Rondo in the Endless Sky
Chapter 4: A Calm Before a Storm
It had now been a week since Ange's arrival at Arzenal, and that meant it was also time for Alain to give his own report in on the matter. As impromptu as it could probably be, the "meeting" was in the hangar, the mechanics repairing some recently returned para-mails, while Alain sat on a nearby forklift, looking bored as Jill listened to Emma, the human officer who oversaw Arzenal, went over the file. Judging by her ever slightly shifting face, Alain's penchant for colorful commentary was no doubt making it tricky for the woman to keep a cool expression on.
Which as it should probably be said, Alain's "personal touches" were longer than the actual content of the report itself, even if Salia had reviewed it beforehand. She couldn't stop him from going back and throwing them in.
"Her basic fitness, reflexes, combat adaptability, her understanding of military theory – She's above average in all areas… comments about her personality aside." Emma glanced at Alain with a look in her eyes that was outright scolding him for the fact he didn't keep things terse in said report, though the young man merely waved a hand as he kept fiddling with Wyvern's terminal.
"She's impressive. Normally it takes this long for a rookie to get a handle on basic maneuvering, but she's moved onto advanced drills this quickly." Jill said, taking the papers back and looking them over herself.
"For a Norma, anyway." Emma said. Alain and Jill didn't show a visible reaction to the blatantly and slightly scornful statement. The two women saluted, and split off, Alain jumping from his perch and following after Jill.
"And as you said here, her talent as a Para-mail pilot is noteworthy." Jill said, Alain giving a shrug.
"At least it's not making things too hard for her. Not like it doesn't help the less kind members of Garm are being hard as rocks on her." Alain said, Jill chuckling as she reached into her pocket, pulling out the same ring that Alain had seen with Ange's reports.
When the two stopped, they were in a darkened portion of the hangar, mostly full of containers with spare components for para-mails in them, but nestled in there, with a ragged tarp thrown over it, was a para-mail that looked like it hadn't seen repairs in years. Covered edge to edge in soot and dust, with dents and gashes across the plating, and colors dulled to a matte grey.
"You're seriously thinking about pulling this hunk of junk out? Thing's been a pile of useless bolts ever since it crashed four years ago when Salia tried to fly it." Alain, to mark his point, hopped onto the platform the para-mail was on and kicked it, causing the frame to shudder and groan under the blow. "Then again… there is that ring."
"Exactly. Doesn't really matter who has it, so long as someone is capable of it. Though Ange may just be the kind of pilot needed to handle this rowdy little horse."
"Suuuure." Alain rolled his eyes at that. Not out of disinterest, he knew enough about this machine and its history to know that if it was active, it would be a good thing. But that wasn't why he showed a clear degree of exasperation at Jill's words. "It's been ten years since then, and she's as hung up about this thing as ever…"
Mealtimes in Arzenal were, simply put, simple and some of the few times of leisure afforded to the Norma. Morning, midday, and evening were set aside for meals with exceptions for squads sent out to sortie at that time, which itself function on a rotational process day by day, both to ensure proper flight times for pilots and to make sure one squadron wasn't exceeding another in terms of action, especially since such actions meant how much one got paid.
It just happened to be that Garm Squadron and Alain were a bunch of registered aces who had the skills to rack up the number of kills that put them up at the top of the board. And as the first squadron, Garm was a priority deployment unit if an engagement went sour and another unit had to clear out of the space, meaning they tended to fly even more often than others.
And it was about this time of day as well that Alain had observed Ange had clearly disliked the least, as yet again, he was catching her looking annoyed at the standard meal meant solely to meet nutritional requirements in front of her. Granted cooking duties also shifted around and today was simply not a day with a crew who cared much about making something overall more than actually edible and not utterly offensive to the tongue.
"And it's why on days like this I also buy food from the mall." Alain said so as he shoved a large hamburger into his mouth, tearing a suitably sized chunk out of it. "The only cooking I say is worth it is Ersha's."
"Oh please, you're embarrassing me when you say that. I'm far from the best cook here." Ersha's humble reply got her a look from Alain and Vivian, the two people who without a doubt liked her cooking the most bar none. "And besides you always eat a lot Alain, you've had a large appetite since we were little, and it's only gotten bigger since!"
"It's not that big." Said the young man in question, as next to him was a stack of about four more burgers with the wrappers for the another five on his empty food tray.
