The Mech Touch

f you carefully leverage your status.
You just have to avoid being greedy. ”

Ves found it rather suspicious that Leland placed so much emphasis on this relationship, especially during these times.

”What ’s the deal, here? I ’m getting mixed messages here.
On one hand, you ’re trying to say that I have a lot of influence.
On the other hand, you state that my influence is limited. ”

”Forget it. ” Leland shook his head.
”Let ’s address something else.
I believe you are encountering some friction with certain groups within the government. ”

Ves scowled.
”Yeah.
Some people want me to move to Bentheim for my own ’protection ’! Hah! As if Bentheim is safe! Only a single sandman fleet invaded the Cloudy Curtain System so far.
As for the Bentheim System? I ’ve long stopped counting! ”

”Most of those who recommend you to relocate to a more secure site are only looking out for the state.
Losing you will severely impact the Bright Republic. ”

”I ’ve heard all of that before.
Is there a point to this, Leland? ”

”Let ’s just say we ’ve handled the situation. ”

By we, Leland meant Flashlight, probaby.

”It ’s that simple? ”

”Of course not. ” The spy ruefully smiled.
”It is more accurate to say that we have suppressed calls.
It helps that the Light Hounds have been fairly successful in hunting down the sandman admirals that are hiding in the asteroid belt.
No other sandman fleet has invaded Cloudy Curtain, so the risk level of this star system is very low. ”

”Bentheim will fall before Cloudy Curtain does. ”

”That ’s true.
In any case, I can promise you that the government won ’t insist on relocation any longer.
To be honest, most of these proposals come from well-meaning officials, so it didn ’t require much effort on our part to get them to back down. ”

”What about those who are more opposed? ”

”They can ’t be silenced, but be assured that they won ’t be able to influence this matter either. ”

Leland gave enough assurances that Flashlight would keep protecting the LMC in the dark.

After a bit more talking, Leland left the office, leaving Ves with a bunch of topics to think about.

”I can go over them later.
First, I have to meet with the test pilots! ”

He ordered Gavin to allow a trio of disciplined Kronon mech pilots to enter his office.

The three marched up to the desk in lockstep and offered Ves a very precise salute!

”Honorable Bright Martyr! We are at your disposal! ”

Ves gestured for them to sit down.
Two extra chairs emerged from the floor to accommodate them all.
”Please introduce yourselves. ”

The left-most mech pilot started first.

”I am Sergeant Jezebel Kronon. ” The only woman spoke.
She looked to be in her thirties and exuded the toughness expected of a blooded elite.
”I have been fighting against the sandmen for months with the Holy Soldier you ’ve provided to our people. ”

Ves lit up at that.
”I thought you were a marksman specialist? How come you piloted a cheap Holy Soldier? ”

A sense of fanaticism entered her eyes.
”The moment I laid my eyes on the Holy Soldier, I never wanted to pilot anything else! While its performance is not comparable to a proper military marksman mech, it is still a great machine in the right hands! Against simple, inflexible opponents like the sandmen, it ’s enough to land some blows! ”

”I..
see. ”

”Our people have started to pray daily inside and outside of the mech.
While most people can only pray in front of a Holy Soldier, it is a great privilege for mech pilots like myself to come into touch with our mechs! ”

”My mechs aren ’t designed to be altars.. ”

”They are much better than the boring altars we have prayed to all our lives! If it was up to me, every Ylvainan church or cathedral ought to enshrine a Holy Soldier to allow everyone to witness the splendor of your machines! ”

The more Jezebel Kronon gushed, the more Ves started to become nervous.

Though he was no stranger to fans, the female Kronon was disturbingly enthralled with the Holy Soldier!

”If only I can stay with my Holy Soldier forever. ” She sighed.
”It ’s okay, though.
As soon as the Curins paid a visit to me and offered me to test one of your future products, I dropped everything! ”

After Jezebel paused, Ves immediately turned to the man sitting next to her to stop her running mouth.

”Sergeant Edward Klesser.
It is an honor to meet you.
I will endeavor to assist you for the remainder of my stay here. ”

”You ’re not a Kronon. ”

”Not every mech pilot wants to dedicate their entire lives to fighting. ” Klesser responded.
”I was a reservist before the Sand War broke out.
Now, the Kronons have called up every able mech pilot. ”

”Do you resent that? ”

”Absolutely no! Defending our people and faith is an important responsibility! In our long history, our faith has endured many threats and challenges! I cannot stand by when our state is at risk of annihilation! ”

Apparently, Edward was an idealist.
He possessed the typical Curin-like mindset of a grounded citizen.
The only difference was that he did not hesitate to answer the call of duty when his services were required.

The man reminded him of a Larkinson in some ways.

Ves turned to the final Kronon.

”My name is Lieutenant Dominic Kronon.
I ’m a trueblood Kronon and the leader of our small delegation.
I have received orders to stand by your side unless you dismiss us.
If necessary, we are willing to serve you and fight on your behalf during the Sand War and beyond! ”

”What? Our contact didn ’t say anything about this, lieutenant! ”

”These are our orders, Bright Martyr. ” The lieutenant withdrew a data pad from her uniform coat and placed it on the desk.

Ves picked it up and began to skim through the orders.

It turned out that Dominic wasn ’t exaggerating.
As long as Ves wanted to, he could treat the Kronons as his own subordinates!

He wasn ’t sure whether he should be pleased with this gift.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc..
), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.

Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.