EPISODE 2-36: REQUIEM FOR THE INNOCENT
Late September, U.C. 0100…
For the first time in two decades, Side 3 has begun to once again take on the character of a great national capital. For twenty years, the capital of the Archduchy of Zeon had been reduced to a war ghetto occupied by the Earth Federation Forces. Today, Cosmic Alexandria, the new designation for the former Zum City, is a city whose skyline is dominated by gleaming new skyscrapers, with dozens more already under rapid construction. The streets of Cosmic Alexandria are immaculately clean and impenetrably secured, with an armed and operation Zeon mobile suit stationed at each city block, and two dozen more surrounding the restored Alexandria Palace (former Zum Palace). The Zeon flag flies proudly from each city lamppost and balcony, and the citizens of Cosmic Alexandria go about their daily business under the watchful eye of the Archduchy of Zeon Forces and ZIB.
For the past few months, the citizens of Side 3, once again bearing the designation "The Archduchy of Zeon," have enjoyed a level of material prosperity that those among them younger than twenty years of age have never known, but only heard described by their parents and grandparents, who lived during the reign of the Zabi Family during the 0070s. Indeed, the streets of Cosmic Alexandria are conspicuous with signs of newfound affluence: luxury automobiles fill the lanes of the colony's newly repaved internal streets and highways, which are lined with immaculately maintained rows of tall, sturdy green conifers and colorful, fragrant flowers that fill the reprocessed atmosphere within the colony with their sweet, pungent scent. The retail shops that line the restored boulevards and avenues of Cosmic Alexandria display their fine wares, which for the first time in years, many citizens of the Archduchy of Zeon find themselves able to afford as the restoration of the Archduchy by the Miguel Regime has spurred robust new economic activity that has engendered new affluence. Five-star restaurants and sidewalk cafes do brisk business as numerous diners, who only a year earlier had been surviving off meager rations provided by the Earth Federation Government, enjoy sumptuous meals of which they previously could only dream. Schools have reopened for the first time in years, to educate the youth of Zeon, and the University of Zeon's halls of research and learning have once again found themselves populated by aspiring academics (with Archduke Miguel placing a particular emphasis on supporting studies in the sciences). Libraries and museums have opened or reopened, producing a new blossoming of Zeon culture and civilization. It is a new Golden Age of Zeon, and it has come about through the will of the Great Leader, His Beloved Majesty Archduke Alexander Miguel.
At the many Zeon elementary schools that have opened within the Archduchy, young children are taught of the ideals of Contolism, and of the great leaders whose sacrifices brought about these glorious times…Zeon Daikun, Degin Zabi, and especially His Majesty Archduke Alexander Miguel, who defeated the enemies of Zeon and reunited and revived the nation after a long period of disunity and diaspora. If the Archduchy had a state religion, it would perhaps be the worship of Archduke Alexander, whose portrait is affixed in a place of honor in every Zeon home, business, and public building. A popular saying within the Archduchy these days is that Alexander II of ancient Macedonia, who for millennia has been addressed with the sobriquet of "Alexander the Great," must relinquish that epithet to Archduke Alexander, whose greatness has far surpassed that of the ancient Macedonian leader. Still, amidst the opulence of the new Zeon Empire, many of its citizens have silently come to wonder, although few dare to express, a gnawing unease: is it truly an age of greatness when those who refuse to celebrate or support Zeon's rebirth, or who express any hint of doubt, disappear suddenly without explanation…or when laughing children must make their way to school beneath the armored legs of mobile suits, whose ominous monoeyes watch them even as the play in their schoolyards?
The Archduchy of Zeon now covers a greater territory than it ever has in its thirty year history. In addition to Side 3, its domain extends to the Lunar cities of Von Braun and Anman, and the remaining Sides colonies of Cislunar space, including the previously independent Side 6. Already, Archduke Miguel is planning a vast military campaign to the Outer System to reestablish Zeon's sovereignty in Mars orbit and to eradicate that upstart nuisance calling itself the "Shambala Republic" in Jupiter orbit.
…and Earth? The Archduke's armies have reduced that old gravity well to a smoldering ruin. The Archduchy of Zeon will claim from the Earth its still-vast mineral and energy resources, then leave the husk for nature to regenerate over the millennia, long after humankind has ceased to need it, for humanity's destiny lies not on its tired mother world, but in the vastness of eternal space, and the Glory of Zeon's Light will lead humanity to the stars.
There remains, however, the matter of the Earth Federation's lingering resistance, as pathetic and ineffectual as it is. Archduke Miguel has seen enough to know that not a single seed of revival must be allowed to take root for the Federation.
Every seed of hope must be annihilated.
Lt. Col. Kyoko Yamaguchi of the Archduchy of Zeon Forces enters the Imperial Court of Zeon, where Archduke Alexander Miguel contemplates the newly thriving capital of his vast domain through the expansive window of the court chamber.
"My lord," Kyoko salutes smartly.
