A/N: That's right, Lafter Frankland is still alive! Now it's time for Kenji to face Jasley and settle the score between them once and for all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.
Falcon of Tekkadan
Chapter 42: Settlement
Tekkadan was currently engaged in battle with the JPT Trust, which was led by Jasley Donomikols. If Naze and Amida's deaths weren't bad enough, Jasley also tried to have Lafter killed. Even though Kenji managed to save her from that gunman, Lafter and the rest of the Turbines were still at risk from Jasley, so Tekkadan decided to fight him, knowing full well that they will be kicked out of Teiwaz for attacking the second-in-command.
"Second-in-command, you don't deserve Father's position, now you're going to pay." Kenji said.
Tekkadan was easily gaining the upper hand against the JPT Trust forces despite their large numbers. Tekkadan was also using the Mobile Suits donated to them by the Turbines. Lafter was using her Hekija and fighting alongside Akihiro's Gundam Gusion Rebake Full City, she was made a member of Akihiro's Muscle Unit. Hush was piloting Azee's Hekija and was getting used to it. Mikazuki was piloting the newly repaired and upgraded Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex, which includes sharpened hand claws, grappling claws, arm guns, and the tail from the Mobile Armor. Kenji was also piloting the now completed Gundam Phoenix Flame Eternal, with the metal feathers of the thruster wings sharpened so that it would not only act as shields but also as blades, arm guns of its own but with a rapid-fire setting, more ammo for his homing missile barrage to fire three barrages in a row, enhanced speed and maneuverability with tech from the Mobile Armor, and a new experimental katana that uses vibrations at a high frequency to better cut through metal.
Kenji contacted Lafter to see how she's doing with Akihiro. "Hey Lafter, how are you holding up?"
"Lots of Mobile Suits, but nothing I can't handle." Lafter said.
"Just stick with Akihiro, and be careful, I might not be around to save you a second time." Kenji said.
"Roger that!" Lafter said.
"Don't worry about Lafter. As long as she's with me, nothing will happen to her." Akihiro assured Kenji.
Kenji has a group of enemy Mobile Suits chasing him, with their numbers slowly rising. "That's it, keep your eye on me." He immediately turned around and fired his missile barrage at the unsuspecting Mobile Suits, destroying all of them instantly. He then started firing his arm guns while moving. "Who's my next customer?"
Jasley then decided to send out the Human Debris, giving Hush some trouble, but he was saved by Shino and ordered to fall back. Kenji engaged some of the Human Debris in close quarters, he took out his upgraded sword and it proved very effective in cutting through Mobile Suits. He met up with Akihiro and Lafter, who were holding their own very well.
"Is the sword doing its job?" Lafter asked.
"Cutting through Mobile Suits like butter." Kenji said.
They then notice Akihiro using his giant scissors to crush an enemy to death in order to save Ride.
"He's not holding back, is he?" Kenji asked.
"Doesn't seem like it, but after everything he went through, I don't blame him." Lafter said.
Kenji then went after some more Human Debris to slice into parts and to destroy Mobile Suit groups with his missile barrages. He also remembers to occasionally head to Isaribi for more ammo and repairs while he eats some of Atra's food.
Eventually, it came to a point where Jasley called Orga for a surrender.
"Hey. How's it going, Jasley?" Orga asked.
Jasley tried talking his way out. "Orga Itsuka. I understand how powerful you are. So how about we call it quits around here? Of course, I'm not saying for free. Simply killing me would do you no good, eh? For our mutual interest..."
"What are you talking about.? I just wanted to watch you pitifully beg for your life. It wasn't funny at all, though." Orga said.
"You punk... Getting so full of yourself!" Jasley yelled.
Suddenly, Phoenix was right in front of the bridge, with Kenji's face appearing on the screen. "Hey there."
Jasley immediately got scared. "Kenji... Hayabusa..."
"Normally I would have Mika do this, but for you Kenji, this is more personal." Orga said.
"Yeah, this should be your moment little brother." Mikazuki said.
"Thanks guys." Kenji said as he turned on the audio recording feature on his console.
Jasley was sweating. "Oh God... This is about your father and your clan isn't it. Fine! I admit it! I was the one who sold out your father to Iznario Fareed so that I would get your father's position, and I was the one who helped him wipe out your clan. Is that what you want to hear?"
Kenji glared at Jasley. "Surprisingly, I already forgave you for that, if you hadn't sold out Father and wiped out my clan, I would never have met Tekkadan. But you just had to sell out Uncle Naze to Lord Dunce of all people and cause his and Aunt Amida's deaths. Not only that, you tried to make an example out of Lafter just to provoke us. Well congratulations, you definitely succeeded in provoking us. And I bet you plan on setting up Grandpa McMurdo just to get his position. Now it's time for you to face the consequences..."
