Chapter 1: Phantoms of the Past part 2
The hangar was originally used by the Federation prior to the Crossbone Vanguard uprising, since then it was acquired by a property manager who then donated it to Hennah Kenloch as a thanks for her help in the redevelopment of their home city of Sierra Vista. Since then Altan and his fellow mobile suit enthusiast friends made it their workshop. Their current project is a relic of the past given to them as a challenge to test their mechanical prowess.
A group of four all around Altan's age waited impatiently against the bay doors waiting for their friend who had the key to the doors. They looked up to the sound of gravel crunching against tires and the quiet hum of an electric engine, the motorcycle's rider dismounted then walked toward them as he removed his helmet.
"Where have you been!?" One of the men exclaimed.
"Didn't anyone teach you lot patience?" Altan remarked as he pulled the keys from his pocket. He proceeded to the other side of the hangar and unlocked the door allowing them all entrance into the enormous, and weathered building. Inside was a plethora of computers, digital diagrams with layouts of the machine they worked tirelessly to complete, various tools, jumpsuits and safety equipment. But the true object of attention was the large flatbed trailer occupied by their project, covered by tarps.
Right away the group put on a mechanic's jumpsuit, each one fit over their everyday clothes and was very well ventilated. The young woman walked over to the panel box and pushed a switch upward which activated the ceiling lights, one by one the fluorescents came on giving them ideal lighting for their workspace.
"Allegro, boot up the diagnostic kiosk and hook it up to the suit's computer, make sure the cockpit hatch isn't locking up." The taller young man said as he and Altan climbed onto the trailer.
"Got it!" Allegro said with much excitement, as he put on his heat resistant gloves, then grabbed the equipment from the workbench to his left.
"Jobi? Where's the fluid pulse checker?" The young woman asked as she looked frantically for the tool she needed.
"Have you checked the box?" He asked in turn.
"Nevermind! Found it!"
Altan smiled and shook his head at the antics of his good friends as they all scramble to get started on the finishing touches to what they have under the tarps. He and Jobi then began to remove the tarps starting first with the end furthest from the entrance, after they removed all the nylon and kevlar sheets, revealed was a mobile suit from the One Year War, one used by the Principality of Zeon. The mobile suit was a Zaku, one customized for an ace pilot. It's red armor beautifully restored by the group of friends. Though it was over one hundred years old the work it needed was fairly minimal considering it's pedigree, one that dates back to one of the most chaotic times in human history.
Every single time before they start the day to work on the red Zaku, they pause in awe of this tangible piece of history, but the one seemingly drawn to it the most was Altan, he stepped up onto the upper body and peered at the monoeye sensor then kneeled to examine the vulcans in it's chest. He felt the rifling in the barrels and much to his and Jobi's surprise, powder residue came off on his finger tips.
"Why does this Zaku always feel so familiar to me?" Altan felt himself slipping into a daze as he began to hear the sounds of his surroundings and his freinds' words began to fade as the sounds of battle, the sounds of mega particle cannons firing, and violent explosions rang in his ears, then an image of the same Zaku flash before his eyes it's monoeye glowing fiercely. As fast as the image appeared, it disappeared as Jobi's hand touched his shoulder bringing him back to reality.
"Altan? Are you alright?" Jobi asked out of genuine concern.
"Yeah, sorry I spaced out for a second." Altan said anxiously.
"Like the last thousand times?" Allegro said with a scoff.
The group laughed off the situation and continued to finalize the restoration of the Zaku, Altan however thought back to the recurring mental images and dreams that plagued him since his childhood and wondered if he was on the verge of madness.
Simultaneously two men observed the activity at the Garland base from one of the observation towers through binoculars, one was a tall man roughly 35 years old the other was a man of average height and around the same age, they were guarded by a Federation Forces sharpshooter, a sign of their rank especially for the tall man who wore a suit instead of a military uniform.
"It's obvious what's happening, with the attack on Belfast, MHA are nagging general staff head quarters for further authority... You can tell with the number of their specialized mobile suits against the number of Gun-EZs. They plan to take command of this outpost as a starting point..." The man in a highly decorated officer's uniform said as he observed on at the black and blue mobile suits brought in one by one and the trailer trucks leaving single file.
"What can the attack and MHA be linked?" The man in the suit asked the soldier.
"It's possible, at this point nothing can be ruled out. But I believe they had a hand in instigating the attackers, those cloaked mobile suits are a clear indication of the idea of antagonism on their part."
"So, if MHA are trying to start a war. What is their to gain from it?"
The soldier looked back at his obviously inexperienced colleague with a cleaver smirk on his face.
