haga "As mentioned earlier, I was transferred to the squadron as a replacement."
haga "..."
haga "And I was not the only one who was sent to the front lines as a replacement. There was another test pilot who came with me."
haga "In those... difficlut days, it was more or less a luxury for a merchant cub to have a wingmate from a similar caste."
haga "Well, you know the hierarchical order of our common borns?"
"The hierarachical order of {i}Kilra'hra{/i}..."
"Well, is it the order of WARRIOR - FARMER - ARTISAN - MERCHANT?"
haga "Correct!"
haga "..."
haga "We merchant {i}hrai{/i} are generally the richest but lowest in the {i}Kilra'hra{/i}."
haga "This may be because we travel from world to world, coming into contact with lords, warriors, slaves, and even other races."
haga "A potentially destabilizing factor for the empire..."
haga "But we are indispensable, because the lords need our money."
haga "..."
haga "The farmers and artisans are much more settled."
haga "Perhaps a lifetime of living on a planet, commanding slaves and producing a steady stream of supplies, for the Empire back then."
haga "..."
haga "Of course, some talented cubs can also work their way into the warrior class by becoming soldiers."
haga "Like us."
haga "He was a cub from an artisan family."
haga "As I just said, it was not easy for commoner cubs to become pilots at that time."
haga "He was very skilled, too."
haga "In fact, at that time, our skills in the cockpit could be considered above average in our squadron, what we lacked the most was battlefield experience."
haga "But at that time, I was aware that as a merchant cub, I should not flaunt myself too much in front of the squadron leader and other flight leaders, and just do what was required to keep a low profile."
haga "He was different. He was always doing his best to show his fierceness."
haga "In fact, at that time, I was actually the better pilot."
haga "I suggested to him several times to be more humble, to not stand out."
haga "I felt that our squardon leaders would be happier with us if we did not invite jealousy."
haga "However, he was not convinced and insisted that cubs like us could only be accepted by the warrior class if we did our best."
haga "..."
haga "Gradually, my position in the squadron solidified, although I was still often the subject of teasing by our leaders."
haga "But he was secretly ostracized by his seniors."
haga "..."
haga "I was his only friend."
haga "..."
haga "Our final test were coming, massive battle exercises."
haga "During that time, it seemed as though all the Imperial fleets were excited by the impending war."
haga "In addition to preparations for the raid, most of the soldiers were even more aggressive than usual, in everything they did."
haga "..."
haga "Not everyone could come back alive, this was well known to all."
haga "Some warriors chose to leave their offspring in those days."
haga "He and I didn't have to worry about that..."
haga "Because, at that time, there were no females in the fleet who would be interested in such low-born and unproven cubs like us."
haga "He was even more reticent than usual, and his whole mind was devoted to training."
haga "I was the only one in the whole squadron who really cooperated with him wholeheartedly."
haga "..."
"A TIP FROM THE NOVEL: ACTION STATIONS, CHAPTER FOUR"
haga "Soon, several formal maneuvers began."
haga "It was... about eighty days before the operation."
haga "Specific detailed battle plans for each unit were distributed."
haga "Analysis reports for specific targets were distributed along with them."
haga "Everyone was amazed at how thorough the analysis of the targets were."
haga "Admiration to the court among the common-born soldiers was noticeably increased. The nobles seemed almost... omniscient."
haga "At that time, there were also rumors that a large amount of data actually originated from the public information of the Terran Confederation."
haga "Everything we learned from the Terrans had led us to see them as a laughing stock."
haga "The pressure on us increased steeply."
haga "I flew cautiously and the report estimated that I could have roughly a 50-50 chance of returning."
haga "..."
haga "..."
haga "However, he was not, and his extremely aggressive flying style had actually exceeded the limits of his ability. Many times he expected to be shot down even before he got close to his target."
haga "I reminded him many times that our own honor was not as important as completing the mission."
haga "But he insisted that nothing was impossible if the operation was perfect."
haga "..."
haga "Finally, he had an accident."
haga "It was one of the last few maneuvers. He pushed his fighters so hard that it was strained beyond its limits."
haga "That time he really almost did it perfectly, but... his fighter could not finally withstand that long period of full afterburners."
haga "Fortunately, with my help, he landed safely."
haga "..."
haga "I was glad he wasn't hurt, but he was extremely disappointed..."
haga "After the maneuver, we happened to pass outside the door of the squadron commanders' room and overheard the conversation inside..."
haga "They were laughing at him... despite how hard he was pushing himself."
haga "They said... \"That would be the first and last no honor mission for the...\""
haga "..."
haga "The meaning of this word may be translated as..."
haga "..."
haga "\"Low-born scum\"..."
haga "..."
haga "I was afraid he would rush in in a fit of rage and get himself killed."
haga "But he was only silent for a moment... and then left."
haga "..."
haga "I did my best to comfort him, to encourage him, to assure him that we would work together perfectly."
haga "And, we agreed to become aces together, to become admired warriors and to glorify our {i}hrai{/i} and clans."
haga "..."
haga "After that, he seemed to be in a better mood. Training was not as hard as it should be. In contrast, the training results were much better."
haga "..."
haga "..."
haga "Until..."
haga "..."
haga "Until one day, high retainers dressed in beautiful clothing came, and took him away."
"!"
"Took him away?"
haga "Yes. To be precise, they treated him as though he was almost... divine."
"Divine?"
"!"
"Could it be..."
haga "Yes..."
"A TIP FROM THE NOVEL: ACTION STATIONS, CHAPTER FOUR"
haga "A volunteer who gave up his life for the mission."
haga "He was treated as beings who were semi-divine until he left upon the mission. Any female that sired a cub from him was held in honor, and the offspring would be granted a special honorific."
haga "It is difficult to explain in your language, right? There were few things that would grant greater honor than to die for one's mission."
haga "..."
haga "I was eager to ask him why, but didn't get the chance."
haga "He was preparing to gain great honor, and those around him could no longer harass him. It seemed he had no time for me."
haga "..."
haga "The last time I saw him was at the court ceremony before the operation."
"A TIP FROM THE GAME: ARMADA, VOICES OF WAR, PAGE 15"
haga "Such kind of ceremony was held in the temple city of Kilrah."
haga "The semi-divines would drink {i}Vak'qu{/i} in the cheers of the crowd, and finally board the ship in line dictated by blood and rank."
haga "..."
haga "At that time, he was completely different. He was with his new companions, dressed in splendid attire and receiving the admiration of the crowd."
haga "Finally, all of his seniors who had once despised him, now had to bow down under his condescending gaze."
haga "..."
haga "However, to my surprise..."
haga "He didn't look at me any differently."
haga "..."
haga "Or I should say, it was even more..."
haga "..."
haga "In that moment, I understood so much."
haga "I was alone, and always had been."
"Excuse me..."
"What do you mean by this? You had always been alone?"
haga "..."
haga "Nothing, forget it."
haga "..."
haga "..."
haga "At that time, I was firm about one thing."
haga "I would survive!"
haga "Whether as a warrior, or a merchant's cub, Haga Kaligara would survive!"
haga "I would live to find my true lair-mate! Hold my cubs in my arms!"
haga "I would make my mother proud with smile on her face, and never let her crying secretly in the night."