EPISODE 9: THE FIERY PHOENIX
The author would like to thank Mr. Eric Gardner, whose contributions were indispensable to the development of this chapter.
Major Jolie Minh-Miguel trains the White Phoenix Gundam's weapons systems on the Cosmogundam, locking the rogue mecha into the WPG's targeting mechanism, finger tensing on the trigger.
Likewise, Captain Eric Gardner, Captain Chieming Noah, and the other MS pilots of the SNRI who managed to escape from Side 7's Garrison Noah bring their weapons systems to bear upon powerful enemy mobile suit.
Space is silent, except for the intake of and exhalation of tense breaths, the beeping of avionics devices, and the whirring of internal servos and gears.
The WPG's combat computer indicates, "TARGET: LOCK."
The Cosmogundam extends its massive arm-mounted eight-barreled hyperbeam cannon, pointed at the receding SNRI Forces.
Then, with a sudden swiftness that belies its massive bulk, the Cosmogundam swings the hyperbeam cannon towards the rapidly advancing force of Titans MS and warships.
The eternal blackness of the cosmos glows impossibly bright, like the birth of the universe itself some fifteen billion years earlier, for an instant before eight streams of hyperconcentrated and amplified Minovsky particles radiate towards the Titans' two dozen mobile suits and three battlecarriers, tearing apart their external alloy superstructures before vaporizing the flesh of their occupants.
"Holy fucking shit…" Major Gardner mutters under his breath.
Jolie still has the aft of the Cosmogundam locked in the White Phoenix Gundam's targeting scope; the charge on the WPG's main beam cannon is at 100%.
Jolie exhales and relaxes her grip on the joystick; the energy charge in the WPG's beam cannon depressurizes and dissipates…
Aboard her Cour de Leon mobile suit, Col. Christina McKenzie receives a hailing code from an Earth Federation Forces' warship…
But is it regular forces, or Titans? Col. McKenzie muses worriedly.
Christina struggles through the Minovsky particle disruption to pick up voice signals from the Federation warship.
Her efforts are rewarded with the sound of a familiar, friendly voice, "…Commodore Beecher Olech, commanding officer of the Federal Forces battlecarrier Amuro Ray, Jupitorius Fleet…"
"This is Archangel 1 to Amuro Ray, Col. Christina McKenzie, SNRI, Earth Federation Forces," Christina replies, "Requesting permission for SNRI MS Forces to board Amuro Ray, Commodore Beecher."
"Good to hear your voice, Chris," Commodore Beecher says, "Bring your people in."
The SNRI MS dock with the Amuro Ray, even as chaos erupts at Side 7…
Even as the WPG touches down and magnetizes itself to the arresting gear on the MS deck of the Amuro Ray, a spark flashes from Jolie's helmeted head towards the Cosmogundam.
She senses Jo-M…and Christian Ray.
A squad of six Titans mobile suits, two Amsträgers and four Dolchs, converge upon the Cosmogundam, their powerful beam cannon unable to inflict damage through the I-Field.
The same cannot be said of the Titans' mobile suits, whose formidable titanium alloy shells, capable of sustaining the rigors of space combat, are simply overmatched by the Cosmogundam's weaponry.
Jo-M emanates a powerful spark from her forehead, and her eyes flash, "A gunship…Alexandria-class."
"Yeah," Christian Ray exhales, "It's got a megaparticle beam cannon charging up to fire at us. Not sure that we want to test out our armor and I-Field against that."
"Then we won't," Jo-M answers.
Christian and Jo-M close their eyes, opening their minds to one another. In a moment, they know each other's thoughts and feelings as one…with no distinction or division between their consciousness.
Captain Karl Kortimer, a veteran Federation Space Armada officer whose experience dates back to the One Year War when he served under the command of Fleet Admiral Arthur Tianem in the Battle of Solomon.
Having served in the U.C. 0080s iteration of the Titans, Kortimer is among the hundreds of Federation officers repatriated by the Federal Forces after the conclusion of the Gryps War and subsequent Neo Zeon conflict. Kortimer continued serving as a line officer in the Federation Space Armada, serving as first officer aboard a Federation destroyer during the war on Alexander Miguel's Phobos Zeon Forces before being recruited by General Manron Blackhead for the reformulated Titans Corps, and given command of the Alexandria-class battleship Leviathan.
General Blackhead handpicked Kortimer for both his tactical acumen and his political bent. To the former, he is well acquitted with an illustrious combat record in which he has played key roles in victories against the Zeon, AEUG and ISRLA. To the latter, Blackhead has long known Kortimer as a staunch opponent of General Bright Noah's collaborationist policies…Kortimer is a Federation loyalist to the core…loving the Earth and deeply resenting the Spacenoids who ruined it.
As such, Captain Kortimer glowers severely at the Gundam-type mobile suit that faces down his warship, holding its position at the twelve o'clock position, three kilometers off his ship's bow.
Radar and analysis tech 2Lt. Forrest Snow of the Titans Corps reports to her commanding officer, "Captain…I've correlated scans of the enemy mobile suit unit with our database. The closest match is the Omega Gundam prototype, but it's not a positive ID."
"Whatever it is, it took down three squads of our MS with ease," Captain Kortimer replies, "Ready megaparticle cannon – target: enemy Gundam unit."
"Energy saturation at 85% and climbing," announces gunnery chief 2Lt. Rush Gordon, "ten seconds to firing…"
Streams of pure PSI-energy flow from the font that is the combined essence of Christian Ray and Jo-M…wending its way through the internal circuitry and energy conduits of the Cosmogundam into the war machine's mighty internal nuclear fusion engine…the energy particles accelerate to critical mass, coalescing, taking dual forms…a dragon and a phoenix.
2Lt. Snow interjects, "Sir…we've got a high energy signature emanating from the Gundam unit. It's…taking shape, Captain."
Snow's counterpart at the gunnery station, 2Lt. Gordon, continues his countdown, "…five, four, three, two, one…commence firing!"
A red stream of violent energy rip forth from the main gun of the Leviathan.
Its energy is met by a wash of incandescent white energy that forks from a common bolt into two forks…creating the impression of a dragon…and a phoenix.
For an instant, the void becomes white, and the stars become black…the universe itself become its own mirror image.
The megaparticle energy beam of the Leviathan's main cannon fades from an intense red to a lighter salmon color, and the beam then loses its coherence…fraying and unraveling as if it were a rapidly decaying rope before the wave of white energy.
The energy continues to rush forth to engulf the Leviathan, stripping off the ship's armor plating as if it consisted of tissue paper.
The phoenix PSI-energy avatar of Jo-M narrowly misses Green Oasis 1, site of Garrison Noah, but the energy bleeding from the periphery of its trail is enough to cause the external shell of the colony to crack…some of its glass solar panels to shatter, leading to the escape of precious atmosphere.
The energy wave's dragon-like counterpart streaks directly towards another Side 7 colony beyond Green Oasis…expanding it as if it were a massive metallic balloon and immolating it.
Christian's mouth falls open in a horrified gape…for a long moment, no sound comes forth, and then only a stupefied, "I…that…I…wh…"
Jo-M's eyes widen with an unfamiliar sensation of revulsion, "That colony…the people inside."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Christian screams, tears leaking forth from the corners of his eyes.
The Cosmogundam disengages its interlock system, reverting to the Draco Gundam and Omega Gundam.
The Draco Gundam rushes towards the exploding wreck of Side 7's Colony 2.
"Christian!" Jo-M cries out in alarm, transforming the Omega Gundam to mobile armor configuration and engaging its afterburners for pursuit.
"No….no…" Christian moans as he gazes upon the debris…unable to see any corpses, but certain that some must be there.
Now I know how Jolie must feel, Christian muses.
"Christian," Jo-M says soothingly, "You didn't…maybe…this colony was uninhabited?"
After another long moment, Christian whispers, "Maybe…but even if…"
Jo-M responds to a flashing indicator on her HUD, "BIOSENSOR: SYSTEM FAILURE"
"Christian," Jo-M says again, "the Omega Gundam's biosensor has failed. We must have overloaded it. Lady Minerva warned me that this could happen."
Christian, having composed himself, replies, "Yeah…we can't continue fighting in this condition. We can rout the Titans' MS here easily even without the Biosensor, but we could still have problems if they bring in their space armada and its heavy weapons. Let's find a place to dock…make field repairs."
