SUPER ROBOT WARS OMEGA VER 3.0
(June 15, 2006)
DEDICATION:
To my father. For being there for me. Always I'll miss you.
To Keiichi Morisato, for the endless text messages (:p). This story is for you.
To my friends and fellow comrades in Super Robot Wars Genesis Board. For their insights, knowledge and wisdom.
To Meia and Ed. My best friends in the whole world.
Disclaimers:
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, New Mobile Report Gundam Wing Endless Waltz, After War Gundam X, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Super Dimensional Macross: Do You Remember Love, Martian Successor Nadesico, Mazinkaiser, Mazinkaiser vs Ankoku Daishogun, King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final, Aim for the Top Gunbuster, Daimos, Voltes V, Full Metal Panic, RahXephon, Rayearth, Neon Genesis Evangelion, End of Evangelion, SRX, The Lord of Elementals, and the Vision of Escaflowne
Robots, characters and stories belong to their respective creators, directors, companies and studios.
Fanfiction will inevitably contains SPOILERS from their respective series (duh) and crossover couples. "Omega" story, Hyukebein Slasher, Sentinel Gundam (the Gundam itself, NOT the title of the manga), XS Gundam and original characters Erin and Jedis Shore are mine, and will not be used without author's consent.
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And thus, the story begins…Neo Space Century 298…
Seven years ago, the world had been in the midst of chaos. The dinosaur forces of a mad scientist named Dr. Hell made public to the world of his mission to conquer the entire world. It seemed that this had also triggered some unfortunate events in history: particularly the declaration of independence by Side 3's Zeon Army, the destruction of Australia in the course of the fight, the Federation's failed peace negotiation with the Balming race, as well as the falling out of the space colonies. With the looming danger of future alien invasion, the UN, supported by the United Federation of Earth, had found it important to produce robots specifically designed to combat these alien threats. This battle was thereon called as the One Year War… in which it had been officially ended when the Zabis, the undisputed ruling family of Zeon, had been killed in the course of the fighting.
Mobile Suit production companies were also established during that time as well along with Anaheim. From the private Nergal Industry to JSSDF supported GEHIRN, which was now renamed as NERV, both supported by the Federation because of its unique technology that they had develop. What it was, though, remained anonymous.
Five years after the One Year War, tragedy struck as a Zeon remnant had managed to steal the Federation's GP02 "Physalis"… a prototype Gundam armed with a nuclear warhead, and made a drastic attempt to reclaim the Solomon base and sending an abandoned Colony to crash to Jabrow, claiming the lives of both civilian and military in the process. The Federation managed to abate the threat, but that experience had severely shaken their confidence in upholding the fragile thread called peace.
Leading to the creation of the Antarctic Treaty: establishing truce between warring nations, forbidding Mobile Suit battles in a colony and disarmament of all nuclear and biological weapons that were developed during the war. Around this time the Federation also founded the Titans, a branch of their military ranks as a countermeasure against the Zeons. OZ, a private army created by the Romefeller Foundation, along with Treize Khushrenada as its head, had also joined in the Federation; giving aid to the struggling government in outmost earnest.
Soon after the war, the Earth government decided to reclaim Mars as part of the colony. Nanomachines were released in the atmosphere, making the planet once again habitable for humans, and from thereon, a new city begins anew. The creation of space exploring ships and robots to aid the human race to seek new homes and in search of a safer source of energy was also realized during its time. It seems that everything was going smoothly for everyone from thereon.
However…
NSC 297… In a bid for more accumulation of power, OZ was slowly disintegrating the already weakened Federation government, causing chaos and uncertainty between the space and earth. The colonies' economics and natural resources were heavily drained due to the reconstruction, an act that seemed to only benefit the Earth. This causes the Colonies to voice their objections against the Federation, in which the Titans retaliated in a violent force, the 30 Bunch Incident an example of this. With the rise of White Fang, an aggressive movement from the Colonies, it was OZ who took the brunt of the battle, killing off their respective leaders: Quinze and Treize, thus ending this group permanently. With lack of firepower, the Titans became the undisputed army for the Earth Federation.