"Everything... Those who control the Federation government, control it all... Admiral Ezra Koenig took over MHA knowing full well what he wished to do with it, and that's to prove our regular forces are incompetent. To that end the prime minister will grant them military authority."
"But before that can happen, the members of the cabinet must approve of appointing them emergency power." The man countered the soldier's theory.
"Unless, the Admiral was to coerce the prime minister into declaration of martial law..."
With that said the man's confidence and optimism fled him.
"Which is why I called you here Vice Chairman... I'd like you to observe the behavior of all MHA operatives and their commanders. Isn't that part of your job as head of Federation Forces public relations?" The vice chairman looked at the soldier with surprise and reacted as if a major secret was exposed to the world.
"No one is supposed to know I'm here... Unless advised by general staff head quarters otherwise." He said quietly as he clenched the soldier's shoulder, much to the displeasure of the man with far more experience with military matters than the vice chairman.
"You didn't hear me... Right petty officer?" He asked the sharpshooter with a tone in his voice that sounded friendly but an right minded soldier would know that it meant 'say one word and i'll personally kill you!' .
"N-No sir!" The sharpshooter said nervously, his eyes hidden by goggles but his expression was still stark.
"Good, at ease petty officer." The nameless soldier said as he placed his black baret upon his head, covering his black hair which had traces of gray, a proud symbol of his experience. "Gentlemen, I guess I'll make my way down and greet our new recruits... No need for an escort." He then made his way down the stairs to exit the tower and out into the open.
"Very interesting man that one is..." The vice chairman commented.
"Need me to contact the guard to escort you vice chairman Stefan?" The rifleman inquired.
"No need, I was supposed to be meeting with Rear Admiral Kitsune Mizoguchi, but it seems that he's running late..." The soldier looked at chairman Stefan with confusion, then pointed out the window at the man he just talked with.
"You just did sir." He commented.
Perplexed, the vice chairman looked at the nameless soldier, now confirmed to be the officer he was supposed to meet with.
"His name suits him, Kitsune is Japanese for fox isn't it?"
"I guess so sir." Stefan looked on as Commodore Riordan and another officer salute the rear admiral. Amused by his eccentricity, but admired his ability to change when the time calls for it, at first he dawns the guise of a cheerful jester, then sheds the shroud to reveal a beast, a predator quietly stocking it's prey.
Suddenly an enormous shadow was cast upon the base capturing the attention of all personnel on the grounds, even some leaving the hangar and the barracks, every man and woman on base gazed at the sky to see the source of the shadow.
"She's finally made it..." Kitsune said to himself. Stefan with his fedora on and coat collar up to conceal himself walked up to him struggling to keep his hat on as he looked up in awe at the sight hovering overhead.
"Rear Admiral is that!?" Stefan asked as the roar of an engine grew louder.
"Yes vice chairman, that's the new warship, Pegasus Neo... It's captained by a hero from the Zanscare war." Stefan looked at Kitsune and then back to the ship as it's landing gears deployed readying for contact with the earth.
"I've heard rumors about her... But that's all."
"Great woman, at times she's hard to work with, but she's earned her stubborness. A survivor of the second worst conflict in history. Marbet Fingerhat."
The afternoon came in swiftly, after a long day of running the final tests on the red mobile suit Altan was ready to end his day and anticipate the days to come leading to the test flight of the Zaku. After returning to the hotel, he took off his helmet and began walking to the doors, only to kick an empty beer bottle much to his annoyance there were a few more strewn about. He sighed at the sight and continued onward, until he bumped into a female MHA operative causing Altan to drop his helmet and the sold to drop her duffle bag.
"I'm so sorry!" She said with a kindness he has never found in any MHA officers he had dealt with.
"No worries, let me get that for you." Altan returned the kindness. The young woman caught a glance at Altan then gazed at him longer to get a good look at his face.
"Altan?" She called him by name, seeking confirmation from the young man. He looked up at the soldier and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Yes?"
She smiled brightly at his revelation and nearly lost her ability to contain her excitement. She took off her baret to better explain herself.
"It's me, Tiria Brenland!" Altan gazed at her in silence.
"We used to play together as kids!" He gazed longer at her, not from lack of memory rather a realization of how many years have passed so quickly, that his childhood friend had grown up to be a woman, and to his viewing pleasure, an attractive one.
"You don't remember me..." She remarked in disappointment.
"Of course I remember you Tiria, just... It's been ten years since I last heard from you."
Both shared a smile as they stood up and smiled at each other, Altan carrying her bag, and Tiria holding his helmet. They looked each other over as they seen the result of the past decade. What soon caught his attention was her rank insignia, one bold bar and three diamond shaped gold pieces placed across the bar, indicating the rank of Lieutenant.
