[Hathaway's Flash] Vol.02 Ch.06

Chapter.06
　Mafty Navue Erin

　Gigi Andalucia received a call from Kenneth Sleg after a satisfying dinner.

　"Sorry, are you busy right now?"

　"Yes. I am. What's on your mind?"

　"I want to go to Hong Kong tomorrow. Is there a plane available?"

　"What? You're leaving so soon?"

　"I have responsibilities to attend to as well. I want to wrap up what I can for Count. After that, I may be able to come back here."

　"Oh, I see. In that case, there's a flight departing from where I'm at. Would you 　like to take it? Let me check... What time does the C38 leave tomorrow?"

　Kenneth turned to his subordinate and posed the question.

　Gigi's tone changed to a more playful one, "Why don't you come and have some fun with me tonight?"

　"Listen, I'm swamped with planning transportation for the cabinet ministers."

　"Come on, weren't there a lot of transports going out yesterday? Just coming and going, coming and going?" Gigi teased.

　"Are you keeping tabs on me?" Kenneth asked, his tone serious.

　"For whom?" Gigi replied, feigning innocence.

　"Hathaway, perhaps?" Kenneth baited, waiting to see how she would react.

　"Captain, you're aware anyone can see the transports leaving the base from here, right?" Gigi pointed out.

　"I am aware... Until today, I believed you were the reason Adelaide's operations were running so smoothly."

　"I'm glad you feel that way. But even if I do come to visit, you won't be seeing me tonight, will you?"

　"Not tonight, but I'll pick you up tomorrow," the Captain offered.

　"Boring," Gigi sighed.

　"Boring, perhaps. But you know, Gigi..."

　"That's life."

　"Departure's set for 8:00, so I'll come to pick you up at 7:00. Sound good?"

　"That's fine. Goodnight, Captain. You're welcome to dream about me if you'd like."

　"I'm afraid that's just what I'll have to do. Keep looking beautiful for me."

　"Allllllright." Gigi agreed before hanging up, the hint of fatigue in his cheerful voice not just a figment of her imagination.

　Emeralda and the two other female crewmates remained tight-lipped about the woman from Oenbelli, who was still drawing breath, refusing even to divulge her name to the men.

　"How did we get here, Captain Kimberly Hayman?"

　"...no comment, Mafty Navue Erin," replied the Captain, using Mafty's full name with a hint of suspicion. He surveyed the crew standing behind Hathaway, wondering if the real Mafty was among them.

　"You've heard Mafty's statements, right? Do I sound any different?"

　"Who can tell? They're composites, and nobody can tell the difference."

　Captain Hayman shook his head, sighing, trying to gauge the reactions of his men on either side.

　"If you're used to the traditional, seniority-driven bureaucratic system, then a young Mafty like this might seem unbelievable. But, let's not forget, with the right connections, age becomes a non-issue, and one can easily climb up the ranks," added Raymond Cain, his words hanging in the air, only being met with silence among the five POWs, their eyes flicking nervously.

　"No truth serum here," Gawman declared at the entrance, his tone carrying conviction. "You think we should resort to torture to get what we want?"

　"If that were my intention, I'd leave it to the Oenbelli soldiers to handle," Hathaway added nonchalantly.

　"You'd turn us over to them?!" The commander, seated beside Hayman, leaned over in disbelief, his face as pale as wax despite it starting to flush with a faint shade of red from anger.

　"Your actions here will catch up to you eventually. When they find out what you've done to the people you detained here, there will be consequences."

　"Please, I beg of you, don't let it come to that," he implored.

　Hathaway was growing tired of the commander's predictable pleadings. "You claim that this army-like group gathered here is affiliated with Mafty Erin, but you should be able to see that we have no connection with them whatsoever."

　Captain Hayman's eyes remained fixed on the floor, but his voice carried a weight that demanded attention. "These guys hacked up our pilots too. It was a lesson for them."

　"?!"

　It was like a petty argument among children.

　Hathaway wondered as he gazed at the men in uniform, suspecting that they were actually grown men with severe mental issues.

　"We only go after our designated targets, as evidenced by the purge of cabinet ministers," he spoke.

　"We can gather ample intelligence without resorting to torture, wouldn't you agree?" Raymond added with a smirk.

　"Let's give them a taste of the foul stench of death," Hathaway said as he descended the stairs with Gawman.

　The deafening sound of a gasoline generator echoed on the balcony, but there were not enough of them, making the steps in the corridor difficult to navigate.

　"What's the plan with these guys?"

　"We treat our captives with the utmost care," replied Hathaway.

　"Yeah, but these guys aren't part of the Circe unit. So they won't provide us with any valuable intel that could benefit us in the future," Gawman pointed out.

　"It may hinder our progress, but we can leverage them for a prisoner swap."

　"Is Kenneth one of those wild card types?"

　Gawman, having been held captive by Kenneth, had a more intimate understanding than Hathaway of just how unorthodox his methods were.

　"Appealing to the masses is a powerful tool, so even harnessing just a fraction of its potential can be a game changer," Hathaway remarked. Still, Gawman remained silent as he pivoted and walked down the corridor.

