Expectations of peace soar to their greatest heights with the formation of the Earth Sphere United Nations. The year is After Colony 225. The dissolution of mobile suits and militaries from the human race has allowed veterans and civilians alike to a progressive new era for humanity. Grudges however are far more powerful than what many realize. Former members of the Romefeller Foundation have taken to the stars to act against the ESUN's pacifism policies. The horrors of war have revisited the Earth for a new generation of humanity in the form of the vengeful Falson Coalition. 11 years have passed since the conflict began. The ESUN's hope lies in the form of its own mobile suit project. Operation Rising Himalayas. The revival of GUNDAM.
Episode 3: The Struggle for Ostrava
Ostrava, Czech Territory
Four and a half hours had passed since the Gundams and its convoy made its way from Warsaw. The Czech city was now in sight and as quiet as the route the convoy had taken. Finally, the Warsaw mobile suits were able to make it to their target location in Ostrava.
The leading pilot of the leading Leo II greeted to Alberto in his truck, "We're here Capon. Welcome to Ostrava."
Alberto looked out towards the facility outside the city. "That's one part of our operation done. Now I want to see the rest of the way be a smoother walk than this."
"What? Is the pressure starting to build on you?"
Alberto took a look at Pavel's Leo II unit when he told him, "Come on. I know that you're not any better off than I am."
"Of course. It's not like I don't have any fight left in me though." "Well it's time for us to get formal pretty soon. I'll see you and the others down there."
"You head on down there Pavel."
Alberto switched his intercom channel to the following mobile suits ordering, "Attention all units. Report to the grounds of Ostrava base and salute Major Kolek on his grounds."
Dana heard the command confirming, "Roger that Major. We're heading out now." She switched her channel to the others ordering, "Alright guys let's give the men their welcome they've been waiting for."
"Read you Captain." Mercurio reported.
"Order received Captain." Donna added.
Zachariah had landed feet first on the ground while he stretched his arms having left the pilot seat of his Leo unit. "Welcome to Ostrava guys and gals. Our pitstop until we reach Rome."
Ludwika sat on a nearby bench next to him agreeing, "Finally we got started on some refueling. Sitting in one of those things for four hours alone is enough of a pain. This long haul is going to be a serious bitch."
"How's it supposed to be a pain? You have the big guns in case any of the enemy decides to show up." Zachariah looked up and noticed the pilot was no one familiar to him. Behind him there were four other adamant Earth Sphere pilots who didn't vocally add to the conversation.
Roy appeared from behind when he added, "Oh so we're the ones who do the heavy lifting now? Just consider that your brief off duty time soldier."
Gawel showed up in front of the escorted pilots when he waved a report announcing, "And you guys get to sit nice and pretty in the truck until we got here. Good news boys and girls, you're going to be pulling your weight again pretty soon now that the new units are here."
One of the pilots voiced his discontent with the idea, "Shit. I still don't get why we have to be out there holding the hands of the Gundam pilots. They're the ones with the actual guns that are capable of putting a dent in the enemy for Christ's sake. What are we even supposed to do for them?"
"Some of them are even older than us, they might as well just be sent out on solo missions if they actually have any competance in a mobile suit." Another one added.
Zachariah stood up when he reminded, "I take it you don't have an idea of what the mission is do you? We're escorting the pilots to remind them of the mission. We have to ensure that the Earth Sphere is fully informed of what the "
"A lot of good that will do us when they decide to go rogue..."
"I'll let the Coalition know about that. Until then do you feel like following up on what we're here to do?"
Roy bumped an elbow to Zachariah asking, "And you're asking why I have a hard time believing this operation will hold together?"
"Pilots! Attention!" With that order from Dana, the mobile suit pilots stood and lined up in salute to the two highest ranking military officials on the base. Across from them the two dozen pilots of the Ostrava base were in the same salute as them but next to the offline Leo II.
Upon arrival the leading official, Major Pavel Kolek dropped from his Leo II and made his way over to the Warsaw convoy. Pavel stretched his hand out and greeted Alberto, "Greetings Warsaw forces. It is a relief that you managed to survive the attack. We will need the Gundams to move forward with the operation."
Alberto thanked his fellow officer, "Thank you Kolek. As you might remember we're here to receive the Ursa units for our pilots."
"Of course. The Lindemann Corp sent them in yesterday. Give them the lowdown on these things."
"Of course sir. What's arrived today are the new standard in Earth Sphere mobile suit infantry. The Ursa unit. They are suited for space combat and will provide a much more efficient and stronger blow to the Coalition than the Leos have."
"I suppose the only concern now is if they will be capable of giving our men a fighting chance. We've already lost too many good men today alone."
"We've scrapped many Leo IIIs and salvaged their tech to make these units possible, and what's more is that these are the only units we currently have. We won't be able to build another squad for another week. I know how war makes some demands impossible, but I must ask your pilots do everything possible to not let these be destroyed or even worse fall into enemy hands."
Alberto thanked his fellow Major, "I shall ensure that my men do their best." He turned to the non-Gundam pilots and ordered, "Pilots! Your Ursa units are inside the next hangar! Get accustomed to them quickly, we need to make our move to Rome in the next hour tops!"
The pilots rushed off to the hangar with, "Yes sir!"
Alberto contacted the hangar containing the Gundams, "All Gundam personnel, reload and repair until you are ordered to meet with the convoy!"
Mercurio in the meantime was working on the beam rifle calibrations for Uriel and hoped, "I'll just have to make sure the rifle works better. I can't waste ammo out there like last time again."
Kolek calmnly listened to the orders he and other pilots recieved. By his estimate the Leo II would need more than just a bit of paintjob fixing. He piloted the mobile suit in to a hangar and made his way out of the cockpit to examine the damages. The Czech Major spat on the floor and muttered many negative words while taking a closer look of the damages that his unit had taken. "I been through too much to let this beauty die out on me now. I'm just going to need enough time to fix the thrusters a bit." After a while the Major had procured a team of mechanics to repair the damages and made his way out from the hangar.
