GUNDAM: Universal Conflict

by TheKhanMann

GUNDAM: Universal Conflict is a completely independent story separate and different from any existing Gundam series. It doesn't borrow any characters from any previous Gundam Series and follows its own timeline. It entails a conflict between the colonies and earth over past historical events and the right to inhabit and harvest resources from a newly discovered planet, Kark 6.

6. Chapter 6: The Lunar Trade Company

Gundam Universal Conflict Chapter 6: The Lunar Trade Company

During the year 110 during the Independent Millennium, the moon was governed by an independent faction known as the Crescent Republic. The Crescent Republic was formed by CCS separatists who didn't wish to participate in a rebellion to reform the CCS and therefore left the Earth to colonize the moon in the year 75. Some people from space colonies immigrated to the moon to join the Republic. Many did this to distance themselves from the constant wars and instability of Earth and the Space colonies. The Crescent Republic became a diverse and cosmopolitan nation. However with a rising population and surrounded by war, the Crescent Republic direly needed to provide stability, security, and influence in their region. The only logical way they could achieve this was to obtain wealth. In the year 76, the head treasurer of the Crescent Republic, Haruko Tsuda, established the Lunar Trade Company.

The Lunar Trade company traded openly with both the Earth and the Space Colonies

during times when the Earth and the Space Colonies would not trade with one another. The Lunar Trade Company would buy Earth products for standard prices and then sell them to Space Colonists at exorbitant prices. The Lunar Trade company did the vice versa of this and bought Space Colony products for standard prices and sold them to Earth for exorbitant prices. With war after war after war in the years 76-85 causing uncountable trade embargoes between the Earth and space colonies, the Lunar Trade Company had produced unimaginable wealth. This was more than sufficient to sustain and support the Crescent Republic.

By the year 85, both the CCS and ACSC were equally aware of the Crescent Republic's trade tactics. However, both the CCS and the ACSC were forced to tolerate the Republic not only because of the enormous power and wealth put behind the Crescent, but also due to the fact the Lunar Trade Company provided a service which was invaluable and desperately needed for both factions despite the cost.

In 110 IM the Lunar Trade Company sent space caravans independent of the ACSC and the CCS to Kark 6 to settle it in the name of the Crescent Republic and to make it a new home. Both the CCS and then ACSC despised this act for they believed that Kark 6 was entitled entirely to themselves. The CCS took the Crescent Republic's venture as an act of hostility and an insult. It was humiliating for the CCS to allow a minor nation to colonize Kark 6, the very planet the CCS was fighting a war to gain the right to colonize. The CCS would not tolerate the Lunar Trade Company's insult. Upon passing a CCS war fleet, one out of three Crescent Republic space caravans were shot down. The small Crescent Mobile suit Corps division escorting the caravan engaged the CCS fleet. The escort perished but allowed the remaining caravans to escape and reach Kark 6. The escort containing one Light Mobile Suit Carrier (Strike Class) ship fielding two MS teams all together summing up to 16 RGM-96X Jesta mobile suits, shot down 25 enemy mobile suits (an assortment of GM Space Command Types and GINNs) and sunk 3 Destroyer class CCS ships.

Upon this incident the Crescent Republic did not declare conventional war upon the CCS but instead initiated a trade war. All trade with the Earth ceased and but continued only between the ACSC and the Lunar Trade Company. The ACSC finding this event as a massive opportunity to gain the edge over the CCS sent many diplomats to the Crescent Republic to improve relations and to find ways to achieve common interests of both nations. The CCS found itself with no trade partners of great benefit. The CCS was in dire need to export its commodities and the only remaining partners were the Free Martian Confederacy, a newly formed state after a decade long, CCS funded, guerrilla rebellion. The Free Martian Confederacy was in need of all resources but owned nothing of value to trade in return. The Free Martian Confederacy had emerged victoriously from a ten year war with an empty treasury and an obliterated carcass of what used to be infrastructure. The CCS could in no way receive help from a new nation which could not help itself.

Despite the attack on the Lunar Trade Company from the CCS, the majority of the Crescent Republic's space caravans made it to Kark 6. Foremen and community leaders were relied upon by the Lunar Trade Company to act as micro managers on Kark 6 to create, organize and lead the Lunar settlers. However the interests of the Crescent Republic on Kark 6 conflicted with the CCS. Conflicts between the Lunar Trade Company and the CCS have increased upon Kark 6.