DOWL Masters Vol 1 Chapter 2

Odawara Auton. Polis’s side had named this place Odawara Outer.

People without Polis citizenship had gathered around Hakone's terrestrial heat power plant under Odawara's control and developed into a large scale community, an energy type Auton. This plant was built three centuries ago, and as a generated facility it had met its end a long time ago. Having been shut down and abandoned by the Solar System Alliance, this terrestrial heat power plant was repaired and reopened ten years ago. Before that, Odawara was but a place dotted with small-scale refugee camps, however, in ten years' time it has grown into a large scale Auton with a population of beyond thirty thousand people.

Even though it has been two hundred years since the end of the States Dismantling War, the revival of civilization on earth is still incomplete. The ones who can recover the pre-war standard of living are those inside of Polis, while those outside can barely get by with a maintenance level of productivity. While material deficiency may be severe, the lack of energy is worse.

On the contrary, as long as there is enough energy, water, food, clothes, housing, and all that is necessary for livelihood could be created using the technology of the twenty fifth century. The Polis that is currently and normally full of energy could support an area of thirty square kilometers with ten million in population. So it is natural for people to gather around places with a reopened terrestrial heat power plant such as Odawara.

It was this terrestrial heat power plant that caused the dispute between Odawara Auton and Yokohama Polis two years ago. The reason the alliance repaired the power plant was to improve the energy circ.u.mstance for the whole of Kanto region. The alliance is pro forma Polis federation, officially overlooking Solar System resource development and regulating the interest between Polis. Terrestrial heat power plants are cla.s.sified as resource development. That is why they independently do the maintenance work, however there is one more duty, as they could not ignore the interest of Polis. The Alliance does not have the authority to give Auton the plant. The Alliance just entrusts plant management to Odawara’s citizens, with permission to use the energy it produces as their reward.

However, Yokohama Polis claims to have the precedence right to use the plant. As they were built as a sister Polis to Tokyo, Yokohama’s energy plant output was low, so they partly rely on Tokyo’s power supply. Wanting to increase their independency as a Polis, Yokohama were longing to strengthen their energy infrastructure. Considering the scale of Yokohama Polis they couldn’t expect anything more than complementary use of Odawara's power plant, however, Yokohama’s government complained that it was more proper for them than for the subnormal citizens, which is what Auton citizens are called by Polis citizens, to use the plant. One can understand from the way they call Auton citizens ‘subnormal citizens’ that the citizens of Polis were ingrained with a type of elitism. They think themselves a legitimate inheritor of the civilized society before the States Dismantling War.

However, that is not without any basis. Considering the origin of Polis, them wanting to believe that is a little bit understandable.

In the period of the States Dismantling War, why must people build a ma.s.sive rampart around their city to take refuge in it? That is solely to avoid the damage caused by the illegal armed groups. At the same time, the wall protects them from the violence of terrorist and guerilla, and they eliminate the armed insurgents from inside the wall. The targets are not limited to people belonging to guerilla organizations or terrorists alone. Potential members of illegal armed groups, in other words, the citizens whom they judge to be members of the armed groups are also included as elimination targets. Their selection starts from personal history, social status, business skills, household environments, and sometimes, they're measured by their economic strength.

In short, to the people who took residence in Polis, they themselves are the only descendants of virtuous citizens and the inhabitants outside the Polis are descendants of ruffians. Even if that is to divert their sense of guilt from being the only ones who were exclusively given a civilized living environment, in other words, self-deception, the citizens of Polis were unconsciously trying not to think like that.

That is the background of Yokohama-polis, who oppressively demand Odawara Auton to hand over the right to use their lifeline power plant. Even if we leave off the fact that the central government has collapsed, the distance between Yokohama and Odawara is too close to have any dispute. However, this leaves the just-started high-speed railroad transport network in ruin as it is and the Aviation War potential has been monopolized by the Alliance. Under these circ.u.mstance, even in a narrow region such as this, a splendid regional conflict is sure to happen. At last, the long-standing skirmish between Yokohama and Odawara is finally becoming a head-on collision.

“Scarlet-one, the enemy advance team will soon enter the effective range.”

“This is Scarlet-one, what is the scale of Yokohama-Polis' army?”

“There are five Dowl, and we see no accompanying ground troops.”

“That’s unexpectedly small, are they looking down on us?”

“Anyhow, they were of the small but high mobility type. Probably on reconnaissance duty.”

"We really don’t have any obligation to go along with that intention, though. More importantly, you should break off now. You won’t last a second if you get dragged into a battle between Dowl.”

“I’ll do just that. Scarlet-one, no, Akari. I’ll pray for your good luck.”

“If you’re going to pray anyway, just do it for my victory, OK?”

All over, to a voice command that was completely different from its original meaning, the communication between her and the scout troops was cut. Odarawa Auton’s ace Dowl Master, Saotome Akari leaned against the soft, capsize buffered c.o.c.kpit seat with her entire body.

With no rampart like that of a Polis, Odawara's self-defense force is spreading all its war potential over the expected invasion route. The only thing they could not have was their inhabitants getting dragged into the fight. They could only surrender if their line of defense were breeched. It would also be the end if the enemy were to circ.u.mvent them, but that would probably not happen. It was a consensus of Odawara's army that Yokohama's army would surely attack from the front.

The difference in national power between Yokohama and Odawara is more than a hundredfold. Normally, there would not be any contest considering this difference in productivity. If this was a century before the implementation of Dowl, Odawara would not go against Yokohama's demands in the first place.

However with built-in Psycronics weapon, or rather, the optimum solution for Psychonics weapon that is the t.i.tanic Dowl lies the possibility of overturning the difference in number by relying on the ability of the pilot. That was one of the reason for Odawara decision on a do-or-die resistance.

And the other one.

SOFEA…. Will they really come?

With her eyes closed under the helmet, Akari muttered, as if praying in her heart. The Solar System Alliance would not make a move unless for a mediation between Polis. They would not intervene in a quarrel between Polis and Auton. But it would be a different story if an actual invasion happen.

The alliance do not tolerate war. They use brute force to guide conflict to an end. And as a means to an end for most cases, they would dispatch SOFEA, Special Operation Force with Special Ability. Mechanized unit under alliance direct control that possessed ExA, Dowl Master with remarkable ability. If SOFEA’s Dowl Master were to literally show their ‘a match for a thousand’ strength, they might be able to repel Yokohama force and enforce conciliation. That was what Akari as well as Odawara army’s consensus.

