These are a collection of references and production notes for Tales of the Cosmic Era. Inspirations, shout-outs, and references are all listed here, accompanied by some very, very stale character humor - and more references!
Conversations are of a semi-meta nature, and shouldn't be taken to mean anything in the actual stories themselves.
Chapter 1
The Habilis Mass Driver is now surrounded by the Victoria Supercomplex, a Eurasian Federation/African Union super-base.
The Victoria Supercomplex is heavily guarded, and features the MR-6 railgun bombardment system (a reference to Ace Combat 4's Stonehenge Turret Network).
The Nazca-class destroyers Black Dragon, Survive, and the Laurasia-class frigate Seventh Heaven are references to Masked Rider Ryuki's Kamen Rider Ryuga, the Survive card power-up from the aforementioned series, and the song "Zips ~ Seventh Heaven Remix" by TM Revolution, respectively.
The way the GINNs are depicted as "sliding" rather than running are a nod to the Gespenst PT from the Super Robot Wars series; specifically, in the OG animes, where they slid across all surfaces because of their numerous high-powered thrusters. As the GINN is similar, this was incorporated into the story series after a manner, as every MS with more than just a backpack thruster should be able to output enough for a boosted jump, and by extension sliding; it depends on power consumption and thruster model per MS, as a GINN would have better slide control than the thinner and more lightweight CGUE/Strike Dagger, which would be better off running unless it wanted speed, and the GINN OCHER would not be able to sustain the same thrust as the normal GINN in ground conditions, being only good enough for a boosted jump blah blah yadda yadda... ... ...
Alpha One: Man, I died? That kinda sucks.
Sgt. NoOb: You were dead canonically.
Alpha One: This is fanfiction, you know. You could have left me as an amnesiac in a tropical shack with a buncha war orphans and a blind pastor, or something! Now I can't see my wife ever again!
Sgt. NoOb: Your wife wasn't even in the equation.
Alpha One: C'mon, I thought you were better than Fukuda!
Sgt. NoOb: I kinda agree with your role in the opening scenes for Gundam SEED though. Thanks for setting up the mood.
Alpha One: Oh, sod off.
Sgt. NoOb: At least you died to a MR-6, you know? Better than being offed by a tank, wouldn't you say?
Alpha One: That means that I wouldn't have died if you didn't put in the MR-6.
Sgt. NoOb: That means that you would have been gangbanged by fifty anti-ground missiles.
Alpha One: You had that kind of an ending in store for me?! Are you serious?!
Sgt. NoOb: Be glad I tossed it out even before the first words got into your chapter…
Chapter 2
ZAFT retrieves a Moebius Zero to tie in with their development of remote weapons. The intended meaning was for the Moebius Zero's wired gunpods to lead to the Dreadnought Gundam's wired weapons, which would later result in the Providence Gundam's wireless DRAGOONs.
Nana Sette's name is "seven" in Japanese and "seven" again in Italian.
One of the Nelson-class battleships, which performed an emergency dodge by venting its portside hangar, is a small nod to Commander Jacob Keyes' maneuver with his UNSC destroyer Iroquis, from the Halo novel The Fall of Reach, which managed to avoid a pair of guided plasma torpedoes with a similar maneuver.
Sgt. NoOb: How's it feel to be alive?
Miar: Of course, isn't it, Mister? I'm the captain of the Nox Avis! There isn't a plebian or peasant in the world that can match me! Doh ho ho ho~
Sgt. NoOb: Er… Miar? Wait, did you always have drill twintails this long?
Nana: …Everyone has a hidden side, Mister. From what I heard, this was what she was like in high school. She just needs a yo-yo to complete the tone…
Sgt. NoOb: Oh, nice. By the way… Ms. Sette? This isn't your debut chapter.
Nana: …I appeared in another chapter.
Sgt. NoOb: About twenty chapters and almost fifty thousand words later, in a supporting role, yes.
Nana: … Apologize to all the people named Nana in fiction.
Sgt. NoOb: Even the armless and legless one?
Nana: … I have her contact number. She can be here in five. Without assistance.
Sgt. NoOb: … No, please, thanks.
Miar: You two are such insolent twerps! How dare you ignore me!? Fall before the might of The Queen of Januarius from Januarius Main High School!
Sgt. NoOb: Arrrgh!
Nana: …Aaah.
Miar: Oh ho ho ho ho~!
Chapter 3
OMNI gains anti-mobile suit torpedoes. Air battles are much more closely fought due to the VTOL capabilities of the F-7D being taken into account (taken from tactical air maneuvers practiced by the real-life Hawker Siddley Harrier).
The Vozgulov-class submarines have been up-gunned, and were intended to be capable of more punishing maneuvers than what the anime depicted them as, since I've always thought of them as sea-going versions of ZAFT spaceships. In canon they were hardly an example of classical carrier submarines themselves, instead resembling submersible Russian aviation cruisers, what with their weapons.
Fredric: Man, my old flame died? This sucks on ice.
Sgt. NoOb: There are many fish in the sea, Fred, if you get what I mean.
Frederic: Har de har. Very funny, Mister.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, Fred, now's your chance to make a pitch to me! With any luck, you'll get a love interest somewhere down the line!
Fredric: Knowing how messed up your services are, I'll probably get a little ghost girl in my mind that I can't touch in any manner at all, or some battle-crazed freak that I have to watch getting blown up because she thought I couldn't dodge a bullet.
Sgt. NoOb: That's… kinda harsh.
Fredric: I wouldn't put it past you.
Grace: Fredric?
Fredric: W-Waah! Grace, what brings you here?
Grace: The "battle-crazed freak" part. We. Need. To. Talk.
Fredric: I, uh, well… all similarities to persons alive, dead, fictional, or non-fictional in my words are unintentional, you know…?
Grace: Fredric. We. Will. Talk. Outside. NOW.
Fredric: Mister, help me~!
Sgt. NoOb: Sorry, bub, she's in snikt-snikt mode. You're on your own.
Fredric: AGAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Chapter 4
I wanted a story that took from a lone person, caught at what at that time might have been seen as the end of the world. If it invoked some imagery from other, more well-known apocalypse scenarios in media, those were exactly what I had wanted to convey.
Yoko Asanogawa takes from Yoko Littner, from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and the R-9DP2 Asanogawa, a unique R-ship from R-Type Final, which is named after a location in Japan.
Sgt. NoOb: The first non-fighting chapter!
Kaguya: I did KO someone, no?
Sgt. NoOb: He nearly KOed you for a double kill before that.
Kaguya: Hey, military logic dictates that attackers under cover of stealth will always do more damage with a successful infiltration, right?
Kouya: What are you two talking about?
