Toggle Background Color



The Shirogane takes another hit, freaking out the crewmen on the bridge. Lee remains calm as he gives orders, thinking that his subordinates are undertrained.



Then another large object emerges from the ocean - but it's not the enemy carrier, and Lee is less than pleased to hear what it is...







Eita: "Surfacing maneuver complete! Targets confirmed in range!"
Tetsuya: "Impact cannons 1 through 4 are locked!"
Daitetsu: "Good. Fire!"





Oh, come on. The Hagane is not capable of that and we all know it, having controlled it during the first game.



Excellen: "Wow! The Hagane to the rescue!"
Lamia: (The bow section doesn't match the data...)
Lee: (Tch. To be saved by that ship...)



Daitetsu: "This is Lieutenant Colonel Daitetsu Minase, captain of the Hagane. We'll provide you cover."
Lee: "...Very well."
Eita: "Steel 2 to all units! Enemy reinforcements are inbound!"



They're the enemies the Shirogane picked up earlier. Kyosuke orders the ATX team to take them out...



...but then, inexplicably, they reverse course and speed away. Lee orders Excellen and Lamia to pursue.



Daitetsu: "Wait. Your vessel has been damaged. It's time to withdraw."
Lee: "That's your assessment. We're fully capable of running them down."
Daitetsu: "This is no time for recklessness. This could be another trap for the Shirogane."
Lee: "......Very well. We'll return to Hickam."

-----




Upon their return, Lee meets with Daitetsu and gets some unpleasant news: the Shirogane is being pulled from the hunt for the DCs, on headquarters' orders - and with Kenneth Garrett's blessing. The Shirogane is to take part in the Aegis Plan's last-resort initiative; until construction on Space Noah 4 is completed, it will serve as the flagship for the evacuation fleet.



Seething, Lee asks if that's the entire reason he's being recalled. Daitetsu responds that no, of course not - his crew needs more training and experience, and as the flagship of the Federation navy, getting the Shirogane repaired of its recent damage is a priority. Lee finds these both convenient excuses. Daitetsu adds that the Hagane will be assuming the DC hunt, and the ATX team and Aggressors will be transferred to his command.



(I've come this far to fight off the aliens... to lay Father, and Mother, and Cynthia's souls to rest... and now I'm being sent to the sidelines? To head an evacuation fleet? Damn them!)

-----



Lee: (Recalled from the front lines. I didn't become the Shirogane's captain to chauffeur a pack of incompetent bureaucrats! There must be something I can do... somehow...)



Tetsuya: "Well, if it isn't Mr. Perfect. Oh, sorry... I guess it's just Lee Linjun now."
Lee: "...! Tetsuya Onodera..."
Tetsuya: "It's been a long time. Since we graduated the Academy, wasn't it?"



Lee: "You're out of line, Commander. You're speaking to a superior officer."
Tetsuya: "!"
Lee: "You're in front of your subordinates, not your school chums. Mind yourself."
Tetsuya: "Well... as stiff as ever, aren't you?"
Lee: "Did I not make myself clear?"
Tetsuya: "...My apologies, sir."



Lee: "So. What is it?"
Tetsuya: "After the L5 campaign, I heard you'd been hospitalized. I was concerned. If you don't mind my asking... what happened?"



Lee: "Hmph. Hmhmhmm..."
Tetsuya: "?"
Lee: "So that's what you heard. Yet you didn't learn more... and you didn't put two and two together. You've always been second-rate... I see that hasn't changed."
Tetsuya: "What are you talking about...!?"



Lee: "I was wounded in action - in Beijing."
Tetsuya: "Beijing? No...!"
Lee: "Yes. When the Aerogaters sent their humanoid weapons to battle for the first time... and when Major Ingram Prisken, of the Hagane, betrayed us."
Tetsuya: "....."
Lee: "My command and my hometown were devastated. For all your concern, that never occurred to you?"



Tetsuya: "I... I'm sorry, Lee. I... we..."
Lee: "Save your apologies. I don't want them."
Tetsuya: "...!"



Lee: "I'll say this, and no more. You and your people cannot be trusted to protect the Earth."



Tetsuya: (Lee... you...)

