Disclaimer: RANMA ½, TENCHI MUYO, ROBOTECH, BABYLON 5, STAR TREK, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM, GUNDAM SEED, I Don't own them so please don't Sue me if I mess around with them.
Chapter 3
"Meetings"
SDF-2 Prometheus
Asteroid 7 Delta,
L3
The Next Day
Where Heliopolis once stood, an Agamemnon-class ship the EAS Lexington under Captain John Sheridan pass by the colony ruins after receiving a communiqué from Admiral Saotome to meet with him there.
Sheridan was very much excited when he received their message, and so he quickly traveled to the designated meeting place the Admiral specified. Upon his Arrival at Asteroid 7 Delta, he and his crew have found themselves among Giants who travels the stars like Gods.
The Prometheus, with two Heracles class Command Cruisers, five Gloria battleships, three Ark Royal and ten Corvettes and fifteen Europa class Destroyers.
Thirty-six ships and all, is what they see and it was scaring them, especially those Giant Ships with big guns, not to mention that their Radar is not picking them up, which means the vessels has a sophisticated stealth system of some sort.
Only by visual can they see them, unless they went to cloak.
As they went near to them, Sheridan can see that their formation is a sphere protecting the center, no doubt that its their flagship though its not as big as the Heracles-class command cruisers flanking it as well as those aircraft carriers like they'd be at home in the sea than in space.
His XO Susan Ivanova, a new face among the original twelve is looking at a fleet of ships not EA, ZAFT or even ORB. When Sheridan told her that they were going to meet some old friends, as they deviated from their mission plans, but she never expected this.
"Are they Aliens captain?" she asks him worriedly the other crewmembers just laugh a little in amusement.
"Oh they are quite human; they are…our cousins from of town"
"Cousins"
"Yes Cousins, from out of town" he repeated
That explanation was not exactly clear to Ivanova, it's making him abit suspicious, and what the first came in mind was.
"Are they Coordinators?" she ask
"No, they are not!" he exclaimed, "Commander Ivanova I know you are new on this and I don't have time to explain, but you have to trust me on this Ok" he told her
The Lexington slowly maneuvered to spacedock at the Yamato as it once did 2 years ago. At under the Yamato, the Agamemnon class ship vertically docks at one of the bay as tractor beams maneuvers the ship inside.
Once docked, Sheridan and his crew disembark, and there stood an awaiting friend.
"Captain Sheridan, welcome aboard the Yamato, good to see you again old friend" he greeted him and Sheridan returns the greeting.
"The feeling is mutual Old Friend" Sheridan took his hands of friendship,
"So, Is this what I think it is, First Contact?" he ask guessing
"No, not yet John, as you and I have much to talk about and much to plan on"
14 Days Later
Washington D.C.
Former Atlantic Federation Capital is quiet tonight. For nearly 5 days, the Capital is being overwhelmed by protest demanding the resignation of the President, and the Senators accused of bribery, then by the sixth day the President and the Joint Chiefs evacuated the Capital to the Earth Alliance Arzachel Moon base. Among them are members of the Senate implicated on corruption as well as EAF Officers accused of being members of Blue Cosmos, as mobs of hundreds of people descended on them like angry crows.
It became more dangerous when Journalist, Investigators, and other people started to verify the data themselves and found them quite accurate. The Logos group is in an even worst situation, when they started to flee from their homes, they watch their companies burned to the ground by mobs of angry people, some of whom are relatives and families of Earth Force soldiers and civilians who died in the war. They blame Logos for their love ones death's.
EA Public Relations tried to blame it on Coordinators interference and that is a ZAFT front, but nobody believes their accusation, as they cannot prove that it is true.
When the President and his Staff was evacuated, EA troops began to move into the Capital and began dispersing the Protesters, forcibly as it was demanded as their president ordered.
5 days after the president left David Sheridan was appointed Governor of Washington D.C.
