War is a conflict that has been the constant companion of humanity since the beginning of its existence. For every attempt to suppress this facet, it returns to claim many more for how long it has been held back. Conflict however is never a simple summary. Underneath every act of brutality is an act of deception and underneath every deception is a mask of the true intentions of justifying the slaughter of others. What those who bear witness to such deception and how they will accept it will inevitably escalate violently. Such is the scenario proposed in After Colony 225.
Episode 69: Yearning Silenced
The struggle to continue up into the higher floors of the Parliamentary Building continued to mount as Edward saw his men continue their march up the stairs while he struggled with all he had to make his way further up the steps. With every step he took, he saw another man fall and another yell of pain from being killed. The battle for Quebec City continued to rage outside with far more destruction, but Edward knew the stakes were higher where he currently stood.
Edward kept his focus on the battle at hand as he ventured to step forward again but endured another shot to his body. He felt the left side of his body sting as a bullet pierced him but forced himself to continue firing his pistol towards every soldier who stood against him. He brought a hand to a nearby wall as he supported himself and struggled to remain standing while panting through the pain that he was forced to endure.
As Edward continued to press forward on his own, he saw several of his men make their way around him and block his aim of where he was going. He continued his struggle to make his way through the pain when he ordered, "Out of my way! I must lead this charge!"
One of his men made his way up to him when he answered, "General, you are not well. We can't be sure that you'll survive this."
Edward pushed the man aside when he countered while firing his pistol, "And continuing not to lead by example will only make the men question my orders and the cause that we fight for! Only the weak are here to die today!"
The long hours of the conflict had continued to engulf their way around the inner areas of Quebec City as it continued to be subject to the destruction from both sides. Despite the focus of the battle being narrowed more to the ground with the declining number of mobile suits still operational, there was still one particular area of the battlefield where the conflict of giants continued to rage. It was one of the few places in the struggle for the Earth's capital where the strength of one pilot stood to determine the final outcome of the ongoing war.
Far from site where the remains of Sol Theros and Ursas lay littered, the last Gundam on Earth picked off against what seemed to be an innumerable count of Ursa units that came his way to fire upon him. The Clotho Gundam was a foe that stood against multitudes of mobile suits before, but now stood in the greatest challenge of its existence. Christoph continued to fire towards every Ursa unit in the distance ass he saw one explode after another but was constantly reminded of just how dangerous his situation was becoming.
Christoph panted as he looked over his systems and began to feel every bit of damage that his Gundam was taking. What had become more alarming to him however was the sight of his ammunition levels continuing to decline. "I can't get to any more of the ammunition supplies at this rate can I?" Christoph cursed. "Christian… you're just one in a long line of people who deserved better…"
While Christoph continued to push the Clotho as far back as he could while maintaining vision of the distant Ursas, he noticed something that was becoming more apparent. In the distance was something that Christoph had not hoped to see. "Ah shit… There's more of them out there?"
Zooming his camera in to the explosions that continued to erupt, Christoph saw more of the dreaded black mobile dolls in the distance attempting to lay waste to the city while destroying everything in their path. For this growing conflict, Christoph began to feel himself further harrowed by everything that he had hoped to accomplish this day. "Everything… We didn't come all this way… just to let everything be for nothing."
As soon as Christoph found a safe zone where he could avoid enemy fire, he checked his systems and all the functions he had at his disposal. "Looks like I still have… some work to do…" Christoph gave a quick review of his systems when he found the function that he needed for such a moment. "The virus. The guys on the other side won't stand a chance without it."
With this reminder of what he had for his next mission, Christoph prepared his thrusters as he prepared for another mighty charge. The other side of the city was a far distance away, but the reminder of his mission was what he needed as he kept his eyes prepared for every Coalition mobile suit that was about to impede his progress. Forcing his thrusters to the highest setting that they allowed, Christoph found himself rushing forward to the shots that threatened to make contact with him.
Pushing his way towards his target destination was above allowing himself to have a chance to dodge as Christoph heard one shot make contact with his Gundam after another. He did not allow himself to be completely unharmed however as he drew out his assault rifle and fired every spot where an Ursa could be seen. His progression of destruction continued to be a mighty one as he saw one fall after another but eventually found that his offensive capabilities had become much more limited.
An alarm sounded through his cockpit systems as Christoph looked to his ammunition levels and noticed they were completely depleted. "Shit!" He cursed as he recognized there was still an immense number of Ursas preparing to stop him. As a last resort of attack, Christoph thrust the Clotho's assault rifle into the chest of a nearby Ursa before dashing away from another explosion that claimed its weapon but offered it the cover to escape.
Another series of shots made their way towards Christoph's Gundam as he tried all he could to force his way through to the other battle before stretching out the right arm of his Clotho and forcing an Ursa to the ground. Christoph had a path once again, but the shots that he continued to endure began to cause another more vital alarm to ring through his cockpit. He was shown the vitals of his armor as he continued his dash through the battle only to discover how close to reaching critical levels the Clotho was. Even just a few more shots from anything would ensure that his end was about to be at hand if he did not attempt to value his life.
All of this continued to challenge Christoph's resolve as he tried to manage his way through the destruction that came his way while he managed to continue forward. His path towards the growing battle was managed as Christoph told himself, "I have no excuse for failure now. Christian. Everyone. You deserve to have your sacrifices mean something. You all deserve to make this day mean something. If it's left up to me, then I know that I will make this day one to honor all of you!"