-----



Excellen's making herself at home again on the Hagane's bridge, and gets off to a rip-roaring start by needling Eita about his relationship with Eun. It's been so long, and Tasuku is way off in the asteroid belt, so she'll just have to settle for picking on him - if only he'd play along. Bullet finally realizes that Eita and Eun are possibly an item, only for Eita to get flustered and deny it.



Daitetsu: "You're the same as ever, Lieutenant Browning."
Excellen: "Mhmhm, and so are you, Captain. It's just like old times, isn't it?"
Daitetsu: "Hm. Of course, I've replenished my reserve of sake. Come by my cabin later."
Excellen: "Wow! Lucky me!"



The topic turns to the ship itself; Bullet noticed that the Hagane's bow is the same as the Shirogane's now. It turns out that the Tronium Buster Cannon is being redesigned, so for the time being, the Hagane is fitted with the catapult module they're planning for Space Noah 4. Eita quips that they've been calling it the "Shirohagane" lately. Excellen adds that she's heard the Shirogane's design has entered mass production, which Eita confirms; in fact, no fewer than three Shirogane types are under construction on the moon.



Tetsuya comes back to the bridge, but his response to Excellen's usual exuberance is muted. She asks if it's true that he and Lee were at the Academy together. Tetsuya confirms, adding that he was always number two next to Lee. Joking, she asks if they're eternal rivals now...



...But when he responds with silence, she quickly realizes she's said something she shouldn't have.



Daitetsu moves things along; based on the course the enemies took, it looks like the Far East base is their next target. The Hagane will resume the chase at once.

-----



(Space Noah 2... the Hagane. I made contact more quickly than expected. If things proceed as they are, this ship and the Hiryu Kai will gather their strength again...)



Rai: "Does something about the Hagane interest you?"
Lamia: "Lieutenant Raidiese F. Branstein..."
Rai: "Rai will be fine."
Lamia: "Then, Lt. Rai. Did you nee-eed something from me?"



Rai: "I wondered what you could tell me about the ECM the DC remnants were using."
Lamia: (The ASRS...)
Lamia: "Why would you ask me?"
Rai: "I had a feeling you might know something about it."
Lamia: (During the battle... I gave myself away.)



Lamia: "I don't know. I also saw it for the fir-irst time."
Rai: "Really? Isurugi isn't developing anything like that?"
Lamia: "If they are, I haven't he-eard."



Rai: (But you had no trouble getting a spot on our ships, did you? And... what's wrong with her speech? I don't recognize the dialect...)



Lamia: (Even if they examine the Angelg, they won't learn anything about the ASRS. It was damaged in the first battle.)



Lamia: (But I still need further orders. What's taking them so long?)

-----




Archibald's sub has finished loading its new supplies. The response time was faster than Rose's, and the offering was generous as well; somebody's trying to make a good impression. Carla suggests that they just sent too much, but Archibald was thinking that somebody had secretly sent the Earth Cradle a message, telling them to step it up.



Cuervo: "N-now, I wouldn't..."
Archibald: Hmhmm... a joke, Doctor Cero. Now, let's welcome our guest."



Echidna: "Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Echidna Iisaki."
Archibald: "Well, well..."
Carla: (Wow, she's stacked... I don't think I can compare.)



Echidna: "Is something the matter?"
Archibald: "Not at all. I just didn't expect a fine lady such as yourself."



Echidna: "...From the Earth Cradle: Ammunition. Fuel. Food. Daily necessities. And armored modules. Additionally, I have brought the new Type-30."
Archibald: "Yes, I saw the specifications. 'Randgrith,' was it? And you're mass-producing them? You have been busy in the Earth Cradle."
Echidna: "Do you have unused material to send away?"
Archibald: "Indeed. Please take the Falken back with you."
Echidna: "Of course. My subordinates will see it done."



Archibald: "And what of yourself?"
Echidna: "I have special orders. I will be boarding your ship."
Archibald: "Oh? You're aware that we're heading to the Far East Base."
Echidna: "I am."



Archibald: "Very well. Yuuki, please guide Ms. Iisaki to her new quarters."
Yuuki: "Sir."
Echdina: "I am in your care."



Yuuki: "....."
Carla: "Yuu? What's wrong?"
Echidna: "....."
Yuuki: (What's with this woman? She's like a robot...)