DES SHIP GUSION
"What the hell was that?" Ryuko muttered to herself as mechanics helped her get out of the cockpit.
Nakajima was waiting for her.
"Great performance out there," the captain greeted.
"Nakajima-sama!" Ryuko greeted back. "I apologize, something must be wrong with the system."
"I've consulted our techs about that. Apparently the link between our power source and the Gusion II isn't very stable. It'll be much better if the power source is the pilot, but…"
"Then let me! You know I can do it—" Determination filled Ryuko's eyes.
"We haven't tried out the effects of that. The reason why we have the singer, the power source, separate from the pilot is because if the pilot is also the singer, she may not be able to handle the feedback from the LAS' frame," Nakajima cut her off.
When it was recovered, it was discovered that the Gusion II had a special inner frame, giving it much more power than a regular LAS. When DES scientists hooked up the song system to the frame though, the feedback killed the pilot during the initial testing.
"I don't want that to happen to you."
"But—" Ryuko tried to protest, but was stopped short.
"We cannot risk you. I have people working on this thing; don't worry, the next time you sortie it should operate fine," Nakajima objected.
Nakajima was very protective to her, much like a father to his daughter. Ryuko never understood why.
"... Understood, Nakajima-sama," Ryuko said and bowed to the captain before leaving the hangar.
Well damn. Despite Nakajima's words she's still stressed. And, well, there's only one place where she can take that out…
Meanwhile, Nakajima hid back his stern face, and then brought up another thought. The actual fight was a second experiment to test the cause of Gusion II's malfunction. This time, he checked up on everything. The singer, the pilot, as well as the mech itself.
It's the pilot and the power source. There's no mistaking it. I'm certain the conflict between pilot and the singer can bring about conflict within the Gusion II. Indeed, we only need one person.
AKB0048 SHIP KATYUSHA-BRIEFING ROOM
Tsubasa Katagiri waited for everyone to settle down.
"Everyone! Let the briefing begin." She turned on the monitor, which projected an image of the huge robot they fought earlier.
"So as we all know, DES has deployed this previously unseen LAS. Thankfully we are not complete in the dark about this."
A man went to the front. Honoka recognized him as the crew member on the bridge who reacted after seeing that giant mech. Honoka noticed one of the understudies, Makoto Yokomizo, waving at him.
The man did a small wave back, before focusing on talking.
"This is Higashino. As you know, he defected from DES some time ago. He can tell us about the giant LAS."
Higashino nodded. "You see, back when I saw in DES, I heard rumors. I saw nothing concrete, as I wasn't high ranked, but word gets out. DES has discovered something big."
Tsubasa took over. "I guess it's time for a little history lesson. You all know that in our time, Earth became a wasteland after a long, pointless war. But did you know what stopped the war?"
The display on the screen shifted, showing a mechanical skeletal frame.
"This is the Gundam Frame. 72 frames were produced, and each were powerful enough, forcing the war to end."
Higashino nodded. "Word is, DES has gotten its hands on one and is working on it. After seeing today, I know it's true."
"What about A-Rise then? What about Tsubasa Kira?" Honoka could not stop herself from asking. She stood up to get the attention of Higashino.
"We have investigated that. Around the time of the initial DES attack, the school idol group A-Rise was abducted by a group of heavily armed men," Tsubasa replied.
"Is she inside that robot or not?" Honoka asked, slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "Where is Tsubasa?!"
"Honoka, calm down." Umi tried to get her friend to sit down.
HIgashino seemed scared by the sudden outburst.
"We have no idea," Tsubasa said. "Which is why we are all here. To plan a rescue operation…"
SKIES ABOVE AKIBA
Night had fallen. However, the skies of Akiba are not as brightly lit as it was the days before. Thanks to the attacks by DES power to the city is shaky at best.
Which is why the skies seem so brightly lit when AKB0048 has deployed once again.
Tsubasa Katagiri stood on the Katyusha's bridge. "NO NAME, launch!"
The plan was once similar to the earlier one. The understudies would perform, while the more experienced successors would pilot LAS.
"Alright. This time we're ready for you," Yuka said.
"Aww man, I hope we succeed this time!" Makoto said.
"Always so negative…" Suzuko replied.
"It's time guys! Let's get out there and sing!' Kanata encouraged.
NO NAME started singing once they launched outside the ship. Each of them were riding a small floating platform, allowing them to perform up in the air and to do some interesting choreography.
Chasing after the bus as it started to leave
I wanted
To tell you
The fog has lifted from my heart
And I've seen what's important to me
DES BATTLESHIP GUSION
"Captain! AKB has started another live!"
Nakajima shook his head. Those fools never learn. Fine. He contacted the scientists in charge of the system. Their faces were displayed on the screen in the front of the bridge. "Ready our test subject."
He also contacted Ryuko. "Prepare to launch once again. This time we finish this for good."
