EPISODE 35: VENUS, MARS, AND MINERVA
The island of Formosa (also called Taiwan) off the coast of China has, for centuries, been a small parcel of land that has played a surprisingly large role as a military and political pivot point of some notoriety. During imperial China's Qing Dynasty, it became the stronghold of the fallen Ming Dynasty's loyalists, from which those loyalists conducted an ultimately futile resistance for several decades after the Ming had fallen. Similarly, three-hundred years later, Taiwan became the refuge of the Nationalist Kuomintang Chinese Republic after it was driven from mainland China by Mao's Communists in 1949 of the old Gregorian calendar. From Taiwan, the Nationalists held out for decades before ultimately becoming the flashpoint of an East Asian regional conflict that grew into a global war during the first half of the 21st Century.
And now, at the beginning of the Second Universal Century, Taiwan once again finds itself as the last refuge of a regime in exile…this time, the Earth Federation Government.
The tsunami that engulfed Japan and the coastal cities of China after the splashdown of Colony Oahu did not spare Taiwan. Taipei lies in flooded ruins, as do Tokyo/Yokohama, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The Earth Federation Forces' Taiwan Base, however, was constructed far beneath the island itself, in environmentally fortified and isolated subterranean chambers designed to resist the effects of a global assault from orbit. The site, codenamed the "Holy Sepulcher," (official designation: Base Site 31) was built for the specific purpose of housing what remained of the Earth Federation Government and its military forces in the event of a catastrophic attack on Earth. First constructed a quarter century ago when the era of cosmic warfare began, it was hoped that it would never need to be used.
That hope is dead.
The President of the Earth Federation Government, approximately sixty-five percent of the Legislative and Deliberative Assemblies, and nine of the fifteen High Court Justices were rescued with their families and brought to the relative safety of the Holy Sepulcher. The base site also hosts the 8th Army Corps, the Federal Forces' final line of defense, and has fortified its position with the addition of surviving forces from the abandoned Whampoa Base.
General Bright Noah is in conference with President Gloria Brenner and Defense Minister Jools Rowle, gathering whatever information is available to them about the damage that the Zeon have inflicted upon the world outside the Sepulcher.
"Reconnaissance reports tell us mostly the same thing," Bright says grimly, "the devastation is global in nature. Our climatologic, geologic, and ecologic consultants tell us that we're looking at a minimum of three years before conditions on the planet even begin to restore themselves to normal. Full ecological balance will not be recovered during the lifetime of anyone alive today."
President Brenner sighs deeply, "And yet, the Archduchy of Zeon has seen fit to post a fairly large occupation force on each continent."
Bright nods, "They want this planet, ruined as it is. We have unconfirmed data that the Zeon have begun systematic elimination of the remaining population on the surface that managed to survive the immediate catastrophe. The conditions that the Zeon created through the colony drops would have ensured that result within a year or two maximum anyway, but Archduke Miguel appears to be in a hurry to use what remains of the planet…for what purpose, we can only speculate."
Defense Minister Rowle asks, "General, do we have any foothold from which we can mount a counterattack?"
Bright shakes his head, "None at all, sir. We'd be hard pressed simply to defend this position should the Zeon discover it and decide to attack it. A counterattack isn't feasible given our situation."
Brenner removes her glasses and rubs her eyes wearily, saying in a low voice, "Then there's no hope."
Bright looks meaningfully at the President of the Earth Federation Government.
Brenner turns to Bright, "General?"
Bright says quietly, "Madame President, the colonies of the Outer Solar System remain, as far as we know, free of Zeon control."
"The Shambala Republic," Brenner says, her voice hardly a whisper, "They're barely organized. Can they help us?"
"More importantly, will they?" Rowle interjects, "Shambala isn't much different from Zeon, except they're less well armed. They're Spacenoid terrorists. If anything, I'd suspect that Shambala is helping the Zeon consolidate control over the Outer System right now."
"Minister Rowle," Bright says evenly, "the Shambala Republic stands to lose as much as we have if Zeon prevails. Their leaders know that. Whether or not they have an interest or stake in 'helping' the Earth Federation, it's reasonable to believe that they will oppose the Zeon. Don't forget: Dr. Artasia Daikun and Minerva Zabi were the ones who alerted us to the colony drop attack, although not in time for us to do anything to avert the catastrophe. We'll need to establish an alliance with them if we're to stand any chance of striking back against the Zeon and retaking control of Earth…so that we can begin the long process of rebuilding it."
"If that's the case," President Brenner queries, "how are we going to reach out to them without attracting the attention of the Zeon?"
"We can send an envoy to discuss the terms of an alliance with them," Bright says, "That envoy will be Senator Mirai Yashima-Noah…my wife."