Today, at a New England home Jonathan Sheridan EA ambassador to ORB, is now the New Governor of Washington D.C.
As it seems, the president officially transferred the capital on the moon and made Washington D.C. as just another state, and appointed David Sheridan as Governor.
David Sheridan, whom at times, voices his distaste to let a known Blue Cosmos member 'Murata Azrael', is allowed to command the Earth Forces, and certain critical remarks caused him trouble.
His career suffered from his comments, that very much ended him to be assigned to god-forsaken places as did his Son John, and at the end of the first Cosmic War, he was assigned to ORB as his government needed a non-confrontational ambassador and it seems that ORB like him better than the last one.
Now as Governor of a former Alliance Capital, Jonathan pleads to the populace to remain calm, as the Executive Branch of the Government have been transferred on the Moon and a new Local Government is in charge.
The public calmed down a bit, as essential public utilities began to return to service and today he's hosting a private meeting with two representatives of two countries, Orb, PLANTs, and an also a special guest.
ORB's Representatives is led by Reverend Malchio, and the PLANTs Representatives is led by Former Chairwoman Eileen Canaver. Both people were specifically invited by Governor Sheridan himself, as they are the most open-minded people he knows since his stay at Orb.
They gathered at a secluded place, away from prying eyes as Jonathan talks to them while warming themselves at the fireplace.
"My friends I thank you for coming here from my invitation Rev. Malchio, Eileen thank you" respectfully he gave them a short bow and they return the gesture
Just beside Rev. Malchio bodyguard and the Rev. Aide, Kira Yamato.
"Well now that we are here in secret Jonathan, what is this all about" Eileen ask
"Yes, tell us old friend" the Rev. Malchio said the same
"Well…" he breath deeply and exhaled as to prepare himself in telling them
"Let me start by Introducing to you, Major Char Aznerbal, of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces of the UN Spacy"
Stepping before them is a man with blond hair and a mask that Eileen felt eerily similar to that despicable Rau Le Crueset. That man threw gasoline to an open flame that turns into a firestorm during the last days of the war, and now she is facing another 'Man in the Iron Mask' so to speak.
She was not the only one though, Kira felt the Shiver when he saw him but he is definitely not Rau, yet he feels such a radiating Aura of Strength and Confidence from him that is abit intimidating as they listen to him.
"Good evening, in behalf of my Commander and The United Nations Earth Government, I extend a hand of friendship and peace to you and your people in the hopes of a better tomorrow for all of us"
"The United Nations Earth Government? There is no such thing," Eileen said
"Yes, but not on this Earth but in another" he responded
For two whole hours, Char told them about the REF, the UN Spacy, and their mission coming from one Earth to another which was bit hard to swallow even from Jonathan.
"Let me get this straight" Eileen is reading the PADD she's been given "You're from another Earth, a duplicate Earth like ours"
"Actually we don't know who is a duplicate Earth since we found two more in the four corners of the Galaxy"
"T-two more Earth" she look at him suspicious of his claims, she turns Sheridan
"David this a hoax, you can't be serious that you would believe this" she said doubtingly
"To be honest Eileen, I said the same thing to my son when he told me this so I ask for proof, and believe me Eileen, the proof they have shown me is something you cannot ignore"
"And what proof is that Jonathan?" the Rev. ask suspiscious
"Well its just outside" he answered
"Outside?"
The house is situated near a lake, when they came here; they felt an eerie quietness of the surrounding that was abit unnerving like something very heavy is in the air.
John and Char led the delegates back to their limo and Char told them
"Follow us when we are inside" he told them and Char pointed at the light from an entrance where a ramp way is extended to the ground Ms. Canaver could not believe what she is seeing as did the other's
"Eileen what is it?" Rev. Malchio asks as he felt a warm breeze touch his face.
"I don't know Rev.," she said and somewhat scared seeing a doorway, to where she has no Idea, even Kira was scared of what is happening.
