The Seventeen Moments, Fall 2017

Disclaimer: I don't own GAINAX. In Soviet Russia, GAINAX owns YOU!!

No Angels were harmed during the story.
And yeah, I don't own Sunrise either. Sad but true.

Two men leaned against the trench's wall, dressed up in camouflage clothing and distinct English bonnet-helmets. One of them caressed the stock of his Lee-Enfield, and the other smoked a cigar. Both had the NERV crest painted on their helmets – that half a fig leaf and barely visible writing: "God's in his heaven. All's right with the world".

- Y'still got the radio?
- 'Course I do. - the smoker replied, fixing the radio set on his back. - It'd be better if it'd not got that damn antenna – y'go anywhere with it, the gemmies start firin' at it! And it's bad enough if they had only them rifles – but no, they always need to set up the damn machinegun! Damn...
- Quit bitching.

They sat silent for a moment. The smoker let out a tail of smoke and shook his hair that was hanging from underneath the helmet. Then he lighted the cigar down and regretfully shoved it inside his pocket.

- Hey?
- Yeah?

- How'd we ended up like this?
- Volunteered, that's how.

- And I was tellin' you... We should've got our asses out of the damn place while we could, dammit. But no, you started acting all altruistic and such, draggin' the boy out of the downed plane's way...

- Well that wasn't your average boy, that was the general's son, so yeah.

- And had it helped us even a bit?
- 'Onestly?
- Yeah.
- Not even a bit.
- See now? Hell, we coulda been home now, instead of riskin' our asses here! And for what? To prevent the Third What-was-that-again?

- The Third Impact. And hell, we're fighting for, hm-m... a can of beef, a glass o'whiskey and lieutenant's colors. Am I right?
- What whiskey, for heaven's sake? - the hairy one smiled. - It's Japan, my ass. The serve sake here.
- Oh yeah? Get those flask open, I wanna drink.
- What a bold request.
- Just do it.

The rifleman took the flask appreciatively and drank some.

- Goddammit, it's genuine whiskey!
- We-ell...
- Where'd you got that, ya bastard! Spill it!
- Hey quiet down, the gemmies could hear us... I traded it from lieutenant Aoba, right before we sortied.
- And for what?

He smiled.

- For your handgun.
- WHA-A-AT?!!
- Quiet down!
- To hell with them gemmies! Hell, I'll show those gemmies...

The air hissed.

- Get down, slowpoke! Shells, three o'clock!

The soldiers fell down, covering their heads. The barrage of 8-mm mortar shells rained down right before the trench.
It stopped raining just as sudden as it started.

- Friggin' bastards, friggin' sons of bitches! - the radio man spat out the dirt that got into his mouth. - They spill'd mah whiskey! Mah whiskey that I traded for Lelouch's pistol! Arrgh...
- Shut your trap, you pathetic excuse for a radio man... And yeah, buddy, another trick like that and I'll trade your helmet for a week's worth of canned food, so you'll go die, albeit with a full stomach! Got that?
- Y-yup...
- Good boy. Well. Time for us to go. Where had our wonder-Children got pinned down?
- The pillbox right to the west from the artillery emplacement 2-B...
- Ours?
- Def'nitely not theirs! Damn gemmies have it, like, "all included"...
- They've got all included, and we have the damn lights goin' out every time the tech boys get the MAGI working... Well, let's get crackin'. And keep yer head down, idiot, I don't fancy draggin' you myself...

***

PFC Ikari Shinji raised his head once and then quickly lowered it as bullets hammered against the pillbox's outer wall.

- Well, that's one hell of a mess we got ourselves into... - he muttered.
- What're you muttering there?!
- Nothing, nothing...

The wall of gunfire outside quieted down – either the gemmie gunner ran out of ammo, or he simply got bored... PFC Ikari's stomach grumbled. He once again ajusted his helmet – one that got leaves attached to it.

- Hey girls...
- WHAT is it, you dumbass?!
- Well I'm hungry...
- Scheisse! Can't you think of something other than your damn stomach for a change?!
- Asuka-a... Stop yellin', would you? It's bad enough already...

PFC Sohryu Asuka Langley-Zeppelin was right before Shinji in a blink of the eye, grabbing him by his chin and raising his head. Her blue eyes glinted angrily from under her red hair which stuck out of her grey Wehrmacht helmet.