Professor Gou had also disappeared for reasons unknown, leaving his wife and close friends to finish the Voltes project. Amuro Ray, one of the pilots that ensured the Federation's victory of the One Year War was hidden away and kept under house arrest by the government, fearing the manifestation of his powers. DOME the house of the GX Satellite System, was abandoned during the war and became inaccessible to outsiders. The appearance of the Zonderians, living robots bent on the supremacy of Earth, that were eventually defeated by the 3G. However one of their youngest members left the Earth, and was never heard again ever since.
The declaration of Neo-Zeon, led by nine-year-old Minerva Zabi, the separatists who wished to establish their own independence seven years ago. The robot threats by the diabolical Dr. Hell and his dedicated assistant Baron Ashura was still at large, as well as reports of an erratic pattern found in space/time continuum found in Pluto's orbit from the Excellion's expedition team. To make things worse, another Spacenoid extremists called ZAFT recently emerged, angered by Earth's apparent involvement with the 30th Bunch Incident, and the Balms had also made known its intention of conquering the Earth for their race.
And from these troubled times, our tale begins…
The Echoes From the One Year War
One of the most fascinating things that an individual must witness would probably be the creation of the universe itself. The evolution of life: the never-ending cycle of life and death, war and peace. To witness an Armageddon, destroying everything it had created, only to start anew.
To start anew…
The recent battles of the other part of the galaxy had somehow managed to draw its attention to it. Although it had been somewhat entertaining while it lasted, it could see where all of this will finally lead into…the signs are manifesting themselves, and it would have been interesting what they would do from here.
To annihilation? Evolution? We have given the signs…
Signs… but it had always been a choice between these two: a decision that would determine the future of a future. But what if there had been a third option? Immediately it removed that absurd notion from its mind, wondering why that thought occurred to it…
There was never a third option.
-----
The situation had difinitely gotten worse… after two and a half days, the battle between the Federation and Jovian Lizards was still waging violently in Martian space, and Akito Tenkawa found himself distributing oranges. Trying his best not to wince as the ground jarred beneath his feet, he was trying his best to calm the rest of the group huddled nearby, some were neighbors of his, in the Mars Colony shelter. Assuring that they are away from immediate harm and that the Earth Federation was doing it's best to protect them. An invert reciprocal to what he really felt otherwise.
"Doctor! We've got more wounded here!" One of the nurses called above the dim as the shelter rocked violently from another impact by a stray missile. Pieces of plaster was raining on the terrified civilians, and Akito overheard from the soldiers stationed in the shelter with them that their allies were hard pressed against the invaders above. He didn't know what invaders they were talking about, but for some reason he felt a sense of dread from the bottom of his stomach. If the enemy had somehow found their way here…
"Akito, I'm scared." A small voice whimpered, distracting Akito's line of morbid thought, and forced himself to crack a smile at his companion. A little girl whom he had recently befriended, Ai, he remembered, when he had given her and her mother the rations for the day this morning.
Akito tussled her hair, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." He promised in the most sincere voice he could manage. It did manage to make Ai cheerful and began to talk to him about what she was planning to do after the attack: specifically she won't fight with Sara again, a neighbor of hers who was taken refuge in a separate shelter, and eat everything the vegetables that were served on her plate: her mother always reprimanded her for not doing so… Akito could only look at the girl fondly as she bantered on, the little sister he never had.
The girl never got to finish her promises. The walls a few feet away from them burst open, and through the thick dust and haze, Akito saw that his private fears are realized when he saw the artificial lights from mechanical eyes and insectlike chatter.
The aliens had broken through, and descending unto the last refuge of the helpless civilians.
