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West Virginia, 8:03 am

Mine No.17

May 9th, 2016

"I hate all this coal Lowe, I really do."

"I don't care Andy, I really don't."

I'm really getting tired of his bitching. For the last seven weeks we've been clearing out the Reich in West Virginia, coal country. What makes it difficult is that when all the surface fighting is done; we have to go underground to root out any enemy troops who burrow inside the mines. All the mine hopping has slowed down our advance: after Detroit it took two months to retake Ohio and three months for Kentucky, so we were hoping to make up the time by plowing through West Virginia in less than a month, but that is not going to happen.

To top off this cluster fuck, every mine has Reich artillery surrounding them from the hills. I have the Triad clearing the hills around our position, but then I heard the familiar whine of an incoming shell, which landed about a hundred yards away from me and Andy, showing us with dirt. Andy was on the deck as soon as the shell landed, I just stood there. "One day Lowe a hunk of shrapnel will take your head right off."

"Until that day comes I'm not letting the bastards know that I'm afraid of death. Now get your ass up pussy."

"Fuck you."

"I didn't know you swung that way Lieutenant, don't ask don't tell is current policy."

"Attention, will Commander Kelty and Lieutenant Fucth please report to Captain Kelty on the double."

I see the PA is being put to good use. Looks like the Captain want's a little company underground. He turned the largest cavern in the mine into Regimental HQ, about 60ft underground. Once Andy was back on his feet we made our way to the shaft elevator that would take us down to HQ. Just as we started to go down the thunder of artillery started again.

"Why hasn't JJ cleared all the guns yet?"

"Lot of hills out here man, got a lot of space to clear out. Give him a break. We're here."

Gabe had a table set up a few feet from the elevator, about five chairs around it. He was sitting a on the left side of the table, across from him was Commander. Emmerson and at the head of the table was Vice Admiral. William McKay, commander of the United Mobile Assault Force. We saluted.

"At ease, you're among friends. Take a seat; we have a lot to talk about."

Me and Andy followed his request; I sat next to Gabe and Andy next to Emmerson. Looking at the table, it was covered by a large map and stacks of files and papers.

"What brings you to the front Admiral?" I asked

"I have news from the Federation: they officially announced that they have started production of mobile suit."

There was a collective murmur of comments and wonderment from everyone except me, because I was the principle designer of two of the three test suits. "It's about time they did sir, maybe now they can bring the fight to the Reich."

"No argument there Commander Emmerson. I have with me the files on the three Federation mobile suits, given to me by the Federation at the request of Commander. Kelty, who while stationed at Side 7 took part in the Federation's Project V. I'll let him explain the suits."

"Thank you sir."

I reached over to the closest stack of files and took the one off the top, opened it and passed around pictures and plans of the first Feddie suit.

"Project V was started in 2012 by Feddie engineer Lieutenant. Tem Ray. The projects main goal was to research then produce mobile suits for Federation use. The first unit was designed by Lt. Ray himself: the RX-75 Guntank. The Guntank is nothing more than a fusion of a tank with the upper torso and arms of a mobile suit, and was originally intended to serve as an Anti-MS unit. Despite this apparently faltering first step, the Guntank packs a serious punch as a heavy fire support and artillery unit. The Guntank is also somewhat unique in that its piloting and gunnery requirements are split up between two cockpits: a gunner's station in the head, and a standard cockpit in the torso."

"I'm not impressed."

"Shut up Eric, what do you know?" What a cocksucker. "You push paper and sit on your ass. The next unit was started by Lt. Ray and finished by me. The RX-77-2 Guncannon is a step above the RX-75 Guntank in that it was a true mobile suit and not just a mobile suit body on a tank. Designed as a mid-range fire support unit, its primary armament is shoulder-mounted 240 mm cannons. The main drawback to this was the cannons' limited ammunition supply, so I designed an energy cap-based beam rifle for it. The third unit is designed solely by me, the RX-78 Gundam ." I placed a picture of it on the table, and every one at the table just looked at it with awe.

"I designed the Gundam as a fast, close-combat mobile suit and was the first to feature several new technologies, including the energy cap-based beam rifle, making the Gundam the first mobile suit to pack the firepower of a battleship. The Gundam also has a "learning computer" system, which allows the mobile suit to "learn" from - and adapt to - the pilot's input. The data from the learning computer system is being incorporated into the Federation's first mass-production model mobile suit, the RGM-79 GM."

"Commander Kelty, why did you build it for the Federation, not your own nation?"

"I don't like your tone Eric, and for your information, the Alliance doesn't need a suit that powerful. We have so many types and variants that we don't need an uber suit."

Emmerson shut up and sat back in his chair. "Thank you Commander that will be all. Oh, I forgot. Rear Admiral Weaver was killed yesterday as you all know."

Yeah we know alright. The first time in three months our division commander steps outside and a shell from enemy guns blasted him into little pieces. The Admiral continued. "We don't have a Rear Admiral we can call in to replace him so Captain Kelty, you are in temporally in command of the 18th."

Gabe saluted, "Thank you sir!"

Emmerson chimed in with a hopeful voice, "So, who commands 2nd Brigade?"

"Not you Commander Emmerson." said McKay. "You're not suitable as a combat officer. Commander Kelty is in charge of 2nd Brigade until further notice."

Emmerson's face was priceless, dumbfounded. He just been told that he's doomed to push paper and be stuck at the bottom for eternity. And me? I smiled, saluted and said "Thank you sir!"

"Now, with that done, do you have a plain to deal with Virginia Captain?"

"Yes Admiral. Once West Virginia is cleared out the Division will make its way into Virginia. Three Reich armies control the state: the 9th and 15th Shock Armies operate most of the state, and the 7th Prussian Gauds control the Shenandoah River Valley. I will take the 1/18th and the 3/18th and follow the James River to Richmond. Commander Kelty will take his 2nd Brigade and travel up the Shenandoah River, clearing the Valley."

"What about the rest of the Mobile Assault Force, will they be helping?"

"Negative Admiral, the 5th and 7th are in New England and New York and the 17th and 22nd had to be diverted to the Carolina's. It's just us sir."

Yeah, just us. While me and my brother don't see eye to eye, he does what he can with what's put in front of him. It's a bold move, splitting the Division. I asked for the Shenandoah Valley route because it's a small area and he needs all the help he can get with the rest of the state. Admiral McKay looked over at me.

"The 7th Prussian Guards are the elite of the Reich; can you take them on with one brigade?"

"Absolutely."

"Ok, well I have to go back to Granada at inform every one of the situation. God speed Commander."

We all saluted, then he, Emmerson and Andy left the cavern. I looked over at Gabe and he looked at me.

"Gabe, you may be insufferable sometimes, but I have to admit, I'm glad you took on the job as a combat officer, not a staffer."

"Thanks Geoff. Be careful, I don't want to tell Mom that all I found of you was a finger or a piece of uniform."

"Same to you Gabe."

We hugged and went and our separate ways. The endgame is about to begin.