MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE SECOND CENTURY (PART 1: PRELUDE 0099)

EPISODE 1: ATHENA

U.C. 0089….

Space Colony Side 3, the birthplace of Contolism and seat of government of the Archduchy of Zeon, is occupied by Earth Federation Forces mobile suits that have landed to seek out any hidden survivors of the Axis/Neo Zeon leadership. Regent Haman Karn is already dead, and the remaining Neo Zeon forces have congregated for a last stand around Zum Palace, royal residence for the Suzerain of Zeon.

The palace is already in shambles, its superstructure riddled by cannon fire. Inside, many Zeon military officers, civil officials, and domestic servants are scrambling to cover or trying to escape. Many more lie dead on the palace floor.

In the royal court, the remaining leaders of the Neo Zeon military have gathered: General Carloman Miguel, General Omar Damascus, General Adrian Reglas, General Lara Constantinas. The military leaders gather around a tiny figure: ten year old Princess Minerva Zabi, daughter of Prince Dozle Zabi and final surviving heir of the Zabi Royal Family that rules the Archduchy of Zeon. Also with them is Dory, the princess' nanny.

"Your majesty," General Miguel informs Minerva, "our space fleet has been defeated and the civil defense divisions of our space colonies are being overrun. We must evacuate."

Sadly, soberly, the young monarch replies to her loyal general, "This is the second time our nation's finest have been defeated by its enemies. Our people are Newtypes, the chosen people of humanity's future. Why can our people not triumph against the Earth-dwellers whose souls are bound by gravity?"

A moment of somber silence ensues. Resolved to spare her people the ravages of prolonged war, Princess Minerva turns to the military leaders under her command, "Issue the following declaration to all commanders of the Earth Federation Forces and AEUG immediately: Princess Minerva Zabi of the Archduchy of Zeon requests an immediate cessation of all hostilities. The House of Zabi is prepared to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the current conflict with the people of Earth and the spacenoids of AEUG."

General Damascus, a large, violent man, growls in protest, "Your highness, I beg you to reconsider! We must not surrender to those Earthbound tyrants! We must remain true to the cause of Zeon to the very end!"

Princess Minerva whirls angrily on General Damascus, "I am the leader of my people, General Damascus, and I have a responsibility to preserve their lives and welfare. Our military is broken. If we continue hostilities, more of my people will die!"

General Miguel, a calmer and more levelheaded man than his comrade Damascus, speaks out, "You heard her highness' command. Obey immediately, or face royal court martial!"

Angrily, Damascus salutes and departs to carry out his orders. The remaining Zeon officers other than General Miguel scramble to execute the princess' orders as well.

Dory turns to Princess Minerva, "Your highness, you're certain that you've made the correct decision?"

The princess looks at Dory sadly, "Even you're questioning me now?"

Dory reddens, "My apologies, your highness. I wouldn't dare."

Princess Minerva looks sadly upon her loyal domestic, "For all of our sakes, I pray that I've chosen wisely."

Suddenly, the ground begins to shake and the walls of the palace begin to crumble. The entire roof of the palace is then lifted off by an AEUG mobile suit. The piece of falling debris knocks Dory unconscious.

The dust settles to reveal a crimson RMS-099 Rick Dias mobile suit towering over the ruins of the royal court. The cockpit of mecha opens, and an AEUG officer in a crimson normalsuit leaps out.

Princess Minerva looks up from the ground, where General Miguel has shielded the princess with his body (Miguel is unhurt). Minerva's eyes light up in recognition and disbelief, "Colonel Char!"

Indeed, the officer who emerged from the Rick Dias mobile suit is none other than the infamous Colonel Char Aznable, the "Red Comet" of the Zeon forces during the One Year War of U.C. 0079. Later taking the identity of Captain Quattro Bageena of AEUG, Char has been missing in action and presumed dead for the past year following the final battle of the Gryps Conflict.

General Miguel recognizes Char as well, "Char Aznable," Miguel snarls, "Traitor! You were supposed to be dead! What is your purpose for coming here now?"

Char does not answer Miguel. Instead, with one quick maneuver, Char moves past Miguel and scoops up little Princess Minerva into his arms.