Akari is confidence in her Dowl Piloting skill.

On the other hand, she also know that her SIMA projection is not that good. She may be fine in a one on five situation, but she has no confidence in repelling hundredfold of enemies.

All she could do is to hold out. To hold back the enemy’s invasion, buying time until SOFEA intervene. That is what Odawara army plan to do.

However, to be honest, Akari doubt the SOFEA, the Alliance will intervene. For she has seen first handed, how heartless the Alliance can be. After all, the Solar System Alliance is an organization born for the sake of Polis. In Akari opinion, it is impossible for the alliance to harm the benefit of Polis for Auton’s sake.

Even so, I will carry out my role.

Akari wandered to Odawara two years ago, about the time they start having skirmishes with Yokohama. At that time, the fifteen years old Akari has already made her name as a first-cla.s.s Dowl Master, were accepted in Odawara as a mercenary. She has no complaint regarding that. With no relative, she has to find a place for her younger brother and herself. That is why she chose to come to Odawara, a community that has paid a very high price for her skill. To her, they were just fulfilling each other’s needs. Even so, Akari do feel grat.i.tude towards the citizen of Odawara. For this city did not used and deceive her as a child. They also accept her brother as a citizen without any unfair treatment. That is why she did not runway to other town even when face with a war with no chance of victory.

“Tactical map.”

Dowl’s c.o.c.kpit seat were constructed to be completely fixed on the pilot, the Dowl Master. The only movable parts being fingers, eyelids and mouth. In case of link-error, voice command will become prioritize means of operation. As Akari’s commanded, Friendly deployment diagram is project on the helmet’s visor. There are eight Dowls. All of them were previous generation secondhand Dowl. For Auton, possessing this kind of war potential is considered unprecedented. Weapon is a high value merchandise, and Dowl is consider to be very expensive even amongst them. To be able to put together this much war potential, Odawara must have gone through all kinds of excessive work. However they did not do something so drastic as to accept a Dowl from terrorist-like deserters with nowhere to go.

In the friendly troop of eight Dowls standing by in a two file formation with four Dowl in each file, she turn her worrying eyes to the blue luminous point of a Dowl in the middle right of the back file. Riding in that Dowl was Akari’s younger borther, Aoi. Dowl will pick remarkable pilot. Aoi was same as her, perhaps he possess even more apt.i.tude than her, but he was not accustom to actual fight and was hurriedly train to be put to combat.

…It’ll be fine, Aoi. I won’t let them get to you.

Akari was very reluctant about Aoi’s sorie. But she did not object it. She could not object just because they are siblings. To make up for that, she was determined to fight her brother’s share. Red luminous point is reflected on the edge of the tactical map. It seems the one reconnaissance establish as the leader is still alive.

“t.i.tanic Dowl, Linkage!”

Akari fired herself up, yelling the combat function transition voice command.

Dowl’s pilot suit, Master Wear’s neck, wrists and ankle, these five place with NITU ring must be put in between the connecter of the c.o.c.kpit seat in order to connect with the Dowl. The plate touching the fore head inside the helmet sending tempting signal, putting the pilot’s body in a near sleep state while keeping the consciousness awake, with the image on the visor synchronize with Dowl’s vision.

NITU, Neural Impulse Tracer Unit. Nicknamed ‘Nitt’. A piloting system unit operate by using the sensors layout inside the Master Wear that stick to the skin to read the nerves signal, then send them back to Dowl as control signals. Piloting using NITU is to feel like moving in a lucid dream. The video reflected on the visor is perfectly in sync, Dowl’s hands and legs moves as if it were Dowl Master’s own, giving no sense of discomfort. By using this system nerves tracer, it enable Dowl Master to wear this ‘armor’ called t.i.tanic Dowl, becoming a fighting giant soldier.

Akari suddenly scamper her Dowl, no, breaking into a run ‘wearing’ armor called Dowl. The automatically start function Psycronics was showing a high level of output, but not exceedingly high. Moving smoothly as if it were really human wearing giant armor, this was not due to the strength of SIMA but the high level of NITU apt.i.tude. To be able to move Dowl’s gigantic body as better as her own, that is Akari talent.

Seeing the push forwarded Akari, other pilot start moving forward, but no unit was able to match Akari’s speed. One minute after she started running, Akari made contact with Yokohama’s t.i.tanic Dowl.

In accordance to the information from the reconnaissance squad, Yokohama army were using a light armored-high mobility type ‘Zetes’. Although used, Akari reddish brown, ‘Talos III’ is a close quarter combat type with think armor. It might not do very well in a distance bombardment, but in a close quarter Talos III has the upper hand. If this is a one on one, Yokohama army’s Dowl Master will surely avoid the battle. The reason Yokohama’s Advance team Dowl did not retreat was because their enemy is but one unit, furthermore it is a lone unit protrusion leaving it in an isolated situation.

Yokohama army’s Zetes simultaneously start attacking Akari’s Talos III. The reason they don’t use projectile weapon was in order to save the bullet, or by judging from the difference in war potential, even if they get into close quarter combat they can still win without any of their allies suffering damage. Which would normal be correct.

The high speed rotating spear tips are coming in from left and right. Akari clearly see that from inside the helmet. The level of Akari and her t.i.tanaic Dowl ‘Talos III’ integration was close to NITU’s ideal. Akari use her small shield with spike attached to stop the blow from Drill Lance’s tip. Sparks flew form the surface where the high speed rotating drill bit and the shield met, with the spike interfering with the bit’s rotation.

The shield was slightly damaged, Akari ascertain that by looking at the ma.s.sage floating on her visor. NITU does not transmit the sense of touch. It only send feedback from the impact. This condition is also similar to wearing a full body armor. Akari rely on her Talos III mechanical output flip up both of its forearm shield stopping the drill’s attack.

Zetes on her left and right lost its stance. If the inertia control system is perfectly working, the unit would never go out of the pilot’s control. The reason that Talos III’s shield did not lost to the trusting energy was also because Zetes upper body was unstable with the same reason. The clashing between Talos III and Zetes inertia control force field, in spite of being two on one, Talos III force can still overcome Zetes’s force field.

The enemy was wide open, yet Akari could not attack.

There were five unit of t.i.tanic Dowl ‘Zetes’ in Yokohama Advance team. The remaining three was starting the second round of attack, with two units from the front and one unit from the back.

