Signing up

[itbelongsinamuseum]

1
[An announcement is playing. It shows Alex alone trying to look in control.]

Hi everyone

I've been staying here for the last week following the attack on Brussels and I've met several of you already and I imagine the rest of you have at least heard about the battle, but I'd better introduce myself anyway.  My name is Alexandra de Witt and at the battle it turned out that I have the ability to call on the power of the Sumerian god Enki to fight monsters sent by the king of the gods Enlil...I don't think that will ever stop sounding insane. Regardless, I can summon the Sumerian god Enki as essentially a giant robot and while I think there won't be any more monsters, I still can't be sure.

I've spent the last week trying to figure out what to do about that and I have come to a decision. I will stay with you and help protect the world against alien invaders and rampaging monsters. I never thought about becoming a soldier before, but I have a powerful weapon in my hands that I can't hand over to somebody else and I can't just turn away and let others fight in that situation. So I'm officially introducing myself.

...And I'm probably also going to need to ask for your help in learning how to properly fight. I can pilot, or whatever you want to call it, Enki just fine, but I have no training in tactics or other parts of how to handle myself on the battle field.

2


[Later that day Alex can be found sitting slumped against the wall a short distance down the corridor from the gym to the showers. She's wearing what looks like very new training clothes that appear to be drenched in sweat.]

...Maybe I overdid it.

Comments

[jianai]

I am sure Major Kagura would love to help you.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I don't think I've met them.

[jianai]

Oh, you don't know her? Very big robot, always in a foul mood, TALKS LIKE THIS.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

...I don't think she'd be willing to. Or wouldn't devolve into repeating that famous movie scene with the drill sergeant.

[jianai]

I don't think she'd die just from a shotgun blast.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

You know what I mean.

[jianai]

Yes, I do. Sorry, that's enough of that from me.

There are several Unity Group members who have a lot of experience with drills and military tactics and such, mostly from the receivers' end. Majestic Princes, Argos Flight... maybe you could ask some of them?

Admittedly I have yet to practice along their side.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I think I'll try asking some of them instead.

[jianai]

It'd be healthier for everyone involved, wouldn't it?

I must warn you though, the Argos Flight may have you wear one of those Eishi pilot suits.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

...One of those whats?

[jianai]

Oh, you don't know? The TSF armored suit?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Do I want to know what it looks like?

[jianai]

Please give me a few minutes and I'll show you. It's nothing too embarassing, really!

... I will not make you wear it, by the way. Just so we're clear.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

You know that you just make it sound worse than it probably is saying it like that.

[jianai]

Wait here.

[Ren walks away quickly, but it's not until 10-15 minutes later that they're back...]

Ta-dah! How is it?

[Ren is wearing a rather manly looking pilot suit, and the fact that its torso area is clearly transparent is surely just coincidence.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

That's a real pilot suit? And not some kind of Halloween costume for people who think the whole sexy costume thing should be both men as well?

[jianai]

It's not only for men. Would you like to see the female version?

I assure you, despite how it looks like, it's quite comfortable.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

No, I think I can guess...Is this really real? Not some kind of joke?

[jianai]

Yes, it is very much real. I wouldn't make a costume like that just to prank people, would I?

[Ren's wide smile looks very mysterious right now.]

Oh, but this is the trainee version. Suits used on the line of battle are slightly different. This transparency is only for pilots in training, so that you can easily see if you're wounded or that something is wrong.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Wouldn't actual battle be more likely to cause injuries than training?

But I think I'll find someone else to train me.

[jianai]

I suppose even a professional soldier may feel embarassed walking around with a lot of their body visible.

So I take it this plan is a no-go? That's a shame. I'm sure Yuuya and his friends would not mind company.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I'll figure something out, don't worry.

[jianai]

Let me return this then. If you change your mind, there's more where this one came from.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

And I'd need to talk to the flight myself either way.