This Is the Endless Frontier Pt. 1/10

Haken: Howdy, everyone. I'm Haken Browning, captain of the Zeit Krokodil landship... which I don't presently have. I'm just a wanderin' bounty hunter. I ain't originally from this side—the New Common Era world, that is. Or maybe I am? Well, it ain't what I consider my home. One day I'll go back home, but it's never been the right time. The story I'm about to tell you feels like both old times and new, though. Not every day you get to see me captainin'. But now I'm just ramblin'. Bet you're bored to tears by now. Let's get down to business, then. A journey into an unknown, endless frontier.

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Haken: The Vanishing Trooper, Huckebein? We just captured the Wandering Trooper Phantom the other day. What'm I supposed to make its name, XO?
Sean: Phantom? Ah, the Gespenst Haken. I still can't believe you gave it your own name.
Haken: It's got a certain flair to it. It'd fit right in as the symbol of our Wandering Bounty Hunters.
Aschen: Yes, it's hard to find something so simultaneously pretentious AND ego-feeding. And who would use a name as boring and lame as Wandering Bounty Hunters, anyway?
Sean: Frankly, I'm with her on all of that.
Haken: I'm startin' to think you guys might not have a very high opinion of your captain. Hey, Lamia! Tell this poisonous vixen what for... Wait a minute, I don't see her here.
Sean: She just headed out to Kurogane Island. She got a tip about a treasure there.
Haken: Kurogane Island... That's a lone island off to the east, right? Is it safe 'round those parts?
Aschen: She took our damn Vaisaga, so I think she can cover her own ass.
Sean: That, and Kurogane Island is home to a number of proud nomads. I don't think it should be an issue.
Haken: Normally I'd say that's all fine and dandy, but I got a bad feelin' I just can't shake. Kurogane Island's close to that other place, right?
Sean: Yes, actually. Let's get back on topic. There have been sightings of Huckebein, the raven of ancient times. The place it was first spotted is an island located to the east, the holy island of Regiment.
Haken: A holy waterin' hole called Regiment, huh. You got any data for me, Aschen?
Aschen: Info on that place is real old and kind of a pain to look up. I'm invoking the special code to improve my data processing capacity.
Sean: Ah, your ability to overheat yourself for a performance boost. I don't think the data is THAT difficult to process...
Aschen: Code DTD, activate! Shut up and lemme handle this, you moustached perv!
Haken: Some things would be better left at the door... Hey, Aschen.
Aschen: Hmm? Yeeesss?
Haken: Don't "Yes?" me. The heck did you activate that for?
Aschen: I think everybody here knows the answer to that question! Now, let's see. The Holy Island of Regiment, right? What I'm getting is that there's some super-rad ancient hidden treasure there that gathers like, a ton of energy! And that's where the Vanishing Trooper Huckebein's shown up just recently. That's been missing since the Raven War!
Haken: It ain't there for sightseein', huh.
Aschen: No sirree! Huckie's a very bad boy! It apparently attacked Regiment Island!
Sean: The ancient cursed war that caused our civilization to regress drastically is making a resurgence... This is no laughing matter.
Haken: Okay, but if all that's true, wouldn't there've been a bigger panic?
Aschen: Well, right after it started its attack, it just upped and vanished! The end!
Aschen: (reverting) That is all I have to report, sir.
Haken: So the Vanishing Trooper vanished? I'd call that a happy ending.
Sean: Agreed. Why don't we get back to work?
Haken: Now hold on there just a minute, XO. Sorry, I get how it played out, but I wanna hear the start. This Huckebein showed up near this area after the battle on Regiment Island, right?
Sean: Yes, near a place we know quite well. The site of the deteriorated ancient battleship Neverland.
Aschen: The Neverland...
Haken: The ancient raven said to have kicked off a war, near ancient battleship ruins? Not to mention...
Aschen: The place where my utterly perfect self and my utterly foolish sister Lamia were discovered.
Haken: Yup. And what would the Huckebein be doin' where we found you android girls? What's goin' on with it now?
Sean: It's hard for me to guess, but I've gotten a report that the Neverland has activated.
Haken: Now there's a surprise. I've been in there plenty of times, and it ain't never done that for me.
Aschen: Is that why Huckebein showed up there? You think it's there now?
Sean: That much isn't clear, given that we have no one going to verify.
Haken: You do now. That's what we bounty hunters do. Bring us close to the Neverland, XO. I'm gonna take the Gespenst Haken out.
Sean: Understood. The landship Zeit Krokodil will set a course for the Neverland.
Haken: Aschen!
Aschen: Happy hunting, Captain Chunibyo.
Haken: You're comin' with me!

