Super Dimensional Fortress Kaguya: Homefront
Sortie 11
A pair of bulky blue and white 50 meter SRGK Grungust Kikai-Oh Mk II Super Robots sped through the inky blackness of space towards a cloud of flickering lights. Alt Eisen Reise and Rein Weissritter followed after them as the ATX team and Hammer squardron surged towards the cloud. Dustine pursed her lips as she studied the cloud, glanced at the tactical screen on her instrument panel, then frowned thoughtfully.
"Hammer lead to all units, we have a volatile situation here," Dustine spoke crisply over the commline. "A Ares freighter traveling from Zipang was damaged by unknown forces and has drifted into Cardair's territory. The freighter has sent an SOS causing both sides to send its rapid response teams."
"How many?" Erica asked.
"tweny squadrons in all," Dustine responded crisply. "ten on Cardair's side and ten on Ares side. Ares wants to send in its rescue teams in but Cardair wants to hold the ship and its crew for questioning."
"that's not all," Excellen murmured then hummed. "There are several Elysium System Defense Force Battlegroups in the area too. Looks like they're trying to diffuse the situation. However..."
"However...?" Dustine blinked.
"Several of the ships are from Cardair..." Excellen frowned.
"Lovely..." Dustine sighed.
"Lt. Colonel, I have a bad feeling about this," Kyousuke noted.
"So do I..." Dustine sighed.
"On the plus side, there's a USN Solar Nations Flotilla too," Excellen noted then brightened a bit when she made a discovery. "I'm detecting ships from Belarus, Isea Deutchland, Britonnia, Arume and wow...even Heng-Sha!"
"Heng-Sha?" Bullet grunted then hummed. "Could Kanu or Choun be there."
"We don't know that for sure," Kyousuke replied crisply then frowned. "Just focus and power on through if need be, Bullet."
"Y-Yes sir..." Bullet stammered.
Dustine smiled at that then flicked a few switches. "Hammer Lead to Wolfram over?"
"This is Wolfram go ahead Hammer Lead," Komilia called out over the commline.
"Wolfram we're detecting multiple Paladin class units belonging to Ares, Cardair and the ESDF in the area," Dustine murmured as she glanced at her tactical screen "Ares and Cardair units are patrolling the area while the ESDF and the USN Fleet are trying to form a tentative barrier between the two forces. Aggressive comm chatter between three out of four forces indicate that that the situations volatile. What are your instructions over."
"Respond to the distress call and escort the Ares freighter to safety," Komilia replied over the commline. "Estimated time of arrival is nearly one hour. Please watch the rules of engagement... no lethal force unless fired upon."
"Understood, Hammer squadron out," Dustine called out then sighed. "You heard the lady no lethal force unless fired upon."
"Aww but Dustine Oneesama..." Excellen whined playfully.
"Shut up Excellen," Dustine growled.
"Hmph," Excellen grunted playfully and the squadron surged on towards the cloud of shimmering lights before them.
It took almost the predicted hour to make it to the scene. Palladins of all makes and models bearing different flags on their armor roamed about within the cloud.
"Dusty chan, I'm not detecting any weapons fire," Excellen noted.
"Yeah they're just milling about," Dustine noted then sighed. "But the situation is tense. Everyone keep their eyes peeled and follow the rules of engagement."
"Yes ma'am," The others harmonized.
"Attention all units from Cardair and Aries, This is Lt. Colonel Dustine Ageni from the Wolfram. Stand down and back off. We have a job to do here. over." Dustine stated crisply over the general commline.
Moments later Risty's face appeared on Dustine's screen.
"You could try to be a bit more diplomatic, Ageni." The red haired woman murmured crisply.
"Lt Colonel L'Flour is right...you could be a little more diplomatic," A new voice called out.
"Thats..." Dustine blinked.
"Hello Dustine, long time no see," Reina Vance nodded.
"Hiya Dusty!" Her little sister Elina piped up in a third window.
"Oi, not you again," Dustine sighed. "At any rate we're here to bring the freighter back to port. Let us and the rescue ships pass and everything will be fine."
