Chapter Eleven
[i]RZS Gwazine Kai class battleship Gwadrim, Side 3 Border, L2
8th November UC 0087[/i]
The massive battleship [i]Gwadrim[/i] slowly made its way across the border into Federation territory. Not since the One Year War had a [i]Gwazine[[/i] class battleship left Side 3 to enter Federation space. The [i]Musai[/i] cruisers [i]Baramel[/i] and [i]Ortlinde[/i] followed in the shadow of the much larger vessel. The Titans had already employed [i]Musais[/i] in their battle against the AEUG so their passing the border was nothing unusual.
The [i]Alexandria[/i] class heavy cruiser [i]Hario[/i] was waiting over the border. A pair of [i]Antietam[/i] carriers and a pair of [i]Salamis Kais[/i] were also waiting with the [i]Hario[/i]. The two [i]Antietams[/i], modified [i]Columbus[/i] transports, were carrying the mobile suits needed by the [i]Gwadrim[/i] and her escorts.
On the [i]Gwadrim's[/i] bridge Lieutenant Commander Vicktor von Habsburg-Lothringen smiled to himself. He was sat on the rather large and ornate command chair situated in the middle of the bridge. Vicktor had never been on a command deck quite so large. There were dozens of crewmen at stations all around him. They, in turn, fed information to a much small command station off to Vicktor's right where Captain Lorin Halifax conducted the general running of the ship. Vicktor didn't bother lowering himself to actually getting involved in that sort of thing. He doubted the Zeon crew would even take his orders. Halifax had pledged his crew's loyalty but Vicktor wasn't entirely sure he could trust them all. As a precaution he'd arranged for some of Sergeant Bipin's marines to be stationed on the bridge.
They were running behind schedule and that annoyed Vicktor slightly. Problems with the [i]Gwadrim's[/i] engines had pushed back their departure by almost half a day. Then Captain Halifax had insisted on not pushing the engines too much while they settled in. In the long run Vicktor suppose it didn't really matter as long as the mission was carried out.
"How does it feel Captain?" asked Vicktor loudly.
"How does what feel, sir?" replied Captain Halifax as he looked up from his station. The captain retained a stern expression he knew exactly what Vicktor was referring to but didn't want to give anything away too soon.
"We are back in Federation territory with a Zeon crew and a [i]Gwazine[/i] battleship," said Vicktor. "According to your record this is the first time you've stepped outside of the Side 3 since A Baoa Qu. How does it feel to be in, aha, 'enemy territory' again?"
"Space is space, sir, it feels no different at all," replied Halifax smoothly. In reality he felt rather conflicted. It was Federation territory after all. He still felt that excitement he knew all too well from the war. However it was tempered with something else. He wasn't entirely sure but it was probably disgust that an Earthnoid, and a Titan no less, was the one in command and that the whole mission was for the benefit of the Earth Federation. He suspect that many of his former comrades were turning over in their graves.
"I don't believe you Captain but if you don't wish to talk so be it," said Vicktor coolly. He stood up and walked towards the main window. "Bring us alongside the [i]Hario[/i]. I want to transfer the supplies of mobile suits quickly."
Captain Halifax simply nodded and relayed the order to the various crewmen that needed to know. Finally he asked a question, "Sir once the mobile suits have been transferred what is our destination?"
Vicktor eyed the Zeon captain carefully. It wasn't out of the ordinary for him to want to know where the ship was headed. However Vicktor still did not trust him at all. The possibility that Halifax could use his position to hamper the mission had occurred to Vicktor but at this moment in time there was no way he could replace him.
"Our first destination will be the moon," replied Vicktor. "There we will be able to strike fear into the hearts of the AEUG. You don't need to know anything more than that for now."
"Lieutenant Commander we have a message for you from the [i]Hario[/i]," reported a crewman. "Lieutenant Commander Ayachi sends his congratulations on securing such a fine vessel for the Titans."
"Hmph, that Space Forces fool Ayachi is nothing but a glorified ferryman," sneered Vicktor. "I don't know why Captain Om allows the [i]Hario[/i] to be wasted on such a man."
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As Lieutenant Adrian Boult stepped out of the shuttle and into the [i]Gwadrim's[/i] hanger the disgust on his face was obvious for all to see. He was a tall well built man with the air of a veteran pilot about him. Indeed he still bore the scar on his right arm where he'd been wounded during the One Year War.
