "Seolla!?"



Seolla: "N-no, that's crazy. Why would Lat be here? They... they must be using her data! That's right, she'd never be in a place like this! Because if she was---"
Latooni: "Seolla... you're alive...?"
Seolla: "Wh-what is this... what's going on?"



Arado: "Seolla, what's wrong!?"
Seolla: "What's wrong? Where were you!?"
Arado: "I, uh... I couldn't figure out how to turn on the Boost Drive..."
Seolla: "I can't believe you! Fine, I'll take the Falken! You just cover me!"



Latooni: "...Is... Is that really Seolla...?"
Kai: "Latooni, what's wrong! You're slowing down!"
Latooni: "....."



Kai: "Tch... Raidiese, she needs help! I'll back you up!"
Rai: "Roger!"
Rai: (But I have to get these four off me first...)