The rest of the day’s events merged into each other as it turned night, and all the pilots likely soon found themselves at rest in their personal barracks. Their rest was short-lived, as they soon found out their quarters had intercoms. They were alerted at 0430 hours, military time. Regular people would know that was simply “4:30 am.” The pre-mission secondary briefing and NC diagnostics would begin in 30 minutes, giving them a rude awakening.

The pilots’ jobs just got a bit harder. “Miss Sophia, are you absolutely certain this isn’t a joke?”, Matthew would ask.

[color=8882be]“Yeah, absolutely,”[/color] Sophia quickly replied, [color=8882be]“It’s surreal how quickly those Red-Star grease monkeys work.[/color] 

Sophia read the message in her hand again, [color=8882be]”Ahem.. ‘The pre-war strategic weapon Red-Star is operating on, and the target of your contract, is now confirmed to be fully operational. To match the new dangers, we shall pay twice the amount previously stated in the physical contract. Please launch immediately, many innocent lives could be at stake here.’ Ain’t it grand?”[/color]

“Well, from his file, Percy’s going to have another fit of hysterics. …Was berating him really necessary yesterday?”

[color=8882be]”Are you seriously questioning me?”[/color]

“Well, yes. I can understand your reasoning, Miss Sophia, but that was quite harsh. You can’t just beat-down someone, you know?”

[color=8882be]”Don’t preach to me.”[/color]

“I only do it when it’s necessary, Sophia. Savagery doesn’t get through thicker skulls that quickly.”

[color=8882be]“I’d prefer that over a [i]bullet[/i], wouldn’t you?”[/color]

“I swear, if you’re implying what I think you are…”

[hr]
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, on a massive island in ages past known as ‘Australia’, two NCs were patrolling around an archeological dig site. Guarding a massive rail-cannon of some sort, they were.

The one in front, the NC Fubuki initiated conversation. “Oni… Is… is the fucking cape really necessary?”

The massively armored quad-legged NC trailing behind responded quickly, a majestic, asbestos-lined cape flowing behind him. “YES!” the pilot cried dramatically, “I, [b][i]Red-Oni[/i][/b], decree that [i]all[/i] NCs worthy of note [i]must[/i] wear capes! It’s simply a matter of [i]honor[/i].”

“...I swear to god,” Fubuki snickered at her companion’s extroversion. “You [i]do[/i] know you don’t have to be in character all the goddamn time, right?” 

“It wouldn’t be any fun, then, would it?” Oni retorted, “Stop being so serious. Life isn’t [i]that[/i] precious, Captain [i]Buzzkill[/i].” The Red-Oni flicked its cape, allowing it to look like something out of a cheesy superhero movie for a few more seconds before resuming its less fabulous series of motions. “Hell, if I’m going to die on the field, I might as well look great while doing it, right? —and believe me when I tell you that [i]nobody[/i] looks as good as I do.”

“Augh! Just [i]can it![/i]”

“You can’t contain the [b]majesty[/b] that is my cape, Fubuki.”

“[i]Anata wa baka[/i]!” She cursed, her grasp on English slipping back to her native tongue for a moment, before pausing for a moment to gather her composure. “Can we just get back to work? [i]Please?[/i]”

“Ha! You act like I have deviated from our objective! Your faith is lacking, friend!”

“Urgh… can you at least be silent?”

“I, [i][b]Red-Oni[/b][/i], shall only be completely silent when I feel the sweet embrace of death!”

“Looking forward to it.”