The Black Knight of Zeon

Chap 2: The Gundam Strikes, Garma Falls

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from mobile Suit Gundam, all Characters and stories belong to Kazuhisa Kondo-sama

Karl Ritter stirred awake as he felt a soldier shake his shoulder and motion for him to the command bridge. As he stood up he stretched his arms and walked towards the bridge where he saw Gadam speaking with Lt. Commander Char.

As he stepped into view he saluted the masked man and said, "Commander Char I am Lieutenant Karl Ritter of the Mobile Assault Force sent to aid you in this operation by Rear Admiral Kycilia Zabi" he said.

Char nodded and returned the salute and said, "I 'm grateful to have the "Black Knight" serving with me. I've no doubt that you will be of great assistance to us Lieutenant."

Char then cut the feed as Gadam shouted, "The Red Comet is hungry and we must stuff him full. Connect the conveyer tubes!"

He then turned to Ritter and said, "Lieutenant you will board your Zaku and launch to dock with Char's Musai and will then be under his command. I wish you victory and glory" Gadam said as he saluted Ritter.

Ritter returned it and said, "And I you Commander!"

Soon Lt. Ritter was inside the cockpit of his Black Zaku II. He was inside the Papua's hanger and the guidance team waved him through the port and soon he felt the weightlessness of space claim his Zaku. Activating his thrusters and checking his spacesuit was tight Karl flew towards the Musai cruiser as he watched the Papua's conveyer tubes attach. His Zaku checked the magazine in its machine gun when he received a signal from Char's ship. "This is Lt. Dren speaking, Lt. Ritter Commander Char wants you to scout the area as he feels we could be ambushed by that new ship and mobile suit" he said.

Ritter nodded and said, "Understood Lieutenant I will scout the area as per the Commander's orders."

Ritter flew his Zaku II into an angle and hovered over the ship as he looked around. Suddenly his sensors activated and his warning alarm went off. Looking up he saw a missile streak past his Zaku and zoom down and strike the Papua's right conveyer tube.

The explosion destroyed the tube and Ritter flew towards the Musai activating his radio.

"Commander Char what happened? Is there any major damage?" he asked.

"Lieutenant we are undamaged but the Papua's tubes are damaged. We are picking up two units on our scopes. One is a Federation Core Fighter and the other is definitely a Mobile Suit. I am launching now in my Zaku. You and I will attack the Mobile Suit together and over power it. Be careful Lieutenant this Mobile suit is different from our own" Char said.

Ritter looked up and saw a G-fighter fly by and start attacking the Papua as Char's red Zaku flew up towards the White mobile suit which was carrying a bazooka. The mobile suit fired one shell at Ritter but he flew towards the side as he returned fire with his machine gun.

The bullets struck the machine's shield and bounced off much to the shock of Ritter.

"What that was a direct hit! How could it not be affected?" he said.

"Karl our machine guns are no match for that thing's armor. We need to close in and attack at close range" Char said as he came down and kicked the mobile suit knocking it towards Ritter.

"Yes sir" Ritter said as he flew towards the mobile suit and brought out his heat hawk.

He swung the glowing axe down upon the mobile suit as it fell towards him but the mobile suit flew away and all Ritter managed to do was cut into the bazooka and damage it. Char then used the distraction to strike the mobile suit with the butt of his machine gun and again the suit fall back and disregarded its bazooka and shield.

"Hmmm? That pilot is clearly a rookie, but how is it the suit is still functioning?" Char asked.

Karl flew up next to him and said, "Sir it seems the Federation has made some kind of monster."

Suddenly Karl and Char saw a Zaku I fly past them and launch its self at the mobile suit as the suit pulled out a beam saber.

"What the? Who is that Commander? Is that Commander Gadam?" Karl asked.

Char keyed his radio and said, "Gadam stop you don't stand a chance against that thing in that old relic!"

Gadam laughed in response and said, "I'll show the Federation the difference between my Zaku and some slapped together toy!"

Gadam punched at the mobile suit but the suit caught his Zaku's fist and then jammed its saber into the cockpit of his Zaku.

"Gaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Gadam screamed as his Zaku exploded, which the mobile suit and the G-fighter used to escape the area.

"Yaaaahhh!" Ritter yelled as the explosion caused his Zaku to be thrown back by the blast.

However he felt something catch it and he looked up to see Char's Zaku holding on to the arm of his own.

