Flying over the Pacific after the battle in the Middle Eastern desert against the colonial M.M.U.s, Gabriel took the opportunity to test his new unit. Now escorted by five other machines, they were just minutes from the Amaterasu base in Kyoto. The pilot flew close enough to the ocean to create a gigantic wake in the waters as he pushed Arthur to its limits.
Satisfied with the maneuver, he returned to the altitude at which Henry's Albion was flying. His attention, however, was on the escort units. The five M.M.U.s, originally from the Japan Self-Defense Forces, maintained a triangular formation around the aircraft and Gabriel. What truly caught his attention, however, was the unit leading the convoy. Gabriel knew the other M.M.U.s from joint operations and training. The machine manufactured by the Hokkaido Technology Center, popularly called Hayabusa, was made of a gleaming black metal. The unit's main feature, however, was its long swords. Discussions had been had about the armament's efficiency; Gabriel didn't deny that, aesthetically, they contributed to the Hayabusas' impressive look.
Impressive, but not as much as the unit that held the R.A.F. pilot's curiosity. Unlike the other four Hayabusas, this one was considerably more robust, its thrusters larger. The Katana was still present, this time with a black blade, with red details that Gabriel guessed had characteristics similar to his laser sabers. He closed the distance to the M.M.U., flying alongside it to admire it more closely. There wasn't much difference in size between the machines, despite their very distinct designs.
To Gabriel's surprise, the unit descended a few meters, flashing its lights at him. Curious, he performed the same maneuver, and the two machines now flew just meters above the ocean. The M.M.U.'s thrusters began to emit a light, and in a few seconds, the machine accelerated impressively, leaving a large wave. Was that a challenge? Gabriel slowly brought his hand to the M.M.U. Arthur's controls, and after a few seconds deliberating whether this was a good idea, he pushed them forward rapidly. The machine's blue wings glowed, and now it was Gabriel leaving a trail in the sea. It didn't take long for him to close the distance, and the two units flew side by side.
In the Albion's cockpit, Henry Enfield had his feet up on the dashboard, with the autopilot taking them towards the base located on the northern coast of Kyoto prefecture. He observed the radar; the base was a few kilometers away.
"Those little show-offs. At least it'll be a good show for the base personnel."
He sat up more properly in his seat, switching from autopilot to manual. He didn't want to embarrass himself on landing and spoil their welcome.
On the base's landing strip, a woman and a man, dressed in the black and blue uniform of the Aegis organization, watched the Albion on the horizon making its approach for landing. Ahead of them, the trail of water left by two M.M.U.s approaching at high speed caught not only their attention but also that of the rest of the base personnel, who observed the beautiful scene. Sabrina M. Ortiz had been a captain in the US Navy for almost a decade; behind her aviator-style sunglasses was the gaze of a war veteran who had survived countless battles. Her hair, tied in a short ponytail, was one of the few luxuries she indulged in caring for, besides her tan, which she cultivated naturally with the physical activities that were her favorite hobby.
"This will certainly make a good first impression."
The accent of the pilot beside her, a result of the several languages the man mastered simultaneously, became more identifiable the longer they worked together. She agreed with him but saw no reason to verbalize her concurrence. Jérôme Gagnier was one of the few on the project who had experience similar to Ortiz's, and this made them "fossils," as they were called behind their backs by the younger team, but it also made them targets of admiration and respect, including from those who made the joke.
The units were close enough for their supersonic speed to be heard, and then, in a spectacle her experience already led her to expect, the Aegis organization's two new M.M.U.s cut through the sky a few meters from the base. The water particles from the wave created by the machines' speed dispersed, causing a light rain to fall over the runway and the base. Shouts of euphoria and celebration from the personnel conveyed the optimistic mood after the operation on the moon. She watched the two M.M.U.s maneuvering to return to the base on the horizon. And then, along with Jérôme, she headed to the office of the Major responsible for the operation.
<>
Already inside one of the base's many hangars, Gabriel observed the imposing presence of his M.M.U. Arthur for the first time. There was a bit of the Gawain there, but the technological advancement was evident. He lightly patted the large metal foot of his unit, as Thomas had taught him, thankful for the safe flight. Beside him, the modified Gawain that would be Henry's test unit also gave a good impression of evolution, though it still resembled the unit it was based on more closely.
