EPISODE 25: TROIA
Late April, U.C. 0100.
Zeon Confederation Dvorvak, Zimmfer, and Letzer Doga mobile suits hurl forth thunderous volumes of missile and beam fire, as vainly to avert their destruction as to create sound in the vacuum of space. Dozens of them vanish in heavy Earth Federation/Phobos Zeon Alliance bombardment.
From every direction through multiple access ports, Alliance mobile suits – GM-IVs, Jegan-IIs, Jet Jegans, Geara Doga-IIs, Gellonds, and Gryphons, storm into Ceres Base…driving the Zeon Confederation Forces from the stronghold just as the Confederation had driven out the Federal Forces from the same facility mere months ago.
Outside Ceres, Alliance warships of every active category and class open fire upon the fortifications of the asteroid base with beam cannon and missiles. Fire erupts within the fortress, and explosions burst forth from every weak point on the asteroid's surface.
Major General Brock Quinn, given command of Ceres Base by Generalissimo Ulysses Spector and Governess Lara Constantinas after its capture from the Federation, receives an emergency dispatch from the Confederation Forces' Command Central: "Abandon Ceres Base and begin recovery/regrouping of surviving forces in Jupiter orbit."
Major General Quinn orders the retreat. The tatters of the Confederation Forces stationed at Ceres Base commence an emergency withdrawal, losing a large number of units and remaining strength as the Alliance Forces continue to pound heavily upon them during their retreat.
The loss of Ceres Base is the latest domino to fall in a line of setbacks for the Confederation that began with the loss of a sizeable portion of the Deimos Armada in the Mars Zone nearly two months earlier. The subsequent loss of the Westlake supply base to Alliance Forces in early April further choked off the Confederation's logistical reach, making Ceres Base vulnerable to a long struggle of attrition. The Alliance has also sustained losses, but has been able to resupply, rearm, and recuperate from newly established bases on Mars, at Westlake, and now, apparently, from Ceres Base again too.
Moreover, the Confederation's intelligence source have determined that Phobos Fortress, General Alexander Miguel's erstwhile base of operations and domicile, has moved into the Midway Zone after having disembarked its civilian population at Side 3 in Cislunar Space. That means the Alliance will have three points from which to push the Confederation further into the Outer System, and that is without taking into account the resources that the Alliance has on Earth.
The Earth Federation Special Forces and the Phobos Zeon Forces' Black Raven Squadron fight their way into the heart of Ceres Base, neutralizing the last remaining dregs of resistance by the Confederation Forces.
Major Athena Ibaz's Cour de Leon, in mobile suit configuration, deftly rips a Zeon Confederation Forces' flagpole from its mount, snapping the pole in half and dropping it on the rubble.
Two GM-IVs from the Federation's 85th raise the flag of the Earth Federation Government over Ceres Base, the first time the colors of the Federation have flown over Ceres in more than five months.
Ceres Base belongs to the Earth Federation Forces once again!
Angel Heights, Ceres, Cosmos Columbia, Duquesne, Houston Heights, Macrotown, New Plains, Providence, Queenstar, Rigel Crossing, Xavier…all colonies occupied by the Zeon Confederation Forces at the beginning of the war, have since been liberated by the Earth/Phobos Alliance Forces.
All that now remains is the Jupiter Zone, where the remaining Confederation Forces have concentrated their strength.
It will be a tough nut to crack…at least directly.
Some twelve hours after Ceres Base returned to Federation control, General Alexander Miguel of the Phobos Zeon Forces and General Manron Blackhead of the Earth Federation Forces jointly host a press conference from Ceres. The supreme commanders of the Alliance are prepared to discuss the progress of the war and the prospect of victory.
Miguel and Blackhead are surrounded by a veritable forest of microphones and cameras, and the glare of multiple flashbulbs is near blinding. A cacophony of voices raises a litany of questions.
"What's your next objective?!"
"Is the Confederation really on its last legs?!"
"How long do you think it'll be before you can declare victory?!"
"What plans does the Alliance have after the war?!"
"Do you believe the end of the war with the Confederation will open a new era of long-term peace between Earth and Zeon?!"
General Miguel allows General Blackhead to field the first round of questions. Never one to be reticent when he has an audience (and in this case, he has a potential audience of nearly all of twenty billion members of humanity), Blackhead is all pomp and circumstance (or perhaps, more accurately, pompousness and conceit) as he takes to the speaker's podium and eyes and ears, electronic and organic, turn to him.
Blackhead clears his throat meaningfully, his Earth Federation Forces dress uniform (with all medals on full display) immaculate and fussily arranged (Blackhead spent the past three hours with his image handlers in anticipation of the press conference).
Waiting grandiosely for the clamor to die down, Blackhead says richly, "Ladies and gentlemen. I'm General Manron Blackhead, Supreme Commander of the Earth Federation Forces and Head of the Earth Federation Space Armada. It is my pleasure to report that the Alliance of the Earth Federation Forces and the Principality of Phobos Zeon Forces has secured the Mars and Midway Zones, and that the Alliance will liberate the Jupiter Zone soon. Our victory is imminent, and will stand as a testament to the strength of the Earth Federation, which has withstood every assault by every nefarious enemy since…"
…but how long can it withstand a pig such as yourself in command, General? Major Athena Ibaz thinks to herself.
Athena stands at the back of the large hangar bay that has been converted into a makeshift reception area for the press. Before the media was allowed into the hangar, Athena had already sequestered herself in the shadows...not wanting to be hijacked into performing in Blackhead and Miguel's dog and pony show (Blackhead had requested her presence, but as it had not been a direct order, Athena disregarded the request).
Now, standing safely behind press row, officer's hat pulled low on her head and command overcoat draped over her shoulders for greater anonymity, Athena watches Blackhead's grandiloquent dramatics through narrowed eyes, cigarette hanging loosely from between her lips in an expression of disgust.
The downside of victory…glorifying bastards like Blackhead, Athena reflects with some regret.
One of the Cislunar Free Media's reporters presses Blackhead for specifics, "General Blackhead: you said that the Alliance's victory is "imminent." Could you elaborate on that? What specific plans do you have in mind to make that happen?"
Here comes the good part, Athena thinks to herself, her eye still narrowed, but her scowl curving up into a bitterly amused smile
Blackhead smiles uneasily, attempting to appear confident and capable, but clearly nettled by the CFM reporter's pointed question, "I can't comment on specifics, as it would jeopardize the safety of our mission, but perhaps General Miguel could offer some insights that you would find enlightening. General Miguel?"
