Even as victors are selected, there are many who chose not to submit to their greatest falls. Just as there are those who attempt to avoid being subject to the consequences of their actions, there are those who are more than eager to reap what they have sown. Where many see an ending, the strongest see their defeat as a reason to struggle for the cause that is most important to them. Such has been the nature of humans since the dawn of war. It is for those who live to witness history that such defiance is judged. The year is After Colony 225. This principle remains unshaken.
Episode 49: Reaching for a Glimmer of Hope
Nearly a day had passed since the ultimate betrayal Edward Blare had prepared for a long time to see enacted had come about. The hotel building his men following him were currently the only area where they were able to maintain a hold on their position and prepare themselves for future conflict with any of the remaining soldiers of the Coalition. Edward sat himself on a waiting couch when he tired to regain his composure and asked one of his men, "What is the current status of our position?"
The soldier answered, "We have a few of our forward scouts confirming the current area. From the sounds of it, the city is split in half at this point and no one is getting past our line of mobile suits."
Another one of the soldiers reported, "Your guards have all arrived general."
Edward ordered, "Let me see them."
Standing before him, Celso, Jens, Julian, and Susanne arrived in front of Edward as they offered a salute. Susanne spoke first, "Our positions have all been solidified general. Our current mobile suit numbers are holding their own and the enemy won't be moving another inch."
Edward asked, "And what do we know of the current hold on the Earth Sphere parliament?"
Julian answered, "Trapped like birds in a steel box. They move even one step outside of the building, someone be it our guys or one of Nathans is going to have a guaranteed kill."
Celso provided with an additional report, "General Vasquez currently has a hold of the front lines. He will be sure to let us know if there is even a building collapse."
Edward accepted the information, "From the sounds of it both of our sides have currently brought ourselves near the point of complete exhaustion. They will need only remain vigilant if I am to ever have a chance at victory."
Jens pointed out, "I don't know if it's right for you to do that sir. I'm personally just worried you might not be able to hold yourself strong if you don't rest."
Edward sighed before telling Jens, "I once had to remain awake for four days when the Coalition was pressing its claim on the defiant colonies. It is only something I have to prepare to do again."
Susanne added, "With all due respect general, we want you to be there leading us to victory. And we care about you still having the strength and mind necessary to continue on with such an important hour."
Edward looked up to her when he told her, "The capabilities of a leader must never be underestimated. I hope you recognize that I am here today not because everything was handed to me, but because I earned it through my ability to lead after such a long and demanding war."
Jens agreed, "That's why we should be the ones who have to be ready to spring up for combat. WE should all be remaining here and prepare to engage the enemy if they slip in."
Edward agreed, "All of you will follow your assigned shifts. The men out there will require direction and I need all of you to be the extension of my intentions."
Celso agreed, "We'll return to our stations general. Hopefully next time we meet we'll be able to say we've toppled the entire Coalition and we'll be ready to pave our own way forward."
Edward gave a salute that his four guards returned when he told them, "I expect nothing less. Return if there is a significant development on the field. Dismissed."
Edwards guards left the building before one of the soldiers near Edward told him, "General, the chief technician is prepared to offer his report."
Edward permitted, "Patch him through."
He saw a hologram of Kieran McNeil appear in front of him as the soldier set a projector on the ground. Kieran greeted, "General. It's nice to see that the plans are going as planned. Or at least the Testudo out here is secure and making its patrol around the city to view the devastation."
Edward confirmed, "Right now we have a long effort before us. The duty of ensuring that no one enters falls upon you. Once I announce the president has been defeated, you are to prepare for whatever incoming forces come to challenge us."
Kieran agreed, "There still another two generals out there who are most likely unaware of the current situation. I did hope that we would be able to get by without having any more killed, but at least it was giving my creation a chance to have a few more opportunities at destroying things."
Edward told hm, "It will be necessary for many years to come. Our day now is to demonstrate our ability to guide the human race through the strength of our resolve. The greatest fortune we have is the fact that the colonies are now hoping to see their ambition of controlling Earth come about. It falls to you boy to make that be their final secure thought."
Kieran agreed, "It will be possible once we find the ammunition for the main cannon general. I do hope there's still some priority in finding it. WE had to force back that other Gundam after letting it get away. Their presence could be a problem I think."
Edward nodded, "If they survive for too long they will be able to inform other pockets of resistance of the current weakness we still bear. Unless General Celler or Milano can see them destroyed." He brought his gaze back up to Kieran when he told him, "Right now it is a concern beyond our capabilities. We will be forced to deal with either one matter outside have played out on their own. Your duty now is to ensure that their city remains an arena between the two forces who will soon determine the fate of the Earth leadership."
Kieran offered a salute when he told his general, "Continue to give them hell general. Looking forward to the celebration."
Edward returned the salute when he told Kieran, "You will not have to wait long. Continue the patrol unless you have been commanded otherwise." The hologram of Kieran faded and Edward was left with the responsibility of waiting for the first announcement of enemy involvement that he could anticipate.
Darren Celler's brigade was passing the city of Dijon and moving further south in their tracking of the final target of their known resistance group. In the distance in every discernable direction there were very few signs of a mobile suit making its way across the French countryside. The sort of conditions that Darren knew were ideal for someone to have disguised an escape somehow.
He heard one of his men announce, "General, we have a few streaks here that are indicating we're headed the right direction."
Darren confirmed, "I am looking for confirmation but we need some kind of confirmation we are making the right way forward. Has there been any reports of the Gundam heading west?"
Another one of his men answered, "We've had a few eye witness scouts of the Gundam out here but it appears to be heading further south. It is a bit odd it almost seems as if they intend to allow themselves to be cornered."
