First Meeting

When the crew first received their assignment to The Factory, many had asked, "Why would anyone name it that?" Certainly, it lacked the prowess of a name that referenced ancient, mythical heroes or jungle animals that stalk their prey. Felipe believed it to be a throwback to the days of socialist revolutions in which industrial workers - or rather, those at the bottom of the social ladder - fought bourgeois forces with simple rifles, knives and Molotov cocktails.

As if Nacho were involved in such a noble fight, Felipe later thought

Connor insisted it evoked a period later in history, particularly the 70s and the art factories of New York City in which artists reproduced images like cans of tomato soup. Similar to a workshop, dozens of people worked to blur the line between high-brow, kitsch and pop art.

"The artist is everyone," Connor suggested during a routine break on the bridge.

Felipe responded, "What does that have to do with a battleship?"
"It means that we are all the captains of this ship; all our opinions are just as valid," said Connor in a soft voice, realizing their argument may have caused Nacho to leave the area. Unbeknown to them, their conversation reminded Nacho of his neglect of the other side of the factory -- the hangar. If in fact everyone's voice mattered, he needed to make an effort to include the mechanics and pilots who have, since their arrival in 2E, boldly defended The Factory from certain demise.

"Attention on deck!" shouted the foreman.

The mechanics hustled to line up on each side of the hangar, their arms raised in a gesture of salutations. Behind them stood two GMs, a GM Command Type and a Guncannon; the last GM stood poised outside in front of the bridge.

"The things money can buy..." sighed Nacho as he looked at what he deemed nothing more than toys for his own use.

However, it was not money that actually brought these mobile suits to his ships, rather influence. A century ago, his family was notorious for havesting coca plants from the Peruvian region and producing cocaine and distributing it worldwide. Once the movement to space was in full swing, they developed the trade of human trafficking by preying on those desperate enough, though not legally eligible, to partake in the colony boom. Usually when they arrived at their destination, these Terran immigrants took the most underpaid jobs and lived in slums. The Quintals became known as the coyotes of the Universal Century who later managed to gain government positions through bribes and assassinations. The mobile suits that stood before Nacho reflected the millions of those who paid for such a treacherous voyage, yet lost their lives in the process. Like the trafficking business, these mobile suits were a necessary evil.

Nacho pondered this for a few seconds before becoming distracted by a female pilot who appeared perturbed by the captain's entrance. With his index finger, he pointed at the pilot and curled his finger back as if calling her forward.

Nacho sneered, "How about we turn that frown upside down?"