Super Robot Wars Ѳ

by PubLicEneMyNumBah1

A new universe, a new beginning, a second chance; will it all be for naught? As quarrels caused by petty differences, irreconcilable ideologies, and desire for power begin to overcome the sentient beings' better nature, are they once more headed for destruction? Will history repeat itself from a time and place that technically no longer exist?

3. Ch2 - Conglomerate

Summary:

Conglomerate, a cooperative effort among the world's most powerful corporations, begins to set its plans in motion. With the launch of the Nadesico, the UEAF is displeased and enacts countermeasures against this perceived defiance of authority.

---

When everything has calmed down and was determined safe, rescue teams from the Dannar base and Vigilance Corps, who insisted on aiding to save face, mobilized towards the cape. About half an hour after the battle ended, the wedding guests found themselves in the Dannar base.

"Glad that you're safe, Commander Odagiri," Kagemaru saluted and welcomed his old ally. Despite having lost her position, she's still being referred to in such a way by her colleagues, out of endearment. "Everyone, too. Good work." He looked towards the rest with emphasis on Arma and Makoto and approvingly nodded.

It looked like Commander Aya was going to return salute but she actually stretched out her arm for a handshake, "That's as much as I can humor that." Kagemaru put down his salute and returned the gesture.

Ruri went forward and bowed, "I'm Ruri Aiba of Aiba Foundation. Delighted to make your acquaintance," The rest of her companions followed her example, almost excepting Hajime who ran off to the spectacles that caught her attention but Makoto grabbed her. "Forgive me for not setting up an appointment but I have something to discuss with you." Kagemaru looked at her incredulously and she clarified, "An offer, actually. This may save your base from being decommissioned." She turned towards the Jetmen, "This will also involve you. Please hear me out."

"Let's have this conversation in the primary meeting room," Kiriko suggested and gestured to the rest to follow.

"Please allow me to come with the mechanics instead, Miss," Makoto asked permission from his lady, "I want to oversee the repairs on the Engagement Suit. I'll take Hajime and Onigawara with me, too."

"Oh, please do," Ruri handed over the demonic brick. "Arma, please come with me."

"Whatever…" Arma muttered and followed dispassionately.

"I can't go with you," Kaori excused herself. "I think Aya's hungry. I'll go feed her at the snack bar."

"Ah, of course," Ryu smiled and knowingly nodded. He pinched Aya's cheeks and cooed at the baby, "That's a good girl. We'll still have the party when we get home, okay? Happy first birthday!" Kaori smiled at her husband as he proceeded to join the others.

As they were following Dr. Aoi, Goh saw Anna tagging along right behind them. He quickly turned to her and dragged her aside with dulled force. Shizuru subtly glanced at the young girl and in that flash, has scanned her from head to toe and back. Her strides' distance increased and her footfalls became a bit louder, overtaking everyone except the Chief and the doctor.

"Stay here! This has nothing to do with you."

"But…"

"I don't think we can let you in on this and I don't have time to argue. Let's talk after we both have enough rest, okay?

Goh ran and caught up to them, leaving Anna with no choice but to turn the other way.

---

In a plane over Area 11's airspace…

A middle-aged man flipped a page of his broadsheet with the headline "Nergal launches civilian battleship; irks UN Forces". He reached out for a brownie in a plate in front of him only to grasp less than half a handful of crumbs remaining. "Ally?" He peeked over his newspaper to see his teenage daughter stuffing herself with the snack in between sips of pineapple juice. "C'mon, Ally…"

"What, Dad? You can just call them over for more, can ya?" His daughter replied after swallowing a piece. "After all, we own this plane."

"That's not the point, Al," He put down his newspaper and continued, "Can you not eat like that? It just seems so… improper."

She crossed her arms and legs, sighing in reply, "Eating a lot is just my idiosyncrasy, Dad." She beckoned to a stewardess standing by the door and smiled lightly. "Another serving, please. Some hot chocolate, too." The stewardess smiled back and picked the plate from the table into a pushcart and went out of the cabin. "It's not like I'm getting fatter or even taller, at least. Anyway, why read a newspaper made from paper in this day and age when there's the internet? Do you even have a GALAX account, Dad?"

"No, and I'm not planning to." He resumed to his reading but remained engaged in the conversation. "I keep my use of technology to the minimum as possible to have a life outside it."

"We could have kept more in touch if you only agreed to video chatting. Then again, Mom told me not to bother you at work." She leaned her elbows on the table and clasped her hands above her head. "Must be really hard to own and run one of the largest technology companies, huh, Dad?"

"Y-yeah…" Marshal agreed hesitantly. "Samaritan Industries is at its peak at the moment." He forced a smile as he peeked again behind his newspaper. The two were silent for seconds until he continued talking. "I'm sorry that you barely felt my presence since my divorce with Dolce… I mean, your Mom. I want to…"

"No, no, Dad, please. Just… say no more." Fumbling to interrupt her father, her glasses almost slid down her nose. "I mean… it's... it's okay… I guess. I… understand your circumstances. I'm really not complaining."

"I just feel so embarrassed. If it wasn't for Dolce taking the initiative…"

"Not a word, Dad. Let's just keep this natural like other parent-child bonding." She smiled halfheartedly and sat back straight when she saw the stewardess come in. "Oh, it's here. Thanks."

Poor choice of words; maybe I should forswear this for now. This might not be the right time. He let the uneasy atmosphere pass until he began talking again. "I've already arranged your transfer to a new school for our stay here in Area 11."

"Which school?"

He grabbed a briefcase beside him and placed it on the table. He opened it to reveal a stack of papers; that's too much for an enrolment form, Ally thought. "Ashford Academy," Marshal replied as he took out a paper and pointed out the school's name and logo.

"Hmm… Lemme see," Ally took the paper from his father and skimmed through the text. "Uh, this doesn't look like mine," Noticing someone else's name, she brought her face closer to the paper and looked back at her father.

"It's yours… but you wouldn't enter this school as yourself."

"What?" His reply puzzled her. "Why?"

"Security reasons," He leaned back. "Area 11 is a dangerous place. Civil disobedience and violent riots have been becoming very common these days. As much as possible, I don't want you to attract attention. I've talked to the school about this and secured all legal documents necessary."

"Wow… So I'm, like, undercover." Ally snickered at the thought. "But Ally Aisle, seriously? Can't I pick a better name?"

"No, this name will do." Marshal heaved a sigh and looked her in the eye. "Please promise that you wouldn't try to stand out too much. Make friends, participate in class, but remember to go with the flow."

"No worries there, Dad. I'm pretty average." She replied nonchalantly, affirming her dislike of the instruction indirectly.

"I'm sure that you're a talented kid, Ally, but I have to ask this of you until everything settles down."

"When will everything settle down?" She exasperatedly questioned in rhetoric, soon interrupted by the pilot's voice-over.

"To all passengers, this is your captain speaking. We are about to land. Please fasten your seat-belts and prepare for landing."

---

Back at Dannar Base…

"Honored associates, I am here to invite you to an organization that aims to improve the world." Ruri boldly began, meeting gazes with every listener in the room. "As a response to the growing troubles that the Earth Sphere is experiencing, several multinational corporations have decided to pool their resources to provide a solution. We intend it to be free from political influence, hence creating a vanguard composed of people of various races and creeds. The Aiba Foundation is, of course, going to be a part of this attempt." She paused, giving everyone else the time to interpret what she just said; even the stoic Arma, who knows her a little more than anyone in the room, was stunned by how different she was from her usual self.

"…You sure start big," Kagemaru uncrossed his arms and placed a hand on the table. "But a rousing opening is barely enough to justify what you are trying to accomplish here." Imposing but charismatic, was what Ruri was trying to go for but it only served to throw everyone off. The listeners traded glances as if wondering what it was all about and by then, she knew that she took the wrong approach.

"I apologize," she said with a more natural, unrehearsed humility, "What I was trying to say was that we, a group of influential corporations, realized that we can take some matters to our own hands, in a good way. There are things that the various governments do not deal with, but not necessarily ignore nonetheless. " Her softer tone finally befitted that of a younger lady without betraying her seriousness, "There are problems that may not be among their top priorities but are of grave importance. Sometimes, it may be because of their lack of resources or the risks are too high and probability of success is low."

"That doesn't entirely apply," Commander Odagiri countered. "Take the Nadesico's mission to Mars for example. There would be no apparent loss for the UE whether the Nadesico succeeds or not but they still vehemently oppose it. I think the world governments are more concerned with their own petty wars than the extraterrestrial threats… and that's pretty easy to see. They immediately ruled out the possibility of survivors because that was more convenient for them. I wouldn't be surprised if they are eyeing the Nadesico for their own."

"That was a big problem, yes," Ruri admitted, her right hand's index finger and thumb pinched her lower lip. "But now they can oppose all they like but our merger has gained corporate diplomacy. We are basically our own country. We have a better chance of having our way now." Once again, the words she spoke left the listeners flabbergasted. Excepting the commanders and the doctor, they gave each other a few confused glances again.

