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 74: Precipice of Slaughter
One of the operators heard Ermes announce his progress when she said, "We're receiving aid from the Aquarius Admiral. We should be able to hold our own at this rate."
Norma saw the cannons were charged again on her panel when she ordered, "Fire towards the defensive line. Ensure that our troops have the support."
"Right away sir." One of the strategists relayed the order, "All broadside cannons prepare for a second volley of fire!"
The Uriel sliced its way through another Sol Thero while the Zero System gave Mercurio a warning on his back side. He warned to the units nearby, "Descend below! They're getting ready to fire!"
One of the Coalition soldiers confirmed the warning, "Copy that." As soon as the order was given the fleet of Coalition battleships gave their second volley of fire towards the defending Sol Thero units.
Dana found her job easier when she bashed the next unsuspecting unit with her shield commenting, "That fire is providing support alright. Doesn't look like they can get a decent hit on that station though."
One of the nearby Leo III pilots found the beams colliding from afar when she reminded, "The enemy is still trying to keep those shots from getting through. It looks like they have another defense line from back there."
Oleg was nearby when he fired his gatling guns towards the nearest enemy units, "If we just have to endure another round of this I think we can handle it."
Cao was firing her unit's sniper rifle when she hit a planet defensor warning, "Try not to do anything reckless out there. We still have a chance of breaking through thanks to you guys."
The conflict was dying down slightly when Norma observed the battle map and requested, "Are we any closer to breaking the enemy's line?"
The first strategist reported, "We've taken down approximately 61% of the enemy lines sir. Our units haven't been able to make much of a dent though."
"Without the Gundams I doubt we would have breached this far in all realistic terms. Our combined forces have lost 30% of their numbers at this point." The other strategist lamented.
Norma felt more regret creeping in as she commented, "Damn… To think we had to take this much of a loss." She remained vigilant when she pushed the crew, "Don't let their sacrifices be in vain. We have to give the Gundams a chance to push through."
Franz saw the computer screen display 'Mobile Dolls charged to optimum levels.'
Amandala pointed, "Charged at last. The Gundams may have taken a chance but they will see how impenetrable this station is."
Franz confirmed the plan when he told him, "Ensure that Designer N has all backup systems prepared." He turned to his nearest panel when he ordered, "Launch the Atlas and Thanatos. Eliminate all enemies within the ready area."
The screen confirmed, 'Launching final mobile dolls.' Moments after hearing the bay doors open he saw the Sol Atlas and Sol Thanatos fly out of the station and towards the battlefield where their smaller variants waited for their assistance.
The assembly of the Coalition fleet displayed on Franz's battle map as he prepared to execute the next decision of his strategy. He observed the Invictus's position and observed, "They are all that separates us from the next available target."
Amandala took the initiative when he ordered the nearest computer panel, "Rotate the station. Prepare to direct fire on next target."
The computer was obedient when it displayed, 'Rotation is in progress.'
Quebec City could not have been a more vulnerable target as the battle for the future of the human race was being decided far away from Earth. Such a fate would have been enough to give pause to much of the human race as they would seek to stand together in such a trying period. The remaining aggressors of the conflict however were not human.
The world was still in a state of chaos as the Sol Thero mobile dolls made their way through the continents and destroyed every bit of resistance that it came across while leveling the cities that remained standing. The destruction was indiscriminate as the remaining forces of the Coalition and Earth Sphere were desperate to defend themselves. The mobile dolls themselves faced only the challenge of replenishing their ammunition for everything that demanding their attention.
The city of Newport had recently been devastated while a squadron of Sol Thero units surveyed over their recent results. Their work was far from done however when the leading units programming determined, 'Secondary capital in range. Survey is under way.'
With their next target determined, the squadron of Sol Theros made their way further north as they prepared to lay waste to another location in their programming.
The news of the coming devastation was something that much of the parliament and military leaders had come to expect, but the news was something that still enough to stress everyone who was forced to hear the news. Marcel was the first to reveal this development when he reported, "We are still having difficulty determining how many Sol Theros are remaining. Unfortunately we also have little confirmation of any other survivors as well."
One of the strategists overlooking the holographic map of Quebec City when he asked, "What options do we have? What do we have that can handle these things?"
Marcel groaned when he was forced to remember the state of his military. Forcing himself to maintain a collected look, he answered, "I'm afraid that we have little that can stand against them. We have lost far too many of our forces from Edward Blare's uprising."
One of the men overlooking the holographic map confirmed the situation they were being asked to address when he lamented, "Even then was not our most critical hour."
Marcel sighed before he offered his strategy, "I believe that we do have one potential option that can at least postpone their progress." Marcel pointed to the outer area of the city when he began to drag a line towards the incoming area where the Sol Theros were estimated to be arriving from. A squadron of Leo IIIs were making their way to the outer areas of the city and far up north where far fewer casualties would be at risk. Marcel continued to look over the map when he warned, "I don't know how long it can work, but it will give us the opportunity to evacuate and find safety. Assuming that they will pursue weaker targets as far away from their designated targets as possible."