In response, Salia put a hand to her face.
"Alain your appetite is anything but normal. How do you even burn all of that?" Salia said, Alain shrugging as he finished the burger in his hand and got to another.
"Man I wish I could eat as much as Big Bro does!" Vivian laughed as she waved back and forth in her chair, Ersha patting the younger girl's head even as Salia shook hers. She dread the thought of two people with that kind of appetite existing, and Vivian was already close enough to that.
"And upcoming incident here." Alain flicked his head forwards, the other three turning to match the direction. Arriving just then were Hilda, Chris, and Rosalie. It was those three who over the past week, through no help of some prodding from Zola, acted harder on Ange than others… though in some regards that was mostly Hilda.
As for Ange herself, she didn't pay much mind to what was around her for much. She just sighed as she looked at the excuse of food in front of her. As a princess she was far more used to high class, incredibly well-made meals formed out of the best that was on offer. She couldn't understand one bit how all the Norma here were able to eat this kind of food without trouble.
The past week, to say the least, hadn't been endearing her to them. She was adapting to the training, yes. She'd gotten a handle on flying quickly once she had a feel for it, and she was even finding her physical skills were improving with every tiresome exercise and sparring match that ended with her back on a mat. Didn't mean she liked that of course. It was more like she did it because there wasn't anything else to do.
She'd have at least preferred if there was some form of recreational activity she was familiar with around. Granted more out of her own whims she tended not to leave her room when she had the choice to. She didn't plan to stay long. If she could just get a message out then, the girl hoped, she could get out of his hellish place before anything too bad happened.
After all, in her mind at least, there was no way she was a Norma. Ange thought that maybe there was just some kind of mistake… if something was sorted out properly then she could just return home and back to what she knew, right? And maybe she hadn't seen her mother die. The hospitals in Misurugi were top of the line, she had been saved from her wounds and Ange just didn't know it yet.
The she could just put this all behind her and carry on with her life as it was… mostly. She knew what had happened, and some of that couldn't be changed. But somewhere in there Ange was hoping it could work out. At least she was hoping it would. It felt better to think that was possible than to think of remaining here around people who spent part of their time railing on her or just acting unpleasant.
"Well well, if it isn't Princess." Ange just sighed as Hilda strolled over with Rosalie and Chris. The read head had beyond a doubt been her main tormentor over the past week. Ange wasn't sure if it was because Zola, who Hilda was always hovering around, clearly showed some level of interest in her that Ange did not like. Or, maybe it was something else she did not, nor did she care, to know. "You're so good at everything and yet you're picky about food? How did you survive a week with a mood like that huh?"
"You'd better eat up, or you won't be able to fight when the real test happens." Rosalie went to reach for Ange's tray when a balled-up aluminum wrapper bounced off the back of her head. One quick look over to the source showed Alain pulling a hand back, giving a narrowed look clearly telling the three not to make a scene. Rosalie looked away with a face that said she got the message, though Hilda just, of course, shot Alain the middle finger.
Which he, also of course, returned in kind.
"How can you even eat that stuff? It doesn't taste any good at all." Ange was of course speaking from the experience of a person used to better meals. Not like that much would be afforded to the Norma.
"Oh? One week and this still isn't good enough for you is it?" Hilda's remark was dry, but that wasn't to say others weren't angry. Chris and Rosalie glared at Ange with clear annoyance, and others in the same area overhearing all of this didn't look much different either.
Alain had been about to intervene but Salia had made him stay put by way of a tight hold on one of his wrists. He clearly only obeyed the wordless order because he felt like it. As much as his own impulses kicked in, Alain was as riled up as anyone else at Ange's attitude.
"Oh get off your high horse!" Rosalie swiped up her cup and went to throw the contents at Ange. Ange just dodged to the side, the water splashing onto the pillar behind her. Though Rosalie didn't wait to just grab Ange by her jacket. "You…!"
"Cut it out Rosalie. Besides, we've got Trigger staring at us. You don't want him cutting in, right." Hilda's remark got Rosalie to back down, and the dull look Alain was shooting them didn't help. It felt downright accusatory. "But here's a warning for you, Princess. This isn't the same world you came from. Your First Flight. That will be what'll get you to understand what Arzenal is really like. If you don't figure it out by then, you're dead."