Darren agreed, "It is very visible that they are hoping to achieve so much with their position. Right now I will require an understanding of what their plan is. There must be an advantage for them or they possibly hope to only have repairs done before they are forced to face us again. Right now we must ensure that we do what we can to have this threat cornered. I must make contact with General Milano."
One of the operators heard this and followed on the order, "We'll establish a connection soon general."
Darren ordered the rest of the men on his communications array, "Continue to remain ready. All activity is to be reported and met with appropriately."
A few seconds passed before one of his operators announced, "General, we have contact with General Milano's signal."
A hologram of Emidio Milano appeared in front of Darren as Emidio greeted, "General, I see that you still have a duty to fulfill as of right now."
Darren confirmed, "one Gundam appears to have slipped through the fingers of our grasp or even our initial reports from what the Mad Lord was busy with. As of right now it would seem that they have been too heavily damaged to be ready to offer any more damage to our forces."
Emidio asked, "Has the devastation been enough to hold your own numbers? I would not imagine you would contact a fellow brigade unless this were the situation."
Darren confirmed, "I regret that this is unfortunately my current situation. I will need to ensure that his weapon can be easily destroyed without any more casualties that are not our own. It is that our numbers have endured too great of a loss that can even be considered acceptable that I request you to assist us."
Emidio warned, "Very soon it is possible that we may be facing a threat that is more than just one Gundam. Our scouts have confirmed that we may soon be facing the force of the Mad Lord forces at some point. One that even now places a great deal of pressure on the best of our ranks."
Darren was intrigued when he observed, "So the Mad Lord has those who have willingly thrown themselves to his cause even if it was for the final hours of the Earth Sphere. I'm assuming that you suggest that he has the aid of the traitorous Gundams at his side?"
Emidio confirmed, "Most correct. Very soon they will have someone at their side who will be capable of far more than just being a nuisance. We are witnessing the strength of men and women who were willing to have their own scarifies because it would mean they would be free to their own force in destroying us."
Darren sighed when he lamented, "There might be a bit of karmic retribution at play for what we have allowed to play out it seems. We allowed our Gundams to become a free force that would liberate us from the Earth Alliance and here we are now forced to destroy the same individuals who are hoping to achieve the same thing."
Emidio agreed, "At the very least there is some amount of irony to such a situation. This time however, there is very little room for us to permit failure to destroy these ones. We are now in a war where we must declare at long last that a united Earth cannot be a proper path to a peaceful tomorrow. We are unfortunate that these soldiers in particular have chosen to give their lives so willingly to the cause so that their ideas of a progressive future be held. What we do after they have met their end must be determined by how we act and maintain the peace that we are tasked with upholding."
Darren accepted, "I will have to be prepared to see this day once we are successful. Do we have any report on where the mad Lords vessel will be setting itself to dock?"
Emidio answered, "They are likely to land port somewhere along the coast of the French Riviera. My men are currently stationed in Acceglio and will be prepared to move out once their final location has been determined."
Darren thanked, "I am grateful you would have the initiative in this situation general. I look forward to seeing this threat we face be extinguished, but hopefully we will both be the right forces the Earth needs in order to permit humanities long period of healing that is soon to follow."
Emidio agreed, "We may only be two of those men but hopefully not merely insignificant ones. The president will require as much support at his side as he can ask for once this conflict has ended. We will meet with you soon general."
Darren accepted, "This will not be the end of it, but it will be an end to those who have sought to see this war extended to its fullest length."
The hologram of Emidio faded as Darren ordered his men, "We are nearing the point where we will find this last pocket of resistance. Right now, I want us prepared for potential costal attacks."
One of the operators agreed, "We're moving out sir. To the French Ravine?"
Darren confirmed, "That is where we must proceed. These unworthy inheritors of the name of Gundam must all meet their end and before this war can finally end."
The coast of the French Ravine remained untarnished as the Nornir Triumvirate made its way closer to the final place it could hold as refuge. The town of Fréjus was in the distance but a long-overlooked hangar bay stood near a cliff that had no visible occupants. Richard checked the area when he told everyone, "Looks like we at least found a place we can call safe. It's weird though, why would an installment like this go completely untouched?"
Christoph reasoned, "Might be one of dads private properties. He managed to keep that landing strip base untouched, a distant one like this can't be too fortified."
Frederic asked, "So what happens when we set up base here anyway? Isn't someone going to send a warning to the Coalition about our location?"
Elna told him, "Well just have to make sure that this place isn't a Coalition stronghold waiting for us."
Christoph moved the Nornir closer to the doors when he told them, "Nothing is too safe of a spot for us at this point. Who's home?"
The Nornir opened the doors and saw the hangar bay was completely absent of any mobile suits but filled with equipment and armor plating's. The Nornir stepped closer inside when Christoph told his brothers, "Okay, let's disband. It looks like we are good to call this area safe."
Christian agreed, "You heard him guys. We're going to be splitting."
Elna sat herself in Richards lap when she told them, "Let's just accompany them guys. Less time than exiting outside."
Richard smirked when he agreed, "I don't mind this at all."
Christian allowed Frederic in his cockpit while Daisuke climbed into Christoph's before he took hold of a lever and declared, "Disband now." The Nornir inside the hangar opened its back as the Lachesis was the first to detach and the Urth came out afterwards. The three Gundams walked in a single file forward before the Clotho in front knelt down and allowed itself to shut down. It was only a few seconds before Christoph set himself to the ground and Daisuke followed while the other four pilots gathered near the Urth. Christoph offered, "Good news guys, it looks like we can't keep staying on the run now."