The Leader of the Phobos Zeon takes the podium as Blackhead takes a place behind him. Miguel's confidence and poise is every bit as genuine as Blackhead's were feigned.
Miguel takes a glance back at Blackhead, the Federal Forces commander shifting uncomfortably in his place, and remarks dryly to the assembled media, "That's Federation policy for you: when in doubt, pass it to the Zeon."
That comment brings a round of approving laughter from the press corps; scathing wit is something that the media has not come to expect from a Zeon leader.
The journalists are amused, but behind Miguel, General Blackhead's face darkens with embarrassment.
Standing in the shadows, Athena finds herself enjoying the press conference after all; for once, she almost finds herself admiring Alexander Miguel.
Her cigarette nearly smoked out, Athena extinguishes its smoldering remains beneath her boot on the deck plate, and inserts a fresh cigarette between her lips. The graceful artist's hand of 2Lt. Jonah Michaels, bearing a lit match, ignites the cigarette for Athena. Athena thanks her subordinate and surrogate "younger brother" with a fond rub on the back of his head.
The journalists' laughter having subsided, Alexander also becomes serious, addressing the CFM reporter's original question, "Preparations for combat operations in the Jupiter Zone are already underway. The restoration of this base here is an important step of that process. Moreover, the arrival of Phobos Fortress in the Midway Zone provides us with an important launch point for the invasion of the Jupiter Zone. Phobos has been completely militarized and reconfigured for total combat application. We plan to drive the spear that is Phobos into the heart of the Zeon Confederation Forces."
Jonah whispers to Athena, "Isn't it dangerous for Alex to be discussing our strategy so openly like that? The enemy watches the news too."
Athena exhales a tongue of tobacco smoke and replies, "Your brother isn't stupid, Jonah."
So saying, Athena departs the press conference, leaving the generals to the media (and vice-versa). She has more important business to attend to.
Jonah follows his commanding officer and friend, "Aren't you going to stay for the rest of the conference?"
Athena shakes her head, replying, "I'm not much of a fan of soap operas, farcical comedies, or disaster movies. Go get some rest, Jonah. We're going to be plenty busy soon, so if there's anything you need to do: now would be the time."
"Yes, ma'am," Jonah replies, very much having some unfinished personal business he wishes to attend to…
At Callisto Fortress, which is now the primary stronghold of the remaining Zeon Confederation Forces, the Warlords of the Zeon Confederation have gathered to discuss their plans for defending the Jupiter Zone from the advancing Alliance Forces.
Field Marshal Konrad Von Bach of Deimos Zeon, the Governess Lara Constantinas of Callisto Zeon, Viceroy Ulysses Napoleon Spector of Jupitorius Zeon, and Generalissimo Hadrian Reglas are seated in a conference room sequestered deep in the reinforced recesses of Callisto Fortress, grimly watching the press conference being broadcast live from Ceres Base.
After a long moment of grim silence, Generalissimo Reglas is the first to speak, "We're down to a third of our original strength. The losses in Mars orbit, at Westlake, and at Ceres have proven costly. Quite frankly, we're not in a good position to defend the Jupiter Zone from a full-on Alliance invasion at this point."
Viceroy Spector counters, "Then we shouldn't think about defending. We should think about attacking."
The other warlords stare at Spector in disbelief.
"You can't be serious, Spector," Field Marshal Von Bach erupts, "What makes you think that, in our current condition, we're capable of mounting a successful attack against the Alliance?!"
"Their forces are concentrated at Phobos," Spector says, "If we succeed in making critical strike there, doing as much damage as possible while they are still preparing for their invasion, then we can reduce their strength significantly…putting us back on an even footing with them."
"What about the Jupitorius Citizens' Defense Militia?" Governess Lara Constantinas queries, "If we move against Miguel and his Federation cohorts, we'll be leaving our backs exposed…"
Spector snorts contemptuously, "We don't need to worry about those upstarts. They're scarcely trained, inexperienced, toy soldiers…of no consequential threat to us. We need not waste time or resources on them. The focus of our efforts must be on the Alliance Forces alone."
Constantinas replies, "The Jupitorius Defense Militia's forces are not insignificant, Generalissimo, and could provide the Alliance another front from which to attack us. We'll be trapped between their forces if we don't take the militia down first."
"That's not likely to happen," Von Bach interjects, "the Jupitorius Defense Militia is ISRLA-sympathetic. They aren't going to support the Earth Federation."
Constantinas is not mollified, "I think the loss of your fleet has addled your mind, Von Bach. You cannot be ignorant of the fact that the Jupitorius Defense Militia uses weaponry supplied by the Earth Federation, and that its troops were trained by elements of the Federation's Special Forces. They are effectively auxiliaries for the Earth Federation Forces, and we would be wise to treat them as such."
"We should put it to a vote then," Reglas proposes, "All in favor of attacking Jupitorius before launching an attack on Phobos indicate their decision by drawing their sidearms and laying them upon this table."
Governess Constantinas slams her sidearm on the table with resolute finality.
She is the only one.
"It's decided then," Spector says, "We take the fight to Phobos."
Constantinas takes her sidearm, rises from her seat, and without excusing herself, begins to leave the conference room.
"Governess," Spector says challengingly.
"You gentlemen will do as you must," Constantinas says, "as will I. Consider the Callisto Zeon Forces as having withdrawn from the Zeon Confederation."
"You can't do that," Spector threatens. He and his fellow Zeon warlords rise from their places at the conference table to confront their wayward comrade.
"Can't I?" Constantinas responds saucily, pointing her sidearm at them, "You're welcome to try and stop me, if you think you can afford to waste precious time and resources on it."
Knowing that they won't, Constantinas turns her back on her erstwhile rivals and comrades and leaves.
"We don't need her," Von Bach mutters, "after we finish off the Alliance, we can deal with the Callisto Zeon as well."
Reglas, however, sighs, "That's another part of our strength gone, however. Our plan will be more difficult to implement than other."
"Perhaps not," Spector says, "if the Jupitorius Defense Militia is indeed, as the Goveness insisted, a threat to our rear flank, then it would be to our benefit to have the Callisto Zeon hold them off for us."
"I thought you didn't believe the Jupitorius militia would be a threat," Von Bach says, with the hint of a smile.
