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A/N: It is explained in this chapter what the UNAA combat uniform looks like. The Reich uniforms are the same ones worn by Oz and the Alliance in Gundam Wing (Reich Space Forces and regular ground forces wear the olive Alliance uniforms, the Nelo Totenkampferbond where the darker Oz uniforms) and the Federation wear. . . the Federation uniforms.

North Holland, 8:30 am

Base Camp of the 18th MS Special Forces Regiment

October 6th, 2015

Even with the thunder of our artillery, I can still hear the voice of our chief mechanic, a Warrant Officer Three Tim Light, yelling at me.

"One of your "O" rings is missing from the right thruster."

"Then fix it Light, put a new one on!"

"I can't all we have are replacement parts for regular Gelgoog's, not the Jager model!"

That figures. I pilot a prototype Gelgoog Jager, an improved version of our MS-14 Gelgoog and one of the newest weapons used to fight. And as with most prototypes, I have the only one and replacement parts don't come around often for it. Same thing happens to Andy and Jeremiah, they too have special suits: Jer has the MS-18E Kampfer with combat shotgun and Andy has a Gouf Custom. It sucks not having proper supplies.

"I don't care if you have to weld two regular "O" rings together, I need it fixed before noon, can you fucken do that?"

"Whatever you say man, it's your suit."

No sooner did I finish with Light, another annoyance came my way. A runner for my brother came up to me and saluted "Lieutenant Commander Kelty, Commander Emerson needs to speak to you now sir"

Shit, just what I need. Commander Erik Emerson is the regimental XO. My older brother, Captain Gabriel Kelty, commands the 2nd Brigade of the 18th. Emmerson's a three star wanna be who loves to kiss ass if it can get him out of combat service. Before I go any further, I should explain the structure of our forces. All mobile suit detachments (except for cavalry, infantry and mechanized units) are considered part of the United States Navy, and thus we are ranked like naval officers. But we're organized like the Army (companies, battalions etc.)

So it works like this: The 18th MS Special Forces Division is under the command of a Rear Admiral (Upper), the brigades are under the command of a Rear Admiral (Lower), the regiments are under the command of Captains, the battalions are under the command of Commanders and companies are under the command of either Lieutenant Commanders of Lieutenants. Three MS teams make a company, three companies make up a battalion, three battalions make up a regiment, two or more regiments make up a brigade and two or more brigades make up a division.

I command both the 13th MS Team and D Company, just a side note I should point out. The 13th's command structure is as follows: 13th MS Team, D Company, 1st Battalion, 92nd Mobile Suit Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 92nd Mobile Suit Regiment, 18th MS Special Forces Division.

Another thing that separates the Assault Force from the others is our combat uniforms. Unlike the rest of the military, which switched to the Army Combat Uniform, we use a modified version of the old Vietnam issued uniforms. The UAMAS made the shirt shorter and made the uniform grey. The uniform is rounded out by the standard pistol belt. We have web gear, but when we're in our mobile suits we only use the canteen belt, the rest worn only when we fight on foot. Back to the phone call from the asshole extraordinaire.

"This is Lieutenant Commander Kelty, what do you want Emerson?"

"That's Commander to you."

"Kiss my ass, what do you want?"

"Your brother heard of Petty Officer. Wheeler's untimely death and-"

"It's you and his fault, you sent a guy who spent his carrier in supply, you dick!"

"ANYWAY, as I was saying, you'll be getting a replacement. I will warn you though, she thought she could get her mother to buy her way out, if you know what I mean, but it backfired and her punishment is that she is now under your command."

"She have any kind of experience?"

"Two years at LSMA and a year at officer school."

"God damn it Commander Emmerson, when can I expect her?"

"In about five minutes."

"Five min-."

The dial tone was the only thing on the other end. Five minutes, that means that the assignment was approved without my consent. He just called to warn me that a FNG was coming. I guess there's a sign on my back that says "Please Goat Fuck on Regular Basis", because I always get goat fucked by Emerson and my brother. The artillery stopped and Lt. Andy Fucth came walking up with two cups of coffee. He' a big hit with the ladies, very handsome man, not one you'd expect to be a fighter. He handed me one of the coffees. Man it smelled good.

"What up Lowe?"

"Got off the horn with Emerson, and we are getting a replacement, some FNG who thought money could get her out of the service."

"When she coming?"