"Don't be alarmed Ms. Canaver, there's nothing to be afraid of" Char said assuredly of their safety
"You needed proof, well then, you are about to get it"
The 3 Limo entered the doorway of the proof, when they were in they were joined by a police escort as they entered an area, a residential area, an arch above the street says 'Welcome to Macross II City' complete with a holographic night sky with the look and feel of a city itself.
Char rides with Ms. Canaver and Rev. Malchio and explaining where they are now
"You are actually inside an SDF-2 Megaroad class starship, with a population of over one hundred thousand people maximum, primarily this ship is both a Battleship and Migration ship combined, however, this you see is nothing compared the other city we are heading"
They continued towards the other end of the city at a wall with a name on it
'Welcome to Prometheus City'
"Were now entering the Jewel of the SDF-2 Prometheus, and unlike Macross II City, Prometheus City boasted a population of one 900 thousand people"
Upon entering the section of the Subspace Environment, Ms. Eileen and her people is in awe at what they are seeing, an Area as big as continent maybe even bigger than the PLANTs, yet they can't tell how really big the place is as they are bit distracted being tourist right now.
Char brought them to the Admirals Mansion, Eileen and the others keep looking all around them with so much question coming into their mind, Eileen's body felt the urge to throw up which she did the moment she got off the car
"Are you alright Ms. Canaver?" Char ask her worriedly
"Yes, yes I'm fine," she replied "It's Just too much for me to take that everything here is really real"
Eileen picks herself up and getting her composure back she look to him and nodded to him
"I'm ready now" she said Char nodded
They are brought in to meet the Commander of the Robotech Expeditionary Forces, who is in conversation with Captain John Sheridan as they talk under a Gazebo as they about the Refit of the Lexington
"So by the time we head back to Space, the Lexington Refit will be finish" then someone called their names
"John, Ranma!"
Both of them look towards a group of people heading towards them. Ranma recognizes Rev. Malchio, the Former PLANTs Chairman Eileen Canaver and David Sheridan, John's father. And also, one other person he recognized but not known publicly. He grins at the person he recognizes
'Kira Yamato, well this is a surprise'
David step forward and introduces the others to Ranma
"Admiral Ranma Saotome, this is Rev. Malchio of ORB, the Former PLANTs Chairman Eileen Canaver,"
"And Ensign Kira Yamato, pilot of the X-105 Strike Gundam and ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam" he added that very much such surprise Kira as he came face to face with a young man no older than he is and being called an Admiral.
Ranma look towards the others, and have confused and curious look on their faces
"You are the Admiral?" Eileen asks and Ranma bowed a little to her in response. She look at him, and sees only a 16 years old boy, in an officers uniform like Char except for the studs on his shoulder and front left side are different as they are the rank of Admiral.
"But you're no more than a kid" she commented and it pretty much gave John, David and Char snicker at that, Ranma just sigh in hearing the same observation comments over and over again.
"Ms. Canaver," Ranma said to her "I may look like 16 years old but I'm actually 44, chronologically speaking of course"
"You're 44 years old? But," looking at him carefully
"Long story, which is not the Subject topic that we are here to discuss right now, Char"
"Sir" he straightened
"I'll handle this now, go to CIC and help Bernard, he may need your help"
"Yes Sir"
Char left them to talk and headed back to the SDF-2 CIC Bridge. Meanwhile on the Bridge, Scott Bernard and a few officers is watching several blips, or two groups of blips on from the north the other is the south and they have been identified as Mobile Suits. Scott Regarded for a moment before returning to see the two incoming haven't turn away.
"Char we got a problem" Scott told him "We have two Incoming groups and is headed this way"
They identified the groups coming "The Gaia, Abyss and Chaos, 16 Jet Windams and 22 Jet Daggers L coming from south, southeast 55 miles confirmed, heading north northwest" another officer a female confirms the other group.