"Damn it just go the hell away we've got this..." One of Risty's officers piped up, as his mech gestured at her advancing squadron.
"I see you're handling this right into a shooting war." Dustine replied evenly then sighed "Which will jepordize all of our lives."
"Pipe down Marcus," Elina said icily.
"Yes ma'am," the officer agreed, subdued.
"Good boy..." Elina sighed then looked at the trio. "Well what shall we do?"
"Lets let them have a look at it..." Reina Vance sighed after assessing the situation.
"Wouldn't that make your father look in poor standing with the kings?" Risty grinned.
"They generally respect Dusty though. We could just blame her?" Elina grinned.
"I can here you..." Dustine sighed.
"Ack..." Elina grunted.
"Listen you three, there's a freighter crew onboard that ship that needs our help," Dustine stated over the commline as Excellen uploaded data to her fighter "...their life supports damaged and they have little time left. So make way for us and the rescue ships."
"But..." Risty blurted.
"And you two bickering over this is just making this all that much harder." Dustine growled. "So stand down and make way."
"Damn it Ageni..." Elina frowned as she sat in her paladin class suit. Before she could say anything more Rena's suit slipped up to hers and laid a hand on its shoulder.
"Elina...let her do her job." Rena said gently.
"But we..." Elina started.
"No." Rena shook her head then stated crisply. "This isn't a fight we can win. Let Dustine do her job."
"Okay..." Elina sighed.
"Good girl..." Rena nodded and sent a tight band message to Cardair's forces in the area. Dustine blinked then sighed as she saw the forces pulling back to Cardair's outermost defensive line one by one."
"With the USN here we'll pull back too," Risty sighed then nodded. "Cool head as always, Ageni. Can I offer you a drink later."
"No...you can't," Dustine sighed.
"Your still a spoilsport," Risty sighed then cut the link.
Dustine sighed and barked out orders.
Meanwhile, Risty regaled her friends, "Did I ever tell ya how I snuck up on her in the shower?"
"Bet that ended well." One pilot noted.
"Broke three bones and was in the hospital overnight," Risty said proudly
"Should you be proud of that ma'am?" The pilot asked.
As Risty regaled them with other happenings with her former team mate, Dustine continued to bark out orders.
"All right, team B search pattern epsilon. Make sure we're clear." Dustine blurted out over the commline. "Team A, we're checking over the ship."
"Right!" The teams peeled off. Dustine watched proudly as her pilots spread out, searching the region as well as guarding them in case anything else arrived.
Then she and her team advanced on the ship. The pilots of her team did a grid search of the hull, even as they tried to reach the survivcors by radio
"We've got something," Erika blinked as she listened in. "Its an SOS..."
"Automated?" Dustine asked.
"Doesn't sound like it..." Erika mused.
"GET US THE HELL OUTTA HERE!" A gruff manly voice blurted over the short wave radio frequency.
"No, not automated..." Dustine sighed then contacted the crew over the commline, reassuring them that rescue ships were on the way and everything was fine, so far.
Meanwhile, Sanya and the others continued to scan the ship, heading towards the aft.
"Look at that energy weapon scoring..." Sanya muttered.
"This ship has definitely been through a fight," Elia noted as they coasted over the ships hull, taking images and gathering data. They continued on until they came across an unexploded anti ship missile lodged into its hull. "Oh crap! Lt Colonel?"
"Yes what is it?" Dustine asked.
"We've got an undetonated warhead at section G 2!" Ellia called out.
"What kind of warhead?" Dustine asked.
"Its a reaction warhead ma'am." Sanya noted.
"Oh crap," Dustine cursed then called it in.
Komilla was on the line in minutes. "Ageni, you've got the steadiest hands, we're going to guide you through disarming it."
"Yes ma'am," Dustine nodded as her battroid glided up to the hull of the freighter.
"The first thing to do is remove the outer cover," Komilla started. For the next twenty minutes she guided Dustine thought the painstaking process of getting to the trigger and disconnecting it. It wasn't that complex but it was very hard to do with giant metallic hands.
