This chapter has a change from the original, please read the AN edit note at the bottom.
Thank you!
The most overwhelming thing about being on the bridge of August's vessel was the smell. The scent of lilac and berries was both near-overwhelming and pleasant. Shame I couldn't relax to enjoy it.
The weight of the woman sitting on my lap shifted as she turned to look back at me.
"I believe this is the third time I have to remind you to ease yourself, familiar."
"Kinda hard to do that when I have a woman I just met sitting on my lap." I said, only to suck in my lips at the deep growl that came from my side. A reminder that a grumpy mechanical dragon was there, prepared to take a chunk out of me if I got too uppity.
"Runter, du." August sternly commanded the metal lizard. It gave a disgruntled grunt, but maneuvered its head a bit away from the seat. "Apologies for my aide. He's… not accustomed to there being another presence aboard my vessel."
"Right. And not because a stranger has his master in their lap." I muttered.
"I heard no complaints when I took my proper place atop you, familiar."
"Yeah, cause those complaints went in one ear and out the other."
"My what a tongue you have." August suddenly pressed back into me, her head leaning back to look up at me. Mirth danced in the singular blue eye visible to me. "I know a few hexes that can make you put that tongue to actual good use."
I looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. "You can certainly try casting them. Don't think they'll do much."
"Do not underestimate the Unhulde's magics, my familiar. I can put you under a spell that has you speaking only my name."
"I can do that to you without a spell." I grumbled.
"Oh? I'd wish to see you try." August said in a husky whisper, flashing a smile that made me pause. KANSEN like her were really unnaturally beautiful. It seemed a bit unfair. Not like I had any real reason to complain.
And it was when I felt a giddy feeling come from August that I belatedly realized I had mindlessly made a pass at August. A shipgirl who faked a domineering act to get the one she's interested in to 'overcome' her and flip the tables on her.
"My, what a cute expression you have, familiar." August said. Her haughty tone was back in full force. "I'll endeavor to see more of it in the future."
Considering how loud the pounding in my ears was, please don't. I don't think my heart is gonna be able to take it.
"So," August looked forward once again, satisfied with her little 'victory'. "The trip back to the port shall take another hour or so. Familiar, tell me about yourself."
"What, not gonna try casting a spell or something to get me to spill my life story?"
"And what fun would there be in that? Though, now that you mention it, I should brew up a potion or two to get you to list your preferences to me."
"I like girls with big boobs." I could feel August tense up before she turned to look up at me in surprise. It was my turn to smile. "What? You wanted my preferences and I really don't wanna down whatever you might cook up in a cauldron."
Her frown looked close to being a pout. "Nothing I make in my cauldron is unsanitary, familiar."
I blinked. "Wait, do you seriously have a cauldron?"
"I am the Unhulde. It's only natural I have such a ware among my possessions." She turned away and turned her nose up like I'd just asked her something even a kid would know. A moment of silence passed before she spoke once more. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Do you have any other… preferences that you would like to confess."
I snorted at that. "Why? Hoping you match them?"
"There is no need to hope when one already knows."
"Then shouldn't I be learning about what you're into since you already seem to have me dialed in?"
"Hmph. Unlike you, I am not so uncouth to give such information out lightly."
"Guess I'll just have to pry it out from you at some point then."
A wave of delight radiated off of August. "Your efforts will be futile, but I look forward to seeing them nonetheless, familiar. It'll be a very savoring sight, watching you realize your attempts are all in vain."
I rolled my eyes, but said nothing else, settling on staring at August's ornate horns that had been one of her features that attracted me to her character.
I couldn't say I was entirely annoyed with her goading.
Strangely, it didn't feel strange that I was speaking so candidly with this 'witch' in spite of my own reservations about interacting with her,
Those said reservations seemed to break the more she tried to lead me by the nose.
It didn't help that she really had no sense of personal space which was driving me up the wall a bit. I know some newtype bullshit must've charmed you August, but wasn't it a bit too soon to be so forward?
…I probably shouldn't be complaining about having a drop dead beauty sitting in my lap doing her best to get a rise out of me, but I'm still trying to figure out if I should avoid her or not when we get back to port so as to not alarm Yorktown.
She was a bit tense after that encounter with Clemenceau. Yorktown would probably have a conniption if I had an Iron Blood witch trailing behind me, calling me her 'familiar.'