---

Haken: Surprisingly clean in here. And the drive system's definitely online.
Aschen: I'm getting no readings for Huckie, sir.
Haken: We sure did make it in with zero resistance. Maybe it chickened out at the sight of us and skedaddled? It ain't easy bein' a big shot, I guess.
Aschen: While you're patting yourself on the back, how about making the call for what to do now, Captain Ego?
Haken: Well, we can't walk outta here empty-handed. Onwards and inwards, I say.
Haken: This room ain't got much damage. Is that why I'm seein' what I'm seein' here?
???: ...
Aschen: I'm detecting heat readings. It appears to be human, sir.
Haken: Look at that giant, just snoozin' away.
???: ...mm... Steel... Real... Sensation...
Aschen: The person spouting off TV ad gibberish is 160 centimeters tall. I would not characterize her as giant.
Haken: That ain't what I was goin' for.
Aschen: Ah. If that was your idea of a low-brow remark, then I'll amend my measurements to approximately 85 centimeters.
Haken: .......Aschen.
Aschen: Yes, sir?
Haken: That's just what I wanted to hear.
Aschen: Thank you, sir. Our dirty XO would probably be able to gauge her measurements more accurately. What's the plan, Captain? Do we wake her up?
Haken: Heh, guess sometimes bein' crude ain't all bad. This calls for my golden fingers...
???: Hm? Um...
Haken: Ah, whoops, did we wake ya? Howdy, Sleeping Pink. Get a good night's rest?
???: Huh? Ah, yes... How do you do...
Haken: I'm gonna guess from that getup of yours that you're from the Holy Land of Regiment.
???: Yes, that's right. I'm sorry, who are you people?
Haken: Ah, beggin' yer pardon. I'm Haken, Haken Browning, cheapskate bounty hunter.
Aschen: And I'm Aschen Brodel, the cheapskate's loyal and superlative subordinate.
Arriere: Well, um... I'm Arriere. Arriere Org.
Haken: Org? Hey. Aschen.
Aschen: Running the check now! Arriere Org! Resident of the Holy Land of Regiment and priestess of House Org!
Haken: Bingo. Ain't no way someone from Regiment's here by pure coincidence after the Huckebein attack.
Aschen: I couldn't agree more. I think it's time for some lengthy questioning.
Arriere: Wait, what?! Um... San—
???: Did you call for me, Arriere Org?!
Haken: What in tarnation?! Nobody called you!
Arriere: Actually, um, I was just about to...
Aschen: Well, you jumped the gun! Don't you know how to read a room, Sideburns?
???: ...So you're robbers.
Arriere: Major Sanger! I'm glad to see you're safe.
Sanger: My apologies, Arriere. I ventured too deep. But worry not.
Arriere: Major...
Aschen: You know each other? You've been had, Captain. It's always too good to be true.
Haken: Can't believe I walked right into a honeypot trap.
Sanger: I have no idea what you're talking about, but my name is Sanger. Sanger Sombold. I have ventured here from Kurogane Island together with the priestess of Regiment Island.
Haken: Y'know, that name came up for us not too long ago. Okay then, Surprise Samurai. I'm Haken Browning, of the Wandering Bounty Hunters.
Aschen: And I'm Aschen Brodel, the highly accomplished renaissance woman far superior to her sister, and Haken's subordinate.
Sanger: The Wandering Bounty Hunters. Wanderers without a land to call their own... Are you descendants of the Hunters of legend?
Haken: Got it in one. You guys are after the Raven too, huh?
Sanger: ...
Arriere: What makes you think that?
Haken: We're here 'cuz we caught wind that Mr. Huckster put in an appearance.
Arriere: What do you intend to do by pursuing the Huckebein, the raven that heralds death?
Aschen: We're bounty hunters, ma'am. We come running when there's a bounty to be had, and we come digging when there's treasure to dig up.
Arriere: ...
Haken: Now now, Pink Girl. You're gonna spoil that pretty face of yours with a look like that. How about you work with us and...
Sanger: ...No, we still have no way of knowing whether or not you are more than interlopers as far as we're concerned.
Haken: You're one stubborn samurai, you know that? You know what I do for a livin'.
Sanger: I owe the Holy Land of Regiment a debt. I've given my word to aid the priestess.
Haken: Guess if a proud nomad's talkin' like that, you're gonna take some convincin'. Whaddya want from us?
Sanger: Prove yourselves to me.
Arriere: Major, do you mean...?
Aschen: Can we take you out for some drinks?
Sanger: Swordsmanship tells no lies. The way a man's blade shines and the way a man holds it aloft speak volumes of him.
Sanger: ...That, and I don't drink.
Haken: Ah, I see where you're goin' with this. You just want us to prove ourselves to you, right? As it happens, that's just my style anyway. Are we doin' this right here or what?
Sanger: I came here in a Kurogane Island Tactical Device. If you are wandering bounty hunters, then surely you have an excavated personal trooper of your own.
Haken: You bet we do. It's a Black Ghost with my name on it.
Sanger: I call myself the Sword That Cleaves Evil on Kurogane Island. You will find no mercy from me. Let us see whether you are truly fit to challenge the Raven, Haken Browning... My Tactical Device, the Dynamic General Guardian, will be the one to test you!
Haken: You're on, Dygenguar! Get a load of what the Wandering Bounty Hunters can do!

