EPISODE 13: NEW FRONTIERS, OLD TIES
At long last, the Amuro Ray docks at the Jupitorius Space Colony, Bunch 1.
Founded by the wealthy and powerful Scirocco Family, proprietors of the Jupitorius Hydrogen Mining Corporation, Jupitorius is the farthest space state from Earth. During the U.C. 0070s and 0080s, the great distance of Jupitorius from Cislunar Space meant that the Jupitorius Colony was essentially autonomous from both the Earth Federation and the Archduchy of Zeon. Nevertheless, Jupitorius prospered greatly from the Earth/Zeon wars because both sides needed Jupitorius' chief export product, raw hydrogen gas and crystals, to fuel their military confrontation. During the decade between U.C. 0079 and 0089, Jupitorius generated revenues that towered into the trillions of Federation credits, enough for the Scirocco Family to fund their own private army, which Scirocco scion and heir Paptimus Scirocco took into battle to support the Titans during the Gryps Conflict of U.C. 0087.
Paptimus' death at the end of that conflict left the Scirocco Family without an heir, but the real threat to the family's hegemony emerged in the early U.C. 0090s when the surviving Zeon warlords, driven out of Cislunar Space by the Earth Federation Forces, began settling the Jupiter Zone. The Zeon generals who had served under Regent Haman Karn and later, Colonel Char Aznable now vied with each other for the right to rule the Archduchy of Zeon. The Zeon warlords each needed Jupitorius' hydrogen mines to rebuild their shattered war machine, and they took it by force. Had the Zeon invaded several years earlier, they would have met fierce resistance from the Scirocco Corps, but following the death of Paptimus, the patriarch of the Scirocco Family, Patrilochus Scirocco, lost the heart for combat. The Scirocco Corps, once a military power so formidable that it was regarded as the shifter of the balance of power in the struggle among the AEUG, Titans, and Axis Zeon, was but a shell of its former self. The Zeon warlords found Jupitorius wealthy, prosperous, and surprisingly vulnerable. Overrunning the remains of the Scirocco Corps with appalling ease, the Callisto Zeon and Jupitorius Zeon unseated the Scirocco Family, took control of Jupitorius, and turned upon each other…with the citizens of Jupitorius caught helplessly in between.
Strictly speaking, neither the Callisto Zeon nor the Jupitorius Zeon (despite their name) rules the Jupitorius Colonies, at least not officially. With the demise of the Scirocco Family, however, the Zeon factions have established hegemony over the Jupitorius Colonies, including a puppet governor, one Richard Linker, who is nominally an elected official but in truth, installed by the Jupitorius Zeon as a lapdog. The Earth Federation Government has treated the passing of Jupitorius into Zeon control with indifference. Appeals to the Earth Federation Government to deliver Jupitorius from Zeon control, made by the few Jupitorius government leaders courageous and scrupulous enough to risk the wrath of Zeon, have fallen upon deaf ears at the Earth Federation Security Council. A proposal to liberate the Jupitorius Colonies was made by General Bright Noah in U.C. 0095, but was quickly vetoed by the Security Council. Hence, Jupitorius has languished under a state of de facto Zeon occupation during the past half decade. On the surface, it would appear that the citizens of Jupitorius have continued to enjoy relative peace, prosperity, and stability, but the shadow of Zeon looms ominously over them, manifesting itself only occasionally, but dramatically and violently, in mobile suit raids that have, in the past five years, left several thousand Jupitorius civilians dead.
Two years earlier, in U.C. 0097, elements of the ISRLA (Independent Spacenoid Republic Liberation Army) began taking root at Jupitorius…both so that it would have allies and a far-removed sanctuary for its guerilla struggle in the Outer Solar System against the Earth Federation and to assist their Spacenoid brethren against Zeon oppressors. The movement, led by Jupitorius citizens and former AEUG heroes Judau Ashta and his wife Lu Luka Ashta, have the popular support of much of the Jupitorius Colonies' people. What they lack, however, is firepower. They have inspiration, courage, and justice on their side, but no physical weapons with which to counter those used by the Zeon oppressors. What few weapons the ISRLA has is concentrated in the Cislunar Space; there is simply nothing to spare for the ISRLA's operations in Jupiter's orbit.
And so the Jupitorius ISRLA freedom fighters plan…and wait.
Twenty-five year old Elle Viano Olech, once called by her peers the "Blonde Bombshell of Shangrila," retains enough of the qualities she had as a fourteen year old hellion to be worthy of that nickname more than ten years after she left the space colony of her birth to battle the Axis Zeon as a member off the AEUG. The wild blonde ponytail of yore is still in evidence, although she has long since traded in the normalsuit of a mobile suit pilot for the skirt of a homemaker.
After those frantic days of the late U.C. 0080s, when Elle replaced the slain 1Lt. Emma Sheen as the pilot of the Gundam MK-II, Elle settled into a quieter, less turbulent life. Having initially returned to Side 1's Shangrila Colony, Elle and her fiancé Beecher Olech eventually found their way out to the Jupitorius Colonies in the early U.C. 0090s, where they joined their longtime friends Judau Ashta and Lu Luka.
Beecher and Elle married in U.C. 0095. To Elle's chagrin, however, Beecher, who in his youth had been among the most irresponsible, selfish, lazy, cowardly, and good-for-nothing rats she had ever known (and yet, none of that stopped her from falling madly in love with him in those desperate final days of the war against Regent Haman Karn's Axis Neo Zeon Empire), had suddenly, as a consequence of his wartime experiences, discovered his latent taste for adventure and heroism. A more unlikely character transformation could scarcely be imagined. It was a complete and utter change of character that would have delighted Elle, and did for a time, until she realized that it would draw Beecher away from her as he dedicated himself to his newfound military career. Her man had finally found his calling for his not insignificant talents, but he was no longer quite her man: he had become the Earth Federation Forces' man.
Beecher and Elle argued bitterly the previous year when he told her that he had accepted an assignment with the Federal Forces Space Armada in Cislunar Space…which would take him far from Jupitorius and from her. Elle had tried to persuade Beecher to take up a quieter staff position with the Federal Forces' small regional patrol station at Io (which was at least closer to Jupitorius than Cislunar Space), but Beecher would hear nothing of it. He wanted in on the Big Action, and the Big Action was, as ever, in Cislunar Space.
Eight and a half months ago, however, Elle unleashed what she believed was her trump card: the one suasion she was certain would keep Beecher by her side.
Elle Viano was pregnant.
Beecher's first reaction was not the one Elle had expected or wanted.
He laughed.
Laughed as if he had heard the most ludicrous joke ever told.
Beecher and Elle had always been such jokesters that it had never been clear when they were serious or when they were simply taking the piss. During their time as guerilla fighters with the AEUG (and before that at Shangrila, when they had been juvenile delinquents), it had been something of a survival mechanism – something to gain a toehold of control over the fear that was a part of their lives. Beecher, perhaps not entirely unexpectedly, in retrospect, reacted to the announcement of Elle's pregnancy as if it were another prank. It had to be.
Elle sulked, pleaded, raged…punched, kicked, and hurled heavy ceramic objects at Beecher (they had shattered so many vases over the years that Elle had lost count), but he did not believe her until she cleansed his face with the medical report that proved her pregnancy.
Beecher's next reaction was delight…he was going to be a father!
That was more like it!
Then, he blanched in realization: he had just accepted a new assignment with the Special Forces.
Elle threw Beecher out of the house, screaming obscenities and hurling household missiles at him, saying something on the order that after she had shit out his baby, she'd mail it to whatever wreck he got assigned to.
How could he? Elle wondered. How could he be so selfish? How could he go out in search of adventure, leaving her to birth and raise their child alone? She didn't need him, she decided. Maybe she'd get lucky and he'd get killed out there.
But Elle knew she didn't mean that. Relenting after having left him sitting on the city streets for hours, she opened the door to him. They held each other and cried together until the early morning hours.
When he found his voice again, Beecher told Elle that his acceptance of the new assignment was not primarily to satisfy his thirst for adventure (though he was honest enough to admit that that was at least partially the motive). Beecher and Elle knew that the Zeon threat to the Jupitorius Colonies continued to linger like an ominous cloud. Judau and Lu were doing the best they could to form a resistance, but they had no armed support for their efforts. All they had in their arsenal was their courage, their dedication, and righteousness – all important weapons, to be sure, but not enough by themselves to achieve victory against their well-armed and well-equipped oppressors.