"Uh… excuse me but could you explain this "corporate diplomacy" thing to us?" Ako Hayasaka asked ahead of the rest with the same question on their mind. "How can a corporation be considered a country?"

"Not exactly a country but as powerful as one," Dr. Aoi corrected, "Like the Hanseatic League of the Middle Ages; while not sovereign, they were economically and politically influential. This merger group has only been around recently, right? I've heard rumors about it but the specifics were vague."

"That's a simple way to put it," Ruri nodded and smiled, pleased that the conversation is improving.

"The Aiba Foundation by itself is a big name in the business world so it is no surprise if you claim such an influence. Among others that came up are Nergal, Samaritan Industries, and the Hadou group, the latter being a rare instance of a non-Britannian corporation flourishing in the mainland. Even the Outer Space Development Group is rumored to be a part of it, which was strange as it isn't a corporate entity. Though, given your interest in us it is starting to make sense now."

"You're building your own force," Kagemaru added as he put it all together.

"But wouldn't you be considered as a threat to the global security then? I've seen news of opposition towards the Nadesico." Goh spoke, "You're pulling something dangerous, aren't you?"

"There's nothing to worry about. Only the military forces oppose the launch." Ruri addressed Goh's question. "We acquired permission from UE's general assembly and security council themselves. In fact, they'll send an observer with us on our mission. We haven't been informed of his identity yet but we take it as a sign of assurance." Ruri paused for a moment, remembering her objectives, "I'm getting sidetracked. To get to the point, I'm here to request the assistance of your pilots on our mission. Be assured that the base and the pilots will be compensated handsomely. We'll pay in advance before the launch and there will be severance pay upon completion of the mission. Afterwards, financial support to the base and its pilots will continue in exchange for combat data."

The meeting room fell silent again; some with how much the group is willing to pay while some thought of the danger, until Goh turned to Kagemaru, "Commander, what do you think?"

The commander's hands that were interlocked together unraveled for him to cross his arms, "When is the launch?" He asked unflappably without paying attention to Goh.

"Three days from now," Ruri replied delightedly. "So, have we come to terms?"

"But...! Commander!" Shizuru protested. "We're lacking manpower as it is…"

"Give us until then," Kagemaru replied without heeding Shizuru, "I want to properly discuss this with our pilots." Upon hearing it, the lady pilot quieted down while continuing to look worried.

"Fair enough. We'll have the documents ready by then if you decide to participate." Ruri tried to reach out for a handshake but the commander wouldn't have it. Thus, the girl retracted her stretched arm.

"If you're recruiting pilots then we're out. We former Jetmen are just civilians now." Ryu attempted to exempt his group from the conversation as he maintained a smiling façade while his anxiety grew. "Our base shut down a few years ago."

"Regarding that…" Ruri turned to Ryu, "You were not called here for the same agenda as the Dannar base. You will not be asked to pilot; at least, not yet."

"Please excuse me but can you please not beat around the bush?" Ruri's words made him even more uneasy, with his forced smile almost turning into a grimace. "If not for that, what then?"

She nodded once, "Having obtained the rights to the Sky Force Base, the Conglomerate is planning to reinstate it. We are nearly at the final stages of restoration. Refurbishing the equipment, recalibrating the robots, appointing personnel; but what it lacks is you, the Jetmen. We want you back in action."

Back in action, she said. The words rang on the other Jetmen's ears like a distress signal on which they had to answer. What response, however, they were quite unsure. "I don't know if we can trust you, business-types," Ako spoke hesitatingly. "I can't help but feel that these companies are doing this to turn profits. Not sure why." All heads were turned to listen to her, "If these people are as powerful as they say they are, it wouldn't be long for them to abuse it." She strode lengthily towards the lady and slammed her palms in front of her. "You're overwhelming us into submission, aren't you? Prying our eyes wide open and keeping our ears peeled with enlivening words but in truth, you'll be keeping us in the dark. Well, I'm tired of hearing your sales pitch and I'm not buying it."

Before she can say more, Arma stood up and intervened. He towered over Ako and she unconsciously stepped back. Tension filled the room then he spoke, "Think what you want but I at least know she's not just doing this for herself," It was Ruri's turn to be surprised. Never has he shown concern so much about anything, especially about her. "Refuse if you like but you haven't known her enough to accuse her."

Taken aback by his words, Ako ceased pressing Ruri and went back to her seat. "You shouldn't have done that," Raita whispered to her and she just turned away.

"I appreciate the effort of your group trying to put the base back together," Ryu paused and exchanged glances with Commander Odagiri, "But I will have to decline the offer of rejoining. I'm a family man now and though I know the importance of those that fight to protect the world, I don't think that I can take both responsibilities without neglecting one of them."

"Hmm, is that so?" Ruri softly spoke as she also guided Arma to sit down. "I understand your circumstances. W-what about the res-"

"I'm out," Ako interrupted.

"I'm sorry," Raita spoke next with a worried look, "But I also have the same reasons with Ryu."

"Send the files for this project my way," Odagiri's reply turned the Jetmen's heads to her. "I would like to carefully evaluate my options."

"But, Commander…"

"Let's save this discussion for another day," she continued as she stifled her former subordinates with a subtle yet meaningful glance. "I'm done with teaching tactical forecast in the university so it's high time to check new opportunities. I jest, of course." She stood up and bowed, to which Ryu and company followed. "Miss Aiba, Commander Kagemaru, if you'll please excuse us we have a previous arrangement to attend. This has been a most fulfilling discussion."

---

Meanwhile in Arkham City, Massachusetts, Britannian Homeland...

Knock, knock.

"Zzz…"

Knock, knock, knock.

"Zzz… hnggh…"

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock…

"Hu… huggggh. Daaaaaaaa! Give it a rest!" Throwing away his blanket, the tenant awoke with a startle from his couch and sat up. "If it's the bill collector, I don't have a single cent right now." Grabbing an analog clock from a nearby table, he blinked repeatedly to clear his vision's blur, "What the… only a quarter after six?! If there's a God, he might not have even woken up yet!" He chanced upon the half-risen sun peeking from behind the neighbor's rooftop through his curtain-less window and averted his eyes from the refracted flare. The fog has subsided early, he thought.

Knock, knock! Without any utterance, the knocking continued with even louder thuds. Thinking that whoever is behind the door has set his heart to ruining his day, he struggled to rise up and begrudgingly received his punctual visitor, "Yeah, yeah… Coming! Who is it?!"

"Is this the office of Mr. Daijuuji Kurou?" When he opened the door, there's a tall man in a very neat black suit standing there. He stood upright, dignified, and though slender, shown no signs of frailty. The man in the fine suit stared at the distressed man with cold eyes behind the lens of his glasses.

"Who wants to know?" Kurou replied with still drowsy but questioning eyes.

The finely dressed man stepped aside and made way for a lady to enter. She's wearing an extravagant dress befitting a Britannian noblewoman but her facial features indicated an East Asian ancestry; already a rarity by itself but for a girl of such finesse to step into such a grimy apartment is another. She spoke, or rather declared, "I have a job for you, Mr. Daijuuji Kurou."

He took a few glances at her, mentally noting her striking features and well-balanced proportions despite her petite stature. Before his mind drifted farther, he got back to the issue at hand; the word "job" abated his drowsiness and though still surprised and confused, he invited the guests in without awaiting the answer, "… Come in."

He rushed before the guests and cleared the beddings from his couch. "Sorry about the mess," He picked up pieces of dirt that he left around the room the night before, mainly scraps of papers and wrappers of some cheap candy bars. "You're almost two hours too early from my usual office hours. Anyway, state your business." He pointed the clients to the couch and proceeded to the kitchen to check his cupboards for treats that he can serve. "I haven't been to the grocer lately so… tea?"

"I haven't introduced myself yet have I?" The lady began as she sat down where Kurou was just sleeping a while ago, the suited man remained standing beside her. Kurou brought the teabags and utensils to a small round table and he sat on another couch opposite her. "My name is Hadou Ruri and this is my butler, Winfield."

"Hadou… Ru…" The man's voice trailed off before he could repeat her name. The spoon he was holding slipped off his fingers to his cup and he slightly trembled. "Hadou… W-w-what?! Y-y-you can't possibly…"

"Yes, it might be as you suspect, Mr. Daijuuji," She gently laid down a business card on the table and on it is clearly written: "Hadou Financial Group, President Hadou Ruri". His mind briefly ran through his knowledge of the company. The Hadou Financial Group, one of the largest and most influential corporations in the world, was founded by Hadou Kouzou. It's fair to say that the Group's vast fortune support Arkham's economy, transforming it from a bleak town to a bustling metropolis and effectively establishing them as its de facto leaders. In spite of appearances (specifically, their penchant for retrotronics), they are among the leading names in technology. Even among the haughty, ruling Britannians, the name is both to be feared and respected. Hadou Kouzou has been long dead and gone and his power has been inherited by an elusive heir. Could this young lady really be…?

"S-so… you're saying that a wealthy, cream-of-the-cream-of-the-crop belle like you has a job for a poorer-than-a-rat-surplus-of-society-that-should-have-been-aborted-in-his-mother's-womb guy like me?"

