The television winked on. The ENN logo appears, fading out to a young woman in a solaris-made business suit.
"Good evening. This is Anri Temanor with ENN."
The camera pans slightly to the left, as a graphic comes in over her left shoulder displaying the Cobalt Wing logo.
"Our top story, we have some sad news today from Gebler, the commander and founding officer of the Cobalt Wing special forces unit, Major Asher Dean Thancrus, is dead." The graphic zooms in, fading to a shot of a team removing a shrouded body from Asher's house by a hovering gurney. "The Major died this morning of massive cerebral hemhoragging, a condition brought on by his actions earlier this month in combating the mysterious terrorist that has plagued the greater Etrenak area as of late." The graphic cuts to footage of Asher's Shinmizu Alpha firing in concert with Cobalt Wing on the Divine Knight.
"Major Thancrus had been suffering from an inner ear injury for several months at the time, it is currently believed that that damage, compounded by the stress of fighting in a gear, may have caused the damage which eventually caused his death. The Major was the founder and leader of the Cobalt Wing special forces, a special division of the military dedicated to protecting the life of Minister Krelian. He is not known to have any living relatives. A small, private service will be held within the week for select friends of the Major. He will be missed."
The screen goes black.
"Right this way, sir. The transport's waiting."
"Everything is in place, correct?"
"Yes sir. Lukev's been informed of the change in command, and security is airtight. Not even the Empress knows."
"Good....that's good. Has the Alpha been sent down?"
"Yes. It's all been perfectly set up, right underneath the cabin."
"And how many -do- know about this?"
"Only myself, a few select others who've been sworn to secrecy, Minister Krelian, and that's about all. The complete information is set up in the mainframe down there."
"All right then. It's been good here...I'll miss it."
"We'll miss you too, sir. It's been a good ride."
"I know...It just feels like it's been so long since we started this."
"Indeed, sir."
"....Well, it doesn't matter much now. You'll be monitoring the signals, correct?"
"Yes sir. Godspeed, and....and, I hope that this works out for the best for you."
"Thank you, Richter. Take care of yourself. Your wife'd never forgive you."
"Heh, right."
Within moments, the second man was gone, leaving the soldier alone.
"I just hope that a dead man can have fewer problems."

By Luka on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 02:57 pm:

A chime rang in her ear, followed by the richly mixed voice of Parousia. "Luc, news report."

Had it been in a flatter tone, she would have known it only to be fielding data--as this was, it already boded ill. The more complex filters that must have had such information passed through had apparently been called into activation and then decided for it to be sent regardless. The Doctor sighed as she unfolded a leg to keep it from falling asleep. The long vigil at the nanochambers wasn't helping the feeling of edginess all around her. "Rapid dump, proceed."

In a matter of seconds, the transmission had been poured into her senses and then hung there in silence as Parousia waited for her reaction.

Luka twitched a finger.

-Lies.-

"Stop it," the woman snapped, knowing that the monitors were trained upon the man inside the tanks and not upon her. She could speak aloud here in these precious hours stolen away from the guards stationed around her, and took comfort in the sound of her own voice.

The presence stirred again, recalling a thread of conclusions only it held access to. -Lies. Confirm reports. Parousia, doublecheck still routine gear-- -

"-No.-" Luka shifted again, her irritation and worry at the fate of the figure in nanoprocessing combining to give her will force.

"For Deus's sake, you bastard thing. Even if you -are- suspicious, he'd wanted to leave before now anyway. Let that which might be dead lie." Before her, the man floated, his blond hair swirling about his hips as she found herself repeating tonelessly in plea for others in the bargain now, "let the dead lie."

By Casske on Saturday, September 08, 2001 - 07:16 pm:

Casske gawks at the small monitor as he sat in the Solaris Lounge, sipping a cup of coffee, his midriff, leg, and arm bandaged, a smooth scar running down the side of his face.

"Asher... that can't be!" Casske's hands became numb with shock, the cup of coffee dropping and spilling all over the floor. Several soldiers make sounds of disgust, yelling angrily at Casske. He doesn't notice, though, as if in a trance.

"He..." Casske closed his eyes, furrowing his brow, remembering the battle. The death of two wingmen, his refusal to return promptly to the gear hangar...

"So... my damned idiocy didn't kill two mpeople, it killed three!?" Casske slams his fist against the nearby table, rising slowly, veins bulging from his temples, a fierce scowl on his face.

"What now!? I have nothing more... Godammit! Arg!" He sits back down, feeling somewhat dizzy.

"Asher had given me every opportunity in the world... and I killed him." Casske lowered his head, laying back, allowing the guilt to consume him. He felt as if he had no place in the world.