Alexander turns to face his most valued subordinate, smiling as his eyes descend upon her pleasant, raven-haired visage.
"Kyoko," Alexander says, "I'm sending you down with an elite detachment from the Phobos Division to mop up a troublesome group of Federation resistance fighters down in central China. They'd be little more than a nuisance and I wouldn't waste your time with this, but this group improbably succeeded in wiping out Col. Dekker's Grauwulf Battalion."
"You suspect the White Phoenix's involvement, do you not, my lord?" Kyoko offers.
Alexander replies, "The Federation's remaining troops would not otherwise have any chance of overcoming Col. Dekker's superior forces. Only the White Phoenix could have accomplished such a feat."
Kyoko salutes Alexander again, "My lord. With your permission, I will destroy the White Phoenix and bring Lord Jonah back to us."
Alexander smiles, holding Kyoko close to him, letting Kyoko rest her head upon his chest, "In all the universe, Kyoko, only you truly understand."
Indeed, only Kyoko can bring a feeling of tenderness to the Archduke's otherwise cold heart…a feeling otherwise alien to him.
For this reason, Alexander offers Kyoko one final admonition, "Kyoko, above all: I need you to return from this mission safely. I would like for you to eradicate the White Phoenix and the remains of the Federation's resistance for me, but those objectives are secondary to your own survival, do you understand? I only want for you to carry out my orders, but I need you to return to me."
Kyoko's moist black eyes reflect absolute understanding, "Yes, my lord. Do not worry for me. My life is given to you and to the Archduchy."
"Then make sure that life stays with me," Alexander says gently, stroking Kyoko's fine black hair, "because ruling this empire without you as its empress would make all we have accomplished vain."
The Archduke of Zeon and his intended future Archduchess look out over the central hub of their domain, with plans to choke the life out of any who resist Zeon's destiny.
Two months have passed since The Skyfall (as the event has come to be called) brought Earth's ecology to its knees.
Less than half of Earth's population of eleven billion that lived on the planet as recently as three months earlier remains living, bringing the total population of the planet to a level not seen since the final decades of the 20th Century. The accumulation of carcasses, not only human, but those of other animal and plant life, has created toxic conditions in the planet's atmosphere, making the air unsafe to breathe in many areas of the planet, particularly near former urban areas.
Conditions are somewhat better in higher elevations far removed from urban centers, such as the remote heart of the Kunlun Mountains in central China. Here, normalsuits and sealed helmets can be dispensed with, for the most part, although the air remains extremely sooty and difficult to breathe…a nightmare for asthmatics and those afflicted by allergies. Respiratory conditions once considered mere nuisances are now frequently fatal.
For those who remain on the Earth, survival is a greater struggle than at any other time it has been since Homo sapiens first came to dominate the planet, but unlike previous occasions when ecological change transformed the balance of life on the planet, this time, those same Homo sapiens were the conscious catalysts of that change – a change not foreordained by nature.
The tension is palpable among even stalwart allies as they discuss the Federal Forces' seesaw struggle against the Archduchy of Zeon Occupation Army across the Asian steppes. The surviving Federal Forces have reorganized themselves (in a very liberal interpretation of the term "organize") into guerilla units that have had some success in harassing the occupation forces and denying them the stability to more quickly establish complete air, land, and sea superiority over the continent (especially the swampy rural south, the mountainous heartland, and the dry steppes of the north), but at the same time, the survivors of the Federal Forces are clearly on their heels…being increasingly marginalized by a far better supplied, better equipped, better conditioned Zeon Occupation Army.
The Desert Dogs have succeeded in fighting their way to the region of China called Shaanxi, near what was once the Chinese city of Xian. The city was once one of China's major metropolitan areas, and the hub of the nation's aerospace industry during the early 21st Century of the old calendar. In fact, the Earth Federation Government assumed control of many of the spaceport facilities originally constructed by the People's Republic of China and upgraded and modernized them for their own use during the recently First Universal Century.
As such, the Zeon Occupation Forces made sure to take control of Xian as a key tenet of their occupation of Asia and, indeed, Earth in general.
As the Zeon occupy the city itself, the Desert Dogs and other former Federation units have encamped in the Qinling Mountains approximately 100 kilometers to the west of Xian, which lies on the Guanzhong Plain. The Dogs' camp is located in the shadow of Mt. Taibai, where it would be difficult for the Zeon Occupation Forces to locate and get at them.
The Desert Dogs partake conservatively of their dwindling rations, uncertain if there will be any more nourishment available when the current supply does run out, they estimate, around ten days from now (maybe up to fourteen days if they really stretch it). Three weeks have passed since the Dogs took on supplies at a ruined and abandoned Federation supply depot on the China/Mongolia border. Foraging for crops that haven't yet perished as a result of the new climatic conditions isn't a promising prospect, and the Zeon occupy the plains below the Qinling Mountains in any case.