"I don't know if you're being modest or pathetic or ironic but anyway that's beside the point. There's something I'd like you to find for me." She replied while Winfield pours the hot water on her cup for her.

"But why me, specifically?" He began sipping his cup, trying to calm himself from the shock. "With your fortune, surely, you can hire a more capable and high class private investigator."

"Because this job requires the skills of someone like you."

"What do you mean?"

"I would like you to find a grimoire. A genuine one, the sort that sorcerers use."

"Puhahuhahhuh," The unexpected request triggered Kurou's gag reflex and he coughed his tea in a spurting burst. Fast on his feet, Winfield blocked the bombardment with the tray. "W-what would something shady like that have to do with me?" He desperately attempted to conceal his anxiety but it wouldn't take an inquisition to find him guilty.

The butler whipped out a file from a suitcase and started browsing through it. "Daijuuji Kurou. Withdrew after two years from Miskatonic University. Field of Study: Archaeology. At least, officially, yet the truth is different." He closed the folder and continued, "Mr. Daijuuji, what you dabbled in at Miskatonic University were occult studies. In other words, you learned magic theory."

"Y-you! How much do you know?!" He flipped out; suddenly, his disheveled bed hair became more appropriate. He readied himself for what he thought could become an encounter.

"Please pardon my intrusion but I took the liberty of looking into your background. The existence of Miskatonic University's occult studies department is unknown to the public and even most people in it. It was difficult finding someone like you. Only one who knows magic can recognize a true grimoire, which is why an ordinary investigator won't be of much use. It must be you."

He fixed his posture and tried to slowly calm himself. "I'm sorry. Drinking tea too often must have made me jumpy." He breathed in and out, "And sorry to disappoint you but I didn't cut it. I can't even use basic magic."

The butler replied, "Even so, you should have made it to the class involving the reading of grimoires."

"What do you people want a grimoire for? You guys might think that grimoires are just books but they are compilations of unholy knowledge, the horrors that man aren't meant to know. Nothing good will come from using them. It's even more dangerous for amateurs to mess with them."

"Demonbane." Ruri Hadou took over for the butler in the conversation. Daijuuji stared at her, in anticipation of an explanation for the vague word. "It is a means to resist Black Lodge left by my grandfather. It was Hadou Kouzou who predicted that Black Lodge would grow to a threat beyond the confines of Arkham. The government did not listen to him and now those terrorists are growing in power. Their giant robots are born of science and magic and to defeat them, we need both as well." She took a sip from her tea. "The leaders of Black Lodge, Master Therion and his lieutenants, are true sorcerers. I presume you are familiar with how terrible a true sorcerer can be, Mr. Daijuuji."

"I've never met one but I can imagine."

"We of the Hadou Group have always lived together with Arkham City. We cannot allow their tyranny to continue. Magic must defeat magic, which is why my grandfather, Hadou Kouzou, employed magical theory in developing a weapon to use against them."

"That Demon-whatever?"

"Exactly. However, Demonbane requires a grimoire to activate, just as a sorcerer needs one to use magic.

"I don't know…" Kurou responded reluctantly. "I'm not even sure if I can find one."

"We know that it's a difficult job so, of course, we will pay well. To begin with, here is for your forward payment plus expenses." The butler came forward and set another suitcase on the table.

"If you find a grimoire, we will pay you a further completion fee." Ruri smiled at the man whose eyes are widened at the tightly packed stack of bills. "Have we come to terms, Mr. Daijuuji?"

"I'll take it!" He snapped at the princess. "No one should have to suffer because of the evil of Black Lodge! I may not be the hero that Arkham deserves but I'm the one you need right now. That grimoire is as good as yours!"

Their business was concluded favorably for both parties and the investigator accompanied the lady and her butler out of the apartment. Kurou waved goodbye as his generous clients left on a vintage car.

"Can we really trust that man?" Winfield inquired as he drove, looking at Ruri in the backseat from the rearview mirror.

"Let's only hope for the best," She replied. "More importantly, give me an update on our recent business transactions."

"I was contacted by a rare retailer of vacuum tubes in Area 11 which goes by the name VT Trading Firm, run by a certain Maeda Sakitaro. We don't usually produce vacuum tubes for distribution and it might be too much to do so for a lone retailer but you will have the final say, milady." He paused, "Wait, I think that was Maedasaki Taro. As for Nergal's order, the Toy Reanimators will be shipped today."

"Well done. Please inform Mr. Maedasaki Taro that we'll think about it. The Nadesico will be launching soon… This will be the first step for the Conglomerate to lead the Earth Sphere to a brighter future." In her eyes were the brilliance of dreams and expectations, almost innocent-like in spite of her professional demeanor. "Grandpa, your dreams could finally come true."

---

"I've never seen a KMF like this before," the older, though still middle-aged, mechanic voiced his admiration of the machine as the Dannar base's maintenance crew repairs it. The dyed red fringe of his hair betrays his seniority and to Makoto, reminding him of the delinquents he had to deal with since leading the student council. In spite of it, his impression of him is that of a responsible man who has been through a lot in life.

"Sorry, but it's not a KMF." Makoto clarified. "We simply call it as an Engagement Suit."

"Hmmm… Looks like a KMF to me." The mechanic gutturally replied, bumping his fist on the cockpit's cushion. "Despite the cramped space, Shizuru's butt might still fit here comfortably." Makoto raised his eyebrows and Onigawara subtly rolled his eyes, the former's first impressions shattered in seconds. "Where did you have it upholstered?"

"Please don't talk like that, Mr. Shibakusa," A younger mechanic chastised his superior. He rolled out from under the Engagement Suit, which was in vehicle mode, and sat on his creeper. "Please don't mind him. He says weird stuff like that sometimes."

"Don't talk about me like I'm some kind of criminal, Morimoto!" The head Mechanic objected as he brought his soldering iron to an open circuit box under the seat. "Let's finish this before the Chief's meeting ends!"

"Don't mind us. Please take your time."

A few minutes passed, Ruri and Arma finally came by to fetch Makoto, having already fetched Hajime, and the Jetman crew with Kaoru and her baby. They parted ways amiably with exchanges of bows, at least most of them. They took their way home, each group, and went on with their own businesses.

---

Three days later…

The civilian battleship Nadesico floats in the waters of Nergal's Yokosuka docks, awaiting the final additions to its crew. Human workers ran to and fro in the ship's hangar while saucer-like robotic aides whirred to assist them.

"These Toy Reanimators from Hadou are really a great help," Uribatake, the ship's chief mechanic, said in aside. He raised his megaphone and boomed on a repairman-reanimator pair, "Yeah, that's it. Take your time with it. But try to do it fast but surely if you can!"

"What now then?" A young man asked as a bigger, older man walked him around.

"You piloted a robot without our authorization and damaged it but you did save our lives. We aren't military here so we might drop charges we can think of if you officially apply as a pilot. In which case, it may be reduced to oral reprimand. Mr. Prospector, especially, wants a word with you."

"Eh?! I-isn't that blackmailing?"

"It's only an option; if you want to be sued by one of the most powerful corporations in the world, suit yourself."

The young man sighed and before he can mutter another reply, a rowdy fellow limped in on them aggressively. Evident of his injury, he has a pained face. "Hey, hey! You're letting him off just like that?! He stole my moment of glory!"

"Mr. Yamada, whose fault was it that you injured your leg?" Mr. Hoary, the huge man, bluntly asked, pointing at the limping man's crutch.

"I… I told you already! My name's not Jiro Yamada! It's Gai Daigoji!"

Mr. Hoary ignored him and resumed talking to Akito, the young man, "Mr. Tenkawa, we'll be expecting your reply before we launch. See you then."

"But I just want to be a cook…"

"You! Don't think that just because you're the captain's pet you can already do as you like." Gai yelled at Akito intimidatingly or at least attempted to. His enthusiastic ranting has distorted his face comically. "Piloting robots are for men! Men! With the boiling blood of heroes flowing into every blood vessel of their body! But if a girl is manly enough to boil with the blood of heroes, then they can pilot, too!"

"Huh? What nonsense are you going on about?" Akito raised his arms in surrender as he leaned away from Gai's shoving, trying to avoid eye contact as well. "I don't wanna pilot, too, y'know?"

"Listen, I don't care if you'll continue to pilot but I won't allow you to stand out more than me. Got that?"

"But… I just told you I don't wanna…"

"Shush. No need to apologize. I'm a hero, so I'm forgiving! That's my own justice!"

"Don't just go around calling yourself a hero like that!" Akito objected to the smugly nodding Gai.

"Hey, you boke and tsukkomi! Get out of there!" Uribatake called out to them. They've been absorbed in their own little quarrel that they have not taken heed of the thunderous roar of the engine of a docking aircraft. "Gangway, gangway! Jet coming through!" The aircraft unfurled its landing gear and made contact with the hangar's runway. Akito ran off while Gai grabbed onto one of his arms and let himself get dragged, staggering behind. They both stumbled, almost fell, but Akito has good balance and made up for the control that Gai lacked, who can only make half the steps Akito takes. The three-legged racers' sprint finished off just about the same time as the blue jet's tailhook snagged on the arresting wires.