Ange left without a word, even a bit of a huff to it. As Ange got glares, Rosalie yelped when she got smacked on the back. She snapped around and yelled again when Alain seemingly just appeared behind her.
"What the… how did you?! Alain what was that for?!" Rosalie was not helped when she got a tap on the forehead.
"For keeping up a problem." Alain then turned the tap into a light flick, then glancing at Hilda. "Look I don't like her as much as anybody else does, but maybe the cut petty bitch routine, you two especially? It's not gonna get anywhere if you just keep convincing her she's right to keep acting like one herself."
"But she started it!"
"No, actually, that was you two. You were just dumb enough to actually get mad about her response. It's been a week, I think we're past the hazing period. Now it's just making sure she actually gets in line before it gets her killed. Or someone else for that matter."
"Awe, is the Ace of Aces going soft? What, you get charmed by the Princess's looks or something?" Hilda's tone was mocking. Alain just sighed.
"I just don't wanna see anybody die for no reason, that's all. That applies to everybody, even the ones I don't like that much. Or the ones who don't like me." Alain slid past Hilda, the girl clicking her tongue. "Hey Ersha, I'm gonna head to the mall. Wanna see if Jasmine has anything new in for the daycare kids?"
"I just finished, so let's. I promised them some new things too, so it's perfect." Ersha grabbed her tray and went to Alain's side. As they left, Hilda sighed and sat down with a heavy move. She put her irritation out on her food as she shoveled it in.
"Why do you even dislike Alain? You weren't nearly this bad towards him when we were kids." Rosalie said, Hilda just giving a huff. "Come on. I know he can be an ass but, like, so are a lot of people here."
"It's not like he means anything bad anyway." Chris added, Hilda glancing at the meeker girl. "You know he picks at people to try and make them think a bit, right? He's a lot nicer than you give him credit for."
"Have you two forgotten that time he broke one of my Para-mail's wings shoving me out of the way of a perfect shot?"
"That was because you broke formation and didn't see the Schooner coming up behind you. It's not his fault his machine has more torque behind it." Chris said, Hilda clicking her tongue.
"Yeah and Zola even chewed you out over that one. Not the best thing to hold against him." Rosalie said, Hilda slamming her fork down.
"And what if it's just because I don't like him? I swear if it wasn't for Zola I bet you two would be in his bed just like Ersha and Salia!" Hilda's growling remark was, surprisingly, met with the other two girls giving somewhat thoughtful looks. They were actually considering the idea of it! "Are you two kidding me?!"
"Don't act like you haven't thought about it! I've heard the stories from some of the other's who have!" Rosalie said, "Besides those books some of the others make just won't do."
"Kinda wish I had my camera now. Some girls would've paid good for shots of that cold expression he had." Chris put a hand to her chin. Hilda sighed again.
She'd almost forgotten Chris basically ran a racketeering gig selling photos of Alain to some of the Norma. It had surprisingly become a good source of extra income where a bad sortie would make one fall short. The wonders of a society built on pure capitalism.
"But, back on the point. Aside from his usual sarcastic jabs and his attitude, what has Alain really done that makes you not like him? C'mon, it can't be because he's a better pilot. Everyone knows anyone who thinks like that is just being petty." Rosalie said, picking at her tray. She was in fact genuinely curious about this topic. "Because I don't even think he gets it sometimes."
"I just don't like him, that's all." It was blatant Hilda wasn't being honest. But she didn't feel a need to give anything more than that, and Rosalie seemed willing to drop it from there. "It's what he represents… I can't acknowledge that kind of thing, because it'd mean everything I've done till now was pointless."
Considering the size of Arzenal and it's purpose, ages ago during it's founding, an economic system of it's own had been put into place. It was almost ironic considering the nature of the Mana Human society, but those who had drafted the plans of the program had felt leaving the Norma some level of autonomy when their fate was to die fighting was at least marginally appropriate.
They received payment for their services in combat, and were free to spend that money on whatever their desired, within the bounds of reason and what could be seen as "property" within the rules.
Granted that also meant there was only one place to do so: The Jasmine Mall. Run by the woman who in her younger days had herself been the commander of Arzenal, Jasmine, the location that took up an entire portion of Arzenal's planning structure was a one-stop shop for, quite literally, everything.