"This ship stinks of Zeon," Boult declared to the group of pilots standing behind him. "I don't like it."
"I can't smell anything Lieutenant," voiced up the youngest pilot. "It smells like any other ship to me."
"Shut the hell up Chief Petty Officer Maazel you idiot," bellowed Lieutenant Junior Grade Christopher Warren-Green who was serving at Boult's second in command. "That goes for the rest of you maggots as well. Get one of these godamned spacenoids to show you to your rooms. The Lieutenant and I shall report to Lieutenant Commander von Habsburg-Lothringen."
The other four Titans pilots sounded their acceptance of the order and hurried off into the hanger.
"If this ship lives up to the reputation of the [i]Gwazines[/i] of old it should be a pretty interesting ship to serve on Adrian," commented Christopher as the two officers made their way to the lift that would take them to the bridge.
"I don't care if this cruise is interesting or not," said Adrian Boult bitterly. "My brother was killed at A Baoa Qu when his ship was destroyed by a [i]Gwazine[/i]. It burns inside to be on one of these monsters. What the hell were they thinking by doing this!"
"I'm sure Captain Om is only doing what he thinks is best for the Titans," counciled Christopher. "This ship will give the Titans a serious edge on the AEUG."
"We shouldn't have to resort to damned Zeon ships just to fight the AEUG," snapped Boult.
Presently they arrived at the [i]Gwadrim's[/i] bridge and found Lieutenant Commander von Habsburg-Lothringen deep in conversation with the captains of the two [i]Salamis Kai[/i] cruisers that were joining the squadron. Boult and Warren-Green waited their turn before being summoned by von Habsburg-Lothringen.
"So you are going to be my mobile suit commander," said von Habsburg-Lothringen. "I'm glad to see we have some veterans joining us."
"Sir, I'm Lieutenant Adrian Boult, leader of the 351st Mobile Suit Team, and this is Lieutenant Junior Grade Christopher Warren-Green, leader of the 498th Mobile Suit Team," said Boult smoothly. He tried not to allow his anger at the whole situation show through.
"And the other teams?" asked the Lieutenant Commander.
"Sir, they are Space Forces pilots that have yet to join us," answered Warren-Green.
"I specifically requested a full compliment of Titan pilots and they send me just two teams!" raged Vicktor. "I do not blame you, Lieutenants you are only following orders but this is very distressing. The Space Forces can not be trusted at all. What about our compliment of mobile suits?"
"Sir, my own team is equipped with the new Barzam mobile suit. Lieutenant JG Warren-Green's team is operating with Marasais," said Boult. "One of the Space Force's teams is also using Marasais and the rest are equipped with Hizacks."
"I suppose that is better than nothing," conceded Vicktor. "Very well Lieutenant you may go and acclimatise yourself with the [i]Gwadrim[/i]. oh one other thing Lieutenants, I will be hosting dinner in my cabin tonight, just a little welcome party for our new comrades. I will send someone to collect you."
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[i]AEUG 'Forrestal'-type Salamis heavy cruiser Valiant, between Lagrange point 2 and the Moon[/i]
"It's been two days, Captain," commented Lieutenant James Keffer, "I don't think that we're going to find this damned [i]Gwazine[/i] by just patrolling."
"I know it's tedious James but we don't exactly have a lot of options," replied Captain Jellico. He was standing at the secondary navigation console and calculating potential courses that the enemy flotilla might have taken. There were far too many for the [i]Valiant[/i] and [i]Redoubtable[/i] to cover even if they split up. For now the two AEUG cruisers remained together, on Jellico's orders, just in case they did encounter the enemy.
"How could they have let the god damned Zeeks keep a [i]Gwazine[/i] battleship," Keffer complained. "It's just asking for trouble!"
"I have no idea where it came from James," replied Jellico. "The [i]Gwazines[/i] that didn't escape escape from A Baoa Qu were either destroyed or captured. The shipyards in Side 3 were impounded shortly after the peace treaty was signed. For all we know they somehow manage to salvage a derelict [i]Gwazine[/i] and repair it in secret." Seemingly giving up at the secondary navigation console Jellico returned to his command chair. "You should be concentrating more on the strategy of taking this enemy down rather than where it came from."