"Wow, so you're a ranking officer?" He asked, thoroughly impressed by his old friend's accomplishments.
"Yeah, right after I graduated from the academy, I was recruited by MHA." She said with an emanate blush beginning to fill her cheeks. "And for nine months, I've been on mission after mission."
"No kidding?" He commented as they continued to walk to the hotel entrance, they entered the doors and walked toward the counter where Altan's co-worker was talking with another woman. Tiria looked around at the hotel lobby and the memories of childhood flooded her being with joy before stopping at the she stopped at the antique furniture in the lounge area and pressed her hand onto the plush upholstery of the ottoman and with that she smiled and looked at Altan who likewise smiled at the moment she had in gentle reflection.
"Just the way I remembered it... It's great to be back..."
"Thomas Nguyen? I believe he is in room 208, may I ask who you are ma'am?" She asked the woman with dyed red hair, dressed in bohemian styled clothing.
"Magaela Nguyen, his wife. I just wanted to check on him..." She in a seemingly genuine tone as she gave the young woman a warm smile.
"Oh of course ma'am let me call his room for you." She picked up the receiver to the desk phone and dialed the attachment to room 208 and waited for an answer. "Huh... No answer.."
"That's alright, I'll find him, that was room 208 right?" Lieutenant Commander Magaela said as she proceeded upstairs to the second floor.
"Ma'am wait!" She scrambled as she tried in vain to follow her up with the extra key. She groaned in frustration at the stubborness of the woman.
She turned to see Altan and Tiria at the front desk talking, she then was overcame with a burning envy over the girl that had the attention on the object of her affections, however she kept calm and made her way over to the duo with a welcoming smile.
"Hey Altan! Who's your friend!?" She said with a false cheerfulness in her voice.
"I'm Tiria, nice to meet you miss.." She politely introduced herself.
"Rose Christoph." She said boldly to Tiria who smirked at her obvious attempts of asserting herself. A cloud of tension formed as the two young women met eyes in a mental showdown.
"Rose?" Altan called to her cautiously attempting to break the focus of the ill-tempered redhead.
"Yes Altan?" Immediately her mood shifted back to a kind, even jovial state.
"Could you please book Tiria a room?"
"Oh! Certainly! Right this way." The three then proceeded with Altan and Tiria following behind the much too eager Rose.
"Sorry... She gets this way sometimes." Altan said quietly to his old friend trying to assure her and at the same time defend his co-worker.
"Don't be, I can tell she's a discerning manager." She said with a smile.
On the second floor of the building, Magaela looks at every room number until quickly arriving at her stop, room 208. She taps on the door to no avail. She knocked louder in an attempt to get the attention of her husband just beyond the door, again met with failure. Her third attempt involved sharp blows to the door with the side of her tightly clenched fist which was met with loud grumbles and shuffling on the other side of the hardwood door.
"I'm coming damn it!" The man's voice grew louder as he approached the door.
Magaela crossed her arms as she awaited her husband at the door way she leaned against.
"Who the hell is it!?" He said through the cracked door.
"Who do you think? Dumb ass!"
She smirked at the sound of him hitting the floor echoed in the room, he then quickly and comically stammered to his feet and opened the door to his calm yet still annoyed spouse. He emerged from his dark room wearing a navy blue tank top, and a pair of pajama pants, his chest lightly peppered with body hair. His long, messy, black hair partially covered his green eyes; his goatee better kept than he himself. Despite not having pilot a mobile suit in five years, Thomas Nguyen was well trimmed and in shape, however he may yet be conditioned enough to pilot again.
"Hey! H-Hows it going babe!?" He grinned as he beheld the vision of his estranged wife who mothered his three children.
"You haven't changed at all Lieutenant Junior Grade..."
"Why so formal?" He said as she walked past him to enter his room, to the smell of burning incense sticks, a half empty bottle of Wild Turkey on the table, and numerous photos of he, Magaela, their children, and older military photos all across the area showing her that though they drifted from each other for two years, he still cared for his family. However trauma from the battlefield took a toll on his psyche and left him to deal with the stress and depression in his own way.
She moved a stray news paper from his chair and sat down crossing one leg over the other.
"Sit down." She said in a stern authoritative tone.
"Well, so demanding!" He quipped, at the expense of her no nonsense veil and followed up with a scoff.
She gazed at him in a way that he realized, she didn't have time for shenanigans or his usual brand of humor. His smile quickly melted away knowing that her expression was that of dire straits, he looked both directions of the hallway then locked the door as quick as he possibly could. He sat at the foot of his bed facing her and leaned close to assure her that he was listening to what she had to say.