"Lieutenant are you alright?" he asked as he helped Ritter reposition his Zaku.

"Yes Commander just a little shocked sir" he responded as he checked his suit's systems.

"I don't believe it! The Papua destroyed, Gadam dead, how could the Federation produce such a mobile suit?"

Char asked as he and Ritter flew back towards the Musai battle cruiser.

"Sir we should withdraw to a safe position and come up with a better plan of attack" Ritter said as he and Char entered the mobile suit hangers.

"Yes I agree Lieutenant, for now get some food and rest and make your report to Rear Admiral Kycilia" he said as the Zakus docked.

"Yes sir and thank you Commander" Ritter said as he deactivated his Zaku.

As he walked out of the hanger he disregarded his helmet and wiped his sweat covered brow. Karl then walked down to the comms station and saluted the officer who stood at attention.

"Commander Char has granted me permission to use the comms to contact Grenada, I need to speak with my superiors" he said.

The comms officer nodded and active the communications for Karl who sat down and set his helmet on the side. As he tuned the frequency he saw an image of Kycilia appear on the monitor.

"Glad you contacted me Lieutenant, please give m your report" she said as she adjusted her face mask.

Karl saluted her and said, "Yes Ma'am."

"Admiral upon my rendezvous with Lt Commander Char's squadron I was ordered to scout the area while Char and his unit resupplied. As I did we encountered the Federation Mobile suit and a federation Core fighter. Char and I engaged the Mobile Suit and its pilot while clearly a rookie managed not only to evade myself and Commander Char but also destroy the Papua ship as well as kill the ship's Commander Gadam" he explained.

Kycilia nodded and asked, "What can you tell me about the Mobile Suit Lieutenant?"

Karl shivered for a moment and said, "Ma'am the Mobile suit greatly out classes our Zakus. The bullets from the Zaku machine guns used by myself and Commander Char had no effect on it. At the same time Commander Char's close range attacks coupled with my own failed to even dent the armor" he said.

Kycilia seemed to glare under her mask and she clenched her fists angrily.

"I see very well then, for now continue to monitor the situation and cooperate with Commander Char. If any other major developments occur contact me at once Lieutenant" she said.

"Yes Ma'am" Karl said as he cut the transmission. As he left the comms room he was soon approached by Lt. Dren who called him over.

"Commander Char has called a briefing and would like you to attend. We believe we have plotted that ship's course and can strike while it attempts reentry" he said.

Karl nodded and followed Dren to the command bridge where Char was briefing three other pilots.

"As you know no one in history has attempted an attack during the course of reentry and as such it is the perfect opportunity to attack. We will strike when they are most vulnerable, watch you altitudes and keep your guards up" he said.

"Yes sir!" Karl and the three pilots answered as they saluted Char.

Karl soon found himself in his Zaku again and was quickly launched from the Musai and flew towards the ship as Char and the other Zaku pilots attacked the white mobile suit.

"You're not going anywhere Trojan horse" he shouted as he opened fire with his machine gun upon the ship.

His bullets tore at the ship and as he flew around it firing at its blind spots a small gun turret opened up and fired back at him.

"Whoa!" Karl said as he flew back and as he did he saw a blip on his screen go out signifying that one of the Zakus had been destroyed.

"What?" he said as he looked up and saw the White Mobile suit flying towards him firing it's bazooka at him.

He dodged the two missiles coming at him and drew his heat hawk while disregarding his machine gun.

"You never charge forward with a ranged weapon you rookie!" he shouted as he brought the heat hawk down and sliced the bazooka in half.

As he flew up to charge down at the white mobile suit again he heard a call come in from Char.

"Lt. Ritter our time is up you must return to the Komusai immediately" Char called.

"Yes I will return Commander" Karl said in reply and flew back up towards the Komusai which picked up his Zaku II.

As Karl entered the bridge he removed his helmet and saw Char and Dren at the helm of the ship watching as both the Gundam and another Zaku plunged into the atmosphere of Earth.

"Sir please help me I can't slow the descent of my Zaku! Commander Char please help me!" the pilot shouted.

Karl looked at Dren to see if they could help the pilot but he shook his head solemnly.

"Crown we can't bring the Ship in or we will burn up too. But you did lure the enemy down with you. Death with honor" Char said.

"Nooooooooooo!" the pilot shouted as his Zaku exploded in the atmosphere.

Ritter looked shocked at the death of the pilot and sighed as he turned to the view port. He then stared in amazement as he saw the Earth Federation Mobile Suit actually surviving the fall.