---

THIS IS THE ENDLESS FRONTIER
THE MIGHTY SAMURAI BOSS

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(battle)
Sanger: My name is Sanger! Sanger Sombold! The Sword That Cleaves Evil!
Haken: That must be his Tactical Doodad. Dang, that's a heck of a sword he's packin'. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us.
Sanger: I shall usher you into the next life!
Aschen: Don't you think he's a little fired up over a simple demonstration?
Haken: Maybe, but it's time for a showdown. All we gotta do now is draw our cards.

(end battle)
Sanger: Not bad...
Haken: You ain't half bad yourself, Big Boy Samurai. Do I make the grade?
Sanger: ...Very well, Haken Browning. I suppose there was no need to use the back of my sword.
Arriere: Wow, you put a lot of thought into this battle. That's what makes you a Kurogane warrior.
Aschen: Uh, your sword's double-edged. Which part of it would you even call the back?
Haken: All right, Question Girl. I'd like to question your methods, but we got a lot of other stuff to cover first.

---

Sanger: You did well to defeat my Tactical Device, Haken Browning.
Haken: Let's get one thing straight, Samurai Boss. We do legit excavations. Bounties alone don't pay the bills.
Arriere: You have so much ancient technology already. What would you do with the Raven Huckebein if you apprehended it?
Haken: Y'can't exactly sleep well at night knowin' the perp behind the Raven War that almost destroyed the world is out on the loose.
Sanger: Indeed you cannot. The Holy Land of Regiment was already attacked by it.
Aschen: But I heard it left immediately. Are you going after it for some payback?
Haken: It ain't for a picnic if you're takin' along a Kurogane expert and a Battle Device.
Sanger: ...Would it be acceptable to tell them, Arriere? These Wandering Bounty Hunters are quite capable.
Aschen: Yeah! Come on, talk! Don't be embarrassed, spill all the beans!
Arriere: Embarrassing... is a good word for what happened...
Haken: Good grief... Somethin' tell me this ain't gonna be pretty. Okay, Miss Circlet. How about we discuss this in our ship? It's a run-down little excavator, but it beats talkin' out here.
Arriere: Haken...
Sanger: This is a strange coincidence, Arriere... One involving those that have walked the land since the time of the Raven War.