Marcel's strategist looked over the plan when he observed, "Your strategy seems to imply that they can be driven away from this area."
Marcel confirmed, "Precisely. If we can even so much as inflict a little damage on them our remaining squadron can draw the Sol Theros away from here."
The strategist considered the offer when he evaluated, "It is certainly a potential path for us to take. Unfortunately this will be a strategy that will require the most selfless act they can be asked to commit to."
Even reminded of the great amount of strife that his men was being asked to handle before and after, Marcel knew there was only going to be one way that he was going to serve his duty. "Unfortunately this is what we demand of our men now. If we are going to attempt to have any more survivors when this continues towards the end."
Another one of the men reminded him of what could be achieved when he reminded, "If there is any assurance to be gained from what we face, it is that the gathered forces should be arriving at the Sol Invictus by now. If they can destroy it soon enough, we might see them deactivated before long and this crisis can be managed."
The strategist reminded, "Unfortunately that is relying on the idea that they will be successful and we do not account for any other outcome."
Marcel reminded all of them, "Even if all this does is buy us time, it will still be worth following through to ensure that our men will have the opportunity to see more survivors."
His strategist reflected on the options that were weighed in front of him and "Without anything resembling a real chance against the Sol Theros, it may be our only option. Even so, who is willing to volunteer for such a mission?"
Marcel nodded when he confirmed, "It will be one of the hardest things that we ask of any of our men. That is what we must determine once they have been briefed on what this could become. See that every one of our men is briefed on what is now at stake."
One of the operators made his way to the nearest speaker panel when he carried out the order, "All personnel. Prepare to be briefed."
Dana was pressing her way through the Sol Thero ranks when she took out a beam saber and defended herself at close range. "Captain, we've got another two objects headed this way!" Zachariah warned among the crossfire.
She turned to her left computer screen when she asked, "What? Is it more of the enemy?"
She heard Mercurio report the enemy status, "I've got two signatures sir."
Dana was brought to attention when she noticed the speed of the signatures, "It's coming in fast!"
Norma searched the scope of the battle map when she heard the chatter among the units of the defensive line. She turned to the nearest panel asking, "What's going on out there? All squad leaders report!"
One of the squad leaders reported back, "The enemy must have reinforcement's sir. They look like… Holy shit… Those things are big."
One of the strategists saw the two signatures making their way to the lines when he agreed, "It seems like the enemy has received some assistance sir."
Norma turned to the front of the deck when she commanded, "Give us a visual on the reinforcements." It was a quick moment when the deck view displayed the two mobile dolls before the crew. The operators were silenced as soon as they saw the mobile dolls as tall as the Testudo itself launching into the battlefield. Out of instinct Norma compared the sight to one of her past asking, "The… Mercurius and Vayeate?" Despite their size, the appearance of both managed to bring back the memories of those decades ago.
Norma wasn't able to observe their activity but was snapped back to attention when one of the operators announced, "We've got a massive energy reading on the red one."
Norma turned to the battle map and found the energy was building beyond the anticipated maximum for a mobile suit. "Is it preparing to self-destruct? It can't be planning to handle that kind of power."
One of the strategists found the answer when he warned, "Sir! It's firing!" With the announcement given the hands folded back into the Sol Atlas and the massive beams of light shined forth from the recesses of its arms and the Coalition fleet saw its full power. The fleet did not see the fire of the Sol Invictus up close, but the devastation the two blades brought would be the closest experience.
Mercurio caught his shield when the beams made their way through the battlefield. "It's too powerful! Watch out for those beams!"
Dana had the Artemis change to bird mode when she tried to escape the devastation. She found the Zero System displaying the possible positions of the Sol Thero units when she warned, "Get around them! The enemy units are trying to use it to their advantage!"
The first sight of the beams brought the Golem to fire its missiles towards the source only to find they would not hit anything. Oleg tried to warn the others when he announced, "Nothing's getting through! I can't hit it!"
Dana saw the beams make their way through the field and not only to the Coalition mobile suits. She warned the nearest units, "They're hitting through the line. It's going through to the fleet!"
The Tallgeese Throne fired its buster rifle in the direction of the beams but found they only ended up colliding to a minor effect. Dafina was the next to warn, "Averting it is no good… I'm sorry to say that the fleet is in trouble." Mercurio heard this warning and was left to stare in terror at the destruction before him.
"Commander! We're reaching maximum tolerance from those beams!"
"Evacuate the ship! Move out forces to the rear qua- AHHH!"
Dialogues were repeated to this same effect among the Coalition fleet as the energy blades made their way through in calculated motions. The Sol Atlas turned its head from left to right while searching for the next movement to make while its work continued. The beams swiped through the battleships as a sword would make its way through fish leaving explosions in their wake while the survivors scrambled to find safety.