Christian agreed, "I didn't realize how sore my ass was getting from all of that sitting. Wouldn't have been bad if I was able to kill ten times more guys than I had a chance to."
Chrstoph told him, "You might have that chance pretty soon. We need to address the current state of our Gundam right about now." He pointed to the three Gundams and their scuffed and damaged appearance as the point of discussion. He added, "We need to fix these things and get them ready before we have a chance to head out again."
Richard asked, "Do you think dad is going to be pissed as all hell for how these things look or will he be happy that we put them to use?"
Christoph answered, "He'll be at his most pissed if he sees these things broken down and unable to move after we went through so much trouble to escape. We'll need to get started to fixing these things right away if we're going to have some approval. We got an idea of what order we're going?"
Frederic answered, "The Urth can hold the new armor plating's better than the others with those type of hands. We don't have much of a repair crew so that one will have to start off the fixes and you guys will have to work on the Urth yourselves."
Christian told him, "I'm not the best at this sort of thing so I'll need some direction for how to fix everything."
Elna agreed, "That's what we're going to have to help you with. Well the sooner the faster so why don't we get started now?"
Richard agreed, "Looking forward to it. You think you'll be able to find something important to do Christoph?"
Christoph took a look around the bay when he told him, "If I have a chance to find a way to make contact with dad I bet it will be worth the search. You guys just try to be careful not to break everything."
Christian turned towards his inactive Urth Gundam when he told his brother, "Believe me, I'm looking forward to actually having a chance to fight again instead of cancelling out our chances."
The four involved in the repairs made their way to the three Gundams while Christoph was left with Daisuke as they both searched the general area for equipment they could use. Daisuke walked next to Christoph when he commented, "Got to say, it's kind of weird to think that we have any chance at having a little optimism after all we just went through."
Christoph paused as he tried to find the right response and agreed, "I never thought I'd live to see people like us end up in this situation. If anything, it probably means we've done something right after causing so much of an uproar out there. It's a little disappointing that we've allowed our old mans big ambition of heralding the Gundams himself wasn't what he hoped it would be like."
Daisuke opened a door to find a small weapons room when he asked, "You and the other guys could have practically controlled almost the entire number of Gundams we had. There's probably some excitement in that. But it is really what you and the others have been hoping to achieve?"
Christoph continued his walk as he looked over the crates and sheets of metal when he answered, "It's been something that we were hoping to do since we were kids. Losing our mom at such an early age was a really big influence on how we were going to go forward."
Daisuke recalled the big event when he observed, "The assassination of Griselda Lindeman. Sad this is most of the Earth looked at it as just a tragic accident. We're all at least fortunate that you guys had the idea that the Falsons wanted her head."
"Yeah we never did find out who the killer was or why it was done. I don't even know if we're going to ever find justice for her. Not when her death seems like such a distant memory at this point."
Daisuke opened a nearby door when he asked, "How about this? Is this a spot where we can make contact?"
Christoph looked inside to find a small radio room with a computer panel that seemed to be the most up to date piece of technology in the hangar establishment but had a small layer of dust from many years of going untouched. Christoph blew the dust when he answered, "It looks like we might have something here. At least we might be able to talk to others if we can figure out their signal."
Daisuke agreed, "Now that's going to be the issue isn't it? We need to actually build contact with them before we can use it."
Christoph encouraged, "The point is right now we have the means of getting ourselves better prepared. Let's just see if we can have ourselves properly prepared for meeting with the others."
"That's something we have to just go off of assumption. We have to hope that Lord Lindemann and the others find their way anywhere near us."
"It has to make some amount of sense doesn't it? They just need to head north and then they make way for Brussels. Unfortunately, we might have that brigade to slow us down just a little."
Daisuke leaned outside the radio room window when he looked at the ongoing repairs to the three Gundams when he commented, "It sure is a different experience actually having to go through what we signed up to accomplish. We were all drafted to fight for our leaders until our dying breaths and we actually manage to be among the few who actually get to live up to that dedication."
Christoph recognized what he meant when he agreed, "Not everyone got to go through this alive and not everyone could make it. I can just imagine Flake is pissed beyond all hell for what he had to miss out on. At least he gets to say he survived. Now here we are completely indifferent towards the whole idea of losing everyone who we've ever considered important to us."
Daisuke shrugged, "Everybody knew what they were getting themselves into. Not much of a counseling letter, but it is the truth when we're talking among fellow brothers in arms right?"
Christoph was reluctant when he agreed, "Wars change people and it can be for the better or worse depending on how we let those changes affect us. I'm almost worried that I won't be able to recognize Donna if she manages to be at our side."
Daisuke agreed, "She was a big winner in the draw who would be able to pilot a Gundam and what mission she would take. It's a damn shame that she's probably going to have the blood of her fellow soldiers on her hands. I really wish I could have been able to warn everybody under General de Lombard of what they were going to face if they tried to take down the Gundams all the way out there."
Christoph managed to reason out of the situation, "There were a lot of things that happened that were just beyond our control. The biggest thing we have to hope for now is that we can actually help the others make a big difference after all that we had to risk our lives for."
Oleg continued to hide behind one of the buildings for cover when he saw the enemy making an advancement. He tried to find out their standing when he asked one of the pilots, "Do we have any word on the advancement from front line observations?"
He heard one of the pilots announce their status, "We are still stuck in the situation we were in before. It sounds like they're either waiting for our turn to wake up."
It made sense to Oleg since the battle couldn't continue indefinitely. They needed to have the energy to even lift a weapon in combat. "We must keep the enemy mobile suit forces from advancing into our area. We cannot allow them to harm our ground forces."