Kaguya: Owah! Dad, don't scare me like that…
Akiko: Kaguya, why are you talking with this unknown person? Is he a colleague?
Kaguya: Mom too?
Sgt. NoOb: …unknown… person…
Kouya: Well, this is our debut chapter as well. So all three of us should be present.
Yoko: This is also my debut as well.
Sgt. NoOb: Hey! We're running out of space, here!
Yoko/Kaguya/Kouya/Akiko: Well, you can get out first!
Sgt. NoOb: Ugh!
Chapter 5
The blue Mobius Zero is a reference to Mobius 1, of Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies.
The segments fighting in the scaffolding are a nod to a few space battle scenes in Martian Successor Nadesico: The Prince of Darkness, and also to the SEED Astray OVA featuring a GINN High Maneuver Type against Serpent Tail and the Astray Blue Frame Second L.
Rolla is named in reference to Laura Rola, the persona of crossdressed Loran Cehak from Turn A Gundam.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, Grace, this is your first chapter! What have you to say about this?
Grace: Will the Moebius Zero pilot be appearing again?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, I've got no plans for him…
Grace: I want my rematch! He better appear again!
Sgt. NoOb: Oh? And what if he doesn't?
Grace: Then be prepared to face the consequences.
Sgt. NoOb: Pfff. As if you can do anything to the great me-Owah! What the hell is that?!
Robo-Fredric: I aM kAijIn FrEdrIc. My mIsTreSs hAs oRdeREd yOuR dEmISe.
Sgt. NoOb: How did you… isn't Fredric the one with robotics expertise?!
Grace: I'm a Coordinator. I can interpret his notes more easily. Anyways, Robo-Fredric, go!
Robo-Fredric: ToOo0h~! KaIjiN kICk~!
Sgt. NoOb: Grace, Grace, we can discuss this. Grace-Guuuuuuuuuuuuh~!
Chapter 6
The tank battle was due to my desire to showcase a tank battle (well of course, the hell am I saying?). It was partially fueled by the events in the first episode of GSD Stargazer.
The three main characters (William, Takimi, and Gerald) were slightly inspired by a dysfunctional trio of tank crew, Louis McKnight, Torch, and Hobsbawm, from Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
Takimi Fujiwara was named after Takumi Fujiwara, the main character of Initial D. The decision to use the name came from a gag character in Muv-Luv Extra, where a person who looks suspiciously like Takumi exists as a minor (but still badass) character.
Rahabinod Ravinan was a nod to Paul Rahabinod, a side character from Muv-Luv Alternative. In here, however, he's much less hammy than his forebear(s).
Sgt. NoOb: Well, Mr. Culhan, how does it feel to fail at life forever?
William: Oh, stow it, fuckface! I could have won if I wanted to. It's just that that Desert Tiger dude looked like a good guy, so I didn't want to send him into an emotional spiral!
Takimi: Sure, sure. Tsundereshi~
Gerald: I wish I could speak as shamelessly as you, 'Sarge…
William: …Do the two of you want to die again!?
Sgt. NoOb: I'm sure the Desert Tiger wouldn't get emo at all. But that aside, good work, William.
William: Heh. This is what happens when you add in elementary tank tactics into the battle! I won't let tanks suffer in indignity any longer! I'll add in even more complex tank formations…. Kekeke, those ZAFT bastards won't know what hit them!
Sgt. NoOb: You're dead though. I can't even put you on the Saragossa Defense Line.
William: My ghost will come back! And then, my chosen protege will tell those ZAFT freaks to koko to inaku nare!
Takimi: Shucks, he's starting to channel the Bidan!
Gerald: Man, the last time he did that, he leveled our favorite off-duty bar in El Alamein…!
Sgt. NoOb: …what?!
Takimi: What are you two staring for?! Hurry up and help me restrain him, before he flies into space and rams into Februarius City to get the love of his life back!
William: ASOBI DE YATTEN JANAIN DA YO!
Chapter 7
Since the original back-story implied a hard-fought takeover, I wanted to do a story with POVs from both sides.
One of the soldiers took a bullet to the knee...
Orson is named after the two-bit backstabbing character of the same name from Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, although in here he's more foul-mouthed than anything else. His envisioned look, however, is closer to Gauron, from Full Metal Panic.
Sgt. NoOb: Kim, it's your deban- I mean, debut chapter. Any words?
Kim: Well, there really isn't much to say, is there? I'm a soldier. That means I solve problems. Not problems like, "What to say for my debut?", because that would fall within the purview of bullshit for the sake of fun. I solve practical problems. Like putting rounds where they need to be, or leading a fireteam into a lead-storm.
Sgt. NoOb: …Okay, that's enough on that. But you showed great restrain throughout, didn't you? That's commendable. If it were Orson, he would have used poor Fianna as a shield.
Kim: Well, if your initial character visualization already has him looking like Gauron, and your entire character descriptor of him is "vulgar two-bit asshole", then there're not much chance for him to do anything else, is there?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, true that…
Kim: … still…
Sgt. NoOb: Hm?
Kim: Well… is Fianna making another appearance again?
Sgt. NoOb: I can't be sure I have any plans… wait, why do you have a photo of Fianna in your wallet? How did you even get one in the first place?!
Kim: … … Good recon is the key to winning any battle. Homu!
Sgt. NoOb: I'm the one asking a question, Kim, don't humor me with a half-assed answer… wait, "homu"? …Kim? Kim! Don't run, I've got a helluva things to ask you about! Fianna! Wherever you are, watch your chastity!
Chapter 8
The last bit of flying into the ship was a nod to Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, where a Su-35 rams the USS Anzio.
Rowen Nezxa was named in reference to Rowen from Elemental Gelade (he's envisioned to even look kinda like him).
Aleiya Varchenowa was named in reference to Cryska Barchenowa from Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse (minus the insanity and D+ size).
Larry Falke is named in reference to Larry Foulke, a.k.a. Solo Wing Pixy from Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
Kou Hanada is a nod to Kou Uraki, from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.
Sgt. NoOb: Heya Kou! How's it hangin'?
Kou: I guess being dead has its perks. You know how hard I laughed when we won Panama?
Sgt. NoOb: Probably one of the best troll moments in the original anime. Well, there's that… so, Kou, anything to say?
Kou: Is there even anything worth saying?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, if you say so…
Kou: Okay, okay… actually, Nova was supposed to be a stalemate that OMNI ended up giving in to first, right? Why the big fight?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, I assumed that there had to be a catalyst for the giving in, so I orchestrated this huge battle. I did planned to have a super special secret section talking about OMNI internal politics regarding OMNI, but I'll have to think of something first.
Kou: You were just lazy to fully rewrite the chapter, weren't you? And you even lumped in a future terrorist with me!