- Now I don't quite understand, private first class, - she said slowly in a tone that hadn't promised anything good at all. - what's up with the loser routines, huh? WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THAT LOSER-ISH ROUTINES YOU'RE GIVING ME NOW, HUH???!!!
- Piss off! - yelled Shinji, getting his head out of Asuka's grip; his helmet falling over his eye. - I'm not Forrest Gump or someone else, to throw myself in front of the gun hole!
- The only hole around here is on our side!
- If you're so smart, then whatcha doing here on the line?

Asuka smiled bitterly.

- We don't have any other place to be, dummkopf. Even the HQ gets shelled every friggin' day, and wherever you go, there's only trenches and those damn gemmies...
- Look who's talking.
- Listen here. You can be the general's son as much as you like, but I'll tear your stupid head off and stick it down your asshole, IF YOU TRY AND CONFUSE ME WITH THOSE GOTT-DAMN KIKES EVEN A SINGLE TIME AGAIN, VERSTEINEN??!!

Soil fell from the pillbox's roof in response to Sohryu's yelling, and "them kikes" opened fire on the pillbox once again from their side of the barbed wire.

- And we can't even peek out of here... - whispered Ayanami Rei. She barely even said a word; but when she did, she was always whispering.

But, she had in her possession the only working sniper scope in all of the NERV.

- Yeah, it's a shame we can't. - Asuka agreed. - Or the Final Solution would have been approved long ago. But all we have to do now is get over the fact that no one's gonna get us out of here. No one... - she spoke the last words so quietly that it scared Shinji.
- Hey. Stop losing your spirits. We're future officers, after all!

- Sure as hell. That is, if we ever get out of this hole...

- What's up with you, Asuka?
- Nothing. Get lost.

The machinegun fire ceased once again.

***

- I don't quite get it. - moaned Lelouch #2, who was already christened as my "conscience". - Why we had to give such a wide berth, huh?

I caressed the Panzerschreck's tube with a pleased look.

- 'Cause Panzerschreck's not a weapon. It's an argument. What if they are encircled there?
- The gemmies have half of the Geo-Front in their damn encirclement. The same half where our HQ and those damn trenches are located. You forgot?
- 'Course not. I dug those trenches with those arms. I certainly won't forget that.

We made our way towards the pillbox, crouching under the weight of the "Panzerschreck" and the radio set.

- Hell, before the city got bombed to dust, - mused #2, - it was damn fine. At least, we ate three times a day, slept in proper cots, not in this shitty ones, and we hadn't had to man those trenches. Just 'cause the fortifications were brilliant. Those Japanese surely know how to build...
- Hey, don't tell this to me. Save it for bedtime stories, once it's all over and we demobilise. If it would ever be over...
- It will. Don't fall down, comrade.
- Who's yer comrade? Scottish wolf's yer comrade... - I muttered.
- Oi, stop right there! I have positive ID on pillbox!

Yeah, he was right – there was a pillbox's roof in a distance. The same pillbox where the Children got pinned down.
The next moment bullets filled the air, and I wouldn't be amongst the living if #2 hadn't pulled me down.

- The gemmies cometh. - he told me about the obvious.
- Holy shit, nice emplacement they've got there. Sit tight. - I put the Panzerschreck on the ground and pulled the shot from the utility belt. Shoved it down the tube – the missle launcher clicked in excitement.
I shook the Lee-Enfield from my shoulder. Now it became but a distraction.

- Wait a bit, and then I'll show them... - I said.

A gunshot was heard from the pillbox, sending one of the gemmie gunners to meet his maker – even helmets were unable to stop the bullets from the modified Mosin-Nagant, courtesy of our tech boys.

MG-45's barrel swiveled towards the pillbox and started spitting out bullets, one after another.

- Now, Lucy!

I got up on my knee, pressing the Panzerschreck to my shoulder and aiming it at the machinegunner.

- Burn in hell, bastard. - I spat out to the gunner and pulled the trigger.

The shot roared out of the Panzerschreck's tube and speeded towards the target.
Blast. A pillar of dust and body parts flew up to the sky.
The gun was turned to scrap metal. The gunners – to gibs.

- YA-HOO! Ya got them, Lucy, ya got them! - #2 cried. It seemed like my doppleganger was going to go dancing around.

I decided not to trouble myself with rearming the launcher and ran up to the pillbox. Took a peek inside.
Only to be greeted with a Mauser barrel in front of my nose.

- Who are you, what's your name, why not in the army? - asked an angry girlish voice.
- Asuka, sweetie, - I replied nonchalantly. - It was five years since we quit active duty, remember?

The Mauser was lowered down.

- If only... - the frightening Langley muttered. - You two after us?
- Exactly. Better get going, ladies and gents! Second, you here?
- I am with you 24/7, in case you forgot.
- Don't ya stand there! GET MOVING ALREADY!
- Jawohl, herrkommandant!