The sound of a jeep revving caught my attention.

"Right now, do we have a mobile suit for her?"

"Just the Zaku II Custom we had saved for Wheeler."

"The one with the 180mm cannon, just what we need a damn cherry as our support. Here they come."

The jeep pulled up, throwing dirt at me and Fucth. Of course, they'd send my sister: Captain. Kelly Lea Kelty, commander of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Our hair and eye color are the same but that's it, she resembles Dad's side of the family and I resemble my mother's side. "Hey little bro, this belong to you?"

"Unfortunately yes, do I have to sign for her?"

"No, just don't get her killed." What hoped out of the jeep shocked me. She couldn't be no older than 17, and she was a small thing to. She is almost too cute for war. Brown eyes, brown hair with a pixie haircut, frail build and a pale completion, she looks nothing like a fighter.

"Name and rank."

"Ensign Marla Suzanne Darden and you?"

What the? She must have skipped the lesion on how to behave around those of higher rank. "Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Nicholas Kelty Jr., but everyone calls me Lowe, except you, you have to earn the right to call me that. Don't ask that again in front of an officer. Alright Miss. Darden, do you have any combat experience?"

"No Sir."

I heard a faint "of course" come from the direction of Lt Fucth's mouth. Darden heard it to.

"Fuck you!" she spat at him.

"Hey! You see these bars on his collar, that means Lieutenant, you treat him like you treat me, understand?"

"Yes, Lt Commander."

Mouthy little thing she is. Why did they put her hear as punishment, why not send her into space? "Well Ensign, welcome to Criss Craft, this used to be a factory that build boats in the 1980's but was abandoned in the early nineties. This is our base of operations due to its close proximity to the harbor-."

A great hot blast of air knocked the three of us off our feet. The source of it was a destroyed Xhamel mobile suit that lay smoldering in a fiery heap. "I guess the X's didn't get them all, huh Lowe?"

I know he's my friend but sometimes Andy can be a fucking idiot. "No shit, captain obvious, you think! Darden, you ok?"

"Yes Sir, but what the hell was that?"

"That was a mega particle cannon. It came from a Reich firebase somewhere on the other side of Lake Mac. It's the reason why we haven't moved out in the last day and are camped in Holland Township."

"Lieutenant Commander Kelty, front and center!"

A voice that mean and gruff can come from only one person: Commander Martian Thomas, the Commanding officer of 1st Battalion. He's a veteran of both Gulf wars and did a tour of Afghanistan in 2002. He was also the second mobile suit ace (my Dad was the first). It's rumored that in the First Gulf War he destroyed two entire Iraqi air bases and almost captured Saddam in 91, but the Earth Federation stopped him short. He denies it, but the men like to think he did. Anyway, to keep it short, he's one mean mother fucker on the battlefield and takes no prisoners. His ace title is Old Ironsides.

"Commander Thomas Sir!"

"At ease Lieutenant Commander, I want you and your team to attack the IR firebase and destroy the mega particle cannons that are stopping us from advancing to Bridge 198 to the east. Your team will attack from the air and surprise the base, is that clear?"

"Yes sir, but with all due respect, we just got a newbie and she might not be ready for com-."

"Don't care, if she dies, oh well."

"And if we all die, sir"

He looked at me, "I can always get more pilots. Be careful tonight, word is your old friend "The Wolfe" is in the area. Good luck."

The last thing I wanted to hear was that The Wolfe was possibly in the area.

"Fucth, go back to the tent and get the men up, I'll explain when I get back. And tell someone to go clean up and fix the Xhamel!"

"Yes sir!"

He turned in the direction of the team's tent and left me and Ensign Darden alone. "Alright Ensign, follow me, I'll take you to your mobile suit."

It wasn't a long walk, but the quite made it seem long, and before I knew it we were at the mobile suit hanger, a dark orange Zaku II looking at me.

"This is your suit, a MS-06 Zaku II, built to handle the kick of its 180mm cannon. It also has four Vulcan cannons in its head. Now, go get some food and come back to the tent, then we'll test you in your suit, understood?"

"Yes sir."

She saluted and walked away. Then a weird feeling fell over me, a feeling I haven't felt since my first time in battle: fear. What if we do all get killed? Commander Thomas did say The Wolfe was in the area. Fuck, all I can do is hope that the team (and Ensign Darden) are ready for a suicide mission, because that's what this is.