[b]"Damnable pirates, that they would travel through the Debris Zone of all places. Are they really that desperate or is it madness? Eh Major?"[/b] A gruff sounding captain spoke up from his seat, a man in his fourties with a scar at his chin. The man's darkbrown eyes scanned the sight before him, his equally dark wavy hair neatly kept in place by his military cap, the man also sported some impressive sideburns. Behind his seat stood another man, dressed in a red uniform with gold details, his chest decorated with many medals and bearing the rank of Major. The far younger man bore a set of piercing blue eyes and blonde hair, his physical build was that of an acrobat rather than a bruiser.

[color=fff79a]"True survivors do with what they have at their disposal in order to survive, if the Tekkadan taught us something, it is that the more cornered an animal is, the more likely it will lash out and fight to the end. No matter what that end may be, captain. These pirates aren't that much different, especially those who employ pilots which use the AVS. To a regular pilot of the Gjallarhorn army, these pilots are what a wolf is to a deer. Armed with sharp fangs. Hunting in a pack. Coordinated and ferocious. The outcome should be obvious in most cases. However there are things even wolves know to stay clear of. Bears. No matter how much they howl, bite or co-ordinate they won't take it down."[/color] The blonde rose up from his leaning position and walked past the seated captain, his eyes wandering over the view that lay ahead. The captain soon offered his reply.

[b]"Heh. You fancy yourself a bear then sir?"[/b] The captain said with a grin, before he took a sip from his coffee-cup that was just within reach.

[color=fff79a]"Something like that. A predator cannot understand a prey or vice versa. Yet a fellow predator can respect and understand the hunger another predator feels."[/color] The major crossed his arms as he squinted out through the vast window, out at the field of debris floating around.

[b]"I just don't understand, Major. Why are you piloting that old, pardon me from saying. That old scrapheap."[/b] It didn't take long for the captain to receive his answer, it came just as he was putting down his coffee-cup.

[color=fff79a]"Don't underestimate my Gullinkambe, captain. The Geirail while being an old model, and considered outdated by most. Is still a weapon. A small cut can end a man's life if you know where to aim. It were my first mobile suit. I specifically tracked down my training machine and requested to use it in battle. You could say it is kind of like a brother to me. It enjoys to hunt down bigger prey."[/color] The major raised one of his hands to adjust his hair, twirling a finger at a lock at his neck.

[b]"U-understood... I am not questioning your impressive record, Major Charles Le Greif. I was just intrigued."[/b] The captain said with a slight sweatdrop at his cheek.

[color=fff79a]"It's fine. We all have things that intrgue us, captain. One of those things for me is to fight the strong. You cannot become a better pilot by fighting the meek or by having the machine do all the lifting for you. We live in a world where things often can be settled by the push of a trigger. I think we all remember the sight of the Dainsleif on the battlefield..."[/color] Charles couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the memory, a very unfortunate turn of events. He began to ponder, just how far would the Tekkadan and the revolutionary fleet have gotten had it not been for those wretched weapons.

[b]"Aye. I do remember it... but that's war. You do what you have to do in order to win, right?"[/b] The captain said while grabbing a cookie from the plate next to his coffee-cup.

[color=fff79a]"Indeed."[/color] The blonde major replied, a slight upturn at the corner of his lips as he stood with his back against the captain.

[color=fff79a]"There has been some who put too much reliance on the performance of their machine, rather than the performance of themselves. I think that can be said for the Gundam Bael's last pilot. It is people you are to rely upon, including yourself and those who share your dream. Not by waving a flag or icon, like a child whose found his father's sword. Many swords are double-edged, it is easy to get cut if you are being foolish."[/color] Charles began to walk up the stairs of the command bridge to put himself back at the same elevation as the captain, looking into his eyes as he did.

[b]"Mhm. Understood sir."[/b] The captain nodded before calling out to one of the crew which were handling transmissions.

[b]"Any word from the scout yet?"[/b] The captain said impatiently, drumming his fingers on his armrest, while leaning his head into his other hand.