A few sparks were jumping out when Mercurio attempted to fix the beam rifle's aiming capabilities. "Everything seem to be okay with it Keijo?"
"Yeah there doesn't seem to be too much wrong with it." Keijo turned to the lowering ammunition clip when he instructed, "Alright let's get the ammunition reloaded guys, just bring it in here."
"I'll certainly have to get better with this weapon if I'm going to be any good with long range."
"I would say leave it to the Captain, but I know your probably need to feel some kind of worth in just about everything."
"It's pretty much more a case of self defense than anything. I'll just keep using what the Uriel was really designed for."
With a little smile on his lips Pavel made a little trip around the hangar and exchanged few words here and there with some of the men and women at work with their mobile suits. His prescence seemed to cause only a little fuss. After all preparing for the coming battles took priority over gushing about the fellow who the propaganda folks had lifted on a pedastal. After a short while he found his way to Mercurio. "You wouldn't happen to be the fellow who saved my bacon back there, would you?"
As Mercurio heard the Major's words he stood and turned around to meet him Major Pavel Kolek in a salute. From what he asked, he was indeed the pilot of the Leo II from earlier in the convoy. Mercurio answered, "I believe so sir. I'm just doing what any fellow pilot should do"
Pavel lifted his hand in to a formal salute. "Didn't really catch your name back there, kid."
"Private Mercurio Yuy with First Mobile Suit Division of Warsaw sir."
Pavel let his hand down when he continued, "Pavel Kolek as I hope you might now by now. It's only been a few times Alberto ever managed to support me. Keep up at this rate and I'll be sure you get promotions sooner than you could hope for."
Keijo was entered the conversation when he added, "We don't have any solo missions to head out on yet but I take it those will be pretty soon."
Pavel looked up to notice Keijo guiding the ammunition into the Uriel's arm cannon. "If I have any then Private Yuy will be the first to hear about them. Until then I just want to hear that I'll get the same amount of support as I got today."
"I think the most you can ask is that the Coalition doesn't hear anything about that sir. You can't get weak knees on them." Mercurio reminded.
Pavel chuckled when he agreed, "Ha. Good point. I didn't get here for nothing afterall did I?"
The Sandesgeist was piloted to the hangar as Donna looked over her brothers adjusting the Gundam for repairs. "How is the Sandesgeist holding up?"
Christoph oversaw the status of the Sandesgeist's integrity when he reported, "Not much we can do with this piece of work. Instructor W's the only one who has the parts and blueprints to do any real improvements."
Christian jumped down when he added, "Here is the good news, only the vulcans need to be reloaded."
Donna checked over the Sandesgeist's list capabilities when she added, "I'm guessing I'll need better ranged weaponry if I'm going to improve the Sandesgeist right now."
"Donna you've got a modern version of the Sandrock. Do you really think it's weak enough to need that much of a tune up?"
"New generation of mobile suits are going to be a new standard very soon, the Sandesgeist will need to keep up if it can keep a winning edge."
Richard made his way in as he promised his sister, "Donna, you let us handle the Sandesgeist and its parts. You just worry about building a better relationship with your brothers in arms out there."
Donna hesitated as she looked over the Uriel and Artemis Gundams being worked when she thought to herself, "That is important isn't it?"
Meanwhile, Flake went through some of the scrap parts collected from Warsaw. "Nice. Look like commander type Leo IIIs parts. Maybe these will do some good." In contrast to the Gundam, the Maganac IIs were more conventional and easier to repair and refit. Like it's predecessor, the Maganac II was customised for each pilot. Flake had his Maganac II improved by adding the Leo III's commander parts into his machine to improve its radar and to scout more efficiently. Christoph's voice came through on his channel asking, "Things going okay up there Flake?"
Flake took a brief look at his radar screen when he answered, "Yeah. Not much to report right now. I just hope it stays this way. Two battles in one day is already proving to be a pain."\
Despite the sense of security the Earth Sphere mobile suits had been brought into, the movement had only given the Coalition a new position to strike. Captain Aglaii Belyakova's squad followed behind her while she contacted, "General, we've found the enemy's location. This one looks pretty decently equipped though."
Edward Blare's voice answered on the other line, "We are reading your location in Ostrava Captain. Very good work on tracking them without incident."
"Further orders General?"
"Return to the Testudo. We will have the proper forces necessary once we begin our work here."
"Understood General. We will rendezvous with your position." Aglaii switched her channel to her squad ordering, "Squad. Prepare to move out. We have another attack force prepared to move in."
"We don't even get another chance against them. Damn I hate tracking duty."
Aglaii struck down the curse, "Leave the complaints to the soldiers who are going to move in soon. We've done our duty."
Oleg's voice was heard next when he promised, "We'll have more likely glory to take when we reach Berlin anyway."
"That's the attitude we have to maintain. Now move out." At that order Aglaii and her squadron moved out of the area and towards the direction of the Testudo.
Katowice, Poland
In the time it took for the Earth Sphere's Warsaw forces to reach Ostrava, Poland was now a true war zone. Lieutenant Colonel Lorens Tor observed the old Leo models fall apart like flies at his forces might. With how onesided the conflict was he could have taken a casual walk through the battlefield without any concern. As it was, however, he was more content to observe from his Scutum unit and observe the conflict from afar while he waited for the battle to end.
His casual observation was interrupted when he heard one of the operators announce, "Sir, Defense Squad Captain is here to report."
"I shall meet with him." Lorens stepped from his command chair to make his way into the nearby hallway. Before him the defense captain stood in salute.
Lorens saluted to the defense captain, "Captain. Do we have any word on the resistance out here?"
"Not a great deal Colonel. The only resistance we have found is in the city of Wroclaw. The best the Earth Sphere had out there were just a couple of Leo II unit squadrons."
Lorens lay his arm down when he looked out one of the near windows to comment, "Humiliating. The most the Earth Sphere was ever able to do was steal squadrons of our Leo II models back in the Division War. All the while we used that period to make ourselves stronger and more united."
