Meanwhile, on Star Rose...

[kill_all_vagans]

1.

[It's been a busy period of time for Flit, let me tell you that.  Getting situated, getting used to new threats -in addition to new aliens blargh-, and most importantly...]

Alright, now carefully... I'd rather we didn't have to use the AGE Builder to make a replacement for this one.  In fact, that would pretty much destroy the whole purpose of this!

[Along with some of the Diva's mechanic and engineering crews, Flit's been throwing himself into a new project: learning everything they can about the DODS Rifle so they can reverse-engineer it.  And doing that entails dismantling the entire thing to see just what goes on in it.  The outer casing of one side gradually is lifted up by a crane, exposing the inner workings of the rifle barrel and Flit can't help but snort a little bit.]

I hope this doesn't blow up in our faces.

[Especially since the hostage situation at the Sakihama base would've gone differently had those police machines been using stronger beam guns.]

2.



[As much as you'd think Flit would commit every waking hour to his work, well he's still got some of that child innocence left in him.  The kind that means that when work for the day comes to an end, he decides to pick up where he left off in exploring Star Rose.  The layout's so different from Nora... and more than anything-

[Oh hey, there's some fish outside of the window.

[Wait.  He turns, looking and... he can see the refracting of light through the water outside, the fish swimming to and fro.  It's not a hologram, that's for sure.]



This...

How long have they had this here?

Comments

2

[cloningblues]

Since ever... I think. How do you think Star Rose gets fresh food?

[kill_all_vagans]

I just didn't think-

[Flit's eyes grow even larger as a REALLY big Hideauze squid comes on by. The logistics of maintaining something like this boggles his mind.]

On Nora, we'd need to ship something like this in from a specialized colony or Earth!

[cloningblues]

Oh hey, it's that thing Tamaki likes to eat.

Well, Star Rose is much closer to Earth, so transport is much easier. And it's a tourist attraction too, so it can afford luxuries. I figure that life on a colony is rougher than on Earth.

[kill_all_vagans]

Maybe... but for the most part Nora -at least when it still existed- was a pretty great place to grow up. Things were well-maintained and yeah, we did have to import all sorts of specialty things, but life was still good there.

... I wish you could've seen more of it.

[cloningblues]

You're probably right. And I've never really been on a space colony before.

...The UE took everything from you, didn't they.

[kill_all_vagans]

Twice over.

[Oh boy. Genocide.exe booting up now...]

But never again. I'm not going to let that happen again to anyone.

[cloningblues]

Well, when you go fight them, you won't be alone. I can tell you that much.

[Asagi watches the fish for a while.]

Even though they're bred for food, they look peaceful.

1

[herodrawing]

Are you mass producing the Gundam, Flit?

[kill_all_vagans]

[A whole army of Gundams... wouldn't that be great? Well they already did that during the 7th Space War but this would totally be different. Still, the idea's got a smile on his face.]

Not exactly... if the best we had were Genoaces there might be a need for that but that's not the case. It's the DODS Rifle I'm hoping we can mass-produce.

[herodrawing]

The spinning beam rifle? That'd be great, it looks really strong!

Much better than what those Genoaces have...

[kill_all_vagans]

That's the plan. I saw what happened during the PRAYER incident... it's sad when the only thing worse than a mobile suit is its primary ranged weapon.

... Admittedly in that instance it was to our favor. But that't not something that's going to happen often. At least I hope not.

[herodrawing]

The Gundam is really something, and the AHSMB units are amazing too.

But most soldiers are forced to use other units that are much weaker, and it's not that they try any less than we do... it sounds kinda... unfair. Doesn't it?

[kill_all_vagans]

And that's why I'm trying to work on this. If we can get a better handle on DODS technology and reproduce it... it could go a really long ways in helping out a lot of people. Even if a soldier's machine is lacking, if they can dish out damage like the Gundam or an AHSMB then that can make a huge difference.

[herodrawing]

That makes sense!

Tell me if I can help with anything, Flit.

[kill_all_vagans]

I appreciate the offer, but right now this is more a mechanic's job than a pilot's. If something comes up regarding weapons testing though... I'll keep you in mind.

[herodrawing]

I expected you to say that...

2

[majestic_keiki]

I don't know, but it's just an aquarium. Never seen one before?

[kill_all_vagans]

Not one on the outside of a space station!

[Stupid MJP tech and imaginative little things like this!]

[majestic_keiki]

I'm pretty sure they made sure to keep the water contained, so it's still part of the space station itself.

[kill_all_vagans]

I know, I know... but it's still just...

