I love writing this story. I think I prefer it over I am Darkness, but that may only be because of how bloody hard that one is to write. Whether or not this'll get hard has yet to be seen, but at least it's all kinds of fun. And apparently, we're getting back to some actual combat. I'm trying to be as faithful to the game as possible and it has no sense of geography. I think I'm making it work, but no one's piped up about it…
Another week (of disciplinary actions in Ken's case) passed and the 1st MS Unit finally got new orders. Officially, it was deemed the V Project was by then safe from Zeon attack, but that assessment was wishful thinking at best. The truth of the matter was the handful of Zakus neutralized by the GM Gs was the breath of fresh air the Federation needed and their absence on the battlefield was already missed. It was time for the 1st MS Unit to return to earth.
On the decent to earth, they learned that they were headed to the Italian Alps. Europe had been the sight of many wars over the course of human history. With the Zeons taking over mining operations in Eastern Europe to feed their war machine, it would seem that the continent would be war-torn once again.
The mission for the 1st was simple. Defend the Medea Supply Corps as their low-flying transports moved through a mountain pass. The job was simple, but by no means easy. The slow, low altitude transports were easy prey for marauding Zaku mobile suits. Even an air attack could potentially overwhelm the armed transports without help. The Federation needed to secure this supply line. There was a massive, top-secret operation planned in the near future. Then again, with the way the war was going the Federation needed to secure every supply line. Human and material resources were running thin on both sides.
Once the 1st arrived on Earth, they got the full briefing on their mission. To prevent a total loss of supplies, the transport mission was to be carried out in waves. Eight transports, escorted by two mobile suits. Enemy fire was expected. Nicolas and Holdarin went with the first group. The Zeons apparently didn't know the transports were coming, but they did seem to notice. Ken and Ashley were expecting a fight. They got one.
"This is the Medea Supply Corps," a light, but professional female voice called the mobile suit pilots, "Requesting escort. It looks like they're on to us."
Ken paused for a moment, recognizing the voice. "… Ashley, head to the East of the pass. If you see the enemy let me know, we'll engage together!"
"Roger, sir," came her sharp reply.
The two rounded the mountain peak that made up half the pass. They spit up and headed for the boxy, yellow Medea transport planes. Immediately Ken spotted a Zaku leaping in the air toward one of the Medeas with its heat hawk. Ken's GM G vaulted off a rocky hill and intercepted the offender. His beam saber cleaved through the enemy mobile suit's midsection and it exploded in midair. The Medea barely avoided the explosion. The pilot called down to Ken as she flew overhead. "You sure cut that one close," the same woman from before said gratefully, "I owe you one, pilot." Ken felt that twinge of familiarity again. He was sure he knew the woman that voice belonged to. Ashley's level voice broke him out of his thoughts.
"Two Zakus, bull's-eye, 080 at five." It was a good thing Ken knew fighter pilot slang or that would have been gibberish. He rushed to Ashley's position to see the two Zakus had already covered the five miles and were engaging Ashley. One of the Zakus, a Zaku II had her pinned down behind another hill and the other, a Zaku I, was firing its machine gun at a second Medea. Since he already had his beam saber drawn, Ken decided to cut down the Zaku I. By the time the pilot noticed the incoming GM G, it was too late. Ken turned to assist Ashley, but he saw that she had already disabled the Zaku that had her pinned.
Very soon after, two more Zakus appeared on RADAR. Once again, a Zaku I attacked the transports and a Zaku II went after the mobile suits. And the Zaku II pilot put up quite a fight. Against two GM Gs, it got outflanked, but it stood up to Ken in their brief mid-range one-on-one admirably. The other Zaku didn't put up nearly as much of a fight. And again, not long after, two more Zakus appeared. Clearly, the Zeons had developed anti-mobile suit tactics. "Ashley," Ken called quickly, "stay with the Medeas. The Zaku Is are going after them. I'll take on the Zaku IIs."
"Roger, sir," she barked again.
With each of the Medeas, one or two pairs of Zakus would attack the Medeas. The attacks were quick and fierce. On more than one occasion it was only dumb luck that one of the transports weren't lost. And while the Zeons had a strategy for contending with mobile suit escorts, the pilots didn't seem to have any experience fighting against other mobile suits. Finally the attacks seemed to stop. The second from the last transport got through with no sign of any Zakus. Ken and Ashley kept a whether eye still. And with good reason.
