2023-01-30: Years later, we would again sacrifice another to retain control of Dispersal, though the Ypotryll Gundam has such promise
- Cutscene: Years later, we would again sacrifice another to retain control of Dispersal, though the Ypotryll Gundam has such promise
- Cast: Yuliana Kafim's superior, Major Pham Van Vinh, Alwin Ritter (on the other end of the phone)
- Where: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Date: 2023-01-30
- Summary: Major Pham makes a deal with Alwin Ritter, over the heads of Colonel Khushrenada and Captain Castellan, to regain control over Yuliana.
"Hello, Mr. Ritter," Pham speaks, on the phone, to a second party. His curtains are drawn, and it casts a shadow over his office, across his eyes. There's an eyepatch, now, over his left side. "What a pleasure to speak with you... would that I could claim all your subordinates in G-Hound were as reasonable."
A light pause; he dips his head. "Correct," he says, voice stern. "This is entirely about my agent, REA-WEI3SOIC-238D. Captain Yuliana Kafim, she's calling herself, now. ... yes, Dispersal. You understand the need to allow slack in the leash, I'm sure."
He listens, for a moment.
"Of course, I understand your concerns," the Major assures Alwin, smoothly. "There's no way you could arrange for such a valuable prisoner to be released purely on the virtue of my words. Particularly given the efforts of your Colonel! That's why I'm not only offering you words."
Another pause. "Certainly not," he says, again, reassuring. "You have your own methods, your own preferences for the development of those weapons... I'd not simply offer you another Cyber-Newtype. Not as such, in any case... are you familiar with the EXAM System?"
Major Pham smiles. "We've developed our own iteration... the Emerald EXAM. We've integrated a handful of our subjects into the machine, and the gestalt is very promising. I'm prepared to offer you the Ypotryll Gundam. All you have to do... is arrange for Yuliana to return to my care."
His smile widens. He has a hook. "Not your prisoner..? Surely that's never stopped you. Go over their heads. Who would stop you? You know as well as I the tragedy of leaving EXAM to rot -- the potential it has. Why, G-Hound will be so thankful you'd add such power to its arsenal!"
There is a longer delay. Pham's smile remains.
"Wonderful," he settles it, with rare emotiveness. "I'm pleased to hear it. We'll arrange the transfer immediately. Goodbye, for now."
He puts down the receiver; his hand tightens around the phone, as the line goes dead.
"You won't escape from me," he growls, to the empty room.
"Dispersal...!"