"Ha!" I use Effort, slashing a Lion with Glowsaver's Laser Blade. As an early AM, the standard Lion lacks melee weapons—unlike Type-V's Assault Blade. This terrorist-pilfered Lion can't dodge, splitting in two.
"Next!" I dodge a homing missile with boosters, then shred it with the Beam Gatling. Using Effort again, I launch two Chronos Sword Breakers at another Lion. It tries evading and firing its machine cannon, but the Breakers, guided by my will, dodge and fire crisscrossing lasers, destroying it.
"Air forces down. Martin, status?"
Searching radar, I radio Martin. "All clear—take this!" An explosion follows his shout.
"Sorry, Captain. Ground forces neutralized," Martin reports.
"Got it. Frost, any other enemies?"
"None detected. Likely all eliminated," Frost replies, using his recon Gespenst Mk-II.
Glowsaver's mine after six months. Initially tough, it's now an extension of myself. Three missions, five kills total, including two today. As special ops, Shadow-Mirror gets tough assignments, but three in six months feels excessive.
"Captain?" Martin radios privately on our way to the Ladybird.
"What?"
"These missions—something's off. Normal units could handle Lions and three Landlions."
He's right. These aren't special ops-level threats. "There's a reason. Maybe other units are stretched thin."
Saying it, I realize—this might be it. In the original, Shadow-Mirror rebelled partly due to soldiers being used disposably for corrupt budget schemes. But their transfer's over three years away… three years? Something's nagging me, but I can't place it.
"Captain?" Martin prompts.
"Nothing. There's probably a reason. I'll ask Vindel back at base."
"Got a bad feeling," Martin says.
"Ladybird's ahead. Leave the thinking to Vindel and Lemon."
"Roger."
I need to grill Vindel.
At Langley Base, I bring the report to Vindel's office. He's buried in paperwork, as usual.
"Vindel, got a sec?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Report and a question." I place the report on his desk.
"Go on," he says, eyes on documents.
"Today's enemies: two Lions, three Landlions. Obsolete. Why's a special ops team like us handling this? Couldn't base PT squads do it?"
Vindel looks up. "You're right. This wasn't a Shadow-Mirror job. But we're still under military command."
"That's my point—is command off?"
He nods, surprised. "You might be onto something. Corruption's rising, but not everyone's rotten. Most are decent."
His words shock me. Vindel, future rebel leader, saying most are decent? Was his betrayal gradual, not predetermined?
"Fine, I'll trust you for now. But we should dig into future missions."
"Agreed. Check what you can on the next one."
"Got it."
I leave for the hangar. Glowsaver went straight there post-mission. As Shadow-Mirror's first tech project, I report any issues to Lemon.
"Hope she's not mad."
A familiar unease hits, like the three-year thought. Then it clicks—Gilliam's Agueius transfer at Tesla Lab, two years before Shadow-Mirror's jump. One year left. A key event. Should I send Lemon? Her Time Flow Engine interest could push her to Tesla Lab if I hint at Agueius's dimension-transfer potential.
At the hangar, I don't see Lemon. "Where's Lemon?" I ask a passing tech.
"Near Glowsaver, I think."
"Thanks."
I spot her by Glowsaver's leg. "Lemon, got a minute?"
Character Profile: Axel Almer
Level: 11
PP: 25
Melee: 150
Shooting: 168
Skill: 160
Defense: 157
Evasion: 185
Accuracy: 207
SP: 230
Ace Bonus: Unknown
Growth Type: All-Rounder/Special
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: A
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
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Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Recovery, Focus)
Telekinesis Lv.7
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Kills: 13