The crew of the Executor Rising deck gave a collective, "AHHH!" The sight of the beams was not only frightening but almost became too much for the human eye to look into.
Norma realized this when she ordered, "Shield the dock view!" One of the operators managed to hear this request among the chaos when the view of the deck was sealed off
A few minutes passed before one of the strategists collected himself and reported, "Energy reading is gone sir… Systems are stabilizing."
Norma forced herself up when she requested, "D... Damage report?"
One of the operators lifted himself from the panel when he answered, "Somehow we're still alive..."
Norma accepted the report when she asked, "Easy enough... Can we still operate?"
One of the operators overlooked the status of the ship when she answered, "Our ships integrity is still intact sir."
Norma was reluctant to ask the final question when she asked, "How many of us is still out there?"
One of the strategists was audibly regretful when he answered, "It's not looking good sir. That attack has just wiped out 75% of our fleet."
Norma made her way to the seat when she forced herself to take up a leader's position again. "Damn it… Those numbers are going to keep going up." She cursed before giving an order into the units in her perimeter, "All surviving units. Please respond."
One commander responded, "We read you flagship. It's not looking too good out there."
"Do we have any sign of the Gundams?"
"They're still at the defense line. They should be able to push them back but that recent attack was too much for any of us."
"Quite observant." She agreed. She decided the next order, "All units proceed to the rear lines and avoid contact with the new enemy out there."
The announcement of more Sol Theros making their way to the capital city was met with as much enthusiasm by the mobile suit pilots as it had been with their superior officers. Both groups had come to a common understanding of their enemy however, the fact that the Sol Theros had no regard for how their targets wanted them to act. Most critically, they had little regard for how desperate their attempt to continue to survive with the waning number of options they had to defend themselves with.
This fact was what brought every remaining Earth Sphere mobile suit pilot capable of battle into the hangar room for the mission that was about to be offered them. Even more troubling for everyone was the desperate strategy they were about to pin their hopes on if more were going to be allowed to survive.
Keijo voiced his concern when he pointed out, "With all due respect sir, we're supposed to seriously just consider hitting and running when we can't even put so much as a dent on those things with the shit we have now?"
Marcel acknowledged the fault in relying on such a strategy when he explained, "I am asking you to commit to a mission that will give the lives of this city the opportunity to continue to offer their leadership and guidance once they have been offered the chance to live."
Heero spoke up next when he told him, "That has been the mission we were assigned to from the day we were enlisted sir."
Marcel nodded towards him when he explained, "We may never be able to determine how much more is going to be asked of us in these trying times, but every life that is present here is one that we consider worth honoring for all of the effort we have seen in the face of the recent destruction. From our successes and our failures."
Flake reminded everyone of the requirements ahead of them when he spoke, "Even with that sort of praise, we still have a question of who is suicidal enough to consider this sort of mission."
Heero placed a hand on his shoulder as he turned him to face him and reminded, "It's only suicidal if we attempt to face them with what we have now. We cannot allow for any sense of failure to weigh us down in a time where so many lives are now in our hands." Before anyone else could say anything, Heero turned to Marcel and told him, "General. I will lead the men in this mission."
Marcel was not calmed by the answer but stood collected and accepted the offer, "We shall leave your assistance to that of your volunteers. I must have you understand however that if there are no volunteers that assignment will become necessary."
Heero turned to face his men when he answered and encouraged everyone listening to him, "The only assignment we allow to uphold our duty in service to the human race. I trust this will be the sentiment among everyone."
Robbie was next when he reminded, "Everyone has loved ones here Major. The only thing we ask for now is proper leadership in a time like this one."
Heero confirmed the intention when he agreed, "And I'll be sure to offer that to you. Just as I'm sure it is being offered where it is needed most right now."
As soon as Heero returned his attention to Marcel, his superior gave a salute when he agreed, "It is a great honor to have your service Major. All that we can ask of you now is to ensure that you will be able to return alive."
Even with the request attached at the command given to him, Heero acknowledged Marcel's hopes when he told him, "Whatever it takes for the leaders of this Earth to continue living, I will follow through."
One of the captains overseeing the destruction of the fleet saw Cao's sniper team in position. He noticed a lack of activity when he requested, "Private Nhung. Are you still out there?"
Cao answered with a weak, "I'm here sir..."
"Anything wrong at all?"
"I don't think I can do much about my sight sir. I've been blinded to my right…"
"Damn it. Those beams were too powerful for us to even look at."
Mercurio looked out to the destruction of the fleet and saw the true scale of the event. With how many casualties were made the feeling of defeat couldn't be avoided. He heard Dana order, "We have to make our way back. This will be our only chance to gather what we have left. Before the enemy attacks again."
"Roger that Captain."