Beyond that, the bigger thing that's been gnawing at my nerves other than August's attitude was the risk of August hearing my thoughts. I assumed if I was in contact with her she'd hear my thoughts like Clem had. So far however, there'd been no indication of that.
Was it because I've been on edge and been keeping my guard up? Was she just acting like she couldn't hear what I was thinking?
Or was Clem different in some way? Maybe there was something about that encounter that was different from August's.
I would need to test it out carefully in the future. I didn't know much about this world or what the hell goes down, but any other thoughts about stuff from my previous life or things I recognized from either Azur Lane or Gundam would raise red flags if a Kansen I were close to heard them.
Thoughts that were interrupted by August squirming. I was about to ask her why she's moving around so much when I spotted where one of my hands had drifted to.
Honestly, how the horns of certain shipgirls felt had always intrigued me for a myriad of reasons. I guess instinct took over in my absentmindedness and my hands started caressing the ridges of her horns. Shame I couldn't really feel their texture because of my pilot suit's gloves.
August on the other hand seemed to be feeling my touch very well. Once my fingers had stopped their movements, she turned back to me, her face dyed in red.
"You certainly are a bold one, Familiar." August said, an unusually meek expression taking hold. "I shall remember this transgression."
I'd take a picture to immortalize how cute she is, but the robot dragon puppy was snapping its jaws right next to my ear.
…definitely gonna keep this little tidbit in my back pocket though.
"Hey, sleepy head, don't go nodding off again!" I snapped myself up in my seat as Hornet's voice pierced through my drowsiness and a cup of fresh black coffee was placed in front of me, with Hornet taking her place next to me.
The mess hall was bustling with activity, but I guess my need to crawl back under the covers drowned most of it out. It also probably didn't help that the table I grabbed while Hornet went to get our drinks was still empty.
"Thanks," I yawned, wiping my eyes while the sensational, bitter aroma of caffeine was already getting the rest of my body in gear.
"I never understood how you can drink it black." Hornet commented, her face contorting a bit as I took a sip from my cup.
"Coffee's supposed to be bitter and darker than the pits of hell itself." I said, eyeing her own cup that looked to have been mixed with an assortment of condiments of the sweeter variety. "I don't get how you manage to get by at all, drinking that diabetes in a cup."
"Excuse you!" Hornet puffed her cheeks. "Some of us actually have a good sense of taste!"
"Maybe I'd have a good sense of taste if someone didn't eat all the snacks whenever we had any."
Hornet blew a raspberry at me which elicited a chuckle out of both of us. "So, what's got you so tired anyhow? Thought you were gonna try hitting the hay after you came back."
"I wanted to try finishing up my AA report and the other paperwork early. But filling out the forms to explain why I'd lost a beam machine gun and shield took a bit longer than I thought."
Although that wasn't entirely the truth, it wasn't a lie either.
I just wasn't going to admit to Hornet that the chief mechanic, Jack Vandham, chewed me out when I came back to the MS hangar yesterday following the patrol fleet's return to the port's airspace. He seemed particularly pissed that I'd lost the experimental machine gun and emphasized that I better have the paperwork done by this morning's shift or he'd never let me near 'his' machines.
"No wonder you were so grouchy when I dragged you out of bed."
"Hornet, it's 5 in the morning. Cut me some slack."
Hornet gave a considerate hum for a moment. "Nah!"
I rolled my eyes then turned my gaze towards the line of Eagle Union ship girls and the few other Eagle Union human officers allowed into this 'special' canteen waiting to grab their food. The line looked just as long as it had when we first came in.
"Don't worry, Nevada and the rest of the cooks always make more than enough for everyone." Hornet said as if to assuage any worries I may have had. "So it's fine to wait a bit for the line to die down."
I nodded and continued downing my coffee, enjoying the few moments of relative silence with Hornet before someone approached our table.
She was a kansen who had dark tan skin, a white outfit that matched Hornet's in terms of skin exposure, and a single green eye that was visible through the bangs of her dark brown hair that had an underdye of bleach blonde.
"Oh, hey Northampton!" Hornet cheerfully greeted the kansen who stood on the opposite end of our table, who looked surprised to see me with Hornet. I guess she didn't notice me when she had spotted the blonde carrier. "C'mon, take a seat! It's about time I introduced you to the Eagle Union's rising star!"
Hornet, in her excitement, shook my shoulder suddenly. Taking care not to spill the coffee I was just about to drink, I shot Hornet a peeved look which was promptly ignored.
