TA419 - 21/04,
Orbit of Planet Bhaile, Space Around Defence Platform 1.
Kigen did not believe in fighting solely for revenge; that much was true. Nor was he the sort to treat his enemies as inhuman. He knew exactly what they were, and he in turn. They could be reasoned with, negotiated with, and talked to. He had talked to the Grand Admiral and to Chas. But to shake their hands? The people who had appeared and laid claim over Abhaile threatened its ecosystems and demanded to plunder its resources - the people who had raised the city of Ghealach to ash - the people who inhabited his home even now, who had reduced the Kigen lands to an abandoned desert? What sort of shallow-minded madman would ever shake hands with those people?
He eased into the pilot's chair, throwing off his helmet and slapping an adhesive bandage from the first-aid kit atop where the third bullet had grazed his shoulder.
"Sir?" Benson called over the radio.
"The Admiral is sealed in tight. It would take too much heavy-duty equipment to get him out. That said, he has no intention of leaving. We can return with a full insertion team or just let the meteorite finish him off," Kigen reported swiftly, his hands moving around the controls, mech breaking away from the airlock.
"However, he claimed our Magi forces are compromised."
"D-do, I mean, was it a bluff?" Benson’s old voice said back, overtly shaken.
Kigen scowled, "No, I don't think it was. Get a hold of the flagship, tell them 'Desolate Winter' is in effect."
"I... I understand, Sir.”
"Have our forces fan out. To the south of here, I want an ‘arena’. A TSU Casnel and I are about to go loud. I want no interference from our side or theirs. I'll take him alone."
"Understood, we'll make a perimeter.”
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On queue, Kigen watched his Vijaik subordinates spread out. Not one had fallen while he'd been inside the platform, which lifted his spirits with pride a little. He quickly manoeuvred Chevalier Unit 001 to the group's centre as it began to head south without delay. He had no doubt the boy he'd just spoken with would follow any moment now, probably from the opposite wing of the Platform.
"Status report on the battle, Benson?" Kigen added, wanting to take his mind off all he’d heard inside the enemy headquarters.
"Things are mixed, Sir," the older man replied rather sullenly, "The second ranked's flanking attack worked as a diversion; however, an elite TSU battalion intercepted it. The Scourge defeated their Casnel, but her forces were wiped out in the effort."
Kigen frowned. He was glad Scarlet had won, but losing one of the flanking units so fast would put more pressure on the fleet than anticipated.
"The fifth-ranked’s forces made more runs through the enemy, but Lady Sesha herself is missing,"
"What?!" he outright roared, unable to hold back.
"She went to face another Casnel. That's all I know, Sir..."
"I see," Kigen forced himself to calm down, hand clutching his face. Sesha was missing, separated from her forces - that he had never even considered.
"The main fleet has taken heavy damage. The flagship took a glancing blow from the Defence Platform's main cannon, but it's holding. The enemy fleets have been moving away from the station itself, as though--"
"As though they know the meteorite attack is coming. Have you any good news?"
"Well, I can't confirm it, but there is a lot of radio chatter about The Knight Templar."
Kigen blinked, "He's dead."
"Yes, Sir," Benson said plainly.
At long last, a semblance of a grin returned to the ace, "The old man alive, or someone good enough to inspire images of him, now that is good news - and all the more reason for us to get back. Prepare a retreat path, Lieutenant. Once I fell this last Casnel, we return to the fleet."
"Aye, Sir!"
Kigen watched the far side of the Platform’s central barrel, opposite where his forces were hanging above. A white Casnel slowly came into view, heading straight for them.
"Time to finish this."