President Brenner and Defense Minister Rowle mull that proposal over. Among the casualties of the government apparatus in Shanghai was Foreign Minister Charles Bertrand. Given the present state of extreme emergency, replacing the Foreign Minister has not been at the forefront of the remaining Federation government's priorities, but now…
President Brenner says, "General, could you please summon Senator Yashima-Noah immediately?"
At the end of the same day, SSgt. Anna Horowitz of the Centurion Team locates the team's provisional commanding officer, 2Lt. Chieming Noah, at the makeshift MS hangar built into the cavernous bowels of the Holy Sepulcher.
A breathless Anna inquires of the daughter of Bright and Mirai Noah, "Hey, Chieming! Have you heard that your mom is going to be sent to Jupitorius to discuss an alliance with the Shambala Republic?"
Chieming smiles, "Your intel is a little late this time, Anna. Yeah, I heard a few hours ago. The trick is getting Mom…I'm sorry, Senator Yashima-Noah across enemy lines…VERY BROAD enemy lines. We have only two space cruisers here at the Sepulcher that can reach the Outer System. One is the President's long-range passenger cruiser, the Centennial Condor, and the other is the Amuro Ray. Naturally, nobody here is crazy enough to think that the Zeon would let the ships escape Earth's atmosphere…let alone make the voyage all the way to Jupitorius."
Anna's hands curl into fists of frustration, "I wish Athena were here…and Jonah and Jolie. If they were all here, they'd be able to come up with something…"
"Yeah, but the reality is that they aren't here," Chieming says, "Athena is one of the people that Mo…that Senator Noah will be seeing at Jupitorius, but it's up to us in the Special Forces to see that she gets there."
"But how?" Anna demands, "Is it even possible for a ship to get off of Earth right now?"
"We'll know in a few more days," Chieming says, "Dr. Loren of the Federal Climatologic Institute believes that five days from now, we'll have a window of about forty minutes when the atmospheric conditions above Taiwan will settle down just enough for us to launch two spacecraft. It'll be risky, but it'll be the only shot we have."
Anna frowns, "You know, for someone whose mom is going to be going on a very dangerous voyage in a few days, you sound strangely unworried."
Chieming smiles bitterly, "If I let my worries rule my actions, I'd have been fitted for a straitjacket and sent to a nice, padded room a long time ago. Yeah, I'm worried for my mom, Anna,…and for my dad…my brother…Jonah…Jolie…Athena…and all of us. In fact, I'm downright scared and I'm not afraid to admit it. But scared or not, we have to act. An entire world of scared people is depending on us."
Anna laughs, "Spoken like a leader of men and women."
Chieming shrugs, "I'm the daughter of two of the best leaders in the world today: there are expectations I'm obliged to meet."
Many millions of kilometers away, at the Anaheim Enterprises' manufacturing hub colony in Jupiter orbit, appropriately named Colony Arsenal, hundreds of new Nemo VII and Javelin mobile suits are being rushed into production. Over the past month, Anaheim has produced two-thousand mobile suits for the Shambala Republic Defense Guard, with a target production total of five-thousand combat-ready units by summer's end.
Colony Arsenal was jointly established by Anaheim Enterprises and the Jupitorius Corporation a decade earlier for the purpose of providing a manufacturing bulwark to supply the Earth Federation Forces and the Jupitorius Zeon Forces. Originally, Colony Arsenal was primarily dedicated to manufacturing combat peripherals – support ships, mobile weapons systems, ordnance, etc., with only a relatively small part of its operations dedicated to the manufacture of mobile suits. With the loss of Anaheim's main manufacturing facilities on Earth's moon to Zeon national control, and the urgent need for mobile suits and other weaponry by the Shambala Defense Guard, Colony Arsenal has been rapidly converted to a full mobile weapons platform manufacturing center with greatly expanded facilities.
Minerva Zabi, Director of Strategic Operations for the Shambala Republic, observes the manufacturing process gravely, her active and nimble mind already devising a plan for streamlining the production process. The beautiful honey-blonde former Duchess of Zeon's attention is suddenly drawn high above her by the arrival of two new mobile suits, not of the general Nemo or Javelin designs, that are being lowered by heavy cranes to the pre-testing inspection deck.
The two mobile suits are Dr. Camille Vidan's newest designs, the Kizi Aslan and the Oglu Aslan…high performance transformable combat mobile suits directly descended from the Cour de Leon model that Minerva knows so well. The Aslan-series mobile suit, of which the Kizi (custom painted brilliant scarlet) and the Oglu (painted forest green) are thus far the only existent prototypes, have expanded upon the Cour de Leon design with a fifty-percent increase of thruster output, an enhanced biosensor system, and new additional weapons systems, all derived from insights that Dr. Vidan gained while designing and constructing the White Phoenix Gundam.