"What's the problem?" He noticed that she rubbed her temples from the stress of the situation the Federation was currently in, automatically he feared the worst, that their children were in grave danger.
"The kids!?" He began to panic.
"The kids are fine, if they weren't I wouldn't be as composed... I'd be sitting next to you in a miserable heap.." Thomas sighed loudly in relief knowing their three offspring were safe from harm, still at the childcare facility at Cheyenne.
"Then what is it?"
Magaela's expression changed to that of one he had seen once before, in times of battle she always gave an gaze of cold intensity, that very few had seen, one that earned her the climb in ranks and the repute of an ace pilot.
"Magaela?" Knowing what might be coming, that same intensity reflected in his own eyes, the soldier he once was, had began to awaken through his semi-neglected veneer.
The dining area was filling with the guest and tenets of the hotel as the evening sets in and the air began to cool, Altan was sitting at the bar with Tiria who changed into her casual wear, a pair of sneakers, a blue t-shirt that fit her small frame nicely and black shorts, they talked about the past decade and caught up to speed with each other as they drank a glass of ice water together and listened in on the merriment of the guest, including the drunken levity between the MHA officers and regular Federation troops, all participating in talks of ventures with the younger female population in Sierra Vista, much to the chagrin of some of the guest listening in to their vulgarity, many took their leave before food could be served. One soldier in particular began to wear on Altan as he listened in on his ceaseless babel.
"Yeah! I looked at her... Pulled her close!" He pulled Rose close to him to initiate a demonstration of could only be described as unacceptable behavior to any person much less a teenage girl of which he bragged about her looks the entire time he was there.
"Hey! Cut it out!" Rose shouted in displeasure.
"Then I looked her right in her eyes." She looked into his blue eyes and took enough of a look to see that on the surface he was a handsome man, brown hair dyed blonde, facial hair just on the chin, attractive all around. But within him, was a sexist, overbearing and arrogant man.
"Then I gave her a nice little squeeze!" With that he firmly grabbed her bottom. Leading to a sharp slap from Rose across his face.
"Screw yourself shit for brains!" Rose's appropriate alias for the soldier made, not only he and his party fall silent, but everyone still present in the dining room.
"Oh well... You win some you lose some!" The soldier's comment lead to he and the other MHA officers sitting with him to erupt into echoing laughter. "Hey red! Why don't you bring us some more beer!?" Rose turned to Altan and Tiria and mouthed the soldier's statement in a mocking gesture and slammed a pitcher down under the tap and began to fill it with the amber ale.
"Nah nah! None of that dog piss! Bring us your best!" He shouted as he continued his mindless banter with his peers. Earning a glare of pure loathing from Rose, Altan gave his own gaze of disapproval to the boorish soldier.
"That's enough Ensign Patrick!" Tiria barked at her subordinate.
"My apologies Lieutenant!" He said followed by a salute as insincere and empty as his apologetic comment.
She sighed and looked at Altan and Rose then shook her head at the embarrassing situation with her comrade.
"I'm sorry, both of you..." She apologized kindly to her friend and his co-worker.
"Next time keep your dog on a leash! Rose exclaimed as she gathered mugs for the present party including Ensign Patrick Caan.
Thomas turned the lights in the room on to better discuss the desperate situation the Federation Forces and their MHA taskforce. The fact that war my break out again has crossed their minds, but maintained the hope that war can be avoidable.
"I can't believe Belfast fell so easily..." Thomas propped his chin on his closed hand as he pondered reconnaissance stills on a paper thin electronic tablet.
"Those photos where taken this morning and sent directly to Commodore Riordan, then sent to me." Magaela stated.
"Death toll?"
"Not sure at the moment, three hundred ninety personnel and only a handful are accounted for. It's suspected that only a quarter of the total census survived..." Unnerved, Thomas tightened his grip on the tablet causing it to wrinkle under his fingers.
"What's more unsettling is the probability... That our own forces had instigated this attack."
Thomas gazed at the tablet once more, and scrolled through the photos before stopping on a zoomed picture of soldiers gathered around a discarded mobile suit sized weapon, a beam machine gun.
"That isn't a BESPA produced weapon... So it's not the Pacific remnants... This looks nothing like I've seen before."
"Remember the raid launched by MHA ten years ago?" Magaela's query caught Thomas's attention as if he was following the same trail of thought she was on.
"The one on Side 3? Yeah, it was a huge scandal."