Miguel points his sidearm at Char, but will not fire as long as Char holds Princess Minerva. Royal guards finally make their way into the collapsed throne room, but it is too late. Char has already boarded the Rick Dias with Minerva and blasted away from the ruins of the palace.

A few remaining Zeon civil defense MS-14 Gelgoog and MS-09R Rick Dom mobile suits pursue Char's Rick Dias, but Miguel knows that they will never capture the Red Comet.

U.C. 0097

Eight years have passed since the final sighting of Princess Minerva Zabi of the Archduchy of Zeon.

Today is graduation day at the Earth Federation Forces military academy. Of the thousands of young men and women who enlisted in the academy for three years of intense, grueling physical and mental training, three hundred are gathered in front of Reville Hall today to receive their commissions as officers in the Earth Federation Forces.

General Bright Noah, the Federation's most decorated war hero of the past two decades, who was captain of the White Base during the One Year War, the Ahrgama during the Gryps Conflict and the First Neo Zeon War, and the leader of the Lond Bell Task Force during the Second Neo Zeon War , is issuing the graduates their commission diplomas and extending his congratulations.

After General Noah shakes hands with a 2Lt. Rory Hutchinson and a 2Lt. Lana Mugali, the highest ranking officer in the Earth Federation Forces summons another graduate, 2Lt. Athena Ibaz.

2Lt. Athena Ibaz, aged eighteen, is an exceptionally attractive young woman. With reddish blonde hair, long legs, and a regal, dignified bearing that belies her youth, 2Lt. Ibaz's appearance to accept her commission from General Noah draws a chorus of cheers from her fellow graduates and seniors officers. Athena is graduating at the top of her class – of every class in the history of the Federation's military academy! She has excelled in all phases of the academy's officer training program, and promises to be an exceptional officer for the Earth Federation Forces. Moreover, Athena is at the top of the list of twenty-six exceptional graduates who have earned positions into the Federal Forces' newly organized elite Special Operations Force. Athena has been assigned to the Centurion Team, under the command of One Year War veteran Captain Rick Tinne.

Later that evening, a lavish grand ball is held within Reville Hall to celebrate the achievements of the graduates and the launching of the Special Operations Forces. Athena, resplendent in her Federation officer's dress uniform, is approached by Colonel Peter Cairlay, a tall, thin, and somewhat sinister-looking man who is the Director of the Special Operations Force.

Col. Cairlay and Athena exchange a few pleasantries about how they look forward to working together. Suddenly, an aide approaches Col. Cairlay and whispers something into the colonel's ear. Cairlay's face pales in horror, and he quickly excuses himself from Athena's company and rushes towards General Noah's office. Athena looks at the departing Cairlay in a disturbed manner; something serious had obviously come up.

There is a knock on the door of General Noah's office. Col. Cairlay salutes and enters. The colonel finds General Noah sitting at his desk, rubbing his beard nervously. Cairlay can tell from the look on the general's face that the situation is extraordinarily grim.

"Sir?" ventures Cairlay after a moment of tense silence.

General Noah's gaze is withering in its intensity as he finally addresses the colonel, "Colonel Cairlay, approximately one hour ago, a task force of five unfriendly mobile suits raided the Anaheim Weapons Development Plant near Anman City and captured the Project G-100."

Cairlay responds with a deep sigh, "Any leads, sir?"

General Noah nods grimly, "One of our GM pilots managed to shoot down one of the enemy mobile suits: it was an AMS-119 Geara Doga. Intelligence personnel have confirmed that the pilot of the mecha was an agent of the Independent Spacenoid Republic Liberation Army."

Colonel Cairlay considers the information the general has revealed to him. The Independent Spacenoid Republic is an underground society of self-proclaimed freedom fighters whose objective is the restoration of the long obsolete Zeon Republic of Side 3. the I.S.R. was founded in U.C. 0094, the year after Char Aznable's failed attempt to create nuclear winter on Earth by dropping Axis Fortress on the planet, by Artasia Som Daikun.