Sgt NoOb: Guilty as charged, for most of it~.
Sato: ZENMETSU~!
Chapter 9
For those who've watched MS IGLOO, especially that episode with the anti-MS team, this might seem familiar. However, since the terrain is completely different, and the MS unlike each other, I opted for a win with an ambush rather than taking on the odds.
Mendez LaFouze is named after Franklin Mendez, the WO in charge of training the Spartan IIs and IIIs in the Halo series.
Sgt. NoOb: Hola, Mr. LaFouze!
Mendez: Your assumptions are terrible. I ain't Spanish.
Sgt. NoOb: Sorry. Disregarding that, how's your debut?
Mendez: I'm a Jeigan, right? So how long do you plan on keeping me alive?
Sgt. NoOb: You're familiar with that term?!
Mendez: I've got premium membership to the Old Knights & Undying Whitebeards Club. Free booze every Thursday and Friday night. Oldies of the world all gather around there.
Sgt. NoOb: You're not even official!
Mendez: The power of oldies united transcends silly things like canon and non-canonical status.
Sgt. NoOb: Right…
Mendez: So, back to the original question…
Sgt. NoOb: You just want to see the master script, don't you? Well, you can be rest assured that your role in Tales of the Cosmic Era is over. But I still won't let you see it.
Mendenz: Damn.
Sgt. NoOb: I thought you'll be happier! You ended the story alive!
Mendez: Coming from you; it's either you're going to kill me offscreen, or something else is in the wor-
Sgt. NoOb: AAAAAAH THAT'S CLASSIFIED! SHUT UP!
Chapter 10
Pretty much out of a desire to see the last major battle before JOSH-A elaborated upon.
Mercenary Rilia Karvok was initially named after and based off Lilia Kejenberg of Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After. After several changes, however, the reference ends at being a similar first name.
Jean Carry's reasons for leaving ZAFT is now hinted to be due to the hiding of the fact that 3rd generation Coordinators are beginning to be sterile, from the general Coordinator population, by the PLANT Council.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, seeing as Andrew is now off coffee-making somewhere, who wants to take his place?
Alan: Is there really a need for this?
Grace: There better be, or else tonight's alternate entertainment will be me breaking someone's spine.
Sgt. NoOb: Woah there, kitty, not my fault you lost to the J-bro, you catch my drift?
Grace: I'll catch your drift and break it over my knee, Mister.
Sgt. NoOb: Are you that mad at losing?
Grace: Yes, I am! Do you realize that I've been losing to special characters or being beaten to the punch ever since I appeared in Tales of a Cosmic Era? Everyone got their moment except me!
Sgt. NoOb: Hey, you got your moments too. Not everyone can mow through legions of nameless things.
Grace: You don't write with regards to nameless things though. This way, I won't ever get a chance to shine.
Sgt. NoOb: Maybe it's not you. Maybe it's Alan and the others overshadowing you.
Grace: What?! Is this true?!
Alan: Hey now…
Grace: Well, I could do away with Fredric… maybe other ZAFT pilots… but I can't off the Leader, he's too awesome…
Alan: Grace… your expression… it's kind of scary…
Chapter 11
It was inspired by a story told to me during my compulsory military service, of how a single rocket round cleared house in a Middle Eastern anti-insurgent operation. Whether it was true or not, the fact remains that support vehicles (an airstrike in the story's case) are still a powerful deciding factor in urban infantry combat. The infantry were there to provide a human viewpoint on the intricacies of civilian-vs.-military issues (such as landing rockets on people's houses).
The DINN squadron "Wyzard" is named in reference to Wizard Squadron, from Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
Sgt. NoOb: 'Sup, Robert, your ears still working?
Robert: Yes, they are. Future medical technology is awesome.
Sgt. NoOb: Man, if you had powered armor, things would be so much more heroic. Funny how no one managed to miniaturize the mobile suit, and you guys are still stuck with peacekeeping-level flak jackets and basic rifles.
Robert: You say that, but you're a hardcore giant robot fan. Don't pull that on me, anyways, I've already played the original Battletech.
Sgt. NoOb: Wouldn't it be awesome to be an Elemental then?
Robert: I thought I was in a human relations story, not a Band of Brothers short. I'll need actual arms for that.
Sgt. NoOb: How about the powered armor in the newest Starship Troopers movie?
Robert: … And what am I supposed to kill, now?
Sgt. NoOb: Or you could be a Spartan-IV!
Robert: Hey, that's going over the agenda line, man.
Sgt. NoOb: Man, are you sure you're a Coordinator? If I didn't know better, I'd call you a Natural, or an Imperial Guard romanticist. You know, flashlight, faith in the God-Emperor, the works.
Robert: Puhh-! Say what?!
Chapter 12
I wanted to use the chance to write about how I changed some of the things in this rendition of the Cosmic Era… it ended up being a talking chapter instead.
Karn Droven was initially planned as a ZAFT nod to Haman Karn from Neo Zeon, the primary antagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, but it was later dropped, and all that remained was the name.
Sgt. NoOb: …
Karn: …
Sgt. NoOb: … …
Karn: … …
Sgt. NoOb: … … …
Karn: … … …
Sgt. NoOb: … … … …
Karn: … … … …
Sgt. NoOb: There… really wasn't anything interesting in your chapter, wasn't it?
Karn: Probably not.
Sgt. NoOb: … … … … …
Karn: … … … … …
Sgt. NoOb: ****.
Chapter 13
Battleship 2012, and that's all that needs to be said.
The Potemkin in this story is a nod to the historical Russian ship of the same name, but the decision to use the name was first introduced by a Yuktobanian warship, also named the Potemkin, in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
The Halcyon Days is in reference to the Pillar of Autumn, a Halcyon-class light space cruiser from Halo: Combat Evolved.
The Anzio is a nod to the appearance of the USS Anzio in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
The Kestrel is a nod to the OFS Kestrel, an aircraft carrier from Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
The Cairo is a nod to Cairo Station, an Orbital Magnetic Accelerator Cannon Station appearing in Halo 2.
Sgt. NoOb: Hello, Captain Zanaya.
Zanaya: Hello, Mister.
Sgt. NoOb: How does it feel to be in one of the most influential battles in the SEEDverse?
Zanaya: Aside from knowing that the Atlantic Federation threw us up as offerings, nothing much, I'd say. I've had plenty of battles in the Mediterranean waters.
Sgt. NoOb: Don't you ever wish you were a ZAFT MS pilot? With your calmness, you could go far.
Zanaya: Not really. I like having others under my command. It's a… how would you people say it? "A warm and fuzzy feeling".
Sgt. NoOb: Gehk- So you're an S too?
