Conflict Zone between Earth and Mars, Special Report – Year P.D. 323
In one of the most harrowing events along the orbital route between Mars and Earth, two young soldiers under the command of the Tekkadan military company, Akihiro Altland and Takaki Uno, were ambushed by a pirate cell in a transit sector notorious for its danger. The attack not only highlighted the ongoing threat posed by criminal groups in poorly patrolled areas of space but also exposed the darkest layers of a system that has long exploited so-called "human debris."
The Patrol Mission and the Ambush
Akihiro and Takaki were part of a reconnaissance team assigned to secure a space corridor critical to Tekkadan’s logistical operations. This young military organization, composed mainly of former CGS child soldiers, had been steadily gaining a reputation following their key role in protecting Kudelia Aina Bernstein and intervening in the Dort conflict.
During what was meant to be a routine patrol, both soldiers were separated from their unit after investigating an unidentified signal. What appeared to be a damaged vessel turned out to be a well-laid trap set by space pirates. Within minutes, they found themselves surrounded and outnumbered by multiple enemy units—some surprisingly well-equipped with advanced mobile suits and weapons.
A Tragic Reunion
In the heat of battle, Akihiro Altland faced a devastating truth: one of the enemy pilots was none other than his biological brother, Masahiro. The two had been separated as children after being sold into slavery. Masahiro had been absorbed into a program that exploited children and teens as experimental pilots, forced into inhumane conditions, and discarded when no longer useful—branded as “human debris.”
This reunion, far from emotional, was laced with desperation. Masahiro, broken after years of abuse and indoctrination, had lost all faith in others—and in himself. Seeing his brother fighting under a different banner only brought confusion, anger, and ultimately despair.
Akihiro, who had endured a similar past, tried desperately to reach his brother, to save him. But there was no time, no safe path for reconciliation. In a final, crushing moment, Masahiro, trapped by enemy fire and his own inner torment, chose to end his life. His mobile suit exploded, snuffing out what could have been a second chance.
The Truth Behind “Human Debris”
Perhaps more disturbing than the battle itself was the broader revelation: the ongoing existence of a brutal system that treats people—mostly children—as disposable. “Human debris” is the term given to those bought, orphaned, or captured to be used as cannon fodder in off-record skirmishes and illegal combat programs. They have no rights, no legal identity, and no future. Trained only to kill and obey, they are discarded once they cease to be useful.
Akihiro, once a victim of this system, had become a symbol of resistance. His life in Tekkadan gave him purpose and, for the first time, dignity. But the encounter with Masahiro was a brutal reminder: not everyone gets a second chance.
Tekkadan's Response and Strategic Impact
In the wake of the attack, Tekkadan’s leadership publicly condemned the exploitation system, though, for political reasons, they refrained from directly naming the corporations or groups behind it. Orga Itsuka, head of Tekkadan, ordered an internal investigation to gather intelligence on similar slave networks operating between Earth and Mars.
The incident also caught the attention of Gjallarhorn, the paramilitary organization tasked with maintaining order in space. While no official statements were made, sources suggest that certain high-ranking officials might be aware—or even complicit—in the existence of these networks, using "human debris" to fuel proxy wars without deploying their official forces.
International discussions on new interstellar regulations have begun, though experts agree that without civil and media pressure, meaningful change remains unlikely.
The Psychological Toll of War
Takaki Uno, Akihiro’s comrade during the patrol, was also deeply affected. Though he survived the encounter, he suffered physical wounds and emotional trauma. Witnesses say that upon returning to the ship, he sat in silence for hours, struggling to process the events.
For Akihiro, losing Masahiro was a turning point. Reports from those close to him suggest that he didn’t speak for days, instead requesting to be assigned to a new mission as soon as possible. This behavior was not seen as a lack of grief, but as a means of survival: to keep moving forward, to carry the pain as a necessary weight on his path toward redemption.
The Echo of Sacrifice
This event has been regarded as one of the most symbolic in Tekkadan’s history—not because of the body count or tactical implications, but because of what it represented. It embodied everything the organization is fighting to change: a system that robs children of their humanity and turns them into tools of war.
Masahiro’s death, though tragic and unwanted, became a wake-up call for many in Tekkadan. In his loss, they found renewed purpose—not for contracts or glory, but for justice, for dignity, and for all those still trapped in that same cycle of misery.
The attack on Akihiro and Takaki wasn’t just another pirate skirmish. It was a window into the hidden layers of the Earth-Mars conflict. It showed that while politics and economics wage their battles on the surface, underneath lies a much darker reality—one shaped by exploitation, abandonment, and human suffering.
The story of the Altland brothers is just one of thousands. But by being told—by being acknowledged—it becomes a testimony, and a warning. In Akihiro’s silence and Takaki’s quiet grief, the voices of all those without a voice can be heard.
And as Tekkadan continues its journey toward Earth, this fresh wound reminds them of what’s truly at stake: not just military contracts or political leverage, but a fight for a future where no child is ever again treated as disposable human debris.