Authors Note: Sorry for the wait on Oppressive Force, guys. I've been busy, and I binge watched 'Knights of Sidonia' recently. This is the output of that.

Jean Kuriya awoke to the sound of his screeching alarm clock. The annoying noise it made resounded throughout his small apartment room in the backwater area of Sidonia. He wiped the crust from his eyes and slapped the 'Off' button on the rectangular device. He looked over to the box and saw the time. 8:30, just like always.

He sighed and got out of bed, stepping into the shower and turning it on. The hot water brought his mind to attention after his 10 hour sleep. He scrubbed his messy hair and felt his chin. The water made it harder to feel, but he definitely noticed he needed to shave. Hiro switched off the shower and stepped out, drying off with his clean towel. He decided to forgo the shave and slipped on his brown work clothes.

After grabbing his lunch, a weekly habit due to his ability to photosynthesize, much like his peers. He stuffed the tinfoil wrapped nutrient bar into a jacket pocket and set outside.

The familiar warm, artificial sun of Sidonia welcomed him as he stepped outside, his brown hair still wet from the shower. He walked for about 15 minutes before he walked with a bunch of other workers into the Kunato Developments manufacturing building. He pulled out a small ID card and inserted it into a punch card like slot.

"Jean Kuriya: Access Granted."

He went to his locker and pulled out his standard omni-tool, a handgun like object that could weld, cut, repair, you name it. He slapped his Emergency Med Team patch on his work clothes before hearing a voice on the intercom.

"Kuriya, Jin, Olov, and Sakira to Line 4."

Hiro sighed and slipped his hand onto the tool's handle and walked to Line 4. The first thing he saw was the battered and sliced apart Guardian mech in front of him.

"Oh, hell no..."

"Believe it, Jean." replied Keiv Jin, a work buddy of Jean's.

"Damn thing looks like they just threw it against the hull of the ship."

"It's gonna be a bitch to repair, but hey, we get overtime pay."

"Eeeh... until they start handing out free drinks, It's not worth it."

"It's our job, so fuck it."

They, along with two others, began to work on the massive mech. Destroyed paneling was repaired, hydraulics were reassembled, and weaponry was replaced.

"Good thing the poor bastard didn't have a Kabikaze." commented Keiv. Jean looked up from his work.

"Spear woulda snapped in half. That steel can only hold for so long."

Jean kept welding the extra panels.

"You're right, Keiv. Far as I can tell, the way the gauna hit it would've been right in the spears way. If held in standard for-"

"Jean Kuriya, please head to the front office. Jean Kuriya, please head to the front office."

Shit.

Going into the front office meant one of three things: a big promotion, being accepted as a gauna pilot, or getting fired. The first two were highly uncommon, and the last was a constant worry. If you messed up the welding on a panel that causes Sidonia to lose one more Guardian, that was grounds for immediate termination.

"Good luck, man. I'll get Furlo to fill in for ya."

Jean punched his card into a slot and head to the office. Four people were there: the head of the plant, a woman in a government uniform, and two guards holding submachine guns.

Oh, no.

"Mr. Kuriya, I don't think you'll need that punchcard anymore." said the head.

OH, FUCK NO.

Jean cleared his throat, beginning to sweat bullets.

"A-am I getting fired, s-sir?"

"No, we're just no longer in need of your services."

"Umm... why, sir?"

"Take a look for yourself."

The government woman nodded to one of the guards, and he produced a small orange and black card.

"Congratulations, Cadet."

Cadet?

Jean looked at the card.

'Jean Kuriya, Guardian Pilot, Cadet. Squad 2, #12'

OH, FUCK YES!

"You will follow us to orientation. Welcome to the military, kid."