---

Haken: Hey, we're back, First Mate Sean.
Sean: Ah, you're safe, Captain. How did it go?
Haken: Not great. We didn't find the Huckebein, and we ran into some other trouble. This might take a while to go over, so here's a souvenir.
Arriere: Um... Hello there.
Sean: Oho. Aren't you the priestess of House Org?
Sanger: You could tell at a glance? That will make this quick.
Sean: Yes, Arriere once traveled far for her priestess training, and she is quite the looker. The youngest priestess in Regiment's history. Her measurements, including padding, are 85—
Arriere: What?! Excuse me, um, that is highly improper!
Aschen: Correction. He knows it's improper. XO, stop engaging in sexual harassment for funsies.
Sanger: His words are indeed brazen... but nothing he said was incorrect.
Sean: Come now, information gathering is a first mate's job. That includes intel on other countries, Major Sanger Sombold of Kurogane Island.
Sanger: Heh, I see. A fine first mate you have, Haken Browning.
Haken: I'd give you a pat on the back, XO, but I wouldn't exactly wanna encourage that, or else—
???: Could you PLEASE restrain yourselves before this turns into an international incident?
Haken: That'll happen. You heard her, XO. Nice to see you outta yer lab for once, Dr. Marion.
Sanger: Ah, you must be one of the crew. You don't appear to be part of the bridge crew, though.
Marion: Good guess. I'm Marion Radom, the ship's mechanic. I'm about to fix up that Tactical Device of yours, the Dygenguar.
Sanger: I am indebted to you.
Aschen: She considers herself a genius. The rest of us consider her a mad scientist. Don't let her give your machine the Marion Treatment.
Marion: Next time you're due for maintenance, I might just "accidentally" disassemble you, Aschen.
Aschen: Hmm? Whassat?
Sean: I think we're all here now. I beg your pardon for earlier, Miss Arriere Org. I'm Sean Webley, the ship's executive officer.
Arriere: Oh, no, it's fine.
Haken: Okay now, Eighty-Five, let's hear what happened on Regiment.
Arriere: The Huckebein, the raven that heralds death... I believe its objective to be our secret treasure, the Fau Kern.
Haken: That secret treasure is why Regiment's called a Holy Land, ain't it, Aschen?
Aschen: ...
Aschen (DTD): There we go! Search complete! Um, I'm getting some stuff about it being a remnant of a civilization that was around before the Raven War? It absorbs energy around it and even controls it! It's super-nifty! And it's the priestess's job to protect it!
Aschen: That is all, sir.
Arriere: You're correct. The Raven found out it wasn't there, and it flew off.
Marion: Wait, what do you MEAN, it wasn't there?
Arriere: The Fau Kern was stolen by someone during the chaos of the Huckebein's attack.
Haken: Good lord. Is that why you sent an SOS to Kurogane?
Sanger: The return of the accursed Raven is a matter of concern for the whole world.
Sean: So someone took advantage of the Huckebein's search for the secret treasure and made off with the Fau Kern under its nose. Sensible enough.
Aschen: Then when the Huckie showed up near the Neverland, you followed it there, and that's where we found you resting.
Arriere: It is... quite embarrassing.
Marion: I've got one piece of info for you. According to an eyewitness account, it went flying off toward Kurogane.
Sanger: ...!
Haken: Say what?! You got a good source on that, Doc?
Marion: It's from a black market source I do regular dealings with. They provide solid intel as long as you're willing to pay for it.
Haken: Say, wasn't Lamia off on some business there? Any word from her, XO?
Sean: Nothing yet, no. And it's past her scheduled return time.
Aschen: That green-haired tit-monster's probably out selling snake oil somewhere. I'll have some choice words for her when she gets back.
Arriere: The green haired... what? Never mind. So someone of yours is on Kurogane Island?
Haken: Yeah, one of our crew. She took a PT out on another job and now she's a no-call no-show. I don't like it.
Sanger: Can this ship travel to Kurogane?
Sean: No problems there, Major Sanger. But if someone runs across the Raven, do they have a chance against it?
Sanger: ...They would. Especially if they happen to be the man who rules Kurogane Island.
Haken: Ah, I get you. The head honcho of the family, king of Kurogane, huh. All right, Kurogane Samurai. Count me in. Take the Zeit Krokodil out and set a course for Kurogane! Put the pedal to the metal!
Sean: Aye-aye, Captain.
Sanger: (If "that" has been completed on Kurogane Island, then it will be the blade that brings down the raven that heralds death. I hope you'll make it in time, my friend...)

(end chapter 1)