Oleg looked through the debris that made its way through the fleets orbit when he asked, "Damn it… Here I thought numbers and brawn would make a difference. What are we supposed to use now?"
One of the captains who managed to survive the attack of the Sol Atlas couldn't find the source of the beams but was quick to agree with his Admiral, "We have to head back. They're not going to survive for much longer at this rate."
"Is anywhere safe after something like that?"
"Probably not. But it's better than taking our chances."
One of the units from his squadron saw the explosion when he asked, "Captain! What happ-" The units continued to explode when the Coalition pilots tried to figure out what was destroying them now.
The situation was emphasized further when a Coalition leader requested, "Second squad pl- AHHH!"
"What's going on now?" Norma saw the Coalition numbers making their way back to the fleet but being stopped by what seemed to be nothing.
One of the strategists could only determine, "It seems the enemy has something else in store for us sir. There's no energy beams but the speed shouldn't even be possible."
Dana saw the destruction of the Coalition mobile suits coming from behind when she warned, "The enemy has moved in again."
Oleg tried to comprehend the idea asking, "After that attack? Was it from the same one?"
Dafina's voice sounded when she saw the destruction making its way through, "It doesn't seem to be." She turned the Tallgeese around when she ordered, "Head into the Coalition ranks. Don't let them take any more targets."
Dana was the first to question the decision, "You plan on taking that thing on?"
Dafina had the Tallgeese's virus activated when she promised, "If I can slow it down it should be target at least."
Mercurio requested his entry, "Let us go in for back up. We need to make sure we can destroy this thing as soon as possible."
Dafina didn't show any disagreement when she permitted, "Just be sure to let me know when I have the target in range."
With the plan determined, Tano launched ahead when he told them, "Remain vigilant. We have a great number to avenge now."
Outside Quebec City, Heero had gathered the remaining mobile suit pilots who volunteered to serve in the mission that was being offered to them. There was once a time where a challenge such as this would have been something the Earth Sphere military would have been prepared for even the most impossible odds that were being stacked against them. This had unfortunately not been one of such times.
The sheer scale of devastation and challenges the fighting men and women had been asked to overcome after so long had all but reduced the remainder of the mobile suit forces down to little more than a single squadron of pilots. More frightening was that none of them had a Gundam to call their own, nor a greater weapon that would have made facing the Sol Theros even just a little easier. Each and every remaining resource was only a meager remnant of what the Earth Sphere military once was. Many of them wondered if it was because they were indeed among the best of the pilot forces, but the question had ultimately become a meaningless one.
Heero knew this when he told himself, "The fact that we are those who remain only means that we continue to hold the responsibility of those we value." He brought his attention to the new squadron that he was being offered to work with and saw his last hope of defending the Earth Sphere from complete annihilation. Flake, Robbie, Nick, Daisuke, Keijo, Fredric, and Cinzia all stood at attention when they waited for his order on what they were going to undergo.
Heero began, "I know that you are all shaken right now. As much as we might not want to face it, the fact remains that there is one obstacle that remains in our way from being able to take hold of our way of life."
Robbie raised his voice when he pointed out, "Most of the men remaining aren't going to be able to hold themselves very long. This continued pounding is going to be the end of us."
Fredric crossed his arms when he added, "I say Nasir and Richard are the lucky ones. They don't have to put up with this shit and get to watch us risk our necks for them."
Cinzia shot a sour look to him when she told him, "If you consider getting varying degrees of crippled fortunate, I hate to think what you chose for the alternatives."
Heero interrupted them when he told them, "Debating the value of what one sacrifice was worth and what wasn't is going to be worthless if we do not honor them. That is something that can only be done if we prevent the enemy from destroying any more of the city."
Flake confirmed the sentiment when he added, "Now is not the time for us to be chickening out like little bitches and reflecting on what we have left. I've lost two brothers out there and I didn't get to do shit out there for them."
Seeing his anger beginning to rise and throw off the initial plan for the meeting, Heero stopped Flake from speaking any further as he reminded them, "If you are all able to recognize the danger that is in front of us right now, you can act like the soldiers that you're supposed to be."
Just when he believed that his men were under control, Heero saw Fredric speak next, "With all due respect sir, I don't think even one of us is the invincible superhuman that you are."
Heero placed his hands behind him when he looked Fredric in the eye but began to speak to the rest of the pilots, "And that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm a soldier like the rest of you. Subject to a fate that I have not yet met and I have no intention of making it be today. I had to learn long ago what the value of another human life was and I expect that all of you should be able to grasp what that is now. If you have anything resembling care for your fellow man, I want to see the results out there. Even if it comes at the cost of your lives, I want to see that you are able to follow the plan that we now have to prepare for."
There was another pause linger over the pilots when they heard the small speech from their superior. They were indeed standing before a man with a great deal of history about him, but he was still in the end a man who wanted to make a difference when the most demanding challenge was in front of him. No longer a Gundam pilot, now a mere mobile suit pilot, the last squadron was being given its asked in this moment if it was going to cower in fear at the sight of this momentous challenge, or if they would be the examples of servitude they were expected to be.