Another Leo III pilot tried to ask their superior, "Should we prepare any preliminary attacks sir?"
The Captain denied the option when he answered, "We don't have the numbers or any solid location of their ground forces. They'll be able to overtake our surprise if we move out now. Try and get some rest. We'll put up a decent fight after that."
"Yes sir." Oleg responded among the pilots forced to wait out the destruction. He was then forced to content himself with the closed accommodations of his cockpit to get some sleep.
Outside the city of Laon, a shuttle carrying some of the most precious cargo the Coalition could hope to have a hold of was maintained while the four colonial representatives watched what little numbers they had left form and prepare for an advance. John Windham looked outside from his window when he heard Felix Bryant ask, "We have been given quite the mess that we will need to work with. It is unfortunate that we have been given so little to work with in this frame."
John agreed, "And our military have already been exhausted that we are given very little to work with in cleaning up Nathaniel's mess. We offered our support because of his ability to unite people under the call of justice and yet now we have men at his side who are hoping to destroy him for the sake of their own gain. Right now, it would seem that only General Kung is the only man we can have any hope in actually having a proper mindset."
Norio Mashima entered the room the two representatives had when he told them, "It may not be as simple as we hope. General Kung is indeed loyal to the colonies and few others, but he will be forced to deal against the men who threaten the hold we will have. It is likely he has sided with Nathaniel out of the decision that he would be the better choice than the one who might have to be making a claim to power. Were it not for the cell of resistance we have to face, we would easily be able to still the current situation at a far sooner hour. Right now, the Anaconda is possibly the only choice we have in attempting to end this resistance."
Felix turned to him when he agreed, "We will also have to hear from the pilot himself that this will be as safe of an attempt as possible. If there is anything we will be able to claim after today gentlemen, it will be that our efforts to end the ear of a united Earth is soon to be met with only validation on the part of the human race. The Coalition may be about to fall on itself, but we will still be standing. Nathaniel Falson will no longer be the shortsighted man in charge of dictating the current course of the human race."
Norio warned, "We must be careful when we say such words to the Anaconda pilot however. He still has a fair amount of loyalty to this establishment and we may not be able to maintain his support if we are evident about such a claim."
John accepted, "We shall see if Ian is right with his evaluation of Kiprotich and we have a chance to rely on him for our advance."
The three men waited out of the room and made their way to the small gathering hall where Ian Estes stood in front of Tano and greeted, "He has confirmed that he is indeed the pilot everyone. I believe you may be pleased to hear that he is not even concerned in the least about the sort of odds that we are facing."
John asked the lieutenant at attention, "Is this true boy? You are that confident in the abilities of your Gundam and of you as a pilot?"
Tano confirmed, "I am sure. I can't even begin to express how prepared I am sirs, but the honor of cutting down the traitors will be enough for me to finally see justice is done to those who hope to undermine the colonies."
Norio answered of the dedication when he warned, "You must recognize there are more than just a few mobile suits to deal with. If our fortune proceeds, the others to the south should be able to stop the Gundams and then proceed with crushing what little resistance there is left."
Tano offered, "The repairs to the Anaconda have been completed and I am anticipating the chance to destroy them myself. I have to make my struggle all the way here mean something."
Felix told him, "You will be able to start once you have dealt with the Aquarius that is still on the loose. It alone is an effective creation that has been responsible for so much of our progress and we must discover if its pilot is still on our side or if it must be another target for you to destroy. Either scenario is preferable if it means our remaining military resources are able to provide the final stab for victory that we are seeking."
Ian agreed, "The fact remains that we are most likely going to lose men out there. For right now we trust you boy to discover this information and report if the progression of this conflict can still be turned in our favor."
Tano offered a salute when he promised, "I won't let anyone down. And I will return with nothing less."
Norio pointed to him, "A man of few words just as Admiral Miles described him. Live up to your promise boy."
Tano walked away as he prepared to meet with his new squad when Derek observed, "This boy is indeed showing resolve. Perhaps the admiral's action is indeed a worthwhile one."
Norio warned, "This is all based on the promise that we are assured victory. New have much to plan for if the last of our forces cannot remain decisively standing about the will of all who have struggled for so long."
Felix confirmed, "We entered a very risky deal when we aligned ourselves with Nathaniel. As of today, however we must learn if there is something for us to reap or if we are the ones who must be sent into the annals of history.
Outside the city of Cannes, Richard viewed the landscape that had been untouched by the ongoing war as he remained with one foot outside the door of a military truck he found and tried to view the potential road towards where he would be able to continue forward on his journey. He heard a buzz from his radio before the voice of Christoph asked, "You reach your destination Richard? Are you any closer to finding out about incoming vessels?"
Richard answered the radio when he told Christoph, "I remember my mission. Right now, it looks like there's some pretty standard stuff coming this way. I don't even know if there's anything that these people can do to confirm our hopes right now. Do you think we really have a shot just by sending one of us out this way to search for a vessel?"
Christoph answered, "We really can't afford anyone else and we need to at least hope we aren't so far off. And it needs to be done before we find anyone resembling Coalition forces find their way over here. We hardly even made a lot of progress on the repairs as it is."
"You guys are at least able to defend yourselves is that right?"
"The Lachesis has been fixed and we're getting to work on the Clotho. We at least have something waiting for you once you get back."
"That's nice. I'll have to remain out here hoping against hope that I somehow get a chance to contact the next ship that even looks a little funny."
"It's a dull job know, but act like it's something you actually want to accomplish won't you?"
