fmp como ch02a [b-t], Light Novel, Full Metal Panic, 3. Continuing On My Own
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Full Metal Panic!
Continuing On My Own
Story: Shouji Gatou
Illustrations: Douji Shiki
Chapter Two, Part A
December 4, 2005
Translator’s Forward:
I know that these recent chapters of Full Metal Panic have been released slowly, mostly due
to the fact that I have been rather busy with travel and my work. This will probably continue on in
the near future, so I hope everyone will bear with us as we release. Thank you.
There was a mistranslation in the book A Dancing Very Merry Christmas. The name of the
boat is actually the "Pacific Chrysalis" and not "Pacific Christmas", which makes sense when you
think of the clue Gauln gives Sousuke about badame (pupa). Sorry for the mistake.
Brandi
*****
Chapter 2: Heat
Sydney was very hot that morning.
The head of Mithril's Operations Department, Admiral Jerome Borda, dressed in his usual
suit, was on his way to work in a sedan driven by a guard from Operations Headquarters, and had
to ask the driver to turn the air conditioner up on high mid-route. Out of security habits, the
commuting time and routes were changed randomly from day to day. The sedan was made of the
newest bulletproof materials that could withstand even a direct hit from an anti-tank rocket.
While he scanned over the regular reports in the car, Admiral Borda's sedan entered one of
the buildings in midtown. Officially, it was the main office of the Argyros security firm, but this
building was the Operations Headquarters for Mithril. The communications facilities and
intelligence agencies that unified and managed the various units around the world were located in
this building.
The security was very strict for that reason.
If someone had serious intentions of trying to break in, even a company of infantrymen,
they had better be prepared to stand out in front of the gate for more than 30 minutes while they
were baptized by large bullets, personal land mines, and a number of other devices. After finishing
with the troublesome procedures, Borda got out of the car in the parking lot, and met up with one of
the management personnel, Captain Wagner, just as he was coming into work.
"Good morning, Sir."
He was an American under 50 years old. He wore an eye patch and had a peculiar way of
dragging his right leg when he walked, quite like the captain of a pirate ship. Borda had heard that
it was from an injury during his regular army days.
"Good morning, Captain. It's rather hot this morning, isn't it?"
"Yes, Sir. We'll run a complete inspection of the air conditioning system."
"It was just a comment. Speaking of which- what's going on with Jackson?"
"We filed the results of the interrogation three weeks ago."
"Him personally."
"He's still in the hospital. They were rather inhumane measures."
The two of them got on the elevator and headed to the upper floors.
When they were alone, Borda said, "We have it about 80% figured out. We can't make any
conclusions yet- but it seems that the Geotron Company is also in bad shape."
"Yes..."
He could guess its meaning. Wagner tensed up a little.
"Amitt's been acting funny. We should handle their reports with that in mind.”
"You don't think the General is...?"
"I don't know. Since Sir Malory's the same as ever, it might be time for us to finally pull
out of here. However, at present, this place is probably okay. That's why we have to put up with
the warm reception of these security procedures everyday."
"Yes- they can't easily reach us unless they use bomber planes."
The elevator reached the 26th floor.
There were already several members of the Headquarters' staff at work in the command
center, which took up two floors. The room was dim, as there were absolutely no windows at all.
Instead, there was an extra-large display light, which dully lit the room. It was as if they had
enlarged the battle information center of an Aegis class destroyer.
"Things are going to get a lot busier around her, Captain," Borda said to Wagner, returning
the salutes of his subordinates as they walked along.
"The enemy's command systems are completely different from anything we've seen. If they
aren't, then we shouldn't keep falling behind like we have. Normal intelligence networks and
weapons are powerless before them. Or it may be just as Tessa said-"
Just then, the room was hit by a violent impact.
There was some kind of enormous explosion. The walls blew out, screens and machinery
were blown to bits, flames flew up, and people he was acquainted with were torn to pieces; all of it
collected together to become a wall of death rushing towards him.
Jerome Borda knew nothing after that.
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