GUNDAM: Independent Millennium
Chapter 2: Training is Over
Kanjiro received an egg sandwich from the kitchen as the undefined buzz of the morning news irritated his ears. Kanjiro sat down at an empty bench in the mess-hall to consume his breakfast as an officer turned up the volume on the large flat screen. Kanjiro ate his breakfast while partially listening to the weather and traffic report. "The weather today for Colony 6 Petrark will be set to sunny and 75 degrees". At the turn of the hour Kanjiro looked up from his cup of coffee to listen to the headline. "CCS DECLARES WAR ON ACSC". Disgruntled whispers and murmuring between cadets and officers began in the mess hall. Kanjiro disposed of his disposable dishware and reported to his muster station at once.
Kanjiro had been adopted from infancy by the ACSC's military's ACADEMY program. Unwanted infants were adopted by the military raised and trained in academics and militaristic activities. Runaways and homeless youths also often joined the ACADEMY program. Kanjiro was 16 years of age, with slightly heavy, athletic build. He had straight dark hair of a medium length and significantly tanned skin. He was raised by the military and due to this he maintained an overly mature and non individualistic personality. Kanjiro did not find humor in most jokes and rarely concerned himself with social obligations. Kanjiro was deemed a cold and humorless person by most of his civilian friends. Unique and individual behavior was encouraged by the ACADEMY program in an attempt to produce creative and spontaneous soldiers however this portion of the program was not very successful. Despite his social problems Kanjiro displayed a distinctive proficiency in military activities. Based on his training and simulations, Kanjiro was an adept mobile suit pilot and was a skilled infantry tactician. Kanjiro's talents did not go unnoticed. His higher ups had installed him as both an infantry platoon leader and a mobile suit squadron commander in his cadet company named Ambition Company consisting of other ACADEMY members of 16 years of age.
When Kanjiro reached his muster station most of his comrades had already arrived. His company's senior commanding officer was in the middle of a briefing. Kanjiro sat in his assigned seat. The rest of Ambition company's cadets trickled in after Kanjiro sat down. "Initial Engagements have taken place in space around Colony 3 Rekavol. The enemy has attacked with significant numbers causing heavy casualties among our reactionary force. However the superior fighting of our mobile suit pilots insured our victory and fully destroyed the attacking force. Our counterattack has already begun. The first navy has breached the atmosphere and aerial combat has commenced. Our recently black market acquired fleet of Sky Graspers (mass produced atmospheric fighters) are competing excellently with the CCS' Sky Graspers. This aerial combat is ensuing as we speak over North Africa primarily. It is crucial for us to seize air fields early on in order to gain an advantage in the air war. We are currently at a severe disadvantage due to the fact our mobile suits as of yet have not been primarily engaged in this air war. This is because they are guarding our atmospheric entry point. Ambition company will attack and capture the CCS' Dekka Air Field in Tunisia. Your mission is to take that airfield and then steal its armaments, primarily its AMF-101 DINN Mobile Suits(Aerial Atmospheric Mobile Suit) and then join the air war. Ambition Company has been set to full combat alert status and your mission is a-go. Congratulations gentlemen, your training is over. Good luck, and welcome to the war.
Kanjiro was flooded with the sweet satisfaction of validation. Everything he had been training for his whole life had finally occurred. Kanjiro eagerly packed everything he was permitted to bring. His hygiene kit was the first thing into his rucksack. Kanjiro dressed in full ground infantry combat uniform. This included not only desert camouflage fatigues but a Kevlar vest and a Kevlar helmet with a weightless visor that served as both a gas mask and protection from dust, shrapnel and other debris. Kanjiro packed his pilot suit into his ruck sack along with his favorite pack of gum. Kanjiro packed extra pairs of undergarments and military casual wear. On his way to the armory, Kanjiro stopped to glance at the comm center. It was bustling with cadets calling their mothers, girlfriends, brothers and fathers for the last time. Kanjiro approached a comm booth and racked his brain for a person to call. He could not think of one. Feeling horribly out of place Kanjiro continued onwards to the armory. He reported in to the quartermaster. "Sir, reporting for arming process, sir." said Kanjiro. "What's your personnel I.D. son?" inquired the grizzled quartermaster. "Personnel I.D 555311" Kanjiro answered. The quartermaster entered the code into a numpad on an arms locker. A green light turned on and the quartermaster opened a hatch and retrieved a box. He then handed the box to Kanjiro. Kanjiro took his box back to his locker area and inspected the contents. The first thing that came out from the the box was a survival knife. Kanjiro attached it to his Kevlar vest and proceeded. The next item out of the box was hand shovel which Kanjiro attached to his rucksack. The third item was an AK-110 UM (Advanced Kalashnikov 110 Universal Millennium). The light weight weapon featured modernized grips with a shorter barrel, a quick fire rate, and superb accuracy. Kanjiro attached its canvas sling and slung the weapon over his shoulder. He then proceeded to put one 30 round magazine into his rifle and the other 5 extra magazines into pouches on his Kevlar vest. Kanjiro then took out a semi-automatic 45 ACP handgun, loaded it with a magazine, and then holstered it on his leg. He put the extra magazines in the pouches on his vest. The last items remaining in the box were fragmentation grenades which Kanjiro attached to his vest. He disposed of the box and reported to the muster station. It was a short 15 minute wait for the rest of the cadets to report in ready to ship out.
