"There it is—Earth Cradle."
Riding Ban's Rhinoceros across Africa, I'd finally arrived. As in the original, Archibald's rampage served as a diversion, making the journey uneventful. I'd half-wanted to visit Chiyu Tomb in China to see the RyuOhKi and KoOhKi, but facing Einste so soon? Hard pass.
"Captain Axel, you'll join me to meet Earth Cradle's overseer," Ban called from the bridge as I studied the facility on the monitor.
That'd be Egretta Feff. According to Lemon in the original, he's a pure scientist who understands Shadow Mirror's situation.
"Understood," I replied.
Descending from the Rhinoceros with Ban, we headed to meet Feff.
In the room stood a middle-aged man with long blue hair tied back—Dr. Egretta Feff. He looked more like a wandering martial artist than a scientist.
"Welcome to Earth Cradle, Colonel Ban. We're honored," Feff said, then turned to me, his gaze sharp yet tinged with madness. "You're Captain Axel Almer. I've heard about you. Well done reaching us."
"Thanks to Colonel Ban picking me up," I said.
"Dr. Feff, we're grateful for sheltering our struggling comrades," Ban said. "Where's Dr. Sophia Nate, the overseer?"
"She's in cryogenic sleep, by her own choice," Feff replied.
Ban paused, then pressed, "After the DC War, Earth Cradle went dormant under her will. Why resume operations now and aid us, especially with the White Star's whereabouts unknown?"
"Most of Earth Cradle's members are former DC or affiliates. Is it so strange we'd support you?" Feff countered.
"Earth Cradle exists to preserve humanity in the worst scenarios. With aliens still a threat, isn't this reckless?" Ban challenged.
Their exchange felt like a fox and tanuki sizing each other up.
"Hmph. As expected of the man who rallied DC after Bian's death. You don't just accept power handed to you," a voice interrupted.
Vindel strode in, his face as resolute as ever despite six months apart.
"Who are you?" Ban demanded.
"Colonel Vindel Mauser, Earth Cradle collaborator and Axel's superior. Been a while, Axel. You've been taking it easy—hope your skills haven't dulled."
"You threw me into that Huckebein heist to test me?" I shot back.
"Client's request. But I knew you wouldn't screw it up."
As we bantered, Ban and Feff continued.
"You think it's risky to expose Earth Cradle with aliens still out there?" Feff asked Ban.
"Exactly. We'll have to fight them eventually."
"What if I told you we're developing forces to rival the Federation and aliens?" Feff said.
"Forces?" Ban asked.
"Yes, thanks to Colonel Mauser's team's technology. We're mass-producing PTs and AMs in the Cradle and developing mobile weapons surpassing them."
Surpassing PTs and AMs? Landgriez, maybe? I'm not a fan of Valcurea-series units built for stationary firefights. The Boost Drive-equipped Garlion Custom feels more versatile. But high-spec units are useless without skilled pilots. Lieutenant Hans in the other world's Eleins proved that.
Ban, a former liberation leader, likely understood. "That alone won't beat aliens."
"Which is why you aim to overthrow the Federation by force, yes?" Feff said.
"Exactly. The L5 Campaign's victory was a stopgap. The alien struggle's just begun. The White Star, their forward base, vanished—who knows when they'll strike again?"
I stayed silent. No way I'd admit the White Star was in my spatial storage—a secret I'd only share with Lemon, who knows my abilities. In the other world, we faced Inspectors, not Aerogators, so the White Star never existed there. Canonically, its absence should raise flags, but no one seemed to notice.
The three continued, oblivious to my thoughts.
"We agree with your stance," Feff said. "We're preparing to fulfill your ambitions—Operation Desert Cross, to seize North Africa and launch the new DC."
"Oh?" Ban said.
"It's ready," Vindel added. "We've prepared ample forces. Issue the call to your scattered comrades."
"Does Rose know?" Ban asked, referring to Mitsuko Isurugi.
"Of course," Feff confirmed.
"Understood. My thanks for your support," Ban said.
Isurugi, DC's biggest sponsor, held sway even here.
"All for Bian's legacy and the new order we'll create," Vindel said.
Ban nodded, ending the meeting.
Ban and Feff stayed to discuss DC's plans, while Vindel led me to Shadow Mirror's section.
"What's our force strength?" I asked.
"Roughly: 120 Eleins, 80 mass-produced Gespenst Mk-IIs, 50 mass-produced Ashsavers, 20 each of Laz Angriffs and Landgriezs, 10 Ashsavers, and about 350 units total. The rest were lost to dimensional distortions. Your Neverland didn't make it," Vindel said.
Three hundred fifty units—about 100 more than the original's 250, thanks to Lemon's work on Aguieus, Rykeios, and the Time Flow Engine.
"What about the other Trilobite-class ships?"
"Gyanland arrived intact and is ready. Wonderland made it but is heavily damaged, under repair. Arcland's essentially totaled, so we're stripping it for Wonderland's parts."
Arcland was already a weaponless transport, so no surprise it's scrap.
"Neverland, Arcland… Am I cursed? Every ship I ride gets trashed," I quipped.
Vindel chuckled—a rare sound. "We've rebelled against the world. A curse is par for the course."
He'd changed a bit since the transfer.
We reached a heavily secured door with fingerprint and retinal scans. "This is Shadow Mirror's section. We keep prying eyes out," Vindel said.
The door opened, revealing armed mass-produced W-Series androids standing guard. Vindel saluted them, and we passed through a corridor to a large room—Shadow Mirror's command center, where a dozen W-Series worked at computers.
"Axel!" Lemon's voice called out, her face beaming but her eyes cold with suppressed anger.
Bad sign. She's pissed but bottling it up.
"Lemon, been a while. Doing alright?" I asked.
For Vindel and Lemon, little time had passed, but for me, over six months had gone by since the transfer. Seeing her warmed something in my chest, even if she was furious.
Character Stats: Axel Almer
Level: 25
PP: 95
Melee: 206
Ranged: 224
Skill: 216
Defense: 213
Evasion: 241
Accuracy: 263
SP: 342
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder/Special
Terrain Adaptability:
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: A
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Hit (SP 20)
Awaken (SP 32)
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Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Recovery & Focus)
Psychokinesis Lv.10
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.9
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Kill Count: 92