"The Impulse, 2 Zaku, 15 BABIs, 10 DINNs and 10 GOUFs and looks like there are 5 VTOL Troop Transport following from behind at north, northwest at 70 miles confirmed, heading south southeast"
"On a direct course to us, both EA and ZAFT forces" normally they would be alarmed right now, but 78 Mobile Suits no matter how impressive they are can't hurt their ship with a Mecha compliment of a thousand VFs and Destroids not to mention a very lethal defense and offensive systems.
"Do you think they are coming here for us?" Char ask Scott and he shook his head
"No, I don't think so" he answered
"But it is most likely they are after our guest, but then if they are after us, then they should have brought more Mobile Suits if they really know who they are dealing with" he said
"Should we tell the Admiral?"
"No, we will handle these ruffians ourselves," he opens a channel at the Launching bay "Judah we have ZAFT incoming, at NNW, 70 clicks from our position, are you ready?"
Flying above at 10 thousand feet is Judah Squadron and his new fighter plane as he preferred to call it, though its classification is a Mobile Suit, Judah ask them to change its model number, and is now MSF-Z010 Gundam Double Zeta. Judah grumbling at the situation he's in now, for of all pilots chosen they choose him. He was assigned to this Mobile Suit the Robotech Engineers is developing of all things a Mobile Suit, a special experiment, which he has become their Pilot Guinea Pig due to his experience on the Minerva's Mobile Suit Simulator.
"We're ready, and so as ZZ, I will handle the ZAFT forces" he reply back
"Good, Char" he turns to him "Your fighter is prep and ready for launch," he said
"Care to pick a fight with the Earth Alliance Forces?" Char smiled at Scott's offer, for Char, he heard about this Phantom Pain group under Logos authority, and they said they are a tough bunch.
"I thought you never ask"
From one of the two ARMD Carrier launches, Char's Red Alpha and they are composed of 5, VF-11A Thunderbolt III the RDF main combat fighter that replaces the VF-4.
Char VF-11A Thunderbolt III call sign, 'Red Comet' due to the red paint scheme of his fighter. Char Aznerbal, is one of Admiral Maximillian Sterling Protégé, and the top RDF Ace pilot in the fleet.
In their skirmish with the Minbari, Char was the one that they demanded to be hand over to them. Of course, the Admiral refused which ensued a battle, during the battle, Char shot down shot down 52 Nials in a span of less than 2 minutes without even reconfiguring their Valkries, they were too easy a target and hardly a match against the RDF pilots even on fighter mode.
Char, wanted a challenge someone to test his skills as a warrior, and on this earth, he found it.
SSE
Phantom Pain Group, led by Col. Neo Lorrnoke on his Jet , is leading his team of 'Extended' pilots, after informants told Logos that the Washington Governor is meeting secretly with representatives from the PLANTs and ORB
Djibril and several members of Logos exiled themselves to the EA Supreme Headquarters Heaven's Base, as it became dangerous for them to stay in their country. Enraged by their plight, they search for those that caused their woes, and their only lead is a name UN Spacy.
Their search have been fruitless, until an agent on the PLANTs sent a message, that Former Chairwoman Eileen Canaver is heading to Earth after receiving an Invitation sent by Governor Sheridan of Washington DC
Djibril ordered Lorrnoke to go after them and take the 'Extended' Auel Neider pilot of the Abyss, Stellar Loussier pilot of Gaia and Sting Oakley pilot of the Chaos
Lorrnoke knows how mad Djibril is right now which is why they are heading towards this secret meeting in force right now. Looking at the 3 kid pilots of the stolen suits, he wonders if there was a chance that they could escape their fate, Lorrnoke like the 3 kids have no choice but to obey Djibril orders to end and if not, then they may all be killed by Logos.
As they near the target point their threat alarm sounded up and someone contacting them
"We have Incoming," he alerted the others
"Earth Alliance Forces this is Major Char Aznerbal of UN Spacy, stop, turn around and leave the way you came or else we will open fire in ten seconds" he said
In front of them are five unidentified jet fighters approaching at high speed, the MS pilots find it ludicrous that Jets is going up against Mobile Suits. Neo however felt something was not right here, as he's well aware that, they may look like Jet fighters, but so as that one on Junius 7, and that started ringing alarms
"Take Defensive positions! Now!" he ordered readying his Beam Rifle as the Jets approach them.
