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It is the year 0068 of the Universal Century. A half century has passed since the earth began moving its burgeoning population into gigantic orbiting space colonies. A new home for mankind, where people are born and raised… and die.

“We are the people of the universe. We have struggled to survive in a harsh environment, and new generations of colonists testify to our success. Now, when we gaze back at Earth, we see a sacred blue and green orb- the cradle of civilization and a sacred home that we must eternally preserve and protect . . .”
-Zeon Zum Deikun, UC 0058

—------------------------------------

11:35 PM, 21 October, UC 0068
Autonomous Republic of Munzo, Side 3

Something terrible happened today.

None of the adults have told you anything all day, but you could see on their faces that something was wrong. You overheard your older brother say something about a collapse during a speech, but he refused to explain himself before leaving with some important military looking men. He's only a little older than you but everybody treats him so much differently! It isn't fair. Father and mother have been gone since this morning as well, and it was left to the household servants to take care of you all day. They didn't explain anything, attempting to distract you with games and music but only succeeding in putting you more on edge.

Almost as soon as the servants put you to bed you snuck out of your room and back out into quiet halls of the mansion, tiptoeing along through the shadows until you caught sight of a group of adults entering your father’s study…

In the dim light you cannot make out who they are, but as the heavy double doors to the study close behind them you hurry over to try and listen in. You press your ear against the cold wooden door, straining to hear the muffled voices on the other side. It is difficult to make anything out, occasional footsteps and what sounds like the clinking of glass, or perhaps metal, interspersed between quiet conversation. It goes on for awhile, but you can’t hear much of it clearly until the very end.

“...He’s not going to recover…” A deep male voice states matter-of-factly, the rest of the room briefly falling silent.

“...Are you sure there’s nothing that can be done?” A female voice questions uncertainly, a murmur of others joining her soon after.

“I am certain. Now would be a good time to…” The deep voice continues speaking, but the rest of his sentence is too indistinct to make out. You hear heavy footsteps on the other side of the door, slowly growing louder as they approach. You have only a few moments to back away, and your small strides don’t carry you far over the smooth marble floor before you slip, falling in a heap as the great carved wooden door swings wide and reveals an imposing but aged man…

>...Your father, Degwin Zabi.
>...Your father Zeon Zum Deikun’s most trusted physician, Girard.
>>
>>5414507
>...Your father, Degwin Zabi.
>>
>>5414507
>...Your father Zeon Zum Deikun’s most trusted physician, Girard.
>>
>>5414507
>...Your father Zeon Zum Deikun’s most trusted physician, Girard.
>>
>>5414507
>...Your father Zeon Zum Deikun’s most trusted physician, Girard.

God, plz no Zabi, I wouldn't be able to trust us if we were a part of that cursed family.
>>
>>5414565
>>5414585
>>5414640
Deikun wins, locking it in.
>>
>>5414507
>>...Your father Zeon Zum Deikun’s most trusted physician, Girard.
>>
>>5414565
>>5414585
>>5414640
>>5414762

Girard’s worn, haggard face looks down at you as the old man’s expression shifts from confusion, to mild surprise, and then finally settles upon worry. His wrinkled brow furrows deeply as he kneels down and extends a hand to you, speaking gently.

“What are you doing awake at this hour?” Girard asks, meeting your unsteady gaze. He looks absolutely exhausted.

“I… I just wanted to know...” You begin to explain, but something about the look in his eyes causes your heart to sink and you find yourself unable to speak.

His expression softens as he helps you to get back to your feet, “It’s quite alright, child. I was just about to send for you and the rest of your family. Are you alright? That looked like a hard fall.”

You shake your head and spend a moment adjusting your wrinkled pajamas, “...I’m okay, it wasn’t so bad… What’s going on? Where are father and mother?”

“Right to the point then,” Girard half mumbles before addressing you more clearly, “Your mother and siblings are safe, but I’m afraid that your father is very unwell.”

A horrible sinking feeling grips you, fear taking anything from your mind but for a simple question, “Is he going to be okay?”

“No, I'm very sorry. It is important that you all see him soon.” Girard answers, before turning to the others in the study and waving them out. Among their number are a few of the household servants, one of Girard’s assistant nurses, and a man you recognize as Jimba Ral - one of your father’s closest if quite eccentric friends.

Jimba leads the others out of the room while speaking into a small radio, “Ramba, bring up Astraia and the other children. It’s worth the risk to have them together again, the doctor says there isn’t much time left.”

"Understood, the car should be there in a few minutes." A voice replies over the radio's tinny speaker, static distorting it slightly.

You’re led along through the long hallways of your family's mansion, barely paying attention to what is happening around you as Girard gently guides you onward. Why didn’t anybody tell you what was happening until now? Why did the soldiers leave with Casval earlier without taking you? What is going to happen to father?

You pass by a framed family portrait on one of the walls, oil on canvas, and the image briefly focuses your racing mind. Father, Mother, your older brother Casval, your younger sister Artesia, and…

>Astraia. You’re named after your mother.
>Felix. You’re named after a bodyguard who saved your father’s life a decade ago.
>>
>>5414792
>Felix. You’re named after a bodyguard who saved your father’s life a decade ago.
>>
>>5414792
>Felix. You're named after a bodyguard who saved your father's life a decade ago.
>>
>>5414792
>>5414792
>Felix. You’re named after a bodyguard who saved your father’s life a decade ago.

Let's fucking go new Gundam quets. Thank God the the zabi option lost.
>>
>>5414794
>>5414798
>>5414850
Locking in Felix. Next part should be posting fairly soon.
>>
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>>5414794
>>5414798
>>5414850

It isn't a long walk.

You're led to a room on the far side of the mansion where your father is being treated. Jimba says something about a 'successful decoy' to whoever it is he’s speaking with over the radio now, maybe it's still Ramba. You barely have any time to think of it before you catch sight of your mother, Casval, and Artesia being hurried down the opposite side of the hallway by a pair of soldiers, their blonde hair in stark contrast with the drab colors of the soldier's uniforms.

“Felix! Oh, you’re alright, I was so worried!” Your mother cries out, hurrying over to you and leaving the pair of soldiers in the dust.

Your mother embraces you in a tight hug, and Artesia begins crying as she joins in a moment later. Casval stands off to the side a few paces away, his blue eyes locked intently on the wooden door leading into the room your father is being treated in as Girard enters the room. The old doctor steps out of sight for a moment before waving you all in.

You rarely come to this part of your home, and the interior of this room is a strange sight, half a guest room and half like the hospital room you had to stay in when you got very sick a few years ago. A vague memory plays in the back of your mind, a half remembered conversation between your father and Jimba about the need for precautions like better armed guards and medical equipment… it flew over your head at the time.

Your father, Zeon Zum Deikun, lays under the white covers of an uncomfortable looking bed, a number of compact machines nearby monitoring his vital signs. He shifts his head the slightest amount, barely moving at all to look at you as you enter, but he says nothing. His lips start to move, but words don’t form, and it occurs to you on some instinctive level that he can’t talk. Father doesn't look like himself, there’s something distant about his gaze, his eyes are sunken and strange and there’s a pallor to his skin. It’s as if he’s already mostly gone, somehow faded from life while still just barely lingering on.

Artesia continues crying, and you almost start to as well, but you manage to blink the tears away as your mother guides you over to the bedside. Your father’s hand shifts slightly, barely opening, and you reach out to hold it. He’s cold, far too cold. Artesia joins you, her smaller hand nestling alongside yours, and soon enough so does Casval.
>>
>>5414874

Girard takes your mother to the side of the room for a moment, placing a hand on her shoulder as he speaks in a low voice, “We thought we were going to lose him immediately after he collapsed, but we managed a resuscitation. It's been a battle since then, even getting him here was a small miracle but Jimba insisted hospitals were too dangerous. The damage is permanent, Astraia. He isn’t going to get better.”

“There’s nothing else you can do?” Your mother questions, her voice wavering.

“Nothing at all… We did everything we could.”

“...Thank you, Girard. Can- does he still understand what’s going on?” Your mother asks hesitantly.

“Yes, but he likely doesn’t have long. If there’s anything you need to say, now is the time to do so.”

Your mother kneels beside the bed, speaking in a whisper to your father before breaking down into sobbing. She gently leans over onto you and your siblings, pulling you in with an arm to hold you tight. You let go of your fathers hand, and it seems like what dim awareness was left in his eyes is fading quickly. His eyes shift slightly as he looks in turn to Casval, and then you, and finally Artesia. You’re sure he’s trying to communicate, pass on some sense of responsibility or… or something, it’s almost palpable in the air but you don't know what he’s trying to say.

In a few moments your father will be gone, along with this chapter of your life. Distantly, as if from miles away, you hear Jimba Ral cursing the name of the Zabi family…

>Say nothing. You need to stay strong for Artesia and Mother.
>Say goodbye. Cry. A lot.
>>
>>5414880
>Say nothing. You need to stay strong for Artesia and Mother.
>>
>>5414880
>Say nothing. You need to stay strong for Artesia and Mother.
>>
>>5414880
>Say goodbye. Cry. A lot.
>>
>>5414880
>Say goodbye. Cry. A lot

We'd regret not doing so
>>
>>5414886
>>5414888
>>5414889
>>5414898
I'm going to leave voting open for another half hour, and if there isn't a winner at that point I'll roll it off.
>>
>>5414880
>Say goodbye. Cry. A lot.
Now is not the time for strength nor being solemn.
>>
>>5414909
>>5414889
>>5414898
Locking it in.
>>
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>>5414909
>>5414898
>>5414889

“Goodbye, father.” You struggle to say the words, pressing more tightly against your mother as tears blur your vision. A few heartbeats later, Zeon Zum Deikun, the great mind behind Contolist philosophy, the beloved leader of Side 3, and your loving father, dies.

A few days later.
10:55 AM, 25 October, UC 0068
Autonomous Republic of Munzo, Side 3

Today is your father’s funeral.

There were riots and protests over the last few days as word of your father’s death got out, but the Munzo and Federation security forces have gotten things mostly under control by now. Only a few trails of smoke and littered signs along the road betray that anything happened at all; after the initial shock of your father's death, and the inflammatory allegations being thrown at the federation as being somehow responsible for it, things have calmed down.

The funeral was a grand affair, and oddly well planned. You watched crowds of citizens, fellow spacenoids, standing along the city streets as your father’s funeral procession slowly made its way to the state cathedral. With a full military escort led by Uncle Ramba there wasn’t any trouble from the crowds, and you were inside of an armored limousine regardless, but the soldiers escorting you seemed very on edge the entire time. It’s hard to imagine what threat the crowds would pose, they loved your father. It’s really the federation that they’re furious with, even if what Jimba says is true and the Zabi’s are the ones responsible for your father's death…

Munzo and Federation leaders of the highest ranks are in attendance at the funeral, including the entire Zabi family. There are so many people in attendance that they're filling the grand cathedral almost to overflowing with mourners and enemies of your father alike. Artificial light filters down from the stained glass windows, imitating the sun so very far away from the closed-type colony you've called home your entire life. Your suit is uncomfortable, you aren’t used to wearing it, and it your shirt collar keeps chafing against your neck.

Before you arrived you thought you might cry, but there’s something almost unreal about the entire funeral. It's hard to believe that father is really gone. You stand alongside your brother and sister just before your father's casket, your mother a comforting presence just behind you, and you listen to a man you’ve never met extol the virtues of you father in a eulogy that feels more targeted at the federation representatives who are present than at your family or any of the other mourners.

“...As chairman he was a trailblazer for Spacenoid liberation, and now, as he ascends into the cosmos, he is becoming the very cornerstone of that ideal. May his soul be at rest and inspire eternal justice. May his ideals live forever. Though his flesh may have perished, may he cast his light upon our path and show us the way. Sieg Zeon.”
>>
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>>5414951
Off to your right, just a few meters away in one of the frontmost pews, a purple haired boy is fidgeting with his hair. You exchange glances with him briefly, eyes locking for just a moment. Garma Zabi is only about a year older than you, the same age as your brother, and he looks about as miserable to be here as you are… except he’s clearly bored rather than sad. He gives you a friendly, almost clueless look as he continues to fidget with a bit of his hair.

>Glare at him. He’s being disrespectful, he should be taking this seriously. This is all his family’s fault.
>Try to look friendly. Garma isn’t to blame for this. Maybe you can talk with him after this is done.
>>
>>5414953
>Try to look friendly. Garma isn’t to blame for this. Maybe you can talk with him after this is done.
No reason to make enemies with the Zabi. Yet.
>>
>>5414953
>Try to look friendly. Garma isn’t to blame for this. Maybe you can talk with him after this is done.

>>5414959
Hehehehe.... yet.
>>
>>5414953
>Try to look friendly. Garma isn’t to blame for this. Maybe you can talk with him after this is done.
>>
>>5414953
>>Try to look friendly. Garma isn’t to blame for this. Maybe you can talk with him after this is done
>>
>>5414959
>>5415006
>>5415038
>>5415069
Writing.
>>
>>5414959
>>5415006
>>5415038
>>5415069
You feel a brief flash of annoyance at Garma’s disrespect, but it subsides almost immediately. He isn’t to blame for any of this, not any more than you are. Whatever the truth of what happened is, it is between adults - for now. You give him a weak smile, the best you can presently must, and he returns it along with a very small wave.

It isn’t long before people are filing back out of the cathedral, heading to the convoy of vehicles to reform the funeral procession and take your father’s casket to its final resting place at the state cemetery. As you follow your mother out among the crowd you keep an eye out for a chance to speak with Garma; your families are both under guard, but that’s a precaution meant to protect all of the important people in attendance from the public rather than keep them from one another. Garma is just a few paces away right now, it won’t be hard at all to slip over and speak with him.

You glance over again, seeing an opportunity as Garma falls a bit behind his father Degwin’s stride, and you begin to walk over - A hand grips your arm, stopping you momentarily. Turning, you see Casval looking at you and then over to Garma, his blue eyes filled with an intensity that you’ve often seen since father passed.

“Felix, we can’t trust them.” Your brother says, a mix of concern and venom filling his voice.

You shrug slightly, trying to downplay his apprehensions, “He might have overheard something from his father, Casval. Besides, they won’t do anything right now. Not here.”
>>
>>5415107

Casval mulls over the idea for a second or two before giving you a slow nod and letting go of your arm, and you quickly slip over to Garma before the chance disappears.

“Oh, hi. You’re Felix, right?” Garma asks, smiling. He certainly doesn’t look evil, but you wish he’d speak a little less loudly. The other Zabis aren’t far away at all.
“I am. You’re Garma Zabi, right?”

“Mhm. Haven’t we met before?”

“Maybe at a boring dinner or something.” You offer up, remembering something of the sort from a few months ago, “The one at the academy, my father gave a speech.”

“Ooh, yeah, that.” He sounds very much like he’s remembering something quite unpleasant, but after a second he suddenly shifts into a more upright posture and tries to look apologetic, “...Uh, I’m sorry about your father. My dad always says he had great ideas.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” You say, sensing an opening, “We’ve all been pretty sad the last few days… I don’t really know what to do. How has your father been doing? They were close.”

“Dad? Oh, uhm, he’s been really busy.”

“Busy?” You question, pressing him a bit.

“Mhm, he had some big meeting with Kycilia, Gihren, and Sasr-” Garma trails off as a red haired woman in a military looking dress uniform, Garma’s half-sister Kycilia, steps back a few paces from the other Zabis and alongside both of you.

“Garma, I see you’re making new friends.” Kycilia says, grinning at first before speaking more sternly, “You should keep up with Father, the press are taking pictures. As a Zabi you must maintain appearances, Garma.”

“And you, young Felix,” Kycilia continues, looming over you, “Should keep closer to your family. These are dangerous times, your mother might worry for you.”

You meet Kycilia's gaze for a moment, not backing down, and she raises an eyebrow slightly before dismissively turning away and falling back in with the rest of the Zabi family. …She might have had a point though, you’ve gotten further from your family than you expected over the last minute or so, and you quickly hurry back to them.

Casval looks at you expectantly. Soon you’ll be loading back into the armored limousine, and there without the noise of the crowd leaving the cathedral there won’t be much time for conversation without your mother overhearing it.

>”They’re definitely responsible.” You can just feel it. Kycilia was absolutely menacing.
>”I didn’t have enough time to talk with him.” No need to jump to conclusions.
>>
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>>5415109
>”I didn’t have enough time to talk with him.” No need to jump to conclusions.

Its truthful.
We shall learn the secrets to his perfectly kept hair in due time!

Also
>UC gundam quest!
>picrel
>>
>>5415109
>”They’re definitely responsible.” You can just feel it. Kycilia was absolutely menacing.
>"I don't think Garma knows about it though, so not all of them are to blame."
>>
>>5415121
Moving vote to this if write-in options are allowed
>>
>>5415123
Write-ins are allowed, especially if they're just tweaking options to add more dialogue/additional detail.
>>
>>5415121
supporting
>>
>>5415121
support
>>
>>5415109
>”I didn’t have enough time to talk with him.” No need to jump to conclusions.
We don't have any evidence of wrong-doing on their part, just bad blood, from the looks of things. I know precious little about Gundam, so maybe some of you might know more than I.
>>
>>5415159
The Zabi family killed our dad to usurp Zeon and turn it into a dictatorship. Garma is the youngest and is a good boy, at least as far as Zabis go. He even becomes friends with our big bro Casval when he takes the fake identity of Char and develops a bit of an inferiority complex, making him be a glory hound.
>>
>>5415163
Just realized that what I wrote was ambiguous, Garma is the one that tries to prove himself worthy, and Casval is the one undercover.
>>
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>>5415146
>>5415132
>>5415123
>>5415121

“They’re definitely responsible,” You can just feel it, Kycilia was absolutely menacing, “but I don’t think Garma knows about it though. Not all of them are to blame.”

Casval wrinkles has nose ever so slightly at your answer, “Maybe, maybe not, but father didn’t do anything wrong and they still murdered him in cold blood.”

“That doesn’t… Do you want to be like them then?”

“No, I’ll never be like them.” Your brother answers after a pause, his face setting into a determined look.

Soon enough you’re back in the armored limousine and the funeral procession is making its way through the city and to the state cemetery, crowds of citizens of every age and background pressing tight on both sides of the road as armored vehicles lead the convoy forward. Artesia is idly messing with the hem of her black dress, occasionally complaining to your mother that she wishes her cat Lucifer was here. She isn’t clueless, but she’s young enough to still mostly be innocent to what’s going on - you’re just old enough to begin to understand.

Looking out through the tinted window you can’t help but wonder what the people in the crowd are thinking, what all of this looks like from a different perspective. It must be a spectacle. Do they even really feel sad? Your father was a friendly man, but most of them probably only ever attended one of his speeches or maybe shook his hand at some public event...

There’s a muffled crack of thunder and a sort of swelling roar of air just a few cars behind your limousine. An explosion. The limousine comes screeching to a halt, and the armed guards who were accompanying you in the surrounding vehicles begin pouring out into the street with guns drawn from concealed holsters. You mother leans over quickly and grabs your and Artesia's hands, and you can hear Jimba and some other mean outside shouting.

“Secure the perimeter!”

“Where’d that come from, was it a bomb?”

“Sir, I don’t think it was from the crowd.”

“Rooftops look clear!”

It’s a chaotic mess, and your mother tries to keep you from looking out the window for too long, “Felix, there’s nothing to worry about out there, it’s going to be alright. Artesia, are you okay?”

Artesia doesn’t answer, pressing more tightly into mother. She doesn’t cry this time though. Casval, on the other hand, is watching what is happening outside very closely, peering through the back window to try and get a better view of the destroyed car.

Outside a man’s voice roars furiously even over the confusion, “SASRO’S BEEN MURDERED! WHO DID THIS?! WHO’S THE BASTARD BEHIND THIS?!”

Sasro Zabi? More death then. Maybe that’s just how it will be from now on.
>>
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>>5415166
As the initial confusion clears, the security detail secures safe exit paths for the rest of the procession’s vehicles. Apparently the burial service is canceled, something smaller will be done later or tomorrow if the security situation improves. You’re driven not to your own family home, but instead to Jimba’s distinctly more secure looking estate. It has a secure looking iron fence and concrete gatehouses; they almost look like little bunkers.

The next few hours pass by slowly. You’ve changed out of your dark suit, apparently spare clothes having already been moved to the Ral estate, but there’s been nothing to do but pace around and occasionally look out the window at the guarded perimeter. There's a crowd outside shouting and throwing rocks at the guards, almost a riot, but the guards seem to have it under control.

You’ve overheard shouting from other rooms a few times, Jimba, Ramba, and some of the other adults having heated arguments over what to do; it’s too indistinct to make any of it out though. Artesia’s complaints about missing Lucifer have only increased, and your mother is busy keeping her calm, leaving Casval and you mostly to watch the events transpiring outside.

Hours pass, and there’s no burial today. The night isn’t any calmer. Even from the guest room you’re being kept in you can hear distant gunfire and occasional explosions; it sounds far off, but you know the rest of the colony must be in absolute chaos right now. Ramba did manage to get Artesia her cat though, so at least she’s happier now. It makes you feel a little better to know that some people truly care.

What to do though?

>Sneak around the Ral estate and try and listen in on what Jimba and the other adults are talking about. They’re keeping you in the dark.
>Just try to sleep, tomorrow seems like it is going to be another very, very long day.
>>
>>5415168
>Just try to sleep, tomorrow seems like it is going to be another very, very long day.
We can ask Casval tomorrow, and we need to be weel rested so we can be strong for sister when we all have to flee
>>
>>5415168
>Sneak around the Ral estate and try and listen in on what Jimba and the other adults are talking about. They’re keeping you in the dark.
>>
>>5415168
>Sneak around the Ral estate and try and listen in on what Jimba and the other adults are talking about. They’re keeping you in the dark.
Fuck its been a while since I watched The Origin, I'm hazy on all the details of the Zabi coup
>>
>>5415168
>Sneak around the Ral estate and try and listen in on what Jimba and the other adults are talking about. They’re keeping you in the dark.
>>
>>5415163
>>5415164
Ah, so, this quest is following canonical events and established characters, then? All right.
>>5415168
>Sneak around the Ral estate and try and listen in on what Jimba and the other adults are talking about. They’re keeping you in the dark.
>>
>>5415179
+1

so what do you think mc will end up piloting when the shitshow in 0078 hits?
>>
>>5415175
>>5415176
>>5415177
>>5415179
>>5415183
Locking it in.

>>5415179
You're playing a middle child in the Deikun family who doesn't exist canonically. There is also an extra Zabi about the same age as your character (other than Garma).
>>
>>5415179
It looks like it, although our character is original since Casval and Asteria were the only two children of Zeon, so we probably might be able to diverge from canon when we grow up and get to the war from the original show, since we are in the prequel right now.
If this is some sort of interactive way to chargen, I got to give kudos to Contolist, it's a way better way to do it
>>
>>5415183
God knows what side we're even going to end up on come 0078. Though I am partial to the Zudah.
>>
>>5415168
>>Sneak around the Ral estate and try and listen in on what Jimba and the other adults are talking about. They’re keeping you in the dark.
>>
>>5415187
than just some list
Accidentally deleted that last part
>>
>>5415179
>>5415177
>>5415176
>>5415175

You’re sharing a large bed with the rest of your family. Your mother wanted to keep you all close during this crisis, so you have to wait until you’re sure she’s asleep to quietly slip from under the covers and out into the unfamiliar hallways of the Ral estate. For a moment you pause at the door, half expecting Casval to have noticed your absence and followed you, or maybe to have already snuck out on his own, but he seems to just be sleeping… you haven’t seen him look so peaceful in the last few days. Best not to wake him then. You can tell him what you find out in the morning

You’ve been to the Ral estate a few time before, but only for brief visits… which way was it to Jimba’s office again? The hallways are beautiful, more like an old french palace back on earth than the home of a wealthy family, political or not, but you don’t have time to admire it as you navigate by the faint light filtering in through the mansion’s large windows. The light is casting deep shadows, the dark outline of windowpanes blanketing over the white of hallways, and you move quickly from shadow to shadow.

Outside the skyline is a mess, fires burning off in the distance, wrapping all the way up the colony and into the sky, a dark cloud of ash and smoke slowly collecting along the center-axis of the cylinder’s rotation where the spin gravity doesn’t hold sway.
>>
>>5415216
Eventually you find Jimba’s office, and again you find yourself listening intently to others through a door. Hopefully this isn’t the start of a bad habit. You smirk a little and lean in more closely.

“Those Zabi bastards, they’ve absolutely ruined us!” Jimba yells from inside, “They have the public thinking we killed Deikun and that we’ve captured his family! And what’s worse, now that Sasro is dead everyone thinks we’ve started killing off our other rivals!”

“Have we?” You hear Ramba question, barely able to hear him.

“Ramba? Now you as well?” Jimba sounds utterly defeated, “Even my own son doubts me…”

“No, it's just very convenient. It’s easy to see why the public misunderstands, but we can probably still come back from this-”

“Come back from this? Degwin blew up his own son just to frame us, and that awful Kycilia of his has her goons spreading rumors across the whole colony! There’s no coming back from this…”

“You think Degwin killed Sasro? That’s extreme, even for him.” Ramba says incredulously.

“Don’t underestimate the Zabis, Ramba. If not Degwin, then maybe it was Gihren, or Kycilia! They’re all vipers. They’ll do anything to get control of Munzo!”

“If we can get proof that one of them ordered the bombing, or Deikun’s poisoning, then I’m sure the public will come back to our side.”

Jimba sighs loudly, “My best men are already on the job… uh, besides you, Ramba. See what you can do, I guess. I’m going to start planning our escape.”

“You know that I won’t be able to leave, father. I have my duties here, even if I resign.”

“I know, I know. But we have to keep Deikun’s family safe, his legacy has to live on no matter what these Zabis do.” Jimba practically spits out the Zabi name, and you hear something heavy slam onto wood. A desk, maybe.

Silence falls for a few seconds before Ramba speaks up, “Well, then I think it’s settled. I’ll see if I can find any more information, but we’ll need to move fast with the escape plan either way. There’s no telling what the Zabis will do tomorrow, I already have my men fortifying the outer gate. Do you still have those machine guns?”

“What? Of course I do! Take anything you need, there’s some rockets around here as well…”

“Uh, I think machine guns are enough of a statement for now, father. We’re trying to prevent a fight, not look even more like terrorists. The Zabis already have enough fodder for the news.”

“Mmm…” Jimba grumbles, and you can’t hear the rest of what he says.

There are heavy footsteps approaching the door, and this time you manage to scurry off back to your room before being spotted. There’s a lot to think about. Are the Zabis really framing the Rals for everything? Nobody could possibly believe that, right? It takes a long time to go to sleep, thoughts racing through your head for hours.
>>
>>5415220
You wake up late the next morning, your mother apparently having chosen not to disturb you. There is shouting in the hallways outside, and you get dressed quickly. Cleaning up properly can wait, something big is happening - As you peer out from the door you immediately spot you mother and Artesia standing close to one another nearby, but Casval isn't anywhere to be seen.

Jimba Ral is further down the hallway being held back by several men, bodyguards you think, and shouting at a nearby door. Several other men in suits are standing close to them along with a few of Ramba's soldiers, and everyone’s attention is fixed upon the closed door. Some of the men are holding bats and guns, as if they're poised to break through the closed door at any moment. They look... very uncertain though. Ramba is nowhere to be seen.

“She’s doing something in there with him! I can hear it! Casval is in danger! Why the hell did you ever let Kycilia inside, you idiots?! Let me go!” Jimba shouts, trying to pull away from the soldiers and get to the door. He might be old, but he's struggling the best he can to get free.

>Rush across the hallway and try to get to the door. Your brother needs help!
>Ask your mother what’s going on, this is all very sudden and confusing.
>>
>>5415227
>Rush across the hallway and try to get to the door. Your brother needs help!
I'm sure ending up on the Zabi's shit list won't cause us any trouble
>>
>>5415227
>Rush across the hallway and try to get to the door. Your brother needs help!
>>
>>5415229
+1
We are playing a deikun
We are already on the shitlist for the pure fact of the political power a descendant of zeon can get shit like CCA Char comes to mind. Then again this is way after most of the zabi loyalists killed themselves off
>>
>>5415227
>Rush across the hallway and try to get to the door. Your brother needs help!
>>5415229
The Zabis are in our shitlist, not the other way around. Except Garma and mysterious new child, they are free of sin.
>>
>>5415237
Oh and maybe Dozle too, I remember he wasn't as completely rotten as the rest of the them. Would even say that he was a good person before the bombing, if a bit dumb.
>>
>>5415229
>>5415233
>>5415234
>>5415237
Writing.
>>
File: Zabi treachery.png (537 KB, 799x496)
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>>5415237
>>5415234
>>5415233
>>5415229

Bolting suddenly out of the bedroom, you’re across the hallway before your mother can do anything more than cry out, “Felix, don’t!”

The soldiers and men in suits turn to look at you, but most of them don’t quite process what is going on before you’re past them. One lunges to grab you but you manage to just barely duck him, and then weave past the legs of another. They’re not moving as fast as they could be, trying not to hurt you with a full force tackle, and others are having to put away their guns or drop their bats before they can intervene meaningfully; you’d have no chance otherwise, even with surprise, but that doesn’t matter now - The door is just a few feet away!

You reach the door and pull it open, just barely slipping inside and shutting it behind you. No one follows you in. Kycilia is wearing her security forces dress uniform and standing at the far end of the room, looming over Casval who is handcuffed and sitting awkwardly atop a sofa. It looks as if he was just pushed onto it a few moments ago.

“I’m not afraid. I’m Deikun’s son. No one can do this to me!” Your brother says, holding his cuffed hands toward Kycilia defiantly.

Kycilia laughs, throwing back her head briefly, “Degwin Zabi is now the most powerful man in the nation! If Degwin orders it, I can tie you up hand and foot!”

“Still, I…” Casval meets Kycilia with a steely gaze, only hesitating for the slightest moment when he realizes you’ve entered the room, “We are the sons of Zeon Zum Deikun. We’ll grow up and make Degwin and the rest of you bow down to us!”

Kycilia turns to look at you, surprise briefly written across her face.

“I order you, take these off of me!” Casval continues, shoving his cuffed hands forward once again.

You run over to the two of them, interposing yourself to stand defensively between Kycilia and your brother, “Let him go, Zabi!”

The display barely seems to faze her.

“...Very well then, little lords.” Kycilia says, chuckling amusedly while shaking her head slightly, “I expect you’ll honor our arrangement, Casval.”

Casval nods, and she unlocks his handcuffs with practiced precision, taking them back and securing them once again onto her belt before turning to leave. She stops to address you before departing, smirking as she half turns to face you, “And you, little Felix, should learn to stay out of the business of your brother. That’s a nasty habit to develop.”

She then walks off, looking awfully pleased with herself, as if she’s just told the funniest joke in the world.

>”Casval, are you alright? What did she want?”
>Help Casval up and follow Kycilia, you want to make sure that witch actually leaves the estate. You can talk later.
>>
>>5415274
>”Casval, are you alright? What did she want?”
>>
>>5415274
>”Casval, are you alright? What did she want?”
>>
>>5415274
>”Casval, are you alright? What did she want?”
>>
>>5415274
>”Casval, are you alright? What did she want?”
>>
>>5415281
>>5415286
>>5415287
>>5415289
Writing.
>>
>>5415281
>>5415286
>>5415287
>>5415289

“Casval, are you alright?” You ask your brother as Kycilia quickly departs, “What did she want?”

“I'm fine. She came here to intimidate us into returning to our home.” He explains, blue eyes flashing with mischief, “I agreed to the deal. We’ll be leaving in a few hours.”

“What?” You question, not believing your ears, “But it isn’t safe at home, the Zabis have the whole colony in flames-”

“No, Felix, some of the Zabis have the colony in flames.” Casval says, standing up from the sofa and straightening his wrinkled clothes.

“You don’t think the Zabis are working together?”

“Not as closely as they’d like us to think. We’re trapped here right now, along with the Rals.”

“...And if we move it opens a chance to change the situation,” You conclude.

“Precisely that.” He says, placing one hand on your shoulder and confidently forming a fist with his other hand. Now is probably a good time to tell him about your little adventure last night.

“I snuck out of the bedroom last night and overheard Jimba and Ramba discussing the situation, it didn’t sound good. People think we're being held hostage here.” You explain, “Jimba has no proof yet of what the Zabis have done and he's being framed for it all, but he and Ramba seemed to think the Zabis are sort of disorganized too - or at least that their plans weren’t very clear. Jimba thinks Degwin might have killed Sasro, Ramba seemed skeptical though.”

“Oh? So it wasn’t the Rals?” Casval asks, almost looking a little disappointed as he considers the situation, “There’s no low the Zabis won't sink to then, they’re scum.”

There’s a brief pause as you both look up, a small commotion outside of the room drawing your attention. Whatever it was, it quiets down quickly. Nobody else has come into the room yet.

“So the deal is that we all just hand ourselves over to the Zabis and go home? You, me, mother… even Artesia?” You ask, making sure you understand the plan fully. It seems sort of crazy, but it might be better than living in a compound under siege by angry mobs.

Casval leads you over to the door, sounding utterly confident that the plan is a good idea, “Yes, there’s no chance they’ll hurt any of us while the public is still baying for blood over father's death. If word ever got out they’d be finished, not even a Zabi would risk it. It will take a lot of attention off of the Rals as well.”

>”I think your plan is a good idea, Casval. We need to open up options for the Rals to act.”
>”I think we should stay here, Casval. Handing ourselves over to the Zabis seems too risky.”
>>
>>5415317
>”I think we should stay here, Casval. Handing ourselves over to the Zabis seems too risky.”
>"The Zabis being disorganized is even worse news for us, it means the deal you made with Kycilia wouldn't stop any of the others."
>>
>>5415333
Support.
>>
>>5415333
+1
>>
>>5415317
>”I think we should stay here, Casval. Handing ourselves over to the Zabis seems too risky.”
How close are we to Casval and Artesia? or is that something these initial votes are deciding
>>
>>5415317
>>”I think we should stay here, Casval. Handing ourselves over to the Zabis seems too risky.”
>>
>>5415333
+1
>>
>>5415340
It is something these initial votes are deciding.

>>5415333
>>5415334
>>5415339
>>5415340
>>5415341
>>5415343
Well, that's a landslide if I've ever seen one. Locking it in.

There might gap until the next post, not sure if I'll be done writing quick enough before I have to go do some other stuff. Whatever the case, I'll be posting again later tonight.
>>
>>5415333
>>5415334
>>5415339
>>5415340
>>5415341
>>5415343

“I think we should stay here, Casval.” You say, having taken a moment to think over the deal, “Handing ourselves over to the Zabis seems too risky. The Zabis being disorganized is even worse news for us, it means the deal you made with Kycilia wouldn’t stop any of the others.”

“It is a risk.” He acknowledges, “But I think they’ll all come to the same conclusion to not harm us. Staying here might end with a riot storming the estate, or Zabi loyalists.”

You’re standing just a little ways from the door to the hallway now, but you want to finish this conversation before getting any of the adults involved.

“Then we could just tell them that we’re not hostages.” You offer up, shrugging, “Maybe we could turn the crowd against the Zabis if we tell them that the Zabis killed father.”

Casval shakes his head, “I already considered that, but they might just think we’re being forced to say it. Angry mobs aren’t known for listening to people, Felix, and Zabi loyalists definitely wouldn't hear us out. Besides, it might just start a civil war. Father would have hated that more than anything. I think just staying here and waiting risks a war too much as well, we need the Zabis to get complacent for just a moment.”

“...Father would have hated it.” You admit, knowing how precious peace among mankind was to your father’s vision of the future. The conversation about the machine guns and rockets between Jimba and Ramba flashes through your mind again; if things do get ugly at the Ral estate it could escalate very quickly.

>Head through the door and discuss the options with the adults, Jimba might know something you don’t that could help make a wise decision. If you don’t show a united front to them they might try to exploit division between you and Casval to lay their own plans instead.
>”Whatever happens, we’ll be together as a family, but could you just follow my lead on this one for once, Casval? I know you’re the eldest but… I have a really bad feeling about going.”
>>
>>5415379
>Head through the door and discuss the options with the adults, Jimba might know something you don’t that could help make a wise decision. If you don’t show a united front to them they might try to exploit division between you and Casval to lay their own plans instead.
>"Let's decide together, as family and friends. It's what father would have wanted, and doing these shadow meeting is what the Zabis do"
>>
>>5415393
+!
>>
>>5415379
>>Head through the door and discuss the options with the adults, Jimba might know something you don’t that could help make a wise decision. If you don’t show a united front to them they might try to exploit division between you and Casval to lay their own plans instead.
>>
>>5415393
>>Head through the door and discuss the options with the adults, Jimba might know something you don’t that could help make a wise decision. If you don’t show a united front to them they might try to exploit division between you and Casval to lay their own plans instead.
support
>>
>>5415393
>>5415398
>>5415403
>>5415520
Alright, locking it in with the write-in addition.
I actually really like that dialogue, anon. Good stuff!
>>
>>5415520
>>5415403
>>5415398
>>5415393

“Maybe we should talk this over with mother and Jimba,” You offer, knowing how Casval can be sometimes when he sets his mind to something, “Let’s decide together, as family and friends. It’s what father would have wanted, and doing these shadow meetings is what the Zabis do.”

The initial suggestion seems to ruffle his feathers a bit, but at the mention of father and the Zabis something seems to change in Casval’s eyes. His expression softens as he offers you his hand, “Together.”

You shake it, “Together.”

The two of you head back through the wooden door and into the hallway where there are notably fewer men than before; only a pair of men in suits and one of the soldiers. Jimba has his head in his hands, pacing and muttering to himself. Mother and Artesia are closer nearby, looking dreadfully worried.

“Are you both alright?” Your mother asks, hurrying over, “Kycilia said that you agreed to some kind of deal…”

“I heard it through the door,” Jimba announces, sounding defeated, “Casval agreed to have your family taken back to the Deikun mansion.”

“...Back to the mansion?” Your mother questions, not sounding at all comforted by the idea.

Casval nods, explaining the details of both of your ideas. Jimba and your mother listen intently. Artesia has procured Lucifer from somewhere and is holding the unruly black cat in her arms, much to its scratchy displeasure.

“Decide on a plan together, eh? With a pair of children? Even Deikun’s sons…” Jimba scoffs before looking even more defeated, “Well, it’s all a little late for that now regardless. Most of my men are abandoning me.”

“What?” You say almost simultaneously with Casval, though he quickly adds in a cutting “Cowards.” afterward.

“Almost all of them left after Kycilia made her announcement a few minutes ago… to think I would have called them loyal just this morning. The wind blows in the wrong direction for a couple of days and they scurry off!” Jimba slams a fist into the wall in frustration, cursing under his breath. He looks much older than he did a few days ago.

“You have more men though, right Jimba?” Your mother asks uncertainty, “Surely Ramba has some as well.”

“He has a few, yes, but a lot more that probably won’t listen anymore. I can promise that we’ll try though, we won’t let these Zabi bastards win this easily.”

The few remaining men in the hallway nod and mutter vague statements in agreement.
>>
>>5415622
“So what do you think we should do then?” You ask, “I thought it would be better to stay here, but this changes things.”

“I’m working on something,” Jimba says cryptically, glancing over to the last soldier lingering nearby. Is he just being paranoid?

“...Would it have to do with what you were discussing with Ramba last night?” You ask, deciding to err on the side of caution. The question came out a little more vague, but you think he understands that you mean an escape plan.

“How-” Jimba starts to question you but then breaks out into a grin, “Yes, yes it does. He’s off, eh, finding the way, you could say.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Your mother says, utterly puzzled.

“...Perhaps we should speak somewhere more private.” Jimba offers up, leading you back to his office. He orders the remaining men to secure the perimeter, or whatever is left of it. Once you’re secured from potentially treacherous ears Jimba speaks with considerably more candor.

“Ramba is speaking with some associates of his in the city.” Jimba explains, “Astraia, you’ve met Ms. Hamon before, haven’t you?”

Your mother nods slowly, “In passing. Can she be trusted?”

“As much as Ramba can be. She would never betray him.” Jimba states matter-of-factly.

“And she’s working on finding us a way out?” Casval asks, “How long will she need?”

“I’m not sure, but Ramba said he would be back in a few hours with details… A few hours ago. With the colony the way it is right now it’s anybody’s guess when he’ll return. I wouldn’t dare call him right now though, the Zabis have the communications network monitored and they might put together what he’s up to.”

“So what does everybody think we should do then?” You ask, leaving the question hanging in the air.

“I still think we should go home,” Casval says, “Especially now. It will buy time for Ms. Hamon, and the Zabis will get suspicious if we don’t go soon.”

“...Could… Could we move along this escape plan? Do it faster, somehow?” Your mother asks, looking at Jimba. He seems uncertain.

“We could attempt something hastier, but I can’t guarantee your safety.” He finally answers, fists clenching again, “I’m sorry, Astraia.”

What to choose, what to choose…
>Go with Casval’s plan. You still don’t like it, but if it’s just to buy time maybe it will work. A few days or weeks might be fine.
>Press for a more immediate escape. It sounds like things are going to be dangerous either way.
>”Is there somewhere else on the colony that we could hide until Ms. Hamon and Ramba’s plan is ready?”
>>
>>5415629
>”Is there somewhere else on the colony that we could hide until Ms. Hamon and Ramba’s plan is ready?”
I don't remember shit about Origin.
>>
>>5415629
I feel like we could do better with some extra information but I'm unsure of what we could even ask at the moment, so until I or someone else thinks of anything we could ask that could further inform our position on the matter I think it might be wise to go with....

>Press for a more immediate escape. It sounds like things are going to be dangerous either way.
>>
>>5415629
>”Is there somewhere else on the colony that we could hide until Ms. Hamon and Ramba’s plan is ready?”
Shouldn't hurt to ask
>>
>>5415629
>Go with Casval’s plan. You still don’t like it, but if it’s just to buy time maybe it will work. A few days or weeks might be fine.
>>
>>5415629
>”Is there somewhere else on the colony that we could hide until Ms. Hamon and Ramba’s plan is ready?”
>>
>>5415642
>>5415660
>>5415738
Writing.
>>
File: 1634152928130.jpg (40 KB, 400x400)
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While qm is still writing
I propose a custom MS to plan for in the future
THE DOGG
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>>5415811
He's the Dogg now, man
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>>5415811
That looks awesome, anon. Almost done writing.
>>
>>5415811
Considering we're starting from the beginning we have plenty of choices. If we manage to hold any sway with the military we need to unfuck Zeon's MS production.
>>
>>5415825
there are a LOT of things that need unfucking in zeon
>>
>>5415827
Understatement. Depending on how far this gets away from canon I don't think we can change the outcome of the OYW but we can definitely put ourselves in an advantageous post war position.
>>
>>5415642
>>5415660
>>5415738
“Is there somewhere else on the colony that we could hide until Ms. Hamon and Ramba’s plan is ready?” You ask, looking up to Jimba hoping there’s something he just hasn’t thought of yet.

“Please, Jimba, if there’s anything at all that you can think of now is the time.” Your mother pleads, “We can deal with hardship, even if it takes months. Anywhere at all.”

The old man’s expression darkens, “Hide from the Zabis? Maybe for a few hours, but their men are everywhere now.”

“So there’s nothing?” Your mother asks again, “Really nothing at all?”

“I’m thinking, I’m thinking.” Jimba responds sharply, his face darkening as he furrows his brow and takes a seat at his mahogany desk, “...I don’t know anybody who moves people, at least not usually, I’ve always made sure to run that kind of business off. But there is an arms dealer who might be able to hide you for a few weeks.”

“An… arms dealer? Legal, or…?” You mother asks apprehensively, and Jimba lets the question hang for a moment as he pours himself a drink from a crystal decanter on his desk.

“No. Not at all.” He finally answers, “Couldn’t trust most of the big companies, not with federation restrictions on our security forces. Anaheim or Yashima would have been too loud. Well, maybe not Anaheim, but we didn't go with them. The Zabis handled most of it, and we tried to keep the manufacturing that we could within Munzo, but I’ve always kept a… private collection, of sorts.”

The machine guns and rockets! Things finally start to click in your head, although a lot more questions are raised.

“Can we trust this person?” Casval asks, “They sound like scoundrel.”

“He is a scoundrel, it’s why the thought hadn’t occurred to me until now. I don’t associate him with safety, but he’s always been reliable in his own way. Federation intelligence doesn’t even seem to know he exists, and I don’t think the Zabis ever caught wind of him either.”

“So we’d trust our lives to a criminal? The lives of my children?” You mother asks incredulously, “Maybe this is-”

“You asked for anything, Astraia, this is anything.” Jimba cuts her off, “I think he might still be in the colony, his last delivery was just a few weeks ago…”
>>
>>5415840
“And he’d be able to hide us?” Casval asks.

“I don’t know. I don’t know if he’d even take the job, but he’d know how to keep things out of sight of the Zabis.” Ramba finishes his drink and pours another, mulling over the idea a little longer, “Eh, maybe it is a terrible idea. I don’t know, really. Usually other people handled things like this, Ramba and his girl Hamon, and more often we didn’t do it at all. You know how Deikun was about those kinds of things, Astraia.”

“So we hide under the Zabis noses, or we hide with a criminal who might betray us.” You say, stating the obvious aloud, not at all feeling reassured. Everything is just so uncertain. If something goes wrong you could all… best not to think about that.

“And just leaving on our own? What you mentioned earlier, Jimba, the more dangerous option?” Your mother questions.

“We’d drive as far as we can, as fast as we can, and the men I have left would try to get us the rest of the way. The Zabis have the ports locked down, it would be bloody.”

That does sound bad.

>Casval’s plan. Wait for Hamon and Ramba, however long that takes.
>Put your trust in the mysterious arms dealer. Maybe he can hide you until Hamon and Ramba are ready.
>Shoot your way out. Or rather have what’s left of Ramba men attempt to do so.
>>
>>5415843
This is a hard one and I don't want to dip into meta knowledge but I know Hamon will eventually get us to Earth. However saying that, mysterbox.
>Put your trust in the mysterious arms dealer. Maybe he can hide you until Hamon and Ramba are ready.
Hopefully this doesn't result in us getting Casval killed.
>>
>>5415843
>Casval’s plan. Wait for Hamon and Ramba, however long that takes.
Fuck it, might aswell make friends with Garma and the other kid
>>
>>5415843
Minor correction, the third option should say:
>Shoot your way out. Or rather have what's left of Ramba and Jimba's men attempt to do so.

>>5415851
Casval dying early would be an incredibly chaotic divergence, it would almost entirely rewrite UC Gundam.
>>
>>5415853
>Spoiler
I know, which is why I'm apprehensive of such a major disruption. I don't exactly want to pick up the mask in his place. However saying that, I think I will change my vote and follow the established story a bit longer.
>>5415851
>Casval's plan. Wait for Hamon and Ramba, however lonng that takes.
>>
>>5415855
That does bring up the funny idea of Felix pretending to be Casval pretending to be Édouard Mass pretending to be Char Aznable pretending to be Quattro Bajeena. UC Gundam goes a little overboard with alternate identities.
>>
>>5415872
It's false identities all the way down.
>>
>>5415843
>Put your trust in the mysterious arms dealer. Maybe he can hide you until Hamon and Ramba are ready.
While dangerous, this could potentially be the only option to take back Zeon from the Zabis.
>>
And I'm awake again, I can probably get an update or two done before I have to head off for classes.

>>5415855
>>5415852
Two for Casval's plan.

>>5415902
One for mysterious arms dealer.

Looks like sticking to Casval's plan wins. Writing.
>>
>>5415855
>>5415852
“...Maybe going home is the best option, then.” You sigh, looking apologetically to Casval, “I was just hoping there was something else we didn’t know about yet.”

“It made sense to check, Felix, and we decided together.” He says, his blue eyes shining with pride despite the brotherly expression, “We’ll need to get ready to leave soon, the Zabis will be expecting us.”

“...I agree, the other options sound too dangerous, Jimba.” Your mother says, “Fighting or hiding with unknown criminals - I won’t risk it.”

Jimba’s head sinks into his hands and he groans in frustration, leaning over onto his desk. He looks absolutely defeated, but he doesn’t argue, “I’ll make sure Ramba knows, and see if there’s anything else I can still do.”

“Yay, we’re going home!” Artesia nearly shouts. You don’t think she quite understands the direness of what has been discussed, that cat of hers has had her awfully distracted. Maybe that’s for the best, she’s still too young to really comprehend what’s going on. In fact you aren’t sure if you really get what is happening, but these last few days have left you feeling more mature and… empty, in a way.

A few hours later

A helicopter arrived to pick you up from the Ral estate, an enclosed troop transport used by the Munzo security forces. It wasn’t a long flight, only a few minutes. Eventually the helicopter set you down back at the Deikun mansion, an imposing building of glass and concrete but far warmer on the interior, the home that you’ve grown up in…

There are people waiting for you just a little beyond the landing pad. Your mother and Casval are the first out of the helicopter, and you follow shortly but stop to help Artesia disembark. She’s not quite tall enough to comfortably make the drop from the open door onto the pad, but with a hand to steady her it isn’t so bad.

She beams at you, “Thanks, Felix!”

You ruffle her blond hair just a little, “Come on, Artesia.”

Turning back to the others, your mother has gone ahead beyond Casval and is speaking with a dark haired woman in a wheelchair. The dark haired woman is older looking, but something tells you that much of the aging and wrinkling of her face isn’t natural - she looks ill, her face resembling a slightly melted wax figure. Faintly, you remember seeing her before at the hospital you stayed at a few years ago. Roselucia. Your father’s legal wife. It wasn’t something mother and father brought up much, but you know that technically Roselucia owns the mansion and has merely allowed your family to stay there.
>>
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>>5416187
You move up alongside Casval, holding Artesia’s hand to comfort her. Your brother is watching the exchange between Roselucia and your mother intently, and he doesn’t seem pleased by the development at all.

“Is it bad?” You ask Casval, unable to quite hear what’s being said over the still dying sound of the helicopter’s turbines.

“It is. She hates us.” He states matter-of-factly, “All of us.”

Eventually you’re waved inside, and your mother and Roselucia disappear off into another room to have a longer discussion. A pair of men in suits watch over you and your siblings as you wait on a sofa, making the mansion feel more like a prison than your home. When your mother finally does return you can tell that she’s upset. She’s trying to hide it but unfortunately the last few days have given you plenty of practice in figuring out when she’s just putting on a strong face.
>>
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>>5416189
“We won’t be staying here.” Your mother announces, “Roselucia has been… gracious enough to allow us to remain in the tower on the lake, however.”

“That old thing?” Artesia asks, looking puzzled.

“It will be alright, dear. It’s where your father did a lot of his best writing.” Your mother answers comfortingly, but you know full well that it has been largely abandoned for years now.

Some of the Zabi men stationed at the mansion help you to move what few things you brought with you from the helicopter and out to the isolated tower. There’s only a single long and narrow approach to the old stone tower, which resembles a structure from earth’s middle ages, and the entire thing is surrounded by water on every other side - A convenient and easily defensible prison. Damned Zabis.

Moving into the old tower doesn't take long. The thing was constructed by your father as a second home for isolated study, and it really shows. The interior is dusty and cold, with little in the way of decoration, and no pictures adorn the walls. It’s lifeless, disused. The Zabi men that helped you move your things stick around, apparently also your permanent guards. A few of them mill about in some of the lower rooms, and wherever you go they check in every so often. There’s almost no privacy at all.

Artesia sets down Lucifer in the , and the cat quickly finds its way under the old bed. You sigh, and set down your things; just some spare clothes and a few books. It looks like you’ll be here for a little while, at least until Ramba and Hamon’s plan happens. If it happens.

In the tower you’re usually together as a family, there really aren’t many places to go, but which sibling do you spend most of your time with?
>With Casval, discussing what to do about the Zabis in the future. You have to be careful to not be overheard.
>With Artesia. She needs someone to keep her distracted, and she’s been largely ignored these last few days in all the chaos.
>>
>>5416190
>With Artesia. She needs someone to keep her distracted, and she’s been largely ignored these last few days in all the chaos.
She needs support, otherwise she might grow up to do something dumb like join the federation military and fall in love with a child soldier ace.
>>
>>5416190
>With Artesia. She needs someone to keep her distracted, and she’s been largely ignored these last few days in all the chaos.
It's tempting to plot with Casval, but if we're able to ally Artesia we could convince her to stay with us on Zeon.
>>
>>5416190
>With Artesia. She needs someone to keep her distracted, and she’s been largely ignored these last few days in all the chaos.
>>
>>5416190
>>With Casval, discussing what to do about the Zabis in the future. You have to be careful to not be overheard.
>>
>>5416200
>>5416204
>>5416205
Writing.
>>
Back from classes now, should be able to finish writing and post fairly soon.
>>
>>5416200
>>5416204
>>5416205
Minutes turn into hours, hours into days. Time passes by slowly within the isolated tower, just barely crawling along. There’s something dreary and oppressive about it all, not helped in the least by the armed guards on the lower levels. Artesia seems to be taking the confinement the worst, moping around from room to room and only occasionally playing with her cat Lucifer. It hurts to see her like this, normally she’s so bright and full of energy.

You resolve to make the stay the best it can be for her. It isn’t easy, but story by story and game by game you’re able to slowly coax her back into something resembling a better mood; it’s a good thing you took the books with you from the Ral estate, and you found she has an active enough imagination that it isn’t hard to entertain her. Casval never joins in, but a few briefly exchanged looks are all you need to know that he understands what you’re doing; for his part he seems to be transfixed by the view from one of the tower’s windows. The Zabi estate is just barely visible, far in the distance.

Though she still spends most of her time with you and your siblings, your mother has been busy pursuing her own odd business. She has started up a bit of a habit of speaking with some of the guards, who she seems to be able to get to be unusually chatty. You’re not sure what her plan is, but from what little you’ve overheard she sounds… fake, almost. Too cheery, too happy.
>>
>>5416516
A few more days pass.

You’re sitting atop one of the beds alongside Artesia, reading one of the story books together, when your mother enters the room alongside Casval. She turns and peers back out into the very narrow hallways, checking both sides before fully backing into the room and closing the door shut quietly. You set the book town, and Artesia tilts her head slightly at your mother’s odd behavior.

“We need to talk,” Your mother says in almost a whisper, “Quietly. It is very important. Follow me.”

Sliding off of the bed, you follow your mother as she leads you back out of the room. There aren’t any guards in sight, but that usually doesn’t last long. Following close behind, you’re soon at the door of the tower’s sole bartizan. She leads you in and up a few steps, and then makes sure to close the door. This is easily the most secluded place in the castle, you can probably speak freely here.

“What is it?” Casval asks, keeping his voice low.

“I’ve gotten word from Ramba,” Your mother whispers, “Ms. Hamon will arrive tomorrow morning to take the three of you from here. They’ve secured transport to the space port and off the colony. You’ll be going to earth to stay with one of your fathers friends for awhile.”

“...The three of us?” You ask, your heart sinking, “You aren’t coming too?”

Your mother blinks away some tears, “No.”

Artesia immediately begins bawling, “W-what?! Why aren’t you coming with us? I don’t want to go to earth without you! I won’t go if you’re not coming with us, mommy!”

“I’m sorry, Artesia, I didn’t express myself clearly.” Your mother corrects herself, and exchanges a brief look with you and Casval before turning back to Artesia, “I’m going to join you later. I can’t go with you now, that’s all.”

Your heart sinks, you know exactly what that looks means. She’s telling Artesia a sweet lie to calm her, your mother really won’t be going with you. It suddenly feels difficult to breathe, but you manage to maintain your composure; You need to stay strong for Artesia. Casval again fixes his gaze out of one of the windows, glowering.
>>
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>>5416520
“Then… when? When will you come? C’mon, when?” Artesia begs, grabbing at your mothers coat and hugging her.

“When you’ve become a good girl on Earth.”

“No, not like that!” Artesia shouts, “Promise right, or I won’t be a good girl!”

“Oh, dear.” Your mother moves over a little, pulling Artesia closer, “I’m sorry. Let’s do this, then. On earth you can see stars and other worlds in the sky. The biggest and roundest of them is the Moon. Count each time it shrinks down to half, grows thin, and then grows round again. When it does that one hundred times, that’s when I will come. So wait for me, alright?”

“The Moon will grow round one hundred times?” You little sister asks curiously.

“That’s right, one hundred times. Can you count that high?”

Artesia gives a little nod and starts counting, raising a tiny finger with each number, “One, two, three, four…”
>>
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>>5416523
The next morning.

You’re awoken by a woman’s voice sounding over a loudspeaker from outside of the tower, “I am here to take custody of the three orphaned children of Zeon Zum Deikun, as a special mission for the Federation Munzo Garrison Force! Hand them over immediately!”

Your mother hurries you out of bed and down the stairs to the exit of the tower, stopping to hug all of you before sending you away - forever, possibly. You have to practically pull Artesia away from her, but she follows along behind you and Casval as he opens the door. Light pours into the tower, and you shield your eyes for a moment. A tall, attractive blond woman in a federation officers uniform stands in front of you. Looming behind her, impossible to miss, is the massive armored bulk of a Federation Guntank.

“You’re Miss Hamon?” Casval asks the uniformed woman uncertainly, the three of you keeping close together.

“Good, then you understand.” She answers with a grin, “I am.”

A wave of relief washes over you, and you can’t help but smile back. This plan might actually work!

“Go on, climb aboard!” The disguised Hamon shouts, motioning with her hand toward the Guntank. Behind you, the Zabi guards assigned to the house are a confused mess, babbling and and panicked, some trying to contact authorities over a radio to confirm what’s going on - None of them intervene however, clearly terrified of the tank Ms. Hamon brought with her.

You help Artesia climb up the ladder on the side of the Guntank’s hull, and then down through one of the hatches; the interior is covered in all sorts of switches and screens, and different machine parts that you don’t understand the use of - Climbing a ladder to the the head of the Guntank, you’re soon within the gunnery position in the head. A sort of cockpit, as it were, though the actual driving of the tank is handled by crew down below in the main hull - Ms. Hamon and a pair of particularly nervous looking federation soldiers she brought with her will be handling that.
>>
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>>5416533
Casval presses a button on one of the panels nearby and the cockpit opens up, allowing you to see your mother waving at you from atop the tower. You wave back as the Guntank’s combustion engine roars to life and it begins to rumble away, looking back toward your mother for as long as you can before she finally falls out of sight as the Guntank enters the nearby streets. Tall, colorful apartment buildings block your view of the tower. You never see it again.

The head of the Guntank closes back up, the armored plates and glass viewscreen sealing with a hiss of air, and a few moments later Ms. Hamon appears from the hatch just behind the gunnery control seat.

“Here are your changes of clothes. They’re a little grungy but don’t make a fuss, okay?” She says, dropping off a duffle bag on the floor before disappearing back down into the lower hull. You and your siblings quickly get changed; You and Casval look somewhat normal if a bit dirty, with old coats and hats, but Artesia has been given a baggy purple witches outfit complete with a pointed hat for… some reason. It’s a little odd, but you just go along with it.

There’s an explosion outside, and the guntank wobbles a bit as it rolls over a row of civilian cars in the city streets. You’re actually speeding up! The Guntank is driving erratically, ever more so as it gains speed, swerving about and taking corners sharply. You hold onto a handle nearby with on hand and Artesia with your other as the huge vehicle clips a pair of buildings before correcting its course, dust and masonry flying all about the armored glass viewport for a moment before clearing up. What is Ms. Hamon thinking?!
>>
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>>5416539
This goes on for a few minutes, the far end of the colony and the spaceport growing closer every second as the Guntank practically crashes its way through the city, but eventually it comes screeching to a halt. Ahead of you a wide avenue are three Federation Guntanks forming a blockade.

“What are those?” Artesia asks.

“The enemy.” Casval answers, “My enemy, your enemy, the enemy of everyone.”

Your guntank’s torso is already swiveling to face the leftmost of the opposing guntanks in the blockade, probably Ms. Hamon's doing. A button begins to glow and beep faintly on the gunner’s chair that you and Casval are sitting in, and as you lean down you see that it’s labeled “Master Arm.”

Oh. Well, it’s pretty obvious what that does. Casval presses the button, and a set of joysticks with red triggers and various buttons rise from the control console in front of you both.

“It can be fired from up here, too…” Casval says, reaching for the firing controls.

>Assist Casval with gunnery as best you can. It looks like you have to fight your way out of this. The controls look easy to use.
>”Casval, what are you doing?!” Attempt to dissuade your brother from this madness, Ms. Hamon and the soldiers can handle this. You hope.
>>
>>5416547
>”Casval, what are you doing?!” Attempt to dissuade your brother from this madness, Ms. Hamon and the soldiers can handle this. You hope.
>"What happened to father's peace? Don't be the one to shoot first brother."
>>
>>5416547
This >>5416549
>>
>>5416547
>>Assist Casval with gunnery as best you can. It looks like you have to fight your way out of this. The controls look easy to use.
Anon please, let's not be a Shinji.
>>
>>5416561
Casval goes too far in rage. This is not being afraid, this is him shooting first and making the situation worse, one of the things that starts the fights between him and Asteria.
>>
>>5416547
>”Casval, what are you doing?!” Attempt to dissuade your brother from this madness, Ms. Hamon and the soldiers can handle this. You hope.
>>
>>5416569
And for why He is making things worse, Dozle ordered these guy to not shot the guntank because we are in here. But then Casval start shooting, and the Zabi soldiers decide to ignore their orders and return fire.
>>
>>5416547
>>Assist Casval with gunnery as best you can. It looks like you have to fight your way out of this. The controls look easy to use.
>>
>>5416547
>”Casval, what are you doing?!” Attempt to dissuade your brother from this madness, Ms. Hamon and the soldiers can handle this. You hope.
We are outnumbered, let's not draw our gun(tank).
>>
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>>5416549
>>5416560
>>5416574
>>5416599
Attempt to dissuade.

>>5416561
>>5416594
Fire.

Attempt to dissuade wins. Writing.
>>
>>5416639
Ffs
>>
>>5416549
>>5416560
>>5416574
>>5416599
“Casval, what are you doing?!” You nearly shout at your brother as he grips the firing controls, a murderous glint in his eyes, “What happened to father’s peace?”

The mention of father seems to snap him back to reality, and he relaxes his grip on the controls momentarily as he speaks, “They’re in our way, Felix! What if they shoot first?”

Casval motions to the viewport and the row of federation Guntanks blocking the street maybe a hundred and fifty meters away; It looks like their main cannons are pointed at you, but it’s hard to tell their precise angles. One of the sensor readouts nearby begins emitting a warning message in a calm female monotone, “Laser warning… Laser warning….”

You gulp, suspecting what the warning means, “Well, they haven’t yet. And it’s wrong to shoot first!”

“Laser warning… Laser warning…”

“Felix, what does that laser thingy mean?” Artesia asks, grabbing tightly onto your arm and sounding distressed.

Faint, muffled shouting from the lower hull can be heard through the metal hatch on the floor. Hamon must be arguing with the soldiers.

“They’re targeting us right now!” Casval protests, his grip tightening on the controls. His eyes narrow once again as he directs his full attention back to the guntanks.

>Oh crap, what if they do fire first? That warning is really ominous! Maybe now isn’t the time for the moral high ground… [Fire]
>Try to stop him, maybe he’ll still listen, try to hold him back physically if you have to.
>Write-in?
>>
>>5416673
Huh, didn't know italics would interrupt greentext. Interesting.
>>
>>5416673
>If we shot first we take down one at most and the other two will take us down. If we don't shoot first, then there atleast the the chance they won't Casval!
>>
>>5416673
>>Oh crap, what if they do fire first? That warning is really ominous! Maybe now isn’t the time for the moral high ground… [Fire]
I'm still going with the shoot first option.
>>
>>5416673
>Try to stop him, maybe he’ll still listen, try to hold him back physically if you have to.
And say something like >>5416677 suggested
>>
>>5416677
By the way, I just want to see what would happen if we break canon this early on, we been just protesting but following the tracks so far.
We will be safe if Casval shoots, he is a born ace.
>>
>>5416677
>>5416689
Writing.
>>
>>5416677
>>5416689

You try to ignore Artesia’s growing panic and the laser warning system for just a moment, and place a hand on Casval’s shoulder in a last bid to convince him to stop.

“Casval, please, if we shoot first maybe we take down one of them - at most.” You plead, hoping he’ll listen to reason, “That still leaves the other two aiming right at us, think about it for a second. We have to be smarter than just fighting blindly!”

“You don’t know that, Felix.” Your brother shakes his head, pushing you away forcefully with one hand before returning to grip the fire controls, “I have to do this, for both of you…”

It feels like time freezes, outside of the cockpit ceasing to exist as you watch your brother’s index fingers slowly tighten around the red firing triggers. Your eyes widen in shock, he’s really going to do it. Something within you stirs into action, and you shove your hands forward, leaning your whole upper body into the sudden jarring motion, and knock Casval’s hands from the controls. The guns stay silent.

Artesia screams, falling back a few feet and to the floor as you move so unexpectedly, and Casval shouts angrily as he starts to fight back and grabs at your hands. Both of you struggle in and over the gunner’s seat for a few seconds, eventually falling to the floor in a blur of motion. At some point something hits you in the nose, your vision blurring, and you strike back.

“Felix! Casval! Stop it, please!” Artesia screams, horrified at what she's witnessing.

“Get off of me!” Your brother protests angrily, and in a blur you feel something strike your face again. It finally clicks in your mind that he’s not only a little bigger and older than you, but slightly faster as well, and your moment of surprise is quickly wearing off. The next few moments are even more of a blur of limbs and striking, and at the end of it you find yourself separated from Casval, both of you half kneeling on opposite sides of the cockpit with the gunnery seat and controls just between you.
>>
>>5416950
You wipe a sleeve against your nose, a trail of bright crimson coming away with it, and you can practically hear your own heartbeat as you stare at your brother. He’s a bit bruised up as well, but not as badly, and he looks absolutely furious. Artesia is keeping her distance from both of you, sort of half hiding behind the back of the tall gunner’s seat, her frightened blue eyes and purple hat just barely poking out to look at you.

The guntank suddenly lurches, sending you and Casval sprawling over again onto the hard metal floor. Ow. There’s a series of loud thumps outside of the cockpit. The guns?! You and Casval both rush to stand up, moving back to the controls and center of the viewport to try and see what’s going on outside - The Guntank is definitely moving again, but there’s seemingly smoke everywhere ahead of you… And you’re driving right into it!

You exchange glances with your brother, who seems equally confused.

“What’s going on?” You ask aloud, “Where’d the other gu-”

You’re stop talking as the massive silhouette of one of the blockading Guntanks rolls out of the bank of smoke, the glass of its main viewport briefly catching in the light before your own vehicle suddenly swerves once again, rushing past its side as you continue to gain speed.

“They’re trying to push right through the blockade!” Casval cries out excitedly, raising a fist victoriously, "It's working!"

There’s more faint thuds outside, and you catch a brief glimpse of black cylinders launching overhead and in front of the guntank; some disappear into the already laid smoke, but others seem to just pop into huge, billowing gray clouds.

“They didn’t hold in a line! Haha, we're going to make it!” You practically think aloud, realizing that’s the only way you could’ve made it past part of the blockade and unable to hold in your elation. One of the federation soldiers must have panicked and advanced when your guntank started moving again and firing its smoke launchers; they must be really disorganized to do something like that, even a kid like you knows they could have just sat sti-

A cannon goes off near the cockpit, the smoke clearly briefly around the muzzle blasts as one of the enemy guntanks opens fire blindly. It misses, barely, a pair of explosions half collapsing a small office building to your guntank’s left - rubble and smoke fly all about, but you’re already rumbling past it. The federation being disorganized and panicky isn’t all upsides, it seems!
>>
>>5416952
A few seconds later and you’re already exiting the most recently launched smoke clouds, the street ahead of you fully visible again - There are no guntanks in the way anymore, they must all be behind you now. There’s another pair of shots from behind you, even more off target, and the front of a yellow building a ways ahead of you down the street disappears in a flash of fire and smoke. A few pedestrians are silhouetted briefly, but when the smoke clears they’re nowhere to be seen and nearby cars are burning wrecks. Your blood runs cold. You stopped Casval from shooting first, but people are still dying.

Your brother glares at you and slides back into the seat, but he still leaves a space for you to join him as he leans forward to work the controls. The torso of your guntank slowly spins to face backwards toward the smoke clouds and enemy guntanks firing at your escape…

>Assist Casval. Father never spoke against self-defense, and you need to get away safely!
>Let your brother handle this, Artesia looks like she might have gotten hurt during one of those falls and you should help her..

I'm proud to have been able to present the two most recurring plot points in UC gundam in these posts: Federation incompetence and Zeon infighting.
>>
>>5416955
>Assist Casval. Father never spoke against self-defense, and you need to get away safely!
I really hoped Dozle would be able to stop his men from fucking up, but it seems I gave to much credit to a Zabi.
Well, time for the gloves to come off.
>>
>>5416955
>Let your brother handle this, Artesia looks like she might have gotten hurt during one of those falls and you should help her..
Have to make sure our little sister is all right.
>>
>>5416955
>>Assist Casval. Father never spoke against self-defense, and you need to get away safely!
>Spoiler
It really is a wonder how either managed to survive so long.
>>
>>5416955
Oh, and I think you did a fantastic job showing that the federation and zeon will always manage to find a way to make a mess. It's a good lesson to take to heart.
>>
>>5416955
>>Assist Casval. Father never spoke against self-defense, and you need to get away safely!
Now that we've established that we're on the side of the angels...
>>
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>>5416957
>>5416962
>>5416980
Returning fire! Writing.
>>
>>5416957
>>5416962
>>5416980

You slide into the seat alongside Casval and don’t waste any time, taking control of one of the joysticks controlling the weapons; yours seems to control the guntank’s arms, while Casval still has command over torso rotation and the main cannons. You give the controls a little test wiggle, and the independent crosshair for the arm guns drifts across the HUD projected over the viewscreen. With your brief moment of familiarization with the controls over, you start scanning for targets.

The first presents itself quickly, one of the enemy guntanks having backed out of the smoke rather than correcting its direction; its torso has twisted to face you, but it’s crawling after you at an achingly slow pace as it moves in reverse. You slew the crosshair onto the lower hull, a steadier target than the upper body, taking careful aim - Casval fires the main guns before you get a chance to open up, and for a briefest moment you see a faint silhouette of the pair of shells in flight, just a pair of little black blurs that are gone as soon as you notice them. Explosions rock the enemy guntank’s main body, one of its arms flying off as the armored plating is perforated and completely buckles in multiple places as the titanium armor breaks near its welds - It almost looks like half of the vehicle is disassembling itself, bits of fire and metal spewing out of it violently.

You pull the trigger, letting off a stream of armor piercing autocannon rounds into the weak rear armor of the lower hull, little flashes dancing across the metal like a sewing machine over cloth, eventually catching one of its tracks and chewing it into so much scrap metal with concentrated fire. The guntank, thoroughly ruined in a matter of seconds, spins entirely out of control and only manages to avoid crashing into a nearby building due to its slow reverse speed.

The other two guntanks makes themselves known a few seconds later, facing forward properly as they charge out through the smoke firing all of their weapons, arm guns scoring a series of hits on your own vehicle and sending impossibly loud clangs echoing through its interior. You wince, ducking slightly out of instinct as the flashes of impact briefly strike near the viewscreen, but Casval is already lining up a shot and returning fire - He takes the head off of the lead federation vehicle with a pair of roaring cannon blasts, leaving behind a ruined stump of burning metal and shattered glass, and something detonates in the interior near one of its main cannons. There’s a brief gout of flame shooting a dozen meters into the air from a hatch, and then a bright flash as the struck guntank just… ceases to be from the lower hull upward. Your own guntank’s viewscreen dims significantly to keep from blinding you with the intensity of the explosion.
>>
>>5417076
The street is an absolute ruin, a mix of rubble, flipped and burning cars, and scattered smoking bits of the guntank’s upper body. The lower hull isn’t moving anymore, a roaring inferno soaring into the sky from where the upper body used to connect to it. The third guntank hasn’t slowed though, its main cannons flashing as they discharge - There’s a horribly moment of fear that sweeps over you as an explosion fills the viewscreen, and a clang louder than anything you’ve every heard reverberates through your entire vehicle. You exhale sharply, realizing with a shock that you’re still alive. The armor held.

Casval begins lining up his next shots, and you once again slew the arm guns into position, settling the orange crosshair on the left track of the last enemy guntank - it worked before, no reason to stop now. A steady, rattling burst sees the track set free as bits of twisted metal fly about here and there among flashing incendiary detonations, and the enemy vehicle swerves - This one does plow into one of the buildings along the side of the street, embedding deeply in it before fully coming to a stop. It's harmless now. Casval fires anyways, striking the back of its upper body. You wince as two huge holes appear in the thinner armor, smoke billowing from them, but there’s no catastrophic explosion this time…

Behind your seat, Artesia is absolutely crying her eyes out, “Casval! Felix! A-all those poor people! Stop it!”

You stop immediately, not having wanted to resort to violence to begin with, but Casval keeps an eye on the viewscreen for a moment longer before swiveling the upper body back to facing your guntank’s direction of travel down the long road to the space port.

Artesia grabs at your sleeve, crying and speaking almost incoherently, and you get out of the chair and do your best to try and comfort her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“It’s okay, Artesia, it’s over.” You try to console her, “There won’t be any more fighting. Nobody is going to get hurt anymore.”
>>
>>5417079
The guntank continues to rumble its way down the road for a few more minutes, crushing abandoned cars all the way, until eventually a very unwelcome sight comes into view - another federation blockade about two kilometers away, a staggered row of five guntanks and half a dozen conventional tanks with twin cannons… You definitely can’t fight that. The space port isn’t all that far now though, looming across the entire sky in the distance…

The hatch in the floor opens and Ms. Hamon sticks her head up through it, her federation officers cap now missing. “We’re abandoning the vehicle! Come on, quickly now, we need to get out immediately!”

Casval goes first down the ladder, and then Artesia, and finally you - You aren’t going to leave your little sister to climb down last. Now down in the main hull you continue to follow Ms. Hamon, who has opened an exterior hatch that leads out onto the main body of the still moving guntank. It’s moving much slower, but that’s a small comfort. Smoke is billowing from the impacts along the body of the guntank where it was struck earlier, making it difficult to see or breathe, and you cough a few times as you guide Artesia along behind Casval and Ms. Hamon.

“Come on! I have it set to auto-control, it should keep driving forward! The smoke will cover our escape. Move it, come on!” Hamon shouts, waving you to the very back of the vehicle.

Hamon jumps down to the ground below, staggering a bit but managing to keep on her feet. Casval jumps a moment later, and then Artesia - Casval and Ms. Hamon catch her together. You jump down immediately afterward, a little less gracefully than you planned, but other than a few new scrapes to go along with the bruises from earlier you’re fine.

Ms. Hamon quickly leads you off the street and into a nearby alleyway, and your little group continues at a slow jog for a few minutes. Behind you, there’s a roar of dozens of cannons and a colossal explosion which nearly sends you all to the ground again - The federation blockade must have fired on the guntank. You gulp and break out into a cold sweat, knowing that you’d be dead if you had tried to fight. Your hands shake slightly, but you get it under control as you hold Artesia’s hand to guide her along. She’s practically having to run to keep up with the rest of you, the poor thing.

Eventually you stop at along a small side street, Ms. Hamon carefully reading the street signs, “...This is the place. Ramba should be here soon, we just have to wait a little while.”

Sure enough, a blue armored car drives past slowly about a minute and a half later, and Ms. Hamon hails it down with an almost comical, “Hey, Taxi!”

The armored car’s window rolls down, revealing a tired but relieved looking Ramba Ral, “Where are you headed, miss?”

You snicker a bit at the absurdity of the exchange and get in the car with the others.
>>
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>>5417081
A few minutes later.

The drive went by quickly, a single armored car easily slipping through the many holes in the federation security blockades that are hastily being established across the city. Artesia had some small cuts from falling inside of the guntank, and one of Ramba’s men helps you apply some small bandages. There’s a brief stop at a warehouse where you transfer into a nondescript cargo container - the interior is cushioned and has survival supplies, and Jimba Ral is in there as well! It seems the haggard looking old man will be leaving with you and your siblings to go to earth. You can feel the cargo crate being lifted and then set down again, and then a faint acceleration - they must have loaded you onto a truck or something.

The next twenty minutes are filled with tension, every bump and scrape of the crate as it is moved from the truck and into what must be the cargo port filling your mind with wild ideas. You can’t see anything, and you can barely hear anything but have to remain absolutely quiet regardless. Artesia’s cat almost gets you discovered once by meowing constantly, but it ultimately amounts to nothing but a bad scare. Still, every movement or bump could be the precursor to Zabi goon ripping the crate open and capturing you… or maybe your nerves are just a little frayed from the fighting earlier. You haven’t had much time to process that yet, truth be told. People died, and you’re responsible. The thought doesn’t sit well with you at all.
>>
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>>5417082
Eventually you’re pretty sure that your crate has been loaded onto a cargo ship and that you’re under way, the feeling of acceleration growing and then remaining constant like the tug of gravity. After exchanging brief looks with Casval you know what has to be done. You both reach for the crate’s release lever, and one of its sides falls away with a hiss.

“No, it’s still to early!” Jimba protests, but you’re greeted with the sight of sterile rows of stacked cargo within an otherwise barren cargo bay. It’s completely safe, he’s just being paranoid. The acceleration of the vessel slows, and you feel yourself suddenly become weightless as the reality of microgravity sets it. It feels… natural.

“W-why am I floating?” Artesia asks, waving her arms around as she tries to right herself.

“There isn’t gravity in space,” You explain, kicking lightly off the plating below you and floating over to help her.

“Come on, both of you.” Casval says, waving you toward a gap in the crates nearby.

Aha! There it is, a window. Ms. Hamon told you there’d be quite the view from the ship, that you could see Earth and the Sun from where you’d be on the ship. Before you lies an inky black void, dotted with a million million tiny lights - a beautiful sea of stars, the brightest and largest of which you immediately recognize as the sun. The exterior of the colony is also visible, along with a few cargo vessels moving in and out of the port.

It’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your life.

“It’s amazing!” Artesia exclaims.

“This… this is space?” You brother Casval asks in wonder, peering intently through the small window.

You say nothing, unable to put your feeling of awe into words.

Artesia nearly jumps in excitement as she spots something, pressing a tiny finger against the glass as she points, “Casval, Felix, look! It’s so pretty!”

A tiny blue orb hangs in the distance, a beautiful world utterly unlike anything else in the darkness of space.

“That must be the earth!” Casval states, leaning in closer.

“Earth?” Artesia questions, “That’s earth? The place we’re going?”

“That’s right, Artesia.” You say, trying to get a better view.

“It’s blue and beautiful but humans have polluted it,” Casval explains to her, “That’s why spacenoids were driven away from there and came into space.”

…The journey goes by quickly, too quickly, the three of you discussing each new sight as it presents itself before the tiny window.
>>
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>>5417083

Several years later.

“O people of space! Now is the time to awaken! To realize your latent potential! We are at the dawn of a transformation of mankind. A true enlightenment of the human race. And we may finally be poised, ready to transcend what has always been thought of as the impossible- infinite space, and time itself.”
-Zeon Zum Deikun, UC 0065

1:00 PM, 14 July, UC 0071
Teabolo estate, Andalusia, Spain

The last few years have been peaceful. Teabolo Mass, a wealthy man and close friend of your late father, adopted you and your siblings shortly after you arrived on earth with Jimba. You’ve lived in Teabolo’s villa, really more of a castle, in Andalusia for the last three years, and assumed new names as a precaution against Zabi plots. Artesia is now known as Sayla, Casval has taken the name Édouard, and you are Maxime. Jimba has grown strange over the years, turning more and more paranoid, but the old man still lives with you despite his regular disappearances on business.

Over the past three years you’ve grown and learned a lot. You and Casval, or rather "Édouard," are notably quite tall and athletic for your age but still just eleven and twelve years old respectively. You adoptive father Teabolo has provided for your every need, and your education provided by private instructors has been excellent and well ahead of what even some of the best regarded private schools back in Side 3, now known as the Republic of Zeon after the Zabis changed the name, could have provided.

The sun is still high in the sky, many hours of daylight left; what is it that you’re doing?
>You’re out with Sayla helping tend to some of the sick people in a refugee camp nearby. There’s an international charity running the place and it’s actually quite safe; you’ve grown closer to Artesia and really learned to connect with strangers over the last few years as you’ve helped around the camp.
>You’re with Édouard in the courtyard, practicing shooting. Not with actual firearms, though Mr. Teabolo does have a few of those and you’ve had occasion to fire them, but instead with a pair of high powered air rifles. You’ve really bonded as brothers, though you often have different ways of doing things.
>>
>>5417084
Apologies for the absolute monster of a post, anons. I felt that the pacing was dragging a bit and wanted to move things along to when you should have some more agency as a character, though all these early decisions were still super helpful for establishing Felix's personality and a few minor changes to the timeline. Hopefully you all still enjoyed the read!
>>
>>5417084
>You’re with Édouard in the courtyard, practicing shooting.
>>5417087
>Spoiler
I think the pacing was fine but it was a good place to do a time skip. I'm enjoying it a bunch, and you're doing pretty great so far.
>>
A shame we didn't take back Zeon yet

>>5417084
>You’re out with Sayla helping tend to some of the sick people in a refugee camp nearby. There’s an international charity running the place and it’s actually quite safe; you’ve grown closer to Artesia and really learned to connect with strangers over the last few years as you’ve helped around the camp.
Still think we should be close to her, we might be able to dissuade her from making certain 'interesting' decisions.

>>5417087
Don't worry about it OP, this quest is pretty good.
>>
>>5417084
>You’re with Édouard in the courtyard, practicing shooting. Not with actual firearms, though Mr. Teabolo does have a few of those and you’ve had occasion to fire them, but instead with a pair of high powered air rifles. You’ve really bonded as brothers, though you often have different ways of doing things.
>>
>>5417084
>You’re out with Sayla helping tend to some of the sick people in a refugee camp nearby. There’s an international charity running the place and it’s actually quite safe; you’ve grown closer to Artesia and really learned to connect with strangers over the last few years as you’ve helped around the camp.
We need to be a "moderating" influence.
>>
>>5417084
>You’re out with Sayla helping tend to some of the sick people in a refugee camp nearby. There’s an international charity running the place and it’s actually quite safe; you’ve grown closer to Artesia and really learned to connect with strangers over the last few years as you’ve helped around the camp.
Great to be able to catch a vote again
>>
>>5417164
+1

No need to worry qm.
The update was great!
>>
>>5417084
>>You’re with Édouard in the courtyard, practicing shooting. Not with actual firearms, though Mr. Teabolo does have a few of those and you’ve had occasion to fire them, but instead with a pair of high powered air rifles. You’ve really bonded as brothers, though you often have different ways of doing things.
>>
>>5417084
>You’re out with Sayla helping tend to some of the sick people in a refugee camp nearby. There’s an international charity running the place and it’s actually quite safe; you’ve grown closer to Artesia and really learned to connect with strangers over the last few years as you’ve helped around the camp.
>>
>>5417090
>>5417196
>>5417367
Three for practicing with Édouard.

>>5417164
>>5417222
>>5417239
>>5417341
>>5417372
Five for helping Sayla.

Sayla wins. Writing.

Thank you for the kind words, anons.
>>
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>>5417164
>>5417222
>>5417239
>>5417341
>>5417372
The summer sun hangs high overhead, a small breeze drifting through the rows of makeshift brown and blue tents that make up the refugee camp; some are simple tarps, others are sheets of canvas, and only a handful were actually meant for disaster relief.

You are standing just outside of one such tent, rummaging through a backpack of supplies trying to find the right kind of bandage. Sayla is about a meter and a half away, kneeling next to a gray bearded old man with an injured hand. She’s just about done inspecting the wound - It isn’t all that deep or you’d need to call over one of the actual medics to help, but there are plenty of nasty scrapes and cuts you can both still treat on your own.

Most of the people in the camp were displaced to the area by a Federation industrial project that flooded their towns. Official relief stopped a few months after the disaster, some people got shipped off to colonies but a lot of others just got left where they were without any real help. They have nowhere to go, and many have been here for years, and the most common issue is illness and lack of food - But there are still plenty of more immediately treatable issues to go around like this old man's hand.

“Where is it?...” You mutter to yourself, shifting around some of the other supplies in the bag, “They really need to organize these packs better, almost feel like we’re being sabotaged...”

“We can get this fixed right up, sir.” Sayla says to the old man cheerfully before glancing back over to you, “Find it yet, Maxime?”

“Almost, I think.” You say, having finally found some bandages, if not the right kind, “I’m going to want to talk to Georgi when we get back, this pack almost feels like it was purposefully put together to be confusing.”

Artesia gives a little snort at your comment, “He’s been busy, cut him some slack. It can’t be that bad.”

“...I guess not.” You say, raising the thin and nondescript foil bandage package in mock triumph as soon as you find it, “There we go.”

You hand it over and Sayla gets to work, tending to the old man. A few others in the camp are crowded around, watching. From their faces you can tell some are probably waiting for help as well. You’re both familiar faces around the camp by now, with or without the arm bands marking you as volunteers.

“It’s hard to believe you’re both so young. I’m sure you’ll grow up to be a great doctor someday, Miss.” The old man says in appreciation as Sayla finishes, “Thank you so much.”

Sayla stands up and is positively beaming, “I’m just happy we could help.”

You help some of the others for the next few minutes, a few more cuts and scrapes. To your eye a few of the injuries on some of the kids close to your age look like they came from fights, but it’s nothing serious. You sigh, hoping it isn’t from abuse.
>>
>>5417404
Where are you off to next?

>Deliver medicine to some of the sick, make a quick report to Georgi, and then head back to your adoptive father Teabolo’s villa. Jimba was lecturing Édouard last you saw, which can last for hours. Maybe you should give him some company as relief from the old man's ranting.

>Ask around a bit about if there have really been fights. You’re not going to try to solve the problem yourself or anything, at least probably not, but if it's more serious than you thought it should get reported to somebody who can deal with it.

>Off to complain to Georgi, of course! He keeps changing things without telling you and it really slows things down. You need to stop by anyways, but with some luck you might bump into his daughter Elena again while you’re there on a longer visit. She’s always nice to see.
>>
>>5417408
>>Off to complain to Georgi, of course! He keeps changing things without telling you and it really slows things down. You need to stop by anyways, but with some luck you might bump into his daughter Elena again while you’re there on a longer visit. She’s always nice to see.

Supply issues could spread to other areas easily, it might be best to head these off.
>>
>>5417404
>Ask around a bit about if there have really been fights. You’re not going to try to solve the problem yourself or anything, at least probably not, but if it's more serious than you thought it should get reported to somebody who can deal with it.
Plot hook!
>>
>>5417408
>Ask around a bit about if there have really been fights. You’re not going to try to solve the problem yourself or anything, at least probably not, but if it's more serious than you thought it should get reported to somebody who can deal with it.
>>
>>5417422
>>5417454
Writing.
>>
>>5417422
>>5417454

As you’re tightening the straps on your backpack and getting ready to head off with Sayla, you just can’t quite shake the thought that something wrong is going on here. The cuts and bruises on the kids weren’t that bad, and it might just have been from messing around, but you decide to ask about it anyways.

“Sayla, hold up for a second, okay?” You ask your sister, scanning around to see where some of the kids got off too. They’re probably about your age, give or take a year or two, but almost all of them are still smaller than you. Something to do with a history of malnutrition, you’ve heard Georgi and some of the other doctors talk about it before when they had you handing out rations.

You spot a couple of the kids in a group, already wandering off back into the depths of the sprawling camp.

“Hmm? What is it?” Sayla questions, stepping closer.

“Some of the injuries looked like they came from fights, those bloody knuckles the one had,” You explain, “I’m going to ask around a bit and see if it’s anything we should do something about.”

“You really think so? It did look a little odd.” She says, narrowing her blue eyes as she considers things, “I’ll help.”

“Thanks, Sayla. They like you more anyways,” You say with a shrug, glad to have a sister like her, “Come on.”

You both catch up with the group of kids quickly, they’re gathered near an old rusted burn barrel. They’re a bit dirty looking, wearing donated and patched clothes; you think you remember one of them from a previous trip into the camp… Luis. He’s a bit smaller than the rest, with short brown hair and wearing an oversized surplus federation army jacket that hangs down nearly to his knees.

“Hey, Luis.” You say, giving a small wave as you walk over, “Do you have a few minutes?”

“Uh, hi… Sure, I guess.” He says, looking more to Sayla than you. She gives a little wave as well and says hello, and Luis very quickly shifts his gaze to you as his cheeks turn a bit red.

“Are you doing alright?” Sayla asks, a few of the others in the group giving vague grunts of confirmation and nodding unconvincingly. They keep glancing off into the camp, between a few of the larger tents. Briefly you spot a blur of motion over there, but you don’t catch who it was they were looking at.
>>
>>5417529
Luis rubs at one the baggy sleeves of his oversized jacket, hesitating nervously before speaking, “...Actually I’ve been better.”

“Oh?” You say, hoping he’ll elaborate.

“You can tell us, Luis. We’re just here to help.” Sayla urges him on.

“It’s, uhm, it’s Diego.” Luis says, his eyes flicking in the same direction as the others were looking a moment ago, “We tried to fight him.”

“What’d he do?” You ask.

“He was taking our food!” One of the other kids suddenly shouts, apparently finding his courage, “He’s a bastard, he just takes everything he wants.”

“And so you tried to stop him.” You conclude, “And… lost?”

“Yeah, he’s scary.” The tallest kid in the group says, “I thought he was going to kill us!”

Kill you?” Sayla asks with a mix of worry and incredulity, “You weren’t hurt that bad. You aren’t hiding worse injuries are you? We can get a docto-”

Luis shakes his head, “N-no, no, we got away alright, mostly - but he had a pipe at the end and was screaming like an animal or something, he’s a freak!”

Well, that does sound worrying, but it could be a lot worse.

>Find Diego and talk with him. You don’t have the whole story, but he sounds dangerous. If push comes to shove you’ve fought before, but you'd prefer to talk this all out.
>Get Luis and the others some more raitons and then report to Georgi, maybe he’ll have something he can do about this. Violence in the camp is bad, even among kids, but it's not really your place to step in and solve things.
>Consult with Sayla, maybe she has a different read on the situation.
>>
>>5417531
>>Find Diego and talk with him. You don’t have the whole story, but he sounds dangerous. If push comes to shove you’ve fought before, but you'd prefer to talk this all out.
>>
>>5417531
>Find Diego and talk with him. You don’t have the whole story, but he sounds dangerous. If push comes to shove you’ve fought before, but you'd prefer to talk this all out.
>Get something to protect yourself just in case. Never bring fists to a pipe fight
>>
>>5417531
>Consult with Sayla, maybe she has a different read on the situation.
>>
>>5417531
>Consult with Sayla, maybe she has a different read on the situation.
Good to build up trust with our little sis, for when the war eventually happens.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5417533
>>5417534
Right to Diego.

>>5417535
>>5417545
Consult with Sayla.

Rolling it off to keep things moving. Diego is one, Sayla is two.
>>
>>5417533
>>5417534

“I think maybe we should have a chat with Diego, Sayla.” You say, “Luis, could you describe him?”

“I can do better than that, man. H-he’s right over there!”, Luis stammers out, pointing toward the tents the group had been glancing nervously at a bit ago.

A dark haired boy just a little shorter than you is standing in the shadows between the pair of large tents. He’s skinny, and a bit better dressed than most of the other kids in the camp; his clothes more or less fit. A set of old tan fatigues, a slightly darker jacket, and brown boots - vaguely military looking but too small to have ever been part of a uniform. The details of his face aren’t all that clear from over here, but he’s definitely giving you one hell of a scowl.

“Oh. Oh no. Maxime, come on, don’t do anything dumb, please.” Sayla says, grabbing your hand as you stand a little straighter and squint your eyes to try and see Diego a little more clearly in the bright sunlight.

“We’re just going to talk, Sayla.” You reassure her, “Come on, it’ll be easier if we both go.”

“You’re crazy, man.” Luis says, chuckling nervously and backing away along with the others. Probably for the best, having the group go with you would just make things more tense.

“Promise me you’re not going to start something,” Sayla says stubbornly, tightening her grip as you start to take a step in the direction of the tents Diego is standing between.

“I promise I won’t start anything,” You say, reaching to your backpack briefly to confirm that your knife is still attached to its side. It’s a small fixed blade for helping around the camp, definitely not meant for fighting, but if somebody comes at you with a metal pipe then it’s better than nothing.

“No, not like that,” She protests, “You know what I mean, Maxime.”

You sigh and meet her eyes, “Sayla, I’m not going over there to provoke a fight either.”

She exhales and relaxes her grip, “Good.”
>>
>>5417597
When you look back to Diego he’s not there anymore. Crap. In fact Luis and the other kids are gone now as well - You might be familiar with the camp but these kids live here, and they know when and how to bolt quickly.

“Where’d he go?” You ask aloud, hurrying along after Diego with Sayla. The path heading to the two large tents isn’t exactly busy, but you have to be careful not to bump into people going about their business.

“I think he went left?” Sayla answers, narrowly avoiding running into a man as he exits the front of a nearby tent.

As you pass by the two large tents you catch sight of Diego again, briefly, on a branching path leading toward the edge of the camp.

“I feel like this is a little aggressive!” Sayla says, running alongside you, “He must think we’re chasing him!”

“We are chasing him,” You correct her, realizing you’ve forgotten something very obvious while running after Diego, “He just doesn’t have the right idea about what we’re going to do when we catch him. Diego! Stop! We just want to talk!”

“Diego, hold up!” Sayla shouts as you keep moving, drawing the attention of people standing nearby, “We just want to talk!”

The game of briefly glimpsing him and then losing sight again continues for a while. It doesn't seem like he's going to stop, no matter how much you shout.

>Keep chasing him toward the edge of the camp. You really do just want to talk.
>Stop chasing. This isn’t how you wanted this to go down, and you’re not quite sure where he’s leading you.
>>
>>5417599
>>Stop chasing. This isn’t how you wanted this to go down, and you’re not quite sure where he’s leading you.
Gut feeling, he's leading us into a less advantageous position and will probably attack us. I don't see a reason to charge headfirst into a pipe.
>>
>>5417599
>Stop chasing. This isn’t how you wanted this to go down, and you’re not quite sure where he’s leading you.
Oh no, we are a dumb anime protag. Our painful death is sealed
>>
>>5417613
>>5417603
Writing.
>>
>>5417603
>>5417613

As you lose sight of Diego again, the edge of the camp growing closer and close as you rush down a narrow dirt path between drab tents, it becomes clear that this isn’t going to work. More than that, the way he's avoiding you is positively suspicious - He might be leading you into a trap. You put an arm out to your side as you slow down, signaling for Sayla to do the same.

“We’re giving up?” Sayla questions, slowing down alongside you and looking around the nearby tents more carefully.

“I have a bad feeling about where he’s leading us.” You say, voice low, “He’s letting us keep spotting him. It has to be on purpose.”

There are fewer people on this side of the camp, and the tents are less cared for. You’ve been to this side of the camp a few times before but never lingered long, the layout mostly a mystery to you. Usually you and Sayla keep closer to the doctor’s tents.

“It was pretty convenient…” Sayla mutters nervously, grabbing your hand again, “Maybe we should just leave and tell Georgi, we tried our best.”

A few of the refugees here are giving you strange looks, whispering to one another. You might have handed rations out to a few of them before, it’s hard to remember exactly, but they don’t seem all that enthused by your presence today. Running in shouting after somebody probably didn’t help with that…

>”Hey, mister, do you know where that kid was going? We’re trying to talk with him.” Ask one of the locals, maybe somebody knows where Diego lives and you can approach more carefully.
>”...You’re right, Sayla. I don’t think we’ll be able to talk to him today, not without trouble anyways.” Head back to Georgi to report, maybe he can do something.
>Write-in?
>>
>>5417698
>”Hey, mister, do you know where that kid was going? We’re trying to talk with him.” Ask one of the locals, maybe somebody knows where Diego lives and you can approach more carefully.
>But what if he is in trouble sister? If he is just a bully like the other kids said, he wouldn't have run away when we came to talk to him.
>>
>>5417698
>”...You’re right, Sayla. I don’t think we’ll be able to talk to him today, not without trouble anyways.” Head back to Georgi to report, maybe he can do something.
Yeah I'm not liking this. We're in an area we don't know surrounded by people who'll probably try to leverage us in some way.
>>
>>5417698
>”...You’re right, Sayla. I don’t think we’ll be able to talk to him today, not without trouble anyways.” Head back to Georgi to report, maybe he can do something.
Comes with a side benefit of maybe getting to complain to him too.

Never seen any gundam, but this quest has been pretty cool so far and seems promising.
>>
>>5417698
>>”...You’re right, Sayla. I don’t think we’ll be able to talk to him today, not without trouble anyways.” Head back to Georgi to report, maybe he can do something.
>>
>>5417703
>>5417706
>>5417758
Writing.
>>
Anons in this quest are a bunch of candy asses holy shit
>>
>>5417758
>>5417706
>>5417703
>>5417703
>>5417706
>>5417758

“You’re right, Sayla.” You say, growing more wary of the situation you’ve found yourself in, “I don’t think we’ll be able to talk to him today, not without trouble anyways.”

Sayla squeezes your hand a little as she nods in agreement, “Let’s go back.”

It doesn’t take long to cross back through the refugee camp toward the side you’re more familiar with; Teabolo’s villa is on the hill in the same direction, a very clear landmark that dominates the skyline almost like a medieval castle looking down over an encamped army. Unfortunately reality is much less glorious than the stories you used to read to Sayla, and there’s nothing fantastical at all about the conditions of the camp. It’s cleaner than it could be, but still pretty filthy, and better supplied than it could be, but still always low. That’s the story here, day in and day out, aid workers struggling to keep the status quo let alone improve the situation.

Without Teabolo’s patronage it’s unlikely the improvement in conditions of the last year or so would have been possible, and you know Georgi and some of the other doctors helping organize things have been petitioning for Federation assistance in getting these people more permanent placements. It’s unlikely to happen, the Federation officially considers the crisis to be resolved after their previous intervention, but it isn’t impossible. Even just dumping them in the colonies might be better than this, though that would just leave them homeless in space instead of Spain, and wouldn’t do anything to get them their old homes back or all the years they lost.

Earth might be beautiful, but situations like this are absolutely rotten. It's exactly the kind of situation your father wanted to solve before the Zabis murdered him.
>>
>>5417803
You pass beyond the last of the drab refugee tents and out of the camp, Just ahead of you, the white and red modular buildings the doctors and aid workers are based in stand out starkly among the dark earth tones at the base of the hill leading to Teabolo’s village. They’re ugly but functional buildings made of metal, repurposed military surplus from the Federation army. You pass by the clinic, waving to a few of the staff as they greet you and Sayla, and quickly make your way inside the main administrative building. It’s not much to look at, a white rectangle with a few windows and an automatic door.

The door hisses and slides to the side as you approach, shudders, makes a horrible metallic screeching noise, and then doesn’t open fully.

“This again?” You complain, sighing as you manually slide the door the rest of the way open. You motion for Sayla to enter first.

“Huh, didn’t that get fixed yesterday?” Sayla asks while stepping inside the air conditioned building, tapping a finger against the malfunctioning door inquisitively, “It couldn’t have broken again so soon.”

“It’s junk!” Georgi yells from a room away, his voice muffled by the intervening walls. He’s always had alarmingly good hearing, you weren’t even speaking that loudly.

“Hey, Georgi! We’re back!” You call out, closing the door manually behind you.

A desk where a secretary should be is just ahead of you, that work is usually handled by Georgi’s daughter Elena who seems to be absent, and just past the desk are a pair of doors; one leads to Georgi’s office, the other to a small shared room for other workers.

You enter Georgi’s office, finding him drowning in work as usual. His desk is always pure clutter, an old computer and keyboard fighting a losing battle against the paper they were supposed to replace centuries ago. He’s a large and rough looking man, with squashed almost thuggish features and black hair flecked with gray - If you were just meeting him for the first time you’d guess he was part of some sort of organized crime group rather than a charity.

“What are my two favorite volunteers up to today?” He asks, flashing his bright white teeth. He’s always made time for you and Sayla despite his heavy workload, but you suspect that has a lot to do with being Teabolo’s adopted children.

“Just reporting back and dropping off our unused supplies,” You answer, “Though there was also problem with a few of the kids we wanted to talk about.”

You and Sayla sit down in the office’s two open chairs and explain the situation as best you can, going through the whole story while Georgi listens intently.
>>
>>5417804
“You don’t like the new backpacks?” He asks at the end, almost sounding hurt. That… that isn’t the takeaway you were hoping he would have from all of that.

“What, I-” You start to say, realizing half a second too late what he’s doing.

“Hah! I’m just messing with you, Maxime.” He chuckles, waving a hand apologetically, “No, no, I understand what you’ve both been saying. That’s very troubling, I’ll see if any of my people know about this ‘Diego’ kid, we probably have a record of him somewhere. It’s good that you came back here, I would hate to have seen either of you get hurt. And I’ll see if somebody can get that backpack thing sorted out, for real this time.”

“Thanks, Georgi.” Sayla says, smiling.

“Yeah, thanks.” You say as well, “I think that covers everything…”

>Head back to Teabolo’s villa as you planned before. Édouard is probably still stuck in one of Jimba’s lectures, though that might be over by now.
>Hang around the compound a bit, see if anyone else needs some help. Technically you’re done for the day, but you’re friends with a lot of the other workers. Maybe Elena is around?
>>
>>5417806
>>Head back to Teabolo’s villa as you planned before. Édouard is probably still stuck in one of Jimba’s lectures, though that might be over by now.
>>
>>5417767
Oh yeah, lets follow the local violent delinquent clearly leading us away from the medical tents and into unfamiliar parts of the refugee camp. We're, like, 12 and Artesia is 10, bro, lets save the daring do for when shit really hits the fan.

>>5417806
>>Head back to Teabolo’s villa as you planned before. Édouard is probably still stuck in one of Jimba’s lectures, though that might be over by now.
>>
>>5417806
>Hang around the compound a bit, see if anyone else needs some help. Technically you’re done for the day, but you’re friends with a lot of the other workers. Maybe Elena is around?
>>
>>5417806
>Head back to Teabolo’s villa as you planned before. Édouard is probably still stuck in one of Jimba’s lectures, though that might be over by now.
>>
>>5417806
>>Head back to Teabolo’s villa as you planned before. Édouard is probably still stuck in one of Jimba’s lectures, though that might be over by now.
>>
>>5417824
>>5417825
>>5417832
>>5417837
Writing.
>>
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>>5417824
>>5417825
>>5417832
>>5417837

The journey back up the hill to Teabolo’s fortified villa, your home for the last three years, takes maybe fifteen minutes. The road is a bit winding to allow for vehicles to make their way up, but you’re soon at the stone gatehouse. The guards peer out of an anachronistically modern looking armored window and then wave you in, greeting you and your sister as the heavy wooden doors swing open to allow you to enter the courtyard. It’s a decently sized area, large enough to comfortably practice shooting in or entertain dozens of guests in an open air party, and surrounded on three sides by loggias with various arched doorways leading into the rest of the sprawling stone home.

Teabolo Mass, your adoptive father, is speaking with a few men in suits just past the main gate. Teabolo is quite a massive man, alarmingly overweight in fact, but he’s a gentle soul who has done his best to be your father these last few years - He was quite a close friend of your late father, and it shows in how much he seems to care for you all. Sayla seems to have fully accepted him, but Édouard is… less comfortable with having a new father, though they still get along well.

You…
>Greet Teabolo warmly. You’ve accepted him as your new father.
>Greet Teabolo politely. You’re thankful for what he’s done but he isn’t your father. The Zabis murdered him and nothing will change that.
>>
>>5417873
>Greet Teabolo politely. You’re thankful for what he’s done but he isn’t your father. The Zabis murdered him and nothing will change that.
>>
>>5417873
>>Greet Teabolo politely. You’re thankful for what he’s done but he isn’t your father. The Zabis murdered him and nothing will change that.
>>
>>5417873
>>Greet Teabolo politely. You’re thankful for what he’s done but he isn’t your father. The Zabis murdered him and nothing will change that.
>>
>>5417873
>>Greet Teabolo politely. You’re thankful for what he’s done but he isn’t your father. The Zabis murdered him and nothing will change that.
>>
>>5417873
>>Greet Teabolo politely. You’re thankful for what he’s done but he isn’t your father. The Zabis murdered him and nothing will change that.
>>
>>5417875
>>5417878
>>5417880
>>5417888
>>5417895
Writing.
>>
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>>5417875
>>5417878
>>5417880
>>5417888
>>5417895

“Good afternoon, Teabolo.” You say, nodding to him as you pass by. He smiles and returns the gesture, turning away from whatever business he was dealing with for a moment.

“Are you busy, dad?” Artesia asks, looking over the two other men in suits.

“I am, yes. Do you need to talk though?” He asks, “I can finish this later if you ne-”

“No, no, it’s okay. I don’t want to intrude.” Sayla says, shaking her head and moving further into the courtyard alongside you. As you you walk away, heading to a nearby doorway, you overhear Teabolo and the two men continue their conversation.

“...Yashima is producing a new fighter? How intriguing, though I must say that the initiative for improved energy transport from Jupiter you mentioned earlier sounds more promising as an investment, the energy fleet is very secure…”

“...I assure you that both are fine options, sir, though with the present political situation the Yashima investment may prove more prudent in the medium term…”

As you round the corner the rest of the conversation is cut off, too quiet to hear through the thick stone walls.

Moving up a beautiful, if questionably structurally sound, flight of old wooden stairs, you’re soon at the door of the old study where most of your education takes place; today isn't a tutoring day, but you can hear Jimba from the other side of the door already. You open the door, looking into the room. It’s lined with bookshelves, a single table and a number of finely made wooden chairs populating it. Old man Jimba sits in one, reading from a book and lecturing your brother Édouard on the philosophy of Zeon Zum Deikun. He has been doing this frequently in the last few months, and tried many times to lure Sayla and you into these hours-long rants thinly disguised as ‘lessons.’ You’ve sat through plenty by now.

“...that was when the grand concept of ‘newtypes’ came into being! In every age, prophets have been solitary figures. Even Deikun’s ideology was not readily accepted by the masses at first, but…” Jimba stops as he notices you and Sayla at the door.

“Mistress Artesia, Master Felix, would you like to join your brother in this lesson?” Jimba asks you both, waving the book he was holding in the air, “There is much that you’ve missed.”

Édouard, or Casval as Jimba still insists on calling him, gives you the closest thing to a pleading look he’s probably capable of. He must have been stuck here for hours.

>”Actually we were just coming to retrieve him, Mr. Ral. Édouard, Teabolo needs you to help us with a few things.” Not the best lie, but your brother is clearly being tortured here.
>”We were just stopping by to say hello.” Grin mischievously and wave, abandoning Édouard to this horrid fate.
>”Sure, I guess? What was that about newtypes?”
>>
>>5417934
>”Actually we were just coming to retrieve him, Mr. Ral. Édouard, Teabolo needs you to help us with a few things.” Not the best lie, but your brother is clearly being tortured here.
>>
>>5417934
>>”Sure, I guess? What was that about newtypes?”
Might as well learn more of our father's philosophy.
>>
>>5417934
>”Sure, I guess? What was that about newtypes?”
Soul, gravity, evolution, etc
>>
>>5417934
>”Sure, I guess? What was that about newtypes?”
Sorry Cas. Very important stuff.
>>
>>5417934
>”Sure, I guess? What was that about newtypes?”
>>
>>5417946
>>5417948
>>5417953
>>5417970
Writing.
>>
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“Sure, I guess?” You say, stepping further inside the room and taking a seat, “What was that about newtypes?”

Jimba smiles, a glint in his eye, “Aah, good, good. Mistress Artesia, will you join us as well?”

“...I suppose, Mr. Ral.” She says, not sounding terribly enthusiastic but taking a seat regardless. Édouard sighs in defeat, slumping a little in his seat before glaring at you. You shrug apologetically, though it doesn’t seem to satisfy him.

“Where to begin, where to begin…” Jimba mutters to himself, “Ah! Of course, your father’s speech to the Munzo Diet - I will read it aloud, in full. I should have done this weeks ago, now that I think about it. Ha! What a foolish thing to have missed, I believe only your brother has heard it all, but it can never hurt to hear it again!”

Jimba stands up and clears his throat loudly, flipping the pages of the book until he finds what he was looking for, tapping on the page loudly with one finger.

And it begins.

“The universe is a new environment, which will compel mankind to change! If the first stage in mankind’s evolution was his evolution from an ape to a human, and the second stage was was his breakthrough from feudalism to the rational science of the Renaissance, then the third will be his transformation into a new type of human, a man with profound sensitivity and insight and a far greater awareness of the vastness of time and space.”

Sayla leans forward a little in her chair, listening more intently.

“The transition to Newtypes will be a natural one. The act of walking increased man’s range of movement and helped the concept of tribe and nation-state to develop. Powered vehicles expanded man’s awareness to a global level. And now civilization is advancing into outer space. By living and working in space, man’s consciousness will transcend the boundaries of Earth and become truly universal. The vastness of space will be 'home'. And as man’s consciousness expands, he will begin to tap the unutilized portions of his cerebrum- the enormous untapped mental reserves given by God precisely for the new environment of space, which will act as the trigger.”

“O people of space! Now is the time to awaken! To realize your latent potential! We are at the dawn of a transformation of mankind. A true enlightenment of the human race. And we may finally be poised, ready to transcend what has always been thought the impossible- infinite space, and time itself. This is no idle dream. To live in a new universe, man must transcend the psychological limitations of his old environment!”

>Interrupt and ask a question. (Write-in).
>Let Jimba continue.

Had a bad editing error at the start and had to delete and repost this.
>>
>>5418017
>Let Jimba continue.
>>
>>5418017
>>Interrupt and ask a question. (Write-in).
Does this mean humans that live in space will have what amounts to augmented intelligence?
>>
>>5418017
>Let Jimba continue.
>>5418065
Enhanced perception. Newtypes are effectively people with evolved sixth sense, precognition and limited psychic ability. IIRC a few of the OG Gundam protags could psychically communicate.
>>
>>5418065
I just realized you were asking that question in character and not necessarily as a player. Autism got the better of me.
>>
>>5418088
It's a good in-character question, since we wouldn't know about the space magic yet.
I think we should ask it, just at the end of the lecture instead of now
>>
>>5418091
I agree, it is. The more of an understanding we have of newtypes the easier it'll be dealing with them.
>>
>>5418031
>>5418083
Writing.

>>5418065
I'll keep this in mind for the end.
>>
>>5418031
>>5418083
>>5418065

As you listen to Jimba speak, a few questions are already floating around in your head. They can wait until he’s done though, no need to be rude.

The old man pauses briefly, scolds Édouard for not pay enough attention, and then continues reading while gesticulating with his free hand, “It is the height of arrogance for those who remain on Earth to look up at the heavens and believe they can continue to rule over all its inhabitants! It is true that we- the space colonists- were largely shipped from Earth against our will as a population-control measure. But now we are developing a new identity and awareness. We are a new people. We live, eat, and sleep among the stars. We live in infinite space, and we will have access to infinite energy until the sun burns out five billion years from now. Our consciousness will expand, and infinite space will be our true home. God has given us the stars to live among.”

“We are the people of the universe. We have struggled to survive in a harsh environment, and new generations of colonists testify to our success. Now, when we gaze back at Earth, we see a sacred blue and green orb- the cradle of civilization and a sacred home that we must eternally preserve and protect. Our new consciousness as a people of the universe tells us that Earth was not created to be abused and polluted by a few members of an elite, privileged class. Men and women who have never been into outer space still believe Earth belongs to them and still continue rape and plunder it, but their time has passed. Earth must be preserved as the sacred homeland of all mankind. It does not belong solely to an Earthbound elite! By continuing to dream of controlling all of mankind, they forever deny mankind its true destiny.”

“Autonomy for the Sides, sovereignty for the colonists, does not simply mean a revolt against sovereignty on Earth. It means that every human should move into space, that the government of the Earth and the area around it should be placed in the hands of an alliance of all Sides, and that the Earth itself should be preserved and protected as the sacred birthplace of all mankind. It is easy to expand the numbers of colonies required to accomplish this.”

“In ancient times the Christians fought bloody battles for control over the birthplace of their religion, but there is no need for humanity to repeat this mistake over Earth.”
>>
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>>5418172
Jimba closes his eyes as he finishes speaking, shutting the book with his free hand. He exhales deeply and sits back down in his chair, and then looks at you and your siblings expectantly.

“Does that mean humans that live in space will have what amounts to augmented intelligence?” You ask, not entirely sure of what all that talk about expanded consciousness meant.

“I was wondering the same thing, Max.” Sayla says quickly, sounding almost excited.

“Mm. A good question, Master Felix.” Jimba says, nodding astutely, “Your father was speaking not of augmented intelligence, but instead of something more fundamental. A newtype will have far greater perception and intuition, not necessarily enhanced intelligence, though I see how one could interpret it in such a way from some perspectives. Deikun often said that newtypes will be capable of perfect communication without any misunderstanding, far superior to what any language could ever achieve.”

“And only spacenoids will become newtypes?” Artesia questions.

“He was never entirely certain.” Jimba answers after a pause, “We discussed it a few times, but the extent to which a person had to live in space was not clear. In theory even a person who has lived their entire life on the earth could possess the correct traits, but he thought that to be exceedingly unlikely. Nearly impossible, and certainly impossible for all of mankind to do so under such conditions. A person who became a newtype under such conditions would be truly remarkable, even among other newtypes. The transition from old to newtype has more to do with developing the correct mindset to awaken one’s mind, a sort of crystallization of emotion and intuitive understanding occuring in one's life, either dramatically in a single moment or as a trickle… Living in space, understanding it, dealing with its realities as an extension of oneself and all of ones life, these were believed by your father to be necessary for most.”
>>
>>5418181
“So it isn’t biological?” You ask, finding that thought very comforting. It seems necessary for your father's ideas to make any sense, really.

Jimba shakes his head, “Not as your father theorized, at least not in a strict sense. There may be some role genetics plays in the speed of a newtypes awakening, and of course it can matter to an extent for disposition, but that is just guesswork. Some small amount of funding was put into researching the possibility when your father was the leader of Munzo, but I never heard if the efforts bore fruit…”

Édouard sits up suddenly, his attention entirely focused on Jimba for the first time since you’ve been in the study, and he asks a simple question, “Does that mean the Zabis have that research?”

Jimba’s eyes widen, worry lines creasing deeply as he ponders the idea, “I… Had not considered that. But I suppose those snakes might. They have only ever been interested in the political utility of your father's theories though. They still have the mindsets of the earth elite, as your father would have put it. I'd just say they're bastards. I doubt they had much interest in anything but using his words to gain power for themselves.”

>Ask further questions. (Write-in).
>You’ve heard enough, you need to process this. Depart politely with your siblings.
>>
>>5418185
>>You’ve heard enough, you need to process this. Depart politely with your siblings.
>>
>>5418185
>You’ve heard enough, you need to process this. Depart politely with your siblings.
>>
>>5418185
>Father preached a lot about peace, enlightenment and independence. How can the Zabis twist his words, removing their meaning? And how they got that much power to begin with?
>It's a wonderful dream, and I really want to believe in it, but what I've seen so far is spacenoids backstabbing eachother as much as the federation, changing one controlling elite for the next. Even our own family is without it's disagreements.
>>
What is the appeal of Gundam, especially for adults?
>>
>>5418185
>You’ve heard enough, you need to process this. Depart politely with your siblings.
We should discuss this with them. I hope we can convince them that we can stay together (either fighting for the Feds or Zeon).

>>5418234
The same as any media, I suppose.
>>
>>5418185
>You’ve heard enough, you need to process this. Depart politely with your siblings.
>>
>>5418234
Cool robots, fun characters, occasional insight. Pretty conventional appeal.
>>
>>5418188
>>5418215
>>5418238
>>5418261
Departing wins. I'll include an opportunity for discussion with your siblings as well.

>>5418234
Big robots go brrrrrrrr. More seriously, the psychological and political elements. >>5418265 is more or less on the money.

UC Gundam is the best by far.
>>
>>5418188
>>5418215
>>5418238
>>5418261

“That’s a lot to think about, Jimba. Thank you.” You say, standing up, “I need some time to process it all.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for more either,” Sayla says, rising with you. Édouard takes the opportunity to join your escape, standing quickly and giving Jimba a polite nod.

The old man sighs and gives a little wave of dismissal, “...Very well then, though there are several books we have yet to even begin to cover. You all need to understand these things for when you return to Zeon. The people will expect you to know such things, just as your father did.”

“It might be a few days until we’re ready for more,” Édouard says, already almost at the door, “Though I would like to discuss how the Zabis have been twisting our father’s beliefs. I want to know everything they’ve been doing in Side 3.”

“Oh, of course, Master Casval! I have my notes around here somewhere…” Jimba starts up, looking about his chair and then at the nearby shelves almost frantically, “Where did they get off to?...”

“I look forward to it. Another time though, Jimba.” Édouard says, smiling. The three of you leave the room and head back downstairs and into the courtyard. Teabolo and the two men are gone.

“So what did you think of all of that?” You ask, directing the question at both of your siblings as you stand together under one of the arches of the loggia. A trio of birds have landed in the green of the courtyard nearby, chirping happily together.

“It was too high minded for me,” Artesia answers almost immediately, though her tone shifts to something more melancholy as she speaks, “But the desire to be more sensitive to others is very noble, I think. So many people in the refugee camp have had such different lives than us. They’re not really any different though. Displaced from their homes, their families... broken. If I could just tell them about it, things would be so much easier… I miss mom and dad.”

You put a hand around Sayla’s shoulder and draw her into a hug, there’s no need to speak.

“So do I, Artesia.” Édouard says gently, slipping into using your sister’s old name as he joins in. Moments like this are rarer than a few years ago. Eventually the three of you separate, the conversation continuing.

"It's hard to think our dad thought up all of this," Sayla says, wiping a tear away with her sleeve.

“Father was quite the visionary." Édouard agrees, speaking with conviction, "The souls of mankind should no longer be bound by earth’s gravity.”
>>
>>5418319
>”Oh? You really believe it then, don’t you Édouard?”
>”I found it very compelling. We should talk like this more often. Together, I mean. Just us.”
>”Honestly I’m not sure what to think about it all. I liked how it sounded, but do we even know if any of it is real?”
>Write-in?
>>
>>5418320
>Write in
Édouard is right, we should try to uplift humanity into the stars, while also bringing happiness to those that need it like you mentioned, Sayla... But honestly, more than any of that I miss speaking with you guys. We should talk more often together, just the three of us.
>>
>>5418351
Supporting
>>
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>>5418351
+1

>>5418304
>spoiler
My man
>>
>>5418320
>”Oh? You really believe it then, don’t you Édouard?”
>I think father's logic was sound, but it's hard to believe the advent of a human revolution is as near as he imagined, when good men like him can be murdered in cold blood, and his killers can usurp his name without remorse or punishment.
>>
>>5418351
I'll support this.
How can we want to bring humanity to a new level of empathy when we can't even deal with our own disagreements?
>>
>>5418454
This write in is good too
>>
I think we, as Deikun's awkward and indecisive middle child, should have zero Newtype potential. Just be a regular guy with exceptional siblings.
>>
>>5418351
Supporting.
>>
>>5418351
>>5418366
>>5418434
>>5418455
>>5418483
Writing.

>>5418455
>>5418457
Since you supported two options I'm going to throw your vote in with the otherwise winning one.
>>
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>>5418351
>>5418366
>>5418434
>>5418455
>>5418483

“You’re right, Édouard. We should try to uplift humanity into the stars.” You say, and then turn to your sister, “And we should try to bring what happiness we can to those who need it, Sayla… but honestly, more than any of that I miss speaking with you both. We should talk more often together, just the three of us.”

“I would love that.” Sayla says a little more cheerfully, giving you a weak little smile while still trying to blink away some tears. It’s nice to see her smiling again.

“I’m glad that we see eye to eye on this,” Your brother says, locking his gaze with yours and placing a hand on your shoulder, “Working together we can do great things, Maxime. Father’s legacy will not be forgotten.”

The three birds chirping in the courtyard fly off together, leaving the area quiet. You and your siblings spend the next few hours talking with one another, finding a more secluded area to do so atop one of the towers. Much later, when the sun is hanging low in the sky and casting the horizon in gorgeous hues, you head back down to have a short but pleasant dinner with Teabolo.

And as the sun sets, life moves on.

----------------------------

Elsewhere, far away in space in a secret Zeon testing facility aboard the dark "extra" banchi of Side 3, a prototype "Mobile Worker" unit takes its first heavy, ponderous steps; its single glowing eye sensor scans for enemies that do not yet exist. It is a vaguely humanoid behemoth of metal, a bulky figure of armored plates and exposed frames, long power cables protruding from its back and running far off to a stationary generator. Without a more compact power source it is little more than a novelty, but step by step, test by test, the future arrives.

----------------------------

A few weeks later.

>You’re out with Sayla again looking for Diego. One of Georgi’s people thinks they finally figured out where Diego lives, just a little outside of the main camp. Édouard has decided to come with you, having heard off and on about your continuing search for the last couple of weeks.
>You’re with Édouard, practicing fencing. It seemed like a good way to bond and Teabolo has provided you with an instructor; you’re currently just sparring together though. You’ve managed to even get Sayla to join in a few times, though she isn’t as keen.
>>
>>5418528
>You’re out with Sayla again looking for Diego. One of Georgi’s people thinks they finally figured out where Diego lives, just a little outside of the main camp. Édouard has decided to come with you, having heard off and on about your continuing search for the last couple of weeks.
Got to finish what we started
>>
>>5418528
>>5418537 +1
>>
>>5418304
and UC Gundam is what this quest is based off of?
>>
>>5418561
Yes, right now we are in Origin, the prequel, but soon we are going to reach the original series.
>>
>>5418537
+1, yeah we kinda do, but I am missing the opportunity to practice our martial skills with Edouard.
Also, surprised no one went for the childhood friend waifu opportunity, I personally hope she comes up again and we get another opportunity with whoever she is
>>
>>5418537
>>5418544
>>5418566
Writing.

>>5418561
The quest takes place in UC Gundam, yes. We're currently in the (very) soft reboot/prequel era covered by Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.

It is basically just an expanded version of the early background of the original Mobile Suit Gundam show from 1979, but with modern production quality and much more palatable to new viewers. A few small details are changed from the old lore but The Origin more or less fits right into the original show.

I highly recommend it, it is by far the best introduction to Gundam for a new viewer. The next step in the timeline after that would be the original show itself or the compilation movie trilogy. The drop off in animation quality is pretty jarring but I think the movies at least are still worth watching.
>>
>>5418566
>>5418544
>>5418537

The sun hangs low in the east, the morning still very young. You, Sayla, and Édouard are making your way across the refugee camp and towards where Diego is thought to live on the far side, near to a large patch of boulders.

The last few weeks there have been more signs of fights, Luis and his little gang of friends apparently tried their hand at another round with Diego and lost even worse the second time; Luis got a black eye for his trouble, and the others fared only slightly better. After that, Georgi’s people started taking things a slightly more seriously but had a lot of trouble actually locating where Diego lived in the camp. Eventually it was narrowed down, and you’ve been spending the last few minutes checking possible locations before the camp gets too busy.

The tent just ahead of you, an old olive drab affair nestled between a patch of large orangish brown boulders, seems to fit the description your were given a few minutes ago. A few patches of brush are growing near it, in and around the boulder patch. The location is a little odd, mostly concealed from a lot of angles - You’ve never seen it before now.

“Think that’s it?’ You ask, pointing toward the peculiarly placed military looking tent.

“What else could it be?” Sayla responds, slowing her pace.

“Obviously it’s the base of a Zabi spy, Sayla.” Édouard jokes, though his eyes remain locked on the tent.

“Uh huh. Thanks, Édouard, very helpful.” She snarks back, though you detect a very faint grin.

“Alright, alright. How do we want to handle this?” You ask, getting down to business.

“We should wait for him to wake up and leave,” Sayla says, “We can just hang around until then. It can’t be long now.”

“Handle this? Come on, let's just go talk to him.” Édouard says confidently, shrugging. You nod, and follow your older brother over with Sayla trailing a little behind.

As you’re approaching, the tent’s front flap opens. Diego blinks tiredly as he peers about outside and between the boulders concealing most of the tent. He looks right at you, blinks once, twice, and then his eyes widen and he disappears back inside of the tent.

>”Hey, Diego! We’re here to talk!”
>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>Just keep approaching, it doesn’t look like he has anywhere to run off too with all those boulders around the tent.
>>
>>5418598
>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>>
>>5418598
>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>>
>>5418598
>>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>>
>>5418598
>>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>>
>>5418598
>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>>
>>5418598
>Lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”
>>
>>5418599
>>5418608
>>5418616
>>5418617
>>5418620
>>5418631
Writing. Not sure if I'll be able to post for a few hours though, I have a class starting soon.
>>
>>5418638
QM I don't know who the fuck you are, But thank you bringing a quest like this out of nowhere and letting it be Zeon or atleast Zeon lenses.
>>
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A thought for the future
Do you take the psycho boof?
>>
>>5418724
Acguy > any other mobile suit
>>
>>5418724
Winners don't do drugs.
>>
>>5418599
>>5418608
>>5418616
>>5418617
>>5418620
>>5418631

You lean over to your sister and speak quietly, “Sayla, yell at him to come out or something, you sound friendlier.”

She nods and takes a couple of steps closer toward the tent, speaking loudly, “Diego? Is that you? We wanted to talk about some things, people have been saying a lot of stuff but we want you to hear your side of the story.”

He doesn’t reveal himself, instead shouting from inside the closed tent, “What? So you show up with two big guys with you? No, no, I know what’s going on here. Go away!”

“They’re my brothers!” Sayla says, still moving closer, her footsteps scraping against the mix of dirt and gravel below her - there’s a bit of mostly dried out grass here and there along with some brush. You and Édouard keep close behind her the whole way.

“And that’s supposed to make me feel more comfortable?” Diego asks incredulously, still hidden, “Fuck off!”

You can hear him moving things around inside the tent. Sayla stops a few paces away, right at the edge of the boulders.

“Would you talk to just me then?” She asks, “They can go away for a bit.”

Talk alone? That doesn’t seem like a great plan, but you let things play out a little longer; you’re not going anywhere for now. Diego’s head pops back out of the tent as the flap open briefly, his eyes squinting and brow furrowing as he looks over the three of you. He looks back into the tent for a moment, staring at something in his hand just barely out of sight, and then back to you again.

“What are you looking at there, Diego?” Édouard asks, tensing up and shifting his feet slightly.

“We really do just want to talk.” Sayla says, briefly shooting a quick annoyed look at Édouard, “I mean it that I’ll talk alone if you want, don’t mind them.”

“You three, you’re not from around here, are you?” Diego asks suspiciously, something shifting slightly in his voice.

“We’re Don Teabolo’s children.” Édouard says without missing a beat, stepping closer. If you really wanted to, you could be at the tent in just a couple of seconds; Édouard could get there even faster.

>”Why do you ask?”
>Sayla is getting Diego to talk, even with Édouard’s interjections, let her keep it up. Stay close though, you haven’t agreed to back off.
>This feels like trouble. Follow Édouard’s lead.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5418805
>Sayla is getting Diego to talk, even with Édouard’s interjections, let her keep it up. Stay close though, you haven’t agreed to back off.
He might know we are spacenoids, but maybe it's because so is he.
Or maybe he hates us. Be ready to pick up that knife if he tries to hurt Artesia
>>
>>5418805
>>Write-in.
"Some of the kids are bruised up, Diego, they say they tried to fight you off after you took their food. Everyone is having it rough in the camp, no need to had to the misery by becoming a bully and a crook, I'm sure the rationing is enough for everyone, but if not it's no skin off our backs to set aside some of our meals for you, unless something else is going on? Talk to us, Diego."
>>
>>5418805
>Sayla is getting Diego to talk, even with Édouard’s interjections, let her keep it up. Stay close though, you haven’t agreed to back off.
I don't at all like the idea of letting Artesia be with him alone, this guy is trouble.
>>
>>5418805
>Sayla is getting Diego to talk, even with Édouard’s interjections, let her keep it up. Stay close though, you haven’t agreed to back off.
>>
>>5418810
>>5418830
>>5418846
Writing.
>>
>>5418810
>>5418830
>>5418846

Sayla is getting results so far, and you let her keep at it. The wind is picking up, little dust clouds swirling up from the mostly barren ground, the light from the early morning sun contrasting them clearly.

“We’re from far away,” Sayla says, telling a half truth, “We were adopted after our father died. Some of the kids in the camp said you beat them up and took their food. I don’t know if you did or not, and it doesn’t really matter, if you need food we have plenty to give you.”

The tent opens again, slowly. Diego exits, holding a crumpled piece of newspaper in his right hand which he quickly puts in his jacket pocket. He’s wearing the same clothes you’ve seen him in before, but this is the first time you’ve gotten a good look at him. Shoulder length dark hair that could definitely be better kempt, a narrow face and faintly aquiline nose, and green eyes that are flicking between you and your siblings uncomfortably quickly.

“Fine. I’ll talk,” He says, putting his hands in his jacket pockets, “Nothing better to do anyways. You can all come in if you want, I guess, but if you touch anything you’ll regret it.”

Sayla follows him into the tent first, and you and Édouard are right behind her. The interior isn’t large, a folding cot covered in old blankets and some stacked cardboard boxes take up most of one side, and judging from the pile of plastic ration bags in the corner Diego isn’t wanting for food at all… In fact he seems to have a lot more stuff than most of the refugees, and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of another person living in the tent beyond a half empty pack of cigarettes on top of an old radio.

“So what happened?” Your sister asks, standing near the cot.

“I beat up that asshole Luis and his friends and took their food, and sometimes I take more of their stuff,” Diego says, shrugging slowly breaking out into a grin, “They had it coming after all the times they did it to me.”

“Oh…” Sayla says, frowning slightly.

“So it was revenge.” Édouard concludes, easing up a little.

“Yeah, bunch of pricks.” Diego spits, anger creeping back into his voice, “They were taking my rations since dad got the fever, and they busted up some of mom's old thi… Eh, forget it. They deserved it, I’m not going to apologize if that’s what you’re here for.”

You try not to wince. It could be anything, but he’s probably talking about Sahara fever. It hasn’t spread around the camp for awhile now, at least not since you and Sayla have been volunteering, but you’ve heard some horror stories from a few of the doctors about past outbreaks.
>>
>>5418994

“And you fought all of them at the same time? That’s pretty impressive.” You question, trying a bit of flattery. It actually is a little impressive even if he was using a pipe. Being outnumbered is just about the worst situation you can find yourself in during a fight, though you know from bloody experience that it’s far from a sure defeat.

“Yeah, they didn’t know I’d learned how to fight. Or that I had a pipe.” Diego laughs, starting to brag, “They’re cowards too, they ran as soon as I got a few good hits in. Must have known I was just that good as soon as they saw my new moves.”

“Who taught you how to fight?” You question.

“A guy.” Diego answers cryptically, “Alonso. He’s around sometimes with some other guys from town, they just show up with cameras and kind of sit around smoking usually. Sometimes they go in the camp. He found me all beat up after I tried to fight and offered to show me how to do it right. I think he might have been a soldier before this.”

“They bring cameras?” Édouard asks, sounding interested, “What are they taking pictures of?”

“Uh, stuff, y’know. The camp, mostly.” Diego answers quickly, “I think they’re journalists or something.”

You’ve never seen these men with cameras he’s talking about. Sayla looks equally puzzled.

>Alright, you’ve heard enough, no need for his whole life story. Leave and discuss what to do about the situation.
>”Journalists from town? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.”
>”What makes you think he was a soldier? A lot of people can fight, and a lot of soldiers are pretty bad at it.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5418995
>”Journalists from town? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.”
>”What makes you think he was a soldier? A lot of people can fight, and a lot of soldiers are pretty bad at it.”
>>
>>5418995
>>”Journalists from town? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.”
>>
>>5418995
>”What makes you think he was a soldier? A lot of people can fight, and a lot of soldiers are pretty bad at it.”
We need to know more about this guy, he could lead us to something.
>>
>>5419000
>>5419052
>>5419073
Writing. I'll just throw both in.
>>
>>5419000
>>5419052
>>5419073

“Journalists from town? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.” You say, working over the thought in your mind. There isn’t much to see in the camp, the situation has been improving recently but the story has otherwise been the same for years.

“Neither have I,” Sayla adds, “There was one from Geneva a month ago, but I’ve never met any local ones…”

Diego waves his hand dismissively, still speaking quickly, “Hah, yeah, I thought it was weird too when I met them, but that’s what they say they are. Must pay like crap, yeah?”

“I hear the pay for their line of work is awful.” Édouard says while crossing his arms, “Always scurrying around doing somebody else's business.”

“Hey, a man’s gotta eat,” Diego responds with a wide smile, “Better than no work.”

“Better than the federation army?” Sayla asks. You can hear distant voices, the rest of the camp starting to grow more active as the morning slowly stretches on.

“Uh, yeah, probably.” Diego gives a very exaggerated shrug, “Everybody knows the army pays awful. No wonder he quit, right?”

“What makes you think he was a soldier?” You question, “A lot of people can fight, and a lot of soldiers are pretty bad at it.”

“What? Soldiers aren’t bad at fighting, that’s what their job is.” Diego scoffs, “Besides, what would you know about it?”

The image of smoke parting to reveal a federation guntank fills your mind, its panicked fire going wide and missing. Rattling autocannon bursts stitch along its hull in little smoking flashes of light, chasing just behind an orange holographic crosshair they’ll never catch. The roar of the twin main guns echoing through your vehicle's armored hull and the faint delayed thump of an exploding enemy guntank. The almost unbelievable cacophony of enemy shells striking your own vehicle. Your little sister crying.

You blink, the sounds and images disappearing, “I know.”

“Yeah, great answer.” Diego smarts off, “Anyways, it’s how he talks with the other guys that tipped me off. Lots of phrenetic alphabet stuff.”

“Phonetic.” Sayla corrects him almost instantly.

Diego gives her an annoyed look, “Uh, sure, whatever. Anyways, I think maybe you should go. I’ve said my bit, you heard it, I want my tent back.”

>Leave. It seems like he’s getting more nervous and irritated again, no need to upset him further. Discuss things with your siblings.
>”Actually, just one more thing…” (Write-in)
>>
>>5419102
>>”Actually, just one more thing…” (Write-in)
>Don't you think it would be better for you to come with us to explain the situation to Georgi in person? He's the one that arranges the supplies and a friend of ours, maybe we can set up a way for the other ones to not steal your things and to clear your name.
>>
>>5419102
>”Actually, just one more thing…”
Do you know where we could meet this Alonso person? We have a few questions to ask him.
This >>5419105 too, if possible.
>>
>>5419102
>Backing these guys >>5419107
>>5419105
>>
>>5419105
>>5419107
>>5419119
Writing.
>>
Just missed it. My paranoia is telling me these journalists are Zeon soldiers.
>>
>>5419128
Yeah, I also got the impression these are spies looking for us.
>>
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>>5419105
>>5419107
>>5419119

Diego starts motioning for you to leave, and Sayla is already moving toward the exit of the cramped tent.

“Actually, just one more thing. Or maybe two.” You say, “Do you know where we could meet Alonso? I’d like to talk with him.”

“He just sort of shows up sometimes, I’ve got no idea where he lives.” Diego answers, placing a hand back into one of his jacket pockets.

“That’s a shame.” You respond while watching him carefully, “Alright, last thing then. Don’t you think you would be better for you to come with us to explain the situation to Georgi in person-?”

“What? Hell no, not happening. Now get out.” Diego snorts derisively.

You’re not going to be dissuaded that easily, having an adult deal with this directly seems like the responsible thing to do, “We could try to set provisioning up so the other kids don’t cause problems, you wouldn’t have to fight each other anymo-”

He raises his voice, “Are you deaf? Get out.”

“We’re just trying to help, Diego.” Sayla says from next to the tent flap, her tone gentle.

“Go help somebody else, I’m taking care of myself just fine.” Diego snaps, pointing angrily at Sayla, “I only let you spoiled shits in here because I thought you’d talk for a couple of minutes and then fuck off back to playing princess and stop-”

Sayla takes a few quick steps back into the tent and slaps Diego so hard it almost sounds like a gun went off.

He reels back, clutching at the side of his face in disbelief, “You little bitch!”

She slaps him again, even harder.

Édouard watches silently and gives a small nod of approval. You were about a quarter second away from beating the lights out of Diego yourself, but apparently Sayla is faster than you’d thought. You chuckle as the scene continues playing out.

“Ah, fuck, okay, okay, I’m sorry!” Diego cries out, holding up a hand defensively in front of his face. He’s clearly unwilling to pursue the very foolish path of fighting back with you and your brother standing so close nearby.

“Let's go.” Sayla says, storming out of the tent and back into the camp.

>Leave. You have a lot to discuss.
>Take something with you from the tent or Diego. (Specify).
>Write-in.
>>
>>5419193
>Leave. You have a lot to discuss.
>>
>>5419193
>Leave. You have a lot to discuss.
>>
>>5419193
>Leave. You have a lot to discuss.
>>
>>5419193
>Leave. You have a lot to discuss.
>>
>>5419193
>>Leave. You have a lot to discuss.

Focking noice sayla
>>
>>5419194
>>5419195
>>5419200
>>5419203
>>5419204
Writing. Next update will be the last one for tonight.

Tomorrow is a busier day for me so expect less frequent posts, I might be able to sneak some in during breakfast and lunch but otherwise it will all be after 5PM EST.
>>
>>5419194
>>5419195
>>5419200
>>5419203
>>5419204

You, Édouard, and Sayla head back across the camp, maneuvering carefully between the early morning bustle as dingily clothed refugees set about cooking breakfast and other mundane tasks. A few people you’ve helped in the past wave to you and Sayla, and you return their greetings with a smile.

A handful of minutes later you arrive at the medical and administrative compound at the other edge of the camp, and stop just outside of Georgi’s plain looking little office building to discuss things. The allegedly automatic door to the building has a yellow “out of order” sticker plastered on it.

“That was an absolute mess.” Sayla says, puffing out her cheeks angrily and crossing her arms.

You chuckle, “Couldn’t have said it better myself. Are you alright? I’ve never seen you that angry before.”

She sighs, “I’m fine, I just… I don’t know, I wish we could have gotten across to him better. We offered help and he slapped it away. If this camp wasn’t so neglected he never would have ended up like that.”

“Pride and a desire for vengeance make for a powerful poison, Sayla.” Édouard says, “He knew exactly what he was doing every step of the way.”

“That isn’t fair, Édouard.” Sayla protests, “He might be a jerk but he got pushed into this situation, he didn’t really have a choice.”

“He had a choice to stop after he beat up Luis and the others,” You say, “There was no need to keep going and stealing things after that; and that’s assuming he was even telling the truth about his reasons to begin with.”

“...I guess so, but it’s all just so sad. He lost his mom and dad, and…” She stops, shaking her head in disappointment.

“To a disease, not a person. That’s hardly an excuse.” Édouard states bluntly.

>”What do you think about this Alonso guy? I’m not sure why a journalist would keep coming here.”
>”We should just leave Diego alone, there’s no point making a bigger mess out of this.”
>Go inside and report what happened to Georgi, let him and his people handle the rest.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5419235
>>”What do you think about this Alonso guy? I’m not sure why a journalist would keep coming here.”
>>
>>5419235
>>”What do you think about this Alonso guy? I’m not sure why a journalist would keep coming here.”
>>
>>5419235
>Write-in
>”What ever the case with Diego, at the very least we can agree that we tried to help him. Besides, something doesn't sit right with me about 'Alonso'..."
>>
>>5419235
>>”What do you think about this Alonso guy? I’m not sure why a journalist would keep coming here.”
Hear Char and Sayla's opinions, then
>Go inside and report what happened to Georgi, let him and his people handle the rest.

Also, good work QM, this is great stuff!
>>
>>5419235
>What do you think about this Alonso guy? I’m not sure why a journalist would keep coming here.
>It doesn't sit right with me that for all the work we do here we've never had an encounter with them ourselves. You'd think a reporter would be interested in the perspectives of regular volunteers.
>>
>>5419432
+1
>>
>>5419235
>”What do you think about this Alonso guy? I’m not sure why a journalist would keep coming here.”
>"Much less one that apparently has military training. And one so close to our new home"
>>
>>5419237
>>5419238
>>5419348
>>5419407
>>5419432
>>5419460
>>5419464
Writing. Mixing in some of the write-ins since they more or less fit together.
>>
>>5419237
>>5419238
>>5419348
>>5419407
>>5419432
>>5419460
>>5419464

“Whatever the case with Diego, at the very least we can agree that we tried to help him. Besides, something doesn't sit right with me about 'Alonso'...” You say, changing the subject slightly, “I’m not sure why a ‘local’ journalist would keep coming here with a group, or how we’ve never seen any of them. Nothing new has happened.”

“He didn’t sound like a journalist,” Sayla says, “When Ms. Bieri was here from Geneva she was all over the camp and asked me a bunch of questions.”

“Yeah.” You agree, leaning against the white metal wall of the little office building, “It’s odd that Alonso hasn’t talked to any of us, or even Georgi or the doctors… At least I’ve never seen him talk to them.”

“We could ask around.” Sayla offers.

“Maybe later.” You say, “I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something else going on though. What Diego said about Alonso sounding ex-military bothers me, especially with his group regularly coming so close to our new home.”

“Alonso isn’t a journalist.” Édouard says in a low voice, his gaze drifting over the slowly busying compound before he turns his whole attention back to you and Sayla, “He’s a hired thug, and a sloppy one. The area near Diego’s tent is well concealed, it has a clear line of sight to the villa and the slope up to it - the road - and Diego said they bring cameras and just sit around for hours.”

“...So they’re watching… us?” Sayla questions, her eyes widening a little as fear creeps into her voice.

>”I was getting a similar feeling. Do you think the Zabis hired them?”
>”Let's ask Georgi about it, maybe he knows something.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5419665
>>”I was getting a similar feeling. Do you think the Zabis hired them?”
>>”Let's ask Georgi about it, maybe he knows something.”
>>
>>5419665
>”Let's ask Georgi about it, maybe he knows something.”
Looks like we got a mystery on our hands.
>>
>>5419665
>>”I was getting a similar feeling. Do you think the Zabis hired them?”
>>
>>5419665
>”I was getting a similar feeling. Do you think the Zabis hired them?”
>”Let's ask Georgi about it, maybe he knows something.”
>>
>>5419665
>”I was getting a similar feeling. Do you think the Zabis hired them?
>>
>>5419686
>>5419689
>>5419743
>>5419761
>>5419765
Writing.
I'm just going to combine the options since support is all mixed up.
>>
“I was getting a similar feeling.” You say, “Do you think the Zabis hired them?”

“Who else would it be? The Federation? They probably think we're dead.” Édouard replies, “It isn’t much of a secret that we’re living here if somebody wanted to find us badly enough, even with our new names. Teabolo was father’s friend, and the Zabis aren't idiots.”

“Well, if you’re right then they’ve been watching us for at least a few months,” You say, “However long Alonso has been coming to the camp, maybe longer.”

“...And I still send letters to mother,” Sayla says quietly, “But dad said he had ways of getting them to her without anyone knowing…”

“It isn’t your fault, Sayla,” You comfort her, “There are a lot of other things it could be. They’ve always had to know we were alive somewhere.”

“Exactly, Maxime. So what are we going to do about it?” Édouard asks.

“I think we should start by seeing if Georgi knows anything about Alonso,” You say, standing up straight again as you stop leaning on the wall, “And then we figure things out from there.”

“Sensible.” Édouard agrees, turning a bit from you to watch the surrounding area more closely again. A group of workers are walking past to a nearby building, one of the white and red medical buildings. They’re chatting about sanitation in the camp, nothing out of the ordinary.

The three of you turn to go into the building, but Sayla speaks up before you can start to manually open the broken sliding door.

“I think I’m going to head back to the Villa,” She says, “Dad should know about this.”

“Stay safe,” You and Édouard say almost simultaneously, and Sayla quickly walks off toward the road leading up the hill and toward your castle-like home.

You open the broken door a bit awkwardly as there isn’t a great handhold on it, but it slides open without issue beyond some odd noises. At least it isn’t jammed up, that’d be a real pain.

Inside of the building you immediately spot Elena sitting at the front desk, leaning back in her chair with a phone nestled awkwardly between her long red hair and shoulder, moving some papers around with both her free hands. She’s maybe a year older than you, closer to your brother’s age, but after Georgi’s last secretary quit she’s taken over the job when she isn’t at school. Other than her green eyes you’d never be able to guess she’s Georgi’s daughter, apparently getting her looks from her mother. She smiles as you enter, stopping with the papers for a moment to give a little wave but continuing to talk on the phone. You return the gesture; it’s always nice to see her.

“...He should be free on Monday from ten to eleven, does that time work for you?” Elena says, her green eyes following along until you and your brother pass into Georgi’s office. Édouard shuts the door behind you both, and Elena’s voice grows much quieter and muffled.
>>
>>5419868

Georgi looks up from his desk, setting down a pen and taking off his reading glasses before speaking, “Ah, Maxime, finally convinced your brother to volunteer?”

“Perhaps in the future,” Édouard says, sitting down in one of the cushioned chairs, “But today I’m here for information.”

“...Information about what?” Georgi asks curiously, leaning forward.

“A local journalist named Alfonso. Have you ever heard of him?” You answer, sitting down as well.

“Alfonso, eh? I know a few Alfonsos, not a rare name, but none are journalists.” He replies, “He’s a local?”

“Supposedly.” You say, “Diego told us about him.”

“Ah, Diego, Diego. How’d that go?” Georgi asks. You explain the rough details of what happened.

“Sounds like a little shithead, if you’ll pardon my language,” Georgi says with a laugh, “But we’re in the business of helping everyone, little shithead or not. Don’t worry about him anymore, or about this Luis and his friends, I’ll have Jenny take over - she’s good with these kinds of things, ran a clinic for a while that dealt with rough kids.”

“But about this Alfonso being a journalist, that’s a very odd thing to have heard,” Georgi continues, “I know a lot of people at the local networks, I try to wine and dine them every so often - to try and raise awareness - and I’ve never met this man. I suggest you stay away from him and his colleagues, they sound like trouble. And especially keep Sayla away. I might speak with the police about this, I know a few people…”

>”Trouble? We were actually thinking the same thing, that's why we came to talk.”
>Thank him and leave politely; you’ve gotten what you came here for.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5419871
>”Trouble? We were actually thinking the same thing, that's why we came to talk.”
>>
>>5419871

>”Trouble? We were actually thinking the same thing, that's why we came to talk.”
>>
>>5419871
>>”Trouble? We were actually thinking the same thing, that's why we came to talk.”
>>
>>5419871
>”Trouble? We were actually thinking the same thing, that's why we came to talk.”
>>
>>5419873
>>5419875
>>5419876
>>5419882
Writing.
>>
>>5419873
>>5419875
>>5419876
>>5419882

“Trouble? We were actually thinking the same thing, that’s why we came to talk.” You say.

Georgi nods, his expression grim, “Yes, trouble. The more I think about it the more it fits a pattern I’ve seen before a few times. Organized men with cameras from outside the camp spending too much time near it, befriending disaffected youths, and lots of vulnerable people that are hard to track - It's a bad mix. A very bad mix.”

“You think they’re kidnappers?” Your brother asks, sitting up straighter in his chair.

“Close enough. It's not something to discuss with children.” Georgi answers, a tinge of anger entering his voice, “Keep away from them, and make sure your sister knows as well. In fact it would be best if you don’t return to the camp until I have this sorted out, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“We’ll make sure Sayla knows.” Édouard says, standing up and heading to the door immediately.

“Georgi, do you really think it’s that serious?” You ask, starting to stand up as well. Sayla is off on her own right now, and you’re not sure what this ‘close enough to kidnapping’ is but you really don’t like the sound of it.

“I don’t know, but why take the risk?” He says, “Thank you for telling me about this, you both have good heads on your shoulders; things like this can get missed sometimes. I’ll call your father if it turns out to be nothing, or whenever it gets resolved…”

“Thanks, Georgi. I’ll see you around!” You say, hurrying out of the office.

“Stay safe. All three of you!” Georgi calls after you, picking up his phone and starting to dial a number as soon as you’re leaving.

“What’s going on, Max? My dad sounds upset.” Elena asks in a worried tone, standing up from her chair. She’s only a little shorter than you, and wearing a bright green jacket and blue jeans. Your brother is already opening the broken door and heading back outside.

>”Sorry, no time to explain! I’ll tell you later!” Run out after your brother. You’re not sure when later will be.
>”Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!” That about sums things up.
>Stop for a moment - just a moment - and explain things.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5419936
>”Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!” That about sums things up.
>>
>>5419936
>”Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!” That about sums things up.
>>
>>5419936
>”Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!” That about sums things up.
>>
>>5419936
>>”Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!” That about sums things up.
>>
>>5419936
>”Ask your father, but Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!”
>>
>>5419936
Change my vote from this >>5419939 to >>5419943
>>
>>5419937
>>5419939
>>5419941
>>5419942
>>5419943
>>5419946
Writing. I'll throw in the very sensible write-in edit.
>>
>>5419937
>>5419939
>>5419941
>>5419942
>>5419943
>>5419946

“Ask your father,” You say without slowing down, “Sayla might be in trouble, I’ve got to go!”

“What? Wait up! Max!” Elena calls after you, starting to follow for a moment before slowing to a stop and going to her father’s office, “Dad? What’s going on?...”

You don’t hear the rest of what she’s saying as you bolt through the open door, leaving it ajar as you round the corner and head after Édouard. He’s practically sprinting up the road, already having built a decent lead. You look over the winding road up the side of the hill, not spotting your sister. A black car you’ve never seen before is heading up the road.

The next couple of minutes are a blur of adrenaline and frantic running, your feet kicking up gravel as you run along the winding hillside road to your home, looking for your sister. Édouard is just a few seconds ahead of you, but he’s older and taller - It’s a struggle to keep up, especially going uphill.

“Sayla!” Édouard shouts, disappearing around a bend just ahead. You quicken your pace, nearly out of breath, and round the bend.

Sayla is standing on the side of the road looking very confused, your brother standing next to her and catching his breath. Sayla’s safe. Well, as Georgi said it’s better to be safe than sorry. You slow to a halt, breathing heavily but feeling incredibly relieved.

“W-what’s wrong? Is something happening?” Sayla asks, looking about the area and then past you both toward the bend, “Are you being chased?”

“No, no, we’re fine. You’re fine. It’s nothing.” Édouard says, “Misread the situation.”

“...I don’t understand.” Your sister says, very confused.

“Chalk it up to the folly of youth.” Édouard says, almost sounding amused, “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

You give your sister a hug, “We thought you might be about to get kidnapped.”

“Oh!” Her eyes widen in shock, “Why?”
>>
>>5419983
You and Édouard explain the situation, walking back to the villa with Sayla. You’re let in through the reinforced gate, and stop just inside the courtyard to finish your discussion.

“...I didn’t think the Zabi’s would make a move if they’ve been observing for weeks or months,” Édouard explains, “They would have already acted. But criminals? Who knows with that kind of scum.”

“And there was a car driving after you too, I’d never seen it before.” You add, wondering just who that was; they must have parked near the other entrance, the road doesn’t lead anywhere else.

“One passed me earlier.” Sayla confirms, “I didn’t see who it was, the windows were too dark.”

“My children! Back so soon?” Teabolo calls out from a nearby doorway - the one that leads to the other entrance - looking quite well dressed in a suit you haven’t seen him wear before. A middle aged asian man with glasses is with him, also wearing a suit.

“These are your children, Don Teabolo?” The unknown man asks, peering at you curiously as the pair approach.

“Yes, they are. I’m very proud of them,” Teabolo beams, pointing to each of you in turn, "Édouard, Maxime, and Sayla.”

“I have a daughter of my own about their age,” Shu says politely, “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am Shu Yashima, your father has invited me here on business.”

The three of you greet him politely. You’ve heard of Yashima Heavy Industries a few times by now, Teabolo has been working on some kind of big investment with them for awhile; obviously he’s serious about it if the head of the company is here for a private meeting.

>Let Teabolo carry on with his business. Find Jimba and tell him what happened, he’s probably free.
>”Teabolo, could we talk for a minute? Something happened in the camp.”
>Write-in.

Deleted and reposted, had some awful errors I missed in editing.
>>
>>5419986
>>Let Teabolo carry on with his business. Find Jimba and tell him what happened, he’s probably free.
Should be fine if we tell Teabolo after his MIC meeting.
>>
>>5419986
>”Teabolo, could we talk for a minute? Something happened in the camp.”
>>
>>5419986
>Write in
Politely leave and discuss the situation with our siblings, see if we can make sense of it with what we know. If we can't, then we should speak to Jimba.
Still, we should let Teabolo know after his meeting like >>5419989 said.
>>
>>5419986
>”Teabolo, could we talk for a minute? Something happened in the camp.”
>>
>>5419986
>Let Teabolo carry on with his business. Find Jimba and tell him what happened, he’s probably free.
>>
>>5419986
>>Let Teabolo carry on with his business. Find Jimba and tell him what happened, he’s probably free.

I like Teabolo a lot, he's a good dude, but he's too soft for this kind of Life or Death shit.
>>
>>5419986
>Let Teabolo carry on with his business. Find Jimba and tell him what happened, he’s probably free.
>>
>>5419989
>>5420018
>>5420035
>>5420050
Writing. It will probably be the last update for tonight.
>>
>>5419989
>>5420018
>>5420035
>>5420050

You depart politely, leaving Teabolo to his important looking business and head off with your siblings through one of the side passages from the courtyard. With your adoptive father busy there is really just one person to talk to about what you’ve learned; Jimba Ral. It isn’t hard to find him, he’s in his bedroom on the second floor - You can hear him speaking on the phone with somebody through the door as you approach, and you wait until he’s finished to knock.