Ai's terrified mother took the child away from him with a single yank, as she and the other civilians fled towards the shelter's locked entrance. The few armed soldiers guarded the hallway, emptying the useless rifles against the two yellow bug-like robots. In an impulse that he never understood, Akito ran to the nearest vehicle he could find… which happened to be a forklift. He placed his hand on the control unit that recognizes the pilot nanomachines in his body, and hoped that his plan will push through.
The forklift's engines thrummed silently, giving indication that it was in perfect condition, as Akito stepped his foot onto a pedal and rammed at the nearest robot into the wall.
"Way to go Akito!" Ai's voice managed to call out despite the screaming and the shooting from the mob. Akito still hadn't let go of the pedal, forcing the robot into the wall, praying that the soldiers to hurry up and open the door for them to escape.
"THERE!" One of the technicians who were forced to open the entrance manually cried out in elation as he swung its titanium-enforced doors open…
Only to see a crowd of robot bugs lying in wait for them.
The light was upon them before the people had the chance to scream…
All that Akito could remember from thereon was a brief flash of light and a terrible noise. In shock, he looked at the spot where Ai and everyone else were standing a moment ago… only to see a blackened hallway with a heavy smell of ozone in the air. Not a single body was in sight… with the alien robots pouring in from the opened doorway…
He found himself screaming. Screaming towards the robots that were coming towards him in huge numbers, at the Federation for allowing this tragedy to happen, at himself for failing to protect Ai as he promised.
Interesting enough, two things registered in his brain before he mercifully lost consciousness: Ai's smile, and another little girl he met a long time ago but had almost forgotten. Yurika…
And then there was nothing.
-----
"Terrible." Commander Oka said in disgust as he flung the reports that he had recently obtained from that disastrous attack in Mars Colony. Oka was once the chief officer of the Federation's Earth Defense Force after his predecessor, the distinguished Admiral Revill, who had been killed during the One Year War. But ever since Basque Ohm and the Titan's rise of power despite his efforts and against his wishes, he had shocked his colleagues by promptly resigning from his position, becoming the head of defenses for the civilian military of the United Nations instead. The official Federation army, now comandeered by Admiral Sutherland, were busy against their standoff with their many enemies, and so the concerned relatives from the Mars colony submitted an appeal to Oka, hoping that his influence can convince the Federation to form a rescue party. "And the civilians?"
"They are beyond human help. If any survived at all, that is." One of his aides replied, wincing. This fiasco had been a terrible blot in the Federation's military history. It would probably won't even blow over for a decade, suffice to say that . "The ships that were used to ram the Chulip crashed into the Colony with it. Not even the underground shelters could possibly withstand that impact."
"We can't be certain of that. I intend to send help as soon as we're able."
"But with the Neo-Zeon and ZAFT stirring up trouble out there in space, we can't afford to send any team even if we wanted to." Admiral Hayase said, rubbing his brow tiredly. He already had third cup of coffee ever since this meeting started and he still felt tired. All these restless nights was finally catching up with him, coupled with his anxiety about his daughter's disappearance along with the newly constructed SDF-1 Macross five months ago under a mysterious circumstance, when their recently developed fold engine did not go exactly as they had predicted. Oka symphatized: he too, had his only daughter signed up in the service, to maintain their family tradition of being active members in the military. Scientists speculated that if the Macross had not torn itself into shreds during the jump, it could have ended in the other side of the galaxy.
Or perhaps, they were already dead…"We could send the Titans…"
"No." Oka said tightly, giving a hard look at Hayase not to voice that suggestion again. He never did like that group ever since the Bunch 30 Incident. They'd probably end up killing the survivors than helping them, those bastards. The Titans, and some of their Federation supporters, had claimed that it was simply a fabricated rumor by Neo-Zeon to sow distrust among them. But unlike the others, Oka wasn't ignorant or naïve enough to know what kind of person Basque Ohm was from the One Year War. He knew what he was capable of… "But we also can't just leave them there. Frankly, I'd need some fresh ideas on this," Oka began to say when another person coughed politely. Making the other people in the meeting table swirl their chairs and stare at the one who caused the noise.