"With all due respect sir, how does a civil war make us stronger?"
"The unity Nathaniel Falson brought us was unparalleled Captain. You may not have witnessed it during Hermine Falson's period but being allied against an enemy so soon to be crushed was reason enough for the old generals to grow lax in our effort to defeat the enemy. The desire to remind the Coalition of the unity it needed was one that was only brought by two men. Nathaniel Falson himself... And our superior officer."
"I guess General Blare has been friendly to the President ever since his rise to power. And together they were able to end the Division War to bring the Coalition back together?"
"That is how it worked Captain. With their leadership this union will not break again. Not until the Colonies have taken their claim over this Earth."
"Yes sir. We have the units necessary and the men and women who are dedicated to such a cause."
Their conversation was interrupted when a transmission came from one of the Scutum operators announcing, "Colonel. We have a transmission from General Blare."
"Bring him through." At Lorens's request he made his way back to the main station of the Scutum unit.
Before him stood a hologram of General Edward Blare asking, "Lieutenant Colonel. How fares the invasion? I understand that you will have the southern area of Poland cleared by the time the Coalition is prepared to advance again?"
"Easily General. I am only anticipating the chance to meet the enemy and bring the fight to Berlin. For the time being however at the rate our sweep continues we will have Poland fully occupied very soon."
"Just as the President wishes. However, I must request of your men to enact a new mission to deviate from Poland." Edward gestured his hand to show a map of the Poland and Czech border explaining,"South of your location is a nearby base that we have discovered to be housing the evacuees from Warsaw. I do not exagerate when I say their capture or destruction is key to our victory in this war, send your entire force to Ostrava and prepare for absolutely optimal resistance."
Lorens briefly considered the weight of General Blare's warnings before he agreed, "If the resistance has built such capable defenses, I will be certain my men are capable of accomplishing this objective."
"Carry out the mission. Return with results." The hologram faded away with that final note.
Lorens turned to one of the operators, "Change our main objective. We are now to head out to Ostrava and engage the enemy. Prepare to engage as an absolute optimal threat."
The defense captain who overheard the conversation asked, "Damn. So the enemy has built a force strong enough to warrant the entire force out here to move out?"
Lorens turned to the Captain answering, "We are only to follow the General's orders. If the intelligence he has is true, then we must be on our gaurd. Return to your squad and prepare to move out with them."
"Yes sir." The Captain saluted before leaving.
There was probably not going to be any test greater than what the Ostrava forces were about to witness. With 72 Leo III units came the accompaniment of two Scutum units, smaller deviations of the dreaded Testudo mobile armor. The Coaltion had learned its lesson with trying to take the Warsaw base evacuees lightly, and this time there would not be any room for the Gundams to take the battle easy.
As the base continued to observe the activity within its radar range, there was one report that very few pilots were probably hoping for. When it happened, the alarm sounded for the base personnel to make their way to the central meeting room. In the middle of Mercurio's discussion with Pavel, the alarm had sounded and that was the clear sign for all men to report to their superiors for a battle plan. He saluted Pavel one last time, "Excuse me sir. The alarm is sounding"
"No worries, we can talk after the battle." Pavel stated politely and quickly followed after Mercurio in the opposite direction. He rushed into the room of main operations where he saw the personnel hard at work to determine the threat. "Report."
"Major Kolek. We have a status report on the advancing enemy... And I don't think they're going to go light on us either."
"Well shit." Pavel realized as he overlooked the pictures taken. "Get me Major Capon. He's going to need to hear this."
Alberto entered the room when one of the operators greeted, "Major Capon, Major Kolek has an emergency to report."
"Do we have a visual on an enemy headed this way?
Pavel pointed to a screen telling Alberto, "Alberto, I hope you're the battle hungry type. It looks like our forces are about to take another blunt attack."
"How serious is this threat?"
"A grand total of 72 mobile suits WITH their new Scutum units."
Alberto ran a hand across his head when he observed, "That certainly didn't take long. It looks like the Coalition has gotten a hang of what we have on our hands. And running is certainly not an option."
"Let them take this base and they'll have a first step into Rome and the Operation is finished." Pavel agreed.
"We've got pilots. They should know what they signed up for."
"That might be. But are they able to fight with the strength of several hundred mobile suits like the Gundam project has promised?"
"They've brought us this far. It's about time to see if they can get us any further."
"If that's what we have to look forward to then I'll just have to get our men ready." Pavel turned to order one of the operators, "Order all squadrons on full alert. We need to have the defenses up now." He gave Alberto a small smile and a quick salute, "Time for me to lead on the frontlines. Ostrava base is going to need all the support it can get out there."
Alberto saluted back, "Good luck Pavel. I'll be sure to support you where possible."
Without further exchange of words, the Major made his way to the hangar and found his Leo II in a much better condition than he had left it in. He quickly climbed to the cockpit and checked the systems before making his way out from the hangar. The Leo II took a position in the forefront of the defenders and contacted the other mobile suits in immediate vicinity. "No time for speeches here, so let's just do our duty to the fullest." Kolek readied the Leo II's vulcan and began aiming for targets. "Standard thing to prepare for... Giving them a fight worthy of telling our grandchildren about."
The pilots of Warsaw were all gathered as soon as they heard the alarm calling the base pilots to attention. Alberto set up a map of the area showing the location of their base along with the enemy's ground. He explained the situation to the squad members, "Here's the situation everyone, the enemy is here with more Leo III units than we have encountered so far."
Dana took the news attack like it was just another annoying customer at the market. Never a dull moment with this regiment it looks like. "I take it's because of the news of us having the three big hopes of the Earth Sphere running around right now?"
"Exactly Captain. That's why it's imperative that every one of us bring our fair share to the defense and it will be time to push the Gundam units to their limits. Due to our situation we will be facing some odds that will require all of our cooperation and efforts to hold them back."
