Sieg Zeon:
An Alternate Tale of the Universal Century
Chapter 8: The Spoils of Victory
After the conquest of Baikonur Spaceport and Krayniy Airbase, finding the bulk of the local Federation forces proved easy enough, as was the ensuing skirmish. Tracking down those same enemies however proved harder amidst the Central Asian steppes, even with the recovered intel. Still, it's undeniable that as with all the other frontlines, the planned counterattack had not only been stopped in its tracks but had turned into a rout. It seemed that like their counterparts in space, the generals of the Earth Federation Ground Forces foolishly chalked up Zeon's successes as a result of surprise. Instead, the hunter had become the hunted.
It wasn't until a few days later that a couple of Dopp squadrons finally tracked down the Feddies along the Caspian Sea to the northern fringes of old Iran; more specifically, towards the Elbruz Mountains and the enemy defenses there. Resupplied and reinforced with two more MS teams as well as several Magella Attack tanks, the Wolf Brigade had been given the green light and quickly moved south to engage the retreating forces before they made it to the relative "safety" of those mountains.
So it was that the cowards were met in battle at around 1630 hours of March 5, UC 0079. Valeria Caine of the 12th MS Team knew her orders well. 'To capture or destroy all that we encounter.' But this…
For what transpired before her wasn't a "battle." This was nothing short of a slaughter, even if the Federation forces refused to admit it. Even with their lives. Not far from her, a couple of Type 61s were frantically firing on her and her comrades' positions even as they tried to keep moving away, only for their rounds to do more damage to the surrounding ground than on any single Zeon MS. In another time, such tanks would have been formidable against any foe, especially if coordinated. But with much of their onboard systems crippled if not rendered useless thanks to Minovsky Particles and how even a Zaku-I could dodge them, the MBTs were little better than the middle-era models they clearly took after. With a brief burst from her Zaku-II's Machinegun, she silenced those relics with almost little effort. They never stood a chance. She frowned at the smoldering husks, noticing briefly another MS destroying a couple more tanks with an enlarged version of a cracker grenade before pushing on past the broken rear guard; even though neither she nor her teammates had enough time to use the new "Ground Type" refit specifically made for use on Earth, it proved remarkably easy.
As the Elburz Mountains drew closer, so did the main bulk of the retreating Feddies; it had become evident by then that any semblance or meaningful resistance had broken down. Yet they still refuse to surrender! Many desperate infantrymen, recognizably by their drab, grey-ish uniforms, tended to crowd around Type 61s and whatever other vehicles remained, believing they would afford them some kind of protection. Others still tried pitifully to fire back with little more than the pistols and assault rifles they still had on them. The closest thing to actual danger came from a few APCs, IFVs and missile vehicles that managed to fire off their payload of ATGMs, one even managing to come close to hitting Valeria, if the explosion to her right suggested anything. Thanks to the same developments that justified the invention of the MS, even the wire-guided warheads the EFGF carried over from their predecessors seemed to be little more than glorified rockets, which proved to be almost as easy for Valeria to dodge as it was for Duncan to blow their launchers with a well-placed Bazooka strike.
*"Keep it together, Valeria!"* the man quipped over the comms. *"It's dirty business, but we can't let those Feddies get away. The sooner we get it done, the better!"*
"C-Copy that!" she grunted in reply as she set her sights on a mass of fleeing infantrymen by some APCs and another Type 61, a couple of them even attempting to frantically load a missile launcher before following the rest in fear. You bastards…why don't you give up?!
While it wasn't as visibly obvious anymore, it never ceased to amaze her how easy it was to make other human beings simply disappear. As the Machinegun rounds slammed home, they were reduced to so much fine red mist before vanishing into the smoke and flames of the destroyed vehicles. Of course, that was assuming it was her doing the killing. With Kazuki, whose MS was not far from her right, it somehow seemed so much worse; while a useful ally, the young woman couldn't help but feel as though he was becoming way too into fighting with his Heat Hawk as of late. Sure, with the enemy so disorganized, it's not as risky as it should be… But it didn't stop her from gasping upon seeing that weapon reduce enemy vehicles to molten slag; she swore she could even see any nearby infantry simply burst into flaming chunks as though someone had stuck them into a microwave. As much as she resented the Federation, she could only take so much for one battle.