"Commander look!" he said as Char and Dren looked on in shock.

"What? Federation mobile suits can survive reentry?" Char asked in shock.

"It's possible sir. You both should buckle in as we are beginning reentry decent" Dren said as he worked the comms on the Komusai.

Karl sat down and buckled in and said, "Commander they are descending into North America perhaps we can request assistance from Captain Garma?"

"Good idea Lieutenant, Dren contact California base as soon as we leave radio black out" Char said as he also buckled in for the descent.

The Komusai soon entered the stratosphere and communications were soon restored. Both Char and Karl stood up and watched as an image of Captain Garma Zabi appeared on a monitor.

"Well Char it has been a long time since we last spoke. It's an honor to see you again famed Red Comet" he said as he then looked over to Karl.

"And you also Lt. Ritter, it's very nice to see you again. It feels like years since you left Earth" he said as Karl saluted him.

Char nodded and said, "The two of us may have to trade in our names for worse ones sir. That new Federation warship and mobile suit have cost me six Zakus."

"What's that, six did you say" Garma said now serious.

Char smiled and said, "I've invited them down into your airspace sir. You could score some brownie points off them."

"Interesting, I'll meet them with a Gaw attack carrier" Garma said as the transmission cut.

Soon the Komusai docked with the massive air carrier and both Char and Karl walked to the command bridge where Garma was going over the data collected by Zeon intelligence.

"The new Federation battleship that escaped Side 7 is called the White Base. The new mobile suit is called the Gundam, this machine has a high output beam rifle and beam saber, and bullets from the Zaku machine gun has no effect on it" a Zeon soldier said as he read the data.

"Sigh, Char, Lieutenant Ritter why did you two have to lead such a monster on top of me" Garma asked.

"Well we certainly wouldn't want your job to be easier Captain" Ritter said comically as he held out his hand.

Garma laughed and shook his hand and said, "Well I'm honored to have the two of you here. Having the Red Comet and the Black Knight on my side is like having a thousand soldiers on my side."

"We will assist you in any way we can Garma" Char said.

The strike force met the White Base with a platoon of Zakus and Magella attack tanks. The attack seemed to go well at first, but the Gundam demolished the tanks and the Zaku platoon was wiped out. Garma, Char, and Karl seemed surprised by the Gundam's strength, and withdrew from the battlefield back to California base.

"I'm calling a staff meeting to deal with the Gundam and that new ship. Char, Karl I want you two there as well" Garma said.

"Yes sir" Char and Karl said as they saluted.

Char left the hanger to get washed up and Garma then looked at Karl. "Lt. Ritter, my sister contacted us and said she wants to get your report in" he said.

Karl nodded and was soon reporting to Kycilia via the comms system. After explaining what had happened since they last spoke.

"So the Gundam is more powerful then we had originally believed. We are developing mobile suits of our own with beam weapons, yet production will take time. For now Lieutenant stay with my brother and do what you must to keep the Trojan Horse from leaving North America" she said.

Karl nodded and ended the transmission as he went to the staff meeting with the rest of the California base staff officers. He stood next to Char as Garma explained his plan.

"We lure the Trojan Horse towards this point and then hit them with two divisions of anti-aircraft missiles and artillery fire" he explained.

"But sir how can we produce a full two divisions from the men, their too exhausted from the fighting that has been occurring?" an officer asked.

"We will pull men from every front line, and if that isn't enough I will request more from my father" Garma said.

Karl listened to the plan and crossed his arms as he thought about what Garma said.

"He uses his position as the son of the Sovereign to his advantage. Not really the way of a true commander" he thought as the meeting was dismissed and the mission preparations began.

Soon Karl was standing on a command bridge in a Gaw attack carrier, dressed in a pilot's uniform with a helmet tucked under his arm. He was going over a map with Garma and Char.

"To review Lieutenant Ritter. I am placing you in charge of the air wing. Your duty is to drive the Trojan horse towards the ambush point where our forces will crush them" Garma ordered.

"Yes sir" Karl said as he saluted Garma who returned it.

Karl then walked down the catwalk towards the hanger and soon entered a Zeon Dopp attack fighter plane. He put on his helmet and face mask and started his engines when he was signaled to begin. Karl activated his thrusters and the plane shot from the hanger and joined a formation of Dopp fighters.

