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Despite Archibald's efforts, his forces dwindle and the Lion is able to land on the Hagane. Daitetsu orders the ship to leave the area at full speed...



Archibald: "Ah. My reach exceeds my grasp. Well done, Hagane. I should know better than to try again... but I can't leave completely empty-handed, can I?"



He retreats to the edge of the map, and Rai gets a sudden communication.



Archibald: "Raidiese. Raidiese F Branstein... do you read me?"
Rai: "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
Archibald: "Oh, I'm inextricably tied to the Branstein family..."
Rai: "What!?"



Archibald: "My name is Grims. Archibald Grims... do you know me now?"
Rai: "...! Archibald!?"
Leona: "It can't be... he's with the Divine Crusaders!?"
Tasuku: "Wait! Leona, you know him!?"



Archibald: "Mhmm... it's so nice to finally meet you, Raidiese."
Rai: "You bastard..."



Rai pops a free Spirit and Valor.
Rai: "YOU BASTARD!!"
Ryusei: "Rai!?"



Rai rushes for Archibald.

Archibald: "Mhmm... you keep a calm exterior, but you just can't contain that rage at the sight of me. The one way you're unlike your brother..."



Archibald: "...And a weakness I can exploit."
Rai: "!!"



"Archibald Grims!!"



"You bastard!"



"You BASTARD!"



"Hmhmm... do you think you can beat me, with your hands trembling with anger?"



"Ha ha ha! Come, then! I'll send you to meet her!"







That ain't good.



Ryusei: "Rai! Rai, come in!"
Archibald: "Oh? Still intact. I suppose that's to be expected; you did survive that accident, after all."
Ryusei: "You! You're in for it now, asshole!"
Archibald: "Well, I think that will do for a greeting, today."



Archibald: "We'll meet again, Raidiese. Unless, of course, you've been... incapacitated."



Archibald retreats, and the crew scrambles to recover the R-2.

-----



Shine is brought directly to the Hagane's bridge to meet with Daitetsu. It may be a blessing in disguise that she was brought to them, and away from the DCs' grasp.



Shine, however, says that what she may be going through is nothing compared to the suffering of the people she abandoned. Latooni starts to speak up, but Shine continues, saying that she is prepared to do whatever must be done for her countrymen.



Tetsuya tries to reassure her, saying that the Federation forces are gathering at Aviano. A counteroffensive will surely be underway soon, and her country will be freed. In the meantime, Daitetsu intends to bring Shine to Aviano as well. As a head of state in exile, the federal government will have to listen to her and respond - somehow.



Shine: "Very well..."
Daitetsu: (She bears the weight of a kingdom, but is still just a child... it's such a shame.)



Shine hesitantly asks about Rai's condition, and Excellen tells her not to worry; he's just a tough as a R-2. She decides to go see him, but declines Eita's offer of a guide. This isn't her first time aboard the Hagane, after all.



After she leaves, Excellen comments that the princess seems more willful, if anything, since they last met. She thinks that could be a bit dangerous (if you know what she means), although Latooni can tell that she's pushing herself. Excellen responds that Shine will just have to recover what was lost, just like Latooni.

-----



The R-2's pretty well trashed after the beating it took. Replacement parts are en route, but since they have to be delivered to Aviano from the Far East base, the mech will be out of commission for a while. Katina remarks that they're lucky it didn't just explode.



Ryusei: "Man, Rai's usually cool as a cucumber. If I hadn't seen him lose it out there, I'd never believe it happened."
Irm: "Yeah... it's not like him at all."
Leona: "....."



Kyosuke: "That guy said his name was Archibald Grims. We've crossed paths a few times before, but I've never heard of him. Who is he?"
Leona: "...That man is Elzam and Raidiese's most hated enemy - the enemy of all the Branstein family, actually."
Kyosuke: "Enemy?"



Leona: "Yes. A terrorist, and the mastermind behind the Elpis Incident. For the loss of Cattleya... Elzam's wife, Raidiese's sister-in-law... he will never be forgiven."