"Rising star is a bit much." I groused, shrinking a bit at the eyes that were turning towards Hornet's loud voice.
"Oh? You didn't seem to have any complaints with Lady Clemenceau calling you that yesterday."
Maybe it was the morning coffee finally kicking in, but I swore Hornet was pouting for a moment before she grinned once more, eyebrows rising and falling in a suggestive manner.
"It's uh, nice to meet you, Lieutenant." Northampton cut in, tentatively placing down her tray of food and sitting across from us. "Hornet's talked about you from time to time."
"And I'm sure she's only said the nicest things that she could find in that empty space between her ears."
"Hey!" She moved to pinch my side, but I jerked out of her reach, sticking my tongue mockingly at her failed attempt.
"I-I promise, it's… mostly been nice things!" Northampton piped in, trying to mediate the situation. "I-I don't think I've heard her sound so happy talking about someone else, other than her sisters."
"Daww." I cooed at an increasingly flustered Hornet. "So you really do car- gah!"
"Hush you!" Like a coiled snake, her arm shot out suddenly and gripped my cheek much like a certain gray ghost, forcing me to set my coffee down while I tried to pry myself out of her grasp. Deja vu, is that you? "Sorry about him, Northampton. He ain't a morning person, so he gets weird before he eats."
"Mean ladies!" Were the words I was trying to form in my garbled speech. "I'm surrounded by mean ladies!"
"Maybe if ya were more of a gentleman, you'd find less mean ladies around you."
Giving a defeated sigh, I eventually went slack in her grip and with a victorious harumph, she unceremoniously let go of my cheek.
I have a remark on the edge of my tongue when the communicator in my pocket goes off. Digging it out, I opened it to see a simple message from Rear Admiral Nagi.
Important Briefing. My office, 30 minutes..
Were the only words that appeared on the screen.
"Something up?" Hornet asked.
"Not sure yet." I said, taking the last few, big gulps of my coffee which moderately burned just about everything. Looking back at the line, I realized there was no way I'd be able to grab some grub before the meeting time. "But Admiral Nagi wants me to see him in his office, so I better get going."
"You know the way?"
"Was the only place we didn't go to see yesterday, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find." Another buzz from my communicator. "And he also just sent directions, so I should be good,"
"Alright then." Hornet took a sip from her mug while I got up to leave. "Leave your cup, I'll take care of it. Just promise to grab something to eat later, or Yorktown will be on both our asses."
"You're a blessing, Hornet." I said gratefully. "Catch ya later. And it was nice to meet ya, Miss Northampton."
"You too." Was Northampton's simple reply. And with that, I was off to navigate my way to my former instructor's office. Partially dreading that I was in for another dressing down regarding my reckless abandonment of equipment in the field
"Seems like what you were saying was true." Northampton said, casting a gaze at her best friend who hadn't taken her emerald green eyes off the mess hall's entry. "He is like a different person. At least from what you've told me."
"Two years ago I'd have been jumping for joy seeing him just a tiny bit less grouchy and a bit more lively." Hornet said. "But… It's just so strange, having him be so receptive."
"He's certainly a lot more playful than I'd imagined." Northampton took a bite of the toast bread. "From how you painted him, I thought he'd be a lot less responsive to your… 'Horniness'."
Northampton chuckled as Hornet began to do her best not to choke on her drink.
"H-hey!" Hornet cried indignantly. "Northampton!"
"But he seems to be fine." Northampton continued, "So why worry so much?"
Hornet pursed her lips, but turned her gaze down at her coffee. "I don't know. I should be feeling happier about this. All I used to get were eye rolls or snark. And yet I can't shake this feeling like there's something he's hiding."
"It probably has something to do with the Siren's attack at the academy." Northampton suggested. "You did say he lost his wingman during the defense. Maybe it has something to do with that."
"Maybe…"
"What's got you so glum, Hornet?" A familiar kansen with a bird of paradise flower adorning her long and pale blue hair asked, approaching the table with a tray of food in her hands.
Ticonderoga slid into the seat that Cross had been in only a moment before, her lip turned upwards in an amused fashion.
"Heya, Ty." Hornet greeted her fellow carrier. "Nothing. Just-"
"She's just fretting over the Commander's little brother again."
"Northy!" Hornet whined.
"Again?" Ticonderoga paused for a few moments. "Oh, right. You said a few days ago he'd been assigned to the port. He was that guy you were dragging in earlier, right? Hmm, he doesn't have the same looks as the Commander, but his build is certainly easy on the eyes~"
"I mean, yeah, he's definitely gotten more fit. But that's just part of the standard for pilots."