"I say we take Xian NOW," MSgt. Cunningham Tanaka insists, "we can't just sit here and rot! Let's take it to the Zeon! We're soldiers! We win the war or splatter our guts in the attempt!"
Captain Jonah Michaels of the Centurion Special Operations Team shakes his head, "No. We can't just die valiantly, Sergeant; we need to persevere until we're in a position to actually turn the tide. Those who remain are depending on us."
Tanaka bares his teeth, "You Spacenoids have no idea how to conduct a combat operation on Earth! If we don't…!"
1Lt. Jolie Minh cuts the sergeant off, "Let's decide in the morning, Sergeant. The weather isn't cooperating with us anyway…not that we should expect anything much better by what passes for daylight nowadays."
"Agreed," Jonah says, "We're all tired and tense right now. We're not going to get anything resolved. We'll consider it again in the morning, after we see what the weather is like."
The ranking NCO of the Desert Dogs grumbles, but he and his men begin putting down their cots within their tents for the night.
Jolie and Jonah retire to their collapsible ceramic tent, their home for the past two months, for the night. Another bleak, fruitless day comes to a close.
Jonah watches as his very beautiful de facto wife, who would turn nineteen within a few days' time, works her delicate hands through two knitting needles, creating what looks like a miniature Earth Federation Forces uniform jacket from several balls of thread that the Desert Dogs had managed to salvage along with other supplies from their raid on Chengdu Base some months earlier.
Jonah grins at the image of Jolie, seated crosslegged wearing nothing but a large t-shirt, exposing her long, shapely, silky smooth legs up to her upper thighs, looking absolutely contented as she works through her knitting, which she has done every night for at least three weeks now.
Jonah can't contain his laughter any longer and lets out a chuckle, "You know, I've heard that women change a lot after they get married, but seeing Jolie Minh knitting has GOT to be the most bizarrely surreal sight ever!"
"Hey, well, my mom did teach me how to knit when I was a little girl," Jolie says with a grin that melts right through Jonah's heart, "but I really hated doing it and pretty much sucked at it. It was too girly for my tastes!"
"So why are you doing it now?" Jonah asks, taking a sip of hot tea and offering Jolie a cup, which she declines.
"Times change," Jolie replies, "People change…and needs change."
"You obviously didn't learn proportion from your mother," Jonah cracks, noticing the very small size of the jacket, "or are you making that jacket for a doll?"
Jolie finally sets aside the knitting, runs her hands through her gorgeous long black hair, and unfolds her lovely legs to crawl towards Jonah on her hands and knees.
She stares deeply into his eyes as she says, "Special Forces commanders are supposed to be smart people, and you are, most of the time. Sometimes though, Jonah, you're as thick as a brick."
"What do you mean?" Jonah asks, taking another sip of tea.
Jolie sighs and shakes her head, "Some people don't get it until it's explained to them in very simple words."
Jolie whispers those words into Jonah's ear, and the young Centurion Team commander's eyes go wide in astonished delight.
"No…really? Are you serious?!" Jonah exhales, his mouth arcing into a wide smile of pure joy.
Jolie blushes and smiles, nodding. To Jonah, Jolie looks more adorable than ever, and that's saying something!
Jonah takes Jolie lovingly in is arms and holds her close, "Oh, Jolie…I don't know what to say. This…this is great! But…"
They look around the wastelands around them, the realm of darkness and mist that was, only months ago, a thriving, living planet.
What kind of a world would this be to bring new life into?
"How long now?" Jonah asks, concerned.
"I'm guessing around three months," Jolie replies, putting her hand over a lithe belly that has not begun to bulge yet, "it's been three months since I've…"
The couple's discussion is interrupted by the sound of an approaching aircraft.
Jolie and Jonah rush outside of their tent and cast their eyes skyward, spotting the guidance lights of the aircraft.
"A Zeon reconnaissance plane," Jolie hisses, "a Z-25 Fox Volante."
"They're looking for us," Jonah replies, "and they'll find us soon. We've got to organize with the Dogs and prepare to counterattack."
Within a quarter hour, the Desert Dogs, many of whom also heard the approaching Zeon recon plane, are gathered with Jonah and Jolie in the large tent that functions as the resistance group's conference area and mess hall. The sighting of the enemy recon craft means that the Zeon forces have discovered the presence of the Federation resistance force, or are very close to discovering it.
Clearly, the Desert Dogs and their two Special Forces comrades will need to get moving quickly.
"You might have been right about the need to make that offensive after all, Sergeant," Jonah says to MSgt. Cunningham Tanaka, "if it wasn't a good idea before, it definitely is now."
Tanaka grins, "Why the sudden change of heart, Captain?"
Jonah crosses his arms and replies, "The situation looks very different now from how it looked just a few hours ago, so our strategy needs to shift to accommodate those changes."
"Simple as that?" Tanaka asks quizzically.
"Simple as that," Jonah affirms, his face not betraying his concerns.
