Chapter 11

Kito spent the next few days keeping as much to himself as possible. He had been devastated to see his beautiful mecha destroyed, because of Captain Yabane's carelessness. He felt as he had that day in the playground, when Jun had been taken away from him, without warning. There was the same feeling of emptiness… of despair… of hopelessness.

Jun was doing something worthwhile with her life. She mattered. She was doing just fine without him, while since she had gone from his life, Kito had only experienced one miserable failure, after another.

Steungart and Pantillo left Kito alone; perhaps because they understood his pain, or perhaps because they just didn't know what to say to him. Neither did anyone else approach him. He had no friends, and he wasn't of much use to anyone.

But he was apparently wrong on that count, as he was summoned to a meeting with Lord Katse. Kito was surprised, but curious. His anger had worn itself out, and he discovered that he needed something new to occupy his mind, else he would keep brooding on the past.

When Kito arrived at the conference room, Lord Katse waved him inside, with his usual impatient manner.

"Well, it's about time you showed up, Sergeant Abbott!" Katse complained.

"I apologize for my tardiness, Sire." Kito bowed before the purple mask.

"Whatever. Just be on time!"

"Yes, Sire."

"Now that we're all here," Katse sneered, "I would like to talk about our next plan of attack against the Science Ninja Team."

Kito looked around the conference table. He was the lowest ranking person in the room. He couldn't imagine why he had been summoned, along with this gathering of captains and officers.

"Anyone have any ideas?"

The men seated around the table all appeared to find their fingers, the floor, or the table, fascinating. They all studiously avoided meeting Lord Katse's gaze, much less answering his question.

"Well?" Katse stamped his foot impatiently.

Looking around the assembled group, Katse singled out one of his officers.

"Commander Loring…" he said, pointing at the trembling man, "What do you think we should do?"

"Uh…" Commander Loring appeared as if he wanted to sink through the floor. He looked nervously around the table, as if asking for assistance.

He found none.

"Uh…" he repeated. "A… a new mecha?"

"A new mecha. A new mecha? A new mecha!" Katse screeched. "After all of the mecha that have been destroyed by Gatchaman and his damned God Phoenix? You think we need a new mecha?"

Commander Loring was obviously terrified. Lord Katse was leaning into his face, practically spitting on the officer, a sneer visible from underneath his pointed, purple mask.

Suddenly, the Galactor leader stood up, turning so quickly that his purple cape swirled around his legs.

"As it happens," he said calmly, "I agree with you."

The jaws of everyone in the room fell to the floor.

"And, interestingly enough," Katse continued, enjoying the reaction of his audience, "Out of all of you supposedly qualified officers, there is only one person here in this room, who has consistently delivered mecha that have performed as promised."

Lord Katse turned to stare directly at Kito.

"So, Sergeant Abbott, what are your ideas, for a new mecha?"

Kito was stunned. This was not what he had expected. But then, who ever expected to be put on the spot before Galactor's most powerful command personnel?

"Well…" Kito's mind worked furiously, thinking of everything he knew about the Science Ninja Team; which, admittedly, wasn't much.

"I've noticed that the God Phoenix has a weak spot." Kito stated.

"A weak spot?" Katse's eyes gleamed. "Where?"

"On the hull, in front of the wing. Particularly on the right side: in front of the storage bay for the G4 mecha." Kito elaborated. "During the God Phoenix's encounters with King Kang and the Serpent mecha, that was the first area of the vessel to literally crack under pressure."

"Interesting… please continue your train of thought, Sergeant Abbott."

"I think we need a mecha that can hold the God Phoenix, and take advantage of that weak point." Kito said, revealing his thoughts aloud. He had almost forgotten where he was, and to whom he was speaking.

"Something that has a lot of gripping power, and a powerful cutting tool… no… a drilling tool. The Serpent mecha was nearly successful in doing this, however when it wrapped around the God Phoenix, it was no longer able to control its own movement. We need something with a lot of tentacles… or arms… one or two of them equipped with powerful drills… that can remain in position while grappling the God Phoenix…"

"A spider!" Kito cried, leaping up excitedly.

"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Katse smirked triumphantly. "Ideas! Something that the lot of you all seem to be lacking!"

"Go build your Spider mecha." Katse ordered Kito, "Just make sure it's capable of taking on the Science Ninja Team, or it will be the last mecha you ever build!"

"Yes, Sire." Kito saluted, his mind working on his new project.

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Kito pushed thoughts of his Serpent mecha from his mind, concentrating entirely on his new Spider mecha. His team had decided to name it 'Arachnotron', and they all put in their best efforts to complete her.

When Lord Katse came to inspect Arachnotron, he was visibly impressed.

"This appears to be a formidable mecha," he complimented Kito, "but is it truly capable of defeating the Science Ninja Team?"

"Yes, Sire." Kito assured him. "We have given it the dual layers of shielding that have been effective against Bird Missiles in the past. Its structure is solid, and while it has eight legs, only two are actually needed for standing, or for movement. Alternatively, the support legs can be retracted, allowing the mecha to sit upon the ground."

"What about the other six legs?"

"They can be retracted as well, but they are not required for support of the mecha. Four of them are grappling arms, with hooks attached to grab onto a target, such as an attacking vessel. The last two have drills, similar to the one placed on the lead motorcycle of the Serpent mecha, but much larger in scale. This will allow Arachnotron to grab the God Phoenix and then tear it apart."

"That all sounds good," mused Katse, "but, what if they attempt to use the Science Ninja Technique: Firebird?"

"Arachnotron operates very well under water." Kito replied. "She could lure the God Phoenix under the ocean, and attack it there."

"An excellent suggestion." Katse replied, mulling over potential strategies. "What about other weaponry?"

"We've enhanced Galactor's laser attack beams, and installed them in all of Arachnotron's eyes. There are eight of them, able to point in all directions. They work under water, as well."

"It appears that you have covered all contingencies, Sergeant Abbott." Katse congratulated Kito. "Now, disassemble the mecha!"

"What?" Kito wasn't certain that he had heard Lord Katse correctly.

"Disassemble it." Katse repeated. "We're transferring the mecha to one of our Ameris bases, on the West coast, north of Utoland. We will launch our attacks from that location. Your unit will accompany the mecha, and re-assemble it there."

"Yes, Sire." Kito saluted the purple-masked man. He was quivering with excitement. Arachnotron was going to be deployed!