"All right, I have the trigger." Dustine stated.
"Did you cut the last green wire?" Komilia asked
There was a beat before she answered back. "No?"
"GET RID OF IT NOW!" Komilia barked. Dustine grunted and tossed the timer safely away into an unpopulated area and watched it explode in spac
There was a momentary pause before Komilia asked tiredly over the commlne. "Did I forget the green wire?"
"I think you did," Dustine nodded.
"Sorry, drinks are on me when you get back." Komilia sighed.
"Thanks for the help. Can we pull this bomb out now?" Dustine asked.
"Yeah, just..very carefully. We need to keep the airsupply intact and so on." Komilia nodded over the commline. "Our teams will want to take a look at it to determine who attacked the vessel."
"Roger that..." Dustine answered.
**** 17:00GST SDF 23 Avalon, Avalonia City ****
"Phew..." Dustine sagged into a bar stool next to Komilia. Both had a mug full of beer near their hands and jackets on the bar stool seat backs "What a day."
"Yeah..." Komilia nodded then sighed. "Very tense moments out there. But you did good. Congradulations."
"Thanks," Dustine sighed then noted. "Still you forgot to mention the green wire."
"Sorry about that..." Komilia sighed.
"Sure, sure," Dustine mock grumped.
I was SURE I said to cut the green wire," Komilla complained
"Not that I heard," Dustine shrugged then sighed. "Then again...we were hours away from your ship and coverage was spotty at times. Plus Ares and Cardair were satuarting the area with ECM...so..."
"Yeah," Komilia agreed. "Anyway, you did fine work."
"Thanks," Dustine nodded.
"So how's the harem..." Komilia teased.
"Don't start..." Dustine rolled her eyes.
"I've heard you've already given a few of those aliens childern," Komilia teased more.
"One...Its not like that, two keep that to yourself," Dustine sighed.
"Why you've already been the talk around town and the ship...dozens of women have already offered their eggs to the Stellvians..." Komilia grinned.
"Oh yay, I'm starting a trend," Dustine rolled her eyes.
Komilia took a drink, "Well, I know it was for the negotiations, and I'm impressed how much you will sacrificre for diplomacy."
"I didn't want to see them suffer," Dustine sighed then shook her head. "I guess its a part of who I am, you know?"
"Yeah, that's just like you," Komilia murmured thoughtfully. She sipped her drink, "Have they asked about custody?"
"Wait, custody?" Dustine blushed.
"Well, they ARE making your kids, sort of." Komilia shrugged.
"I...didn't think of it like that," Dustine blushed.
Komilia teased her a bit more. "So should we call you papa now."
"Oh shut up..." Dustine sighed.
**** 19:00GST SDCV Wolfram ****
Later, after a bit of drinking, Dustine plodded down the hall to her quarters. She sighed and fumbled for her keys, but eventually pulled them out and unlocked the door to her apartment. She heard a bit of movement behind it, frowned and pushed thedoor open. She listened carefully then slipped inside. She then blushed when she found a Stellvian girl wearing nothing but an apron curtseying to her. "Welcome home, my darling."
"Wh...wh...wha?!" Dustine blurted.
"Would you like dinner, a bath or... me?" she winked at the befuddled pilot.
"What are you doing here?" Dustine sighed.
"I thought this was the traditional way wives greeted their mates?" she blinked, confused.
Moments later, a young girl emerged from kitchen. She was at least a size larger than the one who greeted her and was also wearing nothing but an apron"Food's nearly ready, darling!"
"Ack," Dustine did her best to ignore the bouncing. "...and you two are?"
"Recipients of your eggs of course!" The pair chimed in.
"Hey now..." Dustine sighed then urked when another woman in a tradition maid outfit poked her head out of her den/office. "Who?"
"Your office is ready, master," The dark haired maid noted.
"You cleaned it...?" Dustine blinked then looked at the spottless room. "Wow."
"It was a mess, master, so I dumped all the extra papers into the garbage." The woman humphed.
"You didn't..." Dustine sighed.
