none of which so dangerous as virtue

It's hard to believe that it's almost December once again. So much has happened, and yet at the same time, it seems to have passed so quickly. In fact, exactly a month remains until... Well.

It seems like I'm going soft. I should have told Mileina not to decorate the place, that it was a violation of the protocols that restrict obstructions, but... I didn't have the heart. Morale is slipping once again, and it's possible that "brightening the place up" will help. At least, that's what she said. But that's not the only reason.

I also don't have the heart to tell her that her taste in decorations are a little peculiar. While I acknowledge that Christmas decorations are generally brightly colored and lit up, I don't think any of the Haros appreciate being used as baubles. And as for the top of the tree in the mess hall... The less said about that the better.

[locked from Feldt]

Feldt seems to be avoiding me. Does anybody know why?

Luckily for Tieria, personnel at the base never really came to see exactly what it was he was doing. Oh, sure, they knew he was fixing up that big machine of his, but beyond that, nobody really had any of the details. This was decidedly a Good Thing, because he didn't have any idea how he was supposed to explain the various odd new details that had been applied during repairs.

Odd details like the rough approximation of a stripped down Virtue Physical armor set. Or even odder ones, such as the peculiar new cockpit.

Gundams were single cockpit affairs, with just enough room for everything a Meister needed to pilot the suit, as well as a little extra standing space for any "unexpected guests". But that wouldn't be enough for what Tieria had in mind.

Although he could just about scrape by with no tactical advisor--

(He was, after all, perfectly capable of making adequate plans that frequently matched up with Veda's predictions in the past. Sumeragi was far better, of course, but she was nowhere to be found, and as such, he had to cope by himself.)

--it was extremely difficult to concentrate on piloting a Gundam and try to remember what stage he was at in the mission plan he'd drawn up previously at the same time. What he really needed was a tactical operator, and as this mission would involve total stealth, as well as crossing the border between worlds, what he definitely needed was an operator on board.

And so, Tieria Erde was currently hanging upside down in Nadleeh's cockpit, screwing the last panels of the new dual cockpit tactical interface into place. Behind the normal set-up for a Meister, there was now another seat facing in the opposite direction, looking at a large bank of screens.

Now all he needed was his operator.

Things are going fairly well. A more paranoid person might say too well, but at present, I am simply enjoying the progress being made.

However...

Feldt Grace. Get the Doctor to drop you off here at some point in the near future. I'd like to talk to you in person, please. I need your help.

[locked to Feldt so thoroughly that she'll have to hack it to see it herself]

Any belongings you have on the TARDIS - bring them. Pack as much as you can without it being suspicious. You won't be going back for a while, I think.

I'll explain when you get here. I promise.

And bring Haro.

[/locked]

I don't have time to talk at length. There is always more work to be done.