"The people of Side 3 still hold dear the philosophies of Zeon Deikun, and the leader of Side 3's capital being born on earth didn't understand why the people gathered around the old statue of Deikun. What they were doing, was praying for the day that his ideals would come to pass. This made the officials frightened beyond rational thought. Instead of them sending out local authorities, they went right for the throat, and sent for the Manhunters. Which resulted in civilian casualties..." Thomas looked upon his wife's somber expression as she gazed out his window. She held a shot glass horizontally to symbolize a space colony.
"After MHA finished it's task, they withdrawn from the capital colony without any other word. The dead was left for local authorities to identify and process and that was that. They reported that the gathering was an anti-government protest and began to elevate to a riot and a casualty was reported, so MHA sent two mobile suits and fifty ground troops to pacify it. However when the Federation Forces intelligence bureau investigated the incident, with witness testimony, surveillance footage, and finally numerous autopsy reports. The so called riot never happened, the group proclaimed 'Sieg Zeon' as means of celebration for Deikun's theory. And the damming evidence against MHA, they attacked without warning using live ammunition. Since then they lost jurisdiction of Sides 2, 3, and 5 but disciplinary action was never taken, which infuriated the inhabitants of Side 3."
Magaela placed the glass down and turned with a frustrated sigh. Then sat down once again.
"The Federation Government has no idea what they've gotten themselves into... And they'll take all of us down with them but that would be the price to pay for ignorance." Her words entrapped Thomas which lead him to gaze into the evening sky slowly fading to an orangy hue.
The dining room was sparsely populated and thinking more and more with the increasingly obnoxious behavior of the soldiers, and Altan only looked on with a cold gaze at Ensign Patrick Caan for the two had a history of tension, starting with his constant disrespect, and ill-regard for others. But Altan would grow to despise the Ensign when he behaved inappropriately toward his late mother.
"Hey Altan, I thought we ran a hotel... Not a home for Feddie flunkies!" Rose laughed at her own joke, even engaged Tiria in a laugh, which drawn a smile from Altan.
"Shut up bitch!" The portly soldier shouted with a drunken slur, to the increasingly frustrated Rose. Patrick stammered to his feet as he left to the lobby and soon returned, this time manhandling the antique ottoman.
"Sir your not supposed to have that in here!" Rose shouted demandingly at the Ensign. Not heading the words of the manager he continued to place the footrest parallel to the table in front of the chair he occupied.
"Hey! Asshole! Put the furniture back in the lobby now!" Realizing he wouldn't listen to civilized manner of speaking, Rose resorted to profane retorts to attempt to reason with him, but those words too fell on deaf ears.
"Just wanted to rest my feet! I actually work for a living." As he placed his dusty boots on the ottoman, Altan's gaze shifted to an icy stare, his anger then turned to a quiet rage.
"Hey! How about another round!?" The Ensign shouted, leading his colleagues in a drunken chant. Too far deep in inebriation he bumped his elbow into his half full mug of beer, spilling the alcohol onto the ottoman Altan's mother worked tirelessly to restore, was ruined before his eyes.
At that moment, Altan's hands began to shake in maddening rage, he had enough of the soldiers and their constant disrespect, and was ready to put a swift end to their games.
"Stupid tables are too small!" He remarked. "Hey red! Need a refill!"
Rose then opened a new bottle to serve the obnoxious customer for the only reason being, he paid for the expenses for himself and his team of ignoramuses.
"Hey kid! What's the matter? You act like you're pissed off!" Patrick's comment led the other occupants at the table laugh loudly.
"That's enough Ensign! I mean it!" Tiria attempted to cease up the raving of the MHA soldier by ways of addressing it through Ensign Patrick.
"Altan, I'm sorry. I'll help you clean it." Tiria said politely trying with all her will to bring him out of his frustrated state. He grasped an unopened bottle and an opener then proceeded toward the Ensign.
"Altan calm down! Don't do anything rash!" Rose frantically tried reaching out to him to seemingly no avail.
"Thanks kid I never could hold my liquor!" He chuckled at his own pun as he noticed Altan looking down at the beer soaked ottoman. The noxious fumes of fermented hops and barley filled his nostrils which only elevated his frustration further. He looked back at the Ensign then opened the bottle without his sights leaving the drunkard.
"Hey... No hard feelings right?" He chuckled nervously as he reached for the bottle of ale slowly coming towards him, only to watch as Altan slowly emptied the bottle onto the ensign's lap quickly soaking it.
All eyes watched on, the smirk on Ensign Patrick's face slowly faded to a frown. Rose covered her mouth attempting to hide a smile. Tiria prepared for what is inevitably a foregone conclusion. Patrick's brows furrowed and looked Altan in the eye, preparing to put the young man in his place.
"Alright kid, you have one serious attitude problem!" With no words, Altan quickly shattered the glass bottle over the Ensign's left cheek. Lacerating his skin.