"Mhmm." Ticonderoga picked up her fork and began to go through the eggs on her tray. "What about him is it that's got you so worried? All I really know about him is that he's a bit of a troublemaker, so did he start a fight or something?"
"Nah, it ain't like that.. I'm just… a bit put off by his sudden change in attitude is all. There was also that run in with that french spy lady yesterday. The cardinal's little sister?"
Northampton raised an eyebrow. "You mean Clemenceau?"
"Right, her."
"Did he cross her in some way?" Ticonderoga asked.
Hornet pursed her lips in thought. "No, but they just had this really weird moment together. Like they knew each other despite only just meeting and they got all cushy and stuff out of nowhere."
"Ah~" Ticonderoga drawled. "I see now."
Hornet furrowed her brows. "See what?"
"That you're just a bit jealous that the Commander's little brother seems to have caught the eye of the Cardinal's little sister."
Hornet rolled her eyes. "I'm being serious, Ty. There were really weird vibes coming off the two."
"Mmm. I'm sure those same vibes are the reason why your face is getting red~"
"That's just from my coffee!" Hornet brushed off.
Running a hand through one of her pigtails, the youngest Yorktown sister huffed. She just couldn't elaborate her unease properly. After all, there was no real reason to be wary.
Potential undealt grief aside regarding his friend's death, Cross was far more approachable now compared to two years ago.
He walked with more confidence. He seemed to be more open. And she didn't hear that scathing, visceral disdain when he bickered with Enterprise.
These were all supposed to be improvements. And two years was certainly enough time for someone to change if improving was their goal.
And yet.
"Her giggle's pretty cute."
"Why thank you. I think you're pretty adorable as well."
When Clem asked if anyone else had heard Cross, Hornet had kept her mouth shut because she thought her ears had been playing tricks on her too.
However, did no one else really hear it? Enterprise and Yorktown seemed confused by Clemenceau's question, as did the Commander and the Rear Admiral.
It was just a strange moment that should've been brushed off.
Yet it was stinging at her conscience like her namesake, causing all of this unwarranted suspicion towards one of her closest friends.
"Gah, whatever!" Hornet shot up from her seat, collecting the coffee mugs. "I'm gonna go get some grub and head out. Enty wants me to attend some sort of meeting with her in a few hours and I need to go check on my birds before that."
"See ya later then." Northampton said.
"Hey, when you got time, mind introducing me to the Commander's little brother?" Ticonderoga called out.
Hornet stopped in her tracks, turning to look at her friend with a raised eyebrow. "Why? Wanna compete with the leader of the Tribunal for Cross's attention?"
"Maybe. But honestly, I really wanna see what about this Cross has gotten our dear Hornet so worked up~"
"Ugh." Hornet marched off and away from Ticonderoga's giggles.
She hoped this uneasiness in her would fade in the coming days. Though something told her that she would need her sister's luck for that to happen.
"I'm being taken off the Re-GZ?" I hoped my disappointment didn't leak through my words, but it was more than a little difficult to hide it.
"The experimental beam machine gun was its only armament on hand." Nagi explained. "Of course, we can equip it with a regular ReZel beam rifle, but that would inhibit its ability to perform destructive sweeping maneuvers. Besides that, I believed your own performance demonstrated that perhaps you need to be assigned to a mobile suit that matches your style more."
"What do you mean by my style, sir?"
"The Re-GZ Kai was built with mid range engagements mostly in mind. However, I've noticed from both the academy's defense and your recent sortie that you seem to favor getting into melee range during dog fights." A small smile forms on the older man's lips. "It seems you took to my teachings a bit too well."
"I just learned a bit after surviving those beatings of yours in the simulators and mock exercises." I said. "That and I've never been a good shot."
"Indeed." Nagi chuckled. "So, I've decided that the combat data you've collected is satisfactory. The ReGZ is combat proven even in spite of its Back Weapon System being incomplete. Once we're able to acquire its intended beam rifle, I'll assign it to another pilot who may be able to bring out its full potential. Just like how I hope you'll be able to bring out this new unit's potential."
With that, Nagi handed me a touchpad terminal and on the screen were the words: "Project Vertex?"
Sounded familiar. But my mind was on so many other things that I couldn't really recall what it was despite it being on the tip of my tongue.
