Everyone was surprised at how the little girl took the news quietly. She was summoned before the advisory council and informed that if she needed some time to herself, she could absolve her duties to the 22nd division and not participate in the siege of the South Seoul rebel base. After all, she was quite a young thing and a girl-- definitely factors to consider.

Nobody noticed how the eleven year-old girl clench her jaw tightly. Noin politely refused the offer.

We are sorry to inform you that your father and your family was killed in the last terrorist attack by the rebels...

How do you respond in these situations? One moment, in your mind, your father and mother and two elder brothers and one elder sister was living and breathing and thinking; in the expanse of the a sentence, they're dead. And you are only one left of your family. Alone.

They had brought her into the head master's office to present her with the official OZ note. She asked to be excused to her room. What can you do? Noin refused to cry. Father and my elder brothers wouldn't have cried, all being in the martial world, and she refused to do such a thing. It is the duty of the soldier to die in battle, said her father. It is the duty of the women to shed tears. And she was a solider. And she was of OZ. And why should it be the women that do the harder thing?

And then it was inhuman not to. And what of her elder sister and mother? She shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat.

Why did it all happen like this? Her family wasn't particularly evil or radical or important. Why?

My father, she thought dully, I had wanted to show you I could do it, I could be strong and protect the people important to me? Is this a test of my strength? Is this to show me that I will weep? Why did you have to leave me here? Mother? Mother! I wanted--

I couldn't protect them.

She had a sudden sickening sensation that she was going to lose control. Her gaze drifted to the scissors and stayed there, as her vision swam. Twisting her long hair in to a bundle in the back, she cut the length off, as close to her nape as she could. I am a soldier, my duty is to die in battle. I am a soldier, and I will not cry.

The next morning on the plane nobody, not even the lieutenant in charge dared mentioned her cropped hair. And for her part, Noin did not act out of place at all. I am a soldier, my duty is to die in battle. I am a soldier, and I will not cry.

As usual, she was seated next to Cadet Merquise. As the plane took off, he said quietly, "My condolences on the death of your family." Much less detached than the normal Cadet Merquise, but absorbed in her thoughts, Noin didn't notice it.

"Thank you." Courteously.

As the plane leveled off and the engines reduced their noise, Lieutenant Schoff, the leader of this mission, briefly went over the plan again. "The 22nd OZ division isn't going to engage in combat; you aren't ready for that yet. Instead, we are acting as information relay for the 3rd and 7th OZ division troops..."

She looked out the window and ignored the rest of the speech.

Landing and setting up the relay stations occurred as clockwork. Even though the cadets were young, they were the elite of the Federation forces and extremely well trained. And also, as their side was really winning the battle, there was nothing much to do. Everybody sat in the hot, humid air monitoring their consoles for enemy movement, alert to the incoming reports and relaying them to central command. It was boring work. Some of the cadets began to complain.

Lieutenant Schoff admonished the class. "This is a serious battle. People are dying on the battlefield-- although I hope more of the rebel forces than ours."

Bent over her console, Noin thought, isn't it what they deserve? They killed my family. Shouldn't they be dying?

They killed my family. She clenched her teeth. They deserve what they're getting. They should all die.

Suddenly a cadet rushed into the encamped site. "Sir," he panted. "Enemy mobile suits are escaping in this direction! We must clear out."

The lieutenant nodded nervously. "Alright, everyone. Don't panic. Pack up orderly and move back behind the fifth division."

The sound of the giant machines cleared into the surroundings. Lieutenant Schoff rushed out of the tent. "They're here? Oh my god--" The sound of fire began, as the lightly armed division of the camp guard engaged the encroaching suits.

A cadet stood up inside the tent, ice blue eyes flashing. "Everyone, drop everything and disperse in the trees," he commanded, his voice calm. "Remember through the foliage it will be hard for them to see you; their aim will be poor. Move around to the west and regroup at the fifth division base."

Another cadet stood up and saluted, as if to a commanding officer. "Sir, what about the equipment?"

"Leave it be. I don't want anyone killed over metal." He closed his eyes, seemingly to listen to the clash going on outside. The sound of gunfire approached closer. "Hurry up and go! The camp guard can't hold back the MS much longer!"

"Sir!" saluted the cadets in the tent. Confused, Lieutenant Schoff did the same and exited. In another moment, the long pale-haired cadet departed as well.

Leaving only Noin in the tent. She stood up slowly.

They killed my family.

Methodically, she began to assemble a plan. It was quite simple, really.