In Earth Cradle's hangar, a silver-haired woman with a sharp gaze approaches—Zeora Schweitzer, Arado's partner. Her eyes betray suspicion, likely Agira's conditioning, like Ouka's.
"Captain Axel, Sergeant Zeora Schweitzer. Pleased to work with you," she says stiffly.
"You'll take point with me. Any issues?" I ask.
"With you?" Her expression sours, barely masked. "No, I'll fight for Neue DC's glory."
Her words sound robotic, programmed. "Like a puppet," I mutter, unheard. I dislike this.
"One thing, Sergeant. Leave Gespenst Mk-III to me. Two units might challenge me—keep them busy."
Britt and Irm, sorry, but Kyosuke's my focus today—Hagane and Hiryu Kai's core.
"Your old partner might show. Can you fight?" I probe.
"Partner? I trained solo," she snaps, Arado's memory erased.
"Ask your heart. Truth lies there."
"What…? Solo… or not?" Confusion flickers, torn between real and false memories. Agira's brainwashing only layers over existing memories, not erasing them. Stirring them creates doubt.
"Zeora!" Ouka arrives, glaring. "Captain Axel, what did you do?"
"Nothing, ma'am," Zeora says. "He just claimed Gespenst Mk-III."
"Fine. My apologies, Captain. Zeora seemed off after you spoke," Ouka says, her hostility raw. Agira's tweaks erased our Arabia rapport.
"Don't worry about it."
"Zeora, protect Lat. I wanted to join, but Lapiesage's adjustments need me," Ouka says.
"Don't worry, sister. I'll bring Lat back," Zeora vows.
Lapiesage—Agira's prize. It's powerful, minimally using our tech, mostly local. Feff likely arranged its transfer. "Done with goodbyes? Time to move," I order.
"Yes, sir!" Zeora salutes, puzzled by my earlier words: "False or true memories—choose wisely, no regrets."
I prep for launch.
"Captain, spotted R-1 prototype and SMSC Angelg. Sending coordinates," a mass-produced W reports, back from scouting with Zeora. They've met Arado and Lamia, as planned.
"Got it. Moving out," I reply, prepping Grow Savior and contacting Rhinocerous's bridge. "Hagane's team located. Send Vindel the coordinates."
"Roger."
"All units, ready? Launch!"
Grow Savior leads 18 units: El Eins, Landgriz, mass-produced Gespenst Mk-IIs, and Landlions. Landlions are outdated—like Zakus among Gundams—but numbers matter.
"Captain, targets in sight," a Landgriz W reports.
The monitor shows Zeora's Bildfalke and W's Gespensts, reduced from combat. Beside Bildfalke, a non-allied unit—Arado, likely persuading her. I'd let it play out, but Vindel's coming with Trinity Gain. I spot Angelg nearby and contact it via secure comms.
"Axel Almer. W17, have you reported us to Hagane or Hiryu Kai?"
"Done, boss. Lurin' them ships here, right?" Lamia's garbled speech—cool beauty, broken language—jars.
"Your language circuit's shot," I note.
"Yup. Respectful talk's busted."
"Forget formalities. Why am I here?"
"Vindel wants to test Hagane and Hiryu Kai himself. I'm backup."
"They're stronger now. Could end like our world," she warns.
"Noted. First, prove your damage is just linguistic. Show me your combat's intact." I glance at Arado's Alblade. "That's an order—easier for W-numbers, right?"
Per the original, stirring Lamia's emotions should spark her ego. Her monitor image shows a faint frown. "All units, I'll handle W17. Stay put, keep watch—Hagane or Hiryu Kai could appear."
"Roger!"
"Captain, I'll take Arado Balanga!" Zeora insists.
"Do it. That's front-line work."
Her instability shows, shaken by Arado. I focus on Lamia. "Come at me, W17."
"Fine, full force."
Grow Savior's Fire Daggers launch at Angelg. Lamia crosses its arms. "Shadow Lancer!"
Energy spears collide with daggers, most exploding midair. A few daggers break through. "Outdone?" I taunt.
"Not yet, Captain!" Lamia deploys Mirage Sword, slicing the rest, which crash and detonate.
"Combat's fine," I note.
"My turn!" Lamia switches to a bow, firing Illusion Arrow.
"Adamant Harpe, deploy!" I swing the scythe, dispersing the energy arrow.
"Your skills haven't rusted," Lamia quips.
As I prep the next move, radar pings—a warship, then two, then three. "Shirogane," I mutter. PTs and AMs deploy rapidly, elite as expected. They pause, confused—Lee likely misjudged Arado as a DC spy, per the original. The chaos settles, and Arado and Lamia retreat to their side.
I lock on. "Alteisen, since Arabia. Britt and Irm stole you then, but not today. All units, target non-Beowulf units."
"Roger."
"Zeora, I know you want him, but with their numbers, we can't fixate. Understood?"
"…Yes, sir," she grumbles.
"Wait!" A voice over open comms—Ryoto in a Huckebein Mk-III, not Britt's Mk-II. Psychokinesis resonates, now with both Britt and Ryoto. "Invisible Man's pilot? Britt's guy. This feeling… were you in Washington?"
"Ryoto, you know him!?" Britt exclaims.
"Maybe… I felt this in Washington," Ryoto says.
Psychokinesis is handy but troublesome now. "I told you in Arabia—I answer if you beat me."
A teleport signal appears. "Here it comes."
Trinity Gain emerges—Soulgain's base, with Dygenguar's shoulders and knees, Aussenseiter's Schulter Platte arms and feet, floating via Dygenguar parts. "Trinity Gain," I murmur.