The Jets fired 2 missiles each right above them, the EA Mobile Suits took aim in order to shoot them down, but as they made a lock on with a laser targeting designators, the missiles suddenly started to move erratically as if to avoid being lock on. It flew up just above them, and then missiles open up its compartment, and launch 200 smaller guided missiles each, then multiply it by 10 that was fired is now 2,000 mini missiles raining down on them.
AIM-233 'Hardball' Long Range Air-To-Air/Space-To-Space Anti-Mecha Cluster Missiles, one missile has 200 smaller guided missiles came at them like raindrops
One Jet Windam pilot who happens to be Blue Cosmos agent like everyone else in the group is watching over Neo's team, has now rediscovered God in his last moments
"Oh My God"
"Evade!" Lorrnoke screamed his order. The 3 Gundams scattered as several of those missiles followed them but quickly destroyed them or evaded them. However, the others was not so lucky, as they are too slow to react, both Windams and Jet Daggers that try to either flee or shoot the missiles down as they found themselves surrounded and blown to bits by 2 kilograms of Armor Piercing High Explosives.(APHE) from every direction.
37 Mobile Suits, 15 Windams and 22 Daggers, engulf by the classic 'Robotech Missile Massacre, The First Strike' showering their enemies with missiles by the hundreds if not thousands, a tactic they used against Zentraedi Battlepods and Tirolian Bioroids that works very well on them, it works here.
Neo and the 3 Gundams avoided the fate of the other just in time, seeing the rest were completely annihilated from that firestorm, he felt sick to his stomach when he hears the screams of the MS pilots on the radio.
"Take Evasive Maneuver, Oakley! Neider Take Point, Stellar you're with me, we have to retreat now!"
"Roger!"
They separated, and went on to fight off these new machines that layed to waste to both Jet Windams and Jet Daggers Mobile Suits, then he saw the Jets transform into Mobile Suits, and they're not like those they fought on Junius Seven except for the inverted diamond shape emblem on them was the only thing he recognize.
Char's Red Mobile Suit transformed and engage the Chaos and the Abyss head on first. He uses a GU-13A 30mm Six Barrel Rotary Beam Gun Pod on one hand and an GU-16 60mm Single-Barreled Smoothbore Gun Pod on the other, he is also firing a couple of HMM-25 Little Rock Short Range Air To Air Dog Fight Missile from his internal weapons pallet on its legs.
Char scored several direct hits while keeping his distance from them, for he knows that these Mechas they call Mobile Suits have the experience of close quarter combat like Gladiators in ancient Rome, so he has to be careful especially when he is up against the Gundams.
xxx
The Tactical assessments by the RDF analyst between Mobile Suits versus the currently in use Veritech fighters; there is three types of battlefields. Air/Space, on Land and Sea, especially Undersea combat.
Air/space: the VF is mostly at home in this environment as they have full experience here, the VF full speed, power, maneuverability, tactics and weaponry is fully utilized.
Land: The disadvantages in fighting on land are the VF Close Quarter Combat or CQC, a pitch battle against a Mobile Suits on this category will be difficult for the VF. The MS has the advantage in Gladiator type battles, with their use of beam sabers that comes in handy, and goes well with the Shields and other weapons for close quarters.
Undersea: Currently RDF do not have any Mechas that can operate in Undersea warfare as they focus primarily in air/space and land.
Normal Mass Produced Mobile Suits may have an advantage against the VF in the CQC, but only if they can get close enough to use their swords on them, which no self respecting VF pilot in his right mind would let them get close enough to use it on them. In addition, even if they try to get close, they would get a heavy dose of multiple missiles, particle beam lasers and armored piercing bullets.
