Standing up

[star_of_sad]

[1]
Umm.

[Setsuko has a small announcement over Unity Group's internal network. She looks rather... uneasy. But then, when isn't she?]

I'd like to address the elephant in the room.

I think we all realize that Freddy Angel's terrorists aren't just an ordinary terrorist group. They have those huge units that I never saw before, and access to a lot of Gespensts, and Huckebeins. The latter is mass produced but it's new, and the former had a limited production run.

How did they get all of those? How come no one noticed that so many units are now in terrorist hands?

Eva's boss... mr Mcdowell, was it? I think he knows something. I mean, I think he knows a lot. Maybe he thinks he can brush off Eva, but he has no right to. People have died because of this. We deserve to know.

I'd like to talk to him. And... and I hope others feel this way too.

[Feel free to respond either over the video link or in person.]

[2]
[Later on, Setsuko is checking the global network - again. It seems to become a habit for her. Seeing what's going on in the world in general, but in particular getting information regarding recent events - and their aftermaths. What happened to Progtech? Are PRAYERs really gone for good? (spoilers: they are) Does the term "Paradigm City" still mean nothing to the outside world?]


Ahh... I spent way too much time doing this.

I really could use a sundae right now...

[As she turns her eyes from the monitor, the search history shows a lot of terms related to one thing:

Glory Star.]

Comments

1

[actuallyselfish]

"I've got your back, Setsuko." Dido says simply. "How should we try wringing the truth from him?"

[star_of_sad]

I... don't know. I was going to insist he just say the truth, but...

[actuallyselfish]

"Hmmm..." Dido muses. "Pressuring the truth out of him is a good plan, but we'll need to approach it form the right angle. Do you think we could guilt trip him with the potential loss of life if he doesn't spill his secrets?"

[star_of_sad]

I...
[Setsuko bites her lip in preparation of saying something not nice.]

Honestly, I do not think he cares. I want to say that we will not help him anymore unless we know everything - but that's not my place to decide. I'm not the commander.

[actuallyselfish]

"Well, you could talk to some of our commanders: see if they'd let you speak for you." Dido points out. "A few of them are surprisingly reasonable about this stuff."

[star_of_sad]

This was supposed to be my next step, actually.

They will listen, won't they? Considering what we all have been through, they have no reason to.

[actuallyselfish]

"Either they will, or they won't." Dido says with a shrug. "The only way we'll find out is by actually asking."

She extends a hand to Setsuko. "Wanna talk to them together?"

[star_of_sad]

Alright... if you say so.

[Setsuko nods, overcoming her hesitation.]

Let's go, then.

2

[empress_without_a_throne]

"Spent too much time" doing what?

[star_of_sad]

Ah!

[Setsuko jumps in her seat. It was not a very big jump, admittedly.]


Mizuki, I didn't see you there! I was trying to dig up for information.

[A tired wave towards the screen.]

Over the network.

[empress_without_a_throne]

I see.

[And she sees those search topics.]

... And by the look of things, it's not just on a whim either.

[star_of_sad]

No, it's not. It's good to stay informed. Even if we know what happenes thanks to Commander Antov or just... well, being there - I must also know how other people look at things. What is their opinion on what's going on.

And there's also, well...

[empress_without_a_throne]

[It's not hard to guess what Setsuko's getting at.]

Also your more personal matters. Like with Asakim.

[star_of_sad]

Not... quite.

There's someone online who goes by name "Glory Star". It could be a coincidence, but...

[empress_without_a_throne]

Maybe, maybe not.

A name's not enough to prove a connection, but what manner of thing do they write about? And how do they go about it?

[star_of_sad]

Umm. It's someone interested in the goings on in the world, especially various incidents, and they talk a lot about trying to uncover the truth underneath them.

Do you see where I am going with this?

I wonder if I should make contact, but...

[empress_without_a_throne]

-But nothing says you'd have to let them know who you are either.

And I'd say to at least give it a try. You'd be risking little but could stand to gain a lot.

[star_of_sad]

It's true, isn't it? It's not that I have anything to lose by doing this. The web is all anonymous - unless you decide otherwise.

Thanks, Mizuki.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Think nothing of it. Even after everything that's happened, you're not alone.

[star_of_sad]

I know. This... really feels like home for me now. Where I have others, waiting for me.

1

[cloningblues]

Do you remember when the Shadow Mirrors stole a whole bunch of Huckebeins and Gespensts, Setsuko? Maybe Freddy Angel took advantage of that...

[star_of_sad]

But that'd mean the two worked together, at least for some time.

Do you think Angel might want the same world that Shadow Mirrors do?

[cloningblues]

No. I don't think they even worked together.

I think Freddy Angel took advantage of that situation to steal some mecha of his own.

[star_of_sad]

Wouldn't it be reported then? Wouldn't someone notice that a lot of mecha just up and disappeared?

Maybe... maybe mr Mcdowell hid it on purpose, to escape responsibility?

[cloningblues]

Of course they were reported. But the blame on that was put on the Shadow Mirrors, who already stole so many.

...At least that's what I think. Maybe I'm completely wrong. There's only one way to find out the truth.

[star_of_sad]

It all boils down to the inevitable, doesn't it...

[cloningblues]

Yes. Ask McDowell, and see what he says.

...He'll probably be evasive. But even if we learn nothing, it's better than not doing anything.

[star_of_sad]

It'd be good to plan the next step too, in case he really won't tell us anything.

Or make sure there is more than just one person asking. That at least some of our leaders want to know too.

I... I think I know what to do.

[cloningblues]

It'd be good to have some high-ranking people behind you, yes. Like the commander, or the Gebian general, or major Kag-

[Okay, maybe not that one, considering her current state.]

...So, what's your plan?

[star_of_sad]

It's... nothing special, really.

I will tell him that we need to know the truth if we are going to help him. And if we don't get the truth then, well...

He doesn't have much of authority over Unity Group, does he? So we assisted him only out of our free will but this can change.

[cloningblues]

Let's hope the commander approves. Without him, the decisions we can make here are limited.

[star_of_sad]

I know. But...

[Setsuko tries to smile lightly.]

I think he will approve. Commander Antov is reasonable. We could have had much worse leaders than we do.