"Home sweet home, Gabriel."
He turned to Henry, who was inspecting his M.M.U., and with a brief smile, replied.
"We're home."
He suspected, however, that they would spend less time there than his English friend anticipated. A few meters from where the two stood, the unit that had flown side by side with his Arthur had also landed. He approached, curious about the unit and its pilot. As he closed the distance, a scientist with a tablet in hand was talking to the pilot; the curves in the snug piloting suit gave it away. Still wearing her helmet, she noticed Gabriel approaching and, a little awkwardly, saluted the man she knew to be her superior. With a gentle smile, Gabriel gave two light taps on her head with his forefinger. For a moment, she observed him without understanding, and then turned red as a beetroot. Luckily, she hid her embarrassment behind the helmet she had forgotten to remove, and after her new comrade's hint, she took it off.
"Excuse my lack of manners, First Lieutenant Sirghi."
She then repeated the salute, and Gabriel returned the gesture.
"Those were impressive maneuvers, Lieutenant...?"
She extended her arms to her sides, introducing herself.
"Lieutenant Kiyoko Ogata, sir."
Gabriel observed her more closely. She had black hair down to her shoulders and was somewhat shorter than him, but that wasn't what bothered him; it was Lieutenant Ogata's youth, evident in her actions and features. He looked at the Aegis symbol stamped on the young pilot's black M.M.U. What exactly was this project he was now part of? He had a suspicion and wanted to confirm it as soon as possible.
"First Lieutenant."
Henry's voice calling him snapped him out of his doubts. He turned to his friend, who pointed to two individuals wearing the same uniform as them. One of the figures gestured for the pilot to follow them, and so he did.
<>
Pellegrini's office at the base wasn't much different from his one in London; Gabriel again noted the lack of displayed decorations. With him and the Major were Ortiz and Gagnier, the squadron's captain and vice-captain, who had introduced themselves to him before they entered the room.
"Welcome to Japan, First Lieutenant."
"Thank you, sir."
Gabriel thanked the man, who pulled up some data on the display on his desk before continuing.
"What did you think of the M.M.U. Arthur, First Lieutenant?"
Gabriel looked out the office window, searching for the words that would best express his brief experience with the machine.
"In terms of mobility, it's far superior to the 003 series. They managed to improve that aspect without sacrificing the stability that was the Gawains' main advantage."
"And what did you think of Excalibur?"
Ortiz, his captain, asked with a small touch of curiosity in her gaze. He replied, after noticing that the reports on his new rifle were what Pellegrini was reading.
"Only the first stage was available for use. Even so, its autonomy and firepower are far above other armaments I've used."
The extremely low energy consumption was what caught the pilot's attention most, besides his curiosity about Excalibur's other two stages, which he hadn't yet tested. Pellegrini turned off the screen before continuing.
"Again, welcome to Japan, First Lieutenant. Take the opportunity to rest for the next few days; we don't know how much more free time we'll have from now on."
Gabriel saluted the Major, then Captain Ortiz and Gagnier, but before he could leave the room, he was interrupted.
"First Lieutenant."
It was Ortiz who called him.
"I know you're tired, but I'd like your opinion on something."
Major Pellegrini looked impassively at Ortiz but made no objection. Gabriel complied with the request, waiting for the question that soon came.
"What do you think of the project you're now part of, First Lieutenant?"
He observed her for a while longer; Sabrina M. Ortiz's powerful gaze would be capable of making people look away, but not Gabriel. The reasons were different, but Ortiz and his sister Samantha possessed the same intensity in their beautiful gazes—in his captain's blue eyes and his sister's bright brown ones—and he had learned to deal with that intensity.
About the project, however, he had his doubts. It was being sold as focused on the research and development of units and armaments, but the firepower he saw in the Excalibur rifle and his new M.M.U. made him believe this was just a facade.
"I believe the true purpose of the project, and what they're using to give it credit, are completely different, ma'am."
"And why do you think that?"
"For the first time in the conflict's history, we have some form of superiority. I don't believe the military forces, especially with Aegis in charge, would let that slip away."