[b]"Nothing so far, sir."[/b] The crew-man replied in a quick manner, before returning to check in his headset.

[color=fff79a]"A hunter must be patient, captain. Time you spend waiting, is time well spent. Those who are rash usually don't last long. Remember this well captain."[/color] The blonde nodded his head towards the captain.

[b]"A-ah... yes sir."[/b] The gruff looking captain adjusted himself in his seat, having slid down into too much of a comfortable position.

[color=fff79a]"Though I must admit, the existance of the gundams make me shiver with anticipation. Now imagine....A gundam and a pilot connected by an AVS. Now that is a hunt. What could possibly be a more suitable foe to face in battle? Perhaps a mobile armor. But those are even more rare. If there's still any remaining. I like to think there are. Because people are resourceful, who knows what could be locked away in some old dark room. Just waiting to be rediscovered."[/color] The young major allowed himself a brief chuckle as he began to lean on the captain's backrest again.

[b]"You sure is something else, Major."[/b] The captain said while one of the crewmembers filled up his coffee-cup again.

[color=fff79a]"I am human. Nothing more, nothing less. We are what we set out to be, our actions speak for themselves. Sometimes however, a single man or woman can alter history as we know it. It isn't Bael which has shaped Gjallarhorn into what it is today, it has been it's pilots and the actions of other people which has stood in it's path. Every little drop of water upon a leaf will eventually gather together into something bigger before falling off. Same can be said of the people which were with the Tekkadan. It wasn't that their mobile suits were necessarily stronger, but rather the sheer fanatism which seemed to seep into the people piloting those machines. It made them relentless, desperate opponents. The kind which can strike fear into the hearts of people. Which can have varying effects, such as creating allies who wouldn't want to be on the receiving end, while on the other side also create enemies who would like nothing more than swat that buzzing fly."[/color] Charles made a fingersnap with his left hand, then reached out for one of the cookies still remaining on the captain's plate. Picking it up with his left hand, using only his thumb and the finger next to it to hold it up with his white glove, as if it wasn't a cookie at all but a coin.

[color=fff79a]"Much like this cookie, which has sweet topping at one side, and is barren on the other. Some people are incapable of seeing things from the other side. If you want to truly bring defeat to your enemy, you must first understand how he thinks. Then you can take the appropriate actions. At the same time, you must keep yourself aware that they may try to do the same to you. Do you know why I keep an open channel in battle?"[/color] He asked, while placing the cookie back to it's plate, before sitting down this time into his own seat on the bridge.

[b]"Enlighten me."[/b] The captain said, motioning with his broad arm and hands for the major to continue.

[color=fff79a]"Because an enemy you know, is an enemy harder to kill. An enemy which bears a face or name. When they see their opponent as someone, rather than something. That is when many will hesitate to pull the trigger. How do I know this? Because that is how we humans are. Different. Yet also so very alike. When you have your enemy pondering if what he is doing is nothing short of killing himself, his mental state or his soul if you so wish. That is when you know you have him."[/color] The blonde major crossed his legs and momentarily threw a glance to his polished black boots, taking a brief pause before continuing.

[color=fff79a]"You never know if the pilots you capture will end up having valuable information, thus it's fruitful to incapacitate them instead of outright killing them, whenever such is possible. The easiest way is to attack their ship, without a place to resupply, repair their damaged machines or means of retreat. They will be forced to surrender or be outright destroyed in a battle they cannot truly win with their lives intact. If they do surrender, you will not only have valuable captives which have information, but you will also be able to capture their machines. Perhaps even their very souls..."[/color] Charles held up a finger as to make a point to the captain, before the major's gaze fell back to staring at the debris zone before them. [color=fff79a]"If there will not be a reply from your scout soon, I will ask for your permission to sortie, captain. This is your ship after all, ranks aside."[/color] The blonde leaned back in his seat, looking at his gloved right hand before tightening it into a fist.

[b]"Permission granted..."[/b] The captain adjusted his hat and tried to make himself more presentable as he sat there in his seat.