Chapter 9: Akira's Side Project
-2 weeks later-
While nothing of note happened in IS academy as the inter-class tournament approaches, it has been rather hectic inside Mcgillis' submarine in the Pacific Ocean where testing on the Bael is conducted. The submarine in question is a replica of the sen-toku class submarine. Apparently when Mcgillis requested a submarine to be built in secret to serve as a mobile base and research center and gave the designer a blank check, the designer decided to make his dream of creating a replica of his favorite World War 2 submarine with some modification. That is fine with him as long as the thing works, and it works well.
The I-403 as it is now designated is an attack submarine improved from the original design with the current technology. It is 122m long and powered with nuclear reactor and has a cruising speed of up to 35 knots which is impressive for a submarine of its size. While outwardly it retains the appearance of the old submarine it is based on, it is in fact much more advanced than the submarines of its current time while serving as Mcgillis' personal vessel.
Inside the vessel, Akira is working on perfecting the Bael's internal AI. While she, like quite many people inside the vessel, hates Shinonono Tabane with passion, she can at least respect her work on the IS core and the AI inside it. But she is a genius in her own right and finally after several trials and errors and with the data gathered over the two weeks, she managed to perfect the AI and the result is shown when after two weeks of flying, the Bael finally reached First Shift in today's test flight.
Visually, the Bael shows very little change other than coloring. In its default setting, the Bael sports only white and gray coloring but after the First Shift the gray parts turned blue and the hands gained a more claw-like appearance. Once the water was drained from the room, Mcgillis deactivated Bael. The standby mode for the W-01 is a simple silver ring located on his right index finger.
"I have to say, all of you have outdone yourself with the Bael. It is a perfect machine."
Mcgillis praised as he joined Alan and his team with Akira standing in a corner still working on the new data they acquired.
"It is nothing. We should also thank you for making all this possible. Without your ideas and resources, we couldn't have made it this far."
Alan replied. Mcgillis nodded, accepting his words gracefully.
"But this is not our final goal. This is just the first step towards our end goal."
Everyone nodded in agreement. They can't forget that completing the Bael is just the first step towards their end goal. The Bael will simply be their instrument of change along with its brethren.
"Indeed. There is more to be done. But for now, we can take a brief rest."
Everyone smiled in satisfaction. Mcgillis too smiled as he left Alan's team to celebrate the completion of the Bael marked by its achievement of the First Shift. As he exited the control room, Akira followed after him, her face still glued to her tablet. Mcgillis glance at the young girl who had done so much for him.
"I believe Alan mentioned that he will take his team out for a celebration. You are not joining them?"
Mcgillis asked the redhead. Akira didn't even bother to look up to him as she replied with her usual monotonous voice.
"I'm not interested. I still think more can be done like the optimization of the engine or some alternate power source. I ran through several ideas based on your notes and I already gave them to Alan. While so far what we have in mind won't be able to be implemented in an IS due to the size, it can become a much more efficient and powerful energy source for a ship."
Mcgillis sighed. While he appreciates Akira's hard work and dedication, he just hoped that she would let loose once in a while. It can't be healthy for someone her age to be working continuously like she is now. Normally it wouldn't bother him but it started to after Akira's first meeting with Mikazuki. Seeing those two speak in single words and short phrases really got to him somehow.
Despite how unexpected some people who knew him in the past would think, Mcgillis does care for his people, now more so than in his previous life as he resolved to change from his hate-filled self into a true revolutionary. That was why he took in Atra in the first place and also Akira to some degree. And while Akira is part of the fight he is about to start, he also wanted her to enjoy life as much as she can.
"There is nothing wrong with relaxing once in a while."
"…I don't need it."
Mcgillis sighed again. The girl is certainly stubborn and he couldn't just order her to relax. The two of them walk in silence with Akira mostly focusing her attention on the datapad in her hand. When they are approaching Akira's quarter in the ship though, Mcgillis saw something rolling towards them. It is pink and round and if Mcgillis didn't see it quite clearly, he would've thought that it is a fancy football.
The ball roled to his feet andout of curiosity, he picked it up. He brought it to his face, wondering what a ball is doing inside the ship when suddenly, a most unexpected thing occur. It came to life!
"Haro! Haro!"
Two lights that make up a pair of eyes appear and suddenly the ball's sides open in a fashion like it is flapping its wings, or ears, Mcgillis is not really sure what those are supposed to be, or what the ball is. He could only blink in surprise when the ball came to life in his hand. Though that did not surprise him as much as Akira's reaction after he heard something dropping onto the floor.
"Uwaa! What are you doing here, Pink?!"