Elle strokes her swollen belly lovingly and smiles brilliantly as she sees the Amuro Ray pulling into the Woodhaven Colony Spaceport. Woodhaven is one of the newer developments of the Jupitorius Colonies, completed fewer than five years ago. Its internal landscape dominated by forested areas, (artificial) meadowlands, and rolling green hills, the environs of Woodhaven are perhaps the most convincingly Earthlike to date. Elle and Beecher had wisely put down their stakes early at Woodhaven, as the colony, despite the ever-present Zeon threat, is considered prime real estate. Elle and Beecher could reap a substantial windfall were they to sell their property at Woodhaven and return to Shangrila Colony at Side 1, but they had decided that Woodhaven was where they wanted to raise their children – so that their childhoods could be happier and healthier than Elle and Beecher's had been.
"Daddy's home, sweetie," Elle says to the baby inside her belly, "and I hope he can be here when you come into the world."
Elle senses two familiar, friendly presences. She turns and finds her longtime friends, Judau Ashta and his wife, Lu Luka Ashta, approaching.
"Hey, you guys!" Elle shouts with characteristic vivacity, waving her hand at them.
Judau and Lu are all smiles as they step forth to embrace their old friend affectionately.
"You're almost due, aren't you?" Lu says with a grin, putting her hand gently on Elle's belly.
"Any second now," Elle says, "Hope you two remember your first-aid training from our Ahrgama days."
Judau chides, "Yeah…standard procedure: wrap your forehead in a huge ass bandage, regardless of the fact that it's your LEG that's hurt!"
The three laugh together, much as they once did when they crewed the Ahrgama.
Over a decade after they had fought the Axis Zeon Empire as the "Gundam Team," Judau, Lu, and Elle remain as close as ever. Judau and Lu married three years after the end of the war, having settled at Jupitorius as pioneers and developers. Now in their mid- to late-twenties, Judau and Lu remain full of youthful vigor as ever. Judau, now a man, has grown even more handsome than he was as a teenager; Lu, his companion and in many ways, mentor, is still a statuesque testament to feminine charm.
"That's Beecher's ship, the Amuro Ray, isn't it?" Judau remarks as he watches the ship pull into port.
"Yeah," Elle replies, "I hope that he'll be in port for quite a while…long enough to see his baby born."
Lu says, "The ship looks so much like the Nahl Ahrgama," referring to the first ship that Beecher commanded in the waning days of the First Neo Zeon War, "reminds me of the old days."
"Listen to you," Elle teases, "boy, you sound old!"
"Says the woman who's going to be a mommy before the end of the month," Lu teases back. The two have always loved needling each other. "You're about to settle into a routine of midnight diaper changes and 4 a.m. feedings, girl!"
Judau laughs, but then, his smile fades as he is seized by a sudden and extremely painful headache.
"Are you all right?" an alarmed Lu asks, rushing to her husband's side.
Judau shakes his head clear, "I'm…all right. I sensed…there are two very powerful Newtypes on Beecher's ship."
Elle's eyes widens, "You must be sensing the White Phoenix."
"The White Phoenix?" Lu queries, "The Federation's ace pilot, Jolie Minh? She's a part of Beecher's crew?"
Elle nods, "Yeah. He's written to me about her in his emails. Made me a bit hot and jealous too because she's supposed to be a real hottie, too!"
Judau says, "She's very powerful. I've never felt so much raw PSI-power before…not in Camille Vidan, not in El Peeple, not in Haman Karn. Her raw PSI-energy must be several orders more powerful than mine."
Judau's remark takes Lu and Elle aback. They've long known Judau as the most powerful Newtype of his generation, and they were awed by his feats during the First Neo Zeon War. Now, however, Judau proclaims that the White Phoenix, Jolie Minh, is a Newtype of even greater potential than his.
"There's another Newtype aboard…maybe even a third," Judau continues, "the second one is nearly as powerful as the White Phoenix. The third one is weaker by comparison, but still nearly at my own level."
"Well, at least I can take comfort in knowing that Beecher has got an army of Newtypes on his side," Elle shrugs.
Lu becomes serious, "But will their presence here help the people of Jupitorius, or cause them even greater hardship?"
The three friends grow morbidly silent as they contemplate that thought.
Aboard the Amuro Ray, Major Athena Ibaz is in teleconference with the Security Council of the Earth Federation Government. From their various locations at the Earth Federation capital in Shanghai on Earth, and from Side 7's Garrison Noah, the Security Council reviews Athena's newest proposal regarding the Federation's policy towards the Zeon forces in the Jupiter Zone.
"Let me see if I understand your proposal correctly, Major Ibaz," President Gloria Brenner of the Earth Federation High Council says, studying the electronic document in front of her gravely, "you believe it strategically prudent and cost effective for the Federation to arm and equip a civilian militia at the Jupitorius Space Colonies?"
"Yes, Madame President," Athena replies evenly, "Pragmatically, it would be far more advantageous for the Federation and the people of the Jupitorius Colonies if they could defend themselves rather than invoke the heavy cost of establishing a permanent Federation presence in the Jupitorius Zone. It would be unwise to stretch the Federation's military resources thin by establishing a garrison so far from Cislunar Space. Moreover, at Jupitorius, there is a ready supply of recruits willing to fight the Zeon as the Federation's proxies. The remains of the infrastructure from the Scirocco Family's power base will be sufficient to sustain the militia after we supply the initial consignment of weapons and supplies."
"I disagree with Major Ibaz's assessment of the situation," General Manron Blackhead interjects curtly, "the Major neglects the fact that Jupitorius is known as an outpost of ISRLA activity. To arm the civilian population of Jupitorius would be equivalent to arming our enemies."
"General Blackhead," General Bright Noah objects, "The ISRLA presence at Jupitorius is only a rumor, not an established fact. Providing the people of Jupitorius with the means to fight against the Zeon will lessen our burden and enable us to concentrate our own strength in the Cislunar Sphere, which I believe is a policy you have previously championed."
Blackhead begins to utter something in response to General Noah's challenge, but then fumes in silence, not certain how to proceed.
Senator Tiexin Huang then puts another question to Athena, "Major Ibaz, General Blackhead does have a point: even if it is only a rumor, as General Noah suggests, the possibility that Jupitorius' citizenry is heavily infiltrated by an ISRLA presence gives this council pause in considering your proposal to establish a citizens' militia at Jupitorius…especially in light of the fact that the Federation has a scant supervisory presence out there."
"Understood, Senator," Athena replies with characteristically cool confidence, "but your country's military history includes a doctrine called 'using barbarians against barbarians,' does it not?"
Senator Huang smiles knowingly, "Is that the motivating spirit behind your plan, Major Ibaz?"
"Indeed, Senator," Athena replies, "Moreover, assuming General Blackhead's worst-case scenario that the ISRLA has established a presence at the Jupitorius Colonies: the armaments we provide them will only be useful against the Callisto Zeon and Jupitorius Zeon Forces. Transporting them back to the Cislunar Sphere to use against the Federation will be untenable for them, as they cannot make such a move without our noticing it."
The Council quietly deliberates the matter among themselves for a few tense minutes. Athena knows that the Council will need more time to come to a decision on this matter, but she takes it as a hopeful sign that they are deliberating it at all…instead of dismissing it outright.
"We'll take your proposal into consideration, Major Ibaz," President Brenner says, "and we should have a decision within three days."
Athena rises from her seat in the teleconference chamber of the Amuro Ray and salutes, "Yes, Madame President."
Athena joins her Centurion Team comrades for lunch in the Amuro Ray's commissary. She sits at a table with her two executive officers, 1Lt. Jolie Minh and Chief Warrant Officer Jonah Michaels.
"I toldja it'd be a hard sell," Jolie says absently, flicking peas in Athena's direction with her spoon, "I think you went in over your head this time, 'Thena."
