Falcon of Tekkadan
Chapter 31: Silent War
Two weeks had passed when the war between Arbrau and the SAU began, two weeks when the Hotarubi began its journey to Earth. Kenji is on the bridge with Eugene, who is on a QCCS call with Orga back on Mars. "Same as before. We can't contact the Earth Branch. Dang it. Even if we can use the Ariadne, what's the use of it?"
"We can still call Almiria and Fuka but even they don't know much." Kenji said.
"Okay. I'll let you know when I hear something from Isurugi." Orga said.
"Roger that." Eugene then ended the call.
"Just what the heck is Radice doing on Earth? Is he seriously stonewalling us and the Earth Branch?" Kenji asked.
"Tell me Kenji, is Radice someone that Tekkadan can rely on?" Eugene asked back.
"I only saw him once or twice, but other than that I don't know much about him. All I know is that Grandpa McMurdo was the one who assigned him as an auditor for the Earth Branch." Kenji said.
"I think Mr. Barriston's judgment on Radice might be… misplaced…" Eugene said.
Sometime later, Kenji, Mikazuki, Eugene, Kudelia, and a few others were eating in the ship's mess hall. Some of the members, like mechanic Zack Lowe, were complaining about the boredom in the air.
"You must be worried about old man Makanai." Mikazuki said to Kudelia.
"I can hear about his condition through the news. But I wonder if Mr. Chad is alive at all." Kudelia said.
"He's alive, but in a coma, Fuka told me that she was going to check up on him every day." Kenji said.
"Really? It's sad to hear about Chad's condition. But like you said, he's still alive and that's good to know." Kudelia said.
"Other than that, we're getting no info." Mikazuki said.
"We'll find out everything when we get to Earth. No use panicking." Eugene said.
"Yes. You're right." Kudelia said.
"We'll also find out why Radice is stonewalling us." Kenji said.
Hush walked up to Kenji and Mikazuki. "Mr. Mikazuki, Mr. Kenji. I've finished the Shiden simulation."
"Okay." Mikazuki said.
"That's a good start. But actual combat is far different from a simulation, the possibility of death will be real. Be ready to look straight at Death's face." Kenji added.
"Understood. What should I do next?" Hush asked.
"Tune up the Shiden you used." Mikazuki instructed.
"I did." Hush said.
"Then work out." Mikazuki said.
"I did that too." Hush said.
"Man, you're on top of everything, aren't you?" Kenji asked.
"Then get some rest." Mikazuki said.
"Rest?" This did not sit well with Hush. "Wait, I'm going to fight my first Mobile Suit battle on Earth. I want to prepare while I have time. So..."
"So rest. Now's your chance. Once on Earth, you'll have no time to." Mikazuki said.
"You must have a calm mind when going into battle. This will help you remain focused while in combat and keep you from making mistakes that could cost you your life." Kenji said.
"Mikazuki and Kenji are right." Eugene stood up. "Listen up, guys. Rather than fretting about useless stuff, rest up. Don't stress yourself about a tomorrow you can't foresee. And if tomorrow brings hell, we'll just hang on to life with whatever we've got. That's Tekkadan."
"Yes, sir." Everyone in the room said.
"I just got an Orga vibe from Eugene." Kenji thought.
"You have such confidence, Deputy Boss." Kudelia said.
"He's just imitating Orga." Mikazuki said.
"There it is." Kenji thought.
Kudelia started laughing.
"Shut up, Mikazuki." Eugene said.
"You're the one with the big mouth." Mikazuki said.
"You little..." Eugene was pissed.
During the nighttime at Takaki's apartment, Fuka was on a group call with the other girls while doing her homework.
"So how is Mr. Chad?" Cracker asked.
"Is he doing better?" Cookie asked.
"I was told that it's the same as yesterday." Fuka said.
"Don't give up on him Fuka, I'm sure he'll wake up soon." Almiria said.
Fuka stopped writing, took a screenshot of her homework, and sent it to the other girls. "Hey girls. Is this right? Am I doing the right thing?"
"Um. Maybe?" Cookie and Cracker said at the same time.
"It looks right to me, Fuka." Almiria said.
Fuka closed her homework and saw the picture of her with Takaki and Aston. "Brother..." she looked out the window. "I wonder how he's doing."
"Let's all pray that Takaki will come home safe and sound, right girls?" Almiria asked.
"Right." Cookie and Cracker said.
Fuka smiled. "I'm so glad I have you girls to talk to, it just feels lonely here without Brother around."
The Hotarubi finally arrived at Earth Orbit Civilian Spaceport Jutland 1, Kenji was with Mikazuki and Akihiro looking out the window at Earth behind the other Tekkadan members.
"It's too slow. We're almost there. What's taking us so long?" Akihiro asked.
"Yeah. Something's up." Mikazuki said.
"I'm starting to think Radice isn't just stonewalling us in communication." Kenji said.
"Are you saying this Radice guy betrayed Tekkadan and is using the Earth Branch somehow in this war?" Mikazuki asked.
"I don't know, but he's becoming more and more suspicious." Kenji said. "I wonder if he made any secret deals with anyone behind Grandpa McMurdo's back lately. If he has, I'm definitely going to beat him up."
They then learned from Eugene that Tekkadan is being denied permission to shuttle down to Arbrau. So, they are going to have to take a detour through the SAU and get to the bottom of all of this.