Akari purposefully step forward, to drawing attack from Zetes. She used her shield, not as to parry, but to stop the attack coming from the Drill Lance from her left and then flip up the thrust from the Zetes on her right. With her left arm, she fling off her shield that was stopping the lance, destroying the left enemy’s stance. She approach the Zetes on her right, and for the first time, use the weapons she has in her hands.

A sickle-like blade facing inward. The blade was very appropriate for Dowl’s size and in the middle of it, attach three saw-like hooks. The blades was in both her hands, one a piece. Its name was Sickle Shears, it was a popular close quarter weapon comparing to Jigsaw Glaive or Drill Lance.

The Inertia Control System also neutralizing enemy’s weapon inertia. Heavy-weight weapons that attack using force like war axe or war hammer would not work unless they exceeds their target’s inertia control power. This does not limited to Heavy-weight weapons, even weapons like sword or spear, if losing its momentum, the cutting or piecing power would not be displayed. Excluding ones who is confident on his or her own inertia control ability, unless you used weapon that could destroyed enemy’s armor even in zero-distance situation like Jigsaw Blade or Drill Lance, or a weapon that lock their target in place and, not with force but with pressure, cut or otherwise shear them like Sickle Shears, you would not be able to do valid damages on Dowl.

Akari raise the Sickle Shears on her Talos III’s right arm from lower-left to upper-right, drive it into enemy unit’s armpit. The introvert curve blade tightly seize the unit one size smaller than Talos III. Facing the not-moving enemy unit, this time she use her left blade. From right to left, she aim for the neck.

The closer the Psycronics vessel is too human, the higher efficiency they could operate. Conversely, if the vessel lost its humanoid from the output would also drop. Thus the most effective way is to make them lose the part that made them look human.

The answer is the Head. Even losing one of its arms or legs, the output loss is ten percent at best. Losing all its limb, the maximum output lost is fifty percent. However, cutting of the head and the Psycronics output will drop below thirty percent of its original output. There for, it is theoretical for a fight between Dowl to eventually aim for the neck. Which would make Akari’s establish tactic reasonable.

The Sickle Shears swung from right to left catch the neck of the Zetes that has its stance destroyed. Akari, without caring that the collar shaped armor protecting the neck has stopped her blade and neutralized its inertia, she use her brute force to pulled the shear in. This pressure cutting method would not work with a straight sword or an extrovert curved sword, because it would just slide around the armor. But a sickle-like introvert blade would cut in deeper without losing the added force. Akari operate the right handed shears to keep the enemy unit from escaping while she used her left blade to cut off enemy’s head in one go.

The pressure force back from the enemy disappear. But it is not the pressure hanging on the arm. It was a more abstract energy, feeling that the output of the inertia control force field that was encroaching on this side’s force field has gone down. Akari operate her inertia control system without a moments delayed. Fixed her inertia with addition of inertia coming from enemy units body, then she remove her left hand shear from her enemy. Immediately after, she release the inertia control from the enemy unit. Bashed it with the spiked shield.

One down!

Given the enemy unit toppled on its side and the ejected c.o.c.kpit unit a sidelong glanced, Akari turn her Talos III around to, if looking back on her somatic sensation, the first Zetes that attack her from the right side. The current situation is four on one, only one of the five enemy unit is crushed. Without having to check the sign of the enemy finding sensor reflected on the visor, she knows that the enemies were aiming at her.

After faithfully tracing Akari’s intended move movement, Talos III turned around. The optic sensor projected the body of the enemy Dowl with the tip of its Drill Lance charging her way on to the visor. It was one of the two units that first attack her from the flank. She instantly raised her left arm over her head. The small shield equipped on the left forearm clash with the Drill Lance.

One again, Akari could feel the pressure of the ‘Field’. A collision between Zetes’s force field that was increasing the inertia and the piercing power of the lance, and Talos III’s force field that was neutralizing the inertia and killing the thrusting momentum.

Huge resistance were put on Akari’s left arm. The pressure put on Talos III’s shield went through NITU, creating that illusion. However, the load being put on it also meant that the shield has not been pierce yet. Between neutralizing and increasing inertia, the scale was inclined to the neutralizing side.

The drill bit was shaving of the shield’s surface. Without worrying about that, Akari flip up her shield. Sending the lance tip slanting up. She used her left hand, still holding the shear’s grip to brush off the shield of the enemy that has lost its stance, then trust both her hands into the gap between the spear and the shield.

Left and right hand, the two Sickle Shears cross over each other. The hook that took hold of the midsection of the weapon’s length, just about the edge of the handle, geared with each other. The two blades become one large scissors.

This was Sickle Shears other form. The enemy’s neck was insert between the two curve blades. In defiance of the armor, the scissors made from head cutting sickles cut off Zetes’s head in one go.

Akari turned to her left. Probably becoming cautious after seeing its ally got attacked in succession. The second Dowl which challenged her in their first round of attack stopped moving and stand ready.

Akari was the one who moved first. She separated the Sickle Shear, put both her arm’s shields in front and, as if to fly, hurl her Dowl toward the Zetes. A clash between shields. Failing to neutralize Talos III’s inertia and losing in physical differences, the Zetes bent back. Akari raise both her sickles above her head. The directly swung down Shears bite deeply into the enemy both shoulder. Even though both arm was not cut apart, the enemy unit was already in a helpless situation. However, Akari’s charge was not yet over.

Talos III’s giant body went up in midair. Still holding on to the Shear’s grip she jump in to the enemy.

Thrusting out her right knee. There was a cone shaped horn that was supplemented with moveable armor. The destination of the horn tip was, seize in place by two sickle, enemy’s face. Following the crushed sound, Zetes’s head was smashed, collapsing to the ground as it is. Akari remove her Shears from the enemy unit as if to push it aside, be careful not to step on the enemy who has lost their combat ability, she landed.

The ground shake with the sound of foot step approaching. Akari’s turns to where she originally came from, to Odawara. Her ally has finally caught up with her.

“This is Scarlet-one.”

As she call out her call-sign, the friendly troop communication line automatically opened. “Finally caught up, huh? You guys are too slow.”

“Scarlet-two speaking. That was some showing thing you did there. Let me see…. the enemies are five units of Zetes. They maybe reconnaissance Dowl, but that was still some considerable feat.”

“This is Scarlet-three. Akarii, left us some bonus too.”

What returned was an answer with no evil intend. Akari was not really blaming them anyway, this kind of frivolous talk was perfect in this kind of place.