"It'll arrive within the week. It's a mobile suit that has been in development longer than even the ReGZ Kai. The Strategic Naval Research Department had begun it at the end of the Avarice Rebellion ten months ago and they managed to finish its final checks ahead of schedule. Now it needs to be assigned to a capable pilot who'll be in the thick of it in the upcoming operation."
"Operation, sir?" Was this the same as the one August had mentioned when we first met?
"The operation to begin the retaking of Mars."
I blinked and tried to formulate a proper response, but anything I came up with seemed too stupid to say in the face of such a revelation. Retake Mars? But how? Wouldn't we need to start shoring up our forces and prepping for the journey?
The Sirens wouldn't miss that. Even with the capabilities of our ships being able to make the trip in about 3 months with the red planet at its furthest from Earth, the Sirens would more than likely move to intercept any large invasion force we sent.
Or worse, start another assault on Earth while Astral Lane attempted to go on the offensive.
"Tell me, Cross. Do you know what Microlayer Transference is?" Nagi asked, having given me a few moments to digest his proclamation.
"Vaguely, sir. Can't say it's in my ballpark. It's the method that Sirens use to quickly teleport in and out of places. Their 'mist'."
Nagi nodded. "It's how the Sirens have the ability to appear out of nowhere. We've learned that through their microlayer transference network, they're able to quickly travel to certain areas that have what we've come to refer to as nodes. Think of it like being able to fast travel to designated points in a video game.
It's taken painstaking years, but we've finally managed to reverse engineer that teleportation process thanks in large part to the Iron Blood and Sakura's own private research. And in the coming days, multiple ships and KANSEN vessels will be outfitted with devices capable of accessing our very own microlayer network and will be teleporting to the node that was entrusted to the forward fleet we had launched a month ago."
"A forward fleet?"
"A small, but powerful force made up from blueprint KANSEN and veterans of our Mobile Suit corp. They're securing an old mining asteroid that can be used as a forward operating base that's within striking distance of the Mars Sphere. And in two weeks the first wave of our forces will be sent along with a large portion of our engineers to properly set up the asteroid base for military use."
"So… I imagine that this won't just be a one way trip."
"If it were, we'd be asking for volunteers. The node close to the port will be activated the moment the first wave leaves. If anything goes awry, at the very least we can have you all return back here in an emergency. Keep in mind though that traveling through the Microlayer network isn't instantaneous. From here to the forward base it'll take about three days."
Even if it wasn't instantaneous that amount of time was still impressive. I nodded, then looked down at the tablet I'd set down on my lap. "Then I take it that I'm part of this first wave."
"That you are. So you best get to familiarizing yourself with your new machine."
Curiosity getting the better of me, I swiped left and was greeted with the full name of the unit, with the front of the Mobile Suit's design displayed before me. A mobile suit I instantly recognized, recalling what Project Vertex was now.
"Gelgoog Vertex Alfina?"
A Mobile Suit that came from the side story Return of Johnny Ridden. It was a manga series about mobile suit variations and followed the famous Zeon Ace, Johnny Ridden. Or at least, who was alluded to be the real Johnny Ridden. The series really expanded on Mobile Suits as machines, had great art and fights, along with a compelling narrative
The Gelgoog Vertex itself was the culmination of the Gelgoog line, combining aspects of the original Gelgoog with the Regelgu for a machine that rivaled even the Gundams that appeared in the Gryps and Neo Zeon war.
In my case, I absolutely loved the damn thing since I always saw the Gelgoog as the peak of Zeon's MS designs and played all of the Vertex's variants in Gundam Battle Operation 2.
I could honestly hardly believe that I was gonna be piloting it.
But I can't say I knew what the Alfina variant was. I only knew of the Testarossa, Kyanos, and Xanthos.
"Read through the manual. I'll send you a schedule for times you can use the simulators to get used to the controls before it arrives. And it should go without saying, but keep what was discussed here to yourself. The rest of Astral Lane will be briefed soon enough. I just need you to focus on knowing your new machine like it was the back of your hand. Understood?" I nodded and gave an affirmation. "Good. That's all I had for now. You're dismissed, Lieutenant."
With that, I stood up and saluted Nagi. My head felt a bit light from trying to consolidate my thoughts on both the upcoming operation to retake Mars and this treasure in my hands.
It looked like I was gonna be busy in the coming days..
At least I had something to keep my mind off August's potential retribution for yesterday. And also keep me occupied from worrying if Clemenceau was just gonna pop up out of nowhere to bug or keep tabs on me.
