Getting back around to Alternate Gundam is nice. I like this story and can't wait to see where it goes. Honestly, I've been playing through the next battle in my head since even before I finished Engagement 3. It'll be good to finally get it down on… uh. Not paper. On screen, I guess? Whatever; Engagement 4.
The 1st MS Unit was loaded into yet another transport plane and headed west. They weren't given any time to rest after their long mission. The pilots slept on the short plane ride out over the Pacific Ocean. They weren't told much other than that the Zeons were launching a long range, preemptive strike on the Federation forces outside Seattle. There was an uneasy feeling in the air, and the pilots didn't get much rest. Once the transport landed, the Unit was loaded onto a large transport ship. The travel was beginning to ware down on the pilots as they were still not told what their next mission was. The trip took only a day, but it felt like weeks.
"Just tell us what our next mission is!" Pat snapped at Major Marcan when they finally arrived at a small tropical island. The Major had seemed to be avoiding the pilots to avoid questions about this emergency mission they were supposed to be on. Whether or not that was true wasn't really important; the tension in the air was dangerously thick.
"We've been tracking a Zeon rapid deployment unit since we turned back their attack in the Great Canyon," Marcan said, trying to diffuse the anxiety in the room by just explaining the situation. "A Zeon Gaw Attack Carrier is headed to our forces outside Seattle. We know it's carrying at least three Zaku mobile suits, and is being escorted by a squadron of Dopp fighters." The Gaw was an impressive machine. It was large enough to carry an as of yet undetermined number of mobile, and could carry a large load of bombs to provide close air support. The Federation was having real trouble dealing with the Gaws. Just one more amazing weapon that the Zeons used to hold the massive Earth Federation at bay.
"But how can we stop something like a Gaw?" Ashley asked.
"The GM Gs should be powerful enough to destroy, or at least delay, the Gaw," Marcan told the room. "We have to prevent that strike force from threatening our western North American forces. This isn't just about Seattle. High Command fears that if the Zeon controlled California Base gets any more powerful, it may be used for a staging point for a push to take full control of North America. Or even as a staging point for an attack on Jaburo."
"But the repairs still aren't done!" the head mechanic said in his deep, powerful voice.
"It'll have to do," Marcan dismissed.
"The GM Gs may be able to damage the Gaw," Ken spoke up, "but if we get attacked by any escorting mobile suits, it may not be possible to stop it."
"Look at that! Giving up before the fight's even started!" Holdarin spat.
"We don't know how the GM Gs will hold up against a Gaw," Tommy said, "But this could be a good time to test it."
"Why was this island chosen?" Ken asked, "Is there any kind of air defense system."
"None," reported Marcan. "This island was chosen because it's the only place we can deploy the GM Gs that crossed the Gaw's path before the mainland."
Ken sighed, tossing his head back. "And there'd be no margin for error there. One mistake and the Gaw'd break through."
"This situation is not ideal," Marcan admitted, "but it's the best we can do."
"We have to try," Nicolas said. Everyone tentatively agreed.
There was some discussion on who should fight on the island and who shouldn't. Six GM Gs couldn't fight on that island without getting in their own way. Ken wanted two to ambush the Gaw, one for backup, and the remaining three to return to the mainland should the main team fail. Some felt wasn't enough battle strength, so it was decided to have three mobile suits on the island, one for backup, and the remaining two would head back. Because Holdarin made such as big stink about not wanting to come all this way just to backtrack, he was elected as one of the ambushers. Ken and Pat joined him with Ashley as their backup.
As soon as the mission started, there was total radio silence. Even loudmouthed Holdarin knew to shut up, lest he alert the incoming Zeon strike package. At first it was just a few Dopps in loose formation. They didn't notice the Federation mobile suits hidden in the dense trees. Than something not anticipated burst up from the ocean. A Zaku I leaped onto the beach, scanning the nearby jungle for threats with its single red eye. The Zaku didn't notice the well concealed GM Gs, but it was getting too close for comfort. When the Zaku was only a few dozen yards away, Holdarin opened fire, blasting the Zaku's head to scrap.
"What did you do that for?" Pat barked.
"We were about to be found out!" Holdarin shot back.
"The Dopps'll see it! You can't just blast every problem in your way!" Pat remained unrelenting.
"I took out its transmitters," the bombastic pilot just as stubborn, "Standard procedure! What more do you want?"
"Shut it!" Ken ordered, "Both of you!" Just when the argument halted, Dopps streaked overhead.
Two more Zakus, a Zaku I and a Zaku II, burst from the ocean. Before the Zaku I could react, Pat's GM G grabbed it by the face and dragged it into the trees. From the silence, Ken and Holdarin guessed the Zeon pilot met his end from a beam saber to the cockpit.
Before another thought could creep into Ken's head, he noticed the Zaku II began to train his gun on him. "He made me!" Ken sidestepped even before the Zaku fired, and shot it down. It went up in a huge explosion. Just then a shadow started to creep across the island. The pilots looked to the sky to see the Gaw blotting out the sun.
The GM Gs turned their guns on the huge attack carrier. The rounds impacted the hull of the aircraft, but there was no appreciable damage. To make matters worse, two more Zaku IIs erupted from the water. "Etto! Take out that carrier! We'll hold off the Zakus!" Holdarin declared as he and Pat moved to attack.
Ken instantly formed a plan. He ran up a hill near the center of the island and leapt with all his GM G had. The Gaw's trainable twin cannons behind its cockpit fired on Ken. The shells blasted his carbine to pieces, but he was able to grab on to the Gaw's strong wing. He snatched his beam saber and tossed it the short distance to the Gaw's bridge. It only clipped the target, but it annihilated the enemies' controls. (And the enemy pilots.) The Gaw lurched as it started to descend, causing the GM G's left arm to spark. It must be damaged from the other day, Ken realized in a panic. The GM G lost its grip and slammed into the sea.
The GM G was fished out of the water after the mostly intact Gaw was captured with most of its content undamaged. Luckily the GM G was watertight. Ken's mobile suit was brought onboard an eastbound transport along with the rest of the 1st MS Unit. Ken was dragged out of his cockpit, unconscious and with a dislocated shoulder, but alive. He came to in the ship's infirmary to find the mission was more than a success.
He was supposed to stay in bed, but when Ashley went to check on him that night, he was missing. She found him in the hanger, with the mobile suit he had been piloting that day. The one he'd been piloting since training. "What are you doing?" she asked up at him. Ken was doing something to his GM G's shoulder armor.
Ken lowered himself to the gangplank. "Going to bed," he moaned sleepily, just brushing past her.
She huffed at his behavior. Sometimes Ken could really get on her nerves. But when she looked at the GM G's shoulder, she couldn't help but smile. On it was a freshly painted crest of a blue owl.
This was fun to write and I think it turned out to be one of my better chapters. Of course, between my procrastination and my crazy schedule lately, it's going up Friday night (again!), but I've got time to spare.