Jason Huerta and the others tried to suppress fire against the Earth Sphere soldiers who prepared to defend their parliament to the last man, but found the odds were not working as he had hoped. It became clearer when he heard one of his men report, "Colonel! We can't handle any more of the enemy making its way towards us! The building is going to be our only area of defense!"
Jason didn't think any further than beyond the survival of his men when he ordered, "Move in! Keep watch for any Parliament members!" At the order his men made their way into the nearby building while firing at every chance they had against the Earth Sphere soldiers.
One of the Coalition soldiers managed to run in despite two others falling over from gunshots when he asked, "How many of them are out there?"
Jason took a quick look out the nearest window at the activity as the clashing forces managed to make its way towards the building. "It doesn't appear there's many by now. We can't let them advance. If we can draw them away from here we should be able to continue targeting the building as we see fit." He tried to find the next possible escape route when he ordered, "We sent out our decoy with the General didn't we? Move it out and make it the focus for the enemy."
"Understood sir." One of the soldiers took out a communications device instructing the decoys outside, "Come in General. We have massive enemy contact. We have been forced into the enemy's main building."
"Repeat that report. What is hindering us?" The man masquerading as Edward asked out of shock from the range of the Sol Thero fire. It managed to make its way into the city and right in front of his vehicle.
His driver answered, "The Sol Thero units are making their way in. If they approach any closer we'll all be crushed at this point."
The decoy heard another voice on the radio of the jeep announce, "General. We couldn't hold back the enemy. We've been cornered into the Parliament Building."
The man grabbed the radio from his driver when he answered, "I see. Maintain your position. Don't let the enemy in. If any of the leaders attempt to escape, execute them on sight."
"Yes sir." The voice agreed.
The driver of the jeep looked out the window when he asked, "How are we supposed to accept this situation? We should be supporting the General at this point!"
The decoy patted the driver's shoulder when he reminded, "We are supporting him by making sure the remaining Earth Sphere soldiers don't get any reinforcements. Now don't act like we're desperate out here!"
The driver brought his attention back to the road when he agreed, "Alright, now don't get so stingy about it!"
As soon as Heero saw the Sol Thero units beginning to fall back from the entry point he had a strong feeling about what their next action was. He decided to throw out the previous plan when he ordered, "Activate your units! Get out there and prepare for evasive action!" None of his fellow soldiers disagreed when they scrambled for the nearest Ursa unit.
The units had begun to leave the entryway before one of the last units reported, "Sir! We've got another volley of missile fire coming!"
Hyrum recognized their target when the Sol Theros tried to give their suppressing fire on the Ursa units still standing. "They're going to hit the building!"
Heero gave the order, "Aim at the missiles! Don't let them hit!" The Ursa units he led began to fire on the missiles at every chance possible.
The Ursa pilots from behind the main line of Coalition defenses tried to prepare for a rear attack but found the Earth Sphere claimed ones were instead firing into the sky. "What are they aiming above us for?"
The pilot next to him corrected, "They're trying to hit those missiles! Do these guys want to help us out here?"
Their superior was on the line when he ordered, "Take cover! The enemy is dealing more fire!"
Heero saw his unit's rifle was close to overheating when he continued firing on the incoming missiles. He didn't need the confirmation but he still heard one of the nearby soldiers warn, "They're still heading down sir!"
At least the ones that would hit the main body of the building seemed were shot down which led Heero to order, "Back up! Get out of their range!" None of the units protested the idea when they turned away from the incoming explosions.
"What are they headed back there for?"
"It's f- AH!" Were the last words of the pilots as they became victim to the rain of missile fire. The rear units had been destroyed and the entry doors to the Parliamentary Building were hit leaving only a cloud of debris for the escaping Ursa units led by Heero and his men.
"So we're supposed to be safe back here?" One of the pilots asked.
Heero answered frankly, "I doubt it. But the Coalition soldiers won't be pursuing us. I'll keep everyone updated." He activated his radar to keep watch of the battle taking place on the other side of the building.
Hyrum agreed to this when he confirmed, "We'll stay ready for your order sir."
The possible calm was broken when one of the pilots pointed out, "Sir, it looks like we've got a convoy coming this way."
Prepared for the possible new targets, Heero commanded, "Remain in our current area. We can't afford to move from here."
Edward's decoy saw the Ursa units in front of his escape route when he pointed out, "Damn it. We've been cornered. These mobile suits are in the way."
His driver agreed with the situation when he stopped the jeep near the Parliamentary Building. "We can't continue this way, the only way out at this point would be to take the other side of the walls."
One of the men in the backseats asked, "How do we even know if they're on our side or not?"
The decoy answered, "No matter which side they're on, it still means that we're headed into a battle. It means there is no escape route for any of us. We have to continue on foot."
As soon as Edward's decoy leapt out of the jeep and ran towards a nearby wall, he caught his breath and heard one of the nearby soldiers report, "Sir, we've received word that not all of the Ursa units were taken. It looks like the earth Sphere still has some units left."
"Damn it, this isn't what we needed. And I thought the colonel's men would be enough to handle against the Sol Theros if their attacks manage to find a further way in."
"Is there any way to tell if those mobile suits are controlled by our guys?"
Edward turned to the nearest soldier he saw and ordered, "You there. Step out there and find out."
"You seriously think I need to head out there?"