Zanaya: I can understand you, you know. No, it's not that. Isn't it nice to know that there are people you can rely on?
Sgt. NoOb: Well… that's true…
Zanaya: And that their life or death hinges on each and every decision, yet they're willing to trust you with it?
Sgt. NoOb: That's also true… Woah, where did all these people come from?!
Anatoly/Anya/ Rina: Captain… We… the crew are indebted to you!
Zanaya: Come! Come into my arms! We're all family! Mother Russia accepts all!
Sgt. NoOb: Rather than S or M… maybe… it's… a benign form of egoism…
Chapter 14
An introduction chapter for a group of people, whom I intend to use as an explanation for many of the events in Seed Destiny. Consider it a "setting-up" chapter.
Kenroukuen Mei is named from two sides; her name comes from Mei Chang (localized as May Chang, or it came from the panda, take your pick) from FullMetal Alchemist, while her surname is named after the Japanese location of the same name; the inspiration came from the R-9DP3 Kenroukuen, an R-craft first introduced in R-Type Final, and later in R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate. Not surprisingly, the Kenroukuen is the strongest of its kind, given how Mei is within this chapter.
Sgt. NoOb: Ah, well, we're nearing the midway point, aren't we?
Hawaki/Houka: Yes… umu.
Sgt. NoOb: So how did you feel about the Battle of Orb? Would it have been different if you were fighting against the Druggies instead?
Hawaki/Houka: Definitely, umu. We'll have beaten them senseless, umu.
Hawaki/Houka: That chaotic style will be no match for our synchronized fighting skills, umu!
Sgt. NoOb: How about against the entire fleet?
Hawaki/Houka: Well, that might be a bit hard, umu.
Hawaki/Houka: I mean, it is an entire fleet, after all, umu.
Hawaki/Houka: But I think we could have held on longer, umu.
Hawaki/Houka: And Chancellor Uzumi killing himself was seriously off-key, umu.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, I sorta understand why…
Hawaki/Houka: Yeah, but the entire council along with him, umu? Thanks to that the Seiran family came to power, umu! They were always kind of favorable towards the Atlantic Federation, but their works later on really took the cake, umu!
Hawaki/Houka: That's right, umu! Ledonir Kisaka's all manly and muscular and all, but he doesn't have any political power, umu! Ms. Cagalli was without political allies for almost four years, umu!
Sgt. NoOb: … You know, I've always been wondering since you all take turns speaking, but what was your seating arrangement again?
Hawaki/Houka: Kananoh is Kananoh, umu.
Sgt. NoOb: And that wordcatch! You think you're adorable taking after some physically petit, foul-mouthed alien researcher who was responsible for changing all of the world's presidents into girls?!
Hawaki/Houka: Hmmm…. umu!
Chapter 15
Closure is finally brought to Victoria. Pretty much the reverse of Chapter 10 from the OMNI POV.
The first scene was inspired by Unicorn Gundam's Episode 4, where Zeon remnants in Doms and Dowdages beginning the assault on Torrington Base rushed across open ground.
Most of the callsigns are callouts to other series; the Blast Guards from Muv-Luv Alternative's TSFs' tactical equipment arrangement, the Black Sabres after the Black Knives from Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After and the Space Marines Chapter Sable Swords from Warhammer 40, 000, and EWACS Deep Eye after the tradition of Ace Combat EWACS callsigns.
Guy Leon was supposed to pilot a Duel Dagger in this chapter, but I realized it wouldn't make sense for him to be blasted back into a Strike Dagger in his later appearance. For reasons I've forgotten by now, I was really, really against him taking anything more advanced than a Strike Dagger in his featured chapter, thus, I downgraded him here.
Sgt. NoOb: And we're right back to the Victoria Supercomplex! How's it feel to participate in a hot drop operation, guys?!
Ash: Pretty nerve-wracking.
Kahora: I thought it was pretty cool. Especially the way we were surrounded and almost got offed at the end.
Sgt. NoOb: Honestly, I wanted a wipeout, you know, but then, since there were already so little OMNI POVs, I can hardly kill off the few that matter, right?
Ash: Oh! So we'll get new roles?
Sgt. NoOb: Maybe. Perhaps not here.
Kahora: Where else?
Sgt. NoOb: Not really in my interest to say. But don't worry, you'll have chances.
Ash: … we aren't going to be used for some fodder to be killed offscreen in an attempt to bring in some EMOTIONAL situations, are we?
Sgt. NoOb: I really can't say, aha, ah ha ha ha...
Chapter 16
The European region is cleared of war. The Ace Combat-esque vibes in the air battle scenes are intentional; specifically, Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies.
Yorui Matsuda's character and envisioned looks are loosely based off Matsuda "Murderface" Chiaki, the main character of 4chan's /tg/ board's Magical Girl Noir Quest (mostly in the deadpanning, although in the end not much deadpanning was done).
Astor Fenzikel was named after Astore, a character from Fire Emblem: Binding Blade (or you might be more familiar with its romanji'd title, Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi)
Annette Selveta was named after Anett Hosenfeld, from Muv-Luv Alternative: Schwarzemarken. Differences in character are mainly Hosenfeld's mad outbursts of rage to Selveta's cold rolling fury.
The Iwo Jima is named in reference to the USS Iwo Jima, a real-life assault ship of the US Navy.
The Shinano is named after the IJN Shinano from Muv-Luv Alternative, a Yamato-class battleship. In real-life, the IJN Shinano existed as a Yamato-class changed into an aircraft carrier during construction.
Sgt. NoOb: Alright, this time will be a double feature!
Astor/Annette: Hello.
Sgt. NoOb: Alright, fire away!
Astor: Am I dead?
Sgt. NoOb: Waha, what's up with this difficult question right off the bat! I can't answer that!
Annette: Are you ever going to include me in another story?
Sgt. NoOb: Woah, a daring question! I already did, but if you mean a new feature with you, I don't know~!
Astor/Annette: You're not Aoi Toori. Stop speaking like him.
Sgt. NoOb: … Sorry.
Astor: Still, I'm a bit surprised that I wasn't dead by halfway through. What were the odds of me surviving?
Sgt. NoOb: About as much as getting two "6" on a pair of dice after three bounces for each dice, and missing the Go to Jail tile by exactly one count.
Astor: Uwah. That's a pretty bad draw.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, don't worry. Maybe, just maybe, I might not kill you offscreen.
Astor: That would suck worse!
Annette: Pfff.
Chapter 17
The title was named after the first mission in Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Through the Heart of a Nation).
The opening scene for the chapter was inspired by Halo 3 ODST's own opening cutscene, during the Battle of New Mombassa.