“Use the call sign, you mustache-old man.”

“That’s cruel calling me an old man. I am still just twenty nine.”

“For a seventeen years old me, you look plenty old man level. Wasn’t it time for you to start having trouble walking?”

As they exchange their frivolous talk, the enemy draw close. Or not, what cut in to their communication was a regretful voice.

“This is Indigo-four. I’m sorry Nee-chan, for not going with you.”

“It’s fine Ao… Indigo-four for you stay behind. Since you are the rear-guard.”

She was able to give a rationally sister-like answer without becoming panic, is what Akari was thinking. However she did not even notice that she was swinging her hand, still holding weapons, in front of her own face. That was how much panic she was. She also did not see other unit that was stand by her side, taken a back and retreated.

Akari knew that her brother felt a sense of inferiority toward her. She also understood that it was not something that could be resolve with reason. Just like how she does not want her brother to stand in a battle field, her brother also does not want her to fight alone. However, the reality has been harsh on the siblings. They could not live in Odawara if Akari does not pilot Dowl, but as a citizen of Auton, Aoi was not allow to live without piloting Dowl. All she can do was to not make her brother worry while pretending not to worry about her brother.

As Akari’s Talos III dangerous behavior that was quite capable of conducting friendly fire started to settle down, Dowl Master of Odawara army finally started their serious talk.

“So, what’s next?”

“We don’t really have any choice, do we? The one who tell us to attack the invasion force is our employer. All we can do is follow the order.”

“That I know, what I asked for was the concrete idea of what should we do next. Odawara head office of defense told us to push the counter attack line as far as possible but…”

“And what they go around us? Amateur are so…”

“No, if they get through our defense the result would have been the same. Because we don’t have any reserve force. Rather than them being amateur, it can’t be help if they think like that.”

“Well, with this much military difference they wouldn’t bother to use circ.u.mvent strategy. I bet they’ll rush through the shortest route. And after that, they would want to crush the resistance forces.”

“I thought so too. The problem is, where should we counter attack them.”

“The head office said we are to correspondence accordingly to the situation, so we have to decide on something.”

“What do you think, Indigo-one? You are the squad leader, so I’ll follow decision.”

To Akari’s word, the other six stop talking and turn to the unit that is Indigo-one.

“I think we should just they at our early position for the moment. The objective of our fight is to buy time, inviting SOFEA’s intervention. If they want to recover the Dowl Master of the units Scarlet-one destroy it would take two or three hours.”

“…wait a second, are we not going to rescue the injured?”

Hearing the squad leader’s speech, Aoi hurriedly interject.

“Indigo-four. Dowl’s c.o.c.kpit were expected to perfectly protect the pilot. They would not cause any serious injury even if lunch to the ground in an emergency ejecting.”

Yet, no criticism continued. Except Aoi, no one else think Indigo-one’s idea is inhumane.

“It is just as Indigo-one said, Indigo-four. First and foremost, we don’t have the composure to take any prisoner.”

Being directly in front of him, Akari rebuked his naivety.

“Now that its decided, let hurry back.”

Taking the initiative, she follow her leader’s order.

Akari casually turned to her eyes to the left side of the path. Beyond the compressed soil road made to withstand Dowl’s walk, ones can sees rows of green paddy fields. Agricultural land of the naturalist who do not rely on food plant. The weather favorable this year, if this continues they should be able to harvest enough crop that there would not be any starvation.

It has been two hundred years since they stopped investing on arable and grazing land, fearing it would become supply base for illegal armed groups. Even in this unstable climate, yet to use sufficience chemical fertilizer, agrichemical and more importantly not getting any fuel, the cla.s.sic agriculture easily fall into bad harvest. Thus with starvation and illness, possibly thinning out, a lot of people died. That is the livelihood of the naturalist.

They have not cram themselves into weapons and force the give and take lives. In return they lost the means to resist fate, all they can do is give them self into its violation.

I will not yield to something like fate. I will do anything but to drop dead on the road side without resisting.

Akari look straight forward, continuing to walk down the wide road made for large ground machine.

-<>-<>-<>-

The wholeheartedly earth tremor as the giant metal strode. Thirty unit Dowl squad of Yokohama army marched in a two plus for by eight square formation without a single disorder. With twenty eight units of Yokohama army official t.i.tanic Dowl ‘Kongou’, one ‘Tokushaka’ which specialize in bombardment and is for squad leader use and finally, Yokohama army’s ace Dowl Master Kisaragi Ryoichi’s personal use ‘Shakara’. All were state-of-the-art machine developed by Tokyo Polis.

They stopped at the remains of the battlefield where wreckages of Advance team’s Zetes scattered.

Five units with its head theoretically destroyed and five abandoned c.o.c.kpit unit. There was nothing irregular with the c.o.c.kpit as far as eyes can see. There was no traces of escaped, probably because the pilot was still unconscious. To be hallucinated with pain ones should not feel from the unit being damage is the weak point of NITU.

Of course, it is not at the level of creating a physical injury, so in time, the pilot would wake up as if nothing had happened. On the contrary, it’s also mean that not much time has pa.s.sed since they had been attacked.

“Seems like they’d been done in pretty quick.”

“It is because they use the cheap one like Zetes. They were fast but were second-rate in all other specs.”

In the conversation between the squad leader and the ace, no unit raised its objection. It maybe because the squad is in complete discipline, or maybe because the other Dowl Master holds the same opinion. “They did work their salary, so let’s leave it at that.”

The reason there was no sympathy towards Zetes, was because they were not Yokohama army’s regular soldier, but a mercenary.

The Yokohama army official Dowl ‘Kongou’ was a strong safeguard for point defense used and not cut out for reconnaissance.

This is where Yokohama Polis employed a self-proclaimed professional at reconnaissance and construction mercenary for Odawara invasion. There we complaint about wasting budget, but Yokohama leading cla.s.s was willing to be careful for the sake of not drawing out the fight. The reason was the exact opposite of Odawara. In order to not spare anytime for the Solar System Alliance intervention.

“The one who did this is a previous generation Talos-series.”

The battle situation of Akari and reconnaissance squad was being hooked up to Yokohama army main force. “They may not be same model, but the other were also from one previous generation just like Talos. No sign of them setting any traps.”

“If they think this has the ability to buy time, then we must be sorely underestimated.”

