After the loss

[srwu_mods]

[1]
"..."

Commander in chief Roland Antov stands in front of a new place of interest in Alhambra - a memorial. Written on a heavy slab are names of those who gave their lives during service to Unity Group. Kanade Amou, Yancy Beckett, Denzel Hammer - these are only the most recent names. And there are surely more to come.

"No one ever said this is going to be easy..."

The commander mutters to himself. Are you here to talk to him, or to pay respects?

[2 - locked, NPC log only]


"Is this a joke?"

The commanders have gathered for an emergency report. They all stare at the lone paper lying on Antov's desk, surrounding it from all directions.


"I agree that Unity Group has suffered a lot of setbacks recently. Mission ended in failure..."


"We lost access to La Gias."


"Political support for Unity Group is waning."


"Then why did we receive a commendation and a budget increase?"

They all turn to face the inspector. Who curtly responds with...

"The Lady's Good Men cell was destroyed."


"Umm. Please do not understand me or my people wrong, inspector - this is good news. But... are our sponsors only interested in the Good Men?"

"I only relay the news." He starts gathering himself up, but before leaving, the inspector turns to say...

"Nobody forces me to be happy about it of course. But one of them..."


"Yes?"

"One of your sponsors is glad. Unity Group allows his nephew to play the hero, save the world. Keep up the good work."

Comments

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya stands a short ways back from the monument a sad, thoughtful look on his face. As he watches a few others come and go he seems lost in his own thoughts. Memories of another tombstone with a family who didn't want him, of one for one who died for his failure, and memories of the three who's names were on the wall all bled into one another. After a time he finally speaks to himself.]

Three more names that will haunt me. I could at one point name the heroes of units sacrificed against the BETA out of what I thought was respect. Somehow they lack the weight and burden that these do.

[Yuuya leans on a nearby post and continues to watch for a while longer.]

[srwu_mods]

"I don't want to judge whose deaths have more weight."

"We all knew it was coming but when it actually happened..."

[ugyuuya]

It's a lesson that people learn eventually, you can honor past heroes for what they've done but the heroes of our own forces, those we knew and will miss, stay with you longer.

We were able to assist with recovering Raleigh and were disabled while Denzel made his final stand. It's difficult even with forewarning of what to expect but for so many here they apparently didn't even get that.

[srwu_mods]

"Well..."

"This is part of a soldier's experience too, isn't it."

Antov sounds really dejected saying it, especially because it's true.

[streamedastar]

[Ryuichi decided, somewhat at the behest of his non-Unity allies telling him it's better to get all the emotions out now, and maybe get used to the idea this isn't going to be a rare thing- to come and visit the memorial with his hands shoved in his pockets as he stares at the thing]

...

[When it comes to loss there's two logical responses: taking it calmly to brew, or losing your god damned mind. And it seems he's on the former option right now. If only because he probably locked himself in his room the day it actually happened after it was all said and done]

This just...makes me feel like garbage.

[srwu_mods]

"Why's that?"

[streamedastar]

All this time I was thinking things like this wouldn't happen.
At least not this soon.
But of course that's stupid, bad things holding out until much later...the real world doesn't work that way.

[srwu_mods]

"Nobody's going to blame you for hoping for the best. It is not that you thinking that caused this."

[streamedastar]

I know that much.
And yet...I saw it...she's still dead. And nothing's even left of her.
That's not okay...nothing about any of this is okay.

[he wipes at his eyes cause this shit is getting to him again]

[srwu_mods]

"No, it's not. If Unity Group wasn't there, it'd go even worse."

[streamedastar]

Barely. It almost feels like we were just there for decoration for the good we did...she saved everyone.

[srwu_mods]

"All the more reason to remember her. And others, too."

The Commander is bad at this whole cheering up thing.

[streamedastar]

...
Of course.

[caressthedarkness]

I am sorry...

[Next to the slab, Seta sets down a small drinking glass that is partially filled with water, and then places some white flowers in it. The stems of the flowers are in a bad state - bent here and there...someone was clearly not delicate enough while handling them.]

Back home, there was a garden that served a similar purpose...but this was the best I could manage...

[srwu_mods]

"It's... the thought that matters."

[majestic_keiki]

[While she didn't approach the commander immediately, Kei was hanging back near the memorial holding a small bouquet of flowers to put down.]

[srwu_mods]

"Umm. You can come here."

It doesn't take long for Antov to notice he is not alone.

"This place is for everyone to pay their honors. Don't mind me being here."

[majestic_keiki]

I didn't want to disturb you.

[Even so, she did walk up and put down the bouquet at the memorial.]

[srwu_mods]

"You're not disturbing anything. I had a lot of time to think about what happened already."

[majestic_keiki]

I imagine you'd have to do that...It's been an awful month, hasn't it?

[srwu_mods]

"Yes..."

Nothing else needs to be said.

[majestic_keiki]

[Like the commander Kei fell quiet and stood there looking at the memorial.]

We'll have to make sure it wasn't in vain.

[srwu_mods]

"Yeah. Remember everything that happened... and keep on walking. For those who are no longer with us, but especially for those who still need our help."

[majestic_keiki]

Right, we can't give up...I just sounded like Izuru, didn't I?

[srwu_mods]

"A little bit. But even Hitachi can say something smart in a while."

"Ah, I am not implying that one of our pilots says dumb things..."

[majestic_keiki]

Yes, you did. I mean, he does, but still...He probably has a point here. It helps keep morale up to think like that.

[srwu_mods]

"That's true, but it's not only about morale."

Antov sighs.

"You're all under my command. I feel responsible when people don't return safely. Even when it's because of something beyond my control."

[majestic_keiki]

I know that...I was there as mission control when Kanade and Denzel died. I imagine the other pilots present feel the same as well.

Have you heard anything about how Tsubasa's been doing since leaving?

[srwu_mods]

"Not really. I think she's still recuperating after what happened. The whole Japanese 2nd Division is in shambles."

[majestic_keiki]

I'm just worried about her. Her partner died and she vanished without any real goodbyes.

[srwu_mods]

"I'm worried too. But I can't do anything about it."

Antov clenches his teeth, frustrated.

"My jurisdiction begins and ends with Unity Group. I can't do anything about people who aren't part of it anymore."

[majestic_keiki]

I know...I just hoped you'd heard something.