As the two GM Gs jogged below the last of the transports, three Zakus appeared to block their path. It was Ashley's keen eyes that identified them. "Three Zaku IIs!"
"Medea, try to get around the fight," Ken ordered, "Ashley, we have to keep all three of them busy until the transport is safe!"
"Roger, sir."
The GM Gs rocketed forward, blasting machine gun bullets at the Zakus at long range. The Zakus avoided the attack, but their vision was obscured by the cloud of snow and rocks kicked up by the machine gun fire. One of the Zakus made the mistake of trying to venture forward and found itself crumbling under the fire of the now much closer GM Gs. With the engagement now two on two, the Zakus moved closer, drawing their heat hawks. Ashley responded by blasting her Zaku with her machine gun. Ken boosted forward with his beam saber. Saber met axe with a crash that staggered both mobile suits. Perhaps because all the Medeas had gotten away or perhaps because the pilot didn't like the odds of fighting two-on-one the hard way, the Zaku took to the air and tried to escape. With seemingly super-human reaction time, Ken jumped after the fleeing Zaku and cut it down as they were both rocketing through the sky. Their mission complete, the two GM Gs made their way wordlessly out of the combat zone. It wasn't until they arrived at base did Ashley compliment (gratuitously) Ken's impressive victories that day. The amazing battle either destroyed or disabled every Zaku in the area or scared the Zeons out of attacking again, because Pat and Tommy didn't see a single Zaku on their sortie.
With the supply route secure (for now), Marcan met with the ranking officer of the supply group. "My name is Lieutenant Matilda Ajan," the stunning redhead said, offering her hand.
Marcan accepted the handshake instantly, "And I'm Major Suzan Marcan."
"I'm here to provide your team with supplies and mobile suit repairs. I've heard you've been in some tough fighting. And I'd also like copies of all your combat records. General Revil seemed very interested in your exploits."
"Yes," Marcan nodded, "I've been expecting-" Marcan was cut off by the arrival of Ken, Nicolas, Tommy, and Ashley.
The instant Ken saw Lt. Matilda he did something his comrades had never seen him do; he smiled. "Matilda! It is you." Ken jogged over to her and the shared a friendly embrace (something else the rest of the 1st found surprising).
"You… know each other?" Marcan asked, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"We're collage friends," Matilda explained. "It's been too long."
"It's good to see you," Ken agreed.
"Wait a minute," Matilda said, tapping her chin, "You were the one in that mobile suit that saved my transport plane, weren't you? You jumped into the air and cut that Zaku right out of the sky."
"Uh, that's right…"
"Then I guess I don't owe you after all," Matilda said teasingly.
"And why is that?" Tommy asked. He was finding the conversation more than a little interesting.
"Because after all the torturing I did for him, he still owes me," Matilda joked.
"You were keeping track?" Ken asked sincerely. Matilda, Tommy, and Ashley all broke out laughing. Even Nicolas and Marcan snickered despite themselves. Ken didn't seem to get the joke.
"At least some things haven't changed," Matilda said between laughing fits. "Is he still always this serious?"
"Every minute of the day," Ashley nodded.
One of the supply corps mechanics came up to Matilda and told her the repairs were complete. "Looks like we're done here," Matilda said, almost sadly. "It may not be enough, but understand General Revil is doing his best."
"Of course," Marcan nodded.
Matilda started away, but Ken spoke up again. "If I save your life again next time we meet, will we be even?"
Matilda didn't know what to say. Nobody knew what to say. Finally Matilda laughed again, even harder. "Ken Etto told a joke! I thought I'd die before I heard that!"
"Don't jinx it, ma'am," Nicolas smiled.
Matilda smiled and saluted them, which the pilots and Marcan returned. "Good luck," she told them and took her leave.
In good spirits and more battle ready than ever, the 1st MS Unit set out for their next destination: Belfast.
This turned out to be excellent. (I think.) I intended to have a little more character details about Ken in that last scene with Matilda, but I think it works better and is more natural as is. I'd also like to think I've got Matilda's character down, but I have more than a little leeway with her. She's one of the most prominent side characters from the original show, but she actually doesn't appear much.
