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Soldier: "Captain! Enemy machines are dropping over Beijing! They're humanoid, sir!"
Lee: "What about the Hagane? What the hell are the Hagane's PTs doing?"
Soldier: "They've... they've had a defection!"
Lee: "What!?"
Soldier: "Activity from the enemy ship! Th... they're bombarding the city!"
Lee: "My parents are in that district! Cynthia!"
<flash>
Lee: "Cynthia!"
Lee: "....."
Lee: "Heh. Heh heh... still having the same dream. What am I, a child?"
A crewman comes to tell him that Kenneth is calling. The general informs Lee that they've arrived at a decision regarding the recent theft: the Aggressors' punishment is being deferred for the moment - and they're being reassigned to the Shirogane. Lee isn't happy about the news, but bows to his superior's decision (his explanation that, given their failure, they'll just impede the hunt for the thieves gets another scornful response from Kenneth about how Academy graduates' main skill is sucking up to the brass.)
In any case, Commander Laker at the Far East Base has agreed to take the blame for the Wildfalken's loss. Lee thinks that this is convenient for Kenneth politically, since it will mitigate the blame for his own failure in losing the Huckebeins - and it allowed Laker to spare the Aggressors from punishment. The Shirogane's new orders are to rendezvous with the Hagane, currently doing a sweep near Aidoneus Island. Kenneth again warns Lee not to let him lose face in front of Laker and Daitetsu Minase.
-----
Having had some time to collect herself, Latooni comes clean to Kai about what happened: the pilot who stole the Wildfalken was Seolla Schweitzer, her former classmate at the School. Kai understands what it means for the person she's been looking for to turn up among the Divine Crusaders. Latooni doesn't try to avoid the blame, since it shouldn't have been surprising given Adler Koch's role in the DCs.
After a moment Kai asks if she considers Seolla family (she does), then reminds her that it's still war, even if they are siblings. Does she realize that the next time might cost her her life? Rai watches in silence as she says that yes, she does; satisfied, Kai drops the matter, asking Rai to keep the news to themselves for the time being.
Uninterested in dwelling on the past any longer, Kai turns his attention to the future: is it possible that other School children are serving the DCs? She confirms that there could be: there's Seolla's partner, Arado Balanga, and their "big sister," Ouka Nagisa. Ouka was the School's first subject, and as a result, the rest looked up to her.
Kai: "When you meet them again, what will you do?"
Latooni: "If they are enemies, I will fight."
Kai: "...Tell me what you really want."
Latooni: "...!"
Latooni: "Seolla received physical and mental conditioning in the School, just like I did. They might be using her as a test, to gather data."
Latooni: "...Once I thought there was no other place I could go. Giado and Garnet rescued me. I want to do the same for the others."
Kai: "I thought as much. It won't be easy."
Latooni: "I know."
Kai: "Good. Make sure you don't lose heart, then."
Latooni: "Major..."
Kai: "But bear in mind: the mission comes first. Should the worst happen, are you prepared to make a choice?"
Latooni: "I am..."
The Shirogane has picked up nearby signatures; it's probably the DC remnants, and they're inbound. Lee thinks their enemies have gotten cocky after their recent successes, and orders the crew to prepare for combat.
Mission 10: Indelible Memory
Watching the enemy approach, Rai observes that they're facing a diversionary force. Lamia asks how he can be sure, and he recalls that the last time, the enemy used a special ECM to get close undetected. Now they're approaching openly instead, meaning they want to be seen. Lee is already thinking the same thing, and orders the pilots to crush this wave quickly so they can begin searching for the carrier.
Bullet is surprised at the number of machines the enemy can field, even after the losses we've dealt them; clearly this is no mere guerrilla faction. Lee announces that the Shirogane will hold position while the PTs do their work. Latooni wonders if Seolla and Arado are among the enemy today...