>Well, this is tantalizing. I see two likely options here, either they
>aren't as young as they appear, or there much more to their story that
>at this point I could only make wild guesses about. Option 2 seems
>more likely, and more fun.

Worth keeping in mind, as well, that it might not be the same answer for all three of them.

>Well at least G has somewhat recent practice in dodging
>danmaku, and fighting adversaries who can fly when he can't.

He really needs to work on that second part. Much as he loves the rocketman life, it's getting tiresome when the hardware's not available.

>>"Don't bother trying to get up," Reimu told him. "Whatever dark pact you draw
>>your power from, that seal has cut you off. You're just a man now. This is
>>over."
>
>And if it had been the result of a dark pact, you'd be correct
>Reimu, but school is still in session.

One of my lingering regrets is that he's just not in the right mood here to quote Queen's Flash Gordon theme back at her.

"That's right, I'm just a man, with a man's courage. Y'know, I'm nothing but a man, but I can never fail. No one but the pure in heart can find the golden grail."

"... What?!"

"You never studied."

>>"I don't know about you," she said at length, "but I need a drink."
>
>That may be so, but you'll regret it in the morning Reimu.

She usually does, but she never learns. Some folks are just like that...

>Yup, my earlier comment on Marisa and her appeal stands and
>strengthens. This makes it seem like she, somehow (they didn't have
>that long with the Zauberschulbuch did they,) did study the
>document thoroughly, at least more so than Reimu, to know both that
>her friend was wrong, and that there was a pretty good chance the
>strange Liberion could actually get the better of her to boot.

It's kind of hinted at in The Pros from Dover—Reimu spent most of the flight from Fusō meditating (or asleep), so apart from going up front and annoying the flight crew, which didn't seem like a super idea, Marisa didn't have much to do other than read. In those days, a flight from Fusō to western Europe, halfway around the world, took at least a week, and that was really standing on it. She had plenty of time to get well acquainted with their sample Zauberschulbuch and not a helluva lot else to do.

>Which also makes me wonder what the captain's magic
>specialty is (or if it has even been identified yet.)

Oh... you'll find out soon enough. :)

>I wonder if anyone present will wonder how Sakuya managed to
>let him know, unless she actually made a phone call (would the
>mothballed base have working phone service?)

I assume the IFN would have asked the War Office to turn it back on, both so that Admiral Sugita could keep at least nominal tabs on his pet project and, more importantly, so that the Project Mogami team had a way to request supplies and equipment that didn't involve driving or flying over to Barbican.

Of possibly greater note is that only Shizuka and maybe Mogami are likely to know who the hell he's even talking about, and then only if he's mentioned her while talking about his Domestic Situation at some point off-camera.

> I'm not sure what compliment fits the
>situation, so <insert appropriate praise here>.

Given how many of the last 24 hours went into making it, the old Japanese standby "You must be tired!" might be best. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.