Post 'The Knight'

[caressthedarkness]

[A video introduction. This time, the person in question is a white-haired young woman who wears a pair of frameless glasses. Somehow, her outfit has also changed since her appearance in the mission; from a long white battle dress to something more like a formal long coat, complete with a tie.]

...Greetings to all members of the Unity Group.

My name is Seta Albreich. I am an enforcer, or agent, of the Gloster Foundation - an organization devoted to defending Earth and its inhabitants from a particular supernatural threat.

Until today, the Gloster Foundation has operated independently of other groups and nations, maintaining a low profile as per our late leader's wishes. Most of you have probably not heard about us because of this. Unfortunately, we can no longer continue to fight our enemies on our own.

As such, I will be here as a representative of the Foundation as part of a deal to forge an alliance with the ESUN and the Unity Group.

[She bows slightly.]

I deeply apologize for inconveniencing you with yet another enemy to deal with, but I do hope we will be able to work together.

[That looked like it went surprisingly well, especially if you've seen what kind of person she is before the announcement. But the video cuts off immediately afterwards. So quickly and flawlessly, in fact, that there's no time to really respond to it or ask questions...

It's almost as if she's practiced this.]

---



[If you're visiting the lounge of Sakihama later on, you'll find Seta murmuring to herself...]

I am never doing that again...

I swore the previous time would be the last, but they never listened to me...no, I will make them listen next time...

[And as she's turning around or beginning to walk, she stubs her toe on the leg of a nearby couch, causing her to freeze in pain.]

Comments

[majestic_keiki]

[At least this person didn't immediately comment on the toestubbing. She did wince in sympathy, though.]

Hi. [She paused for a second.] I wanted to ask about this threat.

[caressthedarkness]

O, Of course.

Please, go on...

[While she tries to calm down and recover from that injury, that is.]

[majestic_keiki]

Um, are you okay? Your foot doesn't hurt that much, right?

[While she did take a seat, Kei clearly wasn't sure how approac the situation.]

[caressthedarkness]

It's...not a problem...

[The injured girl takes a seat opposite of Kei.]

How may I help you...?

[majestic_keiki]

Well...I just want to know what we can expect. I'm mission control, so the more I know, the better I can do my job in battle.

[caressthedarkness]

...That is a difficult question.

The Unity Group has faced monsters before...so those would be a good reference.

However...

[majestic_keiki]

However?

[caressthedarkness]

[She exhales.]

I may not be experienced enough to provide you with any useful information. Moreover, the threats I speak of come in a variety of shapes and sizes...with different capabilities.

Because of this, our regular combat doctrine against them is focused on reaction.

[majestic_keiki]

I see. That makes our job harder, but if there's no easy way to predict them, there's no way around it.

[caressthedarkness]

I am sorry that I could not be of much help, especially to a member of the MJP...for what it was worth, I did try to convince my superiors that there were better agents suited for this assignment...

But if there is a group in the world that can help in the suppression of this threat...then I believe the Unity Group is the right one.

[majestic_keiki]

Um, it's fine.

[Kei smiled awkwardly at the apology.]

But what kind of enemy is it anyway? Understanding that can at least give peace of mind.

[caressthedarkness]

Well...as I've said, monsters are a good reference...

You are familiar with magic, as well?

[majestic_keiki]

I've read a few books with it and I know the general idea, but I didn't know it existed...Although it doesn't surprise me after some of the stuff I've seen here.

[caressthedarkness]

[Seta nods.]

After briefly observing the incident with the black dome, I was convinced that that was the case...the UG's experience with various types of deadly enemies will be invaluable in these battles.

E...Either way, if you can mentally combine the two references...that would give you a rough idea of what the Kijin are like...

[majestic_keiki]

I see...I'd hoped to never have to see something like that again.

[caressthedarkness]

[She lowers her head slightly.]

I cannot say I know everything about what the Unity Group has faced so far...but I do hope we will be able to handle this...

[Not exactly confidence inspiring, here.]

[majestic_keiki]

We don't have much of a choice, really. We can just do our best.

But the things from the black dome were something else.

[caressthedarkness]

[A nod in agreement.]

I am glad that that the Unity Group managed to keep things under control.

At the time...I was there, dealing with the Foundation's enemies that had appeared nearby.

I was lucky that my targets appeared further away from the area than expected.

[majestic_keiki]

Under control seems like an awfully generous phrase for how things went.

I can only imagine what it'd have been like with further enemies present.

[caressthedarkness]

In engagements like those, I was taught not to think of 'what ifs'...I see why this is so now...

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah. It's best to just do what you can and try not to think about what would have happened if you failed...[It sounds pretty clear that she's speaking from experience here. Very recent experience at that.]