He lifted his pistol giving an indirect order, "Find out if they are friendly. Someone is going to have to at some point."
"Alright, alright, I'm going." He stepped outside and looked up to the deactivated Ursa units when he asked, "Hey! Up there! Are you guys with us?"
Hyrum reported, "Sir. We have an enemy soldier stepping out."
Heero looked to see the soldier trying to confirm their alignment. He knew there was only one plausible answer to this situation. "Take him out."
Heero didn't hear any hesitation when Hyrum agreed, "Roger sir." Hyrum opened his unit's cockpit and made several gunshots at the soldier below. It was as soon as the fifth bullet made its way down that Hyrum was able to report, "I got him sir."
"Keep watch on the radar. We can't let them warn about us." He prepared his pistol when he ordered the other pilots to drop down, "Form up on me. Prepare to move in and take out anyone trying to contact the mobile suit forces outside." With this order the Earth Sphere soldiers were able to make their way in and begin taking back their capital building.
As Jason continued to hold his position in the Parliamentary Building, he received an announcement from the decoy company, "Colonel! We're in trouble out here!"
Jason took hold of his radio when he tried not to trouble Edward with the current situation and commanded, "Provide a status update!"
"They've got our presence sir! They're on to us!" He turned to see if Edward was still safe but found him missing. He panicked when he asked, "General?!"
Edward managed to run inside the building hoping to find any possible cover he could improvise. "There must be a safe shelter in here. I cannot end my ambition here!"
As Heero continued to pick off Jason's decoy units, he heard a report of the destruction outside from one of his fellow pilots, "Major, I think we should get out of here right now before we're crushed from both sides."
Heero searched the area around him when he realized just what the reference to being crushed was. He looked towards the outer areas of the city when he recognized many of the Ursas that had been taken by the Coalition were busy with their own mission. In what might have seemed to be a hopeless defense to slow down the Sol Theros from making their way into the city.
Heero told everyone, "There's enemy units making their way towards us. And we can't rely on those men to even put a dent in those Sol Theros."
One of the pilots, cursed, "This getting worse for us by the second Major, how the hell are we even supposed to handle those things now?"
Till answered, "As soon as the Nornir has finished the other side, it should ideally be ready to make its way over here by now."
Hyrum asked, "That thing over there? Is that it?"
As much of the squad continued to pick off the soldiers on the ground, Heero turned his attention to the distant view of the incoming Sol Theros. He recognized the smoking mass that sped its way across the field when he heard Till ask, "It cannot be. That is one of ours?"
Heero attempted contact when he asked, "Nornir, do you read me? Nornir, are you functional?"
The voice of Christoph crackled through the other line when it answered, "I read you Major. I'm about to fulfill my duty."
Hyrum contacted, "In that piece of shit? You look ready to blow if anything even touches you! Get back here and you can at least help us out!"
Christoph denied the offer, "I'm sorry. But I have to make sure that the Sol Theros can be taken care of. I have to make sure that everyone can actually handle them. I want to offer this to everyone, you were all fine men to serve alongside."
Before anyone could offer any protest, the signal shut off and Hyrum tried to contact, "Hey! What the hell are you trying to prove?"
One of the pilots contacted Till, "You seriously aren't even thinking about heading out there to stop him?"
Till confirmed, "Mobile suits are replaceable. Actions are not. He wants to permit us all the chance to live to see this victory is possible. He wants to see that he is just as worthy a soldier as many of us had to prove."
Completely unaware of everything that was surrounding his actions to move towards the enemy, Christoph continued to make his way towards the Sol Theros and saw them still engaging with the Ursas to allow him the chance to continue his charge. He pushed himself as hard as he could as he tried to avoid living up to the evaluation he had just received, but found it to be difficult as a few stray shots began to make their way towards him from both ends. Now enduring the fire from both sides, Christoph began to feel as though he had begun to dive into the depths of Hell itself as he did everything he could to fulfill his mission.
Before long, he had reached the battlefield where the Sol Theros continued their destruction of their opponents. Christoph reached for the controls for the virus dispersal when he told himself, "Finally, looks like I can make all of this somewhat right… All of this… is going to be for something…"
The virus had begun to disperse itself from the Clotho Gundam as it charged towards the Sol Theros with all of its speed. The sight had become one that captured the attention of everyone on the field as it not only scrambled their systems, but caused the Sol Theros to slow their advance towards the city. One of the Ursa pilots asked, "That thing out there? What is it trying to do?"
Another one of the Ursa pilots recognized the Clotho Gundam when he answered, "It wants to reach the Sol Theros. It's trying to slow them down."
The first pilot shook his head in confusion when he cursed, "That's not any Gundam we could have asked for. That thing is a suicide runner."
While many of the onlookers continued ot be in awe at the Clotho's run through the field, the virus had begun to take effect of the targets Christoph hoped to deter. The Sol Theros all stopped to a halt as they maintained their weapons and continued to fire on every nearby unit but were unable to use their systems to their full potential. The leading Sol Thero unit determined through its programming, 'Primary threat detected. Access to Zero System denied.'
Christoph looked across the field behind him as he prepared his Clotho to turn around again and commented, "You've noticed haven't you? How you can't stop me now?" The Clotho finished its mighty turn as it charged back towards the Sol Theros and prepared to make another charge. Despite his success, he knew what the Sol Theros would be able to do if they were left unchallenged.