The conversation takes a turn for the vociferous after Jonah has dismissed the Desert Dogs, leaving only Jolie and himself in the commons tent.
"What do you mean you want to suspend me from combat operations?!" Jolie protests, "I'm NOT sitting out this battle, Jonah! No!"
"You're in no condition to be out there fighting," Jonah counters, "I want you in the rear guard…to support us from the back, if necessary."
"There's nothing wrong with me," Jolie insists, "I can fight just as good as I ever did!"
Jonah sighs, "I'm not risking you and the baby out there, Jolie. No way. I'm going to make it an order."
Jolie fumes silently for a moment, then explodes, "You're out of your fucking mind if you think I'm just gonna sit back and just watch while you're out there against…!"
Jolie doesn't finish her sentence…suddenly, she feels lightheaded and weak as a kitten.
"Oh, no!" Jonah groans as he sees Jolie about to collapse, and rushes in to catch her before she falls to the ground.
Jonah settles his wife onto a bench, placing his hands on her shoulders, his brows beetled with concern for his beloved, "Are you all right?"
"I'm OK," Jolie says, the faintness beginning to pass, "I don't know why…"
"This is precisely why I don't want you in any more combat operations," Jonah says gently, but firmly, "Of course we all know how great your fighting skills are. We'll miss them terribly, but you know what the risk is."
Jolie growls in frustration, and finally collapses into sobs, confused by the dilemma she suddenly finds herself in.
Jonah envelops Jolie in comforting embrace, and says to her reassuringly, "I know you want to help out and protect all of us because you can, but circumstances aren't the same now that our baby is growing inside you. Think about it, Jolie: I know how much you love this baby. You don't want to endanger him or her unnecessarily."
Jolie agrees, her hand running to her mouth in realization of what she is up against.
"We'll be all right," Jonah says soothingly, "I promise…we'll be OK. Want to have something to eat? You've got to stay healthy…for yourself, and for the baby."
Jolie nods, never one to turn down a chance to eat.
The Desert Dogs, on MSgt. Tanaka's recommendation, have decided not to wait for morning's light to make their move, and have suggested as much to Jonah. Thus, they make plans to move out to reconnoiter the local area before sunlight, as limited as it is, reaches the Kunlun Mountains. The morning mess, normally taken at 04:30 after reveille, is taken two hours earlier today.
Jonah, Jolie, and the Desert Dogs make the best of their limited food supply…pouring out the contents of their ration cans (some combination of beans, corn, and rice) into a common pot and heating the contents before redistributing it, one can per soldier. It is probably all the nourishment they'll have for the day.
That likely being the case, Jonah spoons almost the entire contents of his rations can into Jolie's can…as much as the latter can hold.
"Hey, stop," Jolie protests, "I've got enough."
"You're eating for two," Jonah says, "Skipping a meal won't kill me."
"It will if you go down from low blood sugar in the middle of a battle," Jolie continues, scooping the rations back into Jonah's can, "and that will kill me. You've got to eat too."
"What's this about 'eating for two?'" the solicitous as ever MSgt. Tanaka demands amicably, taking a seat next to the couple.
Realizing that they're unlikely to be able to keep the secret for long, and that the Desert Dogs have become more than just valuable allies and comrades-at-arms, but good friends, Jonah tells Tanaka, "Sergeant…1Lt. Minh is expecting a baby."
"No kidding?" Tanaka says, grinning, "Well congratulations to you, Lieutenant! I'm, er, guessing that Captain Michaels here is the daddy!"
Jolie begins giggling as Jonah crosses his arms and stares at Tanaka fiercely, "What do you mean 'guessing,' Sergeant?! Who else would it be?!"
"I kid, I kid," the beefy sergeant replies, then turns to his men, "Hey, boys! Got some good news for a change: Lt. Minh and Captain Michaels are gonna be a young mommy and daddy in a few months!"
That brings a raucous round of congratulatory cheers from the Dogs, which Jolie and Jonah accept with humility.
MSgt. Tanaka puts a spoonful of his rations into Jolie's ration can, and then gestures each of his men to come forward to do the same.
"Guys," Jolie says, "Thanks, but c'mon! You all need to eat! You can't share all your rations with me just because I'm gonna have a baby!"
"We're tough men, Lieutenant," the sergeant says, "We can survive on a little less food if we have to. Your baby shouldn't have to do the same."
Jonah says, "Because of Lt. Minh's condition, she's off the combat roster for the foreseeable future. I trust that you gentlemen understand."
Tanaka nods, affirming for his squad, "Don't worry about a thing, Captain. Like I said, we're tough men: we don't expect a pregnant girl to protect us, even if she can kick all of our asses single-handed. We'll just have to dig in and fight like the soldiers we are, no biggie. We'll protect the Lieutenant and her baby with our lives, right boys?"
"YEAH!" comes the response from each Desert Dog.
Jolie smiles affectionately at the men of the Desert Dogs, as tender hearted as they are tough of muscle and sinew. As much as their teammates on the Centurion Team, Jolie and Jonah have come to see the Dogs as their brothers.