"I still don't," Spector responds, "let Constantinas busy herself with them. Our objective remains Phobos Fortress and the Alliance. We will eviscerate them at Phobos!"
"To Phobos!" the Zeon warlords chorus in agreement.
Aboard the Amuro Ray, 2Lt. Jonah Michaels waits anxiously by his easel, which is covered by a tarp.
The handsome young artist-turned-soldier is so preoccupied that he is startled when he sees his commanding officer, Major Athena Ibaz, leaning, arms-crossed, on the threshold to the door of his chambers.
"You know," Athena says with a mischievous edge, "it's against protocol for a junior officer to summon, no, insist that a senior officer to come meet him in his private quarters during off-duty hours, so this had better be good, Jonah."
"If it isn't," Jonah teases back playfully, "Are you going to throw me into the brig?"
"Only if I get to be locked up in there with you," Athena replies.
Jonah stares silently at Athena in surprise.
"KIDDING," Athena says, finally smiling that pretty smile that Jonah of which Jonah is so fond, "Don't get me wrong: you are cute, Jonah, definitely cute…but you and I are both otherwise committed, you know?"
Athena's remark more or less defines the parameters of her relationship with Jonah. They flirt with each other, at least verbally, quite often, but any sort of serious romantic relationship between them is off the table. To both of them, it would feel oddly and unbearably incestuous.
Jonah has an actual, biological sister…Nanai Miguel, who was once the final lover of Char Aznable and Director of the Neo Zeon Newtype Development Program. After Char's demise, Nanai went into seclusion. Her older brother Alexander had wanted Nanai to head his own Newtype development programs, but she repeatedly declined, and in recent years, Alexander and Jonah have lost track of their sister.
Jonah and Nanai had never been close. He had always been closer to Alexander. In Athena, Jonah sees a surrogate…the affectionate (though at times stern) older sister than Nanai never was to him.
Jonah takes Athena by the hand and pulls her into his quarters urgently, "I want to show you this!"
Jonah removes the tarp from the easel to reveal a portrait of Athena, beautifully rendered by Jonah's hand over the course of the past several months. The portrait conveys Athena's elegant, graceful beauty…and the rapier-sharp mind behind her fiery blue eyes, and the passionate soul within a warm heart that Athena too often hides behind a wall of titanium.
Athena studies the portrait carefully for a long moment during which Jonah is afraid to even breathe. He finally exhales in relief when he hears Athena whisper, "It looks great. You did a wonderful job on it."
"It's a gift for you," Jonah says, "please accept it."
"Thank you," Athena replies, recalling another occasion when she conversed about art with another handsome young man.
Athena remarks, "It's a wonderful portrait, and very flattering, but what am I going to do with it? It takes a certain kind of egoist to hang a portrait of oneself in one's office or bedroom."
Jonah laughs, "Alex has one of himself in almost every room of the manor back in Phobos City. I should know; I painted most of them for him."
Athena looks around Jonah's quarters at the various paintings he has displayed, a few more of Alexander, some of gorgeous natural landscapes that Jonah has never visited, a number of abstract and surreal images, but mostly…portraits of Jolie.
No doubt who's in the boy's heart, and on his mind, Athena thinks with a grin.
The Jolie portraits are telling, reflecting dreams and wishes as much as material reality. Some of the portraits depict Jolie in her familiar Earth Federation Forces' uniform or mobile suit pilot's normalsuit, others depict her in alluring civilian clothing that she has been known to wear, and yet others clearly reflect images in Jonah's dreams or imagination…Jolie in a bridal gown, Jolie with child, even one of Jolie in the throes of childbirth.
Also, tellingly, there are no self-portraits. Though as handsome as a youthful demigod of ancient myth, Jonah is so egoless of his own self-image that he likely has never even considered using himself as the subject of one of his paintings.
Athena says, "How much would you sell one of these portraits of Jolie for…and this one here of an Alpine landscape?"
Jonah looks surprised, "Sell? You mean…you're interested in buying my portraits?"
Athena replies, "If you feel it's against your artistic integrity to sell, I'm not going to insist…"
"No," Jonah says, "it's not that. I've sold a few of my paintings before during my high school days. It's just that…I didn't expect you to be one of my patrons."
"I can't call myself a collector," Athena responds, "but I do have an appreciative eye for well-rendered art. Your work is excellent, Jonah. After the war is over, I really hope you do continue to pursue your studies at L'École des Beaux-Arts like you had originally planned."
"Thank you," Jonah replies, resisting the urge to append "ma'am" to the end of his response, "But before I do, I have to find Jolie again first."
Athena smiles, "You still love her as much as ever, hmm?"
"Yes," Jonah admits.
Athena nods approvingly and lets out a sigh as she takes a seat on Jonah's workbench, "Hathaway is a bit of a connoisseur of the fine arts himself."
"Oh?" Jonah raises an eyebrow curiously, taking a seat next to Athena, "You mean he's a collector?"
That brings a quiet laugh from Athena, "You could say that. Hathaway is the ISRLA's top intelligence operative…meaning that his stealth and subterfuge skills are among the best in the world. He's used that skill to acquire a number of authentic Cezanne, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso works…you name it, he has it. Many of these works went missing after the Zeon occupations of Europe and North America during the One Year War and the Axis War. Hathaway's been collecting them, and selling them on the black market to wealthy investors as a way to help fund ISRLA activities."
"So your boyfriend is an art thief," Jonah says with some amusement, "You sure know how to pick them, Athena."
"It takes the wrong sort of man to fit the wrong sort of woman," Athena replies with her characteristic dark levity, "You're like one of those blank canvases on that easel, Jonah…unblemished. Unspoiled. If you continue hanging out with me, though, that's not going to last."
"Even if that's true, and I'm not sure it is," Jonah says resolutely, "I'm with you to the end."
The two youths embrace as siblings would, and Jonah says to his alluring sister-figure, "If you like those paintings, I could just give them to you. You don't have to…"
Athena cuts him off, "I'll accept the portrait you did of me as a gift, but as for the rest, I'll pay you fair market value. I…don't like to owe anyone anything...least of all my friends."
Jonah understands as much; Athena is nothing if not proudly and stubbornly independent. She would sooner die than be indebted to anyone. Jonah ponders whether that personality trait isn't more a liability than an asset.
As they reflect upon the numerous portraits of Jolie, Jonah and Athena cannot help but wonder what has become of their beloved White Phoenix…who haunts them from across the cosmos even after all this time.