“...up to half a year? But they’ll be doing so much, every day they cement… No, no, of course not. If your company is willing to support them, I’m sure that the Sides will… Uhm, yes, of course. Yes, I look forward to talking again. …Good day.”

You hear him hang up with a loud click. It sounded like a very one way phone call, whatever that was about. Sayla’s old black cat, Lucifer, rubs against your leg and meows loudly as you stand near the door with your siblings. Sayla picks him up in her arms to pet him, and he purrs a happily as she rubs gently between his ears. Lucifer used to really scratch people up but he’s mellowed a bit these last few years.

Édouard knocks on the door before you can, “Jimba, are you free?”

“Hmm? Oh, Master Casval!” Jimba says, you hear quick footsteps as he runs over and then opens the door, “And your younger siblings; I was just thinking of you three. What do you need?”

You enter his bedroom, sitting around a small wooden table, and explain what happened in the camp. Édouard relays the suspicion that Alfonso might be a Zabi spy.

I knew it.” Jimba nearly curses, “Those treacherous Zabis have been watching us for months, years maybe. They think they have us under their thumb, don’t they?”
>>
>>5420114

“You think they’re spies then?” You ask.

“Think? What else could it possibly be? It all adds up, here, here - look.” He says, retrieving a crumpled up photograph from a nearby pile of old books. It’s a picture of the night sky.

“What are we looking for?” Sayla asks curiously, leaning in.

“A Zabi spy satellite! Look, do you see that little glint there?” Jimba says, pointing a finger to what looks like just another star, “See how it’s different from the others?”

“...No.” Sayla remarks. You and Édouard look closely as well, but it really does just look like a normal picture of the night sky; you recognize a few of the constellations, but otherwise it isn’t remarkable at all.

“Mm, well, it’s there. It passes overhead every forty minutes or so. And now it sounds like they’re sending agents, they’re crafty. The Zabis will stop at nothing to hunt us, they have to be destroyed!” He declares, sliding the alleged evidence away.

Lucifer meows really loudly; Sayla shushes him but still pays more attention to the cat, his cry for attention a success.

“Jimba, this is serious.” Édouard says, “If they have locals working for them we might be in danger.”

Jimba nods, stroking his beard as he considers the idea, “Yes, of course we’re in danger - Eh, nothing too bad though, Mistress Artesia, no need to fret - But what to do about it? I’ve been working on some plans, but they need more time…”

“Does Teabolo suspect we’re being watched as well?” You ask, knowing that the two men talk fairly often.

“Him? Oh, yes, he’s suspected as much for a while now but never had any proof he liked enough to do anything; I’ve shown him mine of course, more than just that photo, but he doesn’t believe me.”

“And he’s done nothing?” Édouard asks, “Is he trying to avoid provoking them?”

“He calls it 'looking harmless',” Jimba rants, “But he doesn’t understand how villainous the Zabis are - they won’t be satisfied to just watch us forever. It’s like assuming a tiger won’t eat you just because it isn’t hungry right now, utter foolishness! They need to be destroyed at the source!”

>”We should do something about these spies. I don’t like them watching us.”
>”Jimba, why are you so sure that it's the Zabis doing this?”
>”You said something about needing more time for a plan?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5420117
>”We should do something about these spies. I don’t like them watching us.”
>Write-in.
>>Maxime and Casval should have a direct hand in the brainstorming and execution of any plans.

Jimba's clearly gone more than a little nuts, he needs us and Char to act as voices of reason so he doesn't try to do, like, a Stalin-esque purge.
>>
>>5420117
>”You said something about needing more time for a plan?”
Time to try stalling Jimba as much as possible, make sure the old man doesn't do anything rash. We should probably involve Teabolo soon as well.
>>
>>5420117
>>”You said something about needing more time for a plan?”
>>
>>5420117
>Well, we can't do much without the power of the master of the house. I can't imagine Teabolo would be as dismissive of the evidence we've gathered today. We must talk with him, all together, at his earliest possible convenience, and formulate some kind of contingency plan.
>>
>>5420117
>>”We should do something about these spies. I don’t like them watching us.”
>>
>>5420117
>”You said something about needing more time for a plan?”
>Well, we can't do much without the power of the master of the house. I can't imagine Teabolo would be as dismissive of the evidence we've gathered today. We must talk with him, all together, at his earliest possible convenience, and formulate some kind of contingency plan.
>Maxime and Casval should have a direct hand in the brainstorming and execution of any plans.
>We do this like we planned our escape back in Munzo, together. Any other option is acting like a Zabi instead of a Deikun
>>
>>5420200
>>5420201
>>5420353
Alright, asking about a plan as the main point and adding in a touch of some of the other write-ins. Writing.

I'm trying to keep multiple/synthesized/write-in option voting in the general spirit of what other anons have been posting wherever that can be consistent. It can get a little messy but hopefully it has been working out so far.
>>
>>5420200
>>5420201
>>5420353

“You said something about needing more time for a plan?” You ask, wondering if it had to do with the phone call you overheard the end of.

Jimba nods eagerly, almost with too much excitement, “Yes, yes, Indeed Master Felix. I have been speaking with a few people. Nothing is certain yet, but I’m confident it will lead to a way to strike back at the Zabis…. Or even retake Side 3 entirely!”

“A few people?” Édouard asks, “I’d like to know who these supposed allies of ours are.”

“Powerful people, corporate leaders - None of it is ironed out yet, but they’re very interested; especially with you three involved.” Jimba answers cryptically, “They will provide the support needed to finally take action again… or at least once I convince them they will. It might take another half a year or so.”

“You should come to us sooner about these kinds of things, Jimba.” You say, unsure if the old man is doing something a little too rash, “Édouard and I are old enough to make decisions about this kind of thing now.”

“Old enough? Bah, you’re both still boys… “ Jimba scoffs, “But if you’re so willing, then perhaps you’re right. The children of Zeon Zum Deikun must be part of these plans, it’s your right.”

“Good." You say, glad that he's willing to keep you in the loop about things, "We shouldn’t be slinking around behind each other's backs, that’s what the Zabis do. And we should tell Teabolo as well, he’s the master of the house and has treated us well. If he hears about the people watching us so closely he might be willing to act.”

“Those Zabi spies… Perhaps he would listen… “ Jimba considers the idea for a moment, “No, no, I doubt he would. He might try to spoil the whole thing, he doesn’t have the same drive to see wrongs righted that we do.”

“Dad cares about us, Mr. Ral,” Sayla states, setting Lucifer down and letting the cat run off out the slightly ajar door, “He should know.”

“There’s no need to be so hasty, Mistress Artesia,” Jimba says, a hint of worry entering his voice, “Don Teabolo is a good man, but this is something very complicated and he… doesn’t have the right disposition for this kind of thing. You’re too young for this, Artesia, in time you’ll see things my way.”

“...I doubt it.” She says, annoyed. Jimba isn’t entirely wrong, Artesia is still fairly young - you’re all still young - but she’s has a bright mind and seems to mostly be following things.

Édouard looks to be deep in thought, and you’re not sure how you feel about this yourself.

>”Maybe she is young, but I agree with Sayla. Teabolo has a right to know about everything after what he’s done for us.”
>”We should at least tell Teabolo about the possible spies… What are we going to do about them? I don’t like them watching us.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5420402
>”We should at least tell Teabolo about the possible spies… What are we going to do about them? I don’t like them watching us.”
>I'll not go off plotting behind the backs of my family friends Jimba. That kind of thing has only brought us suffering, you of all people should remember.
>>
>>5420402
>>”Maybe she is young, but I agree with Sayla. Teabolo has a right to know about everything after what he’s done for us.”
>>
>>5420411
>>”Maybe she is young, but I agree with Sayla. Teabolo has a right to know about everything after what he’s done for us.”
Meant to vote for this.
Also Jimba's plan was always bad, even if Anaheim suceed in bankrolling a coup they would have just made Side 3 into a banana republic using Deikun's children as puppets leader to drum up support. Casval and Asteria would have been treated like Astraia was
>>
>>5420402
>”Maybe she is young, but I agree with Sayla. Teabolo has a right to know about everything after what he’s done for us.”
>>
>>5420402
>”Maybe she is young, but I agree with Sayla. Teabolo has a right to know about everything after what he’s done for us.”
Well, if we’re going the route of saying Teabolo should know, then getting points with Sayla should be a good way to go about it.
>>
>>5420412
>>5420415
>>5420417
>>5420420
Writing.
>>
>>5420412
>>5420415
>>5420417
>>5420420

“Maybe she is young, but I agree with Sayla.” You say, “Teabolo has a right to know about everything after what he’s done for us.”

“Of course he should be told eventually, Master Felix, but think of what could be done,” Jimba says, holding out his hand as if he was clutching onto something intangible as he tries to appeal to you, “The three of you, restored to your rightful rulership of Side 3, a whole side, and the Zabis crushed and scattered to the wind - Don’t throw away your birthright! With Anaheim on our side we could fund entire armies, fleets; we’d be able to oppose the Zabis openly!”

Anaheim? Well, that is a household name if there ever was one. Anaheim Electronics is one of the largest companies in the earthsphere, making everything from personal computers to battleships; but even a megacorporation has its limits.

“That’s a lovely dream, Jimba.” Édouard says, “But perhaps it should stay a dream. For now, at least. I won’t risk my brother and sister on something so uncertain.”

“Sounds more like a nightmare to me.” Sayla says, standing up, “I’m telling dad.”

“Mistress Artesia!” Jimba calls after her, standing as well and taking a step toward the door as she leaves before halting, his shoulders slump slightly in defeat, “...Oh… Well, perhaps he can be convinced… Master Casval, Master Felix, please, you must understand that this is the only way.”

You and Édouard stand, and follow your sister to go and find Teabolo. He’s in the lavishly decorated drawing room, drinking tea with Mr. Yashima and discussing business. You retreat back a bit and wait for their meeting to be over, Jimba eventually joining you as you wait; the old man has an armful of notebooks and photos, probably his ‘evidence’ of Zabi plots.

Eventually Mr. Yashima departs, Teabolo showing him to the door as the two engage in polite but inconsequential conversation. Teabolo soon returns after seeing his guest off, looking at your little group, especially Jimba, inquisitively.

“You said earlier that you wanted to talk?” Teabolo asks, sounding worried, “Has something happened?”

Édouard does most of the talking, with a few interjections by Jimba, and Teabolo listens intently. Your adoptive father’s face slowly darkens as the conversation continues and the vague details of Jimba’s larger plan are revealed.

“...Thank you for telling me about this, Édouard. You did the right thing. I’ll have security increased; my men might be able to learn more about this ‘Alfonso,’ and whether he’s truly a spy or just a common thug.” Teabolo says gratefully before turning a much sterner look to Jimba, “Jimba, we will need to discuss this in private. I do not wish to upset my children any further.”
>>
>>5420507

>”We deserve to be part of this too, Teabolo.” Teabolo may not budge on including you, he's quite protective.
>Don’t object, allow them to speak in private. It’s clear from his reactions that Teabolo is very displeased; he’s trying to conceal it but you’ve never seen him this angry before.
>Sneak along after them and attempt to eavesdrop.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5420511
>”We deserve to be part of this too, Teabolo.” Teabolo may not budge on including you, he's quite protective.
>We are no strangers to this kind of talk Teabolo, and it's going to follow us our whole lives, no matter what we do. Living in ignorance will only put us in more danger.
>>
>>5420511
>>5420514 +1
>>
>>5420514
>"And we made a promise to each other once, that we would face everything together, as a family. I beg of you, we need to listen to this. I need to listen to this talk. No matter what happens."
>>
>>5420511
>Don’t object, allow them to speak in private. It’s clear from his reactions that Teabolo is very displeased; he’s trying to conceal it but you’ve never seen him this angry before.
>>
>>5420507
>>5420514
Supporting
>>
>>5420511
>Don’t object, allow them to speak in private. It’s clear from his reactions that Teabolo is very displeased; he’s trying to conceal it but you’ve never seen him this angry before.
>>
>>5420514
>>5420517
>>5420528
Writing.
>>
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>>5420514
>>5420517
>>5420528

“We deserve to be a part of this too, Teabolo.” You object, “We aren’t strangers to this kind of talk; it’s going to follow us our whole lives, no matter what we do.”

Teabolo shakes his head, his expression softening, but he remains determined, “You should not have to hear of these things, Maxime. None of you should, you’re… you’re just children. You should live in peace.”

“Teabolo,” Édouard says, glancing briefly past you toward Artesia, “We are already a part of this; the Zabis made that choice, not us.”

“But you don’t have to be anymore, Édouard.” Teabolo says, closing his eyes for a moment and ten speaking more softly, “You should be free from this… this ceaseless feuding. I’ve tried to do that for you all, protect you from it.”

“Living in ignorance will only put us in more danger.” You say. Your words seeming to spur Jimba back into action.

“See? They’re ready for this, Teabolo, they might be young but their father’s spiri-” Jimba starts to say before being cut off.

“I will not let you use them, Jimba!” Teabolo nearly shouts, his composure slipping for a moment as he snaps to looking at the old man, a single fat finger pointed accusatively, “The risk you’ve put them at by even calling Anaheim, I… No, not here. We will speak in my office.”

“At least allow me to attend, Teabolo.” Édouard says, “I am the eldest, it’s my responsibility.”

“Édouard, we agreed to do things together!” You protest, almost standing up in outrage before thinking better of it. The tension in the drawing room is palpable.

“Do you trust me, Maxime? Sayla?” Your older brother asks, his blue eyes meeting yours with an intensity you rarely see.

“Yes.” You answer, exhaling in frustration as you meet his gaze. You know this look; he isn’t going to back down.

“Of course I do.” Your sister quickly responds, “But maybe you should listen to dad, this… this revenge talk isn’t good for you. I see what it does.”

"I'm just going to listen." Édouard says, "I won't endanger either of you."

“Édouard, you… you may attend, if that is your wish.” Teabolo says, “Sayla, Maxime, please go to your rooms, and I’m sorry you even had to hear this much.”

“...Yes, father.” Sayla says, standing to leave.

>”This isn’t fair, I’m nearly the same age as Édouard!”
>Go to your room. Édouard has managed to get into the meeting at least.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5420771
>Go to your room. Édouard has managed to get into the meeting at least.

We can always weasel out what was said later.
Even if it is a little sus
>>
>>5420771
>>Go to your room. Édouard has managed to get into the meeting at least.
>>
>>5420771
>I trust you brother, but remember, we promised to do everything together.
>Can I atleast stay with sister Teabolo? We should be helping each other in these times.
Just trying to keep our family close, but it seems we can't stop the split that is coming
>>
>>5420789
What I meant was us and Artesia staying together in another room, not this one.
Lucifer won't be her only friend.
>>
>>5420771
>Go to your room. Édouard has managed to get into the meeting at least.
>>
>>5420771
>Go to your room. Édouard has managed to get into the meeting at least.
>>
>>5420783
>>5420786
>>5420789
>>5420793
>>5420803
Writing.

>>5420791
Don't worry, I got what you meant.
>>
>>5420771
>Go to your room. Édouard has managed to get into the meeting at least.
>>
>>5420783
>>5420786
>>5420789
>>5420791
>>5420793
>>5420803
>>5420810

"I trust you, Édouard, but remember what we promised." You say, standing up from your cushioned chair.

"I haven't forgotten." Your brother confirms solemnly.

With that said, you relent and follow your sister out of the drawing room and back through the old stone hallways of your home. You both go to Sayla’s room, following Teabolo’s instructions in spirit if not quite by the letter. It is a well furnished room, a single large window letting in plenty of light. A wooden writing desk sits near the window, covered in notebooks and pens; what looks to be a half written letter sits atop the clutter.

Lucifer hops up onto the dark sheets of Sayla’s bed, stretching out completely and kneading the soft material with his paws, claws opening and closing in little motions. You and Sayla both sit on the bed; she leans against you, placing her head against your shoulder. You wrap an arm around her comfortingly.

“I hate it when things get this way.” She says quietly, “It all just feels so senseless. I thought we’d… gotten past this, that it was just Jimba being…”

“Old and crazy?” You say with a small grin, though you do feel a little twinge of guilt - the old man did a lot to get you out of Munzo, whatever he may have become since then.

“Yeah.” She confirms, pressing against you more tightly, “But the Zabis might really be watching us, and I… I just thought it was over.”

“It’s alright, Sayla. We’re safe here.” You comfort her.

“Are we?” She asks in a quavering voice.

”...I don’t know, really, but Teabolo is doing everything he can.” You admit, “But whatever happens we’ll be together. I’m sure Édouard will tell us about whatever they’re talking about.”

“Do you think dad is going to make Jimba leave?” Sayla asks, pulling back a bit and looking up to you.

>”It might be for the best if he does.”
>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5420846
>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”
>"Teabolo might have given us a new life, but Jimba was the one that even gave us the chance to. We owe both of them too much to abandon either one"
>>
>>5420849
Actually, might be better a
>I really hope not, but he was really angry.
and then my other write-in too.
>>
>>5420846
>>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”
>>
>>5420846
>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us.

HIS NOT UNSTABLE, THE ZABI'S REALLY DO HAVE SPY SAT'S
>>
>>5420846
>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”
>>
>>5420846
>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”
>>
>>5420846
>”What? No, of course not. Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”
>>
>>5420849
>>5420852
>>5420854
>>5420861
>>5420862
>>5420872
Writing.
>>
>>5420849
>>5420854
>>5420861
>>5420862
>>5420872

“What? No, of course not.” You say quickly, doubting Teabolo would do something quite so drastic, “Jimba’s done a lot for us, even if he’s getting… unstable.”

“The Zabis are all he ever talks about anymore.” Sayla frowns, pulling away entirely and idly running her hand over Lucifer. He purrs happily, pushing against her hand.

“They ruined his family,” You say, “It’s understandable.”

Sayla sighs, “Maybe so, but it’s still bad. I haven’t heard him say anything about Ramba in ages.”

“Huh. I guess I hadn’t noticed that.” You reply, trying to think of the last time you even heard the old man mention Ramba, “It might just hurt too much to talk about anymore.”

“We still talk about mom sometimes.” Sayla says, picking up Lucifer to hold him in her arms.

“...Yeah, but not much.” You say with a slight shrug, “It’s sad to think about.”

“She’ll be here in a few more years. I got really mad when I found out how long a hundred moons would be, but we’re over a third of the way there.” She says, a sad, delicate smile forming for a moment, “I hope she isn’t too lonely, I write to her a lot.”

>”We should write a letter together, I think she’d like that.” Teabolo did claim he could get letters to her.
>”Sayla, you… you know that she probably isn’t coming, right?” She has to find out at some point. Might not be the best time for this, but is it ever?
>Write-in.
>>
>>5420963
>>”Sayla, you… you know that she probably isn’t coming, right?” She has to find out at some point. Might not be the best time for this, but is it ever?
It sucks, but its better we tell her the truth. She's going to find out eventually.
>>
>>5420963
>”We should write a letter together, I think she’d like that.” Teabolo did claim he could get letters to her.
>>
>>5420963
>”Sayla, you… you know that she probably isn’t coming, right?” She has to find out at some point. Might not be the best time for this, but is it ever?
>>
>>5420963
>”We should write a letter together, I think she’d like that.” Teabolo did claim he could get letters to her.
>>
>>5420963
>”We should write a letter together, I think she’d like that.” Teabolo did claim he could get letters to her.
>>
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>>5420964
+1
UC is a shit timeline to live in.
>>
>>5420964
>>5420972
>>5420981
Three.

>>5420965
>>5420973
>>5420974
And three.

I'll give voting another hour or so and then roll it off if there isn't a winner.

>>5420981
True.
>>
>>5421010
I'll change my vote to move things along
>>
>>5420963
Eh... we *do* need to tell her, but right now when there are potential spies/kidnappers about is not the best time I don't think. I say we should put a rain check on it and definitely have a plan in the future to tell her, just not right now.
>”We should write a letter together, I think she’d like that.” Teabolo did claim he could get letters to her.
>>
>>5421013
no bro I'm voting with you, retract that shit
>>
>>5421016
Ok, consider it retracted
>>
Christ, I'm retarded sometimes. Voting is still open for like 40 minutes. Ignore the other post if you saw it.
>>
>>5421030
I refuse, I will remember this
>>
>>5421016
>>5421025
>>5421014
Okay, letter wins. This time for real. Writing.

>>5421037
kek
>>
”We should write a letter together, I think she’d like that.” You offer to your sister. Teabolo has said in the past that he had a way to get letters to your mother.

“I’d love that.” Sayla says, “And I’m sure she will too.”

The two of you spend the next hour or so around Sayla’s desk drafting a letter detailing the events of the last few weeks. Everything from mundane stuff in the camp to the more exciting recent events after you encountered Diego; you don’t leave anything out, but the letter is focused more on your feelings about the events rather than the nitty gritty details. The vast bulk of the letter however is about the relationship between you, Sayla, and Édouard; if anything will bring some happiness to your mother it’s knowing that you’re all getting along better.

As Sayla is putting the final touches on the letter, speaking the last few lines aloud to double check with you, you notice Lucifer’s dark head perk up atop the bed nearby, yellow eyes fixed on something behind you. Turning, you see Édouard standing in the doorway, smiling a little but with a sad look in his eyes.

“We’ll make sure to write again next month… What is it?” Sayla continues reading before noticing your shifted focus, looking over her shoulder and spotting your brother a moment later, “Oh!”

“How did it go?” You ask.

“Jimba is going to be living higher upstairs now.” Édouard says, walking into the room and shutting the door behind him, “A few rooms above Sayla's, up the tower. Away from most of the phones. Teabolo is going to hire more guards as well.”

“But he is staying, right?” Sayla questions, adjusting in her seat to properly face toward Édouard.

“Yes. It was close though. Most of it was just arguing; he agreed to abandon his plan with Anaheim.” Édouard answers, moving closer to the two of you and looking curiously at the almost finished letter, “You’ve been writing mother again?”

“We have. Would you like to add something?” You say, gesturing to the letter.

Édouard looks pained for a moment before shaking his head, “No. I’m sure there’s nothing left to add.”

“Are you sure? It doesn’t have to be much.” Sayla asks, offering out the pen she was using, “Come on, even a few words.”

“I’m sure about it, Sayla.” He answers, shaking his head and turning to leave, “I’ll be outside if you need me, I think I’m going to practice some shooting.”

“What, you’re just leaving like that?” You ask, “We barely discussed anything!”

Your brother shrugs, “There isn’t much to say. Jimba lost the argument; his plan was bad. Open opposition plays into the Zabis strengths, they have an entire army waiting for exactly this type of attack.”

“So that’s the end of it then?” You ask, “Teabolo is increasing security and we’re just doing… nothing?”

“For now.” Édouard says as he leaves, “We’re doing nothing for now.
>>
>>5421168
Six months later.

11:00 AM, 14 January, UC 0072
Andalusia, Spain

The last half year has gone by quickly. It took a few weeks before Georgi called and gave you the all clear signal to go back to the camp; apparently the ‘Alonso’ guy got run off by a few of Georgi’s contacts in the local police, and Diego has been nowhere to be found since then either. Teabolo’s men did similar searches of the area, finding nothing of note; it’s unclear if there were ever Zabi spies in the area. Other than that the only real change to your life is the slightly increased security at the villa; a few of the guards carry rifles now, and there are a few more guards at the gates.

You, Édouard, and Sayla have continued to meet to discuss things, the top of the eastern tower turning into a little hideaway of sorts; long hours have been spent discussing all sorts of things, from the inane to the lofty, and a few nights you’ve even brought pillows and blankets to sleep under the stars.

All three of you have continued to excel academically, your private lessons continuing at an aggressive pace thanks to Teabolo sparing no expense - You’re currently pushing into mathematics and literature more normally associated with the start of a university education. Athletic training has increased as well, though that is more by agreement with your brother than any effort on Teabolo’s part. Sayla only joins in intermittently, but you’ve been practicing shooting and fencing with your brother as well as doing regular morning runs and more comprehensive exercise routines

It has been a peaceful six months, all things considered. What are you doing currently?

>You’re back in the refugee camp with Sayla again. Georgi has a new full time secretary now, and Elena has started to join Sayla in the camp on occasion - especially when you’re there with your sister. Today is one of those days.
>You’re out shooting with Édouard, with actual rifles. Teabolo has an ‘agreement’ with the local police to ignore the activity so long as you shoot in an old abandoned quarry nearby; one of his guards is with the two of you in supervisory role, though it’s mostly a formality at this point.
>You’re checking in on Jimba, as you have been frequently over the last few months. He has become depressed and erratic, and you don’t want him to do something rash.
>>
>>5421171
>You’re checking in on Jimba, as you have been frequently over the last few months. He has become depressed and erratic, and you don’t want him to do something rash.
Dementia. It's almost time.
>>
I may just be misinterpreting but he doesn't deserve to be lonely regardless.
>>
>>5421171
>You’re back in the refugee camp with Sayla again. Georgi has a new full time secretary now, and Elena has started to join Sayla in the camp on occasion - especially when you’re there with your sister. Today is one of those days.
We need to prepare little sis for the truth. This is going to be a mess.
I hope we're not neglecting Jimba to do this choice though
>>
>>5421171
>You’re back in the refugee camp with Sayla again. Georgi has a new full time secretary now, and Elena has started to join Sayla in the camp on occasion - especially when you’re there with your sister. Today is one of those days.
Eugh, I feel bad about not doing any of the other two, but we barely even met Elena so far (on screen anyways), at least we talk with the others.
>>
>>5421171
>>5421184
Actually, changing my choice to
>You’re checking in on Jimba, as you have been frequently over the last few months. He has become depressed and erratic, and you don’t want him to do something rash.
Casval does the fighting, Artesia does the caring, and we take care of the family.
We'll have more chances to meet childhood-waifu at some point, but time with Jimba is running out.
>>
>>5421171
>>You’re out shooting with Édouard, with actual rifles. Teabolo has an ‘agreement’ with the local police to ignore the activity so long as you shoot in an old abandoned quarry nearby; one of his guards is with the two of you in supervisory role, though it’s mostly a formality at this point.

We hardly spend time with him
>>
>>5421171
>You’re checking in on Jimba, as you have been frequently over the last few months. He has become depressed and erratic, and you don’t want him to do something rash.

We need to keep Jimba sane for as long as possible, his connections are invaluable.
>>
>>5421219
My hope is that we head to the Zeon Military Academy with Char. Sayla toughens up pretty well in the years after Char leaves, but Char himself needs a sense of "normalcy"/voice of reason that Felix would provide so he doesn't end up a sad and tired "old" man like he does in canon.
>>
>>5421171
>>You’re out shooting with Édouard, with actual rifles. Teabolo has an ‘agreement’ with the local police to ignore the activity so long as you shoot in an old abandoned quarry nearby; one of his guards is with the two of you in supervisory role, though it’s mostly a formality at this point.
>>
>>5421171
>You’re checking in on Jimba, as you have been frequently over the last few months. He has become depressed and erratic, and you don’t want him to do something rash.
>>
>>5421171
>You’re checking in on Jimba, as you have been frequently over the last few months. He has become depressed and erratic, and you don’t want him to do something rash.
Hard one and ultimately I don't think we'll be able to follow Caseval into the academy without some serious luck.
>>
>>5421309
I also have doubts about going to Zeon, unless Char also has an younger brother that is identical to us that dies in an attack so we can do a double switcharoo.
But if we do end up there, we have to do everything in our power to stop Casval from doing what he did to Lino. That was a Zabi move, not one fitting for a Deikun
>>
>>5421309
>>5421317
I think we should follow Char into the army. Maybe not shadowing him directly, but close enough that we can count on one another.

Char's biggest issue through his story is his inability to deal with his emotions and his need to do everything himself. If we're there as a proverbial shoulder to lean on, we can entirely divert his character development into somewhere more constructive/actually human.
>>
>>5421317
>Spoiler
Yeah, a little contrived even for gundam.
>>5421320
That's just it though, the zabi know our secret identity and the only way 'Char' gets in is by impersonating someone else. Getting into the Zeon military without being found out is going to be difficult.
>>
>>5421321
We could just pretend to be someone wholly unrelated to Casval OR the original Char. It's the UC, faking an identity is really isn't hard.

If I'm being honest, I really just want to pilot a Zaku and kill feddies with Char
>>
>>5421325
>Faking an identity really isn't hard.
That's true, we'd need to invest some time in it though and probably have Jimba help us. It's just not going to be as comparatively easy as it was for Char.
>Spoiler
It does sound like a good ol' time.
>>
>>5421325
Zakus are cool, so I can't blame you for it.
Acguys are still better
>>
>>5421171
>You’re out shooting with Édouard, with actual rifles. Teabolo has an ‘agreement’ with the local police to ignore the activity so long as you shoot in an old abandoned quarry nearby; one of his guards is with the two of you in supervisory role, though it’s mostly a formality at this point.
>>
>>5421327
The ACGuy is my second favorite Suit from 0079, behind the Gouf.
>>
>>5421325
I think it would be more interesting if we differed with Char on how the Zabis should be destroyed. He joins up with Zeon, but we're disgusted with the idea of becoming a Zabi lapdog. We end up joining the Federation, not reluctantly like Sayla, but with an eagerness comparable to Char's. We could be an ace Saberfish pilot, maybe assigned to White Base...
>>
>>5421333
Yeah, but basically everything UC focuses on the Federation. I want to see a Zeon's PoV for once. Besides, joining the Federation to stop the Zabi's ends with the Federation effectively in control of Zeon, which is a sort of worst-case scenario for Zum Deikun's ideals.
>>
>>5421333
Who says Sayla is going to stay in the Federation?
>>
>>5421335
>I want to see a Zeon's PoV for once.
Read Zeon quest if you haven't already, it was a wild ride.
>>
>>5421332
Gouf and Gelgoog for me. The only two 'mass produced' Zeon MS that were supposed to be comparable to early Gundams and high end GMs.
>>5421338
It'd be a pretty big change in the story if she didn't and NGL, getting her back into Zeon is going to be a harder sell than ourselves.
>>
>>5421341
I'm really torn on the Gelgoog. I really like it's name and head, but it's goofy ass shoulders, double-sword, and thick-ass shield kinda ruin it for me.
>>
>>5421343
The goofy design is what does it for me. Only Zeonic could come up with something so goofy looking and make it work. Also there's a few variations that rectify the design a bit, like the U and Jeager varients.
>>
>>5421179
>>5421203
>>5421247
>>5421291
>>5421309
Jimba

>>5421186
Sayla

>>5421219
>>5421284
>>5421331
Édouard

Looks like Jimba wins. Writing.

>>5421325
>>5421327
A ton of the OYW Zeon stuff is fantastic; I really like the Dom and Gelgoog and their variants. Zakus are of course great, almost everybody loves them.

>>5421348
Goofy designs are great. The Gelgoog Jäger is very good looking, one of my absolute favorites for its looks alone; the fact that it was probably also the most capable MS of the entire war (setting aside one off crazy stuff like the Gundam Alex) doesn't hurt though.
>>
>>5421353
Hell yeah, the MS-14Jg is killer. The best OYW stuff are all the side story OVAs, games, and manga.
>>
>>5421341
We could convince her that the only way to bring peace would be through being a newtype, and that we could wrest away power from the Zabis with their infighting while on the planet.
As for getting her on Zeon, we could probably pull it off with a disguise, another unfortunate 'accident' and another change in name.
but who knows, maybe we can convince Casval that we can take back Zeon through other means
>>
>>5421357
>maybe we can convince Casval that we can take back Zeon through other means
I'm a feddy fanboy so take this with a big grain of salt. But what if we DO join the federation and leverage it to kill off the Zabis and reinstate Cas as Zeon's successor? Hell, we could even use captured Mobile Suits too. I know they had a few Zaku 1s and 2s stomping around before the first prototypes and Ground types rolled off the lines.
>>
>>5421362
I don't think Casval would be happy being a puppet leader.
>>
>>5421362
>>
>>5421368
>>5421369
Yeah I didn't think that one would go over well. Rejoining Zeon is fine too.
>>
>>5421362
Yes, that's an idea. But like HfGnBndY said, Cas will probably see it as being a puppet. I was thinking more in the lines of infiltrating Zeon and causing a civil war there, maybe even get Garma on our side?
>>
>>5421377
>Garma
That's a potential exploit. Instead of just rivals with Char, we could potentially make an ally of him in some capacity. It would look pretty legitimate for us if we split the Zabi's over it.
>>
>>5421380
Garma is, like, mega gay. We could probably manipulate him by getting in his pants before Icelina does.
>>
>>5421381
No
>>
>>5421380
Honestly, the only real issue with this plan (other than actually splitting the Zabis far enough for it to happen) is Casval going full revenge mode on the Zabis.
Which is why I think taking Sayla with us would be for the best. With both Maxime and Sayla there, he'll become more 'human' and less of what he was in canon and maybe even stop certain tragedies from even starting
>>
>>5421388
I think Felix alone would be enough to keep Char on the right track. Sayla is too soft until, like, 0077 to do well in the academy.
>>
>>5421388
His Neo Zeon wouldn't have been bad if Casval Char Quatro didn't want to directly go against dad's dream, after all
"In ancient times the Christians fought bloody battles for control over the birthplace of their religion, but there is no need for humanity to repeat this mistake over Earth."
>>
>>5421388
>And stop certain tragedies
What kind of hopium are you smoking, man? If we survive this with all our limbs intact that'll be a happy ending.
>>5421393
She also has virtually no interest in military affairs until she's forced into it on Side 7. I still think she should continue on with her normal story line. Worst case scenario nothing much changes. Best case we get some important feddie characters to not kill us outright.
>>5421395
Succession war now. No peace for the Spacenoids until every Zabi is dead.
>>
>>5421395
The OYW really broke Char, compounded with the events of the Gryps Conflict, his Neo-Zeon was basically a suicide pact.
>>
>>5421399
To paraphrase Netflixvania, the Axis Drop was just the most violent suicide not in history.
>>
>>5421398
Oh come on, Garma was ok, Minerva is precious and there is the mysterious new Zabi that we haven't seen yet.
The other ones got to go though
>>
>>5421399
Hopefully we can keep him from going off the deep end, especially in the post war era.
>>
>>5421403
>there is the mysterious new Zabi that we haven't seen yet
Anon... He's dead.
>>
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>>5421404
We are already going the pic related route, so hopefully we can atleast mitigate it.
>>
>>5421393
Maybe so, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. But I'd rather not have a situation where we're put against her, and almost end up killing each other.
there's also the situation with Amuro, and that's definitely something I want to avoid

>>5421395
We just have to keep reminding him of dad's dream then. It'll be harder than just that though, I bet.

>>5421398
If we put all the pieces were we want them, we have a bigger chance to get something better. I mean, we already avoided Jimba's assassination and Teabolo's 'deal' with the Zabi's.
>>
>>5421407
*the situation between her, Cas and Amuro
>>
>>5421404
Us acting as emotional support will doubtlessly keep his head on his shoulders the right way.
>>
>>5421405
No, that was the older brother in origin that Kycilla bombed, I'm talking about the other OC that's our age, the one that we probably would have played as if Degwin own the first vote.
QM said that they exist in this thread, but I can't find it right now.
>>
>>5421411
Maybe we'll be able to play as him in an interlude or something?
>>
>>5421353
>us meeting Elena is always put up against important plot items in votes, so it never happens
cmon OP, throw us me? a bone here
>>
>>5421403
>>5421406
I completely forgot about Minerva. She can stay, Garma too if he doesn't get all antagonistic with us.
>>5421407
You're right, we've already changed the timeline. Might as well act the influencer for a better outcome.
>>5421410
That's true. Char went it alone for most of his life with only revenge on his mind. Maybe we can get the Neo Zeon ball rolling early.
>>5421411
>You're playing a middle child in the Deikun family who doesn't exist canonically. There is also an extra Zabi about the same age as your character (other than Garma).
One of his earlier posts, just after the funeral.
>>
>>5421411
Found it
>>5415185
>>
>>5421417
>Garma too if he doesn't get all antagonistic with us.
Garma's a good kid, he just has a complex over his older siblings. If we can break that, he'll join up with us easily. The real make-or-break thing will be convincing Char not to kill him.
>>
>>5421412
Could be a way for us to do character creation like we did for Felix, but part of me wants it to be a surprise.
>inb4 COntolist makes the extra Zabi a waifu candidate
>>5421417
I guess I was too slow. Thanks anyway anon.
>>
>>5421420
We kind already defended him earlier, saying he was one of the innocent Zabis.
Maybe if us by his side, we can remind him. Ad we can throw back his own words at him
“Pride and a desire for vengeance make for a powerful poison, Sayla.” Édouard says, “He knew exactly what he was doing every step of the way.”
>>
The climb up the dimly lit spiral stone staircase to Jimba’s room is quiet, as always. When he was first moved to the room he took it badly, but after a few weeks you thought he was bouncing back - you were wrong. He still only talks about the Zabis, but it has gotten… strange. Even more disconnected from reality, forgetting things and making associations that just don’t make any sense to you. He isn’t trapped in the tower, Teabolo isn’t so cruel as to do something like that, but he’s usually watched when he’s anywhere else in the house - either by the guards or staff - to make sure he doesn’t call people and do something rash. Still, on more than one occasion he’s claimed to have new proof of spies and plots, or asked you to help him in finding allies to strike against the Zabis; you haven’t gone along with any of it, trying to gently discourage him. He’s not stable enough to manage it even if he came up with a good plan.

Reaching the top of the stairs you knock on the heavy wooden door, waiting a moment for an answer. You can hear him talking to himself on the other side of the door, but can’t quite make out what he’s saying beyond “...two Zabis... great work...”

After a few moments he stops talking, you can hear some things being moved around, and he calls out, “Master Felix?”

Of course he expects it to be you, almost no one else visits him. Even Sayla rarely sees him anymore.

“It’s me, Jimba.” You confirm.

“Come in! Come in. I was starting to think you’d forgotten.” He says. You push the door open, and it bumps into a messy pile of books stacked on the floor nearby - his room isn’t a complete disaster, you’ve made sure to help clean enough to prevent it from getting that far, but it is a cluttered mess.

“Are you doing well?” You ask, already knowing what the real answer is.

“Yes, of course! I’m actually feeling great, the best in years!” He says… unusually excitedly, that's new, and waves you over to his even more unusually clean looking table, “Have you seen the news?”

There are a few newspapers laid out neatly atop the table; they look recent. The staff still bring him the news regularly since it seems to distract him, though they never stay to talk.

“...No, I haven’t.” You answer, stepping closer to get a better look. It’s the front page of the Federation Globe - official state news which you’re quite sure is just propaganda most of the time. It's a little surprising that Jimba even reads it.
>>
>>5421446

The headline reads:

GIHREN ZABI SHOT AT RALLY, IN CRITICAL CONDITION

You snatch up the paper, eyes widening as you read more closely through the actual article.

...Gihren Zabi, director of the National Campaign Department for the Republic of Zeon, was shot while speaking at an anti-federation political rally late last night. While delivering a speech to a crowd of fifty thousand people in the crowded Zeon Zum Deikun memorial stadium, a team of gunmen stormed the stage and opened fire; fifteen people are confirmed to be dead, and Gihren Zabi is known to be in critical condition. Vivima Zabi, 13, the youngest member of the Zabi political dynasty, was present on stage with her older brother during the attack but only suffered minor injuries. The Zabi family has released an official statement, claiming that those responsible for orchestrating the attack will face ‘swift and immediate retribution.' Anti-independence groups and the Federation military were named as potential suspects, but accusations remain vague at this time… Early polling shows that approval ratings of the Zabi family have soared following the attack… The Federation has denied all responsibility and launched an investigation of its own into the incident…”

>”Well, this actually is good news for once. Who do you think did it, Jimba?”
>”See, Jimba, the Zabis will get what’s coming to them eventually. No need to obsess over it, they have plenty of other enemies.”
>”Approval rating soared? This is awful news, if he survives they’ll be more powerful than ever.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5421454
>”Approval rating soared? This is awful news, if he survives they’ll be more powerful than ever.”
>>
>>5421454
>”Approval rating soared? This is awful news, if he survives they’ll be more powerful than ever.”
>"I wouldn't put past the Zabis if it's a staged attack or result of their infighting."
>>
>>5421454
>”See, Jimba, the Zabis will get what’s coming to them eventually. No need to obsess over it, they have plenty of other enemies.”
I agree with the third option, but we have to keep in mind our audience here. We're trying to keep him sane aren't we? I don't think reinforcing his fears will help that.
>>
>>5421454
>Vivima Zabi, 13
Oh shit I was was right
>>5421422
>>
>>5421454
>”See, Jimba, the Zabis will get what’s coming to them eventually. No need to obsess over it, they have plenty of other enemies.”
We have to make sure that Jimba doesn't lose himself, first and foremost.
>>
>>5421454
>”Approval rating soared? This is awful news, if he survives they’ll be more powerful than ever.”
>>
>>5421458
You are right
>>5421458
Changing my vote to
>”See, Jimba, the Zabis will get what’s coming to them eventually. No need to obsess over it, they have plenty of other enemies.”
>Atleast Vivima wasn't hurt, she didn't have a hand in what the rest of her family did.
>>
>>5421457
+1
>>
>>5421468
Meant to link to mine
>>5421457
>>
>>5421465
>>5421469
>>5421455
>we voted to be with Jimba instead of other important choices so we could prioritize his sanity
>our next move does the exact opposite and makes him more paranoid
are you guys really sure this is the move?
>>
>>5421472
Baaaaah, you're right. We shouldn't encourage it even if he is right.
>>5421454
>>5421465
Changing my vote to this
>5421458
>>
>>5421476
>>5421458
Forgot to link.
>>
>>5421454
>>”See, Jimba, the Zabis will get what’s coming to them eventually. No need to obsess over it, they have plenty of other enemies.”
>>
>>5421458
>>5421461
>>5421468
>>5421476
Writing. Really enjoying seeing all of this discussion as well.
>>
“See, Jimba, the Zabis will get what’s coming to them eventually,” You say while still looking over the article, “No need to obsess over it, they have plenty of other enemies.”

“Oh ho ho, yes they do, don’t they?” He says with a mad chuckle, “That snake Gihren finally got what’s coming to him!”

“...Shame about Vivima though. At least she’s alright, kids shouldn’t get caught up in these kinds of things…” You respond, double checking the name as you say it; you vaguely remember seeing her at your fathers funeral, just past Garma. There’s a picture of her in the article; it’s clear she must have mostly gotten her mother’s looks, like Garma, purple hair and fair features.

“What? No, they’re all the same, a den of vipers. Gihren is the worst though, he’s gaining more and more influence.” Jimba says adamantly, waving a hand dismissively at you, “...Maybe if those gunmen had been paid more it wouldn’t have been so sloppy; we’d have two dead Zabis instead of just one in the hospital!”

“Jimba, that’s a bit cruel." You say, a bit stung by the callousness of his statement but not wanting to linger on it, "You think they were mercenaries though?”

“Felix, you know how these things have to be, we’ve talked about it. They all have to go!” He says, pounding a frail fist on the table, “And uh… It’s just a feeling, I suppose; the article didn’t mention them shouting any slogans or making declarations - terrorists usually do that kind of thing.”

“Mm, I guess that sort of makes sense,” You say, not wholly convinced by Jimba’s reasoning, “They could have made quite the statement, the stage was set up for a speech.”

“Uhm, yes, exactly that, Master Felix.” Jimba says quickly, pausing for a moment afterward before pointing to a picture of the stadium on another of the newspapers laying on the table, “See, look at the size of the crowd. I would have made a statement if it was me.”

“You’d do a lot of things if it was you, Jimba.” You smirk, almost laughing at the idea, "You shouldn't linger on this stuff for so long though, it isn't good for you.

“Ha, I suppose you’re right…” The old man replies with a harsh, almost painful sounding laugh, “Maybe more does need to be done…”

You sigh, exhausted by it all. Jimba always manages to twist the things you say into encouragement to destroy the Zabis; it’s almost impossible to get through to him, but he’d probably be even worse if you didn’t visit so often.

>”Jimba, stop that. We’ve been over this before; we aren’t moving against the Zabis any time soon.”
>”More?”
>”Hopefully it wasn’t the Federation doing this.” It seems unlikely but they’ve been suspected of similar actions in the past; if it ends up being true Side Three will turn into a bloodbath.
>Write-in.

Deleted and reposted to fix some errors.
>>
>>5421545
>”Jimba, stop that. We’ve been over this before; we aren’t moving against the Zabis any time soon.”
>>
>>5421545
>”Jimba, stop that. We’ve been over this before; we aren’t moving against the Zabis any time soon.”
>>
>>5421545
>”Jimba, stop that. We’ve been over this before; we aren’t moving against the Zabis any time soon.”
>"These kind of things take time and care, you got to conquer the hearts of the people first."
>>
>>5421545
>>5421554 +1
Part of me wants tell him it might be the Federation's doing, but Jimba might take it as meaning 'we hate the Zabis, they hate the Zabis, the enemy of my enemy is my friend'
>>
>>5421554
+1
>>
>>5421547
>>5421550
>>5421554
>>5421556
>>5421559
Writing.
>>
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>>5421545
>There’s a picture of her in the article; it’s clear she must have mostly gotten her mother’s looks, like Garma, purple hair and fair features.
Well, this kills my quickly forming image I had of Vivima looking like pic related, especially considering the shooting could explain her having an eyepatch.
>>
>>5421568
My mental image is an even more feminine Garma.
Which is an impressive feat to say the least.
>>
>>5421582
Vivima looks identical to Garma, she just has noticeable breasts. Just like how Garma has a noticeable bulge when Char is around.
>>
”Jimba, stop that. We’ve been over this before; we aren’t moving against the Zabis any time soon.” You gently scold him, "These kinds of things take time and care, you have to conquer the hearts of the people first."

“The hearts of the people? Master Felix, please, you must see that’s exactly what the Zabis have been doing this whole time, it’s what that fiend Gihren was doing at this very speech!” Jimba says in an almost apologetic, pleading tone as he points to a picture of Gihren on one of the newspapers; he’s giving an impassioned speech, overlooking a cheering crowd stretched out below him.

“If nothing was done, he’d only keep growing in power. The whole earthsphere will be torn apart if they aren’t stopped, there’s no bottom to the depths of Zabi evil! They’ll drag down your father’s ideals and as many innocents as it takes to gain more power, they'll destroy it all just like they destroyed my family!” Jimba continues, sweeping an arm dramatically as if he was bearing witness to some kind of profound and apocalyptic revelation.

Your heart sinks as the old man continues his rant, and you can’t help but feel a profound sense of pity. It’s hard to even remember what he was like before your father died, but you still have the faint impression of a strong and capable man in your mind; he was a good father to Ramba, in his own way, and almost grandfatherly to you and your siblings at times… Not always, of course, but sometimes he felt like a kind of extended family.

That man has worn away, the years grinding down on him. He’s a husk, possessed by ghosts of vengeance. You can practically feel it radiating off of him, the resentment, the impotent fury, and a deep longing for something just out of reach…

>”Jimba, please. Let's talk about something else; father’s philosophy maybe?”
>”If nothing was done?...”
>”...It was good to speak again, Jimba. I have to go, but I’ll be back later…” Leave. You can’t stand seeing him this bad, it’s worse than usual.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5421582
>>5421588
Garma with tits you say?
Also, holy shit, I forgot just how feminine they made Garma in Origin.
>>
>>5421596
>”If nothing was done?...”
>Jimba, what did you do this time?
>>
>>5421597
Garma with long hair was exactly how I was picturing it.
And yeah, as time went on they just made him look progressively more effeminate.
>>
>>5421596
>Write-in
>"Jimba, you saw what happened in the news, and I'm sure you remember the explosion at my father's funeral. They are beset by enemies inside and out, they can't even trust their own family! You don't have to worry about destroying them anymore. Please, remember my father's philosophy. Would he have wanted you to be as you are now?"
If we can't convince him, then just leave politely and look for our siblings.
>>
>>5421600
Nice catch
+1
>>
>>5421600
+1
>>
>>5421600
>>5421612
>>5421646
Writing.
>>
“If nothing was done?...” You say uncertainly, a horrible thought beginning to form in your mind, your eyes widening as you look to the old man, “Jimba, what have you done?”

“Nothing! Nothing, of course,” He replies hastily, avoiding your gaze, “What could I do up here?”

You set down the newspaper and glance around the room quickly, scanning over the stray piles of books and scattered photographs; something is wrong, very wrong.

Jimba.” You say again, “You’re lying.”

“No, no, you have to…” He says desperately, following your gaze with visible alarm as you look over the messy bedroom, “...It… Master Felix, please, you must understand, something had to be done.”

Your blood runs cold - He did do something - all but admitting it. Slowly you begin to step away from him, shaking your head in disbelief.

“I-it, uh, it wasn’t much, all I… all I did was move some of my old money around,” Jimba says, moving a step toward you, “The little I had left. I was saving it, for the three of you… But I thought to myself ‘what could be a better gift’?… If the Zabis began to die, perhaps they would suspect one another, and you could return…”

“Jimba, no, we… how? Why?” You ask, fear and the sting of betrayal biting deep. It doesn’t make sense - he’s barely been on his own for the last few months, watching nearly constantly, and you’ve been coming to see him nearly every day. Was that not enough?

“I… I made a few investments.” He hesitantly explains, guilt, shame, and anger mixing in his voice, “Teabolo hasn’t stopped me from accessing my accounts, the few I have left. He can't jail me like this, not completely.”

“Jimba, who did you send money to?” You ask, “How could you do this?”

“...A group on Luna.” He admits, “It’s for your own good, Master Felix, I’m just clearing the path a little for you and your siblings.”

“You’re working with Anaheim again, aren’t you?” You ask angrily, but Jimba quickly shakes his head.

“No, no, nothing with them. Not anymore. That plan never could have worked, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time - but I am now! This group is much quieter. They’re opposed to the Zabis, and the Federation, they have people all over Munzo but needed more money for a ‘project’... I read between the lines.”

>”You funded a terrorist group?!”
>”...and the Federation?”
>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad.
>Write-in.

Reposted after fixing some errors, again. Really need to get better at catching things in editing.
>>
>>5421714
>>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad.
>>
>>5421714
>”You funded a terrorist group?!”
Mad lad Jimba. I can't be mad at him guys. Terrorism runs deep in Gundam.
>>
>>5421714
>>”...and the Federation?”
Welp its time to go get Cas and Artesia and blow out of here before the assassins show.
>>
>>5421714
>”You funded a terrorist group?!”
and
>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad
>>
>>5421714
>”...and the Federation?”

God I fucking love our boy Jimba, Dude really is just a Dad trying to keep his autistic children safe from Space Hitler.
>>
>>5421714
>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad.
No time to waste.
>>
>>5421714
>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad.
>Get Casval and Sayla too
Oh god, they are going to track this down to him. It was bad enough with the Zabis going after our head, but the federation too? We need new identities, and to go to a place aligned with neither. Side 5 here we go
>>
>>5421733
Side 5 is still Federation. Neutral colonies don't become a thing till the War.
>>
>>5421545
Just realized we could have caught Jimba in this post with the
>”More?”
option. I can't believe I overlooked that
>>
>>5421741
I know, but it's where we they go to in canon.
It's "neutral" because it belongs to the Yashima corporation, friends of Teabolo.
>>
>>5421714
>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad.
>Then go find our siblings
Absolute beast of a move, Jambi. Can't help but feel proud of the old man, though this is going to be a mess.We have to high-tail it out of here, bring along our family. Jambi needs to go into hiding, at least.
I guess this means Sayla can't be part of the Feds openly anymore, huh?
>>
>>5421714
>>5421770
Changing my vote to
>”...and the Federation?”
We need to know more about this mystery group first, before we jump to conclusions. Don't want Teabolo to appease the Zabis, or just get ourselves all arrested by the Federation. And who knows, maybe Jimba actually covered his tracks (however unlikely that is).
Still think we should at least inform Casval and Sayla.
>>
>>5421714
>Leave immediately, the damage is already done. Find Teabolo or one of the guards at least. This is very bad.
Well, I'd prefer it if we didn't need to actually find another safe house. Does such a place even exist? It's really gonna suck if we have to high-tail it out before we even meet Elena properly.
>>
>>5421790
Actually, yeah, we're right, we need more information to decide if this is as bad as some of us think it is.

switching from >>5421794 to
>”...and the Federation?”
>>
>>5421794
You have a point.

>>5421714
Switching to
>"...and the Federation?"
>>
>>5421798
>we're right
you're right
>>
>>5421721
>>5421726
>>5421790
>>5421798
>>5421801
Alright, I'm pretty sure that asking about the federation wins. Writing.
>>
Uh oh...
>>
>>5421826
why uh oh?
>>
>>5421838
Old Jimba's made us some very powerful enemies.
>>
“...and the Federation?” You ask, dreading what the answer to your question will be.

“Yes, yes, and the Federation.” Jimba answers, speaking more loudly, “They oppose tyrants no matter their form; Zabis and the Federation are not so very different, they both wish to have us under their thumb!”

“Oppose?” You question, hoping this might not be as bad as it sounds, “Are they attacking them as well?”

“I… I don’t know for sure, perhaps they might, but they aren’t fools. Everything was done in code, I didn’t ‘invest’ in anything on earth.” Jimba says, now just in front of you and reaching out to place a hand on your shoulder.

You step back from him, bumping into the half opened door behind you; he doesn’t frighten you, but there’s something wrong in his eyes. How could he betray you all like this?

“Jimba, how could you do something so foolish?” You say, “We live on Earth, if they’ve attacked the Federation and this gets traced back to you there’s no telling what will happen!”

“Master Felix, the Federation is hardly our ally!” Jimba says, still following you. You take a step backward down the first stair of the cramped, spiraling staircase of the tower.

>Turn and leave. This is a disaster, Teabolo must be informed at once.
>”Jimba, you… you should leave. Publicly. It’s the only way to protect us now, this is just too much.”
>”Who are these people? How could you trust them with so much at risk?”
>Write-in

Apologies for the wait for such a short post, got caught up in a game with some friends and I've been writing between turns.
>>
>>5421890
>Turn and leave. This is a disaster, Teabolo must be informed at once.
Teabolo needs to know NOW. Who knows how long these terrorists have been acting, even before Jimba started funding them.
>>
>>5421890
>”Who are these people? How could you trust them with so much at risk?”
>You need to come with me to see Teabolo. Now. We need to think a way to get out of this mess you put us in.
>>
>>5421890
>Jimba enough is enough. If actions like this are to be taken we all need to be informed. You can't just keep doing this for all our well beings. We must tell Teabolo at once and prepare.
>We are his children, you can't just keep doing this without working with us.

Basically remind him of where his loyality lie
>>
>>5421897
Oh, and
>Ask a guard to call Eduard and Sayla. It's urgent.
>>
>>5421890
>”Who are these people? How could you trust them with so much at risk?”
>Start a family meeting (Teabolo, Casval and Sayla) and discuss this
We have to know who we're dealing with here. This has the potential to spiral out of control very quickly, we have to act carefully.
If the Federation catches wind of this, they'll probably see us as complicit.
>>
>>5421896
>>5421899
>>5421901
Alright, so there's definitely a desire to meet with Teabolo and your siblings, and maybe Jimba as well.

Writing.
>>
“Who are these people?” You ask angrily, “How could you trust them with so much at risk?”

“They didn’t tell me the real name of their organization, that… that isn’t how this kind of thing works. They work through shell companies, use fake names;” Jimba desperately tries to explain, still following after you, “You must believe me, Felix!”

“You don’t even know who they are?” You shake your head in disbelief and turn to head down the staircase properly, “I’m going to tell Teabolo, Jimba.”

“...Master Felix…” He says weakly, taking a few steps down the stairs after you before stopping. He doesn’t follow you.

You rush down the stairs, passing the entrance to Sayla’s room and checking inside quickly - Lucifer looks up from the bed but Sayla is gone, probably at the camp. As you reach the bottom you catch sight of one of the guards and call him over.

“Where is Teabolo?” You ask hurriedly, barraging him with questions, “Or Sayla and Édouard? Something has happened, we need to increase security at once and I absolutely must speak with all of them!”

The guard blinks, stunned briefly by the sudden assault of questions, but he snaps into action half a moment later, “Don Teabolo and your sister are at the aid worker compound, they were meeting with the director for lunch; your brother is away at the old quarry.”

The camp and the quarry? Neither are that far, though it might be a bit of trouble to get Édouard back quickly.

“Radio them at once, they have to come back immediately - we may be at risk of attack!” You order, trying to remain calm while still getting a sense of urgency across.

“Of course, sir.” He replies, already reaching to his earpiece to relay the message, “Is this reliable information?”

“Reliable enough.”

The guard begins speaking over his radio with Teabolo’s other men, giving out orders and double checking the locations of everyone; it’s going to take a bit to get the message to Sayla and Teabolo, they didn’t take a radio with them and Georgi isn’t answering his office’s phone.

>Wait around at the villa for the others, and stay near a radio in case something happens.
>...Find a gun.
>You’re more familiar with the compound than the guards are, head out and find Sayla and Teabolo yourself.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5421965
>...Find a gun.
>You’re more familiar with the compound than the guards are, head out and find Sayla and Teabolo yourself.

Time to get tactical Marines.
>>
>>5421965
>You’re more familiar with the compound than the guards are, head out and find Sayla and Teabolo yourself.
>...Find a gun.
Hopefully skimping out on those combat training options with Cas won't effect us too badly.
>>
>>5421965
>...Find a gun.
>You’re more familiar with the compound than the guards are, head out and find Sayla and Teabolo yourself.
I still think we might have a bit of time, but it never hurts to be safe. We should try to find a concealable gun, so as not to attract attention.
>>
>>5421965
>>...Find a gun.
>>You’re more familiar with the compound than the guards are, head out and find Sayla and Teabolo yourself.
It isn't paranoia if there really is someone out to get you!
>>
>>5421965
>You’re more familiar with the compound than the guards are, head out and find Sayla and Teabolo yourself.
Felix is way overreacting, there's no way it would be traced back this quickly, if it happened at all. Personally I think there's a good chance these people are covert enough that we're probably just fine. None of the terrorists got captured did they? And even if they were able to be interrogated, none of them should have knowledge as close to chest as funding sources for the whole organization, and especially not where they live. Dude needs to chill out.

In fact, I think grabbing a gun might be detrimental. It will only flare up tensions, cause stress, and cause us to think less straight about this.

On another note, this update rate is killer QM, keep it up.
>>
>>5421965
>>5421975
Honestly, changing my vote to >>5421985
Last time when we thought the Zabis were kidnapping Sayla, it turned out to be an overreaction (even though there were probably spies around). Not only that, I doubt they'll connect our family to the attack any time soon.
No need to panic and cause stress for no reason.
>>
>>5421976
I'll remove gun from my vote.
>>
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>>5421985
>>5421990
>>5422003
Writing.

>>5421969
This anon knows what the ladies like.
>>
>>5422017
OORAH MARINES.
>>
>>5422092
>”There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish. We need to go back to the villa.”
>I already sent someone to get Édouard. We need to discuss this together and we can't speak here, someone else other than Georgi and Elena might listen.
>>
The sun is high in the sky as you head out of the villa’s main gate, guards rushing about and getting ready for whatever might be coming. You aren’t certain something is going to happen, especially so soon after what Teabolo has done, but that doesn’t lessen the urgency of the meeting. You jog down the winding earthen road and soon find yourself among the aid worker compound at the edge of the refugee camp. White and red prefabricated metal structures, most of them repurposed Federation army surplus, are clustered together here and there. It shouldn’t take long to locate Teabolo and Sayla…

Checking around between buildings you soon find your sister and adoptive father; they’re having a simple but pleasant looking lunch with Georgi and his daughter Elena at the staff cafeteria. The building isn’t much more than a small hangar with a kitchen and folding tables in the interior in place of military vehicles and machinery.

Elena smiles and waves to you as you approach, noticing your presence almost immediately and calling out, “Maxime! I didn’t realize you’d be coming!”

“Neither did I,” You say, walking quickly to the table, “It’s nice to see you.”

She smirks, “I bet it is. Come on, sit down.”

“Any other time and I would,” You say, shifting your focus to Teabolo and Sayla who are looking at you with mild confusion, “Teabolo, Sayla, we need to talk."

“What’s the matter?” Teabolo asks, “Has something happened?”

>Sit down briefly to discuss things here. Georgi and Elena are trustworthy.
>”There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish. We need to go back to the villa.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5422100
My vote is here
>>5422099
>>
>>5422100
>”There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish. We need to go back to the villa.”
>>
>>5422100
>Sit down briefly to discuss things here. Georgi and Elena are trustworthy.
There is a risk in telling Georgi about the situation, since he's a civil servant of the Federation, but there's the possibility he might vouch for us if things go badly.
>>
>>5422105
That's true, but I don't want to do this in the staff cafeteria without Casval.
Maybe invite them back to the villa too?
>>
>>5422103
Don't worry, I see it.

Reposted to fix the accidental repetitiousness; making decisions about where to cut dialogue and start player options is probably not something I should be doing while playing games.
>>
>>5422108
What game are you are playing?
>>
>>5422106
>>5422100
>>5422099
>someone else other than Georgi and Elena might listen
>I don't want to do this in the staff cafeteria without Casval.
Good idea, didn't even think about that. Changing my vote to
>”There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish. We need to go back to the villa.”
>Maybe invite Georgi and Elena to come with us?
>>
>>5422113
MCC. I love Halo.
>>
>>5422118
Halo is good, shame the series ended with ODST.
And don't worry too much, I think the updates have been good
>>
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>>5422118
Based. Shame 343 took a massive shit all over its legacy by making a needless trilogy set after the perfect ending that was 3. Even Bungie was in agreement to its finality since while under contract with MS to make more halo games they decided to release the ODST stuff set between Halo 2 and 3 as a full game, then followed up with a prequel also starring a new set of characters.
>>
>>5422100
>>”There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish. We need to go back to the villa.”
>>
>>5422100
>>”There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish. We need to go back to the villa.”


And wheres our brother.
>>
>>5422104
>>5422099
>>5422116
>>5422135
>>5422144
Writing.
>>
>>5422210
QM, you good?
>>
>>5422407
Yeah, apologies on the weirdly long wait. Got caught up in a very long conversation.
>>
>>5422410
No worries. The QM Curse is very real, so I can get pretty paranoid about really good quests.
>>
“There’s been a security issue, Jimba did something foolish.” You say, keeping the details vague to not drag Elena or Georgi into things, “We need to go back to the villa.”

“Security?” Elena asks curiously, giving you a deeply puzzled look.

“What did he do now?” Sayla says worriedly, shrinking back a bit as Elena shifts her gaze over to her.

Teabolo meets your gaze but says nothing, his eyes narrowing before he gives you a small nod of acknowledgement, and stands up from the simple table.

“...Georgi, my apologies; I must return home at once.” Your adoptive father says politely, if a bit stiffly, “We’ll do this again sometime.”

“Yes, yes, we will, Don Teabolo. Is there anything we can do to help?” Georgi offers, standing as well.

“I’ll let you know if there’s anything, or if anything might affect your work with the camp,” Teabolo answers as he begins to leave with you and Sayla, “Though I certainly hope that won’t be the case. Good day, Georgi.”

The three of you head back to the villa; you half expect Teabolo to have a parked car somewhere nearby, but it turns out that Sayla convinced him to make the journey on foot. She’s been trying to get him to watch his weight - not exactly the most convenient time to start - but it works out fine; he’s a bit out of breath by the time you reach villa but otherwise in a fit state. You explained the situation to Teabolo and Sayla on the walk back up, far from any potential eavesdroppers, both listening intently as you reveal what you know of Jimba’s involvement in funding the group likely to be responsible for attacking Gihren and Vivima Zabi.

To say that Teabolo is furious would be a disservice to the word.

The courtyard near the main gate is abuzz with activity, guards and staff moving about here and there, preparing for… well, you’re not sure what exactly. A car arrives, dropping off your brother a few minutes after you arrive; the quarry isn’t so far, it didn’t take long to get a driver to the location.
>>
>>5422444

Teabolo leaves to ‘question’ Jimba in his room atop the tower, allowing you to catch your brother up to speed on what’s occurred. You, Édouard, and Sayla head to the drawing room to speak up in relative privacy, taking seats among the cushioned and finely wrought wooden furniture.

“...Gihren and Vivima Zabi, shot.” Édouard says, emphasizing the final word and smirking a little before his expression darkens, “This isn’t how this should have happened; they both survived. Vivima must have barely even been grazed, gunmen don't usually leave minor injuries.”

Sayla narrows her eyes at the callous comment but says nothing, leaning back against the victorian looking sofa she’s sitting on.

“It’s all a mess,” you agree, “The paper said they're launching an investigation into suspected groups; I bet it isn’t a short list, but…”

“We’re probably on it.” Édouard finishes for you, “And it isn’t just the Zabis, the Federation is looking into things as well.”

“But they won’t come after us, will they?” Sayla asks, “The Federation might be corrupt, but they aren’t evil… they’d just come and take Jimba, right?”

“Who knows,” you say, wishing there was a better answer, “They’re almost as bad as the Zabis, in their own way.”

“We’ll need to be ready, or leave.” Édouard says, “There aren’t many other options.”

“Jimba could admit to what he’s done. That he did it alone.” You suggest, though the words hurt a touch to speak aloud, “But I’m not sure I want to see things go down that path.”

“They’d kill him…” Sayla says sadly, trailing off and looking down to her feet. She isn’t the tiny girl she was a few years ago, now really beginning to understand the true scope of things.

>”We shouldn’t do anything drastic. We don’t know if Jimba has been found out yet, or by who. If we do anything too strange it might clue the Zabis into what happened.”
>”I think it would be best to leave the villa. Maybe we can hide somewhere for a little while until the attention dies down again.”
>”We need to prepare for what’s coming. This is our home, and it’s practically a castle; I can’t think of a better place to be in this kind of situation.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5422448
>”We shouldn’t do anything drastic. We don’t know if Jimba has been found out yet, or by who. If we do anything too strange it might clue the Zabis into what happened.”
>”I think it would be best to leave the villa. Maybe we can hide somewhere for a little while until the attention dies down again.”

These aren't mutually exclusive. Let's go on a quick vacation to somewhere isolated and hunker down for a bit. I'm sure Teabolo has got a vacation house somewhere in the Rockies or the Urals.
>>
>>5422448
>”We shouldn’t do anything drastic. We don’t know if Jimba has been found out yet, or by who. If we do anything too strange it might clue the Zabis into what happened.”
>"But if we do anything, it has to be done discreetly"
The other two options happened in canon, and without good results. Unless we can somehow fortify our home secretly or move in a 'vacation' like >>5422449 said, without causing too much of a commotion, we can't risk an assassination/siege attempt.
>>
>>5422450
But then again, suddenly going for a vacation when two Zabis have been injured could be enough evidence for them to justify an assassination against Jimba or someone else. And the Federation will probably notice us leaving/fortifying as well.
>>
>>5422453
>suddenly going for a vacation

It's January, the middle of winter. Going on a skiing vacation into the mountains really isn't that strange.
>>
>>5422455
Not to us or any normal person, sure. But to the Zabis? I doubt they're going to even consider it to be a coincidence.
>>
>>5422457
>But to the Zabis? I doubt they're going to even consider it to be a coincidence.

Of course they wouldn't, but part of the plan is plausible deniability. My idea is to go somewhere super isolated with only people that Jimba and Teabolo have personally vetted. That way we can keep our heads down and keep safe from any covert assassination attempts.
The only real holes in this plan I can think of is the Zabis attacking us openly with bombers or prototype Mobile Suits, but that's way to blunt and obvious a move that they'd never try it.
>>
>>5422461
If we do that, we'll probably be on the Zabis top priority list to get rid of for as long as we're alive. And we wouldn't get off of it unless we appease them somehow (something I think we should avoid if possible). We don't really know how the Feds will react to what we do, they might send some guys to arrest Jimba and take Teabolo in custody for harboring a terrorist-funder. They might do something worse, or nothing at all.
But this does provide us with an excuse to go to Zeon itself, after we and all of our family was killed off in a tragic 'accident' while on 'vacation.' High risk in doing all of that of course.
>>
>>5422468
>this does provide us with an excuse to go to Zeon itself, after we and all of our family was killed off in a tragic 'accident' while on 'vacation.'

Perhaps we could just blow up one of Teabolo's vacation houses while we go underground for a few months? If we do that plan, we shouldn't go straight back to Zeon though. Let the dust settle for a while, let people really think we're dead AND THEN go back to Zeon. It would be too risky and obvious to immediately go back right after we fake our deaths.
>>
>>5422470
It's risky, but it could work. There are lots of things that could go wrong at any moment, but it's a solid plan. If it's the route we go down, we just need to convince the others and maybe even minimize risk while we're at it.
>>
>>5422474
I think Char would be the easiest to convince, as he's always up for some good old fashioned skullduggery, Jimba and Sayla would probably be harder to convince of the "disappear for a while" part, and I doubt Teabolo would blow up one of his own houses without some incredible talk-no-jutsu.
>>
>>5422478
Jimba will be easy, just need to drive in the fact that the Zabis want us out in the open to assassinate us, and that they have the resources to find us. With Sayla we have to convince her that this is the only way we can safely keep everyone safe (including Georgi, Elena, and even the refugees as well) and that its the only way to prevent a possible bloodbath. As for Teabolo, we could maybe reach a compromise? We could just 'disappear' in the snow or go missing, with Teabolo himself testifying that we died. Either that or convince him that its too dangerous to trust what the Zabis and/or the Federation would do (even mention that the mercenaries might try something, leaving no loose threads and all that), and that burning down a house is worth it if all of us can stay safe. We're family, after all.
>>
>>5422448
>>”I think it would be best to leave the villa. Maybe we can hide somewhere for a little while until the attention dies down again.”
>>
>>5422450
+1
I don't like the idea of leaving the villa, it's way too suspicious. I'm not super fond of it, but I think our best option is to pretend nothing happened, business as usual. If their spies see nothing has changed, they would be less suspicious. This may entail us telling the guards to chill out a bit, hopefully they haven't already tipped off any spies by upping their guard all of a sudden.
>>
>>5422448
>”I think it would be best to leave the villa. Maybe we can hide somewhere for a little while until the attention dies down again.”
>"Maybe Teabolo knows somewhere to hide, away from the eyes of the federation and the zabis"
>"We need new identities, and the convoy officially leading us out need to be empty while we go on a hidden one."
>"And stop smirking at Vivima getting shot brother. If Garma wasn't involved, why would she have been?"
>>
>>5422481
I still think we shouldn't do anything drastic, at least not until its confirmed that the mercs got captured. Moving somewhere else will probably lock us into faking our deaths. And there's always the chance things will go badly with that, and we all end up separated. Also we hardly had any time with childhood-waifu, we really should get to know her better. She might grant us connections in the future
But if we do go somewhere else, we have to make sure it isn't to appease the Zabis.
>>
>>5422496
You know what? I'm going to support this vote instead
>>5422450
But I still want to mention that if we do eventually run, we need to get new identities and fake our deaths
And to try to stop Casval from going too far.
>>5422496
Let me add this
>"Remember what you said about Diego, vengeance is a powerful poison"
>>
>>5422500
>And to try to stop Casval from going too far.
Supporting. This is something we have to deal with soon. Well, that and telling Sayla that mom is probably dead.
>>
>>5422450
>>5422491
>>5422500
Writing.
>>
“We shouldn’t do anything drastic. We don’t know if Jimba has been found out yet, or by who. If we do anything too strange it might clue the Zabis into what happened,” You say, moving on from the unpleasant idea of essentially sacrificing Jimba, “But if we do anything, it has to be done discreetly.”

“I’m glad we’re in accord then, Maxime.” Édouard agrees, smiling mischievously, “Subtlety will be key, but that still leaves the matter of what to do.”

“We should prepare for a few possibilities,” “If we have to leave we’ll need fake identities and to fake our deaths.”

“Fake our deaths?” Édouard asks, saying the words slowly, carefully, as if he was considering something quite profound for the first time, “That just might work…”

Sayla sits up at the suggestion, looking a bit distressed, “What happened to not doing anything drastic? Everyone we know is around here, I can’t stand the thought of just letting them all think we’re dead…”

“It’s just something to be ready for if things look like they’re about to go badly, Sayla” You explain, trying to choose your words carefully, “I don’t want to hurt anyone here either, but faking our deaths is better than actually d-”

“No, I get it. Obviously it’s better than… that.” She says, avoiding saying the word aloud, “It’s just risky, I don’t like how uncertain it is. What if we failed to change identities? They’d never let us go again.”

“Mm. That’s probably not wrong, but we're looking at a lot of options that might lead to that.” You admit, glad that she has an understanding of the stakes, “Regardless, I just wanted to get the idea across to both of you.”

“It’s good to talk like this.” Sayla says, before suddenly trailing off, blinking a few times and her face twisting up in discomfort, “I…”

“Sayla, are you alright?” You ask quickly, leaning forward to try to get a closer look. She’s sweating a little, probably just nerves.

“I’m… fine, I think. You were saying?” She replies after a moment’s hesitation.

“Are you sure?” Édouard asks, sounding concerned.

“...Yeah, it’s just a little hot in here. I think I’ll go outside for a while when we’re done...” Sayla says uncertainly, “Just in the courtyard, not outside outside. I won’t leave sight of the guards.”

“Alright, I might join you.” You offer, “But speaking of the guards, that does bring up increasing security. Édouard, any thoughts on what to do?”
>>
>>5422568

Édouard nods, “We probably shouldn’t add many more guards, there’s no telling if there are still spies watching us - but we both need to be ready, we shouldn't be unarmed."

“...That will depend on how Teabolo wants to handle things, a lot of this is up to him.” You say, hoping that your adoptive father doesn’t get as adamant about things as he did when Jimba was contacting Anaheim; this is a lot worse than that.

“I’ll go and speak with him now.” Édouard says, standing from his seat, “He’s probably still berating Jimba.”

>Go with Sayla to the courtyard. Something seems off about her right now.
>”Let's both go, Édouard. We’ll tell you what happens, Sayla.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5422569
>Go with Sayla to the courtyard. Something seems off about her right now.
>>
>>5422569
>"You did well last time, and Teabolo probably still doesn't want me and sister to hear this kind of talk. Good luck brother."
>Go with Sayla to the courtyard. Something seems off about her right now.
>>
>>5422569
>Go with Sayla to the courtyard. Something seems off about her right now.
Sayla's starting to realize mom is super dead, isn't she?
>>
>>5422569
>Go with Sayla to the courtyard. Something seems off about her right now.
>>
>>5422571
>>5422572
>>5422575
>>5422580
Writing.
>>
You wish your brother luck as he departs, and then leave the drawing room yourself and head to the courtyard with Sayla. The stone corridors of your home are cold, and though it isn’t normally too much of a discomfort it’s impossible not to notice; especially in the middle of January. Sayla doesn’t talk as you walk along.

As you reach the courtyard, the guards and staff still moving about here and there, Sayla sighs in relief.

“Oh, that’s better…” She says, closing her eyes and looking upward for a moment as a chill breeze blows through the open gate.

“Are you feeling alright, Sayla?” You ask.

She doesn’t answer for a few seconds, just enjoying the feeling of the cool air before a wave of discomfort seems to wash over her again.

“...I’m not sure.” She says, her voice unsteady, “It feels like I’m… It’s hard to focus.”

“Huh?” You say, wondering if she might be sick, “Hold still for a moment.”

It doesn’t really sound like a fever, but you reach out and check anyways, placing a hand against her forehead. It’s warm, very warm. Your brow furrows in worry.

“I think you might have a fever.” You say, pulling your hand away, “Sayla, did this just start?”

“I was feeling a little weird earlier this morning but by lunch I thought it was gone… It just started getting a lot worse a few minutes ago.” She says almost drearily, blinking a few times.

“Have you been around any sick people in the camp?”

“I don’t think so… A few people were coughing, but it wasn’t anything too serious.” She answers, “Actually… There were a few new people, from further south.”

“New people?” You question.

“Yeah.” She answers weakly, “They came in two days ago, you were with Jimba…”

“We should go back inside, I’ll have one of the guards call a doctor.” You say, steadying your sister as she seems to wobble for a moment. For a second it looks like she’s about to fall over, but she manages to recover with your help.

“But it feels better out here…” She complains, but doesn’t resist as you help her back into the house; you call over one of the guards and tell them to send for a doctor from the camp. There can be some nasty stuff passed around down there, and one of Georgi’s people will be the most familiar with it.
>>
>>5422638

A few hours later.

The doctor from the camp arrived quickly and examined your sister, and he seemed to think that she might have caught 'sahara fever.' He explained that it’s a quite serious but uncommon disease spread by a species of invasive flea, and recovery usually takes a couple of weeks. You’ve heard stories about it before though, very bad ones, and know that it can be fatal if not quickly treated. Sayla is still only showing early symptoms, so she’s likely to make a full recovery; the doctor will be returning soon with medicine and other equipment. There was a bit of an initial rush about the villa to clean things, but it’s very unlikely anyone else will get sick.

Sayla is asleep in her bed, just in front of you and Édouard, tucked in under some light sheets and looking very pale. You’ve both stayed to keep watch over her, and to discuss Édouard’s meeting with Teabolo.

“We won’t be leaving.” Édouard says in a low voice, not wanting to wake your sister, “Teabolo thinks that laying low is the best plan for now.”

“It makes sense. We don’t know if they’ve traced anything to Jimba…” You say, frowning slightly, “What’s going to happen to Jimba?”

“Teabolo isn’t going to turn him in,” Édouard explains, “But he’s practically under house arrest now. We talked about sending him away, but he could make all sorts of promises and deals once he’s out of our sight - Claim to have influence over us; it’s too risky.”

“Did you talk about preparing fake identities?” You ask.

“He didn’t like the idea, insisted it wasn’t necessary and that he could keep us safe. We’ll need to figure things out on our own. Hopefully we have some time, I’m sure where to even start on that.”

“He might still change his mind.” You say.

“Maybe. There is something we can do about our own security though…” Your brother says, his blue eyes gleaming briefly in the light shining through the bedroom window. He reaches into his jacket, producing a small handgun which he hands over to you, and another for himself.

“Oh.” You say, surprised by the weapons, “Did you take these from the guards?”

“Unused spares, I got them from the back of the arms locker.” He answers, “No one saw. You should keep it safe and hidden.”

“So what, we’ll just gun down Zabi assassins as they break in through the windows?” You ask a bit incredulously, “The guards are a lot better with them than us…”

“Most of them are worse shots.” He says with a smirk, though his tone is entirely serious, “But no, I wasn’t planning to rush any assassins head-on if that’s what you’re asking. It’s for emergencies only. Guards might not always be around; we’re old enough to take care of ourselves and Sayla if we have to.”

>”You’re right, but be careful, alright? We’re not invincible.” Take the small handgun.
>”Édouard, you should put those back.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5422641
>>”You’re right, but be careful, alright? We’re not invincible.” Take the small handgun.
Real shit. The only people we can rely on are ourselves.
>>
>>5422641
>”You’re right, but be careful, alright? We’re not invincible.” Take the small handgun.
>"We should train together someday"
Just like our knife, it's for the worst case scenario.
>>
>>5422641
>”You’re right, but be careful, alright? We’re not invincible.” Take the small handgun.
>>
>>5422641
>>5422647 +1
>>
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>>5422641
>>”You’re right, but be careful, alright? We’re not invincible.” Take the small handgun.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
>>
>>5422646
>>5422647
>>5422657
>>5422661
>>5422662
Writing.
>>
You take the small black handgun from your brother, looking it over carefully; it’s a compact and stubbier looking variant of the M71 used by the Federation military. Simple, reliable, decent capacity - You’ve shot identical pistols a few times at the quarry, but they were always a bit too snappy to really enjoy. It’s on safe and loaded, the chamber indicator lifted just a hair from the top of the slide; there’s one in the chamber.

“You’re right, but be careful, alright? We’re not invincible.” You say, setting the handgun down on the nearby desk after you finish inspecting it, “We should train together more often.”

“We’ll be fine,” Édouard replies confidently, “And we will. I’m going to try and get holsters for us both later tonight.”

“That’d be good,” You answer, laughing a bit, “I’d rather not shoot myself trying to carry this thing in my pocket...”

Just before sunset, a few days later.

Sayla has gotten worse, but the doctors have reassured everyone that it’s just the normal course of the disease and that she’s likely almost through the worst of it. You’ve spent most of the last few days keeping her company, reading books with her like you used to, and Édouard has been there most of the time as well.

With no Zabi or Federation attacks materializing, the tension is still thick across the villa as everyone waits for something, anything, to happen. You and Édouard have taken the opportunity to continue training when you aren’t keeping Sayla company. The training is more intense now, more fencing and trips to the quarry; Teabolo has noticed the increased pace but hasn’t interfered - he isn’t aware of the guns hidden in your rooms. Jimba is essentially locked in the tower now, you’ve only visited once. He barely spoke at all.

Where are you currently?

>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.
>You’re keeping Sayla company at the villa. Elena came to drop off some medicine but has stayed to visit for a bit.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5422698
>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.
We probably need to take at least one of the training options, the is a war coming.
>>
>>5422698
>You’re keeping Sayla company at the villa. Elena came to drop off some medicine but has stayed to visit for a bit.
We can train later with Casval when we go to the Military Academy , little sis needs us. Also, we finally get to talk to Elena.

>Jimba is essentially locked in the tower now, you’ve only visited once. He barely spoke at all.
Now I feel bad. Maybe we should try and visit sometime soon? Don't want him an heroing.
>>
>>5422698
>You’re keeping Sayla company at the villa. Elena came to drop off some medicine but has stayed to visit for a bit.
Another hard decision

>>5422703
an heroing?
>>
>>5422702
Actually, maybe the background training will be enough, changing to
>You’re keeping Sayla company at the villa. Elena came to drop off some medicine but has stayed to visit for a bit.
We haven't interacted with Elena and probably will lose the chance soon, when shit inevitably hits the fan
>>
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>>5422698
>>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.
Time to start getting pretty gud.
>>
>>5422704
Kill himself
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/an_hero
It's an old meme
>>
>>5422704
committing suicide
>>
>You’re keeping Sayla company at the villa. Elena came to drop off some medicine but has stayed to visit for a bit.
>>
>>5422698
>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.

We need to spend more time with Char now. We've spent the past while spending time with Sayla, we should give big brother some attention as well. Being an emotional anchor won't be possible if we're never there for him.
>>
>>5422698
>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.
Time to bind with our bro.
>>
>>5422698
>>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.
We've spent basically no time with Cas
>>
>>5422698
>>You’re finishing up practicing shooting at the quarry with Édouard. You've been at if for a few hours, putting a lot of trigger time in on one of the guard's compact M71 pistols. It's functionally identical to your hidden one.
>>
Back from a long phone call.

>>5422703
>>5422704
>>5422705
>>5422736
Sayla.

>>5422706
>>5422748
>>5422788
>>5422797
>>5422808
Édouard. Wins by one, writing.

>>5422706
Six bullets. More than enough to kill anything that moves.
>>
I just had an awful thought. What if Sayla is being poisoned, and the doctor is a Zabi spy? Maybe this is how they are trying to get us.
>>
>>5422866
This is a shadowrunny as fuck quest, but this is just silly. Do you really think either Teabolo OR Jimba would let anyone that hasn't been vetted down to their goddamn bloodtype anywhere near a sick Sayla?
>>
>>5422871
Yeah, you're right. I'm just being paranoid.
>>
>>5422875
You aren't the only person having Dune flashbacks
>>
>>5422875
Paranoia is healthy in moments like this, but you should make sure not to let it get away from you or you'll end up like Jimba or late UC Char.
>>
>>5422866
Jambi relax, Its okay. my drugs are rooting out the Zabi nanomachines inside her womb.
>>
>>5422881
Don't worry, the doctor has undergone imperial conditioning; he's incapable of betrayal.
>>
You inhale, focusing on the tan and gray boulder a few meters ahead of you, a compact M71 pistol laying atop it alongside a spare magazine. The sun is low enough now that much of the quarry is in deep shadow, the last rays of light reflecting faintly off specks of blue quartz speckled here and there among the old stones. You exhale, glancing over the course; three firing positions, five sets of paper targets - Not complicated, but it’s a new setup. The smell of burnt gunpowder is thick in the air, even with the cold wind blowing through, and spent brass is strewn about in the dirt.

“Ready, Maxime?” Your brother asks from just behind you, his voice muffled slightly by your hearing protection.

“Ready.” You answer.

The buzzer beeps, and you’re off like a lightning bolt toward the first firing position, sweeping up the stubby handgun in a tight two handed grip and taking a kneeling position behind the boulder. The first set of black silhouette targets isn’t far, just five meters - practically spitting distance - and you line up your sights.

Thunder cracks once, twice, and then again, three little holes appearing in a tight pattern on the target’s chest - there’s no time to appreciate it, shifting onto the next target almost immediately. You repeat the trick, managing to keep a decent enough sight picture with the snappy little gun even as it bucks and recoils in your hands. Another six shots and the last two targets are finished off. You thumb the magazine release, the empty ejecting positively and striking the ground, but you fumble for a moment as you don’t line the fresh magazine up quite right - a tiny adjustment to the right and it slides in, seating with a satisfying positive click.

Another short run and you’re off to the next firing position, an old rusted metal barrel left behind by the company that used to operate the quarry, the concussion and sound of your gunfire reverberating within the empty barrel as you open up on a new set of targets…
>>
>>5422882
Don't worry, I know better than to blame the Zabis for everything bad happening.

>>5422891
but are they purging the brain worms dormant in her eyes sent by Zabi-newtype neurotoxin psychic mind control?
>>
>>5422914

Several magazines later and the makeshift course is complete. Édouard shows you the stopwatch, your time displayed on it; slower than your brother’s run by a few seconds - A great first time, normally he has a larger lead.

“You’re improving a lot, Maxime.” Édouard says approvingly.

“Could use some more practice reloading,” Jones, one of the guards who’s with you, notes, “But that was a damned fine run for a kid.”

You smile, appreciating the praise.

Jones is usually the guard that takes you and Édouard to go shooting. He’s a retired Federation special forces operator, and looks the part - short cropped salt and pepper hair, a strong well defined face, and steely brown eyes - He’s the sort of person the Feddies would love to put on a recruitment poster if he was fifteen years younger. These days he has a bit of a gut, and the wrinkles and creases on his face betray the fact that he has to be well into middle age despite his otherwise good looks. He doesn’t talk about his past much - you know he did some ‘work’ in Africa - but he’s been invaluable in teaching you and your brother how to do something more practical than basic target shooting.

“I bet I can shave that time down a lot,” You say, “How many rounds do we have left?”

“Plenty of ammo, light’s a problem though.” Jones says, “Don Teabolo expects you both back before dark. We should start packing things up.”

“We have time for one more run. I’ll be fast.” Your brother states matter-of-factly.

“We can swing that.” Jones says, already starting to move to reset the course.

A few more magazines later.

Jones lets out a low whistle as he checks the time, obviously impressed.

“You should really consider competition, Édouard.” Jones remarks, “You as well, Maxime.”

“Oh come on, you know we can’t do that.” You reply, to which Jones simply shrugs.

“Wear sunglasses or something, use a fake name. It isn’t that hard.” He replies jokingly.

You roll your eyes at the idea, that’s just ridiculous.

>Clean up and take the car back to the villa, it really is getting late.
>Try to beat your brother’s time. This is really pushing things, there isn’t much light left. It’ll be very hard.
>”Sunglasses? You can’t be serious, that would never work.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5422917
>Clean up and take the car back to the villa, it really is getting late.
>>
>>5422917
>Clean up and take the car back to the villa, it really is getting late.
We can take some time talking with Casval this way.
>>
>>5422917
>Clean up and take the car back to the villa, it really is getting late.
>>
>>5422917
>Clean up and take the car back to the villa, it really is getting late.
Make small talk with Char. Only talking about big things like the future of Zeon and Felix's Counter-Attack isn't conducive to a healthy mental state.
>>
>>5422917
>”Sunglasses? You can’t be serious, that would never work.”
>>
>>5422917
>Clean up and take the car back to the villa, it really is getting late.
>"Why sunglasses instead of contact lenses? Also dyeing your hair."
>>
>>5422920
>>5422921
>>5422923
>>5422924
>>5422933
Writing.
>>
>Elena option actually lost
wtf people, are we ever going to meet her?
>>
>>5422959
Well, she was home and we are going back, so we can still talk to her this next update if another important plot point doesn't distract us.
So we are never meeting her properly
>>
>>5422959
No. This a Haman quest.
>>
>>5422959
At the rate we're going, probably never. It's a shame too, since we could've convinced her to keep in touch with us and talk about what's happening in the Federation.
>>
>>5423001
Hopefully we still can. I'd say we're likely to still be here for now.
>>
You spend the next few minutes packing things up, done with shooting for the day. While loading the boxes of gear into the trunk of the black car which drove you here, you find your attention drawn to something far off in the clouds to the west - The final rays of daylight are casting the sky in beautiful fiery hues, and you squint as you try to discern the whatever if was that you saw. You could have sworn something was there at the edge of your vision, some presence, but nothing emerges from clouds.

“Here’s the last box.” Your brother says, snapping your attention back to the business at hand; you take it silently and load it into the back, shutting the trunk closed with one hand and then heading to get in the back seat behind the driver, Jones. Édouard gets in from the other side, looking quite satisfied.

“You really enjoy this, don’t you?” You ask your brother as the car begins to pull away from the quarry, the world outside passing by in the windows.

“Of course I do.” He says, leaning back against his seat and folding his arms, “I’m glad you’ve been coming more often, Maxime.”

“We should find other things to do as well, I think.” You say idly, “Fencing and shooting are great and all, but when was the last time we just did something to have fun?”

“You don’t find it fun?” He asks.

“You know what I mean, Édouard.”

He smirks, “Maybe I do. I enjoy our conversations with Sayla.”

“Sure, but besides that.” You say.

“...I suppose it would have been before this all started. On Munzo.” Édouard says after taking a moment to think, “Do you remember horse riding with Ramba? In the park.”

“Vaguely, I think.” “Didn’t… didn’t you get thrown off?”

“I tried to get it to hop a little creek, the one by that statue of the Laplace station.” He says, the memory slowly growing clearer in your mind, “I almost broke my arm, mother was worried sick.”

“Ha, I remember that!.” “We should really do other things, once this all settles down.”

“Settles down?” He asks, his eyes narrowing.

“Y’know, if we go a few more weeks and nothing happens.” You say, shrugging, “Maybe we can try some of that competition shooting. Jones, what was it you said about sunglasses?”

“Surprisingly good disguise!” Jones replies from the driver’s seat, sounding a bit amused, “Used to get a lot of work in the area around Dakar - I’ll spare you the gory details - and we had to go in as tourists a couple of times. Sunglasses and Hawaiian shirts, fake names, maybe a wig or some hair dye; throw in some half decent fake IDs and nobody ever recognized us twice. Hiding among strangers is easy - most people don’t pay much attention to who’s around them even if they’ve seen you before a few times.”

“And what about the people who pay attention?” Your brother asks.

“You deal with them as they come up.” Jones answers, his tone suddenly much more serious.
>>
>>5423011

A few minutes later.

The car pulls up outside of the villa, and you’re dropped off by the main gate to the courtyard as Jones takes the car further around to park. The guards up front greet you, and you and Édouard nod to them in acknowledgement as they let you in. The interior of the courtyard is quiet, more or less back to normal after the hubbub of a few days ago; the permanent changes to security are fairly subtle, mostly in the form of changes to guard shifts and readier access weapons, but there’s are also a few more guards stationed about the villa at all times - probably not enough to raise serious suspicion from an outside observer.

You’re surprised to see Elena nearby, she’s wearing a light green jacket and leaning against one of the pillars of the loggia while reading a small book. She peers up from it, quickly adjusting her long red hair with one hand before giving a small wave, “Max, Édouard, there you are!”

“Hey, Elena! Been waiting for a while?” You ask, walking over to her, with your brother close behind.

“About three chapters,” She says, closing the book, “Where have you two been?”

“Doing some brotherly bonding.” Édouard says, keeping it vague, only slowly for a moment to speak before carrying on past Elena, “I’m going to check on Sayla; you two have fun.”

“Warm greeting as always, Édouard.” She says just a little sarcastically before turning to you, raising an eyebrow, “Is he always like that?”

“Not always,” You shrug, having a pretty good idea what your brother’s doing here, “Sometimes he’s worse.”

Elena smirks amusedly, shaking her head, “I know he means well. I was actually just here to drop off some medicine for Sayla and thought I’d stick around to say hi.”

“Thanks for that, she's been having a really hard time..." You say, genuinely glad for the help, "Three chapters just to say hi though? Must be a good book.”

“Pff, you k-know it.” She says, shivering a little, “I’d say it was worth the wait. Thought you'd be b-back a little sooner though.”

>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”
>”So, what’s the book?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5423011
>All those missing descriptions
Fuck it, just going to leave the errors in this time.

>>5423000
Top tier taste.
>>
>>5423012
>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”
Finally, a chance to talk to her without worrying about something
>>
>>5423012
>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”
The book sounds like a good conversation topic over the hot chocolate, but she should get warm first.

thank you qm
>>
>>5423016
for what it's worth, I didn't notice anything off with the update
>>
>>5423000
>Not going for Vivima so we can get infinite clean energy from Jimba's grave.
>>
>>5423012
>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”


>>5423017
>without worrying about something
There is a slight chance that something will come up with the next update that will cut short our downtime.
>>
>>5423012
>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”
Nice, the perfect chance to speak with Elena.

>>5423011
>you find your attention drawn to something far off in the clouds to the west
>You could have sworn something was there at the edge of your vision, some presence, but nothing emerges from clouds.
This couldn't be a prototype could it?
>>
>>5423027
Shit, now that you mention it something could definitely happen to interrupt us, Felix caught a glimpse of something. Hopefully it was just a drone or plane or something?
>>
>>5423012
>”So, what’s the book?”

reject her, Embrace other waifus.
>>
>>5423012
>>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”
>>
>>5423024
>>5423032
I'm down for other waifus, but having someone federation side on good terms with us isn't the worst idea.
>>
>>5423030
It's Zabi spy satellite Jimba warned us about, they armed it!
>>
>>5423024
>Condemning our future children to being half Zabi
>>
>>5423043
The Deikun half will either neutralize the evil or multiply it.
>>
>>5423012
>”Come on, let’s talk inside. We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”
>>
>>5423017
>>5423020
>>5423027
>>5423029
>>5423034
>>5423067
Looks like we have a clear winner. I'll start writing here in a bit.
>>
>>5423077
My goodness QM, when do you sleep? Is it just me or are these updates coming out constantly? I'm often missing votes because of sleep and general life even though I try to check in often.
This is a good problem though, you can keep this up
>>
>>5423086
He is a Newtype, his powerlevel is above us normal humans.
>>
>>5423091
lmao, guess so
>>
>>5423086
The soul of the NEET is no slave to gravity. Or sleep, which I figure is a kind of gravity anyways. Fuck gravity.
>>
“Come on, let’s talk inside.” You offer, “We’ve got some great hot chocolate, you’ll love it.”

“H-hot chocolate?” She asks, still shivering, “God, that sounds fantastic.”

You smile, and lead her inside and out of the cold.

A few minutes later.

You’re sitting next to one another on a sofa in the drawing room, steaming hot cups of hot chocolate sitting on the elegantly carved wooden table in front of you. Despite having been to the villa a few times before it occurs to you that Elena probably hasn’t ever been in this room before, and she seems to be more than a little distracted by the almost palatial opulence of it.

“This room is gorgeous, Max.” Elena says, taking a little test sip of her drink as she looks around curiously - she sets it back down carefully, probably still too hot to drink.

“Surprised?” You ask, your own mug going untouched for now.

“Maybe a little.” She says coyly, “The rest of your home is so dire, I didn’t realize it had such beautiful things in it too.”

“I can’t believe it’s taken this long for one of us to show you around; there’s all sorts of beautiful things around here if you know where to look,” You say, meeting her gaze for a moment, “The eastern tower has an amazing view, sunsets are unbelievable from up there.”

“Figure’s I’d miss out on that.” She says, her cheeks reddening a bit, “Could you show me some time?”

“Any time,” You offer, “The view’s great at night too - it’s clear enough that you can even see the Sides sometimes.”

“The colonies?” She asks, “I’ve always wanted to go to space, visit Von Braun and Zum City; you know, just go and see the sights. Have you ever been to space?”

>”I’m actually from Side Three, if you’d believe it. Born in Zum City; it used to be a nice place.” More or less the truth.
>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’ll be dark enough to see the stars soon.” Avoid the question, shift the subject.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5423086
I'm in law school, my sleep schedule is a disaster a lot of the time.
>>
>>5423185
>>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
>>5423189
Ganbatte anon. I'm taking the LSAT myself
>>
>>5423185
>>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
>>
>>5423185
>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
She'll find out the truth eventually. Now's the time to actually have an actual conversation with her.

>>5423189
Don't overwork yourself, QM!
>>
>>5423185
>>5423263
Actually, scratch that. Changing my vote to
”I’m actually from Side Three, if you’d believe it. Born in Zum City; it used to be a nice place.” More or less the truth.
All this affects her as well, she deserves to know at least a bit of what's happening. Besides, it shows that we trust her. I just hope she doesn't start talking about this to other people.
>>
>>5423185
>”I’m actually from Side Three, if you’d believe it. Born in Zum City; it used to be a nice place.” More or less the truth.

Half-truths hide lies really well. If she digs into why we had to leave, say that we got spooked off by the restructuring the Zabis did after taking charge.
>>
>>5423185
>>”I’m actually from Side Three, if you’d believe it. Born in Zum City; it used to be a nice place.” More or less the truth.
>>
>>5423185
>>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
>>
>>5423196
>>5423199
>>5423302
Nod.

>>5423266
>>5423275
>>5423298
Side Three.

I'll give it thirty minutes and then roll off if there still isn't a winner.

>>5423196
Good luck! Doing loads of practice tests from previous years helps a ton.
>>
>>5423185
>”I’m actually from Side Three, if you’d believe it. Born in Zum City; it used to be a nice place.” More or less the truth.
There's a lot of room between being from side 3 and being the lost family of Deikun that most people probably think are dead.

Though, if we do go the route of just nodding, I think it would be more elegant to also do the third option to keep the conversation going.
>>
>>5423185
>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.

>>5423189
No wonder you write our insane deranged boy so well.
>>
>>5423306
I'll change my vote to
>>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
>>
>>5423312
I think he's going to wait out the thirty minutes anyways. If you're changing your vote just to move things along, you might as well keep your original if that's what you really want so it has a chance to win with the roll off. But if you actually changed your mind disregard this.
>>
>>5423185
>Just nod. There’s no reason to drag Elena into your family's political drama by accident.
Just woke up
>>5423189
I feel your pain QM, I haven't been sleeping well the past week to get ready for a test
>>
>>5423313
Yeah, I'm going to be waiting out the thirty minutes regardless. Eating breakfast.
>>
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>>5423196
>>5423199
>>5423302
>>5423311
>>5423312
>>5423317
Nod wins. Writing. Post might come a bit late, not sure if I'll be able to get it finished before classes start.
>>
>>5423323
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYyTq51XJfg
>>
You simply nod in response to Elena’s question, not wanting to drag her into your family’s political drama by accident, and try to cover up the lack of candor by taking a sip of your own drink. It’s delicious, but definitely still too hot - you set it back down on the low table.

“Oh, of course you have,” Elena responds, rolling her eyes a little, “...Did you like going?”

“I’d live there if I could, I’m planning to when I’m older,” You answer truthfully, “Seeing all the stars, the whole universe stretched out in front of you… I’ll never forget the first time I saw it. It’s different than looking up from down here.”

“Different?” She asks curiously.

“It’s… hard to explain, but it’s like being able to see clearly for the first time in your life; there’s nothing between you and the rest of everything except for maybe a window.” You try to explain anyways, speaking earnestly, “It just felt more natural, like it was where I belonged.”

“You almost sound like a spacenoid, Max.” Elena teases, meeting your eyes again, “Anything on earth that compares?”

“At least a few things,” You answer, realizing you may have said a bit much, “So you want to visit Luna?”

Her face reddens again as she answers, “Uh, y-yeah, I always have. My mom used to send back pictures when she went on business… I never got to go, but I always liked how Von Braun looked; all the glass overhead, lights reflecting off of it all - I used to try to draw it a lot… It looked terrible, but mom loved it. I’m a bit better at it now.”

“You’re an artist?” You ask, wondering how that hadn’t come up before.

“I’m trying to be, but… it still doesn’t look good; I’m never happy with how it turns out.” She says sheepishly, shrugging a little, “I don’t talk about it much, it’s embarrassing.”

“Oh come on, I bet it’s pretty good,” You say encouragingly, taking another sip - it’s still delicious, and the heat is a tad more tolerable, “What all do you draw?”

“Buildings and landscapes, mostly.” Elena says happily, slowly seeming to loosen up, “I’m terrible at people; you really don’t want to see those - they end up looking like bog monsters unless I spend hours and hours on them.”

You laugh a bit, “Bog monsters?”

“...Alright, maybe not that bad - but the hair always looks wrong.” She admits, finally trying another sip of her drink - her face practically lights up as she drinks it.

“See?” You say, “I knew you’d love it.”

“I really needed this.” She says, closing her eyes as she savors another little sip, setting the mug down by the book she was reading earlier.

>”So what was that book you were reading earlier?”
>”I’d like to see some of your art sometime, if you’re willing to show it.”
>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5423457
>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”
>>
>>5423457
>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”
>>
>>5423457
>”So what was that book you were reading earlier?”
No anons, No Seeg
>>
>>5423457
>>”So what was that book you were reading earlier?”
>>
>>5423457
>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”
I really hope nothing sensual happens at the tower, and I half-regret picking this option already, but I want to see if we can spot whatever it was that we saw when coming over here with Casval.
>>
>>5423475
I hope we have the option for what to do once we get there.
I just want to watch the stars since Felix said he likes it.
>>
>>5423457
>>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”
>>
>>5423457
>”I’d like to see some of your art sometime, if you’re willing to show it.”
>”...Would you like to see the tower? It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”
>>
>>5423479
>talk about space
>watch the stars
>dream of zeon
Yeah, that'd be kino.
>>
>>5423501
Not mutually exclusive with any romantic development, though we might want to wait till we mature more and know her better to do any of that. We could definitely get her contact information though, perhaps when she leaves?
>>
>>5423504
>getting her contact information
Definitely. But if we're going down the friendship/romance path with her then we should prepare to eventually tell her about who we really are, since I doubt we can keep it a secret forever.
>>
>>5423522
Sure, just we should know her better first and see if she has good character and we can trust her before spilling that.
>>
>>5423504
Fuck off, we can find better women. Plus you don't stay dating if you enlist.
>>
>>5423530
>we can find better women
Yeah, like Vivima.
>>
>>5423530
What? What’s wrong with Elena? And wdym you don’t stay dating if you enlist, and how would it be any different from any other woman?
>>
>>5423535
>He doesn't know about enlistment and dating.
SAD! Go talk to a recruiter champ.

>>5423533
Alright that had me chuckle,
>>
>>5423538
>Alright that had me chuckle,
I wasn't joking.
>>
>>5423475
Aren't we like 12? I honestly don't know why some anons are actually choosing to actually tie themselves to the character when this is still effectively the prologue and if anons want to follow Casval, then Elena won't really keep up, I mean Artesia goes her own way as well.
Best to just focus on being the best we can be right now.
>>
>>5423580
No one’s trying to tie Felix to anyone, we’re just getting to know her and keeping the door open.
>>
>>5423580
Felix is a bit over thirteen currently. The ages given earlier in the thread were off by about a year because of a discrepancy between ages in The Origin and the 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series.
>>
>>5423580
Basically what >>5423582 said. And not only that, but we already messed with the canon (Jimba still alive, Teabolo didn't move us to the Texas Colony, Gihren got shot and might die, Vivima Zabi doing whatever she's doing).
>>
>>5423582
Wanting to stay in contact even after the inevitable time to leave Earth is what I mean by tying ourselves to a character, even if it doesn't start with romantic intent, I never trust anons to not succumb to first girl status down the line.
>>
>>5423600
Didn’t she say she wanted to go to space or something? I don’t think it would be too hard for her to be around when we leave. Fair enough on first girl syndrome, but she does seem nice for now, I’m not going to knock her just because she’s the first we meet.
>>
What's the worst that could happen? She carries a torch and then ends up like Frau lmao
>>
>>5423606
>ends up like Frau
Marrying a short guy?
>>
>>5423458
>>5423466
>>5423475
>>5423483
>>5423492
Writing.
>>
“...Would you like to see the tower?” You ask, “It’s probably getting dark enough to see the stars soon.”

“R-right now? …I suppose I might like that.” She answers coyly, her eyes widening a bit in surprise, “You better not have oversold it.”

“Come on, you can see for yourself.” You say, standing up with your drink.

Elena stands very quickly after you, almost spills her hot chocolate, blushes so hard in embarrassment that you think she might just stay red permanently, and then follows along behind you.

A few minutes later.

The view from atop the old eastern tower is every bit the vision of beauty you made it out to be. Under the light of a full moon and a star filled sky you can see rolling plains and rocky hills stretching on for kilometers, ancient farmland with only a few specks of electric lighting here and there piercing through the dark - The only exceptions to which are the camp and compound far beneath you, below the hill the villa sits atop, and the small nearby 'town' which is really more of a village.

The true view, however, is not the landscape but the night sky itself. There are a few clouds, ghostly moonlight illuminating their soft edges, but the sky is largely clear - Countless stars on the inky black of space, stretching out to infinity.

It’s everything you hoped it would be - though the chill winter wind cutting across the top of the tower has been somewhat less accommodating. Elena stands right next to you, quite close, finishing off the last of her hot chocolate in the cold. You've set your own mug on one of the old battlements just in front of you.

“See that glint there, just to the left of the moon?” You ask, pointing up at the sky.

“I think so?” Elena says uncertainly, squinting and moving a little closer to try and see what you’re pointing to more clearly. She smells faintly of cinnamon; it must be a perfume of some kind. It’s nice.

“That’s Side Three.” You explain, “Zum City is up there somewhere.”

“Zum?” Elena asks quizzically, “That tiny speck is Zeon?”

“The entire Side,” You confirm, “It seems small from here, doesn’t it?”

“It’s hard to imagine so many people living up there…” She says in awe, her free hand somehow finding its way to your own. You stand there together for a moment, holding hands and looking up at the night sky - there’s no one here to disturb you.

>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
>”It’s as good as I said, isn’t it?” Turn your attention fully to Elena, she looks beautiful in the moonlight. You hadn’t ever really noticed before now…
>Write-in.

Apologies for the degenerate act.
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
Focus on the grind Anons. GF's are only temporary, killing Zabi and flipping their children is forever.
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
It'd be really funny for Felix to be totally oblivious romantically.
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
I wanted to stargaze, so let's stargaze
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
>But she does look beautiful in the moonlight. You hadn’t ever really noticed before now…
We can appreciate her beauty for now and grow to be close friends, but I don't want to absolutely shut down the Elena route quite yet.

>>5423763
I disagree, that's a tired and annoying trope to read.
>>
>>5423767
>I don't want to absolutely shut down the Elena route quite yet.
I do. We oughta be on that Vivima grindset.

>Captch:SHPWR
Oh no, captcha sees a ship war in the future.
>>
>>5423768
Well, there is going to be a war, and there will be ships in it.
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
We are saving ourselves for Mineva-chan. Why would we make a move on this old hag?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_7NKEDO9o
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
Elena you hand-holding deviant, mom warned me about girls like you.

>>5423767
I doubt this will shut it down (at least not completely), we can always make her the waifu later I mean she's definitely into Maxime.
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.

Reject first girl, Embrace Grindset.
>>
>>5423757
>>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.

>>5423768
Wrong we need to be getting busy grooming children into loving us like a true Deikun.
>>
>>5423776
...old hag?

>>5423783
...I really hope this isn't a theme with Gundam, especially one players actually want to follow

>>5423781
Why not both?
>>
>>5423789
>I really hope this isn't a theme with Gundam
It's not. People like to joke about Char being a groomer because of Quess and Haman, despite those being very one-sided relationships.
>>
>>5423789
Mineva is a little child, daughter of Dozle. She will be born in six years.
Also all the weird pedo sexual tension that I remember in Gundam were from older women, specifically Haman and Kycilia
>>
>>5423791
We will succeed where Char failed.
>>
>>5423791
Wait, Haman was young? Is my memory fucking with me?
Atleast that makes the thing Judau less weird
>>
>>5423798
Haman and Char's relationship back when Char lived on Axis after the end of 0079 was developed upon in Char's Deleted Affair.
>>
>>5423757
>”You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right? Do you see that big dark splotch Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?…” It’s nice to have a friend like Elena.
>>5423798
Haman was in her early 20s in ZZ. Judau was apparently 14.
>>
>>5423789
Because I specifically just stated, Reject first girl? And I'm sure we will encounter a fuck ton other females as we go along.
>>
>>5423804
But why first girl? What makes first girl so bad? Personally I think the idea of a childhood friend growing up together with someone and eventually forming a relationship to be quite nice.
>>
>>5423800
Huh, I never read the Gundam mangas. Now I know, thanks anon.
>>5423801
I was always under the impression she was closer to 30s and Judau was atleast 16.
I must not have payed much attention, or have been remembering wrong.
>>
>>5423805
>Childhood friend
We've known her for like 4-5 tops.
>>
>>5423805
Because she's a childhood friend by the VERY losses sense, When we are from side 3 and she isn't.

Ontop of that, First girl syndrome is a fucking disease and we can find better ones out there.
>>
>>5423797
I'm not letting lolifags ruin another good quest.
>>
>>5423808
For now, yes, I'm saying we can continue to be her friend for longer.

>>5423809
It's not that loose. When we timeskip forward some years, I'd call someone you knew since 13 a childhood friend.

And First Girl Syndrome itself is bad yes, in that people shouldn't hop on First Girl just because they are First Girl, but that doesn't automatically make the first girl bad. There's no reason to shut her down just yet. Could we find others that are better? Sure. But that doesn't mean we should burn a bridge before we even see other options.
>>
>>5423813
First Girl is like a Clutch. If she is nothing without it, then she is nothing with it.

I will vote against this hill as there are better waifus out there and IF we cross paths later maybe if we haven't locked into something better.
>>
We have to remember we're also what amounts to nobility. When we marry we're going to need to marry someone that can get us allies to help our family regain their position as head of Munzo.
>>
>>5423817
Which is why we should marry Vivima after killing Degwin and Gihren.
>>
>>5423818
Would you really want to marry the child of the family who murdered your father and hunted you in your childhood? We're better off marrying someone else who could give us allies against the Zabis.
>>
>>5423818
NO. It's either Sayla or Mineva.
>>
>>5423820
>Whomst better to kill a Zabi then your wife that IS a zabi


Zabi hands are in my meat suit.
>>
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>>5423761
>>5423763
>>5423764
>>5423767
>>5423776
>>5423779
>>5423781
>>5423783
>>5423801
Friend zone grenade!

This discussion has been fucking hilarious to watch.
>>
>>5423815
We don't know if that's her only "upside", she probably has others as well. Sure we can delay committing to a relationship for now, I'm just saying don't burn the bridge.

>>5423818
Unless Vivima is an excellent character that is willing to actively work against her family, I really think she isn't a great idea.

>>5423820
I wonder how many options we have that would be actually good political allies. It's certainly something to consider, but remember we're not an only child, we don't all need to marry for politics.
>>
>>5423820
>Would you really want to marry the child of the family who murdered your father and hunted you in your childhood?
Yes? The best vengeance is cucking Degwin out of his control of Zeon by fucking his daughter.
>>
>>5423829
Well, she didn't confess or anything. I'd hope this isn't a lock on "rejecting" her. We barely had any chance to meet her or get to know her, it'd kind of suck to be locked out at this point.
>>
>>5423820
>Would you really want to marry the child of the family who murdered your father and hunted you in your childhood?
Yes. The ultimate revenge if you think about it. Make her fall madly in love with Felix to the point she'd choose him over the Zabis, then forever taint the Zabi bloodline with Deikun seed. Especially when Zabis start dropping like flies.
But more seriously, we should really stop waifufagging this early when we only know 2 girls and one of them is our younger sister. Need to meet more girls before we start increasing social links damn it.
>>
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>>5423829
It sucks, but this is waifu war, after all!
>>
>>5423829
The fa/tg/uy guard still remembers the old days, I'll be damned if I let these whipper snappers get it so easily!

>>5423830
I'll burn EVERY bridge I want too anon, You don't control the whims of the Gas. only the colonies big fans!
>>
>>5423833
This is like the first time we really talked to her, it felt weird to go the love right of the bat.
We can come back and choose one when we are a PTSD scarred veteran from the first Zeon war.
>>
>>5423829
I just want a woman who will love us for who we are, be there in our ups and downs, make hella grilled cheese sandwiches, and hold hands with us
>>
>>5423837
>only the colonies big fans!
We're on earth.
>>
>>5423841
This anon is true spacenoid and newtype, he follows Zeon Zum Deikon's dream.
>>
>>5423841
Well, Elena's looking like a good candidate for at least one out of three of those. Hopefully she sticks around after we don't immediately get into a relationship with her so we can get to know her better.
>>
>>5423846
Your in for a ride about what the Federation does to some Colonies in the future sport.
>>
>>5423829
>This discussion has been fucking hilarious to watch.
And this is just with one girl that we barely know. You should give us more options please not many, that would be awful and character development so we can have actual meaningful discussion.
>>
>>5423835
Who needs to wait when we all already know who best girl is?
>>
>>5423852
This is fight already fought in Shadows of Zeon, back in, like, 2016. FUCK THE OLD PUSSY NEW PUSSY ONLY.
>>
>>5423850
I wonder which side of the Felixbowl will commit warcrimes first.
>>
>>5423855
Yeah and guess what who needs new pussy when best pussy still exists?
>>
>>5423857
True, true. Cima Garahau is still technically on the table.
>>
>>5423860
>Cima
Shit tier taste anon.
>>
>>5423856
Probably the Vivima people, damn Zabis.
>>
>>5423857
Lucifer!
>>
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>>5423861
>>
>>5423852
I have recently learned that she hasn't even been born yet, so I must not side with you, cultured gentleman.
>>
>>5423836
Kek. I wasn't ready for sleggar posting.

Update will be in a bit, haven't been able to start writing yet.
>>
>>5423867
Looking at the dates we're about 7 years older than her if we're just a single year younger than Char.
>>
>>5423867
While that sounds cursed.

"Time to groom the ultimate wife?" - Our brother maybe?
>>
>>5423855
Ok, I didn't play that quest, but checking the archives it seems that there were two waifus with Haman being one?
I hope we don't even try that shit here, old dad did it and look at all that mess he left behind
>>
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>>5423876
>there were two waifus
>two
We fucked nearly every (living) woman in the UC in SoZ. It got so bad that the QM hasn't done an in-depth romance subplot or male PC since.
>>
>>5423879
>We fucked nearly every (living) woman in the UC in SoZ.
Ah... I understand the restraint to Elena now. Hopefully it wasn't so traumatic that we never commit to anyone.
>>
>>5423879
Jesus Christ, I just checked the last thread I could find and saw something about Haman visiting for family time and Carrina expecting, I didn't think it would be that bad.
>>
>>5423880
>>5423881
It was a nightmare. No one was happy, least of all the QM.
>>
>>5423879
This is why we need to limit ourselves strictly. To little girls.
>>
>>5423889
Save us QM. The autism is getting too strong.
>>
>>5423879
Guess not every pilot can be like Roarke Starwind.
>>
>>5423872
Huh, I just looked at the wiki and you are right, she was born in 67, and Casval in 59.
>>
>>5423892
That was the heavily eighties themed one with the David Bowie references right?
>>
>>5423895
Yeah, the protagonist of Mecha Space Pirate Quest.
>>
>>5423891
I'm never going to write pedo shit, don't worry.

>>5423894
Casval was born in 0057 for our purposes; we're following The Origin for ages when they're available. This is mostly inconsequential but gives a bit more room before the OYW or an equivalent kicks off. I think the biggest age increase is Bright going from 19 to 25.
>>
>>5423892
Oh god that quest was shitpost hell and was the one that got me into questing
I stopped following right before the tournament started, could bear it anymore, the harem management and constant perspective switching was getting really annoying when I just wanted to go on pirate adventures beating up Jovian and Avalonians
>>
>>5423900
The tournament was a massive mistake, even Wong admits so. The entire point of it was to poach aces from all the other factions since we needed more of them. It wasn't really about namefags getting themselves over.
>>
>>5423901
Eh, it was more like the last straw that broke the camel's back for me.
Anyway, let's stop talking about other quests, we can always shitpost about Gundam memes instead
>>
Zaku best waifu anyway
>>
“You said you wanted to go to Von Braun, right?” You ask, enjoying Elena’s company atop the tower, “Do you see that big dark splotch on Luna, just a bit to the right and above the middle?”

“Is that where it is? I can’t see anything.” She says, squinting again as she peers up at the moon.

“That whole area is the sea of tranquility; You can’t see Von Braun usually, but if you wait for a bit and look really closely, sometimes they fire all of the…” You trail off as you spot what you’re looking for.

A tiny, almost infinitesimally small red speck appears for maybe fifteen seconds and then vanishes.

“Did you see it, Elena?” You ask, hoping she caught it; it’s easy to miss even if you know what to look for, and her eyesight might be worse than yours.

“The red thing?” She asks, apparently having pretty good eyes as well, “Is that the city?”

“Not quite, it’s the-” You start to explain but get cut off.

“The lasers!” She says excitedly, pulling a bit away from you, “Oh, I remember now, mom always talked about them but she couldn’t ever get a decent photo.”

“She went to Von Braun a lot, right?” You say. You haven’t ever met Elena’s mother, but you’ve seen a photo in Georgi’s office; she’s a pretty woman, but the picture struck you as very… dour looking.

Elena nods, “Mhm, she contracted with Anaheim for a few years, did engineer stuff. She’s in Brazil right now for something, she can’t talk about it much but she sends back pictures of the amazon sometimes.”

“Can’t talk about it?” You question, feeling like you’re missing something important here.

“Well it’s classified, or top secret, maybe - whatever they call it - she can’t tell us what she’s doing.” Elena continues, still looking out into the night sky, “We don’t get to see her much anymore… It won’t be much longer though, she’s coming back in a few months.”

A feeling of vague unease washes over you once again as you catch a glimpse of something crossing over one of the distant clouds. It’s gone almost as soon as you catch sight of it.

>”It’s hard to have family be so distant. I haven’t been able to see my mother in years…”
>”Has she always been gone so long? I didn’t realize she was an engineer.”
>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5423933
>>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
Her mom's in Jaburo isn't she?
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>>5423933
>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
Felix is getting paranoid. His newtype powers are awakening early, it seems.
>>
>>5423933
>>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
>>
>>5423933
>”It’s hard to have family be so distant. I haven’t been able to see my mother in years…”
>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
You know, if her mom is someone big in Anaheim, that's a pretty darn good political connection right there.
>>
>>5423933
>>”It’s hard to have family be so distant. I haven’t been able to see my mother in years…”
>>”Has she always been gone so long? I didn’t realize she was an engineer.”

Theres no point speaking with her about what we saw. We should leave that talk to brother.
>>
>>5423946
good point, switching to this
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>>5423933
>>5423946 +1
>>
>>5423933
>>5423946
This
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>>5423933
>>5423946
+1
>>
>>5423933
>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
>>
>>5423933
>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
Plot > Heart to heart
>>
>>5424256
get closer to a possible Anaheim connection > try to make her see some kind of ufo that we probably only noticed due to newtype shenanigans
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>>5424296
> possible Anaheim connection
We're trying to take control of Zeon back. Zimmad and Zeonic connections would be more useful in the long run.
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>>5424296
I don't know, mentioning something that was in the update was how we got Jimba to confess.
I want Felix to prepare the villa for the Zabi attack. As in prepare to run away and/or hide.
Sayla is already sick, she might get crippled if we have to move her suddently.
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>>5424300
We don't even know if those connections exist. Continuing the conversation at least helps grow the relationship and helps us know her better so we can know if we want to get with Elena. On the other hand, the "Did you see..." option does literally nothing for us since there's no way she will see this whatever it is probably stealth spy vehicle hiding in the night sky.

>>5424304
We don't know if an attack is coming at all, and looking at this random ufo isn't going to change that. Like the other anon said, there's no point in talking about this with her. Yes, we should talk about this with Eduoard and perhaps others, but no reason to do so with Elena.
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>>5424304
I didn't mean to spoil that.
Here, have some cute zaku girls as an apology.
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>>5424311
Before that thing was in the sky, now it's breaking through the clouds.
Even if Elena doesn't see it, it will force Felix to pay attention to it, so if he is only seeing it through newtype powers, means he might noticed it properly.
I'm not playing around with our family's safety.
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>>5424311
>It does nothing for us
No, it does nothing for her. Just because it doesn't progress a link with a character doesn't mean it doesn't do anything at all. This is the option to investigate what we missed at the quarry.
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>>5423937
>>5423941
>>5423943
>>5424221
>>5424256
Weird flying thing.

>>5423946
>>5423950
>>5423951
>>5423968
>>5424096
Conversation.

Going to give it another half hour and then roll off if there isn't a winner.
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>>5423933
>>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
>>
>>5424346
>deciding vote
>1pbtid
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>>5424350
Yeah, I'm a bit suspicious as well, even if it's supporting my side.
Did you vote already on another ID? If you didn't you could break the tie
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>>5424352
Yes, I did. This is my mobile ID.
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>>5424353
Alright, I appreciate your honesty and unwillingness to samefag.
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>>5424350
>>5424352
I'm suspicious of it too, but I don't have a way to actually prove anything; the quest is still new so I don't want to discourage players who might actually just be voting for the first time. There's a one post ID for the other option as well.

>>5424353
Thank you for being an honest player, anon.

>>5423937
>>5423941
>>5423943
>>5424221
>>5424256
>>5424346
Weird flying thing.

>>5423946
>>5423950
>>5423951
>>5423968
>>5424096
Conversation.

Weird flying thing wins. Writing.
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>>5423933
>>”...Did you see that? There’s something out there.”
Felix, what do your newtype eyes see?
>>
>>5424358
Fair enough, my ID sometimes resets so it can happen to others too, new anons can come in or lurkers can decide to try to break the tie.
>>
“...Did you see that?” You ask, distracted by the odd silhouette you just barely caught sight of, “There’s something out there.”

“...Huh?” Elena asks, a little confused, “What is it?”

“Out there, in the clouds,” You say, pointing toward the thin patch of clouds illuminated by the moonlight, “Something was flying in them, I think…”

Elena tries to follow your gaze, looking to the clouds you’re pointing toward. After a few moments of searching across the night sky she shakes her head, sighing.

“It’s probably just a plane, Max.” She says, squeezing your hand just a bit more tightly and drawing your attention back to her, “...I’ve really enjoyed this.”

“So have I, Elena.” You answer, meeting her eyes, “We should do things like this more often.”

“I could show you my art tomorrow, if you stop by.” She says, looking back to the surrounding landscape, “I might try to draw this…”

“I’d love to see that.” You encourage her, “If you want, you can draw it from up here - it’s not so different on other nights.”

“Maybe… They won’t be this night though,” She says, something subtle shifting in her demeanor as she moves a bit closer to you again. Just how close she’s been this entire time suddenly becomes very, very clear to you - The smell of her perfume, her emerald eyes looking just slightly up to you - It’s impossible to miss this kind of signal. Your heart beats a little faster.

You suspected her intentions earlier, of course, even played along a little, but you’re not sure how to feel about this - It’s nice, thrilling even, there’s no denying that, but you mostly see her as a friend…

Faintly, from far below the tower and off toward the villa’s main gate, you can hear the roar of a powerful engine. That isn’t normal… and that thing in the sky a moment ago… It’s hard to think clearly though, Elena is right there just in front of you.

>”I’m glad we’re friends, Elena.” Move away just a bit. She’s pushing this, not you.
>Go with the moment.
>Write-in.
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>>5424384
>”I’m glad we’re friends, Elena.” Move away just a bit. She’s pushing this, not you.
We gotta save ourselves for Vivima. Don't let this Visigothic hussy distract you.
>>
>>5424384
>Write-in
>"Elena, wait. Did you hear that? It sounded like an engine..."
>"Something's wrong here, we have to warn the others."
>>
>>5424384
>”Elena, I think you’re great, and I appreciate you a lot, but I think we’re both a bit young, and this isn’t a good time besides. This isn’t a ‘no’, it’s a not yet, please understand. By the way, there was a large engine noise close by, and that’s not normal. Something might be going on.”
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>>5424391
>Support +1
Changing my vote to this.
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>>5424384
cmon qm, why you got to make the only two options “hard friend zone” and “start relationship right now”, especially when you drop an imminent danger in our laps? There’s no way you expected the second option to get any support, especially considering recent discussions right? Wtf
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>>5424397
get fucked loser lmao VIVIMACHADS STAY WINNING
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>>5424401
>thinking people will want to go for a Zabi
>especially after you make yourself out to be this obnoxious
Not saying she’s off the table, but Vivima is an uphill battle and these kind of posts don’t help your case.
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>>5424404
God, you're dull. How can you be a 4channer and this vulnerable to some basic bitch weak-ass banter?
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>>5424405
I’m sorry that I don’t like to talk like I’m the age of our protagonist, anon.
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>>5424391
Support, we got to protect our family.
>>
>>5424384
>Write-in.
>spill spaghetti then quickly change the subject to >>5424391
>>
Also, I admit I was wrong and that Felix didn't see shit even when paying extra attention and the heart to heart would have been more useful, unless hearing the engine was because of that winning
Anyway, we got to train more, we could make for a good sniper and/or scout if perception is our newtype power.
>>
>>5424419
Char's a dodgetank, Felix is a dps, and Sayla's a healer. We've got the fucking MMO trifecta.
>>
>>5424391
>>5424394
>>5424410
>>5424417
Writing. Might be a little delayed, I have a class in a bit.
>>
“Elena, wait.” You say, trying to stay clear headed and listen to the distant engine, “Do you hear that? It sounds like an engine…”

She looks at you with a mix of confusion and disappointment, still holding your hand, “...An engine? Why do you care-”

“Something’s wrong, Elena.” You interrupt her, unable to shake that vague feeling that something is wrong, “We have to warn the others.”

You’ve been a bit paranoid the last few days, training more intensely with your brother ever since Jimba’s deception was revealed - and maybe you’re just jumping at ghosts - but you can’t ignore this.

“Warn the others?” Elena asks, even more confused, “Max, what are you talking about?”

A tremendously loud crash resounds from the direction of the gate, distant angry shouting following soon after.

“Max?” Elena asks, her confusion shifting into fear and her grip tightening as she moves to look in the direction of the gate, “What was that?”

A staccato crackle of automatic weapons fire fills the air, loud sharp cracks easily heard from atop the open top of the tower. Instinctively you drop low and behind the old stone battlements of the tower, almost dragging Elena down with you. It doesn’t seem like anyone is shooting at you, the fight must just be in the courtyard.

“Max?!” Elena screams your name, starting to panic, glancing around worriedly as she grips your hand even tighter.

You peer out over the battlement, and catch sight of the dark silhouettes of armed men climbing over a few of the low curtain walls elsewhere in the villa - There are a lot of them, at least a dozen, and it's too dark to make out their uniforms or weapons beyond that they're wearing helmets and have rifles.

“We’re under attack, I don’t know who’s doing it,” You say, your heart beating faster again as the gunfire begins to rapidly intensify. Your brother was with Sayla last you knew, but you have no idea if that's still the case.

>”We need to stay hidden here, we’re safe in the tower. They might not find us.” Hopefully the guards can handle whatever this attack is, you’re far from the fighting right now.
>”We need to get out of this tower, we’re sitting ducks. Come on!” Head down the tower quickly, there’s only one way up and you’ll be cornered if anyone gets this far.
>"Stay here, stay quiet - Don't come out until I'm back; I'm going to see what's going on." Elena is likely a burden, but you might be leaving her in danger alone.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5424454
>”We need to get out of this tower, we’re sitting ducks. Come on!” Head down the tower quickly, there’s only one way up and you’ll be cornered if anyone gets this far.
>An engine might mean some kind of vehicle, I doubt Teabolo's guards will be enough. We need to find my family, flee and then hide.
>Sorry for dragging you into this.
>>
>>5424455
Support
>>
>>5424454
>>5424455
This, but also try to find the gun we have in our room if there's enough time.
>>
>>5424454

>”We need to get out of this tower, we’re sitting ducks. Come on!” Head down the tower quickly, there’s only one way up and you’ll be cornered if anyone gets this far.

Part of me really wants to stay put in this tower, but it is also a trap. Not easy.

>>5424455
I actually think it’s wrong to look for our family, we just need to get out and regroup later. We need to trust our brother to take care of sayla, he’s very capable.
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>>5424458
Don’t we have a gun on our person?
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>>5424459
I'm more worried about Teabolo and Jimba, one is obese and the other is an old man.
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>>5424460
I thought we put them in the car while coming back with Cas and the veteran, we should still have our own gun somewhere in our room.
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>>5424464
I don’t see why we wouldn’t have our gun on us at all times after our talk with our brother.
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>>5424467
That's fair. I was just a bit worried we might've not had one.
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>>5424472
Yeah reading back, we should have a holster now, though it doesn’t explicitly say anything about us carrying. I think it’s safe to assume we are.
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>>5424460
Felix's gun was left hidden in his room while he was out shooting with Casval; the same is true for Casval's gun as well.

>>5424464
Yeah, the guns being shot at the quarry were put back in the car. Felix is currently unarmed.

>>5422698
"Teabolo has noticed the increased pace but hasn't interfered - he isn't aware of the guns hidden in your rooms."

>>5424467
It would be very easy to print and get it spotted by the guards; no one else knows about the guns.

Apologies for the confusion about this point, I definitely could have written it more clearly.
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>>5424454
The real question now is: are these Federation troops? or Zabi assassins?
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>>5424479
Well then, I guess we have empty holsters to defend ourselves with, good thinking kids!

>>5424459
Ammending vote to include grabbing the gun if feasible
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>>5424479
I had a feeling that was the case. I'm also guessing the thing we saw wasn't just an airplane.
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>>5424455
>>5424457
>>5424458
>>5424459
>>5424488
Out of the tower and some write-in additions. Writing.
>>
>>5424454
>>”We need to get out of this tower, we’re sitting ducks. Come on!” Head down the tower quickly, there’s only one way up and you’ll be cornered if anyone gets this far.
We need to head for Sayla, she's still bedridden.
>>
“We need to get out of this tower, we’re sitting ducks. Come one!” You almost yell, pulling an increasingly distraught Elena behind you.

“Oh my god, Max, is that shooting?!” Elena says in a panic, following along behind you down the stairs leading back into the dim interior of the stone tower.

“Yes, it’s shooting, we need to go! Now!” You say hurriedly, not stopping to close the door behind you as you descend, “That engine and crash was probably a vehicle - a big one - the guards probably won’t be enough.”

“...Not enough? Max, what does that mean?” Elena asks, breathing heavily, “w-why are people attacking?”

“That isn’t important right now, Elena!” You say, the sentence punctuated by a fresh round of gunfire echoing distantly through the villa, “They’re here to hurt us, that’s what matters.”

Elena is absolutely terrified, “But why? Oh my god, we’re going to die!”

“We aren’t going to die, just follow my lead and we’ll get out of here, I’ve been in situations like this before… sort of.” You try to reassure her as you reach the bottom of the tower, exiting onto the second story of this part of the villa, memories of battling federation guntanks flashing in your mind’s eye, “We need to find my family, flee, and then find somewhere to hide.”

“You’ve done this before?” Elena asks in shock, following along beside you as you run for your room, footsteps sounding loudly off the wooden floor below; shrieks of terror and shouted orders intersperse muffled gunfire. The fighting hasn’t reached this side of the villa quite yet - there's an even louder noise, an explosion maybe, which shakes dust loose from some of the masonry overhead. Somebody fired something big, or maybe it was a bomb - It's impossible to know from here.

“Sorry for dragging you into this, Elena.” You say, pushing quickly into another hallway and then to the door of your bedroom. Opening it, your hands shaking a little, you then rush to your bookshelf and practically throw one of the rows of books to the ground, snatching up the leather holster the pistol is in and securing it to your belt - it has a couple of spare magazine pouches. Against rifles and who knows how many men it isn’t much protection, but it sure beats out using fists and foul language.

Elena seems to be calming down, though only a little, “Wait, Max, you have a gun?”

“Of course I have a gun!” You answer, not really having time for the question; you draw the pistol and check over it quickly, flicking the safety off with your thumb, “Stay behind me, I’ll keep you safe.”
>>
>>5424557

…Where to now though?

>Directly to Sayla and Édouard! Sayla’s room is in the same tower as Jimba’s, lower down, and closer to the screams and sounds of fighting.
>To Sayla and Édouard, but stop and check for Édouard’s gun in his room; seconds count in this kind of situation, Jones has told stories a few times about how fast things can go to hell in a firefight, but you need to make sure your brother is armed.
>You know the villa well, and the gunfire sounds like it’s getting closer; try to find an ambush spot and cut off anyone getting to Sayla’s room. Maybe the best way to defend your siblings is a bit of offense - buy Édouard and Sayla some time.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5424559
>>To Sayla and Édouard, but stop and check for Édouard’s gun in his room; seconds count in this kind of situation, Jones has told stories a few times about how fast things can go to hell in a firefight, but you need to make sure your brother is armed.
>>
>>5424559
>To Sayla and Édouard, but stop and check for Édouard’s gun in his room; seconds count in this kind of situation, Jones has told stories a few times about how fast things can go to hell in a firefight, but you need to make sure your brother is armed.
I almost want to go straight there and give him our gun since he is better, but we have too many people to cover with just one gun I think.
>>
>>5424559
>To Sayla and Édouard, but stop and check for Édouard’s gun in his room; seconds count in this kind of situation, Jones has told stories a few times about how fast things can go to hell in a firefight, but you need to make sure your brother is armed.
I can only hope these few seconds we spend aren't going to cause a casualty.
>>
>>5424559
>>To Sayla and Édouard, but stop and check for Édouard’s gun in his room; seconds count in this kind of situation, Jones has told stories a few times about how fast things can go to hell in a firefight, but you need to make sure your brother is armed.
>>
>>5424561
>>5424565
>>5424566
>>5424581
Writing.
>>
You lead Elena out of your bedroom, pistol in hand. The hallway is still clear, but intense gunfire is echoing up from the ground floor of the building; you try not to think too much about the terrified screams and shrieks that accompany it.

“We’re going to Édouard’s room,” You explain to Elena as you round the next corner, running toward the door to his room - It’s a little out of the way from the direction you need to go to Sayla’s, but there’s a good chance your brother left his gun there. Elena is slowing you down a bit, she just isn't as fast of a runner.

Practically bursting your brother room, trying to move as quickly as you can, you begin frantically searching for his gun - You tear the books off of a nearby shelf but have no luck, and then look under his bed, sliding under it and looking up. The holstered pistol is tucked up in there, not a great hiding place but not hard to reach either, and you grab it and slide back out.

Elena is kneeling next to you and speaks hurriedly, her long red hair hanging down loosely, “Max, it’s getting closer!”

She’s not wrong; the sounds of fighting are growing much, much louder. You get up, handing her the holstered gun, which she clutches onto tightly.

“Hold this, don’t try to use it unless we get cornered; It’s for my brother.” You order, moving to the door and peering back out of it. The stairwell just the way you came, the direction you have to go to get to Sayla’s room, is intermittently illuminated with bright muzzle flashes and the concussive barking blasts of indoor gunfire.

You hear one of the guards, Jones, down there shouting insults and orders between the bursts of weapons fire, “Come on you amateurs, we’re still alive! Nguyen, ice that bastard!”

There’s another loud series of shots and a cry of pain, and you can hear Jones curse loudly, “Bastards! Nguyen, you down?”

“Still got some fight left!” A pained voice answers, a long burst of automatic fire resounding up into the hall a moment later.

It sounds like things are going badly, and fast. There are other ways up to the second floor besides this stairwell, a couple of points where the gunmen attacking the villa could get in the way of you reaching the other tower.

>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
>Stop for a few seconds and call out to Jones, see if you can get him to follow you. He’s got decades of experience, you might need that kind of help… seconds really do count right now though.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5424632
>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
I don't know if Jones is good enough to shoot down a Zaku I
>>
>>5424632
>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
We’ve spent enough time, let them do their job
>>
>>5424637
And even if they didn't bring any prototypes, we got to let the defenders keep doing what they are doing.
>>
>>5424632
>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
Casval needs that gun, and he needs it now. We need to get ourselves and our family out of here as soon as possible.
>>
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sJod anon from early on in thread here
I voted back then to help the quest start up but im mainly lurking with rare shitposts Psycho bouf
My ip just keeps changing itself a lot so i dont wanna cause shit with 1 posts

Also have a cool poster while im at it
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>>5424643
I say you can keep posting, I won't samefag hunt anymore unless 20 appear out.
And that is a cool poster.
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>>5424643
Feel free to vote, its not that big of a deal really. I've enjoyed the shitposts.
>>
>>5424632
>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
>>
>>5424632
>>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
>>
>>5424632
>>Run past, he’s doing his job. You might still be able to make it to Sayla’s room without getting shot at, but then it’ll just be you and Édouard to fight if it comes to that.
>>
>>5424637
>>5424639
>>5424641
>>5424648
>>5424652
>>5424661
Writing.
>>
Fuck me I was gone for a few hours and missed a shitload.
>>
You run past the entrance to the stairwell, the sound of the firefight growing almost unbearably loud as you rush past - Elena stays close and quiet, her face absolutely pale in fear as she continues to hold the holstered pistol close against her chest.

The two of you round the corner you came through earlier, and then take the other hallway leading directly to Sayla’s tower; you enter a much wider room with a stone floor, the staircase leading up into the tower housing her room just ahead of you. Suits of plate armor and ancient swords decorate the nearby walls along with old paintings. There’s another stairwell leading downward, and you can hear heavy footsteps moving up it quickly along with the terrified screams of a woman.

There’s another loud boom, shaking dust from the ceiling once again and causing the lights to flicker briefly, and Elena stumbles for a moment as she trips on the edge of a long lavish red rug covering the floor. The holstered gun falls to the ground a few feet away - You stop and scramble to help Elena up, and she quickly moves forward and picks the holstered gun back up.

A gun goes off from the stairwell leading downward, the proximity of the shot sending your ears ringing as you spin about to see one of the staff - an old woman - collapse to the floor at the top of the stairs. She isn’t moving, blood quickly staining her white blouse crimson. Elena covers her mouth with one hand, barely stifling a frightened scream.

“Come on!” You say quietly, trying not to alert whoever fired the shot to your presence, and you guide Elena up the stairs as quickly and quietly as you can. As you disappear up into the tower you can hear men shouting behind you.

“Clear! Got another one!”

“ID?”

“Not a target; secure those exits! They’ve got to be hiding somewhere!”
>>
>>5424708

You don’t hear footsteps following behind you. Yet.

Moving up the spiral staircase you reach the entrance to Sayla’s room and push the door open - Your brother lunges forward with a knife from the side of the doorway inside the room, nearly impaling you. His blue eyes widen in surprise and he pulls back the blade, taking a step backward to let you and Elena in. Sayla is standing just behind Édouard, pale and fatigued, absolutely miserably sick.

“Felix! I was just about to come get you.” He says, apparently having no time for your fake names in an emergency, “What’s going on down there?”

“A lot of men with guns, it’s bad, Casval, it’s really, really bad. Most of the guards are dead.” You reply, relieved that both of your siblings are safe, “Elena, give him his gun.”

“...Felix? Casval?” Elena asks in confusion, but she doesn’t delay in handing over the weapon.

“Yes,” You say quickly, “Those are our names.”

“Who even are you people?” Elena questions, eyes wide as she moves to stand closer to Artesia. She helps steady your sick sister, who seems confused by Elena's presence.

Casval keeps the knife, sheathing it on his belt, and works quickly to get the holster attached near it while you watch the doorway with your pistol.

“We need to leave.” Casval says, checking over his pistol with practiced ease, “Down is no good, is it?”

“We’d have to fight.” You reply, “I’m not sure we can do it.”

“So it’s up or out the window then,” He says grimly, moving closer to the door to the spiral staircase, “We can’t stay here.”

>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.
>Down. It only sounded like two men, with surprise you might be able to take them.
>Out the window, onto the roof. You’ll be exposed but it’s the quickest exit.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5424714
>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.

NO MAN LEFT BEHIND, JIMBA WAS RIGHT THE ENTIRE TIME!
>>
>>5424714
>>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.
>>5424716
He absolutely was. I doubt he'll have a way out but he needs some vindication.
>>
>>5424714
>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.

Jimba's doubtlessly got a fucking armory up there.
>>
>>5424714
>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.
The old man might have a trick up his sleeve.
>>
>>5424714
>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.
We have to save our mad uncle.
>>
>>5424714
>Out the window, onto the roof. You’ll be exposed but it’s the quickest exit.

>>5424718
If he doesn't have a way out it's more important to escape than to give the cause of this mess "vindication".
>>
>>5424714
>>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.
>>
>>5424714
>Up. Jimba should be up there still, his room would be more defensible.
F A M I L Y
>>
>>5424724
You worry too much, it'll be fine. We've got family.
>>
>>5424728
>>5424733
[Mumble growls in Vin Diesel]
>>
>>5424733
There are a large amount of people going through our house shooting people up. Is the magic of friendship family a strong factor in this setting? If not, we're just delaying the inevitable if we aren't actively escaping. And where was this boundless optimism just earlier today when everyone was paranoid about the mysterious thing in the clouds?
>>
>>5424714
>>Out the window, onto the roof. You’ll be exposed but it’s the quickest exit.
>>
>>5424737
>Is the magic of friendship family a strong factor in this setting?
One of the basic Newtype powers is literally the ability to instantly understand and intuit another person's mental and emotional state. If that isn't "the magic of friendship", I don't know what is.
>>
>>5424737
>Is the magic friendship/family a strong factor in this setting?
Of fuck no. We're just as likely to die in this as escape. Except Cas, not dying is what he does best. Boundless optimism? In Gundam? Never. Just gritty determination and a seething hatred for the Zabi.
>>
>>5424739
That's just powerful empathy, which has almost no impact in a combat setting unless you mean telepathy.
>>
>>5424741
>You worry too much, it'll be fine. We've got family.
>Of fuck no. We're just as likely to die in this as escape.
pick one
>>
>>5424742
>That's just powerful empathy, which has almost no impact in a combat setting unless you mean telepathy.
It certainly does. Amuro Ray, protag for the OG show, uses it to bullshit his way to victory in almost every fight.
>>
>>5424743
I will not. You're going to love the OYW
>>
>>5424749
the what?
>>
>>5424753
One Year War. It's fucked, and also where we're going to make a name for ourselves as a protag. We're still in the prologue as it were.
>>
>>5424753
The One Year War. The most important event of the Universal Century, and the first conflict where mobile suits were used in battle. It's not for a few years (it starts in early 0079), so we're fine for now.
>>
>>5424741
>>5424743
You know, I was really confused at first because both of your IDs are some sort of light green and start with f, but then I realized you are two different anons and not a schizo arguing with himself.
>>
>>5424760
With Felix's behavior due to our votes, we may as well be a schizo arguing with ourselves.
>>
>>5424760
My brain reads the letters and turns them into words before I see the colors, so I had the amusing mental image of FLCL arguing with FEDDIE over how noblebright we should be.
>>
>>5424760
kek
>>5424764
It turns out we're not a newtype at all, just a paranoid schizophrenic like Jambi.
>>
>>5424766
You are green too, but the 3guz helps my brain not get confused.
But I like the nicknames, sometimes the ID system gives us something more than samefags hunts.
>>
>>5424716
>>5424718
>>5424719
>>5424720
>>5424721
>>5424725
>>5424728
Up! Writing.
>>
“Up,” You say, locking eyes with your brother.

He nods, “I’ll cover the stairs. Artesia, Elena, follow Felix - I’ll be right behind you.”

“Where are we going?” Artesia asks groggily, rubbing it her eyes, “I’m so tired…”

“Somewhere safe,” Elena lies, her arm supporting Artesia shaking slightly as she struggles to stay calm - Neither of them should be here, none of this should be happening. Your own heart is racing, a mix of fear and adrenaline flooding you with energy but threatening to utterly cloud your focus on anything but what lies directly ahead.

“Come on, we need to go.” You say, waving for Artesia and Elena to follow you as you open the door.

Casval moves out first, checking down the staircase, pistol raised, and keeping watch as you guide the others up the long, winding staircase. It’s slow going, Artesia is barely able to walk even with Elena helping her along. Eventually you reach the door to Jimba’s room, and from the other side you hear the shattering of glass and a cry of pain followed by a loud thud.

You hesitantly open the door. The room is a mess, several of the large windows are shattered and books and papers have been thrown all about the room, bullet holes in the carpet and little impact pockmarks scattered all about on the stone walls. A powerful engine and rotor thrum in the distance, growing quieter as it moves further away.

Jimba lies just ahead of you, slumped over near the front of his bed - in sight of the shattered windows - his shirt stained red with blood from several gunshot wounds. A rifle lays near the old man, but it doesn’t look like he ever got the chance to fire it.

>”Back down! This way’s no good!” He’s probably dead.
>”Jimba!” Check if he’s still alive.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5424810
>”Jimba!” Check if he’s still alive.
And if he isn't, swipe that rifle.
>>
>>5424810
>>”Jimba!” Check if he’s still alive.
Take that rifle too, Cas can use it better than we can
>>
>>5424810
>>”Jimba!” Check if he’s still alive.
>>
>>5424810
>”Jimba!” Check if he’s still alive.

NO, HE KNEW THEY WERE COMING AND WE DIDN'T LISTEN!
>>
>>5424810
>>”Jimba!” Check if he’s still alive.

>>5424819
His actions directly brought them on us. If he hadnt made a move, they'd likely have kept their distance.
>>
>>5424813
>>5424814
>>5424817
>>5424819
>>5424824
Writing. This will be the last update for the night.
>>
“Jimba!” You shout, rushing across the bullet riddled room - a cold wind blows through the shattered windows, the distant rattle of gunfire and the thrumming of a helicopter’s rotors filling the air. You crouch near the old man’s crumpled form and set your pistol down, feeling your heart sink as you look him over - He’s been shot five or six times and his clothes are absolutely soaked with blood.

As you move to check the old man’s pulse, his eyes suddenly snap open - his hand lunges forward, grabbing your collar.

“Jimba, hold on, we’ll get-”

“Zabis!” He rasps painfully, his voice full of hate, “It’s them! They… They sent them…”

His hand slips from your collar, leaving it stained with blood, and his eyes stare off into nothing.

“Jimba? Jimba, stay with me!” You say in a panic, looking at his wounds and having almost no idea what to do. This isn’t anything like what you helped with at the camp - how do you even treat a gunshot wound?

You try to apply pressure for a moment, do anything at all, but it’s no use. He’s gone.

Artesia and Elena entered the room at some point, your brother following up behind them while still watching the staircase.

“Is he?...” Artesia asks, distress filling her voice.

“He’s gone.” You confirm, choking back tears; it’s one thing to resent a person for betrayal, but you never wanted him to come to harm - not like this - even if he did bring this nightmare on all of you.

Artesia begins crying, and Elena tries to get her to look away from the bloody body, turning her back to facing the doorway.

“Felix, we can’t stay here,” Your brother calls out from the doorway, “That helicopter is still out there!”

You grab your handgun, finding that it somehow feels heavier, and holster it. You pick up the large rifle laying near Jimba, and grab a pair of spare magazines from the floor nearby and shove them in your jacket pockets - it’s an awkward fit, but it’s the best you can do under the circumstances. You don’t spend much time looking over the rifle; it’s a scoped semi-auto with a mean looking muzzle brake, and it’s heavy. Not outrageously so, but there’s no way Jimba could have held this thing steady for long in his almost withered state - he was always a bit mad about weapons though. It’s loaded and ready to fire, a round in the chamber. Tiny text etched on its black receiver reads ‘.338 Anaheim Magnum’.

>Check out the shattered windows, maybe there’s a way down from here?
>...Where’s that helicopter at? This thing might be able to put a hole in something important.
>Go back down the stairwell immediately, no time to waste on attempted vengeance.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5424946
>>Go back down the stairwell immediately, no time to waste on attempted vengeance.
>>
>>5424946
>>Go back down the stairwell immediately, no time to waste on attempted vengeance.
>>
>>5424946
>...Where’s that helicopter at? This thing might be able to put a hole in something important.

If they spent any time preparing its likely that the helicopter would have some form of augmented vision aboard, so would make escaping difficult(even in the limited light conditions), also downing it would let us get out over the rooves without being immediately spotted, which could leverage the fact that the attackers have yet to take the higher floors of the compound.

Additionally it may leave a trail of enquiries for the police should they come looking.
>>
>>5424946
>Go back down the stairwell immediately, no time to waste on attempted vengeance.
Damn, that time spent looking for Char's gun did cause a casualty.

>>5424960
True, but we might not even be able to shoot it. And it may also endanger us, since its gun is probably aimed straight at the windows still.
>>
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>>5424992
+1
Yep

Also we should defenetely keep a track of any kills we directly get
See how far Felix goes
>>
>>5424946
>Go back down the stairwell immediately, no time to waste on attempted vengeance.

They took JIMBA. we will return!
>>
>>5424946
>...Where’s that helicopter at? This thing might be able to put a hole in something important.
I don't think we can escape with a helicopter on overwatch, and hiding until they leave isn't an option
>>
>>5424992
I'm worried about Teabolo, I hope he managed to escape.
>>
>>5424946
>...Where’s that helicopter at? This thing might be able to put a hole in something important.

>>5424992
And backtracking is the better option? Why the hell did we even come up here?

Man you guys are adept at bandwagoning the worst possible option
>>
>>5424946
>Go back down the stairwell immediately, no time to waste on attempted vengeance.
>>5425090
Chill dude, don't be that guy
>>
>>5425088
Hope so too, but if he hasn't we maybe can find him and arm him.

>>5425090
We mostly came up here to get Jimba to safety and maybe set up a defensible position. But now taking a chance with the heli close to the window and potentially getting ourselves/Cas shot won't help.
>>
>>5424992
I don't think it would still be aiming at the window, I got the impression the the vehicle that broke through is leaving, and the helicopter is changing targets.
Because of "A powerful engine and rotor thrum in the distance, growing quieter as it moves further away." and "the distant rattle of gunfire and the thrumming of a helicopter’s rotors filling the air"
>>
>>5425103
The heli isn't close to the window, it said we heard the engine grow quieter. It's not taking much of a chance, it probably thinks there is no more threat from here. On the other hand, you want us to go all the way down back through the building through all the assault teams with a couple teenagers armed with 2 pistols and a rifle. Finding a way out through the tower would be a better option than that, but no one voted for it. Fairly suicidal choice, hopefully qm doesn't punish us too hard for this.
>>
>>5425108
>>5425111
You two are right, this could be our only chance at getting rid of that chopper with minimal risk (though I'm for giving Casval the shotgun, since he's a better shot). And going down against even the two guys might mean another casualty on our side.

>>5424946
Changing my vote to
>...Where’s that helicopter at? This thing might be able to put a hole in something important.
>>
>>5425111
I didn't want to go through the roof because Artesia got the fever and is weak, I'm worried that she won't be able to parkour and be quiet at the same time.
Hitting the helicopter would serve as a distraction so we could take our time escaping through the rooftops.
>>
>>5425114
Yeah, it wasn't optimal, but it would be better than trying to fight our way out going down.

>>5425113
Possibly important detail, it's not a shotgun, it's a rifle.
>>
>>5424992
>Damn, that time spent looking for Char's gun did cause a casualty.
Well, what could we have done? Our pistols wouldn't do much to a helicopter. *Maybe* we convince him to come with us instead of holing up in the tower? But then we run into fighting our way down again. I think he might have just been doomed, this whole operation was probably for getting to him anyways.
>>
>>5425113
You know, I get the impression we are more on the perception side of things, because we keep noticing these small details, while Casval is sheer speed, so that's why he keeps beating us at the timed shooting range, and we might actually be more suited to trying to hit an important part.
But it's a guess because we know newtypes powers are a thing and all of our family gets those, and logically Felix would have giving Casval the gun since he is proven to be the better shot.
>>
>>5425118
Perception is really important, I think I might prefer having it in general over speed if speed is a newtype thing. I wonder what Sayla got.
>>
>>5425120
>I wonder what Sayla got.
I always thought of her Newtype power being super-charisma, similar to Scirocco (but less evil). It's why she became such a good politician.
>>
>>5425120
It's been a while since I seen the show, but if I remember right it's empathy, she's basically an empath among empaths.
And Casval's speed is the op kind, there's a reason he is called the red comet. Dude can switch targets and dodge like a ballerina on crack.
>>
>>5425124
>It's why she became such a good politician.
I don't think she ever became a politician, she handled coms for White Base during the OYW and was in the medical field before and after it.
>>
>>5425128
I thought she went into politics for a bit during the events of Zeta.
>>
>>5425130
I think she went into stocks after being a doctor.
>>
>>5425132
>I think she went into stocks after being a doctor.
I vaguely remember that. That's when she'd basically adopted Judau's younger sister.
>>
>>5425134
Or am I confusing Z with ZZ. Post OYW isn't really my thing.
>>
>>5425135
You're thinking of ZZ.
>>
>>5425135
I just checked the wiki
Gryps War
In the manga "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define", she works as a doctor at a hospital in North America,
First Neo Zeon war
Sayla appears with Leina in front of Bright, and she tells him that she is now living as an investor.
>>
>>5425116
Hm, I guess the plan would've been to go through the roof with Jimba or us carrying Sayla. Even just running down, the three of us would've had a better chance at fighting it out than just Casval and Felix (still would probably result in one of us getting shot).

