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"The Guardian's servant... will soon awaken... once, we fought... and it was deceived by its new master... turning upon its own... until only it remained..."



???: "Before the awakening... bring it to me..."
Alfimi: "You do not wish to destroy it...?"
???: "Its power... may be the key to the door..."
Alfimi: "I understand. I will go to them... myself..."

-----



Far East Base



Ryoto and Rio are working on adjustments to the G-Raptor's T-LINK system, and Rio's proven a surprisingly quick study. She lightly says that that's only natural; after all, when they're together, Ryoto's always talking about work, so she just paid attention. Realizing that he's been falling down on their relationship, he asks what she'd like to talk about instead - then regrets it when she immediately says "karate!"



Tasuku and Excellen are enjoying the spectacle - Tasuku a little less on account of being all alone. They've also been keeping a watchful eye on Kusuha and Bullet in the Type-3, although Tasuku suspects Bullet doesn't have it in him to make a move anyway. (Unfortunately, Bullet hears this over the monitor.) Still, this talk of couples gets Excellen thinking... everybody here's a couple, except for Tasuku and Lamia. There's her and Kyosuke, Masaki and Lune, Bullet and Kusuha, Ryoto and Rio, Katina and Russell...



Tasuku thinks the jury's still out on that last pair, and probably until the end of the decade. Undeterred, Excellen sidles up and suggests that this is the perfect time for him to cozy up with Lamia! He almost sounds interested, but the prospect of getting shot by Leona puts any thoughts of infidelity to rest.



Tasuku: "But y'know, Lamia's been spending an awful lot of time shut up inside the Angelg lately. What d'you think she's doing in there?"
Excellen: "Hmm..."



Ryoto checks in on Tasuku's progress, and he reports that already he's finished the work on the G-Bison, thanks to his former experience on the Hiryu's maintenance crew. That means it's time for the activation test...



...and it goes off without a hitch. They haven't finished the connectors for the G-Bison's legs yet, but that won't matter once Bullet and Kusuha combine into the Grungust Type-3. At that point, the Raptor's pilot will be responsible for maneuvering. That being the case, Excellen wonders who else was riding in Sanger's unit, but Kirk explains that Unit 2 is set up to be piloted by a single person.



A call comes in from the bridge - they've had a communication from Dr. Eri Anzai at the LTR Institute, and she wants to speak with them directly.

-----



As it happens, she wants them to come back to Cheu Hill. The dig's efforts have excavated what appears to be the Mechanoid's head.



Bullet asks what she needs from them, and Eri reminds the crew of the legends of the ancient machines: how they had wills of their own, and selected their own pilots. Much like the Elemental Lords, Masaki notes. That being the case, Lune wonders what qualifications the machine is looking for. Eri's been going over the data that Tesla Reich shared with her, and she theorizes that it will react to telekinetic alpha pulses - in other words, the same ability that Kusuha and Bullet possess.



The Mechanoid is completely inert and will probably never move again, but Eri theorizes that a unit with a T-LINK may be able to at least communicate with it, allowing them to learn more. It may even reveal more about the Einst, as well. Mentioning the Einst leads Kyosuke to ask if they've appeared at Cheu Hill again since their last encounter. They haven't - and it seems too odd of a coincidence that they only arrived when our people were nearby.



Lefina agrees to assist; Bullet, Kusuha, Ryoto, and Rio will be sent to the dig site. Tasuku immediately wants to know why he's being left out, since he's an Alpha original too he scored positive on the TPL tests when they had the entire crew take them. (Masaki asks how Excellen did, and she responds by asking Shiro to come over to her - because white means negative, you see...) Lefina explains that with Operation Plantagenet on the horizon, they can't afford to leave any location undefended; in other words, if trouble comes, they'll be counting on him. This satisfies him, although Excellen suspects the real reason is that he's the only one who's single.



In any case, it's decided; Ryoto and Rio will take the Huckebein Gunner while Bullet and Kusuha use the Grungust Type-3. It hasn't been fitted with its Tronium engine yet, but Kirk wants to collect some data without it anyway. Lefina promises that if trouble arises, the Hiryu will change course and come to their aid at once.

-----



East China Sea, NDC Battleship



Archibald's ship has reached the destination, and he gives the command to deploy a task force.



Yuuki: "...Major, are we really going to go in and just take the Mechanoid?"
Archibald: "Naturally. If we're going to save face after the blow the Hagane dealt us at Riksent, we're going to need a great deal of power on our side."
Yuuki: "Colonel Van hasn't said anything about this, has he?"
Archibald: "Not to worry. This is a request from Rose. The Colonel will want to keep our benefactor happy, I'm sure."



Archibald: "Our objectives are the Mechanoid, and Dr. Eri Anzai, the researcher."
Yuuki: "....."
Archibald: "Yuuki. Keep your silence if you wish, just obey my orders."
Yuuki: "...Yes, sir."



Archibald: (Mhmhm... today, at last, the Mechanoid will be mine.)

-----



Mission 28: Dragon and Tiger Awakened



The Federation protectors have detected the NDCs' approach and are preparing to evacuate personnel. Eri curses the timing - it's enough to make one think the enemy are being fed information...



She may be right, as Archie's forces show up and promptly blow her meager escort out of the sky.



Archibald: "Heh heh... It seems the one we're looking for is aboard that transport."
Yuuki: (You attacked without confirming that?)



Archibald sends Guarlions to surround the transport.



