Mission 1-3: Turning Back The Clock

After returning to Base, Keith received an order to report to the briefing room immediately-looks like Alpha Squadron was about to get their first real assignment. Upon arrival, the briefing started via a monitor in the room...

"We have received a call from the Portal Guard unit in the Delmos system. Reportedly a small unit of Viper Khan members illegally passed through the portal not long ago, despite our unit's best efforts at intervention. Reportedly they were headed for the 1860s and the Civil War in America. We believe they will attempt to alter history by changing the outcome of the war, thus undoing the unity of the USA in order to create rebellions and alter events of history to their advantage.

"This is a small band of rebels so we expect little resistance. Assault Transport Eagle will ferry most of you there-Keith will accompany in his Gundam, designated Alpha 1. Either terminate or capture a majority of the Vipers, enough to force a retreat; We figure 75 of them will be a sufficient majority. When your mission is completed, return to base via the Portal. Once you cross through the Portal, we can only keep it open for approximately 2 hours. Good luck Alpha Squadron, we are counting on you to work together. End transmission."

Keith stood up. "Well guys, ready for a trip like no other? You're about to see history up close and personal. Try not to mess things up too much. Follow my orders exactly and don't steal each other's kills and the like. Report to the Eagle and I'll see you in the 1860s." And Jenni, don't cause any trouble-you've already caused me enough. Dismissed." They left the briefing room and headed for the hangar.

In the hangar, Keith settled in his Gundam and opened communication with the Eagle. "Alpha 1 to Eagle, do you copy?" Keith said. The Eagle responded momentarily after, "I copy, Alpha 1. Ready for takeoff." "Acknowledged-I'll go ahead and await your arrival at our destination. I'll take a more direct route to get there faster and scout out the place." Keith said. "Copy, Alpha 1. Have a safe trip and see you there. Out." came the reply. Keith thought, "Alright, time to turn back the clock once again." He flipped several switches on his Gundam's control panel and a few seconds later, entered hyperspace. The stars became streaking white & blue lines and soon he found himself inside a swirling blue tunnel as he entered coordinates for time travel and confirmed the coordinates-next the blue turned into multiple colors and the onboard clock began going in reverse as the Gundam began time travel.

Soon after arriving at his destination, the Eagle emerged right behind. Keith greeted them right away-"Welcome to 1865, Alphas. Funny how different things were almost 350 years ago, eh? This was a time of great divide in the USA-the South had separated from the North and was fighting a war of Independence. Our orders are to scan the South as we believe Viper Khan members are within, attempting to alter the outcome of the war. Minimize civilian casualties and fire at will on Vipers." What we'll..." An alarm cut him off. "Well, looks like they're going to make it easy and come to us! Spread out on foot and engage the enemy-I'll provide heavy weapons support." The others deployed from the Eagle and immediately opened fire on the approaching Vipers. Keith's computer estimated about 50 enemies on foot with a flight group of 3 transports. Enhanced Gundam launched to attack the transports while the others made quick work of the soldiers on foot. The transports posed little threat to the Gundam, and its hand beam made quick work of them. Keith sensed something was amiss-he thought, "Why would they send such a meaningless unit to a significant event like this? I know it's our first mission, but..." The comlink in the Gundam lit up. "Incoming priority transmission from Base! We have a Code Red situation!" "Onscreen!" Keith told the computer. What he saw stunned him-Fed Base was under heavy assault by Viper Khan-the battle, although successful on Alpha Squadron's side, was just a diversion. And they had fallen for it. Keith immediately got on the comlink-"All Alphas, return to the Eagle at once-get back to base ASAP! We fell into a trap! Apha 1 to Eagle, returning to base. Clean up here and return when you can." Keith immediately launched into time travel in a race to return to base.

Upon arrival at Fed Base, not much was left but destruction. Keith reached out with VAUS to search for any life forms, and once he found one in Central Control, he quickly teleported over there...it was Commander Schwarzkopf. But Keith was too late, as the Commander had already been killed, leaving only a holodisc behind. Soon he sensed an enemy behind him, and turned to find himself face to face with a Viper Khan officer, and without thinking, Keith lunged at his enemy, beam saber drawn. "Speak, you low-life scum! Who did this? And what do you want with me?" The Viper did not speak. Keith knew there was no reasoning with the enemy, and just stepped back and swung his beam saber around, cutting through the Viper cleanly." Keith deactivated his saber and walked away, struggling to hide tears in his eyes-tears of anguish and failure.

After regaining his composure, Keith returned to the Gundam and played the holodisc. It was a pre-recorded message from the Commander-Alpha Squadron was being re-assigned to the Fed Base in San Angeles, under the command of Keith. The squadron would also be given some time off as there were no pending threats, and there were words of encouragement to Keith-"be sure to finish what you started...", a reminder of a promise to his former Master to complete the path to VAUS mastery. The others arrived at the hangar and Keith broke the news to them-"pack your supplies. We're being relocated to San Angeles. Additionally I have been given command over Alpha Squadron and the entire Time Soldiers unit. We will depart in 3 hours. Dismissed." They all left except for Jenni. "Keith, you look like something is bothering you-like you're sad about what happened." She asked. But Keith just brushed her off-"My feelings are none of your business. Leave now and let me be alone until we depart. My feelings are strictly that-mine. Forget the past and what happened between us then! All I care about is myself and myself only-if you can't accept that then leave me the hell alone!" He quickly walked away. Keith was merely trying to hide the fact that he was upset over falling for such a trap, and it cost the Federation deeply. But he vowed to atone for his mistakes, and more importantly to him, keep his promise. "I will return soon, Master, to finish what I started", he thought. But in the meantime, it was time to return home to San Angeles and start with a fresh slate. Jenni, standing by herself now, wished Keith would only listen to her-she was everything he wanted, but why did he reject her? What was her meaning of existence if he would not accept her?

To be continued...