Zechs' face tensed, but he recognized Hakuba was attempting to joke, and didn't comment upon it. Under different circumstances, he might have attempted a polite, fake smile, but he was too on edge to accomplish such a thing. The best he could do now was remain calm.
"As much as I appreciate the compliment," Zechs said wryly, the most he could manage as his own joke, "No. That is not the reason." He picked up the coffee mug, and let it warm his hands. He smelled the liquid within it, yet still did not drink.
"When I was fifteen, a small and somewhat insignificant terrorist organization attacked an Alliance base in Asia, off the Pacific Ocean. The Specials - an elite and highly skilled military branch of the Alliance, nearly independent of them - were called in to suppress the terrorist activities."
"I was one of the few pilots selected. The Specials came to this insignificant mission because they wished to test the mobile suits Romefeller had recently developed. Yet, the commanders in charge also wished to test my skills. I did not disappoint them."
Zechs paused, still inhaling his coffee's scent, not yet drinking the liquid.
Everyone loves cookies! <3
"As much as I appreciate the compliment," Zechs said wryly, the most he could manage as his own joke, "No. That is not the reason." He picked up the coffee mug, and let it warm his hands. He smelled the liquid within it, yet still did not drink.
"When I was fifteen, a small and somewhat insignificant terrorist organization attacked an Alliance base in Asia, off the Pacific Ocean. The Specials - an elite and highly skilled military branch of the Alliance, nearly independent of them - were called in to suppress the terrorist activities."
"I was one of the few pilots selected. The Specials came to this insignificant mission because they wished to test the mobile suits Romefeller had recently developed. Yet, the commanders in charge also wished to test my skills. I did not disappoint them."
Zechs paused, still inhaling his coffee's scent, not yet drinking the liquid.