>>5425118
I was almost hoping we wouldn't get any, and that we'd just be some normal guy that cares about our family and keeps getting into life or death situations. But a perception newtype would explain why Felix is so schizo with decisions
>>
>>5424949
>>5424952
>>5425002
>>5425062
>>5425093
Back down.

>>5425086
>>5425090
>>5425113
Shoot at the helicopter.

Back down wins. Writing.
>>
>>5425165
You missed this one
>>5424960
It doesn't change the result though
>>
>>5425173
Huh, could have sworn I had that one in there. Thanks for pointing it out though, I appreciate it.
>>
The thrumming of the helicopter continues to change, its direction and intensity shifting - maybe it’s circling the villa? It’s hard to know for sure without looking, but considering what happened to Jimba that might be a terrible idea. Hopefully it won’t be an issue later. You exhale and try to focus, struggling to clear your mind as fear and a desire for vengeance threaten to overwhelm you from different directions, and after a moment’s struggle you manage to mostly snap out of it.

“Back down!” You shout, “Artesia, Elena, stay behind both of us!”

Leaving Jimba’s bloody body, you rush to your brother’s side at the doorway - you exchange small nods of understanding and begin heading down the spiraling stairs. The rifle you have isn’t exactly suited for this kind of environment, it’s more than a little cramped, but there’s no doubt it would ruin somebody's day to get tagged by it - The scope is going to be mostly useless, but you can probably manage point shooting… there’s no telling what the recoil is going to be like though.

Elena helps Artesia along just a few paces behind you and Casval; you can’t take the stairs all that fast with Artesia slowing you down, but it is what it is. The sounds of heavy footsteps moving up the stone stairs, at least a couple of people, can be heard clearly echoing up from further down. You hear a door get slammed open.

“Clear!” A man’s voice shouts from below.

They’re going to be on you soon; there aren’t many options. To your sides are some windows set very deep in the thick stone walls of the tower, a relic of when they used to house arrow slits many centuries ago, you might be able to hide in those cubbies for a moment, and Jimba’s room is just behind you still…

“We’re going to have to kill them.” Casval whispers to you, his blue eyes steely and focused, “We’ll hit them first; we have to be faster.”

>Casval’s Counterattack. Strike first, strike hard!
>”Let’s ambush them; hide by the windows! Elena, take Sayla back up the stairs until the shooting stops!”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5425188
>”Let’s ambush them; hide by the windows! Elena, take Sayla back up the stairs until the shooting stops!”
>>
>>5425188
>>”Let’s ambush them; hide by the windows! Elena, take Sayla back up the stairs until the shooting stops!”
>>
>>5425188
>”Let’s ambush them; hide by the windows! Elena, take Sayla back up the stairs until the shooting stops!”
>>
>>5425188
>”Let’s ambush them; hide by the windows! Elena, take Sayla back up the stairs until the shooting stops!”
The helicopter shouldn't come back immediately, so we should be safe for the moment to be against the windows. I'm tempted to ask Elena if she can take a gun with her, just as a precaution.
>>
>>5425188
>”Let’s ambush them; hide by the windows! Elena, take Sayla back up the stairs until the shooting stops!”
>>
>>5425188

>Casval’s Counterattack. Strike first, strike hard!

I'm having major Deja vu moment with this vote and the Ambush doesn't go well.
>>
>>5425208
Yeah, and now that you mentioned it the way the vote is phrased makes it sound like we're going to be permanently separated from Sayla and Elena.

>>5425188
>>5425197
Changing vote to
>Casval’s Counterattack. Strike first, strike hard!
>>
>>5425208
>>5425224
I just don't want to risk Elena and Arteria in a firefight
>>
Ah crap, we’d probably get stuck in the holes if there are more than a few of them, we could always retreat to them too if the attack doesn’t get enough done. This is also what we trained for.

But we really need to actually escape after trying this, fighting our way out isn’t feasible.

>>5425198
Switching to
>Casval’s Counterattack. Strike first, strike hard!
>>
I'll change my vote to Casval's speed, as long as we tell Elena and Arteria to hide in that option too.
She is too sick to run away.
>>
>>5425190
>>5425194
Lie in wait.

>>5425208
>>5425224
>>5425235
>>5425243
"Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more."

Attacking wins. Writing. It'll probably be a bit before I can finish and post, I have a class starting soon.
>>
>>5425254
The enemy cannot attack you, If you attack them first.
>>
>>5425269
Shoot first, shoot once
>>
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>>5425269
It will be a total sweep!
>>
You nod to your brother, trying to match his determination, tightening your grip on your rifle so hard your knuckles turn white… You’ve killed before, you hate thinking about it but you’ve done it - but never like this - Never so close. Those crew in the guntanks were there, you know they had to be, but you couldn’t see their faces - couldn’t really see them as people. Your heart feels like its going to burst out of your chest, and it’s a titanic effort to steady your breathing.

It’s you or them… No, it’s your family or them. That’s not so hard of a choice.

You turn briefly and wave Sayla and Elena away with one hand, and they quickly begin to move back up the stairs. You wince as Sayla slips and cries out, but Elena manages to stop her from falling down the stairs and gets her moving again.

“Sounds like we’ve got some further up! Three, hold here! Two, with me!” A man shouts from below, and you can hear a pair of men sprinting up the stairs a moment a later.

Casval stalks forward down the stairs, setting an aggressive pace but still managing to remain silent, his pistol tucked close to his chest - ready for extreme close quarters shooting - and you follow along behind and to the side of him with your rifle at the ready. It’s awkward, but you manage it.

The anticipation is killing you, any moment now and you’ll see them, every step you take down the spiraling stairs brings that decisive moment closer. It feels like an eternity, each second achingly slow. Any moment…

Any moment…

Now!

Casval’s pistol barks twice, sending your ears ringing in the close confines, bullets striking the arms of one of the gunmen as soon as he comes into sight - The black uniformed man fires reflexively as he cries out in pain, the wild burst missing and concussing the entire stairwell, stumbling backwards down the stairs and into his squad mate.

Casval presses forward, firing faster - shots miss, shots hit - it’s a cacophony of roaring gunfire and pressure. The first soldier continues to fall backward down the stairs, losing his grip on his gun as he begins to tumble and roll.

The second soldier ducks to the side, avoiding the worst of the lead soldier’s downward tumble and raises his own small rifle to fire. A pair of handgun rounds strike him in upper chest but he isn’t phased - his vest stopping it cold - but it throws off his aim as he opens fire; Casval ducks a moment before the trigger is pulled, avoiding the initial hail of bullets, and you practically throw yourself into the outer wall to get out of the way, letting off a single round from your rifle as you do so.
>>
>>5425555

The world disappears in a momentary flash of fire and thunder, your perception obliterated as the scoped rifle kicks like a mule into your shoulder.

Half a moment later when you come back to your senses, the gunfire has stopped. There’s a huge spray of blood across the stone wall of the spiraling stairway, and a deep impact mark where the round struck the old masonry. You barely catch sight of the gunman falling limp and tumbling awkwardly down the stairs, giving no resistance at all as he goes.

Casval is crouched low and to the side of the stairs, grimacing in discomfort and… yelling at you? It sounds so quiet…

“felix.”

“Felix.”

“FELIX!”

You heard that one. You blink again, the whole world ringing. Dimly, almost at the back of your mind, you’re aware of a pain just along the side of your chest. It feels warm…

“We… we got them!” You say, but it comes out quieter than you intended. You repeat yourself, much more loudly, and it sounds a bit closer to how it should.

“We have to keep going!” Your brother says, looking quite as if he’s shouting.

You nod, still horribly disoriented, and follow your brother. When you see the bodies of the two black clad gunmen, stopping a little further down the stairs and unmoving, you gag and almost vomit. There’s blood everywhere, and one of the guards - presumably the one your rifle hit - has a huge portion of his neck just… torn apart. He’s limp, but… Oh god, his eyes are still moving, wide in terror and confusion. They go still a moment later, blood pumping from his neck. A pair of compact bullpup rifles lay nearby.

The two men, no, the two corpses are wearing what look to be black military uniforms, vests, and helmets; there are no identifying marks or patches besides simple numbers on their shoulders but it looks a lot like federation gear. The rifles are definitely the same model the Federation uses. A small radio on the chest of the soldier with the shredded neck crackles with comms chatter, the little tinny speaker too quiet to hear clearly in your current state.

The door to Sayla's room isn’t far now, it's just a bit down the stairs and ajar. Glancing back you see Elena hesitantly peering around the corner, grabbing at her ears in pain and pale with fright.

>Stop for a moment and take some of the gear from the dead soldiers. Those rifles look much more practical and little less likely to send the entire world spinning when you fire them.
>Keep moving! You can’t stop now! (Specify Sayla’s room or down the stairs)
>Write-in.
>>
>>5425560
>>Stop for a moment and take some of the gear from the dead soldiers. Those rifles look much more practical and little less likely to send the entire world spinning when you fire them.

Grab rifles and a comm. Once we can listen in, we can get away easier.
>>
>>5425560
>Stop for a moment and take some of the gear from the dead soldiers. Those rifles look much more practical and little less likely to send the entire world spinning when you fire them.
No need to rat it up and take everything, just quickly grab the rifles and continue down. There's still at least one more guy down there too.
>>
>>5425560
>Stop for a moment and take some of the gear from the dead soldiers. Those rifles look much more practical and little less likely to send the entire world spinning when you fire them.

Did we grab a fucking .50 cal or some shit??
>>
>>5425560
>Keep moving! You can’t stop now! (Sayla’s Room)
Don’t give anyone left any time to react, keep the momentum, we can grab the rifles after we clear whoever’s left.
>>
>>5425560
>Keep moving! You can’t stop now! ( down the stairs)

FULL SPEED TO FREEDOM.
>>
>>5425560
>Keep moving! You can’t stop now! (either way is fine)
Every second counts, like Jones said.
>>
>>5425567
Not quite, but it's on the upper end of magnum rifle rounds. Very much not something meant to be fired indoors without hearing protection, and definitely not meant to be fired in what's basically a cramped stone tunnel. The noise and concussion would be absolutely horrendous, especially with a muzzle brake.
>>
>>5425593
We hip-fired a fucking anti-material rifle in tiny hallway, no shit we got knocked on our ass like that, god damn.

Good shit QM, I haven't been this invested in quest for a while.
>>
>>5425563
>>5425564
>>5425567
Stop briefly and grab stuff.

>>5425568
>>5425573
>>5425590
Go down the stairs or to Sayla's room.

Well, that's a multi-level split. Even votes between both main options, and a split between Sayla's room or down the stairs if keeping moving wins.

I'll give it another half hour.
>>
>>5425622
I would rather to stop and pick things up than go down stairs, but that doesn’t translate well to this voting situation
>>
>>5425640
Doesn't translate well how?
>>
>>5425644
I don’t want to switch votes, but even if continue on wins, it can roll such that we go down stairs rather than to saylas room, which I would rather pick stuff up over
>>
>>5425622
You know what, I’ll take a slightly less suboptimal over the chance for more suboptimal, I’ll switch to pick things up, with the addendum of hopefully only guns if possible.
>>
>>5425647
Ah, I see. I could implement a kind of preferred choice voting to avoid issues like that, but it gets a bit weird without feedback from other players for their second choices. I'm not sure how I feel about it for future choices either. I'll think about it.

>>5425654
Thank you! I'll get to writing.
>>
>>5425655
I’ve always wanted a quest with preferred choice, hopefully you can think of a way to implement it
>>
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>>5425622
I throw my vote to at least taking their radios

Also ID changed again...
So have a Eva-1 colour Zeong
>>
>>5425655
For people who don’t have second choices, they just don’t have a second choice, it still works out. Implementing it will always better represent the interests of the players, even if some don’t fully utilize it
>>
>>5425656
It's generally a better system for most things, not sure how messy the counting might get though. Vote switching on stuff with lots of discussion can already be a little finnicky to track.

>>5425657
Noted and cool art.

>>5425658
That's a fair point. I'll allow it for the next few posts and see how it plays out.
>>
>>5425658
Fuck that. Its fine as is. People need to learn to read and vote right.
>>
>>5425560
>Stop for a moment and take some of the gear from the dead soldiers. Those rifles look much more practical and little less likely to send the entire world spinning when you fire them.
12 year old with an anti-material rifle does not make a good mix
>>
>>5425669
First of all, that’s never going to happen. Second, even with smart players, it’s a better system for getting player intent.
>>
“We should take these!” You say loudly, pointing to the compact rifles on the blood stained steps.

“Do it fast!” Casval replies with a shout, reloading his pistol and keeping a watch over the stairwell.

You crouch near the rifles and set down the large rifle you’ve been carrying, your side stinging a bit, and pick up one of the bullpup rifles. You fish a fresh magazine out of one of the dead soldier’s vest pouches and reload the gun a bit awkwardly, unfamiliar with the design, but it doesn’t take too long. The second rifle goes a bit faster, and you snatch the radio off the front of the vest of the soldier missing a chunk of his neck. A fresh wave of revulsion roils through you as you look at the wound again, but you manage to hold down your lunch. That’s not a sight that’s going to leave you soon.

Muzzle flashes illuminate the staircase once again as Casval opens fire, the ‘little’ barks of his pistol not nearly as disorienting as whatever the hell your rifle fired just a moment ago. A man curses loudly, there’s a brief but much louder rattle of return fire and the whizzing cracks of ricocheting bullets, and you can faintly hear him shouting over the radio.

“Taking fire in the closed tower! Caesar one and two are down!”

Looking up to your brother a wave of relief washes over you as you see that he’s fine - the return fire didn’t hit him, the burst went wide, but it doesn’t sound like he managed to tag the remaining soldier either.

You quickly hand him one of the loaded rifles, and pick up your own. There are some other things on the dead soldiers that you don’t recognize - You think one of them grenade, but you’re not sure what kind.

“This is Berta two, hold tight Caesar, we’re on our way.” Another man’s voice crackles over your freshly looted radio.

Well, that sure is handy. Not good news though. Elena is out of sight once again, presumably having gone back up the stairs when the gunfire started again.

>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!
>Spend a few more seconds to grab some spare magazines and a grenade or two; you’re not really sure how to use a grenade or how dangerous it might be.
>...Throw a grenade down the stairs and go into Sayla’s room, maybe the roof is a better plan?
>Write-in.

Feel free to pick several options and list them in order of your preference; if your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one.
>>
>>5425706
It should read "You think one of them is a grenade, but you're not sure what kind."
>>
>>5425706
>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK.

We should head for the garage and grab a truck or tough car, make our escape in that.
>>
>>5425706
>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!
Radio is extremely useful, could save our lives and make us know if anyone has been seen. Helicopter is still out there, so roof would probably be suicide. We don't know how to use a grenade, so looting would be mostly a waste.
We should probably head back for Elena after cleaning up the rest of them, can't leave her to die/get kidnapped.
>>
>>5425706
>>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!
Tempo tempo tempo. Not many forces are prepared for the violence of action when they're on the receiving end of it.
>>
>>5425706
>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!
We should have shot the helicopter when we could, that rifle was a strong one.
>>
>>5425729
I disagree, if we did that then the ground units would have likely figured out our location and corned us.
>>
>>5425706
>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!
>>
I'm really excited to see where this goes. Jimba's dead, so his connections are gone, Teabolo's probably dead too, so his connections are gone as well. We're a bunch of high-value twelve year olds trapped in enemy territory. This is somehow a worse and more dangerous position than Casval and Artesia were in in canon.
>>
>>5425706
>>”Casval, let's go!” Push down the stairs, the clock is ticking!
>>
>>5425711
>>5425718
>>5425721
>>5425729
>>5425733
>>5425747
Attack attack attack! I'll start writing in a bit.

>>5425721
That is very true.
>>
>>5425731
What... you want tempo now, *after* we gave the remaining squad member a chance to report our position and call reinforcements?
>>
>>5425849
Yes, because now we have more effective arms and a slightly more clear picture of the situation. Cool as it is, a large caliber rifle is not an effective choice of weapon for either our character or the challenge at hand.
>>
>>5425852
We could have had both if we went and took out this chump before he called his buddies, now we're just in an objectively worse position than if we had gone and rushed him down immediately.
>>
>>5425854
Rush into a dude who would have no doubt heard us kill his guys with at best a semi automatic rifle and pistol? We were made the moment we shot.
>>
>>5425857
It's almost like this was an entirely predictable course of events and we shouldn't have gone up or down the stairs in the first place.

But no, we trained for exactly this kind of scenario, Casval alone could handle this dude if we used our momentum. Now we're stuck in a hopeless hallway fight, and you yourself JUST VOTED TO RUSH HIM with a semi auto rifle and pistol instead of another viable alternative, so clearly you think it's at least possible.
>>
>>5425861
>So clearly you think it's at least possible.
Yes, with the right tools. And now that we have the right tool it seems much more likely to achieve the desired outcome of not getting shot after getting knocked on our ass from firing a gun too big for us.
Also if you would kindly reread my vote instead of trying to argue
>just quickly grab the rifles and continue down
No where did I say stop and dig through the guys kit.
>>
“Casval, let’s go!” You shout, rushing down the stairs; your brother stays low and just ahead of you, his rifle pointed forward. A torrent of gunfire impacts the curving outer wall just ahead of you, sending you reeling backward for a moment as bullets strike the curving stone wall and ricochet. The two of you hug tightly to the interior wall as another burst of gunfire fills the air…

Casval bursts forward, rounding the bend fully and opening fire with you just split second behind him; the black clad soldier fires a single shot in return, caught mid reload while attempting to retreat further down the stairs. There’s a spray of crimson and Casval cries out in pain and rage as his own long burst traces up and down the soldier in a tremendous cacophony of gunfire. The black clad man shudders and shakes with every impact, blossoming crimson spraying the wall behind him as the rifle rounds slice through his body; his vest stops a few, and he somehow remains standing long enough for you to join in the fusillade. As your own burst impacts him, your sight picture recoiling almost totally out of control as it tracks up across his leg and then striking the wall behind him, he finally stumbles and falls backward. He just... drops. There's no effort to stop himself as he crumples.

“Casval, you… you got shot!” You yell to be heard, your voice shaking as adrenaline and fear pump through you.

Your brother looks himself over, and then pats at his shoulder; his hand comes away with a bit of blood.

“It’s just a graze, Felix, I’m fi…” He trails off, his eyes widening as he looks down to your side, “Felix, you’ve been shot!”

“Huh?” You respond, looking down. Oh, so you have. That stinging pain and spreading warmth was coming from your side, blood staining through your shirt and jacket, and now that you’re looking at it the pain suddenly floods your awareness - it’s a hot, aching feeling, and you wince in pain as you tough against it with your hand.

“Oh, so I have.” You say, though you can barely hear yourself, transfixed by the wound. It almost doesn’t feel real. When did this happen?

“Are you alright?” Casval says, rushing over to you, concern written across his features.

“I… I think so.” You say uncertainly, “W-we need to get out of here, Casval.”

The radio you took crackles to life once again, a woman speaking through the tinny speaker, “Valkyrie to all teams; bad news, command says the Feddies are scrambling Saberfish from Madrid - We need to exfil in three or they’ll be all over us, I can’t stay on station longer.”

“Copy, Valkyrie. We’ll be done in two.” A man’s voice answers a moment later, “Any team have eyes on the kids?”

“Negative, Anton. We’re headed to the closed tower, having some trouble with the guards still.” Another man, the one who called himself Berta Two earlier, says, “Caeser team, report? Report?”
>>
>>5425868

”Artesia, Elena, we need to go! Now!” Casval shouts up the stairway, the pair appearing a few moments later; they’re both crying, but make their way slowly down the stairs regardless. Artesia just isn’t moving fast enough for this.

>”...Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster. I’ll cover us.” You’re both shot, but he seems to be better off and he’s taller and stronger regardless.
>Snatch a magazine as you pass the newest fallen soldier and keep moving downward with your brother ahead of the girls. This isn’t a time to lose firepower.
>”Casval, I… I think I need to do something about this… it hurts…” That wound in your side isn’t getting any better. You aren’t sure how bad it is.
>Write-in.

Feel free to pick several options and list them in order of your preference; if your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one.
>>
>>5425871
>>”...Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster. I’ll cover us.” You’re both shot, but he seems to be better off and he’s taller and stronger regardless.
>>Snatch a magazine as you pass the newest fallen soldier and keep moving downward with your brother ahead of the girls. This isn’t a time to lose firepower.
I think we could do both of these at the same time, though they're ordered respective to preference.
>>
>>5425871
>>”...Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster. I’ll cover us.” You’re both shot, but he seems to be better off and he’s taller and stronger regardless.
>>
>>5425872
That's a fair combination, yeah. Casval won't be able to shoot (other than maybe with his pistol) but there's no reason you couldn't grab a magazine while he picks of Artesia.
>>
>>5425872
+1

>command says the Feddies are scrambling Saberfish from Madrid
So, these aren't the Federation then, but Zabi agents disguised as them?
>>
>>5425871
>>”...Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster. I’ll cover us.” You’re both shot, but he seems to be better off and he’s taller and stronger regardless.
>>Snatch a magazine as you pass the newest fallen soldier and keep moving downward with your brother ahead of the girls. This isn’t a time to lose firepower.

Also we've done refugee relief work with artesia. Take a hankerchief and our belt, apply to gunshot wound and tighten belt over it. Casval's going to be able slow and we should be able to do this quickly before we run into anyone else.
>>
>>5425871
>”...Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster. I’ll cover us.” You’re both shot, but he seems to be better off and he’s taller and stronger regardless.
I'm about to fall asleep, I might be making a bad decision
>>
>>5425871
>>5425877
Supporting this.

>>5425876
It would be ironic if these were the same mercenaries Jimba hired. But its probably Zabis.
>>
>>5425871
>>”...Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster. I’ll cover us.” You’re both shot, but he seems to be better off and he’s taller and stronger regardless.
>>Snatch a magazine as you pass the newest fallen soldier and keep moving downward with your brother ahead of the girls. This isn’t a time to lose firepower.
>>
>>5425876
Took me for suprise, I was expecting it to be a feddie hit team.
>>
>>5425872
>>5425876
>>5425877
>>5425884
>>5425877
Alright, it's my fault for not asking people to put numbers so I can tell the difference between preference voting and combinations. I'm just going to assume all of these are for combining the two options (obviously >>5425872 and >>5425876 specified but otherwise it's unclear)

You all did fine, the directions were "list" and it's what you did, I should have worded it better.

I accept the reasoning from >>5425872 that the options aren't really contradictory beyond Casval being much less helpful in a fight; both things can be done at the same time.

>>5425877
Going to also throw in the makeshift medical aid; it's consistent with Felix's background and wouldn't take long.

I'm going to be gentler about the time concerns for the next post since this confusion is my fault, don't worry. This shouldn't happen again.

Writing.
>>
>>5425879
Forgot to add you in, saw your vote as well.
>>
“Casval, carry Artesia, we need to move faster.” You say, trying not to focus on the aching pain in your side, “I’ll cover us.”

Casval wastes no time, simply giving you a small nod as he moves up to Artesia, “Artesia, I’m going to carry you; hold on as tightly as you can.”

“...O-okay,” Your sister answers quietly, sniffling between tears and wiping at her eyes; this must be a nightmare for her, she’s so ill it’s incredible that she has even been able to move up and down so many stairs.

While that’s going on you’re busy taking off your belt and grabbing a handkerchief from your pocket; you do your best to fasten them together to keep the handkerchief pressed tightly against the wound in your side. You wince in agony, but manage to push through. With bloodied hands you then scoop up a couple of magazines and shove them in your jacket pockets, drop your empty, and reload.

Standing, a little unsteady, you’re as ready to go as you're ever going to be. Casval is already next to you, fireman carrying a terrified Artesia who is doing her best to cling to him. Your brother has his pistol in hand but is mostly focused on carrying your crying sister, Elena following close behind both of them… and carrying the large rifle you used earlier, though it’s immediately obvious she has no idea what she’s doing with it. She's a bit shorter than you, and much less athletic; there's no way she's going to do anything useful with it other than carry it along.

With you taking the lead your group heads down the last of the stairs, careful not to slip on the blood, and then begins rushing through the villa - You head down the stairwell that the ill-fated ‘Caesar team’ came up from earlier, passing the body of the murdered old staff member who is laying in a pool of her own blood atop the stairs. So many people must be dead, only a few exchanges of gunfire still echoing through the rooms and halls of the villa, but there’s no time to think of that.
>>
>>5425909

As you finish heading down the second flight of stairs you find yourself on the ground floor, the pathway to the courtyard just ahead of you; you can faintly hear the thrum of a helicopter’s rotors coming from that direction. The helmeted silhouette of a soldier appears along that path, backlit by a spotlight from some kind of vehicle in the courtyard, and he raises his gun to fire. You shoot first, barely, but you’re not sure if you hit him - The dark figure stumbles out of sight and into cover.

“This is Anton One, I have eyes on the targets - They’ve left the closed tower, they’re moving near the garages on the ground floor.”

Several voices radio in responses; they’re converging. Another soldier appears at the far end of the courtyard hallways and fires a couple of shots toward you - They miss, but whizz dangerously close to Elena. She screams in terror, running to get out of sight alongside Casval. You fire a few hastily aimed shots at the new attacker and send him ducking into cover with his squad mate, but you're sure you didn't hit this time - You can’t stay here, it's certain death.

To your left is the doorway to the garage, but you don’t have keys for any of the cars… or know how to drive; it leads outside though. To your right a doorway heads back into the maze of the ground floor of the villa; you know it well and might be able to hide. Ahead of you, of course, is the hallway to the courtyard, but that seems practically suicidal without a very good plan.

“This is Valkyrie to all teams; the clock is ticking, boys. Hurry it up down there.”

>Into the garage. Sometimes keys are left in there with the cars, maybe you can make an escape that way.
>Into the interior of the villa’s ground floor, maybe you can lose the soldiers for long enough in the maze of rooms.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5425911
>>Into the garage. Sometimes keys are left in there with the cars, maybe you can make an escape that way.
There's probably other teams on the ground floor but I doubt the garage took long enough to clear to warrant having one dedicated to it. Anyone have any ideas?
>>
>>5425912
They have grenades and a helicopter, even if we got out on a car we'll still need a good driver to maneuver. But its probably true that the villa has a dedicated team. The situation is pretty bad, and both options rely on luck (finding a car with keys, or not encountering a squad in the ground floor).
I'd personally go for the maze and try to viet-cong them, but I'm rereading now to make sure I didn't miss anything.
>>
>>5425915
I'm open to changing my vote. At this point I think the best we can do is just make space and hope for the best, wait out the timer.
>>
>>5425911
>Into the interior of the villa’s ground floor, maybe you can lose the soldiers for long enough in the maze of rooms.
Always stay on the assault. They think they're coming for us, but we're coming for them. We have their radio, and they're in our turf, time to guerrilla war these fuckers.

>>5425918
It's a 50/50 chance either way, but staying on the offensive against small groups has worked so far.
>>
>>5425929
>but staying on the offensive against small groups has worked so far.
True but that was when we were able to overwhelm and pick off same sized or smaller groups. Every ground team is currently converging on us, however many that is.
>>
>>5425931
The part I'm worried about is the "they’re moving near the garages on the ground floor” line. They know we're close to the cars, and might even prepare for it. But then again they might not expect us to actually use a car to make our getaway. How effective that escape will be for a bleeding 13 year old driver is up to chance (unless Casval knows how to drive by this point, in which case I'll change my vote).
>>
>>5425911
>>Into the interior of the villa’s ground floor, maybe you can lose the soldiers for long enough in the maze of rooms.

Circle away from the garage. We have the radio for a reason. Our goal is to deny and delay until they can no longer stay on station. Not kill everyone. And if we leave the groups, we leave where the Feds are coming to, which means they'll have free reign to hunt us down.
>>
>>5425937
I'd trust Cas to drive us out of this. He's just good at that kind of thing. He was in a driving commercial after all.
>>
>>5425938
>And if we leave the groups, we leave where the Feds are coming to
That's true, I didn't think of that. I was considering we drive to Elena's residence.
>>
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>>5425939
That he was.
>>
>>5425941
Ah yes, Zeonictoyota, my favorite car manufacturer.
>>
>>5425931
>>5425937
...or we could go back for a grenade and throw it at them. But that will be risky.

>>5425939
>>5425941
He's too good. How can the Zabis even compete?

>>5425940
How far away does she live? The helicopter will no doubt trail us and try to shoot at us.
>>
>>5425954
>How far away does she live?
That's a good question, I'm not sure. Though it's not like we can effectively outrun or evade from the helicopter anyways. I'm really not sure about this one but if you and zAA are confident in the ground floor I'll switch my vote.
>>
>>5425956
To a certain extend, we could bang open the door and make it look like we ran into the garage, forcing them to conduct a search like we ran into there to hide, making them waste time.

Also close quarters suits us as it negates their long range weapons advantage as well as heli support and we conceivably can get the jump on them at close quarters as we have already done to several other soldiers.
>>
>>5425959
I don't think we'll be able to split their attention, we currently have at least two sets of eyes on us. But, why not, I'll switch my vote.

>>5425912
>>5425911
Switching to
>Into the interior of the villa's ground floor, maybe you can lose the soldiers long enough in the maze of rooms.
A a question for the QM, does the villa have a basement?
>>
>>5425956
Well the problem is that I'm not too confident in that either.

>>5425911
Hey QM, does the garage have a back door exit?
>>
>>5425964
Yes, the villa has a basement.

>>5425967
Yes.

Going to head to bed.
>>
>>5425911
>Into the interior of the villa’s ground floor, maybe you can lose the soldiers for long enough in the maze of rooms.

Welcome to the rice fields
>>
>>5425929
>>5425938
>>5425964
>>5426047
Writing.
>>
>>5425909
> “Artesia, I’m going to carry you; hold on as tightly as you can.”
Did my dude just say 'Artesia' in front of Elena?
>>
>>5426081
They all switched back to using their old names as soon as there was a serious crisis, it's panic and habit. You'll spot a lot of Felix and Casval again as well.
>>
“Further into the villa!’ You yell, firing another couple of shots down the hallway to the courtyard, and then waving for the others to follow you, “They know we’re here, the garage is no good!”

You lay down another few shots, rifle pressing into your shoulder with every barking crack of thunder as you put more rounds down range at steady pace - The noise and concussion are still horrendous, every muzzle blast tearing at your awareness of your surroundings, but you manage to keep the suppressing fire vaguely accurate and take chips of stone off the stone wall and floor of the distant courtyard hallway entrance. Those soldiers aren’t going to be moving for at least a few seconds.

Casval hustles behind and past you carrying Artesia, heading deeper into the house, Elena trailing behind them. You fire one last shot and bolt from your position, legs pumping as you sprint to join them in the next room. It’s one of the living rooms. Bullet impact marks stitch unevenly over the walls and furniture, spent brass scattered about here and there. There are a pair of slain staff members and a dead guard near the coffee table, you’ve known them all for a couple of years now and you avoid looking at their lifeless faces as you move to your brother’s side - You can’t take much more of this, the noise and death and pain, it’s… it’s just too much.

A trio of beautifully carved wooden doors with a few more bullet holes than they had earlier, one on each side of the room you didn’t come from, lead off into three adjacent areas; a dining room, the library, and the drawing room you were in earlier tonight. The drawing room is no good, it’s closer to the courtyard. There are still occasional reports of gunfire heard heavily muffled through the walls, but the fighting elsewhere seems to be almost totally over.

“Felix, why… why aren’t we leaving?” Elena asks, sobbing, her awkward grip on the large rifle white knuckled and tight with fear, “I don’t want to stay here!”

“We just have to hide, we’ll be fine! They don’t have much time left!” You say, trying to sound confident, though it comes out a bit shaky. She shakes her, wide eyed with fear, but doesn’t argue.

“Felix, we should go to the dining room!” Your brother says, pointing to the door with the handgun and already on his way over to it. Bullet impact marks stitch unevenly over the walls and furniture, spent brass scattered about here and there.

“There’s no cover in there, Casval, it's just a table!” You say, not really meaning to argue but unsure of what he’s planning.

“It goes into the kitchens!” He replies, grunting with effort as he adjusts his hold on Artesia for a moment, “It’s the best place to hide.”

“Kitchens? Why - Oh!” You say, realizing he must intend to go to the basement, “That might work!”
>>
>>5426086

You open the already slightly ajar door to the dining room and peer inside, only to be greeted by gunfire from a pair of soldiers already approaching the door with their rifles raised. You hit the ground, diving down out of pure survival instinct, and Casval pulls off to the side and behind the safety of the stone wall separating the two rooms, firing off a couple of unaimed snapshots with his pistol. Elena screams in pain, stumbling off to the side with your brother. Bullets whizz overhead, passing through just where you were standing a moment ago - You'd be very dead if you hadn't dropped.

Dragging your rifle into position, rolling over just a bit so its low hanging curved magazine doesn’t catch on the floor, you fire until you're empty - which doesn’t take long, maybe half a second, considering the fact that you didn’t reload after shooting earlier. Most of your panicked burst goes wide, scattering harmlessly about the dining room interior, but one of the shots catches the lead soldier in his black helmet, almost tearing it from his head as it seems to sort of jump up and crumple, and he hits the floor with a thud - unmoving. The other soldier continues firing, pouring lead through the partially open doorway and splintering the wood of the door in a dozen places as his misses impact it, and you feel something hot and sharp impact along your left arm as you lie prone. The remaining soldier’s thunderous automatic fire falls silent for a moment, and he reaches for something on his vest…

>Roll into cover, reload, keep fighting with your rifle.
>Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!
>Close the door fully and pull back. Reload and try to head to the library.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5426089
>and he reaches for something on his vest…
He's going to throw a grenade, cover won't help and pistol supressive fire won't garantee he won't throw it while dying out of spite
>Close the door fully and pull back. Reload and try to head to the library.
We don't need to flee or defeat them, we just need to buy time until the saberfishes arrive.
>>
>>5426101
Or he might be going for the radio actually.
Switching to
>Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!
Can't let him tell our position
>>
>>5426089
Preferred: >Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!

Switching to your sidearm is faster than reloading. Hopefully we can get to the kitchen/basement.

Secondary vote: >Close the door fully and pull back. Reload and try to head to the library.
>>
>>5426089
>>Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!
>>
>>5426089
>Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!
>>
>>5426089
>>Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!
>>
>>5426089
>Switch to your pistol and don’t stop shooting!
Ah crap, this didn't go as well as I expected.
>>
>>5426106
>>5426122
>>5426134
>>5426138
>>5426149
>>5426160
"Remember - Switching to your pistol is always faster than reloading." Writing.
>>
I can't believe I woke up to this. This is so sick.
>>
You toss aside your rifle, send it clattering onto the wooden floor, and ignore the searing pain in your left arm as you twist into a position to draw your pistol - It’s out in a flash, and you level it at the remaining soldier. He’s trying to leap to his left, out of your line of fire, while shouting over his radio.

You fire.

“Targets are in the-” The soldier is interrupted as your first round impacts the hand clutching against the radio on his vest, blowing through flesh and electronics alike. He roars in pain and continues on his path - There’s no concealment in the room except the long dining table, and the only cover is the stone wall separating both of your rooms.

You fire again, and again, and again, pulling the trigger of your pistol as quickly as you can - There are a few barely perceptible rippling impacts against the man’s dark ballistic vest, but most of your shots miss wildly as the man disappears fully out of sight. Crying out, you kick forward with your legs, sort of awkwardly flop into the dining room, carrying on your onslaught despite the horrible pain flaring in your side and arm as you make the sudden jerking leap into the room.

The bloodied soldier is trying to draw his sidearm with his uninjured hand, his rifle discarded on the ground, but another thundercrack from your pistol hits him a few inches below the bottom of his vest - He falls at an awkward angle, his legs still moving in panicked spasms but unable to support his weight, hitting the ground hard on his back and shouting curses as he continues to draw his handgun. In a final barrage of panicked fire you shoot again, and again, and again - and the slide of your pistol locks open, empty. The soldier gets off a single shot.

The gunfire stops.

You blink and exhale, realizing that you’re still alive - not that the pain in your arm and side are going to let your forget that any time soon. Stumbling, gasping in pain, you stand and look over the soldier. He isn’t moving anymore, blood pooling rapidly from his lower body. …The shots must have gone up and under his vest after he fell down, traveling lengthwise up his torso to who knows what… A cold chill runs through you; that could easily have been you. In fact it could have more easily been you, you don't even have armor - If the wrong door opens your whole life could end in just a few seconds, years and years of living leading to… this.
>>
>>5426235

You shake the thought from your mind, reload your pistol, and turn back to check on Elena and your siblings; Casval is crouched near Elena, who is laying on the ground and clutching at a bleeding spot on her green jacket, on her chest just below her shoulder, whimpering in pain. The large rifle lays nearby, dropped.

“Mom, help… It hurts…” Elena sobs in confusion and fear.

Artesia is bawling, speaking incoherently as Casval still carries her, his pistol in hand even as he looks over Elena.

This is all going wrong.

You hurry over and try to comfort her as you get a better look at the wound, “Elena, it’s.. it's going to alright! Keep pressure on that.”

It’s hard to tell how bad it really is - there’s a lot of blood - but until a few minutes ago you had no real experience with gunshot wounds. You only know some very basic first aid... This just isn’t the same.

You lean down and get and arm around Elena, under her arms, “Come on, Elena, we need to go, there’s going to be more coming!”

“I can’t!” She cries… but she’s staggering to her feet anyways, apparently stronger than she feels.

The next half minute is a blur of pained cries and awkward movement, Casval carrying Artesia as you support Elena; you make it to the large kitchen of the villa, apparently the site of a very intense firefight judging by the number of holes in the appliances and pots and pans... and the two dead cooks - one of whom had a shotgun for some reason - slumped in a corner together.

The basement entrance isn’t far now - it’s really more of a makeshift wine cellar in a lot of ways - and you clumsily open the door to it and head down the ancient stone steps. Elena almost slips but you manage to steady her. Casval follows up behind you and closes the door.

The radio you took crackles to life, badly garbled as you go deeper into the 'basement', the woman from before speaking, “Thi… kyrie… eams… get to… yard… fil… diately… saber… ter than command expe…”

The basement is dark, and very poorly lit. Only a few dim bulbs illuminate the area, casting deep shadows between the rows of wine racks and arching stone supports - It goes on much further past the wine racks though, and you carry on deeper in until you’re well out of sight of the stairs to the kitchen. You set Elena down in one of the better lit areas, resting her against one of the pillars of the stone arches holding up the ceiling, and Casval sets Artesia down nearby. For all that’s gone wrong at least your sister is unharmed, and nobody is dead.

Yet.

Finally stopping to get a better look at your arm it's clear a bullet with through both sides at a slight angle - You can still move all of your fingers, and bend everything fine, but it hurts - like somebody took a few swings at you with a bat - and blood is steadily pumping from it. You don’t have any medical equipment…
>>
>>5426237

>Ignore your own wounds for now and try to treat Elena’s, she seems to be handling her injuries a lot worse than you. It might be very serious.
>Attempt to treat your own wounds first, and then Elena’s. You’re starting to feel a little light headed now that the shooting has stopped and the adrenaline is slowly wearing off…
>Write-in.

Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically in order of your preference; if your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you wish to combine options (such as tacking on a write-in) please try to make that clear.
>>
>>5426241
>>Attempt to treat your own wounds first, and then Elena’s. You’re starting to feel a little light headed now that the shooting has stopped and the adrenaline is slowly wearing off…
>>
>>5426241
>Ignore your own wounds for now and try to treat Elena’s, she seems to be handling her injuries a lot worse than you. It might be very serious.
If we were the only two here then I would say treat our own first, but there are others here who can treat us, so I say treat the potentially more serious injury first.
>>
>>5426241
>Write-in
>Use anything you can to stop your own bleeding while you treat her wounds as well.
Second option:
>Ignore your own wounds for now and try to treat Elena’s, she seems to be handling her injuries a lot worse than you. It might be very serious.
>>
>>5426245
This is just the second option. Both involve trying to treat both of us, this is just to see who to treat first
>>
>>5426245
*slow down
We can't completely stop the bleeding, not now at least.

>>5426246
That's fair. I just wanted to see if we could slow down our bleeding while putting most our focus on Elena.
>>
>>5426247
Sure

>>5426244
Making “slow down our bleeding while focusing on Elena” my secondary
>>
>Ignore your own wounds for now and try to treat Elena’s, she seems to be handling her injuries a lot worse than you. It might be very serious.
>>
>>5426241
>>Attempt to treat your own wounds first, and then Elena’s. You’re starting to feel a little light headed now that the shooting has stopped and the adrenaline is slowly wearing off…
>>
>>5426241
>Elena's wound first
>Our wound second
She got shot in a far worse spot that we did, there's no major bleed out and die in seconds arteries in our flanks or arms but there certainly is one in your shoulder.
>>
>>5426241
>Ignore your own wounds for now and try to treat Elena’s, she seems to be handling her injuries a lot worse than you. It might be very serious.
>>
I wonder if this whole experience will scare Elena off, or only make her torch grow brighter from us being her knight in shining armor if she survives
>>
>>5426273
...oh shit.

>>5426241
Changing my vote to
>Ignore your own wounds for now and try to treat Elena’s, she seems to be handling her injuries a lot worse than you. It might be very serious.
No time to stop our own bleeding for now, focus on Elena.
>>
>>5426279
Unironically, get some cheese cloth and jam our thumb in the bullet hole until the feddies get here and hopefully treat us. Pressure is king when it comes to slowing bleeds and even major leaks from an artery can be slowed for several minutes.
>>
We can probably do both at the same time as long as Cas doesn't have any major injuries. While holding our wounded arm at heart level Cas should wrap it as tight as he can with anything he can find and apply continuous pressure. Simultaneously we can use our shirt or something to wrap around our thumb or finger and jam it in Elena's wound. It's going to hurt but that's preferable to exsanguination.
For future reference, I vote that we keep a CAT on us at all times along with a bleed kit and IFAK, regardless of our eventual position.
>>
>>5426310
Would it be worth looking for a potential hot water Reservoir / tank, so we can clean anything we use before hand.
>>
>>5426316
I wouldn't be too concerned with that at the moment, especially not with potential arterial bleeds. In character wise, I don't think it would even cross Felix's mind.
>>
>>5426310
Fully support this.
>>
>>5426310
To clarify, I'm not changing my vote on the order of events. Just explaining my reasoning and a potential solution.
>>
Back from classes. I'll start writing soon.

>>5426244
>>5426255
>>5426275
>>5426273
>>5426284
Elena first.

>>5426310
>>5426287
With this for a lot of the inspiration as to how + Casval helping your arm injury.
This was all great, anon.
>>
>>5426381
>Spoiler
Glad to help, though I'm sure some of what I mentioned is wrong at least for real world application. It's been a few years since I took a first aid/bleed class.
>>
>>5426388
All the better, I doubt an adrenaline filled shot up 13 year old treating a girl his age that he is somewhat close to would do a textbook job of it.
>>
>>5426390
Absolutely. The fact that Felix has held it together this long is impressive in of itself.
>>
>>5426388
It's pretty close to what I remember from the one I took as well; more than close enough for this kind of fiction.

>>5426390
Yeah, there's also that as a pretty big consideration.
>>
You close your eyes and exhale deeply, trying to steady your breathing and focus your mind as you start to come down from the adrenaline rush that’s been carrying you through this nightmare.

Elena. You need to treat her first.

...Maybe the doctors never taught you what to do about gunshot wounds, but you’ve learned some things about treating deep punctures - Could it really be all that different? You gulp, not wanting to consider that idea for long.

You open your eyes and crouch down by Elena, looking closely at her wound; she’s pressing a hand tightly up against it but that doesn’t seem to be doing much of anything to slow the bleeding.

“Casval…” You say uncertainly, a course of action slowly forming in your head, and you hold up your hand with your index finger and thumb spread out a little, “Casval, cut your shirt into a long strip about this wide, I need it to get Elena’s bleeding under control!”

Your brother doesn’t say anything as he springs into action, quickly removing his shirt and unsheathing his knife; he’s immediately at work cutting it up into something more manageable for wound packing. Not ideal, but you really, really don’t care right now.

While your brother is busy doing that you speak to Elena, trying to calm her down, “Elena. Elena, look at me. I’m going to try to help you, I need you to work with me, okay? You need to try and stay still - It’s going to hurt a lot but you're going to be okay. You're going to get through this.”

She nods, whimpering in pain and teary eyed, her pale face stricken with fear. Casval hands you the beginning of a long length of his cut up cotton shirt, and your hands shake a bit as you take it and wrap it a bit around the end of your thumb.

“Alright, here it goes. Elena… this is going to hurt, but you’ll be okay. You’re going to make it.” You say, hoping desperately that isn’t just a comforting lie as your eye’s lock with Elena’s for a moment.

Your hands shake a little as you start the process, pressing the tip of your thumb against her wound, and then pushing deep into the track. Elena screams and whimpers in pain, shaking a little with each push of your thumb, your off hand helping to feed in more of the cut up shirt to pack the deep, bloody wound. You grimace in discomfort as you keep pressure on the wound continuously, trying to let it up as little and for as short a time as possible as you keep going through the packing process, feeding in more of the shirt until you've done all that you can.
>>
>>5426413
Good bait and switch, I thought she was a Zabi spy tbf. But I'm still not sure if shes innocent.
>>
>>5426413

“Casval,” You say as you work, feeling a little light headed, “Can you do something about my arm?”

“What should I do?” He asks, absolutely focused.

“Take off your belt, tighten it hard above… above where my arm is bleeding. Very tight.” You explain, hoping you aren’t forgetting something critical, “And then I’m going to need you to do what I’m doing right now but on my arm. Loosen the belt when you’re done, lower it over the wound, and then tighten it again but… not as much. I’ll tell you if it’s too far.”

Hopefully that’ll work to keep pressure on it; unfortunately there isn’t going to be any similar recourse for Elena - Someone is going to need to stay with her for awhile due to the location of the gunshot.

“Got it,” Casval says, following your instructions and then slicing up the rest of his shirt. He gets to work as soon as you’re done packing Elena’s wound - You’re still keeping pressure on it with one hand, Elena helping as much as she can, her breathing unsteady and pained.

Damn that hurts. You wince and let out a few noises of discomfort as Casval treats your arm. After what feels like a small eternity it’s done, leaving only your side - the makeshift treatment you scrambled together earlier might have helped, it’s hard to really tell, but the handkerchief is thoroughly stained through with blood by now - as is most of your shirt.

…Medical treatment continues for another agonizing couple of minutes, but eventually it’s about as good as it’s going to get with your very limited equipment. The not bloodsoaked half of your shirt got cut up into more strips of cloth, which are lodged firmly in your side now and secured by your belt. Ouch.

“Casval, are… are we safe now?” Artesia asks weakly, sniffling a little but no longer crying.

“I think so, Artesia,” He replies, “I think so. Those soldiers should be gone.”

The radio has been quiet ever since you got this deep into the basement, but there’s really no telling who might still be up there. It sounded like they were going to leave minutes ago, but is it really worth the risk? Whatever the case, Elena needs more help than you can give her and she needs it very badly.

>”I’ll go and check, stay here with them, Casval.” You can walk, painfully, but it seems unlikely that you’re going to bleed to death anytime soon - your wounds weren’t nearly as bad as Elena’s. Casval is more capable of protecting them if something goes wrong.
>”Casval, go and check, I’ll stay here with them.” It’s time to rest. Stay in the basement and take care of Elena and Sayla while your brother handles things.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5426416
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically in order of your preference; if your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you wish to combine options (such as tacking on a write-in) please try to make that clear.
>>
>>5426416
>”Casval, go and check, I’ll stay here with them.” It’s time to rest. Stay in the basement and take care of Elena and Sayla while your brother handles things.
>Remember to give him the radio and a gun if he doesn't have any.
Casval can handle himself in a fight, but if we find someone in the state we're in we're pretty much done for.
>>
>>5426423
Support.

We should also ask Char to grab as much stuff as he can if the coast is clear. Any medical supplies, that one worker's shotgun, stuff like that. Anything to make us hunkering down till the Feddies get her more comfortable.
>>
>>5426416
>”Casval, go and check, I’ll stay here with them.” It’s time to rest. Stay in the basement and take care of Elena and Sayla while your brother handles things.
>Give him the radio
>>
>>5426423
Support. Felix needs a break.
>>
>>5426423
+1
>>
>>5426424
Absolutely, and we should prioritize him getting medical supplies. But if Casval can find the Feds, he should bring them to us before anything.
>>
>>5426423
+1
also reload our gun(s)
>>
>>5426433
It's so fucked we're someone who is ostensibly a Zeon, but the Federation our closest allies.
>>
>>5426438
Yeah, it is. And a fragile alliance at that, considering Jimba funded an anti-Federation terror group.
I just hope they remain too incompetent to connect the dots to us.
>>
>>5426442
>I just hope they remain too incompetent to connect the dots to us.
That's kind of a given, to be honest. "General Competence" and "Federation Soldier" are typically oxymorons.
>>
>>5426423
>>5426424
>>5426428
>>5426429
>>5426430
>>5426436
Writing.

>>5426444
General Incompetence is one of the highest ranking officers in the Federation army.
>>
“Casval, go and check, I’ll stay here with them.” You say, handing the radio over to your brother.

He takes it, looks it over briefly, and then nods, “I won’t be long.”

Looking a bit like a maniac, shirtless and with his hands and forearms smeared with drying blood, Casval heads off toward the stairs with pistol in hand. You stay behind, keeping pressure on Elena’s wound. She isn’t talking much anymore, mostly just whimpering occasionally in pain, but she’s still aware and responsive - That’s about the best you can hope for right now; there’s no telling how much blood she’s already lost. Artesia is curled up alongside Elena, arms crossed and shivering as she desperately tries to stay warm in the awful chill of the basement.

You need to get them both out of here as soon as your brother returns - Artesia’s likely to get much more sick at this rate and Elena needs a lot more than makeshift first aid.

A few minutes later.

You hold your pistol in your off hand as you hear the door to the basement open in the distance, disrupting the quiet of the dim, cold stone chamber.

“Elena? Elena!” A familiar voice calls out - It’s Georgi!

“Where’s she at? I can’t see anything down here…” Another man asks, but you don’t recognize his voice.

“They’re over there by the pillar!” Your brother calls out, and soon enough you can see the trio as they pass beyond the intervening wine racks. The other man is one of the doctors from the camp, you think his name is Stewart or… or something like that. You can’t help but laugh, a wave of absolute relief washing over you - or maybe it’s just nerves - You’re going to make it!
>>
>>5426485

A few days later, in the medical compound at the camp.

The last few days have been a haze of events, pain medication blurring things together somewhat. Georgi and Stewart, joined by several others from the camp, got the four of you out of the villa and to proper medical treatment. They had come running as soon as the chaos at the villa began, hearing the gunfire from down below at the camp - Georgi is apparently the type of father willing to run into gunfire, and the doctors are apparently the types to do so for strangers. It’s reassuring to know that they’re taking care of you.

You’re currently resting on a bed in one of the old surplus military medical buildings at the compound, and your wounds have been properly treated. Curtains on either side separate your bed from Elena’s and your sister’s, both of whom are doing better.

Elena almost died - According to Stewart if the bleeding had gone on unchecked for even a couple minutes longer there wouldn’t have been much that could have been done for her. As it is she barely survived thanks to a pretty large blood transfusion and emergency surgery - It’s fortunate that a few surgeons are on staff at the compound. She was originally in a different building but asked to be moved to yours, and Georgi apparently wasn't willing to argue.

Sayla is on a path to recovering from Sahara fever, though the shocks of the attack seem to have set that back a bit; the doctors are confident she's going to be fine though.

Teabolo is also alive, though barely; he was shot and fell from a third story window - He’s in another building, and when you last saw him this morning he was a mess of casts and bandages but able to talk; in fact he was already back to dealing with business… though it sounded rather grim, dealing with a significant number of funerals and compensation for the families of the staff and bodyguards. Jimba’s funeral is tomorrow, you’re not expected to be there due to your injuries.

Your brother, whom you’re once again calling Édouard, has barely left your side, sleeping in one of the unused beds at the compound the last few nights. The doctors don’t want you to move much for the next few days, and so you've gotten a lot of bed rest. There hasn’t been much to do except talk with the others and occasionally get pestered by the veritable horde of police and federation inspectors who have flocked to the area around the villa to investigate the attack's aftermath. They’ve been asking all sorts of questions, and…

>You’ve told them the whole truth.
>Told them that the Zabis were responsible for the attack!
>Told them nothing other than a vague description of the attack.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5426493
>Told them that the Zabis were responsible for the attack!
>>
>>5426493
>Told them that the Zabis were responsible for the attack!
Jimba would be proud.
>>
>>5426493
>Told them nothing other than a vague description of the attack.
NEED TO KNOW BASIS. Only people that know we're Deikun's can know the Zabis did this.
>>
>>5426493
>Told them that they were some sort of Federation impostors, given they wore what looked like Federation gear but talked over their radio about fleeing a Federation response
I don't want to come out and say they are Zabis without evidence, that's just going to raise questions we don't want to answer. However, we can lead suspicion on the Zabis indirectly
>>
>>5426496
>>5426497
Telling them the Zabis did it brings undue suspicion on us, and might not even be correct.
>>
>>5426493
Changing my vote to this >>5426499

>>5426501
You're right, though I don't want to let whoever did this think we're scared of them by being vague about the attacks.
>>
>>5426498
Support
>>
>>5426501
>>5426499
True, we don't have any direct evidence it was actually the Zabis.
I'll change my vote >>5426496
And support
>>5426499
>>
>>5426499
>>5426493
>>Told them that they were some sort of Federation impostors, given they wore what looked like Federation gear but talked over their radio about fleeing a Federation response
supporting
>>
>>5426499
Support
>>
>>5426499
This is good.

The radio was key and frankly theres alot of dead zeeks here for the feddies to look over.
>>
>>5426493
>Told them that the Zabis were responsible for the attack!
>>
>>5426499
>>5426505
>>5426507
>>5426509
>>5426511
>>5426512
Writing.
>>
>>5426493
>Told them that the Zabis were responsible for the attack!

THE ZABI'S DID IT. Its why they killed JIMBA!
>>
A Federation inspector sits on a metal chair just to the side of your bed, a big fake grin spread across his thin face. He’s young, maybe in his mid twenties, and slick looking. His short black hair is carefully groomed, and he wears a classic looking tan trench coat that looks like it’s never actually been used in foul weather, a crisp white dress shirt, and a black tie and pants - a real detective’s detective, at least in appearance. He introduced himself as ‘Inspector Ward’ when he entered your curtained off section of the room a little bit ago, waking you up from a rather pleasant nap and setting a pretty bad start to the interview.

“How’s it going, champ?” He asks, “You mind if I ask a question or two?”

“You just did,” You reply dryly, not sure what to make of the man, “...go ahead and ask.”

“Thanks, kid, I know this must be real hard. Awful business, right?” He says, shaking his head a little too much.

You nod, narrowing your eyes. He produces a black pen and small yellow notepad from inside his jacket, tests the pen with a little scribble, and then looks back up to you with that same obviously fake smile from before.

“So,” He starts, “Can you tell me about what happened at that villa up there?”

“It’s our house.” You answer, “...We got attacked by men pretending to be Federation soldiers.”

His dark eyebrows raise a little, “Pretending to be Federation soldiers? How’d you figure that?”

“They wore Federation gear and used Federation guns, but they talked on the radio about needing to leave before a Federation response showed up. So they probably aren’t Federation.” You lay out your reasoning bluntly, not really having time for this. You’d rather be sleeping, even with the pain meds there’s still an uncomfortable almost constant ache in your arm and side.

“Huh. Say, how old are you, kid?” Ward asks, it now being his turn to narrow his eyes. He writes down a few things but doesn’t take his eyes off you.

“My name’s Maxime.” You answer, “I’m thirteen. Shouldn’t you already know this? I heard you talking to my sister earlier.”

“Eh, her?” He asks, motiong with a little movement of his head to Sayla’s side of the room, “Nah, she didn’t want to say too much. Seemed real torn up about everything. You… uh, you don’t.”

“...I’m just tired,” You lie, his words stinging a little; you feel a surge of resentment toward the man but resist the urge to lash out. It won’t do any good. The events of the attack keep replaying in your head whenever you’re awake, it’s difficult to think of much else, and it’s given you a bit of a surly edge… but mostly with strangers, and it’s gotten better from even a day ago.

“Yeah, sure thing. You like the army, Max?” He questions, scribbling down a few notes.

“What?” You ask, a bit confused.
>>
>>5426626

“See, your girlfriend over there said you did some real hero stuff,” Ward points back over his shoulder with a thumb in the direction of the curtain separating Elena’s part of the room off, “Said you took out some of the attackers, fought them off - That true?”

“I… I killed a few of them.” You answer, ignoring the ‘girlfriend’ comment for the moment, or the fact that he definitely should have known your name after talking with Elena. You feel a mix of pride and disgust as the memories play through your mind; you don’t regret doing what you did, but you do regret that it happened. It’s a messy kind of feeling; you hate it.

He grimaces, looking distinctly less fake for once, but then regains his sort of fake levity, “That’s rough, Max, real rough, but you did good. Not hard to see why though, she’s a cute one, eh? No wonder you acted like a soldier.”

“Are you going to just keep asking questions until the end of time? I was trying to sleep.” You snap, something about Ward just really pissing you off.

“Look, Max, buddy, it’s real important I get all this down, okay?” He says, feigning an apologetic tone, “How about we run through a timeline, alright? Start to finish.”

>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.
>”Will you leave if I just write down what happened? I don’t want to talk about it.” Same vague details.
>”No. Talk to Teabolo, he’ll tell you what happened.” Hopefully this guy will get out of your hair and let you sleep.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5426630
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically in order of your preference; if your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you wish to combine options (such as tacking on a write-in) please try to make that clear.
>>
>>5426630
>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.
>>
>>5426630
>>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.

And if he asks, remember to note that we had supervised weapons training with a security officer who was ex-fed SF. Ask if Jones made it.
>>
>>5426630
>>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.
>”No. Talk to Teabolo, he’ll tell you what happened.” Hopefully this guy will get out of your hair and let you sleep.
>>
>>5426630
>>”No. Talk to Teabolo, he’ll tell you what happened.” Hopefully this guy will get out of your hair and let you sleep.
>>
>>5426630
>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.


Fucking knew it would raise tension between the Feds and spacenoids or atleast help stir the pot internally. Also sorry boss but we need the forbiden suit.
>>
>>5426723
I'm actually fairly curious how it work out of we formally enlisted in the Feddie military with our name in the open and all that.
>>
>no retarded and soulful names
fucking ruined
>>
>>5426630
>Ask for his detective credentials, or something to confirm he's who he says he is.
>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.
We should ask if he has some sort of identification before talking about anything, don't want to be talking to a Zabi spy about all of this.
>>
>>5426811
And if he can't provide any, we probably shouldn't tell him anything and go with the second option.
>>
>>5426630
>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.
>>
>>5426640
Support
RIP Jones
>>
>>5426630
>>”No. Talk to Teabolo, he’ll tell you what happened.” Hopefully this guy will get out of your hair and let you sleep.
>>
>>5426630
>>Explain things but without key names or motivations. No Jimba, no Zabi revenge, nothing but a timeline of the attack from your time atop the west tower to the end in the basement.

Second choice:
>”Will you leave if I just write down what happened? I don’t want to talk about it.” Same vague details.
>>
>>5426636
>>5426640
>>5426643
>>5426723
>>5426811
>>5426830
>>5426872
Writing.
>>
“Fine. Can I see some ID first?” You ask, a sudden suspicion creeping up on you - He’s never actually proven he’s an inspector.

Ward chuckles, reaching into his tan trench coat and produces a badge and ID card, “Sure thing, Max. Feel a little better now?”

You squint at the ID and nod. It… looks official, though to be honest you really don’t know what to look for. It has his full name, ‘Polos Ward’, his rank of Inspector, an ID number, and a number of lines of banal information that probably makes bureaucrats giddy. He looks a bit younger in the photo, but it’s definitely Ward.

“Alright.” You say, “From the start?”

A few minutes later.

The Inspector has been busy writing down notes the entire time you’ve been talking, occasionally asking clarifying questions - a few of which you had to pretty much stonewall - but otherwise he's letting you tell your story of events. At one point you ask if Jones survived, and the Inspector confirms that he did. Apparently he hasn’t been willing to answer any questions at all. Eventually you reach the end of the attack, and Ward stops talking for a bit to make some final notes.

Ward looks up from his little notepad, a glint in his eye, “Alright, Max, that'll do it for today, I think. You’ve been a real help.”

You sigh, “For today?”

“Oh come on, kid, it’s not so bad. I just mean that I might be back if there’s anything that needs to be confirmed. It probably won’t happen, honest.” He says, “I’ll be getting this right back to the office in Seville, we’ll have people after these terrorist guys in no time.”

“...Terrorists?” You question, trying not to give away too much.

“Mm, yeah, it’s what they sure do sound like. Black uniforms and rifles, military talk on their radios, a helicopter? That’s some serious stuff, Max. Don’t worry about it too much though, you did good.” He says, that big fake smile spreading again, “Thanks for the help, kid. I’ll be seeing you around.”

He stands up from the metal chair, puts away his little notepad and pen, gives you a small nod and then walks off. You hear the automatic door hiss open and then shut a little bit later. You sigh in relief, glad that’s over with, and try to go back to sleep.
>>
>>5426899

The next day.

Today is Jimba’s funeral.

Well, actually it's more of just a burial, though there are a few proper funerals happening at the same time for some of the others killed in the attack. Most of the bodies of the staff and guards have already been sent off to their families, wherever they live, but a number of the villa’s workers were locals… and Jimba doesn’t really have family any more. You wonder sometimes what’s become of Ramba, you haven’t heard from him since he helped smuggle you off Munzo. Hamon as well. Are they even still alive up there?

You aren’t expected to attend the burial due to your injuries - at least that’s what Georgi relayed to you from Teabolo - though of course he won’t be going either. Teabolo’s just trying to put him in the dirt and be done with it, though you know he would never admit to that out loud. He’s too kind, but even he has his limits. The attack wasn’t Jimba’s fault in a strict sense, it seems like the Zabis probably ordered it, but he definitely invited it with his actions…

Honestly you’re not sure how to feel about it all. Jimba was deteriorating, getting unstable, and you know he was absolutely miserable down here on earth... but at the same time it hurts to know that he’s gone and that he went out in such an awful way. Gunned down like a dog, didn’t even get a shot off. He didn’t deserve that. As much as his rants may have annoyed and concerned you, you understood where he was coming from with them; his urge for revenge for what happened to his family.

What you really miss are the old days though, the old Jimba, from before your father’s death; the one who was almost like a grandfather at times… He’s been gone for years now though.

>Go to the burial.
>Don’t go.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5426902
>Go to the burial.
Respect uncle.
Ward probably called them terrorists to not reveal his hunch to a kid, no reason to blame the Zabis or feedy incopetence, but it just made me think that there is a chance it was the group Jimba was funding that did this to silence him once he stopped.
I'm probably just shadowrunning though.
>>
>>5426902
>Go to the burial.
Also, we should probably say some words to Elena before we go, we don't know how her state of mind is. And invite Casval, this could be a good chance to talk to him.
>>
>>5426906
Yeah we should.
Also I'm worried if Elena told Ward about our real names or not. We should probably tell her and Georgi, and only them, about our past. They did end up getting dragged into it.
>>
>>5426914
Agreed. Though we can't be too snappy about it with her, since she's probably traumatized from the whole incident. Think we should invite her to the funeral too?
>>
>>5426906
Seconded.
>>
>>5426906
this
>>
>>5426906
Support
>>
>>5426904
>>5426906
>>5426921
>>5426935
>>5426938
Writing.
>>
>>5426938
>>5426935
>>5426921
>>5426906
>>5426904

It’s obvious that you’re not expected to go, no one is, but it just wouldn’t sit right with you to let Jimba be buried with no one there except some strangers Teabolo hired. There’s no one else that knew him available to attend; Ramba may not even be alive and almost all of Jimba’s old acquaintances and business contacts abandoned him after your father died and the Zabis took control of Munzo - even if some did want to come there’s no way they could make it on such short notice, mostly being up in the Sides. It still feels wrong though.

Sayla would probably want to go, but even as far on the road to recovery as she is she’s probably still too sick for it; the weather’s gotten uncharacteristically cold for Andalucia, even for January. Casval will probably be there, you haven't seen him all morning.

You stop by Elena on your way out of the building you’ve been staying in, entering her curtained off area of the room. There’s a bit of medical monitoring equipment here and there, but you know that at this point she’s more or less fine beyond a need to rest and heal.

“Heya, Max.” She greets you softly, barely opening her green eyes as she lays back against a small pile of pillows at the back of her bed. Her long red hair is a bit messy, and she brushes a strand from her face, smiling.

“Hey, Elena.” You respond, “I’m about to head off, but I’ve got a few minutes and thought I’d check in. How are you feeling?”

“A little better now,” She says coyly, setting down a small green book she was reading and sitting up a little more.

“Is that so?” You ask, raising an eyebrow as your approach to stand along her bedside

“Mhm,” She responds with playful smugness, but her expression then darkens the longer her gaze lingers on you, “We… we’ve barely spoken since…”

“Do you want to talk about it?” You ask. The two of you have spoken a bit, but compared to Sayla or your brother it's been practically nothing. Elena hasn’t talked about the attack at all with you.

“...No. Not really. That man made me yesterday but I hated it.” She says, shaking her head just a bit, “...But… uhm, thank you, Max. I’d be… I wouldn’t be here, if you didn’t…”

“It’s okay, Elena.” You say, reaching out and holding her hand, “I’m just sorry that it happened, you shouldn’t have gotten caught in the middle of all of it…”

>”...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserve to know the truth.”
>”...We should talk about something else though. What’s that book you’re reading?”
>”...I should go, Jimba's burial is today. I’ll be back in a few hours though.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5426977
>”...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserve to know the truth.”

Make sure she knows how important it is to keep quiet about it, though.
>>
>>5426977
>”...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserve to know the truth.”

We gotta make her promise she won't tell anyone.
>>
>>5426977
>>5426978
Supporting. She's part of this now, and a possible target of whoever is trying to kill us. Though we should still be gentle about it, don't want her to be overwhelmed about the situation.
>>
>>5426977
>”...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserve to know the truth.”
>We should make sure no one hears this first
>>
>>5426977
>>”...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserve to know the truth.”
>>
>>5426977
>>”...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserve to know the truth.”
>>
>>5426978
>>5426980
>>5426982
>>5426984
>>5426985
>>5426986
Writing.
>>
You trail off for a moment, considering the gravity of what you’re about to reveal, and then go through with it anyways, “...I actually wanted to talk about why it happened. You deserved to know the truth.”

“...The truth?” Elena asks curiously, sitting up a little more. You nod, let go of her hand and sit down in the metal chair nearby. This is going to take awhile.

“My name isn’t Maxime,” You say, the words sounding strange to your ears, “It’s Felix Zos Deikun.”

“Well, I already knew… wait, Deikun?” Elena asks, her eyes widening, “As in Zeon Zum Deikun?

“Quiet, quiet!” You say glancing about a little, you don’t hear footsteps but years of practice have made you hyper aware of the risks of speaking so freely, “Yes, he was my father. Teabolo adopted us.”

“Woah.” Elena says, shocked almost into speechlessness for a few moments, “...so you are a spacenoid, I thought I had you figured out, I just… I didn’t expect that.”

“You can’t tell anyone, Elena, the more people who know the more dangerous it is.” You caution her, trying to get the severity of what you’re saying across, “We’ve been in hiding for the last three and a half years - It’s important that people just think we’re missing or dead. …In fact it’s better if no one thinks about us at all.”

“...Hiding from who?” She asks, tilting her head ever so slightly in confusion.

“The Zabis.” You answer, almost spitting out the name, “They poisoned my father to take power, and tried to imprison us. We barely escaped. My… my mother wasn’t able to come with us.”

Elena takes your hand again, her eyes sorrowful, “Max… Felix, I… I’m so sorry.”

“They’ve probably known we’ve been here for a while now, at least half a year,” You continue, finding the words easier to say with every passing moment, “But they didn’t do anything until now. Jimba… made a move against them.”

You’re still making some assumptions about who it was behind the attack, but it makes the most sense that it would be the Zabis… probably.

“...Wait… No, no, you can’t be serious,” Elena says, some realization suddenly hitting her, “Jimba wasn’t involved in that stadium thing, was he? It was all over the news a week ago, dad was really worried a war might start.”

“He funded it.” You say, “None of us knew he was doing it until the news broke, I only got him to admit to it by chance while I was visiting him.”

Elena goes even more pale than usual, “They aren’t going to attack again, are they?”

You shake your head, “I don’t know, Elena. I keep thinking about it whenever the door opens.”

Her grip on your hand tightens a little, and she starts to get out of bed, “Oh god, I have to tell dad.”
>>
>>5427026

>”Only him, Elena. Not another soul after that.” Georgi might be trustworthy enough to keep quiet.
>”No, Elena, no one else; not your dad, not your mom - No one. Please, it’s for your own good.”
>”Not now, Elena. I’ll tell him myself when I’m back from the burial.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5427027
>”Not now, Elena. I’ll tell him myself when I’m back from the burial.”

Make sure that we take her with us when we tell Georgi.
>>
>>5427027
>”No, Elena, no one else; not your dad, not your mom - No one. Please, it’s for your own good.”
>>
>>5427027
>Write-in
>"We'll tell him together after I go to the burial."
>>
>>5427027
>”No, Elena, no one else; not your dad, not your mom - No one. Please, it’s for your own good.”
Already this was looking to be a mistake. Zero (0) people outside of immediate family (and Teabolo) should've known, not even anon's current waifu.
>>
>>5427036
Georgi is the type of man that will go towards sounds of gunfire to save his daughter. He might react negatively and forbid us from ever interacting with Elena. It's possible he might even send us to the Zabis if he thinks it'll protect her.
I think we can convince him to keep it secret if we and Elena go together, she can pressure him into not revealing who we are.
But its still a risk, and I'm willing to change my vote if there's too much of a chance for the situation to go wrong.
>>
>>5427026
I just wanted to tell her we were Deikun
Well in for a penny in for a pound
>>5427036
>>5427030
Support
>>
>>5427027
>>”No, Elena, no one else; not your dad, not your mom - No one. Please, it’s for your own good.”
>>
>>5427036
>>5427027
Adding to my vote
>"We'll tell him together after I go to the burial."
>Invite her to the burial.
If we're going to tell Georgi we really should invite her to come with us, she might panic if she's alone and tell Georgi the truth while we're gone.
>>
>>5427036
+1
>>
>>5427034
>>5427040
>>5427044
No one else.

>>5427030
>>5427036
>>5427043
>>5427076
Tell Georgi.

Writing.
>>
“Elena, wait.” You say while standing up, partially blocking her from getting out of bed, “We’ll tell him together after I go to the burial.”

She furrows her brow, looking conflicted and worried, and sighs and settles back into bed, “Alright… Felix, but you’d better mean it.”

“Of course I mean it, Elena… and you can still call me Max, if you want, I’ve gotten used to it for a long time now,” You say, feeling a rush of relief.

“It sounds better.” She says, but then a mischievous smirk slowly spreads across her face, “That does ruin my plans to loudly call you Felix in public though.”

“Elena, that isn’t funny.” You half-heartedly scold, well aware she’s just messing with you.

“It’s a little funny.” She says, that dumb smirk of hers stubbornly staying put. It’s sort of cute; she’s acting a bit more like she did prior to the attack.

You roll your eyes, not worried in the slightest that she’d do something that dumb, “Stay here for now, it probably won’t be more than a few hours. I’ll come get you as soon as I’m back.”

“Is Sayla awake over there?” Elena asks, the odd question catching you a bit off guard.

“Uhm, maybe? I can check.” You offer.

“No, no, I’ll do it myself. You should get going.” Elena says, suddenly seeming eager to wave you away.

“...Why?” You ask, drawing the word out and suddenly very suspicious.

“Oh, nothing, in particular,” Elena says, a mischievous glint in her eyes. You try not to think too hard about what she means by that and depart.
>>
>>5427209

A few hours later.

You found someone in the compound willing to drive you up to the villa to get some appropriate clothes, and then to the burial itself. Casval joined you, as you expected he would, along with a very battered and shot up Jones; he’s sporting a lot more bandages than you, and a broken nose, but not only did he manage to survive he’s actually still performing his job as a guard. The dedication is admirable, if a bit alarming.

It began snowing as the car drove along to the burial site, the unusually cold weather bringing with it dark and heavy clouds.

You now find yourself in a graveyard near one of the churches in the area. It's a very ancient stone building of mixed moorish and catholic architecture, and it has long since ceased use as a place of worship. The graveyard you’re in nearby to the church, on the other hand, is still very much in use and the plots and headstones stretch on for quite a ways up and over a hill in the distance. There are a few leafless trees here and there casting deep shadows, and the falling snow has brought a gloomy, melancholic atmosphere to it all.

Other than you and Casval, and the lurking shadow that is Jones, there is no one else here for the burial besides the men working the machinery to place Jimba’s coffin in its grave. A priest, or maybe it's just a local official of some kind, says a few platitudes about passing on from this life and resting in peace or some such, and then the men get to work… it’s very soulless and empty, and you don’t feel any better at all once the whole affair is done. This isn’t what he would have wanted, being buried in some random plot with barely a stone marker, bound in earth forever by strangers he never met, but you didn’t get a say in the matter.

…He should have been sent back into space. Earth isn’t where he belongs.
>>
>>5427212

An hour later.

You exit the car and out into the snow covered medical compound alongside your brother, your arm and side aching once again from even this limited activity, and Jones exits the car’s passenger seat and thanks the driver; the car then drives off a ways, parking elsewhere in the compound.

“I’ll be nearby if you need me.” Jones says, nodding to both of you and heading off to one of the medical buildings. It’s honestly a miracle the man is still as mobile as he is, he really must have gotten chewed up in that fighting but other than a slight limp and his broken nose it’s difficult to tell. He hides his pain well.

“Casval, there’s something you need to know.” You say, turning to your brother.

“We should be using our other names, Maxime.” He replies, scanning over the area.

You wince just slightly at the stupid mistake, but there was no one around to hear it, “There’s something important I need to tell you, Édouard... I told Elena about who we are, and why the attack happened.”

“I thought we did things together, Maxime.” Your brother says, narrowing his eyes at you.

“It was just something I said in the moment, I thought she deserved to know about things since she got caught up in the middle of the attack.” You try to explain, “She almost died, I thought she should at least know why.”

Édouard looks at you disappointedly, “That was very foolish. You haven’t told anyone else, have you?”

“No, but I was going to take Elena with me to speak with Georgi about it. I wanted you to know before I did that.”

Édouard crosses his arms as he warns you, “Not another soul beyond them, Maxime. The Zabis already know we’re here, and they’re willing to strike at us. Anyone who knows who we are could be hunted.”

“I know.” You answer, already well aware of the stakes.

>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
>”Maybe it was foolish, but don’t you think she deserved to know anyways?” Stand your ground.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5427215
>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
Talk with Georgi first, and then talk with Teabolo about leaving.

TIME FOR TEXAS
>>
>>5427215
>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
>>
>>5427215
>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
>>
>>5427215
>”Maybe it was foolish, but don’t you think she deserved to know anyways?” Stand your ground.
>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>>
>>5427215
>”Maybe it was foolish, but don’t you think she deserved to know anyways?” Stand your ground.
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
Taking Casval is probably a bad idea, an argument might start between him and Georgi.
>>
>>5427227
>an argument might start between him and Georgi
How?
>>
>>5427229
Well, Casval seems to be more about keeping our identities a secret. Georgi might want to immediately inform the Federation of the stakes and of who we are. My hope was that with Elena we could convince/pressure him that that wouldn't be the best plan, but Cas might be too aggressive and say something that may get on his nerves.
Of course, maybe I'm just overthinking it. But Georgi is a Fed civil servant and married to someone contracted by Anaheim.
>>
>>5427239
Char can be really aggressive, I'll give you that, but he's also silver tongued and understands people frighteningly well. I doubt he'd start (or escalate) anything.
>>
>>5427215
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
>”Maybe it was foolish, but don’t you think she deserved to know anyways?” Stand your ground.
>If the bleeding wasn't stopped she would have died brother. She deserved to know why.
>>
>>5427244
That's very true, almost forgot about that side of him.

>>5427215
>>5427227
Changing my vote to
>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
>>
>>5427239
Georgi works for an NGO that does charity work (this was only mentioned once waaay up thread); he isn't a civil servant but he deals with the Federation government constantly.
>>
>>5427260
Ah I see, thanks for clarifying QM!
>>
It'll probably be a couple of hours at least before I can start writing, I'll leave voting open until then.
>>
>>5427245
I'll change to
>”Will you come with us to talk with Georgi? I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”
>”...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”
>>
>>5427293
>>5427256
>>5427222
>>5427221
>>5427220
Writing.
>>
“Will you come with us to talk with Georgi?” You ask, “I think it would be better if you’re there, Édouard.”

“What’s done is done, Maxime.” Édouard answers, “She’d just tell him if we didn’t go - You know that, right?”

“I suspected as much.” You say, shrugging before looking at your brother apologetically, “I’m sorry I jumped the gun on this one though, I should have spoken with you about it first.”

“Together, right?” Édouard asks, extending a hand to you.

“Together.” You confirm, taking his hand and shaking firmly. After surviving a gunfight together, relatively small disputes like this just don’t feel like such a big deal anymore; a week ago this probably would have caused more of a rift.

“Is she still in the recovery building?” Édouard asks, looking past your shoulder to that section of the compound. The rate of snowfall is slowly increasing, a thin layer now built up across almost everything - It’s still obvious which buildings are which, but the blending of white and red buildings with white snow gives it all an odd uniformity.

“Last I knew she was getting ready to plot my downfall with Sayla,” You answer, grinning.

“Oh?” Édouard says, slightly amused, “They’re getting along well then.”

“They always have,” You confirm, starting the walk toward the building with your brother following alongside, “No reason to think it would stop now. If anything I expect them to get closer now that they can talk about things more freely.”

“Hopefully Sayla won’t get too attached.” Your brother says, “We can’t stay here for long - That goes for you as well, I’ve seen how Elena looks at you.”

“...Yeah, I know.” You reply, looking at the ground, “...We should probably talk with Teabolo about leaving, shouldn’t we? Things won’t get any safer while we’re here.”

“I’ve already spoken with him about it, he’s reaching out to a few friends for help.” Your brother admits, grinning mischievously, “I meant to tell you before I did it.”

“You’re a bastard.” You say, unable to stop yourself from chuckling as you shake your head, “You let me go through the whole apology routine and had that ready to drop still?”

“I’m sure you’ll recover from my stinging betrayal, Maxime.” He says wryly.
>>
>>5427455

A minute later.

The sliding door to the recovery building opens, a cold wind blowing behind you and Édouard as you enter the building, little flurries of snow following along until the door shuts once more. Walking deeper in, past the first two curtained off areas, you find Sayla and Elena sitting atop Sayla’s bed, playing cards. …You’re not sure what the game is exactly, the setup doesn’t seem familiar, but they’re both laser focused and silently placing and drawing cards in an odd pattern.

It’s good to see both of them acting more normal, it almost makes you forget the attack. Almost.

“Who’s winning?” You ask.

“She is,” Elena says, a little hint of annoyance in her voice as her eyes remain locked on her hand of cards, “...But I guess it’s time to go, isn’t it? That means it’s a draw.”

“Hey, that’s not how that works! I'm just about to win, you can at least concede.” Sayla protests, lowering her own hand of cards just a little too much.

Elena arches an eyebrow and practically sneers, “With that hand? I take back what I said.”

“Oh come on, that’s just cheating!” Sayla says, quickly pulling her hand back up. Too late.

“Draw?” Elena offers again, extending a hand in a teasing display of ‘sportsmanship’.

“...Draw.” Salya says with exasperation, accepting the handshake.

Elena gets up from the bed, her long legs swinging off and onto the ground, and she claps her hands together, “Well, that’s that then, Sayla. …You’re going with us, Édouard?”

“I am.” Édouard replies, crossing his arms.

“Well… That does make sense. Alright, just don’t talk too much?” Elena says, her playful attitude fading fast, “Dad is probably going to be really upset.”
>>
>>5427456

A few minutes later.

You grab the malfunctioning sliding door to Georgi’s little administrative building with your good arm and lean into trying to close it, careful not to strain yourself too badly - It doesn’t budge. A broken sliding door with no decent handles and unexpected freezing temperatures apparently don’t mix well. Your brother waves you out of the way and goes at it with both arms, much less constrained by the minor grazing wound he suffered, and manages to shut the door with a sudden thudding impact.

“Kids? Visiting so soon? Didn’t the doctors say to get more rest?” Georgi shouts from his office, “Or is that you, Khoi?”

“It’s us!” Elena shouts back before turning to you both and almost whispering, “Do you want to tell him or should I lead? I think I remember it mostly.”

“I’ll lead.” You offer, and she nods. The three of you then enter Georgi’s office and sit down - Elena brings in her office chair from her desk since Georgi’s room only has two for guests to sit in normally. Édouard makes sure the office door is fully closed before sitting.

“Tell me what?” Georgi immediately asks, his big bushy eyebrows raised, “That you’re all feeling much better but should get back to bed and rest more? Hmm? Because that’s the sort of thing I’d like to hear.

Elena rolls her eyes, “...And of course you heard us. No, dad, it isn’t that. Max?”

“It’s something very important, Georgi.” You say, your tone solemn.

“What, you’re dating or something?” He says, laughing, “Good, good, it’s about ti-”

Elena turns bright red and looks like she’s about to meld into her chair out of sheer embarrassment, “Dad!”

“No, sir, that’s… that’s not what we’re here about.” You say. People keep making that assumption about you and Elena and you’re not really sure how to feel about it yet, but now isn’t the time to sort through it.

“Eh, that would be a bit weird with your brother here, right? Ha! Good to see you too by the way, Édouard - I’ve been meaning to thank you again for what you did.” Georgi says, “...But uh, no, really though, what brought all three of you here then?”

And so you tell him.

He’s surprised at first, looking as if he’s ready to interject at any moment, but as you continue to recount your past he slowly leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, waiting until you finish.
>>
>>5427458

Georgi’s gaze is fixed on you and Édouard, his face almost unreadable as he finally speaks, “That is everything then, yes?”

“It is.” Édouard confirms.

“...We never had this conversation.” Georgi says, backing his chair up and standing to his full height, “You’re both Teabolo’s children and my daughter has only ever met you in passing. Elena was caught up in the attack purely by chance, and became more distant from you afterward. You don’t speak much anymore.”

“What?” You ask.

“You must understand, Felix, that I’ve done this sort of thing before.” Georgi says grimly, “...Though I thought it was behind me. I’m just jumping to the end here. You will cut ties with us, and we will pretend to have barely ever known you beyond some work you did for us in the camp - the things I can’t easily remove from our records.”

“Dad, no, you’re not…” Elena starts to protest but a stern glare from her father shuts her right down; you’re not used to seeing him this way, but his rough appearance suddenly… fits.

Édouard watches the scene unfold, remaining silent. …In fact he seems pleased with the outcome. He’d say something if he wasn’t.

“Elena, you will be moving back to the other building. If… if you wish to see him still that is fine, for short times - I don’t mean to be cruel to you - but you must understand that for this to work properly we must act like acquaintances at best. Do you understand?” Georgi says, his stern tone slowly growing pained.

“Y-yes, sir.” Elena says, voice quavering.

“Georgi, if you don’t mind me asking, what do you mean you’ve done this before?” You ask hesitantly, unable to move past that particular comment.

“I wasn’t involved in smuggling before this, and I never told you about it.” He says, scowling.

“Oh.”

“Yes, ‘Oh’. I’ll never speak of this with another soul. Now run back along, you all still need rest…” He shakes his head, sighing, “Maybe I do as well…”

>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
>”Georgi, we probably won’t be here for much longer - can we at least act normally until then?” A few weeks probably isn’t too great of a risk, right?
>”Georgi, please, there has to be something less drastic than this. We’ve known each other for years, I’ve come down to the camp so many times… You can’t really mean to just throw that away, right?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5427459
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically in order of your preference; if your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you wish to combine options (such as tacking on a write-in) please try to make that clear.

Also you're still going to talk with Teabolo, don't worry it isn't being dropped.
>>
>>5427459
Holy shit, Georgi was Jimba's weapons trafficker contact back in Zeon, wasn't he?
>>
>>5427459
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
Way better outcome than I expected.
>>5427461
That's what it's feeling like
>>
>>5427462
>Way better outcome than I expected.
Same.

One kind of funny idea I just had would be to try and track down Elena again when we come back to earth with the Earth Attack Force.
>>
>>5427463
To be honest, I've really come around to Elena. I'm still 100% on the Vivimatrain, but I'm not against ending up with Elena.
>>
>>5427468
I'm not against it, I just don't think it's something worth chasing at the moment. We need to get gud like Cas and become an MS powerhouse.
>>
>>5427472
>get gud like Cas and become an MS powerhouse.
Becoming an Ace and pursuing romance are not mutually exclusive. See Kamille and Fa/Four, or Amuro and Lalah, or Char and Lalah.
>>
>>5427473
Naw, I mean waifu stuff AFTER we become a pilot
>>
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>>5427468
That's just over exposure talking.
The more time spent, then the more you learn and the more you come around, especially when there aren't any other routes to split your time, however the more time you spend with them, before you know it, no other girl really has any chance and any that do come along are DoA because at that point it feels abrupt or bad narratively to hop onto another girl's route. Anons will inevitably lock themselves into the first girl's route even before it's officially set in stone simply because she was there first which meant they had more interaction and exposure to the character.
This is why the curse of the first girl is so prevalent and dangerous if you aren't vigilant.
>>
>>5427478
Like I said, I'm gonna fight until the sun goes out for us to end up in Vivima's pants, but I'm not gonna cry if we end up Elena's instead.
>>
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>>5427473
And it never ends badly!
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>>5427484
Kamille's Newtype Power is an aura that kills women, that hardly counts.
>>
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>>5427485
kek
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>>5427487
This is why love triangles never work, either.

I spend too much time on twitter. I can weasel my way out of any logical argument.
>>
>>5427484
>>5427489

Also! Two counter examples are Fraw/Hayato and Amuro/Beltorchika.
>>
>>5427459
Ouch, time to cash that reality check.
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
>>
>>5427494
Amuro and Hayato both die.
>>
>>5427459
>”Georgi, we probably won’t be here for much longer - can we at least act normally until then?” A few weeks probably isn’t too great of a risk, right?
I feared something like this was going to happen. It'd be a shame to just give up such an important connection with Georgi. Besides, we are leaving soon, we can at least say goodbye to Elena. I still think she would make a great informant about Fed doings
>>
>>5427502
>Amuro and Hayato both die.
As we all do, in the end.
>>
>>5427459
>”Georgi, we probably won’t be here for much longer - can we at least act normally until then?” A few weeks probably isn’t too great of a risk, right?
>Discretely get Elena's contact info after we leave Giorgi
Hopefully we should be able to stay in touch at least
>>
>>5427509
Support.
>>
>>5427459
>>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
It was always going to end this way.
>>
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I've been imagining Elena as a young Christina McKenzie with Felix as a more kempt and adolescent Bernie. Hopefully with less burgers involved.
>>5427459
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
>”Georgi, we probably won’t be here for much longer - can we at least act normally until then?” A few weeks probably isn’t too great of a risk, right?
>>
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>>5427529
You're pretty close. Haven't started work on anything for Felix yet.
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>>5427494
A better counterpoint is seen in spoilerpic related
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>>5427459
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
>>
>>5427459
>”Georgi, we probably won’t be here for much longer - can we at least act normally until then?” A few weeks probably isn’t too great of a risk, right?
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
>>
>>5427459
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.
An excuse to "abandon ship." We'd best take it.
>>
>>5427807
>An excuse to "abandon ship." We'd best take it.
No need to cut ties off completely, since Georgi's connections might come useful one day. Best to be close to his daughter (we don't even need to have her as a waifu, as long as she's more amiable to us instead of just a memory), he might be more willing to cooperate in the future.
>>
>Run back along… Maybe not the outcome you hoped for, but it’s sensible.

Really the best outcome here, we're going to need to fuck off very soon so cutting off ties now would be the best for everyone
>>
>>5427907
Aw man, we're really going to just leave such a good opportunity to get intel on Anaheim and whoever Georgi knows go to waste?
>>
>>5427913
People here have a strange hatred for the first female to show up that isn't related to us. Hopefully QM let's us stay in contact to some degree and the hate boner for females cools off after we meet other people.
>>
>>5427459
>”Georgi, we probably won’t be here for much longer - can we at least act normally until then?” A few weeks probably isn’t too great of a risk, right?
>>
>>5427916
I mean, it's understandable. But it shouldn't get in the way of taking what's possibly an important plot decision.
I want to get out of the OYW with all of our family and limbs intact, and we'll probably have to use every connection we have to make that happen.
>>
>>5427462
>>5427496
>>5427525
>>5427755
>>5427807
>>5427907
Writing.
>>
>>5427933
Wait QM, there's an even number of votes still (well if you include >>5427529 as well).
>>
>>5427948
It isn't clear if it's a preference list or a combination; since there isn't any indication that it isn't just a list I'm going to keep writing.

It'll be a bit until I'm done though, so >>5427529
if this is just me misunderstanding please correct me; I can stop writing and reopen voting for a bit.

Apologies for the mess, I'm going to make preference voting have a more explicit numerical listing requirement after this: 1), 2), 3), etc.
>>
>>5427959
Thanks QM. And sorry for the inconvenience.
>>
>>5427963
Nothing to apologize for, I appreciate you pointing it out. I'd rather have to scrap half a post than accidentally go against a vote. Especially an over night vote; those generally get the most participation, so it stands to be a larger mess if I got it wrong without at least opening myself up to be corrected before posting.
>>
>>5427959
Numerical listing would be good, I haven't been sure about it and just been listing my options with top being priority.
>>
>>5427964
You have my respect, I'd of been a little miffed if I was in your place with half a post done.
>>
You leave silently, your brother following closely behind. There really isn’t anything to say; Georgi’s reaction was better than you could have hoped for in a lot of ways, but it still hurts. You’ve known Elena and Georgi for a few years now, seen them nearly every day even if only briefly… All of this just sucks. It isn’t Georgi’s fault of course, he's just being a good father - It’s the Zabis.

As you leave the office and cross toward the broken door to the outside, Elena runs up alongside you, crying. She grabs your arms and leans her head against you as you walk out - Édouard handles opening the stubborn door again, taking a fair bit of effort to dislodge it, and you make your way back to the recovery building through the falling snow, your brother catching up a moment later after shutting the door. The area is clear of people, the cold weather having run people indoors, so it’s safe to talk freely.

“I hate this. I hate this!” Elena says angrily, sniffling, “Why does everything always have to get ruined? First the… the attack… just before we… and now this.”

“Georgi is just trying to protect you, Elena.” Édouard says as he moves back alongside, “You should be grateful to have a father like him. He cares about you.”

“I wasn’t talking to you! You were some help in there, Édouard, you barely said a word!” Elena snaps, looking up to glare at Édouard for a moment before looking as if she regrets it, “...Sorry, I…”

“There’s nothing wrong with being angry about the situation, Elena,” Édouard says, unfazed by the outburst, “Just don’t let it turn into resentment for your father. You only ever have one.”

Elena leans against you just a bit more, “I don’t hate him… I… I couldn’t… But why did everything go wrong just when things had started going right?”

“It’s not all over,” You comfort her, “Georgi said we could still see each other briefly, and when we leave we can still write - there are ways it can stay hidden…”

“When you leave?” She asks in shock, teary eyes looking up to you. Immediately you feel horrible for having even mentioned it, maybe now wasn’t the greatest time to mention it.

“Yes, when we leave. We’re going to have to go soon, for everyone’s safety.” You say, speaking gently.

She sniffles a bit, “...How long have you been planning to go?”

“We only just talked about it before this,” You answer, “Right before we went to get you. Édouard said Teabolo is working on some things... I was meaning to go and talk with him about it.”
>>
>>5428010

“...Are you going back to space?” Elena asks, her voice a little clearer.

“I don’t know, maybe…” You say, wondering about the possibility. Would that even be safe with the Zabis controlling all of Side Three? Of course it isn’t as if Earth has been safe either, your aching arm and side are evidence enough of that.

“If you really have to go I… I hope you do go back up there; you’ll be happier.” Elena says softly, her tears mostly stopped, “...And I’ll still be able to see you when I look up.”

Her words hit you pretty hard, tugging at your heartstrings. Elena obviously has strong feelings for you, but your feelings about her are… less certain. You’re getting close to the recovery building now; once you’re back inside Elena probably won’t have long before staff come to help move her back to the other building - after that you won’t be seeing her much at all, just a minute or two here or there.

>”...And I’d be able to look down at Earth and see you.” Kiss her. It’s a romantic thought, but it’s unlikely to survive years apart, you’re both quite young.
>”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
>Just pull her a little closer and say nothing, you’re almost in the building. You can figure out how you feel later.
>Write-in.

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5428013
>”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
>>
>>5428013
>1.Just pull her a little closer and say nothing, you’re almost in the building. You can figure out how you feel later.
>2.”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
>>
>>5428013
1)
>Write-In
>Assure her that you'll try your best to keep in touch with her. Ask if she has any contact information you can have.
2)
>”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
Maybe a give her peck on the cheek? I don't want to start a romantic thing between Elena and Max (at least not yet), but it might be enough to make her want to keep in touch.
>>
>>5428019
We really should keep the direct romance stuff on hold until we've gone a bit further into puberty. We are only 12/13 years old.
>>
>>5428024
I know, same here. I just want to make sure we have a reliable source in the Federation.

>>5428019
Actually, forget about that part with the kiss. It could cause more problems than its worth.
>>
>>5428013
>”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
>Assure her that you'll try your best to keep in touch with her. Ask if she has any contact information you can have.
No ranking, both of them together
>>
>>5428029
+1, they work well together
>>
>>5428013
>>5428019
Changing my vote to include both to combine these
>”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
>Assure her that you'll try your best to keep in touch with her. Ask if she has any contact information you can have.
>>
>>5428035
I just read the last sentence of the "We could..." prompt, I'd like to exclude that part if possible (the "she'll probably give up on it eventually").
>>
>>5428052
The keep contact write-in of that anon is to counter her forgetting
>>
>>5428054
yeah I just want to make sure we don't give Felix a mindset of "I want her to forget" by the wording of the prompt
>>
>>5428013
>1) Just pull her a little closer and say nothing, you’re almost in the building. You can figure out how you feel later.

>2) ”...And I’d be able to look down at Earth and see you.” Kiss her. It’s a romantic thought, but it’s unlikely to survive years apart, you’re both quite young.
>>
>>5428056
Fair enough, I don't want her to forget. Even if she loses the crush eventually, I still want her to remember the good times and the promised meeting.
So an earnest promise instead of what mom did with sister.
>>
>>5428013
>>”We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different.” That day won’t come for a long, long time. It gives her something to look forward to at least, even if it’s mostly a pipedream. She’ll probably give up on it eventually, bit by bit…
>>
>>5428029
>>5428035
>>5428036
Von Braun + stay in contact. Writing.
>>
“We could meet in Von Braun some day, when things are different” You say, meeting her eyes, “We’ll stay in touch, there are ways to do it in secret.”

The door to the building hisses open, your brother entering while you linger outside for just a moment with Elena.

“You promise?” Elena asks, pulling closer to you.

“I’ll write as often as I can.” You reply, pulling her into a proper hug, “It’ll take a long time for things to change, but I do want to see you again.”

“It… it better not just be letters, I want videos and pictures… if you can,” Elena says, tearing up again, “I’ll miss you, Max.”

“I know. I'll miss you too, Elena.”

A few minutes later, heading to the building Teabolo is recovering in.

“Do you think we’ll be going back to one of the Sides?” You ask your brother as you walk, footsteps crunching in the snow, “Or maybe somewhere else on Earth?”

“...Wherever we can avoid the Zabis. We’re not ready yet.” Édouard says, looking off into the distance, his gaze locked on some unseen goal.

“Ready for what?” You question.

“To get close to the Zabis, and to strike back.”
>>
>>5428130

About a minute later.

Teabolo lays atop his bed, covered in bandages and casts, barely able to move his head. The first time you saw him like this, a few days ago, you were afraid he was going to die, but the doctors have assured you that despite his serious injuries he should recover most of his mobility eventually.

“Maxime, Édouard, it’s so good to see both of you up and about.” Teabolo says, his eyes shifting to watch you both but his head barely moving.

“How’re you feeling?” You ask as you and Édouard take a seat near the bed.

“I’ve been better.” Teabolo says, laughing but then grimacing in pain, “You’re doing well?”

“I’ll have to be careful for awhile,” You say, rubbing lightly at the sleeve hiding your arm wound, “But I’m definitely feeling better.”

“We came to talk about leaving.” Édouard says, cutting straight to the point.

“Oh…” Teabolo’s face darkens, “I see. I’m so sorry this has happened, I should have watched Jimba’s finance-”

“It’s okay, Teabolo.” You say, raising a hand to motion him to stop, “We’re just here to talk about the future.”

“Oh, such unpleasantness this has been…” Teabolo says with distress, “I don’t know where we’re going to go. None of my associates have been willing to take us in, the attack was so… flagrant. There’s nowhere the Zabis cannot reach.”

“All of them?” Édouard asks, his brow furrowing.

Teabolo doesn’t so much shake his head as he just barely wiggles his face side to side, immobile as he is, but the idea gets across, “No, not all of them… Shu will be here in a few days. He’s a good man, we were speaking on the phone earlier and he insisted he come in person… He’s been in Madrid for the last few weeks, I don’t expect he’ll be long.”

“Shu Yashima?” You ask curiously.

“Yes, Maxime.” Teabolo says, “I wish I had better news, but… I’m sure I’ll think of something. There’s no need to worry. I’ll find some place for us to go.”

You look over to your brother; he’s clearly worried and deep in thought. Teabolo no having any real leads, just a few hours after he told your brother he was working on several, is a very bad sign. The awful, slow sinking feeling of fear begins to fill you once more, a sort of creeping anxiety - What can you even do about this?

>”I’d like to go back to space, Teabolo. We don’t belong down here.”
>”I’d like to stay on Earth, if we can. I still think it’s safer.”
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.
>Write-in.

Don't worry about not explicitly getting contact information from Elena, you'll have ways to keep in touch.
>>
>>5428134
Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5428134
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.
Let's not become a cripple ace
>>
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>>5428134
1.
>”I’d like to go back to space, Teabolo. We don’t belong down here.”
2.
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.
>>
>>5428134
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.
I'm guessing this is the progress the story normally option which means Texas.
>>
>>5428139
>which means Texas.
I fucking hope. I wanna bully Char over knowing how to ride a horse but not drive a car.

>Captcha: DGARM
Captcha wants to kill Garma, apparently.
>>
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.

hopefully this is texas
>>
>>5428144
Not literally Texas. Side 5, Texas Colony. Space.
>>
>>5428148
I must be dyslexic because I thought you said 'I fucking hope not.' And yeah, that would be funny.
>>
>>5428144
The D obviously means it wants to dick Garma.
Captcha is gay. The sister is probably better
>>
>>5428134
1)
>”I’d like to go back to space, Teabolo. We don’t belong down here.”
2)
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.
This could be the perfect time to remind Teabolo about the 'faking our deaths' idea.
>>
>>5428168
Also, we should urge him not make a deal with the Zabis. He probably wouldn't trust them after everything that's happened, but there's no harm in making sure.
>>
>>5428134
>1)Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.

>2)”I’d like to stay on Earth, if we can. I still think it’s safer.”
>>
>>5428134
1
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.

2
>”I’d like to stay on Earth, if we can. I still think it’s safer.”
>>
>>5428136
>>5428139
>>5428146
>>5428180
>>5428187
Writing.
>>
>>5428209
I guess we're not going to Texas, then.
>>
>>5428243
why do you say that?
>>
>>5428243
We are, Teabolo just said he plans to talk to Shu Yashima, like in canon
>>
>>5428248
>>5428249

The last two options are asking to stay on earth, so we're probably going to stay instead of going to space.
>>
>>5428252
Anon, they are those anons second tier options.
They won because their first option was to rest.
>>
>>5428253
Oh. I really don't understand the tiered question stuff. It's too complicated for my smooth gayfag brain.
>>
>>5428134
>”I’d like to go back to space, Teabolo. We don’t belong down here.”
>Stay and talk for a bit to keep Teabolo company, and then depart to get some much needed rest; you trust he’ll figure something out. You’ve been a lot more active than you’re supposed to be anyways, the doctors will get mad if you keep doing things.
>>
You and Édouard stay and chat for a while with Teabolo to keep him company, the conversation is pleasant but largely inconsequential, and then depart back to the recovery building. When you arrive back, sliding doors hissing open as you come in from the wintery weather, you immediately go to check if Elena is still there. Her things have already been cleared out - Georgi’s people apparently wasted no time at all in moving her. The room building feels emptier without her there.

“I'll be back in a few hours,” Your brother tells you, placing a hand on your shoulder as you look at the empty bed, “You should get some rest.”

You give a little nod and he departs, the door hissing open and then shut once more. After a few more seconds you walk quietly to your bed, change, and crawl under the sheets. …You really needed some rest.

The next day.

There are faint voices nearby. You blink groggily a few times, trying to ignore the noises, as you move about a bit to find a more comfortable position to rest your head on your pillow. There’s a wonderful moment of quiet and you start to drift back off to sleep, but it’s interrupted by a familiar voice and a faint tugging at your shoulder.

“Wake up,” Sayla says, pushing against the shoulder of your uninjured arm, “Maxime, come on.”

“What? It’s early…” You complain, “Go away, Sayla.”

“We’re being moved back to the villa.” She says, shaking you a little more, “Get up you sleepyhead.”

“Back to the villa?...” You question, slowly sitting up, a generalized ache of early morning grogginess accentuating the fading dull pain of your arm and side.

“Yes, get dressed,” She says, “The doctors think we’re good enough to move back and recover there.”

“Why the rush?” You ask, rubbing at your eyes. Sayla’s already dressed, wearing a pink dress.

“Georgi wanted it done quickly.” She says, motioning for you to get up, “I already got most of your things together. They already sent dad back up a few minutes ago, they have a room set up for him to recover at home.”

“Oh. Thanks, Sayla. You’re feeling better I take it?” You ask, rolling out of bed as your sister moves some bags around nearby. If Teabolo is already at the villa then things really are moving quickly.

“I am!” She answers with a smile before twisting her face up in disgust, “It’s just meds for another week, bleh.”

You laugh, knowing how much she hates the medicine they’ve been giving her, “Well, I guess it can’t all be good news.”
>>
>>5428297

Sayla leaves to attend to her own things, and you get dressed and pack up some of the things Sayla hadn't already. It isn’t much, you never had much brought down here to begin with,; essentials, a few books, and spare clothes. Édouard, lurking nearby while Sayla woke you up, helps you both move your things to a waiting car and soon enough the three of you are arriving back at the villa.

There’s a small crowd of locals and a few reporters kept from going too close to the castle-like home by a handful of police officers, the people still trying to see what happened in the villa even days after the attack. Teabolo is a very influential businessman in the area, and the attack made headlines across Spain; it’s no wonder there’s still a crowd. You avoid the small mob, the vehicle pulling directly into the garage instead of near the broken main gate.

You don't like being back at the villa - Large parts of it are still an active crime scene, local police and Federation inspectors milling about here and there as they examine things and discuss stuff amongst one another, but a large enough section is free from their presence that a vague semblance of ‘normal life’ can resume.

...It doesn’t feel like home anymore. Too many bullet holes and bad memories.

You drop off your stuff in what was previously a guest room, now yours for the time being. Mr. Yashima is apparently already here, even at this early hour, speaking with Teabolo.

What do you do?

>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.
>Find Teabolo and Shu, maybe listen in a bit on their conversation.
>Go to ask the Federation Inspectors some questions, maybe they’ve learned something they’re willing to share.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5428301
Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5428301
>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.
The less exposure the better, we already lucked out with Georgi being an ex-smuggler
>>
>>5428301
>>>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.
>>
>>5428301
1)
>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.

2)
>Go to ask the Federation Inspectors some questions, maybe they’ve learned something they’re willing to share.
>>
>>5428301
>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.
>>
>>5428301
>>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.
>>
>>5428301
>Find Édouard and Sayla, it’s best to stay out of sight from all of these people.
>>
>>5428301
>Find Teabolo and Shu, maybe listen in a bit on their conversation.
Felix is the nosiest motherfucker on the planet. If we follow Char into the military academy we're probably gonna get snapped up by Kycillia for her intelligence agency.
>>
>>5428304
>>5428305
>>5428307
>>5428308
>>5428312
>>5428319
Writing.
>>
Just found this quest after I ordered a HG Zaku 2 kit, and read all of it, very excited to see where this is goes.

Pour one out for my Spacenoid Jimba, who ain't here no more
>>
>>5428384
Good taste in mobile suits.
>>
>>5428392
https://youtu.be/GuVnZZ1sFIc
>>
>>5428384
Nice. I just got an HGUC Ground Type GM. Gunpla is the shit.
>>
>>5428395
It's my first gunpla, to. Also glad to meet another Mook suit chad. Though they stand on different sides of the battlefield, the Zaku and GM are brothers
>>
>>5428394
Loved that song for years now.
>>
Unable to shake the strangeness of the new room, the simple wrongness of it, you head back out into the stone hallway and search for your brother and sister. Checking in a few of the nearby rooms you find nothing; they’re all stuck in time, abandoned, nothing moved from when the staff suddenly left them just a few days earlier as the attack began. Books sitting atop beds, drinks left untouched, the detritus of lives stopped without warning. It’s eerie seeing it all just… waiting. You close the doors, never seeing those rooms again.

After a few more minutes you finally locate your brother and sister, they’re upstairs in a room overlooking the exterior of the villa; the rarely used main entrance is just outside, another small crowd gathered there. Most of the villa’s traffic used to just go through the courtyard gate, the “front door” was mostly ignored - barely even thought of really - but of course all of those strangers out there wouldn’t know that. Édouard and Sayla standing together, looking out one of the windows.

“What do you think they’re still here for?” Édouard says unhappily to Sayla, neither having noticed your approach yet.

“Maybe they’re just curious?” Sayla speculates, “They don’t understand what they’re doing.”

“What makes you say that?” You ask, startling Sayla into a small jump - Édouard simply glances at you, unsurprised. Perhaps he did hear you.

“It’s just a feeling I get when I look at them.” Sayla says after a moment’s recovery, “Something exciting happened and they want to know more about it. They aren’t thinking about the people who are here… or who were here.”

“Oh.” You say, moving alongside them and lookin at the group of maybe twenty or so people, one of whom is arguing with the police about something, “All that from a feeling?”

“Look for yourself,” Sayla says, pointing, “They’re clamoring to get in but haven’t noticed us standing here for minutes. I don’t blame them for being the way they are…”

“They have such a small view of things.” Your brother says bitterly.

>”Some of them will understand eventually, times are changing.”
>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
>”Well, it’s for the best that they do. We probably shouldn’t stay so near the windows.” A little paranoid, but it only takes one Zabi agent in that crowd… Or maybe that’s just your inner Jimba yelling at you.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5428402
Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5428402

>”Some of them will understand eventually, times are changing.” 1
>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.” 2

>>5428399
good tastes, spacenoid
>>
>>5428402
>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

>>5428398
Love 'em both and same, wanted to get into it since I was a kid and finally pulled the trigger on the hobby. Haven't built anything yet but I'm already figuring out my next buys, a Zaku II of course and that swanky new GM Spartan that went up last month.
>>
>>5428402
>”Well, it’s for the best that they do. We probably shouldn’t stay so near the windows.” A little paranoid, but it only takes one Zabi agent in that crowd… Or maybe that’s just your inner Jimba yelling at you.
>>
>>5428402
>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
>>
>>5428402
>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
>”Some of them will understand eventually, times are changing.”
Both these things make sense to say in this situation.
I hope we can confront Teabolo about his possible appeasement of the Zabis. I know this might be unpopular, but I don't think we should go to Texas. It'll lead to lots of heartache in the end.
>>
>”Well, it’s for the best that they do. We probably shouldn’t stay so near the windows.” A little paranoid, but it only takes one Zabi agent in that crowd… Or maybe that’s just your inner Jimba yelling at you.
>>
>>5428402
>>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
>>
File: MS-06D_Girl.png (1.08 MB, 740x1024)
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>>5428402
>”Well, it’s for the best that they do. We probably shouldn’t stay so near the windows.” A little paranoid, but it only takes one Zabi agent in that crowd… Or maybe that’s just your inner Jimba yelling at you.
>>5428384
Here, have another Zaku as a cute girl to celebrate the cool cannon fodder
>>
>>5428402

>”Well, it’s for the best that they do. We probably shouldn’t stay so near the windows.” A little paranoid, but it only takes one Zabi agent in that crowd… Or maybe that’s just your inner Jimba yelling at you.
>>
>>5428402
>1)”Some of them will understand eventually, times are changing.”
>>2)”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
>>
>>5428402
>”...That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do. They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
>>
>>5428408
>>5428409
>>5428415
>>5428433
>>5428464
>>5428478
"...That's easy to say from up here..."
Writing.
>>
“That’s easy to say from up here, knowing what we do.” You say, “They’re just curious, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Exactly.” Sayla agrees, pulling her hand back from the window, “They don’t mean anything by it.”

Édouard continues looking out over the small crowd, his eyes narrowing, “It’s thoughtless.”

“...Isn’t that what I said?” Sayla asks quizzically, looking up to Édouard.

“No,” Édouard answers, shaking his head a little, “It isn’t at all.”

“...Your issue isn’t really with them, is it?” You ask, watching as one of the police officers gets into a confrontation with a man. He might be a reporter; he has another man following nearby with a camera.

“Not quite.” Édouard says, observing as a small fist fight breaks out between the officer and the reporter, “Look at how they’re fighting, Maxime.”

“It’s all a little pointless, isn’t it?” You say, watching the brawl grow as another of the officers joins in.

“I hope they stop fighting…” Sayla says, a concerned look spreading across her face as the cameraman gets dragged into things; he didn’t even do anything, he was just standing there filming.

The cameraman and reporter are both dragged to the ground and cuffed, and Édouard sighs, “And so they have, Sayla.”

“I didn’t mean like that,” She says indignantly, “You know I didn’t mean that.”

“Come on, there’s nothing new to see here.” Édouard says to you both, motioning for you to follow. He sits down on an old fancy sofa in the room, Sayla joins him and you sit in a nearby and equally archaic looking wingback chair.

“I don’t like being here anymore.” Sayla says suddenly, as if it was something building up her for awhile now, hands in her lap and looking down dejectedly.

“I don’t either.” You agree, “It doesn’t feel like home anymore. It’s impossible to think of anything besides the attack…”

“We won’t be here for much longer,” Édouard says as you begin to trail off, “Teabolo and Mr. Yashima are friends, I’m sure they’ll think of something.”

“Did you see them earlier?” Sayla asks, “Mr. Yashima brought a girl with him, about our age. I saw her for just a moment by Teabolo’s room, before we came up here.”

“A girl?” You ask, wondering why a man like Shu would bring a child with him on a trip to such a potentially dangerous place, “Who is she?”

“Probably his daughter,” Édouard answers disinterestedly, “Nothing of note.”

“That’s cruel; you don’t really mean that.” Sayla scolds, giving your brother a look, “You shouldn’t dismiss a person so quickly, you haven’t even met her.”
>>
>>5428632

>”Do think Mr. Yashima will really have somewhere for us to go?” Shift the conversation a bit.
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
>”Sayla, he’s just being realistic. I doubt we’ll ever have much to do with her.”
>Write-in.

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5428634
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
I have a feeling this is Vivima, or someone connected to the Zabis.
>>
>>5428634
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.

>>5428647
[Spoiler]It's Mirai Noa. She's a character in the OG anime and part of the White Base crew[/Spoiler]
>>
>>5428651
Huh, I should really rewatch Origin someday.
>>
>>5428634
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
>>
>>5428634
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
>>
>>5428634
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
>>
>>5428634
>”Do think Mr. Yashima will really have somewhere for us to go?” Shift the conversation a bit.

I'm gonna assume that Char is being based off his Origin version, because he seems a lot meaner than normal.
>>
>>5428634
>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.

>>5428680
>This Char is meaner
lmao
>>
>>5428685
>lmao
What? Why "Lmao"? Sure, Char can be a real bastard, but he's never like this in front of Sayla in 0079, and Quattro is absolutely nothing like this either.
>>
>>5428634
>>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
>>
>>5428634
>>”We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” If she’s listening in on the meeting she might know who you really are - It’s rare to talk to people who do.
>>5428680
to be fair a lot of stuff has been dropped on him, it's all new and the emotional wounds are raw right now for him
>>
>>5428699
>it's all new and the emotional wounds are raw right now for him
Yeah, that's fair. I just kinda hope QM doesn't keep up with it.

My preferred type of Char is "silver-tongued and well-intentioned scumbag", not "nasty peace of work", you dig?
>>
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>>5428647
>>5428651
>>5428664
>>5428665
>>5428669
>>5428685
>>5428693
>>5428699
I'll start writing in the morning.

>>5428680
It's the Origins version, it's mostly a thing when he's young though. He's a very resentful kid (angsty teen currently) driven by vengeance, he just gets much smoother and better at hiding it later. The only times we ever see him be nice in Origins are either a ruse to kill someone or a few very genuine moments with Sayla or Lalah, usually when Sayla gets very upset or is sick. ...And even the he's rather infamously a huge bastard to Sayla at the worst possible time, pic related. He becomes charming pretty quickly from where we're at chronologically, and he's been considerably nicer up to this point.

By the time of the OYW and 0079 he's a somewhat more well rounded person and a lot less outwardly angry, even if he's still dead set on his vendetta against the Zabis. He's obviously regretful of a lot of his actions by then, we can see that clearly with his interactions with Sayla and the whole gold bar thing. Lalah was the best thing to ever happen to him, and her death marks a pretty huge shift for him (and Amuro). Quattro is just outright the best he ever gets, at least until the whole Camille thing breaks his spirit; he's a much better person through Zeta.

>>5428703
Charming magnificent bastard Char is my favorite too, don't worry.
>>
>>5428724
Thank you, QM, for clarifying. Once again, you prove yourself a man of great class and nobility.
>>
“We should go meet her, it beats just sitting around here.” You say, interjecting yourself into Sayla and Édouard’s bickering.

“I think that’s a great idea.” Sayla says, though she’s still looking at Édouard. They can get like this sometimes, it usually doesn’t last long though.

“It would seem I’m outnumbered.” Édouard says, a hint of amusement in his voice, “But that’s almost inevitable, isn’t it?”

“It’s best to accept your fate now.” You chuckle, “Besides, two against one isn’t such bad odds.”

“Can’t say I lack experience, but I’ll skip this round.” Édouard says, standing, “Let’s go.”

“We’re not against you, Édouard...” Sayla almost whispers, following your brother as he moves to the dark wooden door - You stand and join them.

“So what made you so interested in this girl, Sayla?” Édouard asks as you all move through the hallway, a few of the old paintings catching your eye briefly.

“Nothing in particular, really. I just wanted to meet someone new.” She replies cheerfully at first but her tone steadily saddens, “I already know everyone in the camp and compound, and we can’t see them anymore…”

“For now, Sayla.” Édouard replies, stopping near the stairs briefly, “It won’t last forever.”

“Huh?” She asks, a touch confused as the three of you begin to descend to the ground floor.

“Someday we’ll be free of all of this, we just have to stay focused on that.” Édouard replies.

“We can only hope so.” You say, looking about “...Sayla which room were they in again?”

“It’s this way, follow me.” She answers, leading you onward and around a corner. It’s good seeing her so energetic again, hopefully she isn’t overdoing things too soon though - It was just a few days ago that she was barely able to walk, but maybe she’s just on the lucky side of the recovery curve.
>>
>>5429038

A door just ahead of you opens, and Mr. Yashima and a girl with brown hair about your age exit it; Shu smiles as soon as he spots the three of you.

“Good morning.” Shu greets you, before looking at the girl accompanying him, “Mirai, these are Teabolo’s children, Édouard, Maxime, and Sayla.”

“It’s very nice to meet all of you,” She says politely, “I’m Mirai Yashima.”

You all exchange similarly polite greetings, and Sayla and Mirai seem to get along splendidly, quickly diving into conversation - though you and Édouard are a bit left out of it for the first few minutes.

“...You want to be a pilot?” Sayla asks, clearly very interested.

Mirai smiles as she answers, “I do! I’m going to start glider training soon, isn’t that right, father?”

“Indeed, in just a little over a year.” Shu confirms.

“Oh, that’s so exciting! Is it just for fun or do you want to do it as a career?” Sayla asks.

“A career?” Mirai asks quizzically, “I hadn’t really thought of that… It’s so much fun to fly though - Have you ever been to space?”

“Of course, don’t you…” Sayla trails off, and looks up to Shu for confirmation of something. He shakes his head a little.

“...Don’t I what?” Mirai asks, “Father?”

“It’s nothing to worry about, Mirai.” Shu answer quickly, dismissing his daughter’s confusion, “They’ll all be going to space soon enough.”

“We will be?” You and Édouard ask almost simultaneously.

Shu nods, “Yes, it’s what I was discussing with your father; he’s agreed to move you to Side 5, my company owns one of the colonies there - Texas Colony.”

“Texas?” Sayla asks, tilting her head just a bit.

“Oh, it’s beautiful, I’ve been once - It looks just like something from an old western movie! People even dress like cowboys, it’s so old fashioned and quaint.” Mirai says enthusiastically.

“Cowboys?” You question incredulously, and Shu nods.

“It was built during the last construction bubble as a theme park based on the north American old west,” Shu explains, “My company was able to snatch it up for a bargain and convert it for limited residential use. We use it for company retreats sometimes, Mirai went with me earlier this year.”

“Is it safe?” Édouard asks cautiously, “That’s very close to Side 3.”

He’s not wrong, they’re the two most closely placed sides, resting in the L1 and L2 Earth-Luna Lagrange points - When you include Luna as well it’s easily one of the busiest areas of the earthsphere, and practically next door to the Zabi's newly proclaimed Republic of Zeon.

“That’s something to speak with your father about, I believe.” Shu says, choosing his words very carefully, “But we did discuss it, and he seemed very convinced with my reasoning. The arrangements are already made.”
>>
>>5429041

“I understand, Mr. Yashima.” Édouard replies, glancing between Shu and Mirai briefly.

“I wish we could stay and chat longer, but Mirai and I have another meeting we’re expected at in a few hours and the airport is a fair drive.” Shu says, “It’s been a pleasure to meet the three of you properly.”

“The pleasure was ours,” Édouard says, “We’ll see you out.”

All of you head off to the front entrance, apparently the Yashima’s driver parked out beyond the crowd, and it leaves you with a small window of time to keep talking as you use some of the more roundabout side passages to avoid the groups of inspectors and police filling much of the villa.

>”Mirai, do you know what you’ll be learning to fly on?” Piloting does sound pretty interesting actually…
>”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? That sounds like a lot of fun, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.” It also sounds like a great place to train with Édouard, but that’s something best left unsaid.
>”Mr. Yashima, do you mind if I ask what business you were on in Madrid last week?”
>Write-in.

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5429043
>”Mirai, do you know what you’ll be learning to fly on?” Piloting does sound pretty interesting actually…
>”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? That sounds like a lot of fun, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.” It also sounds like a great place to train with Édouard, but that’s something best left unsaid.
>>
>>5429043
>Write-in
>”Mr. Yashima, do you really think that we'll be safe in Texas? And are you sure people won't find out about anything there?"
>>
>>5429043
>”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? That sounds like a lot of fun, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.” It also sounds like a great place to train with Édouard, but that’s something best left unsaid.
Cowboy Cas is a GO
>>
>>5429043
>”Mirai, do you know what you’ll be learning to fly on?” Piloting does sound pretty interesting actually…
>”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? That sounds like a lot of fun, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.” It also sounds like a great place to train with Édouard, but that’s something best left unsaid.
>>
>>5429046
+1
>>
>>5429043
>”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? That sounds like a lot of fun, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.” It also sounds like a great place to train with Édouard, but that’s something best left unsaid.
>>
>>5429043
Changing my vote to
>”Mirai, do you know what you’ll be learning to fly on?” Piloting does sound pretty interesting actually…
>”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? That sounds like a lot of fun, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.” It also sounds like a great place to train with Édouard, but that’s something best left unsaid.
>>
>>5429046
>>5429054
>>5429072
>>5429079
Writing.
>>
So, say we get a commander type Zaku like big brother Char, what color will we paint it?
>>
>>5429106
Black and Gold
>>
File: FelixZaku2.png (432 KB, 550x924)
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>>5429106
I was thinking about this last night and came up with a scheme, though it seems a little too elaborate. Red for the Red Comet affiliation, blue for Felix.
>>
“Mirai, do you know what you’ll be learning to fly on?” You ask, finding the idea of piloting fairly interesting.

“Hmm? Oh, well… I guess not a glider at first, probably just a W03 trainer and a Dragonfly two-seater,” She says, “But father says I can move onto one of the company's smaller personal shuttles once I’m ready for proper glider training - Entering atmosphere can be really tricky, so you have to learn the basics of vacuum and atmospheric flight first.”

“Makes sense,” You say, only very vaguely familiar with the craft she mentioned, “Do you go to space often?”

“We usually live most of the year in space, Side Five and Four mostly,” Shu answers for her, “But we’ve been spending most of our time on Earth recently; we have an estate in Japan but it’s rarely used these days.”

“He wants to retire soon,” Mirai explains, “So we’ve been going all over the place finishing up business, it’s been a real treat. We were in Madrid just a few days ago, at a Federation base; they let me go inside of a Saberfish’s cockpit! I even got to see them scramble a few of them at night, it was so pretty - They looked like comets.”

Édouard seems to perk up at that little story, but remains silent.

“We’re almost done now though, we’ll be back to the Sides soon enough.” Shu says, “We might even visit the Texas Colony again.”

”So does the Texas Colony have horses and ranches too? You ask, now nearing the front door, “That sounds like a lot of fun if it does, I wouldn’t have expected something like that even in Side 5.”

“Oh, yes, it has plenty of both.” Shu answers, “Horses are very popular there, and the ranches are quite productive. I’m afraid I’ve never had much skill at riding, but Mirai took to it fairly well, isn’t that right?”

“It was fun, we did it on the retreat,” Mirai says, “Everyone got their own and we went down this long trail they built near the spaceport.”

“It always looked like fun,” Sayla says, “I’ve never done it before though.”

“You’ll have lots of time to learn if you move there,” Mirai replies, your group now standing around next to the door, “Have either of you ridden?”

“We have, though it’s been a few years now.” Your brother answers, a hint of sadness in his voice, “I’ve missed it.”

“Oh… why haven’t you ridden recently?” Mirai questions gently.

“Mirai, we really must be going.” Shu says, interrupting Mirai's line of questioning, “Édouard, Maxime, Sayla, good day to you all. I trust we’ll meet again at some point.”

…And with a few polite farewells from you and your siblings they depart out the door, the police allowing the to pass as they reach the line where the small crowd is being kept back. Édouard shuts the door after a few moments, leaving the three of you along inside; a few policemen can be heard talking a few rooms away, but otherwise it’s quiet.
>>
>>5429126

“I like them both.” Sayla says after a moment, breaking the silence.

“You seemed to get along well,” You remark, “I bet you’d make good friends with Mirai.”

"I think so too." Sayla says happily.

>”So what do you think about going back to one of the Sides?” Discuss things a bit just with Sayla and Édouard.
>Go right to Teabolo to discuss things as a ‘family’, you want to know more about this Texas Colony move. Maybe it’s a good idea, maybe it isn’t.
>Time skip along a few weeks to when Teabolo is more fit to travel. If Teabolo thinks it’s safe to move to the Texas Colony then that’s good enough for you.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5429127
>Time skip along a few weeks to when Teabolo is more fit to travel. If Teabolo thinks it’s safe to move to the Texas Colony then that’s good enough for you.
>>
>>5429127
>”So what do you think about going back to one of the Sides?” Discuss things a bit just with Sayla and Édouard.
>Go right to Teabolo to discuss things as a ‘family’, you want to know more about this Texas Colony move. Maybe it’s a good idea, maybe it isn’t.
>>
>>5429127
>”So what do you think about going back to one of the Sides?” Discuss things a bit just with Sayla and Édouard.
>Go right to Teabolo to discuss things as a ‘family’, you want to know more about this Texas Colony move. Maybe it’s a good idea, maybe it isn’t.
We need to know the truth about why we're going to Texas and prepare for it. Things will get messy.
>>
>>5429127
>Time skip along a few weeks to when Teabolo is more fit to travel. If Teabolo thinks it’s safe to move to the Texas Colony then that’s good enough for you.
>>
>>5429132
Support.
>>
>>5429127
>”So what do you think about going back to one of the Sides?” Discuss things a bit just with Sayla and Édouard.
>Go right to Teabolo to discuss things as a ‘family’, you want to know more about this Texas Colony move. Maybe it’s a good idea, maybe it isn’t.
>>
>Time skip along a few weeks to when Teabolo is more fit to travel. If Teabolo thinks it’s safe to move to the Texas Colony then that’s good enough for you.
>>
>>5429131
>>5429132
>>5429137
>>5429145
Writing.
>>
>>5429113
I actually really like that scheme
>>
>>5429113
That's not red and blue, that's brown and grey.
>>
>>5429162
The red is #896153
The blue is #737d86
So brownish red and grayish blue
>>5429161
Thank you
>>
>>5429171
The blue reminds me a lot of what I mix up as a glaze for the flak armor of my guardsmen. Urban camo is fun.

Writing got delayed for a little bit, back at it now.
>>
>>5429171
The scheme itself I like, I just think the colors should be more saturated.
>>
>>5429195
>Spoiler
What regiment?
>>5429196
Ahh, alright. I thought we had a gold/blue dress situation. And yeah more saturation wouldn't be bad at all
>>
>>5429198
The models are 3D printed Cadians, I don't actually run them as an army - it's just neat to paint some normal dudes with guns sometimes. My actual army is Bloody Rose sisters of battle, but I'm not a fan of 9th so they've been sitting around unused for awhile.
>>
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>>5429196
How about this?
>>5429201
SoB are pretty neat, though I'm a Tempestus Scions fan. Solar Auxilia for 30k. No armies though, mostly just read the books..
>>
>>5429204
Much better, thank you.
>>
“So what do you think about going back to one of the Sides?” You ask as the three of you walk back to the less busy areas of the villa - Having the police overhear you could lead to some messy questions that are best left unasked.

“...I don’t want to stay here anymore… the villa, I mean.” Sayla says, “I’ll miss Earth though, everything before a few years ago almost feels like a dream now…”

“Earth is beautiful,” Édouard says, “But we don’t belong here, we were never going to be able to stay.”

“Do you think the Texas Colony will be safe though?” You ask, the thought still plaguing you, “It’s so close to Side 3.”

“I’ve been considering that. Earth isn’t safe,” Édouard says, motioning to a line of bullet holes across one of the walls as you walk, “Even in a castle surrounded by guards. We’ll be able to take care of ourselves wherever we end up, we’ve always managed it.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.” You point out.

“It depends on what you mean by safe,” Édouard continues, leading you around a corner, “If you’re looking for a place the Zabis cannot find or attack us? There isn’t anywhere we’d want to live that would be safe by those standards. I won’t see us be reduced to hiding in a bunker in a jungle, or wherever it is we’d have to go - it’s too shameful.”

“...Nowhere is safe?” Sayla asks with concern.

“Not entirely from attack or notice, but there are… other ways to keep them from harming us.” Édouard says, though he doesn’t sound entirely certain.

“How then?” Sayla questions, her brow furrowing.

“Deception, of a sort.” Édouard says, stopping in the hallway leading to Teabolo’s room, “I think that might be what Teabolo is planning.”

“I’m not sure I follow.” You say, thinking through a few possibilities, “Do you mean getting new identities?”

“...No. Not that kind of ruse,” Édouard says, “Let’s ask Teabolo, if I’m right then he’ll probably tell you himself.”

“...Fair enough, I suppose.” You say, and the three of you carry on to Teabolo’s room.
>>
>>5429234

A bit later.

You’re standing at Teabolo’s bedside; he’s still a mess of casts and bandages, still quite immobile, still painful to look at - nothing much has changed, really, besides his obviously improved mood. Medical equipment is all about the area, everything for the doctors from the compound to manage and monitor his recovery. Presumably they’ll be visiting every so often to check in, there are none here currently.

“You’re not just here to chat with your old man, are you?” Teabolo asks, his eyes tracking over the three of you while his head only barely moves.

“We spoke with Mr. Yashima a few minutes ago,” You explain, “We heard about your plans to move us to the Texas Colony.”

“Ah, I thought I heard you talking through the door earlier, it sounded like you were getting along well,” Teabolo says with a smile, though it soon fades, “...but enough about that. Yes, we’re going to be moving to the Texas Colony as soon as I’m able to use a wheelchair.”

“How soon will that be?” Sayla asks.

“A month or so, the doctors have me taking these awful regeneratives, supposedly they speed things along but they taste like…” Teabolo wrinkles his face in disgust, “Ah, never mind my griping, my own comfort hardly matters now. I’m going to do what needs to be done to keep all of you safe.”

“Why are we going so close to Side Three?” Édouard asks, cutting right to the deeper concern lurking in the background.

"...Ah… Yes, of course you’d realize where it is…” Teabolo sounds a little uncomfortable, thinking carefully before speaking, “It will be a display of submission. So close to Side Three we’ll be harmless to them, the risk of… of harming you will outweigh the benefits if they can watch us so easily. You are still Deikun’s children.”

Édouard nods, crossing his arms and smirking, though he still doesn’t sound all that happy about it, “That’s what I thought.”

“There’s nowhere left to hide, nothing I’m willing to force you into… I can’t raise you in a cave, and anywhere we try to hide will only make them think we’re still plotting against them… It’s… It’s the only way.” Teabolo says, distressed nearly to the point of tears, “I’m sorry, I wish there was something better.”

“So we’re just… going to walk into a prison cell?” Sayla asks, putting the pieces together in her head, “Just a really big, colony sized one…”

“Only for a while, Sayla, as long as you three live and grow up there is hope. The Zabis have many enemies, they can be waited out.” Teabolo continues to explain, “And if they’re never toppled then they may grow disinterested over time, unconcerned. So long as you don’t enter politics I see no reason they would harm you.”
>>
>>5429239

>”...Couldn’t we still fake our deaths? We might be able to hide for awhile if we did that.”
>”What about the Federation government? They’re having problems with the Zabis, maybe they could offer us asylum somewhere more secure.”
>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”
>Write-in.

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5429242
>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”
>>
>>5429204
That's fuckin sexy. I agree, its an improvement, though I still like the original hues

>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”
>>
>>5429242
>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”
>>
>>5429242
1)
>Write-in
>"Going to Texas should be fine for now, and I understand your reasoning to an extent, but please promise you won't meet with, welcome, or appease any Zabis while we're there."
2)
>”...Couldn’t we still fake our deaths? We might be able to hide for awhile if we did that.”
3)
>”What about the Federation government? They’re having problems with the Zabis, maybe they could offer us asylum somewhere more secure.”
Hm, tough choice. But as long as Teabolo doesn't welcome any Zabis, we might be able to avoid the assault the locals in Texas make (if I remember what happens correctly).
>>
>>5429245
Glad you like it. Also you didn't link your vote to the prompt.
>>
>>5429264
I know, I forgot to click it
>>
>>5429242
>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”

"The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm"
>>
>>5429244
>>5429245
>>5429248
>>5429270
Writing.
>>
>>5429242
1)
>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”

2)
>”What about the Federation government? They’re having problems with the Zabis, maybe they could offer us asylum somewhere more secure.”
>>
>”...If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.”
>>
“If we have to bare our throats to buy some time then I’ll do it.” You say, though the idea sits uneasily with you.

“I’m glad you understand, Maxime.” Teabolo says, his voice pained, “I hope you all understand.”

—-----------------------------------------------

One month later, the night before leaving for Side Five.

1:15 AM, 24 February, UC 0072
Teabolo estate, Andalusia, Spain

A light knock on your bedroom door awakens you from fitful sleep, the coming departure from earth still at the forefront of your thoughts even as you turn on a lamp near your bedside and walk to the door. Opening it, you’re greeted with a view of a very nervous looking Elena, her large green eyes looking up just ever so slightly to meet your own.

“Hi, Max.” She says quietly.

“What are you doing here?” You whisper, popping your head out the door for just a moment to check either side of the hallway - It’s clear. You wave her inside your room.

“I wanted to say goodbye in person,” She says, hands held behind her back, “The doctors haven’t been very careful when they talk… I figured out you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“...I was going to stop by in the morning before we left.” You say, almost laughing at the absurdity of the situation, “You snuck past the guards to get in here just to say goodbye?”

“The guard,” Elena says, emphasizing the singular, “Is Jones; I just told him why I was here and he let me in. I would have come earlier in the day but I didn’t want my dad to know.”

“Oh.” You say, scratching at the back of your head, “I guess that makes sense. Have you heard where we’re going?”

“One of the Sides, or something like that.” She says, the two of you moving a little further in the room and sitting down on the bed - She has a rolled up piece of paper in her hand.

“...Side Five actually, the ‘Texas Colony’, it uh, it used to be an amusement park. With cowboys.” You explain, “It’s mostly empty now, just lots of nature and a few small towns; it still looks like the old west though.”

Elena laughs, “Space cowboys? That’s ridiculous. I like it.”

“Yeah, I thought you might… So what’s that?” You ask, motioning to the paper.

“It’s the other reason I came,” Elena says, “I drew us together, and I thought… I thought you should have it. I know we can send letters and things, but I thought it would mean more in person.”
>>
>>5429312

She unrolls the piece of paper, handing it to you and revealing what’s actually a quite well drawn depiction of the two of you looking up at the night sky. There’s a full moon, and… and it isn’t hard to figure out which night it was that she was drawing. A flashing memory of gunfire and screaming fills your thoughts, but you push it away.

“I almost drew something else, since the… well, since the night became so horrible after that,” Elena explains a little awkwardly, but she seems very earnest, “but then I realized that I can’t just bury something because bad things happened so soon afterward. There are always awful things happening, if you don’t try to remember the good times then everything is just misery… forever… and I really enjoyed being up there with you. I wish we could have done it before then, and since, I meant to say something to you months and months ago, I always thought you were cute, and… I just wish you weren’t leaving.”

“Elena…” You say gently, pulling her into a hug, “I’m going to miss you too.”

You both stay like that for a little while, just keeping one another close.

She sounds like she’s about to cry, voice quavering as she speaks, “It’s more than that, Max… You’d better not be lying about writing to me.”

“I’m going to, I promise. I talked with Teabolo about it, he has a few ways to do it discreetly.” You say, trying to reassure her, “...And we’ll meet in Von Braun some day, like we said. It really won’t be so long.”

“I… I shouldn’t stay much longer, Max.” Elena says, “Dad might have noticed I’m gone, he gets up at night sometimes.”

You stand up alongside her, and your eyes widen a bit in surprise as she plants a kiss on your cheek.

“...Just something to think about while you’re gone.” Elena says, pulling back from you, “Goodbye, Max.”

“...Goodbye, Elena…” You say, watching her leave the room quietly. Soon she’s gone, out the door with barely a sound, and you’re left holding her drawing.

Much later that morning, after a bit of sleep.

The view out of the car window is familiar, but at the same time one you’ve never seen before. The villa is slowly shrinking away in the distance, along with the camp and compound, every meter the car rolls along taking your further and further from that chapter of your life. It feels strange to leave. Sayla and Édouard are taking their own final looks, leaning forward and heads turned as the hill the villa sits upon finally disappears out of sight as the car enters a valley.
>>
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>>5429313

Several hours later, at the regional spaceport.

The spaceport terminal is a monster of a building, a colossus of glass and steel made in a neo-21st century style; huge screens display departure and arrival times, and thousands of people crowd about in security queues. You’re waiting in line near Sayla, and Édouard is a little bit away helping guide the temporarily wheelchair bound Teabolo through the teeming throngs of people.

Something catches Sayla’s attention in the crowd, a green sphere about the size of a football rolling along the ground between people's feet. A boy a few years younger than you, closer to Sayla’s age, is running after it, desperately weaving past people to catch the sphere. After squinting at it the sphere for a moment you realize it’s a toy robot of some kind… you vaguely remember seeing ads for them before, but it wasn’t something that ever interested you.

“No, come back!” The boy calls out after the green robot, “No, don’t go that way!”

>Help the kid out, you can probably catch the green robot.
>Just watch, it’s none of your business.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5429314
>Help the kid out, you can probably catch the green robot.
We need to put as much space between Amuro and Sayla as possible, even if that means interacting with him.
>>
>>5429314
>Help the kid out, you can probably catch the green robot.
Hello there protagonist
>>
>>5429314
>>5429315
Supporting.
>>
>>5429314
>Help the kid out, you can probably catch the green robot.
>>
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>>5429313
And a picture of Elena, though it's a bit up thread already as a spoiler image. I'm mostly happy with how it came out, though it's meant for an older version of the character.

I'm working on Felix and Vivima right now.
>>
>>5429321
The scene of her handing over her drawing was really cute, and has made me forsake my prior neutrality
>>
>>5429314
>Help the kid out, you can probably catch the green robot.
>>
>>5429315
>>5429316
>>5429317
>>5429320
>>5429349
Writing.
>>
>>5429321
Looks good, though I might be biased with a weakness for red heads.
>>
>>5429362
It's okay anon. So do I.
>>
>>5429323
It was, I really hope we get more interaction with her, not only if/when we meet up later but also from the communications we keep.
>>
>>5429362
>>5429323
She is a Earthnoid brothers, Do not let gravity weigh upon your souls!
>>
You step forward, moving through the crowd without issue, and plant a foot atop the green robot.

“Hey! Let go! Let go!” It exclaims, circular flaps opening and closing on its sides in what must be an equivalent of alarm. Tilting your head a bit as you watch the strange display you notice that it has little eye slots that light up when it speaks. How peculiar.

The kid catches up to the robot a moment later, slowing for a moment and looking between you and the trapped sphere with his blue eyes. They almost remind you of your brother’s He’s wearing a green backpack and a brown jacket and hat,

“Thanks!” He says, sounding relieved, “I thought it was going to get away from me.”

“No problem,” You say, lifting your foot to let him grab the wily bot.

“Hey, come along now! Didn’t I tell you not to open that box?” A man shouts from somewhere past one of the closer crowds - You turn but only catch a brief glimpse of him. Probably the kid’s dad.

“I’ve got to go! Thanks again!” The kid says running over to a box on the ground a bit away, stuffing the robot back into it.

“Haro! I’m Haro!” The green robot calls out just before the box’s lid is shut on it, and the kid quickly disappears into the crowd heading toward the very small Side Seven gate; you didn’t even know there was a Side Seven… You make your way back to your siblings, a strange sense of something almost like deja vu hitting you suddenly. Blinking for a moment, you push the feeling away.

“Who was that?” Sayla asks curiously.

“Just some kid having trouble controlling his robot,” You answer, shrugging, “Probably won’t ever see him again. They’re heading for Side Seven.”

“There’s a Side Seven?” Sayla asks, “I thought there were only six…”

“It must be new,” Édouard comments idly, pushing Teabolo along in his wheelchair.
>>
>>5429408
An hour later.

The cabin of the spaceplane slowly shifts upward as the launch ramp elevates, the shift in the tug of gravity unmistakable. The safety harness light winks on overhead, and you doublecheck yours almost without thought - it’s secured tightly. Row after row of blue seats and the tops of people's heads stretch out ahead of you; you’re seated near the back of the orbital transport, next to Sayla and Édouard.

“This is it,” Sayla says excitedly, watching a countdown on the small screen on the back of the seats just in front of you.

You brace yourself, preparing for the launch - As the counter reaches zero you hear an enormous rumbling fill the cabin, sounding for the very back of the craft, and you’re firmly pushed back into your seat by the force of the acceleration. The interior of the craft shakes for awhile as you pass up and through the lower atmosphere, the buildings on the ground rapidly shrinking away into tiny specks as it quickly gains altitude. Soon the buildings are gone entirely, and then most of the detail of the landscape, and soon enough you can even see the coastline of southern Spain. The view continues to expand and expand, blocked by clouds far below you in many places but still quite clear, until the curvature finally drops out of sight entirely. You’ll see it again later once course adjustments are made, but there’s an undeniable sense of finality about it.

You won’t be back on Earth for a while.
>>
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>>5429409

A few days later, after a brief stop at a small station and a delayed transfer flight.

There aren’t many people on the flight to the Texas Colony, less than a dozen, and the shuttle you’re in is rather spacious and empty. The captain of the small craft has called you and your siblings up to the cockpit to watch as you make the final approach to the Colony’s spaceport.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Love open type colonies, they’re majestic.” The pilot asks you while the co-pilot is busy typing something into a console, “Nothing like those closed types in Side Three, they’re a lot more durable though.”

“Munzo isn’t so bad,” You say, looking over the vastness of the colony’s solar reflectors extending out like a trio of angled wings, “But this is really something else.”

“Munzo? Haven’t heard that name in awhile,” The pilot says, “It’s Zeon now, don’t you know?”

“Oh, yeah… of course.” You answer, not really paying much attention to the conversation.

“There isn’t much traffic,” Édouard comments, “Is it always this quiet?”

“This is pretty normal for this part of Loum,” The pilot says, “Only a few flights an hour to Texas, just not enough people for more.”

An angular white cargo transport with a raised bridge and a pair of huge engines set off below and to its sides on angled stalks passes very close by at high speed. It's shockingly maneuverable for a vessel of its size, and it swerves into position ahead of your shuttle.

The pilot curses under his breath, “Hey, Koji, get on the horn and let control know what those dicks just did… Er, sorry, kids. Probably best if you go back to your seats now, we’re gonna be busy for a while with the docking.”

“Thanks, Mister.” Sayla says, and you and Édouard echo her sentiment and file out of the cockpit quickly.
>>
>>5429411

Half an hour later.

Exiting the spaceport, looking out over the vast interior of the cylindrical colony, you’re greeted with a sight far better than you’d imagined. Green fields and hills stretching off into the distance, broken up by high buttes and winding rivers… It’s gorgeous, an idealized version of an old west landscape that never really existed anywhere but carefully edited movies.

“Come on, Maxime, the car is this way!” Édouard calls out while pushing Teabolo's wheelchair, waving for you to follow. You hurry up and join him and Sayla, but the three of your are still mostly looking out at the landscape.

“I’d forgotten what clouds are like in colonies…” Sayla says excitedly, pointing to the clouds filling the central axis of the colony, “Or what it’s like to look up and see more land!”

“I like that we can see the stars still,” You say, looking at the glass gaps between the land sections of the cylinder where the solar reflectors bring in sunlight from outside, “It’s nice to be able to see them even during the day…”

Édouard elbows you a bit, getting your attention as he pushes Teabolo along, “Look over there.”

You follow his gaze and see a few people near the cars waiting outside of the spaceport, each of them riding atop a horse and wearing a cowboy hat.

>”Space cowboys? I bet we’ll be seeing them around a lot more often… I should take a picture though…” Elena will get a kick out of it, might cheer her up a little when she gets your first letter.
>”Horses? As soon as we’re done unpacking we’re going riding. Sayla, I’ll teach you how, I think I mostly remember.”
>”Howdy!” Wave at people on horseback, maybe they’re friendly too.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5429412
Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.

Also, option three should read: "Howdy!" Wave at the people on horseback, maybe they're friendly too.
>>
>>5429412
>”Horses? As soon as we’re done unpacking we’re going riding. Sayla, I’ll teach you how, I think I mostly remember.”
>>
>>5429412
>”Space cowboys? I bet we’ll be seeing them around a lot more often… I should take a picture though…” Elena will get a kick out of it, might cheer her up a little when she gets your first letter.
>”Howdy!” Wave at people on horseback, maybe they’re friendly too.
Being friendly with the locals will be beneficial.
>>
>>5429412
>”Horses? As soon as we’re done unpacking we’re going riding. Sayla, I’ll teach you how, I think I mostly remember.”
>”Howdy!” Wave at people on horseback, maybe they’re friendly too.
I'd like to combine these options.
>>
>>5429412
>”Howdy!” Wave at people on horseback, maybe they’re friendly too.
>”Space cowboys? I bet we’ll be seeing them around a lot more often… I should take a picture though…” Elena will get a kick out of it, might cheer her up a little when she gets your first letter.
>>
>>5429416
Support
>>
>>5429412
>>”Space cowboys? I bet we’ll be seeing them around a lot more often… I should take a picture though…” Elena will get a kick out of it, might cheer her up a little when she gets your first letter.
>”Howdy!” Wave at people on horseback, maybe they’re friendly too.
>>
>>5429416
+1
>>
>>5429416
Support
>>
>>5429379
But she wants to leave earth. Just like our father wanted humanity to, willingly, move into space so they could all become newtypes.

I'm sure he'd approve.
>>
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>>5429416
>>5429420
>>5429421
>>5429423
>>5429425
Howdy howdy howdy!
Writing, might finish it in the morning though. Got a lot of classes on Mondays so expect fewer posts.
>>
“Space cowboys? I bet we’ll be seeing them around a lot more often…” You say while reaching to pull your camera from your backpack’s side pouch, ‘...I should take a picture though…”

You pop your camera up and take a few quick shots, and then slide the camera pack into the pouch. Hopefully the photos will cheer up Elena when you send your first letter, she seemed to get a kick out of the idea of space cowboys when you told her about them. One of the men on horseback notices you taking the pictures and turns to his companions, saying something and then pointing to you.

“Howdy!” You shout, waving to them both. They laugh and wave back.

“Howdy! Y'all new round here?” The first man yells back.

“Just got here!” You shout back.

The men chuckle a bit more and ride over; they both look to be about thirty, maybe brothers judging by their similarly hawkish features and dark hair. They’re both riding a pair of arabians, the neck a dead give away - You don’t really know much about horses, but Jimba explained that to you years ago and it’s just one of those odd memories that’s stuck through the years.

“Good day.” Teabolo greets the two men, “Pardon me if I don’t look up, my neck was injured quite badly not so long ago.”

“Aw, not a problem, sir.” The first rider says, nodding to Teabolo despite your adoptive father barely being able to look up from his wheelchair, “I’m Odebby, this is my brother Rafferty.”

“I am Don Teabolo,” Your adoptive father says as your group continues on toward the parked cars, “These three are my children; Édouard, Maxime, and Sayla.”

“Pleasure to meet ya,” Odebby says, “Where ya’ll headed to?”

“The Aznable estate, I believe.” Teabolo answers, “We have a driver waiting for us just over there.”

“Ah, fancy types.” Rafferty says, “Guess the ‘Don’ part shoulda told me that… Well, good for you folks, the Aznables are good people.”
>>
>>5429559

“You know them?” You ask, this being the first time you’ve heard of these people or your destination.

“Course we do,” Rafferty says with a grin, “We work for em’ sometimes! Ain’t an ‘estate’ though, they run a big lodge out on strip two.”

Teabolo starts to say something but gets cut off as the two brothers begin to bicker. A third man exits one of the parked cars nearby and starts to help you load your bags into the trunk.

“It can be both, Rafferty.” Odebby states, shaking his head.

“Huh?” Rafferty asks, confused.

“The lodge can be their estate.” Odebby replies, “Everything they own’s their estate.”

“That ain’t how it works.” Raffety says, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

“Yes. It. Is.” Odebby says, exasperated, “God, why you always gotta be like this, Raff?”

“He thinks he’s smart.” Rafferty grins at you and Sayla, causing your sister to giggle.

“I am smart, I’m a damned atmospherics tech!” Odebby nearly shouts, pointing at his brother.

The pair of men continue bickering with one another, but as entertaining as it might be to watch you have to help load things; soon all of the bags and suitcases are stored and you’re climbing into the car, before you close the door you speak with the two men a little longer.

“Are you two heading back to the Aznable…” You choose your words carefully, “...Lodge as well?”

“Nah, we got business in these parts for a coupla days,” Rafferty says, “Good meetin’ y’all though.”

They both tip their hats and ride off. You shut the door and turn to your sister. She’s sitting between you and Édouard while Teabolo is up front in the passenger seat - Édouard helped transfer him over while you dealt with the bags.

“Do you think those two are always like that?” You ask Sayla, “I think they might have been hamming it up a bit.”

“I don’t really care if they are, I loved it.” Sayla says, still laughing a little, “But probably.”

“How far to the Aznable estate?” Teabolo asks the driver.

“About forty minutes, they’re near the far end of the colony and there are a lot of turns.” The driver says, “Rivers and such. Roads follow along them.”
>>
>>5429562

About forty minutes later.

The cars stops in front of a grand old log and stone lodge, the massive building clearly meant to house many more people than are currently there; only a few other cars are parked near it. A middle aged couple are waiting near the building’s large front double doors; a blonde haired man with a mustache, and a woman with short red hair.

“I am Roger Aznable,” The blonde haired man introduces himself, “And this is my wife, Michelle.”

Introductions are exchanged and they show you inside the lodge after Teabolo is back in his wheelchair; the interior is beautiful, the ceiling far about you and held up by exposed beam work.

“This was originally built as a hotel,” Mr. Aznable explains, motioning to what clearly must have been intended as a huge lobby area, “It has more of a Wyoming feel, which is a little further north than Texas, though.”

You hold in a laugh at that comment. ‘A little further north’ indeed.

“What do you think? Do you like it?” He continues, looking at you all. He gets a few small nods as his answer and seems satisfied.

“Come on out, Lucifer!” Sayla says, setting down the carrier she’s been transporting the old cat in, “It’s our new house!”

She opens the metal grate door and the black cat exits with trepidation, carefully examining the floor before continuing out. He then quickly scurries off, making for the nearest wall and hopping up on a small ledge. A few firearms with designs dating back to the late 19th century of the old calendar system cover a portion of that wall; single-action revolvers and lever action rifles, the classics of western films.

A few hours later.

The Aznables made sure to get you all well settled in; though the building you’re living in was once a hotel it now functions as something closer to a very communal apartment building mixed with a mansion - It takes in both temporary guests and permanent residents, but it’s primarily the personal home of the Aznables. All of the ‘guest’ rooms were multi-room suites, so it’s functional enough as a residential complex, and it also means you have the strange situation of essentially having a home of your own. It feels weird but liberating at the same time - Teabolo’s just a few doors away of course, and your brother and sister are to either side of your room, but it’s still a new experience.

What are you doing?

>Checking in on Lucifer, that old cat is probably up to no good. Best to keep an eye on him until he’s settled in, Sayla would be devastated if he got lost.
>Out riding with Sayla and Édouard; the Aznables have horses that you’re allowed to use.
>Engaging in a bit of casual plinking with Édouard; not combat training, just shooting for a bit of fun with some of the old guns.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5429566

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5429566
>>Out riding with Sayla and Édouard; the Aznables have horses that you’re allowed to use.
>>Engaging in a bit of casual plinking with Édouard; not combat training, just shooting for a bit of fun with some of the old guns.

Whynotboth.jpg. Infected with TEXAS. Cowboy horseback shooting with the revolvers or lever rifles while Sayla looks at us with the =.= look.
>>
>>5429575
Support.

We should also try to get Sayla to try her hand at shooting, too.
>>
>>5429566
>>Out riding with Sayla and Édouard; the Aznables have horses that you’re allowed to use.
>>Engaging in a bit of casual plinking with Édouard; not combat training, just shooting for a bit of fun with some of the old guns.
>>
>>5429566
>>5429575
Supporting this. Good time to bond and practice.
>>
>>5429566
>Checking in on Lucifer, that old cat is probably up to no good. Best to keep an eye on him until he’s settled in, Sayla would be devastated if he got lost.
>Out riding with Sayla and Édouard; the Aznables have horses that you’re allowed to use.
>>
>>5429566
>Checking in on Lucifer, that old cat is probably up to no good. Best to keep an eye on him until he’s settled in, Sayla would be devastated if he got lost.
>Out riding with Sayla and Édouard; the Aznables have horses that you’re allowed to use.
>>
>>5429566
>Engaging in a bit of casual plinking with Édouard; not combat training, just shooting for a bit of fun with some of the old guns.
>>
>>5429566
>>5429575
This
>>
>>5429575
+1
>>
>>5429575
>>5429577
>>5429584
>>5429648
>>5429835
>>5429990
Finally back from classes, will start writing soon.
>>
>>5430052
Real quick question QM. What timezone are you in?
>>
>>5430107
GMT-4.
>>
Thunder cracks and the silver revolver bucks in your hand, chips of stone shattering from a small boulder about fifteen meters from you, your other hand firmly on the reins as you guide your chestnut colored horse along at a canter. You’ve been firing into a small hill in a depression in the colony’s carefully crafted landscape, a little bump in a sort of bowl formed by the surrounding hills. Some of the hills are forested, others are quite barren, but all in all it’s probably the best place to be doing this kind of shooting until you’re much more skilled at it. Édouard is just a bit ahead of you, riding a dark horse and taking aim at another of the boulders on the central hill; you’ve been circling the center like this for a few minutes, only stopping every so often to reload and talk a bit.