"I'll keep heading down this way. Can't keep them waiting. Talk to you in a bit." Richard shut off the radio as he started to the truck again and drove down the road to Cannes. It was a short drive before he found himself a place to park at a gas station and tossed his Earth Sphere uniform shirt into the truck leaving him in just a tank top and military pants. He waited inside the station when he saw a few people turn heads to see it enter while he remained quiet.
He asked the cashier inside, "Hey is it too much trouble to ask that you guys didn't see me?"
The cashier agreed, "Not much to hide. It's not the to worry about with how untouched our place has been."
Richard could hear a television in the background describing matters of the Coalition maintaining its victory but without any word on Franz Kecker's trial. Richard lingered for a bit when he asked, "I need to know, is the presidents death already old news?"
One of the station occupants told him, "Not even news at this point. We've been waiting a good chunk of the day but there's no report on Franz Kecker's execution. You don't think Falson wanted to have a few extra days humiliating him do you?"
Richard shook his head, "That can't be the case. Hearing someone say that's happening though is pretty weird. I guess this is why I'm not a politician."
Before there was any more question about the situation, Richard heard a bit of news from the television, "Warnings from the Coalition dictate their forces are crossing from the Italian border into France where a reported cell of renegade Earth Sphere soldiers are now cornered. All cities along the French Ravine are to prepare to meet with the Coalition forces and act within reason or be treated as enemy combatants."
Richard was struck with worry when he heard the comment but one of the station crew pointed out, "Hey if you don't try to go down fighting it's possible they'll let you off a warning or so. It's not like you have a weapon left against them do you?"
Richard stepped away when he told them, "Well… It's not quite as easy as I'd hope."
The cashier offered, "If I gas your truck up for you, you'll be able to warn your friends about what you're about to be up against. It's not like we're going to be having much of an economy when this is all done."
Richard told him, "It's not quite just that. I think I have to find a pier somewhere."
The cashier offered, "There's a few at least. If your friends are headed from the sea. Hope they aren't landing anywhere near here, we'll probably be the first to be searched if they keep headed this way."
Richard thanked, "Thanks for your service sir, you've done me a big favor. We get out of this alive, I will make sure you're compensated somehow."
The cashier prepared one of the pumps for Richard to receive the gas when he commented, "That's based on the big assumption that we're going to have a government. Are you guys really planning to do something drastic to change our current situation? Because it sounds like you might be on to some really secret final hour achievement."
Richard made his way to the door of the center when he told him, "Well you might be surprised. I don't know how much support we're going to have after this but I think it's possible that we'll actually have something to stand for when all of this is done. You take your advance and just act like I was never even here."
Richard rushed his way down the piers as he searched for whoever he could guess was the man in charge. He saw a man near the wharf when he asked, "Hey do you have a radio here at all?'
The man confirmed, "Yeah, we got one. You need it for something?"
Richard confirmed, "Yeah. I need to make a broadcast out there. I need to make contact quick."
The man opened the door to the wharf when he warned, "We've got a few civilian ships prepared to deck here at some point, but we don't have much of a secure line of communication. There's a Coalition cruiser that's headed this general direction. If you're going ahead then you better be willing to turn yourself in."
Richard made his way when he rushed over to the radio and looked over the signals that were available on the nearby computer. He responded to the warning, "If it really is the Coalition, well the least I can do is buy myself a little time." He found the signal of the Coalition cruiser that was within range and called, "Attention. Is there a Coalition leader on board? I need to speak to him now."
There was a pause on the line before Richard was able to hear any response. As soon as he received it, he heard, "This is Captain Nassar. Who are we speaking to?"
Despite the identification, Richard was able to recognize the voices of who he had just made contact with. Richard asked, "Instructor W? Is that you?"
The voice on the other line paused before confirming, "Richard. You're alive and all the way out here?"
Richard contained his excitement as he clenched a fist and waved lightly before he answered, "I am instructor. Along with at least a handful of others. We've been holding ourselves down pretty well and we have a chunk of the Coalition falling on its face trying to get us."
The voice of the instructor had become easier when he asked, "That's impressive Richard. It will be nice to meet with a familiar face once we set shore. Are you and the others concentrated somewhere?"
"We're out near the city of Fréjus. We'll be ready to see some welcome faces out here, but I hope you guys are ready to come in with a rattling start."
"Why is that? Is the Coalition situated there?"
"It's about to be. We've got one brigade from the north lining us down and we got one coming over from Italy. Hate to say it, but I think we might have a tough situation ahead of us."
"I'll have to let everyone know. You and the others need to make sure that you avoid any contact until we meet with you. I hope you can still defend yourselves."
"We'll be okay instructor. I better get going if I'm going to get this warning to the others. Just be sure not to disappoint us will you instructor?"
"The same goes to you."
The signal shut off as Richard made his way out of the building and the man in charge asked, "So you guys actually have a plan when it's about the incoming soldiers?"
Richard turned to confirm, "We sure do. And you will be one of the biggest helps we've had in this whole ordeal."
"I don't think that even having just a few mobile suits at your side is going to be enough to hold against two whole brigades."
Richard paused before he gave an answer, "Well it might not be for something a whole lot of people will accept."
Before he could be bothered with another question, he rushed back to the gas station where his truck was parked and reminded himself, "Most people are still going to have a hard time accepting a bunch of guys who are being portrayed as renegades aren't they? Damn, I hope they can clear their name by getting the capital if it's still there. If it isn't, I don't know what will be."