In another impassioned charge, Christoph rammed the Clotho chest first into the nearest Sol Thero he could claim. The Sol Thero had deployed its planet defensors but was too late as it engulfed both him and it in a field that protected them both. Christoph continued with his charge when he cursed the trapped machine, "You all want to continue and wreak havoc. Like the killing machines you are. That's what father always taught us about separating ourselves from things like you."
The Clotho stopped its charge as it lifted the Sol Thero above its head and threw it to the ground before making a mighty crush to the head where its processors were located. Standing above the machine he had just destroyed, Christoph echoed the sentiment of his father and everything that drove him to his performance this day. "That machines don't act in the pursuit of greatness!"
At his proclamation, Christoph charged the Clotho Gundam towards the next target he could take. Before it was possible however, the charge had come too late as a series of shots all concentrated on him and tore down what remained of the devastated Gundam. The chest area of the Clotho began to fall towards the ground when Christoph had only begun to process just what was happening to him. It was after the remains had fallen to the ground that Christoph heard the limbs of his Gundam explode and he praised, "Clotho… You are what father meant you to be… Everyone… Please live beyond this day…"
In spite of everything that was able to be achieved, there was one final sacrifice that had to be given for this day to be possible. It was not a sign of victory, but it was also not a sign that all efforts had been for nothing. It was the sacrifice that Christoph was able to recognize when the last thing he saw as the Sol Theros continued the way through the field before leaving him to be met with the fate of all defeated mobile suit pilots. This was the sight that Christoph was able to content himself with before the core of his Gundam erupted and left a mighty burst of flames behind.
Heero and the others looked on as the explosion loomed over the battlefield in the distance while the Ursas and Sol Theros continued their battle with one another. As the flames continued to take hold of everyone's attention however, one of the pilots asked, "That… that's not from one of our own is it?"
There was a long pause before Till was the one to answer, "I'm afraid that no mere mobile suit can emit that sort of eruption. What we have left however is a sign of the battle turning in our favor."
Another one of the pilots countered, "You're joking right? One of your boys went out there and got himself killed! How the hell are we supposed to be okay with this?"
Heero answered, "It's because his son believed in making his father proud that the battle is going where it will go now. His desire was not to let himself die, but to make sure that he fought for what he believed in and for everyone he treasured."
Till sighed as he welcomed Heero explaining his thought process. As he shut himself off from the remaining Ursa pilots who could only look on and wonder what was happening, he forced himself into a period of silence where he could process what he was going through. "Christoph… Boys… Deep down you all wanted to make me proud of what you were capable of… You would have done anything to see your mother be avenged… And you used everything that you had to become the finest soldiers that you could become."
As he contemplated everything he had just seen, he heard a hail on his radio before composing himself to prepare to answer anything. He heard the voice of Heero ask, "Can you still handle yourself out there?"
Till took a deep breath when he answered, "I only end my service with my dying breath."
Heero confirmed the dedication when he told him, "We still have enemies out there. Even without Zero System, they will be difficult enemies to handle. For right now, we should let the Coalition handle everything they can before we advance."
One of the pilots with him asked, "You think we're going to be enough when they get here sir?"
Heero looked at the growing blazes from the battlefield when he answered, "We either become enough or we allow everything we built for a united earth be for nothing. This is what we have ot be as soldiers until this conflict ends. And we have to live up to the example that Christoph Lindemann just showed all of us just now."
As the mobile suits continued their observation of the situation ahead of them, Heero heard one of the pilots near him report, "Major, we have something really crazy happening here. It's more of our own."
Heero turned his attention not beneath him when he saw several dozen soldiers in Earth Sphere uniforms making their way past him. He set his contact to an intercom when he asked, "Everyone down there, are you headed for a target?"
Flake and Richard stopped as they looked up to see Heero's Ursa unit looking over them as they waved in an offer to explain their current plan. Heero opened his cockpit as he quickly made his way down and heard Flake explain, "We've gathered what forces we have left in this city sir. We're about to root out the Coalition from the Parliamentary Building."
Heero nodded when he told them, "Good work. We needed someone to head out there on the double. Your brothers have succeeded in making sure that you have this opportunity. Head out there and protect the parliament from meeting its end."
Richard nodded when he told him, "Believe me, we've seen it happen sir. And we don't plan on losing no matter how rough this shit is going to get."
Keijo added, "These guys all cleared a way for us so that we wouldn't have to face the challenge, let's not disappoint them."
Without another word, the three soldiers left the mobile suit gathering while Heero made his way back to his Ursa unit. He received a hail from Till when he was asked, "Are they planning to assist us?"
Heero confirmed, "They will. They'll make sure that we have a parliament to return to. Two of your boys are still down there and ready to serve."
There was a small pause when Till answered, "We are fortunate they are here to assist. As the final minutes of this war finally come to a close, we must have something to return to."
The battle had not become any more desperate for the Coalition in its advance through the building. For many who looked on, there was a wonder of who would be left and who would be left if the conflict was to continue on, but things had begun to be more favorable for the Coalition and its advance.
This was something Jason tried to take solace in when he heard the report from one of his men, "Colonel! We have enemy reinforcements! They're making their way to our location!"
Jason grit his teeth as he tried to push on and reminded him, "We have the parliament before us for the taking. We are so close to victory that they will break the moment we arrive." He turned to another one of the soldiers when he asked, "Has the General been attended to?"
The soldier answered, "That's an issue we face now sir. The General has wandered off."
