Right stuff, coming in!

[glorystargo]

[1]
[Backdated to only a few days or so before the Unity Group opening, a trio of blue mobile suits arrive at Alhambra Base. And their squad leader is the first to introduce himself.]

Greetings. You might be wondering what the three new arrivals in the hangars are - they're Virgola mobile suits, test units for a future mass-produced series. And we're here to be their test pilots, Glory Stars at your service!

My name's Denzel Hammer, and these two are my subordinates. Lt 1st class Toby Watson.


Hey, nice to meet y'all!

And 2nd Lt Setsuko Ohara, a new member of the team.


It is... a pleasure to meet you.

We're here to do tests, gather combat data and such, but don't worry, we'll fight too! If there's a combat, Glory Stars got your back.

[2]
[After the opening announcement.]



What was that supposed to be?

[Denzel and Toby are sharing drinks in the mess hall and laughing good naturedly about the broadcast's awkwardness. Setsuko is nowhere to be seen.]

Comments

2

[3xmadder]

They're just sending all the test units out here, huh? Stands to reason.

[Katina stands nearby in the mess, arms folded and looking challengingly at the two Glory Stars. Her body language is a lot more aggressive than her tone of voice, which is probably a good clue that she's a fellow pilot, assuming the jacket-half-unbuttoned Lieutenant's uniform wasn't.]

Re: 2

[glorystargo]

That's right. What better way to test a new unit than on the field of real battle?

And that's where Unity Group is supposed to go, to battlefields. Just like the good commander said.

[Denzel sounds amused for some not that hard to explain reason.]

[3xmadder]

Glad whatever branch is in charge of you guys thinks the same way.

[She relaxes slightly.]

Katina Tarask, lieutenant. My squad's some of the Halloween Plan guinea pigs today. I wouldn't say no to a joy ride in one of those Virgolas, though.

[glorystargo]

Look how popular we are, Chief. I told you it was a good idea to come here!


Good to meet you, Lt Tarask. I'm Denzel Hammer, and this here joker is Toby Watson. And I'm sorry to say, but we're on strict orders not to let anyone outside Glory Stars pilot our prototypes.


Aww, come on Denzel. You're no fun.

[srwjunker]

A rather generic looking man with a buzz cut comes up behind Katina and passes her what looks to be some infamously high powered energy drink.

"Katina? I found they had one bottle of it left, it's yours."

He turns to Denzel and Toby.

"Russel Bagman, sorry for that, I'm LT Tarask's wingman. I also handle some of our mechanical work. Ma'me we do have prototypes of our own. the Gespenst MKII Kai's are nothing to sneeze at."

[3xmadder]

[Katina accepts the drink and pops it open in one fluid motion.]

Hey, I love my Gespenst, but can you blame me for wanting to see what those big brick gun things can do?

[glorystargo]

Look, they have a squad of their own! Maybe we can be friendly rivals and compare kills? Russel, was it?


Sounds like a plan to me. And you must be talking about the Gunnery Carver. That thing's got enough kick to knock out a battleship in a single blast.

[srwjunker]

"We just got the folding two way canons in and your close combat mode has a built in chest plasma gun..."

Russel Looks at Katina for a moment wondering just what his commander is plotting, aside from her love of trying to get her hands on the most cutting edge thing she can. He can't fault her entirely he's very happy to be no longer in a Messer himself.

"A rivalry? You don't know what your getting in for...Anti-capship weaponry?"

[3xmadder]

I like the way you think, Lieutenant. Can Russel count all the times he should have been shot down and wasn't as kills? He's not much of a shot but he's basically unsinkable, right?

[She claps her wingman on the shoulder fairly roughly. It's a compliment, really.]

I'll see your ship-killing gun and raise you a ship-cutting sword, though. Ever seen one of those?

[glorystargo]

Sounds like something you do not want to be on the receiving end of. The Virgola's Ray Straight Turret is good against mobile suits too, you'll see during combat.


Friendlies almost going down doesn't count, sorry! Otherwise we'd get a handful of extra kills too, you sure you want that?

[srwjunker]

It's hard to tell if Russel is amused by Katina's compliment or too afraid to say anything on it he looks back to Katina.

"It's more luck than anything else I don't want to rely on it too hard."

He looks back over to Toby for a moment.

"No it never does count for good reason."

"I admit I'll be interested to see how your new mecha handle in a fight. The Unity Group seems to also be a test bed unit on top of it's being a rapid response force."

[glorystargo]

Handling? Don't worry about it ol' boy, Virgola are made to be easy to control by everyone, from most battle-hardened veterans to a total newbie. Chief can give you the whole spiel if you want it!

Just get a seat ready because it'll take a while.

[3xmadder]

That would explain the obvious newbie from your formal introduction. I was going to respond to that, but I prefer to meet rookies in person.

[glorystargo]

Speaking of Setsuko, I wonder where she's hiding now...


Don't be too hard on her. Newbie or not, she wouldn't join Glory Stars if she didn't have what it takes.

[srwjunker]

"Ah so good she earned her spot then there's little to worry about if your vouching for her."

Russel looks to Katina.

"Just don't put her on the obstacle course so soon."

[3xmadder]

I wouldn't dream of doing that to someone with such a dedicated CO ready to tell her she doesn't have to.

[glorystargo]

That's Chief for you. Way too laid back and not taking training seriously!


What's that, Toby? Volunteering to run 50 laps around the base?

[3xmadder]

Healthy guy like the lieutenant here can easily make a hundred, I'm sure!

[glorystargo]

What's this? Look at the time, I must be going!

[Toby tries to run away as Denzel chuckles and grabs for his beer.]

[srwjunker]

Russel watches this go down, he knows Katina isn't joking. However Toby is not under Katina's direct command. He does wonder what might happen with Hammer and Katina conspiring about training however. It could be rough times in everyone's futures. Still Katina is at least not feeding Toby to the sharks, well just yet.

"You should be careful about such things, Toby. Just a bit of advice."