Chapter 40 – But of Course. A Lady Must Always Conduct Herself With Grace.

The great hatch of the Seldia Administration Bureau closed with a low, resonant sound.

The group, still carrying the weight of the debris field battle, followed the orange guidance lights and glided quietly into the hangar.

The first to touch down in the designated dock was Arden, its deep purple armor smudged with soot.

The cockpit hatch opened. Letaria Adeniam appeared on the ramp.

Under normal circumstances, she would have been the first to announce "Did you witness my brilliant performance?" and throw her shoulders back. But she moved without ceremony--and laid one hand softly against the machine's armor.

(...Can you hear me, pilot of Arden.)

The voice, still there, still clinging to the edge of her thoughts.

Who was it? And how had it known Arden's name?

The faint warmth still in the armor moved through her fingertips--like a pulse. Like something living.

"Hey, miss--what are you doing? You look like you're somewhere else entirely."

She spun around at the sound behind her.

Zein and Fal had climbed down from their machine and were watching her. Fal leaned in.

"Are you alright, Letaria?"

"Of course I am! I was simply reflecting on my brilliant performance!"

"Uh-huh. But you really did handle that impossible-speed one without taking a scratch. That was something."

At Fal's straightforward admiration, Letaria forced her usual composure back into place.

"...But of course. A lady must always conduct herself with grace."

Steshia's Flode and Retta's Baris locked into the adjacent dock. Both pilots climbed out and more or less sank to the floor.

"I honestly thought I was done for... Retta-san, that final strike was incredible!"

"Give it a rest. If Zein-san and the others hadn't created the opening, we'd have been finished. That machine was old--strange, ugly old thing--but its accuracy and firepower were nothing to dismiss."

Everyone offered their share of the aftermath as Grain descended last and stood before the group. His expression was tight--but he looked at each of them in turn, and something in his face softened.

"Well done, all of you. The attack was unexpected, but every one of us came back. That's the most important outcome. ...The recovered wreckage and Blang's machine will come under corps custody from here. I'll handle the processing. Everyone--rest today."

"Understood, Captain. Don't be stingy with the payment. Come on, Fal."

"Right. Corps, everyone--Letaria--see you."

Zein and Fal headed off with a word or two more, disappearing toward the back of the hangar. Steshia and Retta bowed to Grain and went their own ways.

One by one the people left, and the busy hangar fell quiet again.

Letaria told Grain "I'll take my leave as well. I intend to find some dinner," and moved toward the administration corridor on feet that felt heavier than usual.

One person remained in the vast hangar.

Grain stood looking at the large container set at the feet of his machine. Inside it: Blang's Dien, battered past any recognizable form.

(...Abnormal response acceleration. And those unknown machines. It all traces back to that abandoned factory. Something from Escado is flowing out.)

This engagement had the feeling of a preliminary skirmish. Nothing more.

"The main event might be getting close..."

He said it to no one.

Then--

"You're right. There's no time for standing around feeling things."

A sharp, measured sound of heels on the hangar floor.

Milea Ichinose came through the door, white coat moving behind her.

"Milea..."

"Good work, Grain. Bring everything to my lab--all the recovered data, and everything readable from Blang's machine. ...Tonight is going to be busy."

She didn't wait for his answer. Her fingers were already moving across the tablet in her hand, scheduling.

"Blang's machine and those unknown Makinas--they're connected. Something is out there. An enemy."

Grain followed her toward the door and looked up at the ceiling one last time before he left.