"All wings you have received your orders, drive the Trojan horse towards the ambush position at point S-3" he said as he armed his missiles.

As they approached the target area, the Trojan horse came into view.

"All units open fire!" Karl said as he fired one missile at the Trojan horse's thrusters.

His missile was followed by several other missile streaks as the other Dopps opened fire. However as the missiles approached the Trojan horse fired several missiles from its back which destroyed the Zeon missiles and also streaked towards the Dopps. "Evasive maneuvers" Karl said as he barrel rolled his jet out of the way of missiles. However two jets where struck and exploded in the air as Karl even out and slowed his speeds.

"Blast it! Anti-air defenses of course" he said as he shot up in to a 90 degree angle and came down upon the Trojan horse.

"All units break and swarm the ship. Those defenses can't hit all of us" he said as he fired his remaining missiles at the ship.

The missiles struck the ship's bow causing it to shake and rattle as the other jets attacked.

As Karl pulled up from his dive he saw two Federation Core fighter jets attacking his squad.

"Hmmm? Only two fighters….not much of an air defense" he thought as he pulled up and went after the jets.

Coming up from behind one he focused on the jet's tail and pulled the trigger for his machine guns. He fired the guns but the jet rolled out of the way as Karl followed its moves.

"This one is good, obviously more experienced then that other pilot….let's see how good" he thought as he continued to follow the core fighter.

He fired his machine guns again and this time as the core fighter moved he managed to clip one of it's wings. The core fighter sputtered and smoked as it flew back towards the Trojan horse and landed in one of the hanger bays.

Karl checked his map and saw the anti air attack would commence soon.

"All surviving fighters pull back and head back to the Gaw command carrier. We don't want to be hit by our own anti air net" he said as he flew back to the Gaw.

As he and his unit returned he saw the Gundam and two other mobile suits attacking the defense lines.

"Where did those other two mobile suits come from?" he asked as he then saw an orange command Dopp fly by.

"Huh, wait wasn't that Captain Garma?" he said as he keyed his radio.

"Captain Garma! Wait there isn't any reason for you to go out in battle" he said.

"Don't worry Lieutenant as this is my chance to make my sister smile" he said as he flew off.

Karl soon landed on the hanger of the Gaw and ran towards the bridge still dressed in his flight suit.

As he entered he saw Char at the bridge's command counsel fiddling with something.

"Commander! Captain Garma is out there now, we must give him support" Karl said as he came up from behind Char.

Char turned around and smiled while saying, "Don't worry Lieutenant he's the son of the Zabi family, he can hold his own."

Karl however looked at one of the soldiers on the comms station and said, "How is the Captain doing?"

The soldier looked up and said, "He appears to have been damaged by that white mobile suit and is retreating back to the Gaw but he isn't activating his distress beacon."

"Open the hangers prepare to help him land if possible!" Karl ordered as the deck crew went about preparing for landing instructions.

Karl watched as the Captain's damaged jet landed in the hanger and he saw him get out. Though flustered Garma appeared okay and Karl sighed as he saw Char leave the bridge.

As he left Karl looked down at the command consul and saw something that shocked him. The radio dispatch cable had been unplugged, meaning that no radio messages would have been received after it had been unplugged. As he bent down and reconnected the cable he thought for a minute and looked back at Char's retreating form.

"Had Captain Garma been trying to contact us we never would have been able to pick up his calls for help or support. But Commander Char was the only standing over here, didn't he notice this?" he thought as he followed the Commander outside and met Garma in his quarters reprimanding Char.

"Char be thankful that Lt. Ritter acted when he did or things could have been much worse. Next time be a little more aware of the situation" he said as he walked towards Karl.

He placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Lt. Ritter I thank you for your service today. You're an outstanding officer and I will make note of it in my report to my sister."

"Sir" Karl said as he saluted Garma.

Garma then turned to Char and said, "Gentleman we shall retreat for now and return to base to make a new plan. I want the two of you to attend a party tonight as my personal guests."

"Yes sir" Karl and Char both said as Garma left to change from his flight suit.

Later that Night

At a lush and private manor in Los Angeles, California; Lieutenant Karl Ritter was at a bar sipping whiskey from a glass in his officer's uniform. Char was standing next to him sipping Champagne as he kept his mask on but went without his helmet.

"So you took down four enemy battle ships at Loum?" Char asked.

"Yes sir, nothing compared to the record you hold of five" he said as he sipped the whiskey slowly.

