Chapter 6: Earned Silence
April 19th, 2145 – Eastern Communications Control
The control room buzzed with quiet operations as Lena entered at precisely 0600. Most handlers started later, but she preferred the quiet hours—when no one was watching, when she could gather data without commentary.
She sipped plain black tea as she reviewed satellite telemetry, enemy unit dispersion, and patrol rotations. The console displayed every Reginleif's diagnostics in real time.
Spearhead had returned from a late-night mission. Zero casualties. Minor damage.
Still, Lena took note of every fluctuation.
Not to overreach—just to be prepared.
She wouldn't tell them what to do unless it mattered.
She knew trust came slow.
Especially from those who'd lost everything.
---
April 19th – Spearhead Barracks, Noon
Theo nudged Raiden as they walked through the hangar. "So she's still sticking around."
"She's lasted longer than the last two," Raiden muttered. "That's something."
Kurena leaned against a crate. "She's still weird. Doesn't act like any Handler I've ever seen."
"She's not annoying. Doesn't fake empathy," Theo added.
"Not helpful either," Kurena grumbled. "Just sits there, watching."
Raiden shrugged. "We've had worse."
At the far end of the hangar, Shin was adjusting a new targeting module on his Reginleif. He didn't speak. He hadn't spoken about her since the first message.
He didn't need to.
---
April 20th – Simulated Skirmish, Virtual Command Link
Lena watched the mock engagement unfold from the handler's seat, eyes sharp as virtual markers tracked each unit.
Spearhead was facing a simulated pincer attack. She waited—timing mattered more than interference.
When Raiden hesitated for a split-second—
> "Squad Leader, enemy unit approaching your left blind spot. Initiate diversion."
A beat.
Raiden's Reginleif launched flares, shifting position just enough to throw off the AI.
> "Nice call," Raiden murmured.
Theo laughed. "First time I've heard you take advice."
"She earned it."
Kurena frowned but said nothing.
Shin remained silent.
He had responded instinctively to her callout during the sim. Not because it was her voice—but because it made tactical sense.
That was all.
---
April 20th – Later that Night
Lena sat on her bunk, typing silently into her encrypted terminal.
> Handler's Personal Log – Entry #06
They don't trust me. That's good. Trust without proof is dangerous.
Shin is focused. Entirely, obsessively focused. He responds to logic, not emotion.
He doesn't know me. I won't expect him to.
Raiden listens—cautiously.
Theo jokes, but he's sharp.
Kurena… mistrusts me. Deeply.
I'll work with that.
This time, I won't fail them. Even if I'm just a voice they forget.
–L.M.
She saved the log and shut off the monitor.
No messages. No sentiment.
Just observation. Just planning.
---
April 21st – Dawn
Shin stood beside his Reginleif, staring out over the rust-red horizon. The first patrol of the day would start in minutes.
> "Unit 01," Lena's voice filtered in through the comm. "Wind speed has shifted. Adjust your initial vector west by three degrees."
He didn't answer. But when the patrol began, his machine moved exactly as she'd directed.
Kurena noticed. Theo noticed.
Raiden said nothing—but a quiet thought crossed his mind.
She's not trying to lead. She's trying to help.
---
End of Chapter 6