The city of Fréjus continued to be one of the few areas in the world that had been unharmed by the passing of the final days of the ongoing war. All remained calm until Christian looked out in the distance to see the presence of a cruiser he had been waiting for. He looked into the hangar when he told everyone, "We got one you guys! It looks like they're setting up anchor!"
Christoph and Richard rushed to the radio room when Christoph told Richard, "Adjust the signal. Let's see if this works like you say it does."
Richard told his brother, "It will. Now get ready to act proper."
The two worked on the radio while Christoph called, "Instructor, are you there? Please confirm your presence."
A voice on the other line confirmed, "Christoph. Nice to see that you are doing okay as well."
Christoph kept himself composed when he told Instructor W, "You have no idea how great this is for us instructor. You want us out there to meet you?"
The instructor told him, "Right now we're on the way to meet you. I hope you all prepared yourselves to move out quick."
Christian shouted from the hangar, "Holy shit this is a miracle!"
Christoph and Richard looked outside to see the sight they had been hoping to see for so long. Christoph offered, "I'll talk to you again at some point instructor." He hung up the radio as he made his way towards the open bay doors where he saw the Sandesgeist knelt down while Donna leapt down with a confirmation of once again seeing her brothers. Christian rushed forward as he embraced her making a hug and told her, "God damnit all to hell! Donna I can't even tell you how great it is to see you here at last!"
Donna returned the embrace when she told him, "I'm glad to see you to. How are Christoph and Richard?"
Christian backed away when he told her, "Oh yeah, they're both here along with a few others. We've been holding ourselves down for as long as we could."
He recognized his father stepping out of the Sandesgeist leaving him surprised at the arrival. He stood at attention as Till looked over the repairs that were under way before recognizing the work being done. Till greeted, "Quite a sight to see my works were put to use. I do hope you recognize that I offered you these tools in order to push back against the Coalition in a significant way. I do hope you weren't trying to cover your failure by making an escape."
Christian told him, "No way at all. I wasn't even in favor of getting back here either and we even managed to destroy almost every Scutum unit we were able to find."
Till accepted, "I suppose I could only expect a certain amount when your resources were so limited. But I do hope you were able to achieve more than just that as well. I am here because I want to confirm that you were in fact capable of crippling the Coalitions hold or at least pave a way forward for our final attack."
Richard entered the conversation, "Christian here was almost suicidal to the point of trying to achieve that dad. We were the ones who had trouble."
Christoph agreed, "We had a few ships trying to make our position worth something. But we've learned some important information when we tried to reach the capital. Right now, the Testudo is stationed near the city of Namur and its closer of a target than we could have asked for being that close to the capital. What's more important is that when we approached it, we weren't targeted with its main cannon at all."
Till remained indifferent when he asked them, "And what value is this current position supposed to reveal?"
Donna began, "I think he's saying the Testudo –"
Till cut off his daughter when he told her, "I believe your brothers are capable of explaining the value of their actions for themselves."
Christian grit his teeth as he was forced to see his father cut off his sisters answer but remembered the need to remain under the approval of his father to continue piloting. Christoph answered, "It means that we can approach the Testudo in a significant advance without having to worry about the cannon destroying us all. It won't be like Berlin where we couldn't advance past the frontlines after we were able to damage the cannon before. We're not sure if it's because of repairs or because of something else, but that cannon is not loaded right now, and we have an opportunity that we can't afford to let us pass by. Right now, our repairs are almost done and we can take back the capital if we destroy them before the thing is operational again."
Till nodded when he asked, "How long do we have before the Gundams have been fully prepared?"
Richard answered, "I heard from Frederic that our repairs should reach at 100% in about a half hour."
Till told them, "You have five. Prepare to follow us and I want to see that you are all prepared to fight again."
He turned to the Sandesgeist when he told Donna, "Take me to the others. I will have to follow the instructor as we progress to the capital. If the warning we have about the two brigades is true, we will be forced to make do with what limited resources we now have for an offensive."
Donna accepted, "Yes, right away." She turned to her brothers when she offered, "Good luck out there guys."
The three brothers watched Donna and Till make their way to the Sandesgeist as it lifted them up to the cockpit and Richard pointed out, "Not much has changed hasn't it? Dad is still acting with a stick up his ass and he's expecting everyone around him to be a super powered charger through every challenge we have in front of us."
Christian told him, "He's expecting us to be the soldiers we can be. He's always wanted to bring out the best in us so he expected us to be the best we can be."
Christoph turned to see the Urth undergoing its final repairs when he told his brothers, "We better be ready to live up to those expectations. It's not going to be long before we have to take on the blunt edge of the Coalition's hold. Right now the only advantage we have to push forward to victory is the fact that we have to go forward harder than we ever have before."
The fellowship of Gundams and final resistance members of the Earth Sphere passed the city of Valence in the journey north to the Earth Sphere capital. With no knowledge of the internal conflict and desperation had overtaken them as they made their rush towards their final destination. The Gundams had all been loaded on carrying trucks as they lay in wait for the opportunity to prepare for the rescue of their Earth leaders while their pilots were left as passengers waiting for the next call to be sent into action. Before there was another discussion of the course, Dana looked over the radar on her side of the truck she occupied with Cinzia when she observed, "Look at that. It seems like we're closing in on the enemy like Donna's boys said we would."
Cinzia agreed, "We got some signals headed this way. It's not looking great though captain. It doesn't look like we have an opportunity to go around them. It's either forward into them or we head back."
Dana confirmed, "That leaves us with only one option then. Time to remind these guys who's in charge. She reached for the radio when she told everyone, "All pilots get ready to advance. Keep our occupants safe, we need to meet with the enemy right away."