Archibald: "Please calm down, Doctor. I'm not here to harm you."
Eri: "!"
Archibald: "My name is Archibald Grims. I believe we've met here before."
Eri: "It's you again... what do you want?"
Archibald: "Surely you can guess, Doctor. I know you've succeeded in excavating the Mechanoid."
Eri: "You're trying to take it again!?"



Archibald: "I had hoped to do this with more refinement, but the situation has changed. Other matters have forced my hand."
Eri: "Even if you finish digging it up, what makes you think you can use it?"
Archibald: "I'll just have to try. And you will help, of course."
Eri: "...!"
Archibald: "Now, come aboard, if you would. I'll brew some delicious tea for you."



Carla: "....."
Yuuki: "What is it?"
Carla: "Last time we were here, I... felt something."
Yuuki: "What?"
Carla: "Do you think that Mechanoid might be waking up?"
Yuuki: "...That's ridiculous."
Carla: "You can't feel it, Yuu?"
Yuuki: "I..."



Our people arrive just in time (or maybe a bit too late). Seeing what's happened, Kusuha starts to contact the Hiryu...



...But then she senses a telekinetic power. Like something calling to her - but she can't tell if it might be the Mechanoid, or something else. Either way, they'll have to fight; they can't leave Dr. Anzai in the NDCs' hands.



Archibald: "Isn't that..."
Yuuki: "Brooklyn. Brooklyn Luckfield."
Bullet: "Yuuki Jegnan - you're still doing this!?"



Archibald: "Ah, yes. The hot-blooded, inexperienced one. As you can see, we have Dr. Anzai."
Bullet: "Ugh..."
Archibald: "That being said... perhaps we can strike a deal. Hmm?"
Bullet: "What deal?"
Archibald: "I'll guarantee the professor's life - if you surrender your machines."
Ryoto: "Wh-what!?"



Bullet: "Don't make me laugh!"
Archibald: "Oh? You don't care what happens to her?"
Bullet: "You're bluffing! If you kill her, you get nothing!"
Archibald: "Heheh... I believe you misunderstand."




Archibald: "It's no idle threat. I can study the Mechanoid at my leisure even without her help. The only question is whether you value her life more than your mechs."



Carla: "Major, are you serious!?"
Archibald: "Of course. Those are brand-new Federation units. If we capture them, it'll make up for our little blunder in Riksent."
Carla: "But the professor's a civilian!"
Archibald: "You're getting rather tiresome. All's fair in love and war, haven't you heard that?"
Carla: "Ugh..."
Archibald: "At any rate, if they make the trade quietly, we won't have to harm a hair on her head."



Archibald: "Ah, yes. And Yuuki... if you repeat your little stunt back in Riksent, you'll be shot. With the good doctor at your side."
Yuuki: (Bastard...)
Archibald: "Well? What will it be?"



Bullet: "...All right. We surrender."
Kusha: "B-Bullet!?"
Eri: "Don't worry about me! You can't let him get his hands on the Mechanoid!"
Archibald: "It's as she says. Are you certain?"
Bullet: "Yeah. We're disarming. Come and get us."
Archibald: "Very good."



Rio: "Bullet! Are you crazy!?"
Bullet: "He's not going to kill me or Ryoto. Knowing him, he'll try to use us against the Hiryu. But I don't think he can tell that our mechs are two-seaters. So you and Kusuha need to stay inside and wait for a chance. In the meantime, we'll try to find a way to rescue Dr. Anzai."
Rio: "You are crazy! What if they already have our mech data?"
Bullet: "Could be. I'm not Lieutenant Kyosuke, but sometimes you have to take a gamble."
Ryoto: "And this might be our only way out of this."



Rio: "But what can you do!? Once you're on foot---"
Bullet: "We'll figure something out. We'll be counting on you two... Kusuha, Rio."
Kusuha: "Bullet..."
Bullet: "Archibald's right, I am inexperienced... but I don't want to just let him have his way."
Kusuha: "O-okay, Bullet. I'll do what I can."
Rio: "Now I'm going crazy... all right, I'll do it."
Bullet: "All right!"



Archibald: "Then let's claim our prizes. Yuuki, Carla, take them into custody."
Yuuki: "All right."



Yuuki and Carla move on our machines.
Bullet: "It's you..."
Carla: "Sorry, but... we need you to get out of the mechs."
Bullet: "Will you guarantee Dr. Anzai's safety?"
Yuuki: "As much as we're able."
Bullet: "What!?"



Carla: "I'm sorry. We have problems of our own. But... I think better of you than I did."
Ryoto: "Huh?"
Yuuki: "Cut the banter."
Carla: "S-sorry..."
Rio: (These two. Could they...)



Carla: "Hm? I sense something..."
Bullet: "!"



Carla: "No way! These units have a---"
Yuuki: "Carla, don't make me say it twice."
Carla: "Yuu?"
Yuuki:



Bullet: "You..."
Yuuki: "As she said, we have our circumstances. But there's not much we can do about them now."
Bullet: "I guess that's fair. I think I misjudged you."
Yuuki: ".....Anyway. Out of the mech, Brooklyn."



But before Bullet can comply, the alarm sounds. A warp signature has been detected...



...And the Einst make their entrance. They immediately commence firing on everyone in the area, and on the Mechanoid itself.



Archibald orders all his men to intercept them. Yuuki asks about the two Federation units, but Archibald is no longer concerned; if the Einst destroy the Mechanoid, they've come all this way for nothing. For his part, Bullet is only concerned with Dr. Anzai's transport, and the Einst and DC surrounding it.