A Request

[gravitons]

[An unusual broadcast is being made through the Unity Group's communications system today. Most of that probably has to do with the individual making said broadcast.]

Members of the Unity Group.

I am sure that the incident in La Gias is known to most of you by now - to some better than others.

Besides forcing those from the surface to join them as I have explained before, it has come to my attention that the Shutedonias military have also managed to acquire valuable military hardware, some of which originally belonged to the ESUN.

I intend to retrieve the hardware in question for the Unity Group's use, and have already obtained the necessary permissions from the commanding officers.

However, recapturing the equipment before the entirety of the enemy's forces can react and send reinforcements is not a task I can accomplish alone. In other words, I will require your assistance.

Those who are interested may meet me in the hangars of the bases. I will be visiting each location to gather volunteers. That is all.

---

[A while later, those who visit their respective base's hangar will find Chika holding up a sign that says: 'Volunteers here', with her master sitting by a table nearby (don't ask where he got it), enjoying a cup of tea. The familiar looks pretty doubtful though.]


You know Master, I don't think they're gonna help out with the reputation you've got. I mean, look, for how much those commanders agreed with this plan, they didn't even let you borrow the briefing rooms.


Unfortunately, the success of this operation depends entirely on the other members. We have no choice but to count on their support. So for now, we wait.

[Approach?]

Comments

[star_of_sad]

Shutedonias stole ESUN equipment?

Do you know how did they acquire it, or what was it?

[gravitons]

Said equipment was more than likely stolen after it was transported there, much like you and the UG members before.

There are specifics that I cannot share at the moment, but I can assure you that it would benefit this group one way or another.

[star_of_sad]

Shutedonias made a habit out of doing that, didn't they...

Well, I trust that you are being honest, doctor. Is there anything else we should know about?

[gravitons]

The plan we will be going with is to have the Granzon serve as a distraction. I'm sure you're able to remember how they reacted to it the last time.

It will be up to you and the other UG members to break into the ship that is carrying the cache, and take it back with you.

And then...

[star_of_sad]

Yes? And then?

[gravitons]

I will need a few units to help carry the Granzon back to the La Gias outpost.

[star_of_sad]

You need us to carry you back? Do you intend for Granzon to get knocked out during the fight, doctor?

[gravitons]

Despite how it may appear, the Granzon's current state is far from ideal. Various systems are malfunctioning, including its core - the Kabbalah Program.

Without the program's full regulation, the weapon I will use to make our progress smoother will take up far more energy than it typically does. So much that all other weapons must be disabled to reach the amount required to activate it.

Furthermore, after this weapon is fired twice, the Granzon will be effectively shut down.

[star_of_sad]

So we will need to protect you when that happens.

I will talk to Chief about this.

[cloningblues]

This looks less like you're recruiting people for a dangerous mission, and more for a school club of some kind...

[gravitons]

Well, that's the idea! If we were to say 'hey, meet with us at this shady base Master uses that just got approved as an outpost recently', people would get even more suspicious.

[cloningblues]

I suppose that makes sense... But I still don't know. Last time I joined a voluntary operation, it turned out to be... not good.

[It wasn't voluntary for Rabbits, but details.]

[gravitons]

[Chika raises a wing.]

And no one's making you.

We're not silly enough to tell everyone that everything will be okay, even though we really do need the help this time.

[cloningblues]

Ghhh...

I'll think about it. I heard what the Shutedonias do with "surfacers", and I don't like one bit.

[majestic_keiki]

So what can you tell us about the war in La Gias and what was stolen? It seems like a rather big operation just to acquire equipment for Unity Group.

[gravitons]

Shutedonias is hostile towards surfacers and has been for some time. There is not much else about the war that you will need to know.

As for what was stolen, it is something that would be dangerous if left in their hands. This is likely the largest cache of such equipment that they possess.

[majestic_keiki]

And that is? You clearly know.

Also, I don't know what I need to know about the war if you won't tell me.

[gravitons]

Something you will have to see for yourself and keep to yourself once you do. The ESUN is not allowing me to reveal the cache's contents, and I am entrusting it to you and the others, for it is likely that I won't be able to assist you past a certain point.

And beyond what I have just told you, the details on the war should not be of anyone's concern for this particular operation.

[majestic_keiki]

You're asking us to get involved in other people's war and not to care about it.

[gravitons]

On the contrary, I am trying to prevent other forces from being involved in that war. To that end, the less you know, the better.

[He takes another sip of his tea.]

At the same time, this is a mission that is being organized out of necessity. We will only be in La Gias for as long as we need to be, and no longer.

[majestic_keiki]

So going in there and fighting them isn't getting involved?

[gravitons]

Not any more than we already are. After all, there are already surfacers within their ranks, and the technology of the equipment we are retrieving is not theirs to begin with.

Should this play out as scripted, it is a better outcome than the alternative.

[majestic_keiki]

Well, yeah, but we're still not just bystanders.

[gravitons]

I understand that this situation is difficult from the view of a peacekeeping force, however, all I can ask of you now is to trust me.

That being said, Miss Kugimiya, I will not coerce you, nor any of the other Unity Group members into participating in an operation that you do not agree with.

[majestic_keiki]

I'll think about it.

[deathflag_survivor]

[Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The essence of Mission Devil, hence Selena, Albhard, and Elma showing up.]

So you have a plan.

[gravitons]

I can assure you that the mission itself will not be all too complex.

What concerns me is what comes after.

[prismphantom]

Well if you're willing to share that, maybe we can do something about "what comes after". Albhard and I are good for gathering intelligence, and if you need us to do that, it's doable.

[This gets a brief "that's too much" look from her partner, but he relents and nods as well.]



But leaving us in the dark will just make this harder on everyone, and if we don't know what your plan is -complex or not- we're not going to know what kind of intel's useful or not.

So if you would, Dr. Shirakawa, we're all ears.

[gravitons]

We will be engaging a detachment of the Shutedonias military responsible for surfacer-related operations. The equipment in question will be aboard one of the Mobile Fortresses, which is where I will require your help.

The plan is simple: I will draw as many of them away from you and the other UG members as possible, and attempt to disable them in the process. Your task, along with the others, will be to break through the enemy lines, infiltrate the enemy vessel and retrieve the equipment.

Expect to see a large number of Fortresses, Masouki and possibly other units as well.

That being said...

[deathflag_survivor]

"That being said" what?

Keeping a low profile and making off with the stolen materials is one thing, but don't half-start with some dangerous detail.

[gravitons]

Dangerous, to me more than to you.

[He pauses for while to set down his cup.]

There is a weapon I intend to use to make this operation smoother against the odds. However, the Granzon will be limited to using it throughout this battle - all other weapon systems will be disabled to route the required amount of power to it.

I will only have two shots. After the second, the Granzon will be effectively nonfunctional, with only its security systems active.

In other words, I will require assistance in getting back to the La Gias outpost.

[prismphantom]

That serious then.

[Also, jeez Albhard cool it.]

Well, fortunately we've had training in helping extract otherwise disabled individuals and machinery.