EFS White Base, Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona

September 23, 0079

1258 Hours, MST

Crewmen had assembled on the bridge, silently looking at the map of the Americas projected on the floor.

Much of the continental former United States, parts of Mexico and eastern Canada, the Caribbean coast of South America, and the West Indies were highlighted in red, indicating Zeon control. The Pacific coast of South America, Central America, the former state of Michigan, and large section the western Canadian mainland had a pink-and-white overlay, signifying that they were contested zones. Everything else was highlighted bright green, for Federation territory. A white dotted line started up near the Arctic, travelling southward along the coasts of California and Mexico, before entering South America through Ecuador, stopping in north-central Brazil. A star at the end of the trail marked Jaburo, the ship's destination. This was their projected route.

Another dotted line, a red one, began to run as soon as the star appeared. This one, though, entered North America through Washington state, heading further southeast. This was the path they were currently on.

"We're in Zeon territory!" Reed said in disbelief. "How could you let this happen?! It's as if we've come begging to be captured by the enemy!"

"True," Bright admitted. "We fell right into Char's trap."

"'Trap'? You—UGH!" Reed fell to his knees in pain.

Sayla, thankfully, was right there to catch him as he went down. "Fraw Bow," she said, "Lt. Reed seems to be ill. Could you take him to sick bay?"

Fraw, putting an arm around Reed's shoulder, escorted him toward the elevator.

The bad news was soon replaced by something worse. "Enemy planes," Marker announced. "A large one and a wing!"

An image from an external camera appeared on the main screen: the unmistakable shape of a Gaw and a squadron of Dopps on their six.

"See?" said Reed, grimly feeling vindicated. "What did I tell you? Beat them back, no matter what it takes!"

Fraw Bow, not easily taken aback by the man's ravings, led him onward into the elevator.

Arms folded and with a satisfied grin on his face, Garma looked at the oddly-shaped Federation ship that had given Char so much trouble, magnified on the Gaw's main monitor. The codename she was given, "Trojan Horse" seemed all the more appropriate now that he could see her. She was officially a supply ship, based on existing data, but her firepower and armor were enough to rank her as a warship. Not only that, but she was able to fly all the way to Luna II and back on her own. The Federation was really making up for their losses in January.

"Commissar," an officer at the door announced, "Lt. Commander Char Aznable is here."

Garma turned to see the red-clad and masked ace standing before him. "Hello Char," he said, a little cocky "what happened? It's not like you to have so much trouble with a single Feddie ship."

"Must you, Garma?" Char asked. "Pardon me, Colonel Garma Zabi, North American Forces Commissar."

"Just call me Garma, like in our academy days." He turned his attention to the screen. "So that's the 'Trojan Horse'? A ship that not even the Red Comet himself could sink? It earns my attention."

"Even so," said Char, "I wouldn't have thought it worth your personal welcome."

"Don't be silly," Garma replied, "I came to greet you, not the 'Trojan Horse'. As your friend."

"I'm honored, Commissar, but please don't forget that the ship pulled off atmospheric entry unaided and also that she's heading for Jaburo with a mission of utmost importance."

Garma agreed with Char there. "I'm having its combat potential gauged on all facets. You should get some rest, recover from the space fatigue."

"I'll do just that," Char replied. "I envy you. Whoever takes that thing out would earn a Zeon Cross. Imagine: you a star general at your age."

"Thank you," said Garma, flattered. "I'm coming into my own a little sooner with your help… and my sister's. You must have her in mind as well?"

"Lady Kycilia?"

"You're giving me a chance to rise—as a man."

Char broke out laughing upon hearing this. "I suppose you could say that."

"Shut up," said Garma, running his fingers through his hair, "the men are watching."

The north ridge of the Great Canyon, a significant spot in Northamer, but still a bit out of the way for immediate help. It's beautiful, but not an ideal place for one's vehicle to break down.

It happened to the landcraft Sonic and company were in. The question was if it was done in by overheating or if that crazy maneuver to escape that helicopter yesterday led to this. It slowed to a crawl and just gently eased down on the ground.

"Oh, no!" said Sonic. "Not now! I want out of this horrible desert already!"

They popped the hood and were greeted with steam so thick you could cut it with a knife. "I got a bad feeling that this ol' girl just bit the big one," said Bunnie.

