Mobile Suite Gundam Iron Blooded orphans: Solomon's Return

Chapter 3: For what it's worth

After making the Solomon Gundam functional, Dukovak said:

Dukovak: I'm going to the ports to look for jobs.

Yamazin: How do you plan for Manfred to fight without preparation? He still doesn't know how to pilot.

Dukovak: Well, the Gundam is like a second body, or am I wrong?

Yamazin: Yes, but he has no training. An MS can shoot him down just like that. Manfred knows nothing about tactics; it'll be certain death for him.

Dukovak: What options do we have?

Yamazin: First, get simulator programs. Consider it a gift from me to the company.

Dukovak: Thank you very much, Yamazin.

Yamazin: You're welcome. Now that you're leaving, Duko, buy the simulator programs and secure us a contract.

Dukovak: Okay, Manfred.

Manfred: What?

Dukovak: Let's go job hunting. Are you coming with me?

Manfred: Yeah, just let me put on a shirt.

The two brothers go job hunting along the port of Chryse until a merchant tells them to try their luck in a bar.

The brothers go to that bar where they see many people discussing business and try to talk to as many as they can without success.

Manfred: I think we didn't have luck today. Let's go.

Dukovak: Wait, someone's approaching us.

A man with medium-length hair, unshaven beard, tall, wearing a black shirt and sunglasses, approaches them.

Mysterious Man: Hey guys, looking for work?

Dukovak: Yes, we are a newly formed defense company.

Dukovak hands him a business card.

Mysterious Man: Horikoshi Defense Corporation, sounds like a big deal.

Manfred: That's how we stay legitimate and pay fewer taxes.

Mysterious Man: Interesting, what are your names?

Dukovak: Dukovak and Manfred Horikoshi.

Mysterious Man: Dukovak? I'll call you Duko. Manfred, that's an easier name to remember. Duko, let me ask you a question. What services are you offering today?

Dukovak: Protection. We have a good Mobile Suit pilot in our ranks and top-notch technician, believe me.

Mysterious Man: So, a pilot and a badass technician. Tell me, Duko, do you have your own MS?

Duko: Hey, what defense company wouldn't have its own MS?

Mysterious Man: And is it fully operational?

Manfred: yeah!

Mysterious Man: And is your pilot here?

Dukovak: Yes, in fact, he's sitting right beside you.

Mysterious Man: Oh, Manfred. So, you're the pilot. Do you have experience, kid?

Manfred: Uhm, yeah, of course.

Mysterious Man: Well, you don't seem like it. I can see it in your eyes, kid. Look, guys, I know you need work, but you don't know what you're getting into, even with all your papers and stuff. You wouldn't last a day on my journey.

Dukovak: When does your shipment leave?

Mysterious Man: In 2 weeks.

Dukovak: By then, our pilot will be trained.

Mysterious Man: How the hell do you plan to do that, my friend?

Dukovak: With simulations.

Mysterious Man: Well, we have a deal.

Dukovak: Alright, but before anything, what are you moving?

Mysterious Man: Let's just say it's aid for my homeland down in earth.

Dukovak: A shipment for SAU orABRAU?

Mysterious Man: What do you think, my friend?

Dukovak: Mexico? Which part of Mexico are you from?

Mysterious Man: That's very personal information, buddy. You'll find out in due time.

Dukovak: We want 30% of the value of the merchandise.

Mysterious Man: You don't understand, my friend, this isn't a commercial mission, it's a charity mission. I can offer you 20%.

Manfred whispers: Dukovak, Yamazin says we should ask for parts of the Ahab reactors from the destroyed MS.

Dukovak: How about 25% and all the pieces of the MS that attack us during the journey, including the reactors?

Mysterious Man: Hmm, sounds good, my partner. But why the hell do you want the MS parts?

Dukovak: Well, we have our reasons, partner. So, do we have a deal?

Mysterious Man: Hey, waiter, bring a bottle of Centenario tequila, please.

Waitress: Centenario, let me see if we still have that brand. Sir, you're very lucky, here's your bottle.

Mysterious Man: Bring three shot glasses, please.

Waitress: Of course.

Dukovak: By the way, what's your name?

Mysterious Man: My name is Miguel Amado Carrillo; they call me the Lord of the Stars.

The shot glasses arrive, and Miguel fills all three. They all take the shot together.

All three: Cheers.

Manfred and Dukovak return drunk to the warehouse.

Manfred: YAMAZIN, WE'RE BACK!

Manfred knocks on the door.