“Good hit!” Édouard calls out to you from up ahead, placing a pair of shots a fingers width from one another on another rock, thumbing the hammer of his revolver between shots with lightning speed.

Neither of you have shot revolvers much before this, so the experience took a bit of getting used to, but the trickiest part is the horse rather than the gun; thankfully the Aznables had a few that weren't gunshy, but even at a trot it’s much hard to hit than you expected it to be - a canter’s been harder still. Practice makes perfect though, and you’re both beginning to get the hang of it…

You thumb the hammer of your own revolver, gently squeeze the trigger - barely any pressure at all is needed before it breaks - and miss as your horse’s gait shifts ever so slightly, the shot going wide by maybe an inch, a little puff of dirt kicking up past the target boulder.

…Maybe you’re picking things up a bit slower than your brother. Still, it’s been a lot of fun. Sayla was with you both earlier, but didn’t have much interest in sticking around once you started shooting - and neither did her pony. The last you saw of your sister she was riding on the other side of one of the relatively barren hills.

“How many do you have left?” You shout to Édouard before he fires another pair of shots, one of them missing, “I’ve only got…”

You quickly count out the remaining rounds on your belt, “...Twelve, I think!”

“Down to six!” Édouard replies, firing two more times and then slowing his horse to a stop to reload, ejecting brass out of his revolver’s cylinder with every little press of the ejector rod.

You ride up alongside and start reloading as well, “I thought we said we’d take things slow.”

“This is taking things slow,” Your brother says with a grin as he finishes reloading, “...besides, we should check on Sayla soon.”
>>
>>5430131

>”Sure, but let’s finish up here. One last go - I bet you can’t hit all the boulders without a miss.” Just a bit of friendly competition.
>”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
>”...Hey, hand me your gun, I’m going to try something…” Two hands, two guns. Maybe not a good idea, but who knows?
>Write-in.

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5430135
>1)”...Hey, hand me your gun, I’m going to try something…” Two hands, two guns. Maybe not a good idea, but who knows?
It's not a good idea, but I want it.

>2)”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
>>
>>5430135
>”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
>>
>>5430135
>>”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
>>
>>5430135
>”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
Family above all else
>>
>>5430135
>1)”...Hey, hand me your gun, I’m going to try something…” Two hands, two guns. Maybe not a good idea, but who knows?
Dual-wielding revolvers from horseback is too cool to avoid

>2)”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
>>
>>5430135
1)
>”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”

2)
>”Sure, but let’s finish up here. One last go - I bet you can’t hit all the boulders without a miss.” Just a bit of friendly competition.
>>
>>5430135
>”...Hey, hand me your gun, I’m going to try something…” Two hands, two guns. Maybe not a good idea, but who knows?
>>
>>5430135
>”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”
>>
>>5430135
>1: ”Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime. She was having some issues riding earlier, she might need some help.”

>2: >”...Hey, hand me your gun, I’m going to try something…” Two hands, two guns. Maybe not a good idea, but who knows?
>>
>>5430138
>>5430142
>>5430146
>>5430147
>>5430151
>>5430152
>>5430167
>>5430168
Checking on Sayla.
>>
“Let’s just go check on her now, we can do this anytime.” You reply, sliding your revolver into the leather holster at your hip, “She was having some issues riding earlier; she might need some help.”

You brother nods and holsters his own revolver, looking off in the direction of the hill you last saw Sayla beyond, “I bet she isn’t far. Come on!”

He sits up a bit straighter, legs shifting slightly, and gets his horse moving again, and you follow close behind. You’re soon both at a canter, moving up the gentle hill and back in the general direction of the Aznable estate. A warm breeze blows past as you crest the hill, the surrounding landscape laid out before you. Raising a hand to shield your eyes from the sunlight shining in from the colony’s distant solar reflectors, you scan carefully over the many dips and rises of the hilly terrain, squinting at a few patches of trees and boulders before moving on… eventually you catch sight of a pair of riders, one on a pony and the other on a horse.

“She’s over there.” You say to your brother, pointing into the distance as you both slow your mounts briefly, “There’s a man with her.”

“...I see them.” Édouard replies a moment later, “Do you recognize him?”

“No. Come on!” You answer almost immediately, galloping off toward your sister and the stranger she’s with; maybe it’s just paranoia but there’s something off about this. For some reason the unknown rider looks familiar, even far away - It’s hard to put a finger on why. You can hear Édouard’s horse moving along just behind yours, hurrying to catch up…
>>
>>5430274

A little while later.

As you approach Sayla and the unknown rider, your horse slowing to trot, you get a much better look at them both. The other rider is blond, probably a little older than you, and he looks exactly like your brother. Instinctively you look over to Édouard, confirming that he’s still by your side, and then back to his doppelgänger. Who the hell is he?

You brother rides past you, not slowing quite as much, and approaches his double. They both stare at one another for a very tense couple of seconds, and you get a very bad feeling that Édouard might be about to do something rash.

“Édouard Mass,” Your brother introduces himself.

“I’m Char Aznable,” The other boy replies; the tension in the air dissipates as he raises a hand and they exchange a high five.

You relax in your saddle, relieved the situation didn’t take a turn for the worse, and ride over.

“I’m Maxime,” You say, looking Char over carefully; he’s the spitting image of your brother, hair, face, height, weight - nearly everything except his eye color, which is a drab brown instead of your blue which runs so strongly in your family.

“Char,” He says again, though you’re a bit too far for a high five of your own, “I was just showing your sister a few tips on how to ride, she’s getting the hang of it now.”

“He’s been super helpful!” Sayla says happily, trotting her pony on over, “I can’t believe your parents didn’t mention you, Char.”

Char laughs off the comment, “They can be a bit scatterbrained sometimes, but they mean well.”

“I’m sure they do.” Édouard says, his tone surprisingly sincere sounding, “Thanks for teaching Sayla. We tried to walk her through the basics earlier but it had been a few years since Maxime or I had ridden.”

“Why’d you stop?” Char asks curiously, the four of you riding along together down a nearby path.

“We had to move a few years ago, and there hasn’t been an opportunity since then,” You answer honestly, keeping the details vague.

“That’s a shame…” Char says, his gaze focused on the revolver at your hip rather than the path ahead of his horse, “You shoot?”

“We do.” You reply, “You?”

“A little, my dad’s a better shot than me though.” Char says with a slightly embarrassed laugh, scratching at the back of his head a bit.

“Everyone has to start somewhere,” Édouard says, “Keep at it and you’ll out shoot him in no time.”

“I don’t know… he’s pretty good.” Char says, “But I guess I’ll need to get better anyways.”

“Oh?” Édouard prods.

“I’m planning to apply for the Zeon military academy in a few years,” Char says, a hint of genuine enthusiasm in his voice, “Extracurriculars like shooting sports look really good on your application, but grades are still the most import… or at least that’s what I’ve read.”
>>
>>5430279

>”The Zeon military academy? I’d stay away from there if I were you, it’ll bring nothing but trouble to the Sides.”
>”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
>Write-in.

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.
>>
>>5430283
>1.”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
>2.”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>>
>>5430283
>>”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>>”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
Combine the two.
>>
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>>5430283
>>”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>>”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.

We can't call Casval "Char" anymore, can we? Well, for now, at least.
>>
>>5430283
>1)”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
>*desire to know more intensifies*

>2)”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>>
>>5430283
>”The Zeon military academy? I’d stay away from there if I were you, it’ll bring nothing but trouble to the Sides.”
It's probably a waste of effort to try and join the Academy legitimately, considering the Zabis know who we are. And interacting with Char won't go anywhere, if what happens in canon happens here.
>>
>>5430283
>>”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
>>
>>5430283
>”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>"I'll watch out for Zeon if I were you, they been having internal attacks for years now."
>>
>>5430283
Changing my vote to
>”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>”The Zeon military academy? I’d stay away from there if I were you, it’ll bring nothing but trouble to the Sides.”
May as well be polite.
>>
>>5430283
>1)”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>2)”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
>>
>>5430283
>[2]”We could teach you to shoot better sometime, we’re pretty experienced.” Bit of an understatement.
>[1] ”...How good do your grades need to be?” You’d like to know more.
>>
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>>5430284
>>5430295
>>5430300
>>5430314
>>5430315
Grades! I think I counted that out right anyways.
I'll start writing in the morning; I'm free almost all of tomorrow so I should be able to get a pretty good amount of writing in.
It turns out running a quest is a lot of fun and very good stress relief.
>>
>>5430513
How much has changed in Zeon with our actions?
>>
>>5430514
It's an indirect action thanks to foiling Jimba's first plan by revealing it early, but a decent amount is different due to Gihren getting shot. He isn't dead, and he's more popular, but it's also taken him out of an active role in a lot of things for awhile so the other Zabis are doing more. Assuming the news is to be trusted. Overall it's much more consequential than the aborted Anaheim deal Jimba worked on in canon. I'll avoid the really specific changes since that's best to find out in a proper post, you'll see them in time.
Jimba's funding may have done some other things too.

Most decisions have been focused on Felix's personal development and his relationship with Casval and Artesia; it's hard to have a huge effect on politics as a child hidden in southern Spain.
>>
>>5430513
Won't be here to post as my phones IP-banned but thanks QM and keep an eye on the page we end up on if it's not archived yet or w.e.

I want us in a goddamnit Zakuuuuu
>>
“...How good do your grades need to be?” You question, finding the idea of the military academy interesting if nothing else. The trail you’re riding on is nice and easy, there isn’t much need to think about things as the group trots along.

“Top ten percent to have any chance at all,” Char says grimly, “But coming from Loum instead of Zeon? Top five percent and a lot of extracurriculars.”

“Why does that matter?” Sayla asks curiously, though she’s looking at you rather than Char, her eyes narrowed.

“They prefer their own people,” Char answers, “They only just opened the application to other spacenoids this year, but I still have a couple to get my grades up, I’m not too far away right now.”

“Sounds as if it’s going well then. Why do you want to join the military, Char?” Édouard asks, “It didn’t look like it was a family tradition, unless I misjudged your father.”

“No, you’re right, he never served,” Char says, “I’ve just always wanted to be a soldier, it seems so exciting, but I’ve… never really liked the Federation, and Loum only has some militias and garrisoned units from earth.”

Like the Federation?” You ask with a chuckle, “Who does?”

“Fair.” Char says, grinning, “Aren’t you three earthno… from earth, though?”

You consider how to answer for a few moments, but don’t get the chance as your brother speaks up first.

“We’ve lived there for the last few years,” Édouard answers, “But we’re spacenoids.”

“Really? That’s fantastic!” Char says while guiding the group around a small tree that fell on the path, Édouard riding directly to his right , “...Not that there’s anything wrong with being from earth, of course, everyone’s family started there at some point.”

“Third generation.” Édouard says, “You?”

“Same,” Char replies, giving a small nod of approval to your brother’s answer, “What side are you all from? Loum, or…?”

“Six,” Your brother lies as easily as breathing, “But Loum’s been very pleasant so far.”

“Riah? That’s cool, I’ve always wanted to visit. Did you hear they’re pushing for self-governance like Zeon?” Char says, sounding very excited about the idea, “They might have their own defense force soon, I bet you could join. People keep saying it’ll take years but I don’t see why it would. I hope Loum does too some day.”

Another self-governing Side? That’s news to you; Zeon getting greater autonomy a few years ago shook politics up a lot. Jimba talked about it a bunch but mostly in rants you only halfway paid attention to.
>>
>>5430739

“...Actually I’d prefer Zeon.” Édouard replies, causing you and Sayla to look at him in confusion, “Grades won’t be a problem.”

“You sound pretty confident about that,” Char says, “It isn’t that easy.”

“I was just starting work on my first university credits before we left earth,” Sayla says with a proud little smile, joining back into the conversation, “A few biology courses. I want to be a doctor, so I’ve been really going at it.”

“...Wait, how old are you?” Char asks, incredibly confused as he looks back over his shoulder to your younger sister.

“Twelve!” Sayla answers, “Dad’s always pushed us really hard with school.”

“We were in an accelerated homeschooling program; private federation accredited teachers, testing on secure terminals… It was very fast paced.” You offer as an explanation, realizing suddenly that your schooling situation was probably very uncommon - Until now you just haven’t thought of it too much, the kids in the camp went to a special school run by Georgi’s people and Elena was on a similar program to your own, just with fewer expensive tutors.

“...I… I didn’t even know that was thing.” Char says in disbelief, looking between you and Édouard, “So how about you two?”

“We’re a bit ahead of Sayla,” You answer, “But not by too much, she’s always been more enthusiastic about it.”

“Oh, wow. I guess it really won't be much of an issue then... So what do you want to do, Maxime?” Char asks, moving the conversation a bit back to what it was about earlier. The lodge is off in the distance now, the riding path taking you back toward your new home.

>”I was thinking about joining the military as well, but I haven't made a decision yet.”
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
>”Honestly I haven’t thought about it much, but whatever it is I’d like to help people.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5430742
>”Honestly I haven’t thought about it much, but whatever it is I’d like to help people.”
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
These two combined should go well with everyone.
>>
>>5430742
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
>"I really like watching space and the stars, piloting a ship would be like a dream to me. I'm glad that Texas has an open part so I can always see it."
>>
>>5430742
>”I was thinking about joining the military as well, but I haven't made a decision yet.”
>"think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”

Mobile Suit Pilot go go!
>>
>>5430742
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
>>
>>5430742
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
>>
>>5430742
Actually, change
>>5430770
To
>”I was thinking about joining the military as well, but I haven't made a decision yet.”
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
Being a military pilot is genuinely more intriguing than a commercial one, coup-related benefits aside
>>
>>5430742
>>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
>>
>>5430742
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun.”
We’ll probably get conscripted anyways right?
>>
>>5430742
>”I think I’d like to be a pilot. I was talking with someone about it a few days ago, and it sounded fun."
>>5430785
In Side 5? No, but we sure as shit don't want to be around when the shooting starts.
>>
>>5430746
>mfw Zeonic MS Corp Orbital Drop Rescue
>>
>>5430789
>not wanting to be a space cowboy gundam pilot

>>5430790
Big ass space ranger-paratroopers? I can get behind that.
>>
>>5430789
>>5430785
>>5430777
>>5430773
>>5430750
Pilot and a bit of write-in. Writing.
>>
>>5430800
>Gundam pilot
There didn't seem to be much support for that kind of thing a few days ago but I'm down for feddie stuff. I figured most people here wanted to follow Cas into the Zeon military.
>>
>>5430806
Well, honestly its still a bit of a toss up. I want to see if we can keep the family together, but if its a choice I'd rather keep Sayla from doing stupid things (like being a Fed loyalist) and then defect with Cas and her to Zeon.
>>
>>5430810
>then defect with Cas and her to Zeon.
That's the hard part, Cas got an asspull in Origin to do it after arriving in Texas and left Sayla behind. I'm not so sure we'll get that lucky.
>>
>>5430811
Well either way I'm sure there will be chances for us to join Casval before he gets too messed up in the head. Maybe we could even convince the population of Texas to become Zeon-aligned? Or we could convince Georgi to use his connections to smuggle ourselves into Zeon. Maybe even go back to the 'fake our deaths and get new names' plan.
>>
>>5430806
>gundam quest
>choose not to be gundam pilot
>>
>>5430821
My man if we can somehow grab a gundam while with Zeon there's no way I'm not voting for it. Only problem is there's one potentially easy opportunity off the top of my head which is Char's attack on side 7 when there are three 78's in one place without pilots.
The only other significant chance I can think of is running into an RX-79G if we're with the EAF and out skilling it. 3 of the 19 are unaccounted for in any games, manga, or OVA so that's a potential pathway to GUNDAMU.
>>
>>5430827
Felix starts a Neo-Zeon movement during the OYW like Char can in Gihren's Greed and gets a blue Gundam instead of a red one.
>>
>>5430830
I'm down for that. Get a splinter movement going against the Zabis before the war ends to sweep their shit in and instill ourselves or Cas as leader. Would be good to get into the Zeon academy and do a little scalping and social linking for it.
>>
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>>5430832
The thought of running a Neo-Zeon movement with Red Oni/Blue Oni gimmick with Casval and our Gundams has got me feeling a certain kinda way.
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>>5430830
Now THAT is a plan.

>>5430832
Problem with that is that we'll need to make sure Sayla doesn't get involved with the Feds. Maybe we can even convince her to go with us.
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>>5430834
The ONI siblings trope fits pretty well.
>>5430838
Character wise taking her off the federation cast probably wont effect the story much from what I remember. We'll have to find something for her to do though because I highly doubt we'll be able to get her into the mil academy for a multitude of reasons, Zabi assassination attempts, her own personality, and just sheer chance.
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“I think I’d like to be a pilot.” You say, looking up to the transparent sections of the colony where sunlight is reflected in to light the interior, “I was talking with someone about it a few days ago and it sounded fun.”

“Mirai really made that much of an impression on you?” Sayla asks.

“Hmm? Oh, no, it wasn’t just the conversation. You know I’ve always loved the stars, Sayla, piloting a ship would be a dream for me.” You reply, still looking out at the stars beyond the distant glass, “I’m glad that we’re in an open-type so I can always see them.”

“Piloting for a love of the stars?” Char says, “You’re a spacenoid’s spacenoid, Maxime.”

“It’s always felt more natural being up here." You respond, the lodge growing with each passing moment as the group trots ever closer, "I’m not sure what kind of pilot I’d like to be though."

“You’d make a good fighter pilot,” Édouard says from ahead of you, “You’ve always had great eyesight.”

“I suppose so.” You answer, “Don’t they just fight with missiles and radar though?”

“It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot.” Char says jokingly quoting Dopp Gun, “...But seriously though, I’ve heard all that radar stuff isn’t as useful as it used to be. I was talking with Rafferty - one of the guys that works for my dad sometimes - and he said there’s some new particle that got discovered a few years ago or something, apparently pilots have been talking about it a lot recently because it messes with comms and sensors.”

“We met him a earlier today,” Your brother says, “He’s a pilot?”

“Yeah, does maintenance on the colony's life support systems with his brother; they have to go out in pods every so often with a bunch of other techs to help out with repair work.” Char explains, “You might be able to ask him to ride along sometimes, he’s really friendly.”

“Maybe I will.” You say, pondering the idea, “Have you ever gone with him?”

“A few times,” Char answers, “It’s not really my thing though.”

“You should go, Maxime,” Sayla encourages, “I think you’d really enjoy it.”

The rest of the ride back to the lodge is largely uneventful, though the conversation is pleasant enough. It’s a nice colony, you could really get used to this.
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>>5430842

Eight months later.

14:35, 23 October, UC 0072
Texas Colony, Side 5 (Loum)

Time has passed, days turning into weeks, weeks into months, and you’ve slowly grown accustomed to life on the Texas Colony. You and your siblings have been placed into the normal schooling system, attending at a rather small school in a dusty western looking town a short ride from the Aznable’s lodge - The school work is incredibly easy in comparison to what you’ve been doing, almost a joke really, but Teabolo has had issues arranging for more advanced education again; living on an obscure colony instead of Earth makes things considerably more difficult. He’s still working on it though, much more energetic again now that he isn’t wheelchair bound and merely needs a cane. Letters and pictures from Elena have been arriving regularly as well, and you’ve kept up your end of the promise by sending off plenty of your own.

What are you doing currently?

>Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.

>Reading over the most recent letter from Elena while sitting in the vast lobby of the lodge near one of the fireplaces; Sayla is with you, writing a letter of her own to your mother. A few new guests have arrived recently as well, a family of strange Jovians who traveled to see the earthsphere with the energy fleet.

>You’re in town with Édouard and Char. There’s a Zeon defense force recruiter there talking to high school aged kids; you’re a bit young for it, but only barely, and she seems friendly. Obviously neither you or Édouard trust her at all - she’s clearly a spy, only concealing it from the other residents of the colony - but it’s still an interesting opportunity.

>Write-in.
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>>5430844
>>Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.
Let's specialize in something, Casval got his speed and shooting, Arteria got the empathy and medicine, so we can have the perception and piloting.
>>
>>5430846
>>5430847
It keeps happening
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>>5430844
Why do you have to make these so hard QM? I always feel like we miss out having to pick only one.

1)
>Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.
I really like the idea of being a super pilot

2)
>Reading over the most recent letter from Elena while sitting in the vast lobby of the lodge near one of the fireplaces; Sayla is with you, writing a letter of her own to your mother. A few new guests have arrived recently as well, a family of strange Jovians who traveled to see the earthsphere with the energy fleet.
>>
>>5430846
>Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.

>Casval got his speed and shooting
I always thought Casval was more of a melee guy.
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>>5430846
>1.Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.
>2.>Reading over the most recent letter from Elena while sitting in the vast lobby of the lodge near one of the fireplaces; Sayla is with you, writing a letter of her own to your mother. A few new guests have arrived recently as well, a family of strange Jovians who traveled to see the earthsphere with the energy fleet.
I'd like to combine these two because I sure as fuck want be acquainted with the Dogatie. If we get their support then Neo Zeon is 100% possible.
>>5430850
Agreed. These are some seriously hard choices to make. However, new waifu has entered the chat and she's a lot more important than anyone else we've been introduced too.
>>
>>5430846
>Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.
We can sign on later, but getting ahead as a pilot starts now! Tbh always being second fiddle to Casval sounds like a bad route, unique excellence will do Felix good.
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>>5430841
She'll become a major obstacle in our reclamation of Zeon and agaist Casval specifically one of the main reasons Cas doesn't defeat Amuro is because of Sayla. And because of her interaction with Amuro, she becomes indirectly responsible for Lalah's death.
She may not be important in the grand scheme of things, but she's important to Casval. Besides, it will be a great morale boost for Cas if he knows that both his siblings are there for him.

>>5430846
1)
>Reading over the most recent letter from Elena while sitting in the vast lobby of the lodge near one of the fireplaces; Sayla is with you, writing a letter of her own to your mother. A few new guests have arrived recently as well, a family of strange Jovians who traveled to see the earthsphere with the energy fleet.
We should probably break the news to her about never seeing mom again.
2)
>Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.
>>
>>5430854
I’d love it if it was possible, but how could we combine them? How can we both be in the ship piloting and also in the lodge writing a letter and meeting the newcomers?
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>>5430852
Char learned both in the academy, Zeon is a bit old fashioned teaching fencing together with shooting.
And they did it even before the Mobile Suits with laser swords and heat axes were made.
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>>5430854
Also keep in mind we probably don’t have to meet “new waifu” immediately. We blew off many chances to talk with Elena and she is very much still an option for us.
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>>5430858
It's a new Newtype power of being in two places at the same time. Very overpowered, expect a nerf from God soon.
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>>5430865
lmao
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>>5430856
>she's important to Casval
Absolutely, I agree with you. Keeping her with us will go a long ways to improving Cas's mental health and fucking over Amuro.
>>5430858
>>5430863
I know, doesn't make a whole lot of sense but getting in with the Jupiter Fleet would by an incredible asset.
>>
>>5430858
>>5430870
We could always try a write-in.

>>5430846
Changing my vote to
>Write-in
>Recently done from a short routine maintenance with Rafferty. You haven't gone with him as much as you wanted to, but you came back to read Elena's letter as Sayla writes her own. You are able to catch a few guests from Jupiter as well, a group of strange Jovians who traveled to see the earthsphere with the energy fleet.
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>>5430872
But if the QM allows it I'll support this combination instead >>5430854
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>>5430850
Changing my vote to this:
>>5430872
>>5430875
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>>5430872
That's not bad but I think I'll stick with the piloting option. Getting gud now I feel is more important than rubbing shoulders with Jovians, especially if we want a meaningful frontline presence in the OYW for people to rally behind. IIRC they make another appearance just before the war happens and dump a bunch of fuel on Zeon which is what establishes their war time industry.
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>>5430879
Getting an in with the Jupiter Empire might be good in the future for a Neo-Zeon, specially when all the new independent Sides start popping up and declaring war on Earth because they don't want to be outdone by big bro Munzo
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>>5430885
That's true. Aw, why the hell not.
>>5430854
>>5430872
+1 to the write in if Contolist allows it.
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>>5430885
>Jupiter Empire
Fuck off. We're not letting Scirocco get a foothold in the earth-sphere.
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>>5430885
But I'm sticking to piloting too, we have barely trained our combat skills, and I don't expect to be able to pull a Char to enter the Zeon military academy.
Only option I can think of is immigrating to Reah Republic and joining theirs
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>>5430879
That's fair. Still I personally think we should try to sway them while we can, we might be able to plant the seeds of distrust of the Zabis and the Feds before they feel committed to any one side.
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>>5430875
>>5430854
>>5430877
>>5430887
It might be possible to catch the Jovians around the lodge after finishing up flying, but the details of the encounter would be different. Reading Elena's letter is possible at pretty much any time, Sayla will probably be doing something else by then.

Voting will still be open for awhile, just wanted clarify a bit how this combination would play out since it's at least partially time sensitive in regard to the flight needing to be first and Sayla probably being somewhere else.

>>5430885
Side Six gaining increased autonomy is actually a normal part of whatever passes for UC canon, it's how they're able to declare neutrality during the OYW. An even bigger OYW is a terrifying idea though.
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>>5430888
>zabis are evil
>federation is incompetent and disliked by everyone
>”jupiter empire” isn’t something we want to expand
Is there anyone in this setting we’d actually want to live under, or are we all in for neo-zeon?
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>>5430894
The heirs of Deikun can suffer no other's rule but their own!
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>>5430892
Oh I know about Reah, I was talking about the others like Cosmo Babilonia and Zanscare Empire.
It's far in the future, but the discontent was and desire for independence was already there.
>>5430888
>>5430894
We will just have to make a new federation, but in space!
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>>5430888
We'll probably dump them after we're done using them. And if they retaliate we can use it as propaganda to foster unity between the Zeon-independence movements.

>>5430894
Can't speak for the other anons but I'm for an independent Neo-Zeon, maybe something like Zeon himself wanted.

>>5430892
Thanks OP, I appreciate it.
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>>5430894
The Zabis are evil, but highly effective.
The Federation is morally neutral, but horribly bureaucratic.
The Jupiter Empire is run by fucking Wizards.

Neo-Zeon is literally the only option to make a functioning government that isn't literally fascist.
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>>5430892
Cool, thanks for the calcification QM.
>>5430894
Every current faction are all a bunch of fuckboys so yeah, all in on Neo Zeon.
>>5430901
Zanscare, CB, and most independent factions aren't a thing until UC100+ so we've got a ways to go for that.
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>>5430892
Yeah that isn’t a very smoothe combination then…

I guess I’ll just go for just piloting, we can meet the contacts and read the letter later.

>>5430877
>>5430850
>>
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>>5430907
>calcification
Nobody make any sudden movements, I think there might be a skeleton in this thread.
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>>5430915
Shit I've been found out. Now I'll never get the Skull Gundam.
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>>5430905
>>5430907
>>5430907
We got to foster the independent desires so they willing join a Neo-Zeon. And get a better name for it, like the Contolist Union or something, dad wasn't egotistical enough to name his religion or Munzo after himself when he was in power, I don't think he would approve of it.
Come to think of it Side 6 kind of followed his dream better than 3 did, with the whole peaceful independence deal. The Zabis ruined everything
>>5430920
Skull Gundam? False alarm everyone he isn't a skeleton, just a crossbone vanguard member time travelling
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>>5430922
>And get a better name for it
Let's call it the Anti Earth-Union Group.
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>>5430924
You'll need at least two more layers of weirdly named fake identities for something like that.

Longer piloting: >>5430908 >>5430855 >>5430852 >>5430847

Quicker piloting recently finished up and now onto writing a letter / meeting Jovians: >>5430887 >>5430875 >>5430872

Looks like a bit of longer piloting wins, it doesn't totally foreclose the possibility of meeting the Jovians though. If I counted the votes wrong please let me know, I think I got all the vote switches in correctly but I might have missed something.
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>>5430941
I think you counted me twice.
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>>5430944
Yeah, I realized that as soon as I posted.
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>>5430941
Here's my count

fly
ZES94fkk
3guzFfI7
90VT9IPV
yGtnEVQy

fly less
ox5FlLRS
FD3IEZWq

Read
yGtnEVQy (second option)
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>>5430846
>[1]You’re in town with Édouard and Char. There’s a Zeon defense force recruiter there talking to high school aged kids; you’re a bit young for it, but only barely, and she seems friendly. Obviously neither you or Édouard trust her at all - she’s clearly a spy, only concealing it from the other residents of the colony - but it’s still an interesting opportunity.

>[2]Riding along with Rafferty for a routine maintenance inspection of the outside of the colony; you’re in a SP-W03 space pod, a maneuverable little civilian work craft that’s easy to fly. Rafferty offered to show you the controls and let you fly a bit since no one else is out for the job to get angry about it.
>>
Peering through the visor of your grayish blue normal suit’s helmet you watch as Rafferty walks you through the basics of the space pod’s controls; his hands move over the simple looking controls with practiced familiarity, flipping a few switches before returning to the pair of upside down L shaped sticks on either side of his pilot’s chair. He looks up to a few of the readout screens crowding about the edges of the enormous curving glass canopy which separates you both from the void of hard vacuum, checking some numbers before giving an exaggerated nod and a thumbs up.

“She’s ready to go, Max; how ‘bout you?” Rafferty says, his helmeted head shifting to the side to look at you.

You’ve tagged along on flights with him before, but this is going to be your first chance to actually do any flying yourself.

“So the pedals control pitch, yaw, and roll all on their own?” You ask, wanting to go over a few things before sitting down, “And the sticks are just for the arms?”

“Nah, not just the arms, throttle’s there as well, and the independent viewer control.” Rafferty clarifies, motioning clearly to each and manipulating them a bit - There’s a small jolt as the craft accelerates forward just a touch and then stops a moment later, and one of the screens displaying the view behind the pod rotates a little.

“Alright, I’m ready.” You say, excitement creeping into your voice as you switch places with Rafferty, the more experienced pilot standing just behind and to the side of your seat as you get comfortable and strap in.

“Mag control’s that guy there,” Rafferty says, pointing to one of the switches he flicked earlier. You tap the button and press your feet against the pedals gently, a subtle tug and click sounding through the cockpit as your suit’s boots clamp down into place.

“What if I need to get up suddenly?” You ask, “Or leave?”

“Nervous?” Rafferty asks with a laugh, “It don’t tug so bad, if you need to go you’ll still get gone.”

Sure enough he seems to be right, applying even a little effort breaks the mag lock - It’s just enough to not require straps but it doesn’t trap you.

“Cool.” You say, your concern alleviated, “So what, I just fly around now?”

“Look around a bit kid, throttle to that first notch there, it’s for docking - Slow as she goes.”

You follow his instructions, feeling the subtle tactile feedback of the controls as you barely turn the throttle forward, your right foot moving ever so slightly - The view of the colony and stars outside begin to shift slowly as the pod slowly rotates.
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>>5431021

“Oh, that’s really easy.” You say, feeling more confident, turning the pod back the other direction and then yawing up and down a bit, “What next?”

“Forward.” Rafferty says, “Velocity readout’s there, and that one’s the crumple detector.”

“Crumple detector?” You ask a bit hesitantly, not at all liking that name.

“Collision warning system.” Rafferty clarifies, “Pod’s tough an all, but most things’d still crush us like a can if we hit above… well, don’t hit nothing. We’re out far enough it ain’t gonna be an issue.“

“Oh. Well, here goes forward then,” You say, left foot shifting forward as your right stays still… and you start moving backwards, though still at an incredibly slow acceleration.

Rafferty laughs, “Other way, kid, thruster selection is inverted.”

Of course it is. You pull your foot backwards slightly and sure enough there’s a subtle feeling of forward acceleration for just a moment.

“...Right, now pick a direction and fly.” Rafferty says, “I’ll keep ya from breaking anything, don’t worry.”

....You close your eyes and breathe deep, calming yourself as you click the throttle forward a few more positions - It’s a subtle feeling, not quite smooth, just the faintest resistance, a little more for each notch.

Opening your eyes you shift your feet, spinning the pod to face toward one of the colony’s mirror reflector limbs, and with a sudden jolt you send the craft rocketing forward.

“Woah, easy there, Max!” Rafferty says, almost falling backward from the sudden acceleration.

You shift the pod’s nose to face backward, still maintaining your previous direction vector, and take in the view of space unimpeded by the colony for a moment - A sea of stars without end, extending outward forever just beyond the glass of your visor and the pod’s canopy - and you then fire the rear thrusters again with a another shift of your left foot, canceling your previous out, riding the throttle down and bringing the pod to a very gentle but quick stop.

“...Kids a damned natural.” Rafferty says under his breath before speaking more loudly, “That was a smooth stop, buttery smooth - You ain't gotta turn around to do it though.”

“I know, I just wanted to look at the stars.” You say, trying to sound calm despite your own excitement about how well even that simple maneuver went, “Do we have enough fuel to loop around the colony?”

“Plenty. Always fill her up when I’m teaching new… Wait, hell no, Max, that’s not-”
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>>5431028

A couple hours of flying later, back in the docking bay.

You exit out the small hatch on the side of the pod, jumping down from the tall machine and onto the hangar deck some six and a half meters below you - It’s more of a gentle glide than a jump really, this section of the colony being unaffected by it’s spin gravity. Your boots click firmly onto the metal floor as you land, Rafferty following just behind you.

“You’re crazy, kid. Never would’ve guessed.” Rafferty chuckles, “Keep the suit.”

“Keep it?” You ask, looking down at your grayish blue normal suit, “Isn’t it the colony’s?”

“I play poker every Friday with the dockmaster, it’ll get lost in a tragic accident next inventory.” Rafferty says with a dismissive wave before taking off his helmet, “Gimme a coupla weeks and I’ll get you some proper lessons too.”

“Wait, really?” You ask, surprised by the offer. This was very much an unofficial arrangement, the maintenance flight going a lot longer than it was supposed to.

“Probably shoulda stopped ya when ya did that spin,” Rafferty says, “But you’re a natural, just felt wrong. Still got a lot to learn though, it ain’t all fine control and fancy spins.”

“Instruments and sensors,” You say, knowing exactly what he’s talking about, “I look forward to it.”

“Yeah, I pity the bastard they pair ya with,” He says, shaking his head a little, “Probably me again… Right, run off now, got some paperwork to fake for this.”

An hour later, back at the lodge

The lobby of the lodge is unusually quiet, a fire crackling in one of the several large fireplaces but little in the way of the other residents to be seen. You’re carry your duffel bag containing your folded up normal suit and helmet back to your suite, a big dumb smile spread across your face. Flying is fun.

Lucifer runs past, rubbing up against your leg before making a strange noise and scurrying off. He’s probably just trying to find Sayla; that old cat is usually sleeping or next to her - often both at once.

Opening the door to your room you set you enter, move past the small living room and set your bag down in the bedroom, looking at the suit again as you unzip the bag. You take a picture of it for Elena, she’ll want to see it. Her most recent letter is laying nearby on your desk, unread - It arrived just before you left to go fly.

>Put the normal suit back on, show off a little. Take some pictures of yourself for Elena and then try to find your brother and sister if they’re here; they’ll want to see this.
>Head out to the lobby to read the letter; you usually read out there, it feels more comfortable.
>Find wherever Lucifer got off to, that noise he made sounded a little odd…
>Write-in.
>>
>>5431023
I didn't think you needed to delete the update, the inverted referring to the controls made sense in context
>>5431030
>Put the normal suit back on, show off a little. Take some pictures of yourself for Elena and then try to find your brother and sister if they’re here; they’ll want to see this.
>Find wherever Lucifer got off to, that noise he made sounded a little odd…
Sis is going to be devastated once he dies, so better go look for him together
>>
>>5431030
>Put the normal suit back on, show off a little. Take some pictures of yourself for Elena and then try to find your brother and sister if they’re here; they’ll want to see this.
>Head out to the lobby to read the letter; you usually read out there, it feels more comfortable.
>Find wherever Lucifer got off to, that noise he made sounded a little odd…
No reason why we can't do them all.
>>
>>5431030
>Find wherever Lucifer got off to, that noise he made sounded a little odd…
>>
>>5431032
I think the cat is dying, the longer we take to go after him the higher the chances we find a corpse instead of his final moments.
>>
>>5431036
Just checked the wiki to refresh my memory and this is the part Lucifer dies and Sayla starts becoming more distant.
Not going to post the image because I think Contolist is going to use it.
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>>5431036
Huh, that's true. We can read the letter later. I just hope it isn't too important.

>>5431030
Changing my vote to >>5431031
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>>5431030
>1)Find wherever Lucifer got off to, that noise he made sounded a little odd…
>2)Put the normal suit back on, show off a little. Take some pictures of yourself for Elena and then try to find your brother and sister if they’re here; they’ll want to see this.
The devil returns to his domain...
>>
>>5431030
>Find wherever Lucifer got off to, that noise he made sounded a little odd…

Remember our boy is getting old. Give him some love cause he dies soon I think
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>>5431031
+1
>>
>>5431031
>>5431045
>>5431054
Show off and check on Lucifer. Writing.
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>>5431082
Wait OP, I think the votes are still tied between looking for Lucifer alone and searching for Cas and Sayla to find Lucifer together.
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>>5431090
>wanting a good boy to die alone
I bet you kiss women.
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>>5431092
>I bet you kiss women.
I'm not a degenerate only consensual hand holding is pure in my eyes
But both of those options are to look for Lucifer, the difference is if we bring our siblings or not.
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>>5431090
Ah, thank you, I did miss one of those votes.

I'm most of the way done with writing already so in the interest of getting more posts out today I'm just going to carry on, Lucifer isn't that close to dying from a lack of attention. The two options aren't all that contradictory anyways, it's just slightly slower to change into the suit and show off before searching.

If anyone objects feel free to call me awful names, apologies for the miscount.
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>>5431112
No worries QM.
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>>5431112
How dare you commit an understadable human mistake, you federation apologist!
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>>5431090
I count 4 for finding siblings first and 2 for just going
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>>5431136
Wait nm, I read one with preferred voting as doing both
>>
…Still looking at your normal suit, you realize that pictures of you wearing it would go over a lot better with Elena; you quickly change, but refrain from putting the helmet on, instead carrying it under your arm. Walking over to the closet, you look at yourself in the door’s tall mirror - The suit fits quite well despite not being made for you, it certainly isn’t anything close to skin tight but a vague hint of angular athleticism is still clear even through it’s concealing bulk. You take a few quick pictures, and then head back out into the lobby to try and locate your brother or sister.

The huge space is still mostly empty, so you go and knock on both of their doors. Sayla opens hers after a moment, letting out a shocked gasp as she looks up to you.

“Maxime! Why… Why are you wearing that?” She asks, stepping aside for you to enter her room. She’s moved her desk from the bedroom to the living room, a sealed envelope resting atop it. Probably another letter to your mother. Lucifer is nowhere to be seen.

“Raff let me keep it, he said it was mine now.” You say proudly, “I’m a pilot!”

“You’re an idiot,” Sayla says, smiling even as she shakes her head, “You’ll get in trouble for that you know.”

“Maybe, maybe not, he said he could convince the dockmaster to let me keep it,” You explain, “And I’m going to have regular lessons soon.”

“Really? Maxime, that’s amazing!” Sayla says excitedly, moving over to hug you, “It went well, I take it?”

“Very,” You answer, pulling away from your sister after just a moment, “I flew around the whole outside of the colony, nearly ran the tanks dry by the end. He said I was a natural.”

“...Can I go next time?” Sayla asks, to which you immediately nod.

“Of course!... Well, maybe… Actually I’m not sure, but I’ll ask!” You say, “I don’t know who the normal instructor will be for the lessons, if it isn’t Raff they might not let you tag along.”

“They might hate fun, that’s true.” She says quite sagely, “Have you shown Édouard yet?”

“No, he didn’t answer his door,” You say, “I think he’s still in town with Char.”

Still?” Sayla asks.

“Where else would he be?” You say with an exaggerated shrug, “...Speaking of missing people though, is Lucifer in here?”

“...No, I actually haven’t seen him all day.” Sayla says, though she still quickly glances above and below the room’s furniture - the cat’s usual hiding places.

“Huh. He made a weird noise a few minutes ago when I got back. I didn’t think much of it at the time but I wanted to check on him.”

“Weird noise? Like a little cough?” Sayla asks.

“Something like that.”
>>
>>5431158

“He’s been doing that for awhile, I think he’s having a harder time with hairballs since we moved here.” Sayla says, not sounding too concerned.

“Are you sure that’s all it is?” You ask with a worried tone.

“...Well I was, but now you’ve got me worried about it too.” Sayla says, giving you a look before turning to search the rest of her suite for the cat, “Alright, where’d he get off to… Lucifer?”

You join her in the search, checking on top of some of the taller shelves where Sayla can’t see easily - There’s no sign of the cat anywhere. Soon you’re both searching the lobby looking over and under the chairs for any sign of the black cat.

“He wouldn’t have gone outside, would he?” You ask Sayla, looking over to the doors.

“No, he knows better. He might have gone into somebody else’s room though… or the kitchen or dining room again…”

“I’ll check the rooms,” You say, “You check the kitchen. We’ll meet back here in a few minutes.”

“Alright, mister pilot.” Sayla says, giving a little mock salute. You smile and return your own. You both separate to continue the search, a line of doors ahead of you…

Several knocked on doors later.

None of the residents you’ve spoken to so far have seen any sign of Lucifer since this morning, and checking in a few of the empty rooms you didn’t find him in those either. You’re heading up stairs now to the second level, and as you move to knock on the first door a it opens before you can even touch it, a strangely dressed green haired girl standing just in front of you. You’ve never seen her before… at least not up close, she’s one of those Jovians Mrs. Aznable was welcoming in earlier before you left to go fly.

“Oh, it's you; time to go home.” She says, her blue eyes widening. She’s holding Lucifer in one arm, cradled like a baby - He hates being held like that, but seems to be completely calm, yellow eyes glancing toward you.

“Hi, I’m looking… for him, actually.” You say, not sure what to make of the scene.

“I know,” She says, handing him over - As soon as Lucifer leaves her grip he begins to scratch and claw lightly at the sleeves of your normal suit. The little scratches can’t do anything through the material, but you adjust to hold him more comfortably and he lets up.

“Thanks… how’d you know?” You ask, finding it hard to look away from her eyes, like they’re peering right through you.

“You just look like his owner,” She says with absolute sincerity, “He was very good, we didn’t mind having him here at all. I’m Tryphosa Jedar, what’s your name?”

>Felix.
>Maxime.
>>
>>5431162
>Felix
>>
>>5431162
>Maxime.

SHE'S A NEWTYPE. I don't fucking trust her, female newtypes are always bad news.
>>
>>5431162
>Maxime.
Mmmh, I can smell the helium-3 now.
>>
>>5431162
>>Maxime.
>>
>>5431162
>Maxime.
Technically not a lie. But the fact that this is a choice worries me. Besides, we should consult with Cas and Sayla before giving out our real name to anyone. Last time with Elena we got lucky because of the timing.
>>
>>5431162
>Maxime

Hooooowee, newtype time!
>>
>>5431162
>Maxime
It's one of our names anyway. Also we promised Casval to not reveal our identity again without consulting Arteria and him first after what we did with Elena.
>>
>>5431162
>>Maxime
>>
>>5431175
>>5431172
>>5431179
>>5431186
>>5431187
>>5431191
>>5431198
Maxime. Writing.
>>
>>5431162
>Maxime.
I don't see any reason to give out our real name. Strange that this is a choice.
>>
>>5431234
I think it would have been to jump straight from acquaintance to potential asset for the Jupiter Fleet which isn't necessarily a good idea.
>>
>>5431234
Probably Newtype powers, and the people from the Jupiter energy fleet are weird, like Dogatie and Scirocco
>>
>>5430922
>Contolist Union
I'd be happy with that.
>>
“Maxime,” You say, telling a sort of half-truth and thinking more of your siblings than yourself.

“Oh.” Tryphosa says, frowning just a touch, “I see. How odd. I’m very sorry.”

You furrow your brow at her somewhat rude and strange reaction, “It’s not an odd name.”

“No, it isn’t.” She agrees, smiling and stepping out from the room, closing the door behind her with her foot, “I meant no offense, rather the opposite in fact.”

“Huh?” You say, taking a step back to allow her to exit.

“Can I help you somehow, Maxime?” She says, utterly sincere; some sleeping half-awareness stirs within you as she speaks. Her question feels deeper than a mere inquiry, far deeper, going beyond the meaning of the words used to pose it. Suspicions flare in your mind for a moment and then ease away, it doesn’t feel as if she is trying to deceive you… but you’re not entirely certain.

>”...I… I don’t know. Would you like to meet my sister? She’ll be thankful you found her cat.” She seems trustworthy.
>”...You’re from the Jupiter colonies, aren’t you?” Take the initiative back.
>”...No, I don’t think so. Thanks for finding our cat.” She’s weird, leave.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5431284
>”...You’re from the Jupiter colonies, aren’t you?” Take the initiative back.
>"But yes, We're looking for our pet Cat, Lucifer.
>>
>>5431286
+1
>>
>>5431286
We already found Lucifer though. we are literally holding him
>>
>>5431284
>”...You’re from the Jupiter colonies, aren’t you?” Take the initiative back.
>>
>>5431284
>”...You’re from the Jupiter colonies, aren’t you?” Take the initiative back.
>"How's life going around a massive fleet? You can already guess I'm trying to be a space pilot, so I wonder if it lives up to my dreams"
>>5431286
She already gave the cat back
>>
>>5431284
>”...You’re from the Jupiter colonies, aren’t you?” Take the initiative back.
>"What exactly can you do to help us?"
I have a bad feeling about what would happen to Sayla (since she has extreme empathy) if she were to meet her. Let's see if she lets up any info.

>>5431286
Don't we already have Lucifer?
>>
>>5431296
Actually, changing to support this
>>
>>5431284
>>5431298
Changing my vote to this>>5431296
It's much more subtle, and more of a chance she'll reveal something about herself and if she's connected to anyone. Though I'd still like to ask her what she thinks she could to for us.
>>
>>5431311
>>5431302
>>5431296
Writing, might be a bit.
>>
“...You’re from the Jupiter colonies, aren’t you?” You ask in an attempt to get the initiative back in the conversation, avoiding her strangely piercing question.

“I’m from far, far away from here,” She says, moving back a little to a more comfortable distance, “But no, I’m not from the colonies - My family is though. I was born on a ship.”

“How’s life going around in such a massive fleet?” You ask, still uncertain about Tryphosa but finding it very easy to speak freely with her, “You can probably guess I’m training to be a pilot, so I wonder if it lives up to my dreams.”

She considers your question for a moment, her gaze softening a little, “It’s the best thing there is. People, together; nothing but one another and your hearts and minds to keep the fleet moving… unfortunately that doesn’t leave much room for little indulgences though, like your cat there. He’s very cute.”

“He’s my sister’s. You don’t have pets in the fleet?” You ask. It’s strange for a ship to not have a cat, even Federation warships have a ship’s cat a lot of the time - the ones that don’t usually have other mascots, like a small dog.

“Oh, no, they’re a luxury; everyone would like to have them of course, but it’s no good for the whole of the fleet.” Tryphosa says, reaching over to scratch behind Lucifer’s ears, “At least that’s what my father says, and he’s been all the way out to the Oort cloud once.”

You raise an eyebrow, taken aback by that claim, “That’s nearly out of the solar system, isn’t it?”

“It is, almost no one’s ever gone further.” She says, Lucifer purring as she pets him, “They say there’s nothing out past it, but that’s not really true, is it?”

“...I suppose not,” You say, considering the idea for a moment, “The rest of everything is out there, just not any people.”

“More than just that,” Tryphosa says, smiling sweetly, “It’s where our dreams are. I read that in a book once; it’s a romantic thought, isn’t it?”

>”It is. Do you think it’s true though?”
>”Perhaps… You’re here with your family, right? Your father sounds like an interesting man.”
>”Who was it that said that?” It sounds a little familiar for some reason.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5431441
>Write in

"When our souls are no longer bound by gravity, all of the cosmos is laid bare for them to wander freely, weightless and free"
>>
>>5431441
>>”Who was it that said that?” It sounds a little familiar for some reason.
>>
>>5431441
>”Who was it that said that?” It sounds a little familiar for some reason.
>>
>>5431441
>"Infinite space for infinite expansion, acess to infinite energy and perhaps even time itself It's a wonderful dream in my opinion, but not an idle one."
I'm replying with the words of our father. Thanks for your rants Jimba
>>
>>5431445
Based fellow contolist
>>5431446
>>5431448
>>5431450
Come on anons, we got to remember dad's dream
>>
>>5431441
Swapping from my vote here >>5431446
too suppornig

>>>5431445
>>
>>5431453
I'm not getting like half the posts man. After 1.2k 4chan shits the bed for me. But thanks for pointing it out, switching.
>>5431445
>>5431450
Switching to support the write in.
>>
>>5431461
Do you browse 4chan from you phone? Threads with 1k+ not loading or loading very slowly is a common problem for phoneposters so that might be it.
Unfortunately there's no solution as far as I know.
>>
>>5431477
Nope, desktop browser chrome. I just keep so many other tabs open for work and hobbies that it takes a notable hit in performance.
>>
>>5431484
Ok, that's new.
Now I'm curious, just how many tabs are we talking about here?
>>
>>5431493
Uhhhhh do I have to answer?
about 50
>>
>>5431441
>>5431445
Support
>>
>>5431445
>>5431451
+1
>>
>>5431498
That's really a lot, but who am I to judge Enjoy your tabs anons
>>
>>5431445
>>5431453
>>5431459
>>5431461
>>5431502
>>5431503
I'll start writing in a bit.

I'll also include bits of >>5431451 if there aren't any objections, it's in the same spirit as the other write-in.
>>
>>5431515
No objection from me
>>
>>5431515
I object, you should include all of it.
>>
I eject.
>>
>>5431524
I insert.
>>
What do you imagine Felix's musical theme to be?
>>
>>5431599
I'm not sure we've done enough to warrant a theme song yet. Icing that kill team was a good first step though.
>>
>>5431617
It's best to be prepared, but you're right.
>>
>>5431599
A fast paced disco beat but rather than the staccatos in Gallant Char, it has a conventional dance tune that also transitions into the original 1979 theme song.
>>
>>5431621
Oooh that sounds good.
>>
>>5431599
Eletronic opera
>>
>>5431626
Also a good , solid choice. Something like this maybe? https://youtu.be/1mvUkRPvNZ8
>>
“When our souls are no longer bound by gravity, all of the cosmos is laid bare for them to wander, weightless and free.” You say, answering her question with something a little more thoughtful than a simple yes or no, “Infinite space for infinite expansion, access to infinite energy, and perhaps even time itself… It’s a wonderful dream in my opinion, but not an idle one.”

Tryphosa giggles, “Oh, I’m glad you agree. You’re familiar with Deikun?”

“Very,” You say, your heart skipping a beat at the question, “His writings are popular in the fleet?”

“His prophecies are, yes.” She says with a little nod, “Though not all can see their truth yet.”

“Prophecies?” You ask, a little worried about the sudden shift to religious language.

“Poetic language,” Tryphosa says, “But his words awaken the soul in a very real sense.”

“I suppose they do, don't they?” You say, finding her words to feel true.

“How did you become acquainted with his…” She trails off before she finishes the thought, frowning a little more, “Oh, I’m so very sorry.”

You were thinking of Jimba’s death for a moment, but you don’t think your face was giving that away; are you really so easy to read?

“We learn a lot from the people we’ve lost.” You say solemnly.

“We do, even after they’re gone,” She agrees sadly, that strange light catching her eyes once again, “Perhaps only after they’re gone… But as beautiful as it may be, we should discuss something more sunny - I don’t wish to bring you more pain.”

“We should.” You agree, relieved by the change in topic.

>”You’re here with your family, right? Your father sounds like an interesting man.”
>”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”
>”What’s brought you to this colony? It’s a bit out of the way compared to the fleet’s normal route, if I’m not mistaken.” An understatement if there ever was one.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5431655
>>1)”What’s brought you to this colony? It’s a bit out of the way compared to the fleet’s normal route, if I’m not mistaken.” An understatement if there ever was one.
>2)”You’re here with your family, right? Your father sounds like an interesting man.”
>>
>>5431655
>”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”
>>
>>5431655
>”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”
Two newtype empaths meeting each other, I'm very interested in how it'll play out.
>>
>>5431655
>”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”

>”You’re here with your family, right? Your father sounds like an interesting man.”
>>
>>5431655
>2)”You’re here with your family, right? Your father sounds like an interesting man.”
>1)”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”
>>
>>5431655
Good job introducing a new waifu like this, QM. I'm even more fucking excited for how you're gonna handle our first meeting with Vivima.
>>
>>5431655
>”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”
>”What’s brought you to this colony? It’s a bit out of the way compared to the fleet’s normal route, if I’m not mistaken.” An understatement if there ever was one.
>>
>>5431655
>”What’s brought you to this colony? It’s a bit out of the way compared to the fleet’s normal route, if I’m not mistaken.” An understatement if there ever was one.
>”What’s brought you to this colony? It’s a bit out of the way compared to the fleet’s normal route, if I’m not mistaken.” An understatement if there ever was one.
>”Will you walk with me for a while? I bet my sister would like to meet you.”
>>
>>5431691
+1

>>5431631
I love it
>>
>>5431631
I was thinking something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htDB8SuLrng
So yes?
>>
>>5431901
Although yours is a bit better since I think Avalon is closer to opera dubstep
>>
>>5431901
Also good, in a different way. I think this one is more "action-y". I really like the idea of a theme song for Felix. Would be really cool when he becomes an ace fighter pilot.
>>
>>5431907
>Fighter pilot
Only until the Zaku 1 is introduced in 0075. Dopps and Gattle are death traps.
>>
>>5431923
I'll take your word for it
>>
>>5431658
>>5431660
>>5431665
Walk and meet Sayla.

>>5431657
1. Reason to be here. 2. Ask about father.

>>5431661
Walk and meet Sayla + Ask about father.

>>5431897
>>5431691
Walk and meet Sayla+Ask about reason to be here.

Walk and meet Sayla wins. Writing.
>>
>>5431943
What about me?
>>5431859
>>
>>5431944
Apologies, forgot to add it in but I did see it earlier.
>>
>>5431930
They are because in atmosphere they fucking suck worse then the first designed tanks.
>>
“Will you walk with me for a while?” You ask Tryphosa, motioning to the nearby stairs down to the ground floor of the lobby, “I bet my sister would like to meet you.”

“That sounds lovely.” She responds happily, following along as you begin to walk; there’s something subtly lighter about the way she walks, it’s an odd but elegant gait and quite similar to what you’ve seen from workers and pilots very used to microgravity.

It doesn’t take long to find Sayla, just returning from her part of the search for Lucifer in the lodge’s large kitchen and main dining hall. You sister slows as she approaches, first smiling and then her brow furrowing ever so slightly in confusion for a moment.

“I found Lucifer.” You say, the cat now beginning to get a bit restless in your arms, “He went off to make some friends; this is Tryphosa Jedar, she found him earlier.”

“He found me.” Tryphosa corrects, “I was simply waiting for someone to show up.”

“Thank you for keeping him with you, Tryphosa,” Sayla says appreciatively before hesitating a moment and introducing herself, “I’m Sayla Mass. Lucifer didn’t cause any issues, did he?”

“He solved a few; I was so dreadfully sad when he approached, but he cheered me right up,” Tryphosa says, looking over to the cat, “Isn’t that right?”

Lucifer meows, turning about in your arms so that he’s belly up - An obvious trap, but difficult to resist petting. He bats at you with his paws a little as you pet him, but it does nothing through your gloved hand and he soon calms again. Normally he’d jump right out of your grip at this point, but he seems calmer than usual.

“He can have that effect on people sometimes,” Sayla says happily, but her tone changes as she meets Tryphosa’s gaze, “Is there something wrong?”

“...You don’t know that he’s sick.” Tryphosa states in shock, as if some profound realization had just struck her, “Oh my, I assumed you would - I should have led with that!”

“Sick?” You ask, looking down to Lucifer. You were worried about that earlier, it was the whole point of the search after all.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Sayla says with a quavering voice, her eyes widening, “...Thank you for comforting him, Tryphosa, but I need to take him to a vet. Maxime, hand him to me, I’m going to ask Mr. Aznable to drive me into town.”

“Wait, Tryphosa, how do you know?” You ask, even as Sayla is taking Lucifer from your arms, “Didn’t you say you don’t have pets on the fleet?”

“We don’t, I merely paid attention.” The green haired girl answers, her head turning as she watches your sister run off toward Mr. Aznables office by the old employee section of the lodge, “He was so clearly hurting; he hides it well though. It’s a common problem in the fleet.”
>>
>>5432016

>”I’m sorry Tryphosa, but I need to go as well - Sayla shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Thank you again!” Catch up to your sister.
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
>”So this is what, just a hunch?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5432017
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
I'm sure hanging with this weird newtype won't cause any problems.
Also poor Elena, almost all of her interactions were competing with things we wanted to do, meanwhile Tryphosa go hand in hand with some.
>>
>>5432016
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
I still don't fully trust her, but 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' and all of that.
Also we should ask Sayla what she thinks of her, since she's good with seeing other's emotions.
>>
>>5432028
*what she thinks of her after Tryphosa leaves
>>
>>5432017
>”I’m sorry Tryphosa, but I need to go as well - Sayla shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Thank you again!” Catch up to your sister.
>>
>>5432017
>”So this is what, just a hunch?”
>>
>>5432017
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
>>
>>5432017
>”I’m sorry Tryphosa, but I need to go as well - Sayla shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Thank you again!” Catch up to your sister.

Sure, she's nice, and PROBABLY has no ulterior motives, but she's a female newtype, and those are always bad news.
>>
>>5432017
>>5432028
Changing my vote to
>”I’m sorry Tryphosa, but I need to go as well - Sayla shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Thank you again!” Catch up to your sister.
Not going to risk something bad happening because we brought her with. Hopefully she doesn't leave anytime soon, we should find out about what her fleet/family are doing here.
>>
>>5432017
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
>>
>>5432017
>>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
>>
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
>>
>>5432017
>”I’m sorry Tryphosa, but I need to go as well - Sayla shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Thank you again!” Catch up to your sister.
>>
>>5432017
>>”I’m sorry Tryphosa, but I need to go as well - Sayla shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Thank you again!” Catch up to your sister.
>>
File: Vivima.png (149 KB, 344x334)
149 KB
149 KB PNG
>>5432021
>>5432116
>>5432145
>>5432169
>>5432172
Ask if she wants to go too.

>>5432083
>>5432129
>>5432135
>>5432212
>>5432214
Go alone.

>>5432109
Just a hunch.

Back from classes and it looks like we have a tie, unless I've managed to miscount again. I'll give it another hour and then roll off if there isn't a winner by then.

Have a Vivima while you wait; Felix would have seen pictures of her before.
>>
>>5432227
Vivima somehow looks more mainly than Garma, lmao.
I really like the anime poofy hair, reminds me of ghost in the shell a bit.
>>
>>5432227
Looks great QM, you're spoiling us with all these waifu choices and the extremely difficult political decisions they come with.
>>
>>5432227
>”It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately. I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”
Tiebreaker?
>>
>>5432021
>>5432116
>>5432145
>>5432169
>>5432172
>>5432240
Ask if she wants to go too. Writing.
>>
“It’s a common problem everywhere, unfortunately.” You say, an image of your brother flashing through your mind briefly, “I’m going to help my sister - Do you want to come with us?”

“Yes. Give me a few minutes to communicate with my guardians,” Tryphosa says, her expression darkening, “I’ll make sure they understand.”

“Guardians?...” You question, unsure of what exactly the peculiar Jovian girl means.

She nods and runs off without any explanation, her movements graceful and light but just slightly off. It’s beautiful, almost mesmerizing, but it really looks out of place under the colony's spin gravity - You blink and look away, and follow after Sayla. Jovians are weird, that’s for sure.

A few minutes later, in Mr. Aznable’s truck.

Lucifer meows from inside of his carrier, the boxy enclosure sitting between Sayla and Tryphosa in the back seat; you’re riding shotgun while Mr. Aznable drive. He’s quite fond of Sayla, she’s often helping around the lodge with chores and care of the horses, and it took very little to convince him to make the short drive into town even if there’s little in the way of proof of Lucifer’s alleged illness.

Sayla and Tryphosa are deep in conversation already; your sister usually has that effect on people, she’s rarely met a stranger in her entire life.

“You’re from the energy fleet then?” Sayla asks from behind you.

“I am,” Tryphosa answers, “But I wasn’t born in it or the colonies.”

“...And you’re certainly not from the earthsphere,” Sayla says, “So where then? Mars?”

“A little past Neptune,” Tryphosa says, almost dreamily, “I was born on an expeditionary vessel, you see. It went a little beyond the outer orbit of Pluto; the return journey took years even with regular burns. I grew up on the ship, though I don’t remember much until the latter half of the return - I was very young. You could say I’m not from anywhere and it almost wouldn’t be a lie.”

“I feel like that sometimes,” Sayla says quietly, “But you consider yourself a Jovian now?”

“I’ve been with the fleet for a single round trip with the fleet, that’s enough for most of them to consider me one.” Tryphosa says, “And my father is, so I suppose I could claim it through him as well; however I’m called, I’m me.”
>>
>>5432321

“What does your father do?” You ask, turning your head to look to Tryphosa.

“He’s a doctor,” Tryphosa answers, “A medical researcher, to be more accurate.”

“What kind of research does he do?” Sayla asks, immediately very interested.

“Oh, all sorts, he was working on a deep space sustainability project when I was born.” Tryphosa says, “Atrophy prevention, cybernetics and regenerative therapies to counter long term radiation damage, cloning - He’s very prolific.”

“...But he doesn’t have much time for children,” Sayla concludes, jumping much further ahead than where you were at mentally in that conversation - Tryphosa gives a sad little nod in response.

“It’s nice to speak with someone who understands.” Tryphosa says, “Usually only my sisters do; you’re very much like them.”

“We’re almost to the vet.” Mr. Aznable says, his abrupt intrusion throwing the conversation off for a moment. You can see the edge of town just past the next hill, the truck passing by one of the last buttes between the lodge and the classically western looking town.

“You hear that, Lucifer?” Sayla says to her cat, “You’re going to be alright soon.”

>”What’s life like being on a ship for that long? Colonies must be pretty strange in comparison.”
>”You have sisters, Tryphosa? How come they aren’t here with you?”
>”So what was it that actually brought you here? The Texas Colony, I mean. Why not Earth or Luna, or a big colony like Iffish?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5432322
>”You have sisters, Tryphosa? How come they aren’t here with you?”
>”So what was it that actually brought you here? The Texas Colony, I mean. Why not Earth or Luna, or a big colony like Iffish?”
>>
>>5432322
>”So what was it that actually brought you here? The Texas Colony, I mean. Why not Earth or Luna, or a big colony like Iffish?”
>>
>>5432322
>2)”What’s life like being on a ship for that long? Colonies must be pretty strange in comparison.”
>1)”So what was it that actually brought you here? The Texas Colony, I mean. Why not Earth or Luna, or a big colony like Iffish?”
>>
>>5432322
>>5432326
Supporting.
>>
>>5432322
>”You have sisters, Tryphosa? How come they aren’t here with you?”
>”So what was it that actually brought you here? The Texas Colony, I mean. Why not Earth or Luna, or a big colony like Iffish?”
>>
>>5432326
>>5432339
>>5432341
Writing.
>>
“You have sisters, Tryphosa?” You ask, not having seen anyone close to her age this morning, “How come they aren’t here with you?”

“I have four. They’re very unwell,” She answers sadly, “If they could have accompanied me I’m sure they would have; it’s okay though, I’ll be taking the memories back with me to share.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sayla says, “All four of them are unwell?”

“It’s a rare genetic condition.” Tryphosa clarifies, “I was spared the worst of it.”

“Your father must pour himself into his research work for their sake then,” Mr. Aznable says from the driver’s seat, “A parent would do anything to spare their children from suffering.”

“That’s a very sweet thought, but it isn’t the case.” Tryphosa says, her voice carrying the slightest hint of pain, “My father was quite invested in his work long before any of us were born.”

“Ah, my apologies. I should know better than to make such assumptions at my age.” Mr. Aznable responds quickly.

“You only meant well, it’s quite alright.” Tryphosa replies, her tone kind and understanding. The town is growing very close now, you're entering the outskirts.

”So what was it that actually brought you here? The Texas Colony, I mean.” You ask, trying to steer the conversation back to something less troubling, “Why not Earth or Luna, or a big colony like Iffish?”

“I like cowboys.” Tryphosa answers immediately.

You can’t help but laugh at the simplicity of the answer, “That’s it?”

“Yes,” She says, “I was promised I could stay for a few days before we move on.”

“You’re only going to be here for a few days?” You ask, disappointed. Interesting people come and go from the lodge all the time, but never anyone quite like Tryphosa - There’s something almost magnetic about her.

“Three. Enough to visit each of the land sections of the colony.”

“We’re here.” Mr. Aznable says, the truck coming to a stop near an\ whitewashed wooden building with an almost tackily western sign reading “Veterinarian” hanging above the front door.

A few hours later.

Lucifer was left at the vet for the rest of the day to undergo a series of tests and for observation - They’ll call as soon as they know more, but they didn’t believe there was any serious short term danger.

You are currently back at the lodge. It’s getting late; there isn’t much time left in the artificial day. What are you doing?

>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>Speaking with your brother about his very long trip into town today, and showing off your normal new normal suit.
>Talking with Sayla about her impression of Tryphosa, who has retired to her room for the day.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>Speaking with your brother about his very long trip into town today, and showing off your normal new normal suit.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>Talking with Sayla about her impression of Tryphosa, who has retired to her room for the day.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>Reading the letter from Elena while sitting in the lobby, finally having made time for it.
>>
>>5432436
>Speaking with your brother about his very long trip into town today, and showing off your normal new normal suit
>>
>>5432437
>>5432438
>>5432439
>>5432444
>>5432448
>>5432494
>>5432514
I'll start writing in the morning.
>>
The sounds of faint conversation drift through the lobby of the lodge; familiar voices, a few of the other long term residents who live there. Flames crackle in the nearby fireplace, warming the grand room and casting faint, flickering shadows about. You’re sitting in a comfortable green armchair, finally having relaxed after a busy day. The most recent letter from Elena is in your hands, and you carefully unfold the paper and look over it. It’s handwritten in black ink; she has beautiful handwriting, very flowing yet still precise and easy to read.

Dear Max,

I loved the pictures you sent with your last letter - I still can’t believe there are wild horses in your colony, and an entire herd! I always assumed there wouldn’t be so many animals, just a few pet horses, but they really went all in. There’s so much free space, I keep thinking of it being sort of small but that’s wrong, isn’t it? I’ve sent a few of my own pictures this time, and a drawing of a horse which looks
mostly like it isn’t a mutant abomination - horses are really hard to draw - Hopefully you like them!

I’m glad things are going so well up there. Let me know as soon as you’ve been able to fly, I’m so excited for you! When we meet again in Von Braun do you think you could fly me around? I’ve been dreaming about it, what Luna would look like from above, all the glass and lights of the city below us, the stars up above with nothing in the way. It almost hurts to think about.

I hate that I can’t talk with anyone about you, not really anyways, every time a letter arrives I get so excited I could shout, but dad says I have to keep quiet and he never wants to hear about things. He’s been arguing with mom a lot more.
>>
>>5432882

I miss you. I miss you so much right now it is hard to even put into words. Things aren't going well down here.

We’ve moved to Brazil to be with my mom again, her other project ended but she's on a new one and doesn't know how long it will last. She’s so… cold. Not depressed, but she’s almost
mean now. I miss the old her. She was so genuine and sweet, even if she had a hard time showing it.

I think it’s her work getting to her, she’s part of a “missile defense research committee” now, the Federation invited some experts from Anaheim to join it and mom got picked. It’s the first job she’s been able to talk about with us in years, but every time she comes back from a meeting she’s angrier, frustrated, and I can’t cheer her up anymore - Showing her my art just makes it worse. I heard her arguing with my dad about needing to abandon relief work because it’s probably going to be too dangerous in a few years to be outside of Brazil - Isn’t that strange?

I’m going to try to get her to transfer to some other part of Anaheim, maybe back to Luna. I think her work is going to kill her, it scares me so much seeing it just wear away at her like this - this isn’t how she used to be at all. It hurts to even write about, but I don’t trust anyone as much as you. I can’t talk about it with anyone else.

Sorry for being such a downer this time, Max. I hope you like the pictures,
Please write again soon.

Love,
Elena.


P.S. Writing this a few days later, didn’t want to redo the whole letter. I’m doing a little better now. The beaches here are great! I think you’ll like these pictures even more.

You set the letter aside, quite worried by the latter half, and look over the pictures. There are a few of a city’s skyline, some of a lush jungle, and… Oh. Your cheeks turn a little red; Elena looks good in a swimsuit. After a few moments of what is definitely appreciation of the sandy beach behind her in the photos, you set the photos aside and look at the drawing she sent. It’s of a horse, and while the linework looks a little off she’s really outdone herself with the rest of it, especially the reflections - The horse is made of glass and it’s running across the night sky, starlight captured in it and glinting off of it’s surface, like the whole universe was being captured inside of the creature.

Carefully putting the letter and pictures back together, you stand up and…

>Head back to your room and go to sleep. It’s been a long day.
>Go to your brother’s room and knock on the door. He looked tired when you say him earlier, but you haven’t gotten a chance to talk.
>Head off to speak with someone else (Specify).
>Write-in.
>>
>>5432883
>Head off to speak with someone else (Specify).
>Sayla
We should ask Sayla what she thought about Tryphosa. I really want to know what her deal is.
>>
>>5432883
1)
>Go to your brother’s room and knock on the door. He looked tired when you say him earlier, but you haven’t gotten a chance to talk.

2)
>Head back to your room and go to sleep. It’s been a long day.

>>5432884
Sounds like she’s just stopping by.
>>
>>5432883
>Go to your brother’s room and knock on the door. He looked tired when you say him earlier, but you haven’t gotten a chance to talk.
>>
>>5432883
>Go to your brother’s room and knock on the door. He looked tired when you say him earlier, but you haven’t gotten a chance to talk.
>Head off to speak with someone else (Specify).
Get Sayla too, we need to talk about Tryphosa.
She could always guess other people's emotions and thoughts, lived her entire life on a ship without any gravity, and knew of our father writings and called it a prophecy.
Remember what Jimba said about our father's writing?
>A newtype will have far greater perception and intuition, not necessarily enhanced intelligence, though I see how one could interpret it in such a way from some perspectives. Deikun often said that newtypes will be capable of perfect communication without any misunderstanding, far superior to what any language could ever achieve.
>>
>>5432894
That's true, but I mostly wanted to know what Sayla's impression of her was, since she's good with emotions and would probably know if Tryphosa was being deceitful about anything. I didn't exactly buy the 'I came here because I like cowboys' thing.
>>
>>5432883
>>5432902
Changing my vote to support this.
Family meetings are a good thing, especially with everything going on now.
>>
>>5432894
>>5432901
Talk with Édouard.

>>5432906
>>5432902
Talk with Sayla and Édouard about Tryphosa.

I'm a bit busy with classwork right now so I'll leave voting open for another hour and roll off if there isn't a winner.
>>
>>5432883
>Go to your brother’s room and knock on the door. He looked tired when you say him earlier, but you haven’t gotten a chance to talk.
>>
>>5432894
>>5432901
>>5432951
Writing.
>>
Carefully putting the letter and pictures back together, you stand up from your comfortable armchair and head to the door to your brother's suite. You knock on it lightly, just a few taps. Faint footsteps sound from the other side, and the door opens just a few seconds later; your brother blinks a few times, obviously tired, and then opens the door more widely.

“Maxime? What is it?” He asks, stepping to the side to allow you to pass into his living room. His suite is the same layout as your own, but he’s hasn’t decorated it quite as much - Your suite has a few models of EFSF naval vessels on the shelves alongside a few more historical models, a few of Elena’s better drawings displayed, and a couple of posters of engineering cross sections of various small craft. Édouard on the other hand has opted to maintain the western look of his suite in its entirety, the only noticeable change being the now quite full bookshelves and a small music player.

“I just wanted to talk for a bit.” You answer, walking in and taking a seat on one of the old fashioned sofas. Édouard sits opposite of you in an armchair.

“How’d your flight with Rafferty go?” He asks, “I assume that’s what you’re really here for.”

You smile as you speak, the memory of the flight flooding back to the forefront of your thought, “It was amazing, he let me do a lot more than I expected; I got to fly around the entire colony - Those pods can burn a lot faster than you’d expect, I almost knocked him over at one point.”

You spend a few minutes describing your exploits, your brother listening patiently; he might be a bit distant sometimes, but it’s little moments like this that let you know he really cares.

“That’s great, Maxime.” Édouard says, chuckling a little at your description of Raff’s reaction to your loop around the colony, “You’ll make a good pilot if you stick to it.”

“Raff seemed to think so,” You say happily, “He let me keep the normal suit I was wearing, and he’s going to arrange for proper lessons; official ones this time.”

“I did see you in it earlier, it suited you well. Very dashing.” Édouard says, “It must be a bit encumbering though.”

“It isn’t so bad,” You say, not having thought about that too much, “I don’t think it slowed me down much, the gloves made some of the smaller switches a little finicky though.”

“I might just have to see for myself; piloting could be a useful skill to master, and it sounds like a rush.” Your brother says with a smirk, “And I can’t have you outdoing me, can I?”

“Oh, is this going to be one of those things then?” You ask, immediately suspecting your brother’s competitive streak to be flaring up once again, the result of which is almost always you being outdone in some way, “I’m a little surprised you didn’t jump at the chance before I did, it seems like something you’d enjoy.”
>>
>>5433073

“I’ve been busy, but if lessons are being offered I might stop in for a few - Could that be arranged?”

“I can try to push for it,” You offer, “No promises though, I’m not sure how much pull Raff really has.”

“I’m almost a year older, it shouldn’t be a hard sell.” Édouard replies confidently, “It’ll look good on my application.”

>“...To the academy, or are you looking at other places now?” You’re not quite sure how serious Édouard actually is about the academy idea, but he’s been talking with Char about it for a while now.
>”Did you hear about what happened with Lucifer earlier?” Shift the subject.
>”The idea of you flying is a little scary, Édouard. I know how you are about speed.” Keep the mood light.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5433074
>>“...To the academy, or are you looking at other places now?” You’re not quite sure how serious Édouard actually is about the academy idea, but he’s been talking with Char about it for a while now.
>”The idea of you flying is a little scary, Édouard. I know how you are about speed.” Keep the mood light.
>>
>>5433075
+1
>>
>>5433074
>“...To the academy, or are you looking at other places now?” You’re not quite sure how serious Édouard actually is about the academy idea, but he’s been talking with Char about it for a while now.
>>
>>5433074
>”Did you hear about what happened with Lucifer earlier?” Shift the subject.
>"We met an interesting Jovian earlier today, her name is Tryphosa and she's leaving in a few days."
Damn it, this is why I wanted to have Sayla around here. I don't know how trustworthy this Jovian is.
>>
>>5433079
Not every new character is a spy, Jimba. Let’s actually exploit the reason we’re talking to our brother in the first place.
>>
>>5433084
I just think its possible she might be able to provide a way for all of us to go to Zeon safely in the future. But I want to make sure of how trustworthy she, her sisters and father are.
>>
>>5433084
I just imagined Jimba's face on a boo, floating behind Felix and accusing everything of being a Zabi plot
>>
>>5433075
+1
>>
>>5433087
Just to be clear, I'm still all for swiping a gundam and booking it out of here. But it's always good to have a backup plan.
>>
>>5433074

>“...To the academy, or are you looking at other places now?” You’re not quite sure how serious Édouard actually is about the academy idea, but he’s been talking with Char about it for a while now.
>>
>>5433075
>>5433077
>>5433091
Writing.
>>
>>5433074
>”Did you hear about what happened with Lucifer earlier?” Shift the subject.
>"I met a jovian girl, she was strange, it was almost like she could read my thoughts. Also she kind of worship our dad's writing."
>>
>>5433143
Damn I was too slow.
Not like it would have mattered.
>>
“...To the academy, or are you looking at other places now?” You ask, unsure of how serious your brother actually is about trying to join the Zeon military; he’s been talking with Char about it for a while now though.

“There are a few other schools in Side Three I’ve been looking at. I don’t think the academy would take me,” He answers quickly, “And even if they would I’d just be trading one prison for another… But I’m keeping an eye on the opportunity it presents.”

“It would get us closer to the Zabis, if that’s what you mean,” You say, “But that’s the issue with it too, isn’t it?”

“Us?” Édouard asks, lifting an eyebrow, “I didn’t think you were interested.”

“Everything we do, we do together.” You say, the words still carrying their same meaning over the last few years, “...But no, I didn’t mean I would be there personally. I haven’t thought about it much, it didn’t seem possible considering who we are.”

“Well, if for some reason they did take us I’m sure they’d be interested in a potential pilot,” Édouard says, “Or two. I suspect if they’d accept us at all it might not matter what it is we did, they’d want to use us as carefully guarded pawns.”

“Well, they’d need to guard us very carefully as pilots,” You say with a small laugh, “The idea of you flying is a little scary, Édouard, I know how you are about speed. I doubt they’d be able to keep up.”

“Were it so easy,” He says, smirking again and shaking his head a little, “It wouldn’t ever be that simple.”

“Oh come on, all we’d need to do is lure most of them onto one ship while we’re flying as their only escorts.” You joke.

“Even they aren’t that arrogant, Maxime.” Édouard chuckles, “The look on their faces might be worth the attempt though… Can you imagine that old prune Degwin panicking for just a few moments once he realized what we were doing, knowing it was too late to act?”

>”No, no, that’s not how it would happen at all. First of all, Degwin looks more like mashed potatoes wearing sunglasses, not a prune. Second, it would be Kycilia panicking - Degwin would be asleep, Gihren would be in command of the ship and suspect nothing, and Kycilia would be the only one paying enough attention to realize their grip on us wasn’t as tight as they'd thought.”

>”Easily, I’d never forget the look on his face. …Did you hear about what happened with Lucifer earlier?” Shift the subject, this is getting a bit darker than you’d intended.

>”...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do? Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad.” This is something you’ve never discussed together directly.

>Write-in.
>>
>>5433196

>”No, no, that’s not how it would happen at all. First of all, Degwin looks more like mashed potatoes wearing sunglasses, not a prune. Second, it would be Kycilia panicking - Degwin would be asleep, Gihren would be in command of the ship and suspect nothing, and Kycilia would be the only one paying enough attention to realize their grip on us wasn’t as tight as they'd thought.”


>”...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do? Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad.” This is something you’ve never discussed together directly.


Brother talk is Dark, and I miss it from when I had one.
>>
>>5433196
>”...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do? Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad.” This is something you’ve never discussed together directly.
>>
>>5433199
supporting +1
>>
>>5433196
>”No, no, that’s not how it would happen at all. First of all, Degwin looks more like mashed potatoes wearing sunglasses, not a prune. Second, it would be Kycilia panicking - Degwin would be asleep, Gihren would be in command of the ship and suspect nothing, and Kycilia would be the only one paying enough attention to realize their grip on us wasn’t as tight as they'd thought.”
>”...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do? Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad.” This is something you’ve never discussed together directly.
>”...I think you should know about a Jovian visitor we had earlier. She practically read me and Sayla's minds, and seems to be a fan of dad's philosophy."

>>5433199
I'm sorry anon
>>
>>5433199
+1
>>
>>5433196
>”...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do? Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad.” This is something you’ve never discussed together directly.
>"Garma and Vivima would resent us, but just killing them for what their family done feels like becoming the Zabis ourselves."
>>
>>5433196

>”No, no, that’s not how it would happen at all. First of all, Degwin looks more like mashed potatoes wearing sunglasses, not a prune. Second, it would be Kycilia panicking - Degwin would be asleep, Gihren would be in command of the ship and suspect nothing, and Kycilia would be the only one paying enough attention to realize their grip on us wasn’t as tight as they'd thought.”
>”...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do? Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad.” This is something you’ve never discussed together directly.
Felix is for retribution, not extermination
>>
>>5433199
+1
>>
>>5433231
We really are building up to be a proper Space Paladin to Char-lemagne
>>
>>5433199
>>5433211
>>5433221
>>5433231
>>5433253
I'll start writing here in a bit.
>>
>>5433271
We even are the son of the space prophet.
>>
>>5433286
Star knight Felix
>>
>>5433311
Space cowboy knight mech pilot.
>>
”No, no, that’s not how it would happen at all. First of all, Degwin looks more like mashed potatoes wearing sunglasses, not a prune.” You say, giving your brother what is definitely a serious look, “Second, it would be Kycilia panicking - Degwin would be asleep, Gihren would be in command of the ship and suspect nothing, and Kycilia would be the only one paying enough attention to realize their grip on us wasn’t as tight as they'd thought.”

Édouard laughs, his smirk turning into a wide grin, “That does sound just like them. Do you remember how Jimba would rant about it? He never let up.”

“I do, I do,” You say, your composure broken as your brother’s contagious laughter gets to you, “Oh, man, just imagine the three of them - Maybe we should try this, it’s too good.”

“What about the other two?” Your brother asks, still chuckling a little, “Degwin’s favorites.”

His question quells your laughter rather quickly, “What about them?”

Édouard’s laughter dies down almost as soon as yours does, his intense blue eyes meeting your own for a few silent moments.

“...When we finally deal with them, what exactly are we going to do?” You ask, breaking through the almost unbearable tension in the room, “Some of them probably weren’t involved in killing dad. Garma and Vivima, I mean.”

“Chalk it up to the misfortune of their birth.” Your brother answers, his tone almost a little too nonchalant, “We’ll likely be able to strike at them before their lump of a father, it would be a dagger in his heart.”

“...That doesn’t seem necessary, Édouard.” You say, “But I… I do see your point. It feels wrong though.”

“What they did to our father was wrong.” Édouard says, a hint of anger filling his voice; you know it’s not really directed at you.

>”We don’t want to become like the Zabis to defeat them though, do we?”
>”...Maybe you’re right, Édouard. They’ve played along since then as well, haven’t they? In a few years they’ll probably be in high office or military command in Zeon…”
>”...Anything it takes.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5433347
>”We don’t want to become like the Zabis to defeat them though, do we?”
>"Remember what you said all those years ago? 'Pride and a desire for vengeance make for a powerful poison' Would father want you to do this?"
>>
>>5433347
>”We don’t want to become like the Zabis to defeat them though, do we?”
>"Two wrongs don't make a right. There's a difference between justice and murder."
>>
>>5433347
I'll back this guy >>5433349
>>
>>5433349
>>5433351
Support
>>
>>5433347
>>5433349
+1
>>
>>5433347
>"They, Garma and Vivima, didn't do anything, they were uninvolved children like us."
>”We don’t want to become like the Zabis to defeat them though, do we?”
>>
>>5433347
>"Two wrongs don't make a right. There's a difference between justice and murder."
>"Remember what you said all those years ago? 'Pride and a desire for vengeance make for a powerful poison' Would father want you to do this?"
>>
>>5433349
+1 we a good boy
>>
>>5433349
>>5433353
>>5433355
>>5433359
>>5433357
Writing.
>>
“We don’t want to become like the Zabis to defeat them though, do we?” You ask, a little taken aback by your brother’s callousness.

“There’s a difference between retaliation and making the first strike,” Your brother says immediately, his brow furrowing, “They took our father, Felix, and then our mother, and they tried to kill us less than a year ago; they nearly did kill us. Sayla was so weak, and they sent thugs in the night.”

“Casval, that wasn’t Garma or Vivima,” You protest, “It couldn’t be, they’re our age and… and they haven’t been forced to make the same choices we have, it isn’t something they’d be involved in yet.”

“Do you think they’ll just stand by and let us kill their family?” Casval asks, “You know how they’ll feel, what they’ll do. It would be a mercy if they went first, and it would hurt Degwin more than any weapon.”

“...A mercy?” You ask, shocked by your brother’s almost total disregard for their lives, “We could try to convince them, or… or take power so they can’t act…”

You trail off, struggling to think of a good way to actually stop them from just continuing the cycle of bloodshed. Nothing comes to mind immediately.

“Remember what you said about Diego?” You ask, trying to push past the practical concerns for a moment until you think of a better idea, “That ‘pride and a desire for vengeance make for a powerful poison?’”

“That’s exactly my point.” Your brother replies, his eyes filled with pain and anger, “If we’re going to do this we have to understand what we’re doing to them. This isn’t a story book, they won’t realize the error of their family’s ways; you need to stop deluding yourself, Felix. I… I don’t want to see you get hurt trying to do something foolish.”

>Write-in.

Handle this with care.
>>
...as awful as it is, he might be right. It's really the only way to ensure the cycle doesn't continue, right?
>>
>>5433436
One of the Zabi's does survive, and she doesn't want to kill Char. But even still, him focusing on killing them is how he eventually becomes who he is in canon.
>>
>>5433432
>A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions. You're worth more, Cas, than petty revenge again children who don't know any better. Kill those truly deserving, anything more is a road you won't come back from. Don't end up like Jimba.
>>
>>5433432
> "Our father understood, the human soul is destined to expand, limitlessly, like the cosmic kingdom we are ordained to spread across"

>"However, though the mysteries of space and spirit are vast and shall never be known, the same can be said of the human heart"

>"Fate is like gravity, it only weighs upon you if you allow it to"

>"I do not believe...They are fated to become like their forebearers or carry their grudges, simply because they were born to the name Zabi"

>"It is true, they could seek vengeance or continue to move against us, but that is their choice. If it comes to it, we shall be enemies"

>"But I refuse to make the first blow. The elder Zabis, their death is set in stone now, what we are doing to them is merely self defense"

>"But those who haven't raised their hands against our family? To kill them? Casval, that would be no different than murder"

>"The same sin the Zabis committed when they struck down our father"

> "Please, give them a chance, and I swear, the moment they prove themselves a threat , I will drive the knife through their heart with you"

> "But no sooner, I do not want to see you become a murderer, brother"
>>
>>5433432
>Maybe we shouldn't seek vengeance either than Casval if our actions will only cause others to suffer. If seeking vengeance will cause others to feel the same pain and try to hurt our family it would be better to be rid of it.

>We can still bring justice to father by making sure that the Zabis dream of autocratic control of Munzo that they sought by his death comes to naught and make sure that we live in a world where spacenoids are truly free to live their lives. And we can see who would want to share that dream with us as we achieve it.

>And we don't have to seek out the death of every Zabi to gain that justice for father.

might be a bit naive, but I think it is a good dream to strive for
>>
>>5433432
>"Casval, please listen to yourself. You want to stop the cycle, and I understand that completely. But taking the lives of those who didn't deserve it won't lead to any permanent solution. Sooner or later someone will carry their torch. What then? We kill their whole family too? Doing this will just turn you into a shell, and leave you like Jimba. We should focus on building ourselves up and following dad's dream, instead of pursuing something that will cause its end."
>"We should strive to lift humanity into space, where we can reach our full potential! If we lose sight of this, then our father's death is in vain, and all he was striving for becomes meaningless."
>"And the fulfillment of father's dream, the dream of humanity unchained and ascending into space, will be the greatest revenge against Zabi corruption. But it can't be fulfilled if it is built on the blood and suffering of those that don't know better."
>"Don't think of this as a fight against the Zabis themselves, but a fight against all they stand for."
>"I'm saying this to you not just because I want to realize the philosophy of dad, because I don't want you to destroy yourself. And I'm sure, if he were watching us now, he wouldn't want you to create on your mind a wound that can't be healed."
>>
Voting will be open through the night and into tomorrow morning, so something like the next 10 hours. If it needs to be longer to reach a decision I'll extend it out.

Please read through other responses and see if there are any you'd like to support. Discussion is encouraged.

I appreciate all of your write-ins, anons.
>>
>>5433448
>>5433474
I'll support this as my second preference. Though I'm not sure arguing from an ideological standpoint is the best choice as IIRC Char is driven almost entirely by revenge in the OG anime.
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>>5433432
>"So we should just purge everyone who carries Zabi blood on the off chance they seek revenge for their family? What about those not related to them by blood, but by other bonds? Jimba was not Deikun but he treated us like he was, and we gladly did so likewise he even acted on our behalf. Who's to say such violence wouldn't create someone like him on the side of the Zabis? Should we also move to purge them and their families on this chance of a chance? Brother, I want to see Degwin and his collaborating brood dead for what they did to our family, what they're doing to father's legacy, I promised to walk this path with you, but we must draw a line somewhere otherwise this path will never end. There must be a way that we can achieve our revenge without going to such lengths as to have those unrelated to our father's assassination snuffed out for the "crime" of simply existing, we need only to be willing to try and find it."

>also mfw it's an important vote and it's write-in only
>>
>>5433432
>>5433448
>>5433474
Basically these two synthesized.

To right the Zabis' wrongs requires the defeat of the Zabis' ambitions for power as well as retribution- the deaths of Degwin, Gihren, Kycilia, and Dozle in addition to the end of Zabi-controlled Side 3. To exterminate of all those who would oppose these aims- like Garma and Vivima- would be to become precisely the kind of cowardly, power-hungry, contemptible persons who the Zabis are. Is it risky to leave loose ends? Certainly. But risk aversion taken to the extreme is the mark of tyrants and small-souled men. We, the heirs of Zum Deikun and harbingers of the future of mankind, must aspire to be better.
>>
>>5433487
>spoiler
Can't blame us for getting into a high quality quest like this one.

>>5433498
That's true, though by mentioning the ideological perspective I was trying to emphasize the wishes of Deikun, and how devoted he was to freeing humanity from gravity (even to the point of getting assassinated by the Zabis for his dream), while contrasting that with how the Zabis in their corruption and ruthlessness keep the people chained down, and killing them all without remorse would simply make dad's death be in vain. That and if Cas were to follow the path of revenge, he'd be jeopardizing his father's wishes and cause harm to himself by doing so while not even really changing how safe we'd be, all of these things Deikun (as well as Sayla and ourselves) would be pained to see.
I was debating on writing about on how disunited the Zabis are and how it would be the ironic justice if we got Zabis fighting against Zabis to stop the plans of the Zabis. Though I think Cas will just see trusting them to destroy each other and not consolidate as naive and keep following his path of revenge.
>>
>>5433432
Backing these 2

>>5433474
>>5433448
>>
>>5433605
+1
>>
>>5433448
>>5433507
Support
>>5433432
>So you do plan to become just like the Zabis afterall, killing innocents because they were in your way. What would father say, when their own children turn into another group with the minds of the earthbound elite?
>You are letting your soul by bound by the gravity of vengeance Casval.
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>>5433511
>>5433605
>>5433641
Three for combining >>5433448 and >>5433474

>>5433498
Original writer of >>5433448 with >>5433474 as a second preference.

It looks like a consensus of some kind is slowly forming around those options. I won't be in a position to write until mid afternoon, so I'm going to close voting for entirely new options but leave a combination of >>5433448 and >>5433474 open for discussion and (slight) tweaking.

If you think there's some way to improve them to make their points more convincing please suggest it, this is just a fine tuning period for the option.

Have an older Felix while you wait. I tried to keep the family resemblance intact.
>>
>>5433710
I still think mine and this anon's
>>5433507
Is something additional to those two
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>>5433511
And this anon's way of seeing how to mix them is good too
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>>5433710
Looks good, and I'm surprised. Write-in only options don't tend to get a lot of engagement. Lots of good posts for this one.
>>5433507
I like the point of this one. Cycles of revenge don't stop until someone makes the conscious decision to stop them.
>>
>>5433736
I've been very pleased with the outcome as well, write-in only options are definitely risky. There has been a lot of engagement and discussion with other votes so I wasn't too worried though. Preferenced options+Write-ins will continue to be the normal voting method, I think I might reserve pure write-ins for potentially very impactful conversations.

It's also been quite reassuring that all the responses are something Felix might say; fantastic job establishing and staying in character everyone. There's been a bit of tumultuousness every now and then in votes but I think in general we've got a fairly well established personality by this point; plenty of room to grow and change though, all the absolutely crazy shit is yet to come.
>>
>>5433432
>>5433448
>>5433474
>>5433507
>>5433511
>>5433660
>"So you do plan to become just like the Zabis afterall, killing innocents because they were in your way. What would father say, when his own children turn into another group with the minds of the earthbound elite? Don't let your soul be bound by the gravity of vengeance Casval."
>"A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions. You're worth more, Cas, than petty revenge against those who don't know any better. The Zabis that have perpetrated our suffering have already set their fates in stone, to kill them is merely self-defence. Anything more is a road you won't come back from. Don't end up like the shell of a man Jimba was."
>"And that isn't even speaking about those not related to the Zabis, but close to them by other bonds. Casval, please think about what you're saying. I know you want to stop the cycle, and you wish to avenge the death of our father and the twisting of his ideals. I wish for this too. Brother, I want to see Degwin and his collaborating brood dead for what they did to our family, for the fear they try to put in our hearts, for what they're doing to father's legacy. But even if we kill off all the Zabis, someone will eventually carry their torch and seek out revenge against us. Jimba was not a Deikun yet he treated us like he was, and we gladly did so likewise. He even acted on our behalf. Who's to say such violence wouldn't create someone like him on the side of the Zabis? What then, we kill their whole family too? When does it end, Cas? We must draw a line somewhere otherwise this path will never end."
>"To exterminate of all those who would oppose our aims- like Garma and Vivima- would be to become precisely the kind of cowardly, power-hungry, contemptible persons who the Zabis are. Is it risky to leave loose ends? Certainly. But risk aversion taken to the extreme is the mark of tyrants and small-souled men. We, the heirs of Zum Deikun and harbingers of the future of mankind, must aspire to be better. There must be a way that we can achieve our goals without going to such lengths as to have those unrelated to our father's assassination snuffed out for the "crime" of simply existing, we need only to be willing to try and find it."
>"To lift humanity into space, where everyone can reach their full potential, that was our father's dream. If we lose sight of this, then our father's death is in vain, and all he was striving for becomes meaningless. Though the Zabis would be dead, they would still have their triumph. And the fulfillment of dad's philosophy, the dream of humanity unchained and free from the weight of gravity, will itself be the greatest revenge against not only the Zabis themselves, but all they stand for. But it can't be fulfilled if it is built on the blood and suffering of children and the innocent."
1/2
>>
>>5433792
>"I'm saying this to you not just because I want to realize father's legacy, but because I don't want you to destroy yourself. And I'm sure, if dad were watching us now, he wouldn't want you to create on your mind a wound that can't be healed."

2/2

I tried my best to combine all the write-ins. Sorry if I left out something anyone wanted.
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>>5433792
>>5433796
Now that's everything is fused it feels way too big and self-righteous.
I got to comment your effort to make it all work together though, it's not your fault we are too autistic not turn into some kind of space priest giving a sermon afterall.
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>>5433799
We're just leaning into the whole Space-Paladin Felix character lmao.
But yeah, I kind of got that feeling too while in the middle of writing that.
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>>5433802
Space Pope Felix, but the old kind of pope, the ones that went on wars.
Dad would be sad, he didn't want the space crusades
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>>5433799
>>5433802
Brevity. Effective speeches and arguments are done with as few words as necessary.
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>>5433806
Fuck, Felix is gonna end up being the one to try and throw Axis at earth instead of Char, isn't he.
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>>5433817
I was thinking more of an eternal blockade of Earth until everyone leaves.
The earthnoids you will go to space, or they will not get it's spoils.
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>>5433806
>Space Pope Felix
>Son of the Prophet Zeon
>Paladin of Space and founder of the Contolist Newtype Theocracy
Tempting to meme this into being, but dad would roll in his grave enough times to make a perpetual energy source.

>>5433807
The only issue with that is being able to capture all the points made while keeping it small.
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>>5433819
>capture all the points while keeping it small.
Certainly, it's hard to compact all that down
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>>5433820
>"Thank you for caring, but it's not me you should be concerned about."
>"I know that you're better than this. I know that you're better than a Zabi. The Zabis that have caused and will keep causing suffering have already set their fates in stone, killing them is self-defense. Anything more is a road you won't come back from. Besides, there's something else you have to think about; Jimba was not a Deikun yet he treated us like he was, and we gladly did so likewise. Who's to say such violence wouldn't create someone like him on the side of the Zabis? What then, we kill their whole family too? When does it end? That path will only lead to being a shell of a man like Jimba was near his end."
>"Instead of focusing on exterminating the enemy, we should destroy the very essence of who the Zabis are and replace it with our father's ideals. This will be a much sweeter justice than any death would make. But we can't do this if we do as the Zabis would. Even if they're dead, this would be their victory."
>"I'm saying this to you not just because I want to realize father's philosophy, but because I don't want you to destroy yourself. And I'm sure mom, dad and Sayla would say the same."

How's this? I tried to condense it as much as possible while trying to keep the main points.
>>
>>5433875
Now it just went back to being your original write-in but reworded.
This is hard.
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>>5433878
Damn it, I was trying to avoid that.
>>
>>5433792
This summary seems to capture two primary lines of argument

>"Casval, you should not destroy/belittle yourself by becoming a merciless and wanton killer. This will ruin you for no good reason: we can bring vengeance without becoming extremists."
To this point I would further like to add that inflicting pain on Degwin and co. by killing Garma and Vivima is not warranted. The blood of our parents cries out for the blood of their murderers, but our suffering does not justify us in causing suffering to others: the former is justice, the latter malice.

>"Casval, our family's conflict with the Zabis cannot end with the total extermination of one side or another. That is the Zabis' error. For it is both practically impossible to kill all those who might fight for their cause, and attemping to do so will draw us away from achieving true victory: the pursuit of freedom and prosperity for the human race through the establishment of a just and equitable Munzo and the fulfillment of our Father's vision for a space-bound future."
>>
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>>5433806
>>5433819
>space pope felix
You made my brain bline for that one fucking image god damnit
Enjoy!
>>
Back and writing.

>>5433448
>>5433474
A synthesis of these will be the core of what Felix says.

I've read through all of the other write-ins and discussion about how to synthesize other write-ins into a cohesive whole; I'll try to bring in a bit of it if it ends up fitting the flow of the conversation.
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>>5433088
>>5433935
NOooOOoO, listen to Casval Felix, you got to kill ALL the Zabis
OOOooOoooo
>>
I fucking love the idea of Felix being the sibling devoted to justice rather than vengeance or mercy: for his family, for Zeon, for humanity. His eyes are unclouded [spoilee]perception newtype lmao[/spoiler], his heart is pure.
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>>5433954
Kek. Made one of my own yesterday, the result of 10 trillion hours in paint.
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Fuck it since people are editing i decided to go a step further!
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>>5433983
I think we are going too far
>>
“…A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions.” You say, slowly finding the words to express your firm conviction, “You're worth more, Cas, than petty revenge against children who don't know any better.”

“They won’t be children for much longer, Felix..” Casval says, shaking his head in disappointment, “They’ll be deep in the government of Zeon soon, or have a military command. Powerful, complicit; do you expect them to keep blood off of their hands for long in that family? They’re being raised by monsters.”

“You can’t know that for sure, Casval. We know, right now, that they couldn’t have been involved in harming our family. If they act against us later or… or turn out to be monsters as well then that might change things, but we aren’t there.” You respond, “Kill those who are truly deserving, anything more is a road you won't come back from. Don't end up like Jimba.”

“I’m being realistic, Felix; Jimba was deluded, desperate, and sloppy, but he wasn’t wrong about everything.” Your brother says, his tone growing harsher, “They’ll strike back at us, at anyone we care for. If we shy away from our duty to avenge our parents, show weakness for even a moment, we’ll all be dead. You, Sayla, me; everyone.”

"Casval, please listen to yourself.” You say, leaning forward slightly, “You want to stop the cycle, and I understand that completely - But taking the lives of those who didn't deserve it won't lead to any permanent solution. Sooner or later someone will carry their torch. What then? We kill their whole family too?”

“Listen to yourself!” Casval almost shouts, one of his hands balling into a tight white knuckled fist, “People who would side with the Zabis, who would be willing to carry on their twisted ideals and hunt us even after their deaths - They wouldn’t be people deserving of our mercy. I don’t… I don’t want to be cruel, not endlessly; it’s unfair what we have to do, what we’ve been forced to contemplate…”

“Doing this will just turn you into a shell, and leave you like Jimba; I don’t want to see that, Cas.” You warn, meeting your brother’s intense gaze, “We should focus on building ourselves up and following dad's dream, instead of pursuing something that will cause its end."

“That won’t be possible until they’re gone, Felix.” Casval replies, his voice easing a bit even as he shakes his head once more, “...They’re perverting everything he ever stood for, dragging everyone in Side Three down with their greed - I hate them, Felix, not just for what they’ve done, or what they’re doing, but what they surely will do. They’re unforgivable.”
>>
>>5434040

"We should strive to lift humanity into space, where we can reach our full potential!” You say, trying to appeal to his commitment to your father’s philosophy and legacy, “If we lose sight of this, then our father's death is in vain, and all he was striving for becomes meaningless. The fulfillment of father's dream, the dream of humanity unchained and ascending into space, will be the greatest revenge against Zabi corruption... But it can't be fulfilled if it is built on the blood and suffering of those that don't know better. Don't think of this as a fight against the Zabis themselves, but a fight against all they stand for."

“...You’re a hopeless idealist, Felix.” Casval says, sighing and crossing his arms as he leans back in his chair, “It’s your best and worst trait.”

"I'm saying this to you not just because I want to realize father’s philosophy, but because I don't want you to destroy yourself.” You plead, “And I'm sure, if he were watching us now, he wouldn't want you to create in your mind a wound that can't be healed."

“...Felix, have you been listening to me at all?” Your brother asks, pain filling his voice again, “I’m trying to prevent you from getting yourself killed. We have to do this, and we have to do it with our eyes open. Six people, and any of their lackeys too insane to stop once they’re gone; that’s it.”

You think upon what he’s been saying for a while, the small living room falling silent for a few seconds.

>”I don’t think I can go down this path, Casval. Not if that’s what we have to do.” Your brother is painting a very dark picture of what must be done, it’s far too extreme.
>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”
>”...If we worked indirectly, or in secret somehow, we wouldn't need to be so ruthless. The Zabis have a lot of enemies; there might be other ways to destroy the deserving ones without needing to be so… extreme.” Potentially messy, and maybe just shifting the Zabi’s retribution onto other ‘innocent’ parties, but it might keep your own hands clean.
>Write-in.
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>>5434041
>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”

A BLOOD OATH BROTHER, FROM ONE SON OF SPACE TO ANOTHER.
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>>5434041
>Five people, and any of their lackeys that are too insane to stop once they are gone. Can you imagine who said that? What about Sayla? She isn't involved in this. You want to decide something? Call her, and we decide this together.
>>
>>5434041
>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”
>>
>>5434041
>>5434046
Supporting this. As much as I think this could be a mistake, we are a family and should do things as a family.
>>
>>5434041
>>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”
>>
Anons, can we make the promise after calling Sayla? We made a deal to always decide this type of thing together as a family.
The Fine is a nice middle ground but I don't want walk over our old promise
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>>5434041
>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.

>>5434074
Sure

Also my Zaku 2 kit arrived, had some trouble with the delivery at first, though. Must've been a Zabi plot

>>5433954
>>5433974
Kek, perfect
>>
>>5434046
Consider this my secondary vote
>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”
>We need to talk to Arteria. She isn't going to like this, but we made a promise to always decide this together. I don't want to split this family against each other, like the Zabis are.
>>
>>5434076
>Sure
>votes to make the promise without her anyway
Where can I learn to have such chad energy?

>>5434041
Changing my vote to this
1)
>”...Fine, but can you promise me something? If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”
>We need to talk to Arteria. She isn't going to like this, but we made a promise to always decide this together. I don't want to split this family against each other, like the Zabis are.
2)
>Five people, and any of their lackeys that are too insane to stop once they are gone. Can you imagine who said that? What about Sayla? She isn't involved in this. You want to decide something? Call her, and we decide this together.
>>
>>5434092
He's too powerful, he got both me and Contolist to make him a meme.
>>
>>5434092
The sure was meant as a +1 to that vote
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>>5434041
backing >>5434074 so that whatever we do, it's after we talk with Sayla too
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>>5434097
We can't compete with that. Time to send in the bombs.

>>5434099
I know, I was just messing around.
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>>5434081
>>5434107
>>5434076
>>5434092
I'll start writing in a bit.
>>
Alright, so I got started on writing a lot later than I thought I would and I'm too tired to finish tonight. I'll get the post out in the morning, hopefully fairly early on. Should be able to get a decent amount of writing done tomorrow.
>>
“...Fine, but can you promise me something?” You ask solemnly, “If you’re wrong about Garma or Vivima, we don’t act against them. We do this family member by family member.”

Your brother says nothing for a few moments, considering the idea, and then he gives a slow small nod, “You’re setting yourself up for a grand disappointment, Felix, and courting death… but if that’s what it takes to keep you in, then I agree.”

You let out a sigh of relief and finally relax and lean back, “I know it’s going to be harder, but it was never going to be easy, was it?”

“No, it wasn’t.” Casval agrees, his tone deadly serious, “I’m still working on how to even get near them…”

“Hold that thought for a minute,” You say, realizing someone rather important is missing for this discussion, “We should speak with Artesia about this before we go any further. She isn’t going to like this, but we made a promise to always decide things together. I don’t want to split our family against one another, like the Zabis.”

Isn’t going to like this? ” Your brother asks a bit incredulously, “She’s going to hate it, Felix. You know she doesn’t feel the same way about this, it isn’t in her nature.”

“...You’re right, but she still has a right to hear our plans.” You respond, “And we haven’t discussed it much since the attack, maybe she’s changed her mind?”

“You already know she hasn’t, Felix. We both know.” Casval says, a very real sense of concern filling his every word, “She shouldn’t be a part of this, it will eat away at her. She might be willing to put the plan at risk to try to protect us.”

“But we promised to do things together, as a family; she’s old enough to understand everything that’s going on.” You say, thinking back to the hectic time of the first few days after your father was assassinated.

“Artesia won’t understand, Felix, it is not about her age at all. You know it isn’t.” Your brother says, exasperated, “Are we going to talk around this in circles?”

>”No, I’m going to get her right now. You should come with me, it’ll be better if you do.” A promise is a promise.
>”You really think that knowing what we’re up to will eat away at her? She’s not that delicate, Casval, she’s survived the same things we have.”
>”Okay, so if we don’t discuss this with her, what are we going to do when we finally leave to act on it? Just abandon her? There’s no way around hurting her then, Casval.”
>Write-in.

Slept in a bit too late, needed it though.
>>
>>5434463
>”Okay, so if we don’t discuss this with her, what are we going to do when we finally leave to act on it? Just abandon her? There’s no way around hurting her then, Casval.”
>"Casval, if we are going to break promises and plot behind our family's back while planning to kill people, than we need to change our last name to Zabi rather than Deikun. She is going to be part of this, or we are not doing it."
>”No, I’m going to get her right now. You should come with me, it’ll be better if you do.” A promise is a promise.
>>
>>5434463
>”Okay, so if we don’t discuss this with her, what are we going to do when we finally leave to act on it? Just abandon her? There’s no way around hurting her then, Casval.”
>>
>>5434463
>>5434469
Supporting.
>>
>>5434469
You know, maybe my write in is a bit too confrontational.
>>
>>5434482
I agree with that assessment, especially considering we were just in an argument with him. Remember, he's an older brother trying to protect his younger siblings.
>>
>>5434463
Changing
>”Okay, so if we don’t discuss this with her, what are we going to do when we finally leave to act on it? Just abandon her? There’s no way around hurting her then, Casval.”
>"Let's go talk to her brother. It's better for her to disagree with us, than believe we betrayed her and the promise."
>>
>>5434485
+1
>>
>>5434463
Yeah, changing my vote to this>>5434485 too. It'll probably go much smoother.
>>
>>5434485
>>5434487
>>5434496
Writing.
>>
“Okay, so if we don’t discuss this with her, what are we going to do when we finally leave to act on it?” You ask, “Just abandon her? There’s no way around hurting her then, Casval.”

Your brother says nothing, but his face slowly twists into something almost akin to grief… or perhaps remorse. It’s hard to see him like this; you can almost feel the conflict roiling just within him.

“Let’s go talk to her, brother. It’s better for her to disagree with us than believe we betrayed her and the promise.” You continue.

“We could let her live in peace for a few more years.” Casval finally says, trying to steady his voice, “She deserves that much, Felix. We’ve already spared her from so much of what those Zabi bastards have thrown our way; the killing, the injury. She’s been through it with us, but that isn’t the same. And we’ve… We’ve already been shielding her from other things; don’t hide behind that promise.”

“Mother.” You say, realizing exactly what he means. You’ve been trying to find the resolve to speak with Artesia for years about the fact that you’ll all likely never see your mother again; writing the letters has kept Artesia’s spirits up for years though, and it just never seemed like a good time…

“Yes.” Casval replies sadly, “Artesia’s been as close to happy as she can be here, and back in Spain as well. I know she’s still troubled, but this is the best we can do for her. It isn’t in her to want to hurt people - you’ve seen that - and all she worries about is others. I don’t want to try to convince her to join us in this, to break that part of her... Let her have a few more years of peace, even if we can’t. We'll speak with her before we act, if you really think that's for the best, but there's no need to do that now.”

>”A few more years of peace? Maybe you’re right…”
>”Even if it hurts her it’s better to tell the truth, Casval. Trust is more important than that.”
>”...You have a point, we should tell her about mother as well.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5434525
>”Even if it hurts her it’s better to tell the truth, Casval. Trust is more important than that.”
>”...You have a point, we should tell her about mother as well.”
>>
>>5434525
>Small steps Casval, small steps. Let's go talk to her about Mother first, and perhaps later we can tell her of our full vision.
It stands to reason that proceeding incrementally can only help us in this matter.
>>
>>5434529
And
>She's not as fragile as we think, I saw a lot of resolve in her when it was needed. I think it's better that we slowly ease her than to drop on her all at once, be that today or when we act
>>
>>5434532
Anon wrote similar to what I was thinking
>>5434529
Changing to
>Small steps Casval, small steps. Let's go talk to her about Mother first, and perhaps later we can tell her of our full vision.
>She's not as fragile as we think, I saw a lot of resolve in her when it was needed. I think it's better that we slowly ease her than to drop on her all at once, be that today or when we act
>>
>>5434525
>”Even if it hurts her it’s better to tell the truth, Casval. Trust is more important than that.”
>”...You have a point, we should tell her about mother as well.”
>"Keeping her in the dark for too long will only make her resent us in the end. She'll think we abandoned her and might do something rash while trying to help people."
Something rash like joining the Feds and being loyal to the death to them while actively helping Amuro defeat Casval.
>>
>>5434537
Supporting this specifically
>>
>>5434537
Supporting
>>
>>5434525
>>”Even if it hurts her it’s better to tell the truth, Casval. Trust is more important than that.”
>>”...You have a point, we should tell her about mother as well.”
>>
>>5434537
>>5434532
While there's merit to this, I think it'll be a mistake to keep her ignorant for too long. She might think that we don't see her as our equal, and will seek to join a group that does respect her and doesn't sugarcoat anything to her.
>>
>>5434600
The problem is that Casval is more stubborn than a mountain and won't accept a direct answer.
>>
>>5434607
The correct expression is more stubborn than a mule, not a mountain, my bad.
>>
>>5434607
We just need to find Bright/Bright-like figure and have him smack Casval a few times, that'll fix him right quick.
>>
>>5434537
>>5434587
>>5434590
Writing.
>>
>>5434607
Well that's why we're here. To make Cas see that there are other options other than murder, and to help Sayla not become a Feddie loyalist.
>>
“Small steps, Casval, small steps.” You say, still seeking some kind of middle ground with your brother, “She's not as fragile as we think, I saw a lot of resolve in her when it was needed. I think it's better that we slowly ease her than to drop on her all at once, be that today or when we act. Let's go talk to her about Mother first, and perhaps later we can tell her of our full vision. ”

“Tell her about mother?” He replies, raising an eyebrow, “After all these years you want to do that now?”

“She deserves to know; we’ll be there for her.”

“Of course we will be.” He replies quickly, “But she’s concerned over her cat right now, she talked about it a bit with me earlier. A few more days to let that settle down first would probably be for the best.”

>”...Fair point. But we need to do it soon, I’m not going to let this keep getting kicked down the road.”
>”She’ll be fine, Casval. Lucifer’s just in for observation. We can talk right now.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5434626
>”She’ll be fine, Casval. Lucifer’s just in for observation. We can talk right now.”
>"If we keep saying later, than that day will never come"
Shut up, we already gave you enough concessions
>>
>>5434626
>>5434627
Supporting.
>>
>>5434626
>>5434627
Supporting.
>>
>>5434626
>>5434627
This.
>>
>>5434627
>>5434628
>>5434641
>>5434658
Writing.
>>
”She’ll be fine, Casval. Lucifer’s just in for observation. We can talk right now.” You say, "If we keep saying later, then that day will never come."

“Why so impatient?” Your brother asks, a little confused by your statement, “I’m not trying to stall forever, Felix, but if you think now is a good time then I guess there’s not much arguing over it. You’d just go tell her yourself, wouldn’t you?”

“I’ve been meaning to for awhile now,” You explain, realizing you might have sounded a touch aggressive, “I probably would tell her, yeah.”

Your brother stands, stretching a bit; he’s been rather tired looking this entire conversation. Whatever he was up to in town must have really worn him out, but it probably isn’t too important.

“Come on,” He says, motioning vaguely to the door, and you stand and join him in leaving his suite, reentering the main lobby of the lodge once more.

Your sister’s room is just a couple of doors away, just past yours, so it’s a very short walk; the lobby is still rather dead, only a couple of people talking on the far side. You knock on Artesia’s door, and it opens almost immediately.

“Oh!” Your sister says, backing up half a step, “I was just about to go find both of you.”

“We need to talk, Arestia.” You say, your tone very serious as you speak her original name in a hushed voice, “It’s about mother.”

“What?” She asks, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Inside,” Casval says, “This isn’t a conversation for the lobby.”

Artesia leads you both inside quickly; her room is, without a doubt, the most well put together of the three of yours. Still very much in the western style, but having collected a number of new paintings and various bits and bobs covering the shelves; new books, tiny porcelain horses and the like. It’s pretty, but subdued.

You all sit in the living room, and your sister immediately begins talking, “There’s news about mother?... Why are we using our old names?”

“Not news, but it’s important.” Casval answers, “Something we should have told you a long time ago.”
>>
>>5434768

You nod, glad that your brother isn’t just here as an observer, and explain, “Artesia, you know the promise mother made to you, the one about coming to join us after a hundred moons?”

“Of course,” She answers hesitantly, “I write her every month about it, we’re almost halfway… why?”

“She isn’t going to come, Artesia.” Your brother says gently, “I’m sorry, Artesia. She never was.”

“...What? Why would you say that?” Artesia asks, her voice quavering, “Felix, he’s wrong, mom wouldn’t lie.”

You shake your head slowly, “...We can’t know for sure, but we’ve both thought for years that she made the promise so you’d… stay quiet and leave the next morning. You were so much younger then, you didn’t understand. I barely even did.”

Tears start to well up in your sister's eyes, “B-but you’ve been writing her letters too! …Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I meant to, I really did, I’ve thought about it so many time but it just never seemed like the right time,” You try to explain, “

“Is she even getting my letters?” Artesia asks suddenly, sounding betrayed.”

>”The letters still get to her as far as I know. That’s what Teabolo promised. I’m sure mother looks forward to every one of them.”
>”She’s getting them, as far as I know; I’d never be that cruel… There are a few other things we should talk about though.”
>”Of course she is, Artesia. …And I’m sure when we get her back, whenever that is, she’ll thank us for every one of them.” …You’ve only ever thought about it in passing, but breaking your mother out of that tower would be great.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5434769
>”The letters still get to her as far as I know. That’s what Teabolo promised. I’m sure mother looks forward to every one of them.”
>>
>>5434769
>”Of course she is, Artesia. …And I’m sure when we get her back, whenever that is, she’ll thank us for every one of them.” …You’ve only ever thought about it in passing, but breaking your mother out of that tower would be great.
>>
>>5434769
>”She’s getting them, as far as I know; I’d never be that cruel… There are a few other things we should talk about though.”
I still think we should tell her, so she doesn't feel even more betrayed by us in the future.
>>
>>5434769
>”The letters still get to her as far as I know. That’s what Teabolo promised. I’m sure mother looks forward to every one of them.”
As far as I’m aware, it’s really unlikely mother gets out, so we shouldn’t give Artesia false hope.
>>
>>5434772
Didn’t we just agree with Casval that we’d delay telling her?
>>
>>5434773
I don't know the UC timeline terribly well. I is she not dead already?
>>
>>5434769
>"As far as I know, they are being sent, like Teabolo promised. I have no clue if she is receiving them or someone is intercepting them though. Or even if she is still on that dreadful tower."
>>
>>5434775
Yes, but we could try to at least try to convince him that getting it all over with would be good for all of us.
Or we could just shift the conversation to Tryphosa, don't know how appropriate that would be at the moment though.
>>
>>5434778
I think we should wait a bit, let her process things, then we can start talking about the Zabis, how we are never going to be safe and that we plan to do something about it. But in parts, not all at once.
>>
>>5434778
I don't think getting it all over with actually would be good for us. Truth and honesty are all well and good, but we ultimately don't want to turn Artesia away from us. Some time spent coping with the fact that the Zabis have practically permanently separated us all from our parents might help with that.
>>
>>5434769
>”The letters still get to her as far as I know. That’s what Teabolo promised. I’m sure mother looks forward to every one of them.”
I think this is a good way to get her on our side with more militant actions.
>>5434776
I don't think it's ever stated when she dies, only that she does in the company of Hamon. She could be dead now, or when the OYW starts.
>>
>>5434779
>>5434781
You know what? You guys are right.

>>5434769
>”The letters still get to her as far as I know. That’s what Teabolo promised. I’m sure mother looks forward to every one of them.”
>"But we'll probably never see her again"
>"I'm sorry." go for a hug, she probably needs one now.
>>
>>5434779
Oh, and a way to convince her that the Zabis will never let us be: If Zeon is recruiting people from other sides, than it means they are increasing their army more than their population can support recruits. If it was just an ego project or for defense, they wouldn't need so many soldiers.
Because otherwise she might argue that we were safe in Earth until Jimba made us look like a threat. If Zeon conquers everything, there won't be somewhere to hide.
>>
>>5434786
Huh, I never thought of it from that angle. But there's also the possibility she'll tell us that our only hope is to join the Federation to stop them. We could counter this by saying that joining the Feds would go against everything dad stood for, but I don't know if arguments about ideology will convince her. She's basically an empath of empaths, right?
>>
>>5434792
Simple: The feds didn't even know we were Deikun children, while the Zabis kept an eye on us and did a counter attack in weeks after Jimba's terrorists did their thing.
The Feds would likely get sucker punched hard even if they noticed the arms race, and Zeon would likely win unless it start infighting or they some kind of powerful weapon to conter quantity with quality.
And it's way easier to convince the Zabis to betray eachother since they love doing that, than to navigate the Federation's byzantine bureaucracy or hope they get their hands on of some sort of mega base with three super weapons piloted by super child soldier aces. That would be too weird.
>>
>>5434801
Just realized this was a lord of words for something that could be summarized as
>Federation
>Competent
Choose one
I wonder if Felix would connect the dots about the coming war, Elena's mom's job on Brazil and the comment that soon it's going to be the only safe place to guess Jaburo's location.
>>
>>5434801
I hope we can appeal to her sense of reason with those arguments. Maybe if we say "this is the only way to stop more human suffering. We can't trust the Feds to handle this and we can't trust being underneath them" with all of what you said she'll be on board.

>>5434816
I'm sure he will eventually. I think Contolist implied that his newtype power thing is perception.
>>
>>5434816
>that soon it's going to be the only safe place
That will heavily depend on "Operation British" not failing.
>>
>>5434770
>>5434773
I guess just two votes wins it? Lots of voting and discussion though, love to see it.

I see >>5434783 as well, I guess that's basically a third vote.

Anyways, writing.
>>
>>5434858
Thank you QM, sorry for not clarifying.
>>
“The letters still get to her as far as I know. That’s what Teabolo promised.” You respond, “I’m sure mother looks forward to every one of them.”

Tears streaming from her eyes, Artesia shakes her head in denial, “No, you’re wrong, she… she wouldn’t do that… you can’t know she won’t come back, you can’t know that.”

“Artesia, it’s the truth.” Casval says, “Mother didn’t tell me in as many words, but… I could see it in her eyes, and I know that she knew I understood. It was just a look, but…”

“B-but… she…” Artesia trails off, unable to speak as a dam of griefs seems to break within her; years of false hope scattered away.

“We’ll probably never see her again, Artesia.” You say, moving over next to her embracing her in a big hug, “I’m so sorry.”

She presses her face into your shoulder, crying. You find yourself almost moved to tears, but manage to control yourself; it won’t help Artesia any right now. Casval joins the two of you after a few moments, and there’s no noise other than your sister’s crying for a while. You and Casval stay close, doing your best to comfort her by just being there; there isn’t much to be said.

…You’re not sure how long it's been when she stops, a few minutes or maybe much longer, but eventually Artesia finds her own words again.

“...This isn’t fair,” She says, wiping a finally few tears away from her puffy eyes, “No one should have to go through this. She’s just… stuck there, in that horrid tower. Is… is there really no hope she’ll ever leave?”

“Not on her own,” Casval answers, “If anyone could have done something I’m sure it would have happened by now…”

“Not even Ms. Hamon? She got us out.” Artesia asks, though even she doesn’t sound very convinced by her own suggestion.

“I can’t say for sure why mom couldn’t go with us,” You say, trying to address the real root of the issue here, “Whether there just wasn’t a way to smuggle her with us too, or any other reason… but I’ve always thought she was sacrificing herself for us.”
>>
>>5435079

“Sacrificing herself?” Your sister questions, sniffling a little.

“Yes, so that the Zabi’s wouldn’t move against us. As long as they have her they know we’ll hesitate to strike against them; it’s probably part of why we were able to be free for so long in Spain.”

“...But Jimba did something.” Artesia says in a quiet but still unsteady voice, “They wouldn’t have…”

“No, don’t worry.” You say, getting ahead of her dark thoughts, “If anything had happened we’d have heard, especially by now. And they haven’t attacked us again for almost a year now.”

“Teabolo’s gambit worked.” Casval explains, “It probably protected mother as well, indirectly.”

“She’s still protecting us then.” Artesia concludes, seeming to find some comfort in that idea.

“She always will be, no matter where she is.” You say, knowing on some deeper lever that it must be true.

>Stay here for a while as a family and then retire for the night. It has been a very long day.
>Discuss something else. (Write-in)
>>
>>5435080
>>Stay here for a while as a family and then retire for the night. It has been a very long day.
>>
>>5435080
>Stay here for a while as a family and then retire for the night. It has been a very long day.
This went far better than expected.
>>
>>5435080
>Stay here for a while as a family and then retire for the night. It has been a very long day.

How much you wanna bet it'll be Sayla piloting the Elmeth instead of Lalah when the OYW comes around?
>>
>>5435080
>Stay here for a while as a family and then retire for the night. It has been a very long day.
>>
>>5435091
And Lalah can stay with Amuro.
Our sister will not be someone's second choice.
>>
>>5435091
Something like that will probably happen. Honestly it'd be pretty cool.
>>
>>5435135
*it'd be pretty cool to have the whole family fighting together on the same side.
>>
>>5435086
>>5435090
>>5435091
>>5435109
Writing.
>>
You spend the next half hour together as a family, the conversation soon shifting to other topics; Lucifer’s stay at the vet, what the weather would be like in Andalusia this time of year and how you all miss it at least a little, your piloting lesson from earlier, Casval getting into a bit of a scuffle in town over a misunderstanding - easier topics to speak about than your mother’s fate or some grander scheme for revenge against the Zabis. None of it is all that consequential, and you enjoy every second, but you can't help but feel that something is slipping your mind. Artesia is obviously still not over the revelation that your mother is imprisoned permanently, but she still manages to smile and enjoy the time together with the people she still has left. It’s over all too soon, and you’re off to your own suite and then to bed.

The next morning.

Your alarm rings, the harsh metallic tone waking you from your slumber. You blink a few times and stretch, pushing your sheets away as you swing your feet out of bed and lazily stop the old mechanical alarm with a light of your hand. It’s a new day.

Going through your morning routine, joining your brother for a long run and other exercise, you’re soon free to choose how you’ll spend the rest of the day.

>With Sayla, going into town to check on Felix. She’s still dealing with the news you dropped on her last night, it’s more important to be there for her than anything else right now.
>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.
>With that strange Jovian girl, Tryphosa, showing her around the colony. There’s something almost otherworldly about her, utterly foreign yet still familiar; you’re drawn to learn more, even as you harbor suspicions.
>>
>>5435213
>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.
>>
>>5435213
>>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.
>>
>>5435213
1)
>With Sayla, going into town to check on Felix. She’s still dealing with the news you dropped on her last night, it’s more important to be there for her than anything else right now.
2)
>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.
Man this is a tough choice. But I think we could look for Casval/Sayla as well with either of these. Shame we probably won't see Tryphosa for a long time (unless the QM has something in mind).
>>
>>5435213
>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close
>>
>>5433920
https://youtu.be/DzOMNbNllJE
Could this be future Space Pope Felix's theme? Just replace Kuritans with Zabis.
>>
>>5435213
>>5435228
Wait, changing my vote to just be
>With Sayla, going into town to check on Felix. She’s still dealing with the news you dropped on her last night, it’s more important to be there for her than anything else right now.
This is the perfect opportunity to ease her into Casval's plan, and prove to her that she'll be better off with us and Cas instead of some random group of Feddies.
>>
>>5435213
>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.
>>
>>5435213
>>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.
>>
>>5435213
>[2]With that strange Jovian girl, Tryphosa, showing her around the colony. There’s something almost otherworldly about her, utterly foreign yet still familiar; you’re drawn to learn more, even as you harbor suspicions.

>[1]With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night
>>
>>5435213
>With Sayla, going into town to check on Felix. She’s still dealing with the news you dropped on her last night, it’s more important to be there for her than anything else right now.
>>
>>5435213
1)
>With Édouard in a small meadow near the lodge, practicing fencing, shooting, and all sorts of other skills while discussing your future plans in much greater detail. It’s important that you stay close as brothers, especially after your confrontation last night.

2)
>With Sayla, going into town to check on Felix. She’s still dealing with the news you dropped on her last night, it’s more important to be there for her than anything else right now.

>but you can't help but feel that something is slipping your mind.
Could it be that we need to write the next letter to Elena?
>>
>>5435218
>>5435221
>>5435229
>>5435390
>>5435391
>>5435413
>>5435449
Writing.
>>
A step forward, a small lunge and the sound of steel on steel, a step back and another few clattering rings as a riposte is attempted and barely thwarted by a quickly moved hand, the offending blade catching only air. You watch your brother’s every more as the two of you spar with blunted training sabers, your vision only barely obscured by your mesh helmet; he’s faster than you, if you miss his movements for even a moment it will all be over. Something subtle, easily missed if you weren’t so alert, shifts in his stance and you barely have time to parry another quick almost flicking cut aimed at your arm, and then another at your head, foot and bladework keeping his strikes just barely at bay due to your early sense of them. You press back, your blade sliding past to begin a riposte and realize just then that you’ve been had; your brother’s second strike was an elaborate feint - A firm impact rakes across your stomach, and you quickly step back to acknowledge the loss, the seventh in the last few minutes.

“Got me,” You say, a little winded, “That was a good feint, way too fast for me.”

“Practice, Maxime, practice. That one was a bit slow, I think, just well timed.” Édouard replies, pride sneaking into his voice, “You should have trained more back in Spain.”

“I’ve been improving.” You say, not defensively but rather to just acknowledge that your brother isn’t wrong.

“You have,” He agrees, taking his helmet off as you do so with your own, “You’ve won what, three times already?”

“Four, I think.” You say, chuckling - four out of many, many bouts, “New personal best.”

Your brother laughs along with you, “Another bout then? Why not try for five?”

“I was thinking we could take a break for a few minutes,” You say, setting your helmet and saber down on a dark tarp you’ve laid out nearby over the grass, “Talk about the future.”

“Oh?” Édouard replies, placing his own gear near your own and stretching his sword arm for a moment, “Future’s a big place, Maxime, you’ll need to narrow things down a little more.”

>”Oh come on, you know what I mean. How are we going to get close to the Zabis?”
>”Do you think there’s going to be a war between the Federation and Zeon? Elena’s been sending me some concerning letters…”
>”We’ve talked about joining the Zeon defense forces, but what about the Federation? They have a much bigger military, and we’ve got outstanding academics and more initiative than almost anyone else who would be joining; we could probably climb the ranks quickly, maybe use that to strike back at the Zabis.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5435507
>”Do you think there’s going to be a war between the Federation and Zeon? Elena’s been sending me some concerning letters…”
We should focus on making sure Felix and Cas know about what's going to happen first, and be prepared for it.
>>
>>5435507
>”Do you think there’s going to be a war between the Federation and Zeon? Elena’s been sending me some concerning letters…”
>"I don't think the Zabis would be accepting people outside of Munzo if they didn't need way more recruits than Side 3 could provide on it's own."
>>
>>5435517
+1
>>
>>5435507
>>5435517
This.
>>
>>5435517
+1
>>
>>5435517
>>5435589
>>5435592
>>5435596
Back for a minute and locking this in. It'll be a few more hours before I can start writing.
>>
”Do you think there’s going to be a war between the Federation and Zeon? Elena’s been sending me some concerning letters…” You ask, thinking of the odd comments about her mother thinking nowhere but Brazil would be safe. It’s all terribly curious.

“A war?” Casval questions, moving around a few of the spare wasters on the tarp as he reorganizes things slightly, “Maybe in a few years. Zeon’s too small right now, and their forces are still under Federation command, at least on paper. With just a defense force it would be over before it even started.”

"I don't think the Zabis would be accepting people outside of Munzo if they didn't need way more recruits than Side 3 could provide on its own." You say, crouching next to your brother to help him move a few things around, “Their defense force is still small, right? So why start taking in outsiders at all?”

“Probably to build up militarism in other Sides.” Your brother says, finally satisfied with the arrangement of practice weapons, “The more families that have sons and daughters in Zeon sending back letters about how great their autonomy is, the more of a push there will be for getting defense forces of their own.”

“You really think it’s that simple?” You ask doubtfully, standing back up alongside Casval, “It feels like there’s more going on.”

“...Maybe not,” He responds after a few moments of thought, “It would probably help set up for expanded recruitment later. Zeon’s too small on its own to every stand a chance against the Federation, even with another side or two they’d still be outnumbered.”

“There’s almost more people in space now than back on earth though,” You point out, “If they can get enough support they might be able to flip that numbers advantage.”

“Earth still has more industry and resources,” Casval says, looking up and out one of the distant open sections of the colony and into the inky black of space, “I doubt that will slow down most of the Zabis though.”
>>
>>5435846

“You think they’re so unwise?” You ask, “Degwin’s always struck me as shrewder than that, at least from how Jimba ranted about him.”

“You know Degwin isn't as important as he used to be, you were just joking about it last night. And some of them are about as arrogant as they come, certainly Gihren.” Your brother says in response, “Have you seen his speeches recently?”

You raise an eyebrow at that, “You read his speeches?”

“Occasionally, I try to keep up with the news about all of them.” Casvak answers, “Knowing your enemy is one of the most important parts of warfare.”

>”What’s he been talking about? I’ve been a bit distracted reading about piloting recently.”
>”Isn’t the other part of the lesson also about knowing yourself? How exactly are we going to get close to them to strike?”
>”Say they build up for a few years, do you think they’d stand any chance then? The Federation is so huge, everyone knows the military is built up specifically for suppressing rebellion too, even if we don’t talk about it openly very much.”
>”Write-in.”
>>
>>5435851
>”What’s he been talking about? I’ve been a bit distracted reading about piloting recently.”
>”Say they build up for a few years, do you think they’d stand any chance then? The Federation is so huge, everyone knows the military is built up specifically for suppressing rebellion too, even if we don’t talk about it openly very much.”
Both of these are important to talk about. If I remember correctly, Gihren's speeches could be very useful for us to use against the Zabis since we're Deikun's kids.
>>
>>5435851
>(2)”What’s he been talking about? I’ve been a bit distracted reading about piloting recently.”
>(1)”Isn’t the other part of the lesson also about knowing yourself? How exactly are we going to get close to them to strike?”
I suspect the first option is limited enough to be paired with another.
>>
>>5435851
>”What’s he been talking about? I’ve been a bit distracted reading about piloting recently.”
>”Say they build up for a few years, do you think they’d stand any chance then? The Federation is so huge, everyone knows the military is built up specifically for suppressing rebellion too, even if we don’t talk about it openly very much.”
>>
>>5435851
>>”Say they build up for a few years, do you think they’d stand any chance then? The Federation is so huge, everyone knows the military is built up specifically for suppressing rebellion too, even if we don’t talk about it openly very much.”
>"He did get way more popular after what Jimba did. Wouldn't surprise me if he is taking the reins on the family from the living potato sack ."
>>
>>5435851
>”Say they build up for a few years, do you think they’d stand any chance then? The Federation is so huge, everyone knows the military is built up specifically for suppressing rebellion too, even if we don’t talk about it openly very much.”
>>
>>5435857
+1
>>
>>5435857
>>5435878
>>5435901
Writing.
>>
>Anons consistently ignoring waifu-bait options in favor of training and maintaining familial bonds
I'm proud of this thread's voting body
>>
>>5435946
I want the forbiden Jupiter cheeks, But family comes first.
>>
>>5435946
The right choice is not always the easy one.
>>
>>5435946
We haven't met Vivima yet, so preparation is the only option right now.
>>
”What’s he been talking about? I’ve been a bit distracted reading about piloting recently.” You ask, a little intrigued.

“Spacenoid supremacy.” Casval answers, “And the inevitable violent end of the earth federation.”

“...That doesn’t sound too different from a few years ago.” You say, scratching at the side of your head a bit.

“It’s much more virulent. He was calling for the deaths of the Federation general assembly a few days ago.” Your brother says, shaking his head.

“Wow. They aren’t doing anything about it?” You say, though you already suspect the answer.

“Nothing beyond some tepid condemnations and invitations to peace talks; there was another riot that got put down hard in Side Six two days ago so Gihren’s claiming that was their real response.”

“How hard?” You question, suspecting more anti-earth protests will probably be spurred by the event.

“Six dead, about two dozen wounded. Some idiot opened fire with live ammo.” He answers, sounding disgusted, “They really don’t work hard to make themselves look good either, do they?”

“No, not particularly.” You say, sighing in frustration, “I’m guessing it got worse after that?”

“Haven’t read today’s news yet,” He says with a shrug, though you know it’s not meant callously, “But it’s almost certain. There was talk about sending in federation regulars, not just security forces.”

You wince. The Federation isn’t known for a light touch during situations like this; those guntanks you fought years ago in Munzo were ostensibly for riot control, as if an armored vehicle the size of a small office building would ever be necessary for that kind of work. It’s a ridiculous lie, and everyone’s always known it is; they’re there purely to intimidate independence movements.

”...Say they build up for a few years, and Gihren keeps seizing on all of this chaos. Do you think they’d stand any chance then?” You ask, unsure of how the numbers would play out, “The Federation is so huge, everyone knows the military is built up specifically for suppressing rebellion too, even if we don’t talk about it openly very much.”

“The EFSF doesn’t have several thousand ships for police actions,” Casval says in agreement, “But they’ve never fought a proper war either… no one has in half a century or more, just a few small rebellions. It’s anybody's guess who would win.”

“You think it would be a naval war then?”

He shrugs, “I’m not an admiral. It does seem like the chaos would create a lot of opportunities though. You mentioned Elena’s letters earlier, what’s she writing that’s so concerning?”
>>
>>5436006

“Her mother got reassigned, she works for Anaheim as an engineer,” You explain, never having spoken about the subject with him before in much detail, “Normally her work is secret, Elena never finds out about anything, but she’s been able to talk more about her new work. A ‘missile defense research committee’ the Federation military put together with a few big corporations as advisors.”

“Missile defense?” Casval asks curiously, sounding rather intrigued.

“Elena didn’t give any details beyond that,” You say, “But it sounded bad, it has her mother very on edge. Hostile.”

“Must be coming to some grim conclusions about things,” Casval says, nodding a little as he puts the pieces together, “Do you think it’s about nuclear weapons?”

“...I hadn’t considered that. Apparently ‘nowhere other than Brazil will be safe soon’, not even Luna.” You say, suddenly much more concerned.

“Why Brazil of all places?” Your brother asks, confused.

“I’m not sure. Her mother’s been working there for a while now before this job.”

“Maybe that’s where the missile defense system is?” Casval questions.

“Maybe…”

>”Do you think the Zabis would be willing to start a nuclear war? Or the Federation? That seems a bit much for either side.”
>”...What was that about creating a lot of opportunities?”
>”Any other insights into what the Zabis have been doing recently?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5436008
>”...What was that about creating a lot of opportunities?”
>”Any other insights into what the Zabis have been doing recently?”
>>
>>5436008
>”Any other insights into what the Zabis have been doing recently?”
>”...What was that about creating a lot of opportunities?”
>"We should go check up on Sayla, see how she's holding up."
We got some important info thanks to our earthnoid informant. If Cas didn't think there would be war before, now he does.
Still we can't neglect our youngest sibling, I'm a bit worried about what she'll think of us after all that emotion yesterday and then just leaving her to practice shooting the day after.
>>
>>5436008
>>5436022
Actually, I think you're right anon. Strategic considerations can be continued later. Changing >>5436008 to
>"We should go check up on Sayla, see how she's holding up."
>>
>>5436008
>”...What was that about creating a lot of opportunities?”
>”Any other insights into what the Zabis have been doing recently?”
>>
>>5436026
>Strategic considerations can be continued later.
I have to agree, we can talk to Cas about this any day. But now we should focus on some family bonding between the three of us while the wounds are fresh.

>>5436008
>>5436022
Changing my vote to just
>"We should go check up on Sayla, see how she's holding up."
>>
>>5436008
>"We should go check up on Sayla, see how she's holding up."
>Have I mentioned the weird jovian girl we met yesterday?
I think this was what slipped our mind
>>
>>5436026
>>5436033
>>5436041
Writing. Might not finish and post it until the morning though.
>>
>>5436008
>”...What was that about creating a lot of opportunities?”
>”Any other insights into what the Zabis have been doing recently?”
>>
“We should go check up on Sayla,” You say, stretching a bit, “See how she’s holding up.”

“Do you think she’s back from town yet?” Your brother asks, looking up to the colonies solar collectors to estimate the time, “It’s been… four or five hours now.”

“I don’t see why she wouldn’t be,” You say with a small shrug, “Why, do you want to get in another bout?”

“No, I think checking in is a good idea.” He says with a smile, setting back about the work of collecting things; he moves to one end of the tarp and begins to carefully and tightly roll it up, weapon by weapon.

You join him in the work, crouching next to him in the tall grass and taking one half of the tarp’s edge while he gets the other; a few heavy rocks you placed earlier hold down the far end, allowing you both to work quickly. It’s not the first time you’ve used this method, and it goes by quite quickly. Eventually you get the whole thing tied up, a few quick knots with thin rope to secure it all and then another few to fashion a makeshift sling. The two of you probably don’t need to take nearly as many practice weapons as you do, but it’s fun to switch things up occasionally and it isn’t too much of a hassle to lug around.

As you start to walk back to the lodge, passing through the tall grass of the meadow, you realize there’s something you haven’t spoken about with your brother.

“Édouard,” You say, slipping back into using his new name without thinking much of it, “Have I mentioned the weird Jovian girl that Sayla and I met yesterday?”

“Jovian? No, you haven’t.” He answers while carrying the wrapped up weapons, “...Was she the one who told you about Lucifer being sick? Sayla might have mentioned something now that I think of it.”

“She was,” You confirm, “But I’d thought he might have been sick before that; Sayla and I were looking for him in different parts of the lodge and the Jovian girl, Tryphosa, answered her door while holding him. I hadn’t even knocked yet.”

“She was probably about to leave to look for one of you,” Your brother says, brushing off the incident.

“I… I don’t think it was that. It felt like she knew who I was before I even met her, almost as if she was expecting me…” You say, still confused by the encounter.

“Could she be a spy?” He asks, his tone slightly jokey.

“I’m not sure,” You answer quickly, “But it wasn’t as if she just knew about me, it felt almost like she was… looking through me, like she understood everything I said before I finished saying it. It’s hard to explain.”
>>
>>5436390

“Made that much of an impression on you in a first meeting, huh?” Édouard says, “How old is she?”

“About our age, I think.” You answer honestly, “But I never asked.”

“And let me guess, she’s good looking too?” He says with a small chuckle.

“What? No, it’s not that…” You say, waving your brother off and shaking your head, “She’s not bad looking, but there was something about her eyes. I had a hard time not talking with her…”

“You shouldn’t be running around behind Elena like that,” Édouard says with a grin..

“Elena isn’t my girlfriend, Édouard, we’ve been over that before…” You say, getting a bit frustrated by your brother's banter, “And I’m being serious about Tryphosa, there’s something weird about her. Not attractive in… well, that sense, not enough to throw me off anyways, but something else.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Édouard says, his tone growing more serious with each passing step. The two of you are cresting a small hill now, the top of the lodge just in sight beyond a few sparse patches of trees on the next hill over. It won’t be long at all now.

“She knew about father’s philosophy and had spent most of her life on ships,” You try to explain, “Just one ship, really. She was born past Neptune. It took years to even get back to Jupiter, long enough for her to grow up and remember the last few years of the journey. Can you even imagine that?”

“There are ships that go out that far?” Your brother asks, now far more interested, “I thought it was only probes and satellites.”

“It was an expeditionary ship, though I’m not sure what exactly it was out looking for,” You answer, “...I don’t know, it all just seemed so strange. Her behavior, her openness, the way she could just seem to read me.”

“She knew about father’s philosophy?” Édouard says, going back to your earlier comment, “She might be here to observe us. It’s possible other groups besides the Zabis might know we’re here.”

“So you think she’s a spy?” You question, unsure now just how joking your brother actually was a minute ago.

“She could be. Maybe she took Lucifer when we weren’t looking to create a fake crisis, and then swooped in to be a mysterious hero.” Your brother speculates, sounding a bit Jimba-ish for a moment.

“Taking Lucifer wouldn’t do much normally though, it would take ages for us to notice he’s gone with how many places he hides.” You point out, “That’s a pretty poor plan. ...And a spy at our age?”
>>
>>5436391

Édouard shrugs, “Stranger things have happened. Remember that kid in the camp, Diego?”

“That was odd, but not really the same...” You say, unsatisfied, “Maybe you’ll just need to meet her. I think she’s already gone for the day though.”

“For the day?”

“Yeah, she’s only here for a few days ‘to see the colony’ and then she’s going to leave,” You reply, “I think I saw her leaving this morning with her guardians.”

“Guardians?” Édouard asks curiously.

“Two adults that came with her. She didn’t talk about them much, I’m pretty sure they aren’t her family though.” You say, thinking back to how quickly she departed when you questioned about that.

“They might just be chaperones, or maybe she meant legal guardians,” Édouard says, “Or they could be handlers. I’ll talk with her when she’s back. Alone, preferably.”

“You don’t want me there?”

“I’ll tell you if I learn anything new.” He answers, “I think I’ll get a better read on her on my own.”


You nod, understanding. The experience of talking with Tryphosa while Sayla was around was very different from speaking alone, far less stange. Édouard might not understand what you were talking about if you’re there to muddy things up and split her focus.

A few minutes later

Entering back into the grand lobby of the lodge, you split off from Édouard to store your own gear in your suite and take a quick shower. A few more minutes later and you’re back out, refreshed and ready to find your sister; Édouard is already speaking with her just outside her door, it looks like he caught her leaving her own suite. It’s very convenient having all of your rooms right next to one another.

“...So it was a tumor then?” Édouard questions, sounding rather concerned.

“Yes, but they caught it early.” Sayla answers, “It’s a type that grows very slowly, he said it’s probably been there for a year or more already, he couldn’t say for sure though.”

“They’ll be able to remove it?” Édouard asks, “Or are we?...”

“The vet thinks surgery should work,” Sayla says, though her face gives away how worried she is regardless, “I was talking with Teabolo earlier and he agreed to pay for a specialist to visit to do it.”

Entering the conversation, you can’t help but raise an eyebrow at that comment, “A specialist? It must be pretty complicated then.”

Sayla’s composure slips for just a moment, and you catch an even clearer glimpse of just how distraught she really is, her face twisted in concern, “...Brain surgery usually is, Maxime.”

“Oh.” You say, moving in quickly to hug your sister with one arm, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize. …He’ll be alright though?”

She nods, staying quiet for a moment before speaking again, “If it had been another few months it might have been too late… Thank you for noticing something was wrong, Maxime.”
>>
>>5436393

“Hey, I love that scratchy old cat too, Sayla,” You say, smiling and pulling her in a little tighter for just a moment before stepping away, “I’m sure he’ll make it through this, he’s been with us through everything.”

>”...It wasn’t just me though, you might want to thank Tryphosa. She’s the one that seemed convinced something serious was wrong.”
>”Do you want to go do something? Ride or swim maybe?” Keeping Sayla busy might help her get through this period of uncertainty a little easier.
>”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5436394
>1.”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>2.”...It wasn’t just me though, you might want to thank Tryphosa. She’s the one that seemed convinced something serious was wrong.”
>>
>>5436394
>1.”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>2.”...It wasn’t just me though, you might want to thank Tryphosa. She’s the one that seemed convinced something serious was wrong.”
>>
>>5436394
>”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>"But anyway, it's nice to finally have some time to talk and do things together again."
Time to cherish these moments with our siblings, being there for each other will cement our relationship with them.
>>
>>5436394
>”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>”Do you want to go do something? Ride or swim maybe?” Keeping Sayla busy might help her get through this period of uncertainty a little easier.
>>
>>5436394
>”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>”Do you want to go do something? Ride or swim maybe?” Keeping Sayla busy might help her get through this period of uncertainty a little easier.
>>
>>5436394
>2)”Do you want to go do something? Ride or swim maybe?” Keeping Sayla busy might help her get through this period of uncertainty a little easier.
>1)”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>>
>>5436394
>”...It wasn’t just me though, you might want to thank Tryphosa. She’s the one that seemed convinced something serious was wrong.”
>”Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo? Pawing at the air like cartoon character that realized the ground wasn't under them anymore?” Reminisce about Lucifer for a while, he’s been a good cat. A bit feisty at times, but good.
>>
>>5436396
>>5436402
>>5436403
>>5436471
Writing.
>>
“Do you remember how he acted that first time in zero g, when we had just left Munzo?” You ask, almost laughing as you picture the scene again, “Pawing at the air like a cartoon character that realized the ground wasn’t under them anymore?”

Sayla's worried expression quickly melts away into a grin, “He had no idea what to do, that poor thing.”

“Neither did you,” You brother comments, suppressing a smile of his own, “It looked like you were trying to swim at first.”

“It sort of worked.” Sayla says, puffing her cheeks out a bit and crossing her arms.

“About as well as it did for Lucifer,” Édouard comments, “...He’s always been energetic, hasn’t he?”

“I distinctly remember him almost getting the better of Ramba on a few occasions, scratching him up really good” You say, starting to walk over to a few of the chairs in the mostly empty lobby, “And the staff at the villa never really got a handle on him either.”

“He has selective tastes, that’s all.” Sayla says a little defensively, though she’s obviously comfortable with the light banter. She and Édouard follow along with you, the three of you sitting near one of several fireplaces in the timber clad hall.

“He doesn’t like anyone except us,” Édouard says, now laughing, “But mostly just you, Sayla.”

“You should blame him for having good taste either.” Sayla replies, “He doesn’t bring back dead rats anymore at least.”

“I miss that a little,” Édouard says, “I liked it when he went hunting, it suits him; did you ever watch him do it? I've only ever seen it a few times.”

“I caught him doing it all the time back in the villa,” You say, “He’s not half as sneaky as he thinks he is.”

“Oh, it was awful,” Sayla says, “I’m so glad he stopped since we came here, he had nothing to prove to me.”

“I thought you said he has good tastes?” You tease, glad to see your sister in a better mood again.

“He stopped, didn’t he?” Sayla says indignantly, “So I’m still right.”

“Uh huh. Sure.” You goad lightly…

A few hours later.

You sit at the desk in your suite, looking at a blank piece of paper lying before you; a pen rests in your left hand, and you think fondly of the earlier conversation with your siblings. Moments like that are something to be cherished; you’re becoming more cognizant of that fact with every passing day, you never get lost time back.

…But you’ve been stuck for a while now looking at this paper. At least a few minutes have passed since you sat down with the intention to write to Elena. She asked for you to write as soon as possible, and now that you’ve had your photos from yesterday printed out everything should be ready to go… and yet the words aren’t coming to you easily.
>>
>>5436708

What do you write to her about?

>Screw it, everything. …Or everything except details about plotting against the Zabis anyways, you’re not an idiot. You’ll be here for a while, probably well past when the colony’s artificial night begins. She trusts you, and you trust her.
>Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.
>A little about you and your piloting, but most about her current issues. Try to give some advice.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5436710

>A little about you and your piloting, but most about her current issues. Try to give some advice.
>Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.
>>
>>5436710
>Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.
>>
>>5436710
>Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.
>A little about you and your piloting, but most about her current issues. Try to give some advice.
>>
>>5436710
>>Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.
>>A little about you and your piloting, but most about her current issues. Try to give some advice.
>>
>>5436710
1)
>Screw it, everything. …Or everything except details about plotting against the Zabis anyways, you’re not an idiot. You’ll be here for a while, probably well past when the colony’s artificial night begins. She trusts you, and you trust her.

2)
>A little about you and your piloting, but most about her current issues. Try to give some advice.
>Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.

Things to make sure to address in the letter:
- compliment the art she sent us
- say that we would be glad to fly her around in Von Braun when we meet again
- say that we miss her too
- offer condolences for her family situation
>>
>>5436710
>2)Just about you and your family. Simple and straightforward.
>1)A little about you and your piloting, but most about her current issues. Try to give some advice.
>>
>>5436711
>>5436713
>>5436716
>>5436735
Writing.
>>
Alright, update won't be out until the morning. Got involved in a bunch of other stuff and I don't want to leave the update mysteriously hanging forever since people get jumpy about the curse. Expect it in like six or seven hours or so.
>>
At long last you find the right words, and put pen to paper.

Dear Elena,

I love the art that you sent me, the way you captured the lighting on the horse is beautiful; the glass of the colony looks just like it briefly at dusk and dawn, when the reflectors are adjusted. It’s like the whole universe is caught up in them for a few moments. Yesterday I got to see it again, but from the outside of the colony - I finally got to go flying! Rafferty took me out in one of the worker pods and showed me the basics, and it was everything I hoped it would be; the view, the acceleration, the freedom! When I fly you around Von Braun you’ll understand - I’m looking forward to it, I’ve missed you. I’ll be starting lessons in a few weeks, and I was allowed to keep my normal suit, so I’ll be ready to go in no time.

Life on the colony has been going well for the most part, I’ve been busy reading about piloting and learning to ride better but I’ve already written reams about that so I’ll spare you this time. School is still boring and almost a joke, and there still aren’t many other kids since the town is so small, so it’s mostly just me and my siblings - Sayla’s cat, Lucifer, is sick right now and in the vet, but they think he should be able to recover after a surgery. She’s really broken up about it, I hate to see her like that so I’ve been trying to do what I can to keep her company. I’ll make sure to send pictures once Lucifer’s recovered, I’m sure he’ll be back to his feisty self in no time at all.

…I’m sorry to hear about your mother, I hope things get better soon and I’ve been thinking about them a lot lately hoping to find some way to help…


You continue writing for quite some time.
>>
>>5437181
Elsewhere, in a secret Zeon testing facility aboard the dark "extra" banchi of Side Three, an advanced prototype "Mobile Worker" unit begins its first true combat tests.

Freed from the tethering prison of stationary power sources by a high efficiency turbine attached to its back, its single eye sensor flashes with red light as its pilot acquires his first target: A federation RX-65 Guntank. The two face off for a few moments, like gunmen at high noon, each observing the other from across the dimly lit dirt testing strip; only a few spotlights and the glow of observation stations in the walls nearby illuminate the area. Tension builds and builds, becoming oppressive, almost unbearable until finally the siren to begin is sounded and the world becomes a storm of metal and shell fire.

With thundering steps the machine moves forward, momentum and speed building step by step as the armor plated machine digs deep furrows in the test ground with every massive step. The Guntank takes aim, leveling its arm guns, and opens fire with a flashing hail of shells, spent brass spewing out over the ground around it in high arcs, but the shots result in only tiny pock marks on the advancing mobile worker’s slab shield covering its left arm. The gigantic humanoid machine isn’t slowed in the least, stepping quickly to the side and avoiding a pair of main cannon shells that whizz past and detonate in the safety barriers far behind it; the flash of the explosion briefly illuminates the mobile worker’s silhouette, revealing its harsh angular lines, right arm ending in a powerful claw. The guntank tries to reverse, dirt kicked up as its treads spin desperately to create more distance, continuing its onslaught of gunfire all the while. It's shots miss and deflect almost harmlessly as its approaching enemy dips side to side, far more nimble than a machine of such a size has any right to be, and soon the distance is closed before it can fire its main cannons once more.

The fight is over with the single strike of the claw, the remote controlled guntank’s upper body carved up by its brutal strength. Armored titanium plate buckles, is perforated, torn, and then ripped off entirely and thrown away, the guntank’s upper body tackled and dragged to the ground by the same attack, sparks and flames beginning to erupt from within its connection to its lower tank half. An almost contemptuous backhanded strike by the mobile worker’s claw takes what’s left of the burning guntank’s head off, sending it sailing through the air, and a few moments later the guntank’s ammunition detonates in an enormous concussion of fire and man-sized titanium shrapnel.

