[Novel] [Draft] Sairensu pureryuudo, Shinkidousenki Gandamu W: FROZEN TEARDROP (2 of 2)
Many thanks to everyone who dropped by to read and/or comment on the previous post! It's so nice to see that so many people are still interested in Gundam Wing...
Here's the second half of the prologue. (The first half is over here if you missed it.) Again, originally published in the August issue of Gundam Ace, released 06/26.
As always, feel free to print, quote, summarize, and link, but please don't re-post the whole thing somewhere else. And let me know what you think!
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Original Japanese title: Sairensu pureryuudo, Shinkidousenki Gandamu W: FROZEN TEARDROP
Translated title: Silence Prelude, from New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop
Author: Sumisawa Katsuyuki
(Continued from Part 1…)
I was taken quite by surprise when downloading the last file. This is because I know well the person who created the file.
Record created by "Sally Po".
This is the name of my mother.
Back then in AC196, my mother, like me, was a member of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation's "Preventer". The details of her mission parameters at the time are unknown, but judging from the audio saved in this file, I think she was assigned to that[17] Relena Darlian's guard detail when she was the Vice Foreign Minister.
Neither my mother's face nor her voice is saved in this file. And, there is also no way to tell with whom Relena Darlian is meeting.
Either this individual is a highly important person, or the details [of their conversation] are of an excessively confidential nature, but the picture consists of a "snowy" noise pattern [18], and only the audio can be heard.
The location where this was file was originally recorded is unknown, and like the other files, there's no clear indication of the time or date either. The only thing I can barely manage to tell, is the run of events as an elderly person thought to be of quite an advanced age talks to Relena Darlian.
And, the name "Heero Yuy" that both Relena and the elderly person talk about in this file, although considered top secret, is well known among those of us in Preventer, as being that of one of the Gundam pilots.
The boy who was given as a codename the same name as the legendary former Colony leader.
The very core of this matter is talked about in this file.
If I may add one thing, the spring of AC196 is approximately 8 months before Mariemeia would rise in rebellion, and it's safe to say that the state of affairs between The Colonies and Earth were quite peaceful at this time.
The audio starts with the voice of the elderly person-
AC-196 SPRING
"We humans, our hearts and minds are afflicted by two major diseases. One is the urge to pass down through the generations the need for revenge. And the other is the tendency to label people collectively as a group, instead of regarding them as a individuals."
"….."
"It's true, with your ideals, you and your friends have succeeded in temporarily breaking the chain of hatred that's existed across several centuries. But, the groups that preach a pacifism built on those ideals, they don't tolerate any disagreements of opinion."
"….."
"And, I'm sure you're aware what sort of things are happening as a result…"
"….."
"We were talking about him, weren't we…"
"…Yes…"
The elderly person can be heard to breathe as if he's laughing.
"He was number one. Far exceeded our expectations… No matter what sort of obstacle gets in his way, it doesn't occur to him to give in."
"….."
"His name… Yes, that name, I'm the one who thought of it, wasn't I."
"By which you mean, Heero Yuy…"
"Yes… Considering it was a bluff, don't you think it's a good name?" [19]
"The intelligence that Heero …that he has been assigned a new mission by you, this is reliable then?"
"Your question, would you mind if I answered it after I have you answer some of mine…?"
"…Not at all."
"Throwing away weapons and containing soldiers, can the ideals of absolute pacifism really be turned into a reality just by doing these sort of things?"
"As long as the concept of fighting doesn't disappear from the hearts and minds of the people, true peace will probably be impossible to achieve…"
"And what makes you think that the human race has already come along far enough for that to happen?"
"We haven't as of yet, and we most likely won't anytime in the near future either."
Relena is heard to sigh deeply here.
"But, I think what the people should fundamentally be using all their energies to face, is not the enemy that confronts them, but the hardships that stand in their way."
"So that's why you planned the Mars Terraforming Project…"
"I understand if these ideas make you laugh. But this is what I honestly think."
The elderly person's body is heard to shake. It would seem that he is indeed laughing.
"Very well, then…"
The creaking sound of a wooden chair being turned around was heard.
"Currently, Heero is on a mission to destroy an anti-earth colony-type beam cannon that's almost fully complete… The peace that you and your friends have established, there continuously needs to be a deterrent named 'Heero Yuy' in its shadows."
"….."
"And that's regardless of the times or location-"
This file is classed as top secret even within Preventer. If I hadn't been given special permission by the Branch Office Chief Master Chang, it would never have even come to my attention.
There are no records that an anti-earth colony-type beam cannon was developed around this time.
My guess is that the Gundam pilot with the codename "Heero Yuy" most likely carried out a bombing mission on this weapon.
When one considers the mission parameters, they're practically the same as those of what the present day Preventer deals with, and I'm puzzled as to why my mother wasn't the one assigned to this mission, but I suppose it was still a time when the organization had just barely made a start and wasn't yet at a working stage.
This file has data attached to it separate from the audio.
Blueprints and an operation manual for an "Artificial Hibernation Refrigeration Capsule".
The diagrams are simply signed "J", and there's no way to tell what sort of person prepared them. It's possible though that the elderly person in conversation with Relena Darlian here is the one.
And out of the three files, this one alone may perhaps be strongly relevant to President Dorothy's command file.