"I did," The maid nodded. Dustine hurried to the garbage and peeked it. The cleaning cycle had already activated, everything was gone. Dustine wilted then glared at the dark haired woman who looked visibly shocked. "m-master?"
"Don't glare at her, she made a mistake," Ryouko Asakura stated crisply as she stepped in. "This wouldn't have happened if you kept your office clean, ma'am."
"Ryouko..." Dustine started. Ryouko just calmly stared her down.
"Right," Dustin gave in. "Uhm, how did they get in?"
"You left the door unlocked Ageni." Ryouko paused, "AGAIN."
"Damn it..." Dustine sighed. She knew this section was guarded, or she'd be more cautious.
"Um..." The busty purple haired Stellvian peeked in. "Dinners ready. Are you going to come to the table master?"
I'm not 'master,' Dustine sighed.
"Would you rather be Ojousama?" Ryouko noted cooly.
"NOt that either. Coming," she sighed.
"My name is Dustine..." Dustine sighed as she walked to the dinette set to find the other two at the table. "Dustine Ageni...remember that please."
"Yes Dustine," The maids and the busty cook nodded happily. Dustine ate dinner, rather astonished at the quality of food. After dinner Dustine excused herself, ducking into her office. Both maids and the cook happily cleaned up, so she was asured of privacy as she made a call.
"Therese speaking. Oh Dustine. Good evening!" Therese smiled, sprawled on a bed with two nubile young women...
"Good evening..." Dustine blushed then sighed as she recounted her problem. "I have a situation. Several Stellvians, who claim that they were recipients of my eggs, have taken up residence in my apartment and are now waiting on me.
Therese blinked innocently, "HOw is this a problem?"
Dustine reminded herself they were from other cultures. "I'm not used to being waited on."
"Are you used to doing things yourself?" Therese asked
"Yes..." Dustine nodded.
"I see..." Therese nodded then smiled. "I'm sorry if I didn't mention this earlier...but its a custom of my people. As the eggs gestate the mothers stay close together to the 'father; to create a bond."
"What happens after the children are born?" Dustine asked.
"It depends." Therese shrugged as the nubile women continued to cuddle with her. "If the bond is strong with the father, they remain with them for quite some time. If the bond is weak, well then we go our seperate ways."
"I see," Dustine nodded then noticed the first maid peeking at her through the door. Dustine sighed and made a face. "By the looks of things they're already growing attached to me."
"Is one staring at you fondly or peeking at you?" Therese asked.
"The latter..." Dustine sighed.
"I'd say that they're very attached yes," Therese nodded then asked her thoughtfully. "Do you want to me to order them to leave."
Dustine sighed, having a mental debate in her head. One the one hand it could be trouble. On the other, she felt a little responsible for her situation. And really what harm would it do. "No. Let them be. They seem happy.
"Very well...I hope you and your family have many happy years to come." Therese smiled then cut the link.
"YEARS!?" Dustine blurted then put down the handset in its cradle. She thought a bit then sighed. 'Family huh. Didn't expect it to be THIS soon.' She then had a thought then blinked. 'Oh crap what will the others think?!'
**** 07:00 GST Wolfram ****
"Morning," Dustine sighed as she sat down at a table in the cafeteria next to her friends. Nanoha and Fate smiled knowingly at their friend as she took a long sip of coffee the pair continued to watch their friend for a while until Nanoha spoke up.
"Tough night Dustine?" Nanoha inquired gently.
"Ugh, you have no idea," Dustine sighed then shook her head. "I went out drinking with Komilia and we talked for a while. Both of us got mildly buzzed and we decided to return to our quarters. So I get there and waiting for me were three Stellvians. Two of them wearing skimpy maid outfits while the other was wearing nothing but an apron. I thought I was gonna faint."
"What?!" Fate blinked, looking surprised as Nanoha nearly choked on her drink. "Why were they there of all things?"
"Stellvian custom apparently," Dustine sighed then shook her head. "They stay close together to the father to create a bond as the egg gestates."
"Did you know about this custom?" Fate asked her as Nanoha regained her composure.