It's been fewer than two months, Minerva reflects, but it feels like another lifetime that I last piloted a mobile suit into combat. In a sense, it was indeed another lifetime…
Hathaway Noah notes the ever-pensive Minerva lost in thought as he approaches her on the observation catwalk. He places his arms comfortingly around her, kissing her on the cheek.
Minerva looks back at Hathaway with a smile, "We'll be taking the new units out for a shakedown flight at 14:00. Ready for action…Mafty?"
Hathaway leans his chin atop Minerva's scalp, replying mischievously, "Ready if you are, Athena Ibaz."
Mafty…Athena Ibaz…the names of ghosts.
"I wasn't expecting to pilot a mobile suit into combat again," Minerva confesses, "especially not so soon."
"No matter what lofty ideals we aspire to," Hathaway observes, "in the end, it seems, we always have to enforce them through the point of a gun."
"So it's always been," Minerva affirms resignedly.
An hour later, Minerva and Hathaway, clad in normalsuits (the same colors as their respective mobile suits), receive a final preflight briefing from Dr. Camille Vidan before taking the new experimental mecha on their shakedown flights.
"One feature we've incorporated into the Aslan-series mobile suits is the ability to cast multiple false ID signatures," Camille explains, "Enemy tracking devices will identify many more targets than are actually present…and at locations far from where the Aslan units are actually situated at any given time. This is ideal for decoy operations; it'll throw off enemy defenses."
"That'll prove useful," Minerva remarks, "What about its limitations?"
Camille says, "Most of the power limitations you might have encountered in the Cour de Leon have been adjusted; the Aslan's power output for non-thrust functions can match that of the Centurion Gundam, although it falls short of the White Phoenix Gundam."
"It's well suited to our purposes," Minerva remarks, pulling her helmet on and sealing her normalsuit's O-Ring collar as she steps towards scarlet-bodied mobile suit, idling in its graceful, aerodynamic Waverider configuration.
Minerva boards the Kizi Aslan (SRX-6S). The cockpit layout is remarkably similar to that of the Cour de Leon, with a few new features thrown in. For the most part, however, Minerva finds it to be very familiar.
Minerva reaches upward with her cybernetic left hand (the first time she has used it in piloting a mobile suit), flipping the switches that bring the Kizi Aslan's avionics systems to life. She then places that same left hand on the Kizi's throttle, feeling the powerful throbbing of the mobile suit's nuclear fusion engine behind her cockpit seat.
Hathaway Noah's normalsuited and helmeted image appears on the upper right corner of the forward monitor screen, "Minerva, it's been two months since you've logged any combat hours in a MS cockpit. Take it easy up there."
"I'll be counting on you to back me up if I run into anything unexpected," Minerva says, closing her helmet visor.
"Roger that," replies Hathaway, doing the same aboard the cockpit of his verdant-hued Oglu Aslan (SRX-6J), which is being conveyed via hydraulic lift system to the catapult launch deck.
"Minerva Zabi, Kizi Aslan, deploying from Deck A-7 at 300 knots!"
A burst of thrust, and the Kizi Aslan soars amidst the stars.
"Hathaway Noah, Oglu Aslan, deploying from Deck A-8 at 300 knots!"
Test targets approach…drone Hizacks, Marasais, GM-IIs, and Nemos left over from the Gryps Conflict and the First Neo Zeon War.
"Targets acquired," Minerva says with the same cool efficiency she evinced when she was Athena Ibaz, commanding officer of the Centurion Special Operations Team, "Weapons systems to combat mode."
"Roger," Hathaway replies, "Combat mode engaged."
"Five targets acquired. I have target-lock on," Minerva continues, "Fox-Three."
Five missiles rip forth from launch tubes affixed to the Kizi Aslan's wing modules. Eight seconds later, three GM-IIs and two Hizacks explode into shrapnel.
A sixth mobile suit, a Marasai seems to get the drop on Minerva, gunning at the Kizi Aslan with its beam rifle.
Minerva casually dodges the incoming fire, shifts the Kizi to mobile suit configuration, and in a single motion, draws the Kizi Aslan's beam rifle to immolate the Marasai with a single shot.
"Not bad," Hathaway enthuses, "Looks like you haven't lost your edge..."
Hathaway then notices the approach of a Nemo, the muzzle of its beam rifle aglow. Minerva will not be able maneuver the Kizi Aslan out of the way in time.
Fortunately, Hathaway fragmentizes the Nemo with a shot of the Oglu Aslan's beam rifle before the drone can do any damage.
