[ Claudia, en route to Walder / September 19, 0078 23:15 ]

"With all due respect, Sir, we have to decline."

A large projection screen over Admiral Harlaown's table sparsely illuminated his cabin. On it, two pairs of eyes stared defiantly at him. One belonged to a red-haired a boy around 13 years old. The other was a petite pink-haired girl of the same age. Both wore Ground Forces uniforms.

"Why do I keep hearing that today?" The Admiral sighed. "I need your help, Privates Mondial and Ru Lushe. I need all the help I can get. The Cradle is the most serious threat the Bureau has faced on your lifetime."

"We are just Privates, Sir," the girl spoke. "We won't be much help."

"Don't give me that. You have been trained by the best. If you hadn't joined the Preservation Corps, you'd be officers in the Navy now."

"But we aren't," Erio pointed out.

"Captain Lanster and Lieutenant Nakajima of the Ground Forces have already joined my crew."

"Then they will have to suffice, Sir."

The two men glared at each other through the screen.

"Is it because of my sister and Lieutenant Signum? Are you afraid you will have to bring them in?"

The faces on the screen stiffened.

"I do not see how this is related. As an Admiral of the Navy, Sir, you have no direct authority over Wildlife Preservation Corps, and our commander left the transfer decision up to us. We decline."

"And that is you final answer."

"We decline, Sir."

"Very well, Harlaown out," the Admiral slammed the off switch in frustration.

The lights went back on, revealing another person sitting quietly in a visitor chair.

"I totally blew it, didn't I, Lanster-kun?" Chrono smiled ghastly, as her poured himself a coffee. "Do you need a cup as well, Major?"

"No, thank you, Sir."

"I probably shouldn't have mentioned your ex-Captains."

"I don't think that was it, Sir."

"Yeah, they probably wouldn't have agreed, anyway. My nephews are as stubborn as their mom."

"Sir, if I may…"

"Ask away, Major."

"Will we really have to fight Fate-san… ex-Enforcer Testarossa and ex-Lieutenant Signum?"

"I hope not," Chrono steepled his fingers and looked at Teana over them. "Right now, there's nobody on this ship who can stop those two. Even I, at my best, can hope to hold them back for a couple of minutes."

"But what if we encounter them?"

"The Bureau issued standing orders to detain them but as long as I am in command of this mission, I consider the Cradle our top priority. We have the same target, if different methods."

"Do you think it might be possible to convince Fate-san and Signum-san to join us?"

"I am afraid their contempt of the Bureau is too great. Fate went rogue because the proper procedure took too long. Three full years, as it turned out. And Lieutenant Signum wants nothing but revenge. The two of them are too far gone to join us."

"So what should we do if we encounter them on Walder?"

"Do your best to prevent them from hurting each other. Failing that, just try not to get yourself killed, Major."