Seiryu said
“Sir! Reinforcements have arrived, 1 Mobile Suit and 2 fighters! They’ve engaged the suits attacking Salamis 3! It’s tekn damage but it’s still holding!”‘Just 1 suit and 2 fighters? What is going on here…’“Hail the pilots, request them to back us up if they deal with the forces there”“Sir!”“They’re certainly disciplined at least, I can’t simply snipe them from here… I’m going in, provide cover fire!”Switching back to Waverider mode the Delta dashed across the battlefield to engage the Zakus and Doms beginning a second assault on Salamis 3, after dispersing slightly to avoid the initial Beam fire. ‘The first Salamis is still sending out a request for help, nothing I can do about that now!’ Mikhail pitched upward while quickly transforming and firing on 2 nearby Zakus, disabling one and destroying the other.‘I have really got to get that maneuver down…’ Mikhail switched over to a Dom lobbing a grenade into it before replacing his rifle’s E-pac and aiming at another squad of Zakus attempting to finish off the limping ship.‘They really want this Salamis sunk, I’m not gonna make it to the other ship’ Mikhail began to get worried before seeing enemy signals on his sensor begin to drop. ‘Signals rapidly decreasing, someone’s taking them out in a row now! I just hope they can keep it up”Marie might be overjoyed at taking out Feddies but she knew when a situation had turned sour. “We can’t finish the mission with these reinforcements peppering us, it’s only a matter of time before more show up! We’re done here Akira! We’re pulling out!”Akira paid her no mind at first instead lining up another shot.‘You’re too naïve Asuna…!’ Akira fired amidst the confusion of Shinn’s Canard exploding but failed to hit as Asuna pre-emptively dodged the shot.‘How did she manage that…?’“Akira!” Marie yelled angrily at him, “I said we’re done here! Stop wasting ammo kid!” To Akira’s surprise instead of chewing him out further her voice turned solemn as she continued.“Leave the children to their teachers. The world needs them to grow up.”Akira did not reply, instead setting the bazookas to the Kampfer’s back before following her in their retreat.
The bazooka round hit Shinn’s side
“Shinn?!” Asuna said
“Why you!” Shinn shouted
Shinn’s Canard Charged at Akira
“Shinn!” Erisia screamed
“Eject! Shinn Barnack eject now!” Yahagi shouted
“Asuna…I will…protect you!!!”
“Hmpf” responded Akira to Shinn's recklessness and fired
Shinn took the second blast to the cockpit and exploded
Shinn…!Shinn!!Asuna was cold with shock as she saw Shinn’s body flat by in the ruins of his Canard
“I’m Shinn Barnack. Welcome”
Tears began flowing in Asuna’s eyes
“Everyone’s got a tough life. No need to stress out alone”
“Shinn…?!”
I…“See you smiled”
I…"You have to step up most when you’re scared"
I…“Maybe I can feel what you’re feeling”
Shinn!!Asuna's mind went dark in complete despair
Alexandria
“Get that pilot outta there”
“Now Erisia Kerry may be—“
“No need to tell me. With everything going on…he’d urp!”
Erisia felt nausea overtake her
I can’t deceive my own heart
“This was the only undamaged trainer “
“How’s the pilot?”
“She has no wounds but...Someone should get her to sick bay. But prioritize the wounded first!” The doctor said while examining Asuna
Suddenly Hank appeared looking pleased with the outcome
“My little angel of death, It’s you after all…little Zaku killer. At the price of three Salarmis to discover a newtype like her…it’s a bargain!” Hank said while examining Asuna as if she were some prize handed to him
“Well put. With the one A rank and dozen B ranks discovered…the cost performance ratio was higher than anticipated.” Forma said
“Cost performance?” A voice said overhearing the conversation
It was Erisia
“…higher…than anticipated?”
Hank approached the other girl
"A bountiful harvest…Erisia Nocton, or should I say Newtype response level 69% aptitude rank A-! Elmarit’s aptitude rank is A+. Did you see her fight?!"
Erisia just stared blankly
“What’s with that face? It’s like a mask.”
The words from Hank reminded her of what Shinn said
“All that’s just armor right? To protect yourself?”
“That stern face is nothing but a mask until you beat Elmarit. Show it to me after you beat her!” Hank shouted
Asuna!In the Infirmary Asuna laid asleep
“…Ngh…ahn….!”
She felt a hand and a rag on her head
“Asuna are you okay?”
“Emilu?”
“Hahaha”
Hank and Forma’s words began to echo in Asuna’s mind
At the price of three Salarmis to discover a newtype like her…it’s a bargain!
…cost performance…
“It’s all my fault…It’s all my fault that everyone…?!”
“Why was Shinn there to begin with? Care to explain that?”
“Erisia! Not now!” Emilu shouted
“Th-then he’s…Shinn’s really…?!”
“Calm down Asuna!”
“He was injured. He wasn’t ordered to sortie. He didn't need to sortie.”
Tears began to form in Erisia’s eyes
“So…why?!”
Erisia pulled out the picture of Shinn Asuna drew
“That drawing”
“You…”
She tore the picture in half
“Erisia!”
“…Have no right to mourn his death!!”
Minutes later
“Hatch 5 opening. Suit preparing to launch” said the bridge officer
“Who’s piloting it?” Forma asked
Asuna was inside of the Canard waiting
I can’t stay here any longer
She saw a specter of Shinn holding her hand on the control
I’ll protect you.Shinn.“Asuna Elmarit…launching!!”
Asuna’s Canard jetted off into the void of space