My hand moved to open the door to Nagi's office, only to find it sliding open before me and revealing the frenchwoman who's been taking up my thought's since yesterday.
Seriously, I understand that her whole shtick is being a mysterious femme fatale spy, but this is freaky timing.
"Ah, what a wonderful surprise." Clemenceau said cheerfully. Her lips seemed to stretch upwards in an attempt to reach her ears ."Lieutenant Cross! How are you this morning?"
"I'm doing fine, Lady Clemenceau. Just on my way to grab something to eat." Clemenceau's smile quickly turned into a small frown. "Is something wrong?"
"I just thought we were close enough for you to call me Clem."
"We literally just met yesterday." I cleared my throat. "Uh, ma'am."
"Now, now. Feel free to refer to me as Clem." Clemenceau's expression morphed into a smile once more. "There's no need to be so guarded. Unless… you're afraid I'm going to do something to you? Heehee~"
Clemenceau giggled while leaning forward, as if daring my eyes to wander down to the exposed skin of her chest that was visible in between the shawl that she wore over her shoulders.
"Certainly feels like you're trying to do something." I grumbled.
"Whatever could you mean?"
"I mean that you could probably try wearing a shirt under that cape." I said, my tongue slipping before my mind could catch up.
Perhaps it was because of August's prodding yesterday, but it looked like my sense of prudency when it came to dealing with people took a hit. Or was it because of my recent interactions with the Yorktown sisters? I sucked my lips inwards at my impulsiveness and, much to my utter bemusement, Clemenceau didn't look at all slighted by my comment.
If anything, her lips only crescented towards the ceiling further.
"Oh? Could it be that you wish for such a view to be yours alone?" Clemenceau teased, leaning in further in an attempt to fill my gaze with her alone. A fragrance of lavender came off of her and she pulled back a strand of her hair behind her ear as she whispered. "I could wear a shirt, though I would prefer it to be one of yours since. It was your suggestion after all~"
Nagi cleared his throat from behind me, thankfully pulling me out of this siren's song. "I apologize, but I believe you had something to discuss with me, Lady Clemenceau. Lieutenant, I believe you have your own work to attend to."
"Ah, yes." Clemenceau leaned her head slightly to look over my shoulder, an apologetic look on her face. "Forgive me, Admiral. I got sidetracked with what was meant to be a simple greeting. And apologize, Lieutenant, for keeping you. Though, I do hope you take care in minding your etiquette around other ladies on the base. Some like those from the Royal Navy may take offense to such crass comments, hmm?"
In the face of that I could only nod and step aside to let the Tribunal's leader through, feeling blood rush up my face. She gave me her thanks and once she was out of the way, I moved to leave the office once more.
"I look forward to speaking with you again, mon petit mystère." I turned back to see Clem's light pink eyes watching me intently. "I do hope we can speak over a meal sometime, to get to know one another more."
"If we're both free, I don't mind talking over a bite." I said offhandedly. I doubt I'd have much spare time to give in the coming weeks.
But Clemenceau's giggle pretty much told me that I wouldn't have much say in the matter. "I look forward to it."
"Right…" I said slowly. "See you around, Clem."
"See you soon, Lieutenant."
With that the door to Nagi's office shut and I was left suddenly just as tired as I'd been when Hornet had barged into my quarters.
Looking down at the tablet in my hands, only a single thought now occupied my mind. "I really need more coffee."
A/N: Sorry this one took a while to get out. IRL stuff and all that, as well as trying to figure/iron out where I wanna take this story. I also decided to switch up the suit from the ReGZ Custom to Gundam OverOn because I just think the thing is neat. A Gundam variant of The O and it wasn't something I was aware of until recently. There are things about it that could make things more interesting going forward, but I guess we'll have to wait and see if that comes to fruition later. Anyhow, thanks for giving this chapter a chunk of your time and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day or night wherever you are. Peace!
Edit 07/23: It was pointed out to me that Over . On was being deleted from the draft because Over . On had a period in between the word. So going forward I'll be writing it out as Gundam OverOn.
Edit 08/28: Important note, I've edited this chapter because I've decided to change the mobile suit from the Gundam OverOn to a Gelgoog Vertex unit. Both because I'm not too sure about aspects of the OverOn, but also because I've come to like the Gelgoog Vertex just far more overall. Apologies if this is a disappointing change, but I just love me some Googs. Thanks for your understanding