At Anaheim Skunkworks' plant situated far beneath the Lunar surface, Jolie Minh gazes at the White Phoenix Gundam with a sullen, longing expression on her fresh young face as a maintenance crew lowers the powerful experimental mecha onto a launch platform.
Dr. Camille Vidan recognizes the expression, and floats down to the platform deck to lay his hand on Jolie's shoulder.
"I know what you're thinking, Jolie," Camille says, "but I also hope that you know better."
Jolie turns a hangdog expression to Camille or a moment before laughing bitterly, "Like you're one to say anything about that, Doc! Wasn't there a little incident at the Green Noah colony back in '87?"
Camille's expression darkens, not particularly liking to be reminded of those days, but he responds by saying simply, "I hope you're in top condition and ready to handle some tough work today."
"This sounds serious," Jolie remarks, folding her hands behind her head.
"About as serious as it gets," Camille affirms, "we're running final tests today."
Jolie's eyes widen like saucers and she unfolds her arms, "You're KIDDING! Why didn't you tell me before now?!
Camille smiles, "It would have ruined the surprise; and there'll be more surprises when you get out there."
Within ninety seconds, Jolie is strapped into the cockpit seat of the White Phoenix Gundam and is running a final, pre-launch, all-systems diagnostic of the mobile suit, which check out A-OK.
No longer seated in the cockpit with Jolie at the engineering and monitoring station is Camille; the training phase of operating the White Phoenix Gundam ended weeks ago for Jolie, and she has been operating the mighty machine solo ever since – Camille monitoring both the White Phoenix Gundam and its pilot from a control booth at the plant.
The White Phoenix Gundam is raised to the surface of the moon, emerging on the surface of Earth's only natural satellite as sunlight touches the side of Luna facing the mother planet.
"White Phoenix Gundam – energy now at 100, all systems go," Jolie reports back to the control booth.
"Roger that, White Phoenix," Camille replies, "Maneuver at military speed to lunar coordinates 43.3° S, 11.2° W."
"Roger that, Control," Jolie replies, "43.3° S, 11.2° W…hey, that's the Tycho Crater!"
"The location of today's final test run," Camille affirms, "large enough arena for the main event."
"Tracking systems online," Jolie announces, as the White Phoenix Gundam approaches the Tycho Crater at a speed of 686 knots before Jolie eases up on the throttle and brings the experimental mobile suit to a near crawl as it approaches within twenty kilometers of Tycho's southern rim.
"Jolie," Camille warns sternly, "Be careful: the target drones will be using live ammunition. If you feel, at any point of the test, that it's getting too hairy out there, just say "abort mission." That code will cause the target drones to stop firing."
"Yeah, right," Jolie says, thinking, "Abort mission?"…yeah, right…as if!
The White Phoenix Gundam's combat computer begins to acquire targets distributed across the disc of the Tycho Crater; positive identifications begin to appear on Jolie's systems monitor screen.
MAN-08 Elmeth
MSN-02 Ziong
MRX-009 Psycho Gundam
MRX-010 Psycho Gundam MK-II
AMX-004 Quebeley
PMX-003 The O
MSN-04 Sazabi
NZ-333 Alpha Azieru
Jolie blinks at the monitor in disbelief, "You HAVE to be fucking kidding me…!"
Camille's voice replies through Jolie's helmet receiver, "We've been restoring these older mecha almost since the time we started the White Phoenix project…in preparation for this final test. Moreover, each of the AI programs on those test drones runs on a series of logarithms based on the brainwave patterns of the original pilots. You're not just facing those mecha; you're also facing Lalah Sun, Char Aznable at two points of his career, Four Murusame, Rosamia Baudam, Ple-Two, Haman Karn, Paptimus Scirocco, and Quess Parayana."
Jolie remarks dryly, "I must have really pissed you off bad the past few months, huh, Doc?"
Camille chuckles, "You'll be fine. You're the White Phoenix, remember."
Jolie throttles the White Phoenix Gundam faster towards the rim of Tycho.
"Weapons systems to combat mode," Jolie reports, closing the visor of her helmet.
Jolie goes after the Psycho Gundam, the original -009 black model once piloted by Four Murusame, first…if only because it provides a big, fat, slow-moving target for her to get out of the way first before dealing with the faster, more mobile targets.
Jolie lines the Psycho Gundam in the White Phoenix Gundam's gunsight and opens with a salvo from the WPG's hyperbeam rifle. She scores a direct hit upon the center of the Psycho Gundam.
But the powerful stream of concentrated energy merely glances off the ebony shell of the dark Gundam.
Damn! Jolie berates herself, I forgot that thing has an I-Field defense system!
Jolie arms the missile rack of the WPG and prepares to attack the Psycho Gundam a second time, but before she is able to get a bead on the Psycho Gundam, she is forced to dodge a heavy salvo of beams fired from the Elmeth, which swoops in from nowhere.
Jolie converts the White Phoenix Gundam into Wavediver mode to counter the Elmeth's speed and maneuverability. The One Year War-era mobile armor is on the WPG's tail, blasting at Jolie's Wavediver with its front mounted beam cannon.
Jolie jukes and twists her aerodynamic mecha, dodging the shots with relative ease. The WPG's combat computer soon has a doule-dose of bad news for her, however: the Elmeth has just deployed its Psychom Bits units, and Jolie's forward escape path is being cut off by a rapidly approaching Quebeley.
The Quebeley was Haman Karn's mobile suit during the closing phases of the Grypps Conflict and the Battle of Core 3 during the Axis War. Both Titans and AEUG pilots grew to fear it.
The Quebeley disperses its Psychom Funnels, which are descended from the Elmeth's Psychom Funnels, and suddenly, Jolie finds herself hemmed in by not only the Quebeley and the Elmeth, but their Psychom-attack units as well.
Jolie halts the Wavediver in mid-flight and reconfigures it to White Phoenix Gundam mobile suit configuration. Jolie holds the WPG absolutely still as the Psychom Bits and Funnels bear down upon her.
The Psychom Funnels and Bits unleash a torrent of beam energy, creating an impenetrable web of destructive energy.
The White Phoenix Gundam moves in that very instant, twisting, zigzagging, spinning around and between the trajectories of the deadly beams, negotiating through the tortuous, solitary path of escape.
The Psychom Bits and Funnels destroy each other, their beams having missed their intended target.