"…for the most part," Hathaway amends, with a sigh of relief that paradoxically carries a tone of concern.
"It'll take time for the rust to come off," Minerva observes sourly, "Until then, thanks for watching my back."
"Back, front, top, bottom," Hathaway replies, "No way I'm letting anyone or anything get through to hurt you, Minerva."
Behind her darkened helmet visor, Minerva smiles, her heart warmed by Hathaway's complete devotion to her.
We're really two of a kind in more ways than either of us is comfortable with, Minerva reflects, Other than Char, only Hathaway has ever really understood…
But there is no more time for such reflection; a second wave of test drones, this one fifteen MS strong, approaches.
"Fifteen incoming targets," Minerva reports, her active mind instantly reverting to combat mode, "This time, let's pretend that our piloting skills are unremarkable and let Dr. Vidan's tracker scrambling device do the work."
"Roger," Hathaway replies, fingering the touch control that brings the device online.
At first, there is no notable change…nothing to affirm that the system is functioning at all except for the indicators that appear on the systems monitors of the two Aslan-class mobile suits.
Then, it happens.
The drone mobile suits cease to direct their fire at the Aslans, and instead redirect their fire towards all vectors except for where the Aslans are…in some cases, directing their fire at each other as if allies were enemies.
"Doc's device has them completely fooled," Hathaway remarks, "The false signatures we're sending out are 'pasting' themselves on their own allied units, causing them to attack each other while thinking they're attacking the enemy."
"It's not going to work so well on units piloted by actual human beings," Minerva notes, "and it's definitely not going to fool a Newtype. Still, if it functions as it should, it'll confuse the enemy just enough for us to do what we need to."
"Which is…?" Hathaway inquires.
"You'll learn soon enough," Minerva says cryptically.
That evening, after the successful conclusion of the Aslans' test flight (the data from which will be analyzed carefully by Dr. Camille Vidan and his team of Anaheim Skunkworks' engineers), Minerva and Hathaway are in a strategy conference with Dr. Artasia Daikun and Dory Ischinda. Also present at the meeting, at Artasia and Minerva's request, are Judau Ashta, his wife Lu Luka-Ashta, Mondo Agake, Eno Abbov, and Elle Viano-Olech, wife of Captain Beecher Olech, commanding officer of the Earth Federation Forces space battlecarrier Amuro Ray and mother of Beecher's infant daughter, Athena (named after Minerva's Federal Forces alter-ego).
"According to our analysts, the mining facilities on Mars could be made operable again, to a very limited extent, within two months assuming that our corporate supporters throw all of their resources behind the effort. Restoring full production capacity, however, will take years," Dr. Artasia Daikun says, "I'd like to know the reasoning underlying your plan for seizing those facilities, which the Federal Forces destroyed nearly a year ago. In fact, you were the officer who masterminded and led that operation, if I recall correctly, Minerva."
Minerva replies, "My objective then was to destroy the Martian mining facilities to deny them to the Zeon Forces, and the dividends of that mission became manifest at the end of the Zeon Civil War. Our objectives now are similar: Alexander Miguel was able to afford losing those facilities because he had the support of the Earth Federation, but he's made the mistake of cutting off his lifeline. He's defeated the Federation, and as was undoubtedly his plan from the beginning, he's looking to lay claim to the ore mines of Earth to supply the raw material for his war machine. Miguel, however, underestimated the survivability of those resources against his colony drop attacks. Miguel did too thorough a job for his own good: the Federation's industrial infrastructure is broken and it'll take years for the Zeon to make them serviceable again. We'll cut the Zeon off from ore resources at two ends: they'll be unable to obtain the raw material they need from both Earth AND on Mars. It's important for us to keep the Zeon off-balance. If Miguel establishes a secure base in Cislunar Space, he'll come after us next. Beyond his insatiable territorial ambitions, he needs our hydrogen fuel supplies, and he'd be all too willing to crush us to get it. Moreover, our production facilities are operating at maximum output, and though we have access to ample fuel supplies, our raw ore stocks are close to depletion point. You're right in that there won't be ample time to get these facilities into full production status in the immediate future, but having them under our control now, while we can obtain them at relatively low cost, will pay off in the long-term viability of the republic."
Artasia nods approvingly, "All right, I'm sold on your reasoning behind the purpose of the mission. Now, as far as execution of the strategy…"
"Yes," Minerva says, anticipating the question, "Miguel has directed the vast bulk of his military forces to Earth and the Cislunar Sphere. He's left only a token force behind out in the Martian orbit that was once his stomping grounds. He's outgrown his roots, or so he believes. A special infiltration force, which will include many of the personnel in this room, should be sufficient to execute the plan…especially with the advantage provided to us by Dr. Vidan's new target signature simulator device, which has been installed into our mobile suits."