It was Admiral Koichirou Misumaru. One of the most eccentric, but also dedicated, officers recently promoted into the Federation ranks in the naval division, now serving as their representative to them. A lot of Oka's colleagues had argued about his history of unconventional ideas as well as just being plain weird, but the commander had seen Misumaru's record and knew that the Federation was struck by its unusual streak of intelligence for once. They really need the help they could get, and can't afford to be picky. Oka noticed that Miramasu's aide seemed to be doing something in his calculator. He also noticed that the aide was not wearing a Federation uniform. A civilian? "Who is that?" he asked him.
"Er. Forgive me for interrupting, good sirs. I'm afraid I may need to introduce myself. I am Nergal's representative, you may simply refer to me as the Prospector."
"Nergal?" Hayes said with lifted eyebrows, as he stared hard at Miramasu. "You do realize that we are not the official body of the Federation army?"
"I know. It's because of that we came to you first. I do believe that we had the answer to help the people of Mars." Misumaru replied calmly, looking at Hayase straight in the eye. "And Nergal is here to ask your support."
"This is unheard of!"
"I agree with the Admiral Hayase." Oka said, but unlike Hayase, he seemed to understand where all of this was leading to. And if his hunch was right, they might be able to help Mars after all. "But the UN wishes to oversee the Mars Colony as well. Something that I cannot simply ignore. Currently we are suffering from lack of manpower… something that will be soon fixed in the future… and can't create a rescue team in time. If you wish to do so with us, we would like to hear more what you're planning to do."
"I understand." Prospector said, smiling. "Thank you, Commander. I will make my words count."
"System check is AOK," Erin Shore muttered to herself as she finished her shuttle diagnostic procedure that she was required to do every two hours since space borne. In the back of her mind, she was puzzled why her superiors had been very specific that this shipment should reach Anaheim as soon as possible, but making her do the usual route as a normal shuttle carrier. With no assistants or guards to boot. She thought sarcastically, as the Lieutenant said that her flawless record in flight was sufficient enough to do this rather dangerous mission. Must be a new MS program the Mao Industries want to incorporate in their war machines?
"Roger that," Samantha Kaye, her partner in the shuttle, replied. "Plenty of time to get some shuteye without any problems, huh?" And Erin did just that, as Sam left her. Sleeping… it had been awhile…
Erin vaguely recalled from the back of her head that today was a Wednesday. For a moment, she could almost imagine that Jed, Grandmother and herself would usually spend a Wednesday afternoon cooking dinner and watching in front of the television afterwards. Back then, their Grandmother was a very strong woman…
But the image seemed blurry, and Erin tried to focus on their faces…
"Hey, Erin, Earth to Erin." Samantha Kaye's voice drifted in, snapping Erin's attention back to the present.
"What?" Erin snapped, one half of her mind was annoyed at the herself for being so unprofessional while the other half was annoyed at Sam for disrupting her reverie: she was beginning to forget what Grandmother and Jed looked like… it had been two years since she last seen them. But with the Titans pulling the strings in outer space, sending even a simple "hello" letter was more of a privilege than anything else. Fortunately, a few days ago she managed to get a telegram from Jed telling her that he and grandmother were fine and safe, and it eased her mind somewhat.
"It's your turn to check out the container." Sam said with a skeptical look, almost surprised that Erin even asked such a question.
"What're you talking about? My next shift should be…" Erin looked at her wristwatch, she almost felt her eyes bulging out. "Five minutes ago!"
"You've been asleep for three hours." Sam explained patiently as if being late for work shifts was the most natural thing in the world. Oddly enough, Sam always managed to stay calm and unperturbed enough in their most trying of circumstances: even the time when they had their quarters flooded a month ago because the Engineers fouled up the waterworks system.