With that, the Draco Gundam and Omega Gundam remerge into Cosmogundam configuration, blasting away just as more Titans MS and warships enter the area.
The region between L3 and L5 orbit has been, since the early U.C. 0080s, been unofficially designated as the Sargasso Zone…as its name suggests, an orbital wasteland.
A quarter centurion of cosmic war has left the Earth Sphere littered with literally billions of tons of wreckage floating dead in space. Despite efforts by Earth Federation, Zeon, and Shambala authorities to recycle/incinerate this refuse, its vast quantities assured that the process would require many decades.
Aside from the occasional industrial salvage craft, few venture into the Sargasso Zone. Military and civilian spacecraft alike avoid it, as the copious debris makes for hazardous travel. Traffic lanes between L3 and L5 are typically routed around it.
As such, it's the perfect place of concealment for the seven warships, two dozen mobile suits, and approximately one-thousand personnel and crew that represent what remains of the non-Titans-affiliated Earth Federation Forces and SNRI.
The sea of floating refuse and Minovsky particles create the ideal camouflage for the Federation/SNRI Force. The Titans and Crossbones Vanguard Forces will not be able to find them easily amidst the debris. To ensure that they do not give away their position, Col. Christina McKenzie of SNRI has ordered that all external lighting on all ships be kept dark, and that electronics communications of all kinds (including intercom) be kept silent.
Before the fleet shut down its communications systems, however, it had received disturbing information over the Titans' communications band: Side 7's Colony 2 has been completely destroyed…no survivors.
Colony 2, housing the Green Glen community…over 750,000 lives…
The Federation/SNRI Forces are, truth be told, nothing much more than a skeleton force…even with Major Jolie Minh-Miguel and her powerful White Phoenix Gundam. The odds of mounting a successful counterstrike against the amassed Titans Forces in the L3 Zone comprising Side 7 and Luna 2 are nil.
Nevertheless, it is the only hope that the Earth Federation as they have known it can survive and reclaim its sovereignty.
And then, there is the question of priorities…
01:44, Ship's Time, a conference room aboard the darkened Amuro Ray…
"We're going to launch a commando assault on Luna-2," Col. Christina McKenzie announces.
Seated with the commanding officer of SNRI at the conference table on Deck 6 of the non-Titans-aligned Federation's last operating mobile battle carrier are Commodore Beecher Olech, commanding officer of the vessel, and Major Jolie Minh-Miguel, Major Eric Gardner, and Captain Chieming Noah of the Centurion Special Operations Team.
"Ma'am, I take the liberty of pointing out that there are three million people, mostly civilians, at Green Oasis…plus thousands of our troops at Garrison Noah," Chieming interjects tersely, "As officers of the Earth Federation Forces, our first duty is to their safety and freedom."
"In principle, I agree, Captain," Col. Christina McKenzie replies earnestly, "but under the circumstances, we need to look at the situation through a lens of military priorities and the reality of our limitations. We're a small force…calling us a skeleton force would be, frankly, generous, and we're up against a Titans force whose full strength that at the very least, is a hundred times greater than ours and that has backing from the Shambala Republic. If we mount an assault on Side 7, we'll likely be massacred…not only by the relatively smaller force they have at Garrison Noah, but the troops they have amassed at Luna 2. Our best bet is a sabotage assault on Luna 2 – destroy it to deny them a stronghold in this sector and maybe take out a significant part of their power base."
Commodore Beecher Olech turns Chieming, "Chieming, we understand how you feel. Your parents are also my friends, but if Bright were here with us right now, he'd tell us to forget about Side 7 and go after Luna-2. If we don't take the Titans' base down at Luna-2, then, the Federation as we've known it is finished."
"The Feder…" Chieming begins, but Major Eric Gardner quiets her by taking her hand in his, putting a finger over his faintly smiling lips, and shaking his head gently.
Col. McKenzie rises, giving all of her subordinates a severe, withering look of unwavering authority, "The discussion is over. We'll reconvene at 08:00 to coordinate an assault plan against Luna-2."
Chieming is about to say something more, but Eric gently tugs her away. Chieming glares daggers at Eric.
Listening and observing quietly, but having offered no remarks at all, is Major Jolie Minh-Miguel. She sits at her place at the desk, regarding her colleagues through narrowed, weary eyes…unlit cigarette rolling about loosely between her lips.
As he leaves the conference room, Major Gardner turns back briefly to give Jolie a quick, surreptitious wink, unnoticed by either Col. McKenzie or Commodore Beecher, who have already begun to discuss plans for the commando strike against Luna-2.
Jolie extracts the unlit cigarette from her lips, places it back in its package in her uniform jacket pocket, and rises to leave the room without a word.
Space docks have been a booming industry since the dawn of the Universal Century era, over a century earlier. Clearly a necessity if humankind were to live in the cosmos, the docks grew larger and elaborate up through the beginning of the One Year War – capable of servicing space vehicles and mecha of every conceivable shape, size, and disposition. Anaheim Enterprises, the Buch Concern, the Luo Corporation, and a half dozen other tech sector conglomerates each fielded thousands of these space docks throughout the Earth Sphere and Mars and Jupiter orbit prior up to the late U.C. 0070s.
Many of these space docks were destroyed during the nearly quarter century of warfare that ensued after U.C. 0079. Some were rebuilt or replaced in the years that followed, but many more were abandoned…some completely useless, others partly functional. The functional ones were, by and large salvaged and returned to service, but large numbers of such docks continued to be left to drift neglected in obscure orbital paths…lost, anonymous articles of space debris.
It is to one of these half-functional, abandoned space docks just outside the orbit of Side 6 that Christian Ray and Jo-M have retreated with the Cosmogundam, now separated into separate Omega Gundam and Draco Gundam units, to repair the Omega Gundam's damaged Biosensor unit.
Jo-M extracts the unit from its nacelle deep within the head unit of the Omega Gundam as Christian pries apart the clamp mechanism that holds the Biosensor component in place. The two youths examine the unit gravely, but Jo-M brightens as its condition becomes evident to her.
"Some of these components are burned out," Jo tells Christian, "but the materials to repair or replace them are available here at this space dock."
"Yeah," Christian sighs morosely, "but I'm sort of wondering whether or not we should."
Jo-M replies evenly, "We won't last long against our enemies without it."
"You're right," Christian says glumly, examining the piece more closely to gain a more precise evaluation of the repairs needed, "With the power that we have, we have to expect that everybody is going to want to control us…to use us. We have to be ready for that, but…"
"You're unhappy because of what happened to that colony," Jo-M observes.
"We killed thousands of people, Jo," Christian says, his voice choked, "They didn't deserve that."
"They didn't," Jo agrees, "but it was an accident."
"We can't let it happen again," Christian resolves, "We don't want to hurt anybody unnecessarily."
"And that's even more a reason that we must repair this Biosensor unit," Jo-M says reassuringly, "If it functions properly, it'll help us gain better control of our abilities…so that we won't cause any more unnecessary deaths."
"'Unnecessary deaths,'" Christian smirks bitterly, "If you ask me, Jo, every death that's resulted from these wars has been unnecessary."
"I never questioned any of it before," Jo-M confesses, "Lady Minerva only told me to believe in her…to carry out her directives. I didn't question anything she told me…I didn't see a reason to…or know how. But since I met you…"
Christian smiles, taking Jo into his embrace, gently stroking her long, fine black hair "I've ruined you, haven't I?"
"You've opened me to the world," Jo replies warmly.
Their lips lock in a long, deep and passionate kiss. Christian runs his fingers along the smooth warmth of the back of Jo's thighs, drinking in the delightful sensation.
In Major Eric Gardner's private quarters on Deck 7 of the Amuro Ray, Chieming shoves Eric…hard…with both hands.
"How could you?" Chieming screams, tears running down her youthful, silk-smooth cheeks, "You're just as heartless as the rest of them! What if that were your mother and father at Side 7, Eric?"
Eric nods sympathetically, his demeanor as unflappable as ever, "I'd be worried sick."
"I thought that of all people, I could count on you!" Chieming continues, "We're gonna be married in a few months, Eric! If I can't count on you to help me protect my family, then how the hell can I count on you for anything else?"