The fact that Odawara army battle objective was to buy time until the Alliance intervention was known to Yokohama army. There could be no other plan, considering the difference in war potential. Hundredfold difference in national power does not mean that the number of Dowl own by Yokohama army is hundredfold to Odawara army. The number of Dowl own buy Yokohama is sixty units. Less than eight fold to Odawara. And only half that number were put into this time anti-Odawara war. But even for thirty against eight, there is too much war potential that there should not have been any challenges from the beginning. (By the way having sixty units of Dowl is consider fairly numerous in the eyes of the world. If combining with one hundred units of Tokyo Polis, it would becoming a top cla.s.s war potential in the world.)

“We’ll make those Outer lot knows there place soon enough. But let just get these guys out for now.”

The squad leader unit issue a recues order for the Zetes’s Dowl Master. There would not be any unusual things happen to their lives even if shut in the c.o.c.kpit seat. However, if they were left to connected with NITU link that has been cut from the Dowl, the chance that they would suffer from motion impediment that could last many weeks or month is high. After the battle is over, or sometimes interrupted midway, it has become battle field commonsense to open the ejected c.o.c.kpit and drag out the pilot.

“Please wait, squad leader.”

However, Yokohama army ace pilot, Kisaragi Ryoichi, interpose his objection to the established tactic.

“It may take time several hours, but I think four units is enough for rescue operation. The rest should immediately chase after Odawara army.”

“You are saying we should divide our war potential?”

“Odawara’s war potential would not be any more than ten units anyway. Even if thirty units become twenty six units, it would still be in the scope of calculated error. Also we cannot waste time in this time strategy.”

There is no voice of approval to Ryoichi report to superior. The entirety of twenty eight Kongou probably understood that his opinion was a right one, however considering if they became those who needed recue, they cannot sentimentally agree.

“Understood, let’s adopt you opinion.”

But as expected for those who were chosen as a commanding officer, the squad leader prefer logic over emotion.

“Unit number twenty five to twenty eight is to rescue the reconnaissance squad, the others are to continue marching forward.”

The squad leader’s unit ‘Tokushaka’ and Ryoichi’s unit ‘Shakara’ walked together side by side. While the other twenty four units of Kongou followed behind.

The Odawara defense squad’s Dowls was preparing itself against Yokohama army in an abandon seaside city of the old era ten kilometers from their Auton. They have heard the rumors that Tokyo Polis has supplied Yokohama army with state-of-the-art amphibious unit. In case they were circled behind from the sea by that unit, all they has to do was to foam the entire water. They reason for them coming to the sea side was to detected the unit advancing mid ocean. That is why when they perceived that Yokohama army is approaching from the front using radar, one of their concern disappeared. However, Dowl master of Odawara army, Akari included, was attacked by discomposure.

“Those guy, they came too fast!”

“It can’t be, are they using carrier in the combat area?”

“No, we didn’t perceive any reaction from carrier. It’s carrier for Dowl, that enormous thing can’t be hidden from our radar!”

“They must have abandon the reconnaissance squad on their way here.”

After Akari’s brief comment, the communication line become packed with angry roar.

“…then, what about those people?”

The most shocked person receiving Akari’s comments was Aoi.

“Dowl’s c.o.c.kpit can perfectly protect the pilot from the crash after the ejection. Is that right, Nee-san?”

“Their protection from outside shock is perfect. However the buffer was too perfect, there is a lot of cases that the Dowl Master would be fixed to the seat without being released from the device. For example, the NITU link.”

“If you were not released from the NITU… what would happen?”

“The nerve signal sucked up by the link would have nowhere to go, Dowl Master’s body would have a misrecognition that they had lost their arms and legs. Because of that, Dowl Master’s body would suffered from movement imparity for a period of time.”

“How much is this “period of time”?”

“A few weeks, or a few month.”

Hearing that, Aoi breath out a sign of relieve. For citizen of Auton or The naturalist, having movement imparity for a few month can be mortal. But for Polis’s citizen, there should be no problem regarding medical treatment.

However, those thinking were too hasty.

“But nerve impediment after arms and legs were important organ. For example, if it reach the heart, they’d die in a few month.”

“That’s..! That means because we didn’t recue them earlier, those people are…”

“Calm down, Indigo-four.”

It was the acting squad leader Indigo-four’s calm voice that stop Aoi’s discomposure.

“I don’t think Yokohama army would abandon their colleague in coming here. They probably left the minimum number of personal needed for rescue.”

“They divided their own military force?”

“Yes, Scarlet-two. It is not a strange decision considering the difference between our war potential and theirs. Also this is not the time for that conversation.”

Abroad - meaning from anywhere not the j.a.panese islands – there were cases where Polis were spearheaded by such mercenary squad. Anymore point less talking is not allow, was the underlying meaning in Indigo-one’s speech.

“Indigo-four, report the estimated time for them to get in Gun Javelin effective range!”

“Seventy seconds at the current speed, sir!”

Aoi was the one the most meagre experience in this party. For the reason he was in the last position in line and was a.s.sign with information a.n.a.lysis duty. Aoi remember his duty after hearing Indigo-one’s word, he hurriedly call up his tactic support monitor and answer.

“All unit, spread out!”

There were groups of mid-size building that remained relatively close to its original form left in this spot. That was their reason for choosing this place as an interception point.

The Odawara squad secretly dispersed while using abandon buildings as a cover. “Indigo squad, prepare to fire. Scarlet squad keep on standing by.”

The squad leader order the backup team, himself included, to release the safety device of the Gun Javelin.

Gun Javelin is a t.i.tanic Dowl main weapon for bombardment battle. If one were to easily explain its shape and property, one would said that it is, compared to Dowl size, a thin needle with explosive inserted into the tip and it is fired using rifle type railgun. Even though it has a shape of a gun, the core of it was, after all, a jevalin. That is why it was not called ‘Javelin Gun’ but ‘Gun Javalin’. The three meters long and ten centimeters in diameter javelin was loaded into a cartridge, nine to ten in each. It is three kilometers per second under earth atmosphere, out of earth atmosphere, the explosive spear tip is fire at the speed five kilometers per second

The javelin itself was not too big for infantryman to handle, but it was fired using railgun at a speed that produce an overwhelming power. The railgun entire body length is commonly about ten to twelve meters, about half a Dowl height. While it is important for the rail to be long in order guarantee that the javelin has plenty acceleration, it also hindrance the ability to carry other weapons. For that reason, it has become theoretical for Dowl to utilize mix teams of bombardment battle squad and close proximity battle squad. There is also peculiar case of lone unit entering the battle field, but only if that unit was exceedingly strong.