With this question as the most immediate concern, Keijo asked, "So that plan involves what we were told before? We just go up to the Sol Theros, hit them a few times and then get the hell away from them?"
Hearing the newly acquired sense of conviction in one of his pilots, Heero turned to him and answered, "Just what we were briefed. I need all of you to follow my lead and do not offer any sort of deviation."
Daisuke was the next to confirm was he was being ordered to do when he told him, "Only for as long as you give us the best kind of orders Major. Ones where we might have a chance to get some real results."
Heero turned to him when he reminded, "I'm going to make sure that you don't have to pay for anything that I do wrong. Our mission is the only thing that we have left. We have to give everything that is asked of us to ensure that this city does not fall."
Flake confirmed the mission that he was given when he responded, "We're ready to see those soulless machines be reminded of what we're capable of sir."
Accepting this as the best he could hear from his men, Heero agreed, "Let's move out and meet with the enemy before it's too late."
The pilots all offered each other a salute before they broke away from the meeting place and rushed towards the Ursas that were prepared to offer their service. Before Heero was prepared to make his way to his own, he saw Nick standing in front of him in wonder of who he had just heard his orders from. Nick took this opportunity to tell him, "You are a different man than I thought you would ever be Major."
Heero knew what Nick was referring to when he told him, "I used to wonder what sort of life waited for me if I was to live this long. I'm sure that you will be offered the same luxury."
Nick acknowledged the offer when he told his superior, "I'm not sure if you've been struggling with yourself for very long, but I will tell you that it is an honor to protect the Earth alongside you. I hope it won't be the last time we'll have the chance."
Heero faced the direction of the hangar bay as he prepared to himself to enter a mobile suit while adding, "Being able to serve next to one another should be an honor in itself. That is the sort of life I have been hoping to live ever since I left my past behind."
Nick gave a salute as he ran alongside him and offered, "I'll be sure to honor your wish then sir."
Even with the looming threat of the Sol Theros arriving within range of the city, there was still a great calm that managed to find its way towards its citizens. Only the collected burst of engines from the last remaining squadron of Ursas was the one thing to break the peace before the quiet loomed over the city once again. Few however were given an idea of what sort of challenge this mission would demand and what was going to be at stake.
The civilian population was given an immediate answer to these questions when an alarm sounded through the streets and several trucks made their way to every nearby house. This alarm was brought to the door of Relena's house when she made her way to the door and saw a soldier there to meet her. She was greeted, "Madame Representative. It's an emergency protocol, we have to evacuate this city without delay."
Nodding in confirmation to the warning, Relena agreed, "I will comply right away." She turned away from the doorway when she called, "Girls! I need you both!"
At their mother's call, Helena and Selena rushed down the steps when they heard her. Before they could ask anything, the soldier at the door motioned towards the truck outside, "If that's everyone, let's get a move on now. We don't have much longer to wait."
Selena recognized a sense of danger was already at hand when she asked, "Is something happening again? Are we in danger?"
Relena stepped outside when she told her daughters, "The only danger we face now is choosing to remain here. I will not accept anyone remaining behind."
There was no further opportunity for debate about what would happen when Relena checked behind her to make sure her daughters followed her. As they made their way to the end of the truck, the three were helped up by the same soldier as they climbed in and sat next to several other civilians who were prepared for the evacuation.
Helena sat next to her mother when she asked, "Mom, where are we going?"
Relena looked outside when she saw several civilians being guided to the truck as well when she explained, "We have to get to safety. The Sol Theros are on their way here."
Selena voiced her displeasure with the idea, "Again? How can this be happening?"
Helena offered her own question, "I can't believe this keeps happening. Why are there so many of them trying to destroy us?"
Recognizing how difficult it was becoming for her daughters to accept the challenges laid in front of them, Relena reminded them, "We are being forced to deal with a man who does not care about any of our lives. He made that clear when he saw to the destruction of L2."
With the Sol Theros being a threat once again, Helena recognized there was another possible difficult thing for her to face when she asked, "If we're all gathered here does… does that mean father is out there trying to stop them as well?"
Relena knew there was nothing she could do to make it easier for her children to accept what was happening when she simply answered after a sigh, "He is."
Selena was about to stand up and confront her mother about what she had just heard before she saw the last civilian brought inside and then heard the motor start as the truck she occupied began to move. She fell back in her seat when she asked, "How could you let him mom? He's injured enough already! He can't keep forcing himself to this sort of commitment forever!"
Relena tried to maintain a sense of calm when she confirmed, "He knows that. It's something we both had to accept being part of our lives if we were going to be together. It was more than just a mere duty, it was a vow for him."