Lt. Col. Kyoko Yamaguchi and her detachment of elite shock troops from the Phobos Division have landed on Earth at the Zeon Occupation Army's new base camp near Xian. Even as her Elmeth Gamma descended through Earth's ruined atmosphere towards central China, Kyoko could sense the White Phoenix's presence….a presence that exerts tremendous pressure upon Kyoko, and that she finds eminently threatening.
But there is something…different, something odd about the White Phoenix's aura that Kyoko did not sense during her previous, brief encounter with her. The harsh light of the Phoenix's aura seems blunted, dulled somehow…
Kyoko finds that idea disturbing. It is contrary to her warrior's code to attack an enemy who is vulnerable or weakened, and yet, she has her vow to the Archduke to honor…
"All units, follow my lead," Kyoko instructs the fifty Phobos Division mobile suits under her direct command.
"Yes, ma'am," comes the collective response.
Jolie hands Jonah his normalsuit helmet as he finishes sealing the wrists of his gloves.
Jonah smiles tenderly at Jolie, "We're going to miss having you up there with us, but you understand this is for the best."
Jolie looks down at her booted feet and says, "Yeah, I understand, but I still hate it. I'm a soldier too. I should be out there with the rest of you."
Jonah puts his arms around Jolie, his gloved hands upon her belly, "It'd only distract me, and that's something I can't afford. Knowing that you and our baby will be safe here will help me focus on the battle, which increases our chance of survival."
Jolie looks into Jonah's eyes, "Please come back safely, Jonah. I don't want to raise our baby alone."
Jonah nods, "I'll be back. I promise."
Momentarily, Captain Jonah Michaels' Centurion Gundam lifts off, with the GM-IID mobile suits of the Desert Dogs assuming a reconnaissance formation behind his mecha.
Jolie watches them depart forlornly from the camp, her White Phoenix Gundam idle. Jolie is not accustomed to the role of noncombatant, watching from the sidelines as her beloved Jonah goes into battle. The grounded eighteen-year old Federation ace chews her fingernails in anxiety as her husband's mobile suit disappears into the horizon.
Corporal Lonnie Kingston has been ordered by MSgt. Tanaka to remain behind to protect Jolie, as ludicrous as the idea of "protecting" the White Phoenix is, even if she is carrying a child within her.
"Don't worry about a thing, Lieutenant," Corporal Kingston says reassuringly, "Captain Michaels and the Sarge know what they're doing. They'll make it back without any problems."
"Thanks, Lonnie," Jolie says, "Let's hope so."
"Ma'am," reports 2Lt. Roy Lithgow of the Phobos Division, "We have enemy targets up ahead…seven units, five signatures of GM-II, a Guntank type, and the seventh, a Gundam-100 type."
Kyoko smiles, "It's them. No White Phoenix Gundam?"
"No, ma'am," Lithgow replies, "Only those seven."
"Phobos units converge on targets," Kyoko instructs, "Leave the Gundam-100 to me. Destroy the GM-II units at will."
"Yes ma'am," the Phobos pilots reply.
"Captain," MSgt. Tanaka reports, "Looks like we're gonna be outnumbered…badly outnumbered."
"That's not surprising, sergeant," Jonah replies, "but we've got the advantage of knowing the lay of the land, and being used to fighting in these conditions. Drop down to ground level!"
"Roger," respond the Desert Dogs.
The Earth Federation Forces drop to the heavily forested valley below, concealing their mobile suits amidst the dense woodlands.
"Ma'am," 2Lt. Lithgow reports, "Enemy targets have disappeared from our scopes."
"They're down there," Kyoko rasps, "They're trying to take advantage of their knowledge of this terrain. Clever strategy, but it won't save them."
So saying, Kyoko fires a shot from the beam rifle of the Elmeth Gamma, striking down one of the Desert Dogs' GM-IIs, reducing it to burning wreckage.
Kyoko's eyes flash as she seeks other quarry.
"Scatter!" Jonah orders, "and counterattack!"
The Desert Dogs fill the skies with thundering volume, using both beam rifles and tube-launched missiles. MSgt. Tanaka's Guntank unit directs shell after shell skyward, denying combat formation to the Phobos Division MS. The mass firepower finally brings down a Gellond Ground Striker, forcing the ebony-armored MS to crash into a soot-polluted nearby lake.
"Down!" Captain Kyoko Yamaguchi orders, "Into the forest!"
"But, ma'am," 2Lt. Lithgow begins.
"Do it," Kyoko says coldly.
"Yes, ma'am," Lithgow responds uncertainly.
The Gellond Ground Strikers descend into the forest to stalk their prey.
Cpl. Ollie Bowser of the Desert Dogs gets a fix on a Gellond GS on the scopes of his GM-IID, and squeezes his finger around the joystick trigger, hitting home and watching with satisfaction as the Zeon MS collapses. His satisfaction is short-lived as another Gellond GS descends from above him and cleaves his MS in half with its beam saber, creating an explosion that sparks the parched conifers into an inferno.