Grace's various recollections of the escape from Gibraltar was a reference to the Astray OVAs, in which one of them, you can see an assault ship crashing onto the shores and unloading mobile suits onto the ground. I've a nagging feeling that that was supposed to be Carpentaria, given the background, but in order to placate both sides of possibilities I purposely left the aerial fight and the landing forces with as little explaination as I could; that they were both abusing this tactic, and it was used at Carpentaria as well.
Interestingly enough, in the Japanese Wikipedia article on Cosmic Era events, it was noted that Operation 8.8, rather than being a speedy finish as I had envisioned it, was actually a long, draggy battle.
The assault ship War-Head is named after the R-9C War Head, from R-Type II/R-Type Final.
I originally wanted to have the War-Head's comms say "tora, tora, tora" at the start of its attack, but being unable to find the appropriate context for it without forcing the WWII reference, I dropped that notion in the end.
Guy: Hot damn, that was one hell of a scrape.
Sgt. NoOb: Ah, c'mon, you know I'm not the kind of person to give you an elaborate backstory just to kill you off. Your kind needs a bit of continuous screentime to generate some sympathy.
Guy: Uh... thanks?
Annette: More importantly, when will I appear again after this? Doesn't look like there'll be any chances...
Sgt. NoOb: Congrats, you've survived the Bloody Valentine War!
Annette: ... that's it?
Sgt. NoOb: ... well, what did you want? You wanna rot at Kaohsiung?
Annette: Well, no, of course not, but still... after establishing my character as a sorta-badass... that's kind of anti-climatic, I guess?
Sgt. NoOb: ... I can cook up climatic if you want.
Guy: *chortles*
Annette: Huh. No, thanks...
Chapter 18
Viktor's demeanor is slightly based off Nikolai of Modern Warfare 3.
Sgt. NoOb: And we're back with the little Coordinator!
Aleiya: Woah, watch it. Who's little?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, you, at this point in the story.
Aleiya: I could get muscles if I wanted! But I wouldn't look good as a six-foot-tall Slavic gorilla.
Richard: Oy, watch it.
Sgt. NoOb: Right, enough muscling around. How did you find this story?
Aleiya: Okay, I guess? Sure as hell didn't expect to be a survivor of JOSH-A, though.
Richard: I guess this is my debut? I'm not going to be tossed into impossible situations now, am I?
Sgt. NoOb: Nu fufufufufufufu~
Richard: What do you mean, "nu fufufufufufufu~"? Don't "nu fufufufufufufu~" me!
Aleiya: Heh. I guess you'll live, uncle.
Richard: ... that didn't nearly sound as good as I thought it should be, young lady!
Chapter 19
The general atmosphere of Flogger Squadron was intended as a nod to the Werewolf Battalion from Muv-Luv Alternative: Schwarzemarken.
Kaguya's squadron callsign, and letting the ZAFT medical convoy go, were taken from a combination of 8th MS Teams' penultimate battle scene with the fleeing Zanzibar-class, and from one of the missions in Ace Combat 4, where you have to escort a fleeing civilian airliner with Erusean defectees, which cameos a Kei Nagase, callsign Edge when she was featured in Ace Combat 2.
Flogger Squadron: Heave-ho, heave-ho!
Kaguya: ~~~~~~!
Patricia: Aaah! What are those people doing to Captain Sakamoto!?
Alvan: Taking her away, I guess?
Patricia: Waah~ Ghost!
Alvan: This is the "everything goes" corner, don't you know?
Patricia: ... really? Then I want to be a super ace pilot who can shoot everything and slash everyone and totally own all the losers forever-
Sgt. NoOb: That spots's already taken.
Patricia: Who're you? And what do you mean, taken?
Sgt. NoOb: That kind of taken.
*Freedom screams past overhead in the skies.*
Patricia: Eh? Why?
Sgt. NoOb: ... well, you're not voiced by Souichiro Hoshi. In fact, you're not voiced at all! Look at this chart! Look at all their hair! Kira Yamato's not just one person, he's every character Hoshi has voiced so far combining into one super-entity reborn into this universe! And this isn't even his final foooooooooorm~!
Patricia: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? I didn't know that! Teach me how to get a final form too!
Alvan: ... *sigh*
Chapter 20
A gathering of all the characters introduced in this series thus far.
Lieutenant-General Kang Zeng Wan is named after Shaman King KanZenBan, a new title for the main Shaman King series, and Asakura Touga after the Asakura family line, in the same series as the aforementioned.
Sgt. NoOb: I guess I could call this a character buffet?
Nain: So this makes it my debut too?
Kae: And mine.
March: And mine!
Nain/Kae: You couldn't even make it as a sub-character.
March: Kuh-! What cruel words!
Ray: ... I guess this is my first official appearance, then.
Nain/Kae: Privileged characters should shut up!
Kelvin: I guess this is my first appearance too!
Ray: ... all these overly-hyper people.
Faceless characters: ... ... ... don't we matter?
Chapters 21, 22, 23
The decision to use the CGUE Assault was partially due to my love for the YF-23 Black Widow II from Muv-Luv Alternative, which can use up to six guns with a load-out appropriately named the Gun Sweeper.
Darian Forsseseur was named as a nod to Darian, the League of Legends Demacian hero. He also kind of looks like him, in the size department.
Darry Amberheart was named after Darry Adai from Gurren Lagann. Yes, I am aware that Darry Adai is a girl.
Leading from the aforementioned, I initially planned for a Darrry-Gimmy dynamic between Houjou and Darry, but that idea didn't make it through in the end.
Melinda Hausen's family name came from Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword (known in the US as just Fire Emblem), where one of the main characters, the swordswoman Lyn's full name, is purportedly (with some proof) Lyndis Hausen, grandaughter of the Lord of Caelin (p.s. you can play her character again in FE: Awakening on the 3DS! Crossovers yeah!).
The base material for the cheorography of the lunar city battle segment came from Gundam Unicorn Episode 4's own segment.
Kaguya Sakamoto (Mei Kenroukuen) was originally slated to appear in Chapter 22/23, but the lack of an OMNI viewpoint meant that she was cut. Ash Sorbough (first appearance Chapter 15) was also slated to be one of the OMNI pilots here.
Sgt. NoOb: First time I tried writing an original arc...
Darry: Hey! What the hell? I suck donkey sacks in this!
Darian: Oh, shush. You were never destined for anything more than a 1-arc side-role.
Darry: Ugh...! You...!
Nana: Heyoooooo~ I'm back~
Sgt. NoOb: Happy now? That's one slot less for an additional beautiful female character!
Nana: ... I'm not a beautiful female character?
Sgt. NoOb: Er... no... I mean...
Darry: Haha! Dumbass!
Aleiya: Oy! Darry! How long are you going to skive!