While Erin was dark-haired with shoulder-length hair and with green mischievous eyes. Samantha was blonde with luxurious tresses reaching her waist and her blue eyes were very serene and professional. Plus the fact that she was actually 2 years younger than her. Sam was so pretty Erin felt like a plain person in comparison. At first, Erin didn't like her at all, concluding that she was rather snotty and stuck-up, who always whine. Her first month working with her in shipping, however, drastically changed her viewpoint.
Erin had always suspected that her friend was into Prozac (or possibly something stronger) whenever something like this happened, but can't find the evidence to back it up with. Despite her naiveté, Sam was actually a very efficient worker, and a very good friend. It also seemed that their personalities had somehow balanced each other out or simply because Erin's superior had a very sick sense of irony. Nevertheless, they did a fine performance together, and Erin was actually looking forward to work with Sam in the future. In fact, she almost shared a familial bond with her, as both were forced to work separated from family and missing them extensively over time. They both had a common demon to fight against.
"I'm planning to visit my family in Side 8 once we get our paychecks." Sam was saying, Erin could hear the pride in her friend's voice. "My little brother's nearing graduation soon. I think you should also use your leave privileges every now and then, Erin. That way, you could see my family."
"No thanks." Erin replied, grabbing the clipboard that was hanging at the wall near the door. "I can't afford to waste my time in vacation when I can get more money here."
"Aaaaah. You rather have a strict sense of priorities, you know." Sam said matter-of-factly. The fact that Sam didn't use her petulant tone whenever she was upset or strongly disagreed on something ensured the older girl that her friend was only stating the obvious. "But life is short, you know. With recent space protocol trouble from the Colonies, I won't be surprised that we'd somehow get involve with the war brewing up."
"Yeah, so?"
"So? Don't you care if it's as bad as seven years ago?"
"I believe the power of technology would make it at least civil." Erin said patiently, "and secondly, why should we be involved in a war? We deliver mecha parts, not enlisted soldiers. If the situation does head towards a war, it's not really any of our business. It's the Federation's job, so let them handle it, alright?"
"I wish that you should be more concious sometimes…" Sam looked wistful, even thoughtful. "It's not a good thing to be just a spectator and ignore everything."
"What do you mean?" Erin asked, wondering if she should be offended. She was a bit perturbed that Sam would be talking like this for no apparent reason, except if she wants to start an argument.
"I think you should do what you should be doing."
Erin tossed at Sam an annoyed look, then mentally shrugged and did as her friend suggested. In some cases, she had learn to trust her, and was sure that Sam will tell what was bothering her in time.
"Ara?" Sam looked over her instruments as soon as her friend left the room. "There's a lot of Minovsky concentration in this area…" a silent warning came to her and wondered if they were caught. She hoped not, not when they were so close.
-----
Erin began her checking routine when the shuttle shook violently, completely knocking her off her feet and having a difficulty maintaining her balance in zero gravity. That didn't felt like a small rock hitting their hull accidentally…"Sam! What's going on!" She shouted at the nearby radio…
Then felt her blood chilled when a harsh male voice replied "This is the Titans. Unidentified shuttle, cease your engines or we will shoot."
Unidentified? Can't they see they see that they're a convoy working for Mao Industries? Erin then realized that her personal radio was flashing angrily. She quickly responded. "Sam! What's going on!"
"The Titans found out. You have to use the Personal Trooper and escape!"
This snapped out of her daze "What are you talking about? We don't have a working Personal Trooper." Erin said, thinking that she must have been trapped in an episode from those ancient Twilight Zone series Jed watches.
"Please hurry! That unit must NOT fall to enemy forces." Sam said, ignoring the question. "I'll try to stall them."
