The retry

[srwu_npc]

[1]
"Good job, Unity Group. The Lady's Good Men have been defeated without civilian casualties. We have captured a number of enemy pilots and intelligence, and analysis of discoveries made is underway."

"The noose is tightening around their necks."

Do you have anything to say to Major Ingram before the transmission ends?

[2]

"Hey."

Look who's there. This time though, Apollonius "Loni" Gavin looks a bit apologetic.

"After what happened, me and Desta talked a bit and he's got something to say now."


"..."


"Come on man, just say it."


"I'm not... going to do something like that again."


"See? Desta's sorry for what happened. What happened with that hostage taking guy - it was fucked up."

"It's not my intention to start shit or anything, and I know there's some bad blood here. Soo... let's try everything from the start, like we don't know each other. Okay?"

[3]


"Tch. I got distracted for a second and ShotSaber's all busted. Top notch mecha my ass..."


"That man... I made a mistake and let him go. He was an enemy..."


"What happened out there? Was that the true power of friendship, or something like that? Why don't I have that kind of power, is something missing?"

It seems each individual member of Loni's team is busy angsting over something. Confront one or more of them, maybe?

Comments

3

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Let's go for all three.]

What happened out there wasn't an ideal operation, but it could've been much, much worse. It doesn't hurt to take that into consideration.

Still... assuming we -and in turn the Knights- hadn't arrived, dare I ask how you would've dealt with the hostage crisis?

[srwu_npc]

"I'd... figure something out. Eventually."


"We definitely would not agree to the hostage taker's demands and abandon our units. That's unacceptable."

As for Desta...


"You know what'd happen."

[empress_without_a_throne]

So then the biggest difference between us is the body count you would've racked up. Maybe you would've gotten lucky and killed our enemy, but he could've very easily gotten away all the same. And responding to a hostage crisis like that wouldn't buy you any time to think up a better solution, even on as obvious as just disabling the grunt machines.

It's a matter of being too hasty. You're too willing to jump the gun out there.

[srwu_npc]

"What's with the accusations? We'd get our act together and go after the ringleader. Nobody would die."

[empress_without_a_throne]

Less accusations, more just criticism and advice. Like I said before, jumping the gun can be dangerous out there, especially when you're dealing with a machine you know can control other ones but the details of which are sketchy. The Papaver hijacked the FightSaber, lest you forget... and if not for us weakening its control of your machine, things could've turned ugly, and fast.

... I know this sounds bad, but that's how criticism works. And the saving grace though is you're all still alive. And from the sounds of it you're at least willing to put some thought into what could've gone better and what you can do about it.

3 - Desta

[caressthedarkness]

Umm...

...I have heard a saying that "Even the greatest sword's strength lies in its wielder," or something to that effect...

[Of course, she doesn't actually mean to offend here, but...]

[srwu_npc]

"You say it's not the machine's fault but mine?"

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

[caressthedarkness]

...N-no...

[She waves her hands frantically.]

What I mean to point out is...it is a great machine...

...Therefore, you should not be so quick to decide that it is not from such an incident...

[srwu_npc]

"Hmph. Why did that happen, then?"

3 - Desta and Loni

[tiger_ken]

You guys have got custom made machines that most pilots would dream of getting their hands on. And both of you are incredibly skilled, considering you've mostly handled each encounter with the Lady's Good Men prior to this. So you can't lay the entirety of the mission's faults on those things.

[Ken sounds like a strange echo of Yuuya from weeks earlier, as he approaches the two.]

[srwu_npc]

"Yeah, you're right. But that just shows even this kind of machine isn't enough sometimes."

[tiger_ken]

It probably would have helped if you guys had been acting together from the start, rather than one deciding to act of his own initiative in a delicate situation.

Though that said... I think maybe having someone on your team dedicated to information gathering would go a long way too. We wouldn't have handled things as well as we did, if Kei weren't there.

[srwu_npc]

"You mean what, intelligence during battle? Or before?"

2

[cloningblues]

Desta! You...

[Asagi looks like he's ready to grab ShotSaber's gunner by the collar. That's a lot of anger he's trying to control right now.]

You better keep this promise!

[srwu_npc]

"You're doubting me?"


"Hey! He just said he's going not to do it anymore. I'll be here to make sure he keeps that promise, alright?"

[cloningblues]

After what you tried to pull, do you really expect me not to doubt you?

[Asagi turns to Loni.]

Yes, do that. You're the leader of this squad, right?

[srwu_npc]

"It's not that I'm in command. We're friends, the others are trusting me because of what we've been through together."

1

[actuallyselfish]

"It must be tough, wrangling those kids and keeping them on mission." Dido suggests to Ingram.

"Hard work with no reward, and all that."

[srwu_npc]

"No, there are rewards. And they more than make up for the inconvenience."

[actuallyselfish]

"Oh Ho?" Dido said.

"Loni's uncle must be loaded like nobody's business! Or..."

Casually, she adds. "...those Lady's Good Men must have some fancy loot, maybe."

[srwu_npc]

"There are parties in ESUN who are happy to see Gavin's performance. Their benevolence is proportional to how much Unity Group is willing to help him."

"Keep that in mind, especially when he becomes difficult to deal with."

3)

[sang_av_helten]

HAH! HAHAHAHA!

I have heard of what had occurred out in the chaotic battlefield, and I must say that ALL of you lack the hunter's instinct required to truly triumph!

Really, if it were not for the fact that the warriors of the Unity Group had been present - your corpses would probably be decorating that place along with that of your many victims.

[Where was that mysterious voice coming from?]

[srwu_npc]

"What?!"


"Who's saying that? Show yourself, asshole!"


"..."

[sang_av_helten]

You demand to speak to me face to face when you have not even proven yourselves to me? Very well! I shall allow you this privilege, if only you are able to redeem yourselves in your next showing in the battlefield!

HAH!

[There's a blur from up above along the gantries, skidding and sliding down several containers, limbs and wires before landing on its feet solidly in front of Loni's crew. On all FOUR of its feet.]

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Skald Skogkattson! Of the line of the Chariot Bearers of Freya! Whose mighty ancestors plied the seas and snow alongside mighty warriors and faced perils innumerable!

I am unsurprised if you are intimidated by my mighty appearance!

[Skald puffs up, making his fur all poofy. He doesn't really care that he only just barely comes up to Loni's knee.]

[srwu_npc]

You get a speechless while as a response. It takes some time before anyone says anything.


"... A talking cat...?"


"You must be shitting me."