　A chorus of laughter and hushed discussions echoed down the hall, a telltale sign of individuals at ease. Gawman pushed open the door, the bright light from the makeshift lighting spilling into the dim hallway, momentarily blinding Hathaway.

　The atmosphere shifted with a palpable sense of unease as Gaiman's call rang out with a rogue-like timbre.

　"Fabio. Fabio Rivera! We're Mafty."

　As Hathaway struggled to make out the figures in the harsh light, he saw several figures stand, and one of them barked out a question.

　"Which one of you's?" the voice growled. It was English but with a thick Spanish accent.

　"So it's you? The imposter pretending to be Mafty?"

　Hathaway locked eyes with the bushy beard of the man known as Fabio Rivera, which hung just inches from his face.

　"I'll be damned. If this isn't a joke, I've been duped into giving away my identity to some inexperienced upstart! Eh!?"

　Some of the people lounging in the background chuckled in response to Fabio's outrage.

　"Probably because of your lack of imagination."

　"What did you say?" Fabio scowled, bringing his face down to Hathaway's level.

　"I understand your views are narrow-minded, but I'm not much better. I cannot easily trick others. To be able to impersonate Mafty's army, one must possess wit and intelligence. I'd love to meet such a leader if they exist. But, perhaps, they've already met their demise on this battlefield."

　"What makes you say that?"

　"A man with a pistol taking on a mobile suit is a testament to their bravery. It wouldn't be surprising if they lost their life on this battlefield. Is that something I came up with because I lack imagination?"

　"That's all you have to say?"

　"For now, yes. So, are you the leader of the surviving group?"

　Hathaway sidestepped the man's contemptuous sneer.

　"I am Fabio Rivera, the one who commanded the establishment of a line of resistance on our soil. I came up with the idea of forming an air force to exploit the gap in the Federation's supplies. This was only possible because of my anti-Federation sentiments. Plus, I have more experience than a bunch of pissants like you all," his crude language masking his unwavering confidence.

　If that were the case, it would certainly imbue him with the capacity to guide others. Hathaway recognized how a person with such a commanding presence might easily captivate and influence others.

　But now was not the moment to falter.

　"Genuine leaders don't need to hide behind false identities as you did with Mafty. Your actions were deceptive and underhanded. If you really were the one who came up with that idea, then you've got some pretty filthy ulterior motives."

　For the first time, Hathaway locked eyes with Fabio.

　"Pfeh! That's rich. What makes you think they're filthy?"

　"You employed Mafty's actions as a diversion, yet Kimberly emerged with surprising fortitude. And so, here we see the outcome. A leader must be willing to accept accountability for their decisions."

　"Hmph!"

　Fabio Rivera drew himself up, shaking his head, facing Hathaway's accusations head-on.

　"That's why I didn't run away. And let's not forget, Mafty wasn't exactly quick on their feet either. That's why things turned out as they did."

　"Like hell, it isn't! After you took matters into your own hands--"

　"We were clueless on how to reach Qwack Salver," Fabio offered a conciliatory shrug to those behind him, suddenly appearing as a middle-aged man with a more honest demeanor.

　"It seems to me that your little Oenbelli army would have planned on annihilating all the ministers in Adelaide, your goal being to form an airforce comprised of illegal residents, but you didn't even have a leg to stand on. You hastily attacked the Haunzen, resulting in a chaotic and ill-prepared assault."

　"Fabio! We didn't screw up nearly as bad as that squirt claims," a young man with a scruffy beard and a swollen face interjected from behind. "Once that guy with the footage escapes into space, things will shift in our favor again."

　"What is he implying by that?"

　"What? I happen to have a guy who smuggled a tape into space, revealing the 　atrocities committed by Kimberly's forces on the battlefield."

　"I highly doubt that he'll make it," Gawman said, stepping forward for the first time, blocking Hathaway's view.

　"Not everyone is an undocumented resident, and you should know how easy it is to secure a ticket to space from Earth."

　"What sort of tape is it? Do you have a copy?"

　"Didn't have the time to make one."

　"Let me tell you something," a female crew member, who sat cross-legged on a desk in a drunken stupor, screeched. "We had our escape routes blocked and were crushed and trampled by the mobile suits. That's how Kimberly operates!"

　"Mobile suits?" Hathaway echoed, finally understanding the reason behind the corpses on the city's outskirts.

　"He was playing with us, like toys," she added with a hint of derision in her voice.

　The use of mobile suits for such actions was a glaringly flawed method. Despite possibly serving as a warning, it wouldn't have any real impact as there was no media coverage on the battlefield. Despite that, the entire ordeal still seemed strange. At times, the actions of a few mobile suits were misconstrued as the strategy of Kimberly's entire unit by those who saw it.

　A voice behind the female crew member spoke up, "Let it go, Mei Ho. Mafty's group can only see our struggles through their robot's perspective. They're not much different from Kimberly."

　"Who? Who said that!?"

　Gawman's fist rose in response, but Hathaway swiftly intervened, pulling him from the room.