I peeked out of the trench and picked out a half-track's silhouette amongst the smoke. It was just approaching the barbed wire.
And it was going here.

- Holy shit... On the double, squad! I'll get them...

Get the shot. Shove it down the tube. Raise the launcher. Aim at the APC...

Suddenly a spike of pain pierced my leg. A very familiar one – one you get after you've been shot.
I almost dropped the Panzerschreck.

- Lucy! - #2 shouted from somewhere in the back.

I gritted my teeth. Hell, it hurt a lot.

Get the Panzerschreck up. Aim it at... at those gemmie's face, the one who sticks from the cupola. Place the finger on the trigger...

- Death... to... SEELE... - I hissed through gritted teeth. - All... hail... Britannia!
And I fired.
Engine struck. As a bonus – the gemmie's upper half propelled towards their positions.

I crouched and limped my way towards the artillery emplacement as fast as I could.

***

- Well that was a lucky one... mused Shinji.
- Hell yeah, I'm feelin' bloody lucky. - I spat out.
- Yup, Her Majesty should certainly be proud of you, that's for sure. - #2 added.
- Shaddup and get that radio working. I need to get the HQ ASAP, got it?!
- Sir, yes sir!
- Drop the 'sir'. Ah, and I'm gonna need... - I pulled up the breeches and looked over the bloody thigh. - ...at least some bandages and some ethyl. The damn bullet struck deep – it'll be difficult to pull it out...
- The bullet's a bitch, the bayonet – a winner... - Asura mused. She took position at the entrance and kept watch over the APC.
- Asuka, my dear, couldn't you be of more help?
- Are you a man or a pussy?! Get over it!
- Da-a-amn... Indulge a wounded man, get him some of those bandages!
- At once. - Rei answered.

Well, she always had some of those. Heck, she was all bandaged up when I first saw her. Yup, that's for sure.

The emplacement fell silent, with the exception of Second, who desperately tried to reach the HQ per my instructions.

- Here.
- Arigatou, Rei. - I said, looking over the bandages. - Asuka?
- What now?
- What's the damn mechanised infantry up to?

- The kikes? Hell, they do nothing except wandering around their scrap heap.
- Yeah, if only we had an APC of our own... - Shinji started.
- We'll be lucky to even reach the HQ. And after that I'd be glad to move it on my own...
- Up yours, boss!

I took the radio's horn. The line was pure static.
Then the static receded, only to be replaced with Major Katsuragi's rupturing voice.

- Command here.
- Good afternoon, major, ma'am! Today, our special report is...
- Sergeant Lamperouge, you're on duty.
- Excuse me, major, ma'am!
- You're excused.
- Ahem... Major, ma'am! Sergeant Lamperouge reporting, ma'am! The Sixth Squad had successfully finished the combat recon and got back to full combat capabilty, ma'am!
- Report received and noted.
- Well that's it... Major, ma'am, I'm requesting extraction. I'm wounded in the leg, we're carrying a trophy Panzerschreck and enemy mechanised infantry decided to park their fancy APC right in front of us. We run, they could as well make some holes in our asses, excuse my Chinese... That's the situation.
- All right, sergeant, sit tight. I'll see what I can do. Command out.
- Acknowleged. Lamperouge out. - I answered and put the horn back. - Well, they say we should wait. So I guess we'll wait.

***

The Central Dogma, as the NERV HQ was dubbed, was ruined long ago – at least, the upper part. Four corners and a bunker bult up by the combat engineers was all that was left from the pyramidal building – however, the bunker hid and protected all of the stairs, ladders and elevators that went down into what remained of previously great NERV domain.

The Bren carrier that brought us entered the bunker and was lowered down via elevator. And, well, the squad was forced to thank the crew and double it to the command center. Not the old one, which was long turned into a warehouse area, but the new one, which was basically a conference room jury-rigged with all of the equipment befitting a command center.
The command center was a busy place, mostly taken over by equipment, and with barely enough place to fit in the three staff officers. Between the equipment and the conference table littered with paper sheets and maps manoevered our Boss For Life, major Misato Katsuragi, and the NERV-Japan commander-in-chief, general Ikari Gendo, was seated right at the table in his classic pose. Immediately behind him stood the subcommander, colonel Fyutsuki, who however assumed his subcommanding duties rarely, if never.

The squad lined up at the entrance – of course, we had already surrendered the Panzerschreck to the quartermaster and only had our standard issue rifles with us.

