Gundam X : Where the eagle has dared to land

Once, there was a war…

One colony's movement for independence grew into a full-scale conflict between Earth and the colonies.

Eight months into a stalemate, the Space Revolutionary Army pressed for Earth's surrender by threatening to crash the colonies into Earth. Against this the United Nations of Earth Forces deployed its secret weapon, the Gundam-type mobile suit, to prepare for a final stand.

However, this resulted in the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind.

Driven to win, the Space Revolutionary Army proceeded with their operation but the United Nations of Earth Forces were able to withstand the initial onslaught. In the quagmire of this war, the cradle of mankind was nearly destroyed by the damage. Virtually all of Earth's ten billion inhabitants were lost.

There were no longer any instances of victory or defeat.

June B.W. 0001, Seventh Space War

Six weeks prior to the final operation

North American SRA-occupied Base

Golden plumes of sand and dust skimmed across the Nevada desert which reflected the peachcolored rays of the rising sun and painted outstrechted shadows over the landscape. Here, over the course of an hour, SRA forces attacked and captured a major UNE military railway station.

Just before dawn a diversionary attack by four Septem and one Jenice MS caught the enemy off guard on the west side of the base while five double-rotored transport helicopters advanced from the east two minutes later. Flying very close to the ground they were able to actually land on the little airport next to the station and use it as a staging point for the assault. By the time the sun had started to rise most of the fighting had died off as almost all UNE troops were either dead or captured. There are but a few signs of the battle, a demolished warehouse, a handful of impact craters and several small fires among the rubble. Of the base defences, such as a company of Daughtress MS remained only nine piles of scrap and of the small infantry battalion remained a hundred and fifty-seven soldiers, most of which were wounded.

The capture of this railway station is key in disrupting most of the Nate supply lines in this region. What the UNE has lost is a great benefit to the Revolutionaries, easier transport over the long parts of no man's land and a forward position driven into the enemy line. Another step closer to Carson City Base, UNE's headquarters for the American West.

Prisoners are led to the open courtyard in front of the main office building or what's left of it anyway. Under the watchful eyes of SRA troops and four Septem MS, UNE soldiers surrender and throw their weapons unto a pile before the pedestal of an obliterated AA-gun. The sight of chaos, destruction, victory and defeat is nothing new to Major Michel Kane, commander of the SRA's Fifth Para.

Seated on the open hatch of his old Jenice MS like it was a porch, he looked around pleased about this new conquest in the name of the SRA. Kane himself was a man from the old guard and a born soldier. Enlisted as a youth during the Fifth Space War, he fought through the Sixth and into the Seventh. Nothing much changed about him over that long period except for his black hair that receded a bit and started to turn grey at the sides but he kept his sideburns, which were fashionable in his younger days. His gaze had become more stern which resulted in a wrinkled forehead and dozen of small scars littered his face. His mouth had hardened over time. All this gave him the appearance of being gritty, bold and brave. And it were not only his looks that commanded the respect from his men, he earned it many times before as his service record can attest.

Kane felt a sense of fulfillment when he took a drag of his cigarette for he knew he has done his soldier's duty and that is the greatest honor a man like him could receive. But that feeling soon disappeared when he saw some of his men busy putting seventeen bodybags in the back of a captured supply truck for retrieval back to Cloud Nine.

Far off in the distance south shadowy figures started to become visible. Through his binoculars Kane recognized the silhouettes of Octape-type MS among them, it could only be the oncoming SRA convoy to relieve them. He jumped up excited, ran his hand over his remaining hair and searched for a particular face among the people on the courtyard. His eye fell on a para that was busy setting up radio communications near the remains of a Daughtress Tank.

'Corporal Sims, get Goose on the horn! Report that we have control over the Nest. All clear this side of the Grand Canyon.' Kane yelled, amused by the startled behaviour of his radio operator. After a few moments the soldier yelled back that the convoy's ETA would be thirty minutes.

As he was about to turn back to face the armored column he was halted by a sudden outburst of cheers coming from the other side of courtyard. Three of his men escorted a, by the looks of it, high ranking UNE officer who carried a fold-up flag under his right arm. The three and the captured officer halted near the left leg of Kane's MS.

Master Sergeant Flanagan, Kane's adjudant, reported 'Looks like we got ourselves a genuine United Nations Earth Colonel, Sir!'

Kane applauded the victory 'Tell me, Sergeant. Who is responsible for this man's capture?'

'Private Cillis, Sir!' declared Flanagan, hoarse from shouting orders during the assault.

Kane slid down with his retractable rope attached to the cockpit hatch and walked up to the prisoner and his young captor. He padded him on the shoulder and added his appreciation for the rookie by giving him a battlefield promotion to Private First Class. A smile reached ear to ear on the soldier's young and still unscarred face.

The Major then turned his attention to the UNE Colonel and the more pressing matter at hand; the formal surrender of the base to the official body he represents. He couldn't help but grin triumphant when he saluted the prisoner 'Major Michel Kane, Fifth Para in the Air Wing Special Forces of the Space Revolutionary Army. Whom do I have the honor of addressing?'