Athena, having endured the pelting with peas for several minutes, wipes her mouth demurely with her napkin, and folds it neatly on her lap before replying, "Could you please do me a favor and grow up a bit: a seventeen year old young woman should not be flicking peas at her fellow diners at mealtimes."
Jolie stops, but says acidly, "Geeze, you certainly have a stick up your ass today. C'mon, 'Thena, tell us: was it that bad?"
Jolie's hyperactive hands turn the table's peppershaker over, tiny pepper flakes falling lightly on the table.
"I don't know yet," Athena says, taking a sip of ice water from her glass, "and we probably won't know for several days. In the meantime, just please don't get on my nerves, Jolie."
So saying, Athena reaches out, wrenches the peppershaker out of Jolie's hand, and sets it properly on the table.
Jolie scowls, "I hate it when you talk to the Security Council: you're always on edge every time you do."
Athena inserts a cigarette into her mouth and lights it, "If you had to deal with those characters, you'd be on edge too."
Jolie smiles mischievously, "Even your future father-in-law?" she teases, referring to General Noah.
Athena looks at Jolie severely for a moment before the two collapse into laughter.
Jonah, who has been quietly listening until now, finally comments, "Ma'am, for what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing."
"Teacher's pet!" Jolie sneers.
"I appreciate that, Jonah," Athena says, "I certainly hope it's not a mistake."
"Aren't you the one who's always telling me to always go in with a plan?" Jolie asks, taking a swig from a cardboard carton of chocolate milk, "now you're gonna just rely on hope?"
"One can never be certain," Athena says cryptically, dropping ashes from her cigarette into the table's ashtray, "this is something of a crap shoot, I must admit."
"Cool!" Jolie says, "I love gambling!"
"But the stakes are really high, aren't they ma'am?" Jonah ventures.
Athena nods, inhaling from her cigarette again, exhaling a crescent-shaped cloud of smoke, "The lives and freedom of the people of Jupitorius…and our ability to end our mission here in the Outer Solar System and return home. Those are the stakes, Jonah."
Jolie's hands stop fidgeting and Jonah takes a deep sigh. For the first time, the two teenagers are beginning to truly understand the gravity upon their commanding officer's shoulders.
Captain Beecher Olech, having turned command of the Amuro Ray temporarily over to Major Athena Ibaz, steps across the gangway. He immediately spots his wife, Elle, waving at him, a brilliant smile lighting her very attractive face.
Beecher breaks into a wide grin, and runs across the gangway to embrace his wife.
Beecher kisses his wife tenderly on the forehead, then gives her belly a good rub, "You look just about ready burst!"
"I've been holding her in," Elle teases, "waiting for you to come back before I pooped her out!"
"'Her?'" Beecher says, glee in his voice, "are you really, definitely sure it's going to be a girl?"
"Moms know things that dads don't," Elle replies, pounding Beecher lightly on the chest with her fist, "especially dads who are halfway across the Solar System."
Ouch. The sore spot. Why did Elle have to hit him with it so early? Beecher wonders.
Elle smiles sweetly, showing that she means no affront, "Let's go home."
Arm in arm, with Elle leaning her head on Beecher's shoulder, the Olechs return home together for the first time in months.
The Callisto Zeon Fleet bears down on the Jupitorius Colonies. Three times now, the Callisto Zeon has tasted defeat at the hands of the Earth Federation Forces' warship Amuro Ray and its squadron of Special Forces mobile suits. The game has been intriguing, but the time for endgame has arrived. The nuisance must be disposed of quickly and mercilessly, with definite finality.
Governess Lara Constantinas has returned to Callisto Fortress to give her attention to the Jupitorius Zeon, which has maneuvered its fleet in a hostile position and is likely to mount attack on Callisto's outposts. Admiral Vernon Lindquist and the Callisto Newtype MS Corps are given responsibility for finishing the mission they have been assigned. They have been given new, advanced mobile suits, called appropriately Maulers, for the job. The mission up to now for the Callisto Zeon fleet had been to probe, but the probing is done. The mission has been revised: exterminate the Federal Forces…and whoever might get in the way.
The Zeon Imperative will not be denied.
General Ulysses Napoleon Spector, the Viceroy of Jupitorius Zeon, stalks the bridge of his flagship, the Jovian Thunder, with the air of a patient, long-suffering demigod.
A tall man in his late fifties, brown of curly scalp and thick facial hair, his image is the platonic ideal of the military leader. Perhaps never was a man more aptly named: Ulysses Napoleon Spector projects an image an aura that invokes the fabled image of the Homeric Greek warlord of the Bronze Age…or the similarly named American general that led the Union Army to victory in the U.S. Civil War. His middle name, invoking the French conqueror of the early 18th Century, speaks to the scope of his ambition and charisma. His family, Spector, speaks to the outreach of his influence: he is the Specter of War – and his presence, though untouchable, touches all with death.
The son of a wealthy weapons contractor with deep ties to the Zabi Family, Ulysses Napoleon Spector was already a military veteran of ten years' experience by the time of the One Year War. It was Captain Ulysses Napoleon Spector, identified by the Flannagan Institute as a Newtype, who had originally been slated by Admiral Kycilia Zabi to pilot the MSN-04 Zeong after the Zeon's prototype Newtype mobile suit was completed.
Spector's opportunity to pilot the Zeong into battle, however, was preempted after Col. Char Aznable commandeered the Zeong to battle the Federation's Gundam during the final battle of the One Year War. Despite this temporary setback, the prime of Spector's military career was still ahead of the thirty-five year old officer, and his destiny with the Zeong would be realized yet.
Captain Spector retreated with Admiral Makajara Karn and the then-infant Duchess Minerva Zabi to the Asteroid Belt, where the Zeon would gradually rebuild their power base at Axis Fortress. When the Axis Zeon mounted their vengeful counterattack at last against the Federation in U.C. 0088, Spector had been promoted to the rank of colonel. By this time, Spector had already accumulated four additional years of combat experience in the Axis Zeon's skirmishes against the Titans.
Admiral Makajara discovered that while Spector was a powerful Newtype and formidable mobile suit pilot, the man's true talent lay in leadership and tactics. Spector not only possessed great strength, he projected it upon all those around him. The men who served alongside Spector could not help but follow his lead, and his lead brought them victory after glorious victory.
What Admiral Makajara saw in Spector, his daughter Haman also saw, and when she assumed leadership of the Axis Zeon following the death of her father, Lady Haman ensured that Spector would be at very vanguard of the Axis Zeon Forces. Haman did not deploy Spector against the Ahrgama crew during the course of the First Neo Zeon War, considering his talents too valuable to be wasted against that nuisance. Instead, Spector and his unit were deployed against the hard points of the Federal Forces themselves, including a raid against Luna 2 that crippled the Federal Forces for months.
What few outside of the Neo Zeon leadership knew is that the Zeong Project did not end with the prototype that Char had used against Amuro Ray at the Battle of A Bao A Qu. Although mainstream Zeon military development shifted towards such new generation mobile suits as the Gaza series and successors to the Zaku, Dom, and Gelgoog series, five succeeding generations of the original Zeong design were quietly developed between U.C. 0081 and U.C. 0096, the current being the Zeong-VI.
In the early U.C. 0084, Col. Spector, having inherited his family's fortune, took a proprietary interest in the development of the Zeong – purchasing the entire ownership and manufacturing rights from the Flannagan Institute, and retaining Dr. Flannagan and his staff on the Spector Enterprises payroll. Admiral Makajara neither supported nor opposed Spector's interest in continuing the Zeong Project, although he found Spector's obsession with the mobile suit odd. The Admiral believed that Axis Zeon was developing far superior mobile suits than the old Zeong, and saw little reason that the Axis Zeon should bankroll Spector's fixation with the mecha. Nevertheless, the Admiral was willing to allow Spector this indulgence provided that Spector financed the project from his own considerable wealth.