Artasia Som Daikun, aged thirty-five, is the daughter of the late spacenoid pioneer and visionary Zeon Zum Daikun, founder and first Prime Minister of the Zeon Republic. Artasia's brother Casval Rem Daikun was the man who later became known as Char Aznable. During the One Year War, Artasia, under the name of Sayla Mass, actually served under then 1Lt. Bright Noah aboard the White Base. Sayla distinguished herself as a skilled and brave fighter and mobile suit pilot for the Federation, at times serving as substitute pilot in lieu of the famous Federation war hero Amuro Ray as the pilot of the original RX-78 Gundam. Sayla retired from the Federation military after the conclusion of the war, and after a rocky and ultimately failed relationship with Amuro Ray, she had completed her medical studies and spent the intervening years as one of the world's finest physicians. Sayla reclaimed her birth name of Artasia Daikun after the apparent deaths of both her brother Char and her onetime lover Amuro at the end of the Second Neo Zeon War in U.C. 0093. Sickened by decades of war seemingly without end, Artasia organized the I.S.R. in a bid to free the space colonies once and for all.

The I.S.R. rejects the violent imperialism of the Zabi Family's Archduchy of Zeon, but is committed to the liberation of Side 3 and all space colonies whose people desire to be free of the Earth Federation Government's hegemony. The Federation regards the I.S.R.L.A. as terrorists.

General Noah tells Colonel Cairlay, "Colonel, I believe we should summon the services of the Special Operations Forces."

Tactical Information Center, Green Noah Base: the 26 commanding officers of the Special Operations Forces team (A-Z) meet with Colonel Cairlay and General Manron Blackhead (Commander of Federal Space Forces) to discuss the current crisis.

General Blackhead opens the conference by asking the officers, "Ladies and gentleman, how much does each of you know about the Project G-100?"

Captain Donna Rever, leader of Tycho Team, answers, "Sir, we are all aware that the Project G-100 refers to a new Gundam mobile suit prototype that Anaheim Weapons R&D has been developing for the past five years…but no one outside of Federal High Command's inner circle knows any details about the project."

General Blackhead nods, "Yes. Project G-100 was initiated at the same time that the idea of creating the Special Operations Forces was proposed. It was to be the testbed for a new generation series of Gundam mobile suits suited for extraordinary operations the Special Forces would need to perform. The prototype G-100 was stolen, last night, ladies and gentlemen, by ISRLA terrorists."

There is a collective gasp among the Special Forces officers. The loss of the Project G-100 represents a grave security breach that could threaten the security of Earth and the Federation's space colonies. The Federal Forces' newest and most powerful WMD is in the hands of terrorists.

Captain Koichi Sato, the leader of Victory Team, speaks next, "Sir, we're prepared to retrieve the prototype."

Colonel Cairlay gestures for silence, and stares hard at the officers as he says, "People, you understand, or at least should understand, this situation as well as I do. If a large number of spacenoid civilians are killed, injured, or suffer property loss in a Federal Forces military operation against the ISRLA, anti-Federation sentiment will intensify throughout the colonies. It's already well known that the ISRLA has accumulated such overwhelming support at Side 3 that both the Federal Deliberative Assembly and the Federal High Command are considering it politically advisable to withdraw the occupation forces we've stationed there since 0089. Current intelligence indicates that ISRLA activities have spread to Side 5, Side 6, and Anman City. Blatant use of Federal military force against spacenoid civilians might galvanize all Cislunar colonies into rebellion against the Earth Federation Government. The last thing we need is another goddamn civil war with our own space colonies."

Captain Vladmir Arkov of Mercury Team asks, "Then what are our orders, sir?"

Cairlay lights a cigar, and blows out a ring of smoke before replying, "Captain Tinne?"

Captain Rick Tinne rises to his feet, "Sir!"

Cairlay fixes his eerie gaze on Tinne, handing him a Datachip, "Captain, this Datachip contains all relevant information that Federal Intelligence has been able to accumulate on Chad Barron, a key man in the ISRLA. If anyone knows anything about the location of the G-100 prototype, it would be him. The Centurion Team's orders are to track down Barron and bring him in for interrogation."

A few hours later, Captain Tinne and Athena are playing billiards in the C-Team's recreation room. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Captain Tinne has been watching Athena play billiards; she has sunk so many consecutive balls into the table's pockets that the captain's cue stick hasn't touched the table yet in an hour.