"What?!" Jason asked as he shouted among the continued gunfire. He looked around his area frantically as he tired to find Edward somewhere but recognized that the worst had indeed happened. Edward was nowhere to be seen and the possible blood trail that he might have left was easily lost among the many dead bodies that littered the floors.
"Damn it General… At least wait for us." He turned to the men behind him when he ordered, "Forward! Find the General!"
As the concern for Edward's safety continued to mount, it was the last thing the man himself had in mind. He continued his march up the next set of stairs as he prepared his gun to find the first sign of the parliament being anywhere near for him to capture.
"So I see you have been forced into a corner you didn't anticipate." The line struck Edward like few others would have. He recognized the comment from the man his age when he turned to face him. He didn't question why it was he had appeared here but he only saw it as a chance to gain the closure on this chapter he had long sought.
Barra didn't show any anticipation on his face for this time but Edward could tell there was some satisfaction behind his observation. The two men could see into one another's eyes as the climax to what was once a friendly rivalry long ago had become something more altogether. In spite of this, it was a final encounter that only the two of them facing one another was able to derive any sense of satisfaction from. The sort of encounter that Edward lived for.
Edward drew his gun and pointed it at Barra when he answered, "It is a corner of two wolves now. But I will not be the one slaughtered." No further words were given when he prepared for the defining moment of his life. The two men fired at one another in a sound that filled the room.
Edward would have been able to swear that he had shot Barra in the face but felt his wound directly above his collar bone. He was on the floor and drug himself to the nearest wall in an attempt to cover the wound. "How… fitting…" Edward said as he fell into the corner reciting his line.
Barra struggled to finish Edward's quote, "We were… destined for each other's throats… until the end…" He lost any motivation to contemplate his past when he spoke his last words, "Master Peacecraft… Please receive… the young masters…"
Just moments after the anticlimactic duel had taken place, Edward heard the clash of a nearby window. He couldn't see who it was that broke the glass, but his weakened state left him to fear the worst for his life. He placed a hand on the wound of his collar bone as he limped across the floor and searched for the first thing that he could use for cover and hid himself in a nearby corner where he left himself to wait for the first bit of assistance that he could take hold of.
His plans however were not going as he had anticipated. Edward managed to conceal his face from the onlookers as he noticed something key about them. They were all Earth Sphere soldiers. They had all made their way to the higher levels in an effort to meet Jason Huerta's men on both ends and were preparing to see his defeat at hand.
Edward clutched hold of his collar bone and struggled to breath as he tried to find some way to stay alive, but found the struggle becoming more of a challenge by the second. He brought both of his hands to two of his bullet wounds before Edward managed his final hope, "Colonel… You are strong enough… Face them…"
Several hours passed when the long and grueling battle against the Sol Thero units tried to push their way past the many Ursa units who held their ground. Unfortunately the deaths had been much greater than anyone could have imagined. At this moment the sixth Sol Thero unit had been destroyed while only ten Ursa mobile suits remained.
One of the Coalition pilots showed visible signs of weariness in his voice when he asked, "How much longer is it going to take?"
"The Sol Thero units are almost all down. Just keep waiting it out."
Heero saw the Coalition pilots making their final stand against the invading enemy when he ordered, "They've only got two more Sol Theros to handle. Once they take down the second to last one prepare to take down the rest of the stolen Ursas."
"We'll still have one Sol Thero to take out if we take out the Coalition Ursas." Hyrum pointed out.
"That's where we come in. It's time for us to do our part."
"Damn. I guess we have to make our sacrifice as well."
Heero watched the battle draw out when two more Coalition pilots were shot down before the seventh Sol Thero unit had been destroyed today. "That's the last one. Move out."
"Preparing fire." One of the nearby Earth Sphere pilots agreed. As the charge began, the last remaining squadron of Earth Sphere mobile suits began its charge as it took aim at the exhausted Coalition.
"Sir! We've got enemy fire!"
"How?! This shouldn't be possible!" These were the last words of the Coalition as they tried to handle the sudden flanking. Due to their exhaustion from the battle, they had become easy targets for the Earth Sphere. Thanks to this clearing it gave the remaining Sol Thero unit a chance to observe the battlefield while finding the Earth Sphere signals were still going strong. Backing further away it continued its fire of gatling fire towards them while attempting to hit the Parliament Building.
The Ursa units continued to be shot down when they charged forward. Hyrum warned, "It's firing on us sir!"
"Keep suppressing fire!" Before anyone could ask what he had planned they saw their leader's unit move out ahead.
Hyrum recognized what he was attempting when he ordered, "Keep firing! Give the Major an opening!"
The Ursa units stayed their ground when continuing to fire while their leader's unit made it further and further into the range of his enemy.
Heero's Ursa unit drew its beam saber and made a final rush towards the standing Sol Thero unit. The fire volley was fierce as it went across his unit before he managed to achieve a final pierce the Sol Thero couldn't calculate. Heero's unit drove its beam saber through the weakened field and reached the power unit of its enemy. Heero's Ursa made its way back before it exploded when he requested one of his soldiers, "Status of the enemy?"
He looked over his radar to find the status of the units on the field, "All enemy units destroyed sir." He observed the ruins of the city that had been taken when he lamented, "Not many survivors it looks like."