For those who don't remember, the Elpis Incident involved a group of terrorists seizing Elpis Colony and holding it hostage, threatening to release gas into the colony if their demands weren't met. They went ahead and released the gas anyway (because Archibald). Elzam was forced to open fire on that block to prevent the gas from spreading, despite knowing his wife was there.

-----



Rai: "...Cattleya? Cattleya, there you are."
Cattleya: "Yes, I've been keeping Trombe company."



Trombe:

Yep. Trombe. Elzam names all of his mechs (and the Kurogane whenever he's captaining it) after his horse. The LP title is finally sort of relevant.



Rai: "Sister, you don't need to do that. The servants can see to Trombe."
Cattleya: "No, Trombe won't let anyone but El or me ride her. I need to take care of her, when I have time."



Cattleya: "Are you lonely without El, Trombe?"
Trombe:
Cattleya: "Don't worry, I'll be right here. So be good, and we'll wait together until he comes home."



Rai: "Sister, if it were me, I would never leave you alone like---"



Cattleya: "...Thank you, Rai."
Rai: "....."
Cattleya: "But as the next head of the family, Elzam has his duties. And as his wife, it's my duty to look after the household in his absence."



Cattleya: "And even though El is away, it's not as if I'm lonely. I have you, and Leona, and Trombe... I enjoy thinking up new recipes for El to prepare. I'll make one that will surprise even him."



Cattleya: "By the way, Rai. Could you set up the tea room? It's time to continue your lesson."
Rai: "Yes, sister..."

-----



Rai: "Uh..."
Shine: "Sir Raidiese..."
Rai: "Princess Shine..."



Shine: "How are you feeling?"
Rai: "You don't need to worry. If we kept you safe, that's what matters."
Shine: "You did... it's thanks to the Hagane that I was able to escape... my country."
Rai: "....."
Shine: "Sir Raidiese, forgive me. It's my fault that you're..."
Rai: "No, it's mine. I made an amateur's mistake."
Shine: "But I... even though you've taken care of me, Sir Raidiese, I let my homeland..."



Rai: "Then fight."
Shine: "What?"
Rai: "If you have the strength and the will, then you're not running away. You're just preparing for the next battle."
Shine: "I... I know that. I know that, but... I..."



Rai: "That was inconsiderate. My apologies."
Shine: "Not at all."
Rai: "You're growing into a fine leader, Highness."
Shine: "Sir Raidiese..."



Shine: "May I... is it all right to cry now?"
Rai: "...Go on."







(So Archibald Grims is the one who conquered Riksent. My enemy, opening up old wounds... but I haven't forgotten.)



(He will face justice, at my hand... I swear it!)

-----



Aboard an NDC ship...

As planned, the Federation's main force has been driven back to Aviano, while the occupation of Riksent proceeded without incident. Lemon and Vindel's diversion has shown their worth to Van - though Lemon is disappointed that they weren't able to see the Hagane due to the delays.



Wodan:
Lemon: "Well done. You've lived up to your reputation."
Wodan: "...I merely carried out my duty."
Lemon: "How are you feeling? No headaches?"
Wodan: "There is no problem."
Lemon: "I see. But just to be sure, we'd better do another synchronization. We need to maintain your link to Magus."
Wodan: "As you wish."



Wodan exits.
Vindel: "Hmph... he needs to work on his manners."
Lemon: "Well, maybe so. But he carries out his directives, doesn't he?"
Vindel: "You still felt the need to link him to Magus."
Lemon: "A test case. For future development."



Vindel: "Wouldn't it be more effective to erase his memories and personality, instead of doing half measures?"
Lemon: "...I suppose it might."



A communication abruptly comes in.
Echidna: "Master Vindel..."
Vindel: "What?"
Echidna: "I have detected an object approaching the ship."



Vindel: "An enemy?"
Echidna: "No... Its IFF codes are friendly."
Vindel: "A Neue DC unit?"
Echidna: "It is not. The code is ours."
Vindel: "What..."

Sometimes I like to imagine that Echidna is more advanced than she actually is and that she's just playing twenty-questions to annoy Vindel. Because if I worked with a guy who could make that face I'd make him do it all the time.



Lemon: "W16, what is the object's code?"
Echidna: "EG-X... the Soulgain."