Darry: Dammit! The slave driver found me!
Aleiya: I'll make a slave drive you, you slacking bastard!
Chapter 24
Kelvin Genedan's family name comes from Gan Eden, the Earth protector in the Super Robot Wars Alpha series.
Kelvin: Hot damn, that escalated quickly.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, what did you expect? I can't exactly break canon even if I try to make the Earth Alliance suck less. All I can do is make it so that good guys like you have the shittiest luck imaginable whenever you spring up a revolution.
Kelvin: Yeah, but still, it would be nice to be made a martyr.
Celina: At least you're not the troubled antagonist.
Kelvin: You don't look that troubled to me.
Celina: Yeah, well, I didn't exactly die with pain and fire. But Captain Feric hates me now! *sobbing sounds*
Kelvin: Meh. Not like you'll have better luck anyways.
Celina: ... What!?
Sgt. NoOb: ... wait, how the hell did you know?
Kelvin: I... well, um...
Nina (far-off): He stole the keys to your spoilers cabinet!
Celina: *more sobbing sounds*
Sgt. NoOb: KELVIN!
Chapter 25
A revisiting of the "multi-view" format used in Chapter 20. Ultimately, I thought it would be better to give a few small references before settling in on the trusty doctor.
The Admiral Istomin was named after Russian admiral Vladimir Istomin.
The attack on Kourou City, located in French Guiania, was intended as a direct reference, both meta and in-story, to Gundam SEED Stargazer Episode 1, and is further cemented by a French-sounding character, Edmond Du Clos, being on the scene. In real-life, French Guiania has a European space shuttle launch site located there, called the Guiana Space Centre.
Darry: IT HAS BEGUN~ C'mon, Houjou, chant something too!
Houjou: ...
Richard: What's this racket all about? Young man, you sound like a cultist!
Darry: What?! Don't you dare make fun of my singing!
Richard: I've heard better singing from dying foxes.
Darry: You...!
Fianna: The doctor is right. You sound like a cultist.
Darry: Aarrggh! No one understands the me as a genius! Am I doomed to live my life out in poverty? Oh, woe is me!
Houjou: ...
Aleiya: The only woe you'll get is a boot to the head!
Richard: ... you?
Darry: Begone, foreman of evil!
Aleiya: I'll begone your spirit of laziness, punk! I don't know how you managed to escape the ship, but I did it too, and I'll - OI! COME BACK HERE!
Chapter 26
I took Yzak's callsign and decided to work upon that to give the ZAFT forces some semblance of organization, hopefully to turn the scope of the combat into something that the reader could appreciate as "vast". Hence the various military units, the major ones being named after the format of NATO alphabets/star constellations, also taking after the style of Yzak's callsign. I also tried to emulate Yzak's forward manner in his speech, to a varying degree of success.
Sgt. NoOb: Alright, Suzuki, this is your debut chapter! Say something.
Suzuki: H... hello...
Sgt. NoOb: Damn me if you're not softspoken. Do it with guts! Guts!
Suzuki: R... right... um... h... hello!
Sgt. NoOb: Dammit.
Suzuki: I just want to... get on with my orders...
Sgt. NoOb: ... you want to die that quickly?
Suzuki: I'll die...? Uuuh...
Sgt. NoOb: Well, no, yes, maybe so, might not... you know how these things go, no sense killing off the obvious bait most of the time, but some formulae are designed to touch heartstrings no matter how often they're used...
Suzuki: ... so... I'll die... later on...?
Sgt. NoOb: You really want to know?
Suzuki: ... yes...
Sgt. NoOb: Alright then. YOU!
Sgt. NoOb: ARE!
Sgt. NoOb: GOING!
Suzuki: ... ... going?
Sgt. NoOb: TO HAVE AN AMBIGUOUS END!
Suzuki: ... ...
Chapter 27
I initially wanted to use this chapter to set up the Second BVW as a sort of a stalemate war, to better explain why no one in OMNI but Blue Cosmos, and ZAFT, did anything for the better part of SEED Destiny, but a faux-mock naval battle was what I ended up running with.
The Mithril Sword is named after the paramilitary organization Mithril, from Full Metal Panic.
Glaces Hara is named after Glacies, an OG antagonist character from Super Robot Wars D, and the English surname O'Hara.
Hanasaki Genbu's family name is taken from Hanasaku Iroha, an anime series.
Bredan Halvey's name came from the character Brendan, from Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. His surname is, clearly enough, from Louise Halvey, of Gundam 00.
Sgt. NoOb: You know, damn me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen any Arab Coordinators.
Bandar: So it seems.
Sgt. NoOb: Doesn't it bother you?
Bandar: Not really. My family is by and large secular. How else do you think I got made a Coordinator? Up in space everyone bleeds and works the same.
Sgt. NoOb: That does make sense... It seems like the Arabs aren't very well-represented in SEED.
Bandar: Given SEED's first air-date I'm not surprised, but it's not like the Japanese to give a damn about this sort of things. I did remember there was supposed to be a sub-plot about a coalition of Middle-East nations, but... well... you see what we have.
Sgt. NoOb: What, Desert Dawn not good enough for you?
Bandar: They're glorified bandits! They're dime a dozen in the entire North African/Middle-Eastern region! I would have liked a representation of a semblance of government in the Middle East. I mean, at least the Viking descendants got a national mention via the Kingdom of Scandinavia. The Arabs got nothing. Apparently, in SEED Destiny, it's all scattered, oppressed villages. What are the rest, bedouin?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, you can't have 'em all. Apparently, in SEED, Earth is comprised of the American and European continents, and there may or may not be an Asia.
Bandar: Well, back to the question. Arab Coordinators... Wasn't there a setting plot point where the Middle East gathered together to renounce genetic enhancements due to somthing?
Sgt. NoOb: Well, there's something like that, but you know what SEED's backstory is like-
*Freedom screams past overhead in the skies.*
Bandar: ... point taken.
Chapter 28
Partially out of personal opinion that there was no way a group of commandos could be so inept against what amounts to a two-man militia. And also to hopefully present that not all of Orb would magically roll over to the Seirans just because they had one stupid treaty signed behind Cagalli's back.
The Orb Infantry teams are named in the style of Muv-Luv Alternative's Japanese Royal Guard/Imperial Army units; "War Sword", "Crimson Knife", "Blood Lance", and "Red Fang", to "Wardog", "Steel Lance", "Blood", and, for those familiar with Total Eclipse, "White Fang".
Kouen Kabira is named for a character in the Muv-Luv Alternative fangame Faraway Dawn, who is simply known as "Kabira".
Tanamura Ichijou's surname came from the Takamura family, also another prominent samurai family of the Shogunate in Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse.
