The morning sunlight lit up Noin's dark hair, casting her face
into shadows as she walked down the stairs from the transport plane. The
woman who was waiting at the base of the steps for her had her brown
hair pulled back in the military style, her Specials uniform crisp and
neat, the insignia of the medical services shining.
"Lieutenant Noin," the woman saluted her, "my name is Sally Po."
"Lieutenant Po," Noin returned the salute gravely. They fell
into step together towards a where a jeep was waiting as Noin drawled,
"I'm still not quite clear on why I was sent here."
"Officially this base is here to help study the stress levels of
pilots in Mobile Suits," Sally smiled as they climbed in, taking the
driver's seat while Noin took the passenger's seat. "In fact, that sort
of work is the reason that I'm here."
"And unofficially?" Noin asked curiously.
"Unofficially," Sally smiled slightly as they sped off towards
the nearby buildings, "this is the headquarters of the second generation
Mobile Suit project." She held up a hand before Noin could say
something, "I can't go into detail, not until we're inside."
"Concerned about satellite surveillance?" Noin quietly noted.
She smiled grimly as they bulled up to the hangars, "The colony rebels,
of course."
"Exactly," Sally agreed as they strode across a dusty floor
through what appeared to be an unused building. She swiped a keycard
through a reader concealed on the back wall, and a door slid open. Sally
waved her into the elevator, "After you."
"Very covert," Noin noted as they descended, "but is it really
necessary?"
"The Gundams have been able to launch attacks on OZ facilities
around the world," Sally noted, "many of which were also covert." She
shrugged, "With what we're working on here, it's better to be safe than
sorry."
"And what are you working on here?" Noin asked as the elevator
descended, taking a moment to study the doctor. She was poised, but
there was nervousness, too.
"Originally we were involved with developing the Mobile Dolls
project," Sally said, watching the floor numbers count down, "but we've
changed our focus to a new project with the arrival of the Gundams, and
the difficulties our Leos are having with them."
"And what would that be?" Noin asked as they finally came to a
halt. They exited the elevator together, walking out into a large
hanger. Noin slowed, then stopped as she gazed in surprise at what
waited there for them.
"That," Sally said with some satisfaction.
The mobile suit stood there, gleaming silver in the lights of
the massive hanger. The figure resembled a European knight, unlike the
regular mobile suits that were used by OZ. The size matched that of a
Gundam, the suit giving a sense of restrained power.
"What's it called?" Noin murmured softly, an odd catch in her
voice.
"Tallgeese," Sally said softly, "or technically the Tallgeese
II. The first one is currently out in the field, being used by Zechs."
"Can it hold it's own against a Gundam?" Noin asked never
pulling her eyes away from the mobile suit She smiled slightly, taking
in the cannon mounted on the back, the shield resting on one arm. 'Beam
saber, too,' she noted.
"Hopefully," Sally said with a slight shrug. "Zechs is pleased
with the suit so far," she said as she urged Noin down the walkway, "but
we're still working the bugs out of the design."
"Like?" Noin frowned, her eyes intent.
"The strain that the suit puts on a pilot is immense," Sally
said quite frankly. "Lt. Zechs used the Tallgeese in the recent Sanq
Kingdom operation, and it left him bedridden for days." Her face was
grave as she continued, "One of his pilots used the suit to finish the
mission, and his heart simply gave out under the strain."
"The pilots will have to be exceptional," Noin murmured
thoughtfully as they went into another part of the facility. Here
researchers worked on design terminals, others bent over work tables
designing pieces of technology.
"We're training the pilots here for the Tallgeese," Sally said
crisply, "as well as developing additional improvements to the standard
Leos."
"Any bright lights?" Noin inquired.
"Zechs has suggested you for this," Sally smiled at her
slightly, "and from what I've seen of your record, I'd have to agree. We
also have one other pilot candidate in training with the simulators,
you'll be meeting her pretty soon."
"Is OX manufacturing more of the Tallgeese suits?" Noin asked.
"Yes, but it's going slower than I'd like," Sally acknowledged,
"as the representative of the Romafeller foundation keeps reminding me."
"Who are you dealing with?" Noin asked crisply.
"Tubarov," Sally said quietly.
"Is my uncle giving you trouble again?" the young woman's amused
voice came from behind them. Noin quickly turned, taking in a young
woman wearing a simple flightsuit. Her long blonde hair flowed around
her, her smile impish, her eyebrows oddly shaped.
"Occasionally," Sally agreed good naturedly. She smiled at Noin,
"Lt. Noin, I'd like you to meet our pilot trainee, Dorothy Catalonia."
"Lt. Noin?" Dorothy smiled, looking over the dark haired woman
thoughtfully, "Your reputation as a trainer precedes you."
"Thank you," Noin nodded, "and my reputation as a pilot is just
as good."
"Do try not to sneak up on OZ soldiers," Sally scolded Dorothy,
a slight smile on her face, "it tends to result in people being shot by
accident."
"Your concern for my welfare is touching," Dorothy drawled. She
looked over at Noin, "She's shown you the Tallgeese?"
"First thing," Noin nodded slightly.
"It's a magnificent war machine," Dorothy said, pulling her
flight suit gloves off, "I hope to pilot one like it, eventually." She
waved to them as she turned to walk away, the rose signet ring she wore
shining in the artificial light.
"You certainly deal with her casually," Noin said to Sally
softly, once the pretty blonde had walked out of hearing range.
"She's pretty useful," Sally explained calmly, "she'll go talk
to Tubarov, and he'll get off our backs for a few weeks." At Noin's
surprised look she continued, "I don't know how she has so much
influence with him, but she does."
Noin nodded thoughtfully, "And is she a good pilot?"
They walked on a few steps in silence. "She's very good," Sally
admitted, "I'd be ready to put her in a Mobile Suit right now if she
wasn't so damn eager."
"Eh?" Noin blinked.
Sally sighed, "Dorothy sees a battle like a pageant, a beautiful
display of arms and mecha. I don't know if she quite understands that
lives are being lost, people slain." She paused, "Or if she does know,
if she even cares."
"One of those ones," Noin nodded thoughtfully, "I ran into that
type when I was training pilots. I'll keep an eye on her, do what I
can."
"Thanks," Sally sighed.
Safely hidden in the shadows Dorothy watched them walk by, her
expression thoughtful. 'Another duelist,' she mused, having seen Noin's
ring when they talked. Once they were gone she slipped from her
concealment, walking the other way.
'I was cultivating Sally Po as a possible resource,' Dorothy
thought, unzipping her flightsuit to make herself a bit more
comfortable, 'I'd best look into this Noin, as well. One never knows
when one might need an ally.'
There was a dangerous, almost catlike smile on her beautiful
face as she made her way to the staff quarters. She reached her room,
the door slid open and she walked in, 'There will only be one victor of
the Duels.' A soft laugh as she stripped, changing to a dress that was
almost the opposite of her flight suit as she said aloud, "And that will
be me."
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