Noticing her own hands starting to shake from the carnage, Valeria sneered as she instead focused on the afternoon skies above. Amidst the chaos, she could still clearly make out Dopps attempting to intercept the Fly Manta fighter-bombers no doubt sent to cover the Feddies' retreat, as well as the sleek shapes of TIN Cods and even a handful of Saberfish squadrons fighting off the Zeon planes. She knew however that if her side lost control over the air, while those jets wouldn't derail the war effort by themselves, they'd only buy time for their allies to escape.
And prolong the bloodbath. At least I could do this much!
Taking careful aim, she fired. Each time she let loose with a Machinegun burst, a TIN Cod transformed into an expanding ball of fire and shrapnel; it's a small mercy that if there were any traces that a human pilot in the ensuing explosion, she didn't see any. A few other MS nearby followed suit in delivering a stream anti-aircraft fire, which soon allowed the remaining Dopps to sweep in to finish off the Fly Mantas. As the Federation planes fell from the sky, finally allowed a bitter smirk upon noticing makeshift white flags being raised from the handful of Type 61s and IFVs that were left, the scared soldiers around them having raised their hands; all the universally recognized signs of surrender. About damn time!
"Duncan, are you seeing this?" she called out over the comms, keeping her voice as calm as possible. "The enemy has finally lost the will to fight. What are our orders?"
There was a momentary, concerned sigh from her commanding officer before clearing his throat. *"We hold the fort until the rest of our reinforcements get here. You know the rest, Valeria."*
"Roger that. I just hope we can call this a day." Not when I've had my fill of death for one.
This pursuit, she knew, also served as part of a general advance towards the Elburz Mountains, which would then open the rest of the ancient Iranian heartland up to a rapid conquest, at least once the inevitable shelling and strafing runs were through. While the barest trickle might have actually made if for all she cared, almost the entirety of what the Federation hoped would form the its grand counterattack would never get the opportunity to fulfill that role, having ended up captured or destroyed. Mostly destroyed. And I had a role in that.
Looking down, it was only thenthat she really noticed how tightly her hands were gripping the controls. Figures. But I'll save the nightmares for later. Looking at the ruined landscape around her, she frowned, wondering whether she could ever get used to sights like this. Then again, she'd already killed more than her share since joining the military; she knew the risks involved. And the price paid…but if it means peace someday, so be it.
-o-
The advance on the Elburz Mountains quickly proved to be as decisive as the pushes deeper into Eastern Europe; so successful that within a day, any organized EFGF defenses left in the region had all but collapsed. But just as the Wolf Brigade prepared to move towards Tehran, the 12th MS Team was finally allowed leave to rest for a few days. Officially, this was meant to stymie fatigue just as much as to reward those who've been fighting under the weight of Earth's gravity since arriving on the planet, though word down the grapevine's that they'd be sent off to the frontlines further west soon.
For Valeria Caine though, any valid excuse was worth it as she glanced at the new "Ground Type" Zaku-IIs doing their patrols around the now-fully operational Krayniy Airbase from the top of the old terminal building, the rocket launchers on their legs plain to see amidst the setting sun. With all the cleanup work and the myriad prefab expansions set up around the middle-era structure, it was already becoming harder to tell that this place once belonged to anyone other than Zeon. While in the skies over the direction of Baikonur Spaceport itself, she could make out the contrails of a few HLVs and other transport craft carrying cargo to and from the homeland, crisscrossed occasionally by a passing Dopp squadron flying off into a horizon that seemed to stretch forever.
It really is all so…different. Even though just about a week had passed since she first set foot on Earth, it was only lately that she really got to take in the sensations around her, both of the natural and man-made kind; the fact that the world looked a lot bigger from the surface even now still needed some getting used to. From the uncontrolled weather and wild landscapes down to the breeze through her hair and subtly stronger pull of gravity on her body, all of it seemed to highlight how Spacenoids like her almost seemed like bold pioneers out of some old movie setting foot on alien soil. Even if we're fighting tooth and nail over it. Some things haven't changed.