'I wish I could say the same…' the officer sighed meak 'Colonel Zayun, Nineteenth Support Battalion, North American Division. Serving in the United Nations Earth Terrestrial Army.' Zayun paused for a second when he looked up at the giant triangular SRA flag, planted in the centre of the courtyard by a Septem, and is reminded once again of the humiliation of defeat 'I hereby surrender the base and present you its flag.'

'Colonel, I'm obliged to ask if you understand that by doing so, your final order towards all soldiers under your command is to surrender at once?'

'Yes, Major. I fully comprehend the actions and results following the surrender of this flag. If you permit me to use the central intercom…' Zayun nodded his head in the direction of the main building, where the comm-room is located.

'Of course, Col. Zayun. Please, don't let me stop you' Michel responded and signaled his adjudant to come closer 'Sgt. Flanagan, take PFC Cillis and assist the Colonel with his task to the best of your abilities.'

Flanagan and Cillis saluted and motioned the Colonel to lead the way. But before Zayun marched off to the comm-room to announce the surrender he turned back to Kane 'One last request, Major. I trust that my men and myself will be treated as POW's.'

'I give you my word, Sir!' Kane replied and made a hasty gesture to follow the Sergeant and be done with these formalities.

Morning turned into day and the sky turned bright blue with only few clouds hanging over the horizon, the sun high up in the air. By the time the convoy reached the railway station, the voice of Colonel Zayun echoed all over the base and surrounding planes calling for an immediate cease-fire and surrender of all remaining UNE soldiers.

Unfortunately the relieving convoy is comprised of solely Newtype units. They are part of a seperate branch of the military and have in most cases superior authority, as they are seen as the Seidel Rasso's personal guard. When Rasso rose to power every soldier was given a choice; to pledge an oath to him personally and become a full-fledged Newtype or stay with the old soldier's oath and remain an Oldtype. Kane couldn't care less about the Oldtype and Newtype quarrel, it's just a means to an end; freedom and freedom alone. That's all he fought for during the last two Space Wars and that's all he fights for in this war. Freedom for him, for his brothers-in-arms and for the Clouds.

By the time the afternoon set in Fifth Para prepared to return to their homebase at Old Vegas. The five double-rotored transport helicopters and five MS-carrier choppers stood at the ready on the little airport, refueled, loaded up and ready to go. Finally after a most hectic day the hundred and fifteen paracommandos had a bit of time for themselves to relax. Some started a small fire to cook things found in the ruins of the mess hall, others made improvised beds to rest for a while and others searched around for things of interest. The rest of the men were caught up with a game of soccer after one of them found a ball among the rubble. It was a chaotic match of thirty-two persons running around with almost no visible difference in teams or logic but it gave them a just reason to blow off the excess steam of the day.

Finished with the red tape and debriefing with the leader of the relief force, a pesky NT-Captain by the name of Pike, Michel his two adjudants along with his hero of the day, Cillis made their way over the railyard as a shortcut to the helicopters. Open supply trucks filled with commandeered materials from the railyard made themselves ready to drive the long journey back to the Revolutionaries main base of operations at Old Vegas.

While the four walked over the tracks and between the trains they could observe how the POW's are treated by the superior 'Newtype' soldiers. Pushed into the wagons like cattle they await the unpleasant prospect of the horrid prison camps which are infamous on both sides. The four paras tried to ignore the situation as much as they could, there's nothing they could do. The first to object on the treatment is automatically accused with sedition or treason and can find himself sentenced to a penal battalion. And nobody wants a spot in those suicide units.

'Goddamn! Those Newtype fanatics make me wanna barf.' Sgt. Flanagan blurted out disgusted by the view which made his blonde bushy eyebrows stand crooked.

'Did you see their mobiles? Shouldn't special forces, like us, get the top of the line equipment?' Lt. Liana Haig, Kanes second adjudant and Executive Officer of the MS unit of Fifth, screamed out against her comrades.

Kane wanted to respond but Flanagan beat him to it 'The Major has, with his antique Jenice, defeated every Newtype that sparred against him. Ain't that right, Mitch? Remember that one Bertigo-pilot?' Flanagan laughed out loud 'Jevel? Or was it Naver? He got downed in April…'

'The one that was gonna participate in Operation Lilac? Yeah…' Kane stopped short to light a cigarette and took a puff 'Screamed like a child when he had to yield. That arrogant excuse for a Captain is just the same as that guy. All of them are overconfident in beamweapons, their Flash-system and all that techno mumbo-jumbo. And of course their Newtype delusions.' He took another drag to rest his tongue for a second before he continued 'Not a single one of them can understand one is born to be a pilot or a warrior and can't be remodeled into one with gadgets.'

'If this Pike here got the rank of Captain through those tests of the Newtype Research Program then the Newtypist regulars must be real idiots." Liana pointed out.

'Either that or he brownnosed his way up there…' Cillis interjected and hit the nail on the head, which resulted in a volley of agreeing laughter.

