Reformated Age 0001. With the second industrial revolution and the conquest of space, mankind was at His peak. His control reached from the sun-orbiting Solar Screens to the mining facilities in the asteroid belt beyond Mars, which were also the most important assets of man's power. As they slowly moved into space the Earth could finally recuperate from the torments caused by humans. While some profited of this newfound wealth, others did not fare so well. Thus the Western Confederation became the dominant power on the Earth Sphere. Other nations lost their power and grew more jealous by the day. While the space colonies seceded in RA 0012 through the Lexington Pact.
In RA 0037 asteroid Proteus SA-1984 crashed onto Earth. More precisely the most western continent, and headseat of the Confederation, was wiped of the map. A powerstruggle ensued between the remnants of the Confederation and the small poor nations. A war so terrible it became a cleansing of race and beliefs. The space colonies remained steadfast in their neutrality, only few colonists listened to the call to defend their ancient homes. Mobile suits were deployed and countered the sudden advance of the invaders. In a last desperate attempt the poor countries bestowed biological, chemical and nuclear horrors upon the world. The West won thanks to Fieldmarshal Alexander Stahl, who deployed the lasersattelite Regis Ultima Ratio in earth orbit.
At the end of the war in RA 0039 and not wanting to give the world back to the same politicians and leaders that plunged the earth into war in the first place, Fieldmarshall Stahl seized leadership of the freed world. He envisioned a unified earth freed from the shackles of religion, money, politics, classes and war. Out of the ashes rose a new order known as the Terran Commonwealth. The people rejoiced over the new path mankind took under the harsh but just guidance of their new leader Alexander Stahl. He became known as the Saviour of Man as well as the Great Reformationist.
RA 0066. Present, the Commonwealth is crippled with internal struggles and the staggering health of their beloved leader. Even factions arise to return to the old ways and threaten this young utopian world. As a last resort, the sick Stahl turns to the Omni Conglomerate, who has been developing project "ULTRA" for the last 27 years on their lunar facilities.
28 feb. RA 0066,
500 km from lunar spaceport Freehaven
"Report 03/19465-7 TDF,
We've almost reached our destination, but still nobody aboard this shuttle has a clue on why as we are requested by the Omni Conglomerate and their Ultra project. Almost everyone here is Terran Defense Force personnel, only a few spacenoids, and its a ragtag band of engineers, psychologists, teachers, etc. I myself am just MS-instructor from Trondheim base. We even seem to have been enlisted in the OC's private militia, Legion, from the looks of our uniforms we have to wear.
Still we need to stay on our guard, its a well known fact that the OC supplied both factions during the last war and became the biggest and most powerful syndicate in the entire system. If they can make a profit, they'll gladly stab us in the back. Maybe I'm overreacting, since there is no enemy at the present time. For now …
Signing off,
1st Lt. Yumi Massin…"
"Wauw, look at all those spaceships, I've never seen so many of them!"
Startled by this interruption, Yumi looked up to see who was so excited. She skimmed over the heads of the other passengers, until she saw a young girl clutched to a window. The little artificial gravity on this shuttle couldn't keep the rookie on the ground as she floated gently just above the floor. Yumi could tell she was just an Earthnoid on her first trip to outer space, but her attention slipped away towards her own window.
As Yumi gazed, she realised the shuttle arrived at Freehaven, the central spaceport of the solar system orbiting around the lunarcolony Omnicity. A vast wharf was visible where they seemed to be constructing some sort of spacecruiser, while on the other side merchant vessels from the colonies dock and ship off. Just as Yumi was accustomed to the view, a mobile suit shoots past the window.
Another MS catches up with the shuttle and takes point at the right wing. Its head looks directly towards Yumi and salutes, before even noticing she had saluted back. A voice, interrupted by lots of static, took control of the intercom.
"This is Ensign 6751, 3rd harbor unit. We have orders to escort you towards the lunar surface. Please follow course 389 by azimut 41°. Docking bay 17 is awaiting your arrival."
"This is so cool, a real live MS!" The girl from before yelled, trembling with excitement. "I can't wait to begin my work on the MS-repairdeck."
"Best wrap this up" Yumi thought.
She then turned off her laptop. The images on the small glass plate disappeared and it was folded down onto the metallic keyboard on her lap.
Soon afterwards the vessel began re-entry and descended towards the lunar surface, closing in on a growing number 17 on the ground aided by the guidelights.
Omnicity, docking bay 17
The landing went without a hitch and the massive hatch in the roof of the bay closed again. As soon as there was a stable atmosphere all doors slided open and groundpersonnel came rushing out to perform their tasks. While disembarking Yumi noticed that one of the accompanying MS also landed in the bay. It was a beautiful machine, 20 metres tall light grey with white accents.
"The standard colors of the Legion, just as the uniforms we were issued" remarked Yumi.
Instead of following the other passengers, Yumi floated towards the mobile suit and halted herself at its leg. The MS was carrying a weapon unlike those of the TDF, even the spacebooster and the armor-alloy seemed new.
"Strange that the OC hadn't tried to sell it to the TDF yet…" she muttered.
"Oh that's easily explained, 1st Lt."
Yumi looked up and saw the pilot sitting on the entrance hatch of his MS. He was smiling.
"I do hope I didn't startle you, miss?"
She blushed for a minute before answering.
"I was hoping for an introduction of this beautiful MS"
"Anything for my rudeness just now" he said relieved while floating down and landing close to Yumi. "I'm Ensign 6751 and this here is the Legio MS-251/1, it's still a prototype"
"Ensign 6751, is that your real name?" Yumi asked surprised.