"Phew…" The two emitted a breath of relief and stood up with still-panicked looks. Akito stood up first and reached for Gai's hand, while he used the other to hand him his crutch, and pulled him up.

The jet's engine throttled down and a man and a woman deplaned through the jet's airstair. "Sup?" The man with the flaxen hair hailed as they were walking down.

"Uh… hello…" Akito replied coyly. Gai waved his free hand once he was able to stand up by himself.

"Nice to meet you guys again." The lady greeted. "I thought you weren't staying, Mr. Tenkawa. Have you changed your mind?"

"I wasn't supposed to," Akito droopily answered. "But they left me with no options. Also, just Akito will be fine."

Aki, the lady, pondered on Akito's statement until she smiled back, "No need to be formal with me, too, then. You fought really well against the Jovians last time. It's no wonder that you're a welcome addition to the crew." She shifted her glance to Gai and addressed him, "By the way, how's your leg, Mr. Yamada?"

"It's Gai Daigoji." Gai answered and Noal, the blond man, patted his shoulder.

"Man, get that leg some rest or else you'll be missing out on the action again."

"We'd love to stay and chat but where's the captain?" Aki inquired.

Akito paused for a bit as a mental image of Yurika with a silly, lovestruck smile popped in. "Haven't seen her yet today but my guess would be she's on the bridge, though she always did love to roam."

"Akito, my Akito…"

"Ehem, Captain…" A uniformed old man tried to sway her away from her mental absence. "Captain Misumaru, do you approve of the additions to our crew?"

"Captain Misumaru!" Mr. Prospector slammed the folders on the table and pressed his palm on it.

"W-what?" In her alarm, she fell off her swivel chair. "Sorry, come again?"

Mr. Prospector's eyes and lips twitched, "Captain, we said, what do you think of the new pilots that will join our crew?" He knowingly softened his voice and slowed what he's saying.

"Ah! Of course! Akito Tenkawa is welcome to join the Nadesico. Let him be designated as both cook and pilot."

Mr. Prospector sighed under his breath, "I figured that that much is already established, Captain, but what about the rest?" He slid the folders on the meeting table toward the captain.

She picked it up and began reading. Her eyes wandered from left to right and back again, going lower and lower until she flips the page. Repeat. Nearly five pages later, she spoke, "I'm okay with these guys. Anything to add, Mr. Prospector?"

"Two of the new pilots are newlyweds. We might have a problem with them regarding our policy prohibiting sexual relations."

Yurika blushed at the notion, "W-well, the only way we would be able to prove that is if they have a baby, r-right? I presume married couples learn family planning beforehand. Ehehe…"

"But that's not much of an assurance!" Mr. Prospector brought his fingers to his chin then adjusted his glasses. "But we can keep them away from each other."

"Hm?" Yurika tilted her head quizzically. Then she caught on, "What? I will not keep two lovers away from each other! That would be too cruel!" Her face turned into an appalled frown. She put her hands to her waist and stared at Mr. Prospector condemningly.

"I'm just saying that we should at least not allow them to share living quarters but whatever."

"I agree with Captain Misumaru on this." The old man voiced his opinion.

"A-admiral Fukube?!" Mr. Prospector was having difficulties accepting the more experienced officer's concurrence with the novice captain.

"On a tactical standpoint, it would be disadvantageous to drive a wedge between the pilots of a combining robot."

"T-that's true, but what about our policy then?"

"To begin with, it's not something that we can properly enforce. We can only count on our crew being responsible."

"All is good then…" The captain lightheartedly concluded the discussion. Just then, the intercom rang. She pressed a button then spoke. "What is it?"

From the other line, she heard the familiar cold and even voice of a young girl, "The new pilots have started to arrive. We need you on the bridge, Captain."

"Oh, thanks, Ruri. Tell them I'll be there."

Goh was irate. The heat was sweltering and he's in the middle of traffic in a convertible. Trying to ease his discomfort, he glanced aside and back but the sight of the two ladies beside and behind him made his annoyance grow. In spite of his disapproval, Anna is coming to the Nadesico with him as decided by her mother. Their mechs were sent ahead of them and they are on their way for embarkment.

"I still think it's a bad decision to thin out Dannar base's forces this much." Goh, riding shotgun, said with a dismayed tone. "With Kouji terribly injured, Shizuru would be pulling double duty."

"Don't worry about it. We're not the only ones protecting Japan." Kiriko assured Goh. "The Photon Power Labs have a capable team and Saotome Labs will soon have one, too. The Vigilance Corps is also reliable when it counts…"

"I can understand being sent for this mission, but Anna? She has no formal training! Why does she have to be my co-pilot?" He berated his mother-in-law. "Sending a spirited girl to save the world like in weekends' kids' shows doesn't work as well in real life."

As they weaved through the congested parade of vehicles, Kiriko half-minded his complaints. "You're right, Goh. She's a rookie; however, this would be good training for her, don't you think? An on the field training would be good experience."

"Hey! Stop arguing about me like I'm not here." Anna objected from the back seat. "And I'm not just gonna be your co-pilot. I and Okusaer am a separate unit until prompted to combine."

"Huh?!" Goh was about to stand from his seat, ignoring Anna's protest. "An on the field training?! In space?! Do you even care about your daughter?!"

"I do care about my daughter," The car swerved and Dr. Aoi stepped on the brakes. "That's why she's coming with you." She locked onto his eyes with conviction and somehow, Goh got her point. "We're here. This is as far as I'll go."

The couple got off the car, with Anna pulling the duffel bags out. Goh tried to help but Anna yanked it away from him. "I can do this." She continued her pace as Goh trudged behind wearily.

"Hey, Goh!" The professor called out to him. He turned around, his shoulders hunched and his face that of a defeated man. "Take care of her."

---

"Let's see… oh, we're on to the last one! And this one's from… Samaritan Industries? Right, miss?" Uribatake asked a girl holding a tablet in her hands.

"Yes, sir." She nodded and her sharp, upwardly slanting eyes blinked a bit. Uribatake couldn't help but have his heart thumping faster momentarily and, as much as an adult could, began to blush. She hasn't noticed, however, as her attention was drawn to a carrier with caterpillar tracks bringing in a mech with a bulbous cephalothorax. "Here it is, sir; S.I.'s pride, the XT-Acea."

The mechanic's wonder shifted from the girl to the machine but instead of awe, he raised his eyebrows to its unconventional design. Aside from a bulbous torso-head, it also has pincers terminating its arms and thin, backwards-bending legs. In addition to its bestial features, it also has a pair of missile launchers on its back.

"Hey, Ms. Ecksturm! Yoohoo!" A boy peeked from above the mecha's head, waving to the people below with a toothy grin.

"A-ah?! Mihai?! Get down from there!" Ms. Ecksturm yelled, trembling like a guardian of an unruly ward. She freed one of her hands from the tablet and beckoned to him to come down. Other people gathered around to see what the commotion was about.

"Right, right!" He backed away and Ms. Ecksturm thought that he would take the rope ladder hanging from the XT-Acea's back. Apparently not; Mihai gathered momentum then finally leaped, feet jogging in the air. The people went wild with the quickly falling boy in sight; they looked away, fearing for the worst as a dust cloud gathered at his landing point. When it cleared away, he's standing there, arms crossed, and still goofily smiling. "Don't fret. I'm wearing S.I.'s Prototype CushionFall Custom Boots!" He raised his right foot and mimicked a handgun with his hands to point at it then clicked his tongue and winked. The showboating left the crowd less than amused and they began to disperse.

The girl drooped in embarrassment and approached the boy. She dragged him by the ear to Uribatake. "Mihai Toddkhuslen, pilot and endorser for Samaritan Industries. By the way, I'm Lindana Ecksturm, researcher and assistant developer for the XT-Acea. The head developer, Rangstal Ecksturm, will be here shortly." She introduced the kid and pointed Uribatake to him with her nose and a tilt of her head. "Mihai, say hi!"

"Nice to meet you, sir! Pleasure to be working with you!" He held out his hand but the mechanic only sighed.

"Seiya Uribatake, chief mechanic. Just sign this and be on the bridge in 25 minutes for the briefing."

"Yes, sir!" Mihai enthusiastically replied and gave a mock salute.

---

After 25 minutes, in Nadesico's bridge…

The pilots of OSDG, Dannar, SI, and Nergal have gathered and were comfortably seated as they await the captain. They began a round of introduction while they were at it.

"We're not highly capable in combat but OSDG has affiliated researchers in Mars and our chief wants us to look at it." Aki replied to a question regarding her and Noal's combat experience. "Hopefully, we can take some of our people back."

"Blue Earth ain't made for fighting but if those damn Jovial Lizards ask for it, we'll show 'em hell!" Noal boasted then paused, noticing the girl beside the man who posed the question. "And you, miss? What are you doing here?" Aki, mistaking his intent, lightly kicked him in the heel.