The VF-11 Thunderbolt III, currently the RDF main combat fighter that can go toe to toe against a single Mobile Suits in CQC, but with multiple opponents, that would be decided by the level of skills the pilot themselves has if it comes down to that.
The VF technology is far different to MS technology, from the power source, sensors, targeting system and the human Interface, which is the VF, is more advance than the current MS. However, further observation done by the RDF on the C.E.Earth Mechas they called Gundams, gives them some concerns.
To know their capabilities, the Robotech Engineers made numerous Mobile Suit Gundams on several known Gundam models, and using advance RDF technology, in both actual and computer simulations, and pitted them against RDF best pilots with their VF-11 and VF-17. the results was surprising.
On the 11 known gundams that fought in the War, they rated 3, as the No.1 as the most difficult opponent the VF has ever fought.
Gundams with RDF Technology
No.1 Freedom, Justice and Providence----Extremely Difficult
No.2 Calamity, Forbidden, Raider------------Most Difficult
No.3 Strike, Aegis, Blitz, Duel, Buster------Semi Difficult
Gundams with MS Current Technology
No.1 Freedom, Justice and Providence----Most Difficult
No.2 Calamity, Forbidden, Raider------------Semi Difficult
No.3 Strike, Aegis, Blitz, Duel, Buster------Difficult
The Gundams using advance RDF Technology made them very hard to fight against, and unlike the current MS technology, it showed a great deal of differences in levels of power and performance.
However, the VF-17 actual battle with the Chaos Gundam a new model shows them in an equal footing, though Judah would say otherwise.
Admittedly, Robotech Engineers and Tacticians have never considered CQC with Swords as a practical weapon for a Veritech Fighter since they don't always comes too close to their enemies like the Mobile Suits does, but now they have to re-evaluate their assessments if it comes to a Mobile Suits Warfare, especially if they go up against a Gundam.
xxx
Fighting two Gundams at the same time was hard as they shows remarkable prowess in using their Mobile Suits, still Char scored many direct hits yet their Phase Shift Armor is protecting them, but his hits drains their batteries and once it runs out the Gundam is vulnerable to any attack.
The other VF is doing the same against the Gaia, and the last surviving Jet Windam is showing a remarkable fighting spirit as it holds its own and shows signs that the pilot possesses the skills of an excellent fighter pilot.
'That Guy is good to hold his own against a VF-11' Char thought looking forward again at the Abyss and Chaos and dodging their weapons and nearly getting his head remove by a sickle.
"Whoa!"
Char flew out of the range of the two gundams in fighter mode, and then went back with guns blazing and missiles raining down on them as he makes them drain away their batteries very fast. Char was relentless in his assault like the rest of his squadron.
Meanwhile, Gaia is playing tag with a VF-11 in Gerwalk mode while another is snipering the Gaia with his 30mm Six Barrel Rotary Beam Gun and its Mauser RsV-15 Laser Cannon.
The Sniper aimed and fire at Gaia in its BuCUE form at the back legs and blew it apart with concentrated weapons fire. The Gaia never noticed that the VF already had a lock on.
"Oh no, Stella!" The Neo saw the Gaia fell and rushed to help but as he gotten close someone grab him from behind forced him down the ground.
"Give it up," said someone on the Radio
"Your Team is down, all of them,"
Neo look and saw both the Abyss and Chaos on the ground loosing an arm or legs with their Phase Shift down, and two VF with their guns pointed at their cockpit.
"Power down your Mobile Suits and surrender," he ordered "There is no point in continuing this"
Windams cockpit open up, and came out Neo with his hands up in his head. The other 3 also came out and surrendered as well.
Char is looking at a man who is obviously the commander and wearing a helmetmask just like his.
'Well now, this is interesting' Char thought
From afar, another fierce battle was also raging but soon it stops, and from the Radio chatter he hears, ZAFT have retreated with no casualties on their side.
Next Chapter "Coordinators vs Newtypes"