Chapter 2
RetRat8- Yes.
R reyes- Perhaps.
Side 3
Kai
Kai had stayed silent the whole trip as he looked at Erika Yugo while she was calling someone via a phone. As she did so, Kai wondered why she was in the military while being so young. Was there a mandatory military service in Side 3 now? No, that would have been all over the news if that was the case. She must have volunteered willingly. Still, Kai was a bit worried at seeing someone so young being in the military. It reminded of his forced service in the military back in the One Year War. Even though he didn't see the worst of the war, spending most of it in a mobile suit, he seen enough to make him know that war can change people for the worst. Make them do things that they would have never done had the war never happened. Miharu coming into mind. He was worried that this girl might go done a similar path if not worser than Miharu.
Staying calm, Kai watched as Slick looked over the girl with an impassive stare. Most would just assume the machine was just looking at her professionally, but Kai worked with him enough to know that he was looking intently at her feminine traits. Fortunately, that was all he was doing. If he was doing anything else, he would have him walk all the way to the Federation garrison. Tick was fidgeting around his platform, nervously looking around him as they traveled in the troop carrier. His twitching got worse because he was in a cramped space with several people in close proximity. Crick was trying to keep himself busy by thinking of ways they could write their article within normal human speeds, rather than normal AI ones, knowing it will only keep him busy, at worst, a second.
Eventually the girl stopped her call and looked at Kai, looking impassively with her emerald eyes. Kai just looked at her before shrugging, causing her to tch and look away from him. Rolling his eyes at that, Kai wondered who was going to be assigned to protect them while they were here in Side 3.
Eventually, after a few more minutes, the troop carrier stopped and they all got out, revealing that they were in a Federation garrison, complete with high fences and a handful of mobile suits standing guard at all times, looking for any signs of trouble. Looking at the mobile suits in slight worry, Kai followed Erika as she motioned for them all to follow her to the headquarters for the Federation in the capital of Side 3. She led them to a massive building attached to a tower on it's right. Walking inside, Erika went to the receptionist, a young man in a Federation uniform.
"Tell the commodore that Kai Shiden and his news crew is here." Said Erika Yugo as she stood professionally towards the receptionist. The man nodded before pushing a button and reporting in what Erika just said to whoever he contacted.
"A soldier will come to escort you all soon." Said the receptionist before going on with his other duties. Erika just nodded at that before going over to Kai and his crew as they sat down on a comfy lounge coach. Standing next to them, Erika waited for the Federation soldier to arrive so they can get along the way. Looking at her, wondering why she was just standing there, Kai spoke up.
"You know, you can sit with us." Offered Kai, motioning to some space near them. "There's more than enough room for you." Erika looked at Kai at that.
"I'm not here to make friends, Mr. Shiden." Said Erika, looking at Kai with an impassive face. "I'm just here to do my job. And so should you. Just do what you came here to do and leave. Nothing else is further required from you." She said all this with a hint of annoyance and anger hidden behind the professionalism in her voice. Kai frowned a bit at that before shrugging and looked away from her, deciding to respect her wishes for now. After a few minutes, a Federation soldier arrived and, upon seeing Kai, spoke.
"Mr. Shiden. Commodore Lombard is ready for you." Said the soldier. "If you follow me, I'll escort you all to captain Lombard." Kai nodded at that before he and his entire crew followed the soldier along with Erika. A few minutes of walking, the soldier led them to a room on the seventh floor of the building and motioned for them to get inside. After entering the room, Kai saw that it was a large spacious room with a glass wall that oversaw the base and the city nearby. Sitting in a chair that was behind a desk was a Federation officer with a graying beard that was attached via sideburns to his graying hair as well inspecting a folder in his hands. Upon seeing the group, the officer stopped what he was doing and greeted them.
"You must be Mr. Shiden." Said the officer as the group entered the room while the soldier left them, closing the door on his way out. The group, minus Erika, sat down in the coaches in the room. When they did so, the officer sat comfortably in his office chair. "I must say, it's an honor to be in the presence of such a prestige hero of the Federation." Kai just raised his hand at that, having heard it so many times during his time in the news industry. Some of them were genuine. Others just to get favors or manipulate him for their own benefits. So many assholes and suck-ups tried to get a job with him solely because of his fame and not because they wanted to expose the truth of events. It was partly why he liked having a machine crew. They don't care about fame or money. It was also because of this, Kai can tell if a guy is being genuine in his praise or is just using it as a way to butter him up. Fortunately, it seemed the officer truly was honored to have him around the officer.
"No need to give praise, sir." Said Kai. "I already got enough of that to last three lifetimes." The officer nodded at that.