Pavel elaborated on the power of the enemy by explaining, "Following the Coalition squadrons are two Scutum mobile armor units. If either of these units get within range of our base, this base will be a crater in just a matter of shots. The attack reports from Uzhhorod are not even close to being overblown."
"According to those same reports though these things aren't exactly the best when it comes to close range right?" Dana asked.
"Exactly Captain. That is why our strategy depends on two of us succeeding in moving to the frontlines." Alberto nodded in the direction of two Gundam pilots, "Lindemann, Yuy, both of you shall be sent over the Leo III lines and intercept the mobile armor. Do everything possible to take them down before they can start firing. Dana, you stay with the others and take your best shots at the Scutums without hitting the others."
Pavel ordered, "Everyone else, your mission is to defend this base from long range. Do everything you can to either push back or destroy the enemy. We are not going to chance any advances unless the enemy squadrons get within range. Is that much clear?"
Most of the pilots within the room agreed to the order, "Yes sir!"
"Captain Houston, you will lead the defense and carry out the mission."
"I'll do everything to go above and beyond sir." Dana turned to the eleven pilots she now commanded, "Alright infantry, let's form up at the northern base perimeter! I don't want any shots wasted!"
The pilots assigned to the Ursa units agreed, "Will do Captain!"
She added to the command, "And don't make any excuses on getting used to the Ursa units either; you've had your time to adjust them! Go! Move pilots!"
Combined total, there were 8 Ursa units for the Warsaw regiment with 24 Leo units from Ostrava and 3 remaining from Warsaw along with the number of Maganac Team units. The numbers might have been against the Earth Sphere base, but the power of their mobile suits was what they required in order to make their defense possible.
Roy made his way to the cockpit of his Ursa when he cursed, "The hell we did have time to adjust to these things. We can only guess how much punishment these things will take."
Ludwika reminded him, "That's why the goal isn't to take any punishment. We destroy the enemy before they even get a chance to fire on the blunt of our forces."
Zachariah appeared when he tried to motivate the pilots, "Sound plan alright. Let's just get out there before the Captain is done chewing up Majewski won't we?"
Gawel was shutting the cockpit lid one of the remaining Leo units when he heard Dana encourage, "Hope you get to have some fun out there Majewski. This will probably be one of the last battles the original Leo units will get to ride in."
Gawel strapped himself in when he thanked, "Yeah... I feel so honored I should carry that kind of weight."
Keijo responded from his channel, "Look at it this way. You aren't going to be the only one to have that kind of honor."
"Just don't expect me to head out there and be the first on the line will ya?"
"You will be if the Captain orders it. You don't want to find out what's worse, do you?"
"Not really..."
The Scutum units marched forward with their Leo III units in front while the base made their primary defenses. Now was the great chance of the Gundam units to show their true power. What they would truly mean to the Earth Sphere.
Within moments of preparation, there were now eight black mobile suits marching out of the hangars with three of the left-over Leo units that survived Warsaw. Every bit of effort counted, and they at least weren't alone with Ostrava forces still using the same technology. It was a first step that either side could have pity for in this war, but only the victorious would be able to decide who deserved the respect.
The Sandesgeist was at the forefront of the base line with the four Maganac IIs behind it. "Everyone prepare to form up on the Sandesgeist!" Donna ordered to her brothers.
Christoph observed her yonger sister's behavior as he rushed to his Maganac II, "Battles seem to be doing her some good. Just put her out here in this sort of situation and she acts like a commander for a change."
Flake held his nerves together when he told himself, "Come on... We're Lindemanns... We're brothers... We can pull this off..."
Donna was once again in the cockpit of the Sandesgeist and prepared her systems to engage in the third battle for that day. She found Christoph on the other line as she relayed, "Maganac team, focus on the Leo IIIs while I take down the mobile armour!"
"Roger that Sandesgeist. We're forming up on you and prepared to begin the attack." The four Maganac II units followed behind the Sandrock successor as they waited for the order to advance.
"If our luck has been holding so far then we shouldn't have much to worry about..." Donna said to herself.
Another voice introduced itself to Donna's channel when Captain Houston ordered, "Lindemann. Yuy will be right ahead of your location. Prepare to move out on the order."
"I have been waiting sir."
Just as the Sandesgeist announced its preparation the Uriel stepped up with its hand prepared to draw its buster sword. Mercurio's voice announced, "This is Uriel. Prepared to move out Captain."
Dana gave a final command, "Copy that Uriel. Wait for the signal and prepare to advance with the Maganac team and Sandesgeist."
Alberto observed the prepared frontlines from his Ursa's camera when he heard Pavel ask, "It's about time for the Gundams to begin their strike don't you think Capon?"
"Have the Scutum units made their way in range?"
"They're going to be as close as they'll ever be. Just waiting for you to move your next piece now."
"Very well then. Just remember your place at the defenses Major." Alberto changed his channel to Dana's Artemis when he ordered, "Captain, forward the advance team. Back them up whenever you can."
"Yes sir." Dana changed her channel to Donna and Mercurio's ordering, "Advance team! Enemy is in range! Advance now!"
"Advancing sir!" Came Mercurio's voice.
"Advancing to the enemy!" Donna said afterwards. With that announcement the Uriel and Sandesgeist flew forward from the base's defense lines.
Christoph signaled to the rest of the Maganac team, "Now's our time! Don't let them hog all the fun guys!" At that order the team of Maganac II units moved forward advancing behind the Sandesgeist. The snowy battlefield was trailed by the mobile suits as the team of Leo and Ursa units lay behind in wait.
"We can anticpate they will be left on the defensive. They will not have the numbers to attempt meeting us head on. Once we have arrived in range we need only prepare the Scutum units to fire on the base."
One of the lower operators announced on the status of the advance, "Our squadrons are all on standby for the defensive sir."
Lorens observed the line of Leo III units in front of the Scutum units when he ordered, "Keep them behind the lines. We won't let them risk their lives unless necessary."