"I'm the Okusaer's pilot. The giant, pink woman in the hangar," She answered. "It combines with my husband's mech, the Godannar."

"Your husband?" Noal's eyes went back and forth from Anna to Goh and so did the others'. "Wait, you mean…"

"What? Got any problem with that?" Goh looked back and forth as well from Noal to Anna then interrupted, eyes seemingly ablaze.

"No, no. Of course not!" Noal defensively retracted. "I absolutely have no business with your preference, man."

"Yeah, nothing wrong with that." Mihai added. "We all had that time in our lives when we got infatuated with someone not our age. I had the hots for my gym instructor in High School. Man, she's such a babe." The weird looks transferred from the couple to him. "Forget I said that."

"Any idea what they're talking about, Tenkawa?" Gai asked his fellow Aestivalis pilot.

"Beats me." Akito shrugged. They then simultaneously took sips from their bottles of milk.

"A-HEM!" None of them have noticed that someone else entered. The drawn-out clearing of throat caught their attention, however, and they all turned their attention to the newcomer. "Ah, Mihai! I see that you're already very much at home here." The gray-haired man waved to the young pilot.

"They're not difficult to get along with, Mr. Ecksturm," Mihai replied. He ran to his side and began to introduce him. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Dr. Rangstal Ecksturm. He's the head developer of the XT series in which my unit belongs to."

Everyone nodded in greeting. It wasn't long since others of Nadesico's staff and Ms. Ecksturm arrived. "Wow! These must be them! The Nadesico would love having you guys~" Yurika gushed dreamily.

"Hmm? Are you supposed to be an assistant or something?" Mihai approached her and asked out of curiosity. "What can we expect of the captain, miss?"

"Mi-mihai! Watch your mouth!" Lindana scolded him, miming hushing gestures.

"What? I'm just asking?"

"I'm your captain! V~!" She flashed a victory sign with her fingers. "Yurika Misumaru, at your service!"

"Captain?!" The five non-Nergal pilots' loud amazement resounded.

"Yeah, that's how we felt, too. Ehehe…" A cheerful girl said. "Hi, I'm Megumi Reinard. I'm one of the bridge operators, communications officer to be exact. Glad to make your company."

"V~, huh?" Anna Aoi sighed. "Somehow, she reminds me of Hajime."

"Ehem, the captain will now brief the crew of our mission." Mr. Prospector dispersed the group. Stacks of folding chairs were brought by utilities to the bridge and each one of them took a seat. The bridge operators took their posts while the captain took the helm.

"I thank you for coming, everyone!" Captain Misumaru began addressing the crew in a manner more befitting an idol than a high-ranking officer. "I know that you've been given the gist of the situation when you were recruited and that is pretty much it. We're going to Mars to try to find survivors. It's been a year since it happened and it might be too late, but that's no reason for us to give up. Our specific destination is the Northern Polar Mine." A hologram of Mars with the specific geographical region highlighted flickered to being overhead the audience. "We will have a stopover in Side 3 to pick up more pilots from the colony. We will be leaving in 1730 Hours. That's 5:30 PM in layman's term. Any question or reaction?"

Akito raised his hand and the rest turned their eyes to him. "Yes, Akito, my dear?" Yurika acknowledged him flirtingly.

He hesitated for a moment, embarrassed, but proceeded with what he wanted to say. "I was from the polar mines. It was already in pretty bad shape when we were hiding in the bunkers there. Last thing I remembered was the bunker I'm on getting ran over by battas."

"If you're here alive, isn't that a good sign? If you survived, they must have, too!" Gai announced his hasty deduction and everyone looked at him as he placed a foot, the injured one, on his chair.

"No, you don't understand." Akito continued. "That was the last thing I remembered. When I came to, I was on Earth. I have no idea how that happened."

"Oh, sure. People just get teleported randomly nowadays, huh?" Mihai sarcastically commented, leaning back on his seat and looking aside.

"That's not nice, Mihai." Lindana gave him a light three-finger slap on the back of his head.

"Toddkhuslen has a point." Rangstal glanced at his daughter. "It is indeed incredulous but if what he says is true, then we must look into it. The enemy has teleportation technology which we haven't fully understood yet." He transferred his glance to Akito. "Could it be that you came across something like that but just can't recall it?"

Akito answered without giving it much thought. "Well… your guess is as good as anyone's, doctor."

"Or is it?" Mihai interrupted again with a theatrically constipated face. "Find out on the next episode of Tales from Planum Boreum!"

"... Idiots." Ruri remarked and not much else.

"Any more?" Yurika asked again but everyone has already quieted down. "All right, then. Dismissed. Take your time getting to know each other. Later, see ya!"

---

At about the same time, an online conference among UE Forces' top brass was being held…

"A civilian battleship in times like these?"

"What was Nergal thinking?"

"It's out of the question to leave such a powerful ship in civilian hands!"

Admiral Misumaru listens, but does not contribute, to the contentions of the United Earth Armed Forces in his personal quarters in the ship under his command, the Tobiume.

"Adm. Misumaru, as I understand it, the captain of that ship is your daughter." Another officer, a bald man whose eyebrows call to mind fat, black, wingless flies addressed him directly.

"What do you suggest, Gen. Colbert?" His lowered eyes slowly looked up to the superior officer's floating hologram. "The general assembly has given them a special permission to operate. I don't believe we have the authority to intercept."

"Indeed, we don't." The general replied with annoyed tinge in his voice. "However," he continued, his expression becoming of satisfaction, "We can detain them under the pretext of inspecting the ship and its crew. Intelligence reports regarding their personnel suggest that they are not qualified to operate. Regardless of any special permission, a substandard crew would not be authorized to deploy."

"I would assume that the crew has been chosen based on the Nadesico's specialized requirements." The admiral paced two steps to the general's holographic screen projection. "If it's a civilian battleship then…"

Without letting the admiral finish, the general resumed with grandstanding, "I ask all of you this; what will happen to the Earth if insubordination is tolerated? We are beset on all sides by internal and external threats. Terrorists, aliens, extradimensional monsters, and now would we allow even private corporations to challenge us? How can we protect the world's peace and order if we treat violators with leniency?" The general pointed to Adm. Misumaru, "Are you condoning them just because the captain is your daughter?! That is unbecoming of a military officer!"

"No, of course not." The admiral replied calmly, but a single bead of sweat formed in his forehead betrayed his distress. "I do what is in the best interest of peace and order."

"Very well then." The general beamed with smug satisfaction, "Admiral Misumaru, you are hereby appointed to negotiate their terms of surrender. If Nergal and the captain of the Nadesico requests to be incorporated in the UEAF, then we'll accept. They then will be reassigned to more purposeful tasks." General Colbert moved his hand to a salute, to which the rest replied thusly. "Meeting is adjourned." Everyone but Colbert's hologram went out "I await results, Admiral," With those words, his projection vanished last.

The admiral took one deep breath and moved over to the console. He pressed a button then spoke, "We launch at once. Our objective is the capture of the civilian battleship Nadesico."

---

"Captain, the Nadesico has successfully escaped the Earth's gravity," Minato Haruka, the helmswoman, reported. She has glossy, pouting lips and smooth, healthy light brown hair crowned with halo-like glow. She distinctly wears her uniform casually; unbuttoned over her shirt with plunging neckline that accentuates her curvature. "Switching to optimum engine thrust."

"Good work, team!" Yurika praised heartily. "Tell the crew to stand down for now. Ruri, switch the controls to auto-pilot."

"Aye, captain," Ruri's IFS nanomachine markings at the back of her hands began to glow as she pressed on the console. "Omoikane, auto-pilot mode."

---

At Nadesico's holo-shed…

"When they said that this ship is to provide every possible form of comfort, I never thought that they meant it this much." Noal looked up the false sky in awe of its seamless imitation. "This is almost like taking a cruise."

"Nergal sure knows how to treat its workers right," Aki added while she sat down on the picnic mat. "If I only knew, I would have brought my outdoor clothes." Aside from the two, among them are the couple, Anna and Goh who are dressed in white-and-peach summer attires, and Mr. Prospector, who is fixated on his calculator.

"Our contract features benefits that are not normally tolerated in the armed services," Mr. Prospector said with one hand raising a pen. "To keep the morale of men and women who are risking their lives, it is imperative to spoil them to… a reasonable extent."

"A-Anna, you're not angry with me still are you?" All the while, Goh was trying to thaw his wife's cold demeanor. "Let's kiss and make up, okay? F-figuratively, I mean." Having none of it, she continued to lean away.

"… As I was saying, these benefits are not a right but a privilege." Mr. Prospector looked away in unease. "Please remember that for all our sake. Sigh."

"Goh! You idiot!" Anna shoved a mochi into his mouth, "Stop it, you're embarrassing yourself!" With the lack of cutesy honorific being added to his name, he quickly understood that she's not in the mood and ceased. "I'm going to our room. Don't follow me unless you're going to sleep!" She stood up and walked out of the alpine-themed recreation center while Goh sulked behind, trying to swallow the sticky food.