It was the Zeong IV, rolled out in late U.C. 0087 as the Axis Zeon prepared for their invasion of Cislunar Space, that became the basis for the production-line Zeong-M model that went into development in U.C. 0091 and was first deployed into combat zones in U.C. 0096. During those intervening years, shifting alliances and fortunes catapulted Spector's profile and influence within the Archduchy of Zeon. After the collapse of Lady Haman Karn's regime and the disappearance of Duchess Minerva Zabi, Colonel Spector's division, which was deployed at Luna 2 at the time that the Earth Federation/AEUG Alliance began their occupation of Side 3, was one of the few Neo Zeon units still capable of conducting combat operations. Having lost access to Side 3 and Axis Fortress, however, Spector knew that he could not sustain a war against the Federation/AEUG Alliance for long, despite the fact that his military forces were more than a match for the Alliance. Thus, Spector retreated to the Outer Solar System, where he and a growing band of loyal followers (many of them escaped survivors of General Glemy Toto's regime) rapidly overcame the Scirocco Corps and took over Jupitorius, gaining control to Jupiter's hydrogen mines.
Spector's plans to once reinvade the Cislunar Sphere were preempted by the man who once also preempted him as the pilot of the Zeong, Col. Char Aznable, who led his own attack against the Earth Federation in U.C. 0093. Spector seethed that Char had undercut him once again, but ultimately had the last laugh when he received news that Char had gone down literally in flames in Earth's atmosphere, a victim of the failed catastrophe he had attempted to unleash upon the Earth. Char was gone and would no longer be an obstacle, but there were still the commanders that had served under Char (and Haman before him) to contend with, each who believed that he or she was the legitimate heir to the Zeon throne.
By the mid-U.C. 0090s, General Ulysses Napoleon Spector, Viceroy of Jupitorius (a rank and title that his men had given him, and that he unhesitatingly adopted with their support), had taken effective control of the Jupitorius Colonies. The key to his power was his Jupitorius Armada and its Zeong Corps, which used the Zeong-M high performance Psychom-equipped mobile suits. Among the Zeon warlords, Spector's force has the fewest number of mobile suits (a total of 110 Zeong-M units, discounting the Viceroy's own seldom-deployed Zeong-VI model), but what it lacks in numbers, the Zeong Corps more than makes up for in sheer power and the skill of their Newtype powers. It is said that one Zeong-M is the equivalent of a dozen Gaza-Es, Dreissen-IIs, or Nova Dogas, and judging from the Jupitorius Armada's battle record, that claim is credible.
General Spector's plan is to build his power base and further develop the Zeong Corps and the Jupitorius Zeon Armada by taking over the ore mines of Mars, which would necessitate overcoming the Phobos and Deimos Zeon regimes of General Alexander Miguel and Field Marshal Konrad Von Bach, both former colleagues now turned rivals. This plan has been complicated during the past two months by the fact that the Earth Federation Forces launched a crippling attack against the mining facilities on Mars, rendering the ores underneath the Martian surface inaccessible for at least a few years until the excavation facilities can be reconstructed. This is a setback that General Spector believes he can overcome.
The more immediate concern, as always, is the Callisto Zeon Armada of the Governess Lara Constantinas, which has been a thorn in Spector's side for years. Based on the Jovian moon of Callisto (as Spector's own forces are based on Io), the Callisto Zeon Armada is the first and foremost obstacle preventing Spector from taking the complete control of the Jupitorius Colonies that is needed for the Jupitorius Zeon to make their next step towards returning to the Cislunar Sphere and reclaiming Side 3 from the Earth Federation. Naturally, Spector's forces play a reciprocal role in frustrating Governess Lara's designs on sole domination of the Jupitorius Zone.
Four days ago, General Spector sent a portion of his Jupitorius Armada to surround the Callisto Zeon's base of operations at Callisto Fortress. This has drawn the attention and concentration of the Callisto Zeon Forces, leaving the Jupitorius Colonies wide open for attack.
There is, however, a complication (as there always is): five Earth Federation Forces warships have docked at the Jupitorius Colonies, and on their tail is a portion of the Callisto Zeon Armada.
General Spector sighs. It's never easy, he reflects. Nor should it be. Glory comes at a horrible price of blood and screams.
The Specter of War speaks, his voice as cold as the ice rings of Jupiter, "All units advance in attack formation. Prepare to deploy Zeong Corps on my order."
The Specter of War descends upon the Jupitorius Colonies.
"Major Ibaz," a tech on the bridge of the Amuro Ray reports, "unusual buildup of Minovsky particles in sector GH-72. Sgt. Horowitz reports incoming spacecraft, hostile.
"Move the Amuro Ray out of port," Athena responds with eerie calm, "we'll draw them away from the Jupitorius Colonies, or delay their assault if the target turns out to be the colony itself instead of the ship."
"Yes, ma'am," the tech replies, "but Captain Beecher is…"
"We can't wait for him, lieutenant," Athena tells the tech, "we'll just have to come back for him later, if we can."
Athena opens the communications channel to the Centurion Team, "This is Centurion Leader to all units. Stand by to deploy on my orders. 1Lt. Minh will assume field command."
In response to Athena's orders, the young mobile suit pilots of the Centurion Team dash to their mecha and await the order to launch.
Beecher and Elle are at home in suburban Woodhaven City. The couple discusses old friends, and new expectations.
"Judau and Lu came to see me earlier today," Elle says to her husband, "They asked me to say 'hi' to you, and to tell you they were sorry they couldn't stick around to meet up with you."
Beecher snorts, "I think it's more a case of they didn't want to see me."
Elle scowls, "Beecher, that's not fair! They're our friends!"
"They're ISRLA," Beecher says, more regretfully than angrily, "and I'm Earth Federation Forces. That'd make things…awkward, to put it mildly, if we were to get together."
Sensing his wife's displeasure, Beecher quickly adds, "It's not personal. Of course, Judau and Lu are my buds. Our buds, since way back in the Shangrila days. But you understand the situation with the Federation and the ISRLA…"
"Beecher, tell something," Elle says earnestly, "Why did you choose to join the Federal Forces after we defeated Haman? You hated the Feddies as much as the rest of us did."
Beecher takes a moment to gather his thoughts before replying, "I did, because I saw how corrupt, cowardly, and useless most of them were…just like I was back in those days."
"Beecher…" Elle begins tenderly.
"I couldn't stand those things about myself," Beecher says, pouring his heart out to his wife, "just as I couldn't stand them about the Federation. But fighting Haman's Axis Zeon Forces under Bright Noah, and commanding the Nahl Ahrgama during the final months of that war. It showed me that things could be different. That I could change…and that the Federation could change too. So I joined…to bring the change I saw in myself into the Federation."
Elle leans her head on her husband's shoulders, "Judau and Lu don't think the Federation can be saved. It's been too corrupt for too long to change now. They're looking for a new way…a better way."
"So were the Zeon," Beecher says, "look at how that turned out."
Elle looks up at Beecher, the scowl back on her face, "Beecher, I cannot believe you're actually comparing our friends to the Zeon!"
"I'm not," Beecher protests, "I'm just saying that…"
Beecher's personal communicator beeps. Priority One Emergency Transmission from Major Athena Ibaz on the Amuro Ray.
"What is it, Major?" Beecher asks, fearing the worst.
"Captain Beecher," Athena replies tersely, "Sir, I'm taking the Amuro Ray out of port. An enemy fleet is approaching the colony."
"I'll be right there…" Beecher begins.
"Negative, sir," Athena says firmly, "Please, stay where you are. We'll take care of this."
"Listen, Major," Beecher protests, incredulous that the normally reliable Major Ibaz is disobeying his order, "I'm still…"
"Over and out," Athena says, closing the communications.
"Damn that chick!" Beecher mutters.
"'Chick?'" Elle says, her expression turning sour.
"Major Ibaz," Beecher explains quickly, "the second-in-command on the ship. Honey, I've got to get back there."
"Beecher," Elle says plaintively, "you heard her yourself. They're already on their way. Leave it to them for once."
"I…can't," Beecher says apologetically, putting on his uniform jacket.
"Why not?" Elle demands.
"Because I'm the commanding officer of the Amuro Ray, and my troops need me," Beecher replies.
"I'm your wife," Elle says, "and the mother to our child…we need you too."
Beecher puts his hands lovingly on Elle's shoulders and kisses her tenderly, "I promise you, I'll be back very soon. I've got to go…to keep you and the baby safe."
Elle smiles, "Well, when you put it that way…"
"I love you," Beecher says to his wife, as he heads towards the spaceport.