SKIES ABOVE AKIBA
The answer
Is so simple
So why did I hesitate and let you go?
I'll be honest about my impulses
So I can be me
Takamina fingered the handles on her LAS. She was nervous.
"Did you really think it was okay for them to do this?" she asked.
"Don't worry about them," Yuko said. "I'm sure they'll do fine. Plus, Mayuyu and Sayaka are with them."
A portal opened up. DES LAS started pouring out.
"Here they are!" Tomochin said.
"Sink or swim guys," Sae added.
"AKB0048, attack!" Takamina ordered.
The two forces clashed in the air above.
As a successor, Acchan was assigned to an LAS instead of performing. She was exchanging shots with a DES LAS, but she was having hard time. Then a bullet grazed her LAS's arm.
Thankfully said DES LAS was taken down by another LAS.
"Mariko-san!" Mimori Kishida, now known as Mariko Shinoda the 8th, was, like Acchan, another NO NAME member who had become a successor, although Mariko succeeded earlier than her.
"Acchan, what happened? That wasn't like you."
"Sorry, I had a hard time concentrating," Acchan answered in her usual softspoken voice.
Mariko smiled. "Go on, join them. I'll cover for you."
"But the plan—"
"Now, now. Do you want you want, okay? I'll help you explain later."
"Thanks, Mariko-san!"
The cockpit of Acchan's LAS detached. The cockpit could serve as an escape pod, and it could also transform into a floating platform, allowing her to join her friends.
"Chieri!"
"Acchan!" The blue-haired girl, the new Center Nova, was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't let you shine on your own," Acchan replied. "Mariko-san said she'd cover for me."
Kanata had to shake her head. "Ah, Mariko. You never change…"
"As expected of my rival," Chieri said, smiling at her friend. "Fine, let's sing together!"
Love you, I love you
I run as fast as I can
Love you, I've always loved you
I'll yell at the top of my lungs
Love you, I love you
I'm running out of breath
I can't keep my loud-voiced diamond
Locked away
Another portal opened, and a familiar form appeared on the battlefield.
"Here she is!" Makoto said.
"Do not panic!" Kanata said. She watched as the DES LAS pulled back, allowing the huge DES robot in the center.
Takamina saw the same thing. "Tell Honoka she's clear to launch."
OUTER SPACE, OUTSIDE DES SPACESHIP
A small portal opened a short distance away from the DES battleship. A small shuttle appeared.
"Hey, we made it!" Sayaka said.
"What do you mean, we made it?!" Nico said. "You mean there was a chance that we won't?"
Mayuyu gave Nico an emotionless stare. "We made it, that's what's important."
"What's next?" Umi asked.
Sayaka consulted the plan given to her by Tsubasa. "We go inside."
Since Higashino was a former DES officer, he was able to give them a reasonable map to how the enemy ship is supposed to be laid out. Outside the ship there is a small hatch used by mechanics and the like.
They were supposed to go in there. Because of the mission, only a small strike team was deployed. Sayaka and Mayuyu, plus Umi and Nico. Umi's physical fitness could come in handy, and Nico was bought in because of her small size, a fact she not too happy about.
"Mission is a go. We're going in," Mayuyu reported through a comlink, and received an "Okay" signal from the staff before they cut the radio signal.
The team entered the hatch and were now in the DES ship.
"Let's hope we find them before it's too late."
SKIES ABOVE AKIBA
Ryuko looked at the battlefield. Time to take out those 00 fools. She'll show them…
She took out her rifle from behind the Gusion II. She aimed her small rifle and fired.
It was hit by a large bullet, causing her to drop it.
"What the hell! Who did that?"
She saw where the shot came from and her jaw dropped.
"Another Gundam Frame? Where did that come from!?"
DES BATTLESHIP GUSION
"Captain, it's the Barbatos!"
Nakajima gritted its teeth. The Barbatos was the ship that went missing. Like this ship, it was also carrying a Gundam Frame. So that's' where it went…
"I want that LAS. Capture it!"
SKIES ABOVE AKIBA
Honoka Kousaka sat down in the cockpit of the Barbatos.
This suit was procured from a former DES ship, which shared a name with this LAS. The ship and its crew had changed sides, pledging allegiance to 00, and even gave them this suit as proof. The ship was left, along with the rest of the understudies and 00 staff, back in their home dimension to keep watch.
The cockpit of the Barbatos was changed to a regular 00 cockpit, meaning it's exactly the same as a regular LAS cockpit. And as a member, Honoka was its current pilot.
Honoka chose a song from the playlist and smiled.
The Barbatos' eyes glowed intensely before returning to their normal color.
"It's showtime." Honoka then apprehended her enemy.
"You bitch!" Ryuko shouted. "I'll show you who's boss here!" She pointed her gun, and a heated battle began.