Less than a kilometer away, Lt. Col. Yamaguchi's Elmeth Gamma has located her quarry, Captain Michaels' Centurion Gundam, and hammers away at it with vulcan cannon and beam strikes that seem deliberately off-target.
Lord Jonah, Kyoko communicates with the Centurion Team Leader, Lord Alexander has ordered me to bring you back to Zeon, alive. Please cease your resistance.
Jonah's reply is to fire a volley of beam blasts towards the Elmeth Gamma…blasts that the black, birdlike MS dodges with ease.
MSgt. Tanaka adds the firepower of his Guntank unit to Jonah's efforts, and nearly draws a fatal counterstrike from the Elmeth Gamma, but Jonah's Centurion Gundam leaps in front of the Guntank, forcing the Elmeth Gamma to withhold its attack.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Tanaka demands.
"It's an Elmeth Gamma," Jonah replies, "Its pilot is a Newtype, like Jolie."
"Well, that's great," Tanaka gripes, "What a time for us to be caught shorthanded."
Jonah says nothing, directing the Centurion Gundam to another beam rifle attack.
The Elmeth Gamma dodges Jonah's shot, then moves in with its beam saber drawn.
Jonah counters by drawing the Centurion Gundam's own beam saber. The duel is engaged.
With an almost contemptuous casualness, the Elmeth Gamma drives the Centurion Gundam back, fifty meters, a hundred meters, and knocks the Federal Forces MS onto its back with a powerful roundhouse kick.
Back at the Desert Dogs' campsite, a spark to her forehead alerts Jolie to Jonah's danger, Jonah! He's being attacked by the Black Raven! I have to go help him!
Jolie sprints towards the White Phoenix Gundam.
"Hey, wait a minute, Lieutenant!" protests Corporal Lonnie Kingston, "We've got orders to stay behind! You can't…!"
"The unit's in danger, Lonnie," Jolie says, pulling on her normalsuit and donning her helmet, "I'm not gonna sit here and let them get killed!"
"But…!" Kingston protests.
Jolie chops Kingston across the neck, knocking the Desert Dog unconscious before he can protest any further.
"Sorry about that, Corporal," Jolie apologizes as she boards the White Phoenix Gundam and brings its combat systems to life.
The White Phoenix Gundam takes to the sky, rushing to the rescue.
The Phobos Division has the Desert Dogs on their heels, their superior numbers and skill outweighing the Dogs' deep knowledge of the terrain. The Dogs' experience fighting in these conditions has enabled them to draw the battle out and prevent a quick rout, but to a man, they know it is only a matter of time before the Zeon finish them off.
A Gellond GS takes aim at MSgt. Tanaka's stalled Guntank with its beam rifle, preparing to send the Federation MS and its pilot to oblivion with a single shot.
Instead, the Gellond is skeeted from the sky by a precision strike from the rapidly approaching White Phoenix Gundam.
"Hey! Look at who's just joined the party!" Tanaka exults, seeing the mighty Federal Forces MS tear across the sky.
The Elmeth Gamma is about to decapitate the Centurion Gundam with its beam saber when it finds its strike blocked by the beam saber of the WPG, the move forcing the Elmeth Gamma to withdraw momentarily.
Jonah spots the WPG through the Centurion Gundam's scopes, "Jolie! What are you doing here?! I ordered you to stay at the camp!"
Ignoring her commanding officer and husband, Jolie launches the WPG in pursuit of the Elmeth Gamma, which has recovered from the WPG's unexpected arrival and counterattacks.
"The White Phoenix shows herself at last," Kyoko hisses, her lips curling into a smile.
"I'm taking you down today," Jolie threatens from the cockpit of the WPG, "You won't threaten anyone I love again, Zeon bitch!"
An awesome duel of beam sabers ensues, with movements so exquisite and refined that it seems scarcely possible that two armored mechanisms could execute them with such flawless precision and fluidity. A strike, a parry, a block…moves anticipated milliseconds ahead of execution. Such uncanny grace…combatants on both sides are compelled to pause in mid-battle to watch the awesome spectacle.
For several long minutes, there is stalemate, as neither the White Phoenix Gundam nor the Elmeth Gamma seems able to gain the upper hand against the other, but then…the WPG seems to begin to falter…
Jolie feels herself going lightheaded, and gripped by nausea…her limbs growing weak.
No…not now, Jolie tries to clear her head and reorient herself.
The Elmeth Gamma kicks the beam saber out of the White Phoenix Gundam's armored hand, then proceeds strike the WPG in the midsection near the cockpit hatch with several powerful punches.
Jolie is jostled violently in the WPG's cockpit, feeling an intensifying pain in her abdomen. She coughs, and blood seeps from her mouth.