"All the strategies I've come up with involve us all dying after about five seconds," grumbled Keffer. "They all pretty much end with the [i]Valiant[/i] being shot down in a single volley and us poor pilots getting overwhelmed by dozens of Titan mobile suits."
"Damn it James, can't you be positive for once?" snapped Jellico. "You were all gloomy when I told you about our mission to capture the [i]Perseus[/i] and then you went and did nothing but complain when we were at Sweetwater. I swear you could drive a man to drink."
The last remark drew a stifled snicker from from the [i]Valiant's[/i] helmsman and navigator who'd been quietly working away at their stations. James lightly pushed off the deck and floated over to the crewmen and gave them both a knock on the head to remain them who was boss.
"Well then sir, if you want me to be positive I will be," said James sarcastically. "I can't wait to embrace this new challenging mission. It will fill me with joy to grapple with our enemies..."
"Captain! Object approaching from the stern at high speed," interjected the [i]Valiant's[/i] radar operator.
"Identification?" Jellico barked the question. Mostly out of his annoyance with James than anything else.
"It's too large to be a missile and the shape isn't consistent with any known mobile suit," reported Roberts the radarman. "Checking visual library....sir it appears to be a Saberfish fighter fitted with long range fuel tanks."
"What the hell is a Saberfish doing all the way out here?" wondered James. As the fighter got closer the image of it improved and it became apparent that it bore Earth Federation Space Forces livery.
"Sir, the pilot requests permission to come aboard," reported Mimi Curtis at the communication's station. "He says he has an important message to give you."
"Seems like an awfully elaborate ruse for the Titans to waste their time with," mused Jellico. "Very well, allow the fighter to dock and have an armed guard escort the pilot here."
Just over half an hour passed before the Saberfish's pilot was ushered onto the bridge still wearing his pilot's suit. "Captain Jellico, Lieutenant Keffer. My name is Ensign Masato Chiba of the EFSF asteroid base [i]Papelotte[/i] reconnaissance section. I was sent to find you by Lieutenant Lockhart," said Ensign Chiba. "Word reached us at [i]Papelotte[/i] that the Titans were up to something big in Side 3. I'm sure you've heard that they've manage to get their hands on a [i]Gwazine[/i] battleship. By pure chance, while out on patrol, my recon squad happened upon this [i]Gwazine[/i] shortly after it had crossed the border. We got as close as we dared and took as many pictures as we could before their mobile suits chased us away."
"You actually have documentary evidence of this [i]Gwazine[/i]?" asked Jellico.
"Yes sir, I've seen it with my own eyes," replied Chiba. "And sir, it isn't a standard [i]Gwazine[/i] as far as I can tell she's fitted with at least two launch catapults. There were five other ships escorting it. Two were [i]Musais[/i], two were [i]Salamis Kais[/i] and the last one was the only one we could identify, she was the [i]Hario[/i]."
"I commend your bravery Ensign but you haven't exactly told us anything new," commented James. "I suppose the pictorial information will be useful."
"That maybe so sir," replied Chiba slightly miffed that Keffer was being so dismissive. "However I was able to get a bearing on their course. Captain, they are headed for the Moon."
"Thank you ensign, you've been very helpful no matter what Lieutenant Keffer says. We'll get your fighter refuelled immediately so that you can return to [i]Papelotte[/i]," said Jellico. Ensign Chiba saluted, which Jellico returned, and then was escorted off the bridge. "Helm, set course for the Moon best speed."
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[i]RZS Gwazine Kai class battleship Gwadrim, between Lagrange point 2 and the Moon[/i]
The [i]Gwadrim[/i] was one of those rare ships that was large enough to house an internal gravity block. This rotating wheel like structure granted the benefits of gravity to at least part of the [i]Gwadrim[/i]. It didn't surprise Lieutenant Adrian Boult much at all to discover that the commanding officer's suite took up nearly a quarter of the [i]Gwadrim's[/i] gravity block. That sort of excessive luxury devoted to just one person was a hang over from the days of the Zabis and was something Adrian hated.
The dining room that he now found himself in was also excessive. The design had a vague Earthy feel to it with plenty of wood panelling. However you could easily tell that the designer was a spacenoid and therefore naturally had a different design ethos to an earthnoid. It was also far bigger than it really needed to be Adrian estimated that a third of the mahogany dining table was unused. He and the rest of Lieutenant Commander von Habsburg-Lothringen's guests were shepherded towards their places at the table but what appeared to be an army of waiting staff.