When the smoke finally clears, the mobile worker stands victorious with its clawed hand held in the air above its head, before slowly power down a few moments later. Huge gashes in the exposed turbine on its back begin belching smoke, and the damaged assembly quickly rattles itself to pieces.
>>
>>5437184

In a distant observation room, looking through the cracked armored glass where a piece of guntank hull shrapnel had struck, Dozle Zabi looks on with enthusiasm, a huge wolfish grin spreading across his scarred face and he cracks the knuckles of his closed fist as he thinks of things to come; his much younger brother, Garma, points excitedly at burning wreck of the guntanks lower half, speaking excitedly. Gihren, a few paces away, isn’t impressed in the least and tells as much to one of the experts he brought with him, Dr. Torenov Minovsky. A better power source will be necessary, something far more compact than the bulky and delicate exposed turbine used for this ‘mobile worker’.

…And a young Vivima Zabi looks on in wonder, almost entranced by the sight of the test, desiring more.
>>
>>5437185

Back at the Texas Colony, in Loum.

You set down your pen, finally done writing, and give the letter a quick check. With no obvious mistakes jumping out at you, you set it aside. You’ll get it mailed off tomorrow, but right now you’re…

>Going to bed, it’s about that time, even if there’s still a little time left.
>Going to find someone to speak with. (Specify).
>Going to finally assemble the rest of that Salamis-class model you got a few weeks ago. It’s a very detailed kit, but it does leave you wondering if those blind spots around the point defense guns really exist or if it’s an error…
>Write-in.
>>
>>5437186
>Going to finally assemble the rest of that Salamis-class model you got a few weeks ago. It’s a very detailed kit, but it does leave you wondering if those blind spots around the point defense guns really exist or if it’s an error…
I find the idea of a gundam character being into gunpla amusing.
Oh no, Vivima is going to be a battle maniac
>>
>>5437186
>Going to finally assemble the rest of that Salamis-class model you got a few weeks ago. It’s a very detailed kit, but it does leave you wondering if those blind spots around the point defense guns really exist or if it’s an error…
>>
>>5437186
>>Going to finally assemble the rest of that Salamis-class model you got a few weeks ago. It’s a very detailed kit, but it does leave you wondering if those blind spots around the point defense guns really exist or if it’s an error…
>>
>>5437186
>Going to finally assemble the rest of that Salamis-class model you got a few weeks ago. It’s a very detailed kit, but it does leave you wondering if those blind spots around the point defense guns really exist or if it’s an error…
Model autism seems in character.
>>5437187
>Vivima is going to be a battle maniac
Keeping her zabi autism in check might be harder than we initial anticipated
>>
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>>5437187
>>5437192
>>5437196
>>5437201
Writing.
>>
File: Felix the Gunpla fan.jpg (100 KB, 657x714)
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>>5437216
>"I can't let you drop Axis, Casval! I need the people on Earth to make more plastic models!"
>>
>>5437228
Kek
Felix souls is weighted down by the plastic crack
>>
Moving things around on your desk, you set about finishing up the assembly of the Salamis-class cruiser kit you got a few weeks ago; there are just a few turrets left to put on it, and a lot of detailing. The strange looking stalks a number of the point defense guns rest upon catch your eye, the turrets guns not having the ability to depress to cover the bottom half or huge portions behind the main bridge, and you can’t help but wonder if those dead zones are just some sort of modeling error or if the Federation really commissioned a ship with such incomplete coverage. The “bottom” of the ship in particular is almost entirely exposed, barely covered by some of their secondary gun turrets running along its sides… What an odd design, but perhaps their missiles and the rest of a fleet make up for the glaring weaknesses.

However odd it may look, it’s going to complete your little collection that’s begun to populate the shelves of your room; ever since you’ve become interested in piloting you’ve taken a greater interest in naval vessels as well. A saberfish was your first kit, though it’s a bit warped looking since you didn’t really know what you were doing at the time. The others have been put together with much greater care, your eye for detail helping immensely, and this Salamis will be no different.

You turn your full attention back to the model, and continue the tedious but relaxing process, studying the exterior of the ship carefully to match it with a few reference photographs you obtained last week; everything is looking good as you place the second point defense gun’s inner assembly and then begin to work on its out plating, checking the rotation and movement of all the parts as you go. Looking at the bits you still have left, you realize just how much work there is left to be done if you want this thing to look any good… It’s going to take awhile to get this ship finished.

The next morning.

Blinking, you look up from your desk and survey the area while stretching your arms and back a little. The model was fully assembled last night, but you realize with a start that you must have fallen asleep at your desk. You quickly check the time on a nearby clock, the old analog machine showing that it’s early in the morning - no real loss then. You get up, trying to stretch away some of the faint ache left by sleeping in such an uncomfortable place, and having mixed success, and head off to get ready for your morning routine. More running, more exercise, the usual deal.
>>
>>5437252

Two hours later.

Out of the shower and dressed for the day, though a little more sore than normal, you have some choices to make.

>Join Sayla for a horse ride into town. She’s improved greatly over the last eight months, and spending some time with just her would be a nice change.
>Go ship watching by the space port; maybe you can convince Rafferty to let you fly again if you’re lucky. Waiting for a few weeks to start is actually rather frustrating, you’re ready now.
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5437253
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
>>
>>5437253
1)
>Join Sayla for a horse ride into town. She’s improved greatly over the last eight months, and spending some time with just her would be a nice change.
Got to keep family close
2)
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
Just to say goodbye in case it's the last day
>>
>>5437256
Oh, and my third option would be to mix both, saying good to Tryphosia and then horse riding with Sayla
>>
>>5437253
1)
>Go ship watching by the space port; maybe you can convince Rafferty to let you fly again if you’re lucky. Waiting for a few weeks to start is actually rather frustrating, you’re ready now.

2)
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
>>
>>5437252
You know, this made me think, would Felix’s perception be better utilized as a ship designer, or perhaps an officer? No reason he couldn’t also be a pilot right?
>>
>>5437267
Many experienced ranking officers in Zeon are frontline MS pilots, from Char's lowly beginnings as an Lt to Dozle Zabi who lead the Zeon SAF. So yeah, totally possible to be an officer and pilot. Though I can't remember any R&D guys who were also pilots off the top of my head.
>>
>>5437271
Was more thinking along the lines of “is a pilot as a hobby /backup” but frontline pilot officer / R&D definitely sounds cooler
>>
>>5437273
Not really the option to be an MS pilot as a hobby or backup during the OYW. Every potential pilot on both sides were stuffed into a suit and sent to the front. It was so bad that the Federation resorted to child soldiers and Zeon had reuse teams (cripples and mentally ill pushed back into combat duty.)
>>
>>5437187
>Oh no, Vivima is going to be a battle maniac
I can't wait to meet her for the first time and she acts just like Chara Soon.
>>
>>5437253
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.

>Go ship watching by the space port; maybe you can convince Rafferty to let you fly again if you’re lucky. Waiting for a few weeks to start is actually rather frustrating, you’re ready now.
>>
>>5437253
>>5437256
Support
>>
>>5437255
>>5437262
Tryphosa.

>>5437256
>>5437320
Sayla.

>>5437301
Tryphosa (briefly?) and then go ship watching

Alright, so it's a tie between Tryphosa or Sayla. I haven't established how tie breaking with preference voting works for this; it could either have a tie count as a loss and go to the next choice (in which case Tryphosa clearly wins here), or it could result in a runoff between the two tied choices.

I'm going to do a run off this time to try to not pull a surprise, but let me know how you feel about ties counting as a loss for future votes since it can resolve faster but also can lead to some wonky stuff.

Please vote for one of these options:
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
or
>Join Sayla for a horse ride into town. She’s improved greatly over the last eight months, and spending some time with just her would be a nice change.

Voting will be open for the next hour. If you've already voted I'd like if you could vote again, but if you don't see this runoff in time I'll keep your previous vote.
>>
>>5437340
>Join Sayla for a horse ride into town. She’s improved greatly over the last eight months, and spending some time with just her would be a nice change.
I would prefer seeing Tryphosia briefly and then Sayla, but between waifu and family, family always wins
>>
>>5437340
>Join Sayla for a horse ride into town. She’s improved greatly over the last eight months, and spending some time with just her would be a nice change.

Fuck that Jovian hussy.
>>
>>5437340
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
Fuck that Jovian hussy!
>>
>>5437340
Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.

I crave superior new-type genetics Father.

Also, My votes will always confuse you because I don't do the 1/2 shit.
>>
>>5437340
>>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
>>
>>5437340
Also, I think primary ties being resolved as secondary wins/losses is perfectly legitimate. Otherwise a preference-based voting system doesn't really do anything all that useful for questing purposes.
>>
>>5437368
If we’re going off primaries, then taking >>5437362 into consideration means this vote should have been between piloting and tryphosa, since his primary was piloting and so was mine
>>
>>5437377
Actually no it wasn’t, it was tryphosa, yeah tryphosa should have just won

>dude is willing to put preferential votes
>but not the numbers to make it clear that’s what it is and not a combination
>>
>>5437379
I CHOOSE VIOLENCE.

Also, because I phone post at work in a mechanics shop.
>>
>>5437340
Changing my vote to just Sayla.
>>
>>5437393
Your ID changed, might want to link your vote
>>
Here's my count of the original vote

Tryphosia
FD3IEZWq (only vote)
zKNS6jcM (secondary)

ZES94fkk (secondary)
UFkkGVW2 (secondary)

Sayla
ZES94fkk (primary)
UFkkGVW2 (primary)

Ships
zKNS6jcM (primary)

Tryphosia + ships
cZA9G6/K (only vote)

Sayla + Tryphosia
ZES94fkk (tertiary)

So while ZES94fkk and UFkkGVW2 secondary votes were for Tryphosia, their primary were for Sayla. If cZA9G6 specified it was preference instead of a mix jovian girl would have won.
I think this confusion is kind of merited, since it comes up with the idea whether the preferred vote would matter more than the secondary option
>>
>>5437340
>>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
>>
>>5437394
Huh, weird.

>>5437340
>>5437320 is me.
>>
Come on guys, let's not let the newtype chick we just met a few days ago keep us from family. Besides, we could use this time with Sayla to make her think of Cas better.
>>
>>5437340
>Join Sayla for a horse ride into town. She's improved greatly over the last eight months, and spending some time with just her would be a nice change.
>>
>>5437403
>keep us from family
She is not in trouble and we are not separated from her. This sentiment doesn’t make any sense.
>>
>>5437344
>>5437348
>>5437393
>>5437405
Sayla

>>5437366
>>5437356
>>5437362
>>5437396
>>5437255 (didn't cast new vote)
>>5437262 (didn't cast new vote, going to secondary)
Tryphosa

Pretty sure I didn't miss anything. Tryphosa wins, writing.

Apologies for not cutting the vote off after an hour , I went to lay down for a second and fell asleep on accident. Just going to count all the votes for both sides up until now, though I'm pretty sure Tryphosa still wins even if I did use the one hour cutoff, so no real harm done hopefully.
>>
>>5437406
Not that way, but I'd like to keep close to Sayla and Cas as much as possible. I like the whole family first style Felix is going for.
>>
>>5437412
>I like the whole family first style Felix is going for.
Me too but as far as I'm concerned Tryphosa is an asset. The Jovians are important to any neo zeon plans and being on good terms with them is key.
>>
>>5437412
>>5437414
I really don’t like how these votes are framed as choosing between family and other benefits, we should realistically be able to manage both
>>
>>5437420
If we could do all of it then it wouldn't be so impactful
>>
>>5437340
>Try to catch Tryphosa before she leaves for the day. …You’re actually not sure if this is the third day or the second one, she never clarified if she was counting the day you both met as part of her three day stay.
>>
>>5437420
Its not though? lmao, We've had mulitple options almost per-day my guy. And she's leaving in X-amount of time. If anything we're doing the limited time event and family later.

Almost like you've never played a game before, SAD!
>>
…That strange Jovian girl, Tryphosa, just can’t seem to get out of your head. Opening the door of your suite, you step out into the grand lobby of the lodge, looking over your surroundings; it’s busier than usual, Sayla is off a ways near the main entrance and clearly dressed for riding, a few other residents are mingling about the area, and you don’t see your brother or Tryphosa at all. Closing the door behind you, you head out to begin your search; hopefully she hasn’t already left. Moving at a fair pace up the stairs at one end of the lobby, you reach the second floor and knock on the first door to see if perhaps she’s still there. No answer. Frowning, you head back down and check the main dining hall. Nothing there either. Where could she be? You spend a few moments thinking through the possibilities, none of them particularly promising…

As you reenter the lobby once again, its high latticework of timber supports overhead, you finally spot Tryphosa, her green hair and head poking back through the barely opened doors of the main entrance. She’s looking side to side, as if she’s searching for something, until her blue eyes finally settle on you. An electric tingle passes through you, and you can feel her presence intensely once again.

Pushing aside whatever that feeling is, still unsure what to make of it, you smile and give a small wave as you walk over, meeting her near the entrance. She’s wearing red and black today; strange but elegant clothes which seem rather out of place for sightseeing around the colony.

“You were looking for me?” Tryphosa asks curiously, hands behind her back. For some reason it doesn’t feel like much of a question.

“I was,” You reply, scratching lightly at the back of your head with one hand, “Off to see the rest of the colony?”

“The last section, yes. …but not without you, I believe.” She says, taking a long step closer, “I spoke with your brother last night.”

“Oh?” You ask, your heartbeat quickening a little, “About what?”

“No subject in particular, we just talked around things. He was very charming, you see, but deeply suspicious of me.” She answers earnestly, a far away look in her eyes, “It was so sweet, he’s a very caring person, Maxime.”

“...He can be.” You agree, though you’re unsure of what to make of Tryphosa’s mismatched statements, “So it went well?”
>>
>>5437502

“It was delightful,” Tryphosa says happily before sighing, but just as she begins to speak again a tall man with purple hair steps through the wooden doors of the main entrance, his white uniform immediately marking him as a military man of some sort; you vaguely recognize him as being one of Tryphosa’s ‘guardians’ you saw at a distance a couple of mornings ago.

“Ms. Jedar, the vehicle is ready,” He says impatiently, his purple eyes filled with something close to contempt as he looks over you, “Will this boy be accompanying you?”

“I’m unsure, Aminu.” Tryphosa says, not shifting her intense gaze from you in the slightest to address the man, “Maxime?”

>”Sure, you could probably use a guide, right?”
>”I just wanted to make sure I had a chance to say farewell, Tryphosa.” Presumably she’ll be back later before actually leaving, but you might miss her then.
>”...Aminu, what’s your job exactly?” Ignore Tryphosa's question for a moment, there’s something about this Aminu guy that doesn’t sit right with you.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5437507
>”...Aminu, what’s your job exactly?” Ignore Tryphosa's question for a moment, there’s something about this Aminu guy that doesn’t sit right with you.
>”Sure, you could probably use a guide, right?”
>>
>>5437507
>”Sure, you could probably use a guide, right?”
>>
>>5437507
>"...Aminu, what’s your job exactly?” Ignore Tryphosa's question for a moment, there’s something about this Aminu guy that doesn’t sit right with you.
>”I just wanted to make sure I had a chance to say farewell, Tryphosa.” Presumably she’ll be back later before actually leaving, but you might miss her then
>>
>>5437507
>1.”Sure, you could probably use a guide, right?”
>2.”...Aminu, what’s your job exactly?” Ignore Tryphosa's question for a moment, there’s something about this Aminu guy that doesn’t sit right with you.
>>
>>5437507
>>”I just wanted to make sure I had a chance to say farewell, Tryphosa.” Presumably she’ll be back later before actually leaving, but you might miss her then.
>”...Aminu, what’s your job exactly?” Ignore Tryphosa's question for a moment, there’s something about this Aminu guy that doesn’t sit right with you.
>>
>>5437525
>>5437542
Do these two count as the same vote?
>>
>>5437507
>"...Aminu, what’s your job exactly?” Ignore Tryphosa's question for a moment, there’s something about this Aminu guy that doesn’t sit right with you.
>”I just wanted to make sure I had a chance to say farewell, Tryphosa.” Presumably she’ll be back later before actually leaving, but you might miss her then

>>5437550
I don't see why not
>>
>>5437550
Since I voted to mix, not preference, so which one is on top should not matter, right?
>>
>>5437558
The order of the mix doesn't matter.
>>
>>5437511
Ask about Aminu + Go with Tryphosa

>>5437517
>>5437528 (Second preference to just ask about Aminu)
Go with Tryphosa

>>5437525
>>5437542
>>5437554
Ask about Aminu + Say farewell

The 'Ask about Aminu + Say farewell' vote wins.

I'm starting to see that combination votes and only some people opting to use preference voting can be kinda fucky. Voting being spread out as it is and anons (understandably) not always checking in to support later similar votes can lead to a vote splitting issue caused by all the possible combinations and the lack of alternate votes.
>>
>>>5424454
>She looks at you with a mix of confusion and disappointment

>>5437502
>"…but not without you, I believe."
Followed by
>>5437678

Felix zos Deikun, habitual heartbreaker
>>
>>5437724
>Felix zos Deikun, habitual heartbreaker
He understands his destiny is to be with Vivima.
>>
“I just wanted to make sure I had a chance to say farewell, Tryphosa.” You say, ignoring Aminu’s presence for just a moment.

“There, it’s settled then,” Aminu says, placing a hand on Tryphosa’s shoulder, “Enough of these distractions, Ms. Jedar-”

Tryphosa raises a hand dismissively and Aminu falls silent for a moment, his brow furrowing in frustration and eyes doing nothing to conceal his displeasure.

“I’ll be returning this evening, Maxime.” Tryphosa says, frowning just slightly, “We’ll see one another again, I’m sure of it.”

“I hope so,” You say, “And thanks again for helping out with Lucifer, I’m not sure what Sayla would have done if something happened to him.”

“It was the highlight of my trip!” Tryphosa says, her face lighting up at the mention of the little furball, “I’d never seen a cat in person before… and I was so dreadfully lonely…”

“...Really?” You question, almost disturbed by her comment, “No pets on your ships and you hadn’t even seen a cat, what’s wrong with-”

“That’s enough,” Aminu interjects angrily, “You’ll hold your tongue.”

“He meant no offense, Aminu!” Tryphosa snaps, turning about to face the uniformed man and pushing his hand from her shoulder. Aminu ignores her, glaring daggers at you.

“...What’s your job exactly?” You ask, glaring right back at him and standing up a little straighter.

“My father sent him to-” Tryphosa begins to answer, turning her head slightly to look back at you, her eyes suddenly widening in shock.

“A guard who’s let a spoiled brat have a little too much of her own way,” Aminu answers, speaking over Tryphosa, “Tryphosa, we’re leaving.”

“Aminu!” Tryphosa shouts, a palpable rage filling the air. He slaps her, though not terribly hard, and the feeling dissipates in a brief, sharp pain. You blink, almost having felt the strike yourself, a ghostly ache washing over you.

“No more of your tricks,” Aminu practically hisses at Tryphosa, the door behind him still open to the outside and the colony’s western landscape visible just beyond. There’s a woman with short brunette hair not all that far away outside, wearing a white uniform very similar to Aminu’s and standing near a black car.

>”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>Don’t intervene - this isn’t your business, whatever it is.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5437812
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>>
>>5437812
>1.Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>2.”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>>
>>5437812
>>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>>
>>5437812
>>1.Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>2.”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>>
>>5437812
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>>
I love how we're all unanimous in our want to kick the shit out of this guy.
>>
>>5437812
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.

>>5437846
Felix's paladin energy is simply too strong
>>
>>5437850
>Felix's paladin energy
He's gonna cast Purify on Vivima WITH HIS DICK
>>
>>5437812
>>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
>>
>>5437812
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.

https://youtu.be/ZjjebXD5Quw
>>
>>5437812
>”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.
Ah, so she can have her feelings projected at others, huh. Also punching him is a bad idea if we want to get allied with the Jovians, but still.
>>
>>5437850
The idea of Felix fighting Aminu not because of any romantic reasons but just because it's what he does as a space knight makes me smile.
>>
>>5437915
Felix just needs to adopt a code of chivalry at this point. Maybe we could get a fellowship of knightly companions...
>>
>>5437921
>knights of the contolist order
>headed by pope-paladin felix
>consisting of pilots as knights
>>
Aminu is basically a Jovian, and they are space wizards right? Combined with the fact that he's a guard, I think we're going to get messed up by him.
I just hope it's nothing permanent.
>>
>>5437812
>"What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>>
>There’s a woman with short brunette hair not all that far away outside, wearing a white uniform very similar to Aminu’s and standing near a black car.
they're gonna kick our shit in aren't they?
>>
>>5437812
>”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>>
>>5437812
>"What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
Punching him is a really dumb idea, and solves absolutely nothing except to satisfy our pride. You can be a "space paladin" without being a mindless brute.
>>
>>5437976
Probably, and we'll gain nothing out of it too other than perhaps get in trouble and lessen our oh-so-valued time with our family either by being confined to a hospital bed, jail cell, or perhaps our room. Ironic.
>>
>>5437812
>”What the hell’s going on here? Tryphosa, are you alright?”
>Punch Aminu in the face. He’s taller and older, and clearly well built, but you’re tall for your age and in excellent shape.

VIOLENCE IS THE QUESTION AND YES
>>
>>5437814
>>5437822
>>5437838
>>5437850
>>5437867
>>5437882
Punch.

>>5437831
>>5437841
>>5437910
>>5438006
Punch and question.

>>5437955
>>5438001
>>5438002
Question.

Punch wins. Writing. Might throw in a bit of questioning as well since it doesn't really contradict the action, punching will be by far the focus though.
>>
>>5438031
The Jovians have made a great enemy this day.
>>
>>5438032
More like we have for no good reason. I’m sure this will do swimmingly for creating ties for neo-zeon.
>>
>>5438038
Thats fine, We will just kill the Old-Types.
>>
>>5438040
Fuck off Zabi
>>
>>5438044
Niggah fucking read the message I linked too, Also when the fuck did the Zabi's care for New/Old type split?
>>
>>5438049
Go away hitler follower
>>
>>5438038
In the end any alliance would be of mutual use that ends in a backstab anyway, so this may not change much. The Jovians would want to be on top instead of sharing power with a Neo-Zeon, and I doubt Felix would accept the insane shit they keep hidden in their closet.
>>
>>5438051
well now thats just rude, I haven't gone full /pol/lock yet in this quest. Even though the federation and Zabi's deserve it
>>
>>5438058
Sure, Gihren.
>>
>>5438057
What was the point of looking for Tryphosa if we were just going to tank our relations with the Jovians?
Don't tell me some anons actually want to have a teenage romance drama in space with a chick we just met a few days ago.
>>
>>5438082
I'm pretty sure hitting on shit heel guard who hit his charge won't amount to much
>>
Rage flares within you at the sight of Tryphosa’s treatment, dots beginning to connect in your head even if the final image isn’t quite fully formed; there’s something wrong going on here, and you don’t like it. Taking a few swift steps forward, hands balling into fists, you put the force of your body behind a single punch directly to Aminu’s face, striking him right in the nose. The unexpected hit lands without contest, its painful impact sending Aminu’s head snapping to the side and he staggers backward from the blow.

“What the hell’s going on here?” You shout as Aminu recovers and presses a hand against his face, checking his injury as anger fills his eyes, “Tryphosa, are you alright?”

“Maxime!” Tryphosa shouts in distress, staggering off to the side and away from the scuffle as Aminu squares up and throws a punch of his own; it’s fast, but you’re used to faster, and you manage to dodge and move in closer to try to get past his superior reach. Delivering a pair of sharp quick strikes to his side and chest, you seem to be getting the upper hand.

“Little bastard!” Aminu growls, stepping back and fending off another of your strikes before pressing the attack. You duck to the side of his first strike, trying to press in again, but he’s moving faster than before and you barely manage to block; his hit impacts your arm hard.

“Stop it, Aminu! Please, both of you!” Tryphosa screams, a wave of distress crashing into your consciousness and overwhelming you for a panicked half second; just long enough for one of Aminu’s punches to land squarely in the side of your face.

Dazed, you stumble back as pain and the concussion of the impact washes away your perception momentarily, but whatever that feeling was earlier seems to have slowed Aminu down as well immediately after his punch landed. Despite not having been hit, Aminu seems more dazed than you were.

Rapid, distant footsteps sound across the lobby behind you.

You press in again, instincts screaming at you to fight, and deliver a few more blows; they don’t seem to be having nearly as much effect as you’d like though, and as the fifth in the fast string lands Aminu manages to grab your arm quicker than you thought he could move - You try to pull back, but it’s too late, and dropping slightly lower Aminu pulls you in and past him while twisting your arm, his off hand quickly pressing into your back even as something unseen trips your feet. The ground rushes toward you at frightening speed, and you slam into it with a bone rattling impact.

Pain shoots across your entire body, and as you struggle to get back to your feet a boot impacts your side, sending you coughing and sputtering back onto the ground. You turn to face the incoming impacts, barely getting your arms in the way of another kick.
>>
>>5438082
Hey, I don't know, I didn't vote for it.
But it seems some anons wanted to punch because of morals instead of horny, which I can aprove, since it fits how Felix has acted so far.
I wonder if the OYW will break him like it broke Casval, or somehow make his resolve even stronger.
>>
>>5438090

“Stay down,” Aminu commands, his voice filled with hate as he tries to stamp down on you, but you manage to move just to the side of his stomping boot. Something unseen strikes Aminu in the back, sending him crashing to the ground next to you. Your brother is standing where Aminu was just a moment ago, recovering from delivering a powerful kick.

“Step away from both of them,” A woman’s voice says from the doorway, your brother turning to look toward her before freezing. Adjusting your own gaze you can see that she’s holding a weapon of some kind… It doesn't look quite like a gun, but it’s easy to tell from the uniformed woman’s posture and scowl that it must act similarly to one. A stunning device of some kind, perhaps.

You slowly stand, body aching, but otherwise remain in place. Aminu stands as well, and grabs Tryphosa by the arm, pulling her toward the door; she gives you a desperate look but isn’t protesting her treatment verbally anymore.

“There’s no need for this idiocy to continue,” The woman says, her brown eyes briefly glancing toward Aminu before snapping back to you and Édouard, “I’m going to lower my weapon, and we can talk this out, alright? There’s no need for further violence.”

Édouard remains tense, ready to rush forward and strike at any moment, but he doesn’t make a move.

>”...Who the hell are you, and what makes you think you can treat someone like that!?” She wants to talk, talk. You’ve got plenty to say to these assholes.
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.
>It’s a stunner of some kind, not a real gun, there are two of you. Just rush her… it might work?
>Write-in.
>>
>>5438092
Felix is a knight
>>
>>5438093
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.
>"Only because you are acting like an actual guard instead of the the idiot thug over there."
>>
>>5438103
+1
also based big bro
>>
>>5438093
>"Fine... Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding"
Let's try not to screw this situation up more than it already is. We might be able to salvage it even.
>>
>>5438093
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.

>>5438095
If he is, then he’s acting really out of character here. This behavior is more like a rambunctious thug.

>>5438092
>punch
>because of morals
Nah, I think >>5438006 explains these voters quite nicely
>>
>>5438124
>Little girl gets slapped for no reason
>Try to defend her from her attacker
>Thug behavior

Something doesn't add up here...
>>
>>5438126
>attacker
Her guard that has authority over her. I’m not saying it’s ok for him to do that, but don’t act like this was some random goon assaulting someone on the street.

We had zero reason to strike him. It was one slap that had already landed, there was nothing to defend against, and pointlessly escalating only makes things worse for everyone involved.
>>
>>5438132
I disagree, completely. You're overreacting
>>
>>5438134
>overreacting
Now isn’t that ironic
>>
>>5438137
Not really? Its common for Anons to assume the QM will fuck them over for some reason, like their goal is to end their own quest, it happens all the time and it happened here.
>>
>>5438143
>actions don’t have consequences because if they did the quest would end
Not quite how this works
>>
>>5438148
Not what I said, at all. You're just strawmanning. What I did say was players blow consequences out of the water and doompost over nothing, as you are currently doing.
>>
>>5438152
Oh ok then, you are strawmanning me then because I never explicitly said the quest would end because of this poor player choice.
>>
>>5438158
I never said that either? I just said anon's act like QM's wanna screw them over at every turn. You know, overeact.

Like you are and blowing what happened way out of proportion. Wasn't just you. Several people were acting like a minor brawl would start a feud or some shit with the jovianians

You really need to work on your reading comprehension,
>>
Anons, I'm pretty sure this argument is going to lead to nothing given how it keep changing topics. Can you two just agree to disagree and let it end somewhat amicably?
>>
>>5438171
So long as he stops putting words in my mouth to extend it.
>>
>>5438143
If stupid votes didn't get punished then everything done wouldn't matter. While I don't think the Contolist is brutal like that, and I agree that many anons tend to think QMs that way (and sometimes for good reason) it's still good to think about decisions made.

>>5438163
True, but it was still a dumb thing to punch a guard while another was there. Man, I can only imagine what they'll say to Tryphosa's guardians.
>>
>>5438175
I prefer to act in character, and I never said anything about being light on consequence. am I writing in tongues?
>>
>>5438163
And when did I say this would start a feud? Please stop the nonsense about reading comprehension if you’re just gonna pull the same shit pver and over. It doesn’t contribute anything.

Anyways, this may not start a feud, but it obviously does nothing good for relations and is childish at best.

And obviously the QM doesn’t want to screw us over at every turn, but I don’t think it’s that hard to imagine that he offers narratively interesting options that are also plainly bad from Felix’s perspective.
>>
>>5438179
Never said you did. I said several people did. So it clearly isn't nonsense cause you aren't understanding what I am writing

Also, remember, Felix is still a kid.
>>
>>5438175
>Man, I can only imagine what they'll say to Tryphosa's guardians.

Probably nothing major? At most some colony kid caused trouble?
>>
>>5438178
But isn't Felix the type to ask questions before punching? I guess Cas is being a bad influence lmao
I'll give you that on the consequence thing.
Anyway, this conversation is going in circles, let's call it off here and do like >>5438171 suggested.
>>
>>5438188
Fine by me, so long as the other guy stops misinterpreting what I'm saying and going "You said X" When I most certainly did not Say X
>>
Also, Contolist should probably start thinking about archiving and making a new thread, since this one is starting to lag like a motherfucker.
>>
>>5438093
>”...Who the hell are you, and what makes you think you can treat someone like that!?” She wants to talk, talk. You’ve got plenty to say to these assholes.
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.
>>
Actually, besides the Zaku 2 and Gundam, what kind of mobile suits would you want Felix to pilot?
>>
>>5438103
>"Only because you are acting like an actual guard instead of the the idiot thug over there."
Not sure if this is the best thing to say at the moment, she might reply with "says the one who punched first" and Felix will just justify his actions, which will just cause more tension.
But then again she could take our side, though it's unlikely since she was just pointing a weapon at us.
>>
This whole thing was mostly a pretty big waste of time. I was fine with being with Tryphosa but it looks like she's got too many problems. So unless we ditch Casval and the Zabi revenge plan and focus on rescuing her from the Jovians I don't see how she'll be of any help for us in the future unless QM has plans for her we don't know about
>>
>>5438093
>”...Who the hell are you, and what makes you think you can treat someone like that!?” She wants to talk, talk. You’ve got plenty to say to these assholes.
>>
>>5438205
I wrote it because she said to stop the idiocy and then glanced at mister guard that slaps his own charge.
Also phoneposting right now, my ID will be different
>>
>>5438093
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.
>>
>>5438093
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.

>>5438188
I think Felix is more the type to avoid violence without good cause. Apparent abuse, whether by "appropriate authorities" or not, counts as good cause in my eyes. This is in part because I view Felix as having little respect for established authorities- he never bought into Teabolo as his father, clashes with his older brother, has contempt for the corrupt Earth Federation, and is planning to devote his life to the destruction of a powerful political dynasty.

>>5438210
Eh, I think it will teach Felix a few valuable lessons. He must get stronger if he wants to succeed in doing what's right, and Jovians are generally scummy bastards.
>>
>>5438256
>Felix as having little respect for established authorities
Funny, if things hadn’t screwed up, *he* would be one of the established authorities
>>
>>5438256
>This is in part because I view Felix as having little respect for established authorities- he never bought into Teabolo as his father, clashes with his older brother, has contempt for the corrupt Earth Federation, and is planning to devote his life to the destruction of a powerful political dynasty.
I agree with all of this except for the last part. I think Felix is more concerned with actually changing the system there instead of wanting to purge all the Zabis like Casval wants to do. That and he wants to focus more on making sure his family is safe and close to one another.
>>
>>5438260
And he is destined to become space pope
>>
>>5438256
>destruction of a powerful political dynasty.
Within reason, if Garma, Vivima and Minerva don't start doing evil shit or promises revenge, we are not killing them.
VV seems to have inherited the Zabi war crimes genes. If she doesn't keep it in check she is going on the list.
>>
>>5438093
>”...Fine. Explain yourselves.” Ease up, try to get your brother to do so as well. Maybe it’s a bad misunderstanding.
You anons are the most amicable players on /qst/, I'm impressed.
>>
>>5438210
Also, this encounter is very good evidence of
>Felix is some kind of limited newtype, resistant to empath newtype fuckery
>IC, newtype fuckery is 100% real. Ne denying that psychic interference by Tryphosa.
>>
>>5438273
It's just newtype empathy at work
>>
Back from classes.

>>5438103
>>5438110
Fine + insult Aminu.

>>5438113
>>5438124
>>5438252
>>5438256
>>5438273
Fine.

>>5438192
Angry talking and then calm down to listen?

>>5438228
Angry talking.

Fine wins. I'll start writing in a bit, need some coffee first.

>>5438256
>>5438263
Interesting analysis.
>>
“...Fine. Explain yourselves.” You say, easing up a bit and holding out a hand to signal to your brother to do the same.

It takes a few tension filled moments for Édouard to relax, but as he does so the woman nods and lowers her strange looking gray pistol but doesn’t holster it. She takes a small step further inside the lodge, allowing a very disgruntled looking Aminu to pass outside with Tryphosa.

“We’re Ms. Jedar’s guardians… her bodyguards, or perhaps handlers would be a better term.” The woman states in an even tone, her gaze shifting cautiously between you and your brother, “My name is Giydra, you are… Maxime, yes? And Édouard?”

“Yes,” Édouard answers for you, “What’s going on here? I saw the fighting when I left my room.”

“Why are you treating Tryphsa like that?” You ask, pushing right to the issue foremost in your mind before Édouard’s question can be answered.

“Ms. Jedar,” Giydra says slowly, choosing her words with care, “Is our charge, by the order of her father and the fleet commander, and an unusually difficult one to handle due to her… eccentricities. Lieutenant Aminu has had particular trouble with her.”

“And that’s an excuse to slap her?” You ask, finding the idea repugnant. Tryphosa’s comment about being terribly alone and the lack of affection from her father are setting off alarm bells in your head, but the full picture just isn’t clear enough to make sense of.

“It’s a valid precaution,” Giydra answers, though her nose wrinkle a bit in disgust as she says the words, “Though one I find rather distasteful.”

Valid precaution?” You ask indignantly, “She’s just a girl, what could she possibly do?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss the specifics,” Giydra replies tersely, “But she has a number of conditions which make keeping her behavior in check very difficult, especially on a trip like this.”

“Oh, well that clears up all of our confusion,” Édouard says sarcastically, “Is there anything you can tell us?”

“We're staying here briefly on Ms. Jedar's request. It is a very unusual circumstance, and it has had the Lieutenant on edge,” Giydra answers immediately, “...I doubt either of you or Aminu are at fault for that foolish display earlier, and so I’m willing to overlook it. There’s no need for things to escalate further.”
>>
>>5438364

“...Overlook it?” You ask, the full weight of what you’ve done starting to sink in. If these are members of a security force of some kind they’re probably connected enough to cause a lot of trouble with colony authorities… and you just committed battery based on a hunch and a single slap. Admittedly a very strong hunch, but that’s hardly going to fly as an explanation to the police… and if you got charged with something that would probably be the end of Rafferty’s attempts to get you early flight lessons. Crap.

“Yes.” Giydra says, “We have a schedule to keep to. Ms. Jedar requested to see the last land section of the colony, and I’d prefer to get it over with quickly before more incidents occur.”

>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
>”Fine, go.”
>”Do you have any proof of what you’re claiming? For all I know you’re criminals or abusers, not guards.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5438365
>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
>”Fine, go.”

Once they leave, we should have a talk with Casval about how bizarre and fucked this situation is.
>>
>>5438365
>”Do you have any proof of what you’re claiming? For all I know you’re criminals or abusers, not guards.”

Kek, She's been stockholmed into thinking her place is with YOU.
>>
>>5438365
1)
>”Fine, go.”

2)

>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
>”Fine, go.”

3)
>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”

Asking for proof is obviously going to go nowhere, she's made it abundantly clear that there is secret stuff going on that they don't have the liberty to share.
>>
>>5438365
>"Fine, go."
>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
This was a good reality check. We can discuss this later with Casval and Sayla. Maybe we can even realize that this was part of dad's philosophy.

>>5438369
Don't forget Sayla, she probably realized something was up the moment she met her.
>>
>>5438365
>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
>”Fine, go.”
Def talking to Sayla and Cas about this later. I think this moment should have triggered something within Felix's lizard brain about Newtypes.
>>
>>5438378
>triggered something within Felix's lizard brain about Newtypes.
Yeah, that you should never trust female ones. They're ALWAYS trouble.
>>
>>5438377
Yeah, I remember Sayla very empathic and we never got the opinions of our siblings had about Tryphosa.
Besides, it's always good to have meetings and talk with the family.

>>5438381
I'm more inclined to believe that after these events.
>>
>>5438381
Fact. Bitches be crazy yo.
>>
>>5438365
>>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
>>”Fine, go.”
And we got to discuss with Casval and Arteria about her. We all got weird feelings about her and now we got confirmations.
NEWTYPES ARE REAL
>>
>>5438365
>>”Do you have any proof of what you’re claiming? For all I know you’re criminals or abusers, not guards.”
>>
>>5438365
>”...More incidents? Things like this have happened already?”
>”Fine, go.”
>>
>>5438369
>>5438377
>>5438376
>>5438378
>>5438412
>>5438484
Writing.
>>
“...More incidents?” You question, “Things like this have happened already?”

“Unfortunately yes, though I’d thought we were past them by now.” Giydra answers, almost muttering to herself now as she shakes her head in disappointment, “This was meant to be an acknowledgement of progress, but it’s ended up just inviting regression…”

“Regression? What do you mean?” Your brother asks, an edge to his voice, “Sounds more like you’re talking about training an animal than a person.”

“What? No, no, it’s nothing like that at all.” Giydra says in disgust, “The girl has unusual psychological issues, she was improving greatly, and this trip has been a disaster; it was supposed to help things. …I shouldn’t be venting about this to a couple of kids. Are you both quite satisfied?”

“Are you coming back with her later?” You ask.

“Yes, briefly. If you wish to say farewell I’m willing to supervise the interaction, it will need to be very quick,” Giydra says, “This isn’t meant as a cruelty… I’m sorry either of you were exposed to this, I shouldn’t have been so permissive to begin with.”

Not entirely satisfied, but sensing that she’s likely about to leave anyways, you relent, ‘Fine, go.”

Giydra nods, turns about on her heel, and exits the lodge, closing the large wooden double doors of the entrance behind her and cutting off your view of the idling car outside.

“That’s concerning.” Édouard says as soon as the doors finish shutting, “Whatever it is, there’s something wrong going on there. It isn’t natural.”

“I’ve been getting that impression as well… Did you feel that earlier? That energy?” You ask, turning to face him and finally relaxing completely after those tense couple of minutes.

“...Energy?” He questions, waving for you to follow. The lobby isn’t the right place for this conversation, and there were at least a few witnesses to the fight at the far ends of the grand room; Teabolo and Mr. Aznable will likely both know very soon, and you’ll have some awkward explaining to do.

“It was like I could… feel her emotions, and her pain. Not like empathy, but something much…” You struggle to describe the feeling, “Something much more intense, though I wouldn’t say it was quite physical. I could actually feel her getting slapped, and I got so angry when I saw it… but I’m not even sure that was entirely me…”

As you walk away from the entrance and back toward the privacy of your suites, the entirety of the circumstances surrounding the fight begin to grow clearer in your mind.

“You’re not a very angry person, Maxime.” Your brother says, putting a hand on your shoulder, “It can… sneak up on you sometimes.”
>>
>>5438557

“No, I don’t think that’s it.” You say quietly, “...How did your conversation with her go last night?”

“It was one of the strangest encounters I’ve ever had,” He answers immediately in a whisper, “I thought she might be a spy, and she figured my intentions out immediately. She just asked outright, and then said I was a good person… I didn’t like it at all, it was like she was seeing right through me.”

“You felt exposed,” You conclude, opening the door to your room and entering, “But she was friendly, right?”

“She was very kind,” He says, speaking normally once more as you close the door, “But I had the feeling something else was going on. …And she said the strangest thing to me.”

“Oh?”

“Before the conversation ended she lose all interest,” He goes on, “She just said that I ‘wasn’t hers’ and left. Do you have any idea what that means?”

“...No, she didn’t mention that part at all, and she didn’t do anything like that to me…” You say trailing off, both of you standing around confused in the entranceway to your suite.

>”Let’s go find Sayla, she was riding into town but I think she needs to hear about this now.”
>”...She mentioned father’s philosophy when we first met, and I think she might have known my name is… fake, sort of. I don’t think of it as my name, anyways. Do you think she knows who we are?”
>”...Do you think she might be a newtype?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5438558
>”...Do you think she might be a newtype?”
>”Let’s go find Sayla, she was riding into town but I think she needs to hear about this now.”
>>
>>5438558
>”Let’s go find Sayla, she was riding into town but I think she needs to hear about this now.”
And on the way...
>”...Do you think she might be a newtype?”
>>
>>5438558
>”...Do you think she might be a newtype?”
>"Remember what Jimba said, about they would be capable of perfect communication? Could his be what it meant, to just share feeling and thoughts?"
>>
>>5438558
>”...Do you think she might be a newtype?”
>”Let’s go find Sayla, she was riding into town but I think she needs to hear about this now.”

>Wasn't hers

NO LALA, RUN
>>
>>5438558
>>5438563
Supporting.
>>
>>5438564
Forgot this
>”Let’s go find Sayla, she was riding into town but I think she needs to hear about this now.”
Also she saying that she wasn't Casval's, and being disappointed that we said we were Maxine instead of Felix. Could it be she is searching for one of those Newtype bondings type of deal like Amuro and Lalah had?
>>
>>5438569
IF we are a new type, I'm pretty sure its there. Though that depends.
>>
>>5438571
Our entire family are newtypes, we got oddly good vision, we are a natural pilot and love space.
If the most spacenoid man in existence wasn't one it would be the biggest twist of the universal century.
>>
>>5438578
Felix is actually just several Haros stacked on top of one another and wearing a trench coat.
>>
>>5438581
Ah I see, we're in the Manga timeline.
>>
>>5438558
>>5438563
This is a good idea, an while we are with Sayla we can discuss this more in depth.
>>
>>5438562
>>5438563
>>5438565
>>5438568
>>5438564 and >>5438569
Writing.
>>
>>5438581
What color of Haros are we.
>>
>>5438609
Yellow
>>
>>5438614
Are the components of our Haro tower different shades of yellow? Like one is banana, another is golden rod...etc?
>>
>>5438616
Most of them are the same shade, but the one on top is slightly brighter.
>>
>>5438617
Does the top one have star stickers on it?
>>
>>5438619
It better.
>>
>>5438619
They should glow in the dark too.
>>
“Let’s go find Sayla,” You say before the conversation gets any further, while rubbing at the awful bruise on your arm from where you were kicked, “She was riding into town but I think she needs to hear about this now.”

“Agreed.” Édouard says before heading back out into the grand lobby, “She just left, didn’t she? We can probably catch up to her if we ride fast.”

“Hopefully Teabolo and Mr. Aznable don’t get too upset while we’re gone, I’m sure someone will tell them what happened.” You say, glancing at a few of the other residents gathered about here and there throughout the huge high ceilinged room.

“Does it even matter?” Édouard asks, his tone dismissive, “If Giydra was telling the truth it sounds like the police aren’t going to be involved. What are they going to do, ground us?”

“...I suppose you’re right, I just didn’t intend to upset either of them.” You say, shrugging. Teabolo’s attempts at parental discipline work mostly due to your respect for what he’s done for you, but they’re generally toothless, and the Aznables are unlikely to take any real action over a small scuffle. Getting chewed out a bit is about the worst that could happen.

The two of you quickly arrive at the stables and get a pair of horses saddled up and ready to ride, and soon enough you’re off in the direction of the town. After a short but intense ride you spot Sayla in the distance just cresting a hill, riding along at a far more leisurely rate. You ease up and slow down, your aching body thankful for calmer pace, and it doesn’t take too long for your sister to notice your approach; she halts her brown mare and waits for both of you.

“Hey there!” Sayla greets you both cheerfully, waving.

You and Édouard wave back, and you wince in pain slightly before shouting out, “Hey, Sayla!”

As you ride closer her brow furrows and eyes narrow, her face a mask of concern as she speaks, “Maxime, you’ve been in a fight.”

“...Yeah, we won though.” You say, trying to brush off her worries, “I’ll be fine, it’s just bruising, nothing broke thankfully.”

“He got in a scrap with one of Tryphosa’s guards,” Édouard explains, “We rode out to talk with you about her though, not the fight. That’s all settled now.”

“Why would you attack one of her guards?” Sayla asks, a bit shocked, “That’s not you, Maxime.”

“...Yeah, I know.” You say, scratching at the back of your head as you awkwardly explain yourself, “It was a lot of things. The guard had a really awful attitude, I didn’t like how he was talking to her, and he ended up slapping her… and she’d been saying some other things that made me thing it might be part of a larger pattern of abuse, I guess.”

“She got slapped by her own guard?” Sayla questions, confused, “...I didn’t even know she had guards…”
>>
>>5438690

“It’s going to sound weird, Sayla, but I’m not sure it was really my decision to start the fight, not completely,” You say, glancing to Édouard for support.

“Sayla, when you spoke with Tryphosa before did you feel anything strange about her?” He asks her.

“...I did. Why?” Your sister asks, the three of you now continuing to ride into town along a small dirt trail flanked by scrub brush and the occasional small tree. High overhead there are clouds gathering along the central axis of the colony, and a hawk circling in search of prey.

“How did it feel?” Édouard prompts her.

“It felt like I already knew her,” Sayla says slowly, “Like I knew her as well as either of you, maybe better, I knew exactly what she meant about everything she talked about… I don’t know, it’s hard to describe.”

“Like you can feel her emotions, or maybe her thoughts?” You ask, and Sayla quickly nods, “Sort of a tingling feeling sometimes?”

“Yes! Well, no, but… I don’t know, that makes it sound too closed off…” Sayla says, struggling to find the right words, “It was more like… we were the same. Not the same person, but I just understood. I know she did too.”

“Right before she got slapped she got very angry with her guard,” You say, and Sayla’s eyes widen a little as she catches on to your meaning.

“You could feel her anger?”

“I could’ve cut it with a knife, it was so thick in the air,” You say, trying to convey just how tangible and real it felt in the moment, “And I could feel the slap. Not normal sympathy, I mean I actually felt it… just a bit faded, if that makes sense.”

“I think I understand… But how could that be?” Sayla questions, clearly believing you but equally clearly confused.

“We’ve been wondering the same thing,” Édouard states, the real meat of the conversation finally at hand.

“...Do you think she might be a newtype?” You ask them both hesitantly.

“A newtype?” Sayla asks, “You mean like what Jimba used to talk about?”

“A person capable of perfect communication without misunderstanding,” Édouard says quietly, considering the idea, “She does seem to fit the description… but could it really be? I thought it was something that would happen a long time from now.”

“I don’t know,” You answer honestly, “But it sure seems like she’s one. I expected it to be different though…”

“Different?” Édouard asks, “Not perfect enough for you?”

“Yeah,” You say quickly, “She seemed to understand us without any trouble at all, and I felt like I got her too most of the time… but there’s so much that got missed. It always felt like there was something else, I just couldn't shake it, there was something suspicious about it all.”
>>
>>5438692

“Maybe she was choosing to hide things,” Édouard says, shrugging, “Or maybe she’s not a full newtype yet.”

“What do you mean?” Sayla asks.

“Father wrote that the transition to newtypes would be natural.” Édouard says, “I never gave it much thought, his philosophy has always been very removed from our lives. Maybe she just hasn’t adapted to the change completely.”

“Or maybe she doesn’t know herself well enough, or understand her own situation.” You say, thinking you might finally be getting it, “Even if her communication is perfect or… well, whatever it is right now, that doesn’t mean she has all the information or the right perspective, or that she even understands her own emotions.”

“You both really believe it.” Sayla states, looking over you and Édouard carefully, “Where does that put us?”

“Huh?”

“Us. The three of us,” Sayla says quietly, “If we all understood her so easily, what does that mean?”

“I’m not sure.” You say, but the implication your sister is getting at is more than clear enough, “Édouard, do remember anything about it only being between newtypes? The communication, I mean.”

“What, you think we’re newtypes too now? You should look at things with a clearer head, Maxime.” Édouard says, “We miscommunicate all the time. Constantly, even right now.”

>”...Eh, fair point. Sayla, what do you think?” You do have a lot of misunderstandings, even if you’ve been making a real effort to clear things up recently.
>”What if we’re just even earlier along the path? Maybe it’s easier to reach back to people who aren’t quite there yet, even accidentally.” You’re basically just guessing, but it sounds plausible.
>”...Well, newtypes or not that doesn’t really change anything, we are who we are. Tryphosa seemed to be able to effect her guards too… but they’re Jovians, so maybe…” You’re not sure how widespread this actually is; have you just been missing signs for years?
>Write-in.
>>
>>5438694
>”What if we’re just even earlier along the path? Maybe it’s easier to reach back to people who aren’t quite there yet, even accidentally.” You’re basically just guessing, but it sounds plausible.
>>
>>5438694
>>”...Eh, fair point. Sayla, what do you think?” You do have a lot of misunderstandings, even if you’ve been making a real effort to clear things up recently.
>>”...Well, newtypes or not that doesn’t really change anything, we are who we are. Tryphosa seemed to be able to effect her guards too… but they’re Jovians, so maybe…” You’re not sure how widespread this actually is; have you just been missing signs for years?
>>
>>5438694
>”What if we’re just even earlier along the path? Maybe it’s easier to reach back to people who aren’t quite there yet, even accidentally.” You’re basically just guessing, but it sounds plausible.
>”...Well, newtypes or not that doesn’t really change anything, we are who we are. Tryphosa seemed to be able to effect her guards too… but they’re Jovians, so maybe…” You’re not sure how widespread this actually is; have you just been missing signs for years?
>>
>>5438700
+1
>>
>>5438694
>"...Eh, fair point. Sayla, what do you think?” You do have a lot of misunderstandings, even if you’ve been making a real effort to clear things up recently.
>>”What if we’re just even earlier along the path? Maybe it’s easier to reach back to people who aren’t quite there yet, even accidentally.” You’re basically just guessing, but it sounds plausible."
>>
>>5438697
Supporting this one.
>>
>>5438697
+1
>>
File: FKTxSSJWQAAdEwe-1.png (2.76 MB, 1736x1535)
2.76 MB
2.76 MB PNG
>>5438697
+1
>>
>>5438694
>”What if we’re just even earlier along the path? Maybe it’s easier to reach back to people who aren’t quite there yet, even accidentally.” You’re basically just guessing, but it sounds plausible.
>"She was born and lived almost her entire live on a spaceship. Even we lived on a colony with artificial gravity and simulating life on Earth. Maybe the more different it is, the quicker the changes happen?"
>>
Not going to be able to sit down and write for the next 4-5 hours or so, just wanted to give a heads up. I'll leave voting open until whenever I'm back from classes.
>>
Back.

>>5438697
>>5438734
>>5438742
>>5438750
Writing.
>>
“Eh, fair point.” You concede, your brother’s words are quite plainly true, at least on their face, “Sayla, what do you think?”

“Maybe there’s something to it,” She says quietly, almost inaudible against the steady trot of the horses, “There was something different about speaking with her, I’d never felt anything like it before… I always hated Jimba’s rants.”

“I know.” You say, having shared a similar sentiment much of the time; even Édouard with his concerning fixation on vengeance found the old man’s ravings to be tiresome rather often.

“...But that time he told us about newtypes was different,” She continues, “I really liked the idea. I wanted it to be true, that people could understand one another better… that things could be different.”

“And now?” You prompt.

“Now I’m just confused.” Sayla says, shaking her head as the three of you continue the slow ride along the trail, “...But I’d still like it to all be true. But if it is, what does that make us?”

“...Well, newtypes or not it doesn’t really change anything, we are who we are.” You say, though you still feel a bit of that same yearning Sayla does, “Tryphosa seemed to be able to affect her guards too… but they’re Jovians, so maybe…”

“They’re the furthest point of civilization,” Édouard says, “And they live under harsher conditions even than other spacenoids. If anyone was going to be a newtype it would be a Jovian… But I don’t think either of them were newtypes.”

“Oh? How come?” You ask.

“It doesn’t feel right.” He answers immediately, his brow furrowing in confusion even as he says the words. The town is a ways off in the distance now just past the next butte, a small collection of buildings resembling a classic looking western town. There’s a helicopter circling it, which is a very unusual sight, but even from here you can see that it’s one of the few rented out to tourists near the spaceport; the bright colors are a dead giveaway.

>”Not so skeptical anymore?”
>”They obviously knew about Tryphosa’s abilities. …Do you think her sisters might be newtypes as well?”
>Finish riding into town, it isn’t far now. You’ll just be going to see Lucifer for a bit, nothing too exciting. He’ll be brought back to the lodge tomorrow and stay there until his surgery in a couple of weeks.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439099
>"They obviously knew about Tryphosa’s abilities. …Do you think her sisters might be newtypes as well?”
>>Finish riding into town, it isn’t far now. You’ll just be going to see Lucifer for a bit, nothing too exciting. He’ll be brought back to the lodge tomorrow and stay there until his surgery in a couple of weeks.
>"Sayla, want to see how Lucifer is doing?"
>>
>>5439099
>”They obviously knew about Tryphosa’s abilities. …Do you think her sisters might be newtypes as well?”
>Finish riding into town, it isn’t far now. You’ll just be going to see Lucifer for a bit, nothing too exciting. He’ll be brought back to the lodge tomorrow and stay there until his surgery in a couple of weeks
>>
>>5439099
>”They obviously knew about Tryphosa’s abilities. …Do you think her sisters might be newtypes as well?”
>Finish riding into town, it isn’t far now. You’ll just be going to see Lucifer for a bit, nothing too exciting. He’ll be brought back to the lodge tomorrow and stay there until his surgery in a couple of weeks.
>>
>>5439099
>”They obviously knew about Tryphosa’s abilities. …Do you think her sisters might be newtypes as well?”
>Finish riding into town, it isn’t far now. You’ll just be going to see Lucifer for a bit, nothing too exciting. He’ll be brought back to the lodge tomorrow and stay there until his surgery in a couple of weeks.
>>
>>5439100
Supporting, but we should invite Casval over too just in case he wants to come with as well.
Unless going to visit Lucifer is already a family thing.
>>
>>5439100
I'll agree with this.
How old is Lucifer anyways? Raised well they can live a solid 20 years.
>>
>>5439143
He's probably around 10-ish, I'd guess.
>>
>>5439100
>>5439101
>>5439110
>>5439135
>>5439136
>>5439143
Writing.

>>5439144
Maybe a bit older than that, it's never specified how old he's supposed to be in The Origin, but certainly if he didn't have health issues he'd probably have a good few years left in him.
>>
“They obviously knew about Tryphosa’s abilities,” You say, the meaning of Giydra’s statements beginning to crystalize in your mind even if her reason to maintain secrecy doesn’t quite make sense yet. Your brother says nothing, shrugging a little.

“...Do you think her sisters might be newtypes as well?” You ask after a moment, looking over to Sayla.

“...Yes!” Sayla says, her blue eyes widening at the revelation, and she begins to speak more excitedly, “She said I reminded her of them, that usually only they understand her - I think I get what she meant now!”

“She has sisters?” Édouard asks, “That’s news to me.”

“Four of them,” Sayla says, “Though they’re all very ill, Tryphosa said it was a genetic disorder and that she was lucky to not have gotten it as bad… And she said she was bringing memories of her trip back to them. I thought she meant stories, but now I think she really meant it.”

“Four sisters all with the same genetic disorder?” Édouard asks, his face grim, “What rotten luck for a family to have.”

“It’s tragic,” Sayla agrees sadly, “...And with a very neglectful father too. I feel so bad for them.”

“Is she the eldest?” Édouard questions, a faint hint of pain creeping into his expression.

Sayla shakes her head, “I don’t know, she never said…”

The three of you continue your ride into town, passing along by the last butte and where the small trail turns in to join the main dirt road. You’re soon at the veterinarian’s office, hitching your horses outside as you go in to check on Lucifer. He's quite unhappy at first, but warms back up to your presence after a few minutes, and overall the visit is a good one; Lucifer will be back at the lodge tomorrow, so departing isn’t all that sad, but Sayla is still the last one to leave him. After a quick meal at one of the nearby restaurants you’re all back on your way out of town. The ride home is quiet, and it would probably have been relaxing as well if it weren’t for the slowly growing ache of your many bruises from the fight.

Later that evening

The rest of the day passed by quickly. Upon arriving back home you were chastised by a waiting Teabolo for your earlier fight in the lobby, but it only lasted about fifteen minutes or so and then you’re off to your room to rest. Normally you wouldn’t be so tired, but the now almost constant ache you’re experiencing has you wishing for the sweet relief of sleep.

You’ve just woken up, and after fixing your bed hair you check the time; it’s a little past the end of the colony's artificial day cycle. You slept a lot longer than you'd intended to.

>Go back to bed, you could really use some more sleep. There’s no need for more trouble today.
>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439201
>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>>
>>5439201
>>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>>
>>5439201
>>Go back to bed, you could really use some more sleep. There’s no need for more trouble today
That girl brings problems.
>>
>>5439201
>>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>>
>>5439201
>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
I have the suspicion she's a clone
>>
I don't think meeting her is a good idea. She might try to do something weird that will fuck with us.
An she might not even mean to do it.
>>
>>5439201
>Go back to bed, you could really use some more sleep. There’s no need for more trouble today.
>>
>>5439210
I agree, something's fucky with her and it's not just whimsical behavior. But that's also why I want to meet her one last time.
>>
>>5439201
>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>>
>>5439209
I too.
My Jimba tier conspiracy theory is that it's a project to get some newtype bonding with important spacenoid figures, so the Jovians could influence them. I think one of her sisters might be Casval's.
>>
>>5439218
>Spoiler
That seems plausible, not sure how they'd know who was important though
>>
>>5439212
I just hope she doesn't mindrape us too bad. I mean she's going to feel some intense emotions after yesterday combined with her leaving and not seeing us for years.

>>5439218
If she is she probably won't tell us, and I doubt we'll get any hints about it.
>>
>>5439201
>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>>
>>5439201
>See if Tryphosa has returned; Giydra said you could say farewell briefly. Hopefully it doesn’t cause more issues.
>>
>>5439202
>>5439203
>>5439208
>>5439209
>>5439216
>>5439233
>>5439236
Writing. Going to try to get the post done before sleeping.
>>
You decide it’s probably about time to say farewell to Tryphosa; Giydra said you would be able to do so. The earlier conversation about her possibly being a newtype has you intrigued, it would explain so much but raises so many more questions; you resolve to at least speak with her one more time, even if deeper answers may yet elude you.

Stone chips from a dam.

…Faint images of Tryphosa drift through your mind, and for a moment you feel her with you in the room, the pressure and warmth of her presence brushing past you on a ghostly breeze, a current of unseen emotion caressing you for a few moments; regret and happiness mingled together. Eyes widening, you draw in a deep breath and look about your bedroom, instinctively reaching out with a hand.

“Tryphosa?” You ask aloud, confused. She was just there a moment ago, closer than touch, but there’s no one else in the room; just you and your slightly messy blond hair. You draw your extended hand back to your chest, clutching tightly at nothing. For a few moments you sit there, listening, waiting, but nothing further happens.

Getting fully out of bed, you walk a few paces to your bathroom mirror and make yourself a little more presentable while trying to hold onto the remnants of that haunting sensation, focusing yourself upon the memory of it. After a minute or so you sigh, your hair fixed but that strange feeling that washed over you is now long gone…

You waste no more time with the mirror, knowing now what you have to do. Tryphosa is here; there’s no doubt in your mind that she’s nearby. She’ll be leaving soon, and you only have this one chance to say farewell.

Heading out into the lobby, its timber clad walls and high ceiling crisscrossed with scaffolding look almost new to your eyes. Lines are sharper, colors clearer, shadows concealing less and light revealing far more… for a moment you’re aware of all of it, the expanse of the entire room, almost as if you were standing outside of the world and looking in. In a wave of disorientation, your perception expands further, frighteningly further, a glimpse of the space outside of the lodge visible to you, and beyond even that a glimpse of the stars just beyond the hull of the colony. Blinking, steadying yourself against the doorframe, you manage to slowly regain a sense of normality.

Dull colors, dark shadows, pale light; it’s an imitation of what you just witnessed, and the starkness of the contrast sends a bolt of fear and excitement through you; what was that?
>>
>>5439307

You continue onward into the lobby, step by step, looking about at your surroundings in wonder; though they look the same as ever, the memory of what you say stays with you, a constant companion accentuating every detail but only within the depths of your mind, tantalizingly close but just out of reach. Soon you’re moving up the stairs, and then to the first door, a door you were at just two days ago.

You reach out to knock but stop just short and wait; a few moments later the door opens, Tryphosa’s sapphire eyes meeting yours, her dark green hair a tousled mess.

“I came to say farewell.”.

Her breath catches, and she takes a small step forward as she quietly speaks aloud, “I know.”

A pair of shadows fill the doorway, just behind Tryphosa’s delicate silhouette; Giydra and Aminu, watching silently. You don’t have long.

>”Will we see each other again?”
>”...Are you?...”
>”...What’s happening to me?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439308
>”Will we see each other again?”
>”...What’s happening to me?”
>>
>>5439308
>"...Are you?..."
>"...What's happening to me?"
So many questions, but this should do for now.
>>
>>5439315
She should answer if she's a newtype or a clone
Second question is just to confirm our suspicions of being a newtype ourselves.
>>
>>5439308
>”...Are you?...”
>”...What’s happening to me?”
Oh fuck boys it's happening, everybody stay calm
>>
>>5439308
>>”...Are you?...”
>>”...What’s happening to me?”
>>"I'll see you again."
>>
>>5439315
+1
>>
>>5439308

>”Will we see each other again?”
>”...Are you?...”
>>
>>5439308
>”...Are you?...”
>”...What’s happening to me?”
>>
Also she's definitely Felix's newtype soulmate if that shared feelings and thoughts happened from so far away.
Beware the Space Lalah who might be a clone. Jovian got that biotech.
>>
>>5439308
>>”...Are you?...”
>>”...What’s happening to me?”
>>
>>5439315
+1

>>5439415
I'm sure that's what she wants us to think
>>
>>5439315
>>5439322
>>5439413
>>5439401
>>5439429
>>5439428
Writing.
>>
“...Are you?...” The words barely escape your lips before you halt, those shadows behind Tryphosa growing in size.

The light catches her sapphire eyes in strange and wondrous ways, and you already know her answer; her nature is undeniable, pressing against you… It’s comforting to feel her so closely, more so than anything you’ve experienced in years. A moment later she closes the small gap between you, hugging you tightly, and you return the embrace.

“...What’s happening to me?” You whisper, closing your eyes as you rest your head against her soft green hair.

“You’re awakening.” She says just as quietly, her voice gentle and calming, “This is the start.”

“The start?” You think. A flashing image of a machine fills your mind; too short to grasp any of its details, only its broadest nature - It isn’t your memory, you know you’ve never seen it before. A feeling of terror accompanies it for just a split second, replaced by a tumultuous joy of discovery...

“It comes and goes in the beginning,” She says, her voice trailing off into silence but the words carrying on regardless, “But it never ends.”

“How long?” You ask, speaking aloud once more, this new form of communication slipping away from you once more despite being so pressingly close.

“Only you can find out,” She answers, barely audible, “I want to stay to help you, but they don’t know. They only pretend to understand us.”

You open your eyes once more; Tryphosa isn’t lying. Giydra and Aminu are standing close by, exchanging glances with one another. Aminu scowls as your eyes briefly meet his. Tryphosa presses into you more tightly and you turn your attention fully to her, a strange timeless feeling drawing your focus back.

>”What if they did know?”
>”Help me how?”
>Focus on that feeling; what is that? You've never known it before.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439467
>>Focus on that feeling; what is that? You've never known it before.
>>
>>5439467
>Push away. Now is the time for questions.
>"Who are you, exactly?"
>>
>>5439467
>”What if they did know?”
>>
>>5439471
I'm tempted to switch my vote to this, but I really want to expand our powers early.
Depending on how much support you get I'll do it.
>>
>>5439467
>>5439471
Supporting.
>>
>>5439467
>>Focus on that feeling; what is that? You've never known it before.
>>
>>5439467
>Focus on that feeling; what is that? You've never known it before.
>>
>>5439467
>Focus on that feeling; what is that? You've never known it before.

>>5439471
Now is most certainly not the time for questions, what are you on about?
>>
>>5439467
>Focus on that feeling; what is that? You've never known it before.
>>
>>5439498
This will probably be the last time we see her in years, we need answers.
We can always focus on honing in our newtype powers later, but asking her things is on a time limit.
>>
>>5439468
>>5439492
>>5439496
>>5439498
>>5439500
Writing.
>>
I have a feeling we'll be forced to choose between being the Jovians' bitch (waifu included) or establishing neo-Zeon with our family.
>>
>>5439523
If so, that's a pretty easy choice
>>
>>5439523
If she tries to makes us choose between family and father's dream or working with biotech newtype dictators, than she wasn't our soulmate anyway
>>
File: Tryphosa.png (278 KB, 391x399)
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278 KB PNG
Drawn in by the mysterious timeless sensation, unknown to you before this moment, you focus entirely upon it. It feels natural to do so, more natural than breathing or walking, more natural than you first felt entering microgravity all those years ago while escaping Munzo. It’s the wonder of ages, of looking out upon endless stars and knowing your place among them, more profound than revelatory awe or contentment, different from the steady comfort of what some might call faith - A new feeling entirely unknown to you yet increasingly familiar, half remembered dreams and musings carrying it to you from long ago, though you were too closed off to notice at the time.

Within this new feeling, within the swirling vortex of your slowly awakening sense, a pair of eyes look back to you - and for a moment you aren’t just yourself.

Tryphosa inhales sharply, her grip on you tightening even further and then slowly relaxing. She shifts her head slowly, looking back up to you; an undeniable attraction pulling you together. It isn’t romantic or lustful, nothing so pleasant or base; it runs deeper and stranger than that.

“That’s enough of that,” Aminu says, and you feel as his hand grabs Tryphosa’s shoulder, pulling her away from you, “This can’t be any good.”

Gently, Aminu.” Giydra says, her voice steady, even as her eyes look over the two of you without true comprehension. What does she think she’s watching?

“...Ms. Jedar,” Aminu says, his voice softening, “You’re out of time. The two minutes are up, we'll be leaving soon.”

…Two minutes? That must have been the terms they came to on their own then.

>”Can I help you take your things out to the car at least?” You don’t want to leave her.
>”Tryphosa, how can I contact you?” You don’t want her to leave.
>”We’ll meet again.” Neither of you can leave the other.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439536
>”We’ll meet again.” Neither of you can leave the other.
Well that wasn't exactly what I expected.
>>
>>5439536
>"Goodbye Tryphosa, maybe we won't have to hide secrets from eachother if we meet again"
>>
>>5439536
>”We’ll meet again.” Neither of you can leave the other.
Trippy
>>
>>5439536
>>5439542
Support.
>>
>>5439542
+1
>>
Did we just unlock the mindrape path?
>>
>>5439536
>>5439541
>>5439542
Switching to this write in.
>>5439548
That what it looks like. I was hoping for like some crazy hallucination or some shit, not spiritual bonding.
>>
>>5439523
I think Felix will want to do anything to be with Tryphosa. So unless we break character or break free from the bond we're gonna go with the space wizards in th OYW and abandon Cas and Sayla.
But I really hope it doesn't come to that.
>>
>>5439548
>>5439551
My theory is proving to be true, Jimba was wrong, it's not the Zabis behind everything it's the Jovians! They are ruling humanity from the shadow by making cloned newtype waifus!
We must train our new awakened powers so we may resist the vile temptress in the future.
>>
>>5439557
I heavily doubt that
>>
>>5439557
Trying to resist is what I think my write in is about, acknowledging that she is hiding things from us, but still under some type of mental influence.
>>
>>5439557
I strongly disagree with this, nothing in the update indicates such a massive shift in personality.
>>
>>5439557
Felix isn't losing control of his own choices and his previous bonds and desires aren't lessened any; I'd find it incredibly weird if he up and left his family after all this effort to stay close to them.
>>
>>5439559
holy shit why does that make sense

>>5439560
>>5439565
>>5439567
Had me worried for a moment.
>>
>>5439567
Anons' gonna overreact, lol
>>
>>5439557
>I think Felix will want to do anything to be with Tryphosa.

I think YOU will want to do anything to be be with Tryphosa, you fucking waifufag.
>>
On the plus side, we can tell Sayla and Casval about the experience, maybe it'll dissuade them from forming their own bonds (especially Sayla and Amuro's).
>>
>>5439678
I don't think Sayla ever truly bonded with Amuro, his was Lalah.
Our sister was someone's leftovers.
>>
>>5439678
>>5439559
>>5439562
>>5439557
Why do you lot consider this such a negative experience? It's fucking weird to be sure, but it sure seems like Felix is just expanding his psychic consciousness. It sure doesn't seem like manipulation to me. What reason does Felix have to be afraid?
>>
>>5439671
>you fucking waifufag

>>5423533
>>5423768
>>5423818
>>5424389
>>5424401
>>5427468
>>5427480
>>5431685
>>5435964
>>5437741
>>5437860
>>
>>5439683
I think this is not just Felix awakening his newtype powers, since to me it seems this is also him getting a soulmate through newtype bonding like Amuro and Lalah. When she died, it really messes with him, so that's a new avenue for the Jovians, who are secretly evil as fuck, to try and manipulate with Felix. Tryphosa herself is probably a good person, but it means we are going to get her away from them in the future
The Jovians are experts in biotech, show by what the Jupiter Empire under Crux Dogatie was capable of, and are involved with conspiracies, like Paptimus Scirocco and the Titans.
My conspiracy theory is partly joke, and partly real. Hence why it's Jimba tier.
Although other anons might also be mixing waifu wars of this locking in T's route into their worries, plus the paranoid shadowrun. You know, standard /qst/ behaviour.
>>
>>5439683
Expanding our newtype powers is one thing, but creating a bond between her and Felix (especially while she's under the care of the Jovians) is just inviting disaster.
Also, waifu wars, potentially locking into Tryphosa route, and basically everything else >>5439691 said.
>>
>>5439688
That's mostly a joke. I'm not gonna push for completely changing Felix's personality and character development to get with her like that one anon was seemingly trying to do with Tryphosa.
>>
>>5439542
>>5439545
>>5439546
>>5439551
Writing.
>>
>>5439536
>”Tryphosa, how can I contact you?” You don’t want her to leave.
>”We’ll meet again.” Neither of you can leave the other

It's bullshit my fucking cellphone at work is region banned
>>
>>5439850
Oof. That fucking blows.
>>
“Goodbye, Tryphosa.” You say quietly as she starts to be guided back from the doorway, “...Maybe we won’t have to hide secrets from each other if we meet again.”

“I’ll find you again, and there won’t be any secrets.” She says with serene certainty, maintaining eye contact even as she’s pulled away, only the faintest glint of wetness near the corners of her eyes, “...I have to go home now.”

Don’t speak, they can’t know more.

Aminu shuts the door in your face, bringing your last conversation with Tryphosa to an abrupt halt. Her presence is still with you for a few moments, lingering close enough it feels as if you could touch it.

Goodbye, Maxime.

You can hear low, muffled shouting on the other side of the door; you know at once she’s being interrogated over what was said about secrets… and for the briefest moment you can feel her resolve harden before her presence vanishes, dissolving away as an invisible current carries it off.

You don’t stay near the door to try to listen in; there’s no point. Walking down the nearby stairs and back to the lower level of the lodge’s vast lobby, you’re left feeling more whole than before. The colors and contrasts are sharper once more, the sounds clearer, and you watch as the door to your sister’s room opens and she walks out. A moment later her door opens and she walks out. You blink, disoriented by the recurrence. The world returns to normal, less vibrant.

Sayla stares at you from across the lobby, perplexed, and after a few seconds she waves you over.

“Something happened.” Sayla states as soon as you get near; she’s anxious, worried for you - it’s as if an aura is hanging all about her, just barely out of sight but pulsing with emotion; it fades away quickly, leaving only her.

“...Something happened, Sayla.” You echo unsteadily, unsure of how to describe it, the memory of that sense of timelessness filling your thoughts.

She immediately hugs you, staying close for a moment before pulling back, “I felt it.”

“...You did?” You ask, not processing her response entirely.

“Only for a second,” She says, “It went right past me, like the wind.”

Your eyes widen, and you barely managed to speak, “You felt it too?

“There’s something different about you, Maxime.” She says, cutting right to the heart of the issue, “Let’s go outside and talk. Édouard’s out there already.”

>”Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too.”
>”Can you feel anything right now, Sayla?”
>Stay mostly quiet about what happened until you both find your brother.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439869
>”Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too.”
>>
>>5439869
>”Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too.”
>>
>>5439869
>”Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too.”
>>
>>5439869
>Stay mostly quiet about what happened until you both find your brother.
No reason we can't say this when we're with Edouard and further from these goons.
>>
>>5439869
>Stay mostly quiet about what happened until you both find your brother.
>>
>>5439869
>"Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too."
>>
>>5439869
>Stay mostly quiet about what happened until you both find your brother.
>>
>>5439869
>Stay mostly quiet about what happened until you both find your brother.

>>5439855
Fucking tell me about it. You can even ask to get it repeled or shit. Just "lol buy our 4chan gold pass!"
>>
>>5439869
>”Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too.”
>>
>>5439869
>Stay mostly quiet about what happened until you both find your brother.
>>
>>5439869
>"Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts. I think she could hear me too.”
>>
>>5439869
>>”Can you feel anything right now, Sayla?”
>>
Back.

>>5439872
>>5439873
>>5439876
>>5439886
>>5439894
>>5439908
Speak with Sayla while you walk.

>>5439878
>>5439884
>>5439889
>>5439891
>>5439906
Stay quiet until you find your brother.

>>5439934
Ask if Sayla can feel anything now.

Close vote, talking while you walk wins.
>>
You walk along with your sister for a few moments before speaking, building more distance between you and the door to Tryphosa’s suite on the second level; it’s very unlikely anything could be heard, but you have a whole life of vague paranoia teaching you to not make such assumptions.

“Sayla… I could hear her inside my own thoughts.” You say as the two of your approach one of the small side exits, “I think she could hear me too.”

“In your head?” Sayla asks, “...Do you mean telepathy?”

“Telepathy?” You question, vaguely remembering the term from some of the old fiction novels you used to read together; you haven’t indulged in anything like that in ages now.

“That’s what it sounds like. I believe you, Maxime.” She says reassuringly, “Was it her voice or just ideas?”

“...Both.” You answer without hesitation, opening the door for your sister to exit outside first before following her, “And more… it’s hard to describe, I don’t even have words for some of it.”

“That feeling.” Sayla says, reaching out to hold your hand as you both walk along in the dim light of the colony’s artificial night. You haven’t talked like, just the two of you, since you were in Spain. Before that maybe, it reminds you of when you were both much younger.

“What did it feel like to you?” You ask, hoping she might be able to manage a better description; she’s always understood these things more easily. The moon is visible overhead, moving slowly past one of the vast transparent sections of the colony as the vast cylinder slowly rotates to conceal it with a land section.

She considers the question for a few seconds before speaking, choosing her words carefully, “It reminded me of how I felt when I watched the moon back at the villa, thinking of mom. Sort of... beyond time, like it was something unreachable but right next to me.”

You squeeze her hand lightly for just a moment, “...That sounds close, I think.”

“You felt it for much longer.” She states, already grasping at why, “And you were at its center.”

“Only for a little while,” You answer, the two of you now walking through the low grass near the lodge and toward the stables, “It passed me by too, eventually. Like water, or… wind, like you said. I feel different, Sayla, it’s so confusing… I keep getting flashes of things, colors and images and feelings.”

“You knew I was about to leave my room, didn’t you?” She asks curiously, “I knew you’d be there watching for me.”

“How?” You ask, hoping for her to share some glimpse as to how she’s been experiencing things.

“...I just knew, it was like I’d already seen you waiting.” She says while raising her free hand to point forward, “There he is.”
>>
>>5439996

Édouard is just a bit ahead of you across the grass, exiting the stables; you and Sayla’s unspoken suspicion of where he was proving to be right - It was a pretty safe bet though. He heads over to you and Sayla as soon as he spots you both, cutting across the field to meet you close to the middle.

“Is something wrong?” He asks, looking between you and Sayla .

>”Casval, did you feel anything a few minutes ago?” You’re safe from prying ears, this is important, and you want to ask before making an impression of your own.
>”Tryphosa is a newtype… I think I am too, and Sayla as well.” Just spit it out directly.
>”Father was right about everything, Casval.” This has much bigger implications than any of you.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5439998
>”Casval, did you feel anything a few minutes ago?” You’re safe from prying ears, this is important, and you want to ask before making an impression of your own.
>”Father was right about everything, Casval.” This has much bigger implications than any of you.

NEW TYPES ARE THE FUTURE.
>>
>>5439996
>”Casval, did you feel anything a few minutes ago?” You’re safe from prying ears, this is important, and you want to ask before making an impression of your own.
>”Tryphosa is a newtype… I think I am too, and Sayla as well.” Just spit it out directly.
>>
>>5439998
>”Casval, did you feel anything a few minutes ago?” You’re safe from prying ears, this is important, and you want to ask before making an impression of your own
>”Father was right about everything, Casval.” This has much bigger implications than any of you.
>>
>>5439998
>"Casval, did you feel anything a few minutes ago?” You’re safe from prying ears, this is important, and you want to ask before making an impression of your own.
>”Tryphosa is a newtype… I think I am too, and Sayla as well.” Just spit it out directly.
>”Father was right about everything, Casval.” This has much bigger implications than any of you.
No reason we can't say all three. In fact it might be more impactful this way.
>>
>>5439998
>”Tryphosa is a newtype… I think I am too, and Sayla as well.” Just spit it out directly.
>”Father was right about everything, Casval.” This has much bigger implications than any of you.
Contolism is the only way
>>
>>5439998
>>5440015
Supporting.
>>
>>5439998
>”Tryphosa is a newtype… I think I am too, and Sayla as well.” Just spit it out directly.
>”Father was right about everything, Casval.” This has much bigger implications than any of you.
>>
>>5439998
>>”Casval, did you feel anything a few minutes ago?” You’re safe from prying ears, this is important, and you want to ask before making an impression of your own.
>>
>>5440000
Feel anything + Father was right.

>>5440001
>>5440007
Feel anything + Right to the point.

>>5440008
All options combined.

>>5440015
>>5440019
>>5440048
Right to the point + Father was right.

>>5440077
Feel anything.

Right to the point + Father was right wins. Writing. Might not finish until tomorrow morning, not sure.
>>
“Tryphosa is a newtype…” You state directly, moving right past Casval’s initial concerns, “I think I am too, and Sayla as well.”

“I think he’s right, Casval.” Artesia says, reverting to your old names and letting go of your hand, “We could both feel it.”

Your brother’s eyes narrow and he tilts his head ever so slightly, his voice carrying a tone of mild disbelief, “How do you know?”

“When I woke up… maybe fifteen minutes ago, I realized how late it had gotten and thought I should go to say farewell,” You begin to explain, walking further out into the field and away from the lodge or stables, “As soon as I thought about doing it I could feel her presence, like she was there in the room with me, pulling me to see her.”

Casval raises an eyebrow slightly but says nothing, listening intently as he walks beside you. You do your best to relay the rest of the experience, but it’s a struggle; with Artesia’s aid you manage to get most of it across with some level of clarity, but it feels as if the reality of it is still evading Casval’s understanding.

“...And you both felt it at the same time?” He questions, deeply concerned, “You’re sure she wasn’t doing something to you?”

“No, it wasn’t like that at all,” You say, shaking your head, “Tryphosa was as surprised by it as I was, I think… like it was much more than she had anticipated. She was as shocked as I was, it gave her a real sense of certainty after a moment though…”

“Artesia, you felt all of this?” Casval asks, perplexed.

“I felt something, that feeling we’ve been trying to describe, move past me,” She says, “It was one of the clearest things I’ve ever felt, it was just a flash of it though… and I knew when Felix was coming to see me, I knew he’d be looking for me before I opened the door.”

“I knew she was going to open the door before it happened.” You say in support, pondering what that exactly precognitive insight means - It hasn’t happened since then, “It comes and goes, Casval, but I keep getting moments of insight, and… colors are more vibrant sometimes, and shadows aren’t as dark.”

“Perhaps we need to get you to a doctor…” Casval says, “But you’re alright, Felix, aren’t you?”

“I’m fantastic!” You say, smiling as you realize how true the statement is, “Father was right about everything, Casval.”

He nods slowly, brow furrowed, a growing light catching on his blue eyes for a moment.

“You believe us, don’t you?” Sayla asks, grabbing Casval’s hand with both of hers as you come to a stop near a copse of gnarled old trees and low brush. The moon briefly peering out between the colony’s land sections once again, a brief wash of ghostly light illuminating the landscape.

“Of course I believe you,” He says in a quiet voice, “It’s a lot to take in. If our father was right about this, if you’re both newtypes, then that means…”
>>
>>5440150
Casval's face slowly transforms into a mask of barely contained rage, his free hand clenching into a fist; you can feel a killing intent emanating from him for just a moment, projected with a profound intensity that takes you off guard.

“The Zabis” He snarls, but after a few moments Artesia’s close presence seems to calm him. You can’t feel her right now, your new senses sporadic and fickle in their perception of things, but her expression is one of fear and then relief.

“They might not know that newtypes exist yet,” You say, “If they even believe any of father’s philosophy at all.”

“Jimba mentioned funding research into it back before the takeover,” Casval says, steadying his voice, “I’d almost forgotten about it. They’ll seize anything they can to get an advantage.”

“How would that give them an advantage?” Artesia asks, not comprehending, “It seems to me that newtypes would never work with them, just by their nature if nothing else. I wouldn't go near them.”

“Maybe,” He says, sounding unconvinced, “But you two are confused enough by this, others might get twisted into something they could use. They might be forced to do it.”

“We three.” Sayla says softly, clutching at Casval’s hand more tightly, “You’re one too, Casval… it’s faint, but I can feel it when you… when you talk about them.”

“What?” He asks, “Are you sure it isn’t just like with the guards?”

“I think they may have just not awoken yet,” You say, “Or maybe it’s not as strong, but I could feel you projecting your… your anger when you thought of them.”

“You could feel that?” He asks, “Then you understand.”

“I’ve always understood, Casval.” You say, though your own motivation is far less all consuming.

“I didn’t…” Sayla nearly whispers, “It’s like a fire; I don’t like it all, Casval. It’s going to burn you up until there’s almost nothing left.”

“Can you feel everything now?” He questions, and you and Sayla both shake your heads.

“It comes and goes. We can’t really control it, or how much we feel.” Artesia explains.

What good is uncontrolled awareness? It’s bound to disorient you almost as often as it grants useful insight. A gift as troubling as it is wonderous.

>”We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
>”Casval, have you really not felt anything other than when Tryphosa spoke to you? Once I… felt what I did, I could remember other times it had happened without me knowing at the time.” He can’t be so much weaker, can he? He’s always been better at nearly everything; faster, stronger, more determined.
>”...Do you think any of the Zabis might be newtypes?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5440151
>”We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
>>
>>5440155
>”...Do you think any of the Zabis might be newtypes?”
>”We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
My hope is that mentioning the zabis being newtypes would spur him on to push his own abilities.
>>
Missed some errors in editing, decided not to fix them, changed my mind and deleted and reposted, and still managed to miss things. Reeeee.

At least it's mostly just a few word swaps and swapping up Artesia and Sayla a few times. Late night writing is a bad idea. I've been really trying to keep the which names are being used for posts consistent; old names for the most important things, new ones for anything vaguely in public or less important.
>>
>>5440157
That sounds like a good idea for worsening his obsession.
>>
>>5440155
>”We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
>”...Do you think any of the Zabis might be newtypes?”

We are off the rails and onto Mr. Bones wild ride
>>
>>5440155
>”We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
Don't want to make him even more paranoid
>>
>>5440155
>”We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
>>
>>5440155
>"We should try to develop it further together… If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.” Casval seems to be very far behind you and Sayla. Especially Sayla; just barely brushing up against your experience with Tryphosa has caused her senses to awaken.
>>
>>5440316
>>5440309
>>5440306
>>5440156
Writing.
>>
”We should try to develop it further together…” You suggest, “If that’s even how it works. Honestly I’m not sure.”

“Do you think we can?” Artesia asks uncertainly, to which you shrug.

“It can’t hurt to try, can it?” You ask, looking between Artesia and Casval.

“How would we train it?” Casval asks, something subtle changing in his demeanor, his normal cool confidence returning, “I’m ready to try.”

You stop to consider the question for a while, thinking through the situations where you felt something particularly strongly, but you struggle to find a real pattern to it beyond thinking of her or being nearby; could it really be so simple?

“I’ve read about experiments into psychic powers before when I was looking into old medical research, it never went anywhere though,” Artesia says, “It’s been written off as pseudoscience for centuries now, but maybe we could start there? I’m not sure if this really matches up though, it’s not quite the same…”

You nod, “It might be different, but it could still be worth trying. What were you thinking of?”

“I’d need to go read about it again, I didn’t pay much attention because it all sounded fake.” She admits, “It mostly sounded like a lot of guessing games… or maybe guessing is the wrong word if you can really see hidden things and feel emotions.”

“Games?” Casval questions, “It sounded more like it was triggered by stress and proximity from what you were describing.”

“Maybe it is,” You admit, seeing at least some connection there, “Stress and proximity? It seems to be happening less often now, like it flared up for a few minutes and then died back down… Maybe it just needs a push.”

“That sounds dangerous.” Artesia says worriedly, “You two better not do something dumb.”

“Have a little more faith in us than that,” You say, chuckling, “We should just keep it in mind for when things come up, focusing my thoughts seemed to cause the feelings to deepen…”

Off in the distance a black car pulls away from the front of the lodge; you know immediately that it’s Tryphosa leaving and you turn your full attention to the dirt road. Casval and Artesia turn to look as soon as they notice you doing so. You can feel her presence again, just briefly, and you know that she’s with you; the sensation soon passes, drifting away… You wish she wasn’t leaving.

>”...We should go back inside, I think I’m done for the night… We can work on this tomorrow.”
>”Did you feel that, Artesia?”
>Try thinking at the car or something. You have no idea how this works.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5440419
>”Did you feel that, Artesia?”
>”...We should go back inside, I think I’m done for the night… We can work on this tomorrow.”
>>
>>5440419
>Try thinking at the car or something. You have no idea how this works.
>>
>>5440419
>"Did you feel that, Artesia?”
Let's see if we can keep the brainstorm going.
>>
>>5440419
>>5440420
Supporting this one.
>>
>>5440419
>”Did you feel that, Artesia?”
>>
>>5440420
>>5440466
Ask Artesia + Call it a night.

>>5440422
Think at the car.

>>5440466
>>5440488
Ask Artesia.

Any objections to just going with >>5440420 ? There was probably going to be a timeskip soon anyways.
>>
>>5440604
No objections
>>
>>5440604
Sounds fine to me
>>
>>5440626
>>5440638
Alright, writing.
>>
>>5440419
>”Did you feel that, Artesia?”
>Try thinking at the car or something. You have no idea how this works.
>>
“Did you feel that, Artesia?” You ask quickly, just as the sensation drifts off and away with the passing of the distant car.

“I did,” She answers, watching as the lights of the vehicle disappear out of sigh over the next hill. “She was looking at us, wasn’t she?”

“She knew I was here,” You say, still staring off in the direction of the road and distant spaceport at the furthest end of the colony, “Casval, did you feel anything?”

“Nothing.” He answers, shaking his head, “Nothing at all.”

“Damn…” You curse, frustrated; he’s always been better at most tasks, the one to show you how new things are meant to be done - A good older brother who you could go to for anything. Finding yourself ahead of him in something so new and strange is deeply uncomfortable; who do you turn to for help? Your sister is gifted, perhaps more so than you; maybe she’ll take the lead this time.

Casval sighs, and speaks almost as if he could hear your inner doubts - it was probably written all over your face, “We’ll figure something out, Felix.”

“Together.” Artesia says, stealing your line just before you say it.

“Together.” You echo right after, “...We should probably go back inside though, I think that’s enough of this for tonight. We can work on this tomorrow.”

“We’re going to be working on it for a lot longer than that.” Artesia says, “Imagine all the people we can help with what we learn - there have to be others out there like us and Tryphosa.”

“How many though?” Casval questions, glancing out through the transparent sections of the colony high overhead; another banchi is distantly visible, a whole other shining silver cylinder full of millions and millions of souls.

“I hope there are a lot of us,” Artesia says, “Imagine how peaceful things will be if everyone could understand one another… Maybe that’s what I’ll do for a job, look for others like us.”

“I thought you wanted to be a doctor?” You ask as the three of you walk back to the lodge; you’ll be back inside soon.

“I do!” She says excitedly, “Imagine the possibilities; no one knows how any of this works, but it’s real!. Think of all the things that might be discovered, how many more people could be helped.”

“That’s a lovely dream, Artesia” Casval says, “You should hold onto it. It suits you.”
>>
>>5440990

Fourteen months later.

11:10, 19 December, UC 0074
Texas Colony, Side 5 (Loum)

The last year has gone by quickly, and life on the colony continues to treat you well.

Lucifer made a full recovery from his surgery and is more active than ever. He’s a touch more aggressive than before and has started catching mice and rats very actively once again, disappearing out into the wilds of the land around the lodge for hours at a time to go hunt.

Piloting lessons have gone splendidly well, after months of training and effort you’re now a fully licensed low-thrust small craft pilot, and Édouard has taken the time to pursue lessons as well. Licensing for higher performance craft requires you to be a bit older, but Rafferty has continued to pull strings since you’ve helped cover for some of his solo maintenance flights - Technically it’s very illegal for you to be doing so, but since Mr. Aznable is one of the head administrators of the colony now it’s not much of a concern, and you’ve always put your full efforts behind the work.

Schoolwork has continued to be a joke. Char left early this year to attend a boarding school on another colony is Side Five, so the Aznables have been a little more active in your lives without a child of their own to keep watch over; they mean well, and you don’t mind it so much especially with the favors Roger has been willing to do for your family.

You and Sayla have continued to try to hone your newtype senses in your free time, though with mixed success; they’ve certainly grown, but all of the games and tests she’s been able to think up over the last year haven’t helped as much as either of you had hoped they would - Édouard is still barely able to sense things at the best of times, but you haven’t given up hope on him and he joins the two of you sometimes. The flashes of insight you get now are rarely as intense as when your newtype senses first awakened, and usually far more subtle, but they are a little more common after all this effort - For several months you were afraid the new abilities had faded away entirely, but it’s just turned out to be a very slow crawl forward.

Piloting has had the most effect on your abilities, and it seems to have done the most good for Casval as well; you’ve even taken Sayla flying a few times, and showed her some of the basics. She’s shown a lot of promise, and has knack for it just like you and Casval, but she hasn’t taken to flying with the same enthusiasm.
>>
>>5440992

You’ve stayed in regular contact with Elena, whose letters have only gotten more gloomy over the last few years; her parents have gotten divorced, Georgi started to drink heavily, and after a rough patch bouncing between the two of them Elena is now attending an engineering school in Von Braun and living on her own as a student. She doesn’t really want to be there, but it got her further away from her parents than the other options available; she writes much more frequently now, a few letters arriving each week - You worry a lot for her, she’s clearly isolated and alienated, younger than the other students and feeling terribly out of place. The content of her correspondences have grown very concerning over the last few weeks, taking a darker turn than normal, and you’ve done your best to comfort her; it won’t be too much longer before you can see one another again.

On an even less pleasant front it has become more and more obvious that you’re being watched and actively follow by agents of the Zabis; in the past it was the occasional spy or the obvious message of a Zeon military recruiter visiting the nearby town, but Édouard believes they’ve begun to plant more permanent spies throughout the colony to observe your every action and you’ve noticed many of the same clues; a new shopkeep here, a peculiar teacher there, the vague hint of deception brushing against your mind as you go about life in town. They haven’t made any direct moves, but it has had Édouard very on edge for the last couple of weeks. Sayla thinks they should be left alone; no reason to rock the boat.

Teabolo has had a few bouts of illness in the last year, but he's recovered each time. It worries Sayla something fierce, she really loves him as a father. She's still writing letters to your mother as well, and you've joined in for a few, but it seems she's come to terms with the fact that none of you are likely to ever see your mother again. It weighs terribly on her nonetheless, just as it does on you - The thought of her locked away in that tower is almost too awful to contemplate.
>>
>>5440999

What are you doing right now?

>Out spy hunting with Édouard. You’ve concocted a plan to monitor a few of the spies and figure out what you can about their new operation… You're about to do a bit of mild breaking and entering to gather information, but you don’t plan to do anything more rash than that.

>You’re with Sayla, partaking in a bit of people watching near one of the busier areas of the city surrounding the spaceport; you’ve made a bit of a game of trying to sense the feelings of strangers, though it’s still rare and difficult to purposefully get hits. You’ve met some very interesting people while out doing it a few times; it’s hard to ever know what’ll happen, a real mystery each time.

>Flying to the moon, piloting among the stars… Well, not really, Luna’s a bit too far, but you are taking Sayla out for some unofficial lessons in hopes that she might get a bit more interested in the hobby. Édouard is accompanying you both in a different craft, flying alongside. It feels like you might be on the verge of convincing
>>
>>5441000
>Flying to the moon, piloting among the stars… Well, not really, Luna’s a bit too far, but you are taking Sayla out for some unofficial lessons in hopes that she might get a bit more interested in the hobby. Édouard is accompanying you both in a different craft, flying alongside. It feels like you might be on the verge of convincing
We're already ahead of basically everyone else NT power wise. No reason not to double down on our piloting skills, especially if they include both of our siblings.
>>
>>5441000
>You’re with Sayla, partaking in a bit of people watching near one of the busier areas of the city surrounding the spaceport; you’ve made a bit of a game of trying to sense the feelings of strangers, though it’s still rare and difficult to purposefully get hits. You’ve met some very interesting people while out doing it a few times; it’s hard to ever know what’ll happen, a real mystery each time.
Newtype training is always good, also gives us the chance to acclimate her to Casval's plan. She'll figure it out eventually, best if she's eased into it.
>>
>>5441000
>Out spy hunting with Édouard. You’ve concocted a plan to monitor a few of the spies and figure out what you can about their new operation… You're about to do a bit of mild breaking and entering to gather information, but you don’t plan to do anything more rash than that.
A little anti-Zabi action...
>>
>>5441000
1)
>Flying to the moon, piloting among the stars… Well, not really, Luna’s a bit too far, but you are taking Sayla out for some unofficial lessons in hopes that she might get a bit more interested in the hobby. Édouard is accompanying you both in a different craft, flying alongside. It feels like you might be on the verge of convincing

2)
>You're with Sayla, partaking in a bit of people watching near one of the busier areas of the city surrounding the spaceport; you’ve made a bit of a game of trying to sense the feelings of strangers, though it’s still rare and difficult to purposefully get hits. You’ve met some very interesting people while out doing it a few times; it’s hard to ever know what’ll happen, a real mystery each time.

Family comes first. And convincing Sayla of our plans is also high priority.
>>
>>5441000
>>Flying to the moon, piloting among the stars… Well, not really, Luna’s a bit too far, but you are taking Sayla out for some unofficial lessons in hopes that she might get a bit more interested in the hobby. Édouard is accompanying you both in a different craft, flying alongside. It feels like you might be on the verge of convincing
We promised her we would take her on a space trip, didn't we?
>>
>>5441000
>Flying to the moon, piloting among the stars… Well, not really, Luna’s a bit too far, but you are taking Sayla out for some unofficial lessons in hopes that she might get a bit more interested in the hobby. Édouard is accompanying you both in a different craft, flying alongside. It feels like you might be on the verge of convincing
>>
>>5441000
>Out spy hunting with Édouard. You’ve concocted a plan to monitor a few of the spies and figure out what you can about their new operation… You're about to do a bit of mild breaking and entering to gather information, but you don’t plan to do anything more rash than that.

We should help Casval out, partially because Felix's natural perception would help with spy-hunting, and also to keep Casval from going too far.
>>
>>5441001
>>5441014
>>5441018
>>5441039
Writing.
>>
“Ease off on the acceleration a little, Sayla,” You say, your hand tightly gripping the back of her pilot’s seat to steady you as you stand; looking out ahead of through the heavily reinforced glass of the cockpit you can see the endless expanse of space, uncountable stars stretching as far as the eye can see and only broken up by the faint silver shimmer of distant colonies. The force pulling you to the back of the spacious cockpit eases somewhat as the pod’s acceleration slows, thrust dropping by about a quarter.

“You said I should go fast,” She complains, her helmeted head turning a little so she can glance back at you through the side of her visor, “So I went fast.”

“Oh, we’re going to go fast,” You say, finishing what you’d started a few moments before and flicking the last few switches to allow for a true full burn, a few green lights and a single red one winking and confirming the action was successful, “I just didn’t expect you to jump forward immediately …And there we go, primary safety regulators are off. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“...You’re sure?” She asks, her focus now entirely on the readout screens covering the controls panels in front of her.

“The safeties you should really be worried about aren’t able to be turned off that easily, and we still have the temperature and fracture regulators on, if anything starts to give out the computer will slow us right down. These ones are just there to make port security feel better about themselves and those hand-me-down old model saberfish they have,” You explain confidently, knowing the pod will be able to handle things just fine, “It’s just a bit misleadingly named, there’s not much ‘primary’ about it. It’s a governor, really.”

“You mean like the saberfish Édouard’s in?” Sayla asks, leaning forward a little to look off to the side of the cockpit; the nose and leading edge of the cockpit of Édouard’s much sleeker civilian trainer variant of a saberfish is just barely visible. The pod you’re in is a crude, ugly ball of titanium alloy and exposed thrusters, a sphere of garbage in comparison to his sleek ship and complete with bizarre looking spindly arms for repair work - It doesn’t just look slow, it normally is slow.

“No, the security craft still have the full burn rate, but this pod we’re in can manage about the same accelerations if you disable a few things here and there. Édouard’s trainer doesn’t even have the same engines as theirs, it’s lower thrust from the ground up, it just only looks like a fighter because it sells well,” You say, turning and moving up a step and sitting down in the instructor seat just above and behind Sayla’s bulky gray one, “He doesn’t know that though, I’ve never shown him this before.”
>>
>>5441180

“Oh?” Sayla asks, a hint of mischief in her voice as she tweaks the controls in front of her, the green gloved fingers of her normal suit flicking and turning switches and dials, “Strapped in back there?”

You click your seat’s harness closed and give a thumbs up to one of the small mirror she can see you in, “Good to go. Do you want to do the honors?”

“How could I not?” She says, barely containing her laughter as she switches the external comms back on, “Édouard, are you there?”

Your brother’s voice comes through your helmet’s speakers much less clearly than Sayla’s, a little staticky and tinny, “You can see me, can’t you?”

“You’re a little close,” Sayla says, “Looks like you’re trying to race us.”

“Race you?” He asks, the connection crackling a bit as your two vessels continue to accelerate alongside one another, “That sounds like a fun challenge, Sayla. Did he put you up to this?”

Ah, crap. Maybe he isn’t as sensitive to things as you or Sayla are, but he’s still plenty perceptive and your sister’s voice was nearly a dead give away.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” You say, joining the conversation, “We’re just trying to have a nice leisurely lesson here.”

The front of Édouard’s sleeker craft edges further into view as he increases his burn rate a touch, “Where to?”

You cut your external comms for a few seconds to consult with Sayla, “Are you comfortable going around the reflectors? You did really well last time, I know you can do it. There’s a lot more space than it looks like from here.”

She just gives you a gloved thumbs up and turns the comms back on, never looking away from your brother’s slowly encroaching saberfish lookalike as she speaks in sly voice, “Around the reflectors, Édouard, we’ll try not to slow you down too badly.”
>>
>>5441184

His ship slows to match your acceleration and his voice sounds over the cheap little speakers in your helmet once more, “Matched up, ready?”

“Ready.” Sayla says over comms. You give a count to three, and then cut comms after go.

The acceleration is almost explosive as the pod you’re in leaps from a lightly pressing burn to something that feels more like you’re being forcefully shoved into your heavily cushioned seat; Sayla’s handling the forces just fine, and Édouard’s faux-fighter stays alongside and begins to pull ahead as it’s engines flare.

“He’ll be maxing out soon,” You say, chuckling, “I don’t think he’s realized.”

“This is fun!” Sayla shouts from ahead of you, the huge silver expanse of the colony’s side coming into view, the expanded reflector arms extended away from it and forming a large gap, “It goes even faster?”

“About half again as much!” You answer while looking over a few of the panels in front of you; the monochrome green screens are identical to the ones Sayla has infront of her, and you have your own controls in case something goes wrong and you need to take over.

Pulling off a bit to the side and now well ahead of you, you watch as the engines of Édouard’s craft flare even brighter and he begins to very rapidly pull away - That’s it, he’s topped out.


Sayla doesn’t wait for you to say something, bringing your pod up to a proper full burn - The firm push you’ve been feeling is closer to a crushing weight now; still bearable and able to be moved under, but pushing right up to the point where it almost stops being fun. Almost.

As you loop under the first reflector you rapidly gain on Édouard, slow for just long enough for Sayla to make the pod wave one of its spindly arms as you pass by, and then you’re right back to burning away and well past him on the route.

“That’s dirty, Maxime.” Édouard’s voice comes in over comms, “But you’re not the only one with tricks.”

Édouard’s sleek ship slowly pushes back ahead of you, at least on the pod’s sensors; you can’t actually see it through the glass of the cockpit, but he’s hugging much closer to the outer surface of the colony.

“How’s he doing that?” Sayla asks in surprise, “You said we’re faster.”

You think over the possibilities for a few moments and realize what he’s doing; there’s one part of the saberfish civilian trainer that’s identical to the military version - The attitude thrusters. Working together they’re considerably more powerful than most people would expect, and capable of significant thrust vectoring; it’s part of what makes the aerodynamic and atmosphere-capable compromise design that is the saberfish work as well as it does in vacuum despite its inefficient layout. …That shouldn’t be able to do it alone though, or even alongside fancier flying to cut the distances down by hugging much closer to the surface.
>>
>>5441186

Your eyes widen as you realize what he must have turned off, among other things, “Édouard, watch your engine heat!”

“Bow down before me!” He gloats, ignoring your warning and continuing to pull further and further ahead.

“What did he do?” Sayla asks in confusion, mimicking your brother’s tighter flight path along the colony’s exterior, passing just a couple dozen meters over the greebled looking plating.

“He turned off a few more safeties than we did, the actually important ones,” You say unhappily, “He’s pushing a lot closer to that thing’s real upper limits.”

“...He’s going to win.” Sayla concludes, sounding a mix of disappointed and worried.

“He’s going to win.” You agree, frowning. It’s reckless what he’s doing… but he seems to be handling it fine for now, and you know that he might actually just be that good. That has to be all the tricks he has left though, but you still have a few of your own…

>Let him win, no reason to push things too far. This is already unsafe enough.
>”Sayla, can you manage a closer path? I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.” Sayla can probably handle this, and she's been having fun.
>”...Sayla, are you fine if I take over for a minute?” You can definitely handle this.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5441189
>>Let him win, no reason to push things too far. This is already unsafe enough.
>>
>>5441189
>Let him win, no reason to push things too far. This is already unsafe enough.

Casval's already tapping into his THREE TIMES FASTER abilities a little, isn't he?
>>
>>5441189
>"Sayla, can you manage a closer path? I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.” Sayla can probably handle this, and she's been having fun.
No reason not to at least have a good time with some friendly competition.
>>
>>5441213
Also this could fully convince Sayla to take on piloting lessons, while keeping Casval from underestimating us.
>>
>>5441189
>"Sayla, can you manage a closer path? I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.” Sayla can probably handle this, and she's been having fun.
>>
>>5441189
>”Sayla, can you manage a closer path? I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.” Sayla can probably handle this, and she's been having fun.
>>
>>5441189
>”Sayla, can you manage a closer path? I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.” Sayla can probably handle this, and she's been having fun.
>>
>>5441189
>Let him win, no reason to push things too far. This is already unsafe enough.
>>
>>5441189
>Let him win, no reason to push things too far. This is already unsafe enough.
>>
>>5441189
>”Sayla, can you manage a closer path? I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.” Sayla can probably handle this, and she's been having fun.
>>
>>5441191
>>5441195
>>5441336
>>5441338
Let him win.

>>5441213
>>5441223
>>5441228
>>5441259
>>5441360
Help Sayla keep up.
>>
>>5441427
Just realized I forgot to say it but I'm writing. Helping Sayla wins.
>>
“Sayla, can you manage a closer path?” You ask, checking over a few of the thruster readouts on the monochrome green screens displayed before you, “I’ve got something I can do with our thrust angling that might get us back ahead, it’s going to be harder to control though.”

“Is is safe?” She asks, but doesn’t wait for an answer before excitedly agreeing, “I’ll do it!”

“I’ll keep it safe,” You say, hoping you’re not speaking overconfident last words, and you quickly take control over secondary thruster angling and attitude control with a few flicked switches, “Bring us in closer and keep it steady.”

“Woah, that’s really sluggish,” Sayla complains in surprise as the pod jolts a little and maneuvers closer to the colony's surface, silver plating whizzing by just under your spherical craft, “And we’re slowing down? He’s almost past the next reflector!”

“Used to how it handles?” You ask while bringing the fuel pumps up to full capacity, “We’re about to catch up.”

“Yes!” She responds quickly, focusing entirely on the task at hand.

You hit it. Every thruster that can even vaguely angle backwards, primary, secondary, docking - everything - fires. The crushing weight grows, almost painful now, and outside the huge frontal glass of the pod you can see the exterior of the colony flying past at higher and higher speeds as your acceleration rapidly increases.

You’re burning through fuel at an almost disgusting rate to manage this little trick, it’s about as far from efficient flying as you can get and turns the pod into little more than a manned rocket… This is a little dangerous to say the least, the docking thrusters have their own fuel reserves and aren’t meant for this kind of use despite being quite overpowered for their intended use, and if something goes wrong it’s going to take longer for Sayla to react. That’s why you’re here though, to make sure nothing goes wrong; like your sister you focus entirely on the job at hand.

As you pass under the second reflector, the shimmering light briefly blinding before the cockpit’s glass polarizes to a much darker tint, you can see the little flaring speck of light clearly ahead of you once again. You’re slowly catching up, and checking over your fuel and temperature numbers you know that there’s really nothing to stop you anymore.
>>
>>5441498

“We’ve got him!” You declare, breathing strained a bit as you laugh under the harsh acceleration, but you don’t take your eyes off the instruments in front of you.

“A little closer…” Sayla almost whispers, her voice barely picked up on your internal comms, “Come on, come on.”

She isn’t often this competitive, it’s not generally in her nature, but friendly competition can bring it out in her sometimes. As you pass alongside your brother’s sleeker little ship Sayla breaks out laughing, and by the time you’re past the third reflector and are coming back to finish the lap your pod has pulled far ahead; with both sides being willing to push their craft nearly to the edge and piloting almost as well as one another it’s just a matter of math - The pod has more thrust, a lot more, despite being a “low thrust” craft according to federation licensing. Some bureaucrat probably saw how it looked and labeled it as low thrust on that alone, or got bribed by the manufacturer, dumber things have happened.

“I have to pull off,” Édouard says over the staticky comms, “Too much heat for another lap, running low on fuel too.”

“Understood. We’re heading back as well.” You say, returning full control to Sayla and the pod’s flight computer, a harsh jolt rattling through the hull as you slow suddenly and the pressure of acceleration lessens, “Need assistance?”

“Nothing broke.” Édouard answers, “Rafferty isn’t going to be happy though.”

“Oh?” Sayla asks, “Why’s that?”

“He called in while we were flying, he’s been watching us with station security.”

“...What?” You ask, thinking of all the safety violations committed during that little race. No one was hurt and nothing got broken, but that’s rarely a reason that goes over well.

“They were watching already, but when we started racing they placed bets.” Édouard explains, “...How’d you get that pod to move so fast?”

You explain what you and Sayla did.

“Two against one? Should have seen that coming.” Édouard says.

“You put up a good fight,” Sayla reassures him, “Maxime thought you couldn’t pass us at the start, we didn’t realize it was going to be an actual race.”

“Two against one in an ambush,” Édouard says, chuckling, “You’re both too predictable, and I’m a fool for forgetting about it sometimes; I’m starting back to the docks.”

“We’re right behind you,” Sayla says cheerfully, “At least you’ll get somewhere first today.”
>>
>>5441500

A few minutes later.

With a light pushing kick you float down from the open hatch of the trainer pod and down toward the metal walkways of the hangar’s interior; it’s a vast empty area in the space port with minimal equipment for refueling and basic maintenance work in microgravity, scaffolding and narrow walkways crisscrossing here and there. As you land, the magnetic plates of your blue normal suit’s boots click and hold onto the plating beneath you. Sayla lands a moment later, her dark green normal suit a blur in your peripheral vision for a moment before it comes to a halt. She quickly takes off her helmet, blond hair sort of poofing out as she shakes her head a bit - It looks a bit silly but you refrain from commenting.

“Have fun?” You ask, leaving your own helmet on for now.

“The most in ages,” She says, beaming, “That was nothing like all that technical stuff you had me do the last few times!”

“Yeah, well you were good at that too,” You say, shrugging, “Definitely not as fun though, right?”

“Not even close.” She confirms as the two of you walk toward the nearest door; the hangar has atmosphere right now, but in more chaotic times the door acts as an air lock so it’s doubled up with a small chamber in the middle. The first door hisses open and you step in and wait after it closes.

“Do you think Édouard will be mad?” She asks, though she doesn’t sound too worried by the possibility. The second door hisses open and you’re both quickly through and into the dull gray hallways on the other side, bright overhead lighting giving a false sense of up and down to the microgravity environment.

“Oh come on, why do you even ask? He’s going to be happy for you, Sayla, we’ve been trying to drag.” You say, boots clicking subtly as you both walk along the metal ‘floor’ of the utilitarian looking passageway.

Drag? Have I really been that resistant?” She questions, giving you a little disbelieving look.

“What? Oh, no, I suppose not, but we could both feel that you weren’t as excited about it.” You say, taking your helmet off now that you’re well beyond the backup airlock.

“I’ve always gone when you asked,” She says, “...But you’re right, it’s not really my passion.”

“Until now?” You ask hopefully.

“Maybe. This was much better but-.” She responds before suddenly stopping and waving. You look up to see your brother and his red normal suit.
>>
>>5441501

“Maxime, Sayla,” He says in greeting, “Shaken up any?”

“Not too bad,” You answer immediately, a few minor aches still able to be felt after that long series of burns during the race, “How about you?”

“It’s nothing,” He replies, “Sayla?”

“Huh? Oh, I suppose I’m a little bit,” She answers, “But I’d do it again.”

“That was some excellent flying, Sayla,” Édouard compliments, “You enjoyed it?”

“I did…” She says before glancing over to you briefly, “I think you’re a bit late for this though Édouard, Maxime’s already been trying to sell me on piloting since we got back.”

“Is that so?” Édouard says, smirking as he looks at you, joining in your walk back deeper into the colony’s spaceport.

“I’m not sure how much time I want to put into it,” Sayla says, not giving you much of a chance to speak, “But I love doing things with both of you, and was the best thing we’ve done in ages besides our rides or training… and those almost feel more like a chore sometimes.”

“I know what you mean,” You say - the horses are great and you do enjoy riding, but sometimes a car really would be much faster, and newtype ‘training’ has been more frustrating than successful most days.

“Well, we’ve still got most of the day ahead of us,” Édouard says, “Where to next? I was thinking we’d be out for longer flying.”

You’d thought so as well, but the race knocked a couple of hours off at least; a few minutes of racing burnt up more fuel than both your previous lessons combined.

>”...How about a movie? Didn’t they just release a new ”
>”We should get to town near the lodge; you wanted to look around a bit there, right Édouard?”
>”Lets just relax for a while, there’s a nice café near the spaceport… Sayla, you know the one.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5441503
>”We should get to town near the lodge; you wanted to look around a bit there, right Édouard?”
>>
>>5441503
>”We should get to town near the lodge; you wanted to look around a bit there, right Édouard?”
>>
>>5441503
>”Lets just relax for a while, there’s a nice café near the spaceport… Sayla, you know the one.”
>And try to start talking to her about the Zabis and Zeon
Just get her opinion for now, but we can't push it off forever
>>
>>5441503
>>5441521
Support.
>>
>>5441503
>”We should get to town near the lodge; you wanted to look around a bit there, right Édouard?”
>>
>>5441503
>>5441521
+1
>>
>>5441553
>>5441536
Fucking hell, 4chan are one of my posts.
>>
>>5441557
>are
*ate
>>
>>5441557
>>5441560
It happens sometimes
>>
>>5441506
>>5441513
>>5441539
Back to town to snoop around.

>>5441521
>>5441536
Cafe and talk about plans.

Snooping around wins. Writing.
>>
“We should get back to town, near the lodge.” You suggest, knowing there’s some business to be handled there, “You wanted to look around a bit, right Édouard?”

“Why? There’s not much back there, it’s dusty and boring.” Sayla complains as you walk in the direction of one of the exit chambers which will take you back to the spin gravity of the colony, “We go into town all the time, but we’re only up here together every few weeks.”

Édouard looks around to make sure the small intersection of passageways you’re in is clear before speaking, the harsh white light from overhead casting deep shadows on his face, “Spies, Sayla. I won’t wait around for them to act first, we need to keep ahead of their plans.”

“I still think it’s a very foolish idea.” Sayla chastises as you tap in a few commands on a small door control console near the entrance to the exit chamber - It’s pair of large metal doors are clearly marked around their edges with hazard stripes and a large ‘009’ is stenciled in black block letters on one of the diagonally split doors. It’ll take a moment for the chamber to be readied, and you can hear the machinery working on the other side already.

“Laying low won’t work forever,” Édouard says sternly, “Something has changed about how they’re monitoring us. They feel more predatory. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt it.”

“...Of course I’ve felt it, it hasn’t been that long since they tried to kill us,” Sayla responds with mild irritation, “But our whole plan in coming here was to submit; that’s what dad said before we left Spain. Just come out and say it if you don’t think it’s a good idea anymore.”

The huge doors in front of you hiss open, machinery rumbling as they slide apart allowing you to enter the chamber beyond; once the three of you are inside the doors begin to seal once more. In a few seconds the chamber will begin to spin to match the rest of the colony and you’ll be bound down again by gravity.

“If you want to hear it in those words, Artesia,” Your brother says, slipping back into using your sister’s old name in the privacy of the slowly spinning up chamber, “Then yes, I think it isn’t a good idea anymore. I’m just about old enough to leave on my own, and both of you aren’t far behind me; do you think it’s a coincidence that monitoring is increasing right now? They aren't going to leave us alone forever.”
>>
>>5441650

“You think Teabolo was wrong about them ignoring us eventually?” You ask, not having discussed this particular point with Casval in many months, “The timing is very odd.”

The light tug of centrifugal forces increases steadily, rendering your normal suit’s magboots unnecessary; you click them off with a practiced tap of your heels. The chamber will have matched the rotation in a few more seconds.

“...Leave on your own?” Artesia questions, placing a hand against your brother’s arm, “What do you mean leave?”

“I’m not planning to leave right now, Artesia,” He says, taking her hand with both of his, “We just need to know what they’re doing. Things aren’t the same as they were even six months ago.”

“Not planning to leave right now?” Artesia questions, not letting the point go that easily, “So you are planning something. I know you two talk about things without me sometimes, is that what this is? You’ve been plotting to head off somewhere?”

You almost groan, your sister’s awareness of both of you frustratingly better than she lets on sometimes. This had to come up at some point, but you were really hoping it would be on more comfortable terms. The large doors ahead of you hiss open, the three prongs of the colonies land sections stretching out far ahead of you, and you all step outside into a slightly more crowded area; the spaceport is by far the busiest area of the colony, with many connecting flights using it as a hub due to the low inhabitant population and excess of facilities.

“Sayla,” Édouard says, reverting to your new names as a small crowd of tourists walks past with their luggage, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“That’s not the problem,” Sayla responds sadly, “...I just want you to tell me if you’re going to leave. We can’t stay here forever, I know that.”

The three of you are headed off in the direction of transportation back to town right now; it’ll take a little under an hour to get back by car.

>”Édouard, we really shouldn’t keep Sayla out of anything now… This probably isn’t the best place to talk though.” This has been a long, long time coming, but it can wait another few minutes.
>”We’re not sure where we’d even want to go, Sayla. Have you looked at any universities yet?” Talk around the subject, it’s probably safe even in public if you’re careful.
>Stay on a more careful watch for anything suspicious while your brother and sister talk.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5441657
>”We’re not sure where we’d even want to go, Sayla. Have you looked at any universities yet?” Talk around the subject, it’s probably safe even in public if you’re careful.
>>
>>5441657
>Stay on a more careful watch for anything suspicious while your brother and sister talk.
While it'd be nice to indicate to Casval that the time is nigh for discussing our plotting with Artesia, the fact that activating our [perception] is even an option is a massive red flag.
>>
>>5441657
>Stay on a more careful watch for anything suspicious while your brother and sister talk.
>>
>>5441657
>Stay on a more careful watch for anything suspicious while your brother and sister talk.
>>
>>5441664
>>5441666
>>5441670
Writing.

I have some stuff starting in about an hour, if I haven't posted by then it probably won't be until much later tonight that I can get something out.
>>
You stay quiet for a while and pay attention to the crowds moving past the three of your, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious while your siblings talk. You’re in a semi-outdoors section of the spaceport, the distant landscape of the colony clearly visible but still flanked on both sides by glass covered walkways and low buildings. There aren’t any security checkpoints in this area - as pilots well known to station authorities you’re able to pass back and forth between the short range docks without issue, but many of the people crowding about this area are clearly not locals.

“We aren’t going to stay here forever,” Édouard says off to your side, another chamber hissing open a ways behind you and a gust of wind created by the pressure exchange blowing past, “And we’re not going to separate either, not unless there’s no other way.”

“I don’t like how that sounds, Édouard.” Sayla says, “No other way to do what? Survive? Live? Go after them?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean, but this isn’t the place to discuss it.” He says, glancing about quickly before noticing that you have things covered.

“It’s never the place to discuss it with me, is it?” Sayla presses, “You remember what happened to Jimba, he never talked to anyone about his plans and did something so foolish…”

As they continue to bicker, you ignore their admittedly important conversation for a few moments and focus in on a man in one of the passing small groups; he’s bearded, olive skinned and about middle aged, dressed like a local but not carrying himself like one - it’s a subtle difference, but you spot it almost immediately… and he’s watching the three of you. You try to keep your observation discrete, keeping track of him by reflections in glass as you walk along towards the transport area. He’s keeping his distance for now, but he’s followed you around a couple of corners at this point.

“...There are some things I’m not sure you’ll ever understand, Sayla.” Édouard says, “That isn’t a bad thing, it doesn’t have to involve you. You don't have to be involved.”

“Stop trying to protect me, I’m not a little girl anymore,” Sayla says, raising her voice, “...I know you mean well, I know it, but it hurts. You’re so selfish sometimes, Édouard, even when you think you're helping people. Maxime, you… Maxime?”

>”Don’t look back but there’s a man following us; act normal, keep talking.”
>”Don’t look back but here’s a man following us; we should try to lose him.”
>”...I’m listening. We’re being followed. Édouard, what should we do?” He's the eldest, follow his lead.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5441919
>”...I’m listening. We’re being followed. Édouard, what should we do?” He's the eldest, follow his lead.
We're in his wheelhouse now
>>
>>5441919
>”Don’t look back but there’s a man following us; act normal, keep talking.”
>>
>>5441919
>”...I’m listening. We’re being followed. Édouard, what should we do?” He's the eldest, follow his lead.
>>
>>5441919
>>”...I’m listening. We’re being followed. Édouard, what should we do?” He's the eldest, follow his lead.
>>
>>5441919
>”...I’m listening. We’re being followed. Édouard, what should we do?” He's the eldest, follow his lead.
>>
Probably won't be able to sit down and write any for most of tomorrow (next 17~ hours or so), just wanted to give a heads up.
>>
>>5441919
>”Don’t look back but there’s a man following us; act normal, keep talking.”
Looking at Casval for leadership will probably make Sayla think we're taking his side in. Not only that, it'll make Sayla think we're just being strung along by him.
Man, this really wasn't the best way to reveal this. I mean I get wanting to do some conter-spy work but we should really look out for our family first
>>
>>5441923
>>5441930
>>5441939
>>5441955
Writing.
>>
“...I’m listening,” You say after a moment of being prodded at by Sayla, “We’re being followed. Édouard, what should we do?”

“Where are they?” Édouard asks cautiously, his eyes searching over the reflective surfaces about you even as he remains facing forward; Sayla starts to look around more obviously but Édouard reaches out to steady her with one hand, “Pretend we’re still arguing, Sayla.”

“We are still arguing,” She says, her voice a mix of distress and worry, but she refrains from further searching of the area as the three of you pass under another glass covered walkway in the complex of low buildings surrounding the spaceport. One of the transportation areas isn’t much further ahead, maybe a minute and a half by foot.

“Perfect.” Édouard responds with a small smirk, “Now do exactly as I say, both of you.”

“Why would you say something like that?” You ask, raising your voice just a little louder than is necessary, crossing your arms.


Édouard’s brow furrows, and for a second it really looks as if he’s about to spiral off into one of his cold rages that sometimes take him; apparently he can be a pretty good actor when the need arises.

“When we reach the cars I’m going to split off as soon as we turn the corner. Keep going along the buildings after that.” He says in a low, stern voice, pointing an accusatory finger at you and Sayla as he raises his voice, “Neither of you ever listen to me! I’ve had enough!”

“That’s not true!” Sayla protests, slapping your brother’s hand out of her face with a loud smack; it sounded a little more forceful than it needed to be for an act, “You just make everything about your own wants, you never think of us!”

“Both of you, stop it!” You nearly yell, moving between your siblings as you all quickly approach the next corner, “Why do you both always act like this? I have to mediate everything, it never ends!”

“Never ends?! I’ll…” Édouard trails off as you round the corner, giving a little mischievous salute before running ahead to move down a small side alley and well out of sight. You carry on walking with Sayla.

“Pretend to cry.” You say to Sayla, wrapping an arm around her to pull her closer. You continue to walk along past the row of buildings, a small parking area flanking you on your other.

“He’s still following us.” Sayla says quietly, pressing against you and hanging her head low in mock sorrow, “I don’t like what Édouard’s doing.”

“I’m not sure I do either, but it’s too late now, Sayla.” You respond, though you can’t see the man following you anymore; there aren’t any convenient surfaces to catch a glimpse of him anymore. Something does still feel off though, a vague primal sense telling you that you’re being hunted, and you know Sayla isn’t wrong.
>>
>>5442405

“He’d better not be about to do something stu-” Sayla stops speaking, a slightly muffled scuffing of feet and half suppressed yelp of surprise sounding briefly behind both of you. You immediately look back and just catch sight of Édouard dragging the man into that small alley he split off into, the man held firmly in a headlock and his mouth covered to suppress his shouts. There’s no one else in sight in the small parking lot, and most of the buildings are empty and just available for rent; a relatively secluded area of an otherwise busy part of the colony.

Maxime. What do we do?” Sayla asks in a hushed voice, having spotted the little scuffle before the man was dragged out of sight.

>”Keep going to the cars. I’ll go back and make sure he doesn’t .”
>”Let’s go help him! That next alley up there, we can circle around the back out of sight.”
>”We keep going, there might be others watching. Édouard can handle it.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5442406
>>”Keep going to the cars. I’ll go back and make sure he doesn’t .”
I knew Casval would try to beat them
>>
>>5442406
1)
>”We keep going, there might be others watching. Édouard can handle it.”

2)
>”Let’s go help him! That next alley up there, we can circle around the back out of sight.”

Leaving Sayla alone sounds like an awful idea
>>
>>5442406
Minor error to correct. The first option should read: "Keep going to the cars. I'll go back and make sure he doesn't do something too foolish."
>>
>>5442406
>"Keep going to the cars. I'll go back and make sure he doesn't do something too foolish."
>>
>>5442406
>”Let’s go help him! That next alley up there, we can circle around the back out of sight.”
>>
>>5442406
>”Let’s go help him! That next alley up there, we can circle around the back out of sight.”
>>
>>5442406
1)
>"Let’s go help him! That next alley up there, we can circle around the back out of sight.”

2)
>”We keep going, there might be others watching. Édouard can handle it.”
>>
>>5442413
>>5442419
>>5442421
>>5442424
Circling around with Sayla to help him. Writing.
>>
“Let’s go help him!” You say, pulling away from Sayla and waving for her to follow along as you run for a gap in the buildings a bit ahead, passing by the empty glass storefronts, “That next alley up there, we can circle around back out of sight.”

“Wait, Maxime!” Sayla shouts, trailing behind you a few steps until you slow slightly, the two of you rounding the corner into the heavy shadows of the narrow alleyway. It’s pretty barren, barely any trash, and you’re quickly out on the other side.

The back lot is even more empty than the front, a single car parked near a door in the opposite direction of where you’re headed to; sightlines here are almost totally blocked a rise in the artificial terrain of the rest of the spaceport area - It moves downwards in small stepped tiers, and this back lot is pressed right up against the wall of the next on higher up which you descended from a little bit ago. If anybody was going to see you it would be from up above on that higher tier, but the glass paneled railing higher up doesn’t have anybody leaning against it.

“Maxime!” Sayla says again, running along with you, “What are we going to do?”

“Help him! Can’t you hear that?” You ask without breaking your stride, a muffled thudding and grunts of pain coming from the alley entrance just ahead of you now that you’ve almost finished circling around.

“No, that's not what I mea-” Sayla stops talking as you both round the corner and get a clearer picture of what’s going on in the alleyway Édouard pulled the man into. Your brother is holding the man by the back of his collar, slamming the bearded man’s head into the cement wall repeatedly - The spy, to his credit, is still trying to resist and struggles against Édouard’s grip between each bone shaking slam into the wall. A discarded handgun lays on the ground nearby, and you immediately spot that the spy’s hand has already been painfully crushed, some of his fingers bent the wrong way.

“Édouard! Stop it! Stop!” Sayla shouts, rushing over. It looks like your brother has this situation under control, at least in terms of the fight, but he might be taking things a touch too far - Those impacts into the wall are starting to leave behind blood on the whitewashed concrete, the man’s forehead badly gashed.

>Scoop up the gun and then join Édouard and Sayla. Best not to leave that thing lying around.
>Help Édouard restrain the man! If you help hold him down then Édouard won’t need to keep bashing his head against the wall.
>Keep on the lookout. This is a secluded area but the last thing you need is a witness to your brother beating a spy half to death.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5442495
>Scoop up the gun and then join Édouard and Sayla. Best not to leave that thing lying around.
>Keep on the lookout. This is a secluded area but the last thing you need is a witness to your brother beating a spy half to death.
>>
>>5442495
>Scoop up the gun and then join Édouard and Sayla. Best not to leave that thing lying around.
Dear God Casval, no way will Sayla support us easily now.

>Tell Casval to stop bashing the spy's head in, and attempt to interrogate him at gunpoint
He'll probably have to be disposed of anyways, but perhaps we can get something out of this...
>>
>>5442498
Support.
>>
>>5442495
>>5442498
Support. But be ready to intervene between Édouard, Sayla and the spy so this doesn't spiral out of control.
>>
>>5442495
>Scoop up the gun and then join Édouard and Sayla. Best not to leave that thing lying around.
>Keep on the lookout. This is a secluded area but the last thing you need is a witness to your brother beating a spy half to death.
>>
>>5442501
Also supporting telling this to Édouard, he has to keep those feelings in check so he doesn't end up like in canon.
>>
>>5442498
Support
Don't want Cas getting in trouble for this.
>>
>>5442501
I like telling him to calm the fuck the down.
>>
>>5442495
>>5442504
Changing my vote to just this >>5442501
>>
>>5442495
>>5442498
+1
I think witnesses are more important than making sure we squeeze everything we can out of the spy.
>>
>>5442498
>>5442502
>>5442507
>>5442523
>>5442505
Writing.
>>
You crouch down and grab the pistol laying on the ground. It’s about the same size as the ones you used to shoot in Spain but much sleeker and with a heel magazine release and more angular sights; you haven’t seen this type before. Gun in hand, you look up to see Sayla tugging at your brother’s sleeve, trying to get him to stop; the spy isn’t resisting anymore…

“Édouard, stop it! Are you trying to kill him!?” Sayla cries out, voice quavering and tears running from her eyes, “Don’t do this!”

“...I…” “Édouard’s grip loosens and then lets go, and the bloodied spy sinks the ground, groaning in pain and barely moving, “Artesia… I didn’t…”

You almost speak up, but with Sayla shouting you decide it’s best to keep watch; move away a bit toward the back entrance to the alleyway and check the tier above you - It’s still clear. You then move back past your brother and sister, heading to check the other side Édouard dragged the man in from - There’s a small yellow car rolling into the far side of the parking lot; there’s a bit of a glare on the windshield but you can see a woman and a child inside. You duck back into the alley quickly.

Sayla is crouched next the the barely conscious spy, checking his vitals with a worried look, still sniffling just a little and a few tears running down her face. Édouard stands above the crumpled up man, staring at his hands almost in disbelief.

“There’s a car pulling into the lot! Stay quiet.” You warn them both before looking to the injured man, “...Is he alive?”

“For now.” Sayla answers quietly, “There’s no way to know how bad it really is but head injuries are never good news. He probably needs to go to a hospital.”

You wince as you look over the man, blood flowing freely from the nasty uneven gash on his forehead and running in rivulets down the rest of his face; he has very tan skin and worn wrinkled features, graying black hair cut short and a neatly trimmed full beard - it’s hard to get much of a better look at him with his nose as badly broken as it is - Édouard really did a number on him. One of the man’s eyes slowly opens, blinks to try to clear some of the blood, and then he raises a hand to wipe it away with mixed success.

You turn back around and head to the front entrance to the alleyways again while Sayla begins to question the delirious wounded man. Peeking out from the alley you spot the yellow car parking, the woman and child exit. You duck back into cover before they spot you. A blue normal suit isn’t exactly great for staying unnoticed.
>>
>>5442587

“Who sent you?” You faintly hear your brother ask from behind you; he must have gotten over his momentary shock. Hurting others isn’t new to either of you, and as much as you hate to think about it you've both killed men close enough to see the whites of their eyes - but he did it with his bare hands and it was so brutal looking… you shudder a little but stay on watch.

>Try to keep an eye on the woman and child. You’re not sure if they’re coming this way or not, there may not be any reason to move from this secluded area… but if they head this way you won’t have long at all to leave.
>”Édouard, Sayla, we need to move him. There are people coming.” It could just expose you to people on the other side, but that back area was clear a moment ago.
>”We need to go, the longer we stay here the worse this is going to get.” Maybe a little premature, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll get any better. Ditch the injured spy and flee.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5442593
>Try to keep an eye on the woman and child. You’re not sure if they’re coming this way or not, there may not be any reason to move from this secluded area… but if they head this way you won’t have long at all to leave.
Kinda doubt a woman and child will just walk into a random alley, but better than leaving when we don't need to, I think we have a good position
>>
>>5442593
>Try to keep an eye on the woman and child. You’re not sure if they’re coming this way or not, there may not be any reason to move from this secluded area… but if they head this way you won’t have long at all to leave.
>>
>>5442593
>Try to keep an eye on the woman and child. You’re not sure if they’re coming this way or not, there may not be any reason to move from this secluded area… but if they head this way you won’t have long at all to leave.
>>
>>5442593
>Write-in
>Go back and try to comfort Sayla. See if you can bandage up the spy and make him lucid enough to respond to Édouard's questions.
>>
>>5442593
>>Try to keep an eye on the woman and child. You’re not sure if they’re coming this way or not, there may not be any reason to move from this secluded area… but if they head this way you won’t have long at all to leave.
>>
>>5442593
>Try to keep an eye on the woman and child. You’re not sure if they’re coming this way or not, there may not be any reason to move from this secluded area… but if they head this way you won’t have long at all to leave.c
>>
>>5442601
>>5442603
>>5442604
>>5442613
>>5442631
Writing.
>>
Peaking back around the corner for just a moment you spot the woman, she has short dark blue hair and is wearing a black skirt suit - A businesswoman of some kind. The child with her, a very young boy with green hair, is struggling to keep up. The woman is walking quickly down the sidewalk, heading in your direction while searching through her small purse, and the boy is following along looking rather lost. You hide once more and back up from the entrance to the narrow alleyways; it won’t be long until they’re both on top of you but if the woman is distracted with her purse it’s possible neither will notice what’s going on in the alley. The shadows are fairly deep but there isn’t any concealment beyond that.

Behind you, your brother continues to question the injured spy.

“It was them, wasn’t it?” He asks, speaking in a threatening hushed tone.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, just let me go.” The man pleads, slurring his words slightly and speaking slowly, as if every syllable is a struggle.

“Stop lying, you rat.” Édouard snarls, “I know they sent you. What did they send you to do?”

The man shakes his head desperately and then winces in pain and stops, “...Nothing, I swear, I have no idea what you’re talking about-Agh!”

Your brother’s foot found its way onto the man’s crushed hand somehow, pressing the wrongly bent fingers into the ground at excruciating looking angles.

“Édouard!” Sayla says in shock, pushing your brother back; he relents, stepping slightly away.

The tactic seemed to work though, the man sounds absolutely terrified of your brother as he stares down at him, “Fine, fine, someone paid me to follow you, I don’t know who - That… that isn’t how these jobs work.”

“...He’s lying.” Sayla says immediately, her voice suddenly growing much colder and the conflicted look on her face melting almost completely away as she turns to look at the spy.

“Hey, I thought you were the nice one!” The man complains weakly, holding both his hands up a little defensively.

“Don’t kill him, Édouard.” Sayla says slowly, stepping back, “But he’s lying.”

“Do you like your other hand?” Édouard asks, crossing his arms. The man nods and then winces once more.

“The Kycilia agency!” The man finally spits out, “I work for the Kycilia agency! God, don’t kill me, they said you were just kids!”
>>
>>5442671

At the entranceway to the alley the well dressed business woman walks past while continuing to search through her small purse for something, completely distracted and unaware of her surroundings and cursing loudly as she walks past, short heels clicking away on the pavement.

"Where's that damned map... I hate layovers... Horrible hotel..."

The ignored boy trailing behind her, however, stops for a moment and looks to the side - Directly at you. He tilts his head a little and waves, smiling and failing to grasp what exactly he’s looking at.

>Smile and wave, smile and wave. He might just keep walking, he’s very young.
>Quickly hide the handgun in a tool pocket on your suit and walk out, say hello, maybe offer directions. Distractions work, you don’t have blood on you or anything and wearing a normal suit near a spaceport isn’t too strange.
>”Shoo! Shoo! Keep moving, kid!” Try to wave him away. He’s young, he might just listen to you.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5442675
>Smile and wave, smile and wave. He might just keep walking, he’s very young.
>Hide the gun, be prepared to interact with either him or the mother.
I had a feeling keeping watch was going to catch someone's attention.
>>
>>5442675
>Quickly hide the handgun in a tool pocket on your suit and walk out, say hello, maybe offer directions. Distractions work, you don’t have blood on you or anything and wearing a normal suit near a spaceport isn’t too strange.
Make sure we walk out past the alleyway and don't just sit in front of it.
>>
>>5442675
>>Smile and wave, smile and wave. He might just keep walking, he’s very young.
>>
>>5442675
>Quickly hide the handgun in a tool pocket on your suit and walk out, say hello, maybe offer directions. Distractions work, you don’t have blood on you or anything and wearing a normal suit near a spaceport isn’t too strange.
>>
>>5442675
>Quickly hide the handgun in a tool pocket on your suit and walk out, say hello, maybe offer directions. Distractions work, you don’t have blood on you or anything and wearing a normal suit near a spaceport isn’t too strange.
>>
>>5442675

>Smile and wave, smile and wave. He might just keep walking, he’s very young.
>Quickly hide the handgun in a tool pocket on your suit and walk out, say hello, maybe offer directions. Distractions work, you don’t have blood on you or anything and wearing a normal suit near a spaceport isn’t too strange.
>>
Maybe I'm looking into this too much, but I feel like if we go out to distract the mom and kid the spy might notice and try to call for help.
>>
>>5442675
>Smile and wave, smile and wave. He might just keep walking, he’s very young.
>Quickly hide the handgun in a tool pocket on your suit and walk out, say hello, maybe offer directions. Distractions work, you don’t have blood on you or anything and wearing a normal suit near a spaceport isn’t too strange.
An excuse could be that we were training to be pilots with our siblings, but it's their first time and one of them got dizzy. We are giving them some privacy while waiting for them to get better.
>>
>>5442675
>>>Smile and wave, smile and wave. He might just keep walking, he’s very young.
>>
>>5442682
>>5442737
>>5442757
>>5442829
>>5442863
Writing.
>>
You put on your best smile and wave to the boy and walk over to the alleyways entrance, blocking a clear line of sight to the interrogation going on behind you. Slipping the pistol into one of your back tool pockets with your off hand; with that done you appear to be just another person in a normal suit to the untrained eye. A more experienced observer might have noticed the pistol before you put it away, but this kid is maybe four or five years old - Pretty clueless and you’d prefer he stays that way.

“Howdy,” You greet him, choosing to play up being a local. Two years is enough to count as a local, right?

“Hello, mister.” The kid greets you, his eyes lighting up as you get into the brighter light near the edge of the alleyway, “Are you a pilot?”

“I am.” You say, stepping out onto the sidewalk; the woman, presumably the kid’s mother, hasn’t slowed down or noticed her child is lagging behind, “You should keep closer to your mother, she’ll get worried.”

“What?” The kid asks, looking quickly toward his now somewhat distant mother, “Oh! Mom! Wait!”

She turns after hearing his shouts, an annoyed look flashing across her face for a moment only to be replaced by worry as she notices you; it fades quickly though, her gaze drifting up and down over you.

“What are you doing all the way back there? You need to pay more attention.” She scolds, brow furrowing as she looks at the young boy.

“Sorry, mom!” The boy apologizes, running over to her.

The woman looks back to you, something changing slightly in her posture, and she speaks in a more pleasant and apologetic tone, “My apologies if he bothered you, he just runs off sometimes.”

“Don’t worry about it, it was nothing; he just stopped to wave and be friendly.” You say, shrugging off the issue as you take a few steps closer. The alleyways is now behind you and quite out of sight of either of them, there’s no risk they’ll see what your brother and sister are up to unless they turn back for some reason.

>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area.
>”Well, you two both have a fine day.” Head back to your siblings.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5443018
>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area.
>>
>>5443018
>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area.
>>
>>5443018
>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area.
>>
>>5443018
>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area.
it'd be real weird to just turn back into the alley
>>
>>5443018
>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area
>>
>>5443018
>>”Well, you two both have a fine day.” Head back to your siblings.
>>
>>5443018
>”...Do you need any help, Miss? You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.” Walk along with them for a few moments, make sure they both leave the area.
>>
>>5443030
>>5443035
>>5443039
>>5443087
>>5443125
>>5443137
Writing.
>>
“...Do you need any help, Miss?” You ask the woman politely as you approach, “You look a bit lost, I’d be happy to give directions.”

“Would you? That would be such a relief,” She answers, letting her purse slide back to her side, “...It’s embarrassing, but I think I lost my map.”

She’s probably in her mid to late thirties, and has a long and somewhat gaunt but not unpleasant face; overall she seems quite prim and severe, a very serious woman by appearance at least, and you have a strong impression that she’s acting friendlier than she normally does.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you headed in the right direction,” You say, moving alongside her, “Where are you headed to?”

“Gate… L8, if I remember correctly.” She answers.

“Heading to Luna?” You ask curiously, “There’s a transit system not too far from here that can get you to the right security zone in a few minutes. Where are you visiting from?”

“Tokyo,” She answers, “I’ve been invited to speak at an engineering conference in Von Braun.”

“And so you brought your son?” You ask, finding it rather odd. You’re now well away from where your siblings are interrogating the spy, the parking lot are behind you as you make your way back toward the glass covered walkways leading to the stairs up to the higher tiers.

“Oh, him. Yes, I wasn’t planning to, but his father is away and I didn’t want to leave him with a sitter for so long.” She says, face wrinkling subtly in disgust for just a few moments; it’s hard to know if it’s directed at the father or her child.

“I wanted to see the moon!” The boy says happily from a little ways behind you, “Mom promised!”

“I did, yes.” She says almost dismissively before directing her attention back to you, “You’re a local?”

“I am,” You answer, but try to shift the conversation off of yourself, “Where’s the engineering conference at? I have a friend attending Von Braun University, she’s studying to be an engineer.”

“Really?” She asks pleasantly, “What a small world, it’s being held at their engineering school.”

“Up those stairs just over here,” You say, returning to giving directions for a moment as you quickly approach the point where they should be able to figure things out for themselves based on the many signs, “What are you speaking on at the conference?”

“Oh, I’m afraid it’s dreadfully dull for laymen… we’ll, you’re a pilot, you might appreciate it.” She says as the three of you begin to climb the barren cement stairs to the next highest tier of the semi-outdoor spaceport, “I’ll be talking about a new titanium based alloy for fusion reactor linings; it’s superior in every aspect to more traditional materials.”
>>
>>5443198
LUNAR TITANIUM?

GUNDAMIUM?
>>
“In every way?” You ask, finishing climbing the stairs to the higher tier and turning to make sure the boy is following closely. He’s a bit behind but soon catches up.

“Other than cost. The expense involved is frighteningly high, but the potential of it goes far beyond miniaturized fusion, there has even been military interest in it if you can believe that - It’s been so exciting to get to work on the team behind it, we’ve been working on it over a decade now.”

“The federation is interested? That’s very impressive.” You comment, and for a moment you wish you had a little more time to hear her out - there are more important things to attend to though.

“I’ve thought so as well,” She says proudly, smirking, “It isn’t just them though, other… parties have shown even greater interest… but perhaps I’ve said too much.”

“Just head on from here until the intersection and follow the signs, you should be able to find your way from there without any issues.” You say, pointing ahead past a few crowds of tourists moving about the low buildings.

“Thank you…” She trails off, blushing slightly in mild embarrassment, “I’m afraid I never caught your name.”

“Maxime.” You answer quickly, smiling.

“Thank you, Maxime, you’ve been a very charming guide.” The woman says, not giving you here own name; it’s not really all that important though, your job as a distraction is more than done now.

“You’re very welcome, both of you. Have a safe flight.”

And with that you head back to your brother and sister quickly, walking as fast as you can in an attempt to cover ground at speed without drawing unwanted attention. They haven’t been alone for long, it’s unlikely anyone would have stumbled across them. Before you head down the stairs to the lower tier you quickly check the area overlooking the alleyway they’re both hiding in; it’s still clear, but you confirm that you can definitely see the interrogation from certain angles. Sayla waves up to you, apparently having taken over your watch duties, and you hurry back down the stairs and rejoin your siblings soon after.

The spy is unmoving, slumped against one of the alley walls, his face covered in smeared drying blood and fresh rivulets alike. Édouard and Sayla both look ready to leave.

“He passed out?” You ask, addressing the question mostly toward your sister.

“He did,” Sayla says with concern, “He needs to get to a hospital soon, Maxime. I don’t know how hurt he really is.”

“There are probably more spies nearby, he confirmed there were others on the colony.” Édouard says grimly.

>”I’ll call an ambulance anonymously, we can use his ID for the comms terminal.” There aren’t any cameras in the area, but it isn’t without risk.
>”We should just leave him, someone will probably find him soon anyways. We need to get as far away from here as possible.” This has already gone on for too long.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5443203
>I’ll call an ambulance anonymously, we can use his ID for the comms terminal.” There aren’t any cameras in the area, but it isn’t without risk.
>>
>>5443203
>”I’ll call an ambulance anonymously, we can use his ID for the comms terminal.” There aren’t any cameras in the area, but it isn’t without risk.
>>
>>5443203
>”We should just leave him, someone will probably find him soon anyways. We need to get as far away from here as possible.” This has already gone on for too long
Maxime, on account of his detour, has almost certainly been ID'd as being in the area. If this Zabi spy dies, he dies.
>>
>>5443203
>”I’ll call an ambulance anonymously, we can use his ID for the comms terminal.” There aren’t any cameras in the area, but it isn’t without risk.
>>
>>5443203
>”We should just leave him, someone will probably find him soon anyways. We need to get as far away from here as possible.” This has already gone on for too long.
Can't say I care if a zabi spy dies but I do care if we get caught assaulting him.
>>
>>5443209
>>5443210
>>5443218
Writing.
>>
“I’ll call an ambulance anonymously,” You say, kneeling down by the unconscious man and fishing around in his jacket pockets until you pull out his wallet and quickly look through it, awkwardly pulling his ID out with your gloves hands, “I can use his ID for the comms terminal.”

“Be quick, Felix. I’ll get us a car,” Casval says with mild irritation, picking up his discarded helmet from the ground, “Artesia, stay with me.”

“You’ve got blood on your suit.” Artesia notes, moving over to Casval to wipe it away with a small cloth she retrieves from one of her suit’s tiny pouches; blood isn’t generally easy to remove, but a normal suit is quite impermeable and it doesn’t take long to clean up, “Where are we meeting up?”

“Pick me up near the maintenance station.” You answer, picking the first vaguely secure place you can think of that’s nearby, “I can get there without being followed.”

“Maintenance.” Casval says in confirmation, giving a small nod before a looking over the area more carefully, “...Where’d the gun go?”

“I’ve got it,” You say, pulling it from your suit’s tool pouch, “Think I should leave it here?”

Casval nods, “Put it near his smashed up hand. I don’t think anyone's going to be attacking us soon, it should be safe.”

You do so, having no need for it; there are plenty of guns back at the lodge, admittedly quite obsolete in design but still functional, and the station police are likely to draw some very unflattering conclusions about the unconscious spy if he’s found with a gun.

Casval and Artesia are already heading off out of the back of the alleyways, and you leave through the front and head straight to the nearest comms terminal. It’s recessed slightly into one of the walls, and after scanning the man’s ID’s you opt for one of the accessibility features meant for handicap users; instead of speaking aloud you type in your aid request with a very brief message and then send it off. It will take a few minutes for a response to arrive, but you waste no time in discarding the ID and fleeing the area.

As soon as you catch sight of other people you slow to a swift walk, disappear into another alley, and after a bit or reorienting yourself you move in the direction of the maintenance station, frequently looking over your shoulder and up at the roofs of nearly every building.

…Soon you’re there, keeping close to the side of the small and unremarkable station. It’s a plain concrete box of a building, barely the size of a micro-convenience store and only just large enough for a minimal break area and tool storage; you won’t be going inside though, instead sticking to the shadowed area under its extended sheet metal roof.
>>
>>5443362

After a few minutes a black car rolls up and the driver’s side window rolls down. Casval looks around, missing you in your hiding place until you step out more clearly from the shadows. He waves you over, and you move around the front and get in the passenger seat.

“Arm one, Aznable Lodge.” Your brother says to the rental car’s computer, an acknowledgement light turning green on the dash for a moment before the car begins to drive away out and away from the built up area near the spaceport.

“It went well, Édouard?” You ask, speaking vaguely while in the presence of the car’s navigation system; you’re not sure if it records conversations but see no reason to risk it.

“No problems. We’ll talk when we’re home.” He answers.

“We're not stopping in town?” You ask.

“Not today.” He says, “There isn’t much to do there now, not after... that.”
>>
>>5443365

One hour later.

The front entrance to the lodge is just ahead of you, your brother and sister on either side of you as the crunching sound of tires on gravel drifts slowly away; the car will drive itself back. The three of you don’t head inside, instead opting for the almost always secluded area near the stables off to the side of the lodge. Cutting across the grass, it isn’t too long of a walk, a gentle chill wind blowing past - the colony’s atmospheric systems weakly mimic seasonal temperature changes, but the weather is generally comfortable and today is no different.

“Casval, Felix,” Artesia says, “We need to talk. Not just about… what happened. We need to talk about everything.

“We do.” Casval agrees, sighing.

“What did you find out from the spy?” You ask, deciding to get that out of the way first.

“He’s working for the Kycilia agency. Not a terribly creative name, but they’re Zeon’s secret police.” Casval says with a grim chuckle, “I’ll give you three guesses as to who ordered the increased surveillance.”

“Why’s she suddenly so interested in us?” You question, hoping there might have been more information you missed while away distracting the woman and child.

“He didn’t know,” Artesia says, “He was very… easy to read after he was hurting… Ugh, I feel disgusting after that… this was all so wrong.”

“I’m sorry it went the way it did,” Casval says gently, placing a hand on her shoulder, “I meant to scare him into talking, but after he pulled that gun I…”

“You should think more before you just run off without explaining things,” She scolds, “...But it’s okay. We’re safe, and I know you meant well. Meaning well only goes so far though, Casval.”

“There wasn’t much time to explain things,” He defends, shaking his head, “And what else should I do, wait for them to come and kill us?”

“No, of course not, but it’s not that hard to talk, is it?” Artesia says, moving in closer to hug Casval, “Why is your first instinct always to hide things and hurt people?”

“...I don’t know, Artesia. They’ve made me like this.”

>”They’ve made us all like this, Casval. Changed all of us. We need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about it. I’m tired of just hiding and waiting.”
>”They’ve hurt us all, Casval… Did you learn anything else from the spy?”
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5443366
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
>>
>>5443366
>”They’ve made us all like this, Casval. Changed all of us. We need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about it. I’m tired of just hiding and waiting.”
>>
>>5443366
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
>”They’ve made us all like this, Casval. Changed all of us. We need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about it. I’m tired of just hiding and waiting.”
>>
>>5443366
>”They’ve made us all like this, Casval. Changed all of us. We need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about it. I’m tired of just hiding and waiting.”
>>
>>5443366
>>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
at the very least, the family has a very promising career racing
>>
>>5443366
>”They’ve made us all like this, Casval. Changed all of us. We need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about it. I’m tired of just hiding and waiting.”
>>
>>5443366
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
>>
>>5443477
Telling Casval that the Zabis changed us will only make him go deeper in his desire for revenge. We have to reinforce positive strength so he doesn't get messed up in the head.
>>
>>5443482
Though I would still like to discuss our future plans with him and Sayla, having something concrete to guide us and our siblings forward should be made soon.
>>
>>5443366
>They haven't gotten us entirely yet - you're still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from that spy? I didn't get much from him."

The first option would only serve to affirm his hatred, I would choose the neutral option but that has no chance of winning.
>>
>>5443482
So something like
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. But we need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about them."
>>
>>5443490
Meant to reply to this post, although it's from the same anon so it's less of a mistake
>>
>>5443517
Yes this is good, I'll support this as a primary option. Only reason I'm supporting the second option is just in case this doesn't win. Need to make sure Casval doesn't become a shell of his former self.

>>5443366
Changing vote to
1)
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. But we need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about them."
2)
>"They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
>>
>>5443366

That write-in seems fitting.

1)
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. But we need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about them."

2)
>”They’ve made us all like this, Casval. Changed all of us. We need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about it. I’m tired of just hiding and waiting.”
>>
>>5443366
>>5443388
I'm changing my vote to
1)
>”They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. But we need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about them."
2)
>"They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through. Artesia, did you feel anything else from the spy? I didn't get much from him.”
>>
>>5443517
>>5443578
>>5443714
>>5443826
Writing.
>>
“They haven’t gotten us entirely yet - you’re still you, Casval - whatever they put us through,” You say, “But we need to finally talk about what we’re going to do about them.”

“You’re planning to fight back, aren’t you?” Artesia asks quietly, staying close to Casval for a while longer.

“Yes, we are.” Casval says, closing his eyes and speaking very carefully to steady his voice, “They took father and mother, and pushed Jimba into that pit, they’ve hounded us and tried to kill us, and Teabolo’s plan to submit to buy time is starting to fall apart. We’re old enough to act now.”

“...How long have you two been planning this?” Your sister questions, her eyes narrowing.

“It isn’t much of a plan yet, Artesia,” You explain, “But we’ve been talking about it on and off since father was killed. It’s only been in the year or two that we’ve even touched on any of the details. We’ve been meaning to include you for awhile now; when we came to talk about mother last year… I almost told you then that we were planning to get rid of the Zabis.”

“So you’re… going to kill them then, is that it?” Artesia asks worriedly, stepping back and away from your brother, “That’s not a goal, Felix, that’s a suicide pact.”