One of the operators pressed for an alert warning, "Colonel! The enemy is making it's first advance!"
Six signals began to appear on the map in front of Lorens when he was checked to confirm the report. "Not even a full squadron... This was not something to antcipate. Advance forward squadrons! Engage the enemy and don't let them near us!"
One of the leading operators relayed the order, "Forward squadrons advance! Attack the enemy with full force!"
The Sandesgeist attempted to run directly to the Scutum. A team Leo IIIs fired barrages at the Gundam to prevent it from going close to the target. The Sandesgeist is forced to take cover to avoid the shots. Donna spoke to the Maganac channel.
"These Leo IIIs are stopping me to get to the mobile armor!" She warned to her brothers. "Provide support! I need to break through!"
"Roger that!" Came Christoph's voice. "Provide cover fire!" With the order, the Maganac IIs began focusing fire on the Leo IIIs. The attack from another direction confused the Coalition mobile suits, allowing Sandesgeist to proceed. The Gundam used the heat shotel to cut down the enemies taking fire from the Maganacs.
As soon as the Maganac Team began its surprise attack into the ranks of the Leo IIIs, the first Scutum mobile armor began to deviate its course from following the other.
The mobile suits had reached the northern portion of the Ostrava base and they saw the Coalition mobile suit forces marching in the distance. The Artemis stood leading the other mobile suits and kept an eye on the other side. Dana spotted the Scutum marching towards the base lines but not without the Leo IIIs keeping them safe. She tried to keep the Scutum within her aiming sights and spoke to herself, "They'll need to come further in distance if I'm going to be able to fire. Come on Yuy, Lindemann, don't let us down…"
It was probably the one weakness of the Artemis, it needed to be within the correct range in order to hit the target. Firing even in a safe range would be risky. Still she needed to keep the concern of the base in mind…
Within the Scutum mobile armor units there was only a fourth of the number of crew the giant creation the Testudo bore but were able to give a sizable blow on the battlefield when they placed their shots correctly. Lorens heard on of his operators report, "Colonel! We have enemy fire coming from the side!"
Colonel checked the status outside just to see what he was up against. "So, this is what the force was necessary for." He refocused his mind on the battle at hand ordering, "Switch the main cannon to artillery bullet! All turrets provide support for our units!"
One of the operators repeated the order to the deck below, "All missile batteries focus fire on the advancing enemy!"
Lorens checked back to the map when he demanded an update, "What is our current status with the range of the enemy base?"
Another operator reported, "We are approximately 8 miles away from our target Commander. We shall be in firing range within the next 20 minutes."
"Keep providing support. It will take more than just a bit of shrapnel these weak units can muster to even scratch this sort of armor."
"Affirmative sir!"
As soon as the orders were given, the Scutum began to head to the attacks' source and fired a volley of missiles in the direction of the Maganac Team while at the same time firing its main cannon towards the defense line for the Ostrava base. The only thing there was now to underestimate for them was the power of the Gundam that would dare to challenge it.
The attack had begun. As was planned, Donna was taking the Sandesgeist with Maganac Team towards the Scutum at the western side. He was being sent with Uriel to take the other one and possibly get some firing support from Dana. It was at least better than going in completely unarmed, but the challenge was greater than what any normal mobile suit could hope to face.
"Yuy are you clear to begin the attack?"
Mercurio registered Dana's request with a second's delay before he answered, "Negative Captain. Enemy Leo units are in my way."
"Clear through the enemy. Don't let them slow you down."
"Advancing now Captain." As Mercurio focused his sight towards the incoming enemy fire, the Uriel launched into the air with a mighty jump and towards the ranks of Leo IIIs that were in its way. "This will just be like the other times..." Mercurio tried to remind himself. The Uriel was more powerful than any Leo model that had yet been created and the armor was there to assist him as well.
Soon he was within range of being able to reach the targeted Scutum unit but there were still a number of Leo III units prepared to meet up with him. As soon as he began to make his way to the ground, Uriel drew its buster sword and began to make a mighty spin into the ranks. With that swipe, many Leo III units had been destroyed, likely doubling the kill rate that Mercurio had already achieved. There was no time for concern with the number though, he had to reach the Scutum.
Finding the first possible opening, Uriel dashed towards the Scutums' legs and began to make a swipe. Uriel's buster sword was charged with the heat and might of its best possible swing, but the blow was only enough to begin making some amount of damage to its nearest leg. It was harrowing to see how little effect the blade had on this armor. It would take far more than what he had to bring down the moving armor.
He had to be quick about it though, when the Scutum began to target Uriel with its cannons and began to fire a volley of missiles. Uriel formed a round shield to protect itself and endured the blows that it made contact with. "Damn… How is this going to work now?"
"Incoming missiles!" shouted Christoph.
The missiles surrounded the team with black smoke with nothing on sight. The Sandesgeist couldn't be seen at the moment but there was a greater concern for how many Maganac IIs survived the barrage.
"That was close... All units report." Christoph commanded. The smoke slowly began to fade as the warzone became visible.
"Alright here." Richard answered. "Just my shield's dented now."
"Thanks for the warning." Christian replied. "My armguard took damage."
As their visions became clear, they noticed a heavily damaged mobile suit. The mobile suit was designed like the rest of the team, but it had additional scouting gear.
"Is that Flake?" Christoph asked the rest of the team. "He should be alive right?"
Christian moved in to the damaged Maganac II before requesting, "Hold off the enemy I'll try to get him out of here."
Christoph and Richard fired on the incoming Leo III units while regretting their situation, "Unfortunate we'll have to let Donna do the heavy work here but we've got a team to hold together."
Donna reached the leg of the Scutum. She got the heat shotel ready to bring the mobile armour down. The Sandesgeist swung it down at the leg with great speed. Despite the strength of Sandesgeist's swing, the shotel was only able to cut until half of the armour covering the leg. The shotels are useless.
"The armor is too strong for the shotel." Donna realised. "Only the beam saber will be able to cut this."