As Ambition company boarded the Earth bound transport ship, Kanjiro noticed ground type mobile suits and another cadet company boarding with them. Once aboard Kanjiro chose to sit next to a cadet from the other company who was dressed in a full pilot suit. Kanjiro extended his hand and said "Kanjiro, Ambition Company" the other cadet shook Kanjiro's hand and replied " Koji, Mud Company". "Nice to meet you" Kanjiro added. " So what's Mud Company's part in all this?" Kanjiro asked. "Same as Ambition Company, take Dekka Air Field. We're supposed to support you guys on the ground." Koji answered. "So you guys must be the pilots of those mobile suits that they were loading up earlier." stated Kanjiro. "Yeah, we pilot the RGM-79[G] GM Ground types. We're supposed to cover your guys' attack and take off the heat from the enemy ground mobile suits." Koji said. "Guess it would be crazy to send in infantry alone now that I think about it, its good to know you guys got our backs." Kanjiro stated with a grin. Koji looked Kanjiro over. "But what about you guys, if Ambition Company is just infantry, how are we supposed to get those DINNs in the air?" Koji inquired. "Well Ambition company is actually a space mobile suit company but we're trained in infantry tactics." Kanjiro points the flight badge on his shoulder. " I suppose flying mobile suits in the atmosphere will be quite different from space, but hey, there's a first time for everything." Kanjiro said with a shrug. "Well, I guess we'll see each other on the ground then. Keep an eye out for the RGM-79[G] with yellow head markings, that one's mine." said Koji. "Alright I'll keep an eye out, but I guess there's no way of telling me apart from the next guy" Kanjiro figured as he looked himself over and then looked at the Ambition Cadet next to himself. "I'm gonna catch some z's, I suggest you do the same" said Koji. He folded his arms in front of his chest leaned back and shut his eyes. "Alright will do." said Kanjiro. Kanjiro gazed out the window at Colony 6 Petrark. It was getting smaller and smaller the farther they got away. It was the only home he had ever known. After staring at the colony and its hourglass shape and its surrounding stars Kanjiro shortly fell asleep.
Kanjiro was abruptly awoken by the ear deafening crack of heavy shells, the high pitched zoom of beam rifles, and the violent chatter of machine guns. Kanjiro was startled and panicked because for a moment he forgot where he was. Koji put his hand on Kanjiro's shoulder and calmed him. "We're at the atmospheric entry point" said Koji. Kanjiro rubbed his eyes, propped himself up and looked out the window. He then understood why the ACSC's mobile suits could not engage in the air war. The ACSC's ZGMF-1017 GINNs (painted blue) were thoroughly engaged throughout the AEP's(Atmospheric Entry Point) defensive perimeter. The ACSC's RGM-89 Jegans (also painted blue) protected the defensive battleships and laid down a base of fire. The mobile suits danced and waltzed through space firing their weapons and evading enemy fire. Kanjiro noticed the convoy of ACSC ships going through re-entry. Kanjiro then also noticed two CCS GINNs (painted green) that had broke through the perimeter. A beam rifle shot hit one of them directly. The beam cut straight through the cockpit and out the other side and was followed by a large explosion which completely decimated the GINN and killed the pilot inside. The other GINN proceeded to raise its machine gun at Kanjiro's transport ship. Kanjiro flinched in vain. A friendly GINN thrust its beam saber through the enemy GINN's cockpit from behind, killing the pilot and causing the mobile suit to explode. With a sigh of relief Kanjiro sat back down in seat and buckled himself in for atmospheric re-entry. "So that's combat hunh?" Koji ventured. All Kanjiro could manage was "Yeah". Once the transport was in the atmosphere all personnel were ordered to combat stations and the operation was to commence. Kanjiro shook Koji's hand wished him luck and reported to his shuttle. Inside his shuttle was his platoon's and his squad's combat jeeps. It was necessary for the infantry to advance in these to keep up with the ground mobile suits. Kanjiro greeted his squad and buckled up in his seat. The landing operation was about to commence. Although the objective was to take Dekka Air Field the attacking force would be landed in 20 clicks from the Air Field in open desert. This was done to avoid anti-aircraft fire and maintain an element of surprise. As the shuttle took off the restraint straps on the jeep tightened to prevent the jeep from moving inside the shuttle. As the shuttle made its final descent the hatch opened and the restrictive straps were cut loose. The whole platoon's jeeps drove out of the shuttle and into the desert. It was dark and around 4 o'clock in the morning. The dry desert air was still pleasantly cool. Kanjiro figured by the time they would be in position it would be first light. The consistent movement of the jeep lulled him to sleep.