"No," Dustine shook my head then sighed. "...and the thing is if the bond between the parents are strong they'll remain for years and years on end."
"So its like..." Fate began.
"...a family." Nanoha finished her sentence then looked at Dustine warily. "I thought you said you weren't ready to be a parent."
"I'm still not sure," Dustine admitted. "But I am responsible for this situation, so I'd rather take them in instead of kicking them to the curb.
"That's very noble of you," Fate noted thoughtfully.
Dustine blushed at that comment then took another sip of her coffee.
"So when can we meet them?" Nanoha asked her.
"Later," Dustine shrugged her shoulders as she took a sip of her tea. "Right now Ryouko and the others are teaching them the ropes and about human customs and other things?"
"Are you sure Ryouko is the best person to train them?"
"Well..."
****That same moment in Dustines office*****
"School uniforms are a useful seduction technique!" Ryouko offered as she gestured to an image on the screen.
"Yes, Ryouko-sensei!" The girls replied.
"Plus they'll look good on you cuties!" Haruhi smiled as she supervised the training meeting?"
"Really?" The chef and the two maids blinked.
"Of course..." Haruhi nodded then stepped up to the chef, hummed thoughtfully then scampered behind her to grope her. "BUST SIZE CHECK!"
"EEK!" The girl yelped.
****Meanwhile back in the cafeteria****
"Maybe, maybe not," Dustine sighed.
"Do you want us to help?" Nanoha inquired gently.
"You would do that?" dustine asked.
"Of course," Fate nodded.
"Just don't tell Hayate. She'll want in on the harem action," Nanoha added thoughtfully.
"THERE is a scary thought," Dustine shuddered
"Indeed," Fate nodded.
Moments later, Hayate stepped up to them and grasped Dustines shoulder. "So hows the proud papa doing?"
"They're not born yet, Hayate," Dustine sighed.
"I know, I know," Hayate waved that off then grinned at the copper skinned pilot "Best stock up on cigars too."
"Hmm?" Dustine blinked.
"According to medical Stellvians go for multiple babies." Hayate explained.
"LOTS of mini-Dustines?" Fate blinked.
"Yup." Hayate nodded.
"Oh that'd be adorable!" Nanoha smiled.
"Oh god.." Dustine whimpered, wondering if the universe had it in for her.
"Does this bother you?" Hayate wondered quietly to Fate as Nanoha consoled Dustine.
"No, it doesn't bother me," Fate mumured quietly, shaking her head while glancing at the pair out of the corner of her eye. "We'll help her as much as we can when the Stellvians come to term."
Hayate smiled and patted Fate's shoulder, happy that they were supporting her and not being childish over this matter. On more than one occasion, she thought that Fate and Nanoha had a thing for Dustine. As they gave Dustine a quiet pep talk, Hayate watched on, smiling all the more as their gentle actions confirmed her suspicions.
"We'll be here for you..." Nanoha nodded then sighed. "Just don't screw this up. They're your kids after all."
"Right..." dustine nodded then had a thought and blushed. "What do I tell Fuji."
"Would she care?" Hayate had to ask. "Most pros do not let themselves get that attached."
"I think we're friends," Dustine defended herself.
"Even so she might not be bothered by it," Hayate offered then mused. "The more important question is...what happens when they offer themselves to you?"
"I..." Dustine blushed and looked at Fate and Nanoha who were also looking at her. "They..uhm, tried last night on more than one occasion. I turned them down each time."
"Good for you! Now you gotta KEEP doing that." Nanoha patted her shoulder.
"Well, they ARE sexy," Hayate noted thoughtfully.
"Not helping Hayate," Dustine sighed.
"Sorry sorry, I'll let you be," Hayate laughed, patting her shoulder and wandered off.
"GOD that woman is tactless," Fate sighed.
"Or doing it deliberately," Nanoha noted shaking her head. "I'm never sure."
"Ugh," Dustine groaned then sweatdropped when her cellphone chimed, playing Aitakatta as a ring tone. The pair blinked then smiled wryly at her. Dustine blushed and checked her messages then sighed. "Don't tell anyone you heard that, alright?"