Phoenix readied to perform an overhead slash on the bridge...
Jasley then begged for his life. "Wait! Kenji! Don't do it! I'm sorry! Yes, I admit that I sold out Naze to Lord Kujan, I admit to ordering the hit on Lafter Frankland, and I admit that I plotted to set up the Old Man as well! I'll resign from Teiwaz immediately! I'll disappear for good! You won't hear from me ever again! I'll even cut off my own fingers as punishment! Please...!"
Phoenix then slashed right through the bridge, killing everyone in it. Then it flew up and unleashed all of its homing missiles on the ship, destroying it completely.
Kenji took a deep breath as he stopped recording the audio and called McMurdo.
"Yes?" McMurdo asked.
"It's done." Kenji said. "Jasley confessed to everything, and I dealt with him. I even made an audio recording." He transmitted the recording to McMurdo.
"Thank you, Kenji, but this changes nothing, Tekkadan is no longer part of Teiwaz." McMurdo said. "And as long as you are still with them, I will not lend you any support."
"I understand Grandpa McMurdo." Kenji said.
"Please… stay safe, Kenji." McMurdo ended the call.
"I guess this means Tekkadan is fired from Teiwaz?" Lafter asked.
"Yeah, that includes you Lafter. Sorry." Kenji said.
"It's okay. I'm alive and with you guys, especially Akihiro. So, I'll manage." Lafter said.
After the battle, there was a meeting on the Isaribi's bridge with Orga, Eugene, Akihiro, Shino, Chad, Mikazuki, Kenji, and Lafter.
"You all did well. We finally have something to offer to the deceased Turbines members." Orga said.
"But we don't know if they're happy for it." Akihiro added.
Kenji and Lafter were both silent.
"Yeah. But I still think we did what was right as Tekkadan. Now, we're an organization that has nothing to do with Teiwaz. From here on out, we have nobody to back us up." Orga said.
"But we're joining forces with that McGillis Fareed, right?" Chad asked.
Orga turned to Eugene. "Eugene. It's almost time."
"Time?" Chad asked.
Eugene turns on the wall display, it showed a broadcast of a young Gjallarhorn officer making an announcement.
"What the heck?" Kenji asked.
The Gjallarhorn officer named Liza Enza gave his speech. "We are finally rising up. The time for the revolution has come, my comrades! We will stir up a new wind and blow away the rot within Gjallarhorn. The time has come to reform this deceitful world with our own hands. Gjallarhorn is the keeper of peace and order. But that ideal was nothing but a convenient excuse for the Seven Stars to enjoy privileges. The border dispute on Earth between Arbrau and the SAU. Galan Mossa, the mercenary who had set the entire conflict up, has been revealed by our informants to be connected with Rustal Elion. Iok Kujan set up the Turbines, a civilian company, to be an illegal organization. He performed an illegal inspection and used the outlawed Dáinsleifs for himself. He slaughtered many non-combatant workers. And they only worry about internal political strife. They are a symbol of the rotten Gjallarhorn. Gjallarhorn is the keeper of peace and order. But that ideal was nothing but a convenient excuse for the Seven Stars to enjoy privileges. Open your eyes! Let's rise up together! Comrades!"
"This revolution? We're taking part in this, aren't we?" Kenji asked.
"We're going to change the world? You really think we can do that?" Shino asked.
"Orga, tell me one thing. What these guys are thinking, it's the same as yours, right? We don't really get these complicated things. But both we and they are aiming for the same thing, right?" Eugene asked.
"That's right. We're going to survive. We're going to be the King of Mars. So we'll head for the same place as them." Orga said.
"We've got no choice." Akihiro said.
"You're right. Alright, let's do this!" Shino cheered.
Eugene cheered. "Yeah!"
"I can't hear you!" Shino said.
Akihiro grunted.
"Yeah." Chad said.
Akihiro turned to Lafter. "Are you okay with this Lafter?"
Lafter nodded. "I'll stand by you no matter what Akihiro."
Orga looked at Kenji. "What about you Kenji?"
"We're a family, we're always going to be there for each other." Kenji said.
"Plus, you'll get to see your ex-girlfriend again, if you don't mind working for her husband." Shino teased.
Everyone started to laugh.
Kenji blushed and gave Shino a glare. "Watch it..."
Tekkadan then made their way to Earth to assist with the revolution.