"Damn it, Sam!" Erin tried again, "We carry parts for a Personal Trooper, how the hell am I---?" she stopped when the box that was supposedly containing the said parts opened up, when the shuttle shook violent again, revealing a black mecha kneeling inside the container. Omigod, we DO have a Trooper... she was surprised to see it certainly didn't look as any of the past Hyukebeins… it took her a moment before she realized that it was the mk. 4 the people in Mao industries were talking about, as she saw some crude drafts of the said new prototype months ago. She certainly never even heard of its actual completion.
Director Mao must be insane. What on Earth are we doing around carrying this? Another violent shake reminded her that she didn't have the luxury of thinking this over. "Shit."
Erin had experiences running Mobile Suits before, but not the Mao issued Personal Troopers. But as the shuttle rocked violently again, she realized that she simply can't stand here and let the Titans bully them. She watched as the huge metal box began to open itself and knew that Sam had already initiated the sequence from the bridge. This was not really the time to argue on who would pilot this thing…
By the time headed for the Trooper's cockpit. She could sense the shuttle trying to fight the aggressors back, it seems that Sam shared the same sentiment.
PTs were dangerous suits, but Erin figured she can handle it, the way she usually handle things in her life, as she tried to fight back a wave of panic that was threatening over her as the cockpit door closed and found herself in literal darkness. Almost immediately, the cockpit was alighted with beacons and screens. Whatever this is, it is NOT a standard Personal Trooper cockpit.
Mao Industry PTX-0093… Hyukebein mk 4… a female computer voice penetrated into the gloom. Please stand by for pilot identification procedure… Erin held her breath as a strange green glow filled the cockpit, as if the mecha was trying to determine if this person was even allowed to be in here. Suddenly the lights began to flash erratically, and the message was flashing angrily in front of her.
Passenger is not designated pilot of this unit…Initiating system lock out… unidentified passenger detected…
Great! Erin swore, trying to find a way to get out of this mess. Sure enough, the cockpit's hatch was closed firmly, ensuring that the intruder will not enter, or leave, this makeshift prison.
"PTX-0093, identification Samantha Kaye of Mao Industry. Clearance number 589-645372BXZ." Sam's weak but calm voice from Erin's radio relayed to the adamant computer.
Acknowledge. The computer voice said. Clearance granted to unidentified passenger.
"Sam?" Erin asked, she didn't like the way Sam talked, almost as if…
"I'm hit." Sam replied. "But nothing serious. They managed to knock out the shuttle's door system though. You have to blast your way out of here."
"Hang in there, Sam. I'll make these jerks stop."
"I'm counting on it."
Erin willed the Hyukebein to aim its Photon rifle at the titanium barrier. To her surprise, the mecha followed her instructions instantaneously, almost as if it was a part of her own physical body. The mecha's metallic fingers clicked the trigger, and immediately the doors burst open. The Hyukebein then raised its thrusters, and Erin found herself out in space in a new, untested Hyukebein unit, defending a crippled shuttle against a group of Marasai units on her own.
What a way to go…
-----
Earth. In the Kanagawa Perfecture of Japan. Four days ago…
Dear Erin. How are you? Grandma and I are doing fine. We miss you, take care. Jed almost sighed out loud. He wanted to say more to the telegram, but he was limited to use only four sentences. Unfortunately, this was one of the few mediums that ensured the message will be reached to the other party without exploitation of any kind. Even though his sister never bothered to send him anything, it doesn't mean he can't do the same. After all, it was she who was all alone working like heck out there in outer space, at least on Earth he was home with their family.
Jedis… but much preferred his Jed pet name and always wondered why his parents gave him such a strange moniker… was four minutes younger than his sister. But people almost always mistook him to be older twin, especially when he was three inches taller than Erin when the growth spurt kicked in at puberty. He, like his sister, inherited "their mother's face," their father would always say. He also had black hair, with rather long bangs framing his face. But his eyes were blue, just like his father's. While Erin retained the green eyes from their mother.