“Not if we do it right.” Casval says, “We aren’t going after all of them. Felix was insistent that the youngest should be spared.”

“Garma and Vivima have done nothing wrong yet, they’re our age.” You offer as an explanation, “There’s no way they were involved… Though I suppose they’re at the age where that might change now.”

“That’s noble, I suppose, but you think sparing two of them makes this any less insane?” She questions in disbelief, “Don’t you remember what happened to Jimba? He became obsessed and it… it nearly got us all killed. This vendetta isn’t healthy… I… I understand it, sort of, but we’ve already lost so much. All we have is one another… I don’t want to lose either of you to this, it’s taken too much already.”

“It isn’t so bleak.” Casval reassures her, “It’s our duty to seek vengeance, but I won’t see it become the death of us. The Zabis took our parents and the life we should have had, Artesia, and they’re twisting father’s legacy into something that could kill millions - they have to be stopped.”

Artesia shakes her head, blond hair flowing with the wind as the colony’s artificial weather begins to pick up, “This is too cold blooded for me. Years of careful planning for murders? …I don’t think I can be a part of that.”
>>
>>5443937

>”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us… And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore.” Appeal to her sense of the greater good. She's always valued helping others highly, even total strangers.

>”We don’t all have to play the same role, Artesia - we’re not even sure what we’re going to be doing yet. I just don’t want to keep you in the dark about our goals anymore, it hasn’t been fair, you deserve to know everything we do.” …It might be best if she stays out of things directly, but this shouldn’t break apart your family.

>”It’s looking like the Zabis aren’t going to leave us alone for much longer, Artesia. They aren’t giving us much of a choice. It’s possible they don’t see you as a threat, rightly or wrongly, but Casval and I are never going to have that target off of our backs. We’re Deikun’s sons; Teabolo was wrong about the political risk to the Zabis fading - they abuse father’s philosophy to further their goals every day, and every follower they attract doing so makes us more of a threat.” Appeal to her love of family.

>Write-in.
>>
>>5443940
>”It’s looking like the Zabis aren’t going to leave us alone for much longer, Artesia. They aren’t giving us much of a choice. It’s possible they don’t see you as a threat, rightly or wrongly, but Casval and I are never going to have that target off of our backs. We’re Deikun’s sons; Teabolo was wrong about the political risk to the Zabis fading - they abuse father’s philosophy to further their goals every day, and every follower they attract doing so makes us more of a threat.” Appeal to her love of family.
>"They are never going to leave us alone sister. They want us to be controlled, a trophy, like mother is. What does it matter if we are locked in a tower or on side 6?"
>"Besides, a war is coming. They are getting bolder, building an army. The Federation is investing on missile defenses and now some type miracle titanium. I learned it from Elena, and the woman that was passing by. Conquering Texas and imprisoning us wouldn't be too difficult if an open war is declared."
>>
>>5443944
I meant to vote for
>”It’s looking like the Zabis aren’t going to leave us alone for much longer, Artesia. They aren’t giving us much of a choice. It’s possible they don’t see you as a threat, rightly or wrongly, but Casval and I are never going to have that target off of our backs. We’re Deikun’s sons; Teabolo was wrong about the political risk to the Zabis fading - they abuse father’s philosophy to further their goals every day, and every follower they attract doing so makes us more of a threat.” Appeal to her love of family.
>”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us… And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore.” Appeal to her sense of the greater good. She's always valued helping others highly, even total strangers.
And the write in's were just additions or rewordings
>>
>>5443940
>”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us… And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore.” Appeal to her sense of the greater good. She's always valued helping others highly, even total strangers.
Nevertheless
>”We don’t all have to play the same role, Artesia - we’re not even sure what we’re going to be doing yet. I just don’t want to keep you in the dark about our goals anymore, it hasn’t been fair, you deserve to know everything we do.” …It might be best if she stays out of things directly, but this shouldn’t break apart your family.
I mostly want to convince her that we aren't wrong for going this way
>>
>>5443940
>”We don’t all have to play the same role, Artesia - we’re not even sure what we’re going to be doing yet. I just don’t want to keep you in the dark about our goals anymore, it hasn’t been fair, you deserve to know everything we do.” …It might be best if she stays out of things directly, but this shouldn’t break apart your family.
>>
>>5443937

>”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us… And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore.” Appeal to her sense of the greater good. She's always valued helping others highly, even total strangers
>>
>>5443940
>”It’s looking like the Zabis aren’t going to leave us alone for much longer, Artesia. They aren’t giving us much of a choice. It’s possible they don’t see you as a threat, rightly or wrongly, but Casval and I are never going to have that target off of our backs. We’re Deikun’s sons; Teabolo was wrong about the political risk to the Zabis fading - they abuse father’s philosophy to further their goals every day, and every follower they attract doing so makes us more of a threat.”
>"I'm sorry you had to learn about things this way, Artesia. But please understand, I don't want to see any of us hurt more than we already are. And trusting the whims of the Zabis shouldn't sit right with any of us anymore."
Appeal to her love of family.
>”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us… And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore.”
>"How many more will have to suffer like we are? I do not want to see any unnecessary bloodshed."
Appeal to her sense of the greater good. She's always valued helping others highly, even total strangers.
Write-ins are just adding a bit more flair and emotion.
If she mentions how killing the main Zabis would be unnecessary, just say that it's self-defense, and how to let them keep doing what they're doing will make many more suffer.
Also letting Sayla go her own way will probably result in a stronger Amuro than canon she might even try to make a bond with him like we have with Tryphosa. But even if that can be dealt with, having her on the opposite side, with everything she knows about newtypes and so on, will probably be an annoyance to us at the best of times.

>>5443944
Supporting having these write-in as well in addition if that's allowed.
>>
>>5444055
If it isn't clear I'm basically supporting >>5443947
And I think >>5443944 would be nice in addition, but I wouldn't change my vote to only support it.
>>
>>5443940
>”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us… And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore.” Appeal to her sense of the greater good. She's always valued helping others highly, even total strangers.


>”It’s looking like the Zabis aren’t going to leave us alone for much longer, Artesia. They aren’t giving us much of a choice. It’s possible they don’t see you as a threat, rightly or wrongly, but Casval and I are never going to have that target off of our backs. We’re Deikun’s sons; Teabolo was wrong about the political risk to the Zabis fading - they abuse father’s philosophy to further their goals every day, and every follower they attract doing so makes us more of a threat.” Appeal to her love of family.
>>
>>5444055
As much as I think we can do this with only us and Cas, it's a good idea to keep Sayla close where we can see her and make sure she supports us instead of gradually growing to like the Feddies while we're away.
Eh she'll be useful for helping us with her newtype ability if we need to pick someone's mind/feelings, and she's not half-bad at piloting.
Besides, keeping the family from fighting each other has been a theme in this.

looking forward to seeing a Contolist Union Triumvirate with us three, with Pope Felix leading a holy crusade against gravity lol
>>
>>5443947
>>5444055
>>5444066
Family + Greater good. Write-in additions where they work.

>>5443977
Greater good + not sure about each others paths but should still stay connected as family.

>>5443984
Not sure about each others paths but should still stay connected as family.

>>5444014
Greater good.

Not going to be able to write for probably the next 5-6 hours, so I'll leave voting open until then. As always I appreciate the write-ins and discussion/speculation.
>>
>>5444066
>>5444055
>>5443947
Back and writing.
>>
As somebody who just caught up and knows next to nothing about Gundam, I'd just like to say this is probably one of the most interesting quests I've seen in a couple years.
Keep it up QM.
>>
>>5444403
Thank you! Glad you've enjoyed the read, that means a lot.
>>
>>5444413
Oh by the way QM might want to archive the thread at some point here. We have slipped to page 7.
>>
>>5444417
I'll be archiving it soon if it hasn't been already, the thread will probably be coming to a close in the next few days anyways. I'm about to hit a very busy period doing academic writing and studying for finals. I'll have a set date and starting time for the next thread before this one ends, but it'll probably be in early to mid December once things settled down again.

I've been having a ton of fun with the quest so far, and we're about to be getting into the really good stuff so I'm excited to keep going.
>>
”It’s looking like the Zabis aren’t going to leave us alone for much longer, Artesia. They aren’t giving us much of a choice.” You try to explain, speaking from your heart and trying desperately to make your feelings known to your sister, “It’s possible they don’t see you as a threat, rightly or wrongly, but Casval and I are never going to have that target off of our backs. We’re Deikun’s sons; Teabolo was wrong about the political risk to the Zabis fading - they abuse father’s philosophy to further their goals every day, and every follower they attract doing so makes us more of a threat.”

Artesia shakes her head unhappily, frowning, “No, there has to be some other way, Maxime. There must be other options besides fighting, they have a whole nation - I won’t stand by and watch you both do something so hopelessly foolish… I can’t believe we never talked about this until now…”

"I'm sorry you had to learn about things this way, Artesia.” You say apologetically, moving stand just next to her and taking her slender hand in both of yours, “But please understand, I don't want to see any of us hurt more than we already are. And trusting the whims of the Zabis shouldn't sit right with any of us anymore. They are never going to leave us alone. They want us to be controlled, a trophy, like mother is. What does it matter if we’re locked in a tower or on Side 5?"

Her blue eyes lock onto yours as you mention your mother, and an icy chill washes over you- far colder than the colony’s mild winds - it originates from Artesia’s hand and spreads quickly over yours, passing over and through you, a wave of a thousand thousand tiny frozen pinpricks.

“It isn’t the same. She’s alone.” Artestia says, “We have a life here together, even if we’re captives. And I know we have to leave someday, but that doesn’t mean we have to run off chasing a vendetta… however much some of them might deserve it. ”

”They’re building an army, Artesia, it’s obvious to anyone paying attention. Casval is right that this is going to grow far beyond us.” You say, holding her hand a little tighter in yours as you try to make the scale of the issue clearer, “...And I won’t lie, I do want revenge against the Zabis responsible, but this isn’t just about us anymore. We can’t keep hiding from it.”

“Why does it have to be our responsibility? Haven’t we suffered enough?” She asks, but her protestations are more hesitant, that chill you felt failing to return, “Living… Living under their watch isn’t so bad, we’re old enough now that we could just talk with them together - make the deal explicit. We live lives that don’t threaten them and they leave us alone.”
>>
>>5444424

“Even if they agreed to that it would never end well, Artesia. Think it through: What are they going to do once they realize we really have completely submitted? That we’re willing to plead for scraps of freedom?” Casval says, sweeping an arm through the air dramatically, “They’ll take this from us, what little we have, and force us to be their puppets. That’s not a life, even if they let us pretend to have careers. Can you imagine living like this for decades? Raising a family? It would be hell.”

“It… It might be safe, though.” Artesia says, but she looks downward and pulls away from you, her hand slipping out from yours as she steps away through the low grass from both you and Casval.

“Until they start a war, Artesia.” You say, allowing her to back off for a moment, “...Elena’s been writing letters to me since we left Spain, and… and her mother held a position on a missile defense committee for a while.”

“What?” Artesia asks, a bit bewildered by the seemingly sudden change in topic.

“I had to read between the lines a little,” You explain, “But the federation was preparing for a war, Artesia, a nuclear war, and one they didn’t think they could win or even survive by the sounds of it. Elena’s mom got so torn up over it that she divorced Georgi - Who could they possibly be afraid of going to war with other than Zeon?”

“You’re telling the truth... The Zabis have nuclear weapons?” Artesia asks in shock, eyes widening in utter horror, “Why would the Federation let them have them? I thought they only had a defense force.”

“Maybe they don’t have them now, but this committee must have been convinced they would in the future, and that defenses wouldn’t work well enough to stop something awful from happening.” You say, trying to reason through it, “With control of an entire Side and their own factories… they probably do already have them, now that I think about it.”

“...How… Why haven’t they done anything?”

“They’re corrupt cowards who waited too long to act,” Casval says, venom filling his voice, “The Federation doesn’t do anything fast, and they almost never do it well.”

“...Like the camp…” Artesia says almost in a whisper, pondering the point for a few long moments, “...I don’t want to make the same mistake.”

“You’re with us then?” Casval questions, though he sounds conflicted rather than happy.
>>
>>5444425

“...I don’t want us to fight, and I don’t want you to run off and get yourselves killed,” She answers, “I don’t even know how we’ll start to do it… But if there really isn’t any chance for peace…”

For just a moment the thought of fleeing the Earthsphere entirely crosses your mind. The outer reaches of human civilization, the Martian and Jovian colonies, probably have a lot of hiding places, but you quickly push the idea aside. The Zabis would likely follow you to the ends of the solar system if they realized you’d gone into such deep hiding, suspecting a brewing plot… and somehow you know Tryphosa isn’t out there - she’s closer. Not close, but not nearly so distant. The peculiar moment of awareness passes quickly, its arrival and exit marked with little feeling or fanfare.

“It’s the only way.” Casval assures your sister, “We don’t all have to play the same role though.”

“If there was any other way you know I’d try it first,” You say honestly, “We’ll need to be smarter and more careful than we’ve ever been, but it isn’t hopeless.”

“...Where do we start then?” Artesia asks, her posture straightening as a new resolve fills her. You sigh in relief, glad to have her onboard even if she a reluctant participant; family should stick together.

>”Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>”There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5444429
I have no idea where to go from here. I am genuinely stumped.

I do want Cas to go to the academy, his connection to Garma would be too useful, but I'm super conflicted on what Felix and Artesia will do. Artesia going to side 7 and getting on the White Base is still a good idea*, but that should be more of a back up plan, imo.

*The Amuro hate is profoundly fucking reddit.
>>
>>5444441
I agree, this is a hard choice. I don't think Artesia should head to side 7 and join the federation purely because she can have much more of an impact with us in the formation of Neo Zeon early by helping Cas not go of the rails.
Counterpoint, liking Amuro is profoundly fucking reddit.
>>5444429
”Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
I'll go with this for now
>>
>>5444441
Option 3 just sounds like us becoming puppets to some random faction that hates the Zabis, and option 2 really needs to be thought out further than "just fake our deaths", where would we go from there? On first glance, option 1 seems the best to me.
>>
>>5444429
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>”There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there.”
The wildcard option.
If it somehow wins, I'm sure that Casval will disagree in two different updates and Felix will fold, like every time we tried to get out of canon.
>>
>>5444429
>”Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
>>
>>5444429
>>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>>5444441
>>5444455
One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it. I dont think things will dramatically take a turn until OYW stuff starts happening and things go completely off rails by ZZ.
>>
>>5444429
1.
>"Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>"...Casval, I think you should do it. You're the strongest one out of all of us and you take to piloting and fighting naturally."
Oh boy, time to follow canon to the letter!
But really, having Cas go alone to infiltrate the Zabis like in canon is our safest bet, with all the connections he'll get. I really want Felix to join as well, but it would be too suspicious if two guys that happened to look like Casval and Felix suddenly appeared in one of their most prestigious military academies.

2.
>"...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>”There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there.”
I really like the idea of doing something like this. It'll probably backfire, but I want fun.

3.
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
Then again just making sure we fool the Zabis and then go from there is always a viable strategy.
>>
>>5444487
>too suspicious if two guys that happened to look like Casval and Felix suddenly appeared in one of their most prestigious military academies.
That and the fact that I really don't want us to be a crutch to big bro. We know he can handle himself for a while at least until the PTSD from the OYW kicks in, but we'll be there for him before that happens, but both us and Sayla can swoop in to help him later on with the Gundams we'll steal from Federation scum.
Either that or we also go to Zeon with Sayla and join a different military academy along her while Cas mingles with the big guys. We could covertly keep in touch with him and even fill him on info/use info he gives us to destabilize Zeon.

Then again going for the first option with both us and Casval is tempting, but there's no chance Cas'll reach his full potential while being in anything less than the situation he found himself in canon. But even if we somehow got in, there's no chance the Zabis will trust Casval to be a war hero with lots of influence and will likely try to dispose of him through an 'unfortunate accident' or something similar.
>>
>>5444495
I'm >>5444487 btw
>>
>>5444496
holy shit my id is doing that annoying crap again
>>
>>5444429
>”Casval has talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering a hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
I'm thinking Casval goes solo here- both for reasons of competence, and avoiding suspicion. The existence of a convenient Char-clone is also relevant. I'm inclined to leave orchestrating Aznable's death to Casval himself. Meanwhile...

>”There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there.”
Artesia and Felix go off the grid together. Keeping the family together is why Artesia agreed after all. It's not totally possible, but the younger siblings could stick together and Felix can keep Artesia to the damned plan. Splitting up would enable us to simultaneously get a man inside the system, while allowing us to prepare resources outside of the regime.
>>
>>5444429
>>”Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
I do desire to pilot a zaku, and forming connections with Garma and the new Zabi would help.
Sides, going it alone also caused a bunch of trouble with Cas' nature. Having Felix around can help.
If we are concerned about being found out, maybe we can change our name to Johnny Ridden?
>>
>>5444530
That would be fine, but there's no chance in hell the Zabis will allow either us or Casval to make connections (especially with Garma or Vivime) while he openly uses his own name. I don't think that option has the choice of having us change either our names, we're just openly sending one or two of us three as a 'hostage' for the Zabis.
>>
>>5444530
I think Artesia would be better at calming down Casval than we'd be. But I know most anons here want to be with him, so we probably won't go down the route of putting them together while we help behind the scenes even though that would probably be the optimal way of doing things.
>>
Maybe we're looking at things the wrong way. What if we keep all of our siblings together instead of separating?
It might be dangerous, but we would be strong enough together to fight most of what's thrown at us.
>>
>>5444551
Well, splitting up allows for wider and more covert maneuvers, and if we're all together then the chances of a strike targeted at us increases.
>>
>>5444555
We'll be targeted either way, especially if its Casval and Felix together without disguises. Good point on the covert operations though, that's something we might need to move forward.
>>
>>5444429
>>”Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past; it probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”
>>
>>5444429
Will this decision lock us in to a future path, or is it just discussion with our siblings?
>>
>>5444901
It's just for discussion for now, but it is an important discussion.

I'll be back from classes in a couple of hours, should be able to starting writing then.
>>
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>>5444918
qm i believe you should start prepping for a second thread
this one has breeched past the 2k mark and is already lagging on my phonefag ass
Also have this neat image i found
>>
>>5444429
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>”There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there.”
You know what? Picking this one alone cause why not.
>>
>>5444999
Now that I think about it, changing my vote to
1)
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
>”There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there."
2)
>”...I think it might be a good idea to fake our deaths, or at least for some of us to. It would give us the most room to maneuver, but I’m not sure how we’d do it though…”
Both of these can give us wiggle room, really don't like the idea of having the Zabis know who we are and where we're going to be.
>>
>>5444450
>>5444457
>>5444530
>>5444704
Back and writing.
>>
”Casval and I have talked about joining the Zeon military academy in the past.” You inform Artesia, a weight lifting from you as you speak completely freely with her for the first time in ages, “...It probably wouldn’t work for all of us to go, but we might be able to fool the Zabis into thinking we’re offering another hostage - It would get someone much closer to them.”

“...Another hostage?” Artesia asks uncertainly, ”Felix, are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It could work…” Casval says as a car pulls up to the front of the lodge, the vehicle drawing his attention away briefly, “The risks would be high. None of us have any issues meeting the academic standards, but only I’m old enough to apply this year.”

“This is what we were talking in circles around earlier, isn’t it?” Artesia questions, confusion clearing from her features as things finally begin to fall into place, “You’re planning to sacrifice yourself like mother has, just… just for a chance to get close.”

“It’s a plan that needs work, I’ll admit. We’re not making any more sacrifices quite like that, Artesia - never again.” You say, though you’re sure Casval could handle himself, “Casval, do you have any ideas on how to do it?”

“A fake identity might help,” He says with a shrug, starting to walk further out into the field and away from the lodge as yet another car pulls up, “Though they’d likely figure it out quickly, I’m sure my disappearance here wouldn’t go unnoticed. Dozle Zabi runs the academy, even if I got in there’s a chance he’d recognize us if he keeps up with their spy reports.”

“The spies work for Kycilia,” Artesia points out, walking along with your older brother, “At least mostly… the agency is named after her anyways… I doubt they talk much, he probably wouldn’t know any of us by sight.”

“Not exactly a model family, no.” You say with a smirk, keeping pace, “That still leaves the issue of what happens to whoever stays behind, disappearing suddenly is going to draw a lot of attention.”

“That’s my biggest concern,” Casval says grimly, “We might need more than one plan.”

“And we should have contingencies in case something goes wrong.” Artesia adds quickly, “...Not that I’m planning for failure, but…”

“No, that does make sense, Artesia. Places to regroup if our plans fail, and some way to communicate, if we absolutely have to, if… or when we go separate ways.” You say, pondering the question for a few moments, “Do you think we could… communicate by thought?”

“No.” Your sister answers immediately, “We can barely do it by accident, Felix, and… Casval, you haven’t done it, have you?”

“Not yet.” He says with a hint of frustration, “We could still use dead drops and prearranged signals, and figure out a way to get messages back and forth more quickly from there…”
>>
>>5445087

“Let’s shelve the idea for now,” You say, seeing that it’s leading nowhere anytime soon “We won’t be able to work on backups and communication until we figure out the bigger picture. So the academy idea, how do you both feel about it?”

“I’m willing to go.” Casval says, “I could join the next class, the applications are already open and it would take attention off of both of you.”

“You don’t want me to go as well?” You ask.

“We’ll have a whole year to figure out if that would even work… unless you’re planning to fake your age,” He says, looking you over, “You could do it, paperwork would be an issue though.”

“And what, I’d go in two years?” Artesia questions grumpily, “No, I don’t like that.”

“Don’t like anyone going, or Casval and I going… or all three of us?” You ask uncertainly, though you already expected an objection from her.

“All three, but mostly the second one.” Artesia answers, “I want it to be just one or all of us. One is risky but… I see how it might work, especially in disguise. Two of us is too much of a risk of discovery if we tried to hide… but if we all went then it might make sense to do it openly. We’d be stronger together…”

You’re not sure if she’s really thought through that last part very much, but on an emotional level it’s true at least; whatever happened you’d have one another for support.

>”Speaking of disguises, how would we even do that? We’ve talked about faking our deaths before - If we could do it right that would help almost any plan we could think of…” Keeping as much to the shadows as possible has to be a part of any plan, anything else is too risky.
>”Go to the Zabis openly? You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you? …That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us… but if we could convince even one…” Stranger things have happened in history, but it would be fraught with peril at every turn.
>”Ignoring the how of it for a moment, how do you feel about the federation military? If there’s going to be a war soon, or in ten years or however long it takes, we might be able to fight the Zabis that way instead. We have degrees, or almost do - we could probably all get commissions, and... Teabolo knows people."
>Write-in.
>>
>>5445093
>"Go to the Zabis openly? You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you? …That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us… but if we could convince even one…” Stranger things have happened in history, but it would be fraught with peril at every turn.
It's so insane it might work. This is the perfect way to start a Zabi civil war, get Garma and possibly Vivime on our side. Hell, we could even kickstart the Gihren-Kycilia factioning and the assasination of Degwin.
2.
>"...other than that there are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there."
Always good to keep our options open. This is just discussion anyway.
>>
>>5445093
>>”Go to the Zabis openly? You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you? …That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us… but if we could convince even one…” Stranger things have happened in history, but it would be fraught with peril at every turn.
Dozel would probably be the easiest to sell to with pride in being a spacenoid and disliking sneaking. The gorilla is probably the best vector to Garma and Vivi as well. Also, too dumb to be sneaky.
>>
>>5445093
>”Go to the Zabis openly? You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you? …That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us… but if we could convince even one…” Stranger things have happened in history, but it would be fraught with peril at every turn.
It's like the NSDAP getting the support of the Kaiser, they'll have to accept. Then we orchestrate our own Valkyrie...
>>
>>5445093
>”Go to the Zabis openly? You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you? …That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us… but if we could convince even one…” Stranger things have happened in history, but it would be fraught with peril at every turn.
>"The best bet on having the Zabis to turn on eachother would be Gihren or Kycilla, one is too ambitious and the other too paranoid, but I doubt we could get closer to either."
>>
>>5445093
>”Go to the Zabis openly? You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you? …That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us… but if we could convince even one…” Stranger things have happened in history, but it would be fraught with peril at every turn.
>>
>>5445131
Actually, Gihren is spreading that corrupted version of Contolism isn't him? Maybe we can fake that we bought it. We know enough about father's words from Jimba to sell it, and Casval has been following his speeches.
>>
>>5445134
Ngl, I don't think Artesia is going to do well pretending to support the extermination of earthnoids
>>
>>5445093
>>”Ignoring the how of it for a moment, how do you feel about the federation military? If there’s going to be a war soon, or in ten years or however long it takes, we might be able to fight the Zabis that way instead. We have degrees, or almost do - we could probably all get commissions, and... Teabolo knows people."
>>
>>5445105
>>5445113
>>5445125
>>5445131
>>5445132
Writing.
>>
“Go to the Zabis openly?” You ask, the words sounding strange and a little unnatural to your ears, “You mean pretend to join their side willingly, don’t you?”

Artesia nods silently, and Casval’s eyes narrow as his gaze settles on her, searching for something.

“...That would be a hard sell, I doubt they’d ever really believe us…” You say, reasoning through it aloud, “But if we could convince even one…”

“A perilous endeavor, if there ever was one.” Casval states, still looking carefully at your sister.

“...I know, but we could look out for one another.” Artesia says, the resolve you saw earlier filling her once more as she meets your brother’s intense gaze, “And we might be able to see mother again.”

Your heart skips a beat; she might be right. If your mother is still locked in that tower after all these years, still clinging to life, then going over to the Zabi’s may really give you a chance to see her again. Casval simply freezes, as if he’d seen a ghost.

“It’s not surrender, we’d act in secret over years, pretend that we've bought into their lies and that... and that it was Jimba who scared us into resisting for years,” Artesia says, her confidence growing with every word, “It made sense to hide when we were young. Everything was so uncertain… it’s still uncertain - but we’re old enough to make these choices now! We can get her back, we just have to be willing…”

“...To take back what they took from us.” Casval finishes for her, his expression softening, “You do understand then, Artesia. You’re not afraid?”

“I’m terrified.” She admits, “I just want us to be safe, to live a normal life somewhere far away from this, to live quietly and help some people, make things a little brighter for someone else… but maybe that’s a selfish dream in this world…”
>>
>>5445252

“It’s not selfish, Artesia.” You say, moving to hug her, “It’s the furthest thing from it.”

“Isn’t it though?” She questions, “I’d almost given up on her entirely.”

Your sister's words cut deep; you gave up on any hope of seeing your mother again years ago, but a wound like that never really heals. There’s never been any closure, nothing but a final farewell from atop that guntank back on Munzo… watching the tower disappear as you left it behind and entered Zum city, you were convinced you’d never see her again. But is it all just a foolish dream?

“She knew what she was doing, Artesia.” You say gently, holding her closely, “It’s not selfish to want peace, she gave us this chance knowing what it would cost.”

“I want her back.” Artesia says, a subtle edge to her voice, something about it reminding you of your brother for half a heartbeat.

“...We all do, Artesia.” Casval says, facing away from both of you and looking out through the open sections of the colony. He’s hiding his face, but you can feel his pain as clearly as if it were your own.

You pull away after just a moment longer, stepping back and smiling as you meet Artesia’s eyes, “We can do this… but we shouldn’t rush in.”

“...No, of course not.” She says, shaking her head before looking over to your brother, “What else… Casval, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” He lies, his voice steady and careful.

>”If we’re going to move openly together then there isn’t much of a reason to delay things any longer, especially with the spies increasing. We need to act before they do. If we present ourselves correctly, very carefully, I’m sure the Zabis won’t be able to deny the offer, it’s too tempting of a prize if we pretend to want to join them… after that things get very, very dicey.”

>”What other choices do we have? I don’t want to rush into anything quite yet, this could get us all killed if we’re not careful. The Federation military could be another option, I bet we could get commissions fairly easily but it would be much slower. Years slower, and still risky but probably safer than just walking right up to the Zabis. We’d have a chance to find allies.”

>”...I’m still trying to think of other options we might have. There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there. As long as we aren’t discovered trying to contact them I doubt it would be half as dangerous as ‘joining’ the Zabis.”

>Write-in.
>>
>>5445256
>"The spies, maybe we should make use of them? If we cat in certain ways, their reports could confirm our excuse. Like how Char's interests in joining Zeon military, if we hanged around him and others that think like him, we could make it more convincing we agree with the Zabi's idea of how things should be.
>>
>>5445256
1)
>”If we’re going to move openly together then there isn’t much of a reason to delay things any longer, especially with the spies increasing. We need to act before they do. If we present ourselves correctly, very carefully, I’m sure the Zabis won’t be able to deny the offer, it’s too tempting of a prize if we pretend to want to join them… after that things get very, very dicey.”
"The spies, maybe we should make use of them? If we cat in certain ways, their reports could confirm our excuse. Like how Char's interests in joining Zeon military, if we hanged around him and others that think like him, we could make it more convincing we agree with the Zabi's idea of how things should be.
>"But we should make sure to have a contingency plan, just in case things go badly."
If we're going, we're going all the way. Still good to have a plan B, though my Write-in is more of a suggestion than anything.
The Write-in from >>5445261 basically the same as the first option but more in depth and with a solid plan. If it's allowed to I'd like to have it combined with the first option. But if it's a choice between the first option and the Write-in I'll chose that anon's Write-in.
Hope that's not too confusing.

2)
>"...I’m still trying to think of other options we might have. There are plenty of groups that oppose the Zabis, we might be able to reach out to one of them for help. It would be risky, but if they already have a network we could disappear and plan further from there. As long as we aren’t discovered trying to contact them I doubt it would be half as dangerous as ‘joining’ the Zabis.”
>>
>>5445256
>>”If we’re going to move openly together then there isn’t much of a reason to delay things any longer, especially with the spies increasing. We need to act before they do. If we present ourselves correctly, very carefully, I’m sure the Zabis won’t be able to deny the offer, it’s too tempting of a prize if we pretend to want to join them… after that things get very, very dicey.”
If we go with this, I stick with the idea of Dozel being our target for getting in when it comes to the Zabis.
The fact he would be with the military us a in during the academy and he can serve as a shield against Kycilia and her spies. Incidentally, with how Artesia serves as a lie detector, we could find out a lot from him without doing much.
>>5445261
Has the right of it. Char and the others would be good smoke screen.
>>
>>5445256
>”What other choices do we have? I don’t want to rush into anything quite yet, this could get us all killed if we’re not careful. The Federation military could be another option, I bet we could get commissions fairly easily but it would be much slower. Years slower, and still risky but probably safer than just walking right up to the Zabis. We’d have a chance to find allies.”
Devils advocate vote, gotta stay true to my ID. Can't get more off the canon rails than having Char join the Federation.
>>
>>5445256
>”If we’re going to move openly together then there isn’t much of a reason to delay things any longer, especially with the spies increasing. We need to act before they do. If we present ourselves correctly, very carefully, I’m sure the Zabis won’t be able to deny the offer, it’s too tempting of a prize if we pretend to want to join them… after that things get very, very dicey.”
and
>>5445261
>"The spies, maybe we should make use of them? If we cat in certain ways, their reports could confirm our excuse. Like how Char's interests in joining Zeon military, if we hanged around him and others that think like him, we could make it more convincing we agree with the Zabi's idea of how things should be.
Using the spies, after all, is but a means of bringing about the first options aims.


>“I want her back.” Artesia says, a subtle edge to her voice, something about it reminding you of your brother for half a heartbeat.
Based, we're getting through to her. We're going to make them give us back our past!
>>
>>5445256
>”What other choices do we have? I don’t want to rush into anything quite yet, this could get us all killed if we’re not careful. The Federation military could be another option, I bet we could get commissions fairly easily but it would be much slower. Years slower, and still risky but probably safer than just walking right up to the Zabis. We’d have a chance to find allies.”

Figuring out all the options seems a decent idea, even if the Zabis do accept our about-face, having an auxiliary plan can't hurt that badly right?
>>
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>>5445323
Why are we still here, Felix? Just to suffer?
>>
>>5445328
The childhood we lost... the family we lost... they won't stop hurting. It's almost like they're still there. Felix, you feel it too, don't you?
>>
>>5445261
+1
>>
>>5445261
The cat was meant to be act, and there are there mistakes. It was late at night.
Atleast it seems other anons understood what I was trying to say
>>
>>5445256
>”If we’re going to move openly together then there isn’t much of a reason to delay things any longer, especially with the spies increasing. We need to act before they do. If we present ourselves correctly, very carefully, I’m sure the Zabis won’t be able to deny the offer, it’s too tempting of a prize if we pretend to want to join them… after that things get very, very dicey.”
>>
>>5445256
>”What other choices do we have? I don’t want to rush into anything quite yet, this could get us all killed if we’re not careful. The Federation military could be another option, I bet we could get commissions fairly easily but it would be much slower. Years slower, and still risky but probably safer than just walking right up to the Zabis. We’d have a chance to find allies.”
Throwing my vote in for this. How else are we gonna get a Ez-8
>>
>>5445256
I really hate the idea of coming out into the open, I’m supporting any option that doesn’t explore that further
>>
>>5445261
>>5445270
>>5445280
>>5445323
>>5445374
>>5445454
Deeper discussion about acting openly to trick the Zabis, suggest preliminary moves.

>>5445321
>>5445460
>>5445327
>>5445473 (Supporting anything that isn't acting in the open)
Discuss joining the feddies.

Writing.
>>
>>5445460
>How else are we gonna get a Ez-8
I'm sure nobody will miss a damaged Mobile Suit.
>>
”If we’re going to move openly together then there isn’t much of a reason to delay things any longer, especially with the spies increasing.” You say, already working through the steps in your head, “We need to act before they do. If we present ourselves correctly, very carefully, I’m sure the Zabis won’t be able to deny the offer, it’s too tempting of a prize if we pretend to want to join them… after that things get very, very dicey.”

“Walking up and talking to them directly might ruffle Kycilia’s feathers the wrong way,” Casval says, still facing away, his voice beginning to sound normal once more, “We need a smokescreen.”

“A smokescreen?” Artesia questions.

"The spies, maybe we should make use of them? If we cat in certain ways, their reports could confirm our excuse.” You suggest, the details slowly coming together, you can already see it playing out in your mind’s eye, “Like Char's interests in joining the Zeon military, if we hang around him and others that think like him, who’ve bought into Gihren’s nonsense, we could make it more convincing we agree with the Zabi's idea of how things should be.”

“Devilish, Felix.” Casval says, turning back to face you and Artesia with an amused and confident smirk, “I’m sure Char would love to have us around, he’s always been keen on us.”

“How much do we really know about the Zabis though?” Artesia asks, “Other than from Jimba’s old rants or the news? What if others disagree with his ideas… we need to appeal to Kycilia first, don’t we?”

“We know almost nothing, but I got the feeling that Jimba had a good read on their personalities…” You admit, seeing some real sense in Artesia’s observation, “We’ll need to be careful about who we appeal to at first and how, you’re right.”

“Gihren and Kycilia are hardly close,” Casval says, “Do you remember how Kycilia spoke when she came to intimidate us?”
>>
>>5445545

“I do.” You answer, thinking back to how she seemed to almost relish the disruption she was causing by offering to allow you to ‘return home.’ It would be impossible to forget that arrogant laugh of hers - she was so assured of her own victory at the time, and then it all blew up in her face when you escaped. She probably isn’t the kind to take embarrassment like that well, but there’s only been one assassination attempt on you thus far, and it seemed to be spurred by Jimba’s actions against Gihren… It’s a mess of a family, and knowing how much they may or may not actually despise one another is almost impossible from a distance, but it’s clear they don’t get on well.

>”We might be able to make both of them think they’ve one upped the other, but of the two I think Kycilia is the one to worry about the most in the short term; she controls the spies, it might not take much to order another assassination attempt. We need to look useful but non threatening, and not embarrass either of them - that’s a hard line to walk.”

>”Casval, how do you think we should handle this? Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.” Hear out what your brother and sister have to say.

>”...Before we dive in any further, are there other options we might be able to take? It would draw a lot of attention if we didn’t fake our deaths first, but joining the Federation military could give us a chance to strike back at the Zabis if we become officers. There are other groups besides them as well, plenty of people despise the Zabis… I don’t want to throw us into the fire without looking over everything.”

>Write-in.
>>
>>5445547
Changing my post btw.

>”Casval, how do you think we should handle this? Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.” Hear out what your brother and sister have to say.

>What if we approched one of the other Zabi's? Dozel is teaching an academy right?
>>
>>5445547

>”Casval, how do you think we should handle this? Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.” Hear out what your brother and sister have to say.
>>
>>5445547
>”We might be able to make both of them think they’ve one upped the other, but of the two I think Kycilia is the one to worry about the most in the short term; she controls the spies, it might not take much to order another assassination attempt. We need to look useful but non threatening, and not embarrass either of them - that’s a hard line to walk.”
>"Gihren is definitely way too ambitious for his own good, if Jimba's rants were right, and the assassination attempt gave him the most support of all of them. If everything start going right, he might try to make a powerplay to get rid of internal rivals, question is how to make him target Kycilia instead of us."
>"Perhaps we could get close to Garma and Vivima first? They are about our age, they most likely would be on the same academies we would."
>>
>>5445555
I support trying to gett close to Dozle too.
>>
>>5445547
>>”...Before we dive in any further, are there other options we might be able to take? It would draw a lot of attention if we didn’t fake our deaths first, but joining the Federation military could give us a chance to strike back at the Zabis if we become officers. There are other groups besides them as well, plenty of people despise the Zabis… I don’t want to throw us into the fire without looking over everything.”
>>
>>5445547
>”...Before we dive in any further, are there other options we might be able to take? It would draw a lot of attention if we didn’t fake our deaths first, but joining the Federation military could give us a chance to strike back at the Zabis if we become officers. There are other groups besides them as well, plenty of people despise the Zabis… I don’t want to throw us into the fire without looking over everything.”
>>
>>5445547
>>”Casval, how do you think we should handle this? Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.” Hear out what your brother and sister have to say.
>>
>>5445547
>”Casval, how do you think we should handle this? Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.” Hear out what your brother and sister have to say.
I'm sure we can come up with a half decent plan if we have everybody's input.
>>
>>5445547
1)
>”We might be able to make both of them think they’ve one upped the other, but of the two I think Kycilia is the one to worry about the most in the short term; she controls the spies, it might not take much to order another assassination attempt. We need to look useful but non threatening, and not embarrass either of them - that’s a hard line to walk.”
>"Gihren is definitely way too ambitious for his own good, if Jimba's rants were right, and the assassination attempt gave him the most support of all of them. If everything start going right, he might try to make a powerplay to get rid of internal rivals, question is how to make him target Kycilia instead of us."
>"Perhaps we could get close to Garma and Vivima first? They are about our age, they most likely would be on the same academies we would."
>"What if we approched one of the other Zabi's? Dozel is teaching an academy right?"

2)
”Casval, how do you think we should handle this? Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.” Hear out what your brother and sister have to say.
>"What if we approched one of the other Zabi's? Dozel is teaching an academy right?"

3)
>”...Before we dive in any further, are there other options we might be able to take? It would draw a lot of attention if we didn’t fake our deaths first, but joining the Federation military could give us a chance to strike back at the Zabis if we become officers. There are other groups besides them as well, plenty of people despise the Zabis… I don’t want to throw us into the fire without looking over everything.”

I just realized I'm voting for all three options lmao
>>
>>5445590
There's nothing wrong with voting for every option, you're just ordering them from most to least favorite; that's the great thing about preference voting when people choose to use it.
>>
>>5445555
I'll support this and dozel.
>>
>>5445555
Supporting the Dozle vote. Dozle's a good man who loves his family, but got stuck with a gay loser and two psychopaths.
>>
>>5445555
>>5445556
>>5445573
>>5445574
>>5445638
>>5445697
Ask for ideas, mention Dozle.

>>5445557
>>5445590 (2nd vote to ask siblings, 3rd to other options)
More of your own plans on how to get close.

>>5445567
>>5445568
Back up a bit and discuss other options.

Writing. Should be able to get it done before I head off for other stuff in the next hour and a half.
>>
”Casval, how do you think we should handle this?” You ask, another chill breeze blowing past as the three of you speak in the clearing near the lodge, “Artesia makes a good point about appealing to Kycilia first.”

“...It will be Kycilia’s idea that we join the Zabis,” He replies after a moment of quiet contemplation, “That’s how the others Zabis will see it. We can trap her in her own pride.”

“Make it look like she misjudged the situation, but if she admitted it wasn’t her idea it would look even worse.” Artesia says, catching on almost immediately, “It’s like something out of those old spy thrillers we used to read, Felix!”

“And how exactly do we do that though?” You question, “That’s just stating the goal, not the plan.”

“We approach one of the other Zabis and claim it was Kycilia’s idea.” He says, a grin spreading across his face, “It’s almost too simple; we just lie.”

“She’ll hate us for it.” You point out, “Kycilia isn’t an idiot, none of them are. That’s a lot to bet on the fragility of her ego.”

“We can make amends,” Casval says with a chuckle, “We simply turn things around once we’re there.”

“...You’re going to seesaw them?” You ask, not quite finding the right words to describe the plan, “Play them off of one another, back and forth, from the very start? That’s bold, even for you.”

“That does sound really dangerous, Casval.” Artesia says, “What if she thinks we’re still too much of a risk and has us… has us killed?”

“Fortune favors the bold, Artesia.” You brother answers, “We’re not going to give her the opportunity. Do you think we should contact Gihren or Degwin? I’m in favor of Degwin.”

“What if we approached one of the other Zabi's?” You ask, seeing a third path, “Dozle is teaching at the academy, right?”

“He runs the entire thing, last I checked.” Casval answers.

“The huge scarred one?” Artesia asks, “Why him?”

“He isn’t Gihren or Kycilia,” You answer immediately, “And Degwin is shrewd, he might see through everything immediately. He had father fooled for years. Even if he’s allowed Gihren to take the lead we shouldn’t underestimate him. Dozle is the closest thing to neutral in that family.”

“He’s a military man, but I’ve never seen much to implicate him in their wider schemes…” Casval says, trailing off for a moment before continuing, “Do you remember how he screamed when Sasro died?”

Artesia nods, grimacing.

“He didn’t accuse anyone immediately. He wasn’t just distraught, he was confused...” Casval carries on, “I don’t think he’s clever enough to have kept his mouth shut in the moment if he suspected who did it.”
>>
>>5445743

“...And the most obvious person would have been Jimba, who was right there.” You say, eyes widening as the implications become clearer, “...But if he knew anything about the assassination he surely would have suspected retaliation from Jimba…”

Flashes of half forgotten memories come back to you suddenly, words said long ago at your father’s funeral becoming crystal clear once more in your mind, and you continue speaking, “...And Garma only mentioned Degwin, Kycilia, and Sasro when I spoke with him."

“Huh? You spoke with Garma?” Artesia asks, very confused.

“At father’s funeral, years ago,” You explain, “I tried to get information out of him, I thought he might have overheard something about that assassination, but he didn’t have a chance to say much before Kycilia intervened. But he said enough!”

You throw back your head and laugh, your brother joining you; your old habit of sticking your nose into everything really paying off for once - It seems very unlikely Dozle knew what was going on at the time, and while it’s a bit of a leap to think he’s still clean it does show that he isn’t as tied up in the intrafamily plotting as Kycilia or Gihren are.

“...What’s so funny?” Artesia asks, though your laughter is starting to get to her, “I, heh, I don’t get it.”

“Nothing, nothing really, Artesia” You say, shaking your head as you try to stop, “It’s just a relief. Dozle and Garma may have just helped us quite a lot, even if they never meant to.”

“You think Dozle can be trusted?” Artesia questions.

“He can be trusted to be Dozle.” Casval answers, “Maybe he’s just a fool, maybe he’s an honorable man born to the wrong family; it hardly matters. If we do this we should reach out to him or Degwin.”

>”How about both? We could send letters to both of them, it might make it all more believable… it risks Degwin seeing through things early on, but it would tie up Kycilia the most.”
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
>”...Before we dive in any further, are there other options we might be able to take? It would draw a lot of attention if we didn’t fake our deaths first, but joining the Federation military could give us a chance to strike back at the Zabis if we become officers. There are other groups besides them as well, plenty of people despise the Zabis… I don’t want to throw us into the fire without looking over everything.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”

We're not joining the fucking Federation. There are enough stories about the Feddies PoV of the OYW.
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
I still want to try my plan to play Gihren's ego and making allies out of Garma and Vivima in the future, but I think repeating the same things over and over is boring.
Feels like trying to force and push the idea.
>>
>>5445746
>making allies out of Garma and Vivima
We fuck Vivima, Char fucks Garma, Sayla fucks some handsome Zeon officer and her kid fucks Mineva. Just steal the Zabi bloodline from Degwin.

Yes, I have 300+ hours in CK2, how could you tell?
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
>>
>>5445749
Your spymaster, Kycilia Zabi, has come forth with evidence of an insidious plot by Kycilia Zabi to kill Kycilia Zabi!
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
If we ingratiate ourselves with Garma and Vivima through Dozle, Degwin's sentimentality will overcome his intelligence and he'll buy into our "loyalty".
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”

I'm hyped as fuck, I didn't expect Dozle to gain traction like this but I'm glad Best Dad is.
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
A hound among jackals I see. I like him already.
>>
>>5445744
>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
>>
>>5445744
>>”I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with, if we get him supporting us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”
All aboard the Dozel Train! Big Zams, military antics, and the twin purple haired kids.
>>
>>5445776
ONCE BIG ZAM IS MASS PRODUCED, THE FEDERATION IS FINISHED!
>>
>>5445776
Nani?
>>
File: zams.jpg (197 KB, 800x463)
197 KB
197 KB JPG
>>5445783
If anyone sees my deleted post, I just found a slightly bigger and higher quality version
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>>5445804
Felix, Casval, and Dozle all piloting our own Ace Custom Big Zams.
>>
Wait a minute, what about the spy Casval beat up? How do we factor him into the equation?
I'm afraid of how things might go if we don't do anything about him, since he stated he was part of the Kycilia Agency.
But then again he might of just run away and changed his name to escape any punishment from Kycilia if he has any braincells left from Cas' beating.
Still I think we should at least make sure things are all right in that department.
>>
>>5445745
>>5445746
>>5445750
>>5445761
>>5445765
>>5445770
>>5445771
>>5445776
Writing.

Big Zam is destined to be mass produced at this rate.
>>
“I think we should only reach out to Dozle to begin with.” You say, your laughter mosty dying down now, “If we get to support us then that should be enough of a safety net to get things started.”

“Degwin’s too much of a risk you think?” Casval asks, “Hm. That suits me just fine, Dozle it is then.”

You nod, “We should probably still make it look like we’re buying into Zeon’s propaganda.”

“Agreed.” Casval says, “It shouldn’t take much to convince Char we’ve bought into it… he’ll be home for a few more weeks, that should be plenty of time to get started.”

“He’s already tried to talk my ear off about it a few times,” Artesia says, face wrinkling a bit in disgust, “That’s what I get for being nice, I guess. I really hate what it’s done to him, he was so sweet when we first got here.”

“There are tens of millions of people just like him, Artesia, it’s part of why this is so important.” You say unhappily, your sister’s words being undeniably true - Char was already interested in the academy when you all arrived at the Texas colony, but he’s gotten quite extreme in his views over the last two years.

“...I know.” Artesia says, sighing, something else obviously weighing on her though, her shoulders slumping slightly, “Should I talk with Teabolo now or wait awhile?”

“On your own?” You ask, “I think we should do it together.”

“No, not the first time.” Artesia says, her voice pained, “...He’s not your father. He never has been. If we go together he might think you’re pressuring me, even if he loves you both too.”

“...We sort of are pressuring you.” You respond almost sheepishly, wishing there was less truth to it.

“I made my own choice, Felix.” She says, that cold you felt earlier returning in a brief flash of chilling awareness, “I’ll speak with him on my own.”
>>
>>5445989

Overhead a hawk cries and swoops down in a sudden dive, striking at some unseen prey in the taller grass nearer to rising hills that lead off away from the lodge; it flies off almost immediately, clutching onto its prize. Beasts like that act without hesitation or pretense; it’s a predator, entirely sure of its own being and hiding nothing. It reminds you faintly of Lucifer.

“He isn’t going to take it well.” Casval states solemnly.

“No… He isn’t.” Artesia says, her voice quavering for just a moment before her posture straightens once more, “I’ll try to make him understand, he needs to know what he’s done for us wasn’t a waste. That we’re not throwing away what he gave us. We can meet with him together afterward… if you want.”

“He’s always looked out for us, he deserves at least that.” Casval says.

“At least that.” You agree. He may not have been a second father to you, but he’s an honorable and caring man; no matter what comes of this you owe him a debt for all he’s done.

“...I’ll tell him later, when we’re closer to leaving.” Artesia says after a brief silence falls around the three of you, “I don’t want to hurt him yet…”

“...Are you sure?” Casval asks gently, looking briefly to you before settling his focus upon Artesia.

“It isn’t the same, Casval.” Artesia answers, meeting your brother’s gaze, “Don’t worry, I understand.”

>”...We should get started then, there’s no time to waste. Char is probably out riding, isn’t he? Let’s go find him, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear about our change of heart.”
>”Casval, do you think that the spy you beat up earlier will cause any issues? He might be too scared to report what happened though, I doubt Kycilia would show mercy to such an embarrassing failure…”
>”...So we’re settled on this then? We could still discuss a few other options, this is a dangerous path we’re about to walk.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5445990
>>”Casval, do you think that the spy you beat up earlier will cause any issues? He might be too scared to report what happened though, I doubt Kycilia would show mercy to such an embarrassing failure…”
>>
>>5445990
>”Casval, do you think that the spy you beat up earlier will cause any issues? He might be too scared to report what happened though, I doubt Kycilia would show mercy to such an embarrassing failure…”
>”...We should get started then, there’s no time to waste. Char is probably out riding, isn’t he? Let’s go find him, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear about our change of heart.”
Really don't want to have the spy be an issue that bites us in the future.
Otherwise we should capitalize on finding Char soon before it gets dark.
>>
>>5445990
>”...So we’re settled on this then? We could still discuss a few other options, this is a dangerous path we’re about to walk.”
>>
>>5445990
>”...We should get started then, there’s no time to waste. Char is probably out riding, isn’t he? Let’s go find him, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear about our change of heart.”
>”Casval, do you think that the spy you beat up earlier will cause any issues? He might be too scared to report what happened though, I doubt Kycilia would show mercy to such an embarrassing failure…”

>>5445965
Is that metal GUNDAM? No its BIGGEST ZAM
>>
>>5445990
>”...We should get started then, there’s no time to waste. Char is probably out riding, isn’t he? Let’s go find him, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear about our change of heart.”
>>
>>5445990
>”Casval, do you think that the spy you beat up earlier will cause any issues? He might be too scared to report what happened though, I doubt Kycilia would show mercy to such an embarrassing failure…”
>>
>>5445993
>>5446120
Spy.

>>5445994
>>5446005
Spy then get started.

>>5446024
Get started.

>>5446002
Discuss other options.

Any objections to just going with spy+get started?
Mostly asking >>5445993 and >>5446120 since voting to discuss the spy doesn't necessarily mean wanting to jump right onto doing stuff afterward.
>>
>>5446238
Works for me.
>>
>>5446238
I'm fine with that
>>
>>5446246
>>5446247
Thanks for the quick responses, anons. Writing.
>>
“Casval, do you think the spy you beat up earlier will cause any issues?” You ask, grimacing momentarily as the image of the man’s bloodied face flashing before your minds eyes, “He might be too scared to report what happened though, I doubt Kycilia would show mercy to such an embarrassing failure…”

“He was terrified,” Artesia says, “And not just of us. I… I could feel it, for a moment, when he admitted who he was working for. I don’t think he’ll speak about it willingly.”

Casval considers your sister’s claim for a moment before speaking, “I trust your instincts, Artesia. We’ll still need to account for it in how we present ourselves going forward, fear is only a barrier until an even greater fear presents itself; I’d put nothing past Kycilia.”

Artesia’s face looks pained for a moment, but she gives a little nod of agreement regardless.

“Account for it how?” You ask, though several methods are already coming to mind, “...Presenting ourselves as sympathetic to Zeon but still wary of spies isn’t contradictory, I suppose. They did try to kill us at least once, it would be strange if we didn’t respond to being directly stalked.”

“Exactly. We present the truth, in a way; we’re wary of what the Zabies might do since we haven’t spoken with them, but we want to ‘join’ them,” Casval says, moving over an placing a hand on your shoulder, “The best lies are always based in truth, Felix, or just the truth presented from a different angle.”

“There’s still a risk they could misread it,” You point out, although as you begin to speak you realize your brother may have already done quite a bit to add to the cover story, “We definitely weren’t showing signs of wanting to join before today… or… Well, actually I suppose that isn’t quite true… You get the Zeon Herald, don’t you?”

“And a few other papers,” Casval says with a smirk, “I’ve requested the application forms to the academy and spoken with a recruiter once as well.”

“...I still don’t like any of this, but I’m glad you’re not running off on your own.” Artesia says, her hands balled in little fists despite her sympathetic expression, “We should get started, shouldn’t we?”

“I agree, we should get started, there’s no time to waste.” You say, a new sense of purpose filling you; there’s a goal to work towards now, as dangerous as it might be, “Chare is probably out riding, isn’t he? Let’s go find him, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear about our change of heart.”

“Together then.” Casval says.

“Together.” You and Artesia echo.
>>
>>5446342

Two weeks later

The last two week have been tiring, a slow and carefully orchestrated show for any spies that might be watching, every move calculated and discussed in private with your brother and sister before being made where you might be observed. First it was meeting with Char, who nearly fell off his horse when your sister expressed a sudden interest in applying to the Zeon academy, and then after that it was reading Zeon propaganda in public spaces, discussions just slightly louder than necessary while in town, slight changes to your dress and mannerisms to look a little more militaristic, ceasing to speak with earthnoid classmates at the joke of a tiny public school you’re still made to attend in town.

It’s an exhausting lie.

There are months to go until you’ll send your fateful correspondence to Dozle Zabi. Only your brother will be able to attend the academy immediately, which will leave you and your sister… living with the Zabis, or whatever arrangements end up being settled on - You’re not looking forward to it at all, it’s a very uncertain part of the plan, and part of you is hoping that some kind of exemption might be made to allow you to both attend the academy alongside Casval. You don’t really look all that much younger than him anymore, it wouldn’t raise any suspicions, though Artesia is still obviously not old enough.

Teabolo has noticed the change in behavior, he’s always been observant, but a new bout of illness has prevented him from taking much action about any of it; you’re remaining on polite terms with him but leaving any large discussions for Artesia to handle, as she requested.
>>
>>5446349

Elena has sent another few letters, the pace and dark content of her messages still alarming - she's clearly battling a terrible sense of loneliness and alienation - and you’ve been faced with a bit of a predicament: What do you tell her?

First Vote
>That you’re considering joining the Zeon military academy. Go all in and use the letters with her as another front to obscure your real motivations. You’ve always been careful to avoid speaking about certain topics in the letters, suspecting they might be intercepted by the Zabis, but perhaps it could be useful now.
>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.
>Write-in.

And what are you doing currently?
Second vote
>You’re with your brother, memorizing pieces of some of Gihren’s awful speeches and scouring other bits of news about the Zabis… apparently Vivima won some sort of singing competition, and Side Six is holding a referendum on forming its own defense forces.
>You’re with Artesia, practicing piloting. Despite her natural aptitude for it she’s still far behind you and Casval, and she could use all the training she can get..
>You’re on your own, going to speak with a Zeon recruiter you heard is at the spaceport currently. They’re very likely a spy, but that’s the point - This is another important part of the ruse.
>>
>>5446356
>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.

>You’re with Artesia, practicing piloting. Despite her natural aptitude for it she’s still far behind you and Casval, and she could use all the training she can get..
>>
>>5446356
>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.
>You’re with your brother, memorizing pieces of some of Gihren’s awful speeches and scouring other bits of news about the Zabis… apparently Vivima won some sort of singing competition, and Side Six is holding a referendum on forming its own defense forces.
I think sis would be better as some sort of battlefield medic than a direct soldier. Of course, that is not going to work for long as the war progresses and both sides get more desperate.
>>
>>5446356
First Vote
>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.
As much as I want to use this as a front to convince any Zabi spies, Elena is too useful to possibly alienate. She's going to a boarding school and might even start working for the Federation, right? Having someone that will share their secrets is something too good to afford losing.

Second Vote
1)
>You’re with Artesia, practicing piloting. Despite her natural aptitude for it she’s still far behind you and Casval, and she could use all the training she can get..

2)
>You’re on your own, going to speak with a Zeon recruiter you heard is at the spaceport currently. They’re very likely a spy, but that’s the point - This is another important part of the ruse.

Having Sayla as a good pilot would help us in the long run, and we probably get to practice as well.
>>
>>5446356
>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.
>You’re with Artesia, practicing piloting. Despite her natural aptitude for it she’s still far behind you and Casval, and she could use all the training she can get.
Worse comes to worse, she needs to be able to get a ship and evade anybody who might try to stop her.
>>
>>5446356
>>That you’re considering joining the Zeon military academy. Go all in and use the letters with her as another front to obscure your real motivations. You’ve always been careful to avoid speaking about certain topics in the letters, suspecting they might be intercepted by the Zabis, but perhaps it could be useful now.

>You’re on your own, going to speak with a Zeon recruiter you heard is at the spaceport currently. They’re very likely a spy, but that’s the point - This is another important part of the ruse.
>>
>>5446356
>That you’re considering joining the Zeon military academy. Go all in and use the letters with her as another front to obscure your real motivations. You’ve always been careful to avoid speaking about certain topics in the letters, suspecting they might be intercepted by the Zabis, but perhaps it could be useful now.
While giving up Elena as an friend and asset is unfortunate, this most dangerous of paths requires total commitment alongside luck.

>You’re with your brother, memorizing pieces of some of Gihren’s awful speeches and scouring other bits of news about the Zabis… apparently Vivima won some sort of singing competition, and Side Six is holding a referendum on forming its own defense foLuck.
All. In.
>>
>>5446356
>That you’re considering joining the Zeon military academy. Go all in and use the letters with her as another front to obscure your real motivations. You’ve always been careful to avoid speaking about certain topics in the letters, suspecting they might be intercepted by the Zabis, but perhaps it could be useful now.

>You’re with your brother, memorizing pieces of some of Gihren’s awful speeches and scouring other bits of news about the Zabis… apparently Vivima won some sort of singing competition, and Side Six is holding a referendum on forming its own defense forces.

>You’re on your own, going to speak with a Zeon recruiter you heard is at the spaceport currently. They’re very likely a spy, but that’s the point - This is another important part of the ruse.
>>
>>5446356
>>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.
She is a good friend and lead. No need to ruin things with her.
>You’re with Artesia, practicing piloting. Despite her natural aptitude for it she’s still far behind you and Casval, and she could use all the training she can get..
She doesn't need to be a fighter. There are plenty of support roles she can fill like medievac and supply.
>>
>That your life is getting more dangerous and that you’d discuss it with her if you could meet in person. Vague but true statements, and unlikely to set off alarm bells for any Zeon agent that might read it. Focus mostly on the problems she’s been telling you about, and a few small stories about things you’ve been doing - Business as usual.
>>
First vote:
>>5446358
>>5446367
>>5446368
>>5446371
>>5446429
>>5446468
Focus on trying to help Elena

>>5446389
>>5446410
>>5446418
All in on the Zeon ruse.

Focusing on trying to help Elena wins.

Second vote:
>>5446358
>>5446368 (second option for speaking with the recruiter)
>>5446371
>>5446429
Piloting with Artesia.

>>5446367
>>5446410
>>5446418
Studying the Zabis with Casval.

>>5446389
Speaking with the recruiter.

Piloting with Artesia wins. Writing.
>>
You squint at the sensor readout, gloved hands tapping at a few buttons surrounding the monochrome screen as you watch the space traffic around the colony. There are far more little green blips than you’re used to seeing, each one a shuttle or passenger liner; early January is usually a busier time for travel, but this is almost excessive - For how small Texas colony’s population is it really has been making good use of its excess spaceport capacity…

“Still not clear?” Your sister’s voice asks, whispering in your ear a little too quietly through your helmet’s internal speaker. Turning a small dial you raise the comms volume back up, having had it quieter for a minute to focus on the complex flow of traffic.

“It’s getting there, Sayla.” You respond over your pod’s radio. Sayla’s pod is just a bit ahead of yours, its thrusters flaring in little bursts as she maneuvers about impatiently. You’re violating quite a few laws and safety regulations by having her fly her own craft right now, but that’s not exactly new to your secretive training regime - The perks of knowing the Aznables and befriending many of the colony maintenance crews continues to pay off.

“We’re not going to be racing again, are we?” She asks, “It won’t be as fun without Édouard.”

“No, I have something else in mind.” You say slyly, watching at the traffic on your side of the colony slowly begins to clear up, “Turn off your sensor suite. The area’s clear of debris and traffic, don’t worry about collisions.”

“...Okay, done. Why do I need it off?” She questions, her pod ceasing its movements. You bring your own to a complete stop, a little tug of deceleration pulling on you. Flicking a few switches you turn off the sensors of your own pod, several of the screen crowded around the large circular glass canopy turning black.

“Remember when we used to play hide and seek, back when we were little?” You ask, hoping this isn’t a terrible idea, “I was thinking we could try doing that again, but… on a slightly larger scale.”

“We’ll be blind, Maxime.” Sayla complains unhappily, “Not much of a game if it’s that easy to hide and impossible to see.”

“We’ve been doing normal practice for hours, just trust me on this one.” You respond quickly, “I’m going to fly off first. Stay on this channel, but don’t look. Try to… feel what’s around you, I suppose.”

“...Oh.” Artesia says, a hint of excitement to her voice, “I get it!”

“Well, keep what you get to yourself,” You respond, chuckling as you begin to guide your worker pod away from your sister’s and off along a randomly chosen vector, “You can never know who’s listening in. Give me a couple of minutes, I’ll let you know when to start.”
>>
>>5446604

A few minutes later

“Alright, I’m far enough out.” You say over the radio, sitting back in your seat and relaxing a bit. This might take awhile, but at least the view is beautiful - Even after all these years you never get tired of just looking out into the vastness of the cosmos, the endless expanse of everything there is; sometimes you can almost feel your own consciousness expanding outward to…

A flash of awareness interrupts your peaceful observation, and a sudden intense sensation that you’re being watched fills you; it’s not a cold or predatory feeling, there’s no unnerving chill to it… it’s familiar, warm, but passes quickly. You smile, and try thinking of your sister. There’s a second, briefer moment of connection, and then nothing. You sigh; hopeful it was enough to get her a bearing.

A minute and a half later and you’re looking out through the reinforced glass of your pod’s canopy and across a small gap of space into your sister’s, her pod stopped just ahead of yours.


“You got here faster than I did.” You remark, “Was it really that easy?”

“...I tried to think of where you went and… I sort of just knew, I could feel you over here.” She says, her face just faintly visible through the many layers of canopy and visor glass separating the two of you.

“Now it’s your turn to hide.” You say, “Anywhere you want, even along the colony. Everywhere’s fair game.”

“See you in a few hours.” Sayla replies with a little mock salute before the thrusters of her pod fire and it turns away from your own.

You close your eyes and wait, feeling at peace once again.

A few minutes more.

“You’re never going to find me.” Sayla finally says over the radio, clearly struggling not to laugh as she interrupts the silence you’ve been basking in.

You exhale and try to focus, centering an image of Sayla in your mind, trying to think back to what it felt like when her presence brushed just past your expanded awareness. You sit for nearly a minute, trying to reach out for anything, any sign or clue as to what direction she might be in.

At the very edges of your perception, just barely dancing along the limits of your awareness, you sense her presence; it would be wrong to describe it like sight - it’s more akin to one’s awareness of the location of their own body… almost beneath the level of thought. She isn’t far.
>>
>>5446606

Opening your eyes, you’re greeted by a view of space just outside of the glass ahead of you, and many blank sensor readouts among the other instruments and controls of your craft.

Trying desperately to hold onto the vague sense of your sister’s location, you turn your craft about with a few gentle pulses of the thrusters… and your sister’s presence shifts. It’s still near you, but no longer where you’re now facing. You furrow your brow and change your pod’s facing one more… and the feeling slips away for a moment, but when you manage to get it back it feels as if she’s in a new location… behind you. Again.

“Dammit, Sayla.” You say over the radio, “Stop that!”

“What do you mean? Is there something wrong?” She questions, trying a little to hard to sound innocent.

“Stop mirroring my movements!” You say, spinning your pod much more suddenly and catching a glimpse of your sister’s trying desperately to stay just out of sight - it’s impossible for her pod to keep behind you now that you know the game she’s playing, and soon enough you both come to a halt once again in plain sight of one another.

“I was hoping it would take you longer than that.” She says with a sigh, voice crackling through your helmet’s speaker, “Do you want me to go and hide further out? We can do it properly, I just wanted to have some fun.”

>”We should head back, I think that’s enough for today.” You both have appearances to keep up now, your ruse to get into Zeon requires work every day - It has to be flawless.
>”Do you ever wonder why Édouard has such a hard time with it?” Keep the conversation vague, no telling who’s listening in.
>Stay quiet for a moment, try to communicate by thought. You’ve had almost no luck with this in the past, but you know it can be done.
>>
>>5446607
Write-ins are also an option, just forgot to add it on at the end.
>>
>>5446607
>Stay quiet for a moment, try to communicate by thought. You’ve had almost no luck with this in the past, but you know it can be done.
>>
>>5446607
>"Hey Sayla, how about we watch the stars a bit, they are beatiful today aren't they?" Better to cover your bases with an excuse first
>Stay quiet for a moment, try to communicate by thought. You’ve had almost no luck with this in the past, but you know it can be done.
>>
>>5446607
>”We should head back, I think that’s enough for today.” You both have appearances to keep up now, your ruse to get into Zeon requires work every day - It has to be flawless.
>>
>>5446607
>Stay quiet for a moment, try to communicate by thought. You’ve had almost no luck with this in the past, but you know it can be done.
>Focus as much as you can on that sense of expanding awareness you felt just a few moments ago, and attempt to lean in with your heightened perception towards her mind. Being her brother, there is a sense of familiarity with her emotions that you can use to try and reach for her.
Always good to practice newtype abilities, besides this is probably the best way to avoid getting overheard by any spies. We probably should talk about Édouard inability once we land and are away from any prying ears.

>>5446617
Supporting this write-in as well.
>>
>>5446607
>>Stay quiet for a moment, try to communicate by thought. You’ve had almost no luck with this in the past, but you know it can be done.
>>
>>5446607
>Stay quiet for a moment, try to communicate by thought. You’ve had almost no luck with this in the past, but you know it can be done.
>”Do you ever wonder why Édouard has such a hard time with it?” Keep the conversation vague, no telling who’s listening in.
>>
>>5446614
>>5446617
>>5446629
>>5446646
Writing.
>>
“Sayla, how about we just watch the stars for a bit. They’re beautiful today, aren’t they?”

“They look like this everyday, Maxime.” Sayla says. Her pod comes alongside yours and begins to turn to face out and away from the colony and toward the endless sea of stars.

“I know.”

She sighs over the radio, “...A few minutes can’t hurt anything, that does sound nice. I like it when you’re like this.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re happier when you’re out here,” Sayla says, “Freer.”

“Mhm. Nothing else like it.” You agree, “Do you feel it too?”

“Sometimes.” She answers quietly, “Sometimes things make more sense out here, it gets so quiet sometimes, gives me time to think about things… but it never lasts.”

“Well, let’s enjoy it then, while it’s still here.” You say. Sayla doesn’t respond over the radio, but you know she agrees.

You idly unbuckle your seat’s acceleration harness; there’s no need for it right now. Exhaling deeply you truly relax, nothing at all weighing upon you in the absence of acceleration or gravity… Flicking a few switches you shut off most of your pod’s remaining screens for now, the interior of he spacious cockpit darkening as you gaze upon the uncountable pinpoints of light in the black; the whole universe is just beyond the canopy glass…

Focusing upon that sense of expanding awareness you felt earlier, the memory still clear in your mind, you contemplate the vastness of space; even the area of the earthsphere is almost unimaginable, but it’s barely a speck of the inner solar system, which is dwarfed by the outer, and that’s swallowed by the Oort cloud, and beyond that lies the untraversable depths of interstellar space - And even that is hardly a speck of a speck of the galaxy, let alone the whole of the universe. The scale of it all might frighten some and confuse others… but it’s a true comfort to you, knowing that there’s something so vast as to be beyond time...

It’s where our dreams are.

For a moment you’re both free of yourself and still bound up within, outside and looking in, inside looking out; the exterior of your pod clearly visible alongside Sayla’s, just as you’re aware of every detail of your cockpit’s control and the feeling of your own normal suit pressing against you. You are in two places at once, perhaps more, the experience severely disorienting at first as you try to focus upon it… but soon a steady and familiar presence joins you, and your awareness of the space around you settles into a clearer picture.

“Artesia?” You ask wordlessly, almost without thought, a ghostly silhouette of your sister appearing in your mind’s eye, diaphanous pink and green energies swirling about and mingling as your mind struggles to visualize an experience far beyond sight.
>>
>>5446770

“Felix?” You feel her question; wonder, love, and fear all wrapped up together - She’s never seen this before.

“I’m here, Artesia.”

“What is this light?”

“Us… I think.”

“…It’s so beautiful…”

Your moment of serene understanding is cut short as a streak of black tears through the cosmic scene surrounding your expanded consciousness, a bolt of abyssal dark ripping through the bright colors like a knife tearing through a stage curtain, your new reality peeling away in the blink of an eye.

Something hostile is coming for you both.

“Artesia, get back to a docking bay now!” You shout over the radio, your voice shaking in fright as you slip up and use your sister’s old name.

Flicking switches and turning screens back on, your pod’s sensors slowly whir back to life, an almost imperceptible electric hum growing louder inside the cockpit. Searching over the sensor data you see it: a large blip is on a heading directly toward both of your pods, and it has no transponder on. Sayla’s pod begins moving at once, engines flaring to life as it suddenly takes off and then arcs about head toward the safety of the colony.

Buckling your harness back up quickly, you push your pod’s engines nearly to their limit and catch up with your sister’s craft as it burns back toward the great metal cylinder.

“What is it?! I can’t see anything out there, it's all a mess!” Artesia shouts over the radio in a panic; she’s not as used to sifting through the sensor data as you are… No, actually that can’t be it, there’s something wrong with your sensors too. The blips on the screen are flickering, bouncing about and jumping around, moving in strangely sharp and flickering patterns… It isn't normal interference.

“Maxi… at’s go… n.” Sayla’s voice comes through garbled, horribly distorted; something is affecting the radio too. You fly your pod closer to hers, close enough to almost touch the titanium hulls against one another, and the radio interference clears up.
>>
>>5446774

“It’s jamming us, I think!” You say, your pod’s sensors still a mess and only getting worse - They’re practically useless now beyond the vague information that something is approaching - Even an estimation of its distance is impossible, each sweep has it jumping around what should be dozens of kilometers.

>”Sayla, gun it! Safeties off, give it everything you’ve got!” Push your pods to their true limit, the nearest maintenance docking bay on the colony is unfortunately a bit distant but you might be able to make it.
>”Sayla, aim for the security docking bay!” Hopefully they’re paying enough attention to open the doors, it’s much closer.
>Focus your mind once more and try to see what this thing really is or at least get a sense of where it is; running might just get you killed. Your pod isn’t completely defenseless, its spindly little arms have cutters that can slice through armor plating in flash and they’re surprisingly responsive.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5446775
On one hand we can't afford to waste any time. Though I feel like going for the security docking bay is a bad idea. The spies might've used their influence to have them closed on purpose.
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>>5446775
>Focus your mind once more and try to see what this thing really is or at least get a sense of where it is; running might just get you killed. Your pod isn’t completely defenseless, its spindly little arms have cutters that can slice through armor plating in flash and they’re surprisingly responsive.

>”Sayla, gun it! Safeties off, give it everything you’ve got!” Push your pods to their true limit, the nearest maintenance docking bay on the colony is unfortunately a bit distant but you might be able to make it.

RIP AND TEAR
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>>5446775
>”Sayla, aim for the security docking bay!” Hopefully they’re paying enough attention to open the doors, it’s much closer.
>Focus your mind once more and try to see what this thing really is or at least get a sense of where it is; running might just get you killed. Your pod isn’t completely defenseless, its spindly little arms have cutters that can slice through armor plating in flash and they’re surprisingly responsive.
Both of these can work together. Sayla runs while we focus on what's chasing us. We got jumped by a Zaku I prototype, didn't we?
>>
If we survive, we can use use this as a way to prove we're loyal to the Zabis by saying something to the effect of "Damn, those Feddies tried to assassinate us! This is why Zeon should be independent!"

>>5446775
>>5446782
Support. This could be a good strategy to use. I just hope I'm not wrong about the spies using their influence to close the security docking bay and we're not just taking the long way for no reason.
>>
>>5446775
>Focus your mind once more and try to see what this thing really is or at least get a sense of where it is; running might just get you killed. Your pod isn’t completely defenseless, its spindly little arms have cutters that can slice through armor plating in flash and they’re surprisingly responsive.
>>
>>5446775

>”Sayla, gun it! Safeties off, give it everything you’ve got!” Have her push her pod to its true limit, the nearest maintenance docking bay on the colony is unfortunately a bit distant but she might be able to make it.
>Focus your mind once more and try to see what this thing really is or at least get a sense of where it is; running might just get you killed. Your pod isn’t completely defenseless, its spindly little arms have cutters that can slice through armor plating in flash and they’re surprisingly responsive
>>
>>5446775
>1) ”Sayla, gun it! Safeties off, give it everything you’ve got!” Push your pods to their true limit, the nearest maintenance docking bay on the colony is unfortunately a bit distant but you might be able to make it.
Fuck that shit

>2) Focus your mind once more and try to see what this thing really is or at least get a sense of where it is; running might just get you killed. Your pod isn’t completely defenseless, its spindly little arms have cutters that can slice through armor plating in flash and they’re surprisingly responsive.
>>
>>5446791
Now that I think about it, if we actually run into a Zaku prototype then it'll be really hard to sell that we want to join the Zabis after witnessing one of their machines trying to kill us.

>>5446775
Changing my vote to only:
>”Sayla, gun it! Safeties off, give it everything you’ve got!” Push your pods to their true limit, the nearest maintenance docking bay on the colony is unfortunately a bit distant but you might be able to make it.
>>
>>5446782
>>5446854
Fight back! + Tell Sayla to fly to the docking bay.

>>5446783
Fight back + Tell Sayla to fly to the security docking bay.

>>5446826
Fight back!

>>5446862
>>5446869
Flee to the docking bay.

Technically that's a tie between just fleeing and fighting back+telling sayla to go to the docking bay, but some form of fighting back is obviously favored.

Any objections to going with Fight back + Tell Sayla to fly to the docking bay as the winning combination?
I'll start writing for now, can always rewrite if there are serious objections.
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>>5446903
Well, I almost want to avoid seeing whatever it is that's trying to kill us just for the chance to at least make it believable that we want to join Zeon.
It's not the worst thing in the world if we do fight it, I mean we might be able weasel ourselves out of being suspicious, but I'm leaning towards just fleeing.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>5446903
I don't know what to do so I'll roll a 1d3 to see to what I change my vote to.
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>>5446920
Ok, dice has decided to Fight back! + Tell Sayla to fly to the docking bay
>>5446826
This was my on mobile
>>
“Sayla, gun it! Safeties off, give it everything you’ve got!” You shout over the radio, “Head back to the docking bay!”

“That’s really far, the sec-” She starts to say, but you interrupt before she can finish; this isn’t a time for debate and you’re the more experienced pilot by nearly a year.

“You’ll make it, just go!” You yell, trying to maintain some degree of confidence as you begin to turn your own pod around and flip a few switches on the panels in front of you, the screens surrounding your controls and the glass canopy changing to display the views of various auxiliary cameras around your pod - They’re a bit low quality, and seem to be having some mild distortion, but it’s better than jammed radar.

“You… ean… ll… ake… t… ight? Felix…!” Sayla’s voice rapidly becomes a garbled mess once again as her pod continues to hurtle back toward the colony and you slow down your own momentarily, trying to sense where the hostile presence is - There’s something out there.

Exhaling, you try to calm yourself and focus once more on the expanse of space, the vastness of it all and the minds of the people within it; yourself, your sister, and whoever is coming for the two of you… Your eyes widen as you catch just a hint of a consciousness, a faint flash of awareness giving you a heading to work with but nothing more; you waste no time in spinning your pod to face your pursuer.

Squinting through the glass of your pod’s canopy you can’t see anything at first, but acting on almost instinct alone you begin to accelerate toward it - Not a full burn, if it turns off to catch Sayla you don’t want to have overcommitted and be helpless. The tug of sudden acceleration helps clear your thoughts. Moving your thumbs along the secondary controls of the twin control sticks on either side of your chair, you cause the pod’s spindling little arms to move fully up and into view, their simple manipulator clamps spinning and clicking together with a sharp snap you can feel reverberate through the pod’s hull. There’s a flash of light as the cutting torch of one activates briefly, a streak of bright white leaping out nearly a meter from the end of the arm just between the manipulator clamps - It’s not meant to be a weapon, but you’ve seen it cut through armor plating in seconds before; you’re not completely defenseless.

In the inky black you catch sight of something, a rapidly approaching silhouette of a… person? No, that can’t be right. You zoom one of your pod’s cameras in and get a clearer view of it; it’s an enormous humanoid robot of some sort, made up of gray armor plating and with a somewhat rounded yet primitive look to its limbs and body, a single red sensor in it’s visored head staring back at you… It doesn’t have any obvious weapons, but it’s approaching fast!

“What the hell is that?” You ask aloud in mild shock, “...It almost looks like a guntank!”
>>
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>>5447011

You don’t have much time to appreciate the humanoid robot’s appearance as it closes the distance, quickly filling the entire frame of the camera as it struggles to keep the robot in frame, the camera’s automatic tracking struggling and then completely failing to keep a lock on it. It’s no matter though, you can see its flaring engines in the distance now with just your naked eye, its strange silhouette rapidly growing in size.

It has no visible ranged weapons, no exposed missiles or cannons; a lucky break perhaps. You push the throttle of your pod forward, blasting forward on an interception path - If it wants a fight you’ll give it a…

You realize in shock that the robot is much, much larger than you’d thought at first; its torso alone must be a bit bigger than your entire worker pod. That fact has almost no time to sink in though, the machine is already upon you!

Its limbs shift about and verniers across its armored body flare into life as it twists and contorts, changing its flight path with frightening agility that seems to defy everything you know about piloting, easily outmatching your pod as you try to maintain your facing toward it, cutting torch burning and spindly arms sweeping through the vacuum. In the chaotic tumble of firing thrusters you manage to score a single lucky swipe across the robot’s left arm, the torch cutting into it and leaving a long carbon charred furrow, but at the cost of both of one of your pod’s manipulator arms as it impacts the strange machine with a horrible reverberating clang and tears off, spinning away into the depths of space.

You slam your foot down, the robot flying upward to relative to your view of it through the cracked canopy of your pod, the sudden downward acceleration pulling you upward against your chair’s restraining harness and tugging against the maglocked boots of your normal suit - You’re glad you opted to take the harness at all, strictly speaking it isn’t necessary, but it does make violent maneuvers like this a less harsh on your legs.

Spinning your pod as you move downward past the robot’s feet, you swing the remaining manipulator arm at its foot, the cutting jet catching it momentarily before being swallowed up by a far larger and almost blinding jet of flame as the rocket in the robot’s foot flares into a more powerful burn and it quickly boosts away. As the pod’s canopy darkens to compensate for the nearly blinding light, you fire the maneuvering thrusters, the whole world sent spinning as you frantically try to track where the enemy machine went, its silhouette disappearing and reappearing on the many displays surrounding your controls - It’s too difficult to track. Your pod’s remaining manipulator arm is partially melted but somehow still operational, its cutting torch sputtering but still active.
>>
>>5447014

Something hits the top back of your pod, and you’re thrown forward in your seat, slamming the top of your head just barely against the controls in front of you; the world narrows to a dark tunnel, another loud clang reverberating through the pod. Blinking, trying to recover from sudden concussion, you look up. The top of your pod has been caved in, the hull breached and torn and the atmosphere rapidly rushing out into space. You watch in horror as the reserve air tank, the emergency supply for exactly this type of situation, rips free of its bindings and slips out into space through the huge gash in the hull.

Spiderwebbing cracks spread across your visor as you turn back to the controls, trying to turn the pod about; the engines fire, but all you hear is a horrible screeching of tearing metal; you ease up immediately and look over the camera screens; most are black, knocked out entirely, but in one of them you can see the arm and part of the robot’s torso and head. Its glowing eye moves from side to side on a narrow track, scanning, and you realize that your entire pod has been grabbed.

The gentle tug of acceleration presses against you once more.

…It’s not trying to kill you, if it were you’d already be dead; you’re being kidnapped!

The entirety of your pod shakes for a few moments, rattling violently and tossing you about in your chair; you scream as the entire world begins to spin… and the feeling of acceleration ceases. The stars are spinning outside of the cracked canopy and hull breach of your pod, but… the robot isn’t there. You catch a glimpse of it briefly, fire shooting out from its left foot in sporadic gouts as it thrusts away.

It takes you a moment to figure out what happened, but eventually it clicks; your cut at its foot must have hit a fuel line, or whatever passes for one on that bizarre machine, and it’s been forced to retreat! Relief floods over you, and you throw back your head and laugh, body and head aching terribly after being thrown around so badly.

…The cracks on your visor spread further.

Quickly you pull a few emergency patches from your normal suit’s slender belt pouches and apply them to your visor, the adhesive strips sealing to the surface of the cracking glass and stabilizing it… they also block your vision something terrible, and you have to awkwardly view things from the side to see what’s going on around you. Testing the controls of your pod you find that they’re quite dead, the thrusters totally unresponsive. The lights inside the pod die, covering everything in deep shadow.
>>
>>5447018

You’re alone, the stars spinning outside as your pod drifts helplessly into space.

>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…
>Write-in.
>>
>>5447024
>>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…
Felix is consistently getting into fights with better equipped, older or better trained people, getting his shit kicked in but getting lucky enough in the end to hurt the other one and live.
I wonder how long it will be until it runs out.
>>
>>5447024
>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?

Try to get a link to Texas or Sayla, if the Minovsky interference is too much try to hail the Proto-Zaku.

I've never seen or read Origin, so I'm in the dark with the tech right now.
>>
>>5447036
Well, you are in luck, there's a wikipedia article about it! A normal wikipedia one, not even of the fandom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_Universal_Century_technology
The Minovsky particles from the prototype's reactor have a passive jamming effect.
>>
>>5447045
I understand UC Tech in general, it's the only Gundam timeline I like, it's just the stuff in Origin I don't know much about.
>>
>>5447024
>>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
Priority in the order listed, as per usual.
Imagine being such a shit pilot that your prototype mech suit gets its ass whooped by a maintenance vessel.
>>
>>5447056
>Imagine being such a shit pilot that your prototype mech suit gets its ass whooped by a maintenance vessel.

Watch that it's a famous Ace like Ridden or Packard.
>>
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>>5447036
>>5447052
It was a MS-03 Waff, the first true model of mobile suit as it has a miniaturized fusion reactor that spits out those wonderful Minovsky particles we all know and love; it was the proof of concept for everything that came afterward. A handful were made but production was quickly stopped. Next came the MS-04 Bugu, which was much more combat capable than the Waff and slightly more capable than the later Zaku I but too expensive to mass produce, and then finally came the much simpler to manufacture Zaku I. Zudahs probably still fit in there somewhere as a failed design, but that's mixing the 'old' UC timeline in with The Origin.

Good taste in Gundam.
>>
>>5447067
>Zudahs probably still fit in there somewhere
Zudahs were produced by Zimmad, Waffs and Bugus were therefore likely Zeonic designs.
>>
>>5447024
>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
I forgot how early we were in UC. Still a few more years before shit kicks off.
>>
>>5447024
1)
>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.


2)
>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…

3)
>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…
>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.


Really bad idea to trust the thing that was trying to kidnap us a few moments ago. Might not see siblings till the OYW, which will keep us planning to a minimum.
And if wedo get kidnapped, it might make Cas do something drastic and potentially sabotage any chance we get to meeting to being in the Academy or even getting close to the Zabis.
>>
>>5447135
Wait, I just reread the post. No chance it can kidnap us in the state its in. I'm tired sorry.

>>5447024
Changing my vote to
1)
>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…

2)
>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…
>Try to use your newtype abilities to make your presence known. You don't know how well this will work, especially so far away from anyone, but it's worth a try.

3)
>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
>>
>>5447024

>2)Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>1)...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
>>
>>5447158
>>5447024
Fuck, meant for 1) to just be
>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.

I probably just need some sleep.
>>
>>5447024
>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
>Sit tight and just try to focus on controlling your breathing, conserve air. Someone will come… right? …Sensors are all screwy right now though, they might not even see you…
>>
>>5447024

>Attempt to hail the colony on your radio. This is bad, really, really bad. Your normal suit only has about fifteen minutes of air. …That strange interference from earlier might stop the signal.
>...Try to hail the retreating robot. You need help and it’s the closest, even if it’s damaged, but you need to act fast before it gets out of range. It might have been an enemy moments ago, but spacenoids don’t leave one another to die in the black… or do they?
>>
>>5447036
+1
>>
>>5447031
Sit tight.

>>5447036
>>5447056
>>5447368
>>5447377
Hail the colony or Sayla, then try the robot if that doesn't work.

>>5447118
Hail the retreating robot.

>>5447135
Hail the colony. (2nd sit tight and try to use newtype abilities; 3rd hail colony/sayla and then robot if it doesn't work)

>>5447348
Hail the retreating robot, sit tight if it fails.

Writing.
>>
Alone inside the wreckage of your pod, you stop for just a few seconds to calm yourself, steadying your breathing and quickly running through the options available to you in your mind. You unclamp your boots from the now useless pedals while simultaneously unbuckling your harness, and then kick up and off through the vacuum filling the crumpled and torn interior. Thankfully there’s no sparking cables or fuel fires, this could have been worse, but it’s still very bad.

As you float up and backward toward the gash in the hull, you catch yourself at its edge and grab hold of a length of severed green cable floating about uselessly but with one end still attached to some deeper part of the vessel; it’s far from a proper tether, and you grip it tightly as you carefully maneuver between the torn sections of the outer hull, slowly emerging into the true void of space. The magboots of your normal suit are next to useless on the titanium outer hull of the ruined pod, and so holding onto the cable is your only real measure of safety. Looking around, the colony is clearly visible, as are the great spheres of the earth and moon… The engines of the retreating robot are still visible, it’s limping along at a much, much lower speed than before.

You’d revel in your triumph, but the thought of dying out in the emptiness of space dampens your spirits somewhat… not the worst way to go, but you’re determined it’s not going to happen today.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday, Texas CTC this is Pod 0032, mayday, mayday, mayday…”

You continue speaking, going through the full emergency procedure and repeating once… but you get nothing in response. There aren’t any engines coming your way either, at least none that you can see; the colony must not know what’s going on.

“Sayla, can you hear me?”

No response. You try again a few times. Despite your best efforts your heart rate picks up a little as panic begins to settle in; you know you need to keep calm and conserve your limited oxygen supply, but that’s advice that’s a lot easier in theory than practice.

Turning to face the fading lights of the robot, its engine still faintly visible, you try to hail it on all frequencies. …The proper protocol for hailing a retreating enemy isn’t something you’re familiar with, if such a thing even exists, so you just wing it - there’s no time to waste.

“Retreating giant robot, do you read me? This is the pilot of the pod. I’m not dead, my pod is disabled. I need assistance, my normal suit was damaged and I don’t have a reserve air tank.”

The robot ignores your request for aid, continuing to slowly grow smaller, becoming harder and harder to distinguish from any of the thousands of stars stretching out across the black… and then its engine cuts out, light fading entirely.
>>
>>5447460

Cursing to yourself, you get ready for another round of hailing anything that might be nearby, the colony, the robot, anything at all - If that fails you’ll need to just hold still and hope someone finds you. Sayla will come back, you know she will, but could she find you in time? An indignant rage fills you as you look out to where the lights of the robot’s engines were just a few moments ago, and you can’t help yourself from lashing out at least once.

“Hey, you bastard in the robot!” You shout over the radio, “Come back and help, you did this to me!”

Of course there’s no response. There was never going to be. You grip tighter to the damaged cable acting as your lifeline.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday, is anyone out there at all? Mayday, mayday, mayday…”

I’m going to die.

At least Artesia got away… You try to calm yourself and steady your breathing, try to contemplate the universe or reach out to your sister with your mind… it’s no use, dread slowly growing within you as it becomes more and more clear that you’re not going to get out of this one. Checking the air reserve indicator on your wrist you see that you’re already down to two thirds… ten minutes, longer if you manage to actually calm down.

There’s nothing to do but wait…

An unfamiliar female voice crackles through over the radio, badly garbled but still just clear enough to make out after it repeats itself, “Hold tight.”

You scan the vastness of space for any sign of where the signal could have come from; any hint of a rocket, any telltale sign of stars vanishing momentarily as something moves across them… and you find it quickly; the robot is coming back! It’s slow, much slower than before, but it steadily grows larger and larger in your view, the faint light of its rockets just barely visible and surrounding it in a faint aura of light.

“I see you. Hold still.” The voice orders you, the enormous form of the robot slowing to match your spinning pod, its limbs and verniers working together to match the steady spin of your damaged pod until eventually the robot seems to be standing still and the rest of the universe is what’s spinning.
>>
>>5447466

A hatch on the robot’s upper torso opens, swinging up to reveal the slender form of a woman in a green normal suit; she’s putting on a compact thruster backpack, and a moment later she flies toward your pod, little puffs of cold gas emitted from the little thrusters on the long arms of the pack. She’s holding a small spare air tank under one arm.

“Are you injured?” She asks, her voice coming through much more clearly over your helmet’s radio but still with far more interference than it should have at such a close range.

“My visor’s cracked.” You answer, the situation feeling almost surreal, “...Otherwise I’m fine.”

Why is she helping?

“Slammed your head into something?” She questions, calm and professional, her thruster pack slowing her to a stop leaving her floating in open space a few meters away from you, her gray eyes narrowing on the other side of her own visor, “That looks bad, you need to get back inside.”

“I got it sealed.” You say, having to awkwardly look at her through the side of your visor due to the patches covering the center of your field of view.

She flies over a little closer, now floating almost within arms length, “You did. Turn around, I need to get this tank hooked up.”

>”I can do it myself.” Letting her anywhere near your suit’s oxygen ports doesn’t sit well with you; she was your enemy just a couple of minutes ago.
>Turn around and let her hook up the oxygen tank; if she were here to kill you then you’d be dead several times over by now.
>”...You’re with Zeon, aren’t you?” That normal suit sure doesn't look Federation.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5447469
>Turn around and let her hook up the oxygen tank; if she were here to kill you then you’d be dead several times over by now.
>”...You’re with Zeon, aren’t you?” That normal suit sure doesn't look Federation.
>>
>>5447469
>Turn around and let her hook up the oxygen tank; if she were here to kill you then you’d be dead several times over by now.
>"...why are you helping me?"
>>
>>5447469
>Turn around and let her hook up the oxygen tank; if she were here to kill you then you’d be dead several times over by now.
>"You are oddly polite for a kidnapper. Do me a favor and don't try to whisk me away while repairing me will you? We can try to come to deal."
>>
>>5447504
I doubt she'll be able to kidnap us in the state her Zaku is in unless whatever ship she's hailing from is close by, which is hopefully very unlikely.
I think it'd be best to wait before offering any deals to anyone, at least until we know for certain that she has the ability to get us.
But if we are offering a deal, we should promise our silence about the machine on the condition she takes us to the docking bay/somewhere close and visible so we could easily be found or even just tell her to leave us with the oxygen tank (I mean, it should last us long enough for us to be found). We should at least try to make a deal that won't affect our plans with Casval and Artesia, if we do make one.
>>
>>5447560
Well, the deal was more to convince her than anything, but if it does happen, then silence or agreeing to cover for her fuck up is a good one, since I don't think she would want to admit to her superiors that a little docking ship somehow managed to damaged the zaku that much.
>>
>>5447570
That's fair. I was worried we'd say something like "alright lady, I'll go with you and your space robot to some unknown place for the next few months if you promise to take me back to Texas" or something similar.
>>
>>5447587
Oh god no, that would be a horrible idea.
>>
>>5447469
>>Turn around and let her hook up the oxygen tank; if she were here to kill you then you’d be dead several times over by now.
>>”...You’re with Zeon, aren’t you?” That normal suit sure doesn't look Federation.
I got a inkling who this is. Lets see if thats true.
>>
>>5447469
>Turn around and let her hook up the oxygen tank; if she were here to kill you then you’d be dead several times over by now.
>”...You’re with Zeon, aren’t you?” That normal suit sure doesn't look Federation.
>"Is there a reason you're out here taking shots at kids in the boonies?"
We don't know what she knows, or which Zabi sent her. Best that we don't let on our true identity if she was kept in the dark.
>>
>>5447472
>>5447473
>>5447629
>>5447636
>>5447504
Writing. Should be able to use most of the write-in dialogue, it all more or less goes together.
>>
You comply, pulling back on the cable and turning about once you get your feet more firmly on the crumpled outer hull of the pod. A few moments later you feel a hand on the back of your suit, and then something larger presses into it; the oxygen indicator on your wrist indicates you have a little over an hour of air now.

“...You’re with Zeon, aren’t you?” You ask over the radio, turning back around to face the woman; she’s already backing off slightly, gas puffing from the arms of her thrust pack as she gets a bit of distance between both of you again.

“I am, sir. Did the tank seal properly?” She confirms, brushing right past the matter and clearly more concerned with the rescue efforts, “Time remaining?”

“It's sealed, I’ve got an hour.” You reply, brow furrowing in confusion, “…Why are you helping me?”

“It’s the right thing to do.” She answers as if it were obvious, “I didn’t realize you’d survived.”

“Is there a reason you’re out here taking shots at kids in the boonies?” You question, studying her face carefully to try to get a read on her intentions; she’s fairly pretty, with the refined features characteristic of much of Side Three’s upper classes. For now you don’t sense any ill will, or… anything, really, it’s almost like she’s not even there.

“Good soldiers follow orders.” She answers seriously, her tone then shifting to sound almost congratulatory, “I didn’t expect you to fight back earlier; that was great initiative.”

“...You’re awfully polite for a kidnapper,” You say, “Do me a favor and don’t try to whisk me awhile while doing repairs, will you? We can come to a deal.”

“Sir, your pod is floating scrap.” She says, her calm demeanor cracking for a moment as she almost laughs, “I’m afraid there aren’t going to be any repairs. Are you willing to come along peacefully?”

“...We can still come to a deal.” You say, your gaze briefly lingering on the holstered pistol at her side, “You seem like a reasonable person, can’t you just signal for colony security to pick me up, or drop me off at a bay?

“I’ve made the only offer I’m within my authority to give.” She says, her eyes following yours quickly even as she extends a hand toward you, “Come peacefully and you have my word as an officer that you’ll receive fair treatment.”

“Go along in… that thing?” You ask incredulously, looking past her to the gray humanoid robot, “It barely limped back here, and I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

“Sir, I must insist.”
>>
>>5447758

Going with her, ‘peacefully’ or not, isn’t exactly high on your priority list. Artesia and Casval are on their own right now, separated; this isn't how this was supposed to happen, you've all just barely begun your own plan.

>”Who’s your commanding officer? Which Zabi sent you?” You’re not going anywhere, especially not without getting some questions answered first.
>”Who are you? Are you the only person they sent?” Artesia might have gotten away for now, but Casval has been on his own and there might be other kidnappers… he can probably take care of himself though.
>Fight! Grab her extended hand, try to pull her in and go for the gun. She left the cockpit of her weird robot thing open, you might be able to steal it if you can jump over there!
>Write-in.
>>
>>5447758
"don't try to whisk me away while doing repairs" rather.
>>
>>5447759
>”Who’s your commanding officer? Which Zabi sent you?” You’re not going anywhere, especially not without getting some questions answered first.
Stealing a Waff is a good way to get on Zeon as a whole's shitlist. Not a good idea if we want to infiltrate them.
>>
>>5447759
>>”Who are you? Are you the only person they sent?” Artesia might have gotten away for now, but Casval has been on his own and there might be other kidnappers… he can probably take care of himself though.
Got a weird gut feeling. Think this is less about us being one of Daikun's kids and more the fact we noticed her piloting a super top secret military project.
>>
>>5447759
>”Who’s your commanding officer? Which Zabi sent you?” You’re not going anywhere, especially not without getting some questions answered first.
>”Who are you? Are you the only person they sent?” Artesia might have gotten away for now, but Casval has been on his own and there might be other kidnappers… he can probably take care of himself though.
>"I doubt we'll go far in that thing. You can fulfill your orders better if you can get some repairs done in the docking station" Try to stall for time if you can't convince her. Maybe Artesia or Casval can plan something, or the Colony can send a ship to where you are.
A shame she's so unreasonable.
>>
>>5447766
Also mention the gas leak, and how just going with her might complicate the situation with her superiors considering the state of that mecha. And add that we'll cover for her if any questions are asked.
>>
>>5447759
>”We are both floating in space wounded. Unless you have a pickup nearby, it's better to call for help."
>"Just let us go on our own ways and no one has to know about this. I doubt you would be a officer for much longer if your higher ups learnt Zeon's new weapon got wounded by a repair pod."
>>
>>5447759

>”Who’s your commanding officer? Which Zabi sent you?” You’re not going anywhere, especially not without getting some questions answered first.
>”Who are you? Are you the only person they sent?” Artesia might have gotten away for now, but Casval has been on his own and there might be other kidnappers… he can probably take care of himself though.
>>
>>5447778
Actually, I think I might change it to
>”Who are you? Who’s your commanding officer? I want to know who to avoid when I join Zeon's academy. Kidnapping spacenoids isn't what the recruiters said that the army would be doing."
>"I doubt we'll go far in that thing. You can fulfill your orders better if you can get some repairs done in the docking station" Try to stall for time if you can't convince her. Maybe Artesia or Casval can plan something, or the Colony can send a ship to where you are.
>>
>>5447798
And to explain why, I don't want to seem too paranoid by mentioning the Zais or asking if there are more, since there is a small chance they aren't actually here for us. She probably won't answer it anyway.
By mentioning the academy, I hope she would be more supportive to what we are saying, and maybe make it look like side 6 is supportive of Zeon, so the offer for dock and repairs would feel genuine instead of an obvious stall for time. Also, it adds to the plan we have been doing if she makes a report.
>>
>>5447759
>”Who are you? Who’s your commanding officer? I want to know who to avoid when I join Zeon's academy. Kidnapping spacenoids isn't what the recruiters said that the army would be doing."
>"I doubt we'll go far in that thing. You can fulfill your orders better if you can get some repairs done in the docking station" Try to stall for time if you can't convince her. Maybe Artesia or Casval can plan something, or the Colony can send a ship to where you are.
>>
>>5447800
That's a good point. And I suppose her not killing us to keep the military secrets rests on her having some sort of honor code she follows.
Though I'd rather not mention our plans to join the academy to some random soldier that's probably directly connected to Zeon itself, Kycilia might hear about it sooner than we want and make 'preparations' for us (though then again she probably already knows about our plans).
>>
You know what, the risk is worth the possible payoff.

>>5447759
Changing my vote to >>5447798
>>
>>5447839
But we aren't trying to hide the plan on joining the academy, the exact opposite actually, since part of it is to hang around Char and other like it so the spies report back to give legitimacy to the change of heart. And the intelligence agency is head by Kycilia.
The officer reporting back would only really warn Ghizren, in case both Kycilia and Dozle are hiding the info from him, which I doubt since although it's something the witch would do, that's not really the big guy's style.
I see Zeon like Nazi Germany, every department is trying to get one over eachother, even more than normal that is.
>>
>>5447763
Ask who her commanding officer is and which Zabi sent her.

>>5447764
Ask who she is and if there are others.

>>5447800
>>5447840
>>5447838
Ask who she is and who her commanding officer is + comments about the academy + try to convince her to go to the docking station.

Writing.
>>
>>5447849
Yeah, you're right. This could actually be a really good thing, if everything aligns right.
>>
>>5447855
Sometimes you have to take a risk to make things work out.
Casval might be a bad influence.
>>
>>5447875
You think so?
>>
“Who are you?” You ask, tensing up and readying yourself for a possible fight, “Who’s your commanding officer? I want to know who to avoid when I join the academy, kidnapping spacenoids isn’t what the recruiter said the defense force does.”

“A soldier does what they’re told, sir.” She says, raising an eyebrow at your comment but continuing with her oddly respectful affectations despite being rather close to holding you at gunpoint, “I’m Lieutenant Blanche, ZDF special research and projects division. I’m here under direct orders from Colonel Dozle Zabi.”

“...Dozle Zabi?” You ask, surprised by how forthcoming the lieutenant is being - This might be a salvageable situation, you were expecting some no name officer or maybe Kycilia.

“Yes, sir.” She confirms, “Are you going to come peacefully?”

“I doubt we’ll go far in that thing.” You say, pointing to the badly scorched foot and lower leg of the robot behind her, “You can fulfill your orders better if you get some repairs done at the docking station.”

“Please don’t attempt such obvious ruses, sir.” She says, her face unreadable and calm, “I admire your tenacity, but you’ve misjudged this situation; my mobile suit is still operational.”

“Mobile suit?” You say carefully, as if you were testing each syllable of the unfamiliar term, “...It was trailing fire a few minutes ago, and that foot thruster is practically melted. It barely limped back here, there’s no way it’s in any shape for long distance flight.”

“It won’t be a long distance flight, sir. I signaled for pickup as soon as I received your transmission.” She explains, still eyeing your carefully, “Laser comms cut through most of the interference. I'm sure you've realized by now that radios are almost useless; I barely got your signal, you were very lucky.”

Pff, some luck, but the use of laser comms is rather revealing. That means her ship has to be somewhere in direct line of sight, or at least a relay needs to be - You don’t see anything though, just stars and empty space, no sign of a ship large enough to carry such an enormous machine as that ‘mobile suit’ of hers. Anything that large would surely set off alarm bells with colony security, right?

>”...Alright then, Lieutenant, what’s the goal of your mission? Simple kidnapping, or?...” It’s bizarre to even be having this conversation, you half expected to have her attack you by now.
>”...Is Dozle in direct command of this mission?”
>”I don’t believe you, you’re just trying to salvage a screwed up missing, aren’t you?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5447911
Third option should say "I don't believe you, you're just trying to salvage a screwed up mission, aren't you?"
>>
>I’m here under direct orders from Colonel Dozle Zabi.
At least that explains her behavior. Man I had a feeling going to fight that Zaku prototype was a bad idea.
If what she's saying is true about getting a pickup, we're on a time limit to get away from her and go back to the colony.
Also it's probably a bad idea to accuse her of lying, since Doyle's thing is honesty and straightforwardness.
>>
>>5447911
>”...Is Dozle in direct command of this mission?”
I don't remember what year it is currently but I doubt Dozle would have access to Waffs as only a few were produced under the direct oversight of Gihren.
>>5447924
NGL, it might be Dozle's way of getting us to the Academy earlier if it is him. Kidnapping's not up his alley but it's a pretty direct way to circumvent the age issue. Either that or it's Gihren trying to scalp us before his siblings can get to us.
>>
>>5447911
>”...Alright then, Lieutenant, what’s the goal of your mission? Simple kidnapping, or?...” It’s bizarre to even be having this conversation, you half expected to have her attack you by now.
>"Am I even your actual target, or was I just in the wrong place at the wrong time? I'm inclined to believe the former, no one has this much patience answering a random pilot-in-training."
It's very fitting for Dozle's idea of a rescue mission being a smash and grab.
>>
>>5447911
Yeah, its starting pile up. She hasn't really addressed us and if it were simply to capture us initially, she would have searched the wreck anyways.
The more she talks the more this seems likely pretty cut and dry test run. Ironically, this means that of the three siblings Dozel has somehow had the most success and he did so by just bumbling through it while doing something else. Which is PEAK Dozel.
So..
>”...Is Dozle in direct command of this mission?”
>>
>>5447911
1)
>”...Alright then, Lieutenant, what’s the goal of your mission? Simple kidnapping, or?...” It’s bizarre to even be having this conversation, you half expected to have her attack you by now.
>Try and leverage any information she gives against her, try to use the angle of getting back in order to formally apply to the military academy, as well as being able to smooth over any potential tension Texas might have over your disappearance, mention that your father, Teabolo, unfortunately has connections with the Feddies and this could start a crisis between the Federation and Zeon.

2)
>”...Alright then, Lieutenant, what’s the goal of your mission? Simple kidnapping, or?...” It’s bizarre to even be having this conversation, you half expected to have her attack you by now.
>”...Is Dozle in direct command of this mission?”
>Continue to stall. Maybe the colony will bring a ship around soon?

3)
>”I don’t believe you, you’re just trying to salvage a screwed up missing, aren’t you?”
>"No, you just want to hide me from my calling; freeing Zeon from the Federation!" Disarm her by any means necessary, then swipe the Zaku.

4)
>”...Alright then, Lieutenant, what’s the goal of your mission? Simple kidnapping, or?...” It’s bizarre to even be having this conversation, you half expected to have her attack you by now.
>Go for a surprise attack, make sure to catch her off guard. Try to enter the Mobile suite and pilot it away.

We either go diplomatic or we go full aggression, no in-between.

>>5447930
Either way we should avoid going there and coming back to Texas to asses the situation with our siblings.
>>
>>5447911
>”...Is Dozle in direct command of this mission?”
How fortunate. Inb4 Dozle tries to swear Felix into secrecy and Felix responds by asking for a job
>>
>>5447950
>Either way we should avoid going there and coming back to Texas to asses the situation with our siblings
I'm not so sure anon. If Felix's fighting spirit and skill managed to at all to impress Dozle, this could be a perfect opportunity to get in with his faction. Democracy is all well and good, but exigent circumstances requires unilateral decision-making from time to time.
>>
>>5447963
The main reason that I want to regroup with Cas and Artesia is because Casval might overreact and go on a mission alone to rescue us. Hell, he might even do the canon route of swapping with Char and having him assassinated in his place. Or he might torture a few spies and make himself an enemy of the Zabis while using his shrewdness to hide away. Granted, both of these might work out for us in different ways, but missing out on all that planning and winging it might lead to the deaths of either us, Casval, Artesia, or all three of us.
>>
>>5447968
>>5447963
That, and Casval's thirst for revenge might get worse, and Sayla could feel alienated once again and join the Feddies to 'save' us as well.
I feel like it would be unlikely that we can establish communications with our siblings if go down that route as well.
Don't get me wrong knowing that Doyle wants us in the academy is great, but we need to at the very least talk to our siblings about it to assure them that we'll be fine.
>>
>>5447974
Oh and before I forget, there won't be any proof of our being alive if we decide to go with the academy now. Casval and Artesia might get the wrong idea, and who knows what might happen to Elena (she'll probably lose all hope in ever seeing us again, and we won't be able to establish a clear line of getting information from her anymore).
>>
>>5447968
If Felix gets disappeared, I expect there will be nothing Casval can do.

Even if Artesia goes to him rather than legitimate authorities first, the time it will take to find a ship, get out of dock, and find us will (I anticipate) be far greater than Dozle's intercept time. He will, in that case, have absolutely no information to design a rescue mission around. As for the possibility of retaliatory measures against spies- while possible, I think Casval is smart enough to know even the Zabis don't have opsec bad enough for that to gain him any useful information regarding Felix.

>>5447974
While his thirst for revenge will get stronger, Casval is calculating and patient. I don't foresee him making decisions that would compromise the overall plan. As for Artesia, I would expect that Felix getting got would make her more committed to the plan rather than less. Her desires to see mother again and keep the family together are her main motivators- the former will keep her committed to joining up, the latter will only make her cling all the closer to her remaining sibling.
>>
>>5447930
>>5447945
>>5447952
Ask if Dozle is in direct command.

>>5447933
Ask for a lot of clarification about what exactly is going on here.

>>5447950
Ask for clarification + try to leverage a better position (and a whole load of alternate votes).

Writing.
>>
>>5447979
>latter will only make her cling all the closer to her remaining sibling.
That's implying that Casval won't leave her like he did in canon. But there's also the fact that we have no way of telling them that we're still alive. I hope we get a way of at least informing them that we somehow didn't die. And then there's the letter's we get from Elena. It's honestly too good to let go of having a possible informant in the ranks of Anaheim.
>>
>>5447983
Read this update again anon. Their relationship is completely different from
canon. No way he ditches her.
>>5445252
>>5445256

Also, frankly, I'd like to see Felix separated from his siblings for a time. We've dedicated a lot of time and updates to carefully managing both Casval's and Artesia's worse tendencies; I would like to see Felix freed from that dynamic.
>>
>>5447991
>Inb4 we're the sibling who goes insane


Tbh it makes sense, we're the one who's name means happy/lucky.
>>
>>5447991
That's true, but the death of someone close tends to drastically change the feelings and thoughts of people. It's the main reason I want to make sure they know we're alive (and even Teabolo so he doesn't have a heart attack/get his Federation connections involved and Elena so she doesn't lose hope and keeps relaying us information).
We've invested so much into getting both Édouard and Sayla to cooperate and work as a family, I don't want to throw it away just to get personally closer to the Zabis on a solo mission without any backing.

That's fair, but that will come eventually one way or another. I think we should plan ahead while we still have the chance.
>>
What if we just leave an encoded note in the ball? I'm sure it'll be picked up eventually. Especially if we get Blanche to push it back toward the station.
>They don't think it be like it is but it do.
Crisis of Cas going crazy or deviating from the goal adverted.
>>
>>5447999
It's time to make Pope Felix a reality.

>>5448009
Do we have anything to write with/on? That's honestly not a bad idea, though I'd feel better about it if we could say it in person.
>>
“...Is Dozle in direct command of this mission?” You ask, tightening your grip on the cable a little and pulling yourself more tightly against the ball's ruined outer hull.

“He is.” She answers, grey eyes still watching you intently, “...Does that mean something to you, sir?”

You stay silent for a moment, considering the question. The last you heard Dozle was in charge of the Zeon defense force military academy, and as you discussed a few weeks ago with your siblings he seems to be a bit of an honest oaf, or maybe even an honorable man with a very unfortunate family to have been born into… This presents some opportunities.

You don't answer her question directly, having too many of your own left to ask, “If I go with you, could I send a message to my brother and sister?”

“That isn’t my decision to make,” Blanche answers immediately, not even the faintest hint of hesitation to her answer, “But the colonel would be willing to hear you out.”

“How can you be so sure?” You question, the certainty of the Lieutenant’s statement taking you off guard.

“The colonel is an honorable man,” She answers, “...And my mission’s secondary goal was to capture all of you together. …It would make things easier if you could convince them to come as well.”

“...Are you serious?” You ask, barely holding yourself back from laughing at the bluntness of the request - Either this woman is one of the strangest liars you’ve ever met or the most honest person in the earthsphere.

“I’ve found that it never hurts to ask, sir.” She answers completely straight faced, “The ship will be reaching the rendezvous point soon.”

Clocks ticking, and this conversation has been raising far more questions than it answers. How to get out of the situation is still rather unclear - violence is still an option of course, or maybe you could run out the clock?

>”...What do you mean that we were the mission’s secondary goal?” What else could possibly be the goal?
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
>”...Are you always like this? I didn’t expect this kind of candor from a kidnapper.” The question is of real interest, but you’re also trying to buy time in the hopes someone else might show up.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5448016
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
I like this pilot! Not like that
>>
>>5448016
1)
>”...What do you mean that we were the mission’s secondary goal?” What else could possibly be the goal?
>”...Are you always like this? I didn’t expect this kind of candor from a kidnapper.” The question is of real interest, but you’re also trying to buy time in the hopes someone else might show up.

2)
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
>"I will try my best to convince them to come with me, but only if I can be assured of the safety of me and my siblings as well as the meaning behind this mission."

Huh, this is actually a better outcome than I expected.

I wish Sayla was here with us, she could tell us if this pilot lying or not.
>>
>>5448013
Seems reasonable that we would have something to write with in a maintenance ball. Physical note taking is pretty key in active repair work, especially large industrial settings.
>>5448016
I think it's time to jump the shark and abandon canon. Hopefully we can contact Cas and Sayla.
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
>>
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>>5448020
+1
>spoiler
Yeah
>>
>>5448020
I should explain my first choice, since I'm getting convinced that this is an opportunity we shouldn't waste.
If we are found by any pilots from Texas, or even by Casval and Sayla themselves, we still have the option of going with the pilot to Doyle. I want to have some security in knowing that someone will relay the fact that we're alive to our siblings, and ask them to come with us soon (and even possibly get a letter sent to Elena either from Teabolo or someone else telling her that we won't be able to talk to her anytime soon).

>>5448023
Now there's a plan, we can even pass it off the her as trying to convince them to join us where we're going, and leave some instructions on where to be to get picked up and tell them to make sure Teabolo and Elena know that we won't be available for some time.
>>
>>5448016
>”...What do you mean that we were the mission’s secondary goal?” What else could possibly be the goal?
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
>"Is there a way to send a message through this jamming field? My brother migh do something rash if I don't warn him quickly"
>>
>>5448018
>I like this pilot!

I do, too. I think we've found our Lt. Mathilda.
>>
>>5448016
>”...What do you mean that we were the mission’s secondary goal?” What else could possibly be the goal?
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.

Based and dozal pilled
>>
>>5448016
>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
>>
>>5448016
>>”Alright, I’ll go peacefully. I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?” It’s putting a lot of weight on the words of a stranger, but you don’t sense any lies.
Dozel is currently the luckiest Zabi. If anythng this may tip the balance to give him a edge.
>>
>>5448018
>>5448023
>>5448091
>>5448093
Go peacefully.

>>5448020
>>5448024
Ask about the mission's goals + Blanche's behavior (2nd option to go peacefully + some write-in)

>>5448045
Ask about goals + go peacefully + some write-in.

>>5448055
Ask about goals + go peacefully.

Going peacefully. I'll throw in some of the write-in stuff too.
>>
“Alright, I’ll go peacefully.” You agree, the words feeling strange to say aloud, “I have your word as an officer that I’ll receive fair treatment?”

“You have my word.” She confirms solemnly, extending her hand toward you once more, “Take my hand and hold on tight, sir.”

“Is there any way to send a message through this jamming field?” You ask, grabbing hold of her wrist as she grabs yours in kind, her thruster pack firing strangely to compensate for the odd shared center of mass, “My brother might do something rash if I don’t warn him quickly.”

“It’s the minovsky particles from the reactor, sir, not jamming. They interfere with…” She stops speaking for a moment as you reach the cockpit of the mobile suit and she enters first, removing the thruster pack and sliding it into a very narrow gap along the side of the pilot’s chair. There’s almost no room for a second person, the walls and even hatch covered in screens and controls.

“...Radar and radio communication, and most unshielded electronics.” Blanche continues and she sits down and taps away at a few of the buttons surrounding her, “The mobile suit’s reactor emits them as a byproduct of its fusion reaction, as long as it’s active they’re going to flood the area, the output is variable but some particles always leak through.”

“So you can dial it down and send a message then?” You ask hopefully, looking over part of the control panels which clearly handles radio communication; it’s really not so different from the interior of a lot of other spacecraft, just more compact.

“No, sir.” Blanche replies, shaking her helmet head as she continues to go check over various readouts and prepare the mobile suit for flight, “The area is already saturated, it takes several hours to clear up completely. Do you think your brother will act in the next thirty minutes?”

“It’s possible at least,” You answer honestly.

“I’ll fly fast then, sir.” She answers, speeding up her systems checks, “When we reach the ship I’ll bring you directly to the colonel. You’ll convince your siblings to come peacefully as well?”

“I’ll try to convince them both to come with me, but only if you assure their safety as well,” You say, deciding to take a bit of unilateral action given the peculiar circumstances you find yourself in. “…and explain why you were here.”

“You have my word that they will receive fair treatment as well. The primary goal of this mission was to gauge the real world utility of Minovsky particle interference against an average colony’s security perimeter; seizing you and your siblings was a secondary goal the colonel informed me of shortly before I launched. Does that satisfy your curiosity?” She explains, just throwing all the information right at you without any delay, finishing her system checks mid explanation and looking at you expectantly, gray eyes searching for... something.
>>
>>5448149

"Uh, yes, I suppose it does for now." You say, continually surprised by just how out in the open she is about everything - aren't operations like this meant to be classified or something? Is she just that confident that you won't escape with the information? It raises a lot of questions.

“Sir, do you want to ride in the cockpit or out on one of the hands? The plating is steel, your normal suit should be able to clamp to it.”

>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
>”Wait… the hands? Is that safe?” Sounds sort of fun, but your visor is just patched rather than actually secure.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5448151
>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5448151
Fuck, what a dilemma. I'll let fate decide for me.
>1 for Cockpit
>2 for Exterior
>>
>>5448151
>”Wait… the hands? Is that safe?” Sounds sort of fun, but your visor is just patched rather than actually secure.

One of my biggest dreams IRL is to be held in the palm of a life-sized Mobile Suit.
>>
>>5448151
>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
Sooner we get familiar with Zeon MS controls the better.
>>
>>5448151
>>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
Being in the cockpit might not be comfortable but it is a lot safer.
>>
>>5448151
>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
>>
Actually, being on the hands might help with the newtype awakening, can't get closer to space than that.
>>5448154
Changing to
>>5448151
>”Wait… the hands? Is that safe?” Sounds sort of fun, but your visor is just patched rather than actually secure.
>>
>>5448151
>”Wait… the hands? Is that safe?” Sounds sort of fun, but your visor is just patched rather than actually
>>
>>5448151
>>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
>>
Cockpit
>>5448154
>>5448157
>>5448158
>>5448159
>>5448170

Hands
>>5448155
>>5448156
>>5448160
>>5448169

Why is this such an evenly split vote?
>>
>>5448174
Riding in the cockpit is safer, and thus is the smart option.
However, riding in the hand is fun as fuck and not really risky at all if we look at the circumstances.
Pragmatism and enjoyment are evenly split here, you should be proud of having a vote come this close.
>>
>>5448178
The vote is between feeling the hands of a robot and feeling the hands of an older spacenoid woman.
>>
>>5448179
Space is Felix's true waifu
>>
>>5448174
Riding inside the cockpit is safer, allows us to observe firsthand the piloting of an MS, and lets Felix sit in the lieutenant's lap. Riding on the exterior is a cool as fuck and unique opportunity, and further might have gravitational consequences per >>5448160
>>
>>5448181
>Elena, you're a fine girl, what a good wife you would be
>But my life, my lover, my lady, is antigravity!
>>
>>5448182
>lets Felix sit in the lieutenant's lap
we don't know that for sure, it could be the other way around
>>
>>5448186
Is the older women bit a running joke in Gundam or something?
>>
>>5448189
Yes
>>
>>5448193
Truly wonders never cease.
>>
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>>5448189
>>
>>5448151
>"The cockpit." There's obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you'd have to sit in her lap or something.
Potential space cougar diddling aside, we run the risk of venting our air outside. Don't want our awakening to come with asphyxiation.
>>
>>5448174
It's a controversial decision, of course there will be a divide. But really I've noticed that this quest usually has only 1-2 vote differences in choosing something.

>>5448151
>”Wait… the hands? Is that safe?” Sounds sort of fun, but your visor is just patched rather than actually secure.
Being in the pilot's seat is safer and might help us figure out the controls of the Zaku (though don't they have different controls for every specialized model? Might not be as useful to memorize the controls then), but being on the hand could push our newtype abilities forward. Shouldn't be too dangerous.
>>
>>5448194
It's more a running joke in the fandom, but there are a few in the series, specially since the protags tend to be teenagers.
>>
>>5448203
>though don't they have different controls for every specialized model?

I'm pretty sure the Zaku line and the Gouf had similar cockpits, but otherwise everything was different until the UMP kicked in the last few months of the War.
>>
>>5448157
>>5448158
>>5448159
>>5448170
>>5448201
Cockpit.

>>5448155
>>5448156
>>5448160
>>5448169
>>5448203
Hand.

Looks like the votes are split evenly, I don't think I missed anything but please point it out if I did. I'll give it another half an hour and then roll off if there isn't a winner.

What a dilemma.
>>
>>5448220
>>5448151
>>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
>>
>>5448151
>>5448220
oh, I thought it was already called
>”The cockpit.” There’s obviously not enough room for a second person inside, you’d have to sit in her lap or something.
>>
>>5448220
This may have been one of the most contest votes of the quest.
>>
>>5448207
Huh, interesting.
I don't think there's any chance we could influence the designers to make a more standardized model without making the Zabis paranoid.
>>
>>5448220
Just to finalize the outcome, I will assume direct control over my vote and change it to
>Cockpit
>>
>>5448234
We could try and get the UMP put into action early if we can get Dozle to recommend it. The reason it was put into production hell was because it was designed by M'qube, who's one of the leaders of the Kycillia Faction during the war, and Gihren's a big baby bitch who wont let his sister show him up.
>>
>>5448234
If we can influence Dozle enough we might be able to get the UMP going early. Not going to change the outcome of the war but it might extend it a few months.
>>
>>5448239
>>5448240
That could work. Once we're established and Dozle trusts us we should put it on his radar, maybe even make him think it was his idea to push for it.
>>
>>5448157
>>5448158
>>5448159
>>5448170
>>5448201
>>5448221
>>5448222
>>5448238
Cockpit wins. Writing.


>>5448240
When UMP Big Zams enter mass production the Federation will be finished!
>>
>>5448240
>Not going to change the outcome of the war
The biggest goal for the OYW is to keep Zeon actually independent (lolrepublic), the secondary goal is to keep as much of our gained territory in space as possible.
Subjugating the Federation isn't really a possibility, but pushing them out of the #1 spot is.
>>
>>5448240
The UMP is a major fucking thing for zeon because that would make production so easier on the all the suits.

Also beam weapons being more common would help against the flith Gundam and BIG ZAM not being wasted
>>
>>5448248
Frankly, not having sayla on the WB is a big thing and would likely result in it going down before or during Rambal Ral's attack on it.
>>
>>5448245
>Spoiler
I know what we're going to call our remnant faction. We'll be Neo Zam.
>>5448246
>But pushing them out of the #1 spot is
Not yet IMO. They have all of Earth and Luna's resources along with several asteroid belt resource dumps. The whole reason Zeon can't win in the first place is because the massive resource and manpower disparity. What we can do is consolidate remnants and form an economic base on Mars with the support of the Jovians and start the beginnings of a real Federation rival.
>>5448248
Absolutely, but a major issue Zeon has on a whole is a massive misuse of it's already limited resources. Too many one offs, prototypes, and limited production runs cause serious supply and logistical issues during the war. Beam weapons are going to be a hard sell because the Federation will be using conventional forces for the first six-ish months of the war and we don't need anything more than a 120mm machine gun round to kill a Type 61 MBT, or Saberfish fighter. Or even a GM for that matter.
>>
>>5448250
Maybe Lalah will take Sayla's role on the Withe Base somehow.
>>
>>5448253
Impossible. She was canonically discovered in an indian brothel by char circa 0079. Shes no where near Side 7, or does she have the means or motivation to do so.
>>
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>>5448251
>We'll be Neo Zam
>>
>>5448255
It's beautiful. Sieg Zam!
>>
>>5448254
It's why I said somehow, but it's more likely something else will protect the white whale base.
We are already messing with canon, who knows how it's going to butterfly effect to affect other parts. I'm looking forward to the mess that this alternate OYW might be
>>
>>5448250
Oh ya. I always forget she was a major thing on that. Don't worry bright will smack some sense into people.

>>5448251
It's only a hard sell if we can't roll them out as even basic melee weapons. As for limited resources? That's always been a fucking meme because of the fact we're in space and got the astroid belt and debris fields from the invasion even up to earth. He'll the federation should've been the one starved of resources during the war.
>>
>>5448255
Who needs national animals when you can have a national mech?
>>
>>5448258
Literally all we need to do to blunt the Federations resource advantage is implement space privateering. Put out letters of Marque to certain captains and pardon and hire already existent space pirates and send them at Feddie supply lines.
>>
>>5448255
Now this is something to die for.
>>
>>5448257
Entirely possible but not likely that way. At the very least, I struggle to think of a way for a indian child prostitute to find her way to space without NT shenanigans. Hell, it was way more likely that if we chose to remain on earth, us and the Don might have tried to disappear into india, leading to us meeting up with her.
>>
>>5448254
They have a different meeting in The Origin outside of India, though she's still found in a pretty shit situation. I really prefer The Origin version, they're cute together.

>>5448255
Sieg Zam!
>>
>>5448261
Not even that, we literally just control space. They have to run out of resources before we do. Unless sides join with Earth.
>>
>>5448255
On the note of graphics, I can't wait until we actually enlist and become an Ace so I can get started on Felix's personal emblem.
>>
>>5448258
>The federation should've been the one starved of resources during the war.
If Zeon had played it's cards correctly, yes. The Federation maintained control over the astroid belt, Mars, Luna, and kept it's trade agreements with the Jupiter fleet. Zeon on the other hand had a few asteroids pulled into Earth's orbit and a single fuel dump from the Jovians. The original goal of the OYW wasn't to totally capture Earth or even destroy the Federation, it was to disrupt them as to enforce their own independence. The OYW wasn't a war between peer powers, it was a civil war between spacenoid separatists and the Federation.
>>5448261
That might be a good idea but I don't think civilian ownership of spacecraft is common in Universal Century. Further, the Federation has a substantially larger conventional fleet and the only other major group are the Jovians who are protected by mutual agreements from basically everyone in the Solar System and are nuetral in the OWY.
>>5448266
Most of the sides are Neutral during the OYW or get fucked. Remember, the side colonies are in earth orbit and nowhere near any major resource centers like the asteroid belt. Space is massive, yes, but the federation's capacity to gather resources outstrips any individual group. Earth, despite being over populated, isn't exactly hurting for resources and they're far more immediate than anything Zeon can tow in from the outer system.
>>
>>5448266
>We literally just control space
Technically, not quite. Zeon never took Von Braun, which remained neutral and sold material to both sides.
>>
>>5448265
Ah whoops. Got my canons conflicted.

Also us making jokes at his expense of being a lolicon when
>>
>>5448273
Lalah is both 17 and not a loli. We have more right to make fun of Sayla for being a Shotacon, if we're being totally honest.
>>
“The cockpit,” You answer after a moment of careful consideration, trying to ignore the huge emergency patch covering the middle of your field of view, “I don’t trust my visor to hold under acceleration.”

The chance to see the controls of the ‘mobile suit’ in action is too great of a temptation to pass up, even if seeing the stars from the hand of a giant robot would have been quite spectacular.

Blanche gives you a thumbs up and presses a few buttons, the hatch beginning to close behind you - You don’t have long to figure out where to go, the space rapidly shrinking. It’s a bit of a struggle to find a way to stay inside the cramped cockpit with the hatch closed; you’re forced to more or less sit in the lieutenant’s lap and lean off to the side so she can see the controls in front of her. You’re glad she can’t see your face as she leans forward to flip a few switches, warmth flooding your cheek as she presses against your back for a moment. This is not how you imagined this was going to go. Maybe you should get kidnapped more often?

“Boots clamped, sir?” Blanche asks, her tone ever professional despite the awkward and slightly tangled situation.

“Clamped.” You answer, trying to focus on the controls as she inputs a flightpath into the mobile suit’s computer and begins to increase the throttle, the slight tug of acceleration pushing you into her more. It's distracting to say the least.

“You can take it off now.” Blanche comments idly as the mobile suit continues to accelerate, the surrounding space clearly displayed on multiple panels across the front and sides of the small cockpit.

“What?” You ask, the comment not processing for a moment.

“You helmet, sir.” She answers, either missing or ignoring the tone of your question, “That patch must be getting in the way.”

“Oh, yeah, it is.” You say, unsealing your helmet and setting it holding onto it - there’s not really anywhere to put the damned thing right now. The air inside the cockpit is a bit stale but not the worst, a faint hint of

There’s a faint hiss as Blanche removes her own helmet, her white hair held up in an elegant looking bun, a few strands falling to frame either side of her face. She slides her helmet into a small space behind the head of her seat - There is a space for helmets after all!

“You can put it inside if you want.” Blanche says, nodding toward the cubby behind the chair before continuing with her piloting, looking over to a flashing readout and narrowing her eyes.

You slide your bulky helmet back there, twisting awkwardly to do so, and then pretend to be very interested in the screens on the opposite side of the cockpit from where she’s looking.
>>
>>5448331

“...So what was your plan if you caught more than one of us?” You ask, trying to find something to discuss on the flight to the ship.

“I was going to grab your balls and return to the ship,” She says, sounding somewhat bored as she taps at a few buttons, “I didn’t expect you to resist, sir.”

“Oh.” Is about all you can manage to say as your cheeks practically catch on fire, silence falling for a few seconds as the mobile suit continues to accelerate, that pressing weight driving you together.

“This is your first time, isn’t it?” Blanche asks, leaning forward again to flip a switch, “You haven’t even seen a mobile suit before now, have you, sir?.”

“...Yeah, “ You answer, trying to hold the topic, “I didn’t even know they existed. I’ve been flying for a little over a year though.”

“How does it compare?” She asks, sounding a little curious, “I’ve never flown one of those worker balls before, you really caught me off guard with how maneuverable it was - I didn’t expect you to go down on me so fast, nearly took my suit’s foot off.”

“They have more thrust than you’d expect,” You reply, “You weren’t trying to fight though, were you?”

“No, sir. We wouldn’t be talking right now.” She answers matter-of-factly.

Well, that sobering thought brings your attention back to reality, the haze clearing for a moment as a jolt of fear shoots through you - what the hell are you even doing right now?

“We’re nearly there, just a little further.” Blanche says, almost whispering to herself as she watches the coordinates change on one of the smaller screens around the cockpit, “Come on, almost, almost… Ah, there we go. Zam, this is lieutenant Blanche, I’ve recovered… Which one are you?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m Felix.” You say, realizing you never introduced yourself.

“Thank you.” She says politely before speaking into the comm once more, “I’ve recovered Felix Zos Deikun, the other two are still on Texas colony. Let the colonel know he’s agreed to convince them to join us.”

“We hear you, lieutenant. We’re at the rendezvous point, you’re clear to land upon arrival. Zam out.”
>>
>>5448338

A few interesting minutes of careful observation of controls later.

An angular white cargo transport with a raised bridge and a pair of huge engines set off below and to its sides on angled engine stalks lays ahead of you on the central viewscreen; it’s sleek, almost military looking if you didn’t know better - It’s an Arcana class, one of the most common large vessels produced in Side Three.

Blanche pilots the damaged mobile suit into a hexagonal hangar bay just beneath the bridge on the rear of the vessel, and a tremendous clang reverberates through the cockpit as its huge feet set down and clamps grab hold of it. You both wait for about a minute as the air is cycled, a light winking green before the lieutenant presses a button and unseals the hatch; you’re about thirteen or fourteen meters up in the air, but as the ship isn’t under thrust right now there’s no gravity to speak of. There are two other mobile suits in the bay one is identical to Blanche’s and the second looks… more advanced, somehow, but not fully assembled. You move off to the side to allow Blanche to exit the cramped cockpit first, unsure of where to go as a number of men clad in the green normal suits of the Zeon defense forces look up at you. A couple of them are carrying weapons, and all of them look surprised.

“You… brought back a man, Lieutenant?” An older looking fellow asks, the tool belt he’s wearing giving away that he must be a technician of some sort, “...Must have been some flight.”

“Show some respect, Sergeant.” She responds, though her tone and posture remain mostly amicable, “Where is the colonel?”

“Apologies, ma’am. He’s in his quarters.”

“Thank you, Hiram. There’s nothing to apologize for.” Blanche says, looking back to you and waving you on through the bay, “Sir, follow me.”

“...Sir?” One of the men asks to another as you pass by, “Is that someone important?”

“Never seen em’ before, probably a spy or something.” The other replies, shrugging.

You’re led through a sliding door and past a number of rooms, magboots clicking as you both walk along through the utilitarian passageways, eventually arriving at a larger and more ostentatious door. Blanche opens it, motiong for you to enter first. It’s the living room of a large officer’s quarters, a number of hunting trophies lining the walls and the shelves are filled with untouched looking books alongside ship and tank models… interesting. A huge shadow looms off in the doorway leading further in, an enormous man stepping forth and crossing his arms, his face scarred and severe looking.
>>
>He fucking named it ZAM

God, Can Dozal get anymore ZAM-pilled?
>>
>>5448340

Colonel Dozle Zabi stands before you, a uniformed giant of a man.

“Lieutenant Blanche, reporting with Felix Zos Deikun as ordered, sir.”

“Very good. You’re excused, lieutenant.” His deep voice rumbles, a grin spreading across his rough face as he looks you over.

“Sir, I do have something to report.” Blanche says, remaining rigidly at attention.

“Oh?” Dozle asks, taking a few strides toward you both.

“He fought, sir. In a pod.” She explains briefly, “It bought time for one of the others to escape. Unit two was damaged.”

“Hoho, is that so?” Dozle thunders, impressed and amused, “Thank you for your report, Lieutenant.”

“Sir.” She says, saluting sharply before departing to leave you alone with the gigantic man. You’re not exactly small, in fact you’re very well built thanks to your regular training with Casval, but Dozle dwarfs you physically in both height and mass.

“Felix, is it?” Dozle asks briskly, puffing his chest out a bit, “You must have acquitted yourself well to leave an impression like that on her. You have nothing to fear here, Deikun. Sit.”

He motions widely with one arm to a pair of armchairs nearby, a decanter of some sort of dark spirit sitting on a wooden table between them. You comply, a very faint tug off acceleration allowing you to do so without too much issue - maneuvering thrusters must be firing to give some faint semblance of gravity, just enough to make walking and sitting a bit less of a hassle.

>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.
>”Thank you, sir, but may I ask why you’ve brought me here?” Hear him out for a little while, the context of this kidnapping still isn’t clear.
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.” Take the initiative!
>Write-in.
>>
>>5448343
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.” Take the initiative!

>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.

Ohno, We have 2 space-types after our superior Spacenoid genetics.
>>
>>5448343
1
>”Thank you, sir, but may I ask why you’ve brought me here?”
2
>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.”
3
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.”

All of them, in this order.
>>
>>5448343
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.” Take the initiative!
>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.
>>5448341
Dozle is the biggest zam, dare I say the Grand Zam.
>>
>>5448343
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.” Take the initiative!
After having taken the initiative...
>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.
>>
>>5448350
The Grandest Zam?
>>
>>5448343
+1 >>5448350
>>5448341
ZAM moment
>>
>>5448343
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.” Take the initiative!
>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.
We should tell him that we and our siblings were intending to send a letter to him requesting our admission into the Academy.
Then immediately ask about contacting Casval and Sayla.
>>
>Spacenoid women are forward and after Felix
How can the Earthnoid waifus even hope to compete?
>>
>>5448358
So far for
>Earthnoid Waifus
We've just got Elena, a typical cute childhood friend type.
But for
>Spacenoid Waifus
We've got Tryphosa, a literal wizard,
Vivima, who all we know about so far is that she's a battle-maniac and looks like Garma,
and Lt. Blanche, a space battle-milf who has taken the ZAM-pill and has nice eyes.

It seems like Spacenoids are winning on both quality and quantity.
>>
>>5448358
protip: they can't
>>
>>5448343
>”Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality. I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.” Take the initiative!
>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.
>>
>>5448364
Don't forget space-chan, which Felix is an avid admirer of.
>>
Also
>alongside ship and tank models… interesting.
It seems we have met a fellow plastic enthusiast.
>>
>>5448401
Good catch anon. Truly, Dozle is one of the good ones.
>>
>>5448403
Are we gonna spare him? Cas might want to have a word about that.
>>
>>5448408
Amuro will do the job without us ever knowing unless our meddling stops him from ever deploying in the Big Zam
>>
>>5448403
Another thing I noticed is that Blanche's hair is white, and her name means white in french.
I wonder if it's her name and her parents gave it because of it, or just her surname and it's a coincidence, or even a family trait.
>>
>>5448408
>Cas might want to have a word about that

Cas has had a word about it, but Felix and Artesia bullied him enough to agree to only kill the Zabis that were part of the conspiracy to kill Zeon Zum, which notably did not include Dozle, Garma, and Vivima.
We know this because Dozle totally incapable of subtlety and both Garma and Vivima were, like, 8. Degwin and Ghiren are 100% on the shit list, but the jury is still out on Kycillia.
>>
>>5448415
She threatened us, gave the evil vibes during the funeral and is at the head of the spies.
Kycillia is on it, I think both Casval and Felix have said they are certain of it.
>>
>>5448408
I don't know about that. He's almost certainly going to participate in the war crimes of the OYW, which will be cause enough to kill him.

>>5448415
Kycilia without a doubt must die.
>>
>>5448411
Big Zam too strong.

>>5448415
I thought we agreed to kill all the older Zabis, and even then we agreed to off both Garma and Vivime if they proved to want revenge against us.
Kycillia is definitely getting the bullet, she probably played part in sending out those mercenaries while we were in Spain, was definitely involved in Zeon Deikun's assassination, and she's the one responsible for practically all the spies sent against us.
>>
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>Big Zam MP plan goes ahead.
>its this
>>
>>5448428
No dozal was in the clear I believe because we spoke to Grama. His also as subtle as a brick wall too.
>>
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>>5448520
>Grama
>>
>>5448343

>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.
>>
>>5448351
+1
We should also add
>if message gets aproved. Talk about plamo wiyh Dozle
>>
>>5448345
>>5448350
>>5448351
>>5448357
>>5448398
>>5448566
Initiative and then ask to send a message. Writing.

It might take a while to get this one finished, sneaking in some writing between classes.

>>5448400
Suffocating radiation filled vacuum confirmed as best girl.
>>
>>5448639
>that spoiler
She may be toxic as all hell, but good GOD the view!
>>
>>5448343
>>”Thank you, sir. May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.” Get right to business, they need to know what’s going on.

>”Thank you, sir, but may I ask why you’ve brought me here?” Hear him out for a little while, the context of this kidnapping still isn’t clear.
>>
“Thank you, sir, I appreciate your hospitality.” You say politely, ignoring the fiddly little details of how you got here such as being kidnapped for a moment and choosing to take the initiative instead, “I’ve actually been meaning to get into contact with you for a little while now.”

“Oh? Explain yourself.” Dozle orders, eyebrows lifting slightly as his interest is piqued.

“My brother and I have been discussing applying to the Zeon military academy for a few years now,” You answer, meeting Dozle’s gaze, the statement technically not a lie, “We convinced Artesia recently as well; we want to return to Zeon and serve our homeland, sir.”

“That is a very serious request, Deikun.” He rumbles, scarred brow furrowing, “Who was in the other pod?”

“My sister.” You say, maintaining eye contact, “I thought it was an assassination attempt at first, sir. I tried to cover her escape as best I could.”

Dozle’s grin returns and he leans forward, balling one of his huge hands into a fist as a sudden rush of passionate emotion seems to take hold of him, nearly shouting as he speaks, “A man’s dedication to his family above all else is the highest form of honor! Don’t you agree?”

“I’d gladly die to defend them, sir.” You answer honestly, though it sidesteps the question a bit; your words seem to satisfy Dozle regardless, and a fire lit behind his eyes as he looks over your approvingly.

“You have my word as a Zabi that you and your siblings will not be treated unfairly, Deikun,” Dozle says, his oath somewhat ironic to your ears despite his obvious conviction, “It is as I had hoped.”

“As you had hoped, sir?” You repeat questioningly, unsure of what exactly the fearsome looking man is getting at.

“My officers told me you had spoken with them,” He answers, opening the decanter on the table and filling a pair of glasses with the dark liquid, “The recruiters I sent to Texas colony. I have hoped for some time to end this distant feuding between our families.”

“...You have, sir?” You ask, it now being your turn to feel a little confused; the recruiters actually just being recruiters isn’t something you had expected. Clearly they knew who you were and reported information back, but you had suspected they were spies for Kycilia or Gihren, maybe some kind of power move to display their utter dominance over your lives… But Dozle sending them wasn’t on your radar at all.

“It has plagued my brother and sister for years,” He says frankly, pushing one of the glasses over to you, “The question of what to do with your family. But with the mastermind behind our feuding long destroyed it seemed a foolish waste to me.”
>>
>>5448781
“...Jimba Ral?” You ask uncertainly, guessing at who he must be speaking of. No one else you can think of really fits.

“Yes. What a deceitful rogue! He had Saro killed and hired terrorists to shoot Gihren and… and even poor little Vivima. He was a mad villain! Kycilia discovered it all, she does her job well.” He thunders, barely containing his rage, his huge clenching his glass so tightly you’re afraid for a moment that it might shatter, “Jimba was nothing like his son; Ramba is an honorable and skilled soldier.”

…It starts to dawn on you just how different a view of things Dozle must really have, colored by information fed to him by Kycilia and Gihren of all people. The man doesn’t seem to have any capacity for complex deceit; at best he might be able to spin simple lies or deny things, but he’d have to be a master actor to pull off this kind of performance.

“Ramba is still a soldier?” You ask, taking a sip of the drink; it has an almost overpowering smoky flavor to it, and it burns your throat - It’s strong, whatever it is, completely lacking in subtlety. You almost cough but manage to maintain a cool exterior.

“I brought him back into the service a few years ago. He fulfilled his duty to family during the crisis after your father’s stroke. I understand why he opposed us in that chaos, the rumors were terrible. Many people got caught up in it.” Dozle explains, his volume lowering after he empties his glass in a single go, the liquid just vanishing in an instant without phasing him, “But it would be an unforgivable waste to throw away such a capable man forever.”

…Stroke? So he still doesn’t know then. Or… No, that couldn’t be.

“There is no need for suspicion between our families anymore, Deikun, enough lives have been lost in the confusion.” He says, extending a hand to you, “I wish to put an end to it.”

You take his hand firmly and shake it, his grip as strong as steel yet not crushing. Instead of relief at a successful first step of your plan, you feel the beginning of a conflict brewing within you; whether it will grow larger or die out remains to be seen. There’s a lot to discuss still, such as why he thought a kidnapping was a good idea to bring you in if he has such peaceful intentions, but a more pressing matter rises up from the back of your thoughts as you sit back in your chair.

“I do as well, sir.” You say, taking another sip of your harsh drink, “May I send a message to my siblings? They don’t know what’s happened and my brother is prone to acting rashly at times.”

“Hot blooded, is he? Hoho, I understand.” Dozle chuckles and stands up, walking to a communications panel on the wall nearby and speaking into the corded phone, “...This is Dozle. Ensign, prepare a private line of communication to Texas colony. I need it ready in five minutes. Very good, Dozle out.”
>>
>>5448783

“You will ask them to come peacefully as well.” Dozle says, and you’re a little unsure if it’s a statement or question.

“I will.” You agree, following through with your prior deal that Blanche radioed in; this has been about as fair of treatment as you could hope for so far.

>”Sir, if I may ask, why grab us with the mobile suit? If you knew we were interested in joining you could have just asked.”
>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5448784
>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>>
>>5448784
1)
>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.

2)
>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>”Sir, if I may ask, why grab us with the mobile suit? If you knew we were interested in joining you could have just asked.”
>>
>>5448784
>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>>
The mental image of Dozle building Plamo with a pair of tweezers because his fingers are too big is killing me.
>>
>>5448784
>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>>
>>5448784
>>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>>
>>5448784
>>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>>5448795
>his aides none the wiser that the secret black package they gave him was a model kit for their enemy The Gundam that he's now gleefully panel lining
>>
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>>5448808
>>
>>5448784

>”You can call me Felix, sir.” Try to warm up a bit. This situation still feels a bit surreal but you should capitalize on it.
>”...Is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” It’s hard to imagine Dozle assembling something so intricate, but he’s been full of surprises so far.
>>
>>5448785
>>5448786
>>5448788
>>5448797
>>5448828
Writing.

>>5448795
The Big Zam was as large as it was so that the 1:60 scale model would be easier to assemble.
>>
“You can call me Felix, sir.” You say, taking another sip of the potent drink; it’s starting to grow on you a little.

“Mm, we are past formalities now. You may call me Dozle,” He rumbles, sitting back down and pouring himself another glass, filling it almost to the brim and then raising it, “To our shared homeland. Sieg Zeon.”

“Sieg Zeon.” You echo, raising your own glass in the impromptu toast. As you do so your eyes drift over one of the nearby shelves, many untouched looking and fancily bound books lining it, with several well assembled and painted models of tanks and ships both modern and historical sitting just in front of them.

“...Dozle, is that a perfect grade Salamis-class on that shelf?” You ask, finding yourself drawn to the very large model of the EFSF vessel - even from here you can see that the detailing was very finely done, the work of someone quite experienced.

He cocks his head slightly, eyes widening in surprise, “You have a good eye.”

“I have… had a smaller one, and a few others.” You explain, “How long did it take to finish it?”

“Months,” He answers, taking a large sip but leaving some remaining in his glass, “Work keeps me busy, but I find time between operations. Take a closer look.”

You stand and walk over to the shelf, though Dozle remains sitting for now. The ship really was put together well, but there are a number of details from what you remember of your own model… the point defenses are still the same though.

“...This is completely accurate to the real thing?” You question, studying every centimeter of it.

“Of course it is! Do you take me for a slacker?” Dozle thunders, your tone apparently not sitting quite right with him.

“That blind spots are real then,” You say, pointing to the gaps in coverage, “I thought it might be a flaw in my cheaper model.”

“You!… Oh,” Dozle stops himself, finishing his drink and standing to join you, “They are very real, most miss them though. Are you always so observant, Felix?”

You shrug, “It’s always come naturally. A fighter could slip right in there, do they not realize that?”

“Federation admirals are many things, Felix, but most are not fools. There are no fighters that maneuverable.” Dozle comments, “There never will be. Their days in war are numbered, like the horse when the tank first appeared.”

“Mobile suits?” You guess, the limited display Blanche put on earlier made it abundantly clear to you how much of an advantage they must have.
>>
>>5448894

Dozle grins again, raising a clenched fist, “They will usher in a new age of warfare. How did you find it in battle? Magnificent, wasn’t it?”

“...I didn’t have much time to appreciate it before the fight was over.” You asnwer, your response eliciting a deep laugh from Dozle.

“Hoho, then you do understand! Imagine if she had been armed and ordered to kill; they will crush everything before them once they are perfected! Come, Felix, we’re going to the bridge.” Dozle orders, turning to the door.

>”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?
>”...This is a disguised warship, isn’t it? This interior isn’t civilian at all.” The Zam is suspiciously military looking. All that time looking at reference photos of Federation ship interiors wasn’t a waste afterall.
>”I have a request, Dozle. My sister is very close to our adoptive father; would it be possible for her to stay for a while longer before parting with him? A few days at most. He has treated us with respect and care for years, I don’t want to suddenly vanish and leave him worrying.” Might be a risky request, you’re not really sure what the bounds of this arrangement with Dozle are. Teabolo won’t take this well either way, but it might spare him the worst of it.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5448897
>1.”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?
>2.”I have a request, Dozle. My sister is very close to our adoptive father; would it be possible for her to stay for a while longer before parting with him? A few days at most. He has treated us with respect and care for years, I don’t want to suddenly vanish and leave him worrying.” Might be a risky request, you’re not really sure what the bounds of this arrangement with Dozle are. Teabolo won’t take this well either way, but it might spare him the worst of it.
Preference vote but I think combining them could work too.
>>
>>5448897
>”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?
>”...This is a disguised warship, isn’t it? This interior isn’t civilian at all.” The Zam is suspiciously military looking. All that time looking at reference photos of Federation ship interiors wasn’t a waste afterall.

Teabolo isn't Jimba. He wont fund a terrorist cell because we ditched him.

>Captcha: MSGYT
Captcha wants gundam-tuber recommendations, apparently.
>>
>>5448897

>”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?
>”...This is a disguised warship, isn’t it? This interior isn’t civilian at all.” The Zam is suspiciously military looking. All that time looking at reference photos of Federation ship interiors wasn’t a waste afterall.

Dude if we can get the Dozal bowel rolling is kinda hype as fuck
>>
>>5448909
You need to get a spellchecker, dude.
>>
>>5448911
Lmao, Maybe next thread when my phone isn't gonna explode from damn near 2k posts and being on page 8
>>
>>5448897
>”I have a request, Dozle. My sister is very close to our adoptive father; would it be possible for her to stay for a while longer before parting with him? A few days at most. He has treated us with respect and care for years, I don’t want to suddenly vanish and leave him worrying.” Might be a risky request, you’re not really sure what the bounds of this arrangement with Dozle are. Teabolo won’t take this well either way, but it might spare him the worst of it.
>"He is not the most healthy of people, and he suffered a lot by sheltering us for so long. I would hate to repay his loyalty to my family with betrayal."
>>
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>>5448912
>Phoneposter
>>
>>5448915
I am not here for a long time
Only a short time.

But in my time, I seek the Zam Pill
>>
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>>5448915
No bulli
>>
>>5448915
My brother in Christ, some us are slacking off at work.
>>
>>5448916
>>5448918
>>5448919

I will bully as much as I damn well please,

I know the struggle, I phoneposted for near-on 3 years.
>>
>>5448897
1)
>”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?
>”I have a request, Dozle. My sister is very close to our adoptive father; would it be possible for her to stay for a while longer before parting with him? A few days at most. He has treated us with respect and care for years, I don’t want to suddenly vanish and leave him worrying.” Might be a risky request, you’re not really sure what the bounds of this arrangement with Dozle are. Teabolo won’t take this well either way, but it might spare him the worst of it.

2)
>”I have a request, Dozle. My sister is very close to our adoptive father; would it be possible for her to stay for a while longer before parting with him? A few days at most. He has treated us with respect and care for years, I don’t want to suddenly vanish and leave him worrying.” Might be a risky request, you’re not really sure what the bounds of this arrangement with Dozle are. Teabolo won’t take this well either way, but it might spare him the worst of it.

3)
>”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?
>”...This is a disguised warship, isn’t it? This interior isn’t civilian at all.” The Zam is suspiciously military looking. All that time looking at reference photos of Federation ship interiors wasn’t a waste afterall.

>>5448913
Supporting this write-in, except instead of just saying betrayal say 'leaving him in such a short notice' (Dozle might not see us immediately joining him as something anyone should get worked up about).
>>
>>5448935
I meant it more as a betrayal of trust, since it's doing such an important decision without warning Teabolo.
>>
>>5448897
>”...This is a disguised warship, isn’t it? This interior isn’t civilian at all.” The Zam is suspiciously military looking. All that time looking at reference photos of Federation ship interiors wasn’t a waste after all
Then...
>”Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” A pilot can dream, right?

Holy hell, Dozle is so goddamn based. And Felix is charming him better than I could have dreamed. Sieg Zam!
>>
>>5448937
Oh yeah, that's true.

>>5448935
Changing vote 2) to
>”I have a request, Dozle. My sister is very close to our adoptive father; would it be possible for her to stay for a while longer before parting with him? A few days at most. He has treated us with respect and care for years, I don’t want to suddenly vanish and leave him worrying.” Might be a risky request, you’re not really sure what the bounds of this arrangement with Dozle are. Teabolo won’t take this well either way, but it might spare him the worst of it.
>"He is not the most healthy of people, and he suffered a lot by sheltering us for so long. I would hate to repay his loyalty to my family with betrayal."
>>
>>5448901
>>5448907
>>5448909
>>5448945
Writing.
>>
>>5448948
Didn't mean to include >>5448901
Meant to include third preference of >>5448935

Result is the same either way.
>>
>>5448948
Well, I guess it's time for Teabolo to have his heart attack and die.
>>
Or did anons not know that Teabolo dies of shock in Origin, when the people of side 6 attacks the household because of the battle of Loum, meaning he has a fragile health ever since the assassination attempt on Spain? It's a ways of, and the worst case scenario for it to happen so early, but I'm worried anyways.
>>
>>5448955
>Spoiler
Some of us do, there's a few who haven't seen Origin or the OG anime in here though.
>>
>>5448955
Same here. I'm starting to regret my third preference vote.
>>
>>5448955
Sir, I am drunk on halloween. My current brain process is laughing at spooky skeletons and zam memes.
>>
>>5448959
>>5448960
>>5448962
Well shit, might be good to mention the meta reasons on my votes when I do remember things. I just assumed people would know when I mentioned his health. Hopefully I'm just being overly paranoid
Laughing at Big Zams and skeletons is respectable though
>>
>>5448963
We can probably find a way to communicate with him while we're with Dozle. Though that's sounds unlikely now that I'm typing it.
>>
>>5448959
>there's a few who haven't seen Origin

Like me. I haven't seen or read Origin, and I probably wont. I've heard it doesn't have the best characterization of Char.
>>
>>5448962
You and me both.
>>5448963
I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've autistically dumped spoilers too.
>>5448965
>It doesn't have the best characterization of Char.
It's... different. I wouldn't say it's bad necessarily, just highlights him to be more sociopathic than most people think he is.
>>
>>5448964
Maybe we can try to convince him to move to Zeon, it would avoid said attack on if it happens. It would be a hard sell though.
>>
>>5448968
Yeah, I dropped spoilers before when Lucifer was dying, but didn't bother right now for Teabolo's fate.
Contolist did say that the cat wouldn't have died right away though, so I'm probably raising a fuss over nothing.
>>
>>5448970
That's not a half bad plan. We can even phrase it as him continuing to 'bear out his neck to the Zabis'
Obviously we'll have to sound like we're on the Zabis' side, but it should still work with a bit of effort.
>>
The door slides open with a his and you follow Dozle out into the passageway, the huge man taking up much of it and forcing you to walk a bit further behind him that you normally would.