As Athena sinks yet another ball into a pocket, Captain Tinne inserts the Datachip given to him by Colonel Cairlay into his Datapad, a nearly ubiquitous handheld personal computer device.

Captain Tinne reads aloud the data on the viewscreen for his executive officer's benefit, "Chad Barron. Age 45. Born on Side 3. Earned a doctorate degree from Zum University in Artificial Habitat Facilities Engineering in U.C. 0078. Served as a military specialist in the Army of the Archduchy of Zeon during the One Year War. During the 0080s, served as a military specialist for AEUG. Became Chief Foreman of Side 3's main nuclear fusion plant in 0090, and promoted to Director in 0095. Also became a founding member of ISR with Dr. Artasia Som Daikun and others, and soon worked his way into becoming one of the most important men in the ISRLA."

As Athena nonchalantly chalks her cue stick, she asks, "What's your plan, sir?"

Captain Tinne sighs, "Well, going in guns blazing with mobile suits is definitely out of the question. Making the Federal Forces look like a gang of armored fascist thugs is exactly what the ISR wants."

Athena sinks a red ball into a side pocket and says, "The ISRLA has always had the political upper hand against the Federation because it's successfully capitalized on the Earth government's greatest fear – spacenoid rebellion."

Tinne switches off his miniprocessor and prompts, "Then in response, we should…?"

Athena picks it up, "In response, we should do likewise – exploit the ISRLA's greatest fear against them."

Athena sinks the eight ball in the corner pocket with a dreadful finality.

Twelve hours later, the Centurion Team is at Side 3, Bunch 1: site of Zum City, the former capital of both the Zeon Republic and the Archduchy of Zeon. The once opulent capital city is now in shambles, occupied by a small force of Federal soldiers and MS pilots.

Zum City is now also the nominal "home" of the Independent Spacenoid Republic movement. These spacenoid freedom fighters ("terrorists" from the Federation's perspective) pass themselves off as Zum City's regular citizenry which, in fact, most of them are. The ISRLA launches constant clandestine, guerilla style assaults against the Federal Forces.

Around the ruins of the old Zeon Republic's Parliament Building, an angry crowd of demonstrators numbering into the tens of thousands carry signs and shout slogans such as, "Free Zeon!" "End Earth's Injustice Towards Spacenoids!" "Fight Earthist Oppression!" "Vive Contolism!" etc. Leading this assembly of protestors is the familiar Dr. Artasia Som Daikun, the woman once known as Sayla Mass.

Several kilometers south of the Zeon Parliament Building lies the colony's main nuclear fusion power plant. Chad Barron is the Director of Colony Energy Resources (and secretly, point man for the ISRLA's intelligence personnel). The main nuclear fusion plant for Zum City is not must a colony utilities facility; it is also a gathering place for members of the ISRLA. Here, anti-Federation rebels gather to discuss their plans, all done under the shadow of industrial work that maintains the colony's power supply. Hydrosuits (non combat mobile suits) enter and exit the plant en rout to various maintenance work around the about the colony.

Chad Barron, a thin, sinister looking man with a pencil moustache and greasy hair, is quietly discussing something with several other ISRLA members/ plant maintenance workers. Brownstone, an aide of Barron's, alerts him that Captain Rick Tinne and 2 Lt. Athena Ibaz of the Earth Federation Forces have come with a military warrant to investigate the power plant for suspected ISRLA activity.

Barron pales at the news. He had not anticipated the Federation discovering this secret stronghold, at least not so soon. He tells Brownstone, "Bring them here, but we must make sure they don't leave here alive to compromise us."

Brownstone invites Captain Tinne and Athena to enter the facility's main generator chamber. Barron greets the two Federal Forces officers with false cordiality.

Captain Tinne says gravely, "We're sorry to interrupt your work, Mr. Barron. We understand that supplying a space colony with power is a serious task that requires all of your time and attention, but our business here won't take long. Mr. Barron, thirty-six hours ago, ISRLA terrorists appropriated a piece of vital military property from Anaheim Weapons R&D. Our intelligence personnel indicated that Side 3 was a possible point of egress for the ISRLA, so we would like to…"

Barron cuts him off, "I understand, Captain. Very well, you have permission to search the premises.