Mcgillis never thought that he would hear Akira so loud and so flustered. She even dropped her datapad before snatching the ball from Mcgillis' hand.
"Looking for Akira! Looking for Akira!"
"I told you to stay in my room! How did you get out anyway?"
"Hacking! Hacking!"
It is a surreal sight. The normally calm Akira is flustered. Her cheeks are red as she loudly yelled at the ball that can apparently hold some simple conversation. It would be amusing if Mcgillis wasn't so surprised. It took a moment to regain his cool and ask;
"Akira, what is that thing?"
He inquired, pointing at the ball that had finally became quiet. The blushing Akira who is embarrassed at being seen so flustered try to hid the ball thingy behind her back and shook her head.
"N-nothing!"
She replied in a high pitched voice very unlike her usual self. Mcgillis deadpanned. After finally calming down, Akira sighed and showed him the ball-shaped machine. It looks like it is made of plastic but Mcgillis had seen some metal parts inside when it flapped its… ears? It is also quite light despite its size and material, at least it should be heavier rather than weighing as much as a baseball.
"It's just a side project I made with leftover material. This thing is a Haro, a pet robot I made. Currently there are three of these in existence."
"A Haro?"
Mcgillis pick up the ball-shaped machine now identified as a Haro. It looks cute, something children would like to have, though the unexpected thing is the fact that Akira would even make something like this.
"But didn't you call this thing 'Pink'?"
Mcgillis question since he is sure he heard Akira call the thing 'Pink' like its color. The girl look away, blushing red.
"It's just a pet name. I made three so I call each of them by their color."
She elaborated.
"I see. I am surprised that you would find some time to make something like this."
Mcgillis is impressed. Although it looks simple, the Haro is actually a rather advanced piece of technology in a way. It could hold a simple conversation and has the ability to hack Akira's door open and move around by itself. And judging by the discrepancy between its size and weight, Akira must've added something more to it.
"It's not difficult. I did say I have to build the AI for our IS unit from the ground up. Pink is the first of its kind and I tested the coding for the AI with Pink. And I also used a miniature version of the power source you are planning to power the Haro. It has a good amount of operation limit, around one week with a battery the size of a palm when using its basic functions only and that include an anti-gravity field found in IS inside though miniaturized."
Akira explained. Now Mcgillis is impressed. It looks like the toy really is more than it appeared to be. He'll need to hear more about this Haro. It is interesting. Maybe he could even market it as a children's toys though he would ask for Akira's permission first.
"Impressive. I would like to market this as children's toys. May I?"
"Go ahead, though don't use Pink as base. The first three Haro I made have very advanced AI comparable to the one I made for the IS. Pink especially is the most advanced with even better processing and hacking ability. It is even more advanced than the AI I made for the IS operating system since I keep upgrading it. The problem is…"
"What are you looking at? What are you looking at?"
The Haro said in what would've been a rude tone if it could change its tone of voice to Mcgillis.
"…it has a personality of itself. If I were to use all the upgrades I put on Pink, I would've been able to make an AI more advanced than what we currently have but it will run the risk of developing its own personality and… I might become the only person the unit would accept as pilot."
That is an interesting bit of news. Mcgillis find it a bit hard to believe that the cute ball in his hand that has a bit of a personality has an AI that is actually more advanced than what he has in the Bael. Though considering the personality it could develop, maybe it's for the best that Bael has a less advanced AI compared to this Haro.
"I see. Then you can make one for commercial purpose, right?"
Akira nodded. It won't be hard for her to make one for children considering that she is already in the process of making one for Atra. The girl Mcgillis picked up could use some company and Atra love cute things. It is actually what she'll be doing next the moment she arrives in her quarters. The three original Haro she created are too advanced to become children's toys so she's making a less advanced version, probably made fully of plastic this time, for Atra which can be used as base for the commercial version.
"Speaking of which, can I see the other two Haro?"
Mcgillis requested.
"I can show you Blue but…"
"But?"
"I gave Green to Mikazuki."
Shinonono Houki stared at the lime green ball that is currently lying on top of her bed. She is sure that she has nothing like that among her belonging and in her memory, Ichika also has no ball-like object among his belonging either. Houki leaned forward and was about to poke the ball with her finger when it suddenly came to life, flapping its 'ears'.
"Haro! Haro!"
"Uwaaah!"
Houki fell on her butt in surprise when the Haro suddenly came to life. The thing is jumping up and down as if the gravity has no effect on it. The Haro bounced on the bed several times until it finally bounced into Houki's lap. The girl blinked and stared at the Haro curiously, poking what she consider as its 'cheek' with her index finger.
"What are you?"