Jasmine had gone and coined the tagline "We sell everything from brassieres to heavy artillery", and that statement was not an exaggeration. It was both a place for the Norma to buy clothes or various hobby items like books and games, better furnishings for their dorms. Or to exercise their one little bit of extra freedom with the customization of their Para-mails. New armaments, improved armor patterns, requisitions to the mechanical teams to improve things like internal mechanics or systems to better suit one's preferences.
Hell, if one wanted to go even further, people. If one had the money for it, they could "buy out" another Norma and take hold of whatever rights they had and whatever property they themselves owned. Not many did this, mostly because it was outrageously expensive, but also because the majority of Norma had the sense to not do to themselves what the Humans were doing to them. The ones who did usually got sideways glances and quiet mutters directed towards them.
Across the mall you had Norma going about their business. Some lingering among the rows of hobby items like books and such ilk, some blowing their free time in the arcade center, and others checking out the latest clothing options. It wasn't like they spent all of their time wearing uniforms every single day and night after all. Somewhere in the midst of that, Alain and Ersha were easy to spot going about their business.
"Hmm… Alain, what do you think would work for Holly and Kira?" Ersha turned to the young man who as per the norm for him was tapping away on Wyvern's terminal device as he leaned against the wheeled basket they were using. Ersha let out a chuckle since he was basically glued to the device half of the time. Alain pocketed the item and gave a hum to the question. At least he was paying attention.
"Holly likes books so we should grab her a couple new ones of that series she likes. Kira… hmm, what does she like? Poor kid's been quiet since she got here. Still don't know much about her." Alain let out a sigh, and Ersha nodded. It was a sad part of their reality many of the Norma brought to Arzenal were small children, and many weren't quick to adjust to being separated from their parents. Often times it took years before some of the Norma children moved on from it. And that wasn't always the case at times.
"Well then, how about when we visit them later, we take some time to talk with her and see? We could bring her here and let her pick some things out after taking them outside to play." Ersha may have been no older than eighteen, but her words and air was that of a well learned mother. She'd always had an affinity for children even when she was younger, and she adored the younger children always brought to Arzenal like they were her own. Though ironically her "Swan" nickname came from the fact when she was younger, she'd also had a rather fierce temper. And despite her pretty looks Alain knew from personal experience Ersha could lay out half of Arzenal and barely break a sweat.
"Maybe Mama Bear would be a better nickname." Alain chuckled at the thought. Ersha placed a few more items she picked out from the shelves and gently added them to the cart. As the two veered off from that section to head for the books, Alain came to a stop.
Just off at another segment of the mall were the rookie trio. Coco and Miranda were of course familiar with the Mall, though Ange hadn't even bothered to check it out once in the week she'd come here. Coco had a bundle of papers in one hand and a pen in the other, handing them off to Ange.
"Hey Ersha, gimme a minute, I'm gonna see what this is about." Alain tapped the cart off, Ersha nodding as she took it to keep up. He made sure to pay particular attention as he got closer to the rookie trio.
"So how did you shop outside?" Alain almost wanted to sigh at Coco's question. The young girl had always been painfully curious about the world outside of Arzenal. She'd always beg for him to tell her what he saw while he was "scouting", as was the usual excuse for his monthly excursions out of Arzenal and to the mainland. And she'd come to downright idolize Ange, both for her talents but also for being a possible source of that knowledge she wanted so badly.
"I got whatever I wanted." Ange said, the two young girls both looking surprised. "I could have anything I wanted and be anything I wanted. There's no inequality, violence, or discrimination. Nothing bad ever happens. That's our Mana-filled world."
"Why are we here then?" Alain felt himself gag as Ange spoke.
"So there really is a magic nation!" Coco however was completely delighted. Alain wanted nothing more than to hit Ange across the face. Multiple times.
"Sooo, don't mind me jumping in here!" Alain slid right in, Ange glancing at him. "I couldn't help but overhear and, well, you don't honestly still believe all of that do you?"
"I doubt somebody like you could understand." Ange's expression showed the same amount of annoyance as her voice. Alain only chuckled like he was used to that sort of look being directed towards him.
Over the past few days, the former royal had found herself deciding that if there were anybody she was going to find herself bearing a grudge against, it would be Arzenal's sole male Norma. She hated the humiliation she felt remembering how easily he threw her around during troop sparring, and she could still hear the snickering of Hilda and her two sidekicks in her mind. What baffled her most was how someone like him could even exist. She didn't know if he even was a Norma or if it was some lie. Not to mention, she thought, what sort of man would lower himself to sleeping with a Norma?