Yamazin opens the door.

Yamazin: Boys, you smell like alcohol. Where have you been?

Dukovak: (in Spanish) You know, Yamazin, you've been like a mother to me. I love you so much.

Yamazin blushes and says:

Yamazin: Excuse me?!

Manfred: You heard him. We made a deal.

Yamazin: With whom?

Manfred: Some guy named Miguel Amado; I can't remember the last name.

Dukovak: CARRILLOO.

Manfred: Yeah, that.

Yamazin: I've never heard that name before. Did you secure the reactors?

Dukovak: YEAH.

Yamazin: But why did you come back drunk?

Manfred: Well, Miguel offered us a Centenario, it was an offer we couldn't refuse.

Yamazin: The deal or the liquor?

Dukovak: Liquor.

Yamazin: What's our part in the deal?

Manfred: Twenty-five.

Yamazin: Credits?

Dukovak: Percent.

Yamazin: 25 percent doesn't sound bad. When do we set sail?

Manfred: Two.

Yamazin: Two days?!

Dukovak: Weeks.

Yamazin: That's a short time, but we can train Manfred enough. Did you get a program?

Manfred: Hey, Dukovak, don't go blabbering.

Manfred gives the program to Yamazin and falls asleep on the table.

Yamazin: Manfred, when you wake up, I'm going to put you through training.

Manfred: ...

Yamazin: I'll take that as a yes. Oh, boys, I should've gone with you.

The next day, Yamazin wakes Manfred up.

Yamazin: Manfred, it's time to train.

Manfred: Okay, my head hurts.

Yamazin: You shouldn't have drunk that Centenario.

Manfred: Tequila Centenario.

Yamazin: Whatever, get into the simulator.

Manfred: Okay.

Manfred gets into the simulator and stays there for the next two weeks, only coming out to eat and sleep.

On that day, while Yamazin and Dukovak monitor the signals of the Gundam, they start talking:

Yamazin: Dukovak, what did you mean when you said, "You've been like a mother to me" and "I love you so much"?

Dukovak, blushing, responds:

Dukovak: I was just drunk, and you wouldn't understand anyway.

Yamazin: Are you sure? Because I can speak Spanish too.

Dukovak: Oh.

Yamazin: If a woman loves a man, she can give her life for him, but be careful if that woman feels hurt. I don't have a problem Dukovak, but be prepared for the consequences.

Dukovak: I... I must go check on Manfred.

Yamazin: HAHAHAHAHA

Two weeks pass, and the Horikoshi corporation shows up at Miguel Amado's ship.

Miguel: How's it going, Manfred, Duko, and who's this beauty with you?

Dukovak: Yamazin Toka, the technician we told you about.

Miguel: How are you, miss? I'm Miguel Amado, but only you can call me "Amado."

Miguel kisses her hand, Yamazin shakes his hand and says:

Yamazin: Yamazin Toka, a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Miguel. I'm the technician of the Horikoshi Defense Corporation.

Miguel: I see, the pleasure is mine.

Yamazin: May I ask what we're transporting?

Miguel: Just some aid for my countrymen in the Strategic Union Alliance.

Yamazin: Can I know what merchandise you're transporting?

Miguel: Well, just because it's you, I'll tell you, no drugs or contraband.

Yamazin: Thank you, Miguel.

Yamazin approaches Dukovak and Manfred and tells them:

Yamazin: Did you ask what the cargo we're supposed to protect is?

Manfred: Yes, but he didn't tell us what he was going to move.

Yamazin: This smells fishy, we'd better get out of here.

Dukovak: We can't just leave like that; it would tarnish our reputation.

Yamazin: I want 55 percent of the money from this job, and from now on, we only take jobs with corporations, governments, and Gjallarhorn.

Dukovak: Agreed.

The members of the Horikoshi corporation board Miguel's ship, and he takes off.

Hours later, after leaving Mars' orbit, the ship is intercepted by a Gjallarhorn fleet.

Yamazin: Shit, I knew this could happen.

Miguel: Relax, it's just a routine negotiation. Duko, come with me; you're going to learn how to negotiate with these pigs.

Dukovak: Alright.

Miguel: Put on your hat and a shirt.

Dukovak puts on a shirt and a hat.

A small ship approaches the main Gjallarhorn ship. Upon boarding, Miguel says:

Miguel: How are you, boys? Let's go see your commander to discuss some politics.

Soldier: I'll inform the commander of your presence.

Miguel: Sure, we'll wait here.