Eric nods again, "You're right. You wouldn't be able to."
"I hate you!" Chieming snarls, pounding on Eric's chest again, "You're a coward! You're a liar! You…!"
Eric takes Chieming's pounding fists gently, but firmly into his own strong, dexterous hands…and he silences her angry rants with a quiet, but effective, "May I say something?"
Chieming's silence is her sign of approval.
Eric says gently, "I want to tell you a story. A true story about a kid who, before he was old enough to shave, was hauled off by the Titans as a POW. It happened near the old Federation capital at Dakar back during the final weeks of the Gryps Conflict…"
Eighteen years earlier…
A massive explosion destroys the front entrance of a building, knocking the terrified, fleeing mass of humanity off their feet. A boy of seven searches desperately, but fruitlessly for his parents.
"…I couldn't find my parents anywhere. I feared the worst…that those Titans pigs had murdered them…"
Cheiming gasps softly and touches his hand as he sighs heavily.
"What happened then?" she asks softly.
Eric continues with a lump in his throat, "I picked up the nearest handgun I could find…and aimed it right at an officer who took delight in slaughtering the prisoners his troops brought to him. I'd never killed anyone before, Chieming, but before I could shoot him…I was knocked out…"
The boy is thrown into a dark, vermin-infested jail cell, blind with rage.
"You'll be here until you're an old man, boy," a cold voice says from behind the heavy alloyed door, "assuming you make it to old age."
Young Eric Gardner has little reason to make that assumption. Days that feel like months pass with agonizing monotony. Then, on the…one-hundred and sixth? (he had lost count)…day of his captivity, the sensitive-eared boy hears unfamiliar footsteps coming towards his cell.
Eric hears a voice – a man's voice - unknown, but reassuringly warm and human to his ears, "What the hell has this Federation come to? A kid your age shouldn't be in a place like this. You got a family, kid?"
"I did," the boy spits out savagely, "You Titans butchers killed them…remember?"
The officer on the other side of the metal door replies regretfully, "I wasn't there when it happened. How did you end up like this?"
It's a trick, Eric tells himself, just like in those cop or spy movies. Good cop, bad cop…wear you down and then get you to talk…but I'm not giving in to these bastards…then again, this might be the only chance I get…to let the world know that I was here…that all this happened…
"Hey, Mister," Eric says at last, "Can I tell you something…?"
"I told the new officer everything I know about the incident. He wasn't like the other Titans. He didn't treat me like a prisoner. He didn't treat me like an animal. He treated me like a human being. He treated me like a man. He seemed to be a kind and caring man, totally out of place with those pigs. He told me that he had a daughter a few years younger than me, and that she looked up to him. He wore their colors, Chieming, but he wasn't one of them."
The days and nights drag on interminably; nearly a year has passed since Eric became a prisoner of war. Such isolation and terror would result in dementia in men thrice Eric's age, but Eric struggles against such encroachments upon his sanity with vivid, detailed imaginings of glorious adventures among heroes of true valor….
The youth's ruminations are disturbed by a faint, almost ghostly popping noise the distance.
Sounds like… gunshots, Eric concludes, those pigs must be getting ready for an execution!
The noise grows slowly, ominously louder. His curiosity having become irresistible, Eric creeps stealthily towards the barred window to a sight that causes him to momentarily wonder if he isn't still lost in one of his fantasies: a full-fledged mobile suit battle taking place on the streets of Dakar!
The Federation's capital is under attack!
Are they AEUG, or Zeon? Eric wonders. He risks another glance out the window.
To the youth's horror, a free-falling piece of debris bears down on him menacingly, threatening to crush him under its weight!
Eric dives towards the opposing wall of his tiny cell as the prison compound begins to cave in. For the first time in a long, long time, sunlight touches his hair and face.
Checking himself and noting that all limbs are intact, Eric glances skyward, spotting two Asshimar mobile armor units holding their positions over the city.
Turning his head to the left in response to the telltale sound of whirring gears and hydraulic gyros, Eric finds himself awed by the sight of two AEUG mobile suits… one of them mounting a stylized golden v-fin on its head.
My God, Eric gapes, "that's the Zeta Gundam!'
"That was the beginning of the end for the Titans," Chieming remarks, "the Battle of Dakar. Uncle Amuro fought in that battle along with Camille Vidan."
"Yeah," Eric affirms, "Char's speech was the turning point of that conflict…and it proved to be a turning point for me too."
"MOM! DAD! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Eric exults, running into the embrace of his parents.
The Titans officer who befriended Eric, now revealed to be a slightly-built, pleasant-looking Asian man of about thirty years of age, informs Eric, "The Earth Federation Forces found them unwounded, but a bit shaken up. They've been in protective custody under Karaba supervision ever since. When I learned that their name was 'Gardner,' I made some inquiries and arranged to have them brought here."
"I can't thank you enough," Eric says, shaking the officer's hand tightly, "You know…you're too good a man to be one of them. You should abandon the Titans."
"You're probably right, kid," the officer says, removing his Titans beret and doffing his uniform jacket, folding the latter neatly as he continues, "When I was first recruited for this outfit, I had dreams of helping to establish a safer, more orderly world, but that's not what the Titans are about at all. I'm heading back to space…back to my wife and kids. You take care of yourself…and your folks. Nothing's more important than family, especially in crazy times like these."
The officer gives Eric a smile and a pat on the shoulder, and turns away.
"Hey, man," Eric says after a moment, "You never did tell me your name."
The officer turns and with a chuckle, replies with a salute "Captain Dominic Minh, Earth Federation Forces, at your service, friend."
Chieming smiles, "So it was Jolie's daddy?"
Eric returns the grin "Before he left…he gave me a picture of his lovely little daughter…Jolie. I actually first set eyes on her years before any of you did. Dominic showed me how each of us answers to something much more important than a flag or nation. We ultimately must all answer to our consciences. There's no higher authority than the conscience in each of us, and my conscience is telling me now that we can't leave your parents or the millions of others at Side 7 to an uncertain fate under the authority of the Titans."
Chieming's smile fades, and she sits back on Eric's bed, "I'm scared, Eric. Jolie's daddy saved your parents that time, but…"
Eric puts his hands comfortingly on Chieming's shoulders, "We're going to save them. All of them."
Chieming is momentarily confused, "But Col. McKenzie…"
"Christina has her hands tied," Eric says, "but we don't. Even if she can't support us…even if it means we have to act against the Federation, we're going to save Bright, Mirai, and the others, Chieming. If there's one thing I learned from Dominic Minh, it's that sometimes, being a good, loyal soldier means going against orders. Court-marital, dishonorable discharge, hell…execution. I'm willing to risk all that and more for you, Chieming…for your family…and for what's right in this universe."
Chieming's eyes brim with tears. She tries to say something, but no words come forth from her lips.
Eric extends his hand and gently caresses Chieming's silk-smooth cheeks; he lets her rest her head against his chest.
Passion overcomes the couple, and Eric's hand slips amorously behind the hem of Chieming's skirt to caress the smooth warmth of her firm, shapely thighs.
Momentarily, their bodies are as bare to one another as their souls as Eric tucks Chieming back upon his bed.
Hours later...
His fingers feast upon the soft warmth of her skin, greedily devouring its fine porcelain texture.
His eyes drink in the graceful curves of her feminine form, mesmerized to a point of sublime tranquility.
His ears imbibe of her soft, gentle moans…sweet sound in his ears.
Major Eric Gardner is in a sensual heaven…one that is fast approaching cosmic…when a sudden electronic trilling noise brings him crashing down to earthly reality.
"Coitus interruptus," Eric mutters, quickly rolling out of bed, throwing on his robe, and wiping an angry grimace off his face.
Major Jolie Minh's very pleasant visage appears on the communications monitor in Eric's private quarters; Jolie is dressed in her normalsuit and calling from a communications monitor station on the MS deck.
"Ready to move out in thirty minutes, Eric," Jolie says.
"Right, Major…" Eric says through clenched teeth.
Jolie peers over Eric's shoulder to a familiar feminine form concealed behind the bedsheets.
Jolie's eyes widen and the hint of a grin appears on her lips, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
"What would make you think that?" Eric snarls.
"Sorry," Jolie says sheepishly, killing the link.