"Is that so? Try me." He dared while folding his arms. By now Ersha had noticed the scene too, and a crowd was beginning to pile around too.
Ange fumed, not able to believe the nerve the young man had to dare talk in such a manner to a royal of Misurugi. He was just a lowly Norma, what right did he have?
"Our world is one of peace." Ange brought a hand to her chest. By now the crowd was getting a lot bigger. "We want for not and fear for not. There's no such thing as suffering, poverty, or war. All of that prosperity and peace is blessed to us by the Light of Mana. But that is something your Norma could never understand. You reject the Light of Mana with your violent, savage natures. I find it no wonder you're all kept far from civilization. If you were loose, you'd destroy our whole world overnight!"
"What a bitch!"
"Just who does she think she is?"
"Oh, because we can help how we were born." Alain had a crick in his brow, as irritated as anybody else. Coco and Miranda had hurt looks directed at Ange. "So, you really think we're all born as these violent, savage people all because we're Norma? Miranda and Coco have been nothing but nice to you since you arrived. Do you really, honestly, think such nice, sweet little girls deserve to be here just because they're Norma? What about the daycare kids? All the toddlers and babies torn away from their parents for no reason other than being Norma? Do they deserve this? What did they do to deserve it?"
"Yes. As Norma it is inherent to you to be such a way. How you act outwardly changes nothing." Ange was getting vindictive. Even as the other two rookies looked at her with sad eyes, it didn't deter here. She was not here to play nice with a bunch of Norma.
"You're a Norma to, need I remind you?" Alain stepped forward until he was right in Ange's face.
While he wasn't overly tall, Alain was only upper average, Ange's small frame meant he could easily loom over here. But Ange didn't flinch as she stared up at him. She refused to let herself be intimidated by someone like him, who she only saw as a brute. She wouldn't stoop to the level of these things around her.
"So, Princess, why are you here?" he asked.
"Obviously there's been some mistake." Ange said, showing the paper in her hand. "As soon as I finish this and send the letter out…"
"You'll still be here." Alain countered before Ange could finish. "It's not gonna matter who you send that letter out to. Look, I saw what happened in the lunchroom. Hilda may have been a bitch about it, but she's not wrong. Like it or not, this is how things are. So, either shape up, or get bent. We're going to get sorties sooner or later. And I'm not going to allow any of my friends to die all because you can't accept reality."
"Alright, I think that's we've had enough sparring for today." Ersha spoke with a clap, the crowd quickly starting to disperse. "Alain, we still need to finish shopping remember? How about we also get a cake for Clara's birthday?"
Alain clicked his tongue and turned around. Ange stuck up her nose and did the same. The sooner she got this letter penned and sent the better. The sooner she could stop having to deal with these people and put all of it behind her. Coco gave a farewell, but Ange paid it no mind as she stormed off.
"Don't let it get to you. If she actually gets it through her head and adjusts, I'm sure it'll be fine." Alain put a hand on Coco's head and lightly ruffled her hair. He at least wanted to cheer the girl up since him jumping in had just soured things. He knew she'd just wanted to be helpful. "How about this, after your First Flights, I'll treat ya both to something good here. Anything you want."
"Really?" Coco looked cheered up immediately, and Alain nodded.
"Anything, so long as it's not super expensive. Now you two get going. Never know when a sortie could get called so rest up."
"You need to be less obvious when you're mad." Miranda said, a bit of a teasing tone in her voice.
"I wasn't mad. Just making sure she wasn't filling your heads with stupid stuff." Alain said, even if it was straight up lying. Not that it fooled anybody. Ersha just put a hand to his shoulder. He relaxed rather quickly once she did.
"But it sounds so wonderful doesn't it?" Coco was still starstruck of course. "A magic society where nothing goes wrong! It's like in some of those manga we've read!"
"It does sound nice." Alain tched as he folded his arms. For all the things Ange had said he knew better. That "perfect" society was propped up by making the Norma fight for them, and any possible discourse among themselves was rabidly crushed so as to preserve whatever status quo there was. He hated the very notion of it. "But she should stay focused on what's here. Someone might get killed if she keeps that attitude up."