"God damn! You bastard! You ruined my face!" Before he could finish speaking, Altan planted his booted foot in the Ensign's face making him fly backward in his seat. The brawl quickly elevated with the others getting up from their seats to aide the outmatched ensign.
"You got a death wish or something? You punk!" The portly soldier squeezed Altan's shoulder tightly, earning only a wide and furious gaze. Altan's blue eyes when in anger had an intensity that could cut through ones soul, a frightening sight to anyone who would cross with the otherwise kind, reserved, and confident young man.
"He's not human!" The soldier thought to himself as he then felt a radiating pain in his belly region to see that the young man rammed his elbow sharply into his abdomen, causing him to stumble back and void his bladder. Ensign Patrick then stammered his way up, blood dripping from the gash to his cheek, wobbly from a mixture of over drinking and the kick to his mouth.
"Get out, NOW!" Altan demanded, standing firm and tall waiting for anything that may come of the conflict.
"You gonna make me you little shit!?" He raised his hands in fisticuffs ready to end the squabble.
Both Magaela and Thomas walked the hall past the preceding rooms and approached the stairs during the debriefing they felt the aches of hunger and decided to join other guest in the dining area.
"After you m'lady." Thomas exaggerated a curtsey to allow his wife down the stairs before him earning a light laugh from Magaela.
"Well aren't you quite the gentleman!" She responded with a false upper class accent. They then proceeded downstairs to the lobby while discussing what steps to take in the coming days.
"Have you contacted Hilde?" He asked.
"She's coming in from Torrington and should be here by tomorrow evening."
"Torrington..." Thomas's recollection of the base in Australia and left a bitter taste in his mouth as the thought of the hot, and dry air, and the intense combat with fending off remaining Zanscare's BESPA forces in that region, and the resulting exhaustion from the countless hours of fighting, the memories to the current day still caused him to shudder. "Thanks but no thanks, no offense to her but, better her than me."
"Well, she seemed very happy with my call... And by the way, prepare for a lecture!" She laughed as they walk toward the front desk only to be met by the wailing of a man thrown from the dining room door way and into a wooden bookshelf which was reduced to splinters upon impact.
"What the hell!?" Thomas exclaimed watching the soldier collide with the shelf and struggle to stand as the young hotel owner steadily approached him.
The Ensign finally able to stand, grasped a piece of the shelf to use as a weapon against his opposition. He raised a war cry before swinging the splintered wood at Altan who managed to dodge every swipe of the crude weapon. Patrick's anger and frustration only lessened his accuracy and strength, even his judgement lapsed as the fight dragged on, he finally raised the object one last time only to be met with a right hook punch by Altan then a left jab, followed by two more alternating hooks then another jab to his nose bloodying it. Finally Altan finished his assault with a right uppercut yielding the power of a pistol fire, throwing the ensign off his feet and hitting the cold tiled floor.
In the dining room one of Ensign Patrick's companions readied a combat knife to take action against the unknowing Altan. As he prepared to charge after the young man, he felt a dainty hand rest on his shoulder, he turned to see Tiria angered by the situation and most importantly the fact that one of her own allies would willing take the life of a civilian.
"I'm disappointed cadet!" She said with deep shame in her comrades. Then quickly she balled her fist making contact with his nose, dislocating it, and disarming him of his weapon. He lain on his side doubled over in pain as he covered his profusely bleeding nose.
"At ease." Tiria remarked.
She looked over at Rose, who was in a stupor over the young lieutenant's surprising strength.
"Are you alright?" Tiria asked from genuine concern.
"Yeah, I'm not hurt or anything."
Both looked over at Altan who crouched down to grab the same long piece of shelf that Ensign Patrick once wielded.
"Ah Shit!" Rose exclaimed as she quickly left the bar.
"Altan no!" Tiria followed as she arrived to the same conclusion that Rose undoubtedly foreseen.
Battered, bloody, and bruised the ensign slowly raised from his back held up by his knees and elbows. Groaning from pain he tried with his might to see where he was and failed as he was dizzied from the blows to his face. He looked up to see Altan looming over him holding the large fragment of hardwood.
"Had enough yet punk?" Patrick groggily mumbled, in an alcohol driven confusion he believed that he was the one who had the upper hand in the bout.
Saying nothing Altan raised the fragment and delivered a powerful strike to the soldier's upper back, searing pain tore through his false bravado and he belted a scream of torture.
"Altan stop! He's done!" Rose shouted, but her cry fell short.