　As the number of people grows, situations only become more complicated and chaotic. When attempting to make crucial decisions, emotions tend to run high. This was what Qwack Salver feared the most when he founded the Mafty organization.

　That's how the current situation appeared to Hathaway.

　"What!" Gawman barked in the dimly lit corridor, his eyes blazing.

　"We're pulling out."

　"But to hear them talk about us like that!" Gawman protested.

　"Mafty!" Fabio bellowed, his massive form barreling towards them from the illuminated office.

　"So why aren't we discussing what lies ahead? Somebody known as 'Mafty' should have the brains to think a little further ahead."

　"I didn't see the need to upset you, so I kept quiet and left."

　"Don't press your luck, kid..."

　"I have no intention of babying you just because you can't handle the truth."

　Gawman bit his lip.

　"Let's get real. Do I call you Mr. Mafty? Do my words strike a nerve?"

　"Your rough calculation shows that around 5,000 survivors are scattered across Oenbelli, and even if they somehow managed to gather, we lack the capability to sustain that many. Therefore, it's in our best interest to go our separate ways."

　"You're just like I thought you were. You're just a bunch of pussies, aren't you?"

　"He has the brains to think about the economic aspect."

　A shadowy figure, lurking and observing the trio, emerged from the glowing light of the office.

　"That would be Chang Hei. As I was saying, that's why we sought to secure our own funding source. The attack on Haunzen was a result of that desire."

　"It was too rough. The passengers didn't just include ministers but also Kimberly's successor, Kenneth Sleg himself. He overpowered the hijackers."

　"Well-informed, indeed. So, what's next on the agenda? What's the plan for Mafty?"

　With Fabio's agitation subsiding, Hathaway gestured for Gawman to open a door, and they all stepped through it. He placed his flashlight on the desk and aimed it toward Fabio.

　"We'll continue methodically eliminating cabinet ministers, as we've been doing."

　"In Adelaide?"

　"Why not?"

　Fabio's massive frame shuffled about, his grin belying his scruffy exterior.

　"That won't work. We'll seize control of the nearby airport, commandeer a plane, and fly straight to Guangzhou."

　"Guangzhou?"

　Thinking back, Hathaway recalled the name of the Chinese city that Chachai and the others had mentioned earlier in the day, envisioning the location in his mind.

　"That's where the Earth Federation government cabinet meeting will be held," Chang Hei declared confidently from behind Fabio.

　But Gawman disputed, "We suspect that information was deliberately leaked to deceive us."

　Fabio gestured to Chang. Chang reached into the pocket of his windbreaker and produced several sheets of paper, handing one of them to Fabio.

　"This telegram was sent from Davao to the Hong Kong government offices just as the Minovsky particles Kimberly used thinned out. We, uh... intercepted an order from Hundley Yeoksan, Chief of the Criminal Police Organization, to the Asian Regional Criminal Police Organization to reinforce ground forces in Guangzhou."

　"Hm..."

　Hathaway's thoughts drifted back to the encounter on the Haunzen and the impeccably dressed police chief at Davao airport. He let Fabio proceed.

　"Haunzen. Hundley Yeoksan. Don't read too much into this radio signal as proof that the cabinet meeting has been moved to Guangzhou. We regularly intercept similar transmissions."

　"But you do realize that Haunzen had a third of all the ministers on board, right? Do you really think they would risk making such a call over a radio that could be intercepted?"

　"So, where is it then?" Fabio questioned, wavering under Gawman's aggressive stance.

　"Still in Adelaide. Nothing has changed," Hathaway declared with certainty.

　"How can you be so sure?"

　"Because the ministers are a bunch of old codgers who don't like to be bothered."

　Fabio erupted into loud laughter at Hathaway's words.

　"There it is, what I'm talking about. Who doesn't have a leg to stand on now? You're the ones being sloppy now. Well, good luck with that." Fabio said as he rose from his seat and walked out of the flashlight's reach.

　Chang remained in its light, ruminating on the idea that had just been brought up.

　"Think about it, Mafty. If we could release our tape to the public from space, it would be enough to force the current Federation ministers to resign. That would serve one of Mafty's objectives, wouldn't it?"

　Gawman didn't seem convinced, "Hmph. Even if that were true, then we wouldn't have to kill anybody. One tape may stir public opinion, but the Federation government will still be sitting pretty on Earth!"

　"We need to show that we're not afraid to fight, even if it means building our own army."

　"Chang Hei, it's great to have someone of your caliber in the Oenbelli Army. However, the opportunity to strike Davao and their new mobile suits has been missed, and we have you to thank for that."

　And with that, Hathaway turned and walked out the door.

　Hathaway directed Emeralda and the rest to pull out and transferred Kimberly and the surviving prisoners to the Galcezon 1.

　"The Oenbelli Army doesn't even have a proper ambulance. So move the ones who are still breathing over here."

　Emeralda gave a nonchalant shrug at the orders.

　"...?"

　"She's dead. Why don't you let Fabio know and have them bury her?"

　"That girl?"

　"Yeah..."

　"I see. It would be more fitting for someone who knew her to lay her to rest."

　And with that, Hathaway withdrew from Oenbelli.