The three witnesses fell in stunned silence. "S-sorry, everyone." Goh broke the ice, bowing to the people that he had only known that day. "I didn't mean for you to see us like that."

The other men remained awkward but Aki was quick to assure Goh, "Oh, it's all right. It's not unusual for couples to have misunderstandings. Right, Noal?"

"W-what? A-ah, yes. Don't sweat it, man. Understanding women could take some time." Noal feigned confidence as he pitched in, "I've known Aki for years and I still don't understand her half the time… and we're not even a couple!" With those said, Aki elbowed him in the gut and Noal winced a little.

"You picked the wrong place to have your honeymoon, don't you think?" Mr. Prospector forthrightly told Goh. "While your personal lives are no business of mine, I certainly do hope that this wouldn't affect your performance as Nadesico's crew members. Are we clear on that, Mr. Saruwatari?"

"Yes, Mr. Prospector." Goh replied, still downtrodden.

"I thought so. Sincerely, best wishes to you." Mr. Prospector smiled as he adjusted his glasses and stood. "If you'll excuse me, I have books to balance in private." With a courteous bow, he left the others.

"What a shrewd fellow, but that's not something I can hate." Noal took an apple from their basket and chomped on it.

---

At Nadesico's cafeteria…

"I'm so disappointed." Megumi began a conversation among her fellow bridge operators, Ruri and Minato. "I expected to meet some dashing men on a battleship."

"Well, life's like that." Minato agreed. "This ship sure is full of strange characters."

"I'm worried about that Nergal guy with the moustache and glasses. He sure doesn't look very reliable." She said as she stared into empty space while she stirred her spaghetti around her fork.

"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Megumi. You never know." Minato glanced towards the table with SI's employees. "That guy with brown hair… He looks kinda familiar…"

Megumi followed her gaze, "Really? He's sorta attractive at the right light… Couldn't you just have fallen in love at first sight?"

"No, that's not it." Minato paused in thought. "Oh! I remember! He was the child actor that played the titular Tom Sawyer in that movie years ago. The cast's acting wasn't exactly stellar but the movie was infamous for deviating from the classic's coming of age adventure story to a tragic revenge fantasy, with Injun Joe turned into a Byronic hero leading a cadre of children against an alcoholic warlord… And there were steamboats that transform into mecha… It was that kind of movie…"

"That one! I dubbed his character when I was younger!" Megumi delightfully reminisced but she shortly frowned, "In retrospect, not one of my best roles. If I understood back then what it was about I would never have agreed."

Their prolonged staring at Mihai caught his attention and as a gentleman, in his own head, he felt obliged to reciprocate their admiration; that is, by winking and flicking his hair, waving his hand in pageantry to the fair maidens. "Wah!.. Gross!" The two simultaneously blurted and turned away.

"What are you doing, being depressed like that?!" Gai yelled for the entire cafeteria to hear, leaping flaringly in spite of his injuries. "All right, I'll show you my special video! It's sure to cheer you up!"

---

Meanwhile in the busy kitchen…

"Excuse me, passing through!"

"Two orders of spicy katsudon, four of omurice, three clubhouse sandwiches!"

"Chef, please taste this!"

"Flavor's too weak. Mix the ketchup with mayonnaise and sprinkle it with capsicum. Don't add too many seasonings!"

"Huhu… huhu… hu…" Akito was in tears; not of grief, but as he cleaved through the onions, his eyes were irritated by the reeking fluid.

"Tenkawa, you don't have to cut it so finely, you know?" A lady chef approached him and tapped his shoulders. "Here. Please peel these potatoes instead." She pointed to him a large carton of potatoes that she dragged along.

"Oh… huhu… okay, Ms. Howmei." Akito emptied the last of the slices of onions from the chopping board to a basin. He sat next to the carton and peeled away, separating the peelings and peeled in different baskets.

"Okay, I'm counting on you. Do your best!" Howmei cheered him on. Suddenly, the cooks began to rush outside the kitchen. "Tenkawa, looks like something is starting. Some kind of video, he said. Leave what you're doing for now if you wanna check it out."

"This video format is virtually obsolete. It's going to be tough to get this to work with a modern TV." Uribatake said as he fidgeted with cables, attaching a portable device to a monitor in the cafeteria. "Okay, it's ready."

"Watch, and be amazed!" Gai brought out a diskette and fed it to the device's drive, his hand movements mimicking a transformation pose of a special effects superhero, "Disk, insert! Switch on!"

"Woah…" Jaws dropped as the valiant theme song and opening sequence began to play.

"What is this?" Mr. Hoary impassively wondered aloud.

"The neglected classic, Gekiganger 3!" Gai proudly proclaimed, cheeks flushed and eyes watered. "This thirty-nine episode series is a real heart grabber!"

"Ah! This one…" Rangstal said as he was watching the anime intently. "If my memory serves me correctly, this was banned by the old Earth Federation during the One Year War as it was believed, baselessly, to inspire rebellious fervor." He lifted his chair nearer and Lindana followed. "The ban remained until its collapse… at which point it was already mostly forgotten. Been looking for a copy of this for a long time and I never expected to find this here."

"How come I've never of heard of this from you, Dad?" Lindana looked at her father with amusement. "I mean, you watch anime?"

"A few ones, yes…" He replied without looking away from the monitor. "What? I also do things that are not inherently purposeful. Also, Ms. Ecksturm, we're still on duty so please refer to me as professor."

"Of course. Yes, prof!" Lindana smiled spiritedly then went back to watching.

"The opening looks different," Akito commented as he made his way to the front row.

"You can tell?! After episode 3, this opening gave way to a really righteous one!" Gai rushed to him and spoke in the face of whom he thought was a kindred spirit… but disappointment caught up to him when he realized whose face he was screaming in. "Oh, it's you." He stood up, knocked his crutch away, and pointed to him accusingly. "You have no right to talk about Gekiganger! Ow… tch… tch…" He let out a pained groan as he tried to support his weight with both legs until Uribatake handed his crutch to him.

"I do, too! I saw the series as a boy growing up on Mars."

"Then why aren't you into being a robot pilot? Who cares about being a cook?!"

"What's wrong with that?!" They tried to stare each other down but they quickly went back to their seats as the title card appeared.

The episode has barely begun when the program was interrupted by a panel that popped up in the middle of the screen. "Captain Misumaru," Admiral Fukube's likeness appeared in the monitor and spoke. "We need you on the bridge. We have incoming transmission from a UEAF ship."

"UEAF ship?" Yurika was about to eat the last spoonful of her meal when she replied. "Be right there, Admiral!" She sprinted out of the cafeteria and others followed.

"Ruri, put them on." The captain instructed as she took the helm and a hologram of a mustached officer appeared overhead.

"This is Admiral Misumaru, Commander, Third Fleet, UEAF."

"Father!" Eyes turned towards her when she uttered the word. "Father, what's this all about?"

"Oh, Yurika, are you doing well?" His militaristic tone changed to that of doting.

"Yes!" She answered civilly.

"This is my duty. Please forgive me. Papa is not happy about this either."

"There must be a big misunderstanding. We thought we had an agreement with the UE." Prospector interrupted. "The Conglomerate was to use the Nadesico for private projects."

"That might be so but the ship itself and its personnel has not been assessed. It must be subjected to quality control before it can be allowed to sail, validity of certificates and whatnot." Admiral Misumaru switched back to an unaffected tone. "So, for now, I would have to ask you to pull over so that we can inspect your ship."

"Pull over?" Noal reacted. "What is this? A highway?"

"Is this because of our racial composition?" Mihai asked next, sounding more upset than the others. Quickly, Lindana gave a disapproving slap to the back of his head.

"We do not belong to the military. We have no reason to follow your orders." Admiral Fukube objected as well as he turned away from Admiral Misumaru.

Admiral Misumaru leaned back in his chair, held his face in his hand and slid it down. "Mr. Fukube, why must you continue to bring shame to your name?" He pleadingly asked. He looked back at his daughter and tried to reason with her once more, "Yurika, please listen to your father. By the way, your friend Jun is also with us in this ship. We're worried about you. You know what, forget about being the captain of that ship and let's both go home forgetting this ever happened. You can command some other ship within the UEAF chain of command, okay?"

"Thanks but no thanks, Admiral." Yurika answered with firm resolve, her eyes meeting his. "This is my ship and my crew; they're not going anywhere without me."

His eyes drooped, his face lost its color but he regained himself in a snap, fists clenched and teeth gritted. "As it seems that you would not comply, a display of force might be necessary to convince you. I do not wish to do harm but if incapacitating you is the only method of restraint available, then so be it. Third Fleet out!" The transmission ended and the rest of the crew looked at either the Captain or Admiral for assurance.

"Incapacitate? What does he mean by that?" As soon as Akito asked, alarms blared and little Ruri interrupted with an announcement.

"Captain, mobile weapons approaching from seven o'clock." Though Ruri said it aloud, the captain was seemingly stunned and remained staring blankly where the hologram was a while ago. "Captain! Your orders!"