Helena brought a hand to her mother's shoulder when she tried to explain to her, "Even if it is, I can't stand the thought of him continuing to push himself like this. Not after devoting so much of himself after all this time."
Hoping to offer a sense of assurance to her daughter, Relena brought a hand to where Helena placed hers when she explained, "I know it's difficult to accept. But it's something that he's known all his life. He has always believed that giving himself was more important than anything else in the world. That living for a greater cause was the most important thing to aspire to. It's honestly what made living for this moment to be so manageable for me."
Selena blinked when she realized another part of what made her father so important to her mother. She was not in complacency of what her father wanted to achieve, it was a recognition of duty that was demanded of him unlike anything she had ever been part of before. "So it's important for him to continue what he believes in even when he has others to consider around him."
With the reasoning behind her mothers acceptance of the situation, Helena offered her own observation, "I think there's one thing I've learned about seeing dad put himself through all of this willingly. The fact that he does all of this for us. Recognizing that this was something you were both capable of. That's something that brought you together in the first place isn't it mom?"
Relena looked out the open end of the tuck when she answered, "Finding that sort of respect was something that made us see something wonderful in one another. However long we are going to continue such days together, that is something I want to discover for myself."
There was a few moments before the gathering of Gundams made their way through the destruction when Mercurio saw the slender mobile doll in his sights. "That has to be the one." He announced to the nearby Gundams when he readied his weapons, "We have an enemy mobile suit engaged. Preparing to move in."
Mercurio prepared his shield when he threw it towards the target. The mobile doll that seemed to be made of blades was only in existence for a period before it disappeared again and made its swiping motions through the debris.
The Uriel fired its Testudo cannon in every area but only managed to hit varying pieces of debris before he heard Dafina warn, "Stay out of its way!" Dafina fired her buster rifle when she tried to hit the target cursing, "How is it moving this fast? At least Mercurio should be safe." The Tallgeese drew in its buster rifle when it drew its heat rods while it avoided another throw from the Uriel's shield. With the correct precision the Tallgeese managed to slice into the Sol Thanatos's left arm and through one of its accelerators.
Mercurio found the Uriel's cannon reaching empty when he warned, "It's moving faster than our radar is able to pick up!"
Dafina promised them, "It should be slowing down at least. Prepare to engage."
Dana had the Artemis's buster rifle at the ready when she finally saw the "What is that?"
"That's no mobile suit..." Oleg commented.
Dana didn't let anything else distract her when she ordered, "Open fire! Don't let it survive the attack!"
The Gundams fired every shot they had when they tried to hit it but found their efforts to no avail. Mercurio threw the shield into the direction of the Sol Thanatos when he announced, "It's still going! I can't get a good lock!"
Oleg saw the damage of a quick duel when a wing of the Tallgeese Throne was clipped away from its original model. "The Tallgeese has been hit!" He warned to his allies.
Mercurio sped the Uriel towards Dafina's location when he announced, "Out of the way! I have to help!"
The Golem let forth a volley of missiles on its locked target before Oleg saw a notification and cursed, "Damn. Those are my last missiles. I can't hit it from here and risk hitting the Tallgeese as well."
The Uriel retrieved its shield and prepared to engage in sword mode when the Sol Thanatos did everything to push the Tallgeese Throne away from its allies. Dafina saw the Uriel prepared to make its next strike when she tried to warn, "Get out of here!"
"Dafina!" Was all she heard when Mercurio charged forward. The thrust of the sword made its way into the Sol Thanatos before the mobile doll made another dodge.
The Tallgeese matched with every motion and sweep the Thanatos had before one of its arms joined the clipped wing. "I can't keep up with it!" Dafina cursed as she saw her means of attack lost. Despite the Uriel's efforts the Thanatos continued to avoid every attack of the blade. She opened a channel to her brother when she reported, "Ermes… I'm sorry this has happened…" She was breaking when she tried to answer, "I didn't expect to see…"
The voice of his sister made Ermes turn around. "Sis, you can't go!" He shouted. "You're better than me in any other way!"
There was a moment of static flashing across her screen when she endured another hit from her enemy. She gave a final word to him, "I didn't mean it to end like this…"
"Dafina!" The chance to move in was too slow when the Sol Thanatos swung around to dodge Mercurio's shield and the incoming fire. With the opening given, the Sol Thanatos pierced its remaining blade into the backside of the Tallgeese Throne. Time slowed down and the observers saw one of their own fall while being forced to consider their strategic loss.
"Dafina!" Donna screamed as she tried to make her way to help the Tallgeese but the path was blocked by three Sol Theros.
The mobile dolls engaged in close combat to stall support, preventing hits while countering unsuccessfully with the Sandesgeist dodging them. They were about to overpower her until Tano's Anaconda appeared and mauled one from behind. "I'll help you get to the Tallgeese as fast as you can." He said. The damaged Sol Thero was finished off by a missile launcher from an Ursa. "I'm in this war as well." He reminded them.