Cinzia stopped the truck when she followed Dana to the holding of the Ursa and the Artemis as they both saw multiple trucks stop alongside them and made every mobile suit operational while the Gundams lead the charge. Mercurio checked his radar while charging the distance for the first target he would attack. He gripped his control when he contacted Roy and told him, "Stay behind. I'm making the first run and destroying all of them."
Roy heard this and accepted, "I'm looking forward to the spectacle Yuy."
The Uriel powered its jets as it flew alongside the Sandesgeist and the Artemis in plane mode while the Nornir Gundams followed behind and proceeded to combine into one form. Mercurio contacted the Nornir Triumvirate, "Stay with Donna and cover our right. Warn us about any advance."
Richard asked, "Is this an order from the captain? I don't think strategy has much of a defensive plan ready."
Mercurio simply told him, "We need to keep our guys defending by preventing the enemy from making contact. You have the weapon to take them out, now move."
He cut contact with the Nornir as he pressed forward and heard Ermes contact him, "You're taking them on cus? Do you seriously not need the support?"
Mercurio controlled his anger in an aggravated voice when he answered, "We're not deviating from the plan understood?"
Dana cut on the conversation when she told Mercurio, "You aren't here to give orders. Ermes, if you need your support we'll be sure to let you know. You've seen us handle more than this right?"
Ermes accepted, "Okay, we'll keep the defensive for right now."
There was a blast of shellfire that landed in front of the Uriel but Mercurio dashed through the explosion and looked in sight for the hooter in the distance. He drew his buster sword as it transformed to shield mode and saw the first Leo III that was within his targeting range. He made a mighty charge right next while the Artemis flew overhead and Dana confirmed, "It looks like the this is the one the Lindemann boys took out a chunk of. You can handle this without support right?"
Mercurio prepared his shield as he drew it back and told Dana, "All I need is the enemy right in front of me."
Dana agreed, "Let's get ready to show why these losers shouldn't have ever gotten in our way then."
Darren viewed the enemy mobile suits in the distance as he gave his Scutum unit the direction to continue its bombardment of their advance. In the sky above, the Artemis was the new target as Darren ordered, "Concentrate fire on the craft above us. Concentrate ground forces to one point and overwhelm the enemy."
One of the operators confirmed, "We are obtaining the flying mobile suit in range sir. It won't be long."
Darren felt the sounds of the Scutum ring through the command room as his mobile armor fired a barrage of shellfire. He heard a signal contact him, "This is Emidio. We are advancing to the enemy. T here are only two headed our way."
Darren confirmed, "We have the same number of targets. It would seem they intend to defend their supporting fighters before allowing them harm. WE must make use of this disadvantage."
Emidio confirmed the order as he told Darren, "This had best be as easy as you believe. Our hold on the Earth depends on this."
The contact was cut as Darren looked in the distance to see the Gundams charging closer before the Leo IIIs fired on the two targets as he promised himself, "This will be their end. This is to be where the Gundams must never again be seen on Earth."
Oleg awoke to find the destruction was coming to the city again with an even deadlier force from before. By now the mobile suit forces had been evened out to just a few units with the Aquarius and a few others making their stand. "Has the enemy managed to secure more firepower?"
The Captain announced the status, "Negative. It looks like they've started to resort to using the Testudo ground fire."
As the buildings near them continued to fall into rubble Oleg commented, "If this continues there won't be anything left of the city."
The Captain ordered him, "Doesn't look like they care about that. Keep up the defense."
"Yes sir." Oleg confirmed when he prepared his Aquarius for the defense. "I will end this!"
General Klaus Ulbricht and the Third Company were still a sizable distance away from Brussels. He was with the company to command them for the coming battle, utilizing a commander-type Griffon piloted by a co-pilot while he gave commands.
"General, we intercepted a signal."
Klaus turned on his channel to listen to the signal. "Can it be?" He thought. "It's in the old OZ code." ASSAULT ON BRUSSELS AND FREE THE PARLIAMENT - LORD LINDEMANN The message originated in Corsica which was possibly passed on from where Lord Lindemann is hiding. The message already triggered the Scottish Regiment to join the attack unknown to him. "We may receive reinforcements during the battle. We will continue with our route to Brussels and fight on until we get reinforcements."
As soon as Hyrum had arrived back from the renewed battlefield Franz found the loyal Lieutenant prepared to make a report when he asked, "Greetings Lieutenant. Have the forces in Berlin received the order?"
As soon as Hyrum found his way to the building the President and his men were hiding in, he heard the question. "Yes sir. The signal has been sent and they should be arriving."
One of the soldiers seemed desperate to see the end of it when he asked, "Does that mean we'll be out of here soon sir?"
Hyrum was quick at doing the math when he tried to find out and answered, "Probably another hour. Maybe a day in fact. Any news on the Coalition movement?"
One of the soldiers pointed out to the building conflict, "Neither side is moving an inch. It even looks like they got the Testudo to fire into the city."
"Great. Gives us one more thing to worry about." Hyrum said. He observed the city still taking damage while the Coalition soldiers continued to battle one another for their great prize. "We'll have to keep up the waiting game for a while longer. President Falson's men are the only ones who are keeping us safe right now." He said to his men. The news wasn't favorable but it was the only reality. The arrival of Klaus Ulbricht's army being able to arrive in time was all they could pin their hopes on.
Franz found the situation alleviating when Hyrum brought the news. "Quite a relief. I was concerned whether or not we had the forces to spare for such an attempt." He tried to observe the battle grounds from a safe area when he crouched in a nearby corner. "If it is for just a few hours more it will be worth the wait at least."