A lot of his friends commented that he was much friendlier than Erin, in which he'd half-jokingly whisper not to let her know that. At most, he was considered to be good-natured and a bit in the immature side. Considering the hobbies of his include watching anime and old TV series, much to his sister's disapproval. However, he was rather studious (and mostly because he was dragged by Erin from the ear), and actually aspired to become a mechanical engineer. The twins did apply for college entrance a few years ago as they intended. However most of their funds ended up for their Grandmother's medication, and before they knew it, any procedure of using their money for college had all but disappeared. Jed eventually gave up the whole plan. But around that time, Erin decided to work for Mao Industries. Since it had been her idea, she wanted Jed to stay on Earth and keep an eye to their grandmother.
Before Erin left for work two years ago, they were both barely 16, he was rather vehement against her decision. Erin did agree that it felt like a re-enactment when their father left them a long time ago. But she told him that unlike that man, she won't abandon her responsibility. Jed once thought it disturbing for Erin to refer their father as "that man". But even he shared the same notion, though only not as verbal as she did…He did not recall much about their father, so he did not understand why his sister was harboring a great anger towards him.
After sending the telegram on its way to Erin, Jed decided to do himself a favor and eat something from a fast-food restaurant. This morning, Grandma's joints was aching so much that she was forced to stay in her bed with the insistence of both the doctor and himself. Jed volunteered to make breakfast, and much to his surprise and horror he later found out that he was a very terrible cook. It was fortunate that a friendly elderly neighbor passed by to give them soup that time, and Jed was glad he didn't have to subject their beloved grandmother with food poisoning. Erin wouldn't stand up to it.
Weird things seemed to follow him wherever he goes ever since breakfast, Jed figured, especially when there was this kid around his age following him around ever since he left the local train he rode in and towards the fast-food he was heading. Normally, Jed wouldn't have to be alarmed by this as he wasn't that pretentious, and actually convinced himself that they were just heading for the same location: except that other person was following him with a newspaper covering his face, a noticeable hole was on the front page of an Iraqi local newspaper which was dated two weeks ago, the sort of medium that wasn't usually sold, and found, in Japan. He could have at least put a STALKER neon sign on top of his head to make him less conspicuous, Jed thought sarcastically. He was thinking of a way to lose his insistent tail when the ground began to shake. What's this, an earthquake?
But then again air raids were rather frequent, especially in the Kanagawa Perfecture where anti-air weapons were less than desirable…
He was so absorbed in this line of thought and was actually considering seeking a nearby shelter that he completely forgotten about his tail… until that same tail pounced on him. Surprised and angry at this attack, Jed delivered a kick against his assailant's leg, hoping to cripple him somewhat.
"Don't worry, sir. Everything is under control." The young man said calmly, as if that kick had no effect at all. But Jed was too stunned to reply, seeing that a pile of rubble from an eight-story building was piling up slowly on where he used to stand a few moments ago. A rock would have been enough to crush his skull… and then a loud explosion boomed in the air, confirming his suspicion that the city was under attack
"I'm not sir." Jed said rather wittily, if it hadn't been such a dangerous situation. He turned at his rescuer. "Who are you, anyway?" he asked, his ears were still ringing.
To his surprise, the boy immediately stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, feet firmly apart and then said in a prompt, crisp manner "Sergeant Sousuke Sagara, SIR!"
"Huh?" Jed sweatdroped, with the people shouting and running around him, and this stranger in complete attention, as if he was in the middle of a military training instead in ground zero, was disconcerting, to say the least. "Oh…kay, Sagara right? Listen, we have to head for a shelter before Dr. Hell's giant robots would…" he broke off, a bit surprised, how the hell did he know that the giant robots were destroying the city? He then saw Sagara touching something on his ear, and he realized that he was being contact by someone.
"Sir, the Captain has told me that I must be brief. Mithril needs your help and expertise once more."
