18: One more time, the Messenger carries the news of Victory...

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[1]

[Post "The Shield of Time's Last Stand". Locked to Jade Falcons]

Since the war between Clan Jade Falcon and Wolf has finally ended, and especially what with the blue robot simulacrums wrecking stuff all over the Earth, Matthew decides to call up his old sibko pal Lola with the long-distance comm.

"Star Captain Helmar? This is Matthew. Could I talk with you for a moment?"

Hopefully he hasn't interrupted something.

[2]

[Open to all.]

Those who find themselves in the hanger bay, whether helping with the evacuation or giving their mechs one last tune up, might overhear Matthew talking with a group of techs who are reattaching his Nova's arm with gantry cables, frantically trying to restore the squat, birdlike OmniMech to fighting condition.

https://static.mwomercs.com/img/clans/artwork/nova_paint.jpg

"What?" Matthew says, eyes widening. "Are you sure?"

"We did an x-ray and everything." the lead tech says, holding up a datapad with false negative images. "The endo-skeletal frame's studded with hairline fractures. Battle scars from lots of fights and rush repair jobs. And from age too. Didn't you once say this mech was built 130 years ago, in your dimension?"

He shakes his head and clucks his tongue. "Tough old bird you've got. I'd say she'd last for a year more, if you stuck to patrols and recon missions. But another battle like the last one...we'll do what we can, Matt."

He pats Matthew on the shoulder, then returns to his work. Matthew stares into space at his customized Nova, looking stunned.

Talk to him?

Comments

1

[srwuga_mods]

"Matthew? I am glad to see you are still alive."

The best way to describe conditions on Lola's side is - chaos. A lot of people and equipment moving everywhere, shouting orders, noise.

But she positively emanates relief.

"Even from here I could see the humongous figure. What the stravag was that?"

Re: 1

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"I did not get a chance to explain this earlier, but..."

Matthew scratches his neck sheepishly.

"You remember Primeval Force, the energy source that the world conquering group Kairos Aspida used, quiaff? As it turns out, it happens to be sentient. And hateful towards all living beings. Annnnd has just created a giant avatar of blue flame that will soon attempt to burn all of Terra to bedrock from space."

Yup, that covers it.

"We are assembling a task force to stop it, made up of everyone willing to come along. Would Jade Falcon be interested?"

[srwuga_mods]

Lola's response is deep silence. Then finally, she utters these words:

"Aff."

"Protection of Terra is a sacred task. I am certain Star Colonel Guili understands that fully. Our forces were decimated and we lost almost all dropships during the battle of Siberia, but Clan Jade Falcon will assist."

"And even if Star Colonel decides to hold back, and the rest of the Clan follows suit... I will not. I will be there."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew bares his teeth in a grin "Heh. About time we fought on the same side again! Bring as much firepower as you can, Lola, for you will need it all!"

A thought occurs. "What Battlemech will you be bringing to this battle, since your Supernova got vaporized?"

He recalls her love of vintage mechs back during their training days. "Sorry, by the way."

[srwuga_mods]

"Gak."

"It... it is alright, Matthew. Really." Despite her reassuring words, you can tell Lola's heart is aching.

"There was little time to reorganize, and we have more warriors remaining than 'mechs for them. For now, those who have no machines to call their own are staying put."

She does not sound happy, probably because that list includes her.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Ah." Matthew says, feeling the feels for his dispossessed trothkin.

"Mech or no, I have no intention of seeing your skills go to waste, Star Captain. If you cannot get a unit, there are a few empty cockpits here at the Chalice that could use filling. For that matter–"

He pulls up a data file on his comm pad and faxes it to Lola's.

"–this should have been sent to Clan Jade Falcon sooner. It is a schematic for a Anti-Primeval Force barrier, based on reactor confinement technology. Energy intensive, but effective. Perhaps this will earn you enough credit with your superiors to get assigned a new mech, quiaff?"

[srwuga_mods]

"This is... I cannot believe it."

The Star Captain is shocked as she sees the blueprint arriving on her side.

"Aff, this is exactly what we are going to need! Matthew, how did you find the schematics?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"I got them from the many geniuses of the White Chalice! Tech-pilots and scientist-warriors, that managed to cook this design up." Matthew explains.

"They are releasing these schematics to everyone who is willing to fight for the sake of Terra. The weak, the strong, the many, the few...when the stakes are this high, everyone deserves the chance to seize victory!"

He pauses, then coughs. "In any case, make sure that Clan Jade Falcon uses that well, Star Captain." He continues in a calm tone of voice. "And is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

[srwuga_mods]

"I ask you of only one thing."

