[quote=@Dead Cruiser]
<Snipped quote by Gnar The Missing Link>

I apologize for the assumption, but given that our characters are put in command of massive, probably unbelievably expensive war machines, I figured a pair of swords were of little consequence. Despite being fancy and high-tech, they're still just swords. An adage about bringing a knife to a gunfight comes to mind. The staff obviously carry weapons (and discharge them openly), and I doubted [i]ornamental[/i] weapons would raise much alarm.

And are our characters not allowed to do anything dangerous? Or are we immediately neutralized to being unable to direct the plot? 
[/quote]

You forget that your characters are [i]Cadets[/i], rookies despite their talent without any real power.

Ever play Muv-Luv? Seen Gundam? Evangelion? 

Just because they can pilot expensive and unbelievably powerful war machines, doesn't mean that they have any actual power outside of combat unless they have actually [i]earned[/i] it. So far, the only one who has more power over the others among the Cadets is Sigma because she is Squad Leader- and her orders were no more trouble. After seeing Sigma's state, it's safe to assume that Ritsu wanted to give her a hand by doing things from a calm perspective.

Also, I never said you couldn't do anything dangerous, although there are ways to go about it without having or waving about weapons... even if they so happen to be [i]'ornamental'[/i].