“The enemy invasion speed has not changed. Entering range in three minutes.”

Leaving the tactic support monitor opened, Aoi prepared his Gun Javelin. Because he is not as good as Akari at synchronizing with Dowl, he has an uncomfortable feeling of not feeling the heaviness of his gun.

In regards Aoi’s apt.i.tube for NITU, too bad it is no match for Akari. He discriminate himself that he no talent like his sister, or under the impression that he is. Although his sister is not an ExA, she is unmistaken a genius when it comes to t.i.tanic Dowl piloting skill.

Her first time boarding a Dowl was at twelve years old. And in that campaign, the greatly renowned, not only in j.a.pan but to the whole region of East Asia, Kyoto Polis’s ace, was crushed by her.

As in common with the era, the sibling has blood of various race mixed into. Although they themselves has never get out of Honshu. (TL notes: largest of the four main islands of j.a.pan) However he believed that where ever they go in the world, Akari would still be rate as a first grade Dowl Master. If she were alone she should be able to enter Polis regular army, then gaining citizenship would no longer be a preposterous dream.

If for the sake of his sister, it would be better if he was not here…… was what Aoi never thought of. To begin with, that kind of sensitive human would not be able to live in this era. It may be imprudent, but Aoi has come to a clear decision that in order for him to survive he must have military talent like his sister. However, for a boy living in era like this and for having being strongly conscious about being under protection of his sister, who is not but one year difference in age, his desire to become a man is stronger than others.

I'll show them that even I can fight!

For Odawara Auton, this invasion from Yokohama was a great calamity, a danger they have never faced before. But to Aoi, it was a chance. That was what he though, until this moment.

"They have enter our effective range!"

The moment the front row of Yokohama army entered two thousand meters boundary from Aoi's position, he yelled out. Since he has already finished linking with his unit, his voice reached his allies through means of communication machine without the need of him making any conscious operation.

“Fire!”

Accompanying Indigo-one's order, the Indigo squad's Gun Javelin simultaneously let out a shower of sparks. The gun powder equipped throwing spear was fired at its maximum speed under the earth atmosphere, three kilometers per second. The throwing spear’s ma.s.s is almost non-existence when comparing to Dowl’s body, but its knock back cannot be overlook considering its initial velocity. The fact that something as unstable as a two footed Dowl can use Gun Javelin is because they are able to suppress the knockback using inertia control. On the contrary if you cannot skillfully utilize inertia control at the time of fire, your aim would be inaccurate due to the knock back.

d.a.m.ned, I missed!

Seeing the javelin he launched exploded midair, Aoi mentally clicked his tongue. In order to prevent stay bullets, the explosive power inside the sh.e.l.l fired from Gun-Javelin will explode will explode after one second. So midair explosion meant he missed the target.

The enemies did not break their square formation. A battle formation, even if happened by chance. Yet the he did not hit them. That is because he was too naïve on inertia control and that he wanted to show off by aiming for enemy unit’s head, even Aoi himself understood that.

This time, looking for certainty, he aimed for abdomen. If comparing to the chest that is protecting the c.o.c.kpit unit, it has comparatively thinner defense. If the armor is skillfully remove, even a Gun-Javelin could destroy a Dowl. However Aoi who was carefully taking aim under the shadow of the abandon building could not pull the trigger. Getting shot from other unit except Aoi, the enemies suddenly change their formation. Dense bombardment were sent out from a half-circular formation. The abandoned building was shot as a cover, while Aoi’s Talos IV got showered with splinters. With their gun barrel showered with debris, they became unable to fire.

“Scarlet-three!”

“d.a.m.n it, my leg got hit!”

“I got hit in the arm! I cannot fire anymore!”

“Indigo-two, Scarlet-three, exchange your weapon!”

As Yokohama army’s Kongou continued to shower bullets, Indigo-one ordered his shot allies to exchange role.

“AAAaaaaa!”

Aoi let out a beast like scream. Not one that predator bellow in front of its pray, but a scream of a cornered pray.

Aoi’s Talos IV stepped out from the shadow of the abandoned building that can no longer function as a cover. He continued to fire his Gun-Javelin without aiming and hit three Kongous by chance.

But that is the end of his beginner’s luck. A violent crash blown Talos IV’s left hand shield away. Aoi was not finished off because he was turning over from the crash making the enemy’s aim accidently off. That meant he still has another chance. However as he turned over, fallen on the ground as is, to looked at the unit that attacked him. Aoi though in his heart that he was ‘done for’.

His opponent was a bombardment-battle type Tokushaka which has two Gun Javelin mounted on both its shoulder shield. Odawara has no such clever thing as information bureau. However, they do get their hands on information regarding enemy commander’s unit. Tokushaka was a state-of-the-art Dowl developed by Tokyo Polis. From the information they possessed Tokushaka seems to have improved stability when firing.

Their progress has been hinder since after that commanding officer’s unit started attacking. Firing from the back of the enemy lines, Tokushaka caught Aoi’s unit with its first shot. The second missed on nothing but pure luck. Something so fortunate probably would not happen again. At least to not avert eyes from fate, Aoi glared at the readied Gun Javelin’s barrel.

However, main camera of the Talos IV Aoi was riding could not look into Tokushaka’s gun barrel. Tokushaka was point the gun barrel at other unit.

Aoi relaxed his shoulders. Thinking that he just escaped from desperate dilemma, he involuntarily loosen his tension. In spite of being right in the middle of the battle field.

“Aoi, to your right!”

The reason Tokushaka’s stopped aiming at him. Aoi confirmed it with despair. Approaching from his right was a bright navy-blue unit. Above its shoulder, both side of its head mounted jet engine like weapons. That conspicuous color and form, the unit was, without doubt, Yokohama’s ace unit ‘Shakara’.

Aoi hurriedly got up. Putting his right hand on the ground. However his right hand was unable to support the full body weight. He unsightly fell down. He turned his neck to look at his right arm and found that the elbow armor was dislodged. It was probably damaged from being pinned under torso when he had fallen down. Dowl’s piloting system would display equal level of maneuverability to the pilot’s body, but would not return the sense of pain. Even if the Dowl was damaged it would not feedback the information to the Dowl Master as a sensation.