"Go kick their asses for us, Beech!" Elle calls out after her husband.
Elle settles a hand on her very pregnant belly. She has never been a particularly religious young woman, but now, she finds herself praying for her husband's safety.
Please, God. Let him return to me and to our baby safely!
The Amuro Ray leaves the Woodhaven Colony Spaceport under the temporary command of Major Athena Ibaz.
"Take us as far away from the colony as fast as possible," Athena instructs the techs.
"Yes, ma'am," the tech replies, "but…"
Athena explains, "We don't want to endanger the civilians of Woodhaven, so we're going to draw the enemy away."
Athena contacts Jolie on the tactical net, "Centurion Two, do you copy?"
"Roger, ma'am," comes Jolie's reply.
"Jolie, listen," Athena says, "Captain Beecher is in Woodhaven. We couldn't wait for him and besides," Athena adds in sotto voce, "He should be with his wife now."
Athena can hear the smile in Jolie's voice as her second-in-command replies, "Roger, that. Keep the enemy away from Woodhaven?"
"Top priority," Athena confirms.
"Roger, that," Jolie replies, then to the Centurion Team, "All right, people: let's get 'em!"
"Roger!" comes the united reply of the team.
The Centurion Team and its sister Special Forces teams throw a heavy volume of ordnance at the advancing Jupitorius Armada.
The Zeong Corps of the Jupitorius Armada detects the incoming volley of Federal Forces' ordnance, and throws up a counter-volley of Minovsky particle beams, neutralizing most of the Federation's missile assault. A few of the stray missiles score glancing hits, but overall, do little damage to the armada's ships.
On the bridge of the Jovian Thunder, General Spector cannot help but be amused.
Stiff resistance, the general notes, the Earth Federation may have greater mettle than believed.
"Crush all resistance," Spector orders, "We must take the Jupitorius Colonies while our comrades have the Callisto Armada distracted."
Sgt. Anna Horowitz reports disturbing new combat data to both Major Athena Ibaz on the bridge of the Amuro Ray and 1Lt. Jolie Minh in the cockpit of the Centurion Gundam Unit-1.
"Major Ibaz, Lieutenant Minh…incoming targets match combat profile of MSN-02 Zeong."
"Zeong, Shmeong," Jolie says dismissively, "It's twenty-year outmoded tech. We'll drop 'em easy!"
"Don't underestimate them, Jolie," Athena admonishes, "the original Zeong was the toughest mobile suit the Zeon Forces fielded during the One Year War. These production models must have added twenty years worth of upgrades on the original design, and you know that their pilots have to be Newtypes."
Jolie does not reply. Instead, she contacts Jonah…not through the tactical net, but privately, psychically.
Jonah, link-up.
Jonah's replying thought comes immediately, just what I had in mind too.
Under normal circumstances, Jolie and Jonah would be reluctant to pull this maneuver without the consent of Athena, but now that Athena is on the bridge of the Amuro Ray directing the overall battle, the couple has a freer hand to conduct their own end of the battle more as they see fit.
Not that Athena would likely disapprove of what they have in mind to follow, that is.
Centurion Gundams Unit-1 and Unit-2 soar into the midst of the advancing Zeong-Ms, which have already disgorged their deadly Psychom attack modules in swarms towards the advancing Federal Forces.
"Fall back," Jolie orders the rest of the team, "Let me and Jonah cut a path through first!"
Jolie and Jonah lapse, or rather, ascend to superconsciousness. Instantly, they are in tune with each others minds and souls, communicating on a level so complete and so intimate as to be incomprehensible to the uninitiated.
The enemy's actions, indeed their very thoughts and intentions, become transparent to the JoMis. They "see" every possible angle and vector of attack before any attack can occur.
The Centurion Gundams swirl around each other as if forming a metallic vortex in the cosmos, deftly dodging crisscrossing beam blasts that would surely annihilate any other targets.
Jolie fires a quick burst of three shots seemingly randomly into space; all three shots score direct hits on Zeong-M Psychom attack modules.
Jonah unleashes a torrent of missiles from the Centurion Gundam Unit-2's backpack arsenal. The missiles, guided by Jonah's Newtype PSI-powers, home in on and destroy multiple Zeong Psychom modules.
Jolie is suitably impressed, You actually got more than I did…you're getting better, boy-o.
Let's see which one of us can skeet down more of these Psychom thingies faster, Jonah relays back.
You're on! comes Jolie's psychic reply.
The Centurion Gundams dive into the midst of the storm once more, succeeding in protecting their colleagues from the superior Zeong-M mobile suits…but the Jupitorius
Armada continues its advance towards the Jupitorius Colonies.
"Ma'am," a bridge tech aboard the Amuro Ray reports, "the enemy fleet continues to advance towards the Jupitorius Colonies."
Athena says, "They aren't taking the bait; they're after the colony, not us. Advance the Amuro Ray towards their flagship."
"Ma'am?" the bridge tech says hesitatingly.
"Do it, Lieutenant." Athena insists gravely, but evenly.
Athena opens communications to the Centurion Team, "This is Centurion Leader from the bridge of the Amuro Ray. 1Lt. Minh, Chief Michaels: I want you to continue your assault against their mecha forces: neutralize them as quickly and efficiently as possible. MSgt. Al-Said, you and the rest of the Special Forces mobile suits withdraw towards Jupitorius and establish a final defensive line against the enemy advance."
"Affirmative, ma'am!" come the replies.
"Charge the Hyperparticle Beam Cannon," Athena instructs the bridge crew, "and have the gunnery crews continue firing towards the enemy continuously…as quickly as they can reload. Our objective is to disrupt and halt the enemy's advance."
"Yes, ma'am," reply the bridge crew personnel.
In Woodhaven City, Elle Viano Olech is headed towards the nearest local shelter along with other civilians, in the likely event that the fighting between the Federation and Zeon forces works its way into the colony.
Elle cannot help but experience a sense of helplessness and frustration. Ten years ago, she would be at the forefront of the battle, protecting civilians against enemy attacks. Now, she is among those forced to flee and hide instead of those who stood firm to defend and aid.
But Elle's fighting days, at least in mobile suit combat, are a decade behind her, and more importantly, she has another life to think about.
To feel about.
She feels it mid-step, en rout to the nearest raid shelter, a half kilometer away. A twitch in her belly that Elle tries to dismiss, and does, for a moment.
But the twitch returns, more intense this time, five places later.
No, baby, Elle supplicates as she begin to pant, not now…not here!
An explosion rocks Woodhaven Colony.
The war has invaded life once again…
Mobile suits from the Callisto Newtype MS Corps under the command of Captain Renaldo Desmond burst into the Woodhaven Colony Spaceport, searching for their quarry. Indiscriminately, the Callisto Zeon mobile suits fire upon the spaceport facilities, attempting to flush out their quarry, heedless of the carnage unleashed upon the civilians.
"What are you doing?!" Captain Renaldo demands of his charges.
"Sir," reports one of Renaldo's family, "we're trying to provoke the enemy to show themselves."
"Don't be foolish, Lieutenant Stanton," Renaldo says, "the enemy isn't here. We aren't…"
Renaldo reconsiders. Perhaps Stanton and the others have the right idea. Threatening the Woodhaven Colony would draw out the Amuro Ray and its mobile suits. Collateral damage to civilians would be regrettable, but preferable to letting the colony fall under Federation control.
"Stanton," Renaldo begins again, "Now that I think about it, maybe I'm the one who shouldn't be foolish. All right. We'll draw the enemy into the open. One vital caveat: we only want to put up the appearance of a threat to this colony. Make it look worse than it actually is: I don't want too many unnecessary civilian casualties, is that understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Renaldo's faithful "Family" replies.
This is the part of war that I loathe, Captain Renaldo reflects, civilians should not suffer. But their sacrifices will be remembered as the foundation for the rebirth of the Zeon nation under Governess Lara. They will perish, but they will perish gloriously as martyrs for Zeon.
Captain Beecher Olech runs desperately through the streets of Woodhaven City. He realizes what a fool he has been! He should have heeded Major Ibaz's advice and sat this battle out at his wife's side. Now, he is separated from her as the enemy has breached the colony.