"It's been a long, long time since I've sat at the controls of the Double Zeta," Judau enthuses, "I never thought I'd miss it, but I have."
The infamous "Shangrila Gang" that had been so instrumental to winning the First Neo Zeon War for the Earth Federation/AEUG Alliance in U.C. 0089 eagerly volunteered to support the fledgling Shambala Republic, and to facilitate them, Anaheim Enterprises has built new, improved units of their familiar mobile suits from that war: MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam (Judau, Lu, and Eno), MSZ-006 Z Gundam (Dr. Camille Vidan), RX-178 Gundam MK-II (Mondo). The "Gundam Team" will support Minerva and Hathaway's new Aslan mobile suits and a small strike force of Javelin Stealth MS.
"We've acquired an infiltration ship from our friends in the Jupitorius Corporation," Minerva says, refocusing the discussion on the means of executing the Shambala guerrillas' plans, "All personnel assigned to this mission will depart from the Jupitorius colonies at 01:00 tomorrow morning…"
A Jupitorius Corporation fuel tanker, the Mapother, a mammoth cargo vessel 500 meters long, has been converted into a blockade runner of sorts…appearing as an innocuous and somewhat ponderous cargo vessel, but in fact a veritable battle fortress bearing a cargo of eighteen Shambala Republic Guard mobile suits.
At precisely 01:00, as specified by Minerva, the Mapother departs from the docks of the Jupitorius Colony's industrial spaceport, with a manifest showing its final destination, by way of Mars, to be Side 1...with a delivery of hydrogen fuel for the now Zeon-occupied colony.
All very routine…and all very unremarkable…a journey that the Mapother has made on dozens of occasions in the past, uneventfully and perhaps even dully.
Not this time, however…
It is past 02:30 (ship's time, synchronized with Jupitorius local time) by the time that the shadow crew of the ship is settled into their quarters. Living space is plentiful aboard the ship, although for efficiency purposes, the crew has been bunked two per suite.
An arrangement that is particularly well-suited to the couples aboard…
Hathaway drops wearily upon the bed in the cabin that he shares with Minerva, exhausted to the bone. Between the testing of the Aslan units (which AE had delivered literally at the last possible minute) and preparation for departure, Hathaway has been up and active for over thirty-five hours.
Nobody ever said that life as a revolutionary was cushy…Hathaway reminds himself as he rubs his eyes tiredly.
When he removes his hands and opens his eyes, he finds a sight that makes everything…everything worthwhile.
Minerva's strikingly curvaceous, naked form moves gracefully towards the bed…an electrifying sight whose thrill has not diminished the slightest for Hathaway even in its increasing familiarity.
Hathaway's weariness transforms into a sensation of sublime comfort and ecstasy as Minerva's warm, feathery weight settles upon him. Her fair, downy hair falls softly down around his face as their lips lock into a deep, passionate kiss.
Hathaway's fingers play upon the warmth of Minerva's breasts, his hands then caressing her silky smooth skin down the length of her body towards the twin mounds of her buttocks, which Hathaway massages for a long minute as his lips and Minerva's remain locked in their kiss. Hathaway's hands then find their way down the warm, silky length of Minerva's thighs before resting momentarily upon her shoulders, and down the length of her arms...both her natural right arm, and her cybernetic left arm.
Hathaway has been long amazed by the excellent surgical skill of Dr. Artasia Daikun, and by how far the state of cybernetic prosthetic technology has advanced. The connection between the flesh of Minerva's left shoulder and the silicon and lunar titanium of her bionic left arm is virtually seamless, and the arm itself duplicates the graceful feminine contours of Minerva's lost organic left arm with remarkable accuracy...except for its cold metallic touch…and its dark grey metallic sheen. Skin grafts to mask these features are available, but Minerva has declined them…preferring to let the bionic arm stand as a reminder of what she continues to struggle against.
Hathaway holds Minerva close, reflecting upon his attitude towards the war. Once, not long ago, he was dogged by a sense of self-pity for the various hardships he has endured as a consequence of this war, but Minerva…Minerva has given so much more to this war than he has…the loss of her arm being only the most manifest among them. The true wounds, the ones that produce the most enduring pain, are the ones that remain unseen.
For this reason, among others, Hathaway has a message of utmost importance to convey to Minerva tonight.
As if to ready Minerva for his momentous declaration, Hathaway rolls over to turn Minerva onto her back on the bed. Hathaway knows that Minerva prefers to be on top of him during lovemaking (as she does in almost every situation, including those not at all sensual), but this time, he wants to be sure that the upper hand is his.
But Hathaway notices a distant look in Minerva's eyes as she turns away from him, focusing on something else…far away.