"Will do," Fate nodded smiling a bit then blinked as she gathered up her coat. "Going somewhere?"
"Tsubasa and Kanade want to check up on me and I've agreed," Dustine shrugged then sighed. "I should be back in time for our daily briefing alright?"
"See you then," Nanoha smiled then hummed thoughtfully as Dustine left. "Has she ever had that ringtone before?"
"Not that I'm aware of, no," Hayate noted then smiled thoughtfully. "Maybe she's warming up to them now?"
"Or she just likes the song," Fate noted then hummed thoughtfully. "Though having her warm up to them might be good."
"Yeah," Nanoha nodded.
10:00GST
"Our tech teams have looked at the workings of the anti ship missile, ma'am," Komilia said as she laid a report on Hayate's desk. "...and what they found concerns even me."
"Oh?" Hayate frowned thoughtfully as she picked up the report. She read through the report then looked up at Komilia. "The anti ship missile is the same one used by Ares Self defense forces?! How accurate is this data?"
"99% accurate ma'am," Komilia nodded.
"If so then this leads to a lot of questions," Hayate hummed then sighed. "Could have pirates used this anti ship missile. If so do the rogue flotilla barely out of our range have more. Or could it be some forces within Cardair looking to stirr up trouble amongst Ares's ranks. If its Ares however...then what are they up to?"
"Shall we look into this matter?" Komilia asked her.
Hayate thought a moment the looked at Komilia. "We need to be cautious with this matter. Have our investigative teams look into possible buyers follow the money trail.
If we can't find a trail we'll have to search the area of the attack to find any clues. Compile a list of candidates for this mission and standby for now. Meanwhile I will inform the Rear Admiral about this discovery. Understood?"
"Understood," Komilia nodded and handed her another file. "Earlier today our long range sensor scans picked up a gravitation distortion as well as unusual energies at Ares lagrange point four ma'am. It was faint but it has grown stronger."
"Could it be the Grel?" Hayate asked.
"Unknown, but possible," Komilia frowned.
"Send members of the 501st JFW to investigate right away," Hayate nodded after thinking for a moment. "Have back up and fighter bombers up standing by."
"Ma'am?" Komilia blinked.
"If it IS the Grel scout squads then we'd better be prepared to take the scout ships out," Hayate noted seriously. "Otherwise they'll come at us in full force with
an assault fleet...and we don't want that. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am," Komilia nodded then wondered. "Is there anything else ma'am?"
"No, you may go," Hayate nodded.
"Right, excuse me," Komilia saluted her and walked out the door.
**** Thirty minutes later. ****
Colonel Teletha Testarossa strode down the corridor with a thoughtful expression on her face. The half human/half arumean officer tugged and played with her braided silver hair as she made her way to her destination aboard the Wolfram. When she reached her destination, she took a deep breath and swung the door open. The silver haired woman frowned when the pungent smell of cigarette smoke reached her nose. 'Damn it Mao.'
She opened the door and growled the dark haired woman who was lounging on the couch. "Mao!"
"What..." Mao pouted cutely at Tessa. She had a lit smoke between two fingers. "...can't I wait for my girlfriend here."
"We are NOT girlfriends!" Teletha growled
"That wasn't what you said last night," Mao winked at her then took a drag from her light.
"Will you please extinguish that..." Teletha glared at her. "We've got a new mission, Mao."
"Fine, fine, princess," Mao sighed and stamped it out in an ashtray. She then looked faintly curious, "What have we got? Search and rescue? Search and destroy? What?"
"Its not as simple as that," Teletha sighed, shaking her head. "You are going undercover. Again. We're to investigate the attack on the freighter bound to Ares."
"Oooh. Do I get to revive my pirate queen identity?" Mao asked
"Its possible..." Tessa noted then saw the gleam in her eye. "I will NOT be your sexy first mate, Mao."
"Oh c'mon you loved it," Mao teased.
Tessa humphed, blushing. "I do NOT have the bust for that costume."