"R-right! All able pilots, prepare to sortie!" Yurika snapped out with clear and loud commands. "Don't engage with lethal force. Don't shoot to kill! I repeat, do not shoot to kill! Aim for their flight modules and let the pilots escape. All hands, assume level 1 battle stations! Deploy distortion field!"

"Roger!"

"Launch preparations complete." Aki notified as the Blue Earth's engines revved up.

"Let's go!" With a pull of a lever, Noal launched the ship out of the hangar.

"Jet Boy, go!" The Dannar base's mechs took off next.

"XT-Acea, Mihai Toddkhuslen, moving out!"

"Have you identified the enemy mobile weapons, Ruri?" Yurika asked she slouched in her panel.

"There are at least nine Delphinium-types and eight Hellions," Ruri performed a sweep with the radar and summarily scanned the hostiles. "And a lone Tracer… We're being hailed, Captain."

"Is it Dad?"

"Negative, Captain. It's from among the deployed units."

"Oh… put it on anyways."

Ruri received the call and a pilot's image appeared, the upper half of his face hidden by a visor. "Yurika," The remaining visible area of his face moved. "This is your last chance. Turn the Nadesico around!"

"I-I can't… I just can't…" Akito was looking up to his Aestivalis, which in turn seemed like it was looking down on him somewhat. "I'm just a cook…"

"Hey, Tenkawa! What are you doing?!" Uribatake yelled at him. "Hurry up and get to the cockpit!"

"Just… just a sec!" Akito proceeded to take off his apron hesitantly.

"If he isn't going, I'll go!" Uribatake hasn't noticed before but as he did, Gai, in his usually elated self, has already climbed to the blue Aestivalis beside Akito's pink one. "THIS is my moment of thunder!"

"What?! The Captain said able, you dumbass!" The chief mechanic was straining his voice but Gai barely heard the scolding as he closed the hatch beforehand.

"All right! Get out of my way! Move it, move it!" The blue Aestivalis has begun walking… into a wall.

"Oh, for f-," Uribatake nearly torn his hair. "Open the interior airlock passage!" Fearing damage to the machine, he gave in and consented to its reckless roll out. "Connect me to the bridge!"

"Jun!" Yurika called out the pilot from her panel.

"Yurika… I will take you back, by force if necessary. If you resist, the Nadesico will be up against the Tobiume."

"I'm sorry, Jun. I can't leave my post." Yurika replied with a smile.

"You'll keep on fighting?" With what can be seen of his face, Jun's shock was clear with his lips agape.

"This is where I belong. Here, I am not my father's, the admiral's, daughter; this is where I can be my true self." Yurika replied with a palm rested against her chest.

Jun shook his head slowly, his agape lips shut and twisted into a frown. "If that's the case, it can't be helped."

With that, his transmission ended but Megumi yelled a notification soon after, "It's from the hangar, Captain! Jiro Yamada has deployed in spite of his injuries!"

"Heave-ho!" As soon as it detached from its Jet Boy pack, Godannar soared to a Hellion mobile suit and kicked off a portion of its head. Barely, as the faster mech nearly evaded completely. I knew it. Godannar's mobility in space isn't as great as that of Cosmo Base's mechs. Goh thought as he struggled to his keep his mech from flailing about in the vacuum. The rushed-in modifications are insufficient for Godannar to adapt.

"Noal, are you sure about this?" Aki asked as the Blue Earth sneaked behind a Hellion engaged in a melee bout with the Neo-Okusaer, which was pirouetting like nobody's business… in the vacuum of space.

"Of course!" Noal replied as the jet fired its laser cannon at point-blank while the Okusaer leaped away as it created an opening for them.

"Why you little…" The Hellion's pilot angrily gave chase as his mech transformed into its fighter mode after the Blue Earth, discarding its broken sonic blade in the process. Missiles poured out from the Hellion's wing pylons but the Blue Earth dodged to the side.

"Come on, come on… let me hit you…" Mihai whispered under his breath as he tried to align the crosshair on the Delphinium he's chasing in a field of space debris. The XT-Acea's chicken-legs were tucked underneath, with exhausts on the bottoms of its feet as maneuvering thrusters to propel its flight. "They pay me bonus per landed hit so…" The enemy unit steadied, cornered as it failed to serpentine among the debris as the field narrowed, and the crosshair stabilized; XT-Acea's left pincer opened, and a coiled antenna-like rod poked out. "… Let me hit you!" Electric arc was discharged from the rod and found the Delphinium.

"A-augh!" The pearly white robot shook only mildly yet the pilot itself fell catatonic.

"Mihai!" Lindana's face appeared on a corner of the XT-Acea's HUD, "You've been ordered to not use lethal force!"

"Relax, it's alright…" Mihai replied, motioning to her with a looped thumb and forefinger, the rest outstretched, "That was only a merciful, stunning dose of the Shock-ray. You can check my guncam later if you have doubts… but for now, let me do my job, Miss Manager."

"Hmph!" Lindana signed out mighty pissed and Mihai impenitently grinned, blowing a mock flying kiss to where her image was.

Somewhere else in the skirmish, the blue, one-eyed Aestivalis equipped with its aerial frame had engaged a cluster of mobile weapons. "I'll show you how real heroes fight their battles!" Such was Gai's battle cry as he let himself be surrounded by UEAF soldiers. Pedal to the metal, the Aestivalis thrust forward so abruptly and forcefully that the distortion field around it trailed, "Gai Super Upper!" The Aestivalis drawn its fist back… and released.

It happened too fast. A Delphinium's pilot had the Aestivalis in his sights a few seconds ago but all of a sudden, it had already decked his mech, the cockpit's crumbling stopped mere inches from crushing him. He's alive, he caught up to that fact as an afterthought. If it was luck or the enemy held back, he cannot discern; his motor functions have come to a halt, facial nerves and muscles froze, and bladder control… failed.

"Y-you bastard!" Angered, the rest of the soldiers attacked the Aestivalis one after another. Block. Miss. Miss. Shoot down. Miss again. Block again. The Aestivalis fended off the attacks and successfully countered every time. "Impossible! Is this guy for real?!"

"How do you like that, punks?" Gai yelled to his foes as if they could hear him but he actually had no open channel to them. While he essentially is a boisterous, even amateurish, fool of a pilot who thinks himself cool, to them he seemed like a silent, but beyond the pale, expert. Gai kept the streak until the lone Tracer clashed with him head on with its wrist-mounted laser blade.

The distortion field was pierced. The elbow joint of the blue mech's left arm was damaged. It fell out of balance and flopped like a fish out of water.

"This is our chance, everyone." The Tracer's pilot told the mobile weapons' pilots that had the Aestivalis surrounded.

"He's a sitting duck. The idiot exhausted his mech's energy with those attacks." Junior officer Jun Aoi concurred from his Delphinium. "We've successfully lured him out of Nadesico's distortion field. Grab ahold of him! Now!"

Two Delphiniums flew beside Gai's mech and held him hostage. "Hey! What are you doing?!" He objected but it won't move. His abductors were whisking him farther away from his mothership and allies.

"Mr. Yamada has been taken by UEAF." Ruri reported. "What to do, Captain?"

Before Yurika had the chance to reply, they were being hailed again by the Tobiume. She waved to receive it. It was her father again and he had the same stern look as when he last appeared.

"We have already captured one of your men and this is only the first of many. If you surrender the Nadesico now and come with us, the UEAF will let this offense slide and we'll all go back to Earth happily. If not, all captured personnel of this civilian vessel will be tried in a court of law and be charged accordingly."

"Father, why are you doing this?" Yurika was beginning to tear up.

"You've hit a snag, Captain. What will it be? Surrender with everyone guaranteed safe or attempt completion of the mission while risking your crew?" Yurika's face grew paler and paler as the admiral pressed further. But she wasn't averting her eyes either. Though wobbly, the young Captain was gathering courage and every second that passed, she shook less. She was about to speak when…

"It's pointless to answer, Yurika!" Before her words could come out, Akito's voice emanated from the speakers. "We're getting Gai on our own terms!"

Okusaer and XT-Acea tackled the two Delphiniums holding up Gai's Aestivalis from below, having successfully hidden among an obfuscating mass of space debris. The Delphiniums were tossed away and following up, Godannar caught the released mech. "Akito, catch!"

"W-w-wait, w-w-whoa!" Gai tumbled all around his cockpit with the sudden application of force and trajectory. Akito, on the receiving end, was similarly freaked out but he steeled himself to catch him… He did. With his Aesti's face. The monoeye's legs uncomfortably straddling it.

"Tenkawa, bring him back here quickly!" Uribatake called to him from the hangar.

"Y-yes, I will…"

"Woohoo, Akito! Good job!" Megumi cheered from her console.

The color returned to Yurika's face and though still on the verge of tears, she began to smile again. On the other hand, Admiral Misumaru's face turned serene as if his strictness washed off. Father and daughter looked at each other one last time and the conversation ended, his projection gone in a blink.

They might have freed Gai but Mihai, Goh, and Anna have gathered the UEAF's mobile weapons around them.