"MITHRIL? 'Once more'?" Jed started to move slowly away from him, genuinely shocked. "What are you talking about? I'm just a high school student." Another loud explosion jarred everyone and everything on the surface, even in the confusion he was feeling now. On the other hand, the name Sagara does ring a bell. And then…
Erin was fighting against someone… something very far away… and Grandmother was lying on the floor of their house… with rubble… their Grandmother!
"I have to get home!" Jed cried, looking at the confused Sagara. "This attack is a ruse! Dr. Hell's real goal is at the rural area!" As these words come out, he wondered if the stress was finally catching up with him. He was starting to sound like a madman.
But Sagara seemed to take his word seriously. As he and Jed took shelter from raining debris by running to the nearest bus stop, he was contacting someone with a hand-held radio. A few minutes later, he turned his attention back to him. "Sir, we are to head out to the abandoned construction building. The Captain will send our units through an empty missile."
"Uh." Jed said, taken aback. But then again, the image of his Grandmother in his mind was so vivid that he knew he surely can't reach her by train, especially when a stray missile recently reduced it into pieces. "Sure. Go ahead and I'll follow."
Sagara nodded, as if he was just ordered by his superior officer. As they headed out from their hiding place into the chaotic battlefield he said out loud. "It's good to be working with you again, sir. Just like old times."
"Old times." Jed muttered under his breath as another explosion threatened to make him deaf. After this mess is over with, I'll have to get some well-deserved answers…
As Sagara and Jed slowly made their way for the appointed rendezvous in rubble that had once been a busy street, they unfortunately did not get to see the rest of the action.
-----
Baron Ashura could only gloat at the chaos that their giant mechanical robots had caused as they were set loose at the city. For the sake of Dr. Hell's new order, these weak pathetic humans must die. He/she was enjoying the Karada G-7's huge boomerangs slicing the once proud buildings into ribbons when one of his/her subordinates called out. "Two flying objects heading to our direction!"
"Finally! I was thinking when these annoying pests will show up!" Even though Dr. Hell wanted him/her to provide a distraction, he/she was very eager to use the new prototype robots that his/her superior had recently created. The one that hadn't been unleashed to the world… that could shift the balance of power to their advantage.
"THUNDER BREAK!" Tetsuya Tsurugi's booming voice called out as sparks of lightning danced from the darkening clouds in the sky before channeling its energy on the Great Mazinger's finger. Aiming at the group of Kyouryuu robots that was wandering too near to one of the city's shelters, they were instantly incinerated by the lightning attack.
Meanwhile his robot companion, Mazinger Z controlled by Kouji Kabuto, had managed to pin a Daburas M2 that attempted to make a sneak attack against the Great Mazinger while he was busy with his attack by his Rocket Punch. As Great Mazinger looked over his shoulder as the offending robot was destroyed a moment later.
"Thanks, Kabuto."
"No problem, Tetsuya," came Kouji's cheerful reply. He really enjoyed fighting Dr. Hell's monsters with his sempai. "Now we have to boot Baron Ashura out for harassing the city."
"I'm with you." Tetsuya said grimly, looking at the oversized flying fortress looming at the skylight. For some reason, Tetsuya had a sense of foreboding with this battle. But he much preferred facing opposition in the present than spending his concentration worrying for unnamed fears.
"Hey, you two! Wait up!" Sayaka in her Aphrodite A called out as she and Bossborot finally caught up to their flying counterparts. "Don't start a fight without us!"
"That's right!" Boss cried out in self-righteous fury, while his robot was hitting its chest with a metal fist. "They would have to face the wrath of the Bossborot!"
"That's good to hear." Tetsuya replied. "Watch yourselves. Here they come!" the Mazinger team braced themselves when a flock of mechasaurus flew towards their direction, fireballs spewing from their beaks.
Little did they know that from that very moment, the gears of a larger extent were moving against them.
Even in the edge of extinction…
The battle between the living never ends…
The will of survival? Perhaps. But still it wages on, even if their only reward in return is death
And to nothingness…