Eric turns to Chieming, who is attempting to control her giggles behind the back of her hand; she looks adorable.
"Jolie is a wonderful friend and an excellent soldier," Eric sighs, "but her sense of timing sucks to high heaven."
Chieming tumbles gracefully out of bed and dons her undergarments, and then begins slipping into her uniform as she replies, "I should have known she'd been in on the mutiny too."
"She'd never have forgiven us if we'd left her out of it," Eric replies, pulling on his boots.
Chieming places a hand on one hip and adopts a look of mock-jealousy, "You two had planned this out all beforehand, didn't you?"
Eric kisses Chieming tenderly on the forehead, "Wasn't trying to leave you out, babe…but you were too emotionally involved in it. No way you'd have been able to hold a poker face to Christina."
"You're right," Chieming confesses, "I didn't and wouldn't."
"Let's go," Eric says, taking Chieming's hand.
Eric and Chieming arrive on the darkened MS deck of the Amuro Ray five minutes later, clad in their normalsuits. The service lights are illuminated around a half dozen MS being combat-prepped for imminent deployment, one of which is Major Jolie Minh-Miguel's White Phoenix Gundam.
Eric notes that his Strike Gundam is not among the MS being combat-prepped; his familiar mobile suit sits silently on its maintenance gantry, dark and unattended.
"Hey, what's up?" Eric inquires, "Why isn't the Strike Gundam being readied for deployment?"
"Because you aren't going to be deploying in it," Jolie answers, drifting towards Eric and Chieming, "You're going to be deploying in that instead."
Jolie points to the RX-780-2, the Centurion Gundam Unit 2, once the MS assignment of Captain Jonah Michaels (Miguel), previous commanding officer of the Centurion Team…and Jolie's late husband.
"You're serious?" Eric says, surprised, "You want me to deploy in the CG-2?"
"We're likely to see heavy commando combat," Jolie says plainly, donning her helmet, "The Strike Gundam isn't ideally suited for that function."
Eric becomes solemn, "I appreciate that, Jolie. I know it can't be easy for you to allow anyone to pilot that mobile suit…you haven't let anybody so much as breathe hard on it these past five years."
Jolie replies acidly as she ascends towards the cockpit of her own White Phoenix Gundam, "Just make sure you don't become the second man in its cockpit to leave behind a widow, Major Gardner."
Major Gardner boards the Centurion Gundam Unit 2's cockpit and straps himself in, running the idling combat systems through the standard pre-deployment checklist.
Gardner is familiar with the CG's combat systems and cockpit layout configuration, having occasionally piloted the Unit-1 before it was assigned to Christian Ray (and before Christian hijacked it for the Shambala Republic). Eric has never occupied the cockpit seat of the Unit-2, however. Jolie had never allowed anyone to board that cockpit. Eric figures that she must regard it as sacred. Understandable.
She's serious when she says she doesn't want me to make a widow out of Chieming, Eric reflects.
Major Eric Gardner is not a superstitious man. Never has he been one to believe in ghosts or the supernatural, and yet…Eric is acutely conscious that another man…a comrade-at-arms and friend…had died piloting this MS five years earlier. Even now, Eric senses…something…a familiar, unseen, unheard presence in the cockpit with him.
"Man, I've done some weird shit in my time," Eric mutters to himself as he continues bringing combat systems online, "but this is the first time I've ever piloted a haunted mobile suit."
The MS of the Centurion Special Operations Team line up on the launch catapult behind their unit leader, Major Jolie Minh-Miguel aboard her White Phoenix Gundam. Service crews begin to vacate the MS deck as launch crew personnel take over.
"This is Centurion Leader," Jolie calls from the cockpit, "Centurion Team units all prepare to move out: our objective is Garrison Noah."
The Centurion Team's MS swing out from the launch deck of the Amuro Ray, on an unauthorized mission to liberate space colony Side 7, the last bastion of the Earth Federation, from the cruel titanium grip of its own murderous spawn.
Col. Christina McKenzie receives word of the Centurion Team's unauthorized deployment scarcely a minute later.
The Director of SNRI/Special Forces rushes to the bridge of the Amuro Ray, where Commodore Beecher Olech is already monitoring the situation.
The attractive, auburn-haired Christina commandeers the communications station and opens a line to the White Phoenix Gundam, "Major Minh-Miguel: Col. McKenzie here. You and your personnel are not authorized to deploy. I order you and the Centurion Team to return to the Amuro Ray immediately."
Christina's orders are met with silence, and the diminishing lights of the Centurion Team's MS in the distance.
"Major Minh-Miguel…" Christina repeats, more tersely this time.
Silence.
"Ready all guns, Commodore," Christina says to Commodore Beecher reluctantly.
Beecher swallows, "All gun batteries. Prepare to fire on Centur…"
"Wait," Christina interjects.
Commodore Beecher begins again, "Gunnery crew: cancel that order."
Col. McKenzie leans forward and presses both hands down upon the forward navigational console, "Patch me through to the launch deck."
"We've got incoming at our six," Major Eric Gardner reports from the cockpit of the CG-2, "It's big, and it's coming fast. Closing at Mach 4."
"We can outrun it. Give us an ID scan," Jolie replies calmly, "All units: engage ECM and be ready to take evasive action."
"Incoming object at 90 kilometers and still closing. Speed constant," Eric announces as he runs the ID scan.
The incoming object does not register as any kind of known missile, but after a maddening few seconds of indecision, the computer positively identifies the object as…
"A Hyper Particle Beam Cannon!" Eric declares triumphantly.
"I knew Christina was one of us!" Chieming exults from the cockpit of her MS.
Jolie's voice issues through the communications network, "Major Gardner: initiate CG-2 supplemental weapons systems docking and integration protocol."
"Roger, Centurion Leader," Eric responds, "CG-2 supplemental weapons systems DI protocol commencing now."
The Hyper Particle Beam Cannon's automated retro thrusters kick in, slowing the massive weapon down as it approaches Major Gardner's Centurion Gundam.
Eric activates the CG-2's docking mechanisms to receive the weapon. With the assistance of a dozen gears, gyros, and stabilizers, the Hyper Particle Beam Cannon docks with the Centurion Gundam.
Col. McKenzie's pleasant, but stern visage appears on the monitor of Jolie's White Phoenix Gundam, "This is Col. McKenzie to Centurion Team: Godspeed, ladies and gentlemen."
"Col. McKenzie," Jolie replies with the flat, steady tone indicative of her complete focus on the mission at hand, "Ma'am: requesting that the Amuro Ray and the rest of the armada provide my team with cover fire during the entry operation."
"Granted," Christina answers.
"Roger that," Jolie replies, "Wait for our signal."
At the abandoned space dock, Christian and Jo-M quickly don their normalsuits after several sublimely lustful hours. Never had either of them ever experienced such intense carnal sensations- or such a complete openness of spirit in which no aspect of each other, be it physical or emotional, was left unrevealed to other.
Nevertheless, Jo-M feels it incumbent upon herself to verbalize her thoughts to her soulmate, "Christian…I owe my life to Lady Minerva. Even though we've vowed to set out on our own path and our own life…I feel that we should at least help her fulfill this one final mission."
Christian smiles as he seals the pressurization rings on his normalsuit, "You don't need to say it. I feel the same way. I feel it because you feel it. I do owe Minerva one…because without her, I could never have been with you."
Jo-M returns Christian's grin and kisses him sweetly on the cheek, a gesture Christian returns before saying, "It's in our interests to help Minerva and the Shambala Republic anyway. Those Titans are evil scum. We have to destroy them for the good of the world. Jolie Minh is a threat to us; as long as she lives, she'll be bent on destroying us, so we have to destroy her first."
"She was your friend," Jo-M observes, "She cared for you. Can you really…?"
"Jolie rejected me," Christian answers sullenly, "Just like my father did…just like the entire damned Earth Federation did. They don't need me…I don't need them…especially now that you're here. Jo…with you in this world, there doesn't need to be a Jolie Minh. You're better than her. You've surpassed her. You should be the true White Phoenix."
Jo-M blushes slightly, then dons her helmet, "Then it's decided: we destroy the Titans and Jolie Minh…"
"…and then, it's just you and me," Christian finishes, donning his own helmet, "Just us…in our own world."