- Major, ma'am, sergeant Lamperouge of the Sixth Infantry Squad reporting for duty, ma'am!
- Report. - Misato said.
- Major, ma'am, the Sixth Squad has arrived and is at full combat capacity! Five men, everyone present!
- At ease, squad. - well it wasn't Misato anymore. That voice, the cold one, was general Ikari's. - Come up to the table. You'll report directly to me, sergeant.
- Yes, sir! - as ordered, I came up to the table, with the rest of the squad following my lead.
I could swear that I've seen Shinji shivering.

The general wore orange glasses and a grey Waffen-SS gruppenfuhrer uniform – a bad child of the Axis 'Berlin – Rome – Tokyo'.

- Well. What's the status on the front, sergeant?
- The status is badder than ever, sir! The enemy forces are stationed at their previous positions and are heavily fortified, sir! They had put up the barbed wire and placed the tank traps. Minefields not confirmed. There appears to be two artillery emplacements with 105mm howitzers and up to four PaK-38 anti-tank cannons in our sector, complete with huge quantities of MG-42 and MG-45 machineguns and five or more Grenatewerfer-34 field mortars. Also, there is a possibility that the enemy had deployed a field refueling station for the armored vehicles there.
- Speaking of which, have you ecountered any?
- One SdKfz half-track was struck and then destroyed as a result of my squad and the crew of the Bren carrier's combined actions. The rest... can't say for sure.
- Well, that's a job well done. - the general nodded. - From the reports of other combat reconnaisance groups we'll manage to put up a picture of the front's status.
He looked at the squad. The squad stood at attention.

- Sergeant Lamperouge.
- Sir!
- You and your squad are dismissed. I'll pass the order for extended rations for the five of you. And you better get to the medical bay ASAP, sergeant, and that's an order. Any questions?
- Sir, no sir!
- Right. Dismissed!

Well, there was definitely no need to repeat the order.

***

I hung the helmet on a hat hook we hammered in near the door right after the bombs fell. Well, the sixth squad had been bunked here since then. Actually, the place still was a storage room. #2 once got ahold of a crowbar and opened up one of the crates for the fun of it, and found that it was filled to the brim with heavy-duty boots. The only reasonable thing to do was to trade a pair for a block of cigarettes and leave the rest where they belong, and that's in the said crate. Huh, the place wasn't a big deal, but we lived here ever since.

The interior was, at least, resembling something cosy: a daylight lamp in the celling and a table right underneath it, which was occupied by Shinji and #2. They played cards – well, there wasn't much else to play. Asuka was lying in her cot, and Rei... well, Rei was nowhere to be found, but her rifle and US Marine issue helmet were here.

- 'Sup everyone. - I said. Asuka scoffled – I was deemed unworthy of even a glance.
- Oh hi. How's yer leg? - #2 asked.
- Pulled it out and sewn it up. It'd hurt for a couple of days, but other than that I'm ready and able. And you're playing, I recon?
- Yup. - Second was smoking his cigar(wonder where he'd even got it in the first place). On his neck hung the goggles that he took from a dead gemmie engineer. I preferred not to look in my doppleganger's eyes. - Wanna join?
- Thanks, I'll pass. Shinji?
- Huh?
- Got weed?

He dug a beaten pack of Marlboro from his pocket. I took a cigarette out and tried to find my lighter, however in vain.
Well, guess I lost it in the trenches.

- Second, give me a light ASAP.
- Here you are.

I took a deep breath.

- Gee thanks. - and fell down onto my cot. The cots were basicly a mattress on a pair of crates and a tent with the omnipresent NERV crest on it.
I remembered those soft cots in the city's barracks. Hell, they all burned. Everything up there burned before falling down on our heads. Damn gemmies bombed Tokyo-3 with nuclear bombs.
Only then did I realise how serious this war was. Even when general Ikari, waving his katana, told us soldiers about our great mission, I hadn't taken it serious. When tanks and FAVs crawled onto our fortifications, I hadn't taken it serious. When the rockets turned half a city into smouldering ruins, I still hadn't taken it serious.
Only when Tokyo-3 burned in the nuclear fire, everyone realised – SEELE won't stop until they reach their goal. The exact same goal we had to prevent, or die trying.
But there was more of them, while our numbers dwindled with every passing day. It was in early October when we hadn't let the gemmies get even a meter into our trenches, and the same went for pillboxes and bunkers. It was middle October when we were pulled out of there to guard the HQ. Trenches became a no man's land, and a month had went by already. I celebrated my nineteenth birthday in the medical bay – as a result of a failed recon mission behind the wire. It was two weeks ago.