"Oh I don't doubt that Lieutenant, everyone knows that Kycilia's fleet withdrew to give Vice Admiral Dozle and Admiral Ghiren the glory of the victory. I'm sure had you stayed your record would have been higher then my own" Char said.

"Perhaps so Commander, but it would be equal to a war crime to take away your glory" Karl said with a smile.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Lieutenant you're my kind of officer" Char said as he sipped his champagne.

Both men turned as Garma walked up to the two of them looking annoyed after talking to two business men.

"Men like that are only trying to suck up my family's profits for their own gain. They give leeches a bad name" Garma said with disgust.

Karl smirked a bit as he listened to Garma and Char talk. However he turned when he heard someone speaking loudly to get everyone's attention.

"Introducing Miss. Icelina Eschonbach" a man said as a lovely blonde haired woman entered the room and descended the staircase.

"Ah please excuse me a moment gentleman" Garma said as he walked towards the girl.

"Huh romance on the battlefield I should have expected that of Garma" Char said as he seemed to toast the two.

"Sir, what do you mean?" Karl asked as he watched Garma leave with Icelina.

"Take a good look Lieutenant. Captain Garma Zabi, son of Sovereign Degwin Zabi and heir to the throne of Zeon. Miss. Icelina Eschonbach; daughter of the Mayor of Los Angeles and an Earth born elite of the Earth Federation government. They are both in love with the one person their father's would never allow them to be with. War and Love two very powerful creations of mankind and each are capable of great destruction" Char said.

Karl sipped his drink and nodded as he listened to Char. As he thought about what Char said, the images of a strong, red haired woman dressed as a Rear Admiral entered his mind causing him to smile a bit.

Suddenly though one of Garma's officers ran up to the two aces.

"The Trojan horse has been found. Captain Garma would like to deploy you both in search of it" he said as Char and Karl dropped their drinks and ran for the jeeps which took them back to California base. Soon over the destroyed city of Seattle, Karl was in his black Zaku II as it jumped from the Gaw attack Carrier. As he landed he received a message from Garma.

"Lieutenant Ritter you know the plan, find the Trojan Horse or that White Mobile suit and we will destroy it" he said.

"Yes Captain Garma" he answered as he began his search of the area.

As Karl looked for the White Mobile suit he scanned the area as the Minovesky particles in the area started to affect his comms.

"Comms won't be good soon due to the Minovesky particle effect. I got to find the Trojan Horse before then" Karl thought as he continued to look around.

Suddenly he heard a message on his radio.

"Garma the white Mobile suit is running away and must be retreating back to the Trojan horse, hurry go after it" Char called on the radio.

"Yes Char" Garma said back.

Karl retreated back towards the area where the Gaw was hoping to help Garma but as he approached he saw something that terrified him. He saw plums of artillery fire aimed towards the sky where he knew Garma's Gaw was.

"What's happening?" he asked himself as he heard broken radio chatter on his comms unit.

"Char why did" Garma asked.

"Garma…..you hear….Blame this…your birth" Char seemed to say.

"Captain Garma, Commander Char what's going on" Karl called into his radio.

"Char….you…..this?" Garma asked.

"You….a good friend. But I…forgive…. Father" Char responded.

"Char…double crossed me Char!" Garma yelled in anger.

Karl hit his radio and it seemed to come back on as he saw the Trojan horse fire mercilessly on the Gaw.

"Captain Garma evacuate the Gaw please?" Karl pleaded.

However as Garma's Gaw flew towards the Trojan horse Karl heard Garma utter his final words.

"GLORY TO THE PRINCIPLAITY OF ZEON!" he shouted as the Gaw exploded in mid air.

"CAPTAIN GARMA! Karl shouted as his Zaku was thrown by the blast and crashed into a building.

He shook and rattled as his Zaku shut down from the blast.

"Gah" he shouted as he felt his ribs in pain and he soon fell into unconsciousness. Later a squad of Zeon Zakus found Karl and brought him back to base, as well as finding the flaming wreckage of Captain Garma's squadron.

Universal Century 0079 October. A great tragedy has occurred in the Zeon forces; Garma Zabi has died in battle over California. This loss has greatly affected all those who served under him in the North American campaign. Lt. Commander Char Aznable has vanished from the Space Attack Force. Lieutenant Karl Ritter has healed at California base and has received new orders. A single message has arrived from the Zeon homeland with specific instructions to "Return to Side 3 immediately!"