"And there's the line I was looking for! Always acting like a jackass but you're still a good boy at heart!" The voice of an older woman made Alain turn. Jasmine, the owner of the mall and former Commander of Arzenal a decade prior. And a woman who, to this day, routinely acted as a pain in Alain's tail since she used the fact she'd known him his entire life as pretty hard leverage to mess with him in all kinds of ways.
"What, can't be concerned for my wing mates?" Alain waved off Miranda and Coco as they left, turning back to the older Norma. Ersha had started browsing through a few clothing items in the meantime.
"Oh not at all, good kids like you are a dime a dozen in this place." Jasmine knelt down and pat her dog, Vulcan, on the head. The dog's tail gave a happy wag. With a gesture, the animal went over to Alain, and he returned it by giving the dog a scratch on the chin. "Besides, if there's anyone who can keep people alive it's you. The more Norma you keep from biting it, the more money I make when they come here!"
"Can't even compliment me without being a money grubber about it, as usual." Alain stood from petting Vulcan and gave Jasmine a bemused grin. The old woman just chuckled as she then flicked a coin his way, the young man smoothly catching it. "This is…?"
"A little good luck token. Maybe if you've got that on you, that little hope of yours will come true. Not that I don't wanna see her wake up as much as you do." Jasmine gave a breath. The aged woman had seen many a Norma come and go in her time. Despite her blasé attitude, she did care. Heck she wouldn't provide the services she did if it wasn't the case. "Jill also wanted me to pass a bit to you. She wants you in the command center in a bit. They're getting readings for a possible incursion."
"And they're gonna send Garm. Got it, thanks. I'll drop by later to talk about some mods I want done to Wyvern." Alain left with Ersha so they could finish up their errands, Jasmine giving another wave. He then opened his hand to check the coin. It was an odd thing. Arzenal didn't really use change and it wasn't like the Mana Humans used money, so he had no clue where it could've come from. But flipping it over from the faded head of some person on one face, the other side was embossed with an eagle, though age had almost made the thing fade and any text with it was totally illegible. "This is supposed to be a lucky charm? Heh, dammit Jasmine you have the worst sense of humor."
"That was your dad's by the way!" Jasmine suddenly called out, Alain turning. "He was always fiddling with that y'know? You're eighteen now, figured it'd be a good late gift!"
"Something of dad's? Could it have…" Alain gave a sigh and pocketed the coin, pulling up his scarf to hide the rather wide smile that was coming to his face now. Ersha was giving him an approving look thanks to the rare expression. "Appreciate it Jasmine!"
"Mobius One reporting from orders, what's the deal now?" Alain downright barged into the Command Center as the door slid open. The space was simple enough, steel grey with a wide viewing area and command consoles manned by the three Operators, Pamela, Hikaru, and Olivier. Alain liked to refer to them as the Bridge Bunnies.
Jill was seated at the head console of course, and standing near her was Emma. And the human officer did not look pleased at the casual way the young captain strolled in, much less his manner of speech.
"Captain Alain, would it bother you that much to show a bit more decorum?" Emma said, adjusting her glasses.
"Does it make any difference how I act? I follow my orders like a good little soldier, lemme talk how I want." Alain pocketed his hands as he tilted his head to the side. Emma gave a grating sighed and pinched her nose, then looking to Jill.
"Commander, I still don't understand the need for him to even be in such a situation. Remind me, what's even the purpose of Mobius Squadron existing if it only has one member?"
"Mobius Squad exists as an Independent Vanguard. He handles autonomous operations and special ops others aren't equipped to handle." Jill said, taking a puff from her lit cigarette. "Plus the Wyvern is a unique machine. We send him on those scouting excursions every month for a reason. Now, Supervisor, if you wouldn't mind I have things to discuss with him. Please kindly save the questions."
"Fine. Still doesn't make sense to me."
"Do I need to mention that?" Alain gave Emma a wide smirk, and the bespectacled woman's face went reed. She hurriedly shook her head. The others just wondered what on earth Alain was even talking about that even did so.
"Anyway." Jill's sharp word got everyone to attention. "We're getting an alert for a coming incursion, and we'll be sending out Garm."
"I guessed as much. Want me to keep tabs on Ange while we're up?"
"No. You're not going to participate when they sortie."