Altan continued staring down his opponent in a predatory way, his senses clouded by rage. He look upon the nearly split instrument and back at the ensign in a pathetic state, reflecting the true coward he was, Altan recalled the behavior Patrick had displayed toward his late mother, the lude, vulgar innuendos that were projected from his tongue. His eyes widened with yet another pulse of rage and with a growl from his throat he raised the fragmented wood again ready for as many strikes it would take to satisfy the primal urge within his being.
"Stop Altan! STOP IT!" Tiria screamed. "This isn't you! Come back!"
A beam of light finally parted the clouds in Altan's mind, his arm dropped and he released his grip on his weapon, he turned to see Rose and Tiria both shaken by his violent act. Tiria's eyes were glassy from watching her friend in such a frightening sight, the seasoned veteran was fearful for Altan and now scorned for what could have driven him to such a terrible state. He looked to see the damage around him and the witnesses with stunned expressions. Then finally he looked at below and seen Patrick Caan beaten brutally, groaning in agony, he seen a single tear drop stream down his cheek, Altan realized at that moment that he had gone too far.
Tiria approached Altan and embraced him trying to comfort him as he felt the pain of regret fill his core.
"Altan?" She said softly. The light in his eyes returned as he sighed from the distressing moment.
"I'm sorry... I didn't want this to happen..." Altan's voice returned to the deep soothing tone he always shown both Tiria and Rose helped him to the antique chair by the desk, then Rose rushed to get a glass of ice water for Altan. "I don't know what came over me, I promise you I have no clue."
"It's okay Altan. Don't apologize to me, I should apologize to you for my men's behavior." Tiria spoke to him calmly joyful that her friend was himself again.
Thomas and Magaela helped the ensign to his feet and watched as one by one the other soldiers lined up by their injured comrade.
"Lieutenant Commander Magaela! Lieutenant Tiria! I want to see that psycho behind bars!" Ensign Patrick exclaimed. With his statement she delivered a strong slap across his face.
"Ah! God damn it you bitch!" Again the ensign received another strong slap from the increasingly angry lieutenant commander.
"One more word ensign and you'll have insubordination added to your charges!"
"That punk picked a fight with us ma'am! He started it!" The scrawny officer lied blatantly much higher ranked Magaela as he comically covered his broken nose with a bandana.
"Witness testimony will say the contrary cadet!" Tiria shouted as she stood and quickly proceeded to the others. "I'll be back Altan." She said to her troubled friend kindly.
"And might I add drawing a knife to use against a civilian!?" Magaela, and Thomas shot icy glares at the cadet, as he grown abruptly silent, confirming guilt.
"I will file a report in the morning, and I expect that guy to be sent to jail!" He said with bitter contempt for the young man, Altan returned a glare toward the ensign as he held his glass of water.
"A beloved member of the community, and a well respected businessman, and a Federation officer with a highly dubious record, and a history of violent behavior. Plus! You have several witnesses who are more than willing to cooperate with any investigation committee members who have questions for them." Magaela scoffed after hearing Ensign Patrick, after considering the behavior he displayed she called his bluff.
"All of you are to return to base until further notice, understood!?" Magaela barked earning fast response from the soldiers whom quickly stood at attention.
"Ma'am!" They shouted in unison.
"You, all of you! Are a disgrace to the Federation... Now get out of my sight!"
With that the soldiers turned and began to exit the building only to pause when the blackened and bloody Ensign Patrick turned nervously to the three who outranked him.
"How do you suppose we get back!?" He said in a tone of frustration.
"Run back, shit stains!" Magaela shouted in an attempt to assert her rank, which proven fruitful, for one by one they frantically shot through the door way both the ensign and the cadet bump their wounds against the crowd of six MHA officers, crying out in pain as the entirety fled the hotel.
"I thought this was the military, not daycare!" Thomas remarked. Magaela shook her head and smirked at her husband's comment.
"Altan Kenloch?" She called the young man by his name. He looked up at her with a stressful expression.
"You have my full apologies for my ally's inexcusable behavior, disciplinary action will be taken, contrary to the ensign's I assure you will not be held against you." Magaela spoke kindly to Altan as he drank the rest of his water.
"My mother built this hotel from nothing, it was her pride. I will not allow someone no matter who they may be, taking advantage of our hospitality."
"Nor should you." Thomas added.
"Will you be staying lieutenant commander?" Asked Tiria.
"No, I need to get back to base. I have alot to do come morning." Magaela looked at Thomas as he made eye contact with her.
"You coming?" Magaela asked.
"I'll be there in the morning." Thomas quickly answered.
"0900, no later. That should give you time to prepare."
"Yes ma'am!" He said coyly with a salute.
"Lieutenant Commander." Tiria stated with a salute.