Jolie draws the White Phoenix Gundam's beam saber and stabs it through the center of the Quebeley. Extracting the energy blade, Jolie twists the WPG around to unleash heavy explosive missiles at the advancing Elmeth.
Two spherical explosions. Two targets down.
Jolie barely has time to register her first two kills before the White Phoenix Gundam is nearly gored from behind by a charging The O, which just misses impaling the WPG in the back with its beam saber.
"Be careful with this one, Jolie," Camille warns grimly.
That's the one that got Doc at the end of the Gryps War, Jolie realizes, Paptimus Scirocco's mech.
As Jolie approaches, she senses a powerful and painful wave of PSI-energy reaching out for her like the coils of a giant snake, surrounding the cortex of her brain, attempting to squeeze the life out of her mind…to destroy the essence of who she is and plunge it into an everlasting miasma.
Jolie's eyes flash with white lightning as her own mind resists, shedding the coils that threaten to engulf her.
"GET OFF OF ME!" Jolie screams.
A burst of energy lances forth form the White Phoenix Gundam, instantly finding its way to The O and disintegrating it.
The effort of defeating the Jupitorius mobile suit leaves Jolie shaking and panting…and totally unprepared for the dual attacks of both Psycho Gundams.
PG-II lashes out at the WPG with its enormous Gundarium hand, slapping the WPG down into the lunar sand.
Jolie feels the bone-shattering impact and grunts in pain. When she opens her eyes, she sees the PG-I's armored foot about to stomp on the WPG.
Jolie bears her teeth in unbridled rage, "No, you DON'T!'
The WPG diverts the foot of the much taller, much more massive Psycho Gundam with the strength of its armored arms, sending the monstrous mobile suit toppling onto its back.
Jolie engages the thrusters of the WPG, freeing mecha from the lunar surface, diving headlong into the Psycho Gundam MK-II, bowling it over.
Jolie, berserk with rage, slams the fists of the White Phoenix Gundam against the shell of the Psycho Gundam MK-II again and again…severely damaging the larger mobile suit's critical systems with nothing more than the WPG's bare fists.
"You think you can beat me just because you're BIGGER?!" Jolie demands, "I'll smash you into bits small enough to SWALLOW!"
So preoccupied is Jolie with wrecking the already critically damaged and dying PGMK-II that she apparently fails to notice the first Psycho Gundam rising behind her, looming over the WPG ominously with its multiple beam cannon primed to blast the smaller mobile suit in the back.
At that instant, the WPG grabs the PGMK-II's massive super beam saber, which is mounted within the PGMK-II's forearm, and twists it around, boring it into the heart of the first PG like a knight slaying an immense dragon.
Jolie launches the White Phoenix Gundam in Wavediver mode away from Tycho Crater at maximum afterburner…not wanting to be caught in the wake of dual Psycho Gundam fusion engine explosions. Tycho Crater erupts into a hellish burst of light and lunar soil within seconds of the WPG's departure.
The concussion rocks the WPG, forcing Jolie to muscle the control stick to prevent her mecha from being sent hurtling into the void.
The erratic momentum of the WPG is halted with slamming impact that nearly knocks Jolie out. The teenaged Newtype ace pilot looks up at the shaking monitor display to see that the detached armored hangs of the Zeong now hold the WPG in their titanium grip.
"Thanks for the brake," Jolie bites out, "but you still can't touch me!"
Jolie attempts to shake off the Zeong's hands, but they are magnetized to the WPG's hull. Rapidly approaching are the Zeong's main body and the Sazabi.
Jolie manipulates a few switches that invert the electrical charge on the WPG's armored shell…a survival trick that Athena had taught her during Jolie's early days with the Centurion Team.
The Zeong hands are forced to release the Wavediver, allowing Jolie to maneuver her mecha freely and reconfigure it to mobile suit configuration.
But the Zeong body, to which the repelled arms reattach, and the Sazabi are on the WPG, their weapons already blazing.
Not even Jolie is able to completely avoid the incoming fusillade. Jolie's lightning reflexes kick in, and the White Phoenix Gundam maneuvers to dodge the incoming fire, but inevitably, the WPG suffers hits from the Zeong and the Sazabi's multiple weapon systems to its head, main body, and right arm.
But the White Phoenix Gundam was built to withstand punishment, and does. Despite the seemingly devastating direct hits, the WPG remains intact, its systems cycling up for counterattack.
And its pilot is just as game.
Two Chars, Jolie braces herself against her two enemies, I'm up against the Red Comet times two!
Every mobile suit pilot of Jolie's generation (and the generation before her) knows of Char, the Red Comet…the infamous ace of the Archduchy of Zeon Forces who terrorized the Earth Federation Forces during the One Year War and nearly perpetuated a hellish nuclear winter on Earth in the year U.C. 0093 by attempting to drop the asteroid fortress Axis upon its surface. Even now, seven years after his death, Char's name continues to haunt all who pilot mobile suits in combat.
And Jolie faces two of his most formidable war machines, operating on AI programmed to simulate Char's battle tactics.
Jolie's eyes flash, and she snarls, "Not even two Red Comets can beat the White Phoenix!"
Jolie senses the Sazabi taking aim at her WPG with its beam rifle, and maneuvers the WPG away just instants before the Sazabi's rifle fires. She dives the WPG underneath the Sazabi and counters with a beam rifle shot of her own, but the red mobile suit succeeds in eluding Jolie's shot.
Before Jolie can even consider a follow up shot, a PSI spark alerts her to the fact that the Zeong is attacking again, having separated into head and dual arm blaster units. Worse, the Sazabi has deployed its Fin Funnels ahead of its salvo of missiles and rapid beam rifle blasts.
But even that's not the worst of it; the WPG's sensors have detected the approach of the Alpha Azieru.
Two Chars and a Quess too, Jolie thinks wryly, maybe Fa thinks I've been cheating with her husband behind her back and is trying to off me…
The words begin form on Jolie's lips, "Abor…"
No…no way!
Jolie twists the WPG around as if to fire upon the Sazabi with its beam rifle, but then twists and spins away, allowing the Sazabi's Fin Funnels to destroy the attacking Zeong units.
Killing a Red Comet with a Red Comet, Jolie grins, pleased that her risky maneuver worked.
But there are still two more mecha to deal with, and a swarm of Fin Funnels on her back.
On her back…
Jolie sees the Alpha Azieru approaching, blasting at her with its multiple beam cannon, and thinks back a few minutes to when the Zeong had her in its iron grip.