"… I'm sorry, what?"
The bridge girls were looking at Jill with confused gazes. Alain was just a lot more open in showing his confusion as he leaned to the side. He'd been attached to Garm to begin with so Jill suddenly spouting she was grounding him for a potential sortie when three inexperienced rookies would be in the air, much less one who was a potential risk, didn't make a lot of sense to any of them.
"Ahem, if you'd allow me." Emma may not have been as well versed in things, but even she saw the oddness of this. "Commander, you attached Captain Alain to Garm so that he would sortie with them, yes? Why suddenly ground him? Despite his… attitude he's done nothing warranting a lock of his deployment rights."
"It's not a lockdown. I'm merely saying he's not launching with them today. I want to see how Zola directs the rookies without a tag along to keep things easy for them." Jill snubbed her smoke out on the ashtray next to her. Emma just gave her a look. The logic wasn't even that sound, of anything it was more like Jill just wanted to see if things would go wrong in some manner.
"Are you kidding?!" Alain was a lot more open about his displeasure of course. "Jill what the hell? Zola is a good Captain, probably one of our best, but it's their First Flight! Coco and Miranda won't cause an issue, but Ange could! She's far from sorted out! What if she tries to run?"
"The Para-mail won't get far with the amount of fuel it'd have. She'd just crash into the ocean some klicks out. Not like she can do anything beyond that." Jill tented her hands. The cold way she rebuffed Alain's aggravation only bothered him more. "Those are my orders Captain. You will remain grounded during this mission, understood? You have permission to wait here in the Command Center and observe."
"I too would advise against this action." Wyvern's voice carried through a speaker on the command console. Jill's eyes went to it as the screen changed to the same patterns that showed in the Wyvern's cockpit whenever the AI spoke. "A tactical forecast of the current makeup of Garm Squadron leads me to advise to not ground my pilot during this mission. The mental state of Pilot Ange is too unstable to be considered reliable."
"I don't need your input, stupid machine." Jil whacked the console with her prosthetic, not like it would do much. "My orders stand regardless of some pointless forecast. Alain, you're grounded for this sortie, understood?"
"Tch, fine." Alain of course wouldn't go against orders. Jill knew that… but she also knew he was impulsive. She had to make sure she had an eye on him if he tried to do something now that he was riled up.
"He'll be a problem if I'm not careful with him." Jill thought. Alain was a good soldier, but he wasn't nearly as hardened as she would have liked. She waited too long for this chance to let some overly sentimental kid screw it up. If she was going to make Ange their sword, then the girl needed to be hardened as quickly as possible. A few more deaths being on the tab for that expense wouldn't make a difference.
The door sliding open again wasn't planned though. This time Ange strolled in, a letter in hand. Alain had a face that said he didn't want to be dealing with this now.
"And just what is this?" Jill took the paper as Ange handed it to her. She had to admit, the former princess had good handwriting. Better than Alain's chicken scratch excuse for it that was for sure. The blue haired young man seemed to somehow sense Jill had thought that little insult with the look he gave her.
"It's an invocation of my entitlements as royalty, and a petition for my immediate release." Ange said. Alain brought a hand to his face while Emma looked no less impressed than he did. "Please have this delivered to the heads of all states!"
"You're seriously going through with it?" Alain said, leaning on the main console. Ange shot him a glare. "I told you it won't work. You can't possibly think it will?"
"Of course it will! As the First Princess of Misurugi I still retain special rights! I had good relations with those in other nations as well. I would imagine someone would have enough respect to see this error for what it is." Ange's insistence wasn't impressing anybody. They all knew by this point it was likely any record of "Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi" had been wiped from any database the mana humans had.
Of course, some of it was still today's animosity. In part Ange wanted to spite Alain. She was confident enough in this she thought she could stick it to him by seeing this work. It was simple enough to her… but like when she arrived, nobody looked impressed by her excuses.
"You still don't get it?" Emma said. "I may have my problems with Norma but at least most of them behave. Even this one knows when to hold his tongue and not act so foolishly."
"I appreciate the compliment Supervisor." Alain put his arms behind his head, Emma just huffing at him. "Also, Commander, permission to enact a bit of corporal punishment on Recruit Ange?"
"Permission granted."
"Huh?"
And next Ange knew, a stinging pulse shot right up her side. Alain pulled his elbow back as Ange gasped from the sudden blow to side.