There wasn't any time left for Dana to attempt aiming at the advancing Scutum units. The Coalition had begun to make its advance towards the base walls. The Leo IIIs had primed their cannons for optimal firing with targets in sight. Hoping that speed would be enough to stop them, Dana ordered, "All units! Fire on the forward ranks!" The units on both sides had begun to fire on their targets.
Leo units on the Earth Sphere side had begun to fall with the expected rate, but the miracle of the Ursa units was that none of them had fallen in the crossfire. Dana ordered, "All Ursa units! Move up!" She was determined to see that Artemis and the other Ursa units would be enough to place a very sizable dent into the Coalition invasion. The push was far more than anything the Earth Sphere forces had ever hoped to accomplish as Leo IIIs had begun to struggle to maintain the ground they made. The Artemis Gundam then utilized its buster rifle to full effect and made a shot towards a chunk of the forces.
The pile up on both sides was going quickly, but the Scutum units only managed to get closer and closer. At least one of them would be in range by now. As Dana prepared her buster rifle for another powerful blast to the Scutum that she and Mercurio was assigned to attack she ordered, "Form up! I've got a clear shot at them!"
"Come on! The Captain needs us!"
"Roger sir!" Came the confirmations of her men. The Earth Sphere mobile suits were now beginning to make their impact on the war known. This shot would be one of the two required to make a success. With the shot prepared and primed, the shot fired in a mighty roar with its target well within reach.
As Dana fired towards the Scutum, the first step to victory Mercurio needed was given. The power of the buster rifle was enough to burn through the Scutum's armor despite being quite far away. Preparing its beam saber and scanning its target further, Mercurio saw the exposed engine.
With the beam saber in hand Mercurio prepared Uriel and dashed forward, "Here it goes. HA!" The Uriel made a dash towards the Scutum's underside and slid on the ground with its saber pointed up. The final blow was given when with great speed Uriel sliced at the exposed weakness of the mobile armor.
Dashing far enough in time, the mighty explosion from the mobile armor happened. There was a giant fire with the power of many mobile suits combined while Uriel was slightly charred from the explosion. The damage wasn't great and Mercurio determined he would have to do all he could to help Donna with her target now that he was finished. He kept his buster sword in a shield knowing that it would probably be the only useful function it could offer at this point.
Keijo was observing the explosion from his Ursa unit and could confirm that the target had been destroyed. He reported to the standing units, "He did it! The first target has been destroyed!"
Major Capon ordered, "Good work making this happen! Move to the other one! Unit 1 and the others are going to need our help!"
One of the mobile suit pilots reported, "We've still got mobile suits holding us up sir!"
Another added, "I think we might have taken too many losses to offer a lot of assistance."
Alberto reissued the order reminding, "Move forward! We have to give the Gundam units all the support we have!"
Alberto went through his plan again, "Keep the Ursa units at the rear! All Leo units move forward and fire on your targets!"
One of the Ostrava pilots could only comment to himself, "Well shit… I didn't know the cannon fodder regiment was still part of military action."
Major Kolek ordered, "Stow that thought! We've got a defense to finish!"
He kept his Leo II out of reach from the enemy and pelletted them with vulcan fire while still looking for a good opportunity to initiate melee combat. The Major found a target for his beam saber and quickly took one of the enemy pilots out of the fight with a swift dash and swipe combination. Diomedes examined the field calmly and lit a cigarette while contacting the other suits in his vicinity again "I'm going to need some support for a charge, any volunteers?" The Major actually sounded slightly amused as he searched for a new target.
"Colonel! Scutum unit two has been destroyed!"
"It has?" Seeking confirmation, Lorens checked his monitor displays and found that the heap of rubble was indeed the remains of one of their own units. "Damn! Do we have anything that can take down those Gundams?"
Another of the operators warned, "Sir, the Earth Sphere is attempting to advance!"
Lorens gripped his chair when he ordered, "Move back! Fire on the targets!" Lorens focused his gaze on the targets before him when he promised, "The least we can accomplish is ensuring the Gundams have nowhere to turn for support!"
At that order, the Scutum began to move back with not attention to those who attempted to stop it. With a greater distance made, the Scutum unit fired upon the Earth Sphere mobile suits with its main cannon. "We have the target in range Colonel. If our shots are accurate, it should be able to take out the advancing Ostrava forces."
"Fire!"
At Pavel's offer to charge at the enemy, one of the squad captains ordered, "Everyone form up on Major Capon! Fire on your nearest target!" There was certainly collective concern among the pilots being ordered into the fray, but they were only able to follow with the order. The Leo units followed the red mobile suit and prepared to face the Leo III units in the way of the Scutum.
As some of the crossfire became more intense, Kolek ordered, "Keep going! We need to keep pushing the Coalition forces back!" In that moment, the Scutum unit before them had begun to open fire on the Ostrava units with its main cannon and volley of missiles.
One of the pilots pointed out, "Major! They're firing!"
"What?!" Registering the fact that there were fire shots aimed right at them, Kolek retracted his order, "Fall back! Move back and avoid the blast!"
As the Scutum blasts rocked the base with their shots Pavel did everything to consider the situation before him. "God damn... When the hell did they get in range? How the hell did they get in range?!" Another cigarette found its way between Pavel's lips as he moved to cause as much havoc to the enemy forces as possible. Pavel performed a side dash to avoid the blast and he was now actually on the left flank of the enemy. He Major contacted the remaining defenders of Ostrava "Just hold on for a little longer, the Gundam's are gonna make a short work of those things. I on the other hand..." Pavel shut off his channel when he recognized the incoming Leo II units. He grit his teeth in a grin when he told himself, "I'm going to take these guys down for good." He put the Leo II on overdrive and sliced through two nearest enemy mobile suits. The Leo II took a few hits on its shoulder armor but continued to press on with the attack. The beam saber made short work of the third assailant. "Come on! We are not backing down! Not at this point!" The Leo II unit continued to slice away at the nearest units while its beam saber struggled to remain lit. "Go down damn you!" Right in midswing however the beam saber flickered and began to lose its energy. "How?! No damn it!" Pavel made his Leo II unit throw its beam saber to the side while grasping for its beam rifle. It was part of a futile final effort though when Pavel saw another shot from the faraway Scutum unit on its way. "No... It can't... End here!"