The two Gundams were unable to reach Dafina in time when the rear torso was lunged through into the cockpit. Donna was unable to speak with what she saw now but realized that it's worse for Ermes. The Zero system get her out of the sense and reminded her to regroup the OZ forces. "Admiral Begum, how are our forces?" She asked.
"We lost the Di Vinzo, Marco and Beckett squadrons!" The OZ commander reported. "But casualties could've been worse without your instructions."
After remembering the new mobile doll units that showed up she gave her new order. "Get the surviving squadrons to focus on the Sol Theros!" She commanded. "Support for the new mobile dolls must be eliminated if the Gundams are going to have a chance!"
Ermes saw how the monitor was working until Thanatos' sword lunged in and briefly smeared blood into the camera before transmission ended. While he was used to seeing those he love died now, his sister took the hardest hit like a numerously repaired wall wrecked by a cannon shot. The AI of the Aquarius came active to guide him as he was losing lucidity in battle, allowing him dodge multiple beam shots and countering back with dober gun projectiles.
Quatre felt another pain while he was working on the quick repairs of Leo III units. "Dafina just died?" He asked himself before getting to work. He also had the bad feeling that the death will not be the last either.
Kieran ignored pleas for help that flooded the hangars to focus on the refuel. "Quickly refuel Brown Squadron, then move on to Verde Squadron!" He ordered. "Leave some space for any refuel the OZ lads or the Gundams will need!"
While many were forced to deal with the ever-looming threat of destruction upon them, there were still a select few who had the wellbeing of an entire city weighing upon them. It was a responsibility that few had ever requested, but it was one that was upon the shoulders of the last hope the human race had of keeping its leadership intact. While this responsibility was held upon the shoulders of these few soldiers, there was one among them who felt as though the weight of everything he had hoped to achieve was upon his shoulders.
Heero continued to pilot his Ursa alongside the Lac Aylmer when he heard Keijo contact him, "Do we have any sign of those things yet Major?"
Heero looked over his radar system when he answered, "I'm not picking up any signals and I don't see any signs of activity headed this way. If you see any of them before I do, you are not to fire on them until I say so."
Before there was any further discussion, Flake announced, "Major! We have company headed this way!"
Before Heero could confirm anything, he saw Cinzia's Ursa rush forward and fired its assault rifle in the air in front of him. A series of explosions erupted as soon as the signals on the radars cleared and ijt had become clear what they were dealing with. "Missiles. They're getting close to us."
Cinzia agreed, "Close enough that they're going to try and pick us off from a distance."
Just as Cinzia suspected, the Sol Thero units that were making their way towards Quebec City did indeed discover the presence of the Ursa squadron. Their next tactics were determined when the leading unit determined through its programming, 'Enemy units active. Engagement necessary.' Using the series of explosions in the distance as their point of reference, the Sol Theros charged towards the location of the squadron prepared to take aim at the first target that came in range.
Even as the Ursa pilots could find some assurance in defending themselves from the contact, Heero lamented, "We aren't going to have an advantage. This will have to be done with what we have now." He opened his frequency to his pilots when he ordered, "We've drawn their attention. We have to draw them away from the city now."
Taking the lead, Heero moved his Ursa away from the coming Sol Theros when and moved towards the northwest when he led the charge and waited to see his pilots follow behind. Seeing their superior officer take the lead, Daisuke managed to maintain his speed behind the others when he asked, "We still have those things a decent distance away from us right?"
He was answered with a series of gunfire that sounded in the distance but only grazed him by a little. Seeing what seemed to be a deliberate miss, Keijo asked, "What jus happened? Aren't those things supposed to pick up all of our movements?"
Heero looked behind him when he saw what several of the Sol Thero units were planning to do. They had begun to leave one of them behind when he told everyone, "They thought this through a lot. They don't have our mission determined yet."
Seeing the remaining seven Sol Theros remain undeterred away from their target served as confirmation for what Heero had believed was happening. He made contact with Flake when he told him, "Continue the charge. I'll get them back here."
Before he could hear any protest, Heero charged towards the Sol Theros with his assault rifle prepared. The remaining Ursa pilots saw him charge ahead while they turned in the direction they were headed before Fredric asked, "He's not thinking he's invincible is he?"
Robbie told him, "I'm more worried that he thinks he's an easy target."
While the remaining Ursa units made their projected course, Heero charged ahead with the targets coming in his sight. He saw one of the Sol Theros turn and point it s gun arm towards him before firing. Unable to completely avoid the gunfire, Heero made a fast guess to his right as he managed to avoid contact with his cockpit, but ended up losing the right arm that held his assault rifle. He groaned as he forced himself to resort to his Vulcan cannons before another volley of missiles began to fly his way and pushed him further back from the area.