But, in any case, I can't even begin to imagine how such old data can be a requirement to invoke the upcoming operation.
"Lieutenant Kathy, apologies again for the delay."
Flight Lieutenant Hecotre said while easing the thrust of the long-distance high-speed hovercraft "Voyage".
"Arriving at Preventer Mars Branch North Polar Ice Cap Base. We've somehow managed to make the estimated time."
Captain Sakai said kindly.
"Thank you, you've been a great help."
The white storm outside the windows had calmed down.
In the dimly lit sky, Mars' second moon "Deimos[20]" shines beyond the rainbow-hued aurora borealis, looking like a frozen teardrop.
I dashed into the base from the docking bay without delay.
Master Chang resides at this base alone by himself. I ran to the Preventer Branch Chief's office while deactivating strict security codes and undergoing DNA scans numerous times.
This planet's gravity is only a third of that on Earth or The Colonies. My steps are even longer than what I expected, making it possible to run extremely easily.
When the last door was opened, Master Chang stood waiting for me, dressed in a navy blue stand-up collar mandarin coat.
"Lieutenant…[21]"
"Master Chang, permission for 'Operation Mythos' has been granted. Please let me awaken 'Princess Aurora'."
For currently, "Sleeping Beauty" is sealed inside an artificial hibernation refrigeration capsule.
It was at this moment that I heard voices come from behind me.
"Really, you're the splitting image of your mom."
I turned around with a start.
Standing there was a middle-aged[22] man in black clerical clothing and a boy with his long hair in a braid.
The one who had spoken to me was the priest.
I immediately had my rifle[23] at the ready at the same time as turning around.
"Who are you?"
I took aim even as the tension in the air grew.
I hadn't sensed their presence at all.
Moreover, they remained perfectly calm even though I was pointing a gun at them. This alone is enough to tell me that these two aren't ordinary fellows.
"So I hear you're Sally's daughter."
While saying so, the priest passed right before me with the boy and approached Master Chang.
The boy glared at me with a sullen expression, and didn't hide his disgust at having had a gun pointed at him.
"You can stop aiming that thing, you know [24]."
His fearless gaze glinted under the lights.
"…Or do you wanna die?"
I couldn't believe my ears, but I thought I heard him mutter so.
"I'm Father Maxwell."
In contrast, the priest was beaming the entire time and didn't let his friendly smile fade.
"As in, he may run and hide, but Father Maxwell never lies…[25] And this kid with the rude stare is my son, Duo."
With a "Hn", the boy sneered at me with contempt, and showed no signs of having any intent to greet me properly.
Master Chang remained silent but gestured to me to lower my gun.
I obeyed these instructions, although reluctantly.
The boy immediately responded by hurling insults at me.
"Lucky you. Maybe you'll manage to live a bit longer."
When I realized that this cheeky boy's name was "Duo Maxwell", I had to wonder what sort of sick joke this was supposed to be.
What had made his father choose to name him after a "Gundam pilot", of all people?
"By they way, I hope you've brought those three files with you."
The priest asked me as if to call my attention back to the matter at hand.
"You'll need those three preludes to wake up 'Princess Aurora'."
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Revised: 2010/10/07)
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Notes:
[17] Kathy refers to Treize in the exact same manner earlier, which probably indicates that she regards both individuals as being extremely high-profile. However, it's not clear if this bias is personal, common to the average citizen at the time, or because she's a member of Preventer.
[18] Literal translation: …the picture is in a sandstorm state… "Sandstorm" is referred to as "snow noise" in English. Source: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8E%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA
[19] The dialogue up to this point is from "Gundam Evolve../7 XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero Custom", included in the Gundam Evolve../Ω DVD. Screenwriter: Murase Shukoh. Murase was also the character designer for the series. Again, this version is different from what was released on DVD though. Some words have been changed, and more importantly, Relena actually speaks. Source: http://youtu.be/WxYVNAZLzBs
[20] Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deimos_%28moon%29
[21] Literal translation: Your efforts are appreciated. I suspect Wufei wouldn't be as direct in showing gratitude or praise though.
[22] Written: shorou. Alternate translation: elderly man. This word means someone 40 years and older which is rather ambiguous, but assuming Master Chang is Wufei and the priest is indeed Duo, I'm guessing that both haven't reached retirement age yet.
[23] This might be an error by the author. The characters for "rifle" in Japanese are "small" and "gun", and the author might have assumed that this actually meant "handgun" instead of "rifle". This error was originally pointed out by the Japanese fanfic author Black Talon of Crazy Quail, who's other interests online are firearms and the JSDF. His fics are quite unique because he often incorporates his extensive knowledge of firearms into them. Source: http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/crazyquail/diary/201007010000/
[24] Literal translation: How long you gonna be aiming that thing?
[25] This is probably in reference to Duo's line from Episode 13 ("The Whereabouts of Happiness") of the TV series, when he introduces himself to Quatre for the first time: "I'm Duo, Duo Maxwell. As in, he may run and hide, but Duo Maxwell never lies."
Disclaimer: Original Japanese source Copyright © 2010, Sumisawa Katsuyuki. English translation Copyright © 2010, kaijyuu_m. The English translation isn't authorized by the copyright holder and should be considered unofficial. Please don't repost the translation anywhere else on the Internet because it's not even supposed to exist in the first place.