He looked at everyone in the room before continuing.
"I believe our squadron will be much more than just a test unit, and that in fact, we will be the vanguard of the terrestrial forces."
Ortiz smiled, closing her eyes; he was indeed what they had advertised. The captain had known Gabriel's brother, they had fought and trained together during the war, but the shrewdness Thomas believed his brother possessed was perhaps even greater.
"Sorry to take up your time, First Lieutenant. Go rest."
Gabriel again said his farewells, but before leaving the room, he stopped himself. Perhaps he was also entitled to a question.
"Captain, could you answer something for me?"
She simply nodded.
"How old is Lieutenant Ogata?"
Sabrina M. Ortiz studied her new subordinate once more with her penetrating gaze.
"17, First Lieutenant."
17 years old. That was the age he had started the final part of his training at the Royal Military Academy, and he was still far from any battle at that time. Kiyoko Ogata, at the same 17 years of age, was responsible for a billion-pound unit and was part of a squadron that, as he suspected, would participate in bloody battles in its future.
"Do you doubt the young woman's capabilities, First Lieutenant?"
He had seen her piloting firsthand and wouldn't deny her talent, but war wasn't just about that. What would be her reaction when pulling the trigger, condemning a life? What would be her reaction when the trail of lifeless bodies her actions created began to grow? For some reason, Gabriel saw his past in the young and inexperienced Japanese girl.
Ortiz approached Gabriel, stopping beside him.
"If you fear so much for Lieutenant Ogata, why not take her as your wing? Teach her what you believe she needs. That was my idea, anyway, but your concern makes it even easier to implement."
In other words, it was a request for him to become the young pilot's mentor. The first image in his mind was Thomas's. If he could pass on a little of what he had taught him, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea.
<>
Back in the hangar where his M.M.U. was, Gabriel walked slowly through the long corridors made of equipment and tools. The lights were almost all off, and the darkness mixed with the little remaining illumination gave the M.M.U.s a monstrous appearance, seen between the beams of light and shadow. At the feet of one of the metal giants, a young woman observed with admiration and fear the machine she had been piloting for some months now.
Kiyoko Ogata had doubts. The prodigy of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces was being placed on the same team as veterans, as aces; she was afraid of what her inexperience might do to her new comrades. She clasped her trembling hands and brought them to the center of her chest, squeezing them to stop their tremor. Fear, was something she believed she no longer had the right to feel.
"Lieutenant Ogata."
The young woman gave a small jump of fright at being called in the hangar she thought was empty. First Lieutenant Sirghi seemed a little regretful for having startled her, and consequently, she felt bad too.
"Sir, sorry for... startling me?"
She seemed even more doubtful after what she said. Gabriel just gestured for her to calm down.
"At ease, Lieutenant."
Ogata sighed heavily; she might be a genius inside the cockpit, but her ineptitude with people made her sad. Gabriel approached, stopping a few meters from where she stood, observing the girl's M.M.U., as she herself had been doing shortly before.
"It's an impressive machine, don't you think?"
Gabriel's inviting tone with his question made the girl excited.
"You think so too, sir?! When I first piloted it, I was so excited I flew it until it ran out of energy! It's so much better than the Hayabusas that-"
Kiyoko brought her hand to her mouth, realizing she had once again said more than she should. However, it wasn't reprimand she saw on the First Lieutenant's face, but an understanding tone, which she might even identify as: "You're right, it's incredible!"
Gabriel observed the girl again; he was right. There was a lot of the young Gabriel Sirghi in Ogata's actions.
"What's the unit's name, Lieutenant?"
Kiyoko made a move to answer automatically but held back. She didn't want to show more of her childishness.
"JP-0EX38, Codename: Izanagi, sir..."
Gabriel suppressed a laugh; he didn't want to frustrate his new colleague's attempt at seriousness. But still, he wanted to continue the interaction, which he found, for some reason, amusing.
"And what do YOU call it, Lieutenant?"
Kiyoko's eyes widened. Gabriel still maintained the same gentle expression, and the girl felt a little ashamed of her attempt to appear more professional. She took a step forward, getting closer to her M.M.U.
"I call it... Izanin."