"What… the hell was that for?!" Ange held her now throbbing side as she glared at Alain. He just gave her a stern, yet oddly not harsh gaze.
"I'm going to say it again Ange: Get it through your skull. Things don't work here the same way they do the mainland. Look, your team is about to be deployed since we got an incursion warning. If you don't get your head straight, or at least have the sense to listen to someone, then people, including you, might die. Do you get that? To my annoyance I can't go out to make sure that doesn't happen."
Alain shot his eyes to Jill, who just took a drag on a fresh smoke.
"What difference does it make? You're just Norma." Ange muttered. That remark of course brought offense with it. Alain outright growled as a fist curled up, and the operators didn't look any less ready to not clock Ange themselves. Alain drew in a breath and let it go, his hand relaxing.
"Commander, I'm going to ask you to reconsider grounding me."
"Sorry, but the order still stands." Jill didn't look at Alain as he turned to her. The young man grumbled again. Out of the corner of her gaze, Jill could see how he was shaking from trying to keep himself calm.
"Well if my squaddie is being a problem, I should deal with her myself, right?" Zola coming in did not at all make the situation feel lighter. The woman was dressed only in a thin robe and not to mention downing drink from a flask. "I do apologize for how thick headed she is. Guess my girls' hazing didn't work much."
"She's been poorly educated. This is on both you and Alain." Jill said. Zola gave a salute while Alain clicked his tongue. Which earned him a smack on the shoulder from Zola. Even she occasionally had an issue with his attitude when it cropped up, even if she could see he was aggravated for whatever reason she didn't know.
"I'll be sure to see to it she's more properly brought up from here." Zola gave a hum, glancing from Ange then to Alain. She couldn't help but smirk as she caught Alain looking at her, his response to just roll his eyes. He was still a teenager, she couldn't fault him for peeking a bit when she was wearing what she was.
"Captain Zola, I know you Norma don't care much for decorum, but would it kill you to arrive wearing something half decent? Compared to what you normally wear." Emma adjusted her glasses as she gave Zola the look over. The veteran Norma just laughed.
"Well if it bothers you so much Supervisor, I could just take it off right here." Zola's dry comment came with Emma reeling a bit. Even Alain stifled laugher at it. For all the animosity he still found himself laughing when Zola took shots at people like that.
Not that many of them had much respect for Emma. As the only human on Arzenal she technically outranked even Jill in the chain of command, but none of the Norma took her presence seriously. She was less an authority figure and more like a glorified babysitter… a bad one at that, considering the things that often happened right under her nose.
"I did have some idea because I'm still riled up but… well, I'm also not in a mood to make Alain angrier than he already is. Seriously Commander, what'd you tell him this time?" Zola's gaze was on Ange a bit, but a glance to the once more peeved Alain made her shrug.
"Zola I'm right here." Alain spoke between his teeth, Zola chuckling at him.
Jill was about to speak, but she got cut off when the phone on the console rang. Emma picked it up, and was silent for a few moments after answering, nodding along as the person on the line spoke. She hung up then looked to Jill.
"That was dispatch. They just confirmed the incursion sight the warning we got was for. They said to ready up and move." Emma said, Jill nodding.
"Well you heard her. Zola, get your squad gathered and go. Alain, stay here and follow the grounding orders." Jill ordered, Zola giving Alain a look as she realized the problem.
"Oh I see! No wonder he's mad. Well, next time Trigger. I'll treat you later to compensate if you want." Zola just got a bored look from Alain that made her laugh. Then she grabbed hold of Ange. "Well this is as good a chance as any to teach you what Arzenal is like. Come on Ange, time for your real initiation!"
"Wha-wait, hold on! Unhand me will you?!" Ange's protests carried on as she was yanked out of the command center.
Alain couldn't help but give a huff as he sat down in an open chair at another spot and folded his arms. Of course he wasn't pleased by Jill telling him to stay put on a sortie like this. His hand went into his pocket and found the coin that Jasmine had tossed him. As he ran his thumb on it, now he got why it was so worn… maybe his dad had used fiddled with it when he was stressed like Alain was now.
It at least eased his thoughts a little bit with that. The best he could do was hope for the best now. So, he'd watch, and he would act with what came, and just hope this wouldn't turn out to be the calm before a storm.