"Anna, can you hear me?" Goh began, their mechs back-to-back. "I told you…"

"Dammit, Goh! This is hardly the time!" Anna snapped back. "If you want to berate me for this, wait until we get back to the ship!"

"If we even get back to the ship. These guys are looking forward to keep us." Mihai butted in.

"Shut up!" The couple yelled in sync. Goh continued, "That's not what I'm trying to say; I told you… some really demeaning things since we got married. I'm sorry that I'm diverting all my anxieties towards you. I still see the same helpless girl I rescued five years ago even when you've already grown since as a person. You're not the weak one, I am. I'm weak because I'm stuck in the past. I'm weak because I can't let go. I'm too weak to even admit that you've caught up to me…"

"Stop." Anna said plainly but her next words were more domestic than the last. "No need to trip yourself over, Goh-chin. As long as you understand." She chuckled. "Looks like we're not out of this yet. Say, why don't we give them a Husband-and-Wife-Mega-Beatdown?"

He tried to laugh as well but he pronounced them with nervous, yet relieved, half-sighs. "Your mother's right. You're really good at this piloting stuff."

"It's time to drive change, Goh!" She called out to him, shouting again but with the earlier resentment gone. "Prepare to receive me!"

"Uh… That came out really wrong but I guess I'll let you lead this time. Drive change, go!" Neo-Okusaer tucked its limbs and head and Godannar opened his chest to her. Following the regular sequence, the two mechs combined to form Godannar Twin Drive mode, "Hi-yaaaaaaaa!" Screaming at the top of their lungs upon completion.

The three were prepared to resist but suddenly, the mobile weapons flew away from them and began gathering back to their ship, except for a Delphinium and the Tracer which didn't seem eager to resume assault.

"Captain, it appears that the Third Fleet is retreating." Ruri confirmed.

"Oh, thank goodness." Yurika sat back on her chair and slouched. "Recall our pilots, we've wasted enough time."

"Not yet, Captain. Incoming potential hostiles." Ruri bluntly declared as the radar's sweep revealed another wave of dots.

The ship was hit. A beam of light collided with the ship's starboard, partially permeating through the distortion field, earning Ruri's updated inference, "Hostility confirmed."

It was a blast from a Katonbo, a Jovian unmanned battleship, and it's swarmed by the lesser Battas. "Everyone, we're under attack by Lizards. No need to hold back against the aliens. Fire away!" Yurika ordered without hesitation. "Deployed units, give us a minute until we prepare a Gravity Blast. We're counting on you."

"Phew! This is a long day!" Noal complained as he wiped the trickling sweat from his forehead. "You still okay, Aki?"

"Absolutely!"

Goh encouraged the team, "This should be our final push! Let's give it all we've got!"

"Alright! Guilt-free bonus targets!" Mihai cheerfully fired missiles from the launcher of XT-Acea's back. "Have a free sample of my cutter-ray!" He cried out as he sliced a Batta that leaped in front of XT-Acea with an energy blade from its right pincer.

"Noal, Look out!" Aki warned but it was too late. The Blue Earth winded sideways but the ramming Batta grazed its right wing. It wasn't over; the Batta rebounded and was about to knock the rest of the jet when the remaining Delphinium stood in its way.

The Tracer, too, was fighting together with the XT-Acea and Godannar, firing its rifle against the Battas.

"Everyone, get back to the Nadesico." Yurika commanded.

"Oh, crap! I can't move!" Jun struggled in his Delphinium. "Noboru, can you give me a hand here? I've been hit badly!"

In response, the Tracer flew back to him and grabbed an arm. The Godannar grabbed another. Though they aren't communicating with each other, Goh took initiative as he gaged the situation. XT-Acea also flew to the Blue Earth and seized it with its bird-like talons, turning off the thrusters under its feet and activating the ones on the back of its knees.

Ruri multitasked maintaining the field, operating the ship's weapons, and managing overall logistics, Haruka steering the ship as to lessen the impact of attacks, and Megumi stayed in contact with the other officers of the ship.

"Units have safely returned to hangar." Megumi finally reported as Uribatake relayed the successful retrieval. "With some extra ones. Some mobile weapons that have been left out by the Tobiume are among them."

"Gravity Blast fully charged and ready." Ruri dully announced. "Sensors indicate graviton wave concentration. They're also preparing another Gravity Blast, Captain."

"Then let's get them before they get us. Ready, aim," Yurika raised an arm. "Fire!" She slashed with it across.

A bright light, a strong blow. A line that consumed the Jovian fleet.

"How are we, Ruri?" Yurika asked as the blast cleared, leaving nothing of the Battas and barely a husk of the Katonbo.

"Distortion Field Strength, down thirteen percent. Phase Transition Engine, all systems condition green."

"Good," Yurika fell back to her chair, wishful for some smooth sailing from there on to Side 3. "Let's resume course. Full speed ahead."

At the hangar, the pilots have alighted from their machines. While the Conglomerate's employed pilots were met with clamors of commendation, a mob of mechanics with all sorts of tools, one actually having brought a pitchfork, awaited the UEAF soldiers.

"Explain yourselves or we'll customize your asses but leave your brains to enjoy it." Uribatake threatened them with a wrench. Jun hid behind the Tracer's pilot, alarmed.

"Wait, stop!" Yurika zigged through the crowd, panting in front of them. "Jun… what… are you… doing here?"

"Well, Yurika," Jun moved away from his companion's back. "Your father sent us… to watch over you."

The mob were talking among themselves. Yurika signed to them to pipe down. "What do you mean?"

The other guy prevented Jun from replying. "True, we're ordered to capture you but that is not the original intent. A covert operation to slip in an observer, which most of UEAF's top military officers are unaware, was initially planned. This is in fulfillment of the agreement you had with the UE. Those oblivious officers ordered your capture; something, your father and the other architects of this operation counted on."

"You mean, they needed someone to order our capture to slip in the observer?"

"Indeed, Captain." The pilot replied with a warmer tone. "At this rate, we can pretend to be your prisoner and undermine the operation to capture the Nadesico as a failure."

"Why couldn't they just slip you in with a fake identity?" The prospector had also made his way in front, "That could have saved some precious ammo and repair costs. We could have killed you back there, too."

"We're not that weak, you know." Jun rejoined. "And Admiral Misumaru knew her daughter's kindness well enough and he told us, that even if you don't know it for sure, you intuitively wouldn't believe that your father would violently attack you."

"But that wasn't the point. The Admiral was testing her how she would react in an unwinnable scenario. The ability to decide being more important than the decision itself." The other pilot contested Jun's statement. "Their personal relationship is irrelevant."

"Yes. That's so much like him." She wiped a single tear from her eye. "Is everyone on the Tobiume okay?"

"Pretty much. Except for that one guy paralyzed by electric shock. He'd need some therapy." The Tracer's pilot said with understated reproach. "But he'll be alright."

"He's four days from retirement." Jun added. "If he's any younger, that would have been a serious career-ender."

Within earshot, Mihai quietly slithered out of the crowd. But Lindana had heard enough and she dragged him out of the hangar.

"Excuse me for not introducing myself earlier. Second Lieutenant Noboru Terao, at your service. Looking forward to working with you."

He bowed politely and the confused crowd returned it. They disbanded right after and Yurika asked Jun and Noboru to follow her.

---

"Joe!"

"My dear Joe has… Ocean Gekiganger has… died!"

"You get it! You get it! You understand what's in this, too! You understand this, too!"

Professor Rangstal can only pat Akito's and Gai's backs as they cried on each other's shoulders because of a colorful cartoon. What vigorous and sincere youths! And they say this generation's been raised wrong.

Joe Umitsubame's sacrifice drove General Masaka's attack back. But now, Gekiganger 3 is hurt and is missing a pilot.

"Joe!"

Will they be able to recover from this loss? You have to get back up, Gekiganger! The future is at stake!

"That is the way a man should go, man. Dying in battle, sacrificing one's self for the sake of friends!" Gai said in between sobs.

"Thank you! Thank you… for showing something this good to me!" Akito replied even as his nose was running.

The three fell asleep slept together cozily in the room, with enough magnificent scenes to fuel their sweet dreams…

Gai suddenly stood up.

"AAAAARGH! I'VE BEEN SHOT! I'VE BEEN SHOT!" Gai was ear-shatteringly screaming, frantically trying to open the door but his hands could not find the right button.

"Gai! Gai! What's wrong?!" Akito rushed out of his bedsheets to aid Gai and hastily opened the room's lights. As he did so, his eyes caught to the horror. His fingernails were scratching the metal door and were coming off, bleeding, blood slowly staining the cold handle and all about. His lips, too, were flowing red and gnashed teeth with the same. The plaster cast on his leg was breaking with his rampant stomping.

"Get ahold of yourself, Gai." Rangstal grabbed him by the abdomen even as he violently flailed, the scientist's frail, middle-aged body holding on surprisingly."

"HELP ME! HELP ME! I'VE BEEN SHOT!" Gai's shrieks continued, fleeing in terror from an unseen mortal danger. "I'VE BEEN SHOT! I'M GONNA DIE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"