Much to Adrian's surprise he found himself seating right next to the von Habsburg-Lothringen; who was at the head of the table. Opposite Adrian was Captain Halifax whose Zeon style uniform made him look decided out of place compared to the sea of Titan dress uniforms around him. While Adrian hated the very idea of it he knew that there was an amount of politicking going on in the seating arrangement. Clearly Halifax had such a "good" seat because von Habsburg-Lothringen was either keeping an eye on him or trying to flatter him. The same was probably true of his own place. Sitting on Adrian's left was Lieutenant JG Warren-Green followed by the other six mobile suit team leaders. At the far end was a Federation Forces lieutenant that Adrian did not know yet. On Halifax's side of the table were the captains and their executive officers. Adrian noted that the Zeon captains were sat higher up the table than the Space Forces officers. In fact that very last person was Captain Denha Mueton of the cruiser [i]Great Gable[/i]; not only was he the highest ranking captain but he also had by far the most experience given that he had been in the service of the Federation Forces for some twenty five years. Mueton had no worries about telling people what he really thought so it was most likely that was the reason he was out of favour.
"Gentlemen, welcome. I am pleased you could join me at my table," von Habsburg-Lothringen was clearly enjoying being the centre of attention. The servants were pouring wine for the guests a luxury that would have been impossible on most ships. "You will all be vital to the success of our mission. So please do enjoy yourselves as tomorrow the real work begins."
After a brief toast the servants brought out the starters. Adrian was amazed to see fresh meat and vegetables which had quite clearly been imported from the Earth. The colonies were, generally, self supporting when it came to food. However plants grown and animals bred in the colonies never quite tasted the same as those from the Earth. Adrian suspected it had something to do with the fertilisers and conditions in space. This food, meanwhile, definitely came from the Earth and Adrian couldn't possibly imagine how expensive it would have been.
"Lieutenant Boult, do you have any more information on that flight of space fighters we encountered earlier?" asked von Habsburg-Lothringen.
Adrian hastily swallowed and slice of wood pigeon he'd been eating to reply. "Sir, based on the information we were able to gather they appear to have been a reconnaissance flight based on one of the asteroid supply bases along the Side 3 border. Given the location we crossed the border there are only two locations they could have come from; it was either [i]Hougourmont[/i] or [i]Papelotte[/i]."
"Both Federation Forces facilities?" asked the lieutenant commander.
"As far as I am aware sir, yes," replied Adrian. "Intelligence certainly doesn't suggest that the AEUG has a presence at those facilities."
"It wouldn't matter even if the AEUG did find out already," said von Habsburg-Lothringen. "In fact it will probably help our mission somewhat."
"I don't understand, sir, what is our mission?"
"Well I suppose now is a relatively safe time to inform you all of our mission directives," said von Habsburg-Lothringen with a flourish. "The rebels might have sacked Kilimanjaro but we will not allow them any respite here in space. Everyone knows that those treacherous lunarians are fully backing the AEUG. We don't have the resources to occupy all the lunar cities. Therefore we have been given orders to raid the AEUG supply lines radiating out of the lunar cities instead. With the strength we have thanks to the [i]Gwadrim[/i] nothing but the most powerful AEUG fleet will be able to stop us. In fact, if anything, we want their most powerful forces coming after us." At that last remark he slammed his fist down on the table. "Our force can, and will, crush anything they send at us. Even the infamous [i]Argama[/i] will fall under our guns."
Adrian was beginning to understand his commanding office now. The man could sound tough when needed. In fact several of the junior officers were hanging on his every word, especially the sycophantic Federation Forces personnel. Captain Mueton meanwhile remained stoney faced but Adrian could tell that the experienced captain was holding his tongue. Adrian was also somewhat sceptical of von Habsburg-Lothringen's claims. The [i]Gwadrim[/i] was indeed a powerful warship but it was still vulnerable to mobile suit attack, just like any other warship. He suspected that von Habsburg-Lothringen was a advocate of the big gun battleship rather than the mobile suit. It was true that the Titans had a certain flair for intimidation gestures. Dark coloured mobile suits and the mighty [i]Dogosse Gier[/i] were proof of that and the [i]Gwadrim[/i] would certainly fit that mould. However Adrian believed that you could achieve a lot more with mobile suits than battleships. Of course he didn't have any say in the matter so his opinions were pretty much irrelevant.