Being able to take the first sigh of relief in what felt like a lifetime, Heero felt himself relieved at the success of the mission this day. It did not come without sacrifices, but it was something that both his united earth and Edward Blare were prepared to make amends with when they committed. Something that he would have to come to terms with once he made his way down to the city and took the remaining stragglers into custody.
The conflict in the city had finally calmed while superiors Colonel Georges Quessy and Lord Till Lindemann were given medical treatment for their efforts near the Parliamentary Building where the remaining Ursa units set themselves.
Seeing the last remaining threat were no longer visible on the radar, Till disembarked from his mobile suit. For his current battered state, he did everything possible to retain his stalwart appearance and his ability to view the shattered city before him. He looked down at himself to recognize the blood that caked itself on his arms from all of the struggles he was put through by Edward.
Remembering the name brought a scorn to Till's face while a few medics rushed to treat his hand. The leading medic announced, "Lord Lindemann, we came to treat your injuries from the firefight."
"I don't have time for that." Till drew his hand in refusal. He turned towards the Parliamentary Building when he told them, "I have someone who I need to see dealt with before he is given anything resembling a second chance."
A sweep was currently underway when Heero led his men through the building while he tried to suppress the pain in his injured arm. He heard groaning in from upstairs when he searched and found two streaks of blood from the gun duel that had happened hours ago. He looked down and saw the severely injured Edward Blare lying on the floor beneath him. He heard Edward cough lightly before observing, "General…"
Till passed Heero as he made his way to Edward's location and turned him over to face him. Till brought a hand to Edward's shoulder when he told him, "So Blare. I wished you died in the skirmish but you went and got yourself injured in this one. I guess that will give us the time to hear about your betrayal."
Edward looked up to see Till Lindemann looking down on him. He felt his body weakened by the wound from so many hours ago while he gazed into Lord Lindemann's observing stance. "My reason? ... For what reason did I require? I do not have my foundation… But I have my legacy…" He coughed lightly before he continued, "This day marks my last it seems. If I am not destined for greatness... Then what need should I pass concerning I have lost when I shall at least have my name alongside my enemies?" He recalled his final line from years ago when he spoke, "God be... p... prai..." He couldn't finish the final line and if his face showed any regret it only showed desperation in the desires to see those final words spoken.
The nearest medic felt for a pulse on the General's neck and reported, "He lost too much blood."
Heero felt a light moment of relief from the recent death when he observed, "Then at least he won't cause harm to anyone anymore."
Seeing Edward's last breath brought no sense of satisfaction to Till, but it was enough to ensure that he would never have to deal with such a traitorous snake a second time. He dropped Edward's body to the floor when he said, "And to that, I say to this disgraceful example of a man that was named Edward Blare, good riddance." Till walked away from the area to allow others to do their jobs without hindrance. He told Heero, "If any of you need me, I will be in my quarters."
One of the medics came up to him when he reminded him, "You'll still need some kind of treatment sir. You're coming with us first."
Till scowled at the suggestion but followed the two medics as he walked with them to receive the treatment he was designated.
Malcolm looked over the report the surviving soldiers had given when he concluded, "So it has been confirmed. The General sought only to use this escape for his own benefit?"
"Yes sir. From what he was able to achieve in this siege it's only evident he had his own personal goals planned at some point." Heero concluded.
Malcolm looked over the photographic evidence when he observed, "As it seems, the General did not have his loyalty to the Coalition nor to us. He only did so because he had one loyalty. A loyalty only to his own ambitions."
Marcel added to the observation when he spoke, "Loyalty along with a perverse fascination for "Wolfe's Hunt"... Perhaps seeing him here should have told me something."
Malcolm turned to him to find elaboration, "Do you believe that Devine somehow knew he would arrive?"
Marcel reminded of the map table before them, "It was possible to view the entries from below on the map system. Knowing Blare himself would arrive? Perhaps it had more to do with a judge of character than anything else."
Heero put the issue to rest when he emphasized, "Either way these two men have bled their last in this war. They leave only us as the survivors after all has subsided."
Malcolm looked back at the reports when he said, "We must address the greater issue however. The city was nearly destroyed today and it was after our ability to hold back the Coalition from making another invasion."
Marcel gave an observation of the city when he agreed, "We barely managed to hold our own against two squadrons of Sol Thero units. Now we may not be able to handle another attack at this point. We have already confirmed three Sol Thero squadrons were sent here to Earth and few of us have managed to return to tell about it."
Malcolm tried to find some assurance when he asked, "If there are more of them, then are we going to make any sort of preparation to prepare for another encounter?"
Marcel gave his personal theory, "We'll have to rely on the idea that they only seek large targets opposed to small ones. We'll have to move the government to the edge of the city nearby and find cover there."
Malcolm gave his agreement, "This city will not be able to handle another attack. At the same time we have nowhere safe to escape to now."
Heero faced the concern when he answered, "It's up to them. Whether or not we survive today will depend on if our Gundams can reach the Sol Invictus and destroy a long-term threat to our existence."
Malcolm looked out the window of the morning sun when he agreed, "As it would seem. The Representatives at this point have been all but accustomed to lackluster accommodations at this point. Perhaps another period of time will not squander our dedication."
As soon as Heero entered his temporary home he saw Relena visibly tired with worry but her eyes brightened as soon as she saw him enter. "Heero. You returned safe again."
Heero held onto his injured arm when he greeted, "Yeah. We managed to take out any further threats. Are the girls safe?"