The Leo units made a desperate turn to avoid the shockwave and power, but for most of them it was too late to find any defense. At the impact of the shots, the charging Leo units could be found scattered across the battlefield leaving way for the enemy to make their way across.
Observing the damage done from the recent barrage, one of the Warsaw communicators tried to contact the Ostrava leader, "Major Kolek! What's your status?! Major! Major!" Regretting to see that the signal for Pavel Kolek's mobile suit had been destroyed, the communicator announced to the remaining forces, "Ostrava Leader is out. Repeat, Ostrava Leader is out." It would be a question of how the remaining few forces remaining to defend the base would hold out. Alberto and the others began to feel a strong sense of concern for their current situation. The last Scutum unit needed to be destroyed if they were going to survive.
Mercurio found the Scutum unit beginning to change its focus on the Sandesgeist Gundam and the Maganac Team and quickly began to hack away at the turrets with his beam saber. With each strike the turrents began to fall one by one and left an opening for the next attack. Mercurio warned, "Donna! We have to destroy the Scutum unit and then form up at the base! The defense isn't going to last much longer!"
The Sandesgeist drew its beamsaber from its backpack. If the shotels cannot be used, there is always the beamsaber. The Gundam lunges its weapon at the leg of the Scutum. It was finally able to cut through the armour and the leg, causing the Scutum to collapse rendering it immobilised. To make sure the Scutum will not be a threat, she slashed through the torso, shutting it down.
"Roger!" Donna replied to Mercurio's instruction to form up at the base. She relayed the order to her brothers. "Maganac team, regroup at the base!"
The Maganac IIs and the Gundam moved away from the wrecked Scutum. They made their move towards Ostrava. Donna observed the destruction the Scutum caused at the city and felt glad that it won't happen anymore.
She made her next order to her brothers. "Take defensive positions!" She ordered. "We can't let another Warsaw happen!"
Dana was still firing from a distance but managed to take out a good number of Leo III units. They were at least enough to make up for the ones that Ostrava had lost. The final collapse that everyone had been waiting for had finally come when the other Scutum unit had fallen. Dana reported, "All units! The Scutum units have been taken down!"
"Alright!"
"Takes care of that!" one of the pilots had cheered.
Dana reminded them, "We've still got a defense to manage people! Units 1 and 2 are going to regroup! Don't let Ostrava fall!" As the defense continued to make an advance at the invading enemy, she began to take aim at the enemy Scutum that had fallen down. It obviously didn't have a chance at escaping at this point but showing mercy was a devastating flaw in any enemy who dared to do so.
Within the downed wreckage of the mobile armor Lorens oversaw the crew scrambling from the recent fall. "Colonel! We have to get out of here!"
Lorens saw the Earth Sphere mobile units in front of him when he responded, "I do not need to be reminded! Evacuate the Scutum now! Report back to General Blare on the situation!"
"War's a bitch on this end ain't it?" Dana asked before she fired her buster rifle at the remaining Scutum unit. Now it was only a matter of endurance with both sides suffering heavy losses of different kinds.
A very long battle had dragged on for the forces, but the Coalition forces were finally destroyed. There were no longer any opposing forces and the Earth Sphere had gained something of a rest. The battlefield that had been left before them was greater than any that was made before with many tons of mangled, burnt and inactive metal materials reduced to scrap. All of it made up the final resting place for around a hundred dead soldiers.
There were four surviving Ostrava Leo pilots as the forces regrouped at the base and the highest ranking one was meeting with Major Alberto Capon. Alberto was greeted with, "Thank you Major Capon. Without your assistance the base would have definitely fallen to the enemy."
Alberto nodded with a sigh of regret noting, "It probably will if the defenses aren't replenished. The Earth Sphere will have to hold up for another week before we have the forces necessary to push back a united attack."
He was still assured, "Don't worry about that. We'll hold down the fort while you're all on Mars. It's the only thing Major Kolek would have wanted to see accomplished after this defense."
Alberto turned around to see the forces he still had. It was everything he was fighting for and everything he was hoping to see achieve what the pervious years of the ESUN could not. He confirmed, "Yes. I suppose this is where we part ways then."
"The sooner the better. Please make Rising Himalayas a success."
They parted ways with Alberto offering, "Good luck soldier."
The status of the Ostrava forces had been made clear and with their forces as they were, no one could be left behind. They still had Maganac Team, the Gundam units, the eight Ursa units and two remaining Leo units. It was only national identity that kept them from being a group of rag-tags.
Alberto announced, "Alright men, we've lost a lot today. Ostrava did everything possible to give us a safe route to Rome. Thanks to our combined efforts, we're now in the home stretch to our current destination. It's estimated to be a 12-hour trip, so get as much rest as you can and hope this is the last surprise attack we have to deal with for a while."
Mercurio agreed to the order along with the rest of the forces and had loaded their mobile suits onto the extra cargo trucks the Ostrava base was able to part ways with. Three battles in one day was hard on a human body regardless of the warrior involved, and the most anyone had right now was the comfort of a cockpit or a passenger seat.
Mercurio sat in the passenger seat of the truck carrying Unit 2 and began to stretch a bit. Keijo was driving and prepared to inform him if there was any contact or anyone wishing to speak with him. In the meantime, he was only thankful to have some downtime from fighting after everything he went through today. His only hope now was for a quiet 12-hour trip.
The Battle of Ostrava was finally over. Despite the victory, it was pyrrhic for the Maganac team as Flake was shot down. Donna walked to the medic to see Flake's status.
Ludwika finished work on her patient as she stepped out of the emergency truck. As she moved on when she saw Donna walk her way. "Miss Lindemann."