The rest of the meal continued rather uneventfully. As soon as Adrian thought he could he made his excuses and left under the pretext of planning the next day's mobile suit exercises. He didn't like those kinds of situations at all. They were just false and pretentious. Anyway he had plenty to think about on his own.
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[i]RZS Gwazine Kai class battleship Gwadrim, approaching Lunar orbit
9th November UC 0087[/i]
The emergency klaxon woke Adrian much earlier than he had planned to get up. It took him only a few moments to realise that it wasn't any old emergency alarm. It was a level one battle stations alarm. He practically fell out of his bed and staggered over to the wall mounted closet to his uniform. He was fortunate enough to get a cabin all to himself in the [i]Gwadrim's[/i] gravity wheel. It was a perk he enjoy quite a lot. Naturally it paled in comparison with von Habsburg-Lothringen's quarters but it was more than enough for his needs.
Barely six minutes after first hearing the alarm Adrian was swinging himself into the cockpit of his Barzam mobile suit. The Barzam was one of the newest mobile suits in the Titans' arsenal. Adrian had only limited experience operating the black and blue mobile suit since his team had only just been equipped with them before being assigned to the [i]Gwadrim[/i]. From what limited experience, however, he'd learned to respect the machine. It had formidable performance that made the Hizack look like some One Year War antique. It even made the Marasai look dated.
"This Boult of the 351st to control reporting in," he said on the internal communication line. "What's going on up there?"
It was Lieutenant Commander von Habsburg-Lothringen that replied. "Good morning Lieutenant I hope you rested well last night."
"As well as I could before this interruption, sir," replied Adrian levelly.
The European commanding officer merely laughed at Adrian somewhat insolent response. "We are incredible lucky lieutenant. We have haven't even reach Lunar orbit yet and we've already found our first target."
"Sir?" asked Adrian as he adjusted the fit of his pilot's suit helmet slightly.
"We have detected an AEUG convoy and we are closing on it now," replied von Habsburg-Lothringen smugly. "Three transport ships with Anaheim Electronics markings. They haven't replied to our communication attempts. Therefore I have ordered their destruction."
"What part are our mobile suits to play in this action, sir?" asked Adrian. Three transport ships were hardly a challenge. A single [i]Salamis Kai[/i] could deal with something like that.
"As soon as we are in range we will be giving our gunners an opportunity for some practice," said von Habsburg-Lothringen. "I doubt there will be any survivors but just to be sure I want you to take your team along with Lieutenant JG Verdana's team off the [i]Great Gable[/i] and clean up anything still moving."
"And if they try to surrender?"
"I'm sure your report will make mention of the minovsky particle interference being too intense to receive any transmissions," said the ship driver. His expression was stern but there was a slight tint of pleasure in his voice.
"Understood, sir,"
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[i]AEUG heavy cruiser Valiant, approaching Lunar orbit[/i]
"What's all the commotion about?" asked James Keffer as he floated through the the hatch to the rear of the [i]Valiant's[/i] bridge. He was followed by Lieutenants Cole and Williams. They had been in what passed for a planning meeting on the [i]Valiant[/i] though unfortunately they hadn't come up with much yet.
Captain Jellico turned to address his pilots. "The observers on the [i]Redoubtable[/i] spotted flashes up ahead in Lunar orbit. It looks like its a battle. We've confirmed the flashes but can't say for certain what is happening."
"Do you think it's our target, sir?" asked Cole. The veteran mobile suit sniper had a grim look upon his face. So did Keffer but that was more of a traditional feature.
"It's a possibility," replied Keffer. "I'm not sure if that'd make use incredibly lucky or incredibly unlucky."
"The latter probably," commented Jellico. He was starring at fuzzy images of the distant battle. They were at least half an hour away but the thought of having to battle a [i]Gwazine[/i] weighed heavily on his shoulders. He would question the logic of sending battlegroup against a single [i]Alexandria[/i] let alone a Zeon battleship escorted by five warships. Of course there were no other choices available. "Lieutenant Keffer, prepare your mobile suit teams for battle. Our enemy has taken the initiative but we can't let them keep it."
"Yes, sir!"
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