“Dozle, what would it take to pilot one of those mobile suits?” You ask, the idea very intriguing; the controls didn’t seem all that different from the pods you’re familiar with, though you didn’t get the best look at them with Blanche moving all over you like she was. It was very, very distracting, you’d never had a woman that close to you for so long before - you’ve gotten plenty of attention from girls your age at that tiny school back on the colony… but the way she was talking…

“Ask me again once you’ve graduated from the academy!” Dozle answers loudly, “You showed bravery today, and skill at piloting. That’s enough for me. The rest is a matter of discipline. Can you follow orders, Felix?”

“Yes, sir.” You answer sharply, Dozle’s response clearing your thoughts of Blanche; that was practically a job offer!

“Good start.” He chuckles, carrying on past a pair of technicians who stop to salute him as you both pass, though they both give you slightly confused looks. It’s obvious that much of the crew doesn’t know what’s going on. Maybe that’s just the nature of the military, some people always being left in the dark.

“...This is a disguised warship, isn’t it? This interior isn’t civilian at all.” You comment as you pass by a door labeled ‘ARMORY’.

“Not so hidden from the inside, is she?” Dozle replies, stopping to rap a fist against the bulkhead to his side a few times, “Hear that, Felix? The Zam is a cruiser! Or at least her bones are; her turrets are in storage.”

“Storage?”

“Every Arcana class vessel is a warship,” Dozle says proudly, “They’re thoroughbreds dressed as donkeys. When the day comes they’ll be more fearsome than any of those toys the Federation calls ships!”

“...You’re hiding naval buildup from the Federation.” You say, reasoning aloud through the new obvious signs, “...There must be hundreds and hundreds of these, they do cargo runs all over the Sides…”

You both get in an elevator, Dozle tapping at the control panel and the doors quickly sealing shut. A moment later you feel the push of acceleration.

“Felix, you’ve learned more today than most are aware of.” Dozle says, his tone serious as the elevator ascends the short distance to the bridge, “Do not abuse my good will and bring trouble to Zeon.”

“I won’t, sir.” You say, understanding clearly what he means. The doors open and you step out onto the bridge, a number of officers turning from their stations to watch as you enter and then standing to salute.

“As you were,” Dozle says, moving to sit at the captain’s chair, exchanging salutes with another officer who had been filling it; he moves to stand nearby as Dozle takes command.
>>
>>5449023
“The line is ready, sir.” A woman says from what must be the communications station.

“Give him the headset,” Dozle orders, “I trust you know how to contact them?”

“It won’t be an issue,” You say, “It might take a few tries though.”

Dozle nods, and you head over and sit next to the comms officer who hands you her headset; you adjust it a bit and put it on, tapping at a few of the controls on the panel to connect to the right part of the colony’s internal network - the controls are familiar enough to use without issue, a lot of Federation standardization apparently carrying over even to Zeon’s secret naval forces. After a few minutes you manage to get a link to your sister’s normal suit helmet radio, and luckily enough she’s still wearing it.

“Sayla?” You ask, the habit of using her new name refusing to die; it doesn’t really matter all that much anymore, you’re literally surrounded by Zeon sailors.

“Felix?” She asks worriedly, “Are you alright? Where are you?”

“I’m aboard a ship, and I’m fine.” You say, “Are you alone or with Casval?”

“He’s here.” She confirms, “What ship are you on?”

“Is it really Felix?” You hear your brother’s muffled voice ask in the background.

“It’s him, Casval, he says he’s safe.” Artesia answers your brother, “Felix, you really need to explain what’s going on.”

…And so you explain, speaking a bit in code still so as to not betray the more sensitive details to anyone in Colony security that might be listening in. It’s very, very unlikely that they are, but years of paranoia about spies leave their impression. Sayla has been relaying what you’ve said to Casval, though it’s a bit awkward to hold the conversation like this.

“He says he wants us to join him.” Artesia relays, then there’s silence for a few seconds as your brother says something not quite audible and the connection cuts for a moment before returning.

“A fortunate turn of events, wouldn’t you say so?” Casval asks, probably having taken the helmet, “It will be nice to see home again. We’ll be at auxiliary bay three, or should we go out in a pod?”

“...A pod would be better, I think.” You answer, “They should be able to send someone to get you once you’re away from the colony.”

“See you in an hour, brother.” Casval says, “...Artesia, you should call Teab…”

The connection dies before he finishes speaking, and you wince a little thinking about what this might do to your adoptive father. Maybe you’ll be able to write him still? …Or if Dozle’s offer is really as good as it sounds he might be able to visit? You set the thoughts aside for now, giving the headset back to the ensign next to you who has been waiting patiently this entire time and failing to pretend that she was disinterested.
>>
>>5449025

“...Are you really Zeon Zum Deikun’s son?” She whispers to you as she takes back the headset. You hesitate for a moment and then nod; she would have heard as much earlier when Blanche radioed the bridge. Her brown eyes widen nearly to the size of saucers and she quickly turns back to her station, pretending to look busy.

…It’s an alien feeling to reveal your identity to a total stranger, but maybe it won’t be for long. You stand up and return to Dozle at the captain’s chair.

“It's done, sir.” You say, remaining respectful while you’re surrounded by sailors under his command, “They’ve both agreed to come. They’ll be leaving in a pod from bay three, I told them someone could pick them up.”

“Lieutenant commander Karpov, did you hear all of that?” Dozle says loudly, directing the question to the officer standing nearby.

“I did, sir.” He answers quickly, standing a little straighter, “I’ll dispatch unit one to retrieve the pod safely.”

“Good!” Dozle rumbles, standing up from the chair, “The Zam is yours again.”

Dozle motions for you to follow and you both leave the bridge, a short elevator ride taking you to a lower deck on the vessel.

“Normally I would order one of my men to show a guest to their quarters,” Dozle says, placing a huge hand on your shoulder, “But you are not a normal guest. I’ve had officers quarters readied for all three of you.”

“Thank you, Dozle.” You reply as the elevator door swishes open, “You’ve been very hospitable.”

“A man is nothing without honor.” Dozle says, exiting with you close behind him, “...Though you will not have the run of the ship yet. Once your siblings are both here I will have one of my men give you a tour; only sensitive areas will be off limits.”

“Sensitive areas?” You question.

“Armories, the hangar, engineering spaces, and the bridge.” Dozle explains, listing them off on his fingers, “You are a guest, not part of the crew.”

“...I understand.”

“Make sure that you do, Felix. Here we are.” Dozle says, tapping on a metal door labeled ‘08’, “The rooms to either side are for your siblings. Officers move through here often; do nothing that would jeopardize the discipline or morale of my crew, otherwise you are free.”

“Yes, sir.” You reply respectfully, the door sliding open to reveal a relatively spacious room; relative being the operative word. Even an officer’s quarters on a warship aren’t truly spacious, but there are at least two very small rooms and you can see what you think might be the door to a cramped bathroom. It could all fit into the living room of your suite back on the colony.
>>
>>5449026

“Stay here until someone comes to get you.” Dozle commands, motioning to the room with his huge arm, “I have a call to make, my sister will want to hear about this.”

>”...Which sister?” He probably means Kycilia, which could be bad news.
>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
>"...Could I wait near the hangar? I'd like to greet my brother and sister as soon as they arrive." Dozle just said it was off limits but maybe a guard could stay with you or something,
>Write-in
>>
>>5449028
>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.

Let's not push our luck. Dozle's a military man, and we're still very much an unknown element to him. He probably still sees us as a threat, at least a little bit.

Its also really fucking weird that we're not talking to him with honorifics. Us not calling him "Mister Dozle" or "Sir" is making me uncomfortable.
>>
>>5449028
>"...Could I wait near the hangar? I'd like to greet my brother and sister as soon as they arrive." Dozle just said it was off limits but maybe a guard could stay with you or something,
>"If it wouldn't be too imposing on your goodwill, of course."
Maybe Lt. Blanche will be our chaperone.
>>
>>5449028
>”...Which sister?” He probably means Kycilia, which could be bad news.
>"...Could I wait near the hangar? I'd like to greet my brother and sister as soon as they arrive." Dozle just said it was off limits but maybe a guard could stay with you or something,
I hope this doesn't come off as too pushy, but maybe making ourselves look assertive is the right call.
Also, if it is Kycilia we can motion our siblings to talk to them in private.
>>
>>5449028
1. >>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
2. >>"...Could I wait near the hangar? I'd like to greet my brother and sister as soon as they arrive." Dozle just said it was off limits but maybe a guard could stay with you or something,
>>
>>5449028
>>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
>>"...Could I wait near the hangar? I'd like to greet my brother and sister as soon as they arrive." Dozle just said it was off limits but maybe a guard could stay with you or something,

Be polite. Also stare and salivate at mobile suits.
>>
>>5449030
We're not enlisted just yet, not to mention he specifically said we could drop the formalities a few minutes ago.
>>
>>5449028
Changing my vote to support >>5449031

Asking about his sister would probably sound too suspicious.
>>
>>5448364
Also, building on top of this, if Vivima turns out to be too crazy/impossible to waifu, Blanche should be our next option.
>>
>>5449028
>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
>>
>>5449028
>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
Luck, pushed. Plan, progressed. Let's stop while we're ahead.
>>
>>5449028
>>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
>>
>>5449028
>”...Which sister?” He probably means Kycilia, which could be bad news.
>”Thank you again, Dozle.” Head inside and wait, check out the room a bit.
>>
>>5449030
>>5449036
>>5449060
>>5449065
>>5449066
Thank Dozle and check out the room.

>>5449037
Thank Dozle but ask to wait near the hangar.

>>5449031
>>5449045
Ask to wait for your siblings at the hanger + polite write-in.

>>5449068
Ask which sister + Thank Dozle and check out the room.

Thanking Dozle and checking out the room wins. Writing.
>>
“Thank you again, Dozle.” You say, stepping into the small room and turning to look at the imposingly large man.

He nods in acknowledgement, “We will speak later.”

The door slides closed with a faint hiss, and you hear the loud footsteps of his oversized magboot as he walks off just on the other side.

Facing back to your new quarters you begin to look around with curiosity, immediately noticing that everything smells really quite pleasant; vaguely floral. The furniture and appliances aren’t exactly ugly, but they are quite plain - lots of dark and light greens, and a bit of wood paneling here and there.

The living room, as it is, has a tiny table with a pair of chairs, a particularly compact kitchenette, and a sofa hardly large enough for two people along with a television set into the wall. Definitely not up to the standards you’re used to, but you expected a prison cell about an hour ago when this all first began, so this should probably be considered a huge win.

The bedroom is a similar story, everything being quite compact with the exception of the neatly made bed which manages to sprawl and dominate most of the tiny room. There’s just barely space to maneuver around it to get to the equally tiny closet; whoever got moved out of this room earlier left a pink sock in one of the drawers within it, and you leave it where it is for now and move on to look at the bathroom. Ceiling shower, toilet, mirror, sink; yep, it’s all there, and it’s almost stacked on top of each other with only a small curtain to separate it… It’s pretty much spotless though, so that’s nice.

>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
>Just relax on the tiny sofa, mess with the television a bit and wait.
>There are a few books that were left on one of the small shelves in the bedroom, look through those.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5449077
>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
>There are a few books that were left on one of the small shelves in the bedroom, look through those.


>along with a television set into the wall
Do Auroras/Musais get TV Signal, or is this a "bring your own tapes" sort of deal?
>>
>>5449077
>There are a few books that were left on one of the small shelves in the bedroom, look through those.
>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
>>
>>5449077
>>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
Where there is one, there is another. Find the Pink Sock's pair.
>>
>>5449077
>>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
>>5449080
As Casval becomes the Red Comet, Felix will become the Pink Socks
>>
>>5449080
>>5449081
How do we find who the socks belong to give back?
inb4 it's VV's and it's how Felix introduces himself
>>
>>5449077
>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
>There are a few books that were left on one of the small shelves in the bedroom, look through those.
Try to find any small bugs/microphones that might be hidden around, then skim through the books to see if they're just propaganda or something useful we can learn for later.
We should probably prepare to say something to our siblings once they arrive here.
>>
>>5449077
>Check the fridge, the cabinets, everything! No stone unturned!
>There are a few books that were left on one of the small shelves in the bedroom, look through those.
This was Blanche's room, wasn't it?
>>
>>5449093
>Spoiler
That was my first thought, too.
>>
If we're gonna be on Dozle's ship for a while, you think he'd let Casval and Felix get some training in?
We could probably get a lot done with just a spare cargo hold and some steel pipes.
>>
>>5449097
There should be a sim pod or something on board that we could try our hand at. Failing that, we could grab a manual and just read.
>>
>>5449097
Yeah, and I bet he'd probably even let Artesia join in too.
Though I feel like we should use this time given to us to plan with our siblings about what exactly we'll do once we get to the academy.
>>
>>5449078
>>5449079
>>5449089
>>5449093
Writing.
>>
>>5449103
>Though I feel like we should use this time given to us to plan with our siblings about what exactly we'll do once we get to the academy.
We can train AND talk. Hell, that seems like the most efficient use of our time anyways.
>>
>>5449108
>pumping iron while pumping out plans
This is it, this right here.
>>
With your cursory inspection completed you move onto a more thorough search of your new quarters, beginning with the fridge. It’s quite small, and from a standing height it appears to be empty, but crouching down and looking to the very back you see that a large bottle filled with a clear liquid has been left… Munzo Comet. On closer inspection it’s clearly alcohol of some kind, and smaller text on the fancy looking label identifies it as vodka. Well, somebody is definitely going to miss that. The rest of the kitchenette holds no secrets, just some glasses, plates, silverware, and a tiny bit of cleaning supplies to keep it all sanitary and looking good. There aren’t any obvious bugs either, but you don’t have the tools to disassemble things and do a check quite that deep.

Moving to search around the TV, you find where a number of tapes must have been until recently, a very, very faint layer of dust betraying their absence. Turning on the television with the small remote accompanying it you find that it seems to be getting general broadcasts… but the quality is atrocious, the picture and sound are incredibly corrupted and garbled. Probably more of that interference from the mobile suits, or maybe the ship is doing it itself. Searching under the furniture you find the missing twin of that pink sock from earlier, and a black hair tie. No bugs though. You collect the lost items and head to the bedroom once more, placing them together with the other sock.

Sighing, you get on the very cramped floor between the bed and the wall and check under the bed; it’s dark, but you can just faintly see… A huge cat! It hisses, yellow eyes narrowing at you as it bats a clawed paw at your hand. Experienced with dealing with this kind of thing you back right off, avoiding the swipe.

“Well, who are you?” You ask the cat from a safer distance, smiling until you suddenly realize that Lucifer is probably being left with Teabolo. Oh, that’s not going to go over well with Artesia. It’s definitely going on the list of things to request, assuming Artesia doesn’t beat you to it; she’s a lot less likely to have it slip her mind anyways.

The maine coon hisses again, and you decide to leave it alone for now; you know how to make it like you, and bothering it is the exact wrong thing to do. It’s probably the ship's cat; from what you know of navies an officer definitely wouldn’t be keeping a personal pet. The rest of the bedroom is much less exciting, no bugs or other accidentally left personal items other than a few books on a small shelf.
>>
>>5449121

Looking over the books, all of them bound in red and lacking covers, you read the titles on their spines. The first is clearly propaganda, Selected Speeches of Gihren Zabi, as is the next, though you’re a little more partial to it, On Newtypes, written by none other than your father… The next few books must have been accidentally left behind though, and your cheeks warm as you see their titles.

The ABC’s of Men, 2nd Edition

On Spacenoid Males

Secrets of a Man’s Body

Love on Luna

The Art of War

…The last one at least makes some sense for an officer at least, and another pair of propaganda texts, Speeches of Zeon Zum Deikun parts one and two, finish off the little row of books.

Whoever cleaned out the rest of the shelf must not have realized what was sandwiched between the propaganda… Which means it probably wasn’t cleared out by the previous occupant; there’s no way someone would miss if it was their own. It also goes a way to explaining the cat, the door was likely left open for quite some time.

>...Check out the accidentally left books for a moment. What’s even in a book like them?
>Ignore the books, they’re not yours. Finish your searching by looking over the bathroom.
>See if you can lure out the cat with one of the socks or something, lay atop the bed and run it across the ground near the edge where the cat should be able to see it. Lucifer jumped right on stuff like that usually.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5449123
>Ignore the books, they’re not yours. Finish your searching by looking over the bathroom.
>See if you can lure out the cat with one of the socks or something, lay atop the bed and run it across the ground near the edge where the cat should be able to see it. Lucifer jumped right on stuff like that usually.

Seems like the Lieutenant is unlucky with love.
>>
>>5449123
>See if you can lure out the cat with one of the socks or something, lay atop the bed and run it across the ground near the edge where the cat should be able to see it. Lucifer jumped right on stuff like that usually

A superior cat for a superior race of humanity.
>>
>>5449125
We should also see if there's an intercom in this room, and try and hail someone about the cat.
>>
>>5449123
>Ignore the books, they’re not yours. Finish your searching by looking over the bathroom.
>Read a bit of your father's work. You can't help but want to know more about what his thoughts and ideals were.
>>
>>5449128
There is an intercom near the door, and I'm laughing at myself for forgetting about it after writing a post with lots of checking for bugs.
>>
>>5449123
>Ignore the books, they’re not yours. Finish your searching by looking over the bathroom.
>>
>>5449123
>Ignore the books, they’re not yours. Finish your searching by looking over the bathroom.
>>
>>5449123
>Ignore the books, they’re not yours. Finish your searching by looking over the bathroom.
>>
>>5449132
>>5449138
>>5449137
Writing.
>>
You ignore the books, they’re not yours, and move on to searching through the bathroom. The cat bolts out from under the bed as you leave the area, surprisingly loud as it heads off into the living room. You shrug, cats will be cats, and get back to looking around. There just aren’t many places for something to be hidden in the bathroom, and the search goes by fairly quickly. The mirror can swing out, and a small medicine cabinet is behind it; there’s nothing left inside, not even a stray pill - at least whoever cleaned out the room did this part properly.

…Part of you was hoping to find hidden bugs, or some other evidence of Zabi treachery, but this really does just seem to be a room that was hastily cleared out for you. You feel a little bad for the previous occupant, they almost certainly got moved to worse quarters, and things can probably drop down quite a lot from here - It’s no luxury lodge or Spanish villa, and it certainly isn’t the mansion you spent your early childhood in, but these quarters are comfortable enough to get by in without any real problems.

There’s a knock at the door, and you turn back to the living room and furrow your brow. It’s far too early for it to be someone informing you your siblings have arrived.

“May I come in, sir?” A vaguely familiar woman’s voice asks.

You walk over to the door, the fluffy cat scurrying off the kitchenette’s small counter and toward the small sofa to hide, and stop at the door.

The light knocking repeats, “Sir?”

You open the door and find a very sharply put together Blanche standing in front of you, her green officer’s uniform tailored quite well; the color suits her.

“Lieutenant,” You say politely, “What’s the matter?”

“A few of my personal items were missing in my new quarters, sir.” She answers very directly, maintaining her consistent use of honorifics - she’s looking past you and to the cat though, her gray eyes narrowing almost to slits, “I see you’ve met Commodore.”

“Oh, the cat?” You ask, following her gaze to find the feline fiend’s fluffy face peeking out from behind the far side of the compact sofa, “He hasn’t warmed up to me yet.”

“He likely won’t.” She states, “You should show more respect though, sir, he outranks us all. He was stuck in here?”

“He was, the poor guy,” You confirm, stepping aside and motioning for her to enter the little room, “Must have gotten trapped when they moved your things out.”

“Have you touched anything, sir?” She asks, her tone very serious, “I’d like to gather my things if that’s acceptable.”

“I gathered a few things together to hand over; I thought somebody might be by soon. Come on in, it’s no problem.” You say, letting her pass by, "Most of it's still in the bedroom."
>>
>>5449180
I thought it might have been hers...
>>
>>5449180

She barely makes noise when walking; her magboots must be on almost the minimum setting. It’s actually rather difficult to walk like that with any confidence, but she manages it just fine.

Moving directly to the fridge and opening it, bending over to reach reach into the very back, she pulls out the bottle you found earlier and sets it on the counter.

“Do you drink, sir?” She asks idly, the elegant features of her face unreadable as she looks over the rest of the room.

“Not often, I haven’t gotten much of a chance,” You answer honestly, “I’m sixteen.”

Technically you can purchase and drink a few things with low alcohol content back on the colony, but you never saw much of a point and haven’t had much time for it in the past few months anyways; training and flying has generally kept you busy and away from most distractions.

“You look older, sir.” Blanche comments, moving toward the bedroom. Commodore escapes out the still open door, and you move over to shut it - It seals with a hiss.

>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.
>”Sorry about stealing your room, Lieutenant.” She doesn’t look terribly bothered.
>”...You can call me Felix, there’s no need for formalities.” See if she’ll ease up a bit.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5449183
>>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.
>>”Sorry about stealing your room, Lieutenant.” She doesn’t look terribly bothered.
>>”...You can call me Felix, there’s no need for formalities.” See if she’ll ease up a bit.

I really wanna do all three this time.
>>
>>5449183
>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.
>”...You can call me Felix, there’s no need for formalities.” See if she’ll ease up a bit.

Here's hoping we get assigned to serve with her during the OYW.
>>
>>5449183
1)
>”Sorry about stealing your room, Lieutenant.” She doesn’t look terribly bothered.

2)
>”...You can call me Felix, there’s no need for formalities.” See if she’ll ease up a bit.
>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.

She probably won't ease up no matter what we do, and us revealing we know about her books will probably be embarrassing for her. But if we do want to be friends with her we should commit to it.
>>
>>5449183
>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.
>"So...The Art of War? I didn't realize the still made that required reading for officers. Any insights to share?"
>>
>>5449183
>>5449191
Supporting this write-in if we help her with her books.
>>
>>5449192
I figured making some pleasant conversation would help ease the tension a little, but it would need to be under the context that we're commenting on the books as if we've only seen them just now.
She seems incredibly embarrassed about leaving her "I can't get a man" novel series out here.
>>
>>5449183
>>5449191
Support. It's polite to ignore your friend's dating help books!
>>
>>5449193
Agreed. We barely know her, and showing a bit of respect for a (soon to be) fellow soldier could go a long ways.

>>5449183
>>5449190
Changing my vote to only support >>5449191
And if she finds out about our already seeing the books just be honest with her and tell her that we were only trying to be considerate.
>>
>>5449206
And it would be a good idea to ask her if we can bring animals on board, and if not how we can be allowed to bring one. Don't want to leave Lucifer abandoned in the colony.
>>
>>5449191
Support.
>>
>>5449283
>>5449183
Forgot to link to the prompt
>>
>>5449183
>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.
>”Sorry about stealing your room, Lieutenant.” She doesn’t look terribly bothered.
>>
>>5449183
>>”Sorry about stealing your room, Lieutenant.” She doesn’t look terribly bothered.
>>”...You can call me Felix, there’s no need for formalities.” See if she’ll ease up a bit.
>>
>>5449183
Let me add this to my vote
2)
>”...You can call me Felix, there’s no need for formalities.” See if she’ll ease up a bit.
>”There are a few books that were left in there.” Help Blanche gather up her things, you’ve probably already found all of it.
>"So...The Art of War? I didn't realize they still made that required reading for officers. Any insights to share?"
>>
>>5449316
+1
>>
>>5449191
>>5449206
>>5449204
>>5449283
Writing.
>>
“There are a few books that were left in there.” You say, following her into the cramped bedroom; she’s facing the closet’s interior, looking through one of the drawers. Quickly folding the socks, she sets them atop the bed and then moves over to the bookshelf.

“...Thank you, sir, I see them.” She says, facing away from you again as she carefully removes the middle group of books from the row; it’s as you suspected, the books on either side are meant to be in the room.

“So… the Art of War?” You ask, seeing it atop the neat little stack she’s carrying, “I didn’t realize they still made that required reading for officers. Any insights to share?”

“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” She quotes from memory while gathering up the other items along with the books and stepping out of the small bedroom, “It isn’t required reading, sir; my father gave it to me a few months ago.”

“Oh, I see.” You say, choosing not to comment on her chosen quote, “That’s a very traditional gift for an officer; has it helped you any?”

“Yes, sir, it is, and not yet.” She confirms politely, walking to the kitchenette, “It’s very insightful, but I’ve struggled to apply it in practice. I don’t have command of a unit as a test pilot. The advice it gives is wise but… less applicable to individuals.”

“Are you looking forward to a command?” You ask, trying to stay clear of the topic of the other books.

“I’m not sure, sir.” She answers, and for once you sense just a hint of conflict in otherwise calm and professional demeanor, “Piloting is exciting work, even if it has its ups and downs, but my father is pushing for it to be a short stint in my career.”

“He’s in the military as well?” You guess, hints piling up readily.

“Yes, sir. He’s a general,” She explains, “He resigned his Federation command to join the defense force shortly after it was reorganized. He’ll be a vice-admiral once the space forces are no longer hidden. My grandfather was an admiral for the Federation.”

That would’ve been after the coup and the name change from Munzo to Zeon, there haven’t been any other reorganizations you can think of; it’s possible your knowledge is just incomplete though, you’ve been studying Zeon’s history these last two weeks as preparation for your ruse but there’s a lot you may have missed.

“An old military family then.” You conclude, though she doesn’t quite fit what you’d expect of the daughter of a Federation commander, former or not, especially her looks, “...But you’re a spacenoid, aren’t you?”
>>
>>5449392

“Third generation, sir, though barely.” She confirms, seeming to relax a little, her gray eyes looking up and down over you, “My family was on some of the first rockets up, just as construction was starting on the Sides. I understand that my grandfather met your father a few times, though he was on the wrong side of the negotiation table; he spoke of it often.”

>”Your family had a change of heart then? I’m glad you’re with us now at least.” Conflicted family histories probably aren’t uncommon among old military families, they all had to come from earth at some point.
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>”...Would you like to stay for a while and talk?” It’s possible that she has duties to return to, likely even, but there are much worse ways to spend the next half hour or so while you wait.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5449394
>”Your family had a change of heart then? I’m glad you’re with us now at least.” Conflicted family histories probably aren’t uncommon among old military families, they all had to come from earth at some point.
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>"How were you able to get an animal on board? My little sister has a cat as well, I want to see if he can be brought here."
I think we broke the ice a bit, but we shouldn't push it. Don't want us to seem too annoying or anything.
>>
>>5449394
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>"Is Blanche your first or last name lieutenant? It's a very fitting one since it matches the color of your eyes and hair."
>>5449398
I don't think Lucifer will be come along, Felix said that they would leave things behind and probably would have to ask Teabolo to bring him to Zeon if visits are possible.
>>
>>5449394
>”Your family had a change of heart then? I’m glad you’re with us now at least.” Conflicted family histories probably aren’t uncommon among old military families, they all had to come from earth at some point.
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>>
>>5449394
>>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>>”...Would you like to stay for a while and talk?” It’s possible that she has duties to return to, likely even, but there are much worse ways to spend the next half hour or so while you wait.
>>
>>5449414
I hope so at least. Don't want our boy Lucy getting stuck in Texas if Teabolo gets a heart attack.
Think Sayla will try to smuggle him in?

>>5449392
Changing my vote to
1)
>”Your family had a change of heart then? I’m glad you’re with us now at least.” Conflicted family histories probably aren’t uncommon among old military families, they all had to come from earth at some point.
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>"Is Blanche your first or last name lieutenant? It's a very fitting one since it matches the color of your eyes and hair."

2)
>”Your family had a change of heart then? I’m glad you’re with us now at least.” Conflicted family histories probably aren’t uncommon among old military families, they all had to come from earth at some point.
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.

second preference is just in case the write-in doesn't mesh well with the combination/doesn't win the vote.
>>
>>5449394
>”You can call me Felix.” See if she'll ease up a little; it’s weird having an older woman call you sir so often, she has to have a decade on you or so.
>”...Would you like to stay for a while and talk?” It’s possible that she has duties to return to, likely even, but there are much worse ways to spend the next half hour or so while you wait.
>>
>>5449548
>>5449423
Call me felix + ask to talk.

>>5449427
Change of heart + call me felix + write-in.

>>5449419
Change of heart + call me felix.

>>5449414
Call me felix + write-in.

Pretty fractured vote.
Call me Felix + ask to talk wins. I'll throw in the write-in about her name as well since it fits.
>>
>>5449569
Nice
>>
I hope she doesn't stay for too long, I want us to talk to our siblings in private once they arrive.
>>
>>5449569
She is doing great so far let's see if she will be able to hold conversation without single sexual innuendo.
>>
“You can call me Felix,” You offer as you both stand near the kitchenette, hoping Blanche might ease up a little.

“Very well, Felix.” She replies, somehow managing to sound more formal, “You may call me Blanche.”

“Is Blanche your first or last name?” You question, not seeing a name anywhere on her well tailored green uniform, “It’s very fitting either way, matching the color of your eyes and hair.”

“...Thank you, Felix. It’s my given name, my cousin picked it when I was born.” She answers with the faintest hint of a smile, “My surname is Rugens. If there’s truth to names then does that mean that you’re lucky, Felix?”

“I wonder about that sometimes,” You answer honestly, thinking over the constant rollercoaster of events of the last few years, just scraping through disasters but always scraping through, “If I am it’s a strange sort of luck… Overall I’d say no.”

“Would you like to be?” She asks in her characteristically serious tone, setting her small stack of books and other items on the counter nearby next to the bottle.

“I suppose so?” You say, not considering the question all that much.

“Sorry, you’re missing context; I should explain. I was reminded of a question my friend asked me once before a test flight,” She says, sliding the bottle a little closer to her other things, “Whether it was better to be lucky or skilled.”

“How’d you answer?” You ask, unsure of how you feel about that yourself; some measure of fortune has kept you alive these last few years, and events like your current ‘kidnapping’ at least seem to have turned out almost shockingly well so far… but you’ve also had to kill, and been shot and bloodied, and you’ll never forget the looks on… no, best not to think about that right now. You shove those memories back down into the depths of your mind.

“I told him I’d prefer to be both, and he said I was being greedy.” Blanche replies, her gaze seeming to pass through you and to some far off sight, “I was a fool, but I didn’t see it at the time.”

“...Would you like to stay for a while and talk?” You offer, enjoying her presence; it's far, far better than waiting alone.

“I would. I’m off duty for the next few hours,” She answers immediately, reaching over to grab the bottle, “The other pilot and I run in shorter shifts, there’s always someone on standby in case we need to scramble. Would you like to drink, Felix? It’s been a momentous day. …And I’ve been looking for an excuse to open this for a while, they don’t make it anymore.”

…She’s not exactly wrong; you and your siblings returning to Side Three is a big deal, assuming the information becomes more widespread. You'll probably know more of the details in the next few hours.

>”Yes, thank you. It’s not made anymore?”
>”No, thank you though.”
>Write-in

Feel free to suggest some topics.
>>
>>5449636

>”Yes, thank you. It’s not made anymore?”
>What its like to be able to pilot freely inside the Suit? Not in the 'State secrets' but being out in space able to move in ways beyond anything currently
>Also, How home is?
>>
>>5449636
>”Yes, thank you. It’s not made anymore?”
>Anything you can tell me about your MS that aren't state secrets?
>>
>>5449636
>”No, thank you though.”
Need to keep ourselves sober to talk to Cas and Artesia. And I've seen enough quests to know that we will get drunk (being a teenager in front of an older woman) if we accept.
>"How would you say your work under Dozle is?"
>"Is that Mobile suit type the only one in production? I don't want to press for 'State Secrets' but I am genuinely curious about those things."
>"Can you tell me anything about the military here? Any general pointers?"
>>
>>5449636
>”No, thank you though.”
>"I think it's better to wait until both my borther and sister arrive. Wouldn't be fair to tart celebrating the Deikun's family return with one only of them, right?"
>>
>>5449650
As for topics
>"What do you know about the academy? What I said back then wasn't an excuse, me and my siblings were planning on joining up for a while now."
>"So, how did you get to be one of Dozle's trusted officers? Most people here don't seem to know about me."
>"It’s not made anymore?”
I still want to know about it, even if we don't drink it right now
>>
>>5449636
>”Yes, thank you. It’s not made anymore?”
>"So you're a test pilot? Not that flying is an uncommon profession among Spacenoids, but how did you end up going that route?"
>"Are there any physical training facilities onboard the ship? I imagine there'd have to be given how difficult it is to maintain one's physical condition in microgravity."
>"What's there to do between shifts around here?"
>>
>>5449636

>”Yes, thank you. It’s not made anymore?”
>"What do you mean you were a fool? Is it not better to have both fortune and talent on your side?"
>"What its like to be able to pilot freely inside the Suit?"
>"Are there any physical training facilities onboard the ship? I imagine there'd have to be given how difficult it is to maintain one's physical condition in microgravity."
Let's not leave that comment dangling guys
>>
>>5449639
>>5449642
>>5449655
>>5449671
Writing.

>>5449644
>>5449653
I'll try to work in some of these topics as well.
>>
“Yes, thank you. It’s not made anymore?” You ask, grabbing a pair of glasses from one of the cabinets and setting them out as she opens the bottle.

“The owners of the company were arrested.” Blanche says as she pours out a pair of shallow drinks, “Supposedly there was evidence implicating them in an anti-government plot. The business went under soon after.”

“Supposedly? You don’t sound convinced.” You say, taking a sip; it’s very different from what Dozle gave you earlier, much, much smoother. The contents of your glass vanish easily.

“There were a lot of accusations at the time; it was just after Gihren Zabi was shot and no one was sure who had done it.” Blanche says solemnly, downing her own drink in one go, “My father was arrested and claimed to be a Federation spy, but Colonel Dozle spoke in his defense and the charges were dropped. Neither of us hold a grudge, the investigators were simply doing their jobs and following orders.”

“You were almost caught in a purge? You have my sympathies, I have some idea of what that’s like.” You say, in perhaps the understatement of the century.

“It was an unfortunate time, but we’re more united as a nation now. It’s unwise to speak of it too freely, but I doubt there’s anyone who doesn’t miss this.” Blanche says as she refills the glasses a little deeper this time, “It’s always been my favorite.”

“Ah, I understand. It’s very smooth. I like it.” You say, finding it surprisingly enjoyable and taking another large sip, “So, how did you get to be one of Dozle’s trusted officers? Most of the crew doesn’t seem to know who I am.”

“I refused a promotion and tried for the special research division instead,” Blanche says, a hint of pride in her voice, “I wanted to prove myself. Once I tested into the special research division for the second time he requested I be transferred to his command.”

“Tested the second time? Why twice?” You ask curiously, catching on to the fact that something must have gone wrong.

“The first test was rigged in my favor, the instructor threw two of the dogfights.” She answers, and for once it’s very easy to read her, disgust filling her voice and her cute nose wrinkling up, “He was trying to ingratiate himself to my father; he got a court martial instead.”

“So that’s how you ended up as a mobile suit pilot?” You ask, finishing the second glass. It really does go down easy, and you’re starting to feel a little better, the bruises from earlier aching a little less. Might just be a placebo though, it's barely been any time at all.
>>
>>5449880

“Not to begin with.” Blanche answers, smiling and finally relaxing properly, that tenseness you saw earlier almost totally gone, “They’ve only existed for a few months now. Are you interested in flying one?”

“I am, is it that easy to guess?” You ask, though you’re looking at her eyes. You’ve never met someone with gray eyes before, they’re very striking.

“Every pilot wants to fly one once they see them in action.” She says, pouring a third round.

“Are there other models?” You question, your glass emptying almost immediately again, “I saw one that looked half assembled in the hangar bay.”

“Development is moving very quickly.” She answers, leaving her own untouched for a moment.

“So what’s it like being able to fly so freely?” You ask, smiling, “The way it maneuvered when we fought was amazing, I can’t believe you were able to get behind me the way you did.”

“They handle beautifully when they work, there have been a few issues we’ve had to iron out. It’s the limbs and larger thrusters,” She explains, taking a sip from her glass, “They can reorient quickly without using verniers or having larger thrusters facing in every direction. It’s more efficient than reaction wheels and capable of shifting fast enough to be useful in combat, as you saw.”

“Yeah, I did see. It didn’t seem that different from a normal ship when I was riding along with you though."

“They aren’t for straight line travel, though it's easier to fly when there isn’t someone sitting on you,” She comments, leaning against the counter.

“Sorry about that, I tried not to get in the way too much.” You say, scratching at the back head.

“There’s no need to apologize, Felix.” She replies quickly, “None at all. Another drink?”

“That sounds great!” You agree before shifting the topic from piloting, “Is there a gym on the ship? I usually train with my brother in the mornings, and I know how rough extended microgravity can be.”

“You are very fit, aren’t you?” She says while pouring out quite a lot for just you, her comment really not sounding like a question, “There is a gym. The crew is required to use it if we aren’t meeting a minimum burn time. It’s probably busy right now.”

“You must go fairly often, you look great.” You compliment her, the words just slipping out without much thought. It’s true though, you don’t regret saying it.

“...Thank you. It’s important that a soldier stays in good condition,” She says, finally finishing her third drink, “It helps with flying, it’s important for a pilot to be able to handle high G forces, especially in a mobile suit. …I think that’s enough for me for now.”

She finishes her drink and then slides the glass away on the counter a bit. Feeling a bit compelled to match her display you down yours as well, though you hold onto it for now.
>>
>>5449888

“What was that you said earlier about being a fool?” You ask, the thought seeming to just float back to you and right out your mouth, “Isn’t it better to have both fortune and talent on your side?”

“Of course it’s better.” She says, her voice growing angrier but you can feel that it’s not directed at you, “I was a fool because I got cocky and thought I had both - I almost got us both killed, the engine on the mobile suit blew out and we barely ejected before the reactor went too. We don’t talk anymore. I don’t blame him, it was a huge fuckup. The worst one of my career by far. The engines turned out to have a cooling flaw, they’re all suicidal junk, but I know it was my fault; I shouldn’t have pushed it that far.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” You say, able to very clearly feel her pain; whatever block was there earlier having vanished completely. That must have been very recent if mobile suits have only been around for a few months.

“No, it’s okay. I brought it up earlier,” She says, grabbing her glass again and pouring another much deeper drink despite saying she’d stop earlier, “It won’t ever happen again. …Let's talk about something else.”

>”Maybe we should stop, this is a lot this fast… I think.”
>Drink some more, you barely even feel anything yet!
>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.
>Write-in.

Feel free to suggest topics.
>>
>>5449891
>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.

Friend acquired. We should ask her about how Zeon is now, as we haven't been there in nearly a decade.
>>
>>5449891
>Drink some more, you barely even feel anything yet!
>>
>>5449891
1)
>”Maybe we should stop, this is a lot this fast… I think.”

2)
>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.

Here's hoping anons aren't horny and actually just want to have her as a friend. I'd be shit if we started kissing her or something while Cas and Artesia are worried about us.
I bet Casval will see us in a less reliable light especially, not being able to resist drink and women.
I can see it now; they catch us red handed kissing a strange woman, both losing a bit of respect for Felix.
>>
>>5449891
>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.
She tested the Zudah? Implessive.
>>5449901
>Here's hoping anons aren't horny.
Never. She'll be our battlebuddy, you don't woohoo battlebuddies.
>>
>>5449891
>>5449901
Actually, changing my vote to just
>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.

>>5449904
>you don't woohoo battlebuddies.
I'll drink to that.
>>
>>5449891
>>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.
I don't want to accidentally tap some space ass before we at least talk to Elena.
>>
>>5449891
>”Maybe we should stop, this is a lot this fast… I think.”
>"How's home nowadays? I haven't been there since it was called Munzo, and I was a little kid back then."
>"Sister has a cat, Lucifer. Do you know if there's a way to bring him with us? Or some sort of quick pet transport service between Texas and Zeon?"
>"As a test pilot of a prototype, do you have interest in ship design and development? I assemble some models in my spare time, and turns out Dozle likes the hobby too."
Anons, please don't get drunk, it isn't going to end well.
>>
>>5449901
>Here's hoping anons aren't horny and actually just want to have her as a friend.
I am very horny and want to get in her pants, but I'm sane enough to understand that Felix is 16/17 years old and were both getting drunk as skunks. Felix is a responsible boy with a good head on his shoulders, he'd at least wait for the 2nd or 3rd date to start playing tonsil-hockey with someone.
>>
>>5449891
>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.
>>
>>5449891
>>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.
>>
>>5449912
I want to ask her these questions, especially the one about Munzo since she's tipsy enough to let something slip out, but I'm not entirely sure if the first option actually refers to stop drinking or stop the current topics.

>>5449914
Yup, would be a bit out of character for Felix to suddenly get drunk with a chick her just met while his family was worried.
>>
>>5449948
I think it's drinking, it's why I voted for it.
>>
>>5449891
>>Just make small talk and time-skip to your siblings arriving.
>Feel free to suggest topics.
mention Dozle's ship model
ask if she's into model building as well
continue talking about it regardless of her knowledge or interest
make no attempt to hide our power level
>>
>>5449893
>>5449904
>>5449908
>>5449909
>>5449932
>>5449946
Writing.
>>
>>5449954
Ah well, to late to change my vote again. Not that it would've made a difference.
Hopefully we get a chance to talk to someone else about these things.
>>
…Seeing Blanche pouring out her next drink, and feeling the lingering pain from her after she mentioned the testing accident, your mind begins to clear a bit. You like her, she’s easy on the eyes and starting to loosen up, and the conversation has been more than interesting, but this is getting too far along - drinking more is a bad idea right now.

Talking more won’t hurt anything though. Moving to the small sofa and taking a seat, trying to put some distance between yourself, you can already feel something off about your movement - you’ve never gotten drunk before, but you can feel it starting to sneak up on you… how many drinks has it been in the last forty minutes? Five? Six if you include the one Dozle offered you? You can’t really remember, it wasn’t on your mind. Most of it was in the last few minutes though… is that fast? That seems a bit fast.

“Oh, now that is a good idea.” Blanche says, moving over to sit beside you, bumping into you a little bit as she does so before scooting away a little; it’s not much of a difference. She downs her glass and sets it down nearby.

“Blanche… That was a lot, wasn’t it? I haven’t done this before.”

“Sort of the idea, Felix.” She says, any sense of formality or stiffness to her speech falling away, “I’m going to need to get to sickbay after this to sober up, they’ve got… pills. They help speed it up. Doc’s going to murder me though. Isn’t it great?”

“...Yeah, sort of.” You agree, though your thoughts are drifting to your brother and sister now; you’re on a Zeon ship getting drunk with a woman you barely know. She almost killed you earlier, what the hell are you doing? Blanche smiles and the thought is obliterated.

“You’re cute when you blush,” Blanche says, biting her lip before her eyes suddenly widen in what might be horror, “...Oh, okay, yeah, I shouldn’t have downed that last one, or the two before it… Sorry, I get like this when I really go at it. Shit, what am I doing? You’re practically a kid.”

“Hey, I don’t mind,” You say, raising your hands up, “But… let’s not.”

“Yeah. Absolutely not.” She says, nodding a little too much, “Very bad idea. Ooh, what am I doing? …Shit, I’m worse than Dozle on new years.”


“Huh?” You question, and Blanche seems to seize on the chance to leap the conversation somewhere else.

“You’ve never seen him drunk!” She says, leaning toward you, laughing, “Oh, he’s hopeless. Have you ever done karaoke, Felix?”

“No,” You answer, “...I’m having a hard time imagining you doing it either, to be honest.”

“Me? Hell no. No, absolutely not, I’d need that whole bottle.” She says pointing back to the source of your current troubling situation, “I tried it once and lost my date, but that might have been because I blacked out… anyways, the colonel - the colonel - he shouldn’t be let anywhere near a microphone.”
>>
>>5450102

“That bad?” You ask, raising an eyebrow.

“No, he’s actually great!” She says, “He’s just hopeless with women. A captain from the marines… or what’s going to be the marines anyways, started flirting with him… or… well it was pretty crude, I couldn’t believe she was talking like that to a Zabi… Anyways, he froze up! Just stood there and had no idea what to do. Like a bear in the taillights or whatever it is earthnoids say…”

Half an hour later.

There’s a knock at the door. Those drinks from earlier? You’re really feeling them now, and so is Blanche from what you can tell. There’s another knock at the door.

“Here we go, battle stations.” Blanche says, straightening her uniform and fixing her hair… with precision that really seems to defy her current state of inebriation. Maybe she has a lot of practice? …That’s probably not a good thing. How does she not have a man though? She really shouldn’t… eh, thoughts for another time. You stand up with only a mild wobble.

Blanche looks about as well put together as she did earlier, and she walks over to the door. You follow, and press the control to open in.

Dozle Zabi stands before you! …And Artesia and Casval. Blanche manages a crisp salute.

Artesia immediately rushes forward to hug you, pressing her face into your chest, “Felix! Oh, you’re really safe! We were so worried, I thought you died when you didn’t fly to the bay, I could feel… You are alright, aren’t you?”


“I’m fine, Artesia.” You say gently, managing not to slur your speech, “I’m sorry for worrying you, this wasn’t really expected though.”

Artesia takes a step back, and while she’s smiling in relief you can feel how stressed and worried by all of this that she is. …Does alcohol enhance newtype powers? Maybe it’s just a delusion, you know people get overconfident.

“Felix.” Casval greets you, his blue eyes tracking between you and Blanche several times, a smirk spreading across his face.

“Casval.” You reply, realizing that he must have already clued in on something being off. Probably the fact that there’s a woman with you at all.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see family reunited,” Dozle rumbles, placing a huge hand on your brother’s shoulder, “Lieutenant, you were welcoming our guest?”

Casval’s eye twitches a little as the hand rests on his shoulder, but he manages to stay cool and collected. This can’t be easy for him., but you have no doubt he’ll blend right after he acclimates to the sudden change in plans. This unexpected ‘kidnapping’ has sped things along considerably.

“Yes, sir.” Blanche says, her tone calm and professional again, “We’ve been discussing piloting, he wishes to apply to the academy.”
>>
>>5450104

“We have spoken on it already, lieutenant.” Dozle replies, “You will give them a tour of the ship, lieutenant. I have duties to attend to.”

Oh, yeah, that’s right, he did mention something about that earlier. …This could be interesting.

“Sir!” Blanche acknowledges sharply, stepping out and into the passageway.

Dozle looks to you and your siblings, “Children of Deikun, we will speak in a few hours. I look forward to it.”

“As do I, sir.” Casval replies, you and Artesia echoing similar sentiments soon after. The largest, and therefore best, Zabi strides away from you down the passageway and toward the elevator, disappearing around the corner.

>”Blan… Lieutenant, could I speak with my siblings in private for a moment?” Might be best not to wait.
>”Rooms seem like a good place to start, they’re all right here.” Any excuse to sit back down.
>”Artesia, do you want to see the ship’s sickbay first?” You really need some of those pills Blanche mentioned, and Artesia might spring for the option; she loves medical stuff.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5450109
>”Artesia, do you want to see the ship’s sickbay first?” You really need some of those pills Blanche mentioned, and Artesia might spring for the option; she loves medical stuff.
>>
>>5450109
>”Blan… Lieutenant, could I speak with my siblings in private for a moment?” Might be best not to wait.
We need to discuss what we know and give them a general overview, give them an overview as well as tell them what we found our from Blanche and Dozle.
I'm sure they'll be interested to know that Ramba is still alive.
>>
>>5450109
>”Blan… Lieutenant, could I speak with my siblings in private for a moment?” Might be best not to wait
>>
>>5450116
And we should probably come clean that we drank alcohol. Our excuse of course was so that we could gather more information. Should make for a funny moment at least

>give them a general overview, give them an overview
Yeah, I should also probably stop drinking and get some sleep soon
>>
>>5450109
>”Artesia, do you want to see the ship’s sickbay first?” You really need some of those pills Blanche mentioned, and Artesia might spring for the option; she loves medical stuff.
Ngl getting caught drunk with a Zeon officer is a pretty big bruh moment for ol' Felix. Sooner he sober up, the quicker he can put this embarrassment behind him.

Worth it. Felix's vices for women, alcohol, and plastic crack will be great challenges on the path to becoming a Space-Saint
>>
>>5450109
>”Blan… Lieutenant, could I speak with my siblings in private for a moment?” Might be best not to wait.

Tell Cas and Artesia that both Blanche and us are a little drunk. Artesia can already tell, very obviously, but Casval should know. Make sure they don't think that it was Blanche that got us drunk, too.
>>
>>5450120

Inebriation allows for an expansion of consciousness, strengthening your Newtype potential. Felix being a manwhore is simply his understanding and love for others being so great it can't truly be attached to a single person. The Plamo is just a lot of fun.
>>
>>5450120
I can see it now.
Lieutenant Felix Zos Deikun, a charismatic young pilot with a penchant for fine women and even finer liquor.
>>
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>>5450130
>Lieutenant

That's thinking small. If we haven't made Commodore by the end of the War, we've failed!
>>
>>5450120
Careful, that could backfire with how anons like to vote. Might even abandon the whole Knight Felix thing, or twist it into something less than noble.

>>5450125
Eh, it's a bit of a stretch. I forget if being drunk actually helps newtype abilities (I don't remember anything from the anime mentioning it), and I doubt Vivime or any of the other waifus will like someone who sleeps around (honestly I don't know about Vi yet since she hasn't been introduced).
Also there's so many corruption stories out there that have manwhore protags that like to get drunk Plamo really is fun though
>>
>>5450130
>The Red Comet's wayward younger brother, the Blackout Meteor
>>
>>5450136
Oh for sure. By the end of the war I imagine they'll have no choice but to promote us appropriately.
That said, they'll probably use us as figures for propaganda long before the war is over.
Also somewhat unrelated...
I know they usually give Zakus heat hawks, but is there something like a heat saber? I think it would fit Felix's style and personality a bit better than an axe is all.
>>
>>5450141
Goufs and Doms are equipped with heat sabers, but they only start development in the mid/late months of OYW. It is possible that we could give MS development a good kick in the ass, but the war is still some years off.
>>
>>5450116
>>5450119
Now that I think about it, we should just tell the truth to both Cas and Artesia about the drinking; that Blanche offered us something and we accepted, then urged her to stop. If we try to cover for Blanche or say something that isn't the truth Artesia will be able to tell since she's a living lie detector. And she'll probably inform Casval about it later, which will make either Blanche or us or the two of us appear in a worse light to both of them.
>>
>>5450109
>”Artesia, do you want to see the ship’s sickbay first?” You really need some of those pills Blanche mentioned, and Artesia might spring for the option; she loves medical stuff.
Oh god, please not another good person becoming a drunk
>>
>>5450296
I just had the entertaining thought of Felix being in an AA meeting after gulping down a few pills to keep his drunkenness away.
>>
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>>5450115
>>5450120
>>5450296
Medical.

>>5450116
>>5450117
>>5450121
Speak in private.

Looks like we have a split vote. Anyone willing to switch sides? I'll roll it off in an hour if not.
>>
>>5450336
How about we speak in private and then go to the medical wing?
>>
>>5450339
This >>5450339 is fine by me, and I'll support it if the other anons want it as well.
But if it's a choice, then I'll stick to my original vote.
>>
>>5450339
>>5450346
Combining both is reasonable enough, I'll do it. Bit of conversation and then off to sickbay.

Writing.
>>
>>5450350
>Brother hear me hic off
>We must fuck the New-Hicc-es
>Flex what the fuck are you on?
>>
>>5450351
Fucking kek, this killed me.
>>
“Blan…” You correct yourself, “Lieutenant, could I speak with my siblings in private for a moment?”

“Of course, sir. I’ll wait here.” She responds politely, allowing the three of you to pass back into your quarters.

You move in first, realizing that the vodka and glasses are still out in the open; nothing to be done about that then. Casval and Artesia walk in, your brother immediately noticing the bottle. Pressing the door controls you seal off the room with a hiss, the passageway outside disappearing.

“You’ve been drinking?” Casval questions, though he doesn’t sound too worried.

“He has,” Artesia confirms immediately, apparently never missing a sign, her brow furrowing in anger as she looks to you, “Felix, what have you been doing?

“I was drinking with Blanche,” You start to explain, now really, really beginning to feel the drinks from earlier, “Uhm, the lieutenant out there…”

“Yes, we know who she is, Felix,” Artesia says, stepping closer, “You didn’t-”

You make a cutting motion across your throat with your hands and shush her, pointing to the intercom by the door. The three of you move into the bedroom to talk, awkwardly fitting in and sitting on the bed. Casval closes the door between the rooms.

“I didn’t reveal anything, I swear,” You begin to ramble, trying to make them understand with perhaps the most eloquent and well put together explanation you’ve ever managed, “This was her room until a… a little while ago, other sailors moved her things out but they left some socks and interesting books and stuff, I found it all when I looked for bugs. …There was a huge fluffy cat too, he’s an officer, I think… Anyways, she came back to get her things, you know? Shee seemed a little embarrassed about the books - her dad’s a general, so he gave her one of them - and then we talked about her family a bit and… I said she had an nice name, and she liked mine too I think, and we talked about luck… she’s a test pilot, the one that tried to grab us earlier, Artesia… I asked her to stay and talk, and she said yes and asked if I drink, and how could I refuse? That stuff over there got left on accident when the room was cleared out, and they don’t make it anymore...”

“Felix, how much did you drink?” Artesia asks worriedly, holding one of your hands in hers.

“Five or six.” You say, “Glasses. They’re sort of little though, see? Mm, okay, maybe not that small… Dozle gave me some earlier too, but that was just him being big and polite. I’m fine, really. Blanche and her father almost got purged after”

“Felix, you’re drunk.” Casval says with a chuckle, putting an arm around your shoulder, “You’re sure you didn’t reveal anything?”
>>
>>5450373

“...No, it was mostly her talking, she seemed to really like me. Told ” You say, finding your brother’s laugh infectious, “We talked about mobile suits, those big robots that grabbed us, and how her family was almost purged, and how she messed up a test flight really badly… I don’t think she meant to talk about that. She seemed like a good person, just… lonely I think. Sort of repressed? I think she drinks a lot.”

“Repressed?” Artesia questions sharply, her grip on your hand tightening, “Felix, she has to be a decade older than you. How - This… you have to stop doing things like this. What did you do?”

“What did I do? We didn’t do anything!” You protest, “It was just talking, Artesia. We just met.”

“No, I mean what did you do? Were you giving her those looks of yours?” She presses, almost sounding as if she’s scolding you.

“Looks?” You question, genuinely having no idea what she’s talking about.

“Felix, you really need to be more careful around women.” Artesia continues, squeezing your hand, “You led on all those poor girls at school and now this? And what about Elena, aren't you...?”

“I did?” You question, your sisters reaction really taking you off guard, “I barely ever talked to them, I knew some of them liked me but… Elena's not the same, Artesia.”

“Artesia, perhaps this is a conversation for another time.” Casval says, obviously finding the entire thing very funny, “You did well, Felix, it sounds like you got a lot of information and have already started to find potential allies.”

“I guess I did, didn’t I?” You say, shrugging, “...We should talk about other things though, yeah. There’s a lot to talk about.”

“There is.” Artesia says, pulling her hand away but sounding satisfied enough for now; you know she just wants what’s best for you.

>”Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”
>”Did you both get to talk with Dozle much on the way here? He’s… honorable, I think. He wants to end our feud, I don’t think he was lying but he didn’t seem to know about a lot of things…”
>”...So what do you both think we should do?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5450373
Should read: "Blanche and her father almost got purged after Gihren was shot."
>>
>>5450374
>”Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”
>”Did you both get to talk with Dozle much on the way here? He’s… honorable, I think. He wants to end our feud, I don’t think he was lying but he didn’t seem to know about a lot of things…”

I don't know why but Drunk Felix is fucking great.
>>
>>5450374
>”Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”
>”...So what do you both think we should do?”
We can talk about Dozle and what to do about him later, this is more urgent. Don't want to have Teabolo get that heart attack anytime soon, let's see if we can prevent it.
>>
>>5450374
>”Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”
>”Did you both get to talk with Dozle much on the way here? He’s… honorable, I think. He wants to end our feud, I don’t think he was lying but he didn’t seem to know about a lot of things…”
>"Ramba is alive, and serving as an officer. Dozle covered for him and Blanche's family. I'm sure he is being truthful about this."
>"I wonder if Hamon is around too."
>>
>>5450374
>>”Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”
>”...So what do you both think we should do?”
Also add in Ramble being alive like 6zdbCtQi suggests. That'll throw them for a loop. I love this entire situation Contolist, thank you. Really captured the essence of being drunk.
>>
>>5450374
Changing my vote to >>5450380
Dozle could be our way to having Teabolo visit us, and the write-ins could convince Casval that it wasn't out of the question.
>>
>>5450374
You know what? Now's really not the time to talk about Dozle too much, especially since we're drunk. We might accidentally talk about that small inner conflict that's starting inside us, and that probably wouldn't go well with Cas (especially with everything that's going on).
Basically it's too much too soon.

Changing my vote again from >>5450392 to
>”Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”
>”...So what do you both think we should do?”
>"Ramba is alive, and serving as an officer. Dozle covered for him and Blanche's family. I'm sure he is being truthful about this."
>"I wonder if Hamon is around too."
This is much more subtle, and will make Cas at least consider Dozle as someone that could be on our side. Besides, both Artesia and Casval will probably be more hung up on Ramba if we mention him.
>>
>>5450376
Teabolo + Talk about Dozle.

>>5450380
Teabolo + Dozle + Ramba/Hamon

>>5450389
>>5450416
Teabolo + Discuss what to do + Ramba/Hamon

Writing.
>>
“Artesia, did you manage to talk to Teabolo before leaving?”

She looks down and pain fills her voice as she answers, “Briefly. We managed to talk to him over a comms terminal… It… he…”

“That bad?”

“He put on a strong face at the end, but…” Artesia shakes her head, “He’s been in such bad health recently, and all this new stress… It…”

“We should try to talk to him again. None of us planned to leave like this,” You say comfortingly, putting an arm around her and pulling her into what has become a sort of awkward family hug on the bedside.

“I already asked Dozle.” Artesia replies, managing to restrain her emotions as she presses against you, just a hint of cold running through her, “He said we could record a message and send it to him.”

“Did you ask about visits?” You question.

“I didn’t have time. We should later, I don’t want to just leave dad behind.” She says in a low voice, “He’ll die. I just know it.”

“We’re not going to let that happen, Artesia.” Casval says, though you know that of the three of you he’s by far the least attached to Teabolo, “We’ll speak with Dozle about it, I’ll make sure he understands.”

“Thank you,” She says, “Both of you.”

You squeeze her closer just a little and then relax, letting her pull back, “We’ll try to get Lucifer too, I miss him already… Did I tell you the ship has a cat on board? …So what do you both think we should do? Generally, I mean.”

“Stick to the plan. I doubt this is a ruse, Dozle is too direct.” Casval answers immediately, his tone wry, “We’ll be perfect young patriots for our homeland. Sieg Zeon.”

You start laughing again, “That just doesn’t sound right coming from you.”

“There’s a season for everything, Felix.” Your brother answers, “Even this.”

“So are we all going to join the academy?” Artesia questions, “I’d rather go to a medical school.”

“They have a medical program or something… from what I understand, anyways,” You answer, struggling to remember the details, “You’d be an officer for a few years, but you’d be well on the road to being a doctor at the end of it.”

“Really?” She asks, not quite excited - relieved might be a better description.

“It’s true.” Casval says, “Didn’t you read those pamphlets from the recruiter?”

“Uhm… Not all of them.” She admits sheepishly, “I assumed we’d all be soldiers. You know, with rifles. Or maybe pilots.”

“Well, I know what I’ll be doing.” You answer easily, “Dozle practically offered me a position as a mobile suit pilot after graduation… Did you know that Ramba is still alive?”

What?” Casval and Artesia question almost simultaneously, their reactions charmingly similar for how different the two normally are.
>>
>>5450517

“He’s an officer under Dozle,” You explain, trying to remember what exactly it was that the huge man had told you, “He took him back into the military a few years ago after dust settled from… from father’s death. I’m sure he’s being truthful about this, Blanche said something similar about Dozle covering for her father.”

“He has a habit of sheltering people, it seems.” Casval says, pulling his arm away from you as he considers the information more carefully, “Let’s hope the other Zabis continue to tolerate it.”

“I wonder if Hamon is around too,” You say, thinking back to how much she risked to get you out of that tower, “They were practically married, weren’t they?”

“I always assumed they were.” Casval admits, a little confused for once, “Weren’t they?”

“No. Uncle Ramba,” Artesia says, using a term you haven’t heard from her in years, “He… He mentioned it once. I remember it. There was a picture of mom and dad getting married, back at our old home… do you remember it?”

“I think so.” You reply, having a vague recollection of a lot of old photos framed on the walls.

“He said something about wishing he could see Hamon in a similar dress.” Artresia says, “Ms. Hamon looked a lot like mom. …Do you think there’s anything to that? I never asked.”

“I think it was just a coincidence, but they really did almost look like sisters.” You say, thinking back to how striking the resemblance actually was… Could there be something there though?

“We can ask mother when we see her again.” Casval says, “Dozle said she’s alive.”

Your eyes widen, “Why didn’t you lead with that?!”

“We were going to, Felix” Casval says apologetically, “You being drunk threw me off a little.”

“A little?” Artesia says, that scolding tone returning for a moment but quickly passing as a smile spreads across her face, “He promised we could see her, Felix.”

“Is she okay?” You ask, a thousand questions flooding into your hazy mind, “They don’t still have her in that tower, do they? She’d just be wasting away in there.”

“She’s been very ill, they still have her in the tower.” Casval says solemnly, a hint of rage to his voice, fists clenching, “She’s been refusing to eat recently. Dozle… he apologized for her treatment, as if that somehow undoes what they’ve done to her. To us.”

>”He apologized? He’s been kept in the dark about a lot of things from what I can tell, he might not have known how bad it was until recently…”
>”We have to go see her - it has to be the first thing we do! Send a message ahead, anything we can.”
>”...We should probably get back to the tour. Don’t want to draw suspicion.” Blanche is drunk and friendly, but you don’t doubt she’d report your activities if asked to.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5450519
>”We have to go see her - it has to be the first thing we do! Send a message ahead, anything we can.”
>”...We should probably get back to the tour. Don’t want to draw suspicion.” Blanche is drunk and friendly, but you don’t doubt she’d report your activities if asked to.
>>
>>5450519
>"We'll ask Dozle about meeting mom when we talk about Teabolo and Lucifer. He's a family man at heart, when I said I stayed behind to try and protect you, he practically beamed with happiness."
>"Do you think she might get worried about us returning? She stayed behind for us, and now we are coming back."
>”...We should probably get back to the tour. Don’t want to draw suspicion.” Blanche is drunk and friendly, but you don’t doubt she’d report your activities if asked to.
>"First stop will be the sickbay. You'll get to see military doctors do Artesia: hand out sobering pill to soldier, if what Blanche told me is true."
>>
>>5450521
My vote is basically this, but with other others.
>>
>>5450524
other words, not other others
>>
>>5450519
>”...We should probably get back to the tour. Don’t want to draw suspicion.” Blanche is drunk and friendly, but you don’t doubt she’d report your activities if asked to
>”He apologized? He’s been kept in the dark about a lot of things from what I can tell, he might not have known how bad it was until recently…”
>>
>>5450519
>”We have to go see her - it has to be the first thing we do! Send a message ahead, anything we can.”
>”...We should probably get back to the tour. Don’t want to draw suspicion.” Blanche is drunk and friendly, but you don’t doubt she’d report your activities if asked to.
>>
>>5450521
>>5450523 >>5450524 >>5450528
>>5450544
Writing.
>>
>>5450519
>“He has a habit of sheltering people, it seems.”
Oh god, Char got his tendency to go "mine now" whenever he an unattended newtype child from when he served under Dozle, didn't he?
>>
>>5450615
It really is a habit, isn't it? Almost done writing.
>>
“We have to go see her - It has to be the first thing we do!” You say, voice raising a little louder than you’d intended, “Send a message ahead, anything we can.”

“We will.” Casval says, “It didn’t sound like there was any time to waste.”

“She has to get out of that tower.” Artesia says, “I… I can barely even imagine what that must be like. Alone for years…”

“Not for much longer.” You say, standing up from the edge of the bed and wobbling a bit as you rise a little too quickly, “We should probably get back to the tour. Don’t want to draw suspicion.”

“The lieutenant is drunk too?” Casval questions as he stands and steadies you with a hand, “That should make things easier.”

“Actually I was thinking we should do something about that…” You say, “I’m having a bit of a hard time, if, uh… If you haven’t noticed. I mean I feel pretty good, but-”

“We get it, Felix.” Artesia says, standing as well, the three of you filling the edge of the cramped room almost completely; she presses the door control and heads into the small but slightly more open living room.

“Sickbay.” You manage to say, “Blanche said they have pills that help.”

“A noble injury for the cause.” Casval says, moving you along. He’s a good brother, you really love him. Artesia too, they’re both the best.

“I love you both, you know? I don’t say that enough. Phone calls don’t count.” You say, feeling cheerier, your spirits lifted by the news of your mother - even if she’s in poor condition right now she’s alive and you’re going to see her!

“We know you do, you big dummy.” Artesia says sweetly, “I love you too.”

“You’re my brother, Felix. You’ve held us together for years now, I’d do anything for both of you.” Casval says, still moving you along toward the door to the passageway, his tone becoming more joking as he keeps speaking, “Come on, let’s see if those pills work. …Although you're not so bad like this.”

“Casval!” Artesia scolds, “Don’t encourage this.”

“Don’t worry, Artesia,” You reassure her, “I’ll try not to make a habit of it.”

Your sister presses the door controls and you’re all soon back in the passageway outside.

“The sickbay first, lieutenant, if you would.” Casval says, not even the faintest hint of humor in his voice anymore; he’s actually really good at this.

“Yes, sir. Right this way.” Blanche replies politely, leading the three of you onward through the utilitarian looking gray passageway, light strips along the corners illuminating the area as you walk.
>>
>>5450627

A few minutes later, in the sickbay.

The room isn’t terribly large, a stark white and with a few cabinets and beds around the area, most of the medical equipment safely stored away, a large machine which must be a robotic pharmacy of some kind taking up most of one corner. A few pills were just retrieved from it, the doctor having swiped his ID card beforehand and typed in a few commands to stir the strange machine into action.

“Lieutenant,” The balding ship’s doctor says with a distinct drawl; he almost sounds like he could be from Texas colony, tan skin and wrinkled from what must be long years under the sun, “This is the second time this week. And we’re early in the week.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll try not to make it three times.” Blanche replies, something about the exchange sounding practiced, as if they’ve both been through this before.


“Ha! Make sure you don’t… If you need to talk about things, the doors always open.” The doctor offers, sounding genuinely concerned, “Shouldn’t go to a bottle for comfort, not always anyways, I know how work can be.”

Blanche stays quiet for a moment before responding, “...I’ll consider it, sir.”

“Make sure you do,” The doctor orders, looking over you and your siblings, “If you weren’t off duty this’d be a discipline issue. A bad one. …You’re giving them a tour of the ship?”

“Yes, sir.” Blanche answers before beginning to explain herself, “I wasn’t expecting the assignment from the colonel, I was meant to be off duty fo the next four hours.”

“Mm, I see, you’d be back here either way though. He needs some too, doesn’t he?” The doctor asks, adjusting his glasses as he looks right at you, noticing the signs without needing to be told, “You eighteen, boy?”

“...No, sir.” You answer honestly.

Blanche.” The doctor scolds, turning about to face the lieutenant; her face is unreadable, absolutely disciplined.

“Sir, they’re the children of Zeon Zum Deikun, I thought it was appropriate to celebrate their return.” She explains sharply, standing her ground. It’s an excuse, of course, but that hardly matters.

“Oh, is that all? Ha!” The doctor says sarcastically, bushy eyebrows lifting in surprise before he turns back toward you and smiles, “Pleasure to meet the three of you. Call me Zhang.”

“The pleasure is ours, Zhang.” Artesia says charmingly, taking a small step forward, “I’m Artesia.”

You and your brother also introduce yourselves, the doctor handing dispensing a pair of pills for you as well from the machine.

“She wants to be a doctor, sir.” Casval says as you down the pills; it’ll probably take awhile for them to kick in.
>>
>>5450633

“Is that so?” Zhang asks cheerfully, “Wonderful profession, though I might be biased. What interests you about it?”

“I want to help people.” Artesia answers, “...Though recently I’ve been more interested in research work..”

“...Mm, most medical research is tedious,” “Very different from practice usually. What got you interested in that?”

She hesitates before answering, “Well... it might sound strange but I want to study newtypes.”

…Did she just say that out loud? It’s true of course, but part of you is screaming internally that she shouldn’t have said that.

“Newtypes, eh?” Zhang asks, nodding, “That makes sense, I suppose, your father being who he was. Think they exist, do you?”

“They do.” Artesia answers confidently.

“Mm, that’ll put you in the minority then, meaning no offense. There’s more evidence these days but I wouldn’t get your hopes up…” Zhang says, sounding like he’s trying to gently break bad news, “You’d get along well with an old colleague of mine though, Lom Flanagan. He’s the only respectable figure in that field I can think of, most of its quackery but he does good work.”

“Lom Flanagan?” Artesia asks, considering the name carefully, “There’s really only one person working on it?”

“Mm, he’s getting better funding these days, last I heard… there’s another one that’s put out some decent papers, name starts with a J…” Zhang says, scratching at the side of his head as he thinks, “A Jovian I think, surname slips my mind right now. Never met him.”

Your heart rate increases, and it’s definitely not the drugs doing it; is he talking about who you think he is?

>”Jedar?” You have to know.
>Say nothing, don’t encourage this. Artesia shouldn’t have mentioned anything.
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5450636

>”Jedar?” You have to know.
>>
>>5450636
>”Jedar?” You have to know.
>>
>>5450636
>”Jedar?” You have to know.
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”

I feel like Felix is gonna be the opposite of Char when it comes to tactics. Char is a melee focused lone-wolf type something something Wingmen as ablative armor, while Felix is likely to be a sniper/commander type.
>>
>>5450636
1)
>Say nothing, don’t encourage this. Artesia shouldn’t have mentioned anything.

2)
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”

3)
>”Jedar?” You have to know.
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”

It'll probably be bad if the Zabis get even more involved with the Jovians than they already are. I mean it's unlikely that things will go out of hand just from talking to this doctor, but we need to keep ourselves from looking like we know too much.
>>
>>5450636
>>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”
we can mention the possible connection to her later, let's not make too many waves
>>
>>5450636
>Say nothing, don’t encourage this. Artesia shouldn’t have mentioned anything.
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”
>>
>>5450644
>>5450645
How would mentioning him make the Zabis more involved or make waves, when the doctor already knows who he is and just doesn't remember the full surname?
>>
>>5450650
Because if they catch wind of us, our siblings, being interested they'll take a deeper look at it instead of waiting half a year into the war to actually dump some real research money into it. We don't want Zeon, specifically the Zabis, to get further ahead. Especially not if we want Neo Zeon.
'Let sleeping dogs lie' as the idiom goes.
>>
>>5450636
>>5450644
Changing my vote to
1)
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”

2)
>Say nothing, don’t encourage this. Artesia shouldn’t have mentioned anything.

3)
>Say nothing, don’t encourage this. Artesia shouldn’t have mentioned anything.
>”We should probably be moving along, there’s a lot of ship left to see. Thank you for the help, sir.”

>>5450650
It's not so much that he knows, it's revealing the fact that we know who that Jovian doctor is that will give us a small spotlight.
>>
>>5450654
Then we arre going to have to convince Artesia to not research newtypes then.
Which is more likely what would really get the Zabis attention rather than just confirming whether Jedar is the one doing newtype research or not.
I mean, we already know the answer, but maybe it's metabait and the the doctor is actually thinking of an OC.
>>
>>5450655
Actually, that's a way better argument.
>>5450641
Changing to support this anon
>>
>>5450658
>Then we're going to have to convince Artesia to not Research newtypes then.
We'll figure that out as we go, at least until the OYW ends. If any organizational entity catches wind of her having a hand in Flanagan stuff she's as good as disappeared after the war if Zeon doesn't burn her first to stop the research from falling into feddie hands.
>>
>>5450640
Jedar?

>>5450642
Jedar + Move along.

>>5450645
>>5450648 (essentially the same as just move along)
>>5450655
>>5450660
Move along.
>>
>>5450695
Forgot to say it but I'm writing.
>>
“We should probably move along, there's a lot of the ship left to see.” You speak up, interrupting their conversation before it can get too far along, “Thank you for the help, sir.”

“Mm, right then. Eh, hold your horses for a moment.” Zhang says, moving over to his desk and searching through one of the drawers for a moment, “Got something for you, miss… where is it? Aha!”

“What is it?” Artesia asks curiously, walking over.

“Lom’s contact information. I’m sure he’d be supportive of your dream, family history being as it is. He’s a pleasant enough fellow.” Zhang says before looking over to Blanche, “Mm, assuming there aren’t any political issues with that. Lieutenant?”

“None that I’ve been informed of, sir.” Blanche replies.

“Good. On your way then, it’s been a pleasure.” Zhang says, waving you off and returning to his desk.

And with that you’re off and back into the maze of passageways that make up the interior of the ship. Or perhaps it's not much of a maze after all: the intersections, doors, and hatches are all following a quite clearly labelled alphanumerical system, and important areas have their names stenciled on the walls. Thin color stripes run along the deck plating and bulkheads, each color corresponding and leading to various major sections of the vessel. The system begins to steadily unravel before you, making more and more sense. Those pills Zhang gave you already seem to be working, or at least you feel like they are, your senses slowly sharpening.

Which location would you like to visit in detail? (Choose one, others will still be visited but mostly in the background)
>The hangar. Mobile suits.
>The officers lounge. Mobile suit pilots.
>The observation deck. The pristine beauty of space!
>Skip the details of the tour, it’s Dozle time.

Fixed a particularly obnoxious error and reposted.
>>
>>5450733
>The hangar. Mobile suits.

WHERE WE STORE THE BIGGEST ZAM
>>
>>5450733
>The observation deck. The pristine beauty of space!
SPACE
>>
>>5450733
>The observation deck. The pristine beauty of space!
Didn't Dozle tell us to stay out of the hangar?
>>
>>5450739
Stay out of it when you're on your own after the tour is completed; you need to be accompanied in sensitive areas. There's no issue right now or Blanche wouldn't be showing you the area.
>>
>>5450743
>>5450733
Ah, changing my vote then.
>>5450739
>The hangar. Mobile suits.
>>
>>5450733
>The hangar. Mobile suits.
>>
>>5450733
>>The hangar. Mobile suits.
wow cool robot!
>>
>>5450733
1)
>The hangar. Mobile suits.

2)
>The observation deck. The pristine beauty of space!
>>
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>>5450736
>>5450749
>>5450765
>>5450769
>>5450774
Writing.

>>5450769
kek
>>
Half an hour into the tour of the ship.

Blanche taps at the controls on the wall, entering a passcode of some kind, and the door the to the hangar bay hisses open a moment later. Walking into the vast hexagonal room, your eyes are immediately drawn to the trio of enormous mobile suits dominating the area, each in their own small secondary bay which keeps them mostly out of the launch area, orange scissor lifts and scaffolding surrounding them as technicians clad in various colors of jumpsuit carry out maintenance and refueling. Huge hoses hang down from the ceiling, large refrigerant units and pumps intermingled on a track system that allows them to move to any of the recessed mobile suit bays in the busy hangar. There is only room for three mobile suits, a fourth bay taken up entirely by maintenance equipment and what looks to be an observation area of some kind, a pair of officers visible behind thick plate glass.

The entire room carries the light scent of oil and just a hint of ozone, the whirring of machines and shouting between the crew members filling the air with almost constant noise. It looks as if one of the mobile suits, the half assembled but more advanced one you saw earlier, is being put back together; it’s slightly larger and obviously better armored than the other two but the designs are still clearly related. A huge cannon stands upright on a mobile rack near it, the weapon looking almost like a gigantic machine gun. Even from here you can see ‘YASHIMA’ engraved on the side of its receiver.

“Lieutenant!” The grizzled older looking man you saw earlier, Hiram, shouts from nearby as he turns away from a huge automated trolley carrying the entire lower leg of one of the mobile suits; it’s badly scorched, a deep furrow blasted through the foot and carbon scoring covering melted gaps in the armor plating. Not hard to guess what caused that.

“Ma’am, back so soon? You aren’t taking a double shift again, are… Ah, them!” Hiram continues, stopping only once he notices you and your siblings accompanying Blanche.
>>
>>5450811

“Sergeant,” Blanche addresses the man stiffly, “I’ve been ordered to give them a tour of the ship; they’re pilots, they would appreciate a closer look.”

“Ah, understood, ma’am. Guess they’ve seen it all from a distance anyway.” He says, wiping some sweat from his wrinkled brow with a rag, “Full clearance?”

“One notch down, Sergeant. They probably won't be back.” She clarifies quickly, and Hiram nods, apparently understanding.

“Understood, ma’am, same as Vivima then.” Hiram says with a casualness to his tone that raises some questions, “...If you don’t mind me asking, who are you three? We don’t get many aristocrats when we’re out and about.”

“They’re Deikuns, Sergeant.” Blanche answers before any of you can reply, “Personal guests of the colonel. As I said earlier, show some respect.”

“Oh, my apologies.” He quickly replies, clearly shocked, “It’s an honor.”

You all reply politely in kind, used to this song and dance by now. You and Casval quickly begin looking around, quite enraptured by the sights of the hangar, and Artesia stays close as Blanche and Hiram lead you carefully past the heavy machinery and work crews.

>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>”Is that weapon made by Yashima? Don’t they mostly do Federation military contracts?” That’s all you ever heard about from Shu’s meetings with Teabolo, but he’s probably been retired for a little while now.
>”Can we go inside any of them?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5450813
>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>”Can we go inside any of them?”
Probably a bad idea to reference Yashima.
>>
>>5450813
>>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>”Can we go inside any of them?”
>>
>>5450813
>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>>
>>5450813
>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>let me insideeee
>>
I feel like Felix is gonna end up sleeping in his MS more than his actual quarters once the war starts.
>>
>>5450833
It is quite literally the safest place to sleep.
It's also where he'd keep his personal liquor cabinet.
>>
>>5450842
>One of Felix's Ace Custom modifications is a minifridge in all his Mobile Suits.
>>
>>5450813
>>>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>>5450842
The liquor cabinet is just a disguise to hide that he has an even bigger gunpla problem
>>
>>5450846
He hides booze in the gunpla. Have you seen how bit some of the Master and Perfect Grades get?
>>
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>>5450832
You made me think of this.
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>>5450852
I'm glad to be of service.

>>5450813
Hey boss, Uh next thread when? We're on page 8 and nearing 3k.
>>
>>5450852
I forgot to put the background zaku on the second panel on top of the other's layer.
I think it's funnier with the legs though.
>>
>>5450813
>”Do they have names? The models, I mean. That one looks more advanced than the other two. How do they work?”
>”Can we go inside any of them?”
>"Do the Minovsky particles released inside of the ship not cause problems?"
>>
>>5450846
>Felix regularly leaks classified documents to model kit manufacturers so they can make the most accurate Gunpla kits possible
>>
>>5450856
>he NEEDS his perfect grade, No matter the cost.
>>
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>>5450854
Decided to fix it just anyway
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>>5450856
Ah, I see he is a War Thunder player too
>>
>>5450858
>HIS JUST STANDING THERE
>MENACINGLY.
>>
>>5450856
>Felix goes on Char-style undercover trips, but only to facilitate illicit information swaps with feddies so that both sides' MS and ships are accurately modeled
>>
>>5450816
>>5450819
>>5450832
>>5450855
Questions + Ask to go inside.

>>5450830
>>5450846
Questions.

Writing.

>>5450853
Probably December 10th, that'll be when I'm done with finals. This thread doesn't have much time left, maybe a couple of days, I need to get to studying soon and as you pointed out we're pretty deep into the catalogue now.

>>5450858
kek

>>5450860
D field will be the most important part of the battle of A Baoa Qu in this timeline.
>>
>>5450865
>December 10th
That's nearly 40 days away, how many courses are you fucking taking??
>>
>>5450865
JFC, What are you going for boss? Cyber-new types?
>>
>>5450866
Law school's a bitch, and I have a legal research paper on space warfare that I want to put a couple of weeks into without much distraction.
>>
>>5450873
>legal research paper on space warfare
Are you actually making a Mobile Suit?
>>
>>5450873
>Law school's a bitch
All my friends that went on law school agree with you, good luck.
Space law got to be an interesting topic. Is it treated like the Antarctic, unclaimed lands or international waters?
>>
Don't forget to archive on SupTG.
>>
>>5450891
I've got the tags and title, but I'm stumped on a description.
>>
>>5450896
"My OC Deikun can't be a New-Type?"
>>
>>5450887
It's been an interesting topic to dive into. It's not really similar to any of those three, but that's a lot of why it makes such good fodder for research. There's huge issue with space law currently in that customary international law probably hasn't properly formed around it yet on almost anything due to a lack of state practice (opinio juris is less of an issue but still problematic). There are only a few treaties dealing with it, most notable the outer space treaty and the moon treaty, but they're shot full of holes or don't have the major space powers as signatories, so under the Lotus principle it's currently a bit of a free for all in a lot of regards. Many forms of space warfare arguably fall outside of the UN charter's prohibitions on threats or use of force, and it's further complicated when you get into how international and domestic law interact, especially in the US. The current definition of armed conflict used in international humanitarian law also doesn't cover most space warfare, especially non-kinetic space to space attacks.

I'm not familiar with the law surrounding the Antarctic or unclaimed lands, but international waters have very well understood rules thanks to UNCLOS.

Still writing the update, got a little sidetracked with this response.
>>
>>5450896
Never mind, lmao. Sup/TG/ won't let me archive, so someone else will have to do it.
>>
>>5450901
Sir I don't know what the fuck any of that means. So good luck and Sieg Zeon.
>>
>>5450901
I'm not too familiar either, or any law for that matter, I only know bits of random trivia like that there are treaties about limits on the exploitation of the antarctic and number of visitors, and that some pieces of land in the world are or were in a sort legal limbo because the nations that could recognized them as part of their territory don't for various different reasons.
It's was the first thing that came to mind about something that could apply for space law, so I was curious. Thanks for answering Contolist.
>>
>>5450909
I can get it in an hour or two if no one else does.
>>
>>5450929
Thread is archived, I managed to get it to take.
>>
>>5450931
Lmao the tags
>>
>>5450933
Positively Zam-pilled
>>
>>5450953
NEO ZAM WILL NEVER DIE.
>>
>>5450955
Sieg Zam!
>>
“Do they have names? The models, I mean.” You ask curiously, having to speak up a little to be heard over the sounds of work filling the hangar as you approach the only fully intact mobile suit in the hangar, it's gray bulk dominating the bay it stands within.

“That one’s a Waff,” Hiram answers, “The orange guy over there’s a Bugu, just got it in before leaving.”

“Interesting names,” Casval comments, “Where do they come from?”

“Some engineer’s head, sir.” Hiram answers, shrugging as you approach the machine’s huge foot, magboots clicking as you walk along the deck plating, “Can’t make any sense of them myself, best guess is they’re quick to say and distinct.”

“And they’re going to all be used just to fight?” Artesia asks, crossing her arms as she gazes up at the giant machine.

“They’re useful for space construction as well, miss.” Hiram notes, looking over to your sister with a sympathetic look, “Not a fan of the military?”

“It’s fine, I’d just prefer to see new technology used peacefully.” Artesia says a bit gloomily, “They’re very impressive though, like the colossus of Rhodes.”

“Good sentiment at least.” Hiram replies, looking up at the towering mobile suit from below, “I just keep the things running and in one piece, don’t have much say in how they’re used.”

“The one over there, the Bugu, looks more advanced than this one.” You observe aloud, the structural differences plain enough to see. The Waff is much more lightly built and less complicated overall, missing many of the external cable looking bits the Bugu has.

“Good eye,” Hiram says approvingly, “It’s a newer model, much more combat capable. Lieutenant, anything to add?”

Blanche nods politely, “It makes the Waff feel sluggish in comparison, the fluid pulse system is much better tuned and the thrusters are close to thirty percent more powerful. Even with additional armor it handles fantastically. It's a war machine, not just a test unit.”
>>
>>5450984

“Fluid pulse system?” You question, “How do mobile suits work exactly?”

“Ah, now that’s a topic I’d need a few weeks at least to explain.” Hiram says, moving toward one of the lifts nearby and waving for you to all come aboard.

“Humor us, if you would.” Casval says, following close behind.

“Alright then, sir.” Hirams says, shaking his head a little as the lift rises up, “The core of the mobile suit is the minovsky nuclear fusion reactor. They’re ultracompact, about the size of a few refrigerators stacked together; it’s right there in the middle, just below the cockpit.”

“How does it stay cool?” You question immediately, knowing just how much heat a fusion reactor generates.

“Good question,” Hiram replies, pointing to a few almost imperceptibly small vents running near the armor gaps, “There are three different systems at work. The most important is the efficiency of the reactor itself, it uses I-fields instead of magnetic containment to compress the fuel, keeps the waste heat way down in comparison, and the minovsky particles themselves naturally carry a lot of it off when they dissipate; much less of a need for radiators. If the I-fields around the reactor give out the heat spikes, bad. Kaboom and you’re gone bad.”

“And the other two?” You ask, stepping off the lift to follow Hiram around to the back of the bay through the scaffolding walkways.

“Cryogenic fuel,” Hiram says, pointing to the hoses running from the ceiling to various ports on the Waff’s outer surface, “Fairly standard, but the tanks are and lines are stored throughout the body of the mobile suit so it functions as reaction mass and coolant at the same time. Not a new idea but sometimes the classics work just fine. The last one is back to those minovsky particles again, they’re used to drive the fluid pulse system, there’s a few thousand fluid pipes going through a mobile suit just below the armor, they’re about as thick as a strand of hair, and the particles creature a pressure wave in the fluid which causes the joints to operate.”

“What does that have to do with the cooling though?” You ask, furrowing your brow and trying to work through it yourself.

Hiram shrugs, “It’s a little beyond me to be honest, but they help speed up the passive radiating of heat, it makes the armor plates a few dozen times more efficient at it than they would be otherwise. Apparently it’s similar to laser cooling on the really small scale… eh, sort of, you’d need to ask Minovsky or one of the other physicists to get a better explanation, or give me a while to read over it all again.”

“That’s… ingenious, it all works together so seamlessly.” You say, smiling as you appreciate the elegance of the system, “The minovsky particles cause issues with electronics and radio transmissions though, don’t they?”
>>
>>5450985

“Yeah, that’s a bit of a double edged sword.” Hiram acknowledges, sounding a bit annoyed, “We’ve had to harden all of the computers inside to deal with it, same goes for all of our ships, anything too delicate goes haywire fast if the area is saturated enough. It also means traditional sensors like radar or ladar are useless, the returns are all a mess, and even optical and IR sensors drop off in quality much faster - especially IR - In a lot of ways we’re back to the ancient days of visual range combat again. Distances visible to the human eye don’t get too much interference with visible light, so cameras mostly work at those ranges. There are ways to compensate but it gets bulky very quickly.”

“That explains my sensors and cameras then.” You say, thinking back to the issues with picture quality in your pod, and even some comments Char made long ago, “Guided weapons don’t work at all?”

“We’ve experimented with wire-guided missiles,” Blanche says, the question falling more into her area of expertise, “and optical sensors still work, but they have to be overbuilt to keep them working, and the missiles still end up having a terrible time tracking anything at all.”

“...Isn’t the Federation naval doctrine based around very long range combat?” You ask.

“Yes, sir.” Blanche answers, a tiny smirk spreading across her face for a moment before it returns to its normal almost expressionless discipline.

“Are there any health risks from the particles?" Artesia asks almost clinically, "That sounds like it might mess with people’s nervous systems or brain function.”

“Only at incredibly high saturation levels,” Hiram answers, “That was the first question I had when we were getting trained on it, seemed a lot like a radiation hazard to me but apparently it only gets dangerous at the point where you’d be nearly vaporized to begin with.”

“How fast do they accelerate?” Casval questions, an edge of excitement to his voice as he looks over the thrusters on the rear of the Waff.

“Faster than a saberfish,” Hiram answers proudly, pointing to the backpack thrusters, “They use nuclear thermal rockets, the fusion reactor does most of the heavy lifting to get things going. They’re much more efficient than other designs, though they’ve existed for a couple of hundred years on paper.”

“It’s why damage to fuel lines is such a danger.” Blanche says, and you realize her statement is mostly directed at you, “Or any overheating of the rockets, it can feed right back into the reactor and breach containment.”

“We’ve got a lot of safeties to keep that from happening,” Hiram reassures you, “Hence the lieutenant still being here to speak with us. Once the initial damage is contained it’s not much of an issue, sure makes a lightshow when it burns off though.”

“And the limbs help maneuver it along with the verniers,” You say, having already heard that explanation.
>>
>>5450989

“Ah, the AMBAC system.” Hiram says, pointing to the joints of the mobile suit, “It’s a thing of beauty, fluid pulse system makes it all work as well as it does. You pile that on top of the raw efficiency of everything else and a mobile suit will outfly anything mankind’s ever put into space… Not in a straight line, of course, but without long range sensors that’s not such an issue.”

“Can we go inside one?” You ask, barely containing your excitement.

“...Lieutenant?” Hiram questions, looking to Blanche for permission.

“It isn’t refueled yet, sergeant. Let them in.” She orders.

“Nice.” You say loudly, high fiving Casval as Hiram walks you all back around the Waff; he deactivates his magboots and jumps over to the cockpit hatch, tapping at a few buttons and causing it to open with a loud hiss. You and Casval follow along quickly, floating over through the microgravity. Artesia and Blanche follow a moment later, all of you crowding around the open hatch. Remembering that the plating is steel you clamp your boots down and look inside from what should be an upside down perspective.

Casval heads inside first, a huge smile spreading across his face.

“Is there a simulator for these?” He asks, glancing up to Blanche.

“Yes, sir. It’s not available to civilians without express permission from the colonel,” She answers, “Not even guests of your standing.”

Casval nods and floats out of the cockpit, “Sensible. Felix, you’re up.”

Maneuvering into the distinctly Blanche-less cockpit is much easier than your last time inside a mobile suit, and you settle into the pilot’s seat quickly, studying the controls you couldn’t before when you had more pressing matters on your mind. The similarity in controls to a worker ball strikes you once again, it really is uncanny even if there are plenty of extra panels and readouts.

>Really study the controls, hog the seat for a bit.
>Let Artesia inside, it’s her turn.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5450992
>Let Artesia inside, it’s her turn.
Man why you gotta make such difficult decisions Contolist?
But Felix is a good brother, I bet.
>>
>>5450992
>Let Artesia inside, it’s her turn.

While I really wanna spend as much time in an MS as we can, we'll have plenty of time for that once we get into the academy.
>>
>>5450992
>Let Artesia inside, it’s her turn.
>>
>>5450992
>Let Artesia inside, it’s her turn.
>>
>>5450992
>"Are these controls intentionally similar to a Worker Ball's? Feels like it wouldn't take much to get a civilian pilot trained for these things."
>Let Artesia inside, it’s her turn.
>>
>>5450995
>>5450999
>>5451001
>>5451004
>>5451005
Writing.
>>
Having spent a couple of minutes looking over the controls you’re starting to feel like it’s Artesia’s turn; as a newtype you can sense that hogging the seat is what some might call a ‘dick move’. Pushing off and floating out of the cockpit, you grab the edge of the open hatch and haul yourself around, clamping your boots back down on the steel armor of the Waff.

Artesia moves inside, looking a little more lost than you or Casval were, her hair swooshing about as she looks from side to side at the control to trying to find something familiar; eventually she settles on focusing on the twin control sticks, and from there it’s obvious that she’s make short work of the rest of the mobile suit’s mysteries - She really is a natural.

“Are the controls intentionally similar to a worker ball’s?” You ask Blanche, moving alongside her at the edge of the hatch, “Feels like it wouldn’t take much to get a civilian pilot trained for these things.”

“I don’t know, sir.” She answers in her usually straightforward manner, though her calling you ‘sir’ again after you got drunk together is almost enough to make you laugh, “I’ve never flown a worker ball.”

“Ah, that’s right.” You say, “Sergeant, do you know if it was on purpose?”

“The resemblance is there.” He agrees, “I’ve wondered that myself. Put a lot of flight time in on a ball back when I did colony maintenance. I bet you’re right that I could fly this thing.”

“Sergeant.” Blanche says, her tone calm but the message is clear enough.

“Never said I would, Lieutenant.” He says defensively, raising his hands a little, “Might try my hand at the simulator though.”

“You haven’t already?” Blanche questions, “I thought it was mandatory for the maintenance crew.”

“On paper, ma’am.” Hiram says grumpily, “In practice we’re swamped keeping these prototypes running, you really put them through their paces - And yes, I know that’s the point.”

Blanche just nods, watching your sister intently as she continues to familiarize herself with the controls. Eventually Artesia is satisfied and exits the cockpit, floating out and gracefully grabbing a hold of the scaffolding a few meters away, spinning a bit around it and clicking her boots against the floor.

>Ask to see the Bugu. It really is much more capable looking, even partially assembled, and it has a weapon.
>That’s enough of the hangar, you’ve gotten the gist of mobile suits. By the time you’re flying them these models will both probably be ancient history.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5451027
>Ask to see the Bugu. It really is much more capable looking, even partially assembled, and it has a weapon.

MORE MS EXPERIENCE.
>>
>>5451027
>That’s enough of the hangar, you’ve gotten the gist of mobile suits. By the time you’re flying them these models will both probably be ancient history.
>>
>>5451027
>Ask to see the Bugu. It really is much more capable looking, even partially assembled, and it has a weapon.
Let me get a look at that CANNON
>>
>>5451027
1)
>That’s enough of the hangar, you’ve gotten the gist of mobile suits. By the time you’re flying them these models will both probably be ancient history.

2)
>Ask to see the Bugu. It really is much more capable looking, even partially assembled, and it has a weapon.
>"If it isn't too much of a bother, of course."

We could probably spend slightly more time in the observation deck to grow our newtype abilities if we go now, but I'm not against seeing the Bugu since we won't be allowed in the hangar after today.
>>
>>5451027
>Ask to see the Bugu. It really is much more capable looking, even partially assembled, and it has a weapon.

Well atleast we know MS weaponry on both sides is getting there on time.
>>
>>5451027
>That’s enough of the hangar, you’ve gotten the gist of mobile suits. By the time you’re flying them these models will both probably be ancient history.
>>
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>>5451029
>>5451035
>>5451133
>>5451051
Bugu.

>>5451030
>>5451152
Finish up the tour.

Bugu wins. I'll try to get an update out between classes in a few hours. It'll be off to the rest of the tour after this, which will probably just be a single post.
>>
>>5451176
Bu(r)gu(r)
>>
>>5451179
How can the Federation hope to survive against the likes of BIG HAM
>>
>>5451202
Fucking feddies, making me drop my pic
>>
Looks like it's going to take a little longer to get the update out, didn't get it quite finished and I've got more classes. Expect it in three or four hours.
>>
>>5451315
Take your time brother. Your education is vital to the Zeon war effort.
>>
“Could we take a closer look at the Bugu?” You request, pushing off Waff and floating downward to the true deck of the hangar, “I’ve never seen a cannon like that.”

You catch Artesia rolling her eyes as you fall past her, obviously less interested but soon following you down nonetheless; Casval, Blanche, and Hiram land around you a few seconds later.

“It isn’t safe to get too close right now,” Hiram answers, pointing to the teams of technicians busy putting the mobile suit together with all manner of tools and machinery, “Nothing wrong with taking a look at the machine gun though.”

“Machine gun?” You question while walking across the busy hangar to the enormous magazine fed cannon, “That’s a little big to just be a machine gun, isn’t it?”

“Well, you see, there’s an interesting story to that actu-”

“Mobile suits look like people, sir.” Blanche answers, cutting off what sounds like it might be a long winded story, “The cannon looks like a machine gun when they hold it.”

“Oh,” You say, the explanation short but right to the point, “Makes sense.”

“The similarities don’t stop there though,” Hiram says, taking the interruption in stride as you come to stop next the the huge rack the mobile suit sized machine gun rests on, “The magazines are manually changed by the mobile suit as well, no need for finicky belt feeds or internal ammo reserves. Makes them versatile, in theory at least. All it takes is a few seconds to swap weapons entirely or change what type of ammunition they’re using, the idea is that they'll be more versatile than any fighter in service.”

“There are other weapons?” Casval asks, placing a hand on the bottom of the machinegun and looking back to Blanche; he looks tiny next to the weapon’s vast steel bulk.

“This is the only model that’s been adopted, sir.” Blanche answers stiffly, “There are others in testing.”

“The Bugu isn’t even finalized,” Hiram says with a laugh, “And we’re already picking weapons. Seems a bit premature to me, but it’s no problem really. They all swap out, just takes a bit of reprogramming for targeting, and sometimes the hands, and then they’re good to go. Lieutenant, do remember that axe they had you use a week ago?”

“I do, sergeant.” Blanche says, brushing a stray strand of white hair from her face, “I still stand by my assessment: It’s going to get adopted.”

“Bah, next you’ll say we’re going to end up using swords,” Hiram replies incredulously, waving Blanche off, “They’re spacecraft, lieutenant, not robotic knights. A hundred gilla says you’re wrong about the axe.”

“...She did just get into a robot fist fight with me a few hours ago,” You point out, “I wouldn’t feel safe with that bet.”

“I won’t make bets on sure things, sergeant.” Blanche replies, though her body language doesn’t match her snark at all, ever disciplined and rigid.
>>
>>5451341

“They’re fast enough to fight unarmed?” Casval asks while looking over to the work on the Bugu’s orange armored form, an edge to his voice that would be easy to miss, “Even against one another?”

“We’re the only force in existence with mobile suits, sir.” Blanche answers, “We’ve done some opposed testing, they perform well in the hands of a skilled pilot.”

Casval laughs and nods, “Thank you, lieutenant. I’ve seen enough of the hangar. Felix?”

“I was thinking the same thing.” You reply.

“Finally.” Artesia says from behind you.

A little under an hour and quite a few stops later.
The tour has gone by quickly, passageways blending together as you went from section to section of the vessel, pushing right on through most of it with only a brief explanation from Blanche. Many of the areas are self-explanatory and a bit dull; a ship’s mess isn’t that different on any vessel, and the engineering spaces are cramped and filled with cables and pipes and various whirring and humming machines - exactly what you expected.

The officer’s lounge was interesting, and you lingered there for a couple of minutes appreciating the sheer quantity and variety of alcohol locked up in one of the cabinets, as well as a number of ship models and other appropriately military decorations about the area; crew photos were framed on the wall, and a ship’s book for the previous year sat atop on of the small tables that seem just large enough for a good game of cards… It seemed like a fun place compared to the rest of the ship, but it was dead empty when you arrived.

The observation deck was something else though; situated just above the bridge and featuring huge huge plate glass windows looking out over the surrounding space. You found yourself swept away once again by the endless expanse of stars. The feeling was almost nostalgic, your emotions swirling and impassioned, closer to the surface somehow, the beauty of the cosmos striking you just as keenly as it has hundreds of times before. You were meant to be out there, you could just feel it in your bones… but the stop didn’t last long. Artesia and Casval share at least a glimmer of the same passion for it that you do, but it just isn’t the same. They both spent more time exploring the observation equipment around the deck, telescopes and huge binocular sets, while you were quite content to enjoy the view naturally.

It will be time to meet with Dozle very soon, but currently you’re heading toward the ship’s reactor, the very last stop, following a thin yellow line all the way there through the winding passageways. The four of you are discussing…

>What Side Three is like these days.
>Earth, Blanche has never even visited.
>Suggest a topic. The passageways are still busy with day to day work, you’re likely to be overhead.
>>
Turns out I was able to just barely able to get it finished in time, off to class now.
>>
>>5451342
>What Side Three is like these days.
>>5451343
GLHF. I have no idea how you find time to QM such a quality quest while in law school.
>>
>>5451342
>What Side Three is like these days.
>>
>>5451342
>What Side Three is like these days.
>>
>>5451342
>Dozle and the other Zabis. Of course, you and your siblings are displaying appropriate amounts of loyalty to their family, but it never hurts to hear more about them.
>>
>>5451373
Yes it's risky, but I'm mostly voting for this to gauge Blanche's words. She's an average soldier, and knowing what they would say around in the open is an important lesson to the three siblings.
>>
>>5451383
>She's an average soldier
She's an officer, the daughter of an Admiral, and a test pilot.
"Average" is not a term I would use to describe Blanche if we're talking about her as a member of Zeon's military.
>>
>>5451385
Yes, that was bad wording on my part. It's more of how familiar she is with the military and working for the Zabis all these years.
>>
>>5451345
>>5451346
>>5451363
Back and writing.
>>
“What’s Side Three like these days? We… haven’t been since it was called Munzo.” You ask question, walking a few steps behind her alongside your siblings as you make your way to the heavily protected heart of the ship; the fusion reactor.

“It’s doing very well, sir.” Blanche replies as you pass through yet another huge blast door, red damage control lockers lining the walls, “They’ve added two dozen banchi in just the last year.”

“A dozen new colonies?” Artesia asks curiously, “That must be tens of millions of people… Are there really that many coming from earth still?”

“It’s the destiny of mankind to migrate to the stars, miss.” Blanche answers, the response practiced and precise, “...That’s the official line.”

“You have doubts?” Casval asks, a normal suit clad member of the engineering crew hurrying past off to your left.

“Not doubts, sir.” Blanche says, slowing her pace as you begin to encounter more members of engineering hustling past, “I’ve served with a few of the new arrivals, most of them are from other Sides or Luna. There are a few earthnoids arriving still, probably still millions, but migration has slowed to a trickle compared to what it used to be. The economy is doing well though, about half of the new banchi are for industrial use.”

“It’s nice to hear that it’s prospering, but… Could you tell us something more about it? What is it like? I barely remember our old home.” Artestia says, choosing her words very carefully and studying Blanche intently as she speaks; you may not be able to get a read on the woman anymore but if anyone can it’s your sister.

“...It’s stressed.” She answers after a moment of consideration.

“Stressed?” Your sister asks, clearly sensing something deeper in the words.

“It’s impossible to miss when you walk the streets, miss. The Federation has been stamping down hard the last few years,” Blanche explains, “They despise our moves toward autonomy. Zum has had protests near the federal district a few times, and they’re not uncommon in other banchi. The occupation forces tried to put them down with live ammunition and it turned into a riot, so they rolled in guntanks.”

“...I’ve read about that. …Does it happen often?” You ask, sickened by the thought, memories of burning buildings and guntanks firing as they move through billowing smoke filling your mind’s eye until you push them away.

“More often these days, sir.” Blanche answers, “People won’t live under oppression for that long without reacting. The Federation increased taxation again a few months ago, across all Sides, and their forces have been out in the streets more often. They’ve started war games as well.”

“War games?” Casval asks, moving behind you for a moment to allow a skinny motorized zero-g trolley covered in tools and crates to whizz past, the operator holding onto handles at it’s rear.
>>
>>5451562

“They put their occupation forces against units from the Zeon defense force, it’s a biannual humiliation. They want to remind us that we’re only allowed to have an army to keep us quiet, and that they could crush us whenever they want. It isn’t subtle, sir.” Blanche says, her calm and even tone breaking for a moment as a hint of disgust creeps in, “The equipment disparity and numbers are always drastically in their favor, and they always defend. It’s only meant to degrade us; they televise it back on earth. They make our academy cadets fight regulars.”

Artesia looks horrified as she hears the details, “That’s awful. Don’t they realize they’re just breeding more resentment?”

“They don’t care, miss.” Blanche says solemnly.

“...But people are still doing well, right? Things are growing?” Your sister presses, ever one to seek out the positive in things even as worry is evident across her face.

“They are, miss. People manage to get by even with the increased taxes and trade restrictions. If you ignore the politics it can almost feel peaceful, I miss it sometimes when we’re away…” Blanche says, stopping before a large closed blast door and entering a code into a keypad near it, the sound of motors and sliding steel filling the air for a moment as the door slowly begins to open, “It’s the little things that pile up though, the way they look at us; they call us zeeks when they think we can’t hear.”

“Zeeks?” You question, unfamiliar with the term. It almost sounds silly.

“I’m not sure how it started, but it’s a slur now.” Blanche answers, striding into the reactor control room, “A corruption of your father’s name, sir.”

“Bastards.” Casval curses under his breath, following her inside.

The room itself isn’t that large, a few work stations and a number of sealed doors leading inward to the actual reactor itself, a huge plate glass window separating the control area from the reactor. All of the stations are manned, and a few of the officers are speaking to one another as you arrive; you quiet down so as to not disturb their work. Blanche leads you around the area, introducing you to the officer in charge who then shows you around in greater detail; the same as the other sections you’ve visited.

It doesn’t take long to finish, and then you’re off to Dozle’s office. The trip is much faster going back, a short walk and then a ride in the lift up a few decks, and almost before you know it you’re standing in front of the door.

“Sirs, miss.” Blanche says addressing you all, gray eyes noticeable focused more on you and Casval than your sister.
>>
>>5451566

“Thank you for showing us around, lieutenant.” You say, flashing a smile and meeting her eyes, noticing again how striking they really are, almost like diamonds, “We should talk again some t-”

Artesia elbows you a little, cutting you off and speaking up slightly louder than is necessary, “Thank you, lieutenant, that will be all. The colonel is waiting on us.”

“...Yes, miss, he is.” Blanche says after a slight delay, blinking and looking to your sister, “It’s been an honor.”

A with that she turns and departs, heading back to the lift and quickly disappearing as its doors hiss shut.

“What was that about, Artesia? There’s no need to be so rude.”

“You were giving her one of your looks.” Artesia says, turning to glare at you, “All of this… this stuff is going on, and you’re giving her tho-”

“...I was just smiling! That’s not a look, that’s just being nice.” You try to defend yourself; if you were trying to do something it would look a lot different.

Your sister rolls her eyes and shakes her head, “Casval, talk to him or something, this is… too embarrassing.”

“You need to learn to turn things down a bit, Felix. Once I figured it out things got a lot simpler.” Casval says, putting a hand on your shoulder, “We can talk about it later, we’ve got important business to attend to.”

“Right.” You say, nodding and knocking on the door.

It slides open a moment later, revealing the familiar sight of Dozle’s quarters, which seem significantly more ostentatious now that you’ve seen what normal officers quarters look like. Dozle is just a few feet away, towering over the three of you and almost totally filling the area beyond the doorway, his green and gold uniform filling your vision for a moment.

“Welcome, all of you. Come in, we have much to discuss.” Dozle rumbles, motioning with one huge arm for you to enter. A few more chairs have been scrounged up from somewhere, matching the other decor, and you all sit around a small table. Dozle pours out a bit more of that dark liquor from before, sliding you each a glass; Artesia’s is notably more shallow than the others.

“It will take a day and a half to return to Side Three.” Dozle says once you’re all situated, “When we are finished here you may send a message to your adoptive father, I have seen to the arrangements.”
>>
>>5451569

“Thank you, sir.” Artesia says sweetly, smiling. Dozle’s military demeanor seems to melt away, a big dumb smile spreading across has scarred face in response

“It’s the honorable thing to do.” He replies after a pause, recovering his normal presentation, “I have made arrangements with my sister for you to visit your mother as well, she is under her supervision. Kycilia wished you a safe return journey to Zeon, she asked me to relay her words.”

“We appreciate your kindness, sir, and your sister’s gesture.” Casval says smoothly, taking a sip of his drink, “It’s been years since we last saw mother.”

“Yes, I remember the day.” Dozle says, hand tightening on his glass, “The guntank incident has not been forgotten, Casval Deikun… Not by me. I ordered the federation forces not to fire. When they did not listen I feared the worst. What a mess that was.”

“Let’s put the misfortunes and misunderstandings of our past behind us,” Your brother says, raising his glass, “To reconciliation.”

“Reconciliation.” Dozle echoes, as do you and Artesia, though your sister is a bit delayed in her reaction.

>Let Casval continue to take the lead, you trust him to handle this.
>”You spoke with Kycilia earlier? Was she supportive of your decision?” You already suspect the answer is a very strong ‘no’, but there’s no telling what Dozle might reveal.
>”Where will we be staying once we arrive in Zeon?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5451571
>”You spoke with Kycilia earlier? Was she supportive of your decision?” You already suspect the answer is a very strong ‘no’, but there’s no telling what Dozle might reveal.
>”Where will we be staying once we arrive in Zeon?”
>>
>>5451571
>”Where will we be staying once we arrive in Zeon?”
>"Will me and Artesia have to wait to join the academy? Casval is almost at the age to join, but we are younger."
>>
>>5451571
>>5451575
Supporting.
>>
>>5451571
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, you trust him to handle this.
I just want to see how he deals with a Zabi firsthand desu
>>
>>5451571
>”You spoke with Kycilia earlier? Was she supportive of your decision?” You already suspect the answer is a very strong ‘no’, but there’s no telling what Dozle might reveal.
>"Will me and Artesia have to wait to join the academy? Casval is almost at the age to join, but we are younger."
>>
>>5451575
>>5451571
+1
>>
>>5451571
>”You spoke with Kycilia earlier? Was she supportive of your decision?” You already suspect the answer is a very strong ‘no’, but there’s no telling what Dozle might reveal.
>”Where will we be staying once we arrive in Zeon?”
He specifically ordered them not to fire on us? And they just... didn't obey?
Well that settles it, I know exactly what we're getting painted on our mobile suit when we become an Ace.
THIS ZEEK KILLS FEDDIES
>>
>>5451596
>He specifically ordered them not to fire on us? And they just... didn't obey?
Yes, it even happens in canon Origin. It was mostly because of Feddy incompetence there though, since they panicked once Casval had started shooting.
In this AU too, since we saw the guntanks fuck up, but it's even worse because Hamon went for a smoke instead of live rounds.
>>
>>5451575
>>5451581
>>5451592
Writing.
>>
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>>5451569
>>
>>5451754
Kek
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>>5451754
Fucking lmao, thank you anon. Almost done writing.
>>
>>5451754
Nice oc
>>
You take a sip of the drink, managing its harsh flavor more easily than a few hours ago, though you’re careful to just sip. It’s not enough to cause problems, not even close, but after earlier you’ve learned your lesson… It doesn't hurt that this drink, whatever it is, really doesn’t compare to Munzo Comet.

“Where will we be staying once we arrive in Zeon?” You ask.

“You will be guests at our mansion in Zum city,” Dozle answers after finishing his drink entirely in a single gulp, loudly setting his glass on the table..

“...We’re going to live with you?” Artesia asks uneasily, her act slipping a little. Dozle doesn’t seem to notice.

“Yes! What better way to end the mistrust between our families? Zeon will become stronger than ever before.” Dozles says while clenching one hand into a fist, raising is slightly in a triumphant gesture, “You will need to remain in disguise of course, the Federation might act if your presence became publicly known. I hate to use such an underhanded tactic, I would rather face them… but we are not prepared for that day.”

“We’ll remain hidden? I was hoping that might stop.” You say, layering on the disappointment, “We’ve been living under false names for years.”

“It will be an open secret.” Dozle reassures you confidently, “I have not hidden your identities from my crew, but the public must not hear of it until the time is right.”

It sounds a little to you like you’re going to be pawns waiting to be moved at the right time, but being known to those in power and rumored among the people of Zeon may have its advantages…

“We’ll do what needs to be done.” Casval says, a hint of amusement to his voice, “Politics is a delicate thing.”

“It is.” Dozle agrees, crossing his giant arms and cutting quite the intimidating image; it’s not purposeful, he seems to always look like that. The scars and his sheer size do a lot of the work.

“Will Artesia and I have to wait to join the academy?” You ask, choosing to focus more on things that might still be in your control, “Casval, you’re almost old enough.”

“I do intend to serve, sir.” Casval confirms, “That arrangement still stands?”

“It does!” Dozle says, grinning widely, “Had you not shown an interest in service to our homeland I would not have moved for your return. I had my doubts, but your brother’s heroic defense and enthusiasm to join stirred my heart. Felix, you… you aren’t old enough as well?”

“I'm a few months below the cutoff for the next class.” You explain.

“No you aren’t.” Dozles chuckles before directing his attention to your sister, his earlier seriousness returning as he looks her over, “Artesia, you wish to join as well? The physical demands are very serious.”

“The next intake is in four months?” Artesia asks, considering Dozles words carefully and looking down into her barely touched drink, “I think I could do it.”
>>
>>5451760

“Do not choose lightly. Military service is one of the greatest honors and burdens a person can take upon themself.” Dozle warns, sounding like this is a conversation he’s had with others many times before, “There is no room for doubt once you’ve made the decision, discipline and obedience will be demanded, and bravery and initiative in the face of even overwhelming odds.”

“...I want to help people.” She says, staring Dozle dead in the eyes, “There’s a program for medical training, I want to enter it.”

“That is…” He begins to answer loudly, but then stops himself and considers the idea for a long while before speaking, “That is possible. The program is demanding. You will still be required to undergo the same training as the other cadets.”

Artesia straightens her posture, still maintaining eye contact with the huge man, “I’ll finish at the top, sir.”

“Hoho, that’s the fire I want to hear in a soldier’s voice!” Dozle thunders, “Consider it done; do not disappoint me.”

“I actually feel a little bad for the other cadets,” You say to Casval, exchanging a knowing look with him, “She’s already finished one degree…”

“Hm? She has?” Dozle asks, sounding very impressed, “Is that true?”

“We all have.” She answers honestly, “...Though the last few credits were a little tricky to get after we left spain.”

“...Wasn’t that several years ago?” Dozle asks in confusion, looking between the three of you.

“Yes, sir.” Artesia answers sadly, and you can tell immediately that she’s playing it up, “We haven’t had much to do but focus on studies…”

“Such dedication to success will be rewarded.” Dozle says, something straining in his voice, “Garma and Vivima have shown similar aptitude; I think you may get along well. They will both be joining the next class as well, Garma is set to be the leader.”

>”Dozle, what are they both like?” Not an unbiased source in the least, but you’re interested.
>”Speaking of family, you said you spoke to Kycilia earlier; was she supportive of your decision to bring us back to Zeon?”
>”...Dozle, I have a request. Artesia had to leave behind her pet cat Lucifer on Texas colony. Is there any way he could be sent to us in Zeon?”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5451761
>”Dozle, what are they both like?” Not an unbiased source in the least, but you’re interested.
It's Vivima time bros
>>
>>5451754
lol

>>5451761
>”Dozle, what are they both like?” Not an unbiased source in the least, but you’re interested.
>”...Dozle, I have a request. Artesia had to leave behind her pet cat Lucifer on Texas colony. Is there any way he could be sent to us in Zeon?”
Can't leave that good boy over there for too long, especially after brain surgery.
>>
>>5451761
>”Dozle, what are they both like?” Not an unbiased source in the least, but you’re interested.
>>5451754
ten outa ten. Gotta be careful, don't want to turn into a harem protag.
>>
>>5451761
>”Dozle, what are they both like?” Not an unbiased source in the least, but you’re interested.
>”...Dozle, I have a request. Artesia had to leave behind her pet cat Lucifer on Texas colony. Is there any way he could be sent to us in Zeon?”
>>
>>5451761
>>”...Dozle, I have a request. Artesia had to leave behind her pet cat Lucifer on Texas colony. Is there any way he could be sent to us in Zeon?”
>>
>>5451764
And Dozle will probably be happy to agree to this request, especially after we've impressed him with our devotion to family and patriotism for Zeon.
>>
>>5451765
>don't want to turn into a harem protag

Literally the only thing preventing Felix from being a generic Harem protag is he's actually attractive.
>>
>>5451761
>”Dozle, what are they both like?” Not an unbiased source in the least, but you’re interested.
>”...Dozle, is it possible. Artesia had to leave behind her pet cat Lucifer on Texas colony. Is there any way he could be sent to us in Zeon?”

>also thank Dozle for actually helping us out eitherway.
>>
>>5451841
>Attractive, charismatic psychic ubermensch
Well you're not wrong, he's not exactly a standard insert protag.
>>
>>5451764
>>5451770
>>5451939
Writing.
>>
“Dozle, what are they both like?” You ask after taking another sip of your drink, seizing the opportunity to learn about the two Zabis you know by far the least about.

“Garma and Vivima? Of course… where to begin though?” Dozle asks, his voice softening, “They look like twins, have you seen pictures of them before?”

“We have.” Artesia answers, finally trying to take a larger drink from her own glass; her face contorts a little as she struggles to down it, and she muffles a cough a moment later.

Dozle pauses for a moment, watching your sister’s reaction with slight amusement, and then continues, “My father was happier than I’ve ever seen him when they were born. I’ve tried to be a good older brother to them both, but the difference in our ages has made it a challenge. At times I feel more like a father than a brother; all of us have helped to raise them.”

“Your whole family?” Artesia asks, setting her glass down, “It must be nice to have so many people around.”

“It is, sometimes. When we all get along I want nothing more… It does not happen as often as I would like. But enough about the rest of us!” “I see much of myself in Garma, though he does not share my stature, his heart carries the same dedication to duty and others. I expect he will be a good leader, given some time to harden up - He’s very bright, he shares that with Kycilia. If he stays with a military career I expect he will be a greater officer than I ever could be.”

“You must love him very much,” Artesia says, “That’s very sweet, Dozle.”

Dozle gets a little flustered by your sister's words, “I, uh… thank you, I do. Vivima as well, though she takes more after Kycilia and Gihren than myself.”

“Oh?” Casval asks, Dozle’s words immediately piquing his interest.

“Gihren saved her life a few years ago, during that cowardly attack on the stadium.” Dozle explains, fist clenching and brow furrowing, “He stepped between her and the gunmen, before they cut him down. Took a pair of bullets for her. I hadn’t thought Gihren had it in him before that. Curse that Jimba Ral for what he did!

“Gihren saved her?” You ask, trying not to let memories of the manor attack linger in your mind overlong; Dozle doesn’t seem to be aware that the soldiers were there for you as well.

“I remember reading something about that, it came out weeks afterward,” Casval says, finishing his own drink and setting it down along with the other glasses.
>>
>>5452051

“Gihren nearly died.” Dozle says, struggling to constrain the anger filling his voice, “Vivima stayed by his bedside for weeks.”

“She’s dutiful as well then.” Your sister says, still taking the lead on this.

“In her own way.” Dozle continues, “She was a sweet girl. She still can be, but …It changed her. She wanted to be a singer, she has a beautiful voice, but she’s shown more interest in piloting these days. I hadn’t expected her to ask to attend the academy either… I hope the retaliation against Jimba was less traumatic for the three of you; what awful business that was! No child should be near such things.”

“We managed to hide,” Artesia says, speaking up before you or Casval can, “Casval and Felix were injured in the confusion.”

Dozle closes his eyes, exhaling as he tries to calm himself, knuckles whites; slowly it passes, “I’m sorry, for all of what happened. I’m glad such horrible days are behind us.”

“As are we. Thank you for extending an olive branch, Dozle; there was no need for it to carry on… after that.” You say solemnly, “...On a different note, I have a request, Dozle. Artesia had to leave behind her pet cat Lucifer on Texas colony. Is there any way he could be sent to us in Zeon?”

“Of course!” Dozle thunders, slamming a hand on the table hard enough to cause the glasses to shake and clink about, the change in topic apparently suiting him well, “Never leave a man behind! I have an officer there right now, I’ll see that it gets done.”

“Thank you, Dozle!” Artesia says, smiling, and you can sense genuine thanks emanating from her, “He’s been with us since we left all those years ago.”

“Have you met the ship’s cat?” Dozle asks kindly, “Commodore. He’s a little monster, but I’m sure he’d like you.”

“Felix mentioned there was one,” Artesia says, holding back a laugh, “He was a little out of it at the time.”

“Oh?” Dozle questions, looking at you strangely.

“Acclimating to the ship, sir.” You say hastily. The poor excuse seems to still be enough for the huge man, and he nods.

>”Vivima is a pilot as well? When we were touring the hangar one of the sergeants mentioned she’d seen the mobile suits before.”
>”How has Zeon been these last few years?” You heard from Blanche, but that’s just one perspective.
>Let Artesia keep talking; she seems to be building a good rapport with Dozle.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5452053
>”Vivima is a pilot as well? When we were touring the hangar one of the sergeants mentioned she’d seen the mobile suits before.”
>Let Artesia keep talking; she seems to be building a good rapport with Dozle.
>>
>>5452051
>though she takes more after Kycilia and Gihren than myself
I really hope she isn't doing the same thing Felix is with Casval and Artesia.

>>5452053
1)
>Let Artesia keep talking; she seems to be building a good rapport with Dozle.

2)
>Let Artesia keep talking; she seems to be building a good rapport with Dozle.
>”Vivima is a pilot as well? When we were touring the hangar one of the sergeants mentioned she’d seen the mobile suits before.”

Best if all of us got on Dozle's good side soon.
>>
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Off to classes again. Have a bigger hair than she has right now Blanche.
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>>5452192
Blanche when she has to go to zeon aristocrat parties
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>>5452053
>”Vivima is a pilot as well? When we were touring the hangar one of the sergeants mentioned she’d seen the mobile suits before.”
>Let Artesia keep talking; she seems to be building a good rapport with Dozle.
>>
Back early. Another student died and class got canceled (missed the email earlier). It's pretty fucked, I didn't know him that well but he was a cool dude and one of the sharper people in class. No idea what happened yet.

>>5452193
That's exactly what I was going for.

>>5452054
>>5452066
>>5452194
Bit of questioning and then just letting Artesia get back to it. Writing.
>>
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>>5452229
>spoiler
Man that really is messed up. Stay safe Contolist.
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>>5452229
Jesus Christ.
I kind of understand, I had a professor that died in the middle of the semester when I was in college once. I didn't really know them because it was an optional class in another department I was doing for the last few credits, but it made everything feel weird afterwards.
>>
“Vivima is a pilot as well?” You ask, thoughts of the gargantuan machines in the hangar swirling about your mind, “When we were touring the hangar one of the sergeants mentioned she’d seen the mobile suits before.”

“Seen them?” Dozle chuckles gregariously, “Hoho, yes, she has seen them. She and Garma have attended some of the earliest demonstrations.”

“Does she fly them? You ask, imagining what it must be like to pilot something that maneuverable and with so much power; it must be freeing, like flying for the first time all over again. A smile spreads across your face as you think about it.

Dozle’s eyes narrow in suspicion, and he leans forward in his seat toward you, his great size very hard to ignore, “Why do you ask?”

“You said she was interested in piloting,” You say innocently, maintaining your cool in the face of the intimidating display, “Mobile suits look fun to fly.”

There’s a short silence before Dozle relaxes, leaning back in his chair as he speaks, “They are. Vivima has asked many times, but they are not toys.”

“Of course, they’re very high performance,” You say, scratching at the back of your head, “But that’s the appeal, isn’t it?”

Dozle nods in agreement, “They’re machines of war. She put many hours into the simulator during the last visit.”

“...May I try it?” You ask.

“No. They are needed for the crew.” Dozle says firmly, “Perhaps in time, once we return to Zeon.”

Damn, worth a try.

“She’s a singer as well?” Artesia asks curiously.

“She is.” Dozle says proudly, “She won a youth contest on Side Two a few weeks ago.”

“What did she sing?”

“...I’m not sure what the song was called, Vivima said the genre was… ‘colony pop’.” Dozle says, sounding increasingly embarrassed as he explains it to Artesia; he’s a terrible liar, “It’s catchy. ...You never heard me say that.”

“Oh come on, Dozle, there’s nothing to be ashamed about liking catchy music, I’ve heard some of it before and it’s great.” Artesia says, laughing a little at the big man’s embarrassment, though it isn't mean spirited, “Who was she up against?”

“Many people, though she entered because one of the other contestants slandered our family during many interviews. Her father was a member of the Federation's congress.”

“She entered to show her up?” Artesia ask, raising an eyebrow, “That’s not a short trip from Side Three.”

“She went anonymously with a few guards, dyed her hair.” Dozle says, scratching a bit at his chin, thinking over the events with care, “Kycilia helped her. That’s their way, those two. Thick as thieves sometimes.”

“Aw, that’s so wholesome,” Artesia says sweetly, though she gets a bit more judgmental sounding as she trails off, “It’s nice that they get along, though I always thought Kycilia might be a little vindictive…”

Your eyes widen. What the hell is Artesia doing?
>>
>>5452276

“Hoho, you aren’t wrong.” Dozle says, amused rather than angry, “Not a woman to make an enemy of, my sister. We’ve never seen eye to eye, but those two have an understanding. They’re close, it’s been good for them.”

“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a sister,” Artesia ponders, carrying along happily though she does glance a little apologetically to you and Casval, “...These two can be a lot sometimes; I mean I’d do anything for them, but…”

“I always wondered what it would be like to have a younger brother until Garma came along.” Dozle rumbles, nodding in understanding, “Perhaps you may get along with Vivima. That would warm my heart.”

“You said that earlier. Do you think we would? I hope so.” Artesia asks, blazing ahead; it took a little while for her to settle in but this is an amazing act… to the extent that it is an act.

“We’ll see in a few days.” Dozle answers, pouring himself another glass; he only sips at it lightly, though with as huge as he is it’s doubtful; even a few more would affect him much.

“We will.” Artesia agrees, taking a small sip of her own and only showing mild discomfort this time, slowly getting used to it, “...You promised that we would be able to see our mother; could we send a message ahead to her?”

“Of course, it should be possible to send a recording.” Dozle says solemnly, “It should lift her spirits. If I had known the conditions she was still being kept in, I…”

“You already apologized, Dozle.” Artesia says, placing a hand on his as he sets down his glass, “It’s okay. Thank you for letting us send ahead.”

You and Casval exchange looks, eyes glancing at your sister for just a moment; she seems to be perfect for this, it’s almost uncanny.

>”What’s the plan once we get to Zeon? There’s months until the next class at the academy begins.”
>”Do you fence, Dozle? That’s a fine saber over there, I didn’t notice it earlier when we were talking about the models.” There’s a fancy looking, if oversized, saber on one of the walls; it’s not too much of a leap of logic.
>”...Dozle, I don’t mean to keep piling on requests, but there’s a girl on Luna that I write to…”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5452277
>”Do you fence, Dozle? That’s a fine saber over there, I didn’t notice it earlier when we were talking about the models.” There’s a fancy looking, if oversized, saber on one of the walls; it’s not too much of a leap of logic.
I think it's better to not mention Elena.
>>
>>5452277
1.
>”What’s the plan once we get to Zeon? There’s months until the next class at the academy begins.”
2.
>”Do you fence, Dozle? That’s a fine saber over there, I didn’t notice it earlier when we were talking about the models.” There’s a fancy looking, if oversized, saber on one of the walls; it’s not too much of a leap of logic.
>>
>>5452277
>”Do you fence, Dozle? That’s a fine saber over there, I didn’t notice it earlier when we were talking about the models.” There’s a fancy looking, if oversized, saber on one of the walls; it’s not too much of a leap of logic.
>”...Dozle, I don’t mean to keep piling on requests, but there’s a girl on Luna that I write to…”
The Zabis will tell us what to do once we get there. And I bet that Dozle will let us write to her if we break the ice first with something he likes. As long as we keep it vague about Elena, we'll probably be fine. It would be a bit suspicious if we suddenly stopped writing to her, since Kycilia (and probably Vivime) know definitely about the letters.
>>
>>5452287
>>5452277
+1
supporting
>>
>>5452287
And to explain my reasoning better, I'd rather risk annoying Dozle a little than confirm Kycilia's suspicions about Elena. Or worse, have Kycilia offer us her spy network to contact Elena and/or bring her here (it's unlikely I know, but it might be something she'll offer to test us).
>>
>>5452287
+1
>>
>>5452277
>”What’s the plan once we get to Zeon? There’s months until the next class at the academy begins.”
>”Do you fence, Dozle? That’s a fine saber over there, I didn’t notice it earlier when we were talking about the models.” There’s a fancy looking, if oversized, saber on one of the walls; it’s not too much of a leap of logic.


Reject earthnoid slut
>>
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>>5452229
>Another student died
>Another
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>>5452450
You don't regularly cull your class Anon?
How do you make sure only the strong make it to Finals week?
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>>5452450
I think he meant a student that wasn't him.
Unless the curse is going strong early, but hitting people around him instead.
>>
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>>5452453
>mfw

>>5452454
I guess. It's just weird when used like that. There's no need to specify another student (as in, someone else) in this context, because who else could it be but someone that isn't the QM? So I assumed that by another, he meant another one died, unless QM's running from the afterlife now.
>>
>>5452450
>He doesn't go to American schooling.

This is why you don't skip small bullet training.
>>
>>5452287
>>5452303
>>5452352
Back and writing.

>>5452450
He was the fifth person from a class of ~170 people.
>>
>>5452487
What the fuck is in the water in bongland??
>>
>>5452487
That's concerning.
Did other four die recently too?
>>
>>5452493
Florid, Covid 19 juice and chemicals.
>>
>>5452493
>>5452499
Sorry, should have explained better. That's across three years, our class is going to graduate next spring, the deaths have been spread out across the years. It is still a lot.
>>
>>5452510
I can't imagine what that'd be like. I know I already said this, but stay safe.
>>
“Do you fence, Dozle?” You ask, a fancy looking, if somewhat oversized, saber on the far wall of the room catching your eyes for a moment, “That’s a fine saber over there, I didn’t notice it earlier when we were talking about the models.”

“I do.” Dozle rumbles, puffing his chest out a bit, “It would be wrong to require the skill of my cadets if I could not do it myself.”

“There’s fencing in the academy?”

“It teaches discipline and focus,” Dozle explains proudly, standing up from his chair and walking over to retrieve the saber from the wall, “This was a gift from Sasro, many years ago. I keep it to honor his memory.”

“That’s a very noble sentiment,” Casval says, “One shouldn’t forget those they’ve lost, especially family.”

“You understand then.” Dozle replies, striding back to the chairs and table, striking quite the imposing figure while holding the large saber, “Try it. It was sized for me, but the balance is excellent for the style.”

“It’s a cavalry saber,” Casval notes, accepting the hilt of the blade and then checking handling with a few slow movements, “You were an armor officer at the time, weren’t you? This was excellently made, nearly perfect.”

“I was.” Dozle answers, taking the blade back after your brother is done with his brief inspection and then handing it over to you, “Sasro was a harsh man at times, but he was a good brother. There may even come a day when I make use of it.”

For being as oversized as it is the blade does easily show its quality under a close inspection, both in balance and fit and finish; and you confirm with a light brush against the hair of your hand that it is sharp as well, ready for real use; it’s a beautiful piece.

“As I thought,” You finally say, offering the sword back, “Very finely made. If you do ever end up using it I feel very sorry for the guy on the wrong side.”

Dozle chuckles, accepting the hilt of the blade and offering it to Artesia; she takes the blade but merely looks over it, not familiar enough to really gauge much beyond how it looks.

“It’s pretty, I like the way the handle is wrapped,” She says, offering it back with probably excessive care, clearly uncomfortable handling it.

Dozle strides back to the wall, wipes the blade with a small folded cloth sitting nearby, and carefully returns the saber to where it rested earlier. He stands there for a few seconds, his gaze lingering on the sword, and then he returns to his chair.

“How often do you both fence?”

“Every other morning recently,” Casval answers, “Felix started picking it up after I did.”
>>
>>5452561

“I started taking it seriously after he did,” You correct your brother, “Our first lessons started at the same time a few years ago, when we were in Spain.”

“Mm, I’ll need to keep that in mind for once you’re both in the academy; the fencing is mostly with foils rather than saber, though…” Dozle considers something for a moment, “Are you familiar with other styles?”

“We are.” You answer, Casval echoing you, “Why?”

“You’ll find out.” Dozle says, a huge grin spreading across he face, something mischievous in his eyes.

“We’ll be ready for it.” Casval replies confidently; you’re fairly good, but he’s still significantly ahead of you - Both of you are likely to be miles ahead of anyone else though, unless another cadet happened to already practice it as a hobby. It’s not too uncommon of a sport on most Sides, and especially Luna.

…Luna. An image of Von Braun city hangs in your mind for a moment, and you know you can’t wait.

“...Dozle, I don’t mean to keep piling on requests, but there’s a girl on Luna that I write to…”

“His girlfriend.” Casval says, and you roll your eyes in response, knowing by now that it’s just banter… though you’re not really sure what you are with Elena. Very good friends?

“She’s… special.” You say, settling on an ambiguous enough term, “I don’t want to worry her; it won’t be a problem to send her letters still, will it?”

“A special girl?” Dozle asks, his expression betraying that he clearly believes your brother’s statement, “Does she know who you are?”

“We met in Spain shortly after we arrived, she lived nearby and we were friends for a few years, sort of. I saved her life during the attack,” You answer, risking a fair amount but knowing that denial likely carries far greater danger, “She knows who we are. I trust her.”

That seems to get Dozle’s attention, stirring something within him, it’s powerful and clear enough that you can easily sense it, a swelling of… Respect?

“It will not be an issue.” Dozle says after a short silence, ”During the winter and summer the academy has short breaks of a few weeks. Von Braun takes less than a day to reach.”

“...Thank you, sir.” You say, surprised by how accommodating he’s being; even the mere possibility of seeing Elena is exciting - It’s been years, and she’s been so troubled recently. Even just a few days would do so much.

“You may need to discuss the details with Kycilia,” Dozle continues, “I have thrust this reconciliation on her, but she manages our secrets, open or not. You may need to be accompanied by guards. Hopefully that isn’t a… burden on your activities.”
>>
>>5452563

“Of course. I’m used to guards by this point, it shouldn’t be an issue.” You say, trying to sound more thankful than concerned.

That just made the visit seem a whole lot less appealing though - Kycilia might very well try to have you killed… of course she’s going to have plenty of chances for that soon, and it’s unclear how she’s going to react to this unexpected change of course. Dozle is a bit of a bull in a china shop when it comes to subtle plans.

>”How has Kycilia been handling all of this?” Seems like a natural time to ask.
>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
>Write-in. (suggest a topic)
>>
>>5452567
>”How has Kycilia been handling all of this?” Seems like a natural time to ask.
>>
>>5452567
>”How has Kycilia been handling all of this?” Seems like a natural time to ask.
>>
>>5452567
>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
>>
>>5452567
>”How has Kycilia been handling all of this?” Seems like a natural time to ask.
>>
>>5452567
>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
>>
>>5452569
>>5452572
>>5452575
Writing.
>>
“How has Kycilia been handling all of this?” You question, finally having found a time to ask; she, Gihren, and Degwin are the real wild cards in this situation.

“She was surprised at first.” Dozle rumbles, crossing his arms once again and leaning back, “I got her to come around, she was the one to offer a visit to your mother.”

“She was?” Artesia asks, sounding a little confused.

“I was seconds from asking her, as you requested, but she proposed it first.” Dozle explains with a great shrug of his massive shoulders, “We may not see eye to eye on many things, but she is not unreasonable. I convinced her that reconciliation was a better path forward than these endless games in the shadows.”

“We do appreciate her gesture,” Casval says smoothly, repeating his earlier statement, “I look forward to meeting with her once again, it's been many years.”

“Be careful around her.” Dozle warns, rubbing a hand against his scarred cheek, “She can be prickly, and she has very strong opinions.”

“I’m sure we’ll manage, Dozle.” Casval says with a laugh, “We’re no strangers to siblings with strong opinions, or strong slaps.”

Artesia refrains from proving him correct, but she does give your brother a small look before she cracks up and starts a little half suppressed laugh of her own.

“You get along much better than we ever did,” Dozle comments, shaking his head slightly, a hint of regret in his voice.

>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
>Write-in. (Suggest a topic)
>>
>>5452642
>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
>>
>>5452642
>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
The Jimba in me is saying that Kycilia is planning to kill us all when we get to the tower. Honestly it doesn't seem beyond her to try that.
>>
>>5452646
I'm operating off of the idea that Mom is 100% dead and is just being used as a pretense to get us back in the tower, wherein Kycilia's gonna lock the door after we enter and try and kill us that way with a bomb/poison gas/trained newtype assassin chimps/etc.
>>
>>5452642
>>Converse politely for a while longer and then wrap up the meeting, you’ve discussed most things and you’ll find out far more once you reach Zeon in a day and a half. Sending those messages to your mother and Teabolo shouldn’t wait any longer than they need to.
I can't wait to see Dozle in action.
>>
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>>5452651
>newtype assassin chimps
Thank you for reminding these things exist.
>>
>>5452656
Elaborate. Please tell me they didn't train monkeys to pilot Mobile Suits.
>>
>>5452656
SEE! I told you guys, I'm not crazy!
>>
>>5452651
It'll be something we need to discuss with Casval and Artesia before getting to Zeon. We could ask Vivime/Garma (preferably Vivime, since she's Kycilia's favorite apparently) to go with us to meet mom. Artesia can ask/interrogate one of Kycilia's spies that's in the know if mom is alright, and/or have Artesia check Kycilia herself for any lies concerning mom. Also letting Cas do his anti-spy work (in a much more subtle way) and see what he can find could be useful. We could just simply demand to talk to her through radio, so that she could prepare for our arrival (why can't we phone her now?). There are lots of options here, definitely more than I can think of, and it's probably important to tread carefully and not be separated too often or for too long with our siblings while in the mansion.

>>5452659
They did.
>>
>>5452661
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED IMAGE AS TO WHY WE DO NOT GIVE MONKEYS WEAPONS
>>
>>5452643
>>5452646
>>5452652
I'll start writing in the morning.
>>
>>5452662
When left in space and with monkey mobile suits, they awoke as Newtypes themselves and in turn became competent pilots. Late UC gets pretty weird.
>>
Your conversation with Dozle carries on for a few more minutes, though the topics aren’t of great importance, and eventually wraps up as he has duties requiring his presence elsewhere on the Zam. Before you’re dismissed, Dozle calls an ensign down from the bridge to assist you in sending messages to both Teabolo and your mother; it’s the young woman from earlier who was handling communications.

She’s a obviously very nervous as she leads you through the utilitarian passageways of the vessel, even managing to trip once and somehow deactivate her mag boots; Casval was able to catch her arm and help keep her from floating off in too embarrassing of a display, but that just seemed to make her even more nervous. Eventually you reach a small briefing room near the hangar, recording equipment has been hastily set up inside and the ensign gets to work turning everything on.

“I-it should be ready, uhm, whenever you are, sirs. Miss. A-all of you, sorry.” The ensign says, standing behind the camera. She has curly black hair, and looks to be of south asian descent.

“What’s your name, ensign?” Casval asks in a friendly tone, smiling charmingly.

“Did… did I not? Oh my god…” The poor ensign, who looks maybe a few years older than you at most, gets even more flustered for a moment before replying, “Nimi, sir.”

“Thank you, Nimi. We can handle this from here,” Casval says, “We’ll be recording very personal messages, if you could wait outside until we’re done we would all appreciate it greatly.”

“Oh, of course, sir!” Nimi says, “Y-you know how to use all of this?"

Your brother nods, “We do.”

"...A-alright then, I'll be just outside."

Nimi exits the rooms, glancing at the three of you again just before leaving.

“I feel bad for her.” Artesia says as soon as the door hisses shut, “Do you think everyone is going to react to us like this when they find out who we are?”

“Not everyone,” Casval answers confidently, “We’re surrounded by a crew picked by Dozle, they’re all going to be... patriotic.”

“You don’t join an illegal secret navy if you’re not a true believer of some kind,” You comment, shrugging a little, “They’re not really looking at us, they just see father.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Artesia says, moving over to a few chairs that are in front of the camera, “...But it doesn't matter right now. Lets… record these messages…”

“It almost doesn’t feel real, does it?” You ask softly, taking a seat.

“Part of me thought we’d never be able to see mother again after that talk we had…” Artesia agrees, sitting to your left, “And I’m glad Dozle is letting us send something to Teabolo too, he’s been in such awful health…”
>>
>>5452972

“We should get to it, for their sake.” Casval says, joining you and Artesia; he’s holding a small remote that controls the recording.

“...Right.”

Twenty minutes later.

You’re hugging Artesia, holding her close as she cries. The message to Teabolo went by fairly quickly, but when you got to recording one for your mother things very quickly became teary eyed; Casval managed to keep it together, but for you at least it was a close run thing.

“...It’s off.” Casval says after pressing a button on the remote, “I’m sure she’ll understand.”

>Stay here for a little while to discuss things with your siblings. (Suggest topics)
>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off immediately.
>>
>>5452974
>Stay here for a little while to discuss things with your siblings. (Suggest topics)
>Do you think we could get Teabolo to visit us at Side 3? Sending messages is good and all, but he may feel better if he sees us in person. There might be a risk of someone sabotaging his transport though.
>Artesia, are you serious about getting closer to Vivima? I didn't expect her to be be close to Kycillia. Hopefully she isn't too far gone that I have to change my mind about her.
>How much do you think Dozle knows? I got the impression he believes what his sibling feed him, but I don't have a lie detector in my mind.
>What is this look and leading on talk you tow keeping having? Why when I try to be friendly is bad, but when Casval helps Nimi is ok?
>>
>>5452977
>What is this look and leading on talk you two keeping having. When I try to be friendly is bad, but when Casval helps Nimi is ok?
>>
>>5452974
>Stay here for a little while to discuss things with your siblings. (Suggest topics)
>"Do I really have a problem with leading girls on?"
>"Do you think Mom is gonna take the news well? I can't imagine she ever intended for us to enroll in a Zeon military academy, much less enlist in the first place."
>>
>>5452993
I support talking about mom, since I wanted to ask before here
>>5450523
>>
>>5452974
>Stay here for a little while to discuss things with your siblings.
>"...wait, why can't we speak to her directly somehow? I'm sure she'd love to talk to us even from far away."
>"Artesia, maybe you already know this, but be careful when researching about newtypes. Your intentions may be noble, but it's inevitable that any research you give to the people here will be used as weapon."
>"Another thing, are you serious about getting closer to Vivima? I didn't expect her to be close to Kycillia."
>"What is this look and leading on talk you two keeping having. When I try to be friendly its bad, but when Casval is nice Nimi its ok?"
>"Do I really have a problem with leading girls on?"
>"...how can I control it? I don't want to keep giving girls the wrong impression."
If we can learn to use our seduction powers, it'll be to our advantage (especially when dealing with powerful women or trying to get connections).

We should probably wait until we get out of the room with a microphone in it before we talk about or imply overthrowing the Zabis, and it's probably not the right time to talk about my Jimba conspiracy theory about how visiting mom might be a trap to kill us.
Hopefully we get another chance to talk to them in private soon, we can't let the question about what to do concerning Dozle fester for too long. We did promise Casval we'd kill Dozle here >>5434041 (though we could bring up the 'We do this family member by family member' line to convince him to at least wait).
>>
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>>5452999
>Felix when told that he's a naturally charming and charismatic individual
>>
>>5452977
>>5452983
>>5452993
>>5452999
Writing.
>>
>>5453005
>Felix being Felix convinces all the waifus with his natural allure that throwing Axis towards earth is for everyone's benefit
>>
>>5453038
The what
>>
>>5453056
What Char did with Neo Zeon, Colony drop 2: Drop harder
>>
>>5453056
Axis. It's a space station constructed within an asteroid towed into orbit from the belt by Zeon. And the only real resource point they have during the OYW.
>>
After a few more moments you pull away from Artesia. She seems to be slowly pulling herself together, but it’s comforting to know that the tears aren’t just of years of pent up emotion but also of joy; in under two days you should be speaking with your mother again…

“Casval,” You say, looking over to your brother as he begins to stand from his chair, “Do you know we couldn’t just speak directly with mom?”

“I’ve been wondering about that myself, it could be anything. Lack of equipment where she is, unwillingness from Kycilia, who knows.” He responds, purposeful in how he’s keeping his statements vague enough to be inoffensive in case of eavesdropping, “...Whatever it is, I’d prefer to speak with her in person.”

“Of course… Do you think she’ll take the news well?” You say, deciding to follow your brothers lead and choosing your words carefully, “Things were so chaotic when we left, I don’t think she ever would have thought we’d return to attend the academy.”

“We’re not little anymore,” Artesia says, wiping away the last of her tears, “She’ll understand. She gave us a lot of years… most of it was happy, or at least…”

“It was good to be together, I just wish she didn’t stay behind.” You say, sensing your sister’s true sentiment; it’s true for you as well.

“Yeah.” Artesia says, nodding just a little and remaining in her chair for now.

“...Do you think we could get Teabolo to visit us in Zeon?” You ask, standing to join your brother by the recording equipment as he removes the memory card with your messages on it, “I’d still like to see him sometimes, he’s done so much for all of us.”

“I’m going to ask once we’re there.” Artesia says quickly, “I’ve been thinking it through since we got here. I just hope it’s safe.”

“There’s always a risk to travel in his condition,” You say, covering for Artesia’s possible slip up, “But there are things we might be able to do to help.”

“...Right.” She responds hesitantly, taking just a moment to catch up to the subtext, “I’m sure the Zabis will be accommodating if we ask… correctly.”

“Artesia, are you serious about getting closer to Vivima?” You ask.

“I’d like to be friends with everyone,” Artesia answers vaguely, though she’s smiling mischievously, “It’s good to keep friends close, you know that saying… but if it’s possible I really would. I’d like to think Dozle is right about things, he seems to be kind-hearted, even if he has that brutish military shell he falls back into. He’s a big softy. I like him, why not Vivima too?”

“That’s your read on him? I got the same feeling from our discussions, he seems like an honorable man.” You say, glad that Artesia shares your earlier assessment - It’s good to get a second opinion.

“It is.” Artesia confirms, finally standing to join you and Casval, “I think we can trust him.”
>>
>>5453095

Casval gives her a questioning look, and your sister gives him a confident nod in return; apparently that’s all the questions he has about that - At least that he’s willing to say here.

“...Speaking of friends…” You say, wishing there was a slightly less awkward way to broach the subject, “Do I really have a problem leading on girls? I give looks?

“Ah, I suppose this is as good a place as any,” Casval says, smiling and putting a hand on your shoulder, “You’re charming, Felix. It’s a good thing, you just need to know when to be a little less.”

“Be… less charming?”

“Think about it. I do it all the time,” Casval says, “It’s better to wait for the right time, or the right person to really lay it on.”

“...Like you did with Nimi?” You ask, finding the idea intuitive enough, “That was a look.”

“Exactly.” Casval says with a chuckle, “You’re like that all the time. It’s perfect for some things, you just need to be more self aware about when you use it.”

“It’s true.” Artesia comments, “I thought it was just you and Elena back when we were in Spain, but once we got to the colony you just… Oblivious isn’t the right word, I know you aren’t, but those poor girls at school.”

“Honestly I barely even think of school, I just tried to be friendly to everyone.” You say, thinking of your now former classmates; it’s all a bit of a blur, nothing of much importance jumping out at you.

“You gave them more attention than you might have realized, and you were impossible to get, always off to do something else,” Artesia crosses her arms as she explains, “And I have no idea what you said to that lieut…”

She stops herself before saying too much more, looking to the recording equipment; it shouldn’t be active anymore, but long years of worrying of spies have had their effect on Artesia as well as you and Casval.

“Oh. Yeah, that… wasn’t really expected.” You say sheepishly, scratching at the back of your head, “I think… Alright, maybe it’s not the best time. I think it’s her, not me, let’s leave it at that.”
>>
>>5453098

“Takes two, Felix.” Casval teases, squeezing your shoulder, “Seemed to be working out well though.”

Casval.” Artesia scolds, “That would have been a terrible idea and you know it. Don’t encourage him, he’s been so loyal.”

“Not the time or place,” He agrees, ignoring the main paint of your sister’s scolding, “...You are with Elena, aren’t you? You always deny it, but you haven’t gone for any of the girls back on the colony.”

“...I’m not sure, really.” You answer, briefly thinking of Tryphosa briefly and that strange newtype connection you made, that subtle pull you feel nearly every day, “You didn’t have many either. What was it, two?”

“I’m a man of focus, brother, and we’ve had important things to do.” Casval replies with a sly grin, the light catching for a moment on his blue eyes, “I didn’t let myself get distracted too often. Artesia’s had a few boyfriends though, isn’t that right?”

“They were just friends!” She protests loudly, puffing out her cheeks and looking away, “We didn’t even kiss, it doesn’t count. …Let’s stop talking about this, okay?”

You chuckle, and for a moment you wonder what they’d both be like without you, the thought just slipping into your mind… They’d probably be fine, right? Whatever the case, it doesn’t matter.

>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off.
>More conversation? {Suggest topics)
>>
>>5453101
>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off.
>>
>>5453101
>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off.
>>
>>5453101
>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off.
Can't think of anything else to add, maybe joke with our siblings a little more?
Thank you OP for not including the newtype write-in I made. It was too risky to talk about here in retrospect.

>They’d probably be fine, right?
If only he knew.
>>
>>5453101
>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off
>>
>>5453101
>Bring Nimi back in and get the messages sent off.
>>
>>5453110
>>5453117
>>5453119
>>5453138
>>5453159
I'll get to writing here in a bit.
>>
You and Casval exchange amused looks as Artesia gets embarrassed, and you pull away from your brother to bring your sister into a one armed hug, “Alright, Artesia. Come on, we should get the messages sent on.”

“We should.” She says, leaning in to rest her head against your shoulder for a few quiet moments. It was just banter; you’re glad you all get along as well as you do - It’s difficult to even imagine life without either of them.

Casval strides toward the door and opens it, calling Nimi back in, “We’re finished in here, Nimi.”

“Understood, s-sir.” She stutters, entering the room and moving toward the camera before Casval gently places a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“I have the memory cards right here,” He says, displaying them in his other hand, “Thought I’d save you some time.”

“Oh, t-thank you,” Nimi replies while accepting them, almost dropping one, “I’ll make sure they get sent off.”

“No delays, if you can,” Casval says, his intense blue eyes meeting the ensign's, “It’s important they're sent as soon as possible.”

“Yes, s-sir.” Nimi manages to reply, just the faintest hint of red appearing on her brown cheeks.

“Thank you, Nimi.” Casval says with that same smile from before, “One more thing though; when does your shift end?”

“S-sir?” Nimi asks, her breath catching for a moment, “Fif… Fifteen minutes, sir.”

“Could you meet me in the mess when you’re done?” He asks, “There’s a lot I’d like to talk about.”

“Yes!... Uhm, I mean, y-yes, sir!” She says, almost dropping the memory cards once again, excitement and shock visible together on her face, “I’ll be quick!”

“Thank you, Nimi, I look forward to it.” Casval says, pulling his hand away and allowing the young ensign to hurry off back out the door and down the passageway. As soon as she’s around the corner and out of earshot he turns around and holds his arms out like a showman.

“See, Felix?” Casval asks, and you can’t help but chuckle, “No time for her to do anything else now.”

Artesia laughs as well, “That was a little too good, Casval, it’s sort of scary really… You just think she’s cute though, don’t you?”

Your brother places a hand against his heart, feigning pain, “You wound me, Artesia. …But yes.”

“Alright, alright, I get your point.” You say, moving away from Artesia and walking toward the door, holding out a hand for a low five which Casval readily accepts, your hands clapping together, “That doesn’t leave us much time to talk though. The rooms aren’t far.”
>>
>>5453311

A couple of minutes later, in your room.

The three of you are crowded back into the bedroom of your quarters, cramped but probably safe from being overheard. It’s never a sure thing, but this is about as good as you’ll get for now.

>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>”Artesia, do you actually want to try to get in good with Vivima? Char and I can probably handle Garma and Dozle.”
>”How do you think we should handle the newtype issue? We don’t know how much they know about it right now.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5453312
>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>>
>>5453311
>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>”How do you think we should handle the newtype issue? We don’t know how much they know about it right now.”

>>5453311
Casval's a fan of chocolate, is he? Makes sense, considering how neither of his love interests were white.
>>
>>5453312
>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>”Artesia, do you actually want to try to get in good with Vivima? Char and I can probably handle Garma and Dozle.”
>>
>>5453312
>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>”Artesia, do you actually want to try to get in good with Vivima? Char and I can probably handle Garma and Dozle.”
>>
>>5453312
>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>”How do you think we should handle the newtype issue? We don’t know how much they know about it right now.”
>Discuss possible code words to use if in distress while with the Zabis (something like 'long live the Zabis' if one of us is thinks there is imminent danger, etc), and some general precautions to take (must regroup every few hours to check up on each other, find places in Zeon to pass notes, finding places to hide and so on).
The write-in is more of a suggestion, but if it's a choice between supporting the write-in and the first two options I'd rather only support the first two.
>>
>>5453312
>”Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother? She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”
>”How do you think we should handle the newtype issue? We don’t know how much they know about it right now.”
>Discuss possible code words to use if in distress while with the Zabis (something like 'long live the Zabis' if one of us is thinks there is imminent danger, etc), and some general precautions to take (must regroup every few hours to check up on each other, find places in Zeon to pass notes, finding places to hide and so on).
We already talked about the Vivima thing
>>
>>5453316
Casval is clearly a man of refined tastes.
>>5453311
>”Artesia, do you actually want to try to get in good with Vivima? Char and I can probably handle Garma and Dozle.”
>”How do you think we should handle the newtype issue? We don’t know how much they know about it right now.”
>>
>>5453312
Contolist, I have a question. Do you plan on ending the thread once we get to Zeon?
>>
>>5453316
Indian is south asian right? I guess he got a type.
>>
>>5453355
It's looking increasingly likely, might get a little past that. I've got maybe two or three days of writing left before I need to pivot to focusing most of my time on school. It will be stopping somewhere around there though.

>>5453316
>>5453322
>>5453326
Writing.
>>
“Do you think Kycilia is really going to let us see mother?” You ask, sighing and laying back on the bed from its edge, hands behind your head as you sink down slightly into the thin covers and supportive foam mattress, “She might attempt something rash once we’re all in one place.”

