Toggle Background Color




The DC sub is making steady progress towards Izu, and according to their reconnaissance, the Hagane is heading along a similar course. Echidna reports that the adjustments to the Randgrith are complete; Yuuki is selecting candidates to pilot them now.



Echidna: "I have an additional request, Major."
Archibald: "Yes?"
Echidna: "The Earth Cradle requests that information be gathered from the Far East Base on Izu."
Archibald: "Oh? I'm under no obligation to run their errands."
Echidna: "I am to carry out the order personally."
Archibald: "....."



Archibald: "Fair enough. Then, what would you have us do?"

-----



Seolla and Arado are doing their turn in the simulator for the Randgrith, and Arado's performance leaves quite a bit to be desired; in fact, his death count has surpassed his kill count. Her take is that he's using the Randgrith wrong, and he grumbles that close combat just suits him better than all this shooting-from-a-distance business.



Seolla: "That's not the problem! Do you think you can get away with just charging in without thinking?"
Arado: "Didn't you know? An ace pilot doesn't need skill, just guts. Sanger Zonvolt said that."
Seolla: "R-Really?"
Arado: "Nope."



She yells that he's not serious about avenging Bian Zoldark, and he actually agrees - getting dragged into satisfying somebody else's grudges isn't his idea of a good time. Seolla says that it's not a grudge, it's carrying on his resolve - which he likewise finds silly, given that neither of them had ever known the man. Frustrated that he still doesn't get it, she reminds him of what Agilla told them. They must revive the Divine Crusaders, because only the DCs can fight the aliens; the Federation cannot be trusted with the task.



Arado: "Then what was Lat doing with them?"
Seolla: "Th... that's..."
Arado: "She shouldn't be riding a PT any more. But she's still fighting."
Seolla: "Isn't it obvious? They're making her do it!"



Arado: "Can't you say the same thing about us?"
Seolla: "...! You're talking about Dr. Setme and Dr. Cero! And Magus Kenus..."
Arado: "We're with Dr. Cero because we owe him... but not the old lady. And Magus is just a computer."
Seolla: "I can't believe I'm hearing this. Dr. Setme is practically our mother! And Magus is our teacher... she's never wrong."
Arado: (But something's fishy about all this. And now that we've found Lat...)



Arado: "...What are you gonna do about Lat?"
Seolla: "The Federation's abusing her. I'm going to get her back."
Arado: "Bring her back, huh? Maybe she doesn't want to come."
Seolla: "I'll convince her. They must be forcing her to fight."
Arado: "And that won't happen to her with us?"
Seolla: "We'll protect her! She won't have to fight any more."



Arado: "H-hey... you've been acting kinda funny..."
Seolla: "Which one of us is acting funny? Of course she wants to come home again!"
Arado: "....."
Seolla: "And then we have to revive the Divine Crusaders!"





Arado: "But, uh... the DCs didn't save the Earth. The Federation did, in the L5 campaign."
Seolla: "Don't be stupid! They only managed it because of the Lions the DCs and Isurugi built! Then the Hagane and Hiryu Kai took the credit for themselves! Do you think that's okay!?"





Arado: "But they pulled it off, didn't they? I mean, they're the ones who took out the enemy leaders."
Seolla: "L-look, okay? The Hagane and Hiryu Kai are just two ships! They can't protect the entire Earth sphere! If something happens again, who knows how many people will die!"
Arado: "All right, all right! Enough with the sermon already."

Okay, that part actually makes sense.



Arado: (But what are we going to do about Lat?)



Carla: "...What's up, Yuu?"
Yuuki: "Arado can't handle the Randgrith yet. I'm going to have You, Seolla, and myself pilot them."
Carla: "Glad to hear it. I don't want the kid getting killed."



Yuuki: "Does he remind you of your brother?"
Carla: "...Maybe."
Yuuki: "I'm not just making a special case for Arado and Seolla. I'd do the same for any of my subordinates."
Carla: "Yeah, I know you would."

-----



On the bridge, Archibald informs Yuuki that Echidna has asked to go sightseeing - would he be ever so kind as to escort her to Izu? Yuuki realizes at once that she's planning to infiltrate the Far East base, and alone at that...



Echidna: (Everything is in place. The diversion will bring the Hagane to Izu. Now, W17 just needs to notice...)

-----



Fujisawa District



Yukiko: "Ryu, if you don't leave soon, you'll be late."
Ryusei: "I know! Where's my bag!?"
Yukiko: "Didn't you leave it by the door yesterday so you'd know where it was?"
Ryusei: "Oh, that's right..."



Yukiko: "Look, your collar's all crooked."
Ryusei: "It's fine!"
Yukiko: "No, you have to take care of your appearance. If you don't, Aya and Viletta will get mad again."
Ryusei: "Okay, okay."



Yukiko: "...Do you know when you'll be home?"
Ryusei: "Dunno. We've been really busy lately."
Yukiko: "Well, then... Bring everybody back with you when you have a chance. I want to thank them for taking care of you."
Ryusei: "I will. Anyway, I'm off, Mom."
Yukiko: "Take care, Ryu."