"Elle!" Captain Beecher screams out desperately, "Elle! Where are you?!"
Beecher narrowly misses being stomped on by an enemy mobile suit…not the first time such a mishap has nearly befallen him.
The mobile suit, of a model and make unfamiliar to Beecher, but undoubtedly a Zeon design, jets away…uninterested in wasting its firepower or even a foot stomp on a single Federal Forces officer not crafted aboard mecha.
Dammit! Beecher rages helplessly, the enemy is already in the city! Where are the Special Forces?!
Beecher tries to calm down. He remembers whom he left in charge of the Amuro Ray and the Special Forces. He knows that he can trust Major Athena Ibaz to guide them through the battle. He has a more pressing priority to contend with.
"Elle…" Beecher whispers, then cries out, "ELLE!"
Beecher's heart pounds as heavily as the superpistons in the engine of his ship. If she and the baby have come to harm, Beecher is resolved to going down taking as many Zeon as possible with him.
"Major Ibaz," bridge operator Lt. (JG) Grover Lift says, "ma'am, the Woodhaven Spaceport Authority reports that Zeon mobile suits have breached the colony!"
"A second front," Athena muses, "Maybe we can turn that to our advantage, but first, we need to complete the first part of the plan."
Athena opens communications to Jolie and Jonah, "1Lt. Minh, Chief Michaels."
"Yo!" Jolie replies.
"Ma'am," Jonah responds.
"I need you two to form a defensive perimeter around the Amuro Ray and its escort ships until we get into the middle of the enemy fleet," Athena instructs her executive officers, "Then I want you to return to Woodhaven. Enemy units have breached the colony and civilians are in danger. Don't forget: Captain Beecher is also at Woodhaven."
"Right," Jolie responds, "All right then: Jonah, ready to link up again?"
"Ready and steady," Jonah replies.
Link up!
The twin Centurion Gundams swirl around the darting Zeong-Ms as if the Zeon mobile suits are immobilized, though in fact, each Zeong-M is maneuvering at multiple mach speeds. Nimble as they are, the Zeong-M are unable to keep pace with the JoMis' Centurion Gundams, becoming like robins among hawks.
Missile volleys, beam rifle blasts, beam saber slashes…torrents of these issue forth from the Centurion Gundams faster than the eye or the mind can follow. In a span of ten seconds, a dozen Zeong-Ms are dispatched in multiple silent explosions.
Their path cleared, the JoMis rendezvous with the other Special Forces mobile suit units, including their own Centurion Team, to form an impenetrable defensive perimeter around the Amuro Ray and its escort fleet.
In ancient times, the Greeks used phalanges of soldiers with overlapping shields to advance upon a numerically superior enemy, providing a tight defense to anchor a relentless offense. Under Major Ibaz's guidance, the Special Forces mobile suits now apply the same principle to their attack on the Jupitorius Zeon Armada.
The Amuro Ray advances towards the heart of the Jupitorius Zeon Armada, its missile turrets and beam cannons ablaze, intercepting much of the incoming enemy fire. What the weapon systems of the Federal Forces fleet's capital ships miss are mopped up by the Centurion Gundams of 1Lt. Jolie Minh and Chief Warrant Officer Jonah Michaels.
"General Spector," reports Ensign Adrian Spivak on the bridge of the Jovian Thunder, "My lord, the enemy fleet is still advancing directly towards us!"
"Remarkable," Spector says, "Extremely…remarkable."
"My lord?" Ensign Spivak, skin and uniform saturated with perspiration, turns to his liege uneasily.
Spector only smiles, "Hold our position and tell the gunners to keep firing. Let's see just what the Federal Forces are made of these days."
"But my lord," Ensign Spivak begins.
"Do it, Ensign," Spector says, the slight smile not leaving his face, "you're experienced enough to know the consequences of insubordination."
Ensign Spivak spares a glance towards the sidearm holstered at the general's side, "Yes, sir."
Spector chuckles. This Feddie combat unit quite amuses him with its sheer audacity. He wonders who its commander might be.
A quarter of a kilometer from the nearest entrance to the raid shelter, Elle collapses to her hands and knees…unable to continue walking. Another painful contraction seizes her, causing her to scream.
The mass of humanity running past her does not stop to assist her, not that Elle blames them. Full on panic has taken hold of the population of Woodhaven as mobile suits of the Callisto Zeon Newtype Corps attack Woodhaven Colony, crushing entire city blocks effortlessly.
Another wave of pain stabs through Elle's abdomen, and she screams again, her lovely face a contorted rictus of agony.
Damn! Elle curses internally as she struggles to pant away the pain, They would attack when I'm going into labor! And where the hell is Beecher?!
"Beecher! BEEEECHEERRRR!!" Elle screams plaintively, before her scream devolves into a growl of pain as another contraction hits her.
Two passengers suddenly alight from a sedan stalled in traffic. Elle recognizes, to her great relief, the figures of her friends Judau Ashta and Lu Luka rushing towards her.
"Elle!" Lu says, kneeling by her friend's side, "Hey, girl! You OK?"
"Yeah…just peachy," Elle snarls, "Other than about to pop out a baby while trying to dodge Zeon mobile suits, I'm just….unnggh…fine!"
"Isn't Beecher supposed to be with you?" Judau asks.
"Yeah, he's supposed to be with me," Elle says through clenched teeth, "but duty…calls…OHHHH!"
A sudden gush of liquid from between Elle's legs is followed by a few rapid breaths that disappear into fierce expulsive grunts.
"I…need…to…push!" Elle grunts.
Without saying a word more, Judau and Lu lift Elle's slight weight and carry her off towards an alley where they would have more privacy…away from the fleeing crowds.
Judau and Lu settle Elle against the exterior wall of the nearest building.
"Judau," Lu tells her husband, "turn around!"
"What?" Judau says.
"Don't be a dummy!" Lu says, scowling, "Elle's going to need a little privacy!"
"Yeah, right," Judau says, blushing and turning his back to the two women.
"You OK?" Lu asks Elle.
Elle nods, attempting to stabilize her breathing.
Elle pulls her legs back, drawing her knees level to her chin, her legs spread wide.
Lu discreetly removes Elle's pink shorts, laying them aside. One look tells the story…a child will be born in just minutes.
Elle grunts, straining and pushing mightily as another contraction seizes her.
Lu places her hands on Elle's knees, helping her friend to keep her legs apart as her baby advances downward.
"W-what the heck's happening back there?!" Judau demands.
"We've got a baby that's going to be born any minute now," Lu says, then, more forcefully, "Dammit, Judau! Don't just stand there! Make yourself useful!"
"Hey," Judau protests, "I can't even turn around to look! What do you expect me to…?!"
"Go find Beecher and bring his sorry ass back here!" Lu says, "He's never going to forgive himself if he misses the birth of his child!"
"I'm never gonna forgive him…" Elle snarls, before grunting again as her body is compelled to push again.
"Hurry!" Lu says fiercely, her eyes flashing.
"All right, geeze!" Judau mutters, "Just like the old days…"
As Judau runs back into the street in search of Beecher, Lu cannot help but smile.
Elle, between contractions, remarks through short breaths, "Kind…of…harsh…on…him…aren't you?"
Lu grins reassuringly, "You know how men are…"
Elle offers a pained smile in return, "Beecher's…even…worse. One of…these days…ohhh!"
Elle grunts and strains again, her face turning beet red from the effort, her body drenched in perspiration.
Lu examines Elle's birth canal…the baby is making very slow progress. She prays that Elle will be able to get the baby out soon, without complications.
Lu hears the telltale heavy sounds of mobile suit footsteps in the distance, of explosions getting closer.
Come on, Judau, Lu directs a though to her husband, don't let us down.
The Amuro Ray, shielded by its protective phalanx of mobile suits, has fought its way to the middle of the Jupitorius Zeon Armada's formation. From this position, the Jupitorius Zeon ships cannot fire upon the Amuro Ray, its escort ships, or its protective phalanx of mobile suits, without striking their allies. Contrarily, the Federal Forces ships and mobile suits can fire upon their Zeon enemies with impunity.
Just as Major Athena Ibaz planned.