When Heero saw the enemy Coalition soldiers still prepared to defend against the enemy he knew it was probably a matter of time before the battle was decided. It couldn't go for much longer, he had to make sure the Parliament was prepared to make its way out of the city and towards what safety Klaus could offer. The Coalition would be a problem if they continued to make their way into the "Fall in! Don't let any of them reach our area until General Ulbricht arrives!"
One of the soldiers rushed down to announce the status of the enemy, "Major. The enemy looks like it's moving away from the inner area of the city."
Heero ordered "Hold your fire. Don't shoot unless it's a sure kill."
Another one of the soldiers agreed quickly, "Easy to follow sir."
Heero searched behind him to find the Parliament stood its ground prepared to defend itself. He and the few soldiers who remained for their government were what remained in protecting their way of life and denying the Coalition victory. It was the old days all over for him, but he recognized how much smaller he had become on the battlefield. He was brought down to Earth since the old days and it was for a stark reminder of time's passage.
Edward was desperate when it came to finding a way to puncture further into the territory Nathaniel had established. The next issue they had with the battle came when he and Rayen were reported with the arrival of Klaus Ulbricht's forces. A Captain entered the makeshift war room presenting a printout of the forces making an advance. "General. We have just received reports on the circumference of the city borders. We have found Earth Sphere soldiers making their way to our location."
Edward looked up from his notes when he questioned, "Earth Sphere?"
Rayen was rubbing his head temples when he tried to fix through the situation. "If this is true then this battlefield is about to expand to our disadvantage."
Edward didn't show any concern for the idea when he pointed out, "Perhaps if we were to turn the tables to our use it may possible."
"How shall we do this?"
Edward began to point to certain points on the battle map of Brussels to explain his hopes. "President Falson is expecting to protect the Parliamentary Building while attacking our own forces into submission. If we move out to the edge of the city with the President's forces defending against our attacks we can make a retreat from the field until the numbers on both sides have been reduced to favorable odds."
Rayen was accepting anything that might work at this point when he agreed, "It is almost too perfect of a plan. If we use this, we will be able to attack their ground forces without issue and Nathaniel will be in our reach."
"Precisely. We need only see this plays out and we will have the enemy where we want them."
Rayen was quick to tell the reporting Captain, "Send an order to the mobile suit forces and ground forces."
"Yes sir." He quickly made his way to the main radio when he announced to the mobile suit forces,
"Attention all units. This is an official battle plan from General Edward Blare. Prepare to make a retreat towards the eastern area of the city. Follow instructions and await chance to move in on our order." Right after changing the frequency Edward's forces could hear, "Ground forces. Remain on the defensive. Only engage the enemy if they approach safe distance."
Hui reported to his President, "The enemy appears to be attempting a retreat sir."
"A retreat... This is not something Edward would be keen on but perhaps he is hoping to achieve something."
"I believed General Blare was a practical leader Mr. President, not stupid."
"Indeed he isn't. But he will not step down until his enemy has fallen. We must prepare to defend ourselves. Maintain the units at our current position and don't let any of the enemy Leos out of our sight."
The countryside immediately became a battlefield when the Uriel threw its shield towards the nearest Leo III and fired into the distance with its arm cannon at the few daring to charge forward. Mercurio checked the surroundings he had to work with as he avoided one shot and rolled out of another. He stretched out the Uriel's arm as it caught the shield flying back to him before finding himself against the barrage of blaster fire that came his direction. Finding the brief opportunity, Mercurio activated Zero System as he was given an attack layout that would give him the most kills. He dash forward as the Uriel spun away from the mounting attacks and made a sweep through the air with the Uriel's shield as it cut down five Leo IIIs and landed in front of another before slamming its arm cannon into the cockpit of the mobile suit and firing. A mighty explosion formed in front of the Uriel while Mercuiro waited to find the next opportunity he had to destroy the Coalition brigade. His radar revealed several Leo IIIs advancing towards him as he shot through the building flames but had some relief as he saw the Artemis above shoot the ground with its buster rifle.
With the air support he had, Mercurio pushed the Uriel forward as he saw several more explosions appear in front of him. He kept grip of his shield as he changed the Uriel's shield into its buster sword mode and made a mighty sweep through the flames. The sweep made contact with many Leo IIIs slicing through their cores and caused more explosions to erupt. The flames that erupted in front of the Uriel's camera blind sighted Mercurio as he relied on his Zero System to check for the next path to make and was warned of the round of shellfire that was headed in his direction. Prepared to make a mighty slice at the shot, Mercurio prepared his sword for a slice only to see it fly over his head and into another target entirely. He heard the results of the attack as it came crashing to the ground. The Artemis was not defeated however as it threw itself up and changed to its bipedal mode with its shield prepared to defend itself from the nearest attacker. Mercurio heard his superior ask, "You're still functioning right Yuy?"
Mercurio confirmed, "They're almost putting up some kind of resistance. This is just a minor attack right now."
He dashed the Uriel towards the next shell that as he made an upward slice and felt another explosion rock him back and inputted as series of rifle shots towards his location. Flying backwards, Mercurio checked his surrounding as he prepared for another charge but was forced on the defensive as he had to protect himself against another series of barrages. He changed his sword back into a shield when he contacted Dana, "Can we continue the advance? We cant' be that far away from the Scutum."
Dana was on the same defensive when she answered, "That hit one of my wings. Sorry Yuy, but we have to move forward the hard way."
Mercurio recognized how hard the situation had now become as he fired from behind his shield and fired in every open direction his Zero System could find. He continued to work away at the numbers when he commented, "I guess we'll have to hope that Donna and the others are having a little more progress than we are."