There was supposed to be a sub-plot involving the ZAFT commandoes being revealed to be mercenaries given unmarked and unrecognized ZAFT gear (they probably didn't expect Andrew to be alive, after all, and still siphoning information off the ZAFT network) to assassinate the pink princess and her merry band, but I left it out in the end due to viewpoint constraints. It's still usable, however, mainly for what it is, it manages not to break canon.
Sgt. NoOb: That was a right an' proper manly fight, Kabira.
Kabira: Yeah, but they got away in the end.
Sgt. NoOb: It can't be helped. I needed to tie in to the Freedom's appearance after all.
Kabira: Hm. I'm more interested in the enemy. In the end, it was all but outright said that Durandal sent them, but by professional standards, these cockups are borderline incompetent! How did a platoon of trained soldiers let escape a half-blind quarter-disabled, a has-been, with a blind willow-branch of a man, a princess by every definition of the word, a gun-blind war ace who sure as I can tell you can't differentiate a firing pin apart from a nail, and over a fireteam's worth of scared and sleepy children in tow?!
Sgt. NoOb: Well, now you know.
Kabira: Or more like divine inspiration struck 'ol Yamato over there and his superhuman hearing caught something during his REM sleep or some equally retarded reason. Not like the not-ZAFT commandoes were being extra-cautious or anything. They need to shore up their basic soldiering before they can try taking my guys on again.
Sgt. NoOb: *shrug* Hey, I'm but the messenger. Don't shoot me.
Kabira: Huh. Would it but kill the director to make it so that they would have at least some allies in Orb and not have to go galloping off into the world, leaving the rest of us in Orb to rot under the Seirans. Fools and capers, the whole lot of those privileged idiots. Well, back to the main question. Will I ever get a chance to prove my worth again?
Sgt. NoOb: ... ... weeeeeeell...
Kabira: ... you're cooking something up, aren't you...?
Chapter 29
Callad Torris' nickname, Cal, is from Trainer Cal of the Trainer's House in Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal.
The tone of the story was inspired by Chapter 18, but set into a more post-battle scenario.
Sgt. NoOb: Aaaaand it's time for more Everything Goes Corner! Cal, Zekiyes, how ya'll hangin'?
Cal: You suck.
Zekiyes: Like, major balls.
Sgt. NoOb: I thought you guys would be more grateful for being the main feature of a story.
Cal: It's just cloak-and-dagger stuff on my side. Big deal.
Zekiyes: Nothing on my end you couldn't tell in a tale half the length and as the part of another story. We don't even appear again after this!
Sgt. NoOb: Damn you guys are cruel. I thought a bit of focus on the boots on the ground would be helpful!
Cal: Yeah, well, it wasn't a very good boots on the ground story. Nothing to elaborate on except that OMNI marches in and starts killing shit and then we have Miss Turkish Insurgent-
Zekiyes: Oy!
Cal: -Ms Turkish Freedom Fighter get on some piping-hot rocket action, then we do our own island-stowaway routine, minus a poisonous snake and a jumpy head-of-state in disguise, and head off.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, you think of something better than-
Cal: Beach episode-
Sgt. NoOb/Zekiyes: Screw you!
Chapter 30
The Roksova is named for the F-14AN3 Mindseeker from Muv-Luv Alternative.
Nick Garrond's name came from Garrod Ran, of Gundam X fame.
Lily getting slammed with a rock took inspiration from the gameplay of FPSes like Modern Warfare 3, especially after your character was wounded in a cutscene, and you have to wait while watching through a blood-flecked screen about pretentious, annoying villains with 100% accurate pistol aim despite being thrown out of a flying helicopter with a windpipe stab wound. The descriptive chorography part where she recovers from the stone-powered headshot was taken from one of the the Halo 3 trailers, featuring Master Chief in first-person putting his helmet back on.
Lily's role was originally supposed to be taken by Fianna Alshyre, another character from an earlier chapter.
Sgt. NoOb: Alas for the Germans!
Lily: Well, can't save 'em all. I mean, seriously, look at the Destroy. That's just unfair.
Sgt. NoOb: Wouldn't be a bad guy faction unit without some cheap shots.
Lily: Yeah, well, that was OP'd as hell. I mean, seriously, I thought I was going to die there.
Sgt. NoOb: Hey, nothing like a bit of good 'ol fashioned run sequences to get you pumped!
Lily: From infantry, yeah, but I'm a Coordinator, not Supes. I can't outfly rockets. That aside it's kind of sad, isn't it? I mean, Blue Cosmos coming to power and all.
Sgt. NoOb: At this point, had the show bothered, they'll be saying that the Eurasian and Atlantic Federation were at war. I guess it's safe to assume as such without them spelling it out. 'Least you guys got GENESIS to balance it out, eh?
Lily: Hey! I resent that implication! That thing isn't even under my department!
Chapter 31
The title of the chapter came from the opening song of Deus Machina Demonbane, titled "Man, God, Machine". In this case, however, it takes on a different meaning from the Lovecraftian undertones of Demonbane.
The decision to name the Laurasia-class the Eschaton was from R-Type Tactics; the Boldo Cruiser has the Eschaton prefix to its name. Eschaton is an actual term, and is roughly equivalent to Ragnarok or the end of time in meaning.
Cayun's name is a bastardized spelling of "Cajun". I was eating some chicken at that time.
Sgt. NoOb: Ah, Enra, my most manliest concepted character to date!
Enra: Haha, thanks.
Mendez: Oh, it's not me?
Sgt. NoOb: W-w-what the hell are you doing here?
Enra: Oh, I invited him in. Turns out we had the same great-great-grandparents!
Sgt. NoOb: ... really?
Enra: Well, minus one "great" for Mendez here. But no matter where you go, the infantry spirit remains the same.
Mendez: After all, all soldiers would be brothers, but for the line drawn in the sand by their commanders.
Sgt. NoOb: That is true, that is true. Wise words from a veteran.
Enra: Well, that was a messy end. We really hit the shit with that one.
Sgt. NoOb: The fact that SEED Destiny was so devoid of discreet politics was what worked in my favor. Mysterious factions? Ha! I can play that game too. And I won't need to heartstring the previous protagonist faction to do it.
Enra: So did anyone else make it out?
Sgt. NoOb: Hm... well...
Enra: ... well...?
Sgt. NoOb: Read the director's draft of the final chapter!
Chapter 32
Not many references for this one, or for the final four stories, for that matter. At this point of time they were more of side-dishes to the main story than anything else. Despite racking my mind, I couldn't think up of a suitable fallout scenario for the final 13 episodes of GUNDAM SEED Destiny.
Seryes: Hello.
Sgt. NoOb: Welcome! How's your back after the war?