Being reminded of how seemingly impossible it was for him to draw away anything, Heero felt himself fall to the ground when he was reminded of how impossible his goal seemed to be. He knew what he had to do, but he was left virtually powerless before his targets. He was no longer able to stand in front of his enemies as strong as he once did. He was left in such a critical moment and found himself more alone than he thought he would be in his dying moments. Forcing himself to look up to the screen, he saw the Sol Thero making its way towards him and prepared to deal a possibly necessary destructive shot.
Processing what he had just endured, Heero through to himself, "Quatre… You were the only one I ever got to see again…"
Before the Sol Thero could do anything else, there was a volley of gunfire that came from behind Heero's fallen mobile suit. He saw the Sol Thero pushed back as it deployed its planet defensors to defend itself but was given the opportunity to pick himself back up. Before he could say anything, he heard the voice of Flake ask, "You can still move sir?"
Heero groaned as he forced his Ursa back up and prepared to turn around for his planned course when he told him, "I told you to move. Now go."
While Flake helped guide the damaged Ursa to the northwest, Heero heard Fredric tell him, "With all due respect sir, we're better off with more numbers than less."
The two Ursas continued to fire on the defending Sol Thero before its programming reported to the other units, 'Threat elevated. Elimination necessary.' Once it had determined the next course of action, the Sol Thero units moved away from their target direction towards Quebec City as they prepared to wipe out the enemy squadron.
Heero recognized this when he ordered, "We have their attention! Now move!"
Helping his superior to his feet and guiding him to his target direction, Flake agreed, "You got it Major. Let's leave them wanting more everybody."
The attention of the squadron of Sol Theros had been obtained and Fredric could find the first open path in front of him. He continued his way towards the rally point when he heard Daisuke encourage, "Come on, we have to go now!"
Heero responded to the request when he ordered him, "We're ready! Maintain your distance and fire to maintain their attention!"
Despite the damage that had been dealt to their superior officer, the squadron of Ursa pilots pushed themselves forward as they dashed away from the Sol Thero squadron and fired towards the planet defensor fields that were quickly set up. Not even a scratch had been dealt to the enemy mobile dolls, but the acquired attention was exactly what they needed for this mission. While the Ursa mobile suits continued to make their escape from the enemy contact, Cinzia asked, "The mission is still going the way we wanted it to right?"
Heero confirmed the progress he was hoping to achieve when he told her, "This is what we were trying to pull off. Now it's up to everyone up there to make sure they can have it last long enough."
Nick pointed out to him, "I don't know if we can rely on this strategy that much sir. Once we're down, these things are going to be ready for their original mission again."
A sense of defeat weighed on Heero when he heard that reminder. What he was offering would only be a temporary distraction compared to what the Sol Thero squadron was hoping to achieve. It was with this reminder that he offered himself the assurance that he knew only he would be able to accept. "It's up to everyone out there right now. We need the Sol Invictus destroyed now."
Oleg saw the Tallgeese stabbed from behind and was left to curse his luck. "It seems that thing is beyond what we can pull off..." He snapped back to his senses when he saw the Sol Thanatos leading squads of Sol Theros towards his location. "This isn't looking good. The enemy is trying to close in on us!" The Golem brought its gatling guns to firing when he gave the warning.
Mercurio sent his shield to another few Sol Thero units when he agreed, "Of course they don't have the humanity!" The shield spun from one end back to the Uriel while Mercurio aimed the Testudo cannon at the nearest Sol Thero units. With every shot given he eventually found Zero System giving him the opening to the Thanatos. The Zero System displayed the Artemis moving in from behind and began to give Mercurio a strategy.
Dana saw her Zero System alert the next area of attack when she ordered, "Move in from behind! Don't let it have a chance!"
Before the Sol Thanatos could move in and begin its assault on the gathering of Coalition mobile suits, the Uriel thrust its blade into its back. "Take the shot now!" Dana had taken the initiative when she saw the opening for the mobile doll. The Artemis fired its buster rifle and a beam fired down towards the face of the Sol Thanatos. It was a short time before Dafina's death was avenged when the mobile doll exploded.
Dana saw the mobile doll's signature fade when she told herself, "That makes one down..." She turned the Artemis to face the remaining Sol Thero units searching for the next targets. She didn't wait for another chance to aim but simply began to fire towards the Sol Thero units waiting to be cleared up.
One of the remaining sniper squad of Sagittarius units saw Cao's mobile suit taken away while the others tried to stand their ground against the incoming fire. "Damn it! These things are still trying to gain on us!"
The Captain tried to figure out the situation, "How many of us are still out there?"
One of the nearby pilots tried to overlook the destruction before him and saw the final Sol Thero units closing in, "Most of the squads have been wiped out! The enemy unaffected by the viral transmission is making its way to our ranks!"
"They keep trying to group in on us! We're trying to push them back as much as possible sir!"
The Captain's concern could be heard when he warned, "It's either our survival or theirs out there, don't let the enemy have the chance to remind us!"