Fending of the Sazabi and its Funnels for a brief moment with a torrent of missiles, Jolie blasts at the Alpha Azieru with the WPG's beam rifle, goading the massive mobile armor closer.
When the Azieru is in grappling range, Jolie activates the magnetic coating on the WPG, attaching the WPG to the back of the Azieru.
The Sazabi's Fin Funnels are suddenly confused…uncertain whether to fire upon its ally and unable to separate the WPG's profile from the Azieru's.
Jolie takes advantage of the Sazabi's confusion to fire a few beam rifle blasts at it.
The Sazabi counters with all of its weapon systems, hitting the Azieru with enough force to cause critical damage.
Jolie switches off the magnetic field, launching the WPG from the destructing Azieru's back and scoring a direct hit on the Sazabi with the WPG's beam rifle.
The Sazabi is crippled, and its Fin Funnels go into disarray. Jolie dispatches them with the WPG's own Psychom attack units, dubbed "Quills."
Even as he Quills systematically and ruthlessly destroy the Funnels, Jolie activates the WPG's beam sabre and with one mighty and vicious cleave, cuts the Sazabi clear in half.
Jolie is about to declare victory with a whoop when the WPG's combat computer acquires and identifies three new targets!
MSZ-006 Z Gundam
MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam
RX-93 Nu Gundam
Jolie groans, "Ah, great…just what I need…YOU guys too!"
Camille Vidan's transformable mobile suit goes into a kamikaze dive at the WPG in Waverider configuration…the same maneuver that Camille had used to kill Paptimus Scirocco at the Gate of Zedan years ago.
Jolie transforms the WPG into Wavediver mode and the chase is on….Waverider vs. Wavediver in a dogfight across the lunar skies.
In front of Jolie are the ZZ and Nu Gundams, blasting at the Wavediver with their weapon systems.
Jolie confronts the ZZ first, using her WPG's maneuverability against the ZZ's raw power, transforming the WPG back to MS configuration as it dives toward its ancestor.
The WPG sustains two blasts from the ZZ's double beam cannon with its arm mounted shield. The WPG's shield is sacrificed, but allows Jolie a clear shot from the WPG's beam rifle against the High Mega Cannon built into the ZZ's head.
The ZZ's most powerful weapon is thus neutralized, and the feedback from Jolie's beam rifle shot causes the ZZ's internal fusion engine to overload and explode.
The explosion of the ZZ creates enough concussion to tear the wings off the approaching Z Gundam Waverider, which Jolie dispatches with a torrent of Psychomm Quills.
That leaves the Nu Gundam.
Captain Amuro's mobile suit.
Since her childhood, Jolie has admired Captain Amuro Ray more than any other person. Captain Amuro saved her life during her darkest hour, and gave to Jolie her image of what a hero should be…
Could she fire upon him…even if it's not really him, but a facsimile of his final mobile suit, guided by an AI system designed to mimic his combat idiosyncrasies as closely as a computer could?
Yes.
Jolie disengages all of the WPG's weapon systems…missiles, beam rifle, Vulcan cannon, Quills…all except the beam sabre.
The WPG minimizes its movements, except to dodge the incoming torrent of firepower from the approaching Nu Gundam.
The Nu draws closer, extracting and igniting its own beam sabre as it charges on.
The White Phoenix awaits.
A moment of silence, a flash of light.
The Nu Gundam passes the White Phoenix Gundam, the crossing of beam sabre blades, the searing and melting of metal.
The two Gundams drift past each other in space, a dance of death.
The crest antennae of the White Phoenix Gundam bends and falls off, and a diagonal gash emerges on the front of the WPG's body, from its left shoulder to near just left and slightly above the cockpit module. Spars spew from the gash and the WPG collapses on one knee upon the lunar soil.
The Nu Gundam stands still for a moment, before exploding into thousands of pieces of shrapnel, much of which bounces off the hull of the WPG.
In the cockpit of the White Phoenix Gundam, Jolie pants heavily, her body bathed in perspiration.
Camille's voice comes gently through the communications receiver, "Jolie…are you all right?"
Jolie takes a moment to gather herself before replying, "Yeah…yeah, just terrific. Thanks for nearly getting me killed, Doc!"
Camille's voice is full of relief and mirth, "Don't forget: you came looking for this job."
"Yeah, if I'd known…," Jolie begins.
Camille becomes serious, "We have all the data we need for now, Jolie, and the WPG did take quite a bit of punishment, so bring it in."
"Roger," Jolie says, limping the WPG back towards the Skunkworks facility.
Thirty minutes later, Jolie is disembarking from the cockpit of the White Phoenix Gundam.
Camille greets her with a grin and a tube of Megajolt Cola, which is infamously advertised with the slogan, "MORE PARTS CAFFEINE THAN CARBONATED WATER," which is only a slight exaggeration.
Camille hands Jolie the super-caffeinated stuff with a pat on the shoulder, "That was an unbelievable performance you put on, Jolie."
"Yeah, I know I'm great," Jolie says with her characteristically dismissive impatience, taking a long gulp from the tube of cola, "What about the White Phoenix Gundam, though? Did it pass?"
"We'll need to evaluate all of the data before we can make an accurate assessment of that," Camille replies, "but based on what I saw you do today, I'd say it's combat ready. Jolie: you took down eleven of the most powerful mobile weapons platforms ever devised!"
"I was pretty awesome, wasn't I?" Jolie smiles, eyes getting larger, buzzed on both adrenalin and the megadose of caffeine that has begun to circulate through her system.
"WPG took some hits during the simulation, which isn't surprising," Camille remarks, "We'll get the damage fixed within days, but it doesn't look like this war is going to go on much longer. Your Jonah might not get this mecha in time to use in battle, Jolie."
Jolie, her mind now floating high above the lunar surface, nonetheless pulls it together enough to ask her mentor, "Doyoureallythinkthewarisgonnajustendlikethatdoc?!"
Camille chuckles, managing to somehow make out that ramble, and replies, "It'll bring this phase to a close, at least. If history is any measure, though, it's just another respite before the next bloodletting."
Jolie nods in agreement (moving her head up and down a little more earnestly than her neck agrees with), feeling a measure of relief that the immediate war is almost over, but also feeling an unshakable dread that peace, even temporary peace, will not come without a climactic, nightmarish final battle.
