In the name of...

[jianai]

[1]
[The conversation from a few days' back assured Ren into making this decision.

Here they stand, wearing a pilot suit sans helmet - two obvious reasons get in the way of wearing one.]

Hello again. I was taken to your leaders and just a few moments ago it was made official. Starting from now on, I am Unity Group's newest pilot.

[Salute.]

I can't just sit back and wait while everyone is risking their lives. I'll help too! I had some experience piloting mobile suits already, but it seems it's time to add "combat pilot" to the list of things I've done during my life. Also, well.

I love everyone.

But I understand that sometimes, there is no other option than to hurt someone to save someone. I won't hesitate.

[2]

Well then, which one of those would suit me~?

[Ren is checking out Unity Group's hangars, trying to find a unit for themselves. They act more like they're picking up groceries though.]

I must say, the selection is quite amazing! You have some really rare suits... I think. I'm not much of an expert. But some of them don't even look that much used.

Comments

[jianai]

Oh? I didn't know you had such a responsible task.

I said so much about myself, but I just realized that I know so little about you. It's unfair of me, to speak but not listen.

[majestic_keiki]

There's not much to say. I was at military academy for four years before my team got selected to pilot a number of experimental prototypes. Mine was set up as a mobile command center, so I ended up as mission control.

[jianai]

It sounds like you had your path in life set by a higher power for a long time now. It's not only about your stay with this here Unity Group.

[majestic_keiki]

You could say that...

[jianai]

Kei - I am going to ask a personal question, so I won't feel hurt or offended if you don't want to answer.

Do you like your life?

[majestic_keiki]

I'd prefer not talking about it with a stranger, but I don't enjoy the way my superiors treat their subordinates.

[jianai]

I believe we talked about it. Bad military plans and dressing up in swimsuits, right?

[majestic_keiki]

Yes. [No, there's absolutely nothing else here. Nothing at all.]

[jianai]

Are you concerned for your own safety, or is there something that makes you worried about others as well?

[majestic_keiki]

He's a vice-admiral and part of high command, he has thousands under his command and millions of civilians whose lives might be lost due to his incompetence.

[jianai]

When I spoke to Unity Group's commander in chief, he seemed like a reasonable person. Maybe you could talk to him? Ask him to put pressure and replace the vice admiral with someone a little bit more competent?

[majestic_keiki]

...The vice-admiral outranks him quite a bit. And in any case, me and the rest of my team are here as a joint project, final authority over us is still outside Unity Group.

[jianai]

What a complicated situation...

Since we cannot do much to change it, we may at least try to minimize effects of bad decisions.

[majestic_keiki]

Yes...How did that man ever get a promotion? He isn't even charming in his incompetence.

[jianai]

I do not know him personally. Perhaps there are some sorts of inner talents that he possesses which are not immediately obvious?

Or perhaps, well. There must be a reason why he received his position, but that reason may not always be something that makes you happy to hear of.

[majestic_keiki]

I suppose...Not sure I want to know either way.

[jianai]

Some things are just beyond our ability to reach and influence.

I'm repeating myself on this matter, aren't I?

[majestic_keiki]

Yes.

But so am I, I think.

[jianai]

A new topic for conversation then, so that we break the vicious circle.

What was your life at the academy like? You mentioned something about a team, that must be the other Majestic Princes?

[majestic_keiki]

That's just a nickname the press made up from the term MJP. Officially we're Team Rabbits of the MJP program. And the academy was pretty much how you'd expect a military academy. It's a boarding school with lots of instruction in combat tactics, larger strategic maneuvers, armed and unarmed combat, mecha piloting and so on.

[jianai]

Did you study mostly tactics and other forms of warfare?

[majestic_keiki]

It was a comprehensive military education, but probably with a bias towards mecha piloting.

[jianai]

Aha.

You can probably guess why I asked. I wanted to know if you learnt ordinary school things too, or just strictly military ones.

[majestic_keiki]

Mostly military ones, there was only so much time, but we did learn history, math, science and so on too.

[jianai]

I see. This calms my worries, actually.