"What is it?" Hathaway asks, concerned.
"I'm worried," Minerva whispers, "I'm worried about my friends…Jolie, Jonah, and the other Centurions. We lost contact with them after the colony drop attacks on Earth. I'm so afraid that they might…"
"I know," Hathaway says, frowning, "My sister Chieming, my mother, and…my father…to say nothing of all those other innocent people on Earth. The planet must be like Hell now. God help those souls who are still trapped down there."
"For them, and for so many others, we must succeed in our mission," Minerva says.
"You're right," Hathaway says, his hands gently massaging Minerva's breasts again, "Minerva, I..."
Minerva turns back towards Hathaway, sensing that he has something of great importance to tell her. The young couple looks into each other's eyes quietly, passionately for a long moment before Hathaway speaks again…
"Minerva," Hathaway whispers at long last, "…will you marry me?"
Hathaway's proposal does not exactly catch Minerva off-guard…practically nothing does, but her radiant smile and moist eyes…the accelerated beating of Minerva's heart that Hathaway feels through the palms of his hand…reflect the genuine joy of a wish at long last fulfilled.
"Hathaway," Minerva chokes out at last, and then whispers, "Yes…I very much want to be your wife."
Hathaway smiles broadly, and their lips interlock once again.
"There is one condition I need you to agree to, however," Minerva says when their lips are free once more.
"What condition?" Hathaway asks, knowing that his bride-to-be is always calculating an angle.
"I need for us to defer our marriage for three years," Minerva says.
"Why?" Hathaway inquires, not letting his impatience show.
"That's the amount of time I think we'll need to finish this war and get the Shambala Republic on its feet," Minerva says, "Hathaway, I know it's hard to wait. I don't want to wait either. If this were a safer, more stable world, I'd marry you tomorrow. But I don't want to fight forever. I don't want to lead people forever. My entire life, I've been fighting…been leading. There was a time, not long ago, when I thought I had dedicated my entire life to changing the world. I'm not as ambitious these days. I only want to change the world enough so it'll be safe for you and I to spend the rest of our lives together…to have children and raise them together…to see them grow up to live long, peaceful lives. Do you understand, Hathaway?"
Hathaway fingers Minerva's downy hair gently, fondly, "Yes…yes, I do, Minerva, and I agree. Three years isn't so long to wait…not when we have our entire lives ahead of us...Minerva Zabi-Noah…wife and mother, eh?"
Minerva smiles at her husband-to-be's gentle chiding, "Like I said, my ambitions are more modest these days: right now, Minerva, wife and mom, sounds much more appealing to me than Duchess Minerva of Zeon, or Lt. Col. Athena Ibaz of the Earth Federation Special Operations Forces, or Minerva Zabi, Director of Operations for the Shambala Republic. I know who I've been, Hathaway, and I know whom I really want to be."
So saying, Minerva rolls to flip Hathaway onto his back, straddling his prone form with her long, luscious legs. Hathaway has never ceased to be surprised by the strength Minerva has hidden in her sylphlike form.
Hathaway's hands caress Minerva's buttocks, hips, and thighs as they kiss once again. Hathaway dims the lights within the cabin as, for a few hours at least, the husband and wife-to-be allow the troubles of the world around them disappear.
The Centennial Condor, the President of the Earth Federation's designated air/space transport, is readied for imminent launch from its subterranean berth far beneath Formosa Island. Dr. Loren's forecast of a forty minute window of relative atmospheric calm during which the Condor canbreach Earth's atmosphere and enter the cosmos is close enough to being on the money to take the calculated risk to reestablish contact between the Earth Federation Government with the Shambala Republic.
For 2Lt. Chieming Noah, the calculated risk is personal: after all, it is her mother, Senator Mirai Yashima-Noah, who will be the envoy to the Shambala.
Mirai is the logical choice for this mission for several reasons: first, she is among the most respected and trusted officials of the Earth Federation Government among the Spacenoid population. Second, she has been a good personal friend of Dr. Artasia Daikun for more than twenty years, and it is hoped that their good personal relations will ease the establishment of a formal alliance between the Federation and the Shambala Republic. Third, as a trained and experienced combat veteran with expert knowledge of capital spacecraft (Mirai was, after all, once the helmswoman of the White Base) and space navigation, she is among the Federal Forces' foremost experts in evading Zeon surveillance systems.
Escorting the Centennial Condor in its climb out of Earth's soot-choked skies, but not accompanying the ship on its long voyage to Jupiter, is the Centurion Special Operations Team, provisionally commanded by 2Lt. Chieming Noah.