Still, it wasn't quite enough to put to rest the nightmares she'd already begun to have, or the myriad deaths – directly or otherwise – she was responsible for; for all her loyalty to the homeland or hatred against the Federation, the burden of taking a life, let alone multiple ones remained heavy. Then again, I knew what I was getting into when I enlisted. That thought, at least for the moment strengthened her resolve to both deliver justice and see a quick end of this war. I didn't come down here to…
"There you are, Valeria!"
Stunned, the young pilot quickly turned around to find her superior walking towards her. More out of impulse and training than anything else, she buttoned up and briskly fixed the creases on her uniform; despite having been part of the 12th MS Team for over a month, it still took a bit of effort to resist the urge to stand in crisp attention.
"Um, I was just getting some quiet time, Duncan!" she stammered as she adjusted her collar, only to be met by a chuckle.
"Relax, we're not being called back to action yet. Better make most of our winning streak while we still can," he quipped before glancing at another passing Dopp. "Besides, I thought you'd like to join the rest of us over at the bar. It sure beats sulking out here alone, that's for sure."
"About that! You see-"
"Don't make me pull rank, Valeria! It'll be just fine," he chided with a hint of deadpan. "Trust me, it'll be worth it!"
"Of course! Um, lead the way!" Though I wouldn't mind relaxing in my quarters this time.
"That's the spirit!" the older man grinned before grabbing her hand. Truth be told, she would have happily used the remaining time off to be by herself and maybe catch up on some light reading. Unfortunately for her, Duncan's much bigger on developing esprit de corps than Lt. Halder back in the former 87th ever was; as much as she genuinely appreciated the effort, it still needed some getting use to. And you could let me go now!
It didn't take too long though before Valeria soon found herself dragged downstairs and through the old corridors to the terminal's main bar, where Kazuki aside, only a handful were present. While formally incorporated as part of the airbase' cantina, it had apparently been around since before the Universal Century, if the small gallery on display showing weathered movie posters in Cyrillic lettering suggested anything. That and the bottles of alcohol left behind by the Feddies; some of the beverages being sold, she noticed as she reached the table reserved for the team, were Earthnoid brands that were hard to come by in space even before the war.
"Can't say I'm much of a drinker, Valeria. But since we're not on active duty, you're more than welcome to have a few shots," Duncan smiled as he sat down with a glass. "After all we've faced, there's no harm in savoring the spoils of victory, especially when it's original vodka."
"I'll pass." She blushed as memories swung back from the last time she let herself loose. "With all respect, I've had my share of hard drinking after Loum. Let's leave it at that." As pleasurable as that night was…dammit!
"I'll bet, though there's no need to be shy about escapades. None of us are exactly saints here. And if you think you're the only with drunken adventures, when I was younger-"
"Duncan!"
"Don't worry about it," Kazuki quipped, finally breaking his silence with a smirk as he finished a bottle of beer. "He's been around. Rumor has it that he had such a great hangover one time that he mistook one of Vice Admiral Dozle's men – Anavel Gato, I think – for one of his paramours!"
"That was a long time ago. Need I tell that story about how you tried to teach a group of ladies the way of Bushido in your quarters back in Solomon? I'm fairly damn sure it involved a lot of naked running."
"I bet it was real enlightening," Valeria deadpanned as she managed a chuckle. At least I can share my wild tale with you guys one of these days. Whatever her gripes, she enjoyed their company, both as friends and comrades-in-arms.
Before long though, her attention shifted to the TV close by, showing a muted ZeoNet broadcast on the recent conquest of Odessa, a major port in the former Ukraine that had also become invaluable for its mining and industry. Images of Zaku-IIs, Magella Attack tanks and jeeps full of soldiers crossed past an outlying village as local Federation officers laid down their arms; the news ticker at the bottom meanwhile confirmed the hearsay of a scouting party being sent somewhere in Central America to pave the way for "part two" of the Earth Drop Operations. The scene soon shifted however to a journalist doing a quick interview with one of the MS teams, mostly female, involved in that victory. This caused the young pilot to smile; although the notion of women serving in the military – especially as ship crew and MS pilots – was something of a non-issue among Spacenoids due to the need for every able body to contribute, the mere sight of skilled, professional females like herself still spoke much of the righteousness of Zeon's cause. Though that blonde girl at the back does seem rather dizzy.