It makes so much sense now... why aren't there more of them?!?

[Yeah, he's running along down the length of a window, trying to follow a school of fish.]

[majestic_keiki]

I imagine that it's expensive to build and maintain. They probably built this one for the effect as well.

[kill_all_vagans]

It's definitely money well spent!

[And now he's running the other way.]

[majestic_keiki]

It is definitely impressive. They went out of their way to make the Star Rose a tourist destination.

1

[gold_four]

Wouldn't be a particularly well designed weapon if it did, now would it?

[Ataru asks as he comes in, leaning on a nearby railing.]

Though, to think you actually need to dismantle your own weapon to understand it... that's like a total reverse of the reason you make your own weapon.

[kill_all_vagans]

Well, it's not really my weapon. It's the AGE Builder's. It was the Builder that used the data I'd gathered to make it... but there's still a lot of things in the Builder and the AGE System in general that nobody knows the specifics of.

I don't mind not getting the credit for the Rifle either... just hoping we can learn how to reproduce it.

[gold_four]

...I would make a jab about not knowing how your own tech works, but then, its not been easy getting specs for the AHSMBs either...

[kill_all_vagans]

Well, the saving grace there is just because you don't know doens't mean the people who made it don't know. With the Builder's creations, we really are flying blind.

Not that it's going to stop me from learning everything I can.

[gold_four]

I suppose...

[Ataru gestures up at the rather big gun.]

So, what you managed to figure out so far?

[kill_all_vagans]

Well, we have a good grasp of what the weapon does, just not how it goes about it. In a way, the rifle's like a beam drill, and this additional piercing force is what let it strike the UE.

The problem is just how it goes about it and how to reproduce the effect in a cost-efficient weapon.

[gold_four]

Beam drill...

[It seems Ataru's thinking about it, trying to try on his vast pool of references...]

...I dunno how well you'd be versed on this stuff, but have you considered it might be how the particles themselves are launched from the barrel?

[kill_all_vagans]

That's probably how it's done, the question is how to reproduce the effect now. And make it cost-efficient enough that we can distribute them to the ESUN pilots who're still using Genoaces.

[gold_four]

Without then watering it down so there's at least some reason to replace the beam spray...

You really have a lot on your hands with this. Got any kind of stress relief?

2

[srwu_npc]

Watch out Flit. While you're being distracted by the beautiful sights, suddenly out of nowhere a small child runs near you and you almost trip over him!

"Waah!"

You manage to avoid falling down, but the boy does not, he's sprawled on the floor.

[kill_all_vagans]

A-ah!

[Yeah, Flit was totally just caught up in following some of the fish along, and then suddenly zomgkid. Stumbling, Flit gets his bearings, and almost immediately sees the child.]

Oh no...

Are you okay? Hello?

[srwu_npc]

"Ah..."

The kid gets up. Lucky him (and you), he's more surprised than hurt. Just a slightly scraped knee.

[kill_all_vagans]

[Lucky indeed. Flit takes the moment to calm down a bit, though the knee doesn't go unnoticed for him.]

Sorry about that... I got distracted by the fish.

[He laughs awkwardly.]

Haven't been on Star Rose very long and didn't notice them until recently.

[srwu_npc]

The little boy's reaction is to walk up to you Flit and...

"Ha ha!"

Take use of the lowered gravity to jump over your back! Does he forgot about the scraping already and just wants to play?

[kill_all_vagans]

[Well the kid's still in high spirits and his knee's fine. That's a relief. He's still going to be sent stumbling as the kid vaults over him though.]

Guess you're fine then...

You one of the civilians onboard the Star Rose?

[srwu_npc]

"Yeah!"

Look, he can talk after all.

"I'm Desil."

[kill_all_vagans]

Nice to meet you, Desil. I'm Flit.

[Well now things are off to a good start. A new friend on Star Rose and everything. Just gonn a reach over and offer the kid a handshake...]

[srwu_npc]

"Hello Flit."

As soon as you touch his hand... what is this strange and sudden sensation?!

KONO PRESSUA!

[kill_all_vagans]

[This sensation... it's like before when he was with Yurin in the AGE-1! He winces for a moment before letting go. Was that really...]

Did... you just feel anything now?

2

[dolorous_sensei]

Yes... these creatures are prisoned in a mockery of their own habitat... A reminder to our own hubris.

[kill_all_vagans]

But... it's not any different than any other aquarium, right?

[dolorous_sensei]

Yes, that's all aquarium are! An ironic keepsake to remind us how out here, we're actually imprisoned in a carefully maintained fake habitat ourselves! That's why it's so popular in space!