Houki wondered. Unexpectedly, or expectedly, she received an answer when the Haro came to life once more, looking up at her with its two 'eyes'.
"I am Haro! I am Haro!"
"Haro?"
Houki repeat the name in her mouth and smiled. While she doesn't know what it is, the thing is cute and huggable. She put her arms around the ball and stood up. She sat down on her bed and look down at the ball.
"So your name is Haro? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting! Waiting!"
The Haro answered. Houki chuckled. The ball is really cute when it speaks especially since it always flaps its cute, round 'ears' whenever it speaks. Now since Haro said that it is waiting for someone, Houki thought that it might belong to a teacher or maybe someone else, maybe Ichika's friend or Ichika himself though Houki cannot imagine that Ichika to have something so adorable with him. Maybe a gift from a friend?
"So are you Ichika's?"
Houki asked again, wanting to make sure."
"Who? Who?"
Houki is surprised when Haro did not answer in positive, even saying that it doesn't belong to Ichika. Or maybe it doesn't understand how to differentiate between people or it doesn't belong to Ichika. Houki decided to ask in another way.
"So, who is your owner?"
Houki asked.
"Mikazuki! Mikazuki!"
"Mika…zuki?"
An unfamiliar name. Maybe this Mikazuki is Ichika's friend and left Haro to Ichika? Maybe she'll ask Ichika when he comes back. He is currently practicing for his match, though Houki wonder if that is even necessary. Ichika is so strong after all.
Putting Haro back on her bed, Houki went to change. She has club activity soon after all and maybe she could also watch Ichika practice. With him as their representative, their class won't lose.
Thanks to epikphael reminding me of Haro in chapter 7, I finally found a place to finally insert Haro and as an important plot device too! Took some time but I have to say that the timing is good. Anyway, here is Haro! I also reveal a bit more about Mcgillis' submarine. I was thinking about Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio when I wrote the first part so Mcgillis basically have I-401 here and it won't be just for show. Other than Haro and the submarine, Bael is truly complete in this chapter and will enter combat soon. Look forward to it as Bael's first combat will happen at the same time as Mika vs Lafter... damn, I still haven't designed Lafter's IS. Need to work on that one too.
Anyway, Houki unwittingly learned about Ichika's greatest secret thanks to Haro. Akira shouldn't have registered Mikazuki as Green's owner using his former name and should've remembered to ask Green to keep quiet on that info. Of course, Houki learning this name at this point in time has no immediate impact but in the future... hehehehe...
tsun: True, since China is a major power then they should have a representative. Well, I will include Rin in the next arc or maybe I should include her as a side character in this arc and have her unnoticed until she is needed? I mean the academy does have representative candidates other than the ones introduced in S1 but we never see them until later, like Kanzashi and Tatenashi who only appear in S2.
epikphael: Ahh Azee, I will surely include her. Maybe as Laura's superior officer? She is older and has more experience in really deadly combat after all. She can even be protective of Laura since she felt she had failed Lafter when she was killed so she wanted to be able to protect Laura who she sees as a little sister. And no, I won't include Biscuit since I'm not including Orga.
GuestGundam: Appearance-wise, IS Bael appear the same as Gundam Bael. Though there will be upgrades.
GBF93: I will include Kanzashi soon, possibly in the next time Mcgillis and Tatenashi meet.
AGundamFan: Cecillia happen to be a good sniper and I happen to have some use for her and Houki is just too important to the whole plot to discard completely. While they have no chance with Ichika/Mikazuki in this story, I won't put them aside if they have their uses.
Guest: ...you know, that would actually make sense too. But I already made him a Spaniard so it can't be helped.
Drgyen: Wait, school counselor as in a psychological counselor? That is really a thing? I don't have one in my own school so I thought that thing is a rarity.
The nameless hero: Yeah, the trick is how to put Akihiro in the school. Putting him in an IS by itself is already difficult.
Guest: Akihiro will appear and I will have Gusion ready for him, though that is a good idea. Maybe I should take Gusion and use it as base for Lafter's IS?
benalien100: Well Mika will battle Laura but I haven't planned anything more for that eventual confrontation. Though I can say that Mikazuki won't get Barbatos in a while. He will use Byakushiki until at least the Silverio Gospel arc. As for Barbatos' 2nd Shift, I still haven't thought about it yet. So far I have planned for Bael and Kimaris' 2nd Shift. I'll plan it after I finish Phenex and Gremory's full design and 2nd shift. And no, Orga will not appear just like Gaelio will not appear.
DarkLord98: I'll try to improve. It will take time, especially since I failed grammar class. I'm at least better than I was a few years ago. As for Akihiro, I already have plans on how he will appear.