-----



Aya apologizes for bringing Ryusei in during his leave, but he says that if there's a new prototype to test he'll just have to do it, won't he? She asks how his mother is doing; much better, overall, although he grumbles that she won't stop treating him like a kid. Aya lightly replies that she heard that's what mothers are supposed to do; Ryusei is about to comment on the odd phrasing, then remembers that she no longer has one and doesn't say anything more on it.



Today's schedule will be a lecture about the new prototype's capabilities, followed by a simulated duel. Tentatively, Ryusei asks who the partner will be - it's not the Chief, is it? He complains that he's never won against her, and she'll just saddle him with more training when it happens again. Aya suggests that maybe he'll get lucky this time, then quickly changes the subject when he adds that she's never won against the Chief either. Making things even better, Aya's going to the lab to help her father, so Ryusei will be going one-on-one.



Ryusei mutters that Rai's got it easy right now; he's probably relaxing on a beach with Kai and Latooni as they speak.

-----



At Robert's lab, Ryusei is ready and raring to go, but there's an unexpected face: Irm, who just delivered the Blade. There's a moment to catch up on how he and Ryoto and Rio are doing, but things sober up quickly when Viletta arrives. She delivers the bad news of the Falken's theft two days prior. Rai, Kai, and Latooni are with the Hagane and headed back to the Far East Base, but in the meantime they all need to be careful; the Blade and Falken were developed concurrently at Mao Industries, and while it may seem unlikely that the enemy will strike again here, they had all best be cautious.



Mission 11: Someone to Protect



Ryusei's liking the R-Blade, though it's lighter than what he's used to. Robert says that's to be expected; if they tried to mass-produce the R-1 at full spec, the cost would torpedo the project before it could even get off the ground. Ryusei asks if there's been any progress on parts for the R-1; apparently Ryoto's been working on it, but it's been slow going.



They're ready to start, and Ryusei's opponent takes the field.



Ryusei: "The Grungust... this'll be tough. But better you than the Chief, right? Maybe I'll get through without any extra duty assigned today."
Viletta: "That depends on your performance."
Ryusei: "Grgh... I'll do my best."



The trial begins, and Irm tells Ryusei not to worry about holding back.



Our first objective is to knock the Grungust below 70%, no sign of the mastery yet.



Good old familiar Far East Base.



We have Irm in the Grungust, Viletta in the Wildschwein...



...And Ryusei in the R-Blade. It might not look like much. But it's called the R-Blade, so you know it's going to be awesome.



Ryusei's dodgerate versus Irm isn't good, so he pops a Grit to get things over with.








































Good thing I cast Grit. Anyway, that one attack was enough to trigger the next event.



Irm: "Whoa. Not bad, not bad."
Ryusei: "I'd hope so. The Chief's been running me ragged."
Viletta: "Not ragged enough, apparently. You're still relying on brute force to attack your enemy."
Ryusei: "Ugh..."
Viletta: "That's not the R-1. You need to adjust your strategy to the mech's capabilities."
Ryusei: "Y... yes, ma'am. Um... how was my score?"



Viletta: "30 points. I'll schedule your extra drills when we're done here."
Ryusei: "Seriously!?"
Irm: (Looks like she favors the stick over the carrot...)
Ryusei: "Aw, man..."



Viletta: "But the timing on your approach was good. Keep that in mind for next time."
Ryusei: "....."
Viletta: "Is something wrong?"
Ryusei: "N-no, nothing."
Ryusei: (I guess she can be nice once in a while...)



Robert: "What's your impression on the mech, Ryusei?"
Ryusei: "I like it. It has the right balance for a Tesla Drive and cannons. I think it's a good bet for the L-Schneide."

Apparently it was the "R-Schneide" in the original.







Panic at the command center as a number of enemies suddenly appear inside the final perimeter. Laker and Sakae have the now-familiar dialogue about how they got so close undetected, but the commander orders an immediate response; Viletta's people will have to hold the line until the other PTs can launch.



She tells Irm to prepare for combat, but orders Ryusei to fall back. At first he protests that he can help too, but backs down when she points out that they're probably here for the R-Blade.




The enemies arrive, and our people don't know what to make of the unidentified machines - they're not any PT or AM design that they recognize. Carla is likewise surprised to see the R-Blade, and asks if they should try to capture it as a target of opportunity. Yuuki says there's nothing to be gained by getting greedy - they have their own objective to accomplish.



Arado: (I don't see the Hagane. That means...)
Seolla: (...that Lat's not here.)



Yuuki: "Quartier 1 to all units. We're buying Echidna time to infiltrate the base."
Seolla: "Roger!"
Yuuki: "Also. Quartier 8, hold your position. You'll guard our retreat."
Arado: "Why do I have to stay behind? I can fight too!"
Yuuki: "No."
Arado: "But Seolla's---"



Seolla: "Dont't worry, Arado. I can cover your part. And you still need practice with the Lion, anyway. Just watch me fight."
Arado: "Wait, Seolla! I'm---!"
Yuuki: "Your orders are to guard our retreat. Do you understand?"
Arado: "Damn it..."
Yuuki: "Everybody else: commence attack!"