"Dad!" Selena rushed to embrace his left side when she heard him enter. "Please be alright. I was worried you'd get killed out there!"
He saw Helena enter with a more gentle approach when she stood next to Relena, "Dad we didn't want you to go out there again..."
Heero lightly hugged Selena with his good arm when he answered, "I wouldn't if I could have helped it. There might not be a next time though. This arm isn't going to handle another one."
Relena made her way over to him when she emphasized, "It certainly isn't. Girls please help him get comfy."
Selena agreed, "Okay."
Helena made her way to the kitchen when she agreed, "Right away."
Heero entered the living room when he was guided by Relena to a nearby couch when he told her, "The Parliament is probably going to be relocated to somewhere safe after this."
Selena was preparing a cushion for her father's arm when she voiced her hopes, "It will only be a relief to see it end after all of this. I don't know how much more all of us could collectively handle."
Heero sat with their assistance guessing, "I'm pretty sure our role in this war is pretty much over now."
Relena sat next to Heero when she asked, "Can we do anything now?"
Heero looked at the sun outside when he answered, "All we can do now is hope the pilots up there will be able to handle their own against the Sol Invictus."
Relena joined his gaze when she asked, "They will be... Won't they?"
"Of course." Heero held Relena close as he sent his prayer to the heavens above, Mercurio... Don't show us... Show everyone why we trusted you...
The hours aboard the Executor Rising had continued to be a demanding one as the day of arriving at the Sol Invictus continued to be a trying one. In spite of such an important arrival however, Donna still had the concern of where she belonged in mind. The past few days of her discussion with everyone had still weighed on her mind as she considered what she could have done wrong.
This was what she considered when she hoped that she had obtained some sympathy from Ermes for everything she explained. In spite of this, she was still concerned that being able to have one night with him keeping her secure was going to be enough to win his confidence. "Just as war confuses everyone when things are crumbling around us, so to does all of our attempts to make sense of what we have to endure." She thought to herself.
As much as she wondered about what she could do, Donna looked over the bottle of wine that she had found last night. It was a token that someone had left her for some reason but left a lingering question about its presence. More than anything about why it was Ermes did not let her know about its presence.
"Perhaps this is the only opportunity I have then." Donna thought to herself as she made her way down the halls. Donna found the door she had been looking for was she pressed the hailing system to activate for its occupant.
It was only a short while before Ermes opened his door and saw Donna waiting for him. She greeted, "I don't know if you saw this before but, I wasn't sure who it was left for."
Ermes had a look at the bottle of wine when he wondered, "Ah, that thing. I wasn't sure who brought it to you."
Donna pointed above to the heavens. "Everyone still alive and dead. Someone must have thought wine would be a suitable trophy. I'm sure that they meant it for both of us."
Ermes sighed as he crossed his arms and asked, "That is a nice thing to consider isn't it? At least for everyone who might have once cared about what would happen between me, you, and Mercurio."
As Donna heard the comment from him, she realized that attempting to win over his interest was not only going to be as difficult as ever, but it was something that he probably didn't even want to consider. In a last hope for swaying him away from any doubt, Dona offered, "Even then you don't think it's worth at least honoring their offer?"
Ermes took the brief pause that came as a time to think about how everyone was having a bet on who would end up with Donna. Having learned everything that he learned over the past few days however, he had a difficult time accepting the idea that Donna was a prize he deserved. He knew that she was going to have to truly come to understand what sort of way of saving her from despair that he was hoping to achieve.
Ermes offered Donna a way into his room as he offered her to sit on one of the nearby chairs. The two sat across from one another as Ermes explained, "Donna, you've considered everything that I told you that night didn't you? About how you can't fear being around others? About how you can't dismiss others for what their faults might have been?"
Donna could feel her stomach fall as soon as she was asked to remember the conversation that almost sank every hope she had in making him become her husband. She set the bottle of wine to the side and place her hands in her lap. She sighed before answering, "I did. I did consider what you wanted me to think about. But the others. I just can't think about how demanding the others will be. Are they ever going to forgive me for wanting to shun them away?"
Ermes brought Donna's face back up as a request for her to look at him when he was speaking and told her, "I think you should understand that some people are more forgiving than you think they can be Donna. Your dad is a bit of a hard-ass, I've seen it firsthand. But you know what him and everyone who ever stood with him in support have in common? At their core they all still want what's best for you. Even if it isn't apparent at the time."
The assurance that Eermes gave Donna was something that brought her to another period of reflection when she looked to her side and told him, "I should have been able to easily see that from my father. This conflict changed him and I cannot imagine him as anyone else anymore. I suppose him and the others being soldiers are what everyone on this ship has in common with him?"
Realizing he would have a difficult time keeping her attention, Ermes continued with his reasoning. "That's right. Real soldiers look to each other for support in the hardest times when they fear that the worst is about to get to them."
Donna had another reflection when she considered what had happened last night. She had hoped that Ermes would have reconsidered denying her, but he was still here trying to guide her life in a different direction. "And… That's why you didn't protest me last night."
"I could tell that another harsh remark would have left you in tears. And that's the last thing we need. I don't want everyone around here to think that you would be weak for a day that's as pivotal as this one."
"And in the end, that's what you feel is right for me. The most you can offer. Ensure that I'm not a mess who fears this day."
The reminder of the embrace that he shared with Donna that night was one that reminded him of what he considered a moment of weakness. He could tell just how defeated Donna had become over the course of the trip and was unsure about how he would have been able to handle seeing her in any more of a mess. But fighting for something that he couldn't believe would have been right for her might have been an even worse thing to do.