Momentarily, the Omega Gundam and the Draco Gundam, Biosensor restored to operating condition, launch from the maintenance dock.
"Initiating Cosmogundam docking sequence," Jo-M announces.
"Roger. Systems aligning – docking in t-minus tens seconds," Christian affirms.
Gears and servos swivel and shift as the two Gundams combine into a single, supremely powerful unit…the Cosmogundam.
"Cosmogundam docking established," Jo-M affirms, "Course vector heading 8-11B9…intercept Titans Armada."
The Cosmogundam's mighty thrusters flare to life, propelling the ultimate war mecha to the field of combat.
The Shambala Republic Defense Fleet is marshalling just beyond the perimeter of the Side 3 Zone, taking up defensive formation around the heartland of the Shambala Republic.
At the head of the fleet is the converted warship Mapother, originally a large cargo ship, modified for combat functions.
In her private office aboard the Mapother, Deputy Prime Minister Minerva Zabi-Noah contemplates the gold pocketwatch and chain in her cybernetic left hand…a watch her best friend Jolie had gifted to her some eight years ago…eight years that feel like eight lifetimes ago.
Minerva's flesh-and-blood right hand rests upon her abdomen protectively; momentarily, her husband and partner, SIA Director Hathaway Noah, offers her a loving kiss on the cheek and a much-needed rub on the back of her neck.
Hathaway whispers into Minerva's ear, "Jo and Christian have sent word; they're on their way."
"Good," Minerva replies, stroking her abdomen thoughtfully, "I expect this will be their last mission."
"You really think they'll leave?" Hathaway inquires, fondly stroking Minerva's soft, feathery blonde hair.
"That's their plan," Minerva replies somewhat wearily, "I won't try to stop them. I don't think I could…nor do I need to."
"You mean that in a literal sense," Hathaway observes, perceptive as ever.
Minerva sighs, "They and Jolie have become too dangerous. They're the most powerful beings in the world…living weapons of apocalypse, and as long as they live, they can be exploited by evil men…or succumb to their own ignorance and recklessness. Some weapons are too powerful for humankind to possess, Hathaway: the nuclear detonator, the Minovsky Particle, the mobile suit…the Newtype. My own family has exploited each of these and cost humanity billions of lives. Enough. It stops here."
"We created Jo-M," Hathaway points out, "and Jolie is your best friend. Are you really willing…?"
Minerva sighs, "Yes. It's regrettable, but there are more important considerations. We…created her as well, and I want her to be born into a world without war."
So saying, Minerva strokes her abdomen lovingly…as only a mother would.
Hathaway puts his hand on Minerva's, and their fingers intertwine warmly, "You're right…as always."
Their lips touch warmly, lovingly, as the future beckons.
The mobile suits of the Centurion Special Operations Team have penetrated the Side 7 perimeter and streak towards Green Oasis, site of Garrison Noah.
Major Jolie Minh-Miguel understands that stealth will avail them little…that subtlety is a luxury that they cannot afford, and thus, she orders Major Eric Gardner, "Centurion Two: ready Hyper Particle Beam Cannon to fire. Target: Titans' fuel tanker."
Moored about ten kilometers out from Green Oasis is a massive nuclear-powered fuel tanker that the Titans had brought with them to supply combat units with sufficient fuel for an extended operation. A massive vessel about a tenth the mass of a space colony itself, it is veritably a potential weapon of mass destruction if detonated.
According to Major Gardner's calculations, using the Hyper Particle Beam Cannon to detonate the fuel tanks of the vessel at this proximity to Green Oasis poses a considerable, but acceptable risk to the space colony. Depending on the trajectory of the explosion, Green Oasis could be knocked out of its orbit…or worse, but there's an equal chance that the colony would be minimally affected or even completely unaffected.
After a quick consultation with Col. Christina McKenzie, the decision was rendered: attack with Hyper Particle Beam Cannon.
"Energy charge on Hyper Particle Beam Cannon at 85% and rising," Major Gardner affirms, "Safety locks disengaged. Energy at saturation point…Hyper Particle Beam Cannon firing."
Pure hellfire erupts forth from the barrel of the mighty weapon, lancing forth in a cohesive beam towards the Titans' fuel ship.
The hyperaccelerated energy particles have an immediate and volatile effect upon the fuel ship, causing it to balloon forth in a hellaciously violent explosion.
The streets of Green Oasis City, until approximately two weeks ago a bustling and thriving metropolis, are devoid of pedestrians. Only the ominous presence of Titans MS and armed Titans troopers are visible on the avenues and boulevards of the city, the mecha towering over all but the tallest buildings, sinisterly vigilant for any sign of unauthorized activity.
The millions of people who reside in Green Oasis City have been holed up in their homes for the past ten days, under a state of perpetual curfew and martial law, enforceable at the end of a gun, "for their own protection," according to the Titans authorities. Under absolutely no circumstances are the residents of the city allowed to leave their shelters, being told by the authorities that they would be released when they are to be released.
Green Oasis City has been a place where few words other than barked commands have been heard in recent days. Questions are typically answered by automatic rifle butts and, in more than a few cases, rifle barrels…understandable questions such as, "What's inside those canisters you've placed on the streets?"
The deafening booms of mobile suits' footfalls upon pavement are accompanied by vibrations that threaten to shake the city's buildings off their foundations. The streets and the structures that stand upon them were not built for the stress of mobile suits constantly ambulating near them.
The Titans' mobile suits are heavy, sturdy machines…veritable anthropomorphic battleships easily capable of standing their ground against impacts that would level skyscrapers.
The concussion power that suddenly slams into Green Oasis colony, however, topples dozens of them, sending them tumbling to the pavement as if they were mammoth bowling pins.
A general alarm sounds across the space colony as Titans personnel, ships, and mecha scramble to combat status.
A glance outside the massive solar panel windows of the colony would be sufficient to confirm what is already being transmitted through the Titans' military communications band: a fuel ship has exploded, causing massive damage to Titans warships and logistical vessels moored near Side 7…
The shockwave of the explosion soon reaches Green Oasis colony itself, rocking the colony with a force unrivaled by any terrestrial quake…
"The shockwave just hit Green Oasis, Jolie," Major Gardner reports, his entire body bathed in sweat, "Ma'am, it's moving!"
Sure enough, Green Oasis begins to move…just slightly.
"Jolie!" Chieming cries out, her heart pumping like a motor piston.
Jolie's eyes flash, and a spark rips forth from her helmeted head.
Green Oasis lurches, then stops…settling back into its assigned orbit.
Jolie contacts the bridge of the Amuro Ray, "Col. McKenzie…Commodore Beecher…now! While they're still reeling from the destruction of the fuel tanker!"
"Roger that, Major Minh-Miguel," comes the response from the Amuro Ray's bridge.
The remainder of the SNRI fleet, a half dozen warships, swivel the turrets of their primary and secondary gun batteries towards the Titans Armada, a few of which are deployed, but many of which have been damaged by the explosion of the fuel tanker. Beam cannon, missile barrages…all erupt at once towards the already disoriented Titans' fleet.
Jolie shouts to her teammates, "Go! Go! Go! We've only got a few minutes before they recover and strike back!"
The Centurion Team needs no other prompting. Responding to hundreds of hours of training and, in the case of the veterans, an even greater amount of time in actual combat, the SNRI troops and their mobile suits penetrate and invade Green Oasis Colony like early 20th Century American G-Men busting a hideout in gangland. The Centurions' MS burst into the space colony that until recently, served as their headquarters. The SNRI MS vengefully blitzkrieg every Titan MS and troop carrier in sight, exacting justice for lost comrades-at-arms.
Even so, the SNRI Forces are outnumbered fourteen-to-one, and they have one significant limitation that the Titans do not…
"Careful!" Jolie admonishes her subordinates, "There are civilians up and down these streets…in the buildings!"
The SNRI MS take to the streets, valiantly fighting to overcome their enemies while at the same time, not endanger the scores of civilians confined in their homes and businesses. In the chaos and confusion of the moment, large numbers of these civilians begin rushing forth from their shelters into the streets, compounding the danger.