"This is Centurion Three," Chieming says, retaining her usual callsign despite effectively serving as Centurion Leader in Jonah and Jolie's absence, "all units deploy ahead of the Centennial Condor. Exit azimuths provided by Dr. Loren are now being uploaded into your avionics computers."
None of the Centurion Team's remaining mobile suits was constructed with atmospheric flight in mind. Only Jolie's White Phoenix Gundam (and previously, Athena Ibaz's Cour de Leon) is capable of sustained atmospheric flight and combat. Thus, several Dodai-class jet platforms have been procured from the Holy Sepulcher's arsenal to enable the Centurion Team's Jet Jegan and Guncannon 100 mobile suits to take to the skies.
Like inverted snowboarders, therefore, the MS of the Centurion Team burst into Earth's darkened skies.
Almost immediately, the MS are stricken by tooth-breaking rush of turbulent air.
"Whoa!" Sgt. Geoffe Sutcliffe grates as his Jet Jegan is buffeted by the powerful, sooty winds, "Almost lost it there. It's hard enough to fly one of these Dodais in good weather conditions, but as it is…"
"We already know what the conditions are, Geoff," Chieming says flatly, "Just hang on and pay attention to your scopes."
"Yes, ma'am," Geoff replies.
Chieming receives word from the control tower back at the Holy Sepulcher that the Centennial Condor has left the dock and has ascended to an altitude of 3,000 meters and climbing.
Thus far, no interference from any Zeon units. Navigating Earth's ruined skies is no easier for the Zeons' mecha than it is for the Federation's.
The bridge of the Condor contacts Chieming, confirming the ship's ascent through the atmosphere and supplying data on the progress of its flight. So far, it's holding up.
"2Lt. Noah," Anna Horowitz chimes in, "I've got a bogey at approximately 40 km out, coordinates H-19."
"Damn," Chieming curses, "I want you all to stay close in a defensive formation to the Condor. FSgt. Higashi, you and I will investigate that bogey."
"Roger, ma'am," FSgt. Tomo Higashi replies from the cockpit of the Guncannon-100.
Chieming and Tomo's MS peel of from the formation and ply towards the coordinates indicated by Anna. For several long minutes, there is only a maddening blur of brown and grey haze, and then through the haze…the tracer lights of an aircraft.
"Target identified," Chieming says, "A Zeon recon plane: ZF-22 Flying Fox. I've got lock on."
"Roger," Tomo indicates, "Lock on engaged on target. Range 4 km and closing."
"Commence firing!" Chieming orders.
The Jet Jegan and the Guncannon-100 fire simultaneously. Chieming and Tomo's shots hit home, sending the ZF-22 recon craft falling from the sky as a burning wreck.
"No indication that the pilot bailed out, Lieutenant," Tomo indicates, "I think we caught him off-guard."
"Hopefully, we also got him before he could send word back to the Zeon's nearest base," Chieming replies, "His people will notice he's missing soon enough, though...Anna?"
"Here, Lieutenant," the reconnaissance officer replies.
"What's the status on the Centennial Condor?" Chieming asks.
"It's just entered the ionosphere," Anna reports, "retracting atmospheric flight mechanisms and transitioning to spaceflight mode. I've got Senator Yashima-Noah on voice communications for you, Lieutenant. Patching you through now."
"Chieming," the voice of Mirai Yashima-Noah comes through Chieming's helmet receiver.
"Senator," Chieming replies.
"You're allowed to call me 'Mother,' sweetheart," Mirai says, a smile in her voice, "your father isn't listening in on our communications."
"Mom," Chieming amends, "You be careful out there. Send Big Brother my love."
"I'll be fine," Mirai says, "I hope I'll be able to see Hathaway while I'm out there…maybe convince him to reconcile with Daddy. My entire mission is about reconciliation…about rebuilding old bridges, and maybe building new ones."
"It'd be good to build anything again," Chieming observes.
"I know what you mean," her mother replies, "You take good care of Daddy…and of everyone while I'm gone. God bless, Sweetie."
"Godspeed, Mom," Chieming says softly as the Centennial Condor departs Earth.
"Senator Yashima-Noah," reports Captain Howard Blake of the Centennial Condor, "We've just made contact with Captain Beecher of the Amuro Ray. They've just left the Holy Sepulcher and will be escorting us the rest of the way to Jupitorius. They've pulled together a crack Special Forces team to provide us extra protection."
None of that Special Forces escort group, however, includes the Centurions, whom General Noah has elected to keep Earthside to assist in protecting the Federation's last stronghold, and to be the spearhead of a counterattack, should the opportunity arise.
"Thank you, Captain Blake," Mirai replies, "Inform Captain Beecher to follow our lead. I know these spaceways, and I can navigate us a path that will enable us to exploit the Zeons' surveillance gaps so we can avoid a confrontation on the way out of the Cislunar Sphere."
