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No sooner are the enemies wiped out than Eita picks up some more, inbound.
More Gespensts, and...
...R-Blades?
It certainly looks to be the case, but that presents yet another mystery. Only three R-Blades have been built, including Ryusei's, yet there are two right here. It's possible, but highly unlikely, that the prototype data was stolen from Mao Industries. However, there's another, more worrying, detail that proves we shouldn't be seeing what we're seeing.
Kyosuke: "They're not supposed to exist?"
Lamia: (Yes... that's exactly correct.)
Kyosuke: "What do you mean?"
Irm: "The alignment, the shoulder cannons, the Tesla Drive... that's not a prototype. It's the R-Schneide: the R-Blade's mass-production line."
"R-Blade" is a code name, as "R-Schneide" wasn't supposed to become official until the line was unveiled. Moreover, Mao Industries is still drawing up the final schematics. In other words, we're facing a mech that hasn't even been built yet. It looks like the Gespenst isn't the only ghost on the field today...
Lamia: (If they've been deployed, does that mean the main force is ready to make its move? I have to contact them...)
Lamia receives an incoming communication.
Lamia: (There. But... this is the general frequency? What's going on?)
Ouka: "Lat, if you can hear this, answer me."
Latooni: "!!"
We've finally met Ouka, Latooni's adoptive big sister from the School.
Ouka: "It's been a long time, Lat. I'm so glad that you're alive."
Latooni: "S... Sis..."
Ouka: "I heard about Arado. But I don't blame you."
Latooni: "Huh?"
Ouka: "After all... your will to fight isn't really yours, is it?"
Latooni: "Sis, what are you---"
Ouka: "This isn't the real you. The Federation has been brainwashing you... to make you their weapon."
Lamia: (...Now I see. She's no different from me.)
Latooni: "That's not true!"
Lamia: "!"
Latooni: "Sis, I'm not---"
Ouka: "You poor thing. You don't even realize what they've done to you. How else could you turn your weapons on Seolla... or kill Arado?"
Latooni: "What!?"
Bullet: "No, that was an accident! Arado's not dead!"
Ouka: "Do you think I'll fall for that? If he's alive, then show me proof."
Bullet: "Th-that's..."
Irm: "Of course this happens when he's in space. Somehow I doubt she'll believe that."
Ouka: "Try to remember, Lat. Remember our time together in the School."
Latooni: "...!"
Ouka: "Remember who you really are. We can go home together... Mother and Seolla both miss you so much."
Latooni: "No..."
Ouka: "!"
Latooni: "I'm not going back there. You're the ones being used, Sister..."
Ouka: "What are you saying? Have you forgotten how kind Mother and Magus have been to us? The time we lived together?"
Latooni: "I'd never forget it..."
Ouka: "Then why?"
Latooni: "In the School, I lost myself. But thanks to Giado and Garnet, Ryusei, Shine... and everyone on the Hagane and Hiryu Kai... I remembered who I was."
Ouka: "....."
Latooni: "So I can't go back, Sister. I have to set you free!"
Ouka: "That's my line, Lat. If you won't listen, I'll bring you home, even if I have to drag you all the way. Mother and I will remind you where you belong."
Bullet: "How can you say that? Can't you see how she's grown!?"
Ouka: "Shut your mouth. What would an outsider know about us?"
Bullet: "What!?"
Ouka: "You can never understand the bond we share, so don't you dare pretend otherwise. You used Lat... you killed Arado... the Federation can never be forgiven!"
Ouka: "My brother's enemy is mine. Ouka Nagisa, first of the School, will be your end."
Irm: "Whoa. She's a real piece of work, isn't she."
Kai: "Mass-production model or not, that's still an R-Blade. All units, watch yourselves. Are you going to be OK, Latooni?"
Latooni: "Y-yes."
Ouka: "Let's begin, Echidna. Leave Lat to me."
Echidna: "Understood."
Echidna: (But first...)
Lamia: (...! The main force's encryption...)
Echidna: (I have heard your situation. It appears your covert communication unit was also damaged.)
Lamia: (And my language system. I need replacement synapses at our next contact.)
Echidna: (Understood. I will drop a spare communication unit. Recover it when able.)
Lamia: (Understood.)