Ritsuko Akagi: "Tracking team, report the current positions of all three units."
Maya Ibuki: "Assault Unit-02 has reached operational altitude and entered its designated orbit."
Aoba Shigeru: "Unit-08 encountered a problem entering orbit. Its altitude is too low."
Ritsuko Akagi: "Special Unit X is within two thousand meters of the target, preparing to advance."
Hyuga: "Roger. We'll switch to operations with Assault Unit-02 and the special unit after that."
Aoba Shigeru: "Understood. Unit-08 will provide direct support. Moving to position six."
Ritsuko Akagi: "Assault Unit-02 has passed the critical point on its flight path and entered Area 88."
Misato: "Understood. Commence Operation US."
Ritsuko Akagi: "Understood. Moving Assault Unit-02 into its final operational orbit. Beginning deceleration."
"First-stage engines, full ignition. Commencing burn."
The rocket assembly carrying Unit-02 began jettisoning components to shed weight, then fired its boosters again.
Boom-thud!
The engines at the tails of the four rockets expelled their last reserves of fuel and shut down.
"S-1C burn complete. Deceleration confirmed."
"Connecting section, prepare for separation."
Clang-crack!
The four exhaust engines at the rear of the composite rocket detached and drifted away.
"Separation confirmed."
"Checking power generation systems. No abnormalities."
"Burn countdown set to automatic."
"Second-stage engines, full ignition."
Bang-whirr!!!
The second-stage thrusters burned for less than four seconds before shutting down.
"S-1C burn complete. Closing pressure valves."
"Second stage, separate boosters!"
"Deceleration complete!"
"Preparing to enter final operational orbit."
"Reversing nose orientation. Beginning turn."
"Good luck."
With corrections from the ground crew, the composite rocket finally caught up with Special Unit X and drifted toward the Cross-shaped Black Coffin sealing Unit-01.
Huang Zhetian worked the keyboard inside Special Unit X's cockpit. Two Artificial Angel models appeared on the virtual screen.
Artificial Angel 4A and Artificial Angel 4B.
4A was disc-shaped, with four jointed legs beneath its chassis.