- Hey, what's the date today?
- The 12th of November, you crap-head!
- Danke schon, Asuka.
- Shut your trap!

Well then... the twelfth of November. Second month of the Battle for Geo-Front.

A battle without end.

I spat a burned to filter cigarette from my mouth.

***

- Hey boss, better get up quick.

I opened one eye. Then another.
A smirking #2 looked down on me.

- I've slept past the morning get-up? - I asked sleeply, getting up and stretching my shoulders.
- And the breakfast too, Lucy.
- Oh shit!
- Hey don't worry. I got yers in yer place. I guess the general wasn't lying 'bout them extended rations.
- Then get me some grub. - I ordered, putting on my boots.

The barrack was silent and empty. There was no one here besides me and Second.

- Hey, where's everybody?
- Rei went off to see the general, she says. Shinji and Asuka are wanderin' somewhere. Well that's pretty much it.
- And you're right here, as if you were my shadow.
- I am your shadow, Lucy. And hell, isn't the radio man supposed to stick to his commander?
- Yup, but it's really annoying when you hang around with me.

The food wasn't really different, save for the fact there were two cans instead of one. One of the cans had a packet of ketchup attached to it.
It surely ran out of date, but it had on it, in major Katsuragi's writing: 'For Shinji-kun. Handle with care!'.

- Hey?
- Wha-at?
- Lucy, don't you wanna anything... y'know, like special, hm-m?
- Quit it, wouldya? Especially while I'm eating. The beef's better while you're hungry, y'know.
- Even shit is better while you're hungry, so yeah. But it wasn't about food at all.
- Well spill it.

#2 frantically moved his eyebrows.

- Ah. Well, let's presume that I want. What of it?
- Then who's the object of yer passion?

Now it was my turn to frantically move my eyebrows.

- And in English?
- Erm... - I started to blush. Wait, WHAT?!
- So embarassed?
- Hell no!
- Then who is it? - #2 asked inquisitively.
- Well...
- Who?!
- It's Asuka, Asuka! - I shouted.
- Well I knew that.
- Hell if you knew.

#2 watched in silence as I finished my breakfast, leaving half a can intact.

- Lucy, what actually prevented you from tellin' her?
- Well, that's Asuka we're speakin' about. She'd even beat me up for this, if she's feeling moody.
- And you're afraid, don't ya?
- Well it's my face. I'm the sergeant here. I report for the whole squad, and I don't fancy getting' arrested for havin' a non-reportable face.
- Don't worry like that.
- I don't worry, no matter what. - I pulled a pack of cigarettes from my pocket. - You fancy?
- Yeah.

We started smoking the yesterday's Marlboro from the yesterday's beaten pack.

- Hey, better listen to mah advice. - #2 said, letting out a tail of smoke.
- What advice?
- Take a moment and speak with Asuka already.
- Speak?
- Yeah. Hell, you're the squad leader. Find some suitable guise and... well, I shouldn't be teachin' ye.
- Yep, I'll give you that. - I agreed. - I'll try to do something.
- It's all for your good.
- Hah, you always say that.

***

- Major, ma'am, Sixth Squad reporting for duty!

Misato turned around and looked at the squad, standing at attention.

- At ease. Have a seat, guys. It looks like NERV once again needs you.

We got seated on a bench just opposite the major's desk.

- Well. I'll say the truth: I was strongly against sending you on a mission like this, but general really wanted it to be so. He then went on speaking about your experience and service list... well, he loves to do this.

- Permission to speak freely, ma'am?
- Yep.
- What's the mission's objective already?

Misato took a deep breath.

- Your task is to paradrop behind enemy lines and get his armor and artillery, minimum of two units each, to the HQ, complete with all equipment.

Shinji and #2 apparently had a bad time fixing their lower jaws back.

- What armor and artillery?
- Tanks, anti-tank guns, something like that. Infantry weapons are fine too.

- I'm not sure. - I said. - But we'll try. Not the first time, after all. And how exactly we are supposed to get to the HQ?
- You'll receive a map with the route to the extraction point marked.
- Pf-f-f. That'll be a challenge. And exactly how are we supposed to paradrop?
- Well that's the thing. - Misato said. - You see, we have a hidden airfield in the vicinity and a transport plane. You'll drop behind enemy lines and, well, that's our only chance for a mission like that. Keep that in mind.
- Noted. Thanks for the trust you put in us.
- The details are in this file. The map's also there. You'll better check it before the mission start. At attention, squad!

The squad stood at attention.

- The briefing is concluded. Mission starts in 01:00 this night, codename – Operation: Corovaaner. Sixth squad... Dismissed!