The soldier talks on his communicator and then tells Miguel:

Soldier: The commander has granted you access; please follow me.

Miguel and Dukovak go to see the fleet commander, a mustachioed man with a military haircut.

Commander: How are you, Miguel, and who's this young man with you?

Miguel: This is just a new partner of mine who's going to do business with you. We already know the deal we have; is there a problem with that?

Commander: That's precisely what I wanted to discuss with you, Don Miguel. We know you're a conciliatory man, very knowledgeable in economics, and well, the economic situation on Earth leaves much to be desired.

Miguel: How much are we talking about, Commander?

Commander: A 2% increase each quarter.

Miguel: Don't push it too far, Commander. I know things are tough on Earth, but one has to make ends meet.

Commander: For you, I'll only raise it 1% this quarter, how about that?

Miguel: Well, I'm not very happy about it, Commander, but we have a deal.

The commander takes out a bottle of ABRAU tequila and offers a glass to each of the visitors.

All three: Cheers.

Miguel puts a money card under his hat and brings it close to the commander.

Commander: It's a pleasure doing business with you, Don Miguel.

Miguel: Likewise, Commander. Take care.

As they're returning to their ship, Miguel says to Dukovak:

Miguel: That damn tequila tasted like donkey piss, and that pig turned out to be a miser.

Dukovak: What are we going to do about it?

Miguel: We'd never win a war with Gjallarhorn, so we'll just have to put up with it and keep working.

Dukovak and Miguel return to the ship.

Miguel: We can leave now.

Yamazin: Aren't you going to check the cargo?

Miguel: Let's just say the commander and I came to a good agreement, and besides, my Duko already knows him.

Yamazin: Looks like Gjallarhorn hasn't changed at all.

Miguel: No matter who's in control, they'll always ask for a bribe.

The journey continues until a pirate fleet intercepts Miguel's ship.

Miguel: Duko, Manfred, get to work; that's what I'm paying you for.

Dukovak: Of course.

Manfred puts on a spacesuit and gets into the Gundam.

Duko and Yamazin remove the coverings from the Gundam and prepare it to be launched.

Miguel: Damn it, does the Gundam have weapons?

Yamazin: Yes, just two knives, but they'll be more than enough.

Miguel: Give him an assault rifle; I want to see if these guys can handle it.

The Gundam grabs a rifle resembling an AK, without a stock, and is launched into outer space. Once there, Miguel communicates with Manfred.

Miguel: How do you like the rifle? Pretty badass, isn't it? Try it out; it has explosive ammo. It won't pierce nano-laminate plates, but the impact is what matters.

Manfred: Thanks, Miguel. I'll give it a try.

The Salomon Gundam detects several mobile suits and sees two chubby MS. Manfred fires several bursts at them until he runs out of bullets. One MS remains immobile, but the other begins to approach Salomon. The latter draws its knives from its hips and starts to approach the enemy MS. When the two are in close combat, the enemy MS uses an axe to try to kill Manfred. Manfred stops the attack with one of his arms and stabs the MS's cockpit; it stops moving. After this, two more MS come from behind Manfred. Manfred manages to react and stabs one of the MS in the shoulder before fleeing, but not before grabbing the fallen MS's axe. After analyzing the situation, Manfred communicates with Miguel:

Manfred: Miguel, I'm outnumbered; I need fire support.

Miguel: If you manage to destroy those MS, I could give you a missile launcher to immobilize the enemy ship.

Manfred: I don't think you understand the situation.

Miguel: I do, and you're in for it now.

Manfred: Shit.

Manfred sees the MS shooting bullets at him, and he manages to dodge them in a zigzag pattern, getting close to one of them and cutting off both its arms with the axe. He then stabs the MS and grabs its rifle, firing wildly at the remaining MS. The pilot of the MS doesn't understand what's happening, so he starts losing control of the situation, drops his weapons, and raises his hands.

Manfred: Is he surrendering? Miguel, what should I do?

Miguel: Kill him.

Manfred: Yamazin, Dukovak, what should I do?

Dukovak: Cut off his limbs. We'll come for him.

Manfred takes out his axe, and the boy in the MS starts screaming. Manfred dismembers the MS, receives the bazooka, and then approaches the enemy ship and fires at its thrusters. The enemy ship becomes immobile, and Manfred brings the surviving MS back to Miguel's ship.

Upon seeing that the pilot is a child, Manfred asks if his comrades were also children, to which Manfred is left with a thousand-yard stare upon hearing the child's response.