"I can tell." Said the officer as he looked at Kai. "Very well, I'll get down to business if you wish we do so." Kai nodded at that, saying it was probably for the best. The officer nodded at that, taking a look at Erika, who gave a look that told him to get it over him, which he did. "Before we do so, my name is Kilstein Lombard and I'll be the one you will be reporting to during your assignment to Side 3. Now moving on, I assume you know the full details of your role here. Yes?"
"Yup." Said Kai. "Got to go around in various sections of Side 3, interview several people of all kinds, see the various states of Side 3, then do an article that paints Side 3 in a sympathetic light so that either the new bill gets repealed or people will stop blaming Side 3 for the Delaz fleet's actions. Preferably both." Lombard nodded at all that before speaking.
"Yes, I'll be frank, Mr. Shiden. You'll have to do your absolute best in doing so." Said Lombard before getting up and went over to the glass wall, looking towards the massive, colony-sized city that overtaken most of the colony. "When you look out from the distance here, you see a safe and economically stable colony. You might think it's the same for all the colonies in Side 3. I assure you, Mr. Shiden, it isn't. Zum City, being the capital, was prioritized by the Republic of Zeon to be economically sustained along with other colonies that can economically help Side 3 the most in the years to come following the treaty of Varik. The same cannot be said for the other colonies. Most people in the other sides have barely enough food, water, and electricity to sustain themselves and their families. And the humanitarian aids and programs we and the Republic of Zeon are doing to helping their people aren't doing much. The money just isn't there. Both because the Republic can't put too much money into the programs while also paying reparations for the Federation for the war. Not to mention maintaining their military, reimbursement for veterans of the war, maintaining other vital infrastructure, and payment of government employees. Then there's the riots."
"I assume these riots vary in reasoning." Said Kai. Lombard nodded at that.
"Indeed." Said Lombard. "Some riots are started on the grounds that the war isn't over and people want the war to continue. Others are started because of economical reasons. And others because they just hate the Federation and their government for bowing down to us. And with this new bill, the riots only increased. Even Zum city, the capital, has it's fair share of riots. A lot of them end bloody. *Sighs* Lots of AIs and soldiers assigned to oversee Side 3 got a lot of blood on their hands. And it's only getting worse." Kai nodded as he processed this information. "Because of this we put up zones in every colony in Side 3. Some zones are safe for anyone to travel through. Others with caution. And others that require full military patrols. Heavy fighting is in those zones. These zones are green, yellow, and red respectively." Kai stayed silent as Lombard stroked his beard. "Lost some good men in the fighting here and I would like it all to stop. As well as admiral Kowen. So, I hope you can help do so, Mr. Shiden."
"I will." Said Kai. "I'll do what I can to make all this end. I didn't fight in the war so that stuff like this happens to the Zeon citizens. They don't deserve this." Lombard nodded in agreement before speaking.
"We'll start you off with something easy. Zum city is relatively safe compared to the other colonies. We'll send you to one of the yellow and red zones so you can get acquainted with what is going on here. In addition, while you're staying here, you'll be given as many resources as you need to conduct your investigations. Just relay a message to me and I'll get you the equipment you need. If that is all, ensign Yugo will lead you to your quarters."
"There is one question sir." Said Kai. Upon hearing that, Lombard looked at Kai, awaiting his question. "I've been told I'll be provided a security team for my protection along with my crew. Do you know who they are?"
"Yes, I do." Said Lombard. "Along with a full squad of GM troopers, there's going to be an experimental mobile platform unit piloted by an AI as well as two Zeon soldiers that sympathize with our cause. Ensign Yugo is one of them. Along with her is one lieutenant Hepner. I believe you're acquainted with her." Blinking in surprise, Kai nodded in confirmation. "Both of them understand the importance of your duty and they'll do their very best to ensure that you don't get hurt from any of their countrymen that don't understand the importance of your assignment or simply want to hurt you for your involvement in the One Year War." Kai nodded in understanding at that. "If that is all, you're dismissed." With that Kai got up and was led out of the room by Erika along with his crew. As they walked to his assigned quarters, Kai spoke to Erika.
"Are you comfortable with this assignment?" Asked Kai, looking at Erika's back as she led the team to their assigned room.
"What do you mean?" Asked Erika as she continue to walk.
"I mean you might go up against your fellow countrymen." Clarified Kai. "You might need severely hurt them or even kill them in order to protect me. Are you willing to go and do all that?"
"Yes." Said Erika as she kept walking, no hesitation in her voice. Kai was a bit surprised at that. Curiosity overtaking him, he asked her why.
"You don't have a problem with that?" Asked Kai. "I thought you would hold more reservation in doing stuff like that against people of Side 3. They're your people, right?"
"They are." Said Erika. "But that doesn't give them any special privileges against us. If they try to kill us or fight against us for something that's for their betterment, then so be it. I won't endanger your assignment over simple love for my