Although it was too late, Aoi noticed the damage sign showing at the corner of his vision. A damage that would not happened to the Polis regular army’s unit. But Aoi’s Talos was a second handed of unknown origin, maintain by the lack-of-material Auton. It was required to be defensive when fallen over, yet he was being negligent. As a result, he had lost the use of his right arm.

Losing stance for the second time, evasion has become hopeless. It would seems that the payment for his negligence was to be his own life. As he thought that, he used his hand to get himself up. He has no intention of waiting to be killed.

That struggle has called forth miracle.

No, saying this was a miracle would be rude to the related party. He jumped up with determination the she would save him.

Aoi’s vision was crossed with giant red-tea colored figure. Contrary to the gra.s.s land or ruins, an eye catching desert camouflage of Talos III. Akari’s unit tackled Shakara.

Although it was blown away by the tackled, Shakara rearranging its posture midair and softly landed.

Talos III exceeds Shakara in terms of unit weight. Shakara’s Dowl Master, Kisaragi Ryoichi did not brace his legs at the increased inertia, he neutralize inertia at the time of contact reducing the damage received from the crash to almost zero. And while in midair he used water jet on both his shoulder to spayed high pressure water and use that knock back to control his unit.

“Get down, Aoi!”

Yelling at her brother and kicked off the pavement at the same time. As the ruin road collapsed under the size her feet, Akari closed in on Shakara.

Looking through Shakara, no, overlapping field of vision with Shakara, Ryoichi focus on the charging Talos.

Shakara’s Psycronics released a roar like a distant thunder. An auditory hallucination that happened when SIMA, Symbolic Image Materialize Ability interfere with the s.p.a.ce structure.

There two types of Dowl, personal unit and ma.s.s production unit. Personal unit was literally, made to match the pilot or the Dowl Master, and to be personally used by the Dowl Master alone. The greatest difference between personal unit and ma.s.s product unit was the existence or non-existence of characteristic armament.

SIMA would bring forth individual power form the individual’s mind. Not the mechanically standardization ability so the difference between strong and weak points were unusually big. Except for the basic equipment like inertia neutralize device or gas movement control device that depends on pilot to master and not apt.i.tude, is it efficient to be specialize in one’s own field of expertise.

The characteristic armament is a weapon made to match the Dowl Master SIMA trait. Using Pyscronics to amplify Dowl Master’s especially good SIMA for attack and defense. So by means of characteristic armament, personal Dowl can display their one and only paranormal ability.

Kisaragi Ryoichi specialize SIMA was liquid flow control. The cylinder, water jet mounting on both Shakara’s shoulders was the characteristic armament that make the best of this ability. Shakara’s right hand was gripping the handle under the cylinder on its right shoulder. Four steps until Talos III would make contact with Shakara.

Shakara used it right hand to aim the tip of the water jet cylinder at the red-tea colored unit. Three steps until contact.

Ryoichi overlap the cross gauge surfacing in front of him with the Talos III neck part. Two steps until contact.

The time Shakara’s characteristic armament spit out a thin high pressured water current and the time Talos III raise its shield over its eyes was mostly the same.

The shield flown from Talos III left hand.

The red-tea colored giant place both hand on the ground in front of the navy-blue giant.

It did not collapse. It was doing crouching start as if to ready itself for a dash.

Talos III vigorously rise up, swing its Sickle Shears in a scooping motion.

To that, Shakara a.s.saulted with countless buck shots.

The water pebbles fired from left shoulder’s unit push back Talos III’s giant body.

Shakara turned the tip of its Drill Lance to the posture destroyed red-tea colored unit.

The rotating bits hum as it approach Talos III’s neck from the left side where it had lost its shield.

Shakara’s lance pieced not the red-tea colored but the black-ash colored unit, Aoi’s Talos IV.

“Aoi!?”

Akari screamed.

As if to say its ok, the Talos IV that has intergraded with Aoi turned its face and nod.

Sahkara’s Drill Lance the pieced Talos IV’s left hand stopped just before the torso.

Talos IV began its dash.

Probably caught off guard, Shakara who exceeds Talos IV in terms of Inertia control ability got semi carried backward.

Beyond there, was a former century wharf, a ruin of a building built on the sh.o.r.e side.

Aoi continued to plunge into the abandon building.

Shakara’s back destroyed the brittle building’s wall surface.

But it was still far from fatal wound. Shakara was not buried in the abandon building, it had braced its legs and stand firm before Talos IV. It probably operate its inertia control at the very last moment.

Talos IV’s right arm have not moved since just before. Its left arm was also being torn off. If he is thrust away, this time for sure, it will be a desperate situation. Aoi no longer has any means to resist.

d.a.m.n it, there has to be something!

However, Aoi did not give up. Giving up would mean death. Having get through those day and finally end up at Odawara, Aoi do not have such choice as to except death.

He would never gave up even in despair.

He would cling on no matter how absurd.

With that blind attachment in life, Aoi fill up his Pyscronics engine.

Paranormal phenomenon bring about by t.i.tanic Dowl’s heart.

At that moment, opened the door of possibility.

Having swallowed up Aoi’s SIMA, in exchange, Talos IV Psycronics engine give him the power he needed for his will to fight. Manifested in a form of weapon.

Lightning swelled up.

Supreme ruler of lightning raise its first cry.

Great output of one teravolt.

Discharged in a millisecond.

With output that rivals natural phenomenon and energy amount ten times natural phenomenon, the thunder was fired at point-blank range to the navy-blue unit.

Dowl is a machine that uses electricity. Excessive voltage would damage the internal mechanism. That hit did not exceed Shakara’s endurance limit, but has plenty influence to cause temporary decline in functionality.

By the way, that instant output was a thousand fold compared to commercial atomic reactor used in the 20 century. Even though a.s.sisted by Pyscronics engine, that kind of power was still bring about by one person. Due to in being instantaneous the amount of energy itself is nothing impressive, however that instant output was clearly beyond Dowl’s output. In that moment, Aoi has displayed ‘Power’ that exceeds Dowl.

If pursuit was possible, Aoi would probably shot down Yokohama army’s ace and achieve a most spectacular victory. But it was not the time, only small crevice was open for the door of possibility.

It would seem that fate has no intention to perform anymore services.

Not just Shakara, but Talos IV’s Pyscronics engine was also silent. Easily put, even though it is different, overheated.

The state-of-the-art Shakara would re-activate in a moment.