Captain Tinne bows to Barron gallantly, "Thank you, sir. Lt. Ibaz?"

The captain and Athena begin an investigation of the grounds of the power plant, attentive for any indication of ISRLA activity. Athena spots a calculator-sized device on a nearby work station and hands it to Tinne.

Captain Tinne examines the device, then shows it to Barron, "Mr. Barron, is it your facility's standard practice to use MS combat data processors as part of its equipment?"

Standing to one side, Athena notices a cargo bay door nearby. Reaching out with her mind, Athena gets a vague impression of what lies beyond the metal door.

Athena makes a decision in that instant. This is my opportunity. Time to act.

Athena subtly approaches Captain Tinne and quietly indicates to him the door that she had spotted. The captain, responding to his junior executive officer's prompting, approaches the door for a closer inspection.

The doors rip open with alarming suddenness! A hydrosuit blasts out and impales Captain Tinne with one of its extended utility arms.

The commanding officer of the Centurion Team confirmed dead, the HS swings around to finish Athena with a swipe of its metallic claw.

With a quick, deft, acrobatic maneuver, Athena leaps clear of the robotic talon, draws her sidearm, and fires a shot into the HS's cockpit canopy, striking its operator between the eyes. Athena swiftly opens the HS's shattered canopy, jettisons the body of its slain operator, and climbs into the cockpit seat.

Athena pulls the throttle of the HS, sending it careening into several ISRLA rebels who appeared with firearms after hearing the noise and commotion. Athena then sets the HS down next to the main fusion generator unit of the colony and puts the mecha's own fusion battery into overdrive.

Brownstone is about to fire a shot from his assault rifle at the HS when Barron knocks the weapon from his hands, "Brownstone, don't! That woman has the HS in overdrive! If you fire at it, it will start a chain reaction explosion that would wipe out this entire colony!"

Horrified, the rebels point their weapons away from the pirated HS.

"Thirty seconds to critical mass," an electronically synthesized voice announces from the HS.

Athena points her sidearm at Barron, "Mr. Barron, I want to know the location of Project G-100 immediately."

Barron stares at the overheating HS in horror. Sweat covers the man's skin, and his throat is as parched as the Sahara in summer, "You heartless bitch! Take that thing off overdrive now! If it explodes, over five million people will die!"

Athena looks at Barron coldly, "The location of the prototype…?"

The synthesized voice of the HS's computer continues its doomsday countdown, "Ten seconds to critical mass. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five…"

Barron's eyes bulge in terror, and he shouts hoarsely, "Ferrario! Ferrario's got it at Industria Colony!"

Athena brings her fist down quickly on the control that cancels the HS's overdrive mode. At that precise moment, armed Centurion Team personnel enter the chamber and begin to disarm the ISRLA rebels.

Pressing the muzzle of her pistol against Barron's forehead, Athena further inquires, "Vincent Ferrario? The high-tech weapons black marketer?"

Barron looks away bitterly, confirming Athena's suspicion.

Athena orders the C-Team to place Barron and his cohorts under arrest.

Athena turns to the gutted, bleeding corpse of Captain Rick Tinne, kneels before it, and solemnly closes the late Centurion Team commander's eyes.

The young members of the C-Team choke back tears. They had hardly gotten to know their commanding officer, and now he is dead.

Master Sergeant Karim Abdul Al-Said turns expectantly towards Athena, "Lieutenant? Ma'am, you're in charge now."

Athena nods grimly, pulls out a handkerchief that she usually lets hang stylishly from the front breast pocket of her uniform jacket, and wipes her hands with it.

Repocketing the handkerchief, Athena tells Sgt. Al-Said, "Bring these rebels back to headquarters for interrogation, sergeant."

The sergeant raises an eyebrow, "Will you be coming with us, ma'am?"

Athena shakes her head, "I'm leaving right away for Industria Colony."

Scarcely fifteen minutes later, Athena dons a Federal Forces' combat pilot normalsuit and boards an FF-X99 Core Fighter. The combat spacecraft blasts towards Industria Colony, its engine thrusters leaving behind a dramatic flash as it disappears into the field of stars.