"How is Flake?" She asked him without showing emotion.
"It was fortunate for him to have survived the Scutum at point-blank." Ludwika said to her. "Most damage he did was breaking his right arm and leg."
Donna tried not to show concern. "When will he be able to fight again?"
"He will have to withdraw from the frontlines for about two months for his bones to heal." Ludwika evaluated. "Here's some good news, he gets a one-way vacation trip to a hospital to Quebec. Pretty far away but he will be safe from battles and have access to all the supplies he'll need for treatment."
Donna looked down when she tried to change the subject, "That's unfortunate. The Maganac II team won't be able to function as well without him."
"They're going to have to recognize their limits pretty quick. I know you guys are a proud OZ bloodline, but Flake Lindemann isn't indestructible like Heero Yuy."
"Thank you... Do you think the Unit 2 pilot would be able to take that man's place?"
Ludwika hesitated for a few seconds before she answered, "He's gotten us out of these three sorties hasn't he? Gilliam's the one you should ask if you want a more cynical opinion. I'd rather just take what I can have..." She looked over the recent battlefield when she added, "I will admit I could ask for more. Losing as many men as we lost today alone is bad enough."
"You... are correct. But I guess I'll have to offer what I can to the frontlines. Especially in this upcoming mission." Donna said as she walked back to her truck. Ludwika was right. They are mere human beings fighting a war.
When she got back to her seat in the truck, she silently mourned her failure. She allowed her brother to be at this state. She knew she failed as a leader of the team because of that. Fortunately for her, she was able to hide her tears with her keffiyeh. Instructor W will be at Rome to supply her with new equipment and it should be something she will look forward to.
As soon as the final Leo III unit was destroyed, the results were reported to General Blare, "General. The results for the battle have arrived."
"And what is our status?"
"… No survivors sir…"
"Not even the Scutum units made it out of this one?"
"I'm afraid not."
Edward slammed a fist into a nearby plating, "Cursed... incompetent... Over 100 mobile suits lost in one day..." He regained his composure when he looked up to see his reproter had returned to his station already. Only Bertram remained when he ponited out, "So they are more powerful than we anticipated. Can we not catch up to these units at this point?"
Bertram overlooked the war map of the European continent when he evaluated, "Our current forces are mostly focused in Poland and scanning for potential points in Italy. It is likely that their next destination is a city within said state."
"This will be a problem. If the Gundam units are not destroyed as soon as possible, we may lose this war regardless of our numbers. Can our forces in Slovenia be mobilized for action?"
"I believe so sir."
"Start it now. We might have enough time to cut them off if their destination lies far to the south."
"It shall be carried out sir. I believe Agent Zelma will also be of key assistance once she has made contact with our forces."
"If she is as effective as she was said to be in the North American campaigns then we may yet have a chance. Call for her at once."
"Yes General." Bertram found his way to a communications panel when he ordered, "Relay this command to the forces in Nova Gorica. We will engage the enemy with a full surprise attack." The order was given. Depending on how soon the forces were sent out, they might be able to cross paths with the Warsaw soldiers. But there was always a chance that something might have stopped them from meeting.
Falson Coalition Capital Building
3 Juno
"Mr. President. We are ready to begin the transmission."
"Thank you Mr. Lehrer." Nathaniel Falson said standing from his desk. "You have heard news from the frontlines on Earth I take it?"
"Of course. The invasion is still on schedule. However, it seems that the advance to the capital may be held back for an undetermined period."
"I'm afraid so. You have read the speech beforehand. This will be a definitive part of ending the conflict. Without this particular issue dealt with I'm afraid that the conflict will continue for much longer than we wish."
"If this had happened sooner Lady Hermine may have been able to rally the Coalition under the ideals of coexistence like she envisioned."
Nathaniel turned to the vice president when he answered back, "Not a day goes by where I wish my mother did not have to die Lucas. But the Earth Sphere bears its true fangs now. If my enemy so wishes to fall wresting life from my veins, then I shall see they do not have the satisfaction of seeing my blood."
As Nathaniel entered the room before him and Marcus the two men stood before a live audience of reporters. Nathaniel maintained his cool expression that came with his years as President. He knew his speech was being fed live to viewers across the Earth and those living in outer space. He could not afford to let either side see a sign of weakness about him.
Having received this knowledge of the Gundam units, it was the first step he needed to bring all of humanity under his way of thinking. Everyone would unite under him with this speech delivered.
"Great citizens and soldiers of the Coalition! What you see before you now is the true face of the Earth Sphere United Nations and what our perseverance has uncovered! What you see before you is the inevitable turn that the people of Earth will take! We have before us three powerful pieces of technology built with the intention of enslaving the people of space! We now see the return of the Earth Sphere Alliance that has long wished to see the people of space tied down to their will!
"We are now met with the greatest threat that the history of our human race has ever created. There is no longer any reason to hope that the Earth Sphere will desire a peaceful ending to this war. For 11 long years, we have only sought to bring equal rights to the people with our struggle. My father has seen into the lies and flaws that the empty promise of pacifism has brought to humanity. The absence of power is only replaced with more power! When its people become soft and weak, those in power shall accomplish anything to see that their figurative thrones are allowed to forever reign!
"This empty promise has brought out the true nature of the Earth Sphere and shows that they desire nothing more than a return to a militaristic force that enslaves rather than beneficially unites.
"Citizens of the Coalition! We are more unified than ever before! We are a single people! We have been enlightened in space and we shall now see that the people of Earth will awaken to the progress we have made! This is the dream I dare our enemies to attack! The spirit and great vision of Ewan Falson! The visionary of our race and beginning of our march to the stars!"
Upon this final proclamation, the small audience applauded while many across the Coalition's territories in the space colonies, moons and occupied planets cheered and showed their rallying support for their leader. The unity among the Falson Coalition was strong and the determination was there to coincide with their efforts. Days would pass, and the war would continue to rage on.