Phase 32 Star Cruise

Gary was in his cabin, searching for the winter jacket he bought when he was visiting an overseas attraction, "Snow City". He had also brought some form of entertainment with him, filling a portion of the storage compartment.

"The rest will be life-support supplies. But first, let me double che-" Gary was about to go through the list of items not before he was interrupted by the hiss of his cabin's sliding door.

"Oh, Rei, you just came in at the right time, want to help me get the rations from the cold room?"

"So… you are leaving already?" Rei asked softly, her eyes wavering as she try avoid eye contact. "Umm… When you will be back?"

Gary saw a hint of reluctance on Rei's face, looking at her as he captured this image in his mind. He stood up and gently grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Don't worry, Rei. I still have friends who will back me up; I'll not be alone. Besides, the operation is far away from enemies' sight. I know EXILER won't surrender but we'll win this battle no matter what. I'll try my best to stay alive, you too, that's our promise!"

She, too, know the risk level of Gary's mission. But seeing and hearing the confidence from this silly young man, she could not help but believe his words.

"How about helping me for the mean time? You don't get this quality time often, you know?" Gary mentioned smugly.

Rei choked as she held her laughter as she looked at the fake cocky face on that guy.

"Where to then?"

"To the cold room, honey."

Both of them laughed aloud at the phrase and stepped out of the room, hand in hand they walked on.

Shoko was having a chat with Sayako while Xin went to the Morgenroete building to retrieve the Gunslinger.

"The Valkyire Vixen will still be going into battle, a bunch of mobile suits and their pilots will be borrowing this ship for the mean time. Despite Raul and Kenneth having their mobile suits gone, they will be manning the workstations during the battle; nobody's got time to slack," Captain Tanakura rambled out in a stumbled state, she's both bored and tired of waiting for nothing.

Shoko has been nodding all the way, she had not spoken much or rather the captain was not giving her a chance to talk at all.

"Looks like I'm going get scolded," She whispered calmly straighten her chair as she heard hurried foot steps from outside. "Ah… Too late…"

"What do you mean by that!!!?" The executive officer yelled at her as she stormed into the cabin, infuriated by the captain's laid-back attitude. "Please conduct yourself more like a captain! Are you getting complacent?"

"Keep it down, Cindy," Sayako hummed lazily. "Aren't all preparations done?"

"If you are referring to Xin's and Shoko's equipments and supplies, yes, they are done. But that doesn't me-" Cindy suddenly stopped as she turned to look outside. "Perfect timing, Raul!"

"RAUL?!Oh Dear!"
The captain immediately sprang up from her seat and patted on her uniform to present herself the best she could look.

"Ah, Raul," her voice turned melodious in an instant. "Why don't you tell our executive officer that the captain had been very busy lately?"

Raul, as if brain-washed by the captain's seductive voice, did as he was told to.
"Umm… Yea… She's been extremely busy. Can't see the rings under her eyes? Look at her hair, so unkempt and dry. Oh my, she looks so tired now! I can't let this stand for long! I have to give her an emergency full body massage now. So if you could please excuse me…"

Shoko and Cindy were pushed out of the room and the metallic door slid close and locked with a sound of a click.

"Sayako, you despicable low-down woman!" Cinday shrieked out in erupting anger.

"She will turn back to normal when the Valkyrie Vixen heads out for battle again, don't worry," Shoko consoled the maddened lady.

The XO heaved out a big a sigh and agreed, "You are right! Hmm… Shall we go to hangar to see if Xin is back?"

Daisuke was strapping the storage containers in the cockpit of his mobile; he had double-checked with the list of items already. As he reached out for the last container, he handled it with extreme love and care.

"Ah… My precious coffee maker, my beloved partner… With the extra padding, the roughest journeys will not ruin this baby." he breathed with admiration as he looked into the case. "Hot coffee laced with brandy is just perfect for the weather I will be in…"

After securing the container, he took the ramp down and made his way to the armory. Xue Min and Meinz Heinemann were there before him. None of them spoke a word, only their movements broke the silence. After a few minutes, Daisuke was the only one left inside.

"Tsk. Things will be more interesting if Xin is on board this ship…"

After clipping the box up, he existed from the armory. He pulled his sleeve to have a look at his watch.

"There's still some time for a coffee break…"

A wisp of smoke floated from a poorly wrapped cigarette as Darcy Johnson sat on a moorage on the berth of Dock 17. With the weed in between his dehydrated lips, he looked at the horizon while waiting for the Spengler-class Carrier, Betram, to appear. He took a final puff before flicking the cigarette away.

"Aren't you afraid of getting caught?" A voice suddenly spoke from behind.

He almost jumped, to his relief it was just Fred.

"You are not going to tell anyone, are you?" he croaked.