The Centennial Condor and the Amuro Ray ascend out of the haze of Earth's skies into the clear blackness of space…on a mission of building bridges.
Some days later, the Mapother has arrived in Mars orbit.
Inside their shared quarters, Minerva Zabi and Hathaway Noah don their normalsuits, pulling on their respective red and green helmets. They touch hands wishing each other luck, and then float towards the converted cargo ship's makeshift MS launch deck.
Also boarding their MS are Judau Ashta, Lu Luka, and Eno Abbov (ZZ Gundam), Dr. Camille Vidan (Z Gundam), and Mondo Agake (Gundam MK-II). Minerva and Hathaway welcome their veteran experience as well as the extra firepower they'll bring into the fray.
Minerva, as can be expected, serves as the mission commander, and presently transmits to her colleagues, "This is Director 1. All units confirm launch status."
"Roger, ma'am," comes the chorus of replies.
"Let's move out," Minerva instructs.
The Aslans and Gundams deploy quietly from the Mapother, not deploying their thrusters, but simply drifting into space…allowing Mars' gravity to bring them closer to their objective.
The Zeon presence in the Martian Zone has been greatly reduced since the end of the Zeon Civil War. With the transferral of Alexander Miguel's power base from the destroyed Phobos Fortress to Side 3, there has been very little interest by the Archduchy of Zeon to invest resources in securing the cosmic hinterlands to which they had once been banished. Hence, only three battlecarriers based at a single orbiting station, armed with fifty mobile suits, remains at what was, as recently as a year ago, the power base of the Principality of Phobos Zeon.
Major Antoine Sarina is the commanding officer of the Zeon Forces that Archduke Miguel has left to patrol the Mars Zone. The Archduke's long term plans call for the reconstruction of the mining facilities on Mars, but that plan is relatively low on the Archduke's present list of priorities. Consequently, the Mars Zone has been quiet for many, many months now, and no action is expected.
"Major Sarina," a surveillance tech reports, "A Jupitorius Corporation cargo tanker, the Mapother, is requesting permission to enter the Mars Zone. They've got a hydrogen gas drop off for us as they're en rout to Cislunar Space."
"Grant them permission to pass," Sarina says, "We're quite familiar with their registry and their routine."
"Yes, sir," the tech reports, granting permission to the Mapother to approach.
"These prosaic days have begun to wear on me," Sarina sighs, dropping into his command seat.
Relief is coming sooner and more spectacularly than the major could ever suspect…
From the Z Gundam, Dr. Camille Vidan opens communications to the rest of the infiltration squad, "All right, boys and girls…time to open your presents."
A series of controls are activated; the response is awaited.
"Sir," the same Zeon surveillance tech reports anxiously, "We've got incoming bogies…five…wait, no…eleven…hold on…twenty-four…wait…"
"What the hell is going on?!" Major Sarina demands, rising from his seat.
"Sir," the terrified surveillance tech reports, "They just showed up out of nowhere! Thirty-three targets! Earth Federation Forces MS! Jet Jegans and GM-V types!"
"How could the Federation mount an attack out here?! From where?!" Sarina rages, then gets on the horn, "MS squads deploy! This is not a drill!"
The Zeon pilots, most of whom have not been in combat for months, rush to their MS and launch immediately, all of them as perplexed as their commanding officer as to how the Federal Forces could suddenly mount such an attack against them.
Captain Sasha Danilovic boards his Gellond and leads his squad from the launch bays of the Zeon battle carrier Loum into space.
"Continuing to receive enemy target signature data," Captain Danilovic reports following the launch of his MS, "but no visual confirmation. Have the Feddies started manufacturing invisible MS now?"
The answer to Danilovic's rhetorical question comes in the form of a well-placed missile launched from a tube mounted to the wing of Minerva Zabi's Kizi Aslan. All around her, similar explosions ensue as her colleagues launch similar attacks on other Zeon targets.
"Where is that fire coming from?!" Major Sarina demands angrily.
"Sorry, sir," the surveillance tech reports, "Our computers indicate multiple targets, but they're all false signatures. There ARE enemy targets out there and our pilots were able to visually confirm them, but our tracking and surveillance systems are completely scrambled!"
"Tell our pilots to…!"
The Loum explodes into a balloon of hot shrapnel.
Systematically, the Zeon MS and ships disappear, stricken by enemies that are like ghosts…seen in glimpses, but intangible.
Below them looms Mars…its angry red surface invoking the name of the Roman war god.
Once again, my mission begins here, Minerva reflects…
The Kizi Aslan makes footfall to the ruddy Martian surface, claiming the fourth planet for the Shambala Republic.