Ban's speech echoes in Rhinocerous's hangar: "The Federation's bloated bureaucracy, mired in meetings and vote-rigging, fails to address old issues. The time for such delays is over. Humanity, I declare Neue DC as Earth's true shield! We alone can thwart the alien threat Bian Zoldark foresaw!"
Shadow Mirror's crew listens impassively, unlike Neue DC's cheering masses.
"The Federation hid truths, as Tokyo Declaration revealed. Entrusting them with Earth's fate is suicide. Do you wish to die as pawns or face extinction? No! You crave life, a future. Unite humanity's strength and wisdom against the coming threat. Cast out corrupt bureaucracy under a unified will!"
My world's Federation was rotten, but this one's not there yet.
"We need not Aegis's shield but Harpe's scythe! Join Neue DC if you'd wield your strength for Earth's future, not greed. Rally under our banner and seize freedom!"
Cheers erupt from Neue DC's Rhinocerous. "Morale's sky-high. Africa's theirs. Hagane, fanatical soldiers are trouble," I muse. Muuta was just Grow Savior's debut, no real fight. If Hagane's team hasn't grown since Arabia, Neue DC will crush them. But if they've met my expectations…
"Captain, we're nearing Earth Cradle," Wodan interrupts.
"Right. W15, how was crossing blades with Hagane's PTs?"
"Tough," Wodan says. "Kyosuke Nanbu didn't flinch. Most would retreat in fear, but he pressed forward, turning a cleaving strike into a shoulder graze."
Kyosuke's nerve—proven in academy mock battles—needs no worry. "Promising."
Back at Earth Cradle, parting with Wodan for his Magus link, I head to the strategy room when commotion draws me. A man, restrained by mass-produced Ws, thrashes.
"What's this?" I ask a W.
"He tried entering Shadow Mirror's zone unauthorized. He fled when detained," it reports.
"Let me go! I didn't do that! Show proof! This thing framed me!" the man, mid-20s, sneers mockingly, refusing fault. Ws lack ego to frame anyone—unless ordered by Vindel or Lemon.
"Lock him up. I'll check with Vindel and Lemon," I order.
"Yes, sir." The W drags the cursing man to Shadow Mirror's zone. "Think you can do this to me? A weak group like you, squatting here, daring to touch Earth Cradle's own?"
Bad luck stumbling into this. I head to the strategy room.
"Just returned," I announce.
"Good work. Why the sour face?" Vindel asks.
I relay the incident. "Intruders again," Vindel sighs. "They keep trying."
"Suspects?" I ask.
Lemon, smirking bitterly, answers. "It's not new, Axel. They've slipped away before, but we got one this time."
"Why arm Ws at the Earth Cradle junction?" Vindel adds. "Good catch."
"Who?" I press.
"Not Feff—he's a tech partner. No need for spies," Lemon says.
"Agira Setome," I conclude.
"Exactly. She's dodged blame before, but we've got her pawn now. I'll make him talk with truth serum," Lemon says.
Poor bastard. Then I think of Ouka. This interrogation could plant doubts about Agira. Not enough to break her conditioning, but a start.
"Vindel, Lemon, can I bring one or two to the interrogation?" I ask.
"Who?" Vindel replies.
"Ouka Nagisa, maybe Cuerbo Sero."
"Why Agira's people?" Lemon frowns.
"Ouka's brainwashed, but Cuerbo's decent. If they question Agira, it's a win."
"Fair. I'll arrange with Feff," Vindel says, contacting him. "We caught an intruder. Send Ouka Nagisa and Cuerbo Sero for questioning. As witnesses. Yes, you know who we suspect. Handle it."
Vindel wraps up in a minute—impressive. "They'll arrive in 20 minutes. Lemon, prep the serum."
"Ugh, you two are stubborn," Lemon sighs, leaving to fetch it.
I brief Vindel on Muuta until the Ws signal Ouka and Cuerbo's arrival. "Let them in."
Ouka glares at me, hostile, despite our slight rapport in Arabia. Agira's tampering again.
"Welcome, Dr. Cuerbo, Ouka Nagisa," Vindel says theatrically. "We're glad you're here."
"What do you want?" Cuerbo asks as Ouka bristles.
"Rats keep sneaking into our zone. We caught one this time and want your insight," Vindel explains.
"Rats?" Ouka frowns, confused. Cuerbo's face tightens—he knows something.
"Usually, they escape, but not today," Vindel continues.
"Rats… escaped lab animals?" Ouka asks.
Cuerbo pales, dreading the truth. I cut in. "Enough metaphors. Ouka won't get it, Cuerbo might. Agira's sending spies to steal our tech."
Ouka's stunned, then furious. "Nonsense! Mother has no reason for that!"
"It's simple. We have tech she doesn't. Right, Cuerbo?" I press.
"I… don't know," Cuerbo stammers.
Vindel smirks. Ouka's glare confirms her altered memories. This interrogation better spark something.