"Return alive."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew blinks.

"That is all? No questions about the weaknesses of our foe, what mechs from the Chalice are available, or how I pulled off that giant heat wave attack last we met?"

He shakes his head.

"Neg, neg. I think I get your gist, Star Captain Helmar. I swear I shall return alive and intact."

2

[not_the_deer]

What's the matter?

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew rests a hand on his personal Mech.

"As it turns out...this Nova of mine has gotten old. Too many battle scars from a century of service. This last battle of ours could cripple it beyond hope of repair."

He bows his head, hair hiding the look in his eyes.

[not_the_deer]

I don't see the problem. You can always switch to another mech afterwards, no? Just make sure those battle scars don't kill you.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff, that is what I will do." Matthew agrees.

Still, his expression as he meets your eyes looks hurt. "But how would you react if you received similar news about your Crossbone Gundam? Would you be content with simply switching to another mech after using up your previous one?"

He says to the pilot from a Gundam canon...

[not_the_deer]

That'd be nothing new. This is the fourth Gundam I'm piloting - I gave away G-Saviour to another pilot, left the X-2 behind as a distraction, sacrificed the X-3 to beat Dogatie. And that's not counting other Mobile Suits.

I like Gundams. But in the end, they're just tools. What matters with tools is what you do with them.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff..." Matthew says cautiously. Then he sighs.

"In my more youthful, reckless days, I once swore that this Nova would be the mech I would die in. A glorious death in battle, against a fearsome foe, a death that would earn me an entry in the lore of heroes! And maybe it shall be this battle, but–!"

He struggles for words. "–there are still things I wish to do in this world."

[not_the_deer]

You can't die now! We all worked so hard for world peace. You must enjoy it a little first!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff, aff, I know!" Matthew says, holding up his hands to placate Tobia.

"I just feel glum that my Nova will not be able to continue on without me! I know it is just a machine, with not feelings or mind of it's own. And I...know how silly and sentimental I must be sounding to you right now."

[not_the_deer]

Eh, if you want to preserve it that bad, I'm sure there's a way.

What do you think compromises the core of your robot?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew strokes his chin in thought.

"Hmmm...."

[not_the_deer]

When the rest is broken, just take that thing and build everything else anew around it. That way your old friend is still with you!

[started_from_the_bottom]

Wow... that's kind of disappointing, but... if it's that old... Well, let it retire with a bagn ,right?

2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew raises his head and tries to smile valiantly.

"Aff! A true warrior would never die in bed...or in this case, molder away in storage! And I could ask for no better final battle!"

He pats the armor plating of his personal mech.

"...would it be weird if I talked to it, Simon? As if it was a living thing?"

Re: 2

[started_from_the_bottom]

[[He shakes his head.]]

Not at all. You never know, there's enough machines here with consciousness and soul, maybe yours has one as well. After all, you're a member of the Gurren Brigade. I'm sure she's seen enough battle around me to have a few spikes of Spiral energy.

[[And a good pat on the back as they look over the Nova.]]

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"I see." Matthew says.

He lifts his head, clenches his fists into a knuckle, and thumps it against the Nova's leg.

"Do you hear that?" He says to his Nova. "We are not finished with you yet. Not until we have wrung one more battle out of you! So do your duty, and uphold the honor of Jade Falcon and the Gurren Brigade!"

Re: 2

[started_from_the_bottom]

Speaking of one last battle... what do you intend to do afterward?

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Besides fulfilling my duty as a Gurren Brigade Officer?" Matthew inquiries. He straightens his stance and thumps a hand over his heart.

"I shall travel the world with Ryou and learn wisdom...then open a Dojo!"

2

[wardeninexile]

Ranna is there in the hangars too, the Wolves present moving their stuff off the Chalice.

"Clan Wolf has some Novas, I can attempt to requisite some for you."

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew holds up a hand in a blocking motion. "Neg." He says firmly. "Waste not, want not! Frugality in everything! Was that not what the Founder instructed us to do?"

He grits his teeth. "Until this OmniMech cannot move a single step more, I will keeping wringing as much use out of it as I can!"

Re: 2

[wardeninexile]

"We could repair it for you after this. We have our Endo-Steel factories up and running."

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"That could be possible..." Matthew muses. "But the entire core endo-steel frame is what is damaged. To take it completely apart and replace every section....that would be more expensive than simply building a new mech from scratch, quiaff?"

Re: 2

[wardeninexile]

"Only if the factories produce Novas... that we do not. Much like my Warhawk," Ranna grimaces slightly at the thought of it under repairs back in Wolf City.