God, Jolie prays silently, please protect Jonah…please! Keep him safe for me. I'll do anything as long as Jonah is safe!
Across the cosmos, aboard the Amuro Ray, 2Lt. Jonah Michaels looks up from his newest portrait of Jolie, as if sensing his beloved's thoughts of him…
Within General Alexander Miguel's private bedchamber aboard the flagship Cassius, on the General's spacious bed, two unclothed bodies, slick with warm perspiration, embrace each other passionately, engulfed in the midst of passionate lovemaking.
Kyoko Yamaguchi's long, slender, luscious legs are wrapped around Lord Alexander's chiseled, sculpted torso. She moans slowly, softly as the Prince of Phobos Zeon fills her with a thrill physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Their lips lock in a lustful kiss as their hands explore each other's physiologies. Their skin, covered in sweat, gleams by the faint lighting of the bedchamber.
"You're amazing, my dear," General Miguel says quietly, his hands gently caressing the smooth warmth of Kyoko's buttocks, "I truly believe that you are capable of anything."
"Of anything you wish me to be capable of, my lord," Kyoko whispers breathily, "I've committed all of myself to you. All I want in return…is that you cherish what I give to you."
"You are the jewel of my empire," Alexander says, "one day, you will rule it beside me as my empress, if you are willing."
The two kiss again, settling down into the comfort of the mattress.
An hour later, with Kyoko sleeping peacefully in his embrace, General Miguel hears the gentle buzz of his private phone.
Only Colonel Davenport has access to that extension, and he would only interrupt the General's sleep (or other activities) for matters of utmost, urgent importance.
Alexander picks up the phone receiver, "Go ahead, Colonel."
"My lord," Colonel Ross Davenport's voice comes through the line, "Forgive me for interrupting your rest. The fortress has arrived in local space, my lord."
Miguel is excited by the news, rising from bed and preparing to don one of his uniforms, "Excellent news, Colonel. Please summon Major Ibaz and have her meet me at Phobos."
"She's already on the way, my lord," Davenport reports.
Miguel laughs, "That woman…always two steps ahead. I'll be there in thirty minutes, Colonel."
Kyoko sits up in the bed, having awoken. She looks particularly alluring with the covers strategically draped around her unclothed form.
"Phobos Fortress has just arrived in local space, Kyoko," Miguel informs his most valued subordinate and lover, "That means the final offensive will soon be underway. I'm going to there to make a final run through to see that all is ready."
"I should go with you," Kyoko says, preparing to don her uniform.
"No," Alexander replies, settling Kyoko back into the bed, kissing her on the forehead, "I want you to stay here and rest. You'll need all your energy for the battle ahead. I will see to this myself."
"That Ibaz woman will be there too, I gather," Kyoko says, an edge in her voice.
Alexander smiles, "Kyoko…do I detect a hint of jealousy?"
Kyoko does not reply, looking away, obviously not pleased that the General is leaving her side to rendezvous, albeit for official matters, with that Earth Federation woman.
Alexander kisses Kyoko again, holding her close, "Don't be silly, my precious. She is only a weapon to be used in war…"
"…just like I am," Kyoko concludes, tears in her voice and in her eyes.
"No," Alexander says gently, "she is nothing like you at all. She sees me as an adversary, as I see her, in time. You are what I look forward to most when war is over, and Zeon's light shines across the cosmos."
That is enough, more than enough to satisfy Kyoko. She embraces Alexander one final time before blessing his departure to Phobos Fortress.
General Miguel arrives at Phobos Fortress within thirty minutes, as promised. The Phobos Zeon leader finds Major Athena Ibaz awaiting, accompanied by Alexander's own brother, Jonah, now calling himself "2Lt. Jonah Michaels" of the Earth Federation Forces.
When this is over, Alexander thinks to himself, I must bring Jonah back to Zeon with me. He has finally found his duty to serve in the military, but is doing so under the wrong flag, in the wrong uniform, for the wrong people.
For now, Miguel greets his two Federation liaisons, "Major Ibaz…2Lt. Michaels."
Jonah is, as always, notably uncomfortable in his brother's presence.
Athena says, "The armaments are all set. We'll be ready to move out as soon as you give the word, General."
"Excellent, Major," Alexander nods with approval, "Assemble your forces. We begin at 21:00."
"Yes, sir," Athena replies, signaling for Jonah to follow her.
Alexander takes a long look around Phobos Fortress. The asteroid fortress has been his home since his childhood. The city and palace where he came to manhood are no more, having been razed for purely military applications.
Miguel sighs. He is not a sentimental man. Sentimentality is a weakness of fools, and is a fatal flaw for a warrior. Nonetheless, a part of Alexander feels a pinge of regret that his home will soon be no more.
But for the Glory of Zeon, no sacrifice is too great to be given. If Phobos must be lost to that cause, then so be it…
Twelve hours later, the battle has begun…a titanic, climatic final struggle between the Earth Federation/Phobos Zeon Alliance Forces and the Zeon Confederation Forces. There is no doubt in anyone's mind, combatant in the midst of the battle, or observer from distant corners of the Solar System, that this will be the decisive sortie of the conflict.
The Zeon Confederation Forces initiated the attack at Zero Hour, catching the Alliance Forces, as Confederation expected, unprepared and unawares at Phobos Fortress. The Confederation has consolidated its strength for a devastating strike at Phobos, and thus far, their stratagem is meeting with success, as the Alliance Forces sustain heavy losses at Phobos.
The Warlord of Zeon regret that they do not have the additional strength of the Governess Lara Constantinas' Callisto Zeon Forces at their side. Constantinas withdrew her forces to pursue an attack against the Jupitorius Defense Militia, which she perceived a threat to the Confederation's rear flank. The warlords will deal with Jupitorius and Constantinas later, after they defeat the Alliance Forces…a goal whose completion now seems imminent.
Among the thousands of mobile suit pilots caught in the epic struggle, none fights more brilliantly than the Black Raven of the Phobos Zeon Forces. 1Lt. Kyoko Yamaguchi's ebony Elmeth Gamma stalks the cosmos like an angel of death…leaving a field of destroyed Zeon Confederation Forces mecha and ships in her wake, fighting with an effortless grace that renders war-making into an art form.
The casualty figures being reported are staggering…tens of thousands of deaths on both sides of the conflict in this single battle, a mere half dozen hours old.