"That is the name my superiors gave me" he answered surprised in turn " Except for the highest officers every Legionaire has a similar name, not including rank offcourse"
"Offcourse" As strange as Yumi found it, she noticed some other things. For one, why wasn't he wearing a spacesuit and secondly she seemed to see some weird glinstening from his neck, almost like a metal plaque…
Before the ensign could continue about the MS they were disturbed.
"Ma'am, please stay with the group, we're on a tight schedule as it is" a man yells while he's nearing them. "They're waiting for you"
"Too bad, it'll have to be for another time it seems…" Yumi said to the ensign as she drifted away towards the main airlock.
"We'll meet again, I'm certain of it, 1st Lt. … " He yelled, hoping to catch her name.
"It's Yumi! Yumi Massingbird!" She yelled back with a smile through the closing doors of the airlock, which divided the dockingbay with the main port of the lunar base.
Assembled in a grand meeting room, the people grew more curious and excited. Yumi was no exception. Finally the lights dimmed and a podium was highlighted, the OC's logo behind on the wall for all eyes to see, a depiction of a hand trying to reach for the stars. Seven persons walked onto the stage.
The first was the head of the OC Damian A. Carson who took position behind the pedestal on the podium, followed by a highranking Legion officer who stood to the right hand side of Carson. Two other big shots in suits and three scientists seated themselves on the seats behind the pedestal.
When all were seated Damian Carson began his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you're all probably wondering what you are doing here and that's quite simple. You are chosen to aide us in the final stages of project Ultra." He said with an arrogant grin.
"By the end of the great war we were requested, by the great Alexander Stahl, to develop a superior army in every way, both soldier and machine. 27 years ago we succeeded. Lt. Col. Julius here is the outcome of the first series of genetic tests and outgrew all preset expectations by a landslide…" Carson pointed his arm towards the Legionaire on his right.
Yumi examined this Julius a bit closer. He was wearing his uniform as proud as a peacock, a blue vest with white epaulets and collar that conceals his neck combined with a scarlet sash across his chest. His white pants had dual blue stripes on both legs, meaning he was in the general staff, the uniform was completed by shiny jackboots worn over the trousers.
This Lt. Colonel looked to be out of place, his features looked nothing like a regular man, almost idealised like an ancient statue, portraying a demi-god. He has the identical looks of a model with the eyes of a hawk, looking far into the horizon or even deep in one's soul. His white, slightly curly hair intentionally lefted uncombed to represent a natural wildness.
The legionaire was inspecting the audience and crossed eyes with Yumi. The icy stare of Julius led a shiver down her spine. Still intrigued by this mysterious person, she noticed he tried to cover his emotions but couldn't mask his sense of superiority. A person to be watched out for no doubt.
"… You will now be split up into three groups, engineers, non-combattant personnel and military personnel. Then you follow the correct guide which will lead you all towards your destinations, there you will receive further in-depth briefings on your duties. And I hope you all will enjoy your stay on our beautiful lunar colony." Damian Carson smiled towards the disbanding mass, ending his speech.
"Damn, I didn't pay attention to any of this. Now I still know almost nothing!" Yumi angrily said to herself "Keep your mind to the job and not on some creep…"
"Lt. You do not have to follow the group, your task is a bit different from theirs"
Yumi turned around and to her surprise it was Julius who spoke to her.
"I see, please lead on" she smiled.
"My pleasure, 1st Lt." Julius in turn smiled back, took a light bow and waved his arm in the correct direction.
Omnicity, genetics R&D departement
"Out of Julius we created the standard supersoldier, not of his level but still three times better than an average human. Of these soldiers we have cloned now over 15.000 troops in a timespan of a year, thanks to newly designed aging-enhancers. We wouldn't want to have an army of infants now would we? So far there is a small chance of genetic mutations, but those are terminated to defend the eugenics of the project. I must say that we only alter the bits of DNA that are needed, appearence and sex are still by Nature's choice. Before the discovery of the aging-enhancers we took the DNA from Julius and tried to perfect it even more or at least try to improve a feature of him. And now we are ready to awaken the twelve surviving test subjects."
Chief Geneticist Bogard didn't stop his rant about the project and Yumi was quite bored. Even Julius who accompanied the group was rather irritated.
"It is no surprise that you are here with twelve persons, for you'll be assigned with a subject each and train him or her on various affairs, such as MS-training but also personel things. You will be the parentfigure of the newborn soldier…"
Yumi received number 12 named 'Jericho' by the scientist who created him, Cid. Again the group was split up and Yumi entered test lab 12, joined by docter Cid. The controlroom looked out onto a lower lying room containing a big metal cilinder which held 'Jericho', many tubes and wires connected the cilinder with the machines around.
Once the first eleven test subjects were succesfully awakened it was the turn of Yumi's 'adopted son'. When chief Bogard and Julius entered the room a small team of scientists under Cid operated the computers beginning the sequence. Slowly the embryonic fluid inside the cilinder drained away, and after a while it began to open up.
Now Cid began to explain " Long ago we inplanted a series of plugs into his neck, not only to feed him but also on teaching him basic things such as our language and close combat for example. Now the plugs will be used for a new piloting system for the MS…"
The explanation was ended brutally by Cid's amazement.
"It can't be, of all chances! " Bogard yelled angrily.
Julius was more calm, contemplating his possible moves. "Interesting…"
"The day just keeps getting weirder and weirder" Yumi almost couldn't keep herself serious.
"Yes, this should prove most interesting indeed . . . "