It was with such thoughts that Ermes explained, "I had to do it because you still came to me. You needed to be reminded of what a union of soldiers can really be like."
When Donna realized his reasoning, she ended up slouching in the chair when she voiced her disappointment, "It really is an unfortunate conclusion that we had to determine. I wanted to be free from any more grief, but it seems that a life on Earth is the only thing that I am meant for now. I just don't know who I can turn to now and who I'll be able to turn to out of support."
The grief Donna displayed made Ermes remember how difficult it was for her to understand what it was that being a soldier and being a human being was. It was with because of this he offered, "It's a tough thing to really make sense out of. One thing I can offer, my dad felt the same sort of feelings you have once. Everything he did, he believed he was only meant for creating future conflicts and nothing else. He thought he would never be meant for a life other than that of warfare. It took him allowing someone else into his life before he could finally have a life without regrets."
Much to his approval, Ermes saw Donna bring herself back up a little when she looked in her lap and realized, "So that's what I need to do. Allow people in. Allow good people in and embrace what they can do to improve upon me… Maybe on them as well if I can."
Ermes smiled when he told her, "That's the ideal relationship Donna. That's exactly the sort of person you should let in your life."
Before Donna prepared to pick herself back up, she looked over the bottle of wine that she had brought when she told him, "Even then, I'm not sure about how I'll know for certain if it's the right person. I just don't want to go through life without anyone by my side or enduring more pain than what I had to go through before."
"Donna, I'll just explain this much. I should say there's someone that you know that deserves you and the wine more than me." He laughed before joking, "Hell look at it this way, do we really want to date someone in a war? Just think about how the loss would get to us."
Ermes was reminded of how difficult the joke was for her to accept when she stood up and told him, "Ermes… Thank you for at least offering me a reminder. I won't die with much regrets."
He gave a smile back, glad with how she was able to take it well. He felt a bit fatalistic at the time as well but remembered what he had to do to get Donna to be a dedicated soldier again. "You're welcome." He answered back as he watched Donna walk away from the chair and towards the door that led to the corridors outside.
As Donna made her way outside, she saw someone waiting for her. She looked to him and asked, "Suchart?"
Suchart laughed when he confirmed, "Guilty. Say I didn't interrupt anything did I?"
Donna shook her head when she answered, "Nothing. I just have to go back is all."
Suchart gave a bewildered look when he heard the reason and told her, "Don't tell me it's because you forgot something. I thought you had the nicest brand right there to share."
Donna looked over the bottle of wine when she told him, "It may be. Unfortunately I probably won't know for a while."
There was an audible sense of disappointment in Suchart's voice when he asked, "You don't mean that you're done with each other are you?"
Donna looked to her side when she corrected, "Rather that what we had was never really there to begin with. If we did continue… I don't know what would have happened honestly."
Suchart shook his head to further emphasize his displeasure with the outcome as he told her, "Well damn. I'm sorry for making a spectacle out of you if that's really what's been going on this whole time. I really wish I hadn't done something so shitty behind your back."
Donna smiled as she held the bottle and told him, "It's fine. All of it does give me something to think about, so it's not for nothing. Perhaps I will be all the more capable because of this after all."
Suchart nodded when he accepted, "Well if I managed to at least give someone some kind of support they needed, then maybe my coming here wasn't all for nothing after all."
It was only a short while before Donna brought herself back to her room when she reflected on everything that had just happened. The Gundam pilot sat on a chair and looked at the bottle of wine. Gazing at it made her wonder about everything that had happened this night and what she could have done differently.
When she moved her thoughts away from wondering, she remembered the thing that stood out to her the most when she tried to make sense of the last few words that Ermes had for her. "Everything everyone does is apparently to my benefit. That is what he wants me to understand. But even if I can remember that, how am I to continue on like this? With this lingering question?"
The bottle had become the object of Donna's attention as she tried to wonder about what was challenging her. The question that was likely going to follow her all the way to the final battle and beyond if she survived. The lingering question of who it was that deserved her the most out of everyone on the shuttle right now.
Just as Till had told everyone, he was now in his personal quarters reflecting on everything that had happened to him over the chaotic battle. It was one thing to see the betrayal be the final act that his reformed OZ would be remembered for, it was another entirely to see everything absolutely crushed by the recent battle that nearly upended everything he had fought to see protected. His personal projects, his men, his children.
More than anything, it was a stark reminder of everything that he had lost. He made his way to a nearby picture that he had set up when he offered a plea, "Oh Griselda… I beg you to receive Christoph and Christian…"
Till slipped into a nearby chair when he thought about how the war changed him, once a man would be content with peace warped into a major supplier for money just to buy bullets in skulls. He was clinging on to an ideology desperately during the war to prevent the emptiness in his heart getting the better of him.
The process blanked out from his children and neglecting them, forcing them to fight in his war. He realized how he became a relic of the Eve Wars he had truly become. It was not only because of men such as Edward hoping to use his weakness to their advantage, it was because of men such as Franz who had done everything to make this day possible. It was a reminder such as this one that brought the cycle of his life into perspective.
"Richard… Flake… Donna… Now more than ever, I am truly unneeded…" He began writing a new letter as soon as he finished writing, he signed it with his signature and placed it in an envelope to leave on his desk.
