[Open]

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi glared at the console, and instructed the computer to bring up the simulation once more. It was a fairly simple one - just dodging an oncoming asteroid field - but she'd run it three times now, and each had ended with her ship as an asteroid bug-splatter not too far in. She could drive a car just fine, but the finer controls of the ship eluded her. She had imported the Ptolemy's basic design and control scheme into the program, so at least it was a ship she was vaguely familiar with.

Nonetheless, ten minutes into this fourth run, a fairly loud stream of curses - in more than one language - could be heard outside the door to the sensorium she was using.

Comments

[indeliblepast]

"I have," she replied. "And if you disagree with Setsuna... I think you might."

[jesushasagundam]

His expression was still quiet and reserved when he looked up at her, but there was something hard in his eyes. "You're wrong," he said plainly. "In every battle we've had against the Ohm, I try to defeat them without killing them. But it's not as simple as just cutting the weapons off of a mobile suit, here."

"And if I don't fight then millions of innocent people could and will die."

[indeliblepast]

"No, it's not. But I don't see command trying to make contact, or trying to make plans other than 'us or them'." Her voice was quiet, but there was a firmness behind it.

[jesushasagundam]

Kira was silent for a moment. "The first time we ever met them in person," he said after his pause, "They attacked a planet we were visiting over shore leave. It was a peaceful world with hardly any weapons, and I'd hardly ever seen some place more beautiful before; they destroyed everything. They killed innocent people fleeing for their lives, they shattered the world and almost collapsed that reality itself if we hadn't interfered."

"If I can disable a mobile suit on the battlefield, I will. I don't ever want to take a life; it doesn't solve anything. But I can't stand by and let innocent people suffer because they don't have a sword and shield to defend themselves with."

"Are you really saying that using your strength to protect others is wrong? Maybe you'd understand if you'd been there with us the first time."

[indeliblepast]

Sumeragi felt a small surge of anger that someone as young as Kira was was lecturing her about the horrors of war - but she knew snapping at things would only make things worse. So she reined in her temper before she spoke.

"It's not wrong to protect others - I wouldn't stop you, and in the last battle, we fought too. But I know we're only fighting mindless soldiers - killing them won't solve anything in the longk-term, and nobody seems to be planning for that."