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Katina: "Shit! That thing's as tough as it looks!"
Excellen: "Still... something's funny about this, don't you think?"
Tasuku: "Um, no, there's nothing funny about it!"
Excellen: "Maybe if we ask him to stop, he'll go away?"
Ryoto: (Damn it... if the Mk. III were active...)
???: "What's wrong? Is that the end of your resistance? Then DIE!"
Mystery man gets an unexpected communication.
"Yo! Looks like you're having fun."
"...! You. What do you want?"
"Hey, hey... you ran out by yourself, do you really have to ask?"
"Hmph. What of it? I saw an opportunity and took action."
"Look, you're screwing up the entire plan here. Can't you wait for the rest of us? C'mon, come back already."
"Hold your tongue! I don't take orders from you! My results will speak for themselves!"
"Yeah, about that. Your main result here is giving them advance warning. You don't think they'll take some precautions now that they've seen the Galgau?"
"Ngh...!"
"Hey now, calm down and think about setting a good example, Mr. Leader."
"Tch... Very well. I will return."
Mechzilla abruptly teleports out of the area, making tracking impossible. Sean thinks that it's as they feared...
-----
Arado's life isn't in danger after his latest scrape, but he's severely injured nonetheless; he'll need to stay in the intensive care unit for a while, and that means he's not leaving the moon.
The crew's been speculating about the giant lizard-mech they fought; it's most likely the command unit for the bioroids they've been encountering lately. They've never seen anything like it, though. Its strength is on par with the Valsion, but it doesn't seem like it's aligned with the DCs; even discounting its use of warp technology, there shouldn't be any more mechs with that level of power - except maybe for the Granzon. But that would mean that in addition to the DC remnants and the Einst, we have a third enemy force on our hands...
That still leaves the question of why the enemy came here; Excellen suggests that it came to steal the new mechs under development, but considering how readily it destroyed the Wildfalken, that seems unlikely. Still, Ring wonders why their first target was Mao Industries, rather than a military installation; if these new foes are responsible for the recent Federation disappearances, Excellen may be closer to the mark than they realize.
Lefina gets back from contacting Command about the situation; the Hiryu Kai has new orders. In light of the latest attack, the ship will be heading to the White Star to reinforce the garrison there. Following the new Federation protocols, Case E has just been confirmed, and the moon and colonies will also be placed on alert.
There's some unexpected good news: the deadlines on the Huckebein Mk. III and the Wildwurger have been postponed, so they won't need to cut corners on the designs after all. Kirk asks if this is due to Laker's intervention, but it seems somebody else has pulled strings on their behalf. Kirk immediately suspects Nibhal Mubhal's involvement, but doesn't dampen Marion's unusual good mood by saying anything.
As for Ryusei and Excellen, they won't be headed to the White Star. Per orders from Command, they, along with Octo Squadron, will be participating in Operation Desert Squall. They'll make re-entry and rendezvous with the Hagane, then work to blunt the DCs' unexpected momentum in Africa.
-----
It looks like they won't get to catch up with Rio and Ryoto after all, so they'll just have to wait until the next opportunity comes. Meanwhile, Arado is being left in their care; Ryusei doubts that he'll try to run away again, but Radha promises to let them know when he's back on his feet. Everybody exchanges well-wishes before they go their separate ways.