Seryes: Healing nicely. Still walking, although the doctors have said that I was lucky to be able to walk at all.
Sgt. NoOb: Well, at least you got your life back.
Seryes: Yeah, but what the heck? I wanted to pilot things! This will bust me back to the training institutions .
Sgt. NoOb: Someone's got the teach the striplings.
Seryes: That is true, but I wanted to pilot for the thrill of it.
Sgt. NoOb: Ah, well, if you're so insistent, I'll see if I can cook up something.
Seryes: You mean it? Thanks!
Patricia: HEY! HOW COME YOU DIDN'T COOK UP ANYTHING FOR ME?!
Sgt. NoOb: You were already in this chapter!
Patricia: That was a cameo! No count! I want to be a super ace pilot who can shoot everything and slash everyone and totally own all the losers forever! I wanna I wanna I WANNA I WANNA I WANNA-
Seryes: Patricia.
Patricia: -! Sorry.
Sgt. NoOb: Woah. Patricia, that glare fried a hole in the wall behind you...
Chapter 33
The MVF-M14A Tonbogiri is meant to evoke images of the real-world F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft. It is named after one of the Three Great Spears of Japan, Tonbogiri meaning "Dragonfly-cutter", to reflect the theme of the "Murasame" name.
The sudden appearance of the Vosgulovs was meant to mirror the surfacing scenes of the Scinfaxi/Hrimfaxi, the super-submarines of Ace Combat 5, in the missions that they appear in.
Hawahaku Maeda's name came from Harunobu Madarame of Genshiken fame. Best character ever.
Natsume: I protest this course of plot!
Sgt. NoOb: For what?
Natsume: It's an unjust representation of the Orb fighting spirit! I'm sure I wasn't supposed to go down that easily!
Sgt. NoOb: Miss, if you were a level 40 character, Alan Reidr would be level 170 with max-tier item set and weapons load.
Natsume: So what level am I actually at?
Sgt. NoOb: I'll be gracious. You're about 20.
Natsume: 20?! Only 20?!
Sgt. NoOb: It's kind of hard to justify it being any higher when the series has you guys dying in droves. Especially when just a few episodes prior a group of three Murasame pilots took down a Gundam.
Natsume: Oh, c'mon. Sting Oakley might have been a good group leader, but he was a sorry excuse for a pilot!
Sgt. NoOb: Yeah, well, he was still a Gundam pilot. Now for example, it's reversed, and you have someone with a Gundam coming after you. Shinn Asuka may be a frothing-at-the-mouth berserker, but he's not poor by any definition of the word. If he's at that level, what did you think actual veterans of the Bloody Valentine War would be like?
Natsume: Urgh... It's not fair! I wanted to be a super ace pilot who can shoot everything and slash everyone and totally own all the losers forever too!
Sgt. NoOb: That sounds disturbingly familiar...
Chapter 34
Kyra Fhorst is named after Kir Efremov, a minor character in Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse. Early on prior to now, his name was once translated as Kyra.
Ouren Parldon is named after Oured, the capital city of the supernation Osea, in the Ace Combat series.
Kyra: What the hell is this shit!?
Ouren: Yeah, what gives?!
Sgt. NoOb: Woah woah woah, what's the issue here?
Kyra: Our deaths, that's what! We're not some unskilled mooks like the rest of the nameless kooks in the series proper, you know!
Ouren: Damn right! We've got rights as main characters!
Sgt. NoOb: Ah, well... you know what kind of setting you're in?
Kyra: What do you mean?
Sgt. NoOb: You're in a sidestory setting.
Ouren: And so?
Sgt. NoOb: And so I don't need to cater to viewership. Come, minions! I'll resurrect you for some cheap heartstrings before killing you off again!
Kyra: You wouldn't-!
Ouren: Nooooooooooooo!
Tachatsky: You guys seem to be awfully lively over there...
Chapter 35
I initially wanted to write a teaser of what was to happen after the Second BWV, but seeing as I've yet to complete the second third of my works, I held it off, for now. Suffice to say, it was, in an almost literal sense, bringing back the dead, and I wasn't sure if some of them should remain, or who should be brought back.
Sgt. NoOb: It's the end! Popping champagne! And to the next work!
Ray: Yeah!
Aleiya: Toast! To a successful run!
Kelvin: Aw, I wanted a part in the next work too.
Sgt. NoOb: You ARE a key feature of Ray's past, after all.
Kelvin: Yeah, but I would have liked a talking role. Even Mendez gets a rerun.
Mendez: I was a character in this work long before you were concepted, boy.
Kelvin: Yeah, but you're not a key character. Ha!
Alan: Well, I am. I was there even before Mendez, although my first appearance may not make it apparent.
Kelvin: Ugh.
Nain: You weren't even originally part of Ray's backstory. You're getting a pretty big boost into the background materials for this.
Houjou: W... will I appear in the new work again?
Sgt. NoOb: No.
Houjou: Uweeeeeehh...
Aleiya: Oi, don't bully my subordinate!
Sgt. NoOb: You're not making an appearance, too.
Aleiya: What?!
Sgt. NoOb: C'mon! You're like, the de facto main character of this story! You appeared twice in full, then in part, and have an entire arc devoted to you! That's more than what anyone here could ask for.
Aleiya: Well, that's not much when you have Grace over there who's made just as many appearances, and is going to be a recurring character in the new work as well.
Grace: *hic* Oh, shut up... *hic*... I still... *hic* didn't kill anyone important in the *hic*... end... now everyone will think I'm a paper tiger... *hic*...
Fredric: That's some shit endurance you have there, G- ow, OW! Don't kick m- OW!
Kaguya: You guys are a right merry bunch, eh?
Zekiyes: Oh, stow it. Marked characters shouldn't be here! Get preparing for the next work!
Patricia: Someone's bitter, nyah hah hah hah ~!
William: You're one to talk. You're in the same boat as her! And the sum total of your mentions amount to less than one full chapter!
Patricia: Nyeh~. At least I'm not dead!
William: Why you insolent little c-
Takimi: Woah, woah, cool it, 'sarge!
Gerald: Man, 'Sarge, I wanna drink in peace!
Lily: Now, now. Your chapter was a great shot, Will, so rest easy.
William: Humph. I'll let her go only because you said so...
Gerald: He's totally leashed, huh.
Takimi: Like a tank in my hands.
William: You guys-!
Enra: Hey, I wanted to ask about the initial draft-
Sgt. NoOb: Okay, time's up!
Enra: Hey!
Sgt. NoOb: Well, whatever it may be, you're all contributed in some way or another in laying out the groundwork for the next work, so I'll concede this time, and you're free to pile me with questions for this short period of ti - wait, one at a time, one at a time, o - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!