However, Talos IV damage has exceeded its threshold. Originally, this unit was not made to fire off electric shock. Pyscronics engine is device that amplify and stabilize the output of SIMA in spite of personal SIMA traits, however to efficiently utilize attack or defense power, the equipment must be custom to satisfy that kind of power, hence need of characteristic armament. It was not a.s.sumed in the design stage that Talos IV’s Pyscronics engine would utilize this level of powerful SIMA, so when the output did not go smoothly it would place a lot of burden on the engine.

And more than that.

I…can’t…move, I… have…to…get…mov..ing….or…else

Aoi’s fatigue as already crossed its limit. The one who cannot stand the excessive released of SIMA was not the second handed unit. Aoi’s mind that has not been through sufficient training, was a.s.saulted by feeling of exhaustion and finally fainted after released of excessive SIMA.

What was that electric shocked moments ago?

Shakara’s overall function was numbed. In spite of that, Kisaragi Ryoichi still thought about it in his c.o.c.kpit seat.

Because he understood that the unit’s numbness was temporary and would recovered in no time. The restoration has already started. Ryoichi heart is patience, his conscious turning to the unidentified attacked that his unit just received.

That was certainly an attacked by means of SIMA, but…

Talos IV was a previous generation Dowl that has all its spec ascertained. That unit has no such function as releasing electric shock. In At the same time, he also understood that it has no Psycronics equipment that can convert SIMA into electric shock onboard.

Using only the basics function of Pyscronics engine to drawing out attack that rivals characteristic armament?

Within range of his knowledge, only ExA could do that.

“Impossible.”

Ryoichi involuntarily muttered through his mouth.

To his muttering, Shakara’s electronic brain answer with an alert for improper command.

-<>-<>-<>-

The clash between Odawara and Yokohama was known to the Solar System Alliance since the time Yokohama Dowl unit departed from their Polis. To SOFEA, the fluttering of Armed Dispute Eradication flag means mobilizing order. The moment Aoi’s Talos IV and Ryoichi’s Shakara clashed, flying mother ship number one ‘Grenblu’ which was above Sagami Bay’s open sea in order to intervene directly after both army physically collide was notified.

Inside the Grenblu was SOFEA ExA, Lieutenant Borjigin Bartlean Dorji was waiting for a time to descent in his favorite unit ‘Rudra’.

“Rea.”

“Yes, lieutenant Dorji.”

“What was that reaction just now?”

Dorji who was looking at the all sorts of data on his monitor and not the error linked external camera, asked the bridge about the instantaneous high SIMA output with puzzlement.

“It was just SIMA reaction sent from infighting Dowl at the Sagami Bay coastal area.”

Sergeant major Rea Pudi, novice operator in charge of information support for Rudra, answered the question. She maybe a fifteen years old girl but she was trained in Psychic perception field, to identify character with high ESP. She is currently receiving actual combat education in Grenblu as a candidate officer for SOFEA.

A lot of ExA were hard to please. Those who holds high level of EPS is usually a ‘sensitive’ type when it comes to everyday life. Rea Pudi who was a little childish but is very friendly and caring was, Dorji included, a favorite amongst Grenblu’s crew.

-Back to the main subject-

“Was it belong to Yokohama army?”

What Dorji was thinking of was Yokohama army’s ace, Kisaragi Ryoichi. He was still not yet twenty years old so there is room for his SIMA to grow. Since he was already one stepped away from becoming ExA, he might have had an awakening in the middle of the battle field.

“I am really sorry, lieutenant. I cannot determined whose army that belongs too.”

However, Rea Pudi reported in an apologetic manner. Since Ryoichi was a Dowl Master that has caught SOFEA’s attention, they must have already grasp his SIMA apt.i.tude. However if they cannot specified the source, it means there is a high possibility that the recent SIMA belongs to other individual.

“Understood. How long until decent?”

“Umm…sixty seconds until decent, lieutenant. Beginning count down.”

As he listened to Rea Pudi’s skillfully reverberated soprano, ‘This should be interesting’ was on his mind.

-<>-<>-<>-

The Talos III Akari was piloting vigorously get up and start charging.

Her destination was not the Shakara who was in the middle of reactivation and was unable to move, but Talos IV who was stranded between enemy’s fire and his own power. Akari’s reason for fighting was ‘for my younger brother’. If referring to her policy, the choice was obvious, she would prioritize rescuing Aoi before the destruction of Shakara.

The damage her unit received from Shakara also strengthen her decision. In the previous battle, if her left hand shield was not covering her chest when she was stopped midway in her slash, Shakara water bullet would have hit Talos III c.o.c.k pit directly.

It is theoretical in a fight between Dowls to s.n.a.t.c.h away opponent’s inertia control ability, for that the priority target was neck then the four limbs. However, even the head and four limbs were cut off, Dowl Master would not suffered immediate death in action. Dowl did not use any kind of fuel that would exploded when from unit being damage, nor it was equipped with missiles or bombs. At best the anti-position strike model which carries explosive material would get caught up in a secondary explosion from an external weapon, or the electric current that is driving the Dowl would reverse current back to the c.o.c.kpit seat and would receive a burn from the electronic shock. (Brain, heart or other important organ was under excessively courteous electric shock counter measure.) If Dowl Master died in action in a battle between Dowls, it would be mostly because his opponent was clearly intended to kill.

However, because the disposition of characteristic armament, sometimes it would sometime led to opponent Dowl Master unintentionally death. Shakara characteristic armament was of that type.

Not only that Akari’s unit right arm has a hole where it shield used to be, but the left forearm covering the head also lost its armor and was shredded. More than that, the part where she could not cover with her shield was also miserably shaved off.

Shakara would probably finished its reactivation while she rescue Aoi.

Akari’s unit would not be able to stand Shakara’s next attack.

Akari could not depend on allies for protection in this situation. She maybe a teenage girl, but she knows that battle field is not a place where one can be meaninglessly positive.

Even so, Akari did not hesitate.

After struggling, Akari finally reached Aoi’s unit. Akari used her right hand weapon to cut off Talos IV head, and used that same right hand shield to thrust away that the chest part.

Suddenly, his vision black out. And directly after that, a scene where his sister’s unit was cutting off his head.

“Nee-san!?”

Aoi yelled from his c.o.c.kpit seat as the link with his Dowl was forcefully disconnected.

His voice would not reach his sister.

He could not continue yelling.

After its head was cut, Talos IV pilot protection system kicked in.

The c.o.c.kpit