No…
Kyoko, sensing that the advantage has shifted in her direction, prepares to end it with a coup de grace, a beam saber strike that will immolate the White Phoenix Gundam.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" comes the scream of Captain Jonah Michaels, who positions his Centurion Gundam in front of the disabled WPG, prepared to take the strike for his wife.
Kyoko then senses it…within the White Phoenix, a second presence…innocent…helpless…afraid…
She realizes the truth.
No…I can't!
"All forces withdraw," Kyoko orders.
"Ma'am?" comes the confused response from 2Lt. Lithgow.
"I said withdraw!" Kyoko spits out more vehemently, launching her Elmeth Gamma high into the air and vectoring away in its mobile armor configuration by way of example.
At the cusp of victory, the Phobos Division pulls away, on a heading for their base camp.
"Why'd they withdraw?" one of the Desert Dogs asks, "They had us!"
"We'll figure that out later," MSgt. Tanaka says grimly, "We've got wounded."
The Centurion Gundam has helped the White Phoenix Gundam to a landing in a clearing in the midst of the forest.
Jonah removes his helmet, leaps forth from the Centurion Gundam's cockpit, and rushes to the unmoving WPG.
Jonah pounds on the armored cockpit, "Jolie! Jolie, are you all right? Open up!"
The cockpit hatch slides open. Jonah finds his wife slumped in the cockpit seat, panting shallowly, her face pale through the open visor of her helmet.
"Jonah…" Jolie moans pitiably, "It hurts…"
Jolie puts her hand on her abdomen to indicate where the pain us.
Jonah removes Jolie's helmet and scoops her into his arms, "It's going to be OK, sweetie. Let's get back to the camp."
Jonah radios MSgt. Tanaka, "Tanaka, come in."
"Sir," the MSgt. replies.
"Let's get back to base," Jonah says, "Lt. Minh is wounded."
"Roger, Captain," Tanaka replies, "We'll cover the withdrawal…make sure the Zekes don't catch us on a return run."
"Thank you, Sergeant," Jonah answers.
Jonah switches on the WPG's flight systems; he will pilot Jolie's MS, and carry the Centurion Gundam on the larger WPG's back.
Later, back at the Zeon Occupation Army's base at Xian, Lt. Col. Kyoko Yamaguchi explains her failure to Archduke Miguel, who appears to her on a video communications screen at Xian Base.
"I should not have spared her," Kyoko says contritely, "It was my weakness that cost us a crucial victory, my lord, and for that, I am prepared to accept any punishment you deem fit."
Were it any other officer, a report of such failure would have guaranteed a swift execution, but to Kyoko, Archduke Miguel only smiles, "You did comply with my most important order, Kyoko, which is that you survived the battle. That pleases me. There will be other opportunities to destroy the White Phoenix. In fact, the National Armory will soon roll out a new mecha that I will provide you specifically for that purpose. You've done well. Please get some rest and I will provide you with new orders shortly."
"Thank you, my lord," Kyoko says, thankful for Archduke Alexander's generosity, but still disappointed in her failure to kill the White Phoenix.
But on another level, Kyoko does not fully regret her lack of action. She is a loyal warrior of Zeon, and a true believer in the doctrines of Archduke Miguel.
But Kyoko is no murderer of children, especially unborn children.
Even now, the Black Raven cannot help but wonder about the condition of her enemy, whom she desires to someday defeat in a fair struggle.
Someday…
The Desert Dogs' resources were spartan even before the colony drop attack on Asia, owing to the remoteness of their base in Inner Mongolia. Even so, they had access to engineering and maintenance facilities for their mobile suits and other armored weapons, and a hospital facility for their wounded troops.
Now, however, they do not even have so much as a fully trained paramedic on hand.
Special Forces officers have more training in this area, although combat personnel not specifically trained in the Medical Corps had little more than advanced paramedic training, and certainly, the Special Forces' paramedic rubric didn't have much in the way of helping a pregnant woman through a miscarriage…
The Desert Dogs guard the tent occupied by Jolie and Jonah at a respectful distance, with MSgt. Tanaka checking in periodically to ask if he can lend a hand. Jonah thanks the Sergeant, but confirms that there is not much the NCO can do other than have his men stand guard and ensure that his and Jolie's privacy is not disturbed.
Corporal Tolui Sansar asks his commanding NCO, "How's the Lieutenant, Sarge?"
"Not good," Tanaka replies, "Captain Michaels is hoping for the best, but it looks like 1Lt. Minh is probably gonna lose her baby."
Sansar spits, "Fuck those Zeke pigs!"
"Yeah," Tanaka nods, kicking the dirt at his feet, "Next time we meet 'em out there, we'll tear those bastards apart for this."
Jonah is seated behind Jolie on the floor of the tent, holding her gently in his arms. Jolie sits on Jonah's lap, clad in only her uniform jacket, with her exposed legs spread wide and drawn back, knees nearly level with shoulders. Although the air within the tent is frigid, Jolie perspires profusely as she pants rapidly.
