"Then I shall make this very simple." The image of the 99th Emperor of Britannia got up from the throne in front of the assembled Britannian nobles and royal family members and just as he waved his hands over his eyes, the video footage became scrambled into a mess of colours on the computer screen. "Acknowledge me!"
"Dammit! Go back to time index 121 and do a slow motion replay! Zoom in on the Emperor!"
There was a weary sigh from the woman's companion in the messy office, tucked away in the National Museum of Ireland's Archaeology and History section on Dublin's Kildare Street. "It's no use, Mariel. The video's too degraded for us to conduct further analysis and this is the best version of the video file that the JNN was able to provide. For footage over three centuries old, I would say we got lucky to see this much." He had to speak a little louder than usual because of the audio playing in the background, which consisted of multiple voices chanting 'All hail Lelouch!'.
Mariel Labie twirled her right index finger in one of her pigtails as the man slouching in front of the computer moved the mouse cursor over to stop the video and the endless chanting. "For an international broadcast of that magnitude, it's inconceivable that they wouldn't have made back up copies of that footage for reference purposes. Can't you get in touch with that JNN contact?"
"Kinue's not my contact in the first place. I only knew how to get in touch with her thanks to my old university professor since she interviewed him for a historical retrospective story that aired on the JNN last year." Speaking of his old professor, he made a mental note to contact Robert Spacey again so he could get some advice on his newest historical investigation that he was working on with his girlfriend. "I'll give it a shot but no promises."
"Thanks a lot, sweetie." She was about to give a light kiss to the seated man when the office door was opened from the outside and an Irish man in his mid-forties entered the room, carrying three cups of coffee in a special holder and a paper bag, all of which had the logo of the Clements Café.
"Hey, I brought some coffee and muffins for the two of you. I figured you would need it while you were doing your research." He passed two cups to the couple, who gratefully accepted the brew. The younger man seated by the computer took a sip of the drink and exhaled softly in satisfaction.
"That's good coffee."
This brought a frown to the older man's face. "That coffee is the signature drink of the current World Barista Champion, Andrew Waltfeld! An espresso blended with flambéed chocolate mousse and oranges straight from the famous Gottwald farm and all you have to say is that it's good?!"
"Uh... then what am I supposed to say?"
"Like... 'This is heavenly!' or something."
The younger man had an amused look on his face. "And that's better?"
"No, it was just an example," grumbled the older man as he sipped his own coffee. "Are you sure you want to date this guy when his sense of expression is severely lacking?"
Mariel rolled her eyes as she grabbed a muffin from the bag. "Would you knock it off, Dad?"
"Honestly I think you're going to have to take the lead in your relationship, Mariel. How about you two go out to St. Stephen's Green for tonight instead of researching this Gas project of yours?"
"It's Geis, Dad. Please pronounce it properly. Besides, I think we're starting to see a connection between the Geis concept and the last great conflict of the Knightmare Frame era. To think that we may be able to see the presence of our ancient culture in that time...!"
The older man sniffed. "As interesting as it is, you really should take a night off and spend some real quality time with each other. Maybe that'll kick start the romance engines."
"Don't pry into my personal life, Lenard Labie!"
"Oooh... she's really mad now if she's calling me by my full name!" Before Mariel could offer a retort, the argument between father and daughter got interrupted by a hearty laugh from the third occupant of the room.
"What's so funny, Lyle Dylandy?" asked the young woman in an annoyed tone.
"It's just sorta nice to know that you have a family member who's worried enough about you and keeps getting involved in your life, even if it's a bit intrusive at times," said Lyle with a wistful smile on his face.
There was an awkward silence that followed as both Labies remembered when Lyle told them of how he lost his whole family: three in a bombing almost a decade ago and one to an anti-terrorist obsession that led to the rift between the remaining members of the Dylandy family. The older one got up with his drink. "I better get going. The museum budget reports aren't going to complete themselves, you know."
While Lenard shuffled out of the office, Mariel placed her coffee down and embraced her boyfriend from behind. "It must have been difficult being on your own like that. Just what type of brother do you have that doesn't even stay in your life?! I bet he's just going around making trouble or something!"
"ACHOO!"
"Bless you! Bless you!" chirped Haro.
'Ugh, now I got snot all over my visor.' Lockon quickly took off his helmet to wipe it before replacing it back on his head. Taking a quick look at his display, the estimated time of arrival to Ceylon Island is two minutes. He opened a general channel to the others flying in formation with him over the ocean for a quick debriefing. "Dynames to all Gundams... prepare to take action according to Zero's tactical forecast. I'll be expecting a good performance from each and every one of you."
"Roger. I will be very thorough," replied the image of Tieria in his usual flat tone.
"Just a good performance?"
"Then what am I supposed to say, Allelujah?" asked the Irish Meister in an amused tone.
"Something like... 'you better not screw up, you miserable pieces of snot!'"
"And that's better?"
The image of Allelujah chuckled a little. "Well, it was just an example..."
Lockon then realized that the youngest of the group had not yet responded to him. "Oi, are you listening, Setsuna? Respond! Earth to Setsuna... you there? Setsuna, please respond!"
"... Gundam..."
"W-what?"
"I am Gundam..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lockon blinked as Exia cut the channel and broke formation to begin intervention operations between the HRL's Tierens and the Anfs being controlled by the Sinhalese forces. "Setsuna!!"
"You can babysit the kid," stated Allelujah as Kyrios, armed with its missile container, flew off towards the HRL base in the area.
"Huh?!"
"Commencing operation maneuvers." Soon, only Dynames was left as the others had all gone ahead.
"H-hey! You guys!"
Haro's eyes merely blinked rapidly. "Bad luck! Bad luck!"
Lockon gave a soft sigh. "Che... tell me about it." He reached behind him to bring the targeting computer forward to the front and made note of the number of Tieren ground forces. "I'm going to focus on bombardment. Haro, you take care of evasive maneuvers!"
"Roger! Roger!"
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(Posted Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:06)
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