Athena contacts Jolie and Jonah, "1Lt. Minh, Chief Michaels…get back to Woodhaven on the double! Clear the Zeon forces from the colony, and above all, protect the civilians!"
"Roger, ma'am!" the JoMis reply, as their dual Centurion Gundams, which have severely gutted the Zeong Corps, leave this arena of battle to their allies as they speed to the rescue at Woodhaven.
"The rest of you, pour on the attack," Athena orders.
The order is obeyed. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the advantage belongs to the Federal Forces because of Athena's strategic positioning.
On the bridge of the Jovian Thunder, General Spector receives dismaying news, "My lord, three of our cruisers have taken heavy damage and are withdrawing from the battle; we're taking considerable damage ourselves, sir. The starboard guns are all but wiped out."
In his command seat, General Spector lets out a room-shaking laugh. The bridge crew stares at the Viceroy of Jupitorius Zeon in horrified disbelief, believing their leader to have gone mad.
But General Spector is very lucid, and has his military expertise grasps his enemy's audacious tactic, he cannot help but express cathartic epiphany at his foe's boldness.
"Very well played, my enemy," General Spector finally rumbles after his laughter has subsided, "you've proven that the Federation has at least one superb tactician under its flag. That is something that must be rectified before it is beyond our control."
"My lord…should we withdraw?" Ensign Spivak ventures tentatively.
"Negative," Viceroy Spector replies calmly, rising from his command chair, "This enemy is too dangerous to be left alive. No matter how many ships and mecha we sacrifice here today, we must eliminate them. We have forces in reserve to fight other battles, but this one, here, must be won today."
"Beecher!" Judau Ashta calls out in the now mostly abandoned streets of Woodhaven Colony, "Beecher, you goofball, where the hell are you?! Hey! Elle's having the baby! YOUR baby!"
Judau hears the telltale clamorous sound and feels the bone-jarring vibration caused by the massive weight of mobile suit feet upon colony pavement. A mobile suit of Zeon origin, its make unknown to Judau, but somewhat reminiscent of the Gallus-J series that Judau had confronted in combat more than a decade earlier.
And, running just ahead of it, Judau's old friend and rival from the Shangrila days…Beecher Olech, now Captain Beecher Olech of the Earth Federation Forces Space Fleet.
"Beecher! This way!" Judau calls out, signaling for Beecher to run over.
Judau recognizes the immediate problem: he's gotten Beecher's attention and Beecher, as instructed, is heading in Judau's direction…but so is the enemy mobile suit that had been following him!
Beecher and Judau dive headlong to the side of the street, narrowly avoiding being trampled by a massive, metalshod foot.
"Been a while, Beech," Judau remarks, as he and Beecher take cover behind some crumbled rubble.
"Things haven't changed much," Beecher replies, "We're still dodging enemy mobile suits like back in the day."
"Yeah," Judau replies sourly, "except that back in the day, we'd be able to hit back at these jokers with the ZZ Gundam and the Hyakushiki. Man, what I wouldn't give to have the ZZ right now…"
As if in response to Judau's complaint, Chief Warrant Officer Jonah Michaels' Centurion Gundam Unit-2 suddenly streaks upon the scene, ramming the Mauler mobile suit that had been threatening Beecher and Judau and bowling it over to some abandoned parkland.
"Let's go!" Beecher commands, taking off, Judau on his heels.
"Beecher!" Judau finally remembers, "Hey! We've got to head the other way…Elle's having the baby!"
"What? She is?! Where?!" Beecher demands.
Judau replies, "About a half kilo from here…Lu's with her! C'mon, follow me!"
"Unnnnnghh! Hnnnnnngh!" Elle grunts as she strains and pushes through another contraction.
Lu peers worriedly down between Elle's legs. Fifteen minutes of pushing, and very little progress. Lu wonders if Elle will be able to deliver the baby under her own power. If Elle needs a C-section, there would be the matter of locating a qualified surgeon and facilities for performing such an operation…a dubious prospect in the chaotic circumstances now prevailing in Woodhaven Colony.
And where are Beecher and Judau?
Elle is sobbing as she collapses, exhausted, from the fruitless expulsive effort, "Beecher…where's Beecher, Lu? Take me to Beecher…."
"Elle," Lu says firmly, but reassuringly, "You've got to focus on getting the baby out. Don't worry about Beecher. He'll be fine."
"He's my husband!" Elle says hotly, "And he's out there, in danger! And I can't help h….nnnnnngh!"
As Elle pushes, a dark shadow appears over the alleyway…a Zeon mobile suit hovering directly above them.
Lu draws a sidearm from her jacket pocket and aims it defiantly, but rather vainly, at the enemy mecha.
The Zeon mobile suit is abruptly dragged away by 1Lt. Jolie Minh's Centurion Gundam Unit-1, which uses its titanic strength to hurl the enemy mobile suit into the atmosphere in the center of the colony, and blast it with the Centurion Gundam's beam rifle. The shot cleanly disables the Mauler, which collapses upon an abandoned warehouse a half kilometer away.
Jolie's voice booms out from the Centurion Gundam's external speaker, "Are you all right down there?"
"My friend here is having a baby!" Lu says, "Can you get us to a hospital?"
Jolie replies, "Hospital facility has been evacuated, but I can take you to the bivouac area they've set up in the shelter!"
"Beecher…" Elle moans miserably.
Centurion Gundam Unit-2 then appears to rendezvous with Unit-1; in the Unit-2's metalshod hand are Judau Ashta… and Captain Beecher Olech.
Jonah lowers the Unit-2's hand to the ground, where Judau and Beecher rapidly alight.
Judau and Lu embrace, and Beecher and Elle do likewise.
"Beecher!" Elle cries into her husband's shoulder.
"I'm here, sweetie," Beecher says comfortingly, "I'm sorry that I left you here alone. I'm going to help you have our baby, OK?"
Jolie says through the Centurion Gundam Unit-1's speaker, "Captain Beecher, we can take you and your wife to the bivouac area."
Beecher assesses the situation. Elle makes another push and the baby begins to crown.
"Negative," Beecher tells Jolie, "the baby's almost here, and Elle can't be moved now. You can best help by keeping the enemy off our backs."
"Roger, sir," Jolie replies with uncharacteristic dutifulness, "C'mon, Jonah! Let's keep the buzzards away!"
"You got it!" Jonah says, with more enthusiasm than he normally demonstrates in battle.
The two Centurion Gundams jet away seeking Callisto Zeon quarry.
Elle, gaining a second wind from her husband's comforting presence, begins to push again…persistently, unrelentingly.
Her baby begins to descend out of the birth canal into the world.
"That's it, Elle!" Beecher smiles encouragingly, "You're doing it! Just keep pushing like that!"
Elle exhales, pants briefly, then grunts again, bringing the entire head of the baby out.
Lu supports the child's head as it emerges.
"Think it's going to be OK?" Judau asks his wife.
Lu replies, "As long as those two Gundam units can keep the Zeon MS away from us, we'll be all right."
Judau says, "They remind me of…us, the way we were a decade ago.
Lu smiles, "You think they're as good?"
Judau replies with a grin of his own, "I think they're way better."
Elle prepares for a final push that will deliver her baby's shoulders and make her a mother at last.
The battle between the Jupitorius Zeon Armada and the smaller Earth Federation Special Forces has reached a stalemate. The Zeon fleet's superior numbers and firepower and the Federation fleet's superior strategic positioning have established a sort of equilibrium.
Still, Major Athena Ibaz understands that due to sheer attrition, the advantage will soon shift over to the Zeon side.
The time to implement the next phase of the plan has come.
"1Lt. Minh, Chief Michaels," Athena transmits.
"Read you loud and clear, ma'am," Jolie replies.
"Affirmative, ma'am," Jonah confirms.
Athena smiles, "I hope you two haven't eliminated all the opposition at Woodhaven yet."
There is a confused silence before Jolie replies, "Well…no, but why…?"
"Draw them out of the colony," Athena orders, "bring them back here."
"You mean…?" Jolie begins.
Athena nods, "Using barbarians to fight barbarians…it works on a smaller scale also."
"Roger that, ma'am," Jolie says.
Jolie and Jonah attack the remaining Callisto Zeon MS, riling the enemy up as much as possible. Then, abruptly, the twin Centurion Gundams withdraw from Woodhaven Colony.