"Oh, I think you managed well enough..." Mao grinned.
Tessa frowned then sighed. "Alright...pirate queen it is. But don't go to overboard with this thing. Hear me?"
"Oh we're going to have so much fun!" Mao grinned and pulled her into her lap.
"HEY!" Tessa yelped then mmphed as they kissed a bit. They held the kiss for a bit more until Tessa pushed her away. "Okay. Okay. Enough. We've got work to do."
"Awww..." Mao pouted. She looked thoughtful a minute, "Do you think the skunk works can rig us up a mostly automated ship? We want to keep the crew low on a caper like this."
"Its possible," Tessa nodded then looked thoughtful. "Do you have any crew in mind?"
"I hate to say it, but we'll need Kurtzs and Sausuke." Mao suggested with a wry smile on her lips. "They're trouble, but they're very handy to have around."
"Alright," Tessa nodded then looked at her. "Anyone else."
"I hate to suggest it, but I think we should bust Lan and Fan out of the stockade." Mao suggested.
"Them? Really?" Tessa asked then frowned recalling a few reports about their actions in the field. "There's a reason they got put in the brig, Mao. Those two are way too violent for their own good."
"Agreed, they're a bit psycho, but if we point them at a enemy we won't have TOO much trouble." Mao grinned.
"I still don't like it," Tessa sighed then shook her head. "Damn that Gauron..."
"Aye, I agree with you princess," Mao nodded then sighed. "Still if we keep them on their medication they should be fine."
"Maybe, I just hope they can pull through," Tessa hummed then sighed. "I think we should enlist Shinonono's squad into this mission as well. Do you have any objections to that?"
"I don't have a problem with that," Mao shook her head then grinned. "We're gonna have so much fun."
"Why does that grin worry me," Tessa sighed.
**** 11:00GST Port side cafeteria ****
"We've got a mission in an hour?" Nanoha frowned at the notification on the datapad that Ryouko Asakura handed to her. She looked at the data then frowned. "Abnormal gravitation fluxes?"
"Yeah," Dustine nodded and sighed then frowned as she dabbed her lips. "...and the higher ups are spooked that it might be the Grel. They're not taking any chances."
"Sounds serious," Fate noted thoughtfully as she finished her beverage.
"What's the plan?" Nanoha asked
"We'll discuss that when we get to the briefing room," Dustine noted then blinked when her AKB ringtone went off again. She flushed furiously when several pilots glanced up at her. "Damn it..."
"She's starting to be like a henpecked husband."
"I know, isn't it CUTE?"
Dustine grumbled and left the table in a hurry, blushing all the more as she made her way through the cafeteria and into a corridor. She stopped and answered it. "Ageni speaking?"
"Good day, Miss Ageni, this is Atsuko the 14th," Atsuko Maeda answered gently.
"Oh, um, hi," Dustine answered a little lets confidently. "Whats up."
"We were wondering if you could make it to our concert on Ares," Atsuko wondered.
Dustine took a deep breath and sighed. One the one hand she wanted to go and apologize more seriously but on the other hand she had a mission to do.
"Uhm, I don't think so," she said apologetically.
she said apologetically as Nanoha and Fate joined her side. "I'm about to head out on a operation."
"Eeee! That's so cool!" Dustine winced as the girls squealed
"Ah. I see." Atsuko noted over phoneline then shushed some of the squealling girls. They quickly fell silent. "Sorry Team k really likes you."
Dustine blushed hotly at that. Nanoha and Fate smiled gently at her as she struggled to keep her cool "I'll try to make it out to one of the shows if the timing works...
and...I'm sorry for scaring all of you."
"Thank you..." Atsuko said after a bit of quiet then brightened a bit. "Please try to come and see us."
"Will do..." Dustine nodded then puffed out a breath when Atsuko cut the link.
"You are way too nice," Fate teased happy to see that she's coming out of her shell a bit.
"Oh shut up. They're good kids," Dustine sighed as they walked down the corridor.
"Sure sure," Nanoha teased her a bit.
EOF