The opposing Titans MS are predominantly of two varieties, the shock trooper TS-03 Amsträger and the swift, airmobile TS-06 Dolch. Jolie glimpses a more uncommon third model…clearly superior to the two more common types and perhaps equal to a Gundam in overall power output, maneuverability, resilience, and firepower...something reminiscent of the Federation's own Cour de Leon series MS, once favored by Lt. Col. Athena Ibaz and now piloted by Captain Chieming Noah.
From seemingly nowhere, a designation code and nomenclature materialize in Jolie's mind: TS-10 Drachenherz.
Col. Mongke Blameernorgh (nicknamed "Col. Blam" by his troops, though never thus addressed directly), the Titans' field operations commander at Side 7, strides towards a TS-10S Drachenherz Strike unit being combat-prepped at the same MS deck in Garrison Noah previously assigned to SNRI's Centurion Team.
The pilot of the Drachenherz Strike is Major Klaus "Crusher" Crenshaw, age forty-five and veteran of three wars. A young Earth Federation Forces ace pilot during the One Year War who had first proved his prowess during the Odessa Campaign on Earth and the assaults on Solomon and A Bao a Qu Fortresses, Crenshaw continued to serve as an MS pilot for the first incarnation of the Titans under Col. Bosque Om's command during the Gryps Conflict.
Crenshaw's commanding officers have long recognized him as an excellent warrior and gifted MS pilot (a Newtype, as later confirmed by the Augusta Research Center), but military psychologists also pegged Crenshaw as a headcase…particularly, as sadist who delighted in the amount of pain he could inflict upon an enemy. He gained the nickname "Crusher" for this defect of his personality…and for his preferred method of finishing off an enemy.
The perfect warrior for the ranks of the Titans.
Spotting his commanding officer, Crenshaw salutes, "Col. Blameernorgh, sir!"
Col. Blam returns the salute and says coldly, "Major Crenshaw: I want you to know that you have General Blackhead's and my authorization to use any and all necessary methods to put down this act of gross insubordination and insurrection by SNRI. They're traitors, Major, and they are to be punished as traitors."
Crenshaw grins with wolfish anticipation as he salutes, "Understood, sir."
Momentarily, Crenshaw is lifted to the cockpit of his modified TS-10S Drachenherz Strike…a machine designed with murder in mind.
Crenshaw brings the nuclear fusion engine of his MS to life, then brings combat systems online. The dual camera unit "eyes" of the Drachenherz Strike begin to glow a baleful green.
Crenshaw opens the communications network to his squad…handpicked ace pilots aboard Dolch-S units, nicknamed "Black Dragons."
"This is Crenshaw," the Major says in his characteristic growl, "Street party. Party favors on us."
The Black Dragons pilots grin knowingly at an apparently innocuous phrase whose coded true meaning is known only to them.
The Centurion Team and other SNRI units continue their intense firefight against the Titans Corps on the streets of Side 7. Despite SNRI's best efforts, casualties have begun to amount among the civilian population. Casualties already number in the hundreds, and Jolie fears that number could grow exponentially before she and her comrades can sweep the Titans out of the colony.
Aboard the Centurion Gundam Unit-2 and a Cour de Leon, Eric and Chieming battle their way inexorably towards an objective on a synthetic turf hill in the distance, still three kilometers away – the Presidential Residence…
Inside the Presidential Residence, President Mirai Yashima-Noah (who surprisingly still holds that title, although she imagines not for much longer) of the Earth Federation Government and her husband, General Bright Noah of the Earth Federation Forces can only watch…and wait.
Since the beginning of their captivity more than a week ago, the couple has been treated surprisingly mildly by their Titans captors. They have generally been free to move about the confines of their home, albeit always under the supervision of watchful, heavily armed guards. Despite overt and implied threats of violence should they attempt to resist, so far, the Noahs have been spared any actual harm by their captors.
"They're afraid of us," Bright reassured his wife on the second day of their captivity, "They know that they have nothing to offer but brutality."
The Presidential Residence is soundproofed, but Bright and Mirai can feel the impact and vibrations of the battle coming closer…and that horrible concussion that had knocked both of them off their feet a few minutes before the vibrations began. Something is happening out there…
Their thoughts turn to the younger of their two children…Chieming…
Mom…Dad…
Mirai "hears" it first, and then, so does Bright.
Chieming…Mirai thinks back to her daughter…Chieming, we're in the Presidential Residence!
Her daughter responds, We're coming for you, Mom…for you and Daddy. Just hang in there a few more minutes!
Chieming's thoughts turn to her fiancé Eric, Eric…Mom and Dad…they're…
Inside the Presidential Residence, Eric thinks back, I know. I just "heard."
The realization dawns on Chieming that she had heard Eric in her mind…not through her ears. The idea warms her heart…
It must be Jolie, Eric concludes, she's boosting all of our latent Newtype sensitivities.
The vibrations grow more intense within the Presidential Residence, finally distracting the guards sent to confine President and General Noah.
"Now, Mirai!" Bright bellows.
More than twenty years ago, Bright and Mirai had fought side-by-side as part of the crew of the White Base. More than once, their ship was invaded by enemy Zeon troops, forcing them to fight against their enemies hand-to-hand. Recent years have been quieter…with fewer occasions to bodily struggle against foemen, but neither Bright nor Mirai's combat instincts have deserted them after these many long years…
Bright dives towards legs of the nearest Titans' guardsman, a youth likely younger than his own youngest child, Chieming, and brings him crashing to the ground. As the youth falls, Mirai wrenches his weapon out of his hand, firing in an arc to take down the two other guardsmen assigned to secure them.
Bright knocks out the youth that he has wrestled to the ground with a solid punch directly to the face, then draws a concussion grenade from the young man's utility belt.
"Mirai! Take cover!" Bright shouts.
Mirai reflexively obeys, diving behind the shelter of the kitchen's concrete central counter as Bright chucks the grenade.
The concussion takes down the remaining guardsmen, as well as one of the exterior walls of the Presidential Residence.
Behind a veil of smoke, Mirai and Bright hear the telltale heavy sounds of two mobiles suits' armored footfalls.
Mirai points her commandeered weapon skyward, as futile as she knows it would be against a mobile suit.
The veil of smoke clears to reveal the comforting, familiar forms of the Centurion Gundam Unit-2 and Cour de Leon, which leave the smoldering wreckage of a half dozen Titans' MS behind them as they approach the President and the General.
At the same moment, Jolie and the rest of the Centurion Team are making headway against the Titans' MS army. Despite their far smaller numbers, SNRI is riding the superiority of the White Phoenix Gundam and Jolie's piloting skill to put the Titans on their heels.
To watch the White Phoenix Gundam in action is to witness warfare rendered into poetry; the ultimate war machine moves with a lightness, grace, and lightning-swiftness that belies its heavily armored mass. Its deployment of weaponry is precise and efficient, striking down enemy after enemy without endangering the civilians that still teem about the combat zone, with a flare and grace that seem to indicate that its pilot is putting on a show for an audience, although such thoughts are far from Jolie's mind.
But an ominous pressure bears down on Jolie…suffocating, oppressive. She glances skyward and sees an arriving flight of fresh Titans' mobile suits…not the Amsträgers or standard Dolchs that she has been dispatching with ease, but a dozen upgraded Dolch-S units and a Drachenherz-type, descending in battle formation across the city.
"SNRI, evasive maneuvers!" Jolie orders.
Aboard his Drachenherz-S, Major Klaus Crenshaw sneers, "White Phoenix, eh? I want these people watch me crush you along with their hopes!"
So saying, Crenshaw opens up with a heavy barrage of beam fire that Jolie deftly blocks with the White Phoenix Gundam's arm-mounted shield. Jolie's eyes flash with alarm as Crenshaw's Drachenherz streaks in from behind the cloud of resultant smoke and sparks to bear down upon the WPG with its beam saber tip extended before itself.
Jolie turns the blow aside with a swipe from the WPG's own beam saber, then directs her mobile suit in a wheeling kick that catches the Drachenherz across the head/camera unit and send the Titans' MS crashing on its back.
Crenshaw curses as his MS goes down. Never in his three-decade combat piloting career has he been so humiliated…
Crenshaw rapidly brings the Drachenherz back to its feet for a second strike against the WPG, but then, a more devilishly appealing idea enters his imagination.
Smiling his wolfish smile, Crenshaw issues the order to his men, "Black Dragons…time for party favors…"
Responding to that order, the Black Dragons begin opening fire...on every civilian structure, vehicle, and individual in sight!