Aboard his Officer's Mauler (Mauler-S), Captain Renaldo surveys the situation, then tells his troops, "We've got them on the run! Follow me! We'll pursue and destroy these nuisances!"
The Mauler mobile suits of the Callisto MS Corps form up behind their leader and depart the Woodhaven Colony, leaving behind the scene of ruin they have inflicted upon the residential colony.
"Admiral Lindquist," Captain Renaldo says, contacting the commander of the Lord Ranba Ral, "we're in pursuit of the enemy Gundam units. Request fleet support."
"Message received," Lindquist replies, "request granted. We're on our way."
Lu Luka beams happily as she hands the tiny, crying infant to her friend, Elle Viano Olech, "Congratulations, you two…it's a baby girl!"
Elle, covered in perspiration and beyond exhaustion, takes her newborn daughter lovingly in her arms, smiling affectionately at the infant. Beecher, her husband, is overwhelmed with tears and a broad grin as he kisses his daughter for the first time.
"Hi, baby," Elle whispers gently at her child, "Welcome to the world."
Judau smiles fondly at the child of his two friends, then whispers, "I hope that this baby will grow up in a world more peaceful than the one she was born into."
The four young adults look around at the scene of destruction around them. Their hopes sink for a moment, but then surge again.
"We'll do it," Lu resolves, "We won't let the Zeon and the Federation rule our future!"
Beecher nods, "I want my daughter to grow up in a world without war…and I joined the Earth Federation Forces to do what I could to make that happen. For her sake, the Zeon must be destroyed, and the Federation reformed from the bottom up."
But that is tomorrow's duty. Today, Beecher's only duty is to his family…the most precious thing in the world. So precious that it is worth defending with his life.
The Centurion Gundams lead the Callisto MS Corps, now supported by a dozen capital ships from the Callisto Armada, on a hair-raising chase through the Jupiter Zone. Or the most part, Jolie and Jonah concentrate on dodging the enemy's fire, although they do take the opportunity to make harassing strikes at their pursuers…just to ensure that the enemy stays interested in pursuing them.
Ahead lies the Jupitorius Zeon Armada, still locked in battle against the Federation Space Fleet.
Aboard the Lord Ranba Ral, Admiral Lindquist surveys the situation and smiles, "Ah…the Jupitorius Zeon Forces. We have an opportunity to vanquish two enemies today. All ships and mobile suit units: commence attack on Jupitorius Zeon fleet! Destroying them takes priority over destroying the Federation fleet!"
True to Admiral Lindquist's orders, the Callisto Zeon Forces attack the Jupitorius Armada…Maulers meet Zeong-Ms in combat, as the ships of the two Zeon fleets exchange fusillades.
Aboard the Amuro Ray, Major Athena Ibaz issues a new order, "All forces, withdraw!"
The Amuro Ray, its fleet, and the mobile suits of the Special Forces maneuver away from the battle zone even as the two Zeon forces clash.
General Ulysses Napoleon Spector observes the new situation calmly. The Callisto Zeon Forces…his diversion tactic had drawn most of them back to Callisto, but Spector knows that the Governess Lara Constantinas is not a fool. She has sent a substantial force to Jupitorius.
"Attention all forces," Spector orders, "redirect your firepower towards the advancing Callisto Zeon Forces. Leave the Federal Forces be…for now."
The two Zeon fleets, Callisto and Jupitorius, engage in a deadly close-quarters cosmic engagement. Both sides begin to endure casualties, weakened as they are by their recent battle against the Special Forces.
Major Athena Ibaz contacts the gunnery crew, "Is the Hyperparticle Beam Cannon ready for use?"
"Yes, ma'am," replies the chief gunner, "HBC is fully charged and ready to fire on your command."
"Take aim at the highest concentration of Zeon units," Athena commands, "It doesn't matter if they're Callisto or Jupitorius. The goal is to do as much damage as possible as quickly as possible."
"Yes, ma'am," the gunnery chief replies.
Athena contacts the mobile suit units, "Attention all MS units: stand by to launch a massive volley. Direct all your firepower after the Hyperparticle Beam Cannon is fired."
"Roger, Major," Jolie replies, then to the Special Forces MS, "You heard Athena: get ready, all of you."
The Special Forces MS aim their collective firepower towards the converging Zeon fleets.
A moment of silence and stillness follows.
"Commence firing!" Athena orders.
The Hyperparticle Beam Cannon of the Amuro Ray fires, unleashing a hellish red stream of supercharged Minovsky particle energy towards the Callisto and Jupitorius Zeon fleets.
Dozens of Zeon mobile suits, Callisto Maulers and Jupitorius Zeong-Ms, and the Doga and Gaza units that both sides use in common, are atomized instantly. A half dozen cruisers of both Zeon factions expand like balloons before disintegrating.
As if the HBC did not do enough damage, the Specia Forces mobile suits add an additional volley of firepower into the already volatile mix. The two Zeon fleets are devastated by the one-two punch.
"Withdraw! Withdraw! All Callisto Zeon units, emergency withdrawal!" Admiral Lindquist orders.
General Ulysses Napoleon Spector rises from his seat on the bridge of the Jovian Thunder, "Let's fall back. This battle has become asymmetrical, and we've lost the advantage."
Crippled, the Callisto and Jupitorius Zeon forces withdraw from the Jupiter Zone towards their respective bases.
This day's battle, at least, is done.
Civilians begin to shuffle out of the Woodhaven Colony's raid shelters back to their homes. The damage to the colony is not as severe as initially feared: most of the city is intact, thanks to the quick intervention of 1Lt. Jolie Minh and Chief Warrant Officer Jonah Michaels. Casualties were light, with only a dozen deaths and slightly over a hundred injuries, mostly minor.
Captain Beecher Olech has returned to the Amuro Ray, where his wife and newborn baby are receiving postpartum care from Dr. Wenwu Zhou, the Centurion Team's resident physician.
"I apologize for disregarding your orders, Captain," Athena says to Beecher, as they ride the turbolift from the bridge to sick bay, "and I regret having undercut your authority, but the situation required expedient action. I'm prepared to accept the consequences of my decision."
Beecher smiles, "Forget it, Athena. Strictly speaking, you did break protocol, but you had to do so to save the people of this colony. I, for one, am grateful that you did."
The turbolift door opens, and Beecher and Athena enter the sick bay, where Elle and her newborn child have just received a clean bill of health from Doc Wooster. Keeping Elle and the baby company are Jolie and Jonah.
Jolie can't get enough of Elle's baby, cradling it in her arms and twirling around.
"You are so, so SO cuuuuuute!" Jolie gushes, making faces at the sleeping infant.
"You're going to scare the poor kid," Jonah smiles, "or at least, make her very, very dizzy."
Elle grins at the young MS pilots, "I can't thank the two of you enough. If you hadn't come, we might not be here now."
"I'm grateful to all of you," Beecher says, addressing, Jolie, Jonah, and Athena…as well as the Centurion Team members now back at their duty stations elsewhere aboard the ship, "You all fought extremely well today even when I wasn't around."
"Hey, Captain Beecher," Jolie says, holding the baby towards him, "Have you and your missus figured out what your baby's name is yet?"
Beecher exchanges a smile with his wife before replying, "We'd toyed with some names before, but we didn't finally agree on one until just after she was born. We've decided to name her…"
"Yeah…?" Jolie says, eyes going wide in anticipation.
"We're calling her 'Athena,'" Captain Beecher announces proudly, "Athena Jolie Olech, named after two of the bravest, brightest young women I've ever known. Sorry we had to leave you out, Jonah, but if Elle and I have a boy in the future…"
"It's understood, Captain," Jonah says with a grin.
"I'm very flattered, sir," Athena says modestly.
Jolie hands baby Athena to her namesake, "You ALWAYS get first in everything. Oh, well. At least I got the middle name."
Athena takes the baby gently in her arms and smiles prettily at the baby, who grins back upon seeing Athena.
You're going to grow up in a better, more peaceful world, little Athena, the Deputy Director of the Special Forces vows to the child who bears her name, When you're my age, war will just be something that you read about in history books.