'Yeah and I'll tell you somthing else-" Michel Kane said just as he's interrupted by shouts and gunshots behind him. Too close behind when he heard a high pitched scream. As he turned around to see what the ruckus is about he could just catch a woman that fell into his arms.

The young girl, in the khaki and brown color scheme of the UNE uniform, gave him a dazed incomprehendable look. Looking up she recognized him as the enemy, should she to try and break free or beg for help, mercy? He asked her her name.

'K- Kirsten…' The young girl stammered.

Whatever happened in that following second is entirely the fault of Kane's officers and gentlemans conduct. Maybe because that she was unarmed and shot in the leg that he couldn't consider her an enemy escapee. Or it might be that 'deer in the headlights' expression she had, it reminded him of the time when they raided a UNE Newtype Research Facility. All the human testsubjects had that same helpless look. Anyhow, against the numerous shouts of guards that ran towards them and consequenses that were to come, he lifted the wounded girl up and carried her towards the last supply truck of the convoy to Old Vegas. Michel helped her into the open back end, much to the disbelief of his fellow paras, and signaled the driver that he should move out immediately. 'Good luck, Kirsten.'

Major… What the hell? Liana Haig thought to herself. Flanagan on the other hand just signaled to keep their hands on their sidearms or rifles. The youngest of the bunch, Cillis, could see his promotion go down the toilet.

Michel turned away and wanted to walk back to his men when the girl pulled herself up on one of the wooden crates. In the middle of uttering thanks a bullet strafed through the air and the girl collapsed dead between the supplies.

'YIHAA! I got 'er, Captain!' The closest of the approaching guards yelled victorious.

Not a metre from the back end of the truck Kane looked only to see the woman's face suddenly turned pale as she fell while some of the blood sprayed across his shocked face.

'Major Kane! What the hell do you think you're doing?" A voice, further away, roared.

Upon hearing the commotion the truckdriver pulled over as the culprit rifleman finally caught up. Kane just stood there, his eyes fixed blankly on the one bloodied arm which hung out the back of the truck. The men from Fifth Para also reacted and swarmed from the courtyard over to the railyard.

'Bastard!' Kane growled through his clenched teeth as he took a swing at the Newtypist responsible for the shot. He fell to the ground and Kane pulled him back up against the side of a train wagon ready to punch him again 'She was unarmed- wounded… That kill was without ANY HONOR! Newtype piece o' sh-'

A second time the voice rumbled, interrupting Kane, and sounded much closer than before 'Corporal Andrys was following orders, his revolutionary duty, unlike some, Major!' The voice was none other than that of NT-Captain Pike, commander of the Newtype relief force. As he pulled out his sidearm his Newtype soldiers did the same for their weapons, standing in a semi-circle around Kane and his men. All paras saw the situation drop out the pan into the fire and quickly took cover while they pulled out their submachine-guns. Safeties set off, bullets chambered, fingers nervously ready just above the trigger and the first unlucky targets trained into the scopes.

'Hold your fire! Watch out for the Major!' Flanagan snapped as he took cover behind the corner of a cargo container.

'Duty?' Kane yelled as he let go of his victim and to turned to face Pike 'Corporal Andrys reminds me of something that I occasionally pick up on my shoe in the gutter! Very unpleasant on a hot day! And if you have the dubious honor of ordering such senseless slaughter, then I'd advise you to keep him downwind at all times! That is, of course, if you can tell the difference anymore' In a fit of rage, Kane outed his disgust for the way the Newtypists do business. He roared so violently that he unwillingly spit out every word, what didn't help to make Pike see his point. And so Michel pushed the arrogant Captain back with his finger.

Calm down, Mitch… Flanagan mumbled.

Summoning all the bravado he could, to look like a god not interested in the ravings of an ant, Cpt. Pike responded rather cool 'Major, you are a decorated hero of Cloud Nine, yet you are now responsible for the attempted escape of an enemy soldier and the mutinous conduct of your men! I'm forced to place all of you under arrest, under the grave charge of refusal to perform your revolutionary duties and collaboration with the enemy, along with a washlist of others. You won't see your home colony again for a long, long time.'

For a moment Kane considered his options. He hated the thought of surrender, yet he felt reluctant to have his boys killed over a thing only he committed. And he couldn't live with the useless deaths of the men on his conscious. So he tried for a third option and orderd his paras to drop their weapons 'As for my men, they seem to feel a certain loyalty towards me. I don't suppose you could content yourself with my head and overlook their part in this thing?'

Pike smirked back negatively at his plea.

'No…That's what I thought.' Kane turned back to his sergeant 'You see that, Floyd? It's infallible…'

Flanagan nodded with a faint fatalistic smile while Pike frowned puzzled.

'I can always tell a Newtype bastard when I see one!' Now it was Kane's time to grin for his words weren't properly spoken when his fist impacted on Cpt. Pike's left eye. He stumbled two metres back doing half a spin before he fell and passed out on a pile of gunny sacks. Pike's lights were out and the Fifth Para cheered for their commander, even if that just made their situation much worse.