The carnage is devastating and quick…within seconds, hundreds have been slain in a scene of complete pandemonium. The streets of Side 7 run red in blood, stained by fire, smoke, and tears…the sound of explosions and crumbling rubble punctuated by screams of terror and pain.
Crenshaw laughs.
2Lt. Rayann Zhang, aboard her Jet Jegan Strike, spots a family of four on the run from a Dolch-S that is toying with them by spraying gatling cannon fire at their heels.
In that family, Rayann sees her own…her father, mother, and older sister Rainie, all (hopefully) still safe and sound in her home colony of Emerald Rod at Side 5. All of her life, Rayann's goal in life was to be a part of something greater than herself…to stand up for justice and protect the innocent. It is for that reason that she left home at age sixteen to join the Earth Federation Forces and worked hard to qualify as a Special Forces cadet, finally serving under the command of her childhood heroine, Major Jolie Minh-Miguel. It was to such ideals as justice and compassion that Rayann had dedicated her life…
Rayann launches forward in her Jet Jegan Strike, diving at the Dolch-S with her mobile suit's weapons blazing.
"Rayann…wait!" her longtime friend and wingman, 2Lt. Amy Chu cries out from her own Jet Jegan.
"2Lt. Zhang, don't!" Jolie cautions, her hands full with a dozen Dolch-S units that stand between the WPG and Rayann's Jet Jegan Strike.
Rayann succeeds in downing the Dolch-S terrorizing the fleeing family, but the maneuver exposes her to a sudden attack by Major Crenshaw's Dragonherz.
The Titans' ace drives his mobile suit's beam saber deep into the center of Rayann's mobile suit…just below the cockpit. The maneuver is coordinated not to detonate the Federation MS's nuclear fusion engine…or to disintegrate Rayann, but to roast her alive.
Rayann feels her skin burning inside the cockpit of her MS…her blood boiling from more than anger. She screams in horrible, horrible pain.
Heat is replaced by impact as the Dragonherz smashes her Jet Jegan into the pavement, then slams on the Centurion Team MS's cockpit hatch with the bottom of its armored foot, bringing its full weight to bear.
Rayann feels every bone in her body breaking, her internal organs being squeezed to implosion by the ever-increasing pressure.
Mom…Dad…Sis…..Kevin…I…love…all…of…you, Rayann has time to think before death mercifully overcomes her.
"RAYANN!" Amy screams, her eyes blinded with tears, her heart breaking.
Over the external speakers of his Dragonherz, Major Klaus "Crusher" Crenshaw sneers once again, "This is the fate that awaits those foolish enough to challenge the authority of the Titans and the Earth Federation. We are the giants of this world, and you…you are all insects!"
Jolie's teeth clench and a horrible, horrible rage builds inside her…her eyes glow dangerously red, and her grip nearly snaps the control sticks of the WPG!
Two years ago, Major Jolie Minh-Miguel had recruited Cadet Rayann Zhang from the Earth Federation Forces Officer's Academy. Rayann was a friend of Amy Chu's, who'd Jolie had first encountered on Earth during the war against Alexander Miguel, but that would not be enough to secure Rayann consideration for Special Forces duty. The Special Forces were the best of the best, and if Rayann were to join their ranks, she would need to prove her mettle.
…and prove it she did. Rayann's talents were certainly above average – she had been among the top officers in her graduating class at the academy, but her success was as much a product of her sheer determination and courage as it was her substantial gifts. Rayann Zhang wanted to fight alongside heroes…she wanted to be a hero herself, and finally won Jolie's trust and a coveted place among the Federation's finest after passing a rigorous series of tests that included combat campaigns in space and on the ruined Earth against the remnants of Zeon.
Jolie remembers greeting Rayann's parents and older sister when they came to visit during the previous year's holidays, and seeing in them reflections of her own family, so long lost to her. Jolie both envied and admired Rayann for being able to maintain a family through the chaos of war.
Jolie remembers late night conversations with Rayann on subjects as wide-ranging as mobile suit combat experiences…and experiences with lovers. Rayann had left behind a tumultuous relationship with a boyfriend, Kevin was his name, to join the Federal Forces…and Rayann's anecdotes about their experiences often recalled to Jolie's mind her own relationship with her late husband, Jonah.
Rayann was always dutiful and compliant, but she also demonstrated initiative and drive. Jolie saw in Rayann a younger sister…a sort of kindred spirit.
Now she's gone…gone just like her parents…like Jonah…like so many others Jolie has loved…literally had the life crushed out of her by a monster who wears the skin and flesh of a man…
"You haven't been half-trying…" Dr. Camille Vidan's words haunt Jolie, "You've been holding back because you're afraid to use your full power. You're scared of what might happen if you allowed yourself to really cut loose and unleash your full potential."
Jolie sees an image of her husband Jonah on his deathbed, five years earlier, the promise he asked of her…"Use your great gifts…protect them."
The sound of Crenshaw's taunts and mad laughter fill Jolie's ears.
Jolie's eyes burn with horrible, vengeful retribution as a growl welling up from deep within her finally explodes into a terrible, inhuman scream…a battle cry… "YARRRGGHHHHHH!"
The White Phoenix Gundam surges forth, its entire arsenal deployed!
The first Dolch-S falls as the WPG's beam saber dices it into a dozen fragments with a swift series of slashes. Before it drops, the WPG has crushed a second Dolch-S by barreling into it with a bent knee. A massive barrage of beam fire downs six more in one sweep, while a simultaneous volley of missiles drop five more approaching Amsträger mobile suits.
The remainder of the Centurion Team attempts to join the battle…to avenge their fallen comrade and assist their commanding officer, but they find themselves unable to enter the fray. The White Phoenix Gundam has become much more than a superior combat mobile suit operated by a gifted ace pilot…it is an elemental force of retributive violence animated by an enraged demigoddess.
Like a tidal wave, they come, dozens upon dozens of Titans' mobile suits, and as quickly as they arrive, they fall…engulfed by the unrelenting rage of the maddened White Phoenix…
Nearby, Captain Chieming Noah has debarked from her mobile suit and embraces her mother. Her fiancé, Major Eric Gardner, salutes and shakes the hand of Chieming's father, General Bright Noah.
"Sir," Eric says as he salutes, "Major Eric Gardner reporting, General. We're here to liberate you, sir."
"Well done, Major," Bright says with a smile, shaking the younger man's hand, "Now that we're free, our next priority is…"
Bright's words are interrupted by a terrible noise and concussion coming from the central district of Green Oasis City, some five kilometers away from their present location. The city has become a blazing inferno, with mass explosions, fire, and smoke erupting seemingly everywhere.
"Let's go!" Bright orders, "We have to find out what's happening there!"
Bright boards the Centurion Gundam-2 with Eric, and Mirai likewise boards her daughter's Cour de Leon. Momentarily, they streak towards the center of the city.
The history of warfare is replete with oddities of singular acts by extraordinary individuals who appear to be an army unto themselves. The ancient Greeks had their legends of Achilles during the Trojan War. During the 20th Century, "super-soldiers" such as the famed Sergeant York, Audie Murphy, Simo Haya, and "Mad Jack" Churchill became the stuff of legend by personally fighting off dozens upon dozens of enemy soldiers and walking away completely unharmed.
More recent in history was Amuro Ray's singlehanded takedown of twelve mobile suits in one six-minute melee during the One Year War…a battle that even two decades later remains the stuff of modern folklore.
His legendary performance has been surpassed…sevenfold.
The White Phoenix Gundam, with hardly a mark on it, stands poised for battle…its weapons systems all exhausted and empty, except for a beam saber that still has seven minutes' charge remaining.
Behind it lie the broken remains of eighty-two Titans mobile suits…Amsträgers, Dolch-S and Dolch standards, Hizacks, Marasais, and Barzams.
All eighty-two dispatched by the White Phoenix Gundam…
Those who witnessed the carnage can scarcely believe their senses: one mobile suit had singly destroyed eighty-two others…destroyed them with utter ease, and with a vengefulness that was truly frightening.
That fear now grips the heart of Major Klaus "Crusher" Crenshaw, whose face is pale and bathed in cold sweat as he backs his mobile suit away in terror, "N-no! Don't come near me!"