"Since we're here anyway," she heard Duncan muse aloud. "Are you up for pool? Or darts?"
Only if you boys are up for it… Before she could say anything however, everyone's attention turned to a higher-ranking, if somewhat haggard officer who clearly had come quite a way to get here. It didn't stop the man however from sliding into a crisp, authoritative tone, despite the exhaustion.
"Is there a Valeria Caine here?"
"Here, Sir!" she replied promptly as she stood in attention. "Awaiting your orders!"
The officer cleared his throat as he took out an envelope from his overcoat. As he spoke the rehearsed lines, however, the young woman resisted the urge to look surprised, which grew harder as it became evident what was being said. It could mean one thing…
"The Principality of Zeon has reposed special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities. In view of these qualities and your demonstrated potential for increased responsibility, you are hereby promoted to Second Lieutenant with a date of rank as of March 8, UC 0079. Further details and orders to follow. By order of Headquarters, 1st Terrestrial Mobile Division." The man then showed a tired, if sincere smile. "Congratulations, 2nd Lt. Caine. As you were. Sieg Zeon!"
Fighting off her shock, she managed a firm salute as she calmly accepted the envelope containing her promotion letter. "Thank you, Sir!"
As the officer made to leave – thus allowing Valeria to finally sigh in both relief and pleasant surprise – she was met with cheering even among the strangers in the bar, a few even loudly congratulating her despite their slurred voices. She turned around to find both Duncan and Kazuki nodding approvingly at her. You guys...
"Told you it'd be worthwhile. You definitely earned that rank – and your place with us," her commanding officer grinned before looking at the rest of the patrons with a bottle of vodka. "This round's on me!"
A part of her wondered if Duncan had this turn of events planned on purpose; whichever way, she'd find out soon enough. Still, while a promotion in itself wouldn't silence her inner fears or wash the deaths away, she didn't mind being the highlight of the evening for once, at least. And if it meant greater opportunities to help win this war, she'd gladly take the greater risks and responsibilities her new rank would inevitably entail.
Together. I guess victory really does have its benefits.
The night was still young. But at the back of her mind, Valeria knew that time would soon come before once again she would once again be thrown into the fray. A fray that was beginning to truly become global.
Zeon's "Earth Attack Force" or EAF is the official name given to the military forces that would be formally under Garma Zabi's command on Earth. The actual invasion of the planet, which is suggested as having been planned in advance as a contingency, would be known as the Earth Drop Operations. In addition, each "Terrestrial Mobile Division" corresponds to the order with which the Earth Drop Operations followed, with the First being in Central Asia and the Caucasus (eventually reaching into Europe and the Middle East). And the Second being planned for North America.
The EFGF is short for the Earth Federation Ground Forces. Originally referring only to the ground army, in practice the EFGF encompasses the Earth-side elements of Federation's military, including the Air Force and Navy as well as to a limited degree, space operations. Compared to the EFSF however, at least initially, they're also the most poorly-equipped, possessing outdated weaponry and personnel equipment.
The FF-6 TIN Cod is the Federation's other main atmospheric jet fighter. While older than the Saberfish, having entered service in UC 0062, it makes up for it in superior maneuverability, cheap production and light payload.
The FF/B-2 Fly Manta is a Federation fighter-bomber used frequently to attack ground targets and in relatively large numbers. Which is further helped along by their ease of production.
For those confused by the acronyms, ATGMs are "Anti Tank Ground Missiles" and IFVs are "Infantry Fighting Vehicles," which are familiar elements in real life conventional warfare.
Compared to most of the other chapters, this one also took a bit of time to work out. Mostly it had to do with both maintaining consistency and on writing the battle sequences, parts of which are intentionally meant to evoke conventional modern warfare (and why thanks to MS and Minovsky Particles, they backfire in-verse). While also generally expanding on the relevant RP segments (Turns 13-14) and streamlining the flow of events, not counting how to get the promotion scene right. In addition, there's some foreshadowing in the Odessa news footage, showing the other MS team that in time would be merged with the 12th to form the Dusk Wraiths.