It feels good to finally be able to stretch out, those bruises from getting thrown around in your pod a few hours ago are still a constant low ache. Artesia sits nearby along the edge, idly flicking through the pages of one of the red ‘propaganda’ books left in the room; it’s one of your father's writings at least, not that trash made by Gihren.

“She might, but I don’t think she’s that short sighted.” Casval says, leaning back against the doorway to the living room with his arms crossed, “She not like that we’re there, but Dozle’s let a lot of people know about us already. If we disappear again it would raise questions. More than that though it just doesn’t make sense to kill us anymore.”

“It doesn’t?” You ask, lifting an eyebrow as you look up over your chest toward your brother, “Think she couldn’t get away with it?”

“Probably not, but even if she could, it still wouldn’t give her what we can.” He explains, smirking, “Kycilia clearly preferred keeping us far away, otherwise she probably would’ve attempted a kidnapping before now, and we do have a lot to offer. I expect her to try to coerce us into all sorts of things though.”

“Do you think she’d follow through on her threats though?” Artesia asks, looking up from the book for a moment, blond hair swaying lightly.

“I’d need to get to know her better, but I would,” Casval says with a little shrug of his shoulders, arms remaining crossed, “They’re not threats otherwise, bluff too long and you’ll get called.”

“That’s not much to go off of.” You say, “You think she’s going to threaten us into doing her bidding? Seems par for the course then, sort of what she’s been doing anyways. ‘Stay put on that colony or die’ isn’t that far off from ‘say this speech or die’ in the grand scheme of things.”

“I doubt she’ll be so blunt,” Artesia says, “Dozle is blunt. Dozle isn’t like Kycilia. I think she might try to charm us instead, keep the threats subtler. Separate us, and push us closer to the other Zabis. She’s a liar, right? She’ll lie.”

“Well, that won’t ever work, we’ve got too good of an idea of what she’s really like,” You scoff, “What’s she going to do, apologize profusely and then try to marry us off to Garma and Vivima?”

“Pff,” Casval scoffs as well, chuckling afterward, “What a sight that would be.”

“Maybe I’ve got her read wrong,” Artesia admits, “It’s all rumors and hearsay anyways. You two met her that time, you both talked. What was she like?”
>>
>>5453490

“Sadistic and arrogant. She enjoyed trying to intimidate us, I’d guess she likes to flaunt power when she can get away with it.” Casval says, “But she’s flexible, when we stood our ground she adjusted quickly. It’s why I think she’ll change her strategy now as well, call it a gut feeling.”

“Maybe you’re right. We should be on guard either way.” You say, closing your eyes for a moment as you continue to speak, “Code words might be useful to have, to signal if something’s gone wrong or we notice something strange.”

“I agree,” Artesia says, “We really do need to come up with more precautions. What do we do if I’m super wrong and she does try something violent?”

“Survive, like we always have.” Casval answers, almost sounding dismissive for a moment, “We’d need to get to the federal district of Zum, a fast ship, or Ramba. There aren’t many other options if she really went at us, and those are all long shots. We can’t win if it comes to a fight, we’ll be at the heart of their power.”

“Or Ramba?” You ask, “We don’t even know where he is, he might be off on a ship somewhere or base on an entirely different colony.”

“Dozle could work too if the attack is egregious enough, they seem to have a somewhat strained relationship.” Casval says, “The point is that we’d need allies if we can’t escape. I’d prefer Ramba or Hamon over any others, we know them.”

“Ramba wouldn’t ever betray us.” Artesia agrees with absolute conviction; almost childlike conviction, her tone reminding you for a moment just how young she was when you were last in Side Three.

“...Well, I guess that’s a start. We can iron out the details as we learn more. I’ll try to think of some code words that aren’t too conspicuous to slip into a message.”

“I will too.” Artesia says, “How about ‘newtype’?”

“...Really, Artesia?” You ask, leaning back up to give her a skeptical look.

“What?” She asks, a little confused as she closes the book sharply.

“It needs to be a word or phrase that there’s almost no chance we’d use otherwise, but can still slip into a message, I don’t think ‘newtype’ is quite at that level.” You explain.

“Well what’s your great idea then?” She asks, crossing her arms in a way that reminds you a bit of your brother.

“Like I said, I’ll think about it,” You reply, laying back into the bed and sinking down once more, “I think a phrase would be best, it’s much clearer than just a word. …How do you think we should handle the newtype issue though? We don’t know how much they know about it right now.”

“We’ll end up talking about it at some point, it’s one of the keys to father’s philosophy.” Casval answers, “We know more than most, we may be able to leverage that if the opportunity presents itself and we do it carefully.”
>>
>>5453492

“Couldn’t that give them an advantage though?” You question, “There’s no telling how newtypes might be abused for power.”

“An advantage over who, the federation?” Casval retorts, “That’s not the worst thing ever, they’re no friend of ours either, at best they're a shield. Knowing a little more won’t make the Zabis into newtypes. The more of us there are around, the more we can sway things.”

“The more of us? You mean newtypes? We aren’t tools to be used, that us versus them talk almost sounds like Gihren talking.” You say, the words coming out harsher than you’d intended, and you immediately wince a little in regret.

“Don’t compare me to that man, Felix.” Casval snaps, though his tone quickly turns apologetic as you look at him remorsefully, “...I’m sorry, I know you didn’t mean it like that… It’s how we’ll have to think for a while though. This is us versus them, and we need more of us. If we can expand that to include other newtypes, leverage father’s legacy, then so be it. The Zabis aren’t newtypes…. They have been in space long enough though…”

“We don’t know that’s how it works,” Artesia points out, “I think it has more to do with perspective and emotion, it’s something within a person that changes when they’re shocked or nudged into seeing things differently than before.”

>”Whatever the case, we’ll need more information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now.”
>”If Kycilia found out I bet she’d be terrified or fascinated. Sensing emotions has equal allure and danger to a spy, I’d say, even if it’s hit or miss. …And I think some people are harder to read as well, did either of you get anything from Blanche earlier? She was like a wall when she wasn’t drunk.”
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5453493
>>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”
>>
>over 3000 posts

>>5453493
1)
>"And I think some people are harder to read as well, did either of you get anything from Blanche earlier? She was like a wall when she wasn’t drunk.”
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”

2)
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”
I almost want to to go for telling Kycilia, but I think it'd be best if we don't mention anything to her. She'd be too unpredictable and could easily turn the knowledge against us.
>>
>>5453493
>”Whatever the case, we’ll need more information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now.”
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”
>>
>>5453504
We are still on page 2, we could go for 3500 if we keep the pace.
>>
>>5453504
>over 3000 posts
368 pages on the document, 139,334 words, 797,786 characters (including spaces). It's that last one that weirds me out, getting close to a million keystrokes.
>>
>>5453513
Actually I meant saying it in the context of it being a great milestone. I bet we could go for 4000 if Contolist really wanted to.
This thread is lots of fun, and its well written to boot.

>>5453504
Changing my vote to
1)
>"And I think some people are harder to read as well, did either of you get anything from Blanche earlier? She was like a wall when she wasn’t drunk.”
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”

2)
>”Whatever the case, we’ll need more information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now.”
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”

3)
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”

>>5453522
It's honestly pretty impressive considering you're also in law school and have to study.
Thanks for making this, it's been a wild ride.
>>
>>5453493
>"And I think some people are harder to read as well, did either of you get anything from Blanche earlier? She was like a wall when she wasn’t drunk.”
>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”
>>
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>>5453493
>>”...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father? A Jovian newtype researcher with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”

Inb4 gihren has changed
>>
>>5453497
>>5453807
>>5453546
Writing.
>>
“...Earlier when we were speaking to Zhang, do you think that the other researcher he was talking about was Tryphosa’s father?” You ask, closing your eyes again and relaxing as you let the memory of Tryphosa come back to you, your tone slowly growing “...A Jovian newtype research with a surname starting with J? Maybe there are others, but Jedar fits the bill.”

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed that,” Artesia says with relief, and you feel her hand on yours a moment later, “You miss her, don’t you?”

“He met her a few times across three days, Artesia. She was definitely memorable, but newtype or not I don’t thin-” Casval says, slightly skeptical until you cut him off.

“No, she’s right. I’d give a lot for her to be here, it’s… hard to explain, it isn’t a romantic pull.” You say, sighing as flashes of that melancholy timeless feeling emerge all about your awareness, ripples in your mind, “I know that things would be alright if she was here, she understood me completely… there was a moment when I didn’t even feel like myself.”

“I don’t understand… yet,” Your brother says disappointedly, “I’m trying, Felix, but it’s still just rare flashes for me. It’s frustrating.”

He’s right about it being frustrating, it’s been difficult for you and Artesia to coax out your potential as well, but it’s been rare for your brother to ever struggle to pick up a new skill; it has to be particularly infuriating for him how the sensations of expanded awareness keep slipping away…

“I hope you do someday, Casval.” You say, opening your eyes again, a view of the drab ceiling greeting you, “...But this researcher , Dr. Flanagan - He’s with Zeon from what Zhang was implying, they were both colleagues at one point..”

“We don’t know Zhang’s prior work. Jimba did mention newtype research funding years ago,” Casval says, “We may have a name to pin to that now, and Zhang said he was getting more funding recently. Do you think it could be the Zabis?”

“Who else?... Well, I suppose there are other rich patrons,” You answer, thinking about the sheer number of aristocratic spacenoid families, of which Deikun counted among the most prestigious until the Zabi’s treachery nearly destroyed you all, “But the Zabis do seem to be in the best position to do it, they have total control of Side Three at this point, the diet is just there to rubber stamp things with how popular Gihren and Degwin are.”
>>
>>5454049

“If we can find out… that would tell us a lot about how much they know,” Artesia says, working through the issue slowly, a hint of excitement to her tone, “I’d really love to be able even hear about the research, but working on it would be so much better…”

>”We’ll need to get that information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now, but we need to all keep our eyes open for anything.”
>”I think it might be worth asking the Zabis about once we reach Zeon. Father was the one to discover the idea of newtypes, it wouldn't be hard to bring up in a conversation. They might let something slip. If we don't talk about it things might seem odd, we're supposed to be true believers drawn back to our homeland.”
>”If it is the Zabis funding Flanagan then I wonder if they’re funding Jedar as well. Tryphosa said he wasn’t close, always consumed with his work.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5454052
>”We’ll need to get that information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now, but we need to all keep our eyes open for anything.”
>>
>>5454052
>”I think it might be worth asking the Zabis about once we reach Zeon. Father was the one to discover the idea of newtypes, it wouldn't be hard to bring up in a conversation. They might let something slip. If we don't talk about it things might seem odd, we're supposed to be true believers drawn back to our homeland.”
>”If it is the Zabis funding Flanagan then I wonder if they’re funding Jedar as well. Tryphosa said he wasn’t close, always consumed with his work.”
>"Just don't get too involved Artesia, it seems this research has a habit of consuming people that try to go after it. I would hate to see it get to you"
>>
>>5454052
1)
>”We’ll need to get that information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now, but we need to all keep our eyes open for anything.”
>”If it is the Zabis funding Flanagan then I wonder if they’re funding Jedar as well. Tryphosa said he wasn’t close, always consumed with his work.”
>"Just don't get too involved Artesia, it seems this research has a habit of consuming people that try to go after it. I would hate to see it get to you"
>"Maybe you already know this, but be careful when researching about newtypes. Your intentions may be noble, but it's inevitable that anything you give to the people here will be used as weapon."
>"I'll support you in whatever you do, I just don't want your work to be twisted into a a tool for mass destruction."

2)
>”If it is the Zabis funding Flanagan then I wonder if they’re funding Jedar as well. Tryphosa said he wasn’t close, always consumed with his work.”
>"Just don't get too involved Artesia, it seems this research has a habit of consuming people that try to go after it. I would hate to see it get to you"
>"Maybe you already know this, but be careful when researching about newtypes. Your intentions may be noble, but it's inevitable that anything you give to the people here will be used as weapon."
>"I'll support you in whatever you do, I just don't want your work to be twisted into a a tool for mass destruction."

While telling the Zabis definitely has its benefits, it might backfire very quickly (also don't want us to end up being experimented on). My write-ins are more like suggestions to what to say.
>>
>>5454052
>”We’ll need to get that information. I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now, but we need to all keep our eyes open for anything.”
>>
>>5454053
>>5454144
Writing.
>>
“We’ll need to get that information.” You say, still laying back on the bed as you ponder the situation, “I think it’s best to play it safe and stay quiet about it for now, but we need to all keep our eyes open for anything.”

“Prudent.” Casval says, “I can work with that. Artesia?”

“I don’t mind putting things on hold if you think it’s for the best,” She says, though you can hear some disappointment in her voice, “I probably wouldn’t be much help with research for a few more years anyways.”

“You’d be good at anything you set your mind to, Artesia.” You comfort her, sitting up fully and looking her in the eyes, knowing how important this has been to her since you both has your senses awakened, “When the time comes we’ll both support you, I’d like to know more about newtypes as well. There’s a lot of potential to do good with the information, I just don’t want to see it get twisted and abused.”

“Depending on what we find out I still say it would be worth the risk, especially if they’re already researching newtypes, better to have a trusted hand in it than leave things entirely to the whims of the Zabis,” Casval says, uncrossing his arms and taking a small step away from the doorway, “You have a beautiful dream, Artesia. I’d rather have you doing the research than anyone else.”

“That means a lot.” Artesia says, “I’ll be careful, I promise. We figure out what they know first, and then make our moves from there.”

“Right.” You say, glad to have found an understanding, “...Casval, is there something wrong?”

“...How long do you think it takes to get to the mess from here?” Casval asks, brow furrowed as his gaze shifts around the room, looking for something but not finding it.

“Worried you’ll miss your date?” Artesia teases lightly, “It’s probably a few minutes away, you should leave soon or you’ll be late.”

“Call it what you want, Nimi has to be a recent graduate of the academy.” Casval says with a shrug, “It would be good to hear about things from someone with that perspective.”

“Uh huh.” You say, smirking at your brother’s weak denial, though the information really might be useful, “Have fun.”

“How could I not?” Your brother asks, grinning, “I’ll see you both in a while.”

>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”
>”I think I’m going to get some shuteye, that fight earlier really threw me around.”
>”...We should probably ask someone about spare clothes, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5454238
1)
>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”
>”...We should probably ask someone about spare clothes, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”

2)
>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”

Practicing our newtype abilities could be good for us, especially in the long run.
>>
>>5454238
>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”
>”...We should probably ask someone about spare clothes, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”
New threads and some practice.
>>
>>5454238
>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”
>”...We should probably ask someone about spare clothes, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”
>>
>>5454238
>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”
>”...We should probably ask someone about spare clothes, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”
>>
>>5454238
>”Artesia, do you want to try to practice? I know it hasn’t done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”
>”...We should probably ask someone about spare clothes, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”
>>
>>5454242
>>5454247
>>5454251
>>5454259
>>5454268
Writing.
>>
You and Artesia say farewell to your brother, and he departs out the main door in the living room, disappearing off into the passageway beyond and the door sealing with a his a moment later.

“Artesia, do you want to try to practice?” You ask your sister as you stand up from the edge of the bed, stretching your arms gingerly so as not to flare up your bruises too badly, “I know it hasn't done much in the past, but all this talk about newtypes has me feeling motivated again. We could go up to the observation deck.”

“I’d love to!” She agrees eagerly, standing alongside you, “We really had a connection earlier, I could hear you again.”

“We were close to something even further, I could feel it.” You say, striding from the bedroom room and toward the door to the passageway, “It’s a shame the attack got in the way, but maybe we can do that again. …Although we should probably ask someone about spare clothes before we go running off, uniforms or something if there isn’t anything else. Normal suits are great, but after a few more hours…”

“Ick. Yeah, let's do that first.” Artesia says, wrinkling up her nose, “They do get pretty bad after awhile.”

Half an hour later

It didn’t take long to get a hold of a crew member who pointed you in the right direction of where to get spare clothes, a couple of crew members having been set to the soon after you arrived a few hours ago and already having gathered some up. There isn’t much in the way of casual clothing, so you and Artesia opt for uniforms of enlisted sailors that have had their insignia removed. After checking about you find sets that fit well, and a spare set for tomorrow - you won’t be on the ship for long.

Artesia’s messing with the red and gold collar of her uniform as you both emerge from separate impromptu dressing rooms in one of the Zam’s corner lit passageways.

“It’s itchy.” She complains, a funny look on her face as she struggles to make some final adjustments, “This fabric is so awful and stiff.”

She looks very sharp in her green uniform. Artesia has never been one to go hard on dressing cute, but this is still a very different look than you’re used to - very professional, mature. Hers is not quite as well fitted as your own though. You got lucky, and she’s a bit smaller than most of the female sailors on the crew so it was a bit of a struggle.

“You wear it well,” You compliment, pulling your cuffs a bit to get them to sit right, “But it really is itchy, isn’t it? I hope that wears off.”

“Yeah, so do I… Oh, wow, Felix,” Artesia stops as she speaks, blue eyes looking over you, “That really suits you.”

“Thanks.” You reply with a smile, “I was hoping it would. Come on, the observation deck isn't far if we catch the lift.”
>>
>>5454350

Fifteen minutes later, on the observation deck.

Countless stars stretch out before you, the heavy plate glass windows of the observation deck presenting a thin barrier between yourself and the infinite expanse of outer space. You sigh, taking in the beauty of it all once again, relaxing a touch even in your stiff borrowed uniform. Artesia is by your side, looking out upon the vast darkness as well. The deck has a pair of sailors on observation duty, but they’re largely preoccupied with monitoring the many optical devices about the area, telescopes and huge binocular sets - It really looks like something from a seafaring vessel from centuries ago, the strange effects minovsky particles have had on ship design already apparent… at least among Zeon’s hidden forces. The sloped exterior of the Zam, which you currently have a great view of, is stark white and quite civilian looking at the moment. It’s an impressive ruse.

There was a short but more relatively intense five minute burn earlier, you and Artesia had to find a place to prop yourself against for its duration, but the engines are now accelerating the ship fairly slowly on a path around Luna and toward Side Three, the path around the moon low enough that it almost resemble terrestrial air travel with the pockmarked and cratered gray landscape stretching out under the ship yet still far, far off. There’s only a faint ‘backwards’ tug on you, easy enough to ignore with your magboots. Texas colony is long, long behind you already, and wouldn’t be in sight from this angle regardless.

“What should we try first?” You ask vaguely, keeping the pair of sailors in mind, “Talking again?”

“Yes.” Artesia agrees, “We were making progress earlier, and today’s really been something. We’ll need to separate a bit again... I think.”

“Think today changed your perspective on things?” You question, remaining close by for now.

“It’s been a bit of a shock.” She admits, turning to look to you, blond hair pulled back a little by the very faint tug of acceleration, “I’m not sure if it’s the right kind though… It’s a great view though, isn’t it? All of Luna stretching out below us.”

“It is, but it’s a shame we won’t be passing by Von Braun.” You comment idly, “I’d like to see it from above... Is ten paces far enough?”
>>
>>5454352

“...Actually we may not need to separate,” Artesia says, pondering the issue for a moment pushing her hair back down a bit with one hand as it starts to get pulled back a little too much, “The issue is when we’re looking at each other, when I can see your face I just don’t get the same feeling.”

“It’s more like normal empathy when I can see you, it's harder to get the feeling right,” You agree, speaking in a low voice but not too worried about the very busy looking sailors, “Let’s just stay here and look away from each other, that should be enough. Might even be able to just close our eyes, that seems to help me sometimes.”

“Back to back then?” Artesia asks, already turning away, her hair pulling off to the side now.

“Hmm? Sure, why not.” You agree, turning around yourself.

Closing your eyes, you try to clear your mind of thoughts, focusing upon your feelings from the day, the emotions you’ve been tamping down for hours. Excitement, fear, confusion, a dash of pride and… Slowly, steadily, you expand the emotions, allowing them to swell and push out from your core, their unseen force tugging at every inch of your body, gently pulling away from it - There’s no discomfort to it, your awareness slowly expanding outward, ever outward, the details of the observation deck growing clearer in your mind even as you see nothing, your sister just behind you…

You feel Artesia’s presence a moment later, familiar and comforting, a press of emotions coming with it; fear, sorrow, anger. It’s dark, cold… the senses are confusing, some beyond words, and it worries you, a pulse of emotion moving from you to her. You stay like that for awhile, your understanding of one another slowly growing until eventually…

“Felix.”

“Artesia?”

Moments like this are rare, and they often vanish without warning…

Pick only one:
>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
>”Help me, Artesia.” Try to think of your mother, you’ve never tried to reach an oldtype before, or anyone at such a distance, it’s unlikely, but if there’s any chance at all…
>”...Tryphosa?” Focus on the pull you always feel. Artesia felt it once too, when the bond first formed.
>>
>>5454354
>”Help me, Artesia.” Try to think of your mother, you’ve never tried to reach an oldtype before, or anyone at such a distance, it’s unlikely, but if there’s any chance at all…
>>
>>5454354
>>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
>>
>>5454354
>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
We got family.
>>
>>5454354
In order to expedite the vote, changing >>5454360 to
>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
>>
>>5454354
>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
Tough choice between him and mom. Getting Casval up to speed will help us all and solidify the bond between us three, but contacting mom might save her life.
>>
>>5454354
>>”Help me, Artesia.” Try to think of your mother, you’ve never tried to reach an oldtype before, or anyone at such a distance, it’s unlikely, but if there’s any chance at all…
>>
>>5454354
>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
>>
>>5454354
>”Let’s try to reach Casval.” He’s never been able to do this on his own, maybe he just needs a little push.
>>
>>5454362
>>5454363
>>5454365
>>5454367
>>5454369
>>5454371
Writing.
>>
“Let’s try to reach Casval.”

“Do you think we can?”

“Together.”

Holding close to the feeling of your sister, you let go of your surroundings, the anchor of the observation deck falling away as your perception expands further. The feeling is disorienting at first, a rush of vertigo accompanying flashes of drab passageways and painted lines tracing throughout the ship, brief images flooding through your mind, the lives of hundreds of crew members intermingled in a single purpose, only three minds out of place. You, Artesia, and…

“Casval.” You say in one soundless voice. Silence.

You can see him briefly, but not as he exists on the ship, no picture to match with his presence other than that which your own memory draws forth; a mix of images of him throughout the years, before and after you fled Munzo, a boy and a man… slowly it it solidifies into the person you know today. He’s speaking, though you can’t hear the words, an image of the mess growing into existence around him before it all vanishes into black.

“Casval.” You repeat again, thoughts extended through steel and space, Artesia’s wishes joined with your own. You both want your brother to hear, you’ve tried so many times over the past months… but he can’t hear you.

You extend a hand, a silent wish, a hope that you could do this together as you have so many other things, reaching out toward his presence, pressing back through the dark. The steel of the ship reappears and then falls away once more into a sea of stars, only the ghostly image of your brother at its center. Further, just a little further, your outstretched hand presses ever further, ghostly light playing over and through it, emerald waves rippling forth… He’s just… right… there…

Another hand joins with yours, and you cross that final distance, pushing the image of your brother. His blue eyes open.

“Felix? Artesia?”

“We’re here.” You both answer.

“...What is this light?”

“Us.” Artesia answers with you.

…Your brother smiles and starts to say something further, but his image suddenly dissolves away into the expanse of stars behind him, and soon even those are behind plate glass again, steel wrapping all about elsewhere. You open your eyes, awareness recentered within yourself, vision normal. Turning, you find Artesia smiling; she immediately wraps you in a hug.
>>
>>5454447

“We did it!” She says, voice filled with joy.

“We did.” You answer, “He did. But maybe we should be a little less loud?”

One of the sailors nearby is staring at your both strangely, and you pull away from your sister after a moment longer and give the man an apologetic look. He shakes his head and returns to the careful study of one of the telescopes and the instrument panel near it.

“Sorry.” Artesia says much more quietly, her excitement undamped as she beams at you, “He heard us though… did you break it off there at the end?”

“No,” You say, shaking your head, “Who knows how it works, really?”

“Me, in a few years.” Artesia jokes, “...Okay, maybe longer than a few years. We'll see.”

>”We should go find him. He’s probably done with Nimi by now, right?”
>”I think we’re making real progress, Artesia. Let’s stay here for a while and talk. I’m sure he’ll be able to find us on his own. I don’t want to miss this view.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5454450
>”I think we’re making real progress, Artesia. Let’s stay here for a while and talk. I’m sure he’ll be able to find us on his own. I don’t want to miss this view.”
As much as I'd like to get Cas, we're on a roll right now in our practicing (and I don't want to risk barging in on his date and cutting it short).
>>
>>5454450
>”I think we’re making real progress, Artesia. Let’s stay here for a while and talk. I’m sure he’ll be able to find us on his own. I don’t want to miss this view.”
Can we try to reach mom now?
>>
>>5454450
>”I think we’re making real progress, Artesia. Let’s stay here for a while and talk. I’m sure he’ll be able to find us on his own. I don’t want to miss this view.”
>>
>>5454450
>”I think we’re making real progress, Artesia. Let’s stay here for a while and talk. I’m sure he’ll be able to find us on his own. I don’t want to miss this view.”
>>
>>5454456
>>5454458
>>5454460
>>5454461
Writing.
>>
“I think we’re making real progress, Artesia.” You say cheerfully, looking out across the lunar landscape moving quickly below the ship, gray and whites contrasting starkly against he black of space, “Let’s stay here for a while and talk. I’m sure he’ll be able to find us on his own… I don’t want to miss this view.”

“Should we try again?” Your sister questions, adjusting her hair once again in an endless battle against the ship’s acceleration, “Or do you really just want to talk?”

“A bit of both.” You answer, “I hope we didn’t interrupt Casval’s date too much.”

“Oh, that poor girl, she doesn’t stand a chance.” Artesia says with a small laugh, though a hint of a frown appears on her face a moment later, “I hope he finds someone he actually cares about some day. Charming people just to use them feels… cruel, almost. I think it’s wrong, even if we need to do it sometimes.”

“Feels fake, doesn’t it?” You agree, though her point doesn’t quite ring true to you in this situation, “But it’s not so bad, he just asked for a conversation, if she’s expecting more then that’s on her. She’s a couple of years older than him anyways, and an officer; I’m not really worried about it.”

“I guess, but you know what I mean. She could barely put a sentence together.” Artesia replies, crossing her arms, “I just hope neither of you make a habit of it.”

“Don’t want us meeting people?” You tease.

“Pff, it’s not that. Go have fun.” Artesia answers, amused, “I just want you both to be happy. Leaving a string of women behind you isn’t a way to do that. You’ve been steady with… whatever it is you have with Elena. You seem to get it.”

“It’s been nice, but who knows how it would have gone if we weren’t separated.” You say, scratching at the back of your head, “We might have had some sort of awful falling out. It’s impossible to know. Nothing lasts forever.”

“Some things can, just not most.” You sister disagrees, “You’re going to visit her during the breaks?”

“Depending on how things go. Kycilia might not be very accommodating.” You say, not daring to go into further detail about your doubts with those two sailors still around, “I’d like to at least see her once, I promised to meet her at Von Braun years ago, and… I guess I promised to fly her around the city as well now. I did that after I started piloting, she’s been really supportive.”

“Promise for years to fly her around the prettiest city on Luna? That’s romantic, Felix. You’d better make up your mind or you might really hurt her.” Artesia says softly, and you know she’s really just trying her best to give advice from the heart, “Is she still having a bad time on Luna? Last we talked about it, you said she was really torn over the situation.”
>>
>>5454520

“Yeah, it sounded like it. She’s lonely, university isn’t a good place to be when you’re younger than everyone else by a few years. It’s hard to fit in, I guess. She didn’t even want to be there, just used it as a way to get away from her family. …It’s hard to believe that it all went so wrong.”

Artesia sighs sadly, “Poor Georgi. I bet he hates what’s happened too, he was such a good father to her…”

“Yeah,” You agree, “Let’s talk about something else, but… Thank you, Artesia, for listening. Do you want to practice a bit more?”

“Yes, I do.” She says, turning around again, “What this time?”

You face away from her, closing your eyes.

Pick one
>”How about mom? I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?”
>”Let’s just keep talking, we’ve never been able to hold it for long. We should work on that.”
>”Prediction. We haven’t done it in a while. Everything we do is so slow, I think we need to try faster things again.
>>
>>5454522
>”How about mom? I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?”
>>
>>5454522
>”How about mom? I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?”
>>
>>5454522
>”How about mom? I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?”
Felix "Dominic Toretto" Zos Deikun
>>
>>5454522
>”Prediction. We haven’t done it in a while. Everything we do is so slow, I think we need to try faster things again.
>>
>>5454538
Toretto Ace Custom Dom confirmed.
>>
>>5454520
>>5454522

Sayla, you bitch! You're not gonna route-lock us this early. We haven't even met all the girls yet!
>>
>>5454542
Replace "Together" with "Family" and we're already there.
On that note, a young Paul Walker, God rest his soul, wouldn't even make a bad Felix I feel.
>>
>>5454522
>”Prediction. We haven’t done it in a while. Everything we do is so slow, I think we need to try faster things again
>>
>>5454522
>”Prediction. We haven’t done it in a while. Everything we do is so slow, I think we need to try faster things again.
>>
>>5454542
I guess our color scheme is going to be a sleek black then. Just like space
>>
>>5454525
>>5454526
>>5454538
Mom.

>>5454539
>>5454553
>>5454557
Prediction training.

I'll give it thirty minutes and the roll it off if there isn't a winner.

Zeon very soon, finally.
>>
>>5454575
>Mom
>>5454522
>>”How about mom? I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?”
>>
>>5454522
>>”How about mom? I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?
>>
>>5454525
>>5454526
>>5454538
>>5454578
>>5454595
Writing.
>>
“How about mom?” You say quietly, “I know it’s ambitious, but why not try?”

“...Mom?” Artesia asks uncertainly, turning back around to face you, “I’ve tried before, it… doesn’t go well.”

“What?”

“It never works, and I…” She says, pain filling her eyes, “It hurts to try, it was too much to think about.”

“We’re going to see her again in… Well, later tomorrow, or early the next day.” You say, the words still sounding unreal to your ears, “If that doesn’t give you something positive to think about then what will? We’re leaving the old days behind us, Artesia, we’ll be back together again.”

“Maybe you’re right,” She says, a sad smile spreading across her face, “We haven’t tried it together before… it worked for Casval, so…”

“It’s worth a try, right?” You say encouragingly, returning a much more confident smiles despite your own doubts as to the likelihood of success; this is a few orders of magnitude beyond what you’ve tried before.

“Let’s do it.” Artesia says, nodding and steeling herself as she turns away again.

You turn away from her as well and close your eyes, expanding awareness once again but this time focusing upon the memories you still hold dear of your mother, and the confusion of emotion surrounding the chance that you might see her again.

Slowly the your perceptions grows, just as it did earlier, pushing further and further beyond the Zam and out into the stars, pressing over and beyond Luna, a stream of invisible energy reaching out in a flash across the vastness of space and toward a single silver colony among hundreds, your sister’s presence joining alongside, the two of your pushing one another forward each time you begin to falter and lose focus…

…In the end you do both falter, the distance simply too great, the coherence of your thoughts failing as you push too far beyond your bodies… For a split second your focus doesn’t return to the Zam, lingering instead in the cold reaches of spaces, stuck, listless, adrift on a current of emotion that are not your own… Fear grips you, and icy chill shooting through your mind, little daggers pressing down and threatening to cut you loose; you pull back, taking Artesia with you, returning with a snap to your own bodies.

It was a dangerous failure.

…But you came closer than you expected to. Far, far closer.

If only there were some way to maintain focus at those kinds of distances, it was a tenuous and chaotic push the entire way there, even together, the slightest interruption could have shattered your focus at any point, and that feeling of being stuck - it was terrifying, some way to split your focus without pouring yourself entirely into it would be needed… thoughts for another time, perhaps.
>>
>>5454670

“Dammit.” Artesia curses from behind you, the word an oddity for her normally very clean speech, “I could see it.”

“So could I.” You say, opening your eyes and looking back to the lunar surface outside; the angular bow of the Zam already pulling further away from it, the closest portion of a very close orbit now behind the sleek ship.

“Do you think we should try again?” Artesia questions. You consider it for a moment; you might be able to get Casval to help, and you’re getting closer every second…

“We’ll be seeing her soon.” You say, “And she’ll be getting our message soon, Casval saw to that. I think we should let it be for now.”

“Really?” Artesia asks in disappointment, “You were so gung ho a few minutes ago.”

“...It felt dangerous to go out that far, Artesia.” You admit, a chill running through you as you think about just how far from your body you really were, “Didn’t you notice?”

“You mean when we stopped?” She questions, “...I guess it was a little worrying, but we made it back.”

“I almost didn’t.” You say, feeling that spike of fear again, “We can wait.”

“Oh.” Artesia says, her blue eyes widening in shock, “...It was that close?”

“I think so. …I could use some rest, let’s go back to our quarters.”

“Lets get some food first.” Artesia suggests, “I’m famished.”

You nod, and together you exit the observation deck, heading into and down the lift at its rear.

Late the next day, aboard the bridge of the Zam

A single silver hulled closed-type colony hangs among the stars displayed on the main viewscreen of the bridge, the great panel sitting just above the wide plate glass windows that look out into the depths of space. Your old home, Zum, the capital of the Republic of Zeon.

Dozle sits in the captain’s chair, scarred chin resting against a huge closed fist as he looks upon the display.

“ETA to Zum is thirty minutes, sir.” The navigation officer reports.

“Excellent.” Dozle rumbles in a pleased tone, “You will be home soon, Deikuns. Any words with which you would like to mark the occasion?”

>Write-in.
>”Sieg Zeon!”
>”No, sir.”
>>
>>5454674
>”Sieg Zam Zeon!”
>>
>>5454674
>"May the dream of Zeon's freedom from gravity never die."
>"And may our families bring about that future together!"
Something patriotic enough, with a bit of a hidden meaning to it.
>>
>>5454674
>>Write-in.
"Zum, the heirs of Daikun are home. For liberty and independence for our people."
>>
>>5454674
>”Sieg Zeon!”
>>
>>5454674
>”Sieg Zeon!”

I can honestly see Felix buying into Zeon's "Spacenoids First" philosophy a bit. He won't go full "Destroy earth, gas the earthnoids", but rather put his effort solely into uplifting oldtype spacenoids into Newtypes, all under the banner of the Great Principality of Zeon.
>>
>>5454688
SIEG ZAM ALL HAIL BIG ZAM GOD BLESS ZAM LONG LIVE BIG ZAM

>>5454701
While that sounds like fun, I feel like making an early Neo Zeon with our family on top will be much more rewarding than sucking it up to the Zabis.
Besides, we did promise Cas we'd kill off the worst of them.
>>
>>5454674
>"May the dream of Zeon's freedom from gravity never die."
>"And may our families bring about that future together!"
>>
>>5454674
Switching >>5454688 to
>"May the dream of Zeon's freedom from gravity never die."
>"And may our families bring about that future together!
Because fuck gravity, all my homies hate gravity
>>
>>5454674
>"May the dream of Zeon's freedom from gravity never die."
>"And may our families bring about that future together!"
>>
File: SIEG ZAM.png (370 KB, 1176x1426)
370 KB
370 KB PNG
>>5454688
>>
>>5454674
>"Today begins our efforts to ensure father's dream. Mankind's future is in space!"
>>
>>5454689
>>5454719
>>5454727
>>5454731
Write-in. Wins.

>>5454691
Other write-in.

>>5454693
>>5454701
Sieg Zeon!

>>5454736
Other other write-in.

Writing. Might finish in the morning, we'll see.
>>
You glance at Casval and Artesia, and your brother nods as you meet his eyes; he’s the eldest, it’s his permission to give. Standing straighter you take a breath and prepare to speak, addressing the entire crew.

“May the dream of Zeon’s freedom from gravity never die.” You announce across the bridge, shifting your gaze to Dozle as you continue, “And may our families bright about that future together!”

A grin spreads across Dozle’s scarred face and he slams a fist against the arms of his captain’s chair, “Indeed!”

Casval extends a salute, arm raised as he speaks up, “Sieg Zeon!”

You and Artesia snap out sharp salutes of your own, joining Casval is his cry, “Sieg Zeon!”

An echoing chorus sounds across the bridge, officers and crew saluting, Dozle joining in with a hearty shout of his own.

“Very well said,” Dozle rumbles, “Very well said. Ensign Nimi, any word from the port?”

“Yes, sir.” She responds quickly, swiveling her gray seat to face Dozle, “The vehicles will be ready upon arrival.”

“Perfect.” Dozle says, “Everything is according to plan then.”

Nearly half an hour later.

The silver exterior of the closed-type colony rapidly grows, stretching out before you outside of the large windows of the bridge. The lack of exterior reflectors seems odd after so many flights around Texas colony, as if something is missing, but the enormous amount of traffic flowing to and from the colony stands out even more - Zum is the capital of Zeon, and one of the busiest colonies in all of the earth sphere.

“One minute to docking, sir.”

“Very good, ensign.” Dozle says before looking over to you and your siblings, “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is, sir.” Casval agrees, “I remember seeing it for the first time when we left, I’ll never forget it.”

“That was the first time we saw space outside of pictures, sir.” Artesia adds.

“And now you return nearly grown, all of you pilots.” Dozle says, nodding, “There’s some poetry to that.”

“Didn’t take you for a poet, sir.” Lieutenant commander Karpov says,

“Nothing is beyond me, Karpov!” Dozle responds thunderously, raising a huge fist, tension filling the bridge for a few seconds before both men break out into deep laughter.
>>
>>5454842

Two minutes later.

The ship shudders to a jolting stop as the magnetic docking clamps grab hold of it’s outer hull, the huge machines clearly visible from the bridge, gigantic mechanical arms extending out from the solid silver walls of the rectangular docking cell, the Zam resting alongside three other angular white Arcana class vessels. The entire area is one enormous air lock,

You’re led out from the bridge and into the lift, Dozle and a few officers accompanying you and your siblings into the crowded lift. It comes to a stop, doors opening with a hiss, and it’s a short walk to the airlock. The reinforced doors open slowly, revealing an extended bridge beyond.

“Welcome back to Side Three.” Dozle says, extending an arm outward. You stop for a moment, looking at the connection between the gray bridge and the ship.

“First step back home.” Artesia says quietly, even as Casval is already striding forward. You’re both not far behind him, magboots readily clamping to the steel of the long bridge. The other ships and the huge walls of the docking cell are easily visible as you walk forward, boots clicking on metal with every step.

Once you reach the wall another blast door slides open, revealing a pair of uniformed soldiers with rifles aboard a small tram, the rest of the visible off to their left and leading deeper into the colony; toward the inhabited rotation section.

“Sir!” They both say, saluting Dozle, ad the more senior of the two continues speaking, “The line has been cleared as ordered, colonel.”

Dozle gives them an approving nod, and your board along with the cadre of officers following along with you. Casval crosses his arms, looking forward down the tunnel as the tram accelerates forward.

Artesia’s eyes are focused forward as well, “We’ll be able to see it soon.”

“The interior?” You question.

“The tower.” Artesia answers, “It’s out on the lake, before we take the exit chamber we might be able to see it.”

The ride lasts for a little over a minute, zooming past other stops without halting; red marking lights surrounding their reinforced doors appearing and disappearing along the glass sides of the tram. There must be hundreds of people waiting for the line between all of those stops; the benefits of political importance are a fair bit more blatant than you’re used to right now.

Eventually the tram comes to a stop, and your group exits into another large room adjacent to a huge hallway which stretches out as far as you can see in either direction, exit chambers shafts placed every few hundred meters, huge glass windows between them overlooking the lush green parks and urban sprawl of the interior of the colony, clouds blocking your view of the areas ‘above’ you.
>>
>>5454845

“Enjoy the view while it lasts,” Dozle rumbles, “The exit chamber will be here soon.”

“Where’s the tower?” Artesia asks you and Casval, looking out the window intently.

You point toward a familiar lake in the distance. You aren’t used to seeing it from this angle, and it’s been years now, but you saw that sparkling water nearly every day when you lived in your old family mansion… or rather Roselucia’s. You can see the mansion itself from here, a little speck of a thing despite its great size, and the tower just barely visible near it on the strip of land extending out across the water...

“Right there,” You say, still pointing, “See the sort of bean shaped lake?”

“Oh! There it is!” Artesia says excitedly, “She could see us if she looks out the window!... sort of, we're a little far.”

"A little." You echo, smiling.

“Looking at your old home?” Dozle questions from ahead of you, “Look further along, you’ll see your new one. It's magnificent!”

The Zabi palace, a great ugly monstrosity of a structure, is clear enough to see even from here, the building vaguely resembling the spiked helmet of some great fiendish knight or robot. You’d call it ridiculous, but there’s no doubt that it sends a clear message; the Zabis are in charge here.

Lights turn green ahead of you on the shaft between the windows, the absolutely enormous doors of the chamber within it slowly opening, caution painted edges disappearing into the walls to reveal the plain metal interior. You all board, and short spinning descent later and you’ve matched the height and rotational speed of the habitation cylinder of the colony.

More guards greet you as the doors open, and you’re led out of the spaceport and to a small motorcade. The black limousines are familiar, the same style that was in use years ago at your father’s funeral - Everything is still familiar, save for the gigantic red and gold Zeon flags hanging from many of the buildings along the streets.

The ride goes by quickly, and looking out the windows you find that even specific buildings look familiar, a few newer and less worn than those around them… this is the street you rode down in the guntank, the new buildings a lingering clue of the battle that took place here.

Life returned to normal long ago, but you feel doubt and guilt as you see people going about their lives, walking past on the sidewalks; how many of them had loved ones die in the collateral damage of that escape, from your guntank or the federation’s? Rather than face those questions you look down, avoiding the windows and staring at your shoes instead.

The car comes to a stop, and you finally look up to see a dirt path stretching out across the lake and toward the small island and… and the tower your mother has been kept in for years. It looks the same as it did then.

You thought you’d never see it again. You were absolutely convinced of it… but there it is.
>>
>>5454850

One of the guards opens the door for you, and you step out and into the fresh air of the colony, a gentle breeze blowing past carrying the faint aroma of nearby flowers. You simply stare at the tower for a few moments, absolutely still as you struggle to process the reality of it. You're back. Mom is in there. She's in shouting distance.

“The driver and guards will remain here.” Dozle explains, appearing by your side as if from nowhere; you were so lost in your own thoughts that you failed to notice the huge man approach.

“Take all the time you need.” Dozle continues, “I will not be able to join you at the palace, Gihren requested a family meeting during the drive here. One of the palace staff will show you around when you arrive.”

“Thank you, Dozle.” Casval says politely before looking at you and Artesia, “Let’s go see mother.”

>Follow Casval in silence to the tower.
>Screw walking, run to the door!
>Write-in.
>>
>>5454853
>>Follow Casval in silence to the tower.
>>Write-in.
Hold Artesia's hand.
>>
>>5454854
Support.
>>
Now that we're actually at the tower, I'm so fucking anxious. Gihren calling away Dozle is suspicious as fuck. He's obviously going to fucking try something, either when we enter the tower or on the tour of the Zabi castle.

And to think we were all shadowrunning over Kycillia.
>>
>>5454860
>Gihren blows the tower once we enter.
>Kills off every last living daikun at once.
>Blames the feddies and raises a ruckus

NGL, can see it.
>>
>>5454854
>>5454853
+1 supporting

>>5454860
>Felix is the sole survivor and becomes consumed by revenge
>becomes the Red Comet
>the tragedies of the Universal Century refused to change
>>
>>5454869
>the tragedies of the Universal Century refused to change

I was gonna refute this on account of our bond with Dozle, and then I remembered that Char didn't kill Dozle, Amuro did.
>>
>>5454853
>>5454854
Support.
>>
>>5454860
Can't we try using our newtype powers to be safer?
I know its a long shot, but we should use anything we have to our advantage.
>>
>>5454854
Support
We do this together, like we promised so long ago
>>
>>5454854
>>5454855
>>5454869
>>5454956
>>5455072
Writing. Got a bunch of classes, not sure if I'll be able to sneak in a post until this afternoon.
>>
>>5454862
>Blames the feddies and raises a ruckus
Actually, that's a great idea. If we say we have anxiety from a possible Federation assassination attempt we can maybe excuse ourselves or at least make the tour go faster.
>>
Casval begins to walk toward the tower, footstep by footstep, leaving prints behind him along the dirt path. Taking your sister’s hand in your, squeezing it and meeting her blue eyes, a smile spreads across your face, and hers as well… and yet you can keenly sense her anxiety, and know she can feel yours just as sharply. Together your push past it, following behind your brother.

The tower looks much as your remember it, though a little more overgrown, vines and ivy having crept up it’s stone exterior, tendrils reaching higher and higher toward the balconies and windows yet not quite making it there. The door opens before you reach the threshold, a bald man in a suit nodding to the three of you from inside the building as you approach.

“She is awake upstairs, in her bedroom.” The man says, his tone respectful. Casval nods and leads you into the musty old tower, the scent hitting you immediately; it’s worse than you remember, but time does that, doesn’t it? Heading up the creaking old wooden stairs doesn’t take long. You were only held here for a short time, but the memories are indelible in your mind, every stone and plank familiar, even the squeaking hinges of the door at the top of the stairs; it has only grown worse since you were here.

“That was my room.” Artesia comments quietly as you make your way through a narrow white washed hallway, passing by old and long disused doors. Calling it a room is generous; it was a her cell. Your own room is nearby, the door slightly ajar… the sheets on the bed are still a mess, a few books laying atop the bed and covered in dust.

“...Nothing’s been moved at all.” You say, stopping to stare at the strange sight.

“She probably couldn’t bring herself to touch them.” Casval says, placing a hand on your shoulder, “Come on, Felix. Her room isn’t far.”

You nod and carrying on, reaching the red door that leads to the last short flight of stairs up to the largest bedroom of the tower. Casval grabs hold of the old brass door knob, turning it and pulling the door open, and you all slowly, softly, making your way up the stairs. A pleasant aroma drifts down from the room above as you climb the steps, stirring memories from your earliest years; a sort of subtle cinnamon, like the candles mother used to burn at the mansion…

As Casval reaches the top of the stairs he freezes, shock written across his face, something about him softening for the first time in years, looking more as he did before you fled Munzo all those years ago, before the assassinations and battles and years of hiding.

You cross the last few steps, Artesia alongside still gripping your hand, and you see her.

Mother.
>>
>>5455290

She’s in bed, wearing a blue silk nightgown, her long blond hair a tousled mess all about her and resting against a few white pillows she’s resting against. Imprisonment has aged her, hiding away much of her old beauty and youth. There’s a gauntness to her face, almost a hollow look, as if life itself has drained from her over the years and her arms are skinny and frail, and fear grips at your heart as you realize how close she must have been to just withering away entirely… but her blue eyes are as bright as ever, and her smile banishes your worries.

“You’ve all grown so much.” She says, her voice quiet and weak yet filled with pride.

Your vision blurs, grief and joy and an upswell of so many other confused emotions breaking through; you don’t bother to try to restrain them, rushing the last few steps to your mother’s side, kneeling near her bed to be at an even level. Casval is there with you, and Artesia only moments later, the three of you crowded about your mother’s bed.

“We’re here, mother.” Casval says, his voice strained, “We’re back. It was our choice.”

“Then it worked.” Your mother says, closing her eyes and relaxing further into the pillows propping her up, relief washing over her and emanating through the room; you sense it without any effort, as if it was your very own feeling, an old half remembered warmth from the oldest depths of your memory accompanying it.

“It worked.” You confirm, voice quavering even as you smile, “We… we won’t leave you behind ever again.”

“We’ve missed you, I…” Artesia just barrel manages to say, struggling to form the words as tears roll down her cheeks, “I’m sorry I didn’t wait. One hundred moons was…”

“Sorry?” Your mother asks, turning her head slightly and reaching out gently to wipe away the tears from Artesia’s cheek, “There’s nothing to be sorry for, Artesia. You’ve been happy?”

Artesia nods weakly, leaning forward to hug your mother as she fails to muster her own words, tears flowing too freely. You join in, and for once Casval doesn’t hesitate to do so either.

For a few moments everything is right in the world. The Zabis don’t matter, revenge doesn’t matter, conflict and politics, newtypes and endless intrigue and plotting - It’s all nothing. This is what matters. Everything else just blinds people.

Eventually you pull back along with Artesia and Casval. A few tears stream down your mothers face, and a little life seems to have returned to her… a rediscovered resolve.
>>
>>5455292

“You’re all so much taller,” She says softly, her eyes searching over each of you, “Casval, Felix… you’re both so handsome, I wish I could have seen you grow into the men you are now. And Artesia, you’re so beautiful, I always knew you would be, ever since the the first time I held you… But why are you back? It isn’t safe here.”

Ah, there it is.

>”We’re here to right the wrongs of the past, mother, all of them.” As agreed with Casval.
>”We’re here to make peace.” …Perhaps it’s a lie, perhaps not.
>”...That’s a complicated story…” Explain the events of the last few weeks.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5455294
>”...That’s a complicated story…” Explain the events of the last few weeks.
>Try to keep your newtype senses active. Maybe you're just being paranoid, but it's always good to be cautious.
>>
>>5455298
Support
>>
>>5455298
If there aren't any explosives or toxic gases, there are probably microphones in the walls and things like that. So we better watch what we say as well.
A part of me thinks that Gihren called the family over to the meeting so that they could all spy on us. Who knows, maybe the moment we say something out of line we all go boom. Though honestly I still think he'll try to kill us either way.
>>
>>5455294
>>5455298
Support.
>>
>>5455294
>”We’re here to make peace.” …Perhaps it’s a lie, perhaps not.
>>
>>5455298
I really hope this option doesn't explain our plotting against the Zabis to mom and instead keeps it neutral. The reason I voted for the second choice is because I didn't want either Cas (separated from mom for years and might react negatively if we said something that we seemed to at least partially believe in), Artesia or mom to say anything that might compromise what we're here for if we said something more emotional.
I mean, this is still under the assumption the Gihren isn't trying to kill us either way and is being 'nice' enough to give us a 'chance' to prove ourselves. It's very unlikely, and the other anon had a point in that Gihren would do something to try and kill us soon.
>>
>>5455294
>"We’re here to make peace.” …Perhaps it’s a lie, perhaps not.
>>
>>5455294
>>”We’re here to make peace.” …Perhaps it’s a lie, perhaps not.
Assume everything is bugged, do not say anything that may implicate all of you. Try to communicate with her using newtype powers.
>>
>>5455351
Though saying that, maybe it'd be better if I wrote it like this
>Let Casval and Artesia do the talking while you use your newtype perception to try and find anything wrong. Maybe you're being paranoid, but you can't let anything happen to mother again.
Or even just voting for
>”We’re here to make peace.” …Perhaps it’s a lie, perhaps not.
Would be better, and we can hope Casval understands what we're doing here.
Not changing my vote, just brainstorming. I'm probably putting too much thought into this lmao

Also
>second choice
*third choice
>>
>>5455361
>"To unshackle Zeon from Earth's weight."
>Try to use your newtype ability to find anything wrong, and maybe even communicate with mom using it. Maybe you're being paranoid, but you can't let anything happen to mother again.
Something I just came up with. Might change my vote to this if the other anons support it.
>>
>>5455298
>>5455302
>>5455307
Complicated story + stay on guard with newtype powers.

>>5455314
>>5455356
>>5455360
Here to make peace.

Looks like we have a tie right now. I'll still be in classes for a couple more hours, I'm just checking in to see how things are coming along with the vote.

>>5455351
Felix wouldn't blab about obviously anti-Zabi stuff, he isn't an idiot, but he'd need to at least talk around it (very vaguely) to have the explanation make sense.
>>
>>5455298
>>5455302
>>5455307

>>5455314
>>5455356
>>5455360

Should be back from classes soon. I'll give voting another hour, if there isn't a winner by then I'll roll it off.
>>
>>5455294
>>5455360
+1
>>
>>5455394
>Felix wouldn't blab about obviously anti-Zabi stuff, he isn't an idiot
I was concerned he'd spill out something with all the emotions flowing. Now the real question is if Casval or (more likely) Artesia will say something.
Potentially lying to mom sits wrong with me, but it might be necessary to survive.
>>
>>5455294
>”We’re here to right the wrongs of the past, mother, all of them.” As agreed with Casval.
>”We’re here to make peace.” …Perhaps it’s a lie, perhaps not.
>>
>>5455498
>>5455356
>>5455314
>>5455360
Writing.
>>
“We’re here to make peace.” You comfort her, “It was more dangerous to stay away, we had to come home. Did you get our message?”

“They brought it to me last night. I didn’t know if it was real.” Your mother answers, her hand still holding Artesia’s, and her blue eyes looking past you and toward a clean looking red armchair in the corner, “It’s true then? …You’ll be safe?”

You follow her gaze, noticing immediately that the chair isn’t quite right. It’s much cleaner than everything else here, the fabric just a little too bright.

“We’re here to join the academy, and more.” Casval confirms, telling a partial truth as he too looks toward the red chair and then back to your mother, “We want to do what’s right for our people, whatever it is.”

She gives a little nod toward the chair, and Casval continues speaking, the message clear enough, “Dozle Zabi offered to end the feud; he has acted in good faith toward us this far, I think he's an honorable man.”

“We want nothing more that to live up the ideals of Zeon,” You say, leaving the ‘Zeon’ you’re referring to purposefully ambiguous, “...I’m hoping to be a pilot.”

“As am I.” Casval adds, “All three of us have been practicing together for months now. Felix has been at it the longest.”

“I want to be a doctor too. We've all finished degrees already, mom; Teabolo was very kind to us. He made sure we received excellent educations.” Sayla says proudly, beaming at your mother; she returns the smile, though as frail as she is now there’s just not the energy to match your sister.

“I’m so proud of you all. Teabolo was always a good friend to your father. Hamon has been telling me about you when she visits…” Your mother says gently, though she has to stop for a moment before continuing, strained even by speaking so briefly, “They never let me get your letters. Know you were sending them was enough.”

“...They never?...” Your sister’s eyes widen in shock, “Not even one?”

“It’s okay, Artesia,” You mother says, shifting under the covers of the bed so she can hold Artesia’s hand in both of her own, “You’re here now. dear. You’ve been a good girl, that’s all I ever hoped for, okay?”

“...Okay.” Artesia says, sniffling a little and wiping away some tears with her free hand, eyes puffy and red, “...How are you feeling?”

“Better, dear. Much better than I have in years.” She answers, “...I’d given up. But don’t worry about me, Artesia. None of you should. I never thought I would see this day - I won’t let go of you again without a struggle.”
>>
>>5455616

“I love you, mom.” You say, having difficulty in managing more than that, the full weight of years of grief and loneliness flowing freely from your mother’s presence within the room; it’s shot through with bright lines of hope and joy, recent additions to the miasma… You can’t see any of it with your naked eye of course, but you’re aware of it as surely as you are of the air in the room or the gravity of the spinning colony. Invisible but always known.

“I love you too. I love each of you so much it hurts,” She says, “Casval, could you bring me that bottle from the dresser?”

Your brother stands immediately, quickly collecting a small pill bottle from the wooden dresser nearby. It rattles a little, still very full.

“...It’s still sealed.” Casval says, his words carrying more pain than you’ve ever heard from him before. It’s hard to imagine the state your mother was in even just a few days ago.

“The doctor said two a day.” You mother replies, sitting up a little more and away from the pillows, moving her hand from Artesia’s to accept the pair of small white capsules, “I’m feeling better already, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

She takes the pills, and Artesia hands her a glass of water that was already sitting nearby on the nightstand near the bed.

“You need to eat more, mom.” Artesia says worriedly, setting the glass back down nearby.

“I know, dear. Don’t worry.” Your mother answers reassuringly, “You’ll be visiting again soon?”

“You’re going to see us every day. I’m going to get you out of here.” Artesia responds immediately, “I don’t care what they say, you’re not staying here anymore. I’ll talk with Dozle, anyone it takes.”

“Oh my.” Your mother says, sitting up a little more and managing a small pained laugh, “I would love that, Artesia, but be careful how you ask.”

“...I know to be careful.” Artesia replies quietly, “We all do.”
>>
>>5455619

An hour later.

Though she seemed to catch a second wind of sorts earlier, life filling her frail body, your mother now rests against the pillows of her bed once more, even sitting up to speak a painful strain on her; you hope dearly that it isn’t too late for her to recover, but she does seem to have the spirit to try.

Hopefully that will be enough.

You talk about all sorts of things for the last hour, stories meant to be sent in letters years ago, each one leading to the next; years that were stolen from you all, meant to be shared. There are many things you don’t dare to speak about, the room obviously having at least one bug, but you make do. Despite the ease with which you can sense her emotions, you and your siblings have no luck in communicating telepathically with your mother - she isn’t a newtype, or at least hasn’t awakened… but that’s okay, there are much more important things than that. Older bonds.

Despite her continued enthusiasm it’s becoming clear that your mother is going to need to rest soon. You could stay here all day talking, and well into the next, but leaving soon will be best for her health. She just can’t do much more in such poor health.

“Mother, do you need to rest?” Casval asks caringly, a very different and more kind aspect having taken him throughout all the conversation thus far, “You’re tired.”

“I am, dear. Thank you.” Your mother agrees quietly, closing her eyes, “It’s been so wonderful to see you again, but… I think I’ll… rest for awhile…”

She drifts gently off to sleep, as if your brother’s permission was all she was waiting for, just barely holding on until then. Her breathing is steady and peaceful, and you find that your worries for her have lessened. Perhaps it’s the medicine from earlier, or just a renewed will to live…

The three of you silently exit the bedroom, stopping to take parting looks at your sleeping mother, and then head down through the rest of the tower and out the exit. On the walk back across the dirt path, both sides of it flanked by the water of the lake, you have a chance to talk with your siblings.

“I thought it would be a trap.” Casval nearly whispers as you reach close to the midpoint of the dirt path, “They had the chair bugged, maybe more.”

“I got that too,” You say, nodding, “She’s still sharp.”

“She always was.” Artesia comments happily, holding her arms close against her chest and doing a little spin as you continue walking, “I feel like I could fly right now. I… I thought she was dead.”
>>
>>5455624

“She nearly was, did you see how skinny she was?…” You say grimly, though a smile slowly spreads across your face, “But I think she'll recover. Did you see that look in her eyes?”

“It reminded me of you, Casval.” Artesia says, leaning against your brother and holding his hand, “You got that from her, not dad.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Casval ponders, “She’s a strong woman, mom did all of that for us; we have to get her out of there as soon as we can.”

“First thing.” Artesia agrees.

“Absolutely.” You third.

You reach the black limousine, and the door is opened for you by one of the guards. Soon you’re all loaded back inside and off on the roads of Zum city again. The drive goes by quickly, speeding up as you exit the traffic of the city and reach the huge cleared park where the Zabi ‘palace’ resides. It is getting very late now, the line of light running through the central axis of the colony slowly dimming in an imitation of twilight.

The palace is huge, made of bare metal and uglier than sin; it looks every bit the fortress of such a treacherous family. The limousine comes to a stop near the front entrance, nestled deep inside of what you can only describe as a hangar at the base of the huge building, and you’re let out. The gigantic wooden double doors of the main entrance stand before you, just up a wide set of stairs; compared to the exterior of the palace this feels almost medieval, a strange mismatch of designs.

“This way, please.” One of the guards prompts you, heading up the stairs and toward the door, banging on it three times with the huge steel knocker. A few moments later and the door is answered by a black haired girl of about your age; judging by her maid uniform she must be a member of the household staff.

“Welcome to the Zabi home, heirs of Deikun,” She says politely, her voice pleasant and sweet as she performs a graceful curtsy, “Please, come in. Your accommodations have already been seen to. My name is Mink, I was appointed to be your guide.”

“Thank you, Mink.” Casval replies smoothly as the three of you enter the vast entrance hall of the home, the interior similar in style to the mansion you remember from long ago, every inch resembling the ancient palaces of Versailles, “I am Casval, and they are Felix and Artesia.”

“What lovely names.” Mink compliments, a pleasant floral scent hanging near her, her violet eyes meeting yours for a moment, “It’s a great honor to meet you. Would you like to see your rooms first, or would you prefer a tour of the home?”

In the distance, at the very far end of the hallways, a blond haired boy of perhaps four or five years old runs from one open door and into another, crossing the intricately patterned wood floor as he chases after a red ball.

>”...Who was that?”
>”Our rooms first, please.”
>”The tour sounds wonderful, Mink.”
>Write-in
>>
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>>5455629
That last bit should read: "In the distance, at the very far end of the grand entrance hall [. . .] "

Also, have a picture of the palace, forgot to include it as well.
>>
>>5455629
>”...Who was that?”
>”Our rooms first, please.”

GLEMY YOU LITTLE CREEP, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THIS TIME
>>
>>5455629
>”...Who was that?”
>”The tour sounds wonderful, Mink.”

>>5455634
lmao, What the fuck even is that house? Its like the Fortress of DOOM
>>
>>5455636
You know, I wasn't expecting to be this fucking paranoid once we got here. I guess I was subconsciously relying on Dozle as some sort of shield.
>>
>>5455629
>”...Who was that?”
>"Ah, what would you recommend we do first?"
>Look to Artesia as a gauge to Mink's reaction and try to use your newtype abilities to percieve anything going on.
>>
>>5455639
On some level they're fully aware that they're the bad guys in a 1970's anime.
>>
>>5455629
>”...Who was that?”
>”Our rooms first, please.”
That was some grade A writing, Contolist.
>>
>>5455629
>”The tour sounds wonderful, Mink.”
>”...Who was that?”
>>
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>>5455639
It gets even more evil as time goes on too
>>5455643
If Dozle had his way, it would transform into a giant robot as well.
>>
>>5455674
>WHERE ARE THE FEDDIES DOZLE?
>>
>>5455629
>>”...Who was that?”
>>”The tour sounds wonderful, Mink.”
>>
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>>5455674
And here's a link to a random japanese blog with some higher quality images of it in all of it's evil glory
https://takimaru1208.hatenablog.com/entry/2021/01/30/001304
>>
>>5455674
>If Dozle had his way
I propose secondary objective to killing all the relevant Zabi: helping Dozle turn the Zabi estate into the Grand Zam.
>>5455641
Dozle is a good asset but not 'totally shield us from Gihren or Kycilia' good. I'm curious just how far we can push him into our court though.
>>
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>>5455674
>If Dozle had his way, it would transform into a giant robot as well
>>
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>>5455681
Decided to bite the bullet and make a collage of all of the images to post it in the thread itself.
>>
>>5455680
>>5455666
>>5455639
Writing.

>>5455686
kek

>>5455694
I love how absolutely schizo the architecture is. Sort of regretting not putting it on a cliffside since I went with something closer to the 0079 version. Might just have to move it brick by brick to a more intimidating location, that seems very Gihren.
>>
“...Who was that?” You ask curiously, looking to the distant doorway where the boy disappeared.

Mink turns to look, frilly black skirt swirling lightly as she does so, and answers in an amused tone, “I suppose that was Glemy.”

“Glemy?” Casval says, crossing his arms, “Whose is he?”

Whose is he?...” Minks says carefully, putting a finely manicured finger to her chin as she thinks, “Master Gihren brought him here a few years ago, he lives with the Zabis as a guest, as you will.”

“Gihren?” Artesia questions, eyebrows lifted slightly as she looks at you and Casval.

“Yes, Master Gihren.” Mink confirms cheerfully, flashing a cute smile for a moment, brushing back her black hair with one hand before repeating her earlier question, keeping things moving along, “Would you like to see your rooms first, or would you prefer a tour of the home?”

“The tour sounds wonderful, Mink.” You answer, finding your gaze easily drawn to Mink; she’s pretty, though she wears a little too much makeup for your tastes, and her outfit is… an interesting design, that gap between the skirt and her stockings is really something…

You blink as Artesia grabs your hand, pulling you along. Casval is paying more attention to the two armed and green uniformed guards standing near a pair of doors along the wall, both men tracking your little group as it moves past and Mink speaks loudly, her clear voice carrying easily through the empty hall.

“This is the grand entrance hall, of course,” She says with a sweeping gesture of one arm, walking with little noise across the wooden floor in her black flats, “To the left over there, past the guards, is… well, the guard quarters.”

Paintings of the Zabi family hang along the walls, other more famous works interspersed ever so often; Degwin, Gihren, Sasro, Kycilia, Dozle, Garma, and Vivima - The whole of the Zabi family. Each has their own painting, the difference in looks between Vivima and Garma a stark reminder of their different mother, their purple hair and eyes standing out among the rest of their family.

“And to the right over there is the blue parlor… it’s… uh, the walls are blue. So is the furniture, it’s cute.. Uhm, sirs. Miss.” Mink explains, suppressing a small laugh as she fumbles addressing you and your sibling, but she moves on quickly, seemingly enthralled with her duties as a guide even if she is a little ditzy, “And over there…”
>>
>>5455737

Nearly thirty minutes later

Maybe agreeing to the tour first was a mistake.

Mink has been cheerfully guiding you through this absolute labyrinth of a palace for what feels like ages now, the rooms just never ceasing. Parlor this, guest room that, library here, baths there, oh just look in here, on and on and on - It isn’t that she isn’t a good guide, she's fine, there’s just so much of it.

“Do you see those faint outlines on the walls?” Mink asks, pointing to an almost imperceptible rectangular cutout in one of the walls, a brass handle sticking from it somewhat oddly, “That’s a servant’s door, we use them to move around without disturbing others.”

“Didn’t we have a few of those at our old home?” Artesia asks your brother, and he nods.

“And a few at the villa, the walls didn’t really work well with it though.” You add, remembering a few of the servant passages that were scattered about here and there, late additions to the design but centuries old still by the time you lived there with Teabolo.

“You lived in a villa?” Mink questions curiously, slowing for a moment, “Where was that?”

“Andalusia, in Spain.” Artesia answers, “It was beautiful.”

“Oh, you were on earth? I’ve always wanted to go!…” Mink says excitedly before suddenly looking down, cutting herself off, “...Sorry, I fear I may have been speaking too casually. I meant no disrespect.”

“It’s alright, Mink, no need to apologize.” You reassure her, “We’re not that bothered with that kind of etiquette anyways.”

“You aren’t?” She asks, violet eyes wide, and one arm across her chest and clutching at her opposite shoulder, touching against the fabric of her uniform gingerly, “Oh, that’s such a relief. …The Zabis are har… No, I’m sorry, I’ve said far too much… Uhm, over there is the small ballroom, it’s… small.”

>”The Zabis are what, Mink?” Don’t let that slip by, she almost sounded scared.
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
>”...Maybe we should see our rooms now, we can continue the tour afterward.” If Casval and Artesia won’t speak up about how boring this is getting then you will.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5455740
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
>”...Maybe we should see our rooms now, we can continue the tour afterward.” If Casval and Artesia won’t speak up about how boring this is getting then you will.
>>
>>5455740
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
>"Did you recently come to work for the Zabis?"
>"How many servants are there here, approximately?"
>"Anything we should know in general? I don't want to break any rules while as a guest here."
>”...Maybe we should see our rooms now, we can continue the tour afterward.” If Casval and Artesia won’t speak up about how boring this is getting then you will.
>>
>>5455740
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
>>
>>5455740
>”The Zabis are what, Mink?” Don’t let that slip by, she almost sounded scared.
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.

Remember lads, the small folk are always abused and your greatest ally
>>
>>5455740
>”The Zabis are what, Mink?” Don’t let that slip by, she almost sounded scared.
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
The people will be the greatest allies of the Deikun Restoration
>>
>>5455740
>>5455749
Changing my vote to
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
>"Did you recently come to work for the Zabis?"
>"How many servants are there here, approximately?"
>"Anything we should know in general? I don't want to break any rules while as a guest here."

To clarify, I'm only voting for the second choice, with the write-ins as more like possible small talk (but if it's a choice then I'll vote only for that instead of adding the write-ins).
While I'm not against getting more allies, this whole thing of us three being sent on a tour alone with a nobody is putting me on edge. The little Jimba on my shoulder is saying she's definitely a spy sent by Gihren. Maybe I'm shadowrunning too much but I think we should at least get more of a grasp of the situation before doing or saying anything.
Also we need to watch out for bugs and things like that. I wouldn't be surprised if Gihren and Kycilia had a few planted in every room.
>>
>>5455743
Ask where she is from + check out your rooms.

>>5455754
>>5455793
Ask where she is from.

>>5455755
>>5455757
Ask what she meant + Ask where she is from.

Another tie. I'll give it twenty minute and if there isn't a winner I'll just roll it off, I'd really like to get at least one more post in tonight.
>>
>>5455754
>>5455740
>>5455798
I'll switch my vote to
>”The Zabis are what, Mink?” Don’t let that slip by, she almost sounded scared.
>”Mink, where are you from?” Getting to know the staff will be useful going forward.
>>
>>5455799
>>5455755
>>5455757
Writing.

>>5455799
Thank you, anon.
>>
“The Zabis are what, Mink?” You ask the dark haired maid, and she almost flinches away, pulling back immediately from you, violet eyes filled with fear.

“Kind, very kind.” She says quickly, looking away from you and trying to hurry along through the hallways, speaking a little louder, “Just up ahead is the holo-room, the floors, walls, and ceiling are all panels that can-”

“They’re kind?” Casval interrupts with a question, just the faintest hint of skepticism to his voice, “Tell us about them.”

“...What? Uhm, no, I really shouldn’t.” Mink says, coming to a stop and looking to your brother nervously, clutching at her shoulder again, “They demand discipline, that’s all.”

“Discipline?” Artesia asks worriedly, taking a step closer, “What do you mean?”

“Gihren… he corrects us when we make mistakes, it’s just how things are.” Mink says, rubbing at her shoulder, fear filling her voice as she looks around at the nearby doors and then to the windows off to your side overlooking the ‘small’ ballroom and its many crystal formations and strange fountains.

“What do you mean by corrections?” Casval asks, his voice cool and even, somewhat detached as his blue eyes follow along where Mink was looking,

“...I won’t speak ill of Master Gihren. He’s an honorable man.” Mink says loudly after a long pause, biting nervously at her lip as she looks to one of the nearby light fixtures on the wall. Is it bugged or something?

“Of course he is,” You agree, staring at the hooded light for a moment before continuing, “Mink, where are you from?”

The poor girl relaxes, a wave of relief rushing over her face as the subject changes, most of the fear leaving her pleasant voice, “...I’m from Zum, near the opposite side of the cylinder from here.”

“Never mind the tour for a moment, let’s just talk,” You say, looking to Casval. He nods in agreement, blue eyes catching in the light cast by the fixture, that old intensity returned once more.

“How did you end up working here?” Casval asks, “You parents must be very proud that you’re working for such a powerful family at such a young age.”

“...My mother… she's not with us anymore, and my father doesn’t like a lot of what I do.” Mink answers, genuine pain filling her voice, “...I’m sorry, I’m terrible at holding conversation, I’m so stupid in what I say sometimes…”

“No, no, it’s okay.” Artesia says, moving to the maid’s side to comfort her as you walk along, ignoring unnamed rooms for now, “I understand. We lost our father a few years ago, we know what it’s like.”

“You do?” Mink asks hesitantly, looking into your sister’s eyes, “...Oh. Of course you do. ...I’m sorry.”
>>
>>5455837

“Can I see your arm?” Artesia asks quietly. Mink shakes her head.

“You were 'corrected', weren’t you?” Your sister presses, a hint of anger to her voice. Mink gives a pained little nod, and mouths a name. Artesia’s eyes flash with anger, her brow furrowing; it’s the look she normally gives before slapping someone silly - And it certainly isn’t direct at Mink.

“How long have you been working here?” Your brother probes, remaining a little more detached from the conversation than your sister.

“Six years. I was a lot younger.” Mink answers, an odd mix of fear, pride, and disgust in her voice, a confusing mess of feelings that you can feel emanating from her freely, “My father got mixed up in something too big, and he made a lot of… well, um, we had problems with our family, really bad ones, so I got sent to do this to help smooth things over. I just did little things at first… but Master Gihren… he favored me, and I’ve been in charge of more things since then. Tours for guests, directing cleaning of entire wings sometimes, nothing like management, I’m worse with numbers than I should be… He doesn’t like that. He’s right though, I should be better, but it’s hard, and he can be so cold. He's quick to... No, never mind, he's a kind man. A kind man, alright?"

She's looking nervously at one of the lights again, and you wait until you're past it again, keeping note of which ones she's been wary off. How does she know though? Cleaning maybe? That would makes some sense, a maid would find all sorts of listening devices if they did a really thorough cleaning of an area.

>”Mink, could you show us to our rooms now? The tour can wait for another time.” …It’s starting to dawn on you that there might be literally nowhere in the entire palace that is safe to talk.
>”...What about the others, are they the same? …Do they have high expectations, I mean.” Keep talking, but cover it up a bit in case there are microphones where you’re walking past.
>”Is there somewhere… less open that we could talk?” Hopefully she’ll understand.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5455841
>”Mink, could you show us to our rooms now? The tour can wait for another time.” …It’s starting to dawn on you that there might be literally nowhere in the entire palace that is safe to talk.
>>
>>5455841
>”Mink, could you show us to our rooms now? The tour can wait for another time.” …It’s starting to dawn on you that there might be literally nowhere in the entire palace that is safe to talk.
>>
>>5455841
>”...What about the others, are they the same? …Do they have high expectations, I mean.” Keep talking, but cover it up a bit in case there are microphones where you’re walking past.

>”Mink, could you show us to our rooms now? The tour can wait for another time.” …It’s starting to dawn on you that there might be literally nowhere in the entire palace that is safe to talk.
>>
>>5455841
>>”Mink, could you show us to our rooms now? The tour can wait for another time.” …It’s starting to dawn on you that there might be literally nowhere in the entire palace that is safe to talk.
>>
>>5455841
>”Mink, could you show us to our rooms now? The tour can wait for another time.” …It’s starting to dawn on you that there might be literally nowhere in the entire palace that is safe to talk.
Need to calm little sister before she does or says something dumb. Do we have any paper we could write on, to pass along notes to both Casval and Artesia?
And I really doubt that our bedrooms are safe from bugs.
>>
>>5455847
>>5455850
>>5455867
>>5455871
Writing. Might not finish until the morning, it's a bit late already.

>>5455871
Finding something to write on shouldn't be too difficult.
>>
“Mink, could you show us to our rooms now?” You ask, finding the seemingly endless hallways of the palace not welcoming in the least, “The tour can wait for another time.”

“Are you sure?” She questions, though her face tells a different story; she’s clearly relieved.

“They’re where we’ll be spending much of our time, think of it as just another stop on the tour.” Casval says, his eyes lingering on a painting of your father on one of the nearby walls; it’s a bizarre sight, something so familiar hanging near the very heart of the Zabi’s home. Is it meant to mock his memory, or are they really so twisted as to somehow still hold him in regard after murdering him?

Mink eagerly agrees, now speaking very casually, any honorifics or formal vocabulary long forgotten but her voice just as clear and beautiful as always, “Alrighty then, off we go! They’re over this way.”

A few minutes later, on the third floor.

“They’re just in there.” Mink says, pointing to a trio of gold etched doors stretching down the long and ornate white hallway, golden light from the fixtures hanging from the arched ceiling casting the baroque panels and reliefs on the walls in warm hues, “They all connect to one another, every guest room in the whole palace connects to at least one other one in case a family comes to stay. There are four in this section, the next is around the corner.”

“Four?” Casval questions, looking at Artesia for a moment. Your sister smiles, and it’s very easy to guess what she’s thinking.

“Yes, four bedrooms, each with all accompanying rooms one could ever wish for, and even servant ways,” Mink explains, far less nervous and scatter brained than she was earlier, pointing a slender finger toward the faint rectangular outlines in the wall nearby, “You can see them there and there. You’ll be able to receive guests of your own if need be, and anything you could need can be brought be one a servant - That would be me, or one of my subordinates, this is my wing right now.”

Mink opens the door to the first room, revealing an exquisite interior just beyond, masterfully crafted baroque furniture filling the great space, oil paintings adorning the walls in beautiful golden frames, even a piano in the corner - Not that you have an idea how to play - and to top it all off this is just the first room, an intricate door visible on the far side of the room as well as either wall, leading to the neighboring spaces…

You’re no stranger to luxury, having grown up in a mansion and then lived in a sprawling fortified villa for much of your life, but this is really just something else. The Ral estate came close in some ways, but apparently the Zabi’s aren’t shy at all about burning through huge amounts of money for not only their comfort but that of their guests… Of course as the nearly autocratic leaders of an entire nation it’s to be expected, it’s called a palace for a reason.
>>
>>5455899

No doubt there are surveillance devices hidden everywhere, there are dozens of places that immediately jump out at you as potential hiding spots, so many that it would make searching for bugs incredibly obvious; you would almost certainly miss more than you found, and at that point the game would be up.

“As you can see, the accommodations are modest,” Mink says wryly, motioning for the three of you to enter the room.

Several minutes of touring the rooms later

“The bath in mine is the size of a small pool!” Artesia says, excitement creeping into her voice despite the worrying situation you now find yourself in, each ‘private’ room likely utterly lacking in anything of the sort, “It the balcony overlooking the city… I can’t, it’s too much.”

“Sounds like you’ve been won over, Artesia.” Casval jokes, relaxing in an armchair as you stand lean against a nearby wall, “The rooms are excellent though.”

“They really are,” You agree, “...but I’ll miss being in an open type colony. Looking out from the balconies you can't see the stars, just more of Zum. It’s pretty, but it just doesn’t compare, you know?”

Mink stands nearby, a polite distance away from you and your siblings as you discuss your impressions of the rooms, violet eyes watching the three of you. As you look over to her she blushes, smiling in a way that almost seems familiar to you, and as your gaze lingers for a moment she gives you a little wink; your cheeks grow warm, and you turn your attention back to your brother and sister. You’ve been trying not to give her looks, with mixed success.

“We can move mom into the fourth room,” Artesia says, “We need to talk with one of the Zabis about that. When do you think they’ll be back?”

“Mink, do you know?” Casval asks, turning his head to look toward the maid.

“They should be here any minute now,” She reports, “It’s nearly time for dinner. Master Degwin is very particular about such things.”

“Will they all be there?” You ask, hoping to be able to get a good idea of what you’re dealing with, “Dinner does sound fantastic right now, I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

“I believe Garma and Vivima may not be present tonight… and I could bring you a snack, if you’d like” Mink offers, and you shake your head; there’s no need to ruin your appetite, even if you could eat a small horse right. Morning workouts on the Zam were intense, and combined with a return to the constant gravity your body has been slightly more taxed than usual.

>Talk a bit, you’ll need to be vague though, the walls have ears. (Suggest topics)
>Skip to dinner!
>Write-in.
>>
>>5455900
>>Talk a bit, you’ll need to be vague though, the walls have ears. (Suggest topics)

Basic questions. Anything we should know about staying in the palace and regular schedules to keep. Like what the patriach prefers to be done in the palace, etc.
>>
>>5455900
>Talk a bit, you’ll need to be vague though, the walls have ears. (Suggest topics)
>"Where are all the other servants? About how many are there?" Ask this with due caution.
>Ask her about the general rules of the palace and things you should know about.
>"Will we be able to visit the Zabis? Within reason, of course." This question might tie into asking about general things of what we can and can't do.
>"Are there any training rooms around here the we can use?"
>>
>>5455900
>Skip to dinner!
>>
>>5455909
>>5455946
I'll support this too.
But also maybe try to show as very thankful and oblivious to what Mink let slip up, so Ghiren "corrects" her less harshly
>>
>>5455900
I'll back these
>>5455909
>>5455946
>>
>>5455909
>>5455946
>>5456046
>>5456054
Writing.
>>
“...I do have a few questions about the palace though, Mink. Rules and schedules and such. I don’t wish to disturb the Zabis, they’ve been such gracious hosts so far.” You say, hoping to provide a little cover for her now that you’re in a room that’s probably bugged from floor to ceiling.

“Oh? I’d be happy to answer any questions that you have.” Mink replies in that crystal clear voice of hers, melodic and easy on the ears; it might very well be her best feature.

“Is there any sort of schedule that we’ll be expected to keep?” You question, still leaning against the wall, “I’m not sure how things work here.”

“I’d been wondering about that myself, we already have our own.’ Casval adds from his armchair, “I’d like to still get in our morning routine every day.”

“Schedule?” Mink asks, tilting her head cutely and looking confused, “No, not for guests. If your presence is ever requested you’ll be informed by the staff. Requests are common. I suppose the closest thing to a schedule would be showing up to dinner… Like I said, Master Degwin is very particular about it, but otherwise there are no issues. Meals are prepared at any time by request, and breakfast, brunch, and lunch are rarely a group affair due to scheduling. …By morning routine do you mean exercise?”

“I do.” Casval confirms.

“There’s a fully outfitted room for such things on the second floor, Master Dozle saw to that quite some time ago before I worked here; it doesn’t get used much when he’s away.” Mink answers, taking a few light steps closer to be able to speak more easily.

“None of the other Zabis use it?” Artesia asks curiously.

“Who else would? Master Garma?” Mink asks, suppressing a laugh before her eyes drift over you and Casval, “He has a few times, but he’s not the sort to stick to it as you both must have, and the others are very busy… I think Mistress Vivima has used it a few times recently, I’ve seen her there before, she's very fit...”

“Is there anything else we should know about Degwin's preferences? I wouldn’t want to disrespect the patriarch of the home.” You ask.

“He’s a gentleman, so long as you show respect and dress well, and do as you’re asked. If he ever requests your presence I would hurry along faster than the others.” Mink offers as advice, placing a finger to her chin again as she thinks, “...I think that’s about it. I don’t speak to him as much as some do.”

“Any other general rules?” Artesia asks, just a moment before you were going to.
>>
>>5456223

“Plenty for me, but for guests?... Don’t make a mess, if you do let me or one of the staff know. Don’t be too loud, knock before entering…” Mink continues to list off ‘rules’ which amount more to being a general reminder not to be awfully rude than any serious restriction, counting them off on her fingers, “Oh, I can’t believe I almost forgot it! Don’t ever leave on your own. You can’t leave without guards. Mistress Kycilia said that earlier. …Sorry, it’s not a normal rule… for guests. They’ll know if you do.”

“That seems prudent, the federation could be watching the grounds. Do we just ask a guard if we need to go out?” Casval asks, not the slightest hint of worry to his voice, “We run in the morning, it would make quite the racket if we did it in the hallways.”

“Mmm, I… I suppose so.” Mink answers after considering the question carefully, “Or one of the Zabis could grant permission, though I’d hesitate to ask the young ones. Mistress Vivima is prone to… odd behaviors, it’s hard to ever know where she could be, and Master Garma is… Master Garma. He’d probably agree to it, he’s very sweet and understanding, really, but it might still irritate the others… Not that it’s my place to say… Oh, why do I talk so much?”

“Will we be able to visit the Zabis then? Within reason, of course.” You ask, trying to move the subject on quickly. Hopefully she won’t be punished too severely just for speaking freely with you and your siblings; the thought of it really makes your blood boil. Mink almost sounds like as much of a prisoner as you are in some ways, the emotions you can sense from her are always a confused mess… poor girl.

Mink nods, “Yes, though they’re always so very busy. They still spend a few hours here each day though, unless they’re traveling. I would advise you to ask me or one the other staff before attempting to speak with them, we stay apprised of their schedules to not disturb them with cleaning.”

“You’ve mentioned the other staff a lot, I assume there are a lot of people maintaining a palace of this size, it’s very grand. Where have they been? All the hallways have been empty except for a few guards.” You ask carefully, the question having lingered in the back of your mind for some time now.
>>
>>5456239

“Hmm? We’ve passed quite a few… Oh, sorry, I always forget how hard it’s to notice at first!” Mink says, confused at first before excitedly explaining, as if she was letting you in on some deep secret, “Those servant ways I was showing you aren’t for show, we really use them; there are layers between each floor of the palace, and we even have our own lifts! If you ever see us in the main hallways it’s because we want to be seen, or have been ordered to… and I guess we do clean the halls often as well, it’s an unending battle really. We didn’t get to the side of the palace where most of that is happening right now, the really big cleaning moves around wing to wing, but you might see little things here and there still.”

“Who is the majordomo?” Casval questions, “When we lived at our villa, if we had any serious issues then that was often the best person to go to.”

“Hmm? Oh, that would be Kot. Skinny old man, about this tall, looks sort of like a statue,” Mink says, raising her hand up to indicate a height a little taller than you or Casval, “He’s very strict, harsh sometimes, but he keeps everything running... and he looks out for the rest of us.”

>Talk a little longer, there can’t be much time left though.
>Off to dinner!
>Write-in.
>>
>>5456243
>>Off to dinner!
Mink's advice was to always respect dinner time and arrive early, so let's not piss off Degwin in our first day.
Also it seems we might meet Vivima often if she is so active
>>
>>5456243
>>Off to dinner!
>>
>>5456243
>Off to dinner!
>>
>>5456243
>Off to dinner!

Hey Contolist, you might want to plan on ending the thread soon. Not only is it lagging like hell, but I'd hate it if writing were taking away from your time to study for finals.
>>
>>5456247
>>5456294
>>5456247
>>5456317
Writing.

>>5456317
It's going to be coming to a stop tonight or at some point tomorrow, the dinner is going to be the last scene covered for this thread.
>>
>>5456303
Saw your vote as well, just misclicked.
>>
Fifteen minutes later.

You sit alongside your siblings at a long table in one of the palace’s many great dining halls, the baroque chamber lit by candelabras and the crackling flame of a great fireplace, a warm glow filling the area, deep shadows dancing about in the firelight and giving the chamber both a welcoming and sinister aura.

At the head of the long table sits Degwin Zabi, his eyes concealed by green tinted glasses and the lines of his wrinkled serious face cast in sharp relief by the light; he looks tired, more aged than any photos you’ve seen of him, and even his sharp red and black uniform does little to hide it, no amount of gold trim or fancy insignias enough to conceal his weariness. He still cuts an impressive image in some ways, but in most he seems to be a tired old man - A huge painted portrait of Degwin sits behind him on the wall past the head of the table, the features of its face stern and filled with an energy lacking in the man before you.

To Degwin’s right, down the side of the table, are Gihren, Dozle, and Kycilia; an empty chair sits between Dozle and Gihren, likely intended for Sasro in years past. Casval on the side of the table to Degwin’s left, and then you, and finally Artesia. Mink was insistent that you sit in order of age before she departed earlier; you arrived shortly before the Zabis.

Gihren has his silvery blue hair slicked back, his narrow eyes looking over you with interest, almost sneering as he does so; he wears a uniform quite similar to his father’s. Dozle is Dozle, a uniformed mountain of a man, and despite his scarred and fearsome appearance his face bears a friendly smile.

Kycilia though stands out from the other three, her uniform, if you could call it that, looking nothing at all how you remember it before; she’s wearing looser fitting purple, almost avian golden epaulets adorning her shoulders and helping to hold in place a black and red cloak, a portion of which covers her chest. Her orangish red hair is much longer than what you remember, no longer short and militaristic and instead tied up neatly in a bun but still with enough to frame the sharp features of her face. You remember her as towering above you the last time you met, and the contrast between memory and reality is jarring - She’s shorter than you, and not as old as you remember… was she ever all that old? She must have been a teenager when she came to intimidate you. Familial duties do have a way of pushing people into important work at a young age though, as you’re fully aware.

“Casval Rem Deikun,” Degwin says, his deep voice breaking the momentary silence in the fire lit dining hall, “Why have you returned to Zeon? I would hear your reasons.”

“I wish only to further the glory of Zeon, and to make a lasting peace between our families.” Casval replies, smiling and seemingly relaxed, “Fortune seems to have favored my endeavor, I had not planned to be here so abruptly.”
>>
>>5456399

“So it would seem. Dozle has that way with things.” Degwin says with a hint of wryness, his face difficult to read with those damned glasses on, and he takes a sip of from his wine glass before looking to further down the table, “Felix Zos Deikun, Artesia Tor Deikun - Do you share your brother’s noble goal?”

“I do, sir.” You confirm, trying your best to not let the pressure of the situation get to you; you’re utterly surrounded, guards just outside of the dining hall. All it would take is a single word and they’d be on you in seconds.

“I want peace between all peoples.” Artesia says charmingly, her own smile coming easily as she speaks, “Father spoke of mankind moving entirely to space and leaving war behind, I’d like to see that day.”

“A noble ideal.” Gihren comments, “If you speak truly then there is much we could do to further it, the great task lies ahead.”

“Spare them, dear brother.” Kycilia says, pursing her lips in annoyance, “This is no place for one of your speeches.”

“Your lack of vision is tiresome, sister, with the Deikuns retu-” Gihren begins before being cut off by his father.

“Silence.” Degwin orders, his deep voice even and calm, the words carrying clearly throughout the room, “Dozle has returned the Deikuns to us. We are here to make peace. Try.”

“...Yes, father.” Kycilia replies dutifully. Gihren falls silent but seems reluctant to do so, shaking his head in almost amused disappointment.

“Dozle, you believe the words of Deikun’s children?” Degwin asks, “Since I was appointed his successor I have wanted nothing more than peace. This struggle has grown tiresome and unnecessary.”

“I do, father. The middle one, Felix, has shown great honor and bravery. He defended his sister and was willing to sacrifice himself in the struggle when I ordered their capture, but when he heard my offer he was immediately willing to call them both to the ship.” Dozle rumbles, retelling a very abridged version of your capture, “To willingly face death and then willingly call his siblings to him? Those are not the actions of an enemy nor a coward.”
>>
>>5456401

“...That will suffice for now, Dozle.” Degwin says, holding up a hand to signal for a few servants entering the room to wait; they’re just now bringing out the food, but they hold for a few moments as the tired old man continues speaking, “Casval Deikun, you are the head of your family. Though we grew apart in his last years, your father was once a great ally of the Zabi family, and I knew him as a friend. His passing was tragic… strokes are such a terrible thing. The confusion surrounding his passing has marred these last few years. Tensions had been high before, petty internal politics blinded so many, and a great many regretful things were done then and since, by all sides. I hope we will be able to avoid the mistakes of the past. Munzo was renamed in honor of your father’s memory, but it was a bitter occasion without a single son or daughter of Deikun present. If you have come with a true desire to make peace, then I will do my best to ensure that it is made.”

You can tell he isn’t telling the entire truth, but… there’s something genuine about the offer that you can’t completely block out, a hint of emotion you pick up on; genuine regret and a hint of sorrow.

“To peace.” Casval says, raising his glass. Everyone seated joins in the toast, and Degwin motions for the servants to bring forth the food.

>”...Where are Garma and Vimiva? I was hoping to meet them both.”
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, see where things go.
>“I’d like to make a request. Our mother is still being kept in the tower by our old mansion. We would like her to be moved here, for her health. We’ve… missed her, very much.”
>Write-in
>>
>>5456404
1)
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, see where things go.
>“I’d like to make a request. Our mother is still being kept in the tower by our old mansion. We would like her to be moved here, for her health. We’ve… missed her, very much.”

2)
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, see where things go.

Time for Casval's silver tongue to start shining, then we can use whatever ice breaker/talk about family he has to lead us into requesting mom's return.
If Dozle's previous reactions are anything to go by, it might not be the best idea to ask about where the two missing Zabis are (remember how he reacted when we talked about Vivima piloting? We were able to get out of that one because Dozle was Dozle, but I think we'd be pushing it with the three other Zabis).
>>
>>5456404
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, see where things go
The old man cares about respecting the hierarchy of authority; let's humor him
>>
>>5456404
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, see where things go.
We can always get her here later, I'd rather not push it.
>>
>>5456404
>Let Casval continue to take the lead, see where things go.
>“I’d like to make a request. Our mother is still being kept in the tower by our old mansion. We would like her to be moved here, for her health. We’ve… missed her, very much.”
>>
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>>5456409
+1
also rather not have appeals to emotion like "We've missed her" if making the request wins, I think most of the Zabis present wouldn't really take to it considering who we are, they already have to put up with Garma, but his excuse is that he's family.
We should go all in on the state of her health. Logic over emotion. We literally saw her moribund state in that old tower a couple of hours ago, it's an observable fact that without a proper environment and a healthy state of mind -which aren't mutually exclusive-, people's health have a tendency to worsen, she'd just die if she sees no reason to live on, trapped in that room with no one but herself, seeing her children was a spark for her one that should be pressed if she is to rebound. We should politely stress that.
>>
>>5456409
>>5456428
>>5456438
You know anons, I'm pretty sure that letting Casval lead and asking our own question are mutually exclusive choices
>>
>>5456440
QM doesn't seem to have a problem going with multiple prompts or combining them if it makes sense, he's been doing it all thread. Having Casval speak, then having Felix making the request sometime during the dinner doesn't seem exclusive to me.
>>
>>5456440
Casval can talk first and then we can question, we can mention and he makes the proper request we can make or he can be the one to ask.
>>
>>5456450
I didn't delete everything when rewording and now there is a "we can make" in the middle of a sentence.
>>
>>5456428
>>5456438
>>5456409
Writing.

>>5456440
Felix can ask questions after after Casval has talked for awhile, he'll be waiting for a good point to jump in.

>>5456449
It can be a little weird at times but generally it hasn't been an issue.
>>
The aroma of the food being brought out by the servants is absolutely mouth watering, but as delectable as the dinner is likely to be you have more important things to focus upon.

“We hope to join the next class of the academy, to see that the peace lasts,” Casval continue, a dark soup of some kind placed before him by the careful hand of well practiced servant.

“An eye for the future,” Gihren comments, “Such things will be needed once the greatest work begins, the day is not far now.”

“We will be ready.” Dozles says between spoonfulls of his own soup, already causing it to rapidly vanish, “The fleet and mobile suit corps will be expanded rapidly. The three of you will make promising young officers, strong minds and hearts will be needed!”

…Degwin doesn’t seem very pleased by the topic, a hint of a frown on his wrinkled and baggy face, but he says nothing and begins his own meal in silence. You decide that letting Casval take the lead for a while might be for the best, he’s a bit of a silver tongued devil when he needs to be and the eldest besides.

“This mobile suit corp you’ve both been so enthralled with recently is so very interesting, my dear brothers.” Kycilia says, turning her gaze to you and your brother and arching an eyebrow knowingly, “You wish to pilot them, don’t you?”

“They’re impressive machines, like gods of war from the old myths.” Casval replies smoothly, “I wouldn’t miss the chance to control one.”

“Gods?” Gihren questions amusedly, “How apt, though they’re far beyond anything conceived by such ancient superstitions.”

“I like it!” Dozle agrees loudly, raising a fist.

“It has a measure of poetry to it... but what then of the people who control the machines?” Kycilia asks, looking down toward Gihren and leaving her own food largely untouched, “Who is fit to command a god of war? You, dear brother?”

“It is our destiny, Kycilia.” Gihren answers without hesitation, “The arc of history bends toward our rule, the dominance of our people, all united behind our house. What would your father say about such a question, Casval Deikun?”

“Anything which adapts mankind further to space must be pursued. Once we have fully left the cradle of earth behind us we will be far beyond the gods of old.” Your brother answers, “Father was less concerned with methods than goals.”
>>
>>5456602

“We’re of similar minds then. Our control of space will be absolute and eternal.” Gihren says, giving an approving nod before finally trying his own food; his face wrinkles in disgust and he lifts a hand slightly, a servant stepping forward from the where he waited nearby along the wall. Gihren says something in a hushed voice that you can’t quite here, and the servant’s eyes widen - The offending soup is quickly removed.

Kycilia scoffs a little, “We’ll be nothing more than humans in machines if little else changes, there’s more to control than brute strength…”

“I agree.” Artesia says firmly, surprising you a little by speaking up, “If mankind won’t change it hardly matters if we’re in space or not, we can’t control anything if we cannot control ourselves.”

“Not all are equal.” Gihren notes, taking a sip of his wine.

“Indeed not.” Kycilia agrees, giving her brother some side eye before addressing your sister, “What sort of change do you imagine?”


“I, uhm…” Artesia struggles to come up with an answer, though you know the one she wants to give, “...I just think that if people don’t understand one another there’s no hope of peace, even in space. We’ll just fight forever.”

Kycilia lets out a little derisive laugh, a knowing look in her eyes, “Understand one another? An interesting choice of words, I’ve heard so much of that recently.”

Ah, crap.

“It’s a noble dream, Artesia.” Casval says, covering for your sister, “Don’t you all think so?”

“It has its attraction.” Degwin agrees, finally breaking his silence, “Much could be avoided if men would listen to reason.”

“They can be made to listen.” Gihren says confidently, “The right words can move any man.”

“Of course they can move men, dear brother.” Kycilia remarks snidely.
>>
>>5456605

Sensing Degwin's returning discomfort with the conversation, you decide now might be a good time to speak up; he’s the patriarch, even if his control of his family is… very tenuous from the looks of things.

“Degwin, sir, I have a request.”

“Speak it.”

“Our mother is still being kept in the tower by our old mansion. We would like her to be moved here, for her health. I don’t mean to dampen the mood, but she looked nearly like a skeleton. I fear she won’t recover without a more accommodating place to rest.” You say, attempting to remain within the bounds of polite conversation despite the difficult subject, “We’ve… missed her, very much.”

Degwin stares at you for a long moment, his face difficult to read behind those tinted glasses of his, and he raises a hand. A servant steps forward from behind him, and Degwin whispers something to him.

“It is done.” Degwin says, something in his deep voice reminding you almost of Dozle for a moment.

Kycilia shoots an annoyed look to her father, but it vanishes quickly as Degwin’s gaze turns to her and she bows her head in deference.

“...Thank you, sir.” You say, shocked by the ease with which the request was granted. Artesia is positively beaming, looking down the table to the old man… he returns a small toothless smile of his own, more restrained in his display of emotion but… moved? Your confusion grows, unsure of what to make of this ‘treacherous’ patriarch of the Zabis. The memory of your father on his deathbed anchors your thoughts before they get too far afield, and you refocus yourself.

>”What may we do to repay your favor?” A dangerous thing to ask perhaps, but respectful.
>”Dozle, we’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?” He mentioned as much a few days ago, but it’s a decent enough topic to switch to.
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5456608
>>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>>
>>5456608
1)
>”Dozle, we’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?” He mentioned as much a few days ago, but it’s a decent enough topic to switch to.
>"You done much to us these past few days, and we are thankful for it. What can we do to repay this chance you have given us?"
I'm only voting for this as the first option because I'm a coward
2)
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
It's time to weaponize The Look™, like Casval taught us
>>
>>5456608
>”What may we do to repay your favor?” A dangerous thing to ask perhaps, but respectful.
>”Dozle, we’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?” He mentioned as much a few days ago, but it’s a decent enough topic to switch to.
IIRC, by this point Degwin's just about McFuckin had it with his children's BS. Getting on his good side and being the best we can be might get us some pretty good leeway.
>>
>>5456608
1)
>”Dozle, we’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?” He mentioned as much a few days ago, but it’s a decent enough topic to switch to.
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.

2)
>”What may we do to repay your favor?” A dangerous thing to ask perhaps, but respectful.
>”Dozle, we’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?” He mentioned as much a few days ago, but it’s a decent enough topic to switch to.

3)
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.

First choice could potentially have its benefits and will put us in Degwin's good graces for now, though it's very risky to chance it (worst case scenario he asks us not to join the academy). And if we get on Degwin's good side too quickly we'll be on Gihren's and Kycilia's kill lists.
Kycilia you bitch. You wanted to keep mom in the tower didn't you?
>>
>>5456608
>>5456654
Changing my vote to
1)
>”What may we do to repay your favor?” A dangerous thing to ask perhaps, but respectful.
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
It'll get us closer to Degwin's 'faction' while at the same throwing Kycilia for a loop (especially if we use our natural charm). This might even entertain Gihren enough to make him trust us a little.
Though it could all easily end in a travesty. Here's hoping I don't regret making this vote.

2)
>”Dozle, we’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?” He mentioned as much a few days ago, but it’s a decent enough topic to switch to.
The safest option out of all of them here.
>>
>>5456613
Compliment.

>>5456615 (secondary to compliment)
Dozle/Academy+Offer to repay favor (to Dozle
specifically?)

>>5456624
Repay favor + Dozle/Academy.

>>5456692 (secondary for just Dozle/Academy)
Repay favor + Compliment.

Alright, so either it's Dozle/Academy+Repay favor (depending on if >>5456615 meant to just reword that option), or it is complimenting Kycilia (secondary vote of >>5456615 sealing that). I could use some clarification, anon.

I'll give it another twenty minutes for voting and possible clarification.
>>
>>5456695
I'll change >>5456613 to supporting >>5456692
>>
>>5456695
I hoped to reword it to thanks for everything, not just our mother, and make it sound like it wan't a trade of favor. Make it seem we are even more grateful and we wish to be friendly instead of playing politics.
It was less to Dozle specific and more the whole Zabi family. But I'm fine with the normal repay the favor
>>
>>5456709
Thank you, anon.

So we still have a tie. There is no escape!

Charming devil maximum danger mode:
>>5456700
>>5456692
vs.
Respectful future soldier:
>>5456654
>>5456624

Five more minutes and I'll roll it off if there isn't a winner, I'd like to get back to writing.
>>
>>5456713
Sorry, that second group should have been, clicked the wrong post.

Charming devil maximum danger mode:
>>5456700
>>5456692
vs.
Respectful future soldier.
>>5456624
>>5456615
>>
>>5456715
In that case I'll change my vote to Respectful future soldier. It's less exciting, but honestly I don't want to risk it with the Zabis.
>>
>>5456717
>>5456624
>>5456615
Writing.

>>5456717
Thanks, anon. I was sort of hoping charming devil maximum danger mode would win, ah well.
>>
>>5456719
Artesia would murder us with mind bullets
>>
>>5456719
>spoiler
With you saying that I bet there are gonna be more opportunities to cause chaos in the Zabi household toward Kycilia especially.
>>
“What may we do to repay your favor?” You respectfully ask Degwin, though you make sure to direct a bit of your thanks to the others, “Your family has done much for us these past few days.”

“Repay the favor?” Degwin asks, carefully considering your question aloud, “How traditional of you. Very well then, I would have you aid my youngest son, Garma.”

“Aid him, sir? How so?” You ask, the vagueness of the request a little perplexing. You take another sip of your wine, the taste is exquisite.

“He wishes to join the academy,” Degwin explains, his voice tinged with regret, “I would prefer he is well prepared if he wishes to pursue such a life. From what I have seen you and your brother are well suited to the task.”

You trade looks with Casval, and he nods in agreement. The request sounds easy enough. Artesia looks positively excited, and for a moment you can feel her presence not just to your side but all around you, nearly communicating some idea… it doesn’t quite get through though.

“Father, I have already been seeing to it.” Dozle rumbles in confusion, his soup now long gone, one of the servants stepping forward to remove the bowl even as another brings Gihren his replacement for whatever earlier error there had been.

“You will have assistance then, Dozle.” Degwin replies swiftly, almost harshly, “The aid of an older brother often taken away by duty is not the same as that of companions of the same age.”

“I… I see, father.” Dozle says sullenly, his head drooping, “You are right, of course.”

“You are a good brother to Garma, Dozle.” Degwin says, his tone not exactly comforting, the words a simple acknowledgement of reality, “I ask that only that they be good companions.”

“Father, is this wise?” Kycilia questions, her tone more than a little skeptical, her food still untouched; does she just not eat much? She is quite skinny, her cheekbones and other features rather sharp.

“It is my order.” Degwin states flatly, resolve filling his voice, “See that it is obeyed.”

“Yes, father.” Kycilia says, smirking as she bows her head in deference once more, “I will see to it.”

“I look forward to meeting Garma, I’m confident we’ll make fast friends.” Casval says confidently.

“As am I.” You echo soon after, faded memories of your brief encounters as children resurfacing, your short conversation at your father’s funeral the clearest among them by far.

“Dozle,” You continue, “We’ll need to assume new identities when we attend the academy, won’t we?”

“You will, though I dislike it.” Dozle confirms, downing his glass of wine in a single gulp.
>>
>>5456788

“False identities, Dozle?” Kycilia questions amusedly, a mischievous look in her eyes, “Allow me to handle the preparations.”

“Of course, Kycilia.” Dozles agrees easily, “Thank you.”

“It’s quite alright, dear brother. I’ll ensure they fit very well.” Kycilia replies, “I think I might even have some fun with this.”

>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>”...Might I ask where Garma is tonight? I would have liked to meet him here. Vivima as well for that matter, Dozle spoke well of them both on the trip here.” Their absence is a bit odd.
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She hasn’t touched her food at all.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5456789
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>”...Might I ask where Garma is tonight? I would have liked to meet him here. Vivima as well for that matter, Dozle spoke well of them both on the trip here.” Their absence is a bit odd.
>>
>>5456789
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
It's time to go on the offensive
>>
>>5456789
1)
>”...Might I ask where Garma is tonight? I would have liked to meet him here. Vivima as well for that matter, Dozle spoke well of them both on the trip here.” Their absence is a bit odd.
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She hasn’t touched her food at all.
We felt that similarity between our father and Degwin, right? Artesia must be having a much more extreme version of that. I bet she's even getting a feeling of regret with our plan to eventually kill him and the others as well.
Even if that's not the case we'll have to talk to her about it later, don't want her to compromise our plans by being too friendly with the Zabis.

2)
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>”...Might I ask where Garma is tonight? I would have liked to meet him here. Vivima as well for that matter, Dozle spoke well of them both on the trip here.” Their absence is a bit odd.
I feel like we missed the chance to fully trip her over, but we can still mess with her head a little bit.
>>
>>5456789
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She hasn’t touched her food at all.
>>
>>5456789
>>5456797
Changing my vote to
1)
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She hasn’t touched her food at all.
Almost forgot that prying too much with the two youngest members would risk a bad reaction.
Also, with Kycilia distracted we'll be safer to ask Artesia what's wrong. Though Gihren and Degwin would still pay attention, they might not be as intuitive as Kycilia in figuring out anything.

2)
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
Going full attack mode on her has it's own merits.
>>
>>5456789
>”Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair. It suits you better.” Way out of left field, compliments might mess with her a bit.
We should probably ask sister later, not during dinner.
It might be a sensitive topic we would need to talk around, and anyone that hadn't noticed her not eating suddenly would.
>>
>>5456795
>>5456804
>>5456812
Kycilia. Writing.
>>
Confidence bolstered by your experience over the last few days, you decide to try something a bit bolder than usual, flashing a charming smile at Kycilia as she continues to flaunt her control over your new identities.

“Kycilia, I like what you’ve done with your hair.” You compliment, meeting her eyes dark, almost black, eyes, “It suits you much better.”

She pauses mid sentence, eyes remaining locked on you as a sly grin spreads across her face, and she quickly takes to the verbal sparring, “Hm. Charming. You prefer it longer?”

“It’s very elegant,” You confirm, trying your best to strike a smoldering look, “More subtle.”

She arches an eyebrow, “Subtle? An odd compliment to give.”

Casval drinks from his glass, watching the exchange intently but remaining silent as it plays out. Dozle just looks confused, head turning from you to his sister and back again, and Gihren, for his part, couldn’t care less, utterly disinterested.

“Perhaps, but it’s a fitting one,” You continue, “You don’t like to give away much, do you?”

“She doesn-” Dozle starts to say, Kycilia holding up a hand to silence him.

“Only as much as necessary, I keep what’s mine.” Kycilia answers you with a coquettish grin, “You think you’re clever, don’t you?”

“I know I am.” You respond instantly, though your cheeks warm a little more than you’d like, belying your attempts at cool confidence.

“How very humble.” Kycilia says sarcastically, immediately noticing the slip and leaping upon it, “You’re badly out of your depth, boy.”

“Hardly.” You say, attempting to recover the initiative even as you seem to have left her unphased so far, “I’m onto you.”

“Oh?” She questions, taking a sip of her wine, her dark eyes piercing right through you, an almost predatory attraction to them; she commands a lot more of your attention than you’d expected, there’s something about her tone… or…

“You’re enjoying this.” You answer her, knowing must be true. It can’t just be your heart beating that quickly, right?

“It can be entertaining to toy with fools,” She responds almost dismissively, a hint of playfulness to her voice, “But they quickly grow tiresome-”

“Enough.” Dozle rumbles, deeply confused, “Of… whatever this is. Enough of it, sister.”

“Thank you, Dozle.” Gihren says dryly, “Her endless web weaving was growing nauseating, we were meant to discuss the future tonight, not play games with children.”

“We’d hardly even begun, dear brother.” Kycilia responds, giving you one last look, “But you’re right, this is hardly the place to teach such a lesson.”
>>
>>5456887

Lesson? You’re not quite sure what she means, and you play it off with a coy smile and a nod, returning your attention to your meal for a moment. The servants are preparing to bring out the next course already. That was a… loss, wasn’t it? That’s never happened before. Artesia is trying hard not to glare daggers at you, with limited success, her side eye intense enough to bore holes through steel, though Casval seems to be largely unphased by the attempt.

A few minutes later, well into the next course.

Casval and Artesia took the lead again after your little sparring match with Kycilia, both of them handling things expertly. The food has been excellent, even if your company is a little wanting, and you’re finding it harder to meet Kycilia’s gaze with noticing more… about her. How the hell did she do that? Damned hormones, you’re being betrayed by your own youth. That has to be it. You try your best to push the thoughts away, knowing there’s absolutely nothing good that could ever come from that …But still…

>”...Might I ask where Garma is tonight? I would have liked to meet him here." His absence is a bit odd. Maybe it's best not to mention Vivima after your earlier... whatever that was with Kycilia.
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.
>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5456889
>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.
So this is why you wanted to write it so much it.
>>
>>5456889
>>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.
>>
>>5456889
>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.

Alright, that went way worse than expected. Note to self, don't try to seduce the expert seductress that wants to turn our family into puppets. At least this made Felix realize he can't get away with seducing everyone. Hopefully it'll also curb his tendencies with women as well.
The sooner we realize that she was the main reason mom was in that tower the better.
>>
>>5456920
The more I think about this, the more I realize how awful this thing with Kycilia was. Now Gihren, Degwin, and Kycilia herself probably now slightly suspect us to have ulterior motives of some kind.
And we were doing so good as well.
>>
>>5456889
>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.

Indulge our autism.

>>5456928
Our plan is to kill most of them. Gihren, Kycillia and Degwin aren't stupid, they would have caught on to us having a plan eventually.
>>
>>5456889
>>5456920
Changing my vote to
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.
Something's up. Kycilia hasn't touched her food yet, and Gihren asked for his soup to be changed.

>>5456949
Eventually is better than the day we arrive in Munzo though. I feel like we could've gone at least a few more days pretending we actually wanted to help them and be given a bit of leeway, but now we have to play it safer than before and avoid/go against Kycilia when possible in order to stop ourselves from doing more stupid things.
>>
>>5456928
nah, we just gotta make it normal behavior for us and they'll never suspect anything.
>>
>>5456964
Make what normal behavior? Defying a major Zabi faction? That's asking for trouble.
If you mean being a womanizer, Felix is already that so there's no need to worry there. Though I still believe we should try to stop ourselves from 'appreciating' every pretty woman we meet. We'll fail enough times to convince the Zabis, but being able to control ourselves and use our abilities when we want will give us more control over situations.
>>
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>>5456889
>>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.

Also, I missed the last vote, but what the hell were anons thinking voting to out of nowhere compliment Kycilia's hair instead of anything else? That's gotta be the most retarded thing we could have done, by far the most retarded in this thread for sure, there was nothing to gain from doing some cloak and dagger exchange with Zeon's Spymaster. The prompt itself didn't even imply that it was a jokey type deal, so any anon trying to use "it's gonna be funny" ain't gonna cut it.
>>
>>5456889
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.

>>5456928
>>5456949
This guy >>5456964 gets it. Felix must simply lean into the womanizer trait to throw Degwin off the scent.
>>
>>5456974
we must flirt with every female that we aren't related to.
>>
>>5456974
As one of the main guys pushing for that vote, it was retarded on my part. I vastly overestimated Felix's abilities to seduce, and thought that we could pull a fast one at her when she didn't expect it.

>>5456975
We already are that tough, and that's without even trying. What I'm saying is that we need to control our urges and work on how to control our charm, instead of making advances on every woman we meet (that will only lead to trouble, especially when putting politics in the mix).
>>
>>5456980
>it was retarded on my part
Seconded. I expected too much from Felix's charm.
>>
>>5456889
>>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.

>>5456981
>>5456980
Hey, practice makes perfect.
>>
>>5456889
oh shit I forgot to vote
>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.
>>
>>5456988
>Hey, practice makes perfect.
Agreed. But we should practice controlling and refining it instead of letting it control us.
>>
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>>5456979
>>5456981

You "Womanizer" anons better not try that shit with Vivima with Dozle around, that's a surefire way to tank the good will we've built with the big guy and possibly getting shitter cleaning duty for our entire stint at the academy. Also now that Kycilia's on alert, she might try something if she thinks we're playing 4D chess by doing that too.
This isn't Texas colony. We've made it to the big leagues where our revenge planning stopped being just talk between siblings and turned into action, we're in the vipers' pit now, lads, we can't be getting caught lacking like this in front of our sworn enemy, especially when they hold all the cards, there's more riding on this than our ass, we've got Casval, Artesia and now our mother too.
>>
>>5456995
Playing the womanizer absolutely does not fit Felix character, playing a Gadfly does, however. Felix randomly poking and prodding at authority figures fits him much better than being a fuckboy.

It's also less likely to get us shot, tbqh
>>
>>5456889
>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.
>”Dozle, how long have you been working on mobile suits? They’re fascinating.” The topic seemed to go over well earlier, may as well dive into it again.
>>
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>>5456896
>>5456949
>>5456988
>>5456989
Dozle

>>5456902
>>5456959
>>5456974
>>5456975
Artesia

>>5457008
Artesia+Dozle

Looks like there's a tie again. I'll give it until the morning (~6 hours from now) and roll off if there isn't a winner. As a heads up we're coming up on the last 3-4 story posts of the thread, it will be ending tomorrow.

Have a Mink!
>>
>>5457064
Mink expression says 'what did you say to me bitch'?
>>
>>5456959
Thinking about it more, going back to talking about the Mobile suits is probably a very bad idea. It gives Gihren and Kycilia too many openings to prod at us make us slip up.
Worst case scenario Gihren and Kycilia form an 'alliance' whenever they deal with Felix.
>>
>>5457119
>openings to prod at us make us slip up.

How? All we'd be doing is indulging our tech-autism. It's not like we're specifically planning to use a Mobile Suit to kill the Zabis.
>>
>>5457159
We're not planning to kill them with the suits yet but this does open up ways we can say something we don't want to if they play their cards right. Imagine if Kycilia starts talking to Felix directly that Vivima also has a passion for Mobile suits as well and then asks him when he started to like the concept of piloting. If we then talk about Mirai then that leads her to know that we had a connection to Yashima Company.
Basically what I'm trying to say is we just suffered a major psychological defeat and we should tread lightly. I'm not sure how exactly, but Gihren and Kycilia can easily exploit this if we bear our necks at them by going back to a safe topic (a topic they both have interest in to an extent).
That and I think there might be something in the food that'll mess with us, Casval, Dozle, and Degwin. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but this is the Zabis we're talking about.
>>
>>5457172
The only thing we really have to hide is the plot to kill them, everything else is either not a big deal or they already know.

>there might be something in the food that'll mess with us, Casval, Dozle, and Degwin
Okay, I know I shadowrun like a motherfucker, but this is just too far. Gihren wouldn't dare try to poison his father and brother like that, just to get at us. He's arrogant and evil, not stupid.
>>
>>5457175
Yes they know, but Dozle doesn't. He'll start to be slightly more suspicious of us if we admit to something weird or compromising (Kycilia will probably try to make a wedge between our family and Dozle).
And I don't mean poison, I was talking more like some sort of chemical that makes us sleep soon (so we can't plot tonight) or more open to conversation or something generally harmless that'll be make things more difficult for us in the short term.
>>
>>5457178
>something weird or compromising
Like? Genuinely, I don't what we could say that would sour our relationship with Dozle that isn't wildly out-of-character for Felix (even if you're right about Gihren drugging us).
>>
>>5457179
It'll probably be something that plants a small seed of doubt in his mind about who we 'really' are.
But who knows, maybe this is all just psychological warfare against us specifically so that we 'know our place' under the Zabis (Gihren and Kycilia specifically) actually I'm almost certain that that's a key part in all of this.
>>
>>5457179
>>5457184
And if you want an example, we could accidentally talk about how we give 'looks' to women and string them around (it would be bad if he found out we were trying it on Kycilia. He might think we'll attempt it on Vivima next).
>>
>>5457185
>we could accidentally talk about how we give 'looks' to women and string them around
How the fuck would this come up in conversation?? It's not like we're gonna talk about embarrassing habits at a formal fucking dinner!
>>
lmao I leave to watch One Piece and I come back to dropped spaghetti.
Felix's ability to attract women so far had mostly been doing absolutely nothing. I'd think one could make an argument it's really been 'be urself' actually working. How it'd work for subterfuge will take building up to considering Kycilia is a treacherous spymaster.
Felix is a less murderous and less suave Casval. His women experience so far has been unknowingly flirting with girls his own age and a lonely, drunk christmas space-cake.

>>5456889
>>”Artesia, is there something wrong?” She still has barely touched her food, though at least she’s been speaking again.

>>5457185
>>5457193
We can put on a cool mask or sunglasses to hide our dazzling and flirtatious eyes.
>>
>>5457195
>lonely, drunk christmas space-cake
You mean, the perfect woman?

Everything we new we learn about Vivima is making her seem like less and less of a quality prospect.
>>
>>5456974
Contolist said he wanted to write that.
>>5457064
Mink in that image makes me think of a black haired Vivima.
>>
>>5457193
If either Kycilia or Gihren mention Vivima likes mobile suits too and then it rolls from there. Though yeah you have a point in that it's probably not gonna happen. But if Gihren did do something to the food then I can us maybe saying something.

>>5457195
>We can put on a cool mask or sunglasses to hide our dazzling and flirtatious eyes.
lmao I'd go for it.
>>
>>5456902
>>5456959
>>5456974
>>5456975
>>5457195
Writing.
>>
>>5457277
>If either Kycilia or Gihren mention Vivima likes mobile suits too and then it rolls from there.

How? It's not like Kycillia has such a stranglehold around us that we'll just start spilling spaghetti at the slightest provocation, and it's very fucking obvious that Garma and Vivima have fucked up in someway to keep them away from dinner. I doubt any of the Zabis (except for maybe Dozle) would bring her up out of nowhere like that.
>>
>>5457277
>>5457286

I doesn't matter at this point anyway, since asking Artesia what's wrong won.

I'm not going out of my way to be an asshole, I swear.
>>
>>5457286
That's fair. I was just worried things would go worse if we backtracked to a previous topic.

>>5457290
No it's fine. It's always good to have these sorts of discussions. I may very well be dead wrong and seeing things that aren't there. Though then again we are in the heart of the beast.
>>
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>>5457307
>in the heart of the beast
That's Garma, and we're not inside him. Yet
>>
>>5457318
kek
You made me spit out my drink I hope you're happy.
>>
>>5457322
Garma, You are supposed to swallow.
>>
“Artesia, is there something wrong?” You lean over and ask quietly to your sister while Casval and Gihren are loudly discussing something to do with the federation.

Artesia turns slightly to look at you, and though her face reveals little you feel a flash of sympathetic awareness and a veritable torrent of guilt and doubt wash over you; she’s torn up over something, and badly.

“We’ll be back together soon.” She says as your brother begins to loudly complain about corruption in the background, “Mom’s going to be here with us… Dad’s still gone, but…”

“It’s hard to believe we’ll be together again isn’t it?” You say, feeling as if it’s the dozenth time you’ve made a similar comment and yet the words feel no less true, “We made the right decision to come back. They’ve treated us well, we just have to do our part for Zeon now.”

“They have.” Artesia says, her eyes briefly flicking over to Dozle and Degwin, “...I’m just not very hungry, I guess.”

“Mom would want you to eat.” You insist, catching a glimpse of Kycilia watching you both in the side of your vision.

Artesia deflates, speaking sadly, some of her earlier confidence wearing very thin even as she still speaks around the true topic, “I know, Felix, I just… I’m not sure I can be as strong as you and Casval, things are happening so fast and the academy is…”

“Anxious?” Kycilia questions your sister, Dozle having joined in with Gihren and Casval now, the three of them discussing the growth of Zeon’s military forces.

Artesia’s eyes widen ever so slightly but otherwise her face reveals nothing, and she gives Kycilia a little nod. …What is she doing?

“Being the youngest isn’t easy,” Kycilia says, something softening in her normally venomous voice; she’s not looking at you all, eyes fixed entirely on your sister.

“How would you know?” Artesia questions quietly, “You have two younger siblings.”

“I was the youngest for years, before my father remarried and Garma was born. Even then it was all brothers until Vivima.” Kycilia explains, taking a sip of her wine, “Three older brothers.”

“Well, you had your mother-” Artesia begins to say, and you reach over to put a hand on hers, hoping she won’t say anything too rash, but Kycilia cuts her off before it can get too far.

“She passed shortly after I was born.” Kycilia answers your sister’s point before she can even fully make it, setting down her wine glass, “It was a stressful time, expectations were high. I had to find my own way.”
>>
>>5457382

Is this some poor attempt at a sob story? Kycilia locked your mother in a tower for six years, it’s not going to work… No, she's not foolish enough to try something like that. There's some other game here.

“I had to prove myself.” Kycilia continues, “Did you know that I was barely seventeen the last time we met?”

“...I didn’t, I thought you were a lot older.” Artesia answers.

“Mm, the memory of a child.” Kycilia says with a hint of amusement, “It’s quite alright, dear. Everyone seems older when you’re so young… and when you’re young, rash decisions seem wise. A daughter shouldn’t be separated from her mother at such a young age as you were.”

“...I agree…” Artesia replies with a barely strained voice, and you squeeze her hand a little to try to calm her.

“I had not considered the possibility of escape.” Kycilia says, glancing briefly to her very distracted brothers before continuing to speak more directly than she has the entire night, “It was a regretful thing that happened to you. I hope you can move past it... there’s much I could teach you.”

“...I’d be honored to learn.” Artesia answers, playing along, a faint tinge of anger slipping into her voice. You feel her presence once more; not just where your hands meet, but filling the entire room, icy and freezing cold - A feeling you’ve been sensing from her more and more since her agreement to join you and Casval in your pursuit of vengeance.

A predatory glint returns to Kycilia’s as she speaks, “Excellent. Have you heard of doctor Lom Flanagan, Artesia?”

“W-what?...” Your sister asks, thrown off by the sudden shift, her reaction giving away far too much, that icy cold intent vanishing as a bolt of fear and uncertainty shoots through her. Casval pauses briefly in his conversation with Gihren and Dozle, glancing to your sister, but he quickly continues with the distraction.

>”...Lom Flanagan? I don’t think we have.” Deny, deny, deny. Never heard of him.
>”I think we’ve heard the names once, when we were on Dozle’s ship.” Kycilia is obviously aware of something. Tell only as much as necessary. Maybe Zhang was a spy?
>Try to expand your newtype awareness beyond you and your sister. How did Kycilia know?
>Write-in.
>>
>>5457387
>”I think we’ve heard the names once, when we were on Dozle’s ship.” Kycilia is obviously aware of something. Tell only as much as necessary. Maybe Zhang was a spy?
Cat's out of the bag, don't bother trying to hide it.
>>
>>5457387
>”I think we’ve heard the names once, when we were on Dozle’s ship.” Kycilia is obviously aware of something. Tell only as much as necessary. Maybe Zhang was a spy?
I want to use our newtype powers, but Kycilia clearly knows about the existence of newtypes. This could be a trap. We also have to make sure Artesia doesn't accept being associated Flanagan though, since it'll be very bad for her (and the rest of us potentially, also being newtypes) once the OYW ends.
I don't remember newtypes having been discovered and taken seriously by the Zabis yet. Or is there some sort of butterfly effect going on?
>>
>>5457400
It's ambiguous, though there are plenty of things like Glemy's possible origins that indicate they were aware and took them seriously for years before this point.
>>
>>5457387
>>”I think we’ve heard the names once, when we were on Dozle’s ship.” Kycilia is obviously aware of something. Tell only as much as necessary. Maybe Zhang was a spy?
>>
>>5457391
>>5457400
>>5457424
Writing.
>>
“I think we’ve heard the name once,” You answer, letting go of your sister’s hand for now, “When we were on Dozle’s ship. Why?”

Kycilia shifts a little in her chair, leaning forward just a touch as she takes another drink of her wine, eyes focused entirely on you just over her glass, dark and… you blink, trying to not focus on them too much. She smirks as she lowers the glass.

“She said earlier that she wished people could understand one another, an interesting way to phrase a desire for peace,” Kycilia explains, “And her devotion to family is plain to see. You’ve read your father’s work, haven’t you, Artesia?”

“I have.” Artesia answers as she reaches for her own glass, the better part of her composure already recovered, her face displaying only mild interest, “Are you talking about newtypes?”

“Indeed.” Kycilia answers, seeming to savor the moment as if it was a sweet… or perhaps it’s the pleasure of a cat catching a mouse, “I believe I share a similar interest as you, I’ve heard of your aspirations, and I must admit that they’re very aligned with my own. Lom is a client of mine, I’ve supported his work for a few years now.”

“Has it led to anything?” Artesia questions curiously, probing further.

“It has.” Kycilia responds, watching your sister carefully, still ignoring her own food, “Would you like to see his work? I believe we could come to an arrangement. As I said, there’s much I can teach you.”

Your sisters hand reaches back over, searching around until if finds yours and she squeezes tightly as she speaks, “I’d love to, but I’ve already made plans to attend the academy with my brothers.”

Kycilia arches any eyebrow, “You think I intend such a long term commitment? Well, since you've mentioned it-”

“Kycilia!” Dozle shouts, turning to face his sister as he stands up from his chair, a fist slamming on the table, the huge man apparently having finally paid attention to the conversation instead of Gihren and Casval’s intense discussion about the future of the earth sphere, “Do not poach my cadets! I did not bring them here for more schemes.”

Gihren stops speaking, glaring at his brother. Degwin looks as if he’s about to speak up but shakes his head and continues eating in silence, and Casval again chooses to merely observe carefully, arching an eyebrow every so slightly.

“Dozle, dear brother.” Kycilia says, feigning innocence and holding a hand to her chest, “I was merely discussing shared interests. Isn’t that right?”

“...We were just talking about newtypes, sir.” Artesia answers politely, “I’m still going to the academy with my brothers.”
>>
>>5457514

“Newtypes?” Gihren questions, “What spurred that topic?”

“You of all people should know, brother.” Kycilia answers, laughing haughtily, “My project with Lom Flanagan, Artesia has an interest in newtype research from what I’ve heard - You were so very interested in it yourself just a few years ago, what was it that changed your mind again?”

Anger flashes across Gihren’s face, “Watch your tongue, sister.”

He’s not here, brother.” Kycilia carries on coldly, “Of course that was your choice too.”

“Enough.” Degwin finally says as it looks like all three of the other Zabis present are moments away from a proper row, “I will have peace at this table.”

“Yes, father. I apologize for my disrespect.” Dozle answers, sitting back down. Gihren makes a similar statement, and Kycilia bows her head in deference once more and falls quiet, but a triumphant smirk remains.

This is them being closer? It’s a little difficult to imagine what sort of gap Vivima must have been helping them bridge before, assuming what Dozle said on the ship was accurate. Perhaps they just pretend to get along when she’s around? Siblings fighting like this is awful, no matter who they are.

Later, towards the end of the meal.

Conversation slowly returned to the dining hall after a few minutes, and you’ve been speaking with Dozle and your brother for a little while about the details of the academy; curriculum, what the physical training is like, all sorts of little topics - None of it’s too remarkable, but you’re becoming more familiar with what you’ll need to be prepared for. Artesia has tried to stay a part of the conversation as well, avoiding speaking with Kycilia as much as possible.

Talking to Kycilia seems to be a very bad idea in general. She’s giving you those looks now and you hate that you’re reacting the way you are; you know she’s just trying to toy with you, it’s all manipulation, but it’s hard to ignore, fogging your thoughts. The wine isn’t helping any.

As the dinner is beginning to come to a close, what are you discussing?

>”Dozle, the academy doesn’t teach anything about mobile suits yet since they’re a secret, right? How are we going to have enough pilots ready for if the federation tried to attack?”
>”Dozle, I’ve heard the federation military forces cadets at the academy to fight them in one sided war games, cadets versus regular soldiers.... Is that actually true?”
>”You’ve mentioned before that Garma is going to be the leader for our class of cadets… does that make us his lieutenants then?” You’ve heard almost nothing about Garma all night other than Degwin’s request, this might be a safe way to approach the subject.
>Write-in.
>>
>>5457515
>”Dozle, I’ve heard the federation military forces cadets at the academy to fight them in one sided war games, cadets versus regular soldiers.... Is that actually true?”
>>
>>5457515
>”Dozle, the academy doesn’t teach anything about mobile suits yet since they’re a secret, right? How are we going to have enough pilots ready for if the federation tried to attack?”
>”You’ve mentioned before that Garma is going to be the leader for our class of cadets… does that make us his lieutenants then?” You’ve heard almost nothing about Garma all night other than Degwin’s request, this might be a safe way to approach the subject.
>>
>>5457515
>”Dozle, the academy doesn’t teach anything about mobile suits yet since they’re a secret, right? How are we going to have enough pilots ready for if the federation tried to attack?”
>>
>>5457515
>>”Dozle, the academy doesn’t teach anything about mobile suits yet since they’re a secret, right? How are we going to have enough pilots ready for if the federation tried to attack?”
>>”Dozle, I’ve heard the federation military forces cadets at the academy to fight them in one sided war games, cadets versus regular soldiers.... Is that actually true?”
>>
Also, Felix really got fucked up by that interaction with Kycillia didn't he?
>>
>This is them being closer? It’s a little difficult to imagine what sort of gap Vivima must have been helping them bridge before, assuming what Dozle said on the ship was accurate.
I thought this was the case. As long as Vivima is around the Zabis will have some degree of cohesion (I'm guessing she'll even go out of her way to protect Gihren and Kycilia).

>>5457548
Yeah, and I bet it'll cause more issues with whatever plans we have in the future if we don't kill whatever funk Felix is going through.
>>
>>5457515
>”Dozle, I’ve heard the federation military forces cadets at the academy to fight them in one sided war games, cadets versus regular soldiers.... Is that actually true?”
>”You’ve mentioned before that Garma is going to be the leader for our class of cadets… does that make us his lieutenants then?” You’ve heard almost nothing about Garma all night other than Degwin’s request, this might be a safe way to approach the subject.
>>
>>5457515
>”Dozle, I’ve heard the federation military forces cadets at the academy to fight them in one sided war games, cadets versus regular soldiers.... Is that actually true?”
>”You’ve mentioned before that Garma is going to be the leader for our class of cadets… does that make us his lieutenants then?” You’ve heard almost nothing about Garma all night other than Degwin’s request, this might be a safe way to approach the subject.
>>
>>5457670
>>5457577
>>5457523
Writing.
>>
“Dozle, I’ve heard the federation military forces cadets at the academy to fight them in one-sided war games, cadets versus regular soldiers…” You ask Dozle, looking up to meet his eyes, “Is that actually true?”

“Where did you hear this?” Dozle questions, his voice deep and troubled, eyes narrowing.

“Lieutenant Blanche told us about it.” You explain, the answer seeming to satisfy the huge man. He relaxes a bit but still looks quite unhappy, but it’s easy to tell it isn’t directed at you.

“She’s a good soldier, and she spoke the truth.” Dozle says with a sigh, clenching his fists tight, “Those federation bastards do it only to humiliate us, but my cadets hold their own.”

“Why do you agree with the war games then?” Artesia questions.

“A soldier must be willing to fight and follow orders even in a battle which seems hopeless - not every battle will be a victory, or have victory in sight at all until the decisive moment.” Dozle answers without a moment of hesitation, the answer sounding almost practiced, as if he’s given it many times before now, “They must learn to spend their lives well, discipline must be maintained no matter what comes.”

“A very noble ideal, Dozle.” GIhren says, his plate now almost clear, “But I believe you’ve missed her question. Why do we agree to the war games at all? I wonder the same thing myself at times.”

“...That is what I meant, yes. Thank you.” Artesia says, though you can feel that icy chill from her once again. Do you feel the same to her when you think of the mission?

“You know why, brother, the law requires-” Dozle starts to explain the reasons, but he’s cut off.

“Yes, the federation law.” Gihren says snidely, “The real answer, Artesia, is because they have us under their boot. They think we cannot possibly refuse, but one day their eyes will be opened.”

“Have the cadets ever won?” Casval asks, finishing his glass of wine, his food long since gone.

“Hoho, that would be a sight!” Dozle thunders, though he settles quickly, “...No, they have not. They came close once, the federation generals insisted upon having more extensive fortifications the next time. That’s how they are, inflexible cowards. They almost lose their own rigged game and they respond by rigging it further!”

“An intriguing challenge then,” Casval says, determination filling his voice, “Our class will simply have to be better.”

“Oh?” Dozles asks, meeting your brother’s gaze for a long moment, “You aren’t jesting, are you? I can see it in your eyes, Casval, you have the spirit of a warrior! Hm, perhaps with you and Felix alongside Garma there may be a chance… and you as well, of course, Artesia.”
>>
>>5457830

“You’ve mentioned before that Garma is going to be the leader for our class of cadets…” You ask, wondering if Degwin’s request from earlier might carry over into other realms, “Does that make us his lieutenants then?”

“Hoho, that’s a very bold thing to ask. Nearly presumptuous.” Dozle rumbles, though there’s no real menace to his words, “No, you will not be. You will be taking the identities of common cadets, your heritage will play no role. There is only one class leader position, unit leaders are appointed by instructors. …I’m disappointed Garma was not able to join us tonight.”

“He had prior arrangements.” Degwin comments, “I didn’t wish to take him away from them.”

“Hoho, that girl still?” Dozle asks loudly, flashing a huge smile, “Young love is a beautiful thing. Garma is quite the charmer, isn't he?”

“Indeed, Dozle. Indeed. I didn’t wish to take him from it, even for this.” Degwin agrees, a small smile stretching across his sagging and wrinkled face.

“What about Vivima, sir?” Artesia asks politely, “I was hoping we might be friends.”

“I would be happy to see that be so,” Degwin says, that tired old smile still lingering a while longer until his face grows more serious again, “...I assume there is a good reason for her absence, Gihren?.”

“Another one of her games.” Gihren comments, shaking his head disapprovingly.

“She’s not far.” Kycilia says, “Last I saw she was near that simulator you had your men install, Dozle.”

“The simulator? They got it running finally?” Dozle questions, stroking at his scarred chin, “She shouldn’t have shirked the occasion even to study. I will speak with her, father.”

“No. I’ll handle it.” Gihren says, overruling his younger brother, Degwin simply watching them both, “Vivima needs to learn a measure of restraint, she’s been missing too many of these dinners recently.”

“Mm… She does listen to you more often.” Dozle admits, crossing his arms as he looks over his older brother, “She’ll be a fearsome pilot though, with the hours she puts into it.”

“Among many other things,” Gihren agrees, smirking as he looks to you and your siblings, “I’m sure the three of you will see her very soon.”

“I look forward to it. We’re all going to be living here until the next academy intake,” Casval responds, “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another.”

Last dinner post, then it’s on to a wrap up post or two.
>”Dozle, would you like to spar with Casval and I tomorrow? If you’re not busy with your duties, of course.”
>”...There’s a simulator in the palace? For mobile suits?” It’s hard to resist asking, the way Dozle talked about it before made it sound like simulators were only on the Zam or at some base.
>Another topic? (Write-in)
>>
>>5457832
>”Dozle, would you like to spar with Casval and I tomorrow? If you’re not busy with your duties, of course.”
>"I think you should join us in working out, Artesia. Remember what Dozle said? You'll have to undergo the same training as the other cadets. Best to be ready for it." Try to communicate to her through the lines that you want to talk with her about what happened here.
>>
>>5457832
>>”...There’s a simulator in the palace? For mobile suits?” It’s hard to resist asking, the way Dozle talked about it before made it sound like simulators were only on the Zam or at some base.
>>”Dozle, would you like to spar with Casval and I tomorrow? If you’re not busy with your duties, of course.”
>>
>>5457836
And by 'communicating through the lines' it's more of a hope Artesia can piece together that the three of us should speak soon. Not literally make implications in our words or something dumb like that.
Casval will probably get the memo as well, since he's been listening to us both (and especially so if we go training together tomorrow).
>>
>>5457850
And we can ask Dozle about using the mobile suit simulator while we're training. But I understand if some anons think there might not be another chance to ask.
And also, I have a bad feeling about leaving Artesia alone so soon for any amount of time, especially now that Kycilia intimidated her successfully.

>>5457832
>>5457836
Changing my vote to
1)
>”Dozle, would you like to spar with Casval and I tomorrow? If you’re not busy with your duties, of course.”
>"I think you should join us in working out, Artesia. Remember what Dozle said? You'll have to undergo the same training as the other cadets. Best to be ready for it." Try to communicate to her through the lines that you want to talk with her about what happened here.

2)
>”Dozle, would you like to spar with Casval and I tomorrow? If you’re not busy with your duties, of course.”
>"I think you should join us in working out, Artesia. Remember what Dozle said? You'll have to undergo the same training as the other cadets. Best to be ready for it." Try to communicate to her through the lines that you want to talk with her about what happened here.
>”...There’s a simulator in the palace? For mobile suits?” It’s hard to resist asking, the way Dozle talked about it before made it sound like simulators were only on the Zam or at some base.
>>
>>5457859
+1
>>
It seems Vivima is some sort of foil to Felix, both are pilots, but one for love of space and the other for mobile suit carnage, and both are trying to keep their family united.
I wonder if this was just a coincidence, or the she changed depending on our actions to make some sort of opposing rival.
>>
>>5457867
I'm willing to bet that she became more family-aligned when the terrorist attack from Jimba came into play.
>>
>>5457859
>>5457863
Writing.
>>
“Dozle, would you like to spar with Casval and I tomorrow?” “If you’re not busy with your duties, of course.”

“Spar with you? Of course! I have a few hours in the morning before I must return to the Zam.” Dozle answers immediately, crossing his huge arms as he looks down upon you and your brother. “You had better be prepared. Fencing or unarmed?”

“Fencing, Dozle,” You laugh, “Even I’m not brave enough for that second option.”

Dozle shrugs, “Few are, there’s no shame in it. I will have Garma join us.”

“He fences?” Casval asks.

“Not as often as he should, I’ve tried to teach him.” “He could use a less experienced partner, or perhaps just a smaller one… I’m not sure if either of you quite fit.”

“I think you should join us too, Artesia.” You say to your sister; this is no time for her to abandon training with you - She’s never done it often or intensely enough come close to catching up, but she’s naturally athletic just like you and your brother.

“I will.” Artesia agrees happily, “Dozle, I could try to help Garma, I don’t have as much experience as Casval or Felix but they’ve taught me a lot in the little we’ve done. I think it would be best if we all work on it together.”

“...Against you? You’re two years his junior, and a girl besides…” Dozle considers the offer for a few long moments, mulling it about, “Mm, if your brothers prove to be too advanced it might be good for him. She’s good?”

“For a beginner. She’s taken to it well.” Casval confirms, “She’s much faster than you might expect, though she lacks power and reach.”

“Hey!” Artesia protests lightly, shooting your brother a look.

Casval just shrugs, unperturbed by her reaction, “It’s true, you’re nearly a foot shorter than either of us.”
>>
>>5458004

“You should work out with us more often, Artesia. Lots of hours to make up that you didn’t do back on the colony.” You say, trying to open up some time for you to be able to talk each day, preferably outside, “You’ll have to undergo the same training as the other cadets, best to be ready for it.”

“That is good advice!” Dozle rumbles approvingly, “If you are not doing long distance runs then you must start.”

“I go with them sometimes.” Artesia answers the huge man, but he doesn’t seem satisfied by her words.

“You should go with them every time you can.” Dozle says, sounding almost as if he’s giving an order - in fact it might actually be an order, Artesia is only being let in by his very generous allowance, she’s nearly a full two years younger than she should be to get accepted.

“I think that’s a great idea, Artesia, we can shorten our own and work back up with you.” You say, glad to have Dozle’s support on this; it makes it far less suspicious.

“We’ll be allowed to leave the palace for that?” Casval asks, “I don’t want to wake everyone up running laps around the ground floor.”

“The grounds are guarded and patrolled, simply ask for a guard to alert the exterior teams.” Dole answers, “Do not leave the outer perimeter though.”

“Of course…” You brother replies, blue eyes glinting in the candlelight of the dining hall.

Fifteen minutes later

After some more polite conversation, dinner concludes, and you and your siblings are led out of the dining hall first by a servant; Mink is waiting for you outside of the grand door to the fire lit dining hall, smiling sweetly and waving to the three of you.

“I thought you might need help finding your rooms again! The palace is so huge for new guests to get around.” She explains cheerfully, curtsying, and blinking those violet eyes of hers at you a few times and flashing a cute smile, “Dinner was nice?”

“It was excellent, plenty of interesting conversation.” You answer, returning her smile; you try to tone it down a couple of notches though.

“Any good gossip?” She questions playfully as she leads you all along through the baroque halls, black hair swishing from side to side with each light step and her voice clear and melodic, though a hint of fear fills it again as she quickly backtracks, “...I’m just kidding, of course, don’t tell me. …No, really, don’t.”
>>
>>5458007

“Don’t worry, we’re not going to get you in trouble, Mink.” Artesia comforts her, taking Mink’s hand in her own, “What’ve you been doing while we were stuck in there?”

“M-me? What have I been… doing? Uhm, just the usual, I guess. Lots and lots of cleaning, and then lots of waiting.” Mink answers, a little confused but humoring Artesia nonetheless, “They don’t let us eat dinner until our shifts end, I still have a few hours… I was standing outside the door for the last half hour or so… if my… Oh, I seem to have lost my watch again! Shoot, I probably left off it earlier when I was doing the scrubbing…”

“Do you always talk this freely, Mink?” Casval asks.

“Hmm? Oh, no! Never, most guests are… very refined, I guess.” She meekly replies, “Usually I, uhm, I tighten up if people don’t like to talk.”

“We’re not refined?” Casval asks, his tone playful as you all turn the corner into yet another gorgeously decorated hallway.

“No, no, oh, there I go again. Stupid.” Mink says, wincing and closing her violet eyes, that same confused upwelling of feeling you felt earlier in the day emerging once again, “I just… You understand, I think. More than anyone else I’ve met… It's easy to talk to all of you. Most people don’t… notice, or if they do they don't care.”

“We have a lot of experience with it.” Artesia responds, keeping her words vague, “Not the exact same things, but we know. You’re not alone, Mink.”

A few minutes later

“Well, this is it.” Mink says, doing a little twirl and motioning to the doors to your rooms with one arm, “I guess it’s good night too, isn’t it?”

“...Do you work tomorrow?” You ask, not quite sure how the schedules of staff are in the palace; she sounded almost like a prisoner earlier though.

“I work every day.” Mink answers, holding her hands in front of her and leaning back just ever so slightly as she meets your eyes, biting at her lip nervously, “...Why? Do you want to do something?”

Relevant for the next thread.
>”...Do they allow that? I don’t want to get you into trouble. …Early afternoon work?” That’s not what you were asking for at all, but it could be a good way to learn more.
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
>Write-in.
>>
>>5458011
1)
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
>"I would also like it if we could meet some of the other staff, if you don't mind."

2)
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”

I'm a bit scared about what would happen if we were alone with her, considering everything that happened today. Really don't want to push our luck.
Besides, this could be an opportunity to establish connections not only between us and her, but all of our siblings and more of the staff.
>>
>>5458011
>>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
>>
>>5458011
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
>>
>>5458018
Also I don't know if I need to mention this, but if Gihren finds out we've been too friendly with one of his favorite maids things could get bad.
>>
>>5458011
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
>>5458025
yeah, Gihren's got a stick up his ass. Could be a problem. Though I think he might have asked her to keep an eye on us.
>>
>>5458011
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”

NO FLIRT. NO FLIRTING. LET IT BE HER FAULT SHE READS TO FAR INTO IT.
>>
I think one of the biggest sources of contention between Artesia/Felix and Casval is how we deal with the Zabis.
Casval is likely to get his hands dirty and attack them directly, but Felix and Artesia will stage accidents during the war and let the federation do our work for us.
>>
>>5458027
>Though I think he might have asked her to keep an eye on us.
I was suspecting this too. Though he has way more up his ass than that. He'll definitely try something in the future, if Kycilia doesn't beat him to the punch and try to one-up him.
Part of me wants to see this play out and hope that they start to hate each other as much as in canon, but I just know that Vivima will intervene and smooth things over if it ever gets to that point.

>>5458037
That sounds like a good thing to think about. I feel like Felix should focus more on supporting his siblings in what they're doing and then do stuff himself, like you said stage accidents/let the Feds to it when we have the time/see the opportunity for it.
>>
>>5458011
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
>>
>>5458018
>>5458021
>>5458023
>>5458027
>>5458034
>>5458059
Writing.
>>
>>5458011
>”I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow. Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”
no flirting
>>
>>5458065
Felix needs to learn to bite his fucking tongue, learn to shut up. Man's got an aura of permanent fuck-me eyes.
>>
“I was just curious if we’d see you again tomorrow.” You reply smoothly, not having intended anything else, “Everything is so different here, and we never finished the tour.”

Mink’s violet eyes widen and she gasps in shock, “We didn’t, did we? Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to finish it tomorrow. When do you like to wake up?”

“Why?” Artesia asks, tilting her head just a little.

“I’ll come and wake you all up! Or maybe someone else, it depends on if I’m busy.” Mink explains, “You’re from another colony, the hours are all wonky… right?”

She’s not wrong, you are pretty ship lagged. Zum isn’t on anything close to the same schedule as Texas colony, most colonies have some differences but closed and open types can be wildly off one another.

“I don’t think I’d be able to hear a knock on the door from all the way at the back.” You say, “But I appreciate the offer, we’re going to be up really early to go run.”

“Knock on the door?...” Mink asks in confusion, shaking her head, “No, I’d go into your room to wake you up, right up to your bed. Or chair, or the floor, wherever you are I guess. It’s really not a bother.”

“...What?” You ask, very conflicted about the thought of a near stranger just walking into your room whenever; she’s part of the staff, and your room is almost certainly bugged from floor to ceiling, but some illusion of privacy would be nice to have at least.

“Mhm, it’s what the whole staff is trained to do!” Mink explains cheerfully, “There aren’t any alarm clocks, Master Gihren had them removed for promoting laziness among the staff. I wake up at three, anything after that is good to go!... Uhm, anything after three twenty… I hate having to sprint just after getting dressed.”

“I guess four thirty?” You say, looking over to your brother. He nods in approval, though you already know you’re both going to regret it for a day or two until you acclimate to the new sleep schedule.

“Alrighty then, four thirty it is.” Mink says, tracing the numbers over her black sleeved arm with a well manicured finger, the little display probably some sort of memory trick, “Good night! It’s been a pleasure to serve you all today.”

“Good night, Mink.” You say along with your siblings, watching as the maid turns and leaves down the fancy hallway.

A minute later, inside of your room, you have one last opportunity to speak with your siblings before going to sleep.

>Suggest topics. Mind the bugs. [Last post]
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]
>>
>>5458088
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]
>>
>>5458088
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]


See you on the 10th, Contolist. If you don't show up, I'm gonna fly over to bongland and kill you. This is the best quest I've played in years.
>>
>>5458088
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]
The only topic I can think of is the Kycillia thing that happened, and I have no idea what to say
>>
>>5458088
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]
What a thread
>>
>>5458088
>Suggest topics. Mind the bugs. [Last post]
>Talk about mom, and what you should do to make her more comfortable.
>Try to use your newtype abilities to talk with Artesia and Casval.
>If you succeed, then speak about Kycilia and how to overcome whatever it was she did to us.
>Then about what to do with the information that Gihren and Kycilia are interested in newtypes.
>If a connection can't be made, then go to sleep.

This was one of the best threads on the board, I'm happy I was actually able to be here for it.
Good luck on your studies!
>>
>>5458088
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]
>>
>>5458088
>Go to sleep, you can discuss things on your morning run. [End thread]
>>
>>5458096
>>5458097
>>5458099
>>5458103
>>5458107
>>5458120
And it's done!

Thank you all for playing, anons.

If you'd like to ask questions or discuss things I'll still be checking in on the thread until if falls onto Australia off the board and do my best to answer things that aren't outright spoilers.

The next thread will start on December 10th at the latest, but it might start as early as the 7th. It depends a lot on how final edits on my paper go.
>>
>>5458158
Thanks for running, Contolist and good luck with your stuff. Great start to the quest, can't wait to see what's next.
>>
It's still a ways away, but I remember we talked about our Mobile Suit customization ideas earlier in the thread.
Somebody suggested we go blue while Casval goes red for the oni gimmick, which I personally like as well.
Any other ideas before the thread falls off the board?
>>
>>5461029
Sayla could go blue and we purple since we are the middle child.
For more meme options there's white and gold for space pope, and a jet black Dom for family memes.
>>
>>5461029
I'm still biased with the blue oni scheme. I think it's thematically fitting and an effective flat coloration for space combat.
>>
I just realized that if we let Garma die like in canon we'd be in trouble with Degwin, since we promised we would take care of him.

>>5461029
While the oni blue-red theme is nice, I don't want us to get confused with Ramba's Gouf (especially if we decide to pilot one ourselves).

>>5458158
>If you'd like to ask questions
Don't mind if I do
What are Felix's thoughts on the Federation?
Is the lady with the kid back when we were interrogating the spy of any actual plot significance?
How is the news of our leaving being taken by people in Texas?
Is the Flanagan Institute fully active, or is it just in its well-funded preliminary stages?
Who is that girl in the pic? Nice drawing by the way.
What program do you use to draw?
Will we have the opportunity to mass produce Big Zams?
>>
>>5461097
I think we should do everything in our power to save his ass. Nothing really assures an ally quite like a life-debt. Even a typical Zabi should be grateful after having their ass pulled out of the flames.
>>
>>5461227
>Who is that girl in the pic? Nice drawing by the way.
>What program do you use to draw?
My brother in Zeon you cannot be serious right now.
>>
>>5461303
meant to reply to >>5461227 and managed to chop my post in half somehow in my fit of spontaneous retardation.
>>
>>5461306
>>5461303
We could even use him as a means to get away with shit or even act as unknowing spy against the Zabis. Maybe we can nudge him into hating his other family members somehow.

>My brother in Zeon you cannot be serious right now.
She looks extremely familiar but I'm drawing a complete blank. Sorry for being such a fool.
>>
>>5461332
The image you were referring to when asking what program Contolist was using is AI generated.
Very clearly so at that.
>>
>>5461346
I can't believe I fell for that. Now I really feel like a fucking fool.
>>
>>5461227

>What are Felix's thoughts on the Federation?
It's corrupt and inept on Earth, and actively oppressive to some spacenoids, but it isn't the mustache twirling cabal of villains that Gihren makes it out to be. Definitely a negative view of it overall, it stands in the way of humanity moving into space, but as of right now Felix isn't any sort of fanatic and there is plenty of room for nuance and exceptions. He hasn't had much direct interaction with it other than Teabolo bribing some people and seeing the neglected state the refugee camp near Teabolo's villa was left in, everything else is just stuff Felix has heard other people complain about or read about.

>Is the lady with the kid back when we were interrogating the spy of any actual plot significance?
I'm sure someone can figure out who they are.

>How is the news of our leaving being taken by people in Texas?
You'll have to find out next thread.

>Is the Flanagan Institute fully active, or is it just in its well-funded preliminary stages?
Same as above.

>Who is that girl?
It's art I plan to use for a character later, no one in particular right now though.

>What program do you use to draw?
All of the art in the thread that wasn't pulled from actual Gundam properties has been AI generated, as >>5461346 said. I'm using https://huggingface.co/spaces/dbirks/diffuse-the-rest for most of it. Getting images that aren't total ass can take quite a lot of attempts, but the lighting and eyes/ears/collars of clothes/artifacting are always dead giveaways. When I do draw things myself I use Black Ink.
>>
>>5461449
The kid was 4 to 5 years old, around Glemy's age, and she was involved with Luna Titanium. She was described as
>She’s probably in her mid to late thirties, and has a long and somewhat gaunt but not unpleasant face; overall she seems quite prim and severe, a very serious woman by appearance at least
So these are the clues
>>
>>5461471
Also she's from Tokyo, so she's probably japanese
>>
>>5461471
There are further descriptions of them both in earlier posts.
>>
>>5461516
This?
>Peaking back around the corner for just a moment you spot the woman, she has short dark blue hair and is wearing a black skirt suit - A businesswoman of some kind. The child with her, a very young boy with green hair, is struggling to keep up.
>>
>>5461449
>I'm sure someone can figure out who they are.
Well whoever it is, I bet they have a girl's name.
>>
Wait, it's the Bidan family
>>
>>5461533
Apologize! Its a perfectly good man's name.
>>
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156 KB JPG
>>5461596
More like a perfectly good plant's name. Or tea.
>>
>>5461596
I ain't never met a man who's name sounded like a flower, just sayin'.
>>
>>5461617
That's only when he's trying to hide.

>>5461622
Basil?
>>
>>5461641
>Basil
That's an herb, not a flower.
>>
File: Basil Flower.png (1.23 MB, 926x745)
1.23 MB
1.23 MB PNG
>>5461660
It flowers.
I know I'm reaching a bit here.
>>
>>5461677
Much like Humanity's destiny to grasp at the stars with our fingered nails, it is your destiny to reach.
Hope your classes are going well by the way, education being important and all that.



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