In the cockpit of the White Phoenix Gundam, the furious red glow has not left Major Jolie Minh-Miguel's eyes. Her teeth are locked in a rictus of animalistic fury, and a bestial growl emanates from her throat.
That growl once more explodes into a terrifying battle cry as the White Phoenix Gundam surges forth again.
The WPG embeds its beam saber in a nearby fallen Amsträger as it charges towards Crenshaw's Drachenherz, felling the Titans' mobile suit. The WPG then begins pummeling the other mobile suit with its mighty armored fists, and with a series of cruel flips, twists, chops, and assorted blows, systematically disables its limbs.
Inside the cockpit of the Drachenherz, Crenshaw is battered, bloodied, and exhausted. His heart is filled with hatred and a desire to strike back, but his body is too terribly wounded to comply.
S-she's not human, Crenshaw has time to think, She's…she's some kind of war demon…some kind of vengeful spirit…
Such are Crenshaw's final thoughts as the WPG's fist comes surging through the reinforced armored cockpit of the Drachenherz.
The WPG has the limbless, headless Drachenherz helpless on its back amidst of the rubble of Green Oasis City. Crenshaw is little more than a bloody pulp unrecognizable as a man…and still, the WPG rams its armored fist into the hollow cavity where the cockpit module of the Drachenherz rested mere moments earlier, striking harder and harder…a dozen times…two dozen times…more furiously…with greater force in each strike. The WPG's metalshod fist breaks away, and still the mobile suit continues striking.
"RRRRRRR! YAHHHHHH!" Jolie screams…unable to stop herself.
"Ohmigod! She's gone crazy!" Captain Chieming Noah cries out in horror as her Cour de Leon and Major Eric Gardner's Centurion Gundam-2 alight.
"Eric! Chieming! Stop her!" General Noah orders, "At this rate, she'll destroy what's left of the city!"
The CG-2 and Cour de Leon each attempt to grab hold of the WPG's shoulders, but the more powerful MS simply shrugs them off. Taking a moment to engage their thrusters and gather themselves and make a second attempt, Eric and Chieming find themselves joined by the dozen or so remaining SNRI MS, all attempting valiantly to dogpile the WPG and keep it suppressed…all in vain as the WPG throws them off as if they were rag dolls.
"We can't stop her!" Chieming laments.
The WPG turns towards its SNRI allies, who back away cautiously as the WPG stalks ominously towards them.
"One chance," Eric says through clenched teeth as he initiates the PSI-Gundam interlock system.
A sensor aboard the WPG responds the signal, momentarily taking manual control out of Jolie's hands as the WPG readies itself for docking…
The WPG and CG-2 merge into the PSI-Gundam…the first time they have done so since the penultimate battle of the Phobos War.
"PSI-Gundam systems online," an electronic voice chimes.
All wait in nervous anticipation.
The PSI-Gundam does not move.
In the combined cockpit of the PSI-Gundam, Major Eric Gardner unstraps himself from the safety restraints to lower himself into Jolie's command cockpit station, where she continues to finger the controls of the WPG.
Eric opens the cockpit hatch and unstraps Jolie from the cockpit seat, calling out for "Medic!" as he does so.
Eric removes Jolie from the WPG's cockpit and sets the diminutive MS ace on her feet.
A moment later, Jolie lashes out and catches Eric with a chop that would have decapitated him had he not been wearing his helmet; as it is, the helmet is cracked as if it had been cleaved by an axe.
The other Centurions begin backing away as Jolie swings at them wildly. Eric, Bright, Chieming, Amy, and several others finally succeed in tackling her to the ground.
A medical team approaches and promptly injects Jolie with a powerful sedative. The Centurion Team leader soon loses consciousness.
"Take her to the triage," General Noah orders, "She needs medical attention."
Even as a stretcher arrives to transport Jolie to the triage, Chieming receives a message from Col. Christina McKenzie on the Amuro Ray.
"Chieming," Christina's voice comes through the helmet receiver, "What's happening? Have you secured Side 7 yet?"
"Yes, ma'am," Chieming reports, glancing at the destruction around her, "The Titans are in retreat. The President and General Noah have been liberated."
"That's excellent news," Christina replies, "But we can't celebrate yet: our reconnaissance units show that the main Titans' Armada has departed Luna 2."
"Are they headed our way?" Chieming asks worriedly.
"No," Christina answers grimly, "They're on a course for Side 3."
"Side 3?" Chieming repeats, "They're going to attack the Shambala Republic!"
"We need to get there, now," Christina says.
"We need some time for repairs," Chieming answers, choking up, "We-we lost 2Lt. Zhang...and Jolie…she..."
Christina feels a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, "Repeat that, Captain Noah. What is the status of Major Minh-Miguel?"
"She's fine," Chieming amends, "But…oh, God…"
Eric gently removes the helmet from Chieming's head and places it on his own and begins, "Col. McKenzie, this is Major Gardner. Here's what happened…"
Some twelve hours later, Jolie awakens in the triage area set up in the familiar confines of Garrison Noah, now once again under Earth Federation Forces control.
Jolie rises…her muscles ache, and she feels inexplicably weak. Nevertheless, she rises, picks up her helmet from where it lies on a nearby examination table, and staggers out of the triage area.
The Garrison is abuzz with activity. SNRI MS assist technicians and engineers in repairing the damage as best they can. Jolie turns her head and sees her White Phoenix Gundam being rearmed and repaired on a service gantry, a process that seems near completion.
In the distance, Major Eric Gardner's borrowed Centurion Gundam Unit-2 uses its beam saber to melt away the hated emblem of the Titans from the armored wall of the MS deck, to the applause of the mechanics, technicians, and troops who pause momentarily in their work to express their approval.
Jolie, her battle rage spent, opens her mind…and hears the discussion currently taking place between General Bright Noah and his wife, President Mirai Yashima…
"The Titans are going after Side 3," Mirai says lamentfully, "Hathaway and Minerva are going to need help, but our resources are exhausted. There's not much we can do to support them."
"Christina and her fleet will deploy within an hour to attempt an interception of the Titans…maybe as a diversionary tactic," Bright says, "Hopefully, Jolie will be able to join them."
"They were operating right under our noses all along," Mirai says, frustration evident in her voice, "We had five years to uncover and put an end to what Blackhead and his cronies were doing, and we utterly failed."
"Not yet," Bright says determinedly, "We won't let those bastards get Shambala too."
Jolie has heard enough. She dons her helmet and strides towards her White Phoenix Gundam.
To Jolie's pleasant surprise, Captain Molly Duran-Pierce is waiting there for her, clipboard in hand and devilish smile in place.
"Good to see you survived," Jolie says with a roguish grin of her own.
"Partly because you went psycho on those Titans pigs," Molly replies, "Swear to God: I'll never, ever piss you off again, Major. Don't want to end up like those eighty-three MS you trashed."
"Eighty-three?" Jolie says incredulously.
"Eighty-three," Molly affirms, "What…you lost count?"
"Something like that," Jolie answers, losing interest, "Is the WPG ready to deploy?"
"All dressed for action and ready to party," Molly affirms, "Except they haven't handed out your invitation yet."
"I'm crashing the party," Jolie says wearily, boarding the WPG, and bringing systems on line, "Hook me up with an M-Booster."
"Going long-distance, eh?" Molly teases, already ordering the M-Booster.
"Don't want to be late," Jolie rejoins.
Thirty minutes later, the WPG launches from Garrison Noah…en rout to the Side 3 Zone.
The flight across the Earth Sphere utilizing the M-Booster takes six hours…enough time for Jolie to formulate some semblance of a battle plan.
Jolie outflanks the Titans Armada, speeding past them to reach the perimeter of the Side 3 Zone just thirty minutes ahead of them.
Approaching the Side 3 Zone, Jolie spots the Titans Armada before her…ominously closing upon the space colonies of Side 3 like a large school of sharks bearing down upon a school of tuna.
Jolie lines the flagship of the Titans Armada, commanded by General Manron Blackhead himself, in the targeting bracket of the WPG's combat computer and prepares to open fire with all weapons systems.
Then she senses them…two familiar and powerful PSI-energy wave patterns.
The WPG finds itself suddenly confronted by the Cosmogundam, standing between it and the approaching Titans Armada.