Major Athena Ibaz blasts two more Confederation mobile suits to oblivion with missiles from the Cour de Leon and surveys the situation. The enemy forces are concentrated in the battle zone. The time has come…
"This is the Director to Alliance Productions' cast and crew," Athena says through the tactical net, "time to wrap up the movie, folks. Let's give them a final act that'll leave them applauding in a thousand years!"
The Alliance Forces withdraw into Phobos Fortress, heavily damaged and spewing sparks.
Viceroy Ulysses Napoleon Spector, who has assumed command of the overall Confederation Forces, issues an order: "All forces pursue! Rout them at Phobos! No prisoners!"
The Zeon Confederation Forces penetrate Phobos Fortress, the asteroid stronghold's artillery units unable to mount a meaningful resistance. Alliance mobile suit and capital ship escorts fall back into the fortress.
The Confederation Forces launch a massive assault within Phobos Fortress, destroying all within sight with vicious glee and reckless impunity. Phobos is broken, and Earth will be next…
Viceroy Spector frowns…This is too easy.
From the safety of the space behind Phobos Fortress, at the head of a massive Alliance armada, Athena gives the order: "ACTION!"
Within Phobos Fortress, embedded within the ore of the asteroid's bowels, tens of thousands of heavy incendiaries are detonated simultaneously, creating perhaps the most powerful explosion of destructive force every unleashed by human technology.
Hundreds of Confederation mobile suits, and dozens of warships, are lost in the explosion…the bulk of the Confederation Forces are incinerated within the rapidly collapsing and burning wreck of Phobos Fortress.
"A Trojan Horse!" Viceroy Spector rages, "Phobos was a Trojan Horse! All surviving units: withdraw NOW!"
The fortunate Confederation troops not caught in Phobos Fortress' dying paroxysm, attempt to flee from the battle zone, but their escape routes are blocked by Alliance Forces that appear from behind the smoldering remains of Phobos Fortress, and from the Salamis-III warships and Nemo-7 mobile suits of the Jupitorius Defense Militia, now vectoring in from the Jupiter Zone.
The Governess Lara Constantinas and her Callisto Zeon Forces have already been routed by the Jupitorius Militia. The Governess had planned to launch a preemptive strike against Jupitorius, only to have the Jupitorius Militia attack (on a prompt from Major Athena Ibaz of the Earth Federation Forces) her unprepared forces first. The Governess fell in battle against the Shangrila Battalion, led by Judau Ashta and his allies Lu Luka, Eno Abbov and Mondo Agake, and what survived of her forces after they were routed by the Jupitorius Defense Militia has surrendered to the Jupitorius Colony authorities.
Governor Olivia King of the independent space republic of Jupitorius then dispatched the Jupitorius Defense Militia to relieve the Alliance Forces at Phobos Fortress, trapping the Confederation Forces in a closing pincer between the Alliance and the Jupitorius Militia. Months ago, Major Athena Ibaz had championed the decision by the Earth Federation Government to arm and train the Jupitorius Defense Militia, securing a gentleman's agreement with Governor King that the JDM would aid the Alliance if necessary against the Zeon Forces. Governor King and the JDM were more than willing to honor that agreement, ridding Jupitorius of the threat of the Zeon Confederation Forces.
From the Cour de Leon, Athena issues a new order, "ATTACK!"
The Alliance Forces charge the confused and badly mauled remains of the Confederation Forces, now pinned between the advancing Alliance and Jupitorius Militia.
"All ships," Athena commands authoritatively, "prepare to open fire with Hyper Particle Beam Cannon. Target: remaining Zeon Confederation Forces."
Dozens of Alliance capital ships direct their most powerful primary weapons systems at the remains of the Confederation Forces, now penned into an area of space between Phobos and the Jupiter Zone boundary. Many, many tongues of star flame spew forth from enormous cannon maws.
Once again, the cosmos glows angrily in the color of blood, when it ends, there is only a sudden, all-engulfing still silence, as there has been for billions of years.
The wreckage of men. The wreckage of mobile suits…as far as the eye can see. Space is a field of death, of destruction, of devastation.
From the bridge of the Cassius, General Alexander Miguel smiles, And so Athena…the warrior goddess…unleashes her Trojan Horse and brings to an end the Warlords of Zeon…all except one…the true God of War. Well played…exquisitely well played, Athena Ibaz…Duchess Minerva Zabi. Now, the battle that remains will be between you and me.
The Great Zeon Civil War is over. The Archduchy of Zeon is reunified under the leadership of Archduke Alexander Miguel.
Cheers erupt among the surviving Alliance troops, through the colonies of Jupiter, Midway, and Mars, in the Cislunar Colonies, on the lunar surface, and on Earth itself. The war has ended, and a new day dawns.
At Anman City, Jolie Minh breathes a sigh of relief…she senses Jonah still with her, still in this cosmic plane, celebrating the Alliance's triumph, but like Jolie, apprehensive about the future.
At the Jupitorius Colonies, there is celebration, as the citizens of the space republic welcomes its heroes home.
At Side 3, there is apprehension in the office of Dr. Artasia Daikun. The woman once known as Sayla Mass wonders, as do her comrades Dory Ischinda and Hathaway Noah, what the Alliance's victory will mean for the people of Side 3…including the newly arrived Phobos transplants, who have begun to reestablish the old Zeon aristocratic order at Side 3, much to the chagrin of the colony's population.
In the council chambers of the Earth Federation Government in Shanghai, there is self-congratulations in the Federal Assembly and in the office of President Gloria Brenner. Victory for the Alliance means reelection for the incumbent officials. They would never vote out winners of war. Never.
At the Noah residence on the outskirts of Shanghai, retired Federal Forces general Bright Noah and his wife, Senator Mirai Yashima-Noah, watch the developments grimly. A Federation victory should be cause for celebration, but neither Bright nor Mirai feel like celebrating. They've both seen enough "victories" to know better…
In the hangar bay of the Amuro Ray, 2Lt. Jonah Michaels, Chief Warrant Officer Chieming Noah, and the rest of the Centurion Team embrace one another…brothers and sisters of war…glad that they have all survived the conflict.
Major Athena Ibaz sits on the shoulder of her Cour de Leon, still in her normalsuit, helmet removed, watching them with a bitter smile.
Athena removes a handkerchief from one of the normalsuit's pockets, using it to tersely wipe her fingers.
Re-pocketing her handerchief, Athena reflects as she watches her squad mates, Let them enjoy this victory. The real war begins next.