"This small case? I'm no bothered at all…" Fred shrugged, and then he dropped his rucksack onto the floor. "This shitload of stuff is breaking my back!"

"Hey."
Darcy waved a crumpled soft-pack at Fred, offering him a ciggy.

"Nah… No thanks. I don't smoke."

"Ah… I see," he tittered as he shoved it back to his pocket. "You are the first to arrive; I thought I should reward you with something."

"Do you have a Coffee Crisp?"

"Yea, I got one with me now… Catch!"

The shiny wrapped bar glittered in mid-air before it landed on Fred's hands.

"Gee… Thanks!" He tore it open before savoring his favorite snack.

"I reckon you are from Canada?"

"Neh, meh fofs fwere," he muffled with his mouth full of choc.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Never mind! Just enjoy it while you can!" Darcy laughed as Fred nearly choked.

He turned to took at the ocean again while he uncorked his bottle and took a swig of cognac.

"I hate being sober when I'm bored… But I have to stay sober for everyone… God, this is crappy…"

"And I'm finished!" Gary yelled out he fitted in the last metal case at the back of the cockpit.

When he was about to crept out from the cockpit, the PA system chimed.
"Lieutenant Colonel Gary Locke, please proceed to "Meeting Point". I repeat, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Locke, please proceed to "Meeting Point". Your relatives are waiting there for you…"

"Aha! I've forgotten that I've made an appointment with them! I wonder they have brought – OUCH!" Gary screamed out in pain as his head hit against the cockpit hatch, causing him to roll about in pain.

His face was in a tight wince as he massaged the bump and used his nose to press on the dial.
"Uurk… I'll be on my way soon, Executive Officer Hanson Doles…"

The "meeting place" is a large hall just behind the entrance of the base which is the only place where civilians are allowed to enter. Since Gary's head was hurting so badly, Rei had to taxi him in the jeep. The large hall is also a ceremony hall for cadets who have completed their 3 year training when they would soon reunite with their family. Since it was like any ordinary day, the whole place was empty when Gary and Rei went in, except for Gary's folks.
There was pause of awkwardness, Gary and his relatives had not meet for ages; it took a while to recall the faces and names. In a little while they hurdled together; it was both tears and joy for the family.

"Sharon granny, I amazed to see you here!" Gary exclaimed.

"How dare you make fun of an old lady?!" A short wrinkled grandaunt called out. Despite her age, she was full of energy. She looked through her thick glasses and saw the blue-hair girl standing over there. She had a toothless sly grinned on her ancient face and asked, "Son, who's that young woman?"

"Eh?" Gary immediately blushed. "She's… she's…"

"She must be your steady!" one of Gary's cousins shouted.

Gary murmured as he scratched his chin…

"Well, sorta… but we barely know each other…"

"You must have become a man, huh?"
The small crowd burst into laughter again upon the remark

Rei smiled as she looked at the reunion of the family. From what she heard from Captain DePriest, Gary immediate family was killed by EXILER, however he had no recollection over the incident. It could have been the shock and trauma… It was his relatives who adopted him.

"So this is family…"

"Gary, you have twenty minutes left! We still have work to do."

19 00

The sun had almost set and Bertram had long arrived and docked. While waiting for the mobile suits to make their presence, supplies were loaded onto the ship. Darcy, of course, was using this chance to have a weed. Whereas Fred was standing on the berth, watching as the night sky formed. He knew what was coming as the floor pulsed.

"THEY ARE COMING NOW!" he hollered with zest. The long waiting period had finally paid off.

Xion's Sage was leading the line of the humanoid titans was they marched. The loading of the supplies quickened and soon the trucks made their leave.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Look at Fred! He crossed the finished line don't know how many hours before us! We should be laughed at for slacking!" Xue Min hooted.

"About time you guys showed up. This is the ship we will board for our three-day cruise," Darcy voice came from the intercoms. "Now, listen to this carefully. Gary, Meinz and Xin are to bring your mobile suits to the deck; our deckhands will guide you from there. For the rest, make your way into the hangar. After all that, report to the bridge."

Warning lights flashed and warning sirens blared aloud as the gates unfold for the mobiles to enter. While, the other three mobile suits fired up their thrusters to gain access to the deck.

A few minutes before departure time, the pilots turned up in the bridge where their commanding officer had stayed to pass the time. They exchanged salutes before Darcy greeted them.

"You all will be entrusting your lives to me in this mission. Let's cooperate."

19 30

With a final blast from the ship's horn, the Spengler-class Carrier, Bertram, departed from Orb. With other ships following along, it take another three days until anyone set their foot onto the shores.

End of Phase 32

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. Since the start of a new school semester, workload had immensely increased! I hope this won't persist…