As she grabbed her messenger bag and pulled the strap over her shoulder, Magaela saluted the two and then exited the hotel.
"Still quite the fox!" Thomas said to himself admiring Magaela as she walked to her car.
Night came quickly, with the aide of the clouds that quickly rolled in from the south, thunder echoed in the distance, a sign that a storm was on approach. Altan finished cleaning the ottoman and returned it to it's rightful place. Now, nearly no evidence of the brawl between him and Patrick remained, only a vacant spot where the bookshelf used to be. Now it's remains rest in a waste bin at the back of the building.
"Hey, I'm heading home, are you sure you've got it Altan?"
"Yeah, it's slowing down now."
"I can stay longer if you need me to." She paused as she felt Altan's hand rest on her tense shoulder.
"You've had a rough day, get some rest."
Touched but not surprised by Altan's kindness, her stubborness quickly left her and a smile of appreciation sprawled out on her face lightly freckled face. As she walked out of the rear exit, Rose gave her good-night to the cook then closed the door behind her.
Altan returned the cleaning supplies to the supply room and locked the door officially ending his day, exhausted from helping with maintenance on the Zaku and the conflict with the ensign he proceeded upstairs to the third floor and walked the hallway at a steady pace. He glanced ahead to see Tiria her hair wet and messy, and a towel draped over her shoulders she was now wearing a black tank top and a pair of salmon colored very short length shorts with black stripes. Her figure caught his eye and reminded him that they weren't the children they used to be, that she too bared the charms and 'assets' of a woman.
"Hey Altan, just finished?" She asked with the same warm smile that she had shown him the entire time since reuniting.
"I helped close the kitchen down, cleaning mom's ottoman luckily didn't take up too much time." He smiled through his fatigue at his dear friend who periodically checked back on him ever since the fight. "Need anything before I head to my room?"
"Nah, I was just walking around, my legs tend to get restless from time to time."
"What time do you go back to the base?" He asked curiously.
"Not for a while, I'm on shore leave." She answered gleefully the time she spent on active duty made her a bit over eager for a short time for rest.
"Well, I'm glad I'll get to see you for a a good while at least." They both smiled warmly. Hearing Altan's words provoked a firm hugging embrace from Tiria, much to his surprise.
"I missed you, for ten years I missed you and this place. I only wish I got to see Hennah before she."
"I know, she would've loved to see you again too." Altan quickly countered her statement as they broke their embrace.
" Good night Tiria." He said kindly.
"Good night Altan." She replied.
As they walked in opposite directions, both felt a lingering warmth left behind by their touch. Altan walked a short distance before arriving to his room, the plate on his door read -owner-. He unlocked the door and entered without hesitation, he stared at his bed with tired eyes, after taking off his boots he fell hard onto the bed and thrashed about to find a position he could lay in to ease into comfort. He finally lain on his back then turned to gaze at the photo of he and his mother celebrating his early graduation from high school.
"Good night mom..." He said quietly before turning off his desk lamp. He looked out the window as the rumble of distant thunder drawn closer by the moment, he turned on his side facing the window. He sighed from frustration then slowly drifted off to slumber.
The mountain ranges luminated from the flashes of lightning the echoing thunder amplified by the vallies and leaves of the trees swayed gently in the wind. Slowly drop by drop the rain made its attendance in this concert orchestrated by Gaia herself, hidden in the shadows of the mountains, three giant figures became exposed by the lightning, the wind caused the cloth like cloaks to lightly flutter, the giants were mobile suits. Another three slowly walked toward the others. The forward facing machine rest it's manipulator hand against the enormous rock which dwarves even mobile suits. The cloaked mobile suit peaked around to gain a clear view, the panoramic monitor had given generations of pilots more of an edge in combat allowing faster response time. The computer highlighted the dimly lit city of Sierra Vista and automatically assessed the area as non-combative. While the other immensely lit area registered as Garland base, the pilot engaged the zoom of the main camera getting a clear view of the Federation's and their MHA taskforce's new model mobile suits one being the RX-0179 code named March Hare, and just beyond, the newest warship Pegasus Neo. The wind and rain began to pick up generating a howl and the droplets fell heavy upon the land and the metallic giants the flashing lighting revealed that the ghost like machines were ready for battle, the hood of the leading suit began flapping erratically then like in Altan's vision of the red Zaku a single eye sensor glowed brightly harboring a fierce look, the phantasms of the past one hundred years have finally been reborn.
~author's notes~ This concludes chapter 1, sorry for the long drawn out and lack of mobile suit combat, I did this to introduce my original characters and try to work in classic characters. I promise more action in the next chapter. Thanks and again feel free to comment or even message me, and thank you for reading. -t0x