"Just keep panting, Jolie," Jonah says as reassuringly as he can, "It'll be all over soon."
"Jonah…" Jolie moans fitfully, "Help me…I'm gonna push."
Jonah can feel Jolie's pelvic muscles begin to contract on his lap. He holds her more tightly, taking her hand into his as he whispers into her ear, "OK. Push slowly, gently…not too hard. Just a little, like when you're constipated."
"Hnnnnnghhh!" Jolie grimaces as she begins to strain.
Jonah places his hands around Jolie's thighs as she pushes, bearing down into her bottom as if to relieve severe constipation, as Jonah suggested.
"Unnnnngh….nnnnnngh!" Jolie grunts, her hands gripping Jonah's tightly as she continues to strain and push.
A warm gush of blood soon splashes from between Jolie's legs, followed by a small, pitiful mass of dead flesh.
Jonah stares in deep, soul-deadening grief at the tiny, pitiable fetus that Jolie painfully passed from her womb. The developing child lies pale and still in the silence of death.
Their child…the latest casualty of this obscene war.
Jolie takes the lifeless fetus into her arms and holds it gently, breaking into uncontrollable sobs as she buries her face in Jonah's chest
Jonah holds Jolie tightly and begins sobbing with her, stroking the slain child's head lovingly with his gentle artist's hand.
Today is the darkest day the couple has ever known together. Jonah then remembers that, just a year earlier at the Woodhaven Colony near Jupiter, he and Jolie had shared a dream of starting a family together in a peaceful, beautiful place where they would be happy.
That dream has been corrupted into a nightmare of a reality.
And Jonah knows who is responsible…his brother, Archduke Alexander Miguel, Sovereign of the Archduchy of Zeon.
You and I will have our day of reckoning, Alex, Jonah vows, clenching his teeth in hatred, you're my brother, but now, you're also the murderer of my child. I swear I'll make you pay for that, Alex.
A day has passed since Jolie miscarried her and Jonah's baby, which was to have been a little girl…a girl that they would have named "Joanie."
Jolie dresses the remains of Joanie in the tiny Earth Federation Forces jacket she had been knitting. It was to have been little Joanie's first article of clothing. Instead, it will serve as her burial shroud.
Jolie and Jonah set the remains of their beloved daughter in a grave dug in the mountain wilderness, marking the site with a stone inscribed by their military-issue survival and combat knives.
Joanie Athena Miguel
October 6, U.C. 0100
Forgive us for being unable to protect you and bring you into this world.
We will love you forever.
Mommy and Daddy
The Desert Dogs, having learned of the couple's tragic loss, have come by with their condolences, vowing to protect and support the couple as far as they can.
"Captain," MSgt. Cunningham Tanaka says in as gentle a fashion as he can, "The boys and I are really sorry for your and the Lieutenant's loss. If there's anything we can do…"
"Thank you, Sergeant," Jonah says, putting a hand on the man's shoulder, "We appreciate the thought. Right now, though, we just need some time alone."
Tanaka places a comforting hand on Jonah's shoulder, and leaves the young officer with his thoughts and his boundless grief.
Tanaka takes a seat on a nearby stone, and draws from his pocket a photograph…a photograph of a younger version of himself with his young wife and their newborn son, a decade ago.
All ghosts…all memories.
Fuck those Zeke bastards, Tanaka thinks as he lights a cigarette.
Jolie remains bedridden (or cot-ridden). The bleeding has thankfully subsided, and there are no complications thanks to a very thorough detoxification job by Jonah using the meager medical supplies available. Jolie's womb has not been significantly wounded, and she will be able to bear children again someday.
Someday…
At the moment, however, Jolie is an emotional wreck…unable to come to terms with the loss of her unborn child. The cot beneath her is wet with an unrelenting flow of tears.
Jonah shakes Jolie gently on the shoulder, "Jolie…"
Jolie doesn't respond.
"Jolie," Jonah says, his voice cracking, "I understand. Joanie was my baby too. We dreamed of having children together, but that dream turned into a nightmare."
Jolie remains motionless and silent.
"Nightmares like this will keep happening, to other people, in other places, unless someone does something about it," Jonah says, "That someone has to be us, Jolie. No one else is around to do it."
Jolie turns to face Jonah. He raises her to an upright sitting position and lets her bury her face in his chest to sob.
"We'll win this war, Jolie," Jonah vows through his own anguished sobs, "We'll set things right again and then, I promise you, we'll have that family we promised ourselves."
Jonah feels Jolie nodding her head, knowing that she understands. Today, they grieve, but soon, they will need to set aside their grief to act again.
War is by nature cruel. It produces sorrow like the land produces wild grass, and allows no time to grieve before inflicting its cruelty elsewhere. For Captain Jonah Michaels and 1Lt. Jolie Minh, war's cruelty has come home, uninvited, but unavoidable.
And the only response is a resolution: to bring the war to an end, whatever sacrifices might be asked of them.