"It couldn't have been that sandstorm last night," said Tilly. "We always fitted dust filters on our machinery to prevent breakdowns."

"I'd have to say this thing was pushed over the edge with that stunt we pulled with that helicopter," said Sonic. "Now what? We walk back to Acorn?"

"So? You carried me all the way to Oil Ocean," said Sally. "We only have to go part way home now."

"Yeah," said Sonic, "but that was before we knew about Zeon and those monsters of theirs."

"What's that?" asked Tilly. "There's something on the other side of the canyon."

Something was kicking up a big cloud of dust in the distance. By the naked eye, nobody in the party could identify what was causing it. Sally had to break out a pair of electrobinoculars. "Tanks!"

"For crying out loud!" Sonic groaned. "Did these guys just wait until we found Bunnie before they sounded the bugles?"

"I don't think they're meant for us," said Sally. "Number one, they're on the wrong side of the canyon. Number two, they're heading west."

"The Sand Blasters and Beau's Legionnaires are history," he said, "where could they be off to?"

"Let's just hope that this is good news," said Tilly.

"Well I hear some bad news," Sonic retorted. "Look up."

One of those green planes with stalks on the wings.

"Those things never attack us," he noted. "I'm starting to think those are scout planes. Last time we saw one, Red Rock got stomped flat shortly after."

"Thinking they might send another one them whirlybirds after us?" Bunnie asked.

"As far as we know," said Sally, "they're looking for us. We need cover."

"Down there," said Sonic, now standing at the edge of the canyon wall.

The girls looked into the canyon itself. A picturesque vista of reds, yellows, browns, and oranges, but a long drop down. At the bottom, the silvery stream which had carved out the canyon eons ago.

"Down there?" said Tilly.

"As deep down as we can go," said Sonic. "Those Zeons would have to be bloodthirsty or crazy to send a plane down there after us. Especially in the narrower parts. We'd be harder to hit, too, if they brought in those bombers of theirs." He turned to Bunnie. "You got your jets, Bunnie. I'm sure you can give us a lift down."

Bunnie smiled. "I'd be glad to, sugar."

"Here's the plan: Matilda goes first, then Sal, then me."

Sally smirked. "My, aren't we mannered today?"

"Hey, women and children first," Sonic remarked.

"Amuro? Amuro?" Fraw Bow knocked on the door of her friend's cabin. With the knowledge that the White Base was now in Zeon airspace, everyone was on alert. Everyone that is, but Amuro. She opened the door to find the boy lying on this bed, arms behind his head, and staring at the ceiling. It was as if something was troubling him. "What's the matter?"

Amuro rolled over onto his left side, so he was facing the wall. All he would say was a simple "Nothing".

"Are you sick?" she asked, extending a hand toward him.

"I'm not."

"Mr. Bright sent me to get you," she explained. "Everyone's supposed to be on combat standby."

"Let me sleep a bit," said Amuro. "Ever since we left Side 7, I haven't had a good night's sleep."

"Would you like Sayla to give you a check-up?" Fraw asked. "She's studying to become a doc—!"

"JUST GO AWAY!"

"Amuro, this isn't like you at all!"

The boy finally faced her. "And getting in a mobile suit to kill people is like me?"

"That's not the point!" Fraw countered, though she understood how he felt. "So many people died and this ship's still full of orphans and refugees! Don't you feel like you ought to protect them!? I don't want you to fight either, but I'm so… scared…"

Amuro sat up. "I'm sorry, Fraw," he said. "I get what you're saying, but I feel like… like we're being used."

"Used?"

"By the Fed generals," Amuro explained. "At least that's what if feels like to me." He scrunched up, into a fetal position. "We're just bait to them," he went on, bringing his thumb closer to his mouth. "They're throwing us out here, hoping we'll just die." He closed his teeth on his thumbnail.

"Stop biting your nails," Fraw scolded. "You're reading too much into this. Everyone's having a hard time now, that's why they don't seem supportive. It doesn't mean what you do with the Gundam doesn't matter. Think about: they sacrificed Side 7 for the Gundam! My Mom and grandfather died for the Gundam! So quit lying around. Put on your uniform!"

"What the hell is this?" Reed couldn't believe what the print-out in his hand said. It was only a two-by five card, but the message had broken him: "The White Base is to break through enemy lines and head for Jaburo."

That was all Sayla got. Just that one sentence. Not a bell or a whistle to speak of.

Reed was reduced to tears after reading it. "That's it?" he screamed "No back up from Jaburo? What the hell is the brass thinking!? No wonder Luna II's barely getting by. The Federation is done for!"

While Reed sunk into a nearby seat, sobbing and swearing, the rest of the crew remained composed.

Ryu took notice of the wreck of a man when he left the elevator. "What's with him?"

"Hell if I know," said Bright.

The sergeant gave the "captain" an assuring look. "Mr. Bright, if it's just Dopps we're up against, it shouldn't be that bad. I mean, if the Gaw's carrying any Zakus."

"You think so?"

"Sure," said Ryu "if we split up the Guntanks and Guncannons and use the cliffs for cover. Unit-2's had emergency repairs. Kai and Hayato have done a bunch of sims, they're battle-ready."

"Not a bad idea," Bright remarked.

"Of course, if the Gundam stepped up, we'd really be in the clear."

The Gundam. Bright knew that getting it involved would mean getting Amuro into the cockpit. Ever since Side 7, the boy had built himself a reputation as an entitled loudmouth: something counterproductive to the ship's mission. More so now that they were smack dab in the middle of Zeon turf.

Chloe felt like she was about to wet her pants like a baby. She was only about ten yards away from the trailer, taking deep breaths over and over again. She finally began to move forward, slowly, as if every nerve in her body were struggling to get her to move. The only thing she had with her was a keyboard, and it couldn't have bogged her down that much.

Before she knew it, though, she was knocking on the door.

About twenty-to-thirty seconds later, it was answered by the male Mongoose she had seen Mina with the night before. "Hello… Chloe, I believe?"

"Yes," she said. "Er, Ms. Mongoose asked me to come?"

"Come on in," he said.

A mixture of awe and dread came over Chloe as she stepped into the trailer. A queasiness derived from extreme nervousness. She was terrified of throwing up, especially in front of someone as famous as Mina Mongoose. I've bitten off way too much, she thought.

And there she was, sitting on a leather couch in navy bellbottoms with white stars emblazoned on the lower legs. She looked as relaxed as someone returning from vacation, the total opposite of how poor Chloe felt. "Hello, again."

The Mouse blushed. The rest of the Knots were present, adding to her stress.

The keyboard was quickly set up on the floor.

She crouched down and brought herself into an Indian-style sitting position. From anyone else's perspective, nobody's proportions had changed. For Chloe though, she felt like the band and the manager were dwarfing her like a mountain to a worm. The age-old tactic of imagining Mina in her underwear wouldn't have any effect on the young waitress' state of mind. "W-Wh-What would you like me to play?"

"Whatever makes you feel comfortable," said Max the Monkey, the lead guitarist for the Knots.

I don't know if I should play any of Mom's old songs, she thought. They'd probably come off as corny. That was the most likely scenario for her: they'd hear one of those pre-Great War museum pieces and laugh. Would she even get two notes out before they give her the door? Her eyes were shut tight and her face had flushed so red with embarrassment one would be hard-pressed to find a brighter shade of the color.

"Chloe?" A gentle voice—Mina's. She'd gotten up and walked over to the keyboard. "Are you nervous?"

The Mouse didn't need to answer. Her face did all the talking.

Mina smiled warmly. "I know exactly how you feel," she told her. "I was there, too, but it was a hundred times as nerve-wracking."

"What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure," she admitted. "Sonic signed me up for a volunteer concert performance—!"

"Sonic?" Chloe interrupted. "The hero Sonic? How did you meet him?"

"I tried to join the Freedom Fighters a long time ago," Mina explained, her recollection had some fond memories, though with a hint of pain. "It didn't work out, but right afterwards, Sonic told me he'd signed me up for an amateur concert in Knothole. I was horrified by everyone watching. I could barely move, my mouth was shut tight, and I couldn't even think of what to sing. Even though there were a bunch people watching me, Sonic was too. He had a lot of faith in me. I couldn't let him down. Next thing I knew, those spectators had gone crazy… and the rest is history."

It was hard for Chloe to fathom that someone known all around Mobius was ever in such a position. She was only Chloe Mouse the waitress at Uncle Chuck's Diner, far from a renowned songstress. Now she knew the truth: the Mina Mongoose whose music she admired for two years was once a nobody like her, having gotten into a situation she'd felt was beyond her control, and fearful of the judgment of the people watching. Not the pseudo-divinity magazines and stuff built her up as, but a Mobian no different than her.

"If I could do it," said Mina, "you can do it." She returned to the sofa.

Chloe felt a little bit better, but her nervousness still lingered. "This is a bit of an old song that Mom liked," she told the band. "I hope I don't butcher it."

A few chuckles, alongside a wink and thumbs-up from Mina.

The Mouse finally cracked a smile. A second later, the sound of an electric piano filled the trailer; it formed a melody that came off as a mesh of blues and soft rock. It had a bit of energy to it, but proceeded at a smooth, leisurely pace. She began to sing:

After all of the battles are over

After all of the fighting is done

Will you be the one

To find yourself alone with your heart?

(Lookin' for the answers)

When it feels like tomorrow will never come

When it seems like the night will not end

Can you pretend

That you're really not alone?

You're out here on your own! (Lonely soldier boy…)

You're out here on your own! (Lonely soldier boy…)

Yes, I'm lonely. But are you alone? (Lonely soldier boy…)

With all the glory, without the joy.

A lonely soldier boy…

Chloe finished. Ash and the Knots were silent, their eyes fixed on the Mouse in front of them. She didn't know what to make of it. Did she just suck that bad? Maybe that folk song was too glurgy? She'd struck out in one fell swoop. The bright side being that that the only people to know of this failure would be in this room; at least she'd still have her job at the diner. "I'm sorry I didn't meet your standards," she said. "I'll go now."

As she turned to unplug the keyboard, Mach the Rabbit spoke. "Your voice is money in the bank," the drummer told her.

"You're being too nice," she said, not believing a syllable. She knew very well that how one hears their own voice is the result of an internal echo; second parties were different.

"No, seriously," said Mach. "You singing is as solid as the way you play that keyboard."

"Gotta admit," Mina added, "it'd be hard for me to do that song justice."

"It was just a hobby, really," the Mouse admitted.

Ash approached her. "Chloe," he said, "you're a natural. We'd love to have you as part of the band. Would you consider joining?"

"W-WHAT!?"

"We were considering adding a keyboard to the group," said Mina. "The way you played was like poetry."

Chloe didn't foresee any of this. The keyboard was just a hobby she'd picked up during her childhood in Furville, she'd gotten good remarks from her mother about it, but most mothers were like that. She wouldn't even be there if she hadn't gotten so nervous and blurted out that she wanted to jam with Mina. She played for fun, but music was Mina's career. She didn't even expect a one of the Knots to like her playing. "Can you give me a day to think about it?" she asked. "I'll come back tomorrow."

Chloe loaded up the keyboard and left. Nobody in the trailer was able to see a tear welling up in the Mouse's eye as she walked out the trailer.

She was worried again, but her reasons were different. How am I going to break this to Uncle Chuck?

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Didn't I tell you that Reed was going to be a bundle of gumdrops and peppermints? LOL

Once again, HyperionGM and SonicEvan have been very helpful in terms of quality control and input for the Mobian-related bits. The Gundam stuff, as usual, was fairly easy apart from trying to translate static panels to text.

+ In the original 1979 anime, one of the staffers seems to have had a bit of trouble with US Geography. For example, New York is called "New Yark", but that error can be chalked up to Engrish (New York → ニューヨーク → Nyuuyooku → New Yark). Strangely, the Grand Canyon (グランド・キャニオン, "Gurando Kyanion") was called the "Great Canyon" (グレート・キャニオン, "Gureeto Kyanion") and it wasn't corrected for the English dub. Ironically, the name Great Canyon would be used for the landform's future incarnation in the Archie series. Kinda funny that way.

+ The song Chloe sings is "Lonely Soldier Boy" from the Genesis Climber Mospeada section of Robotech. I'm really not much of a lyricist, but I thought the song would have been appropriate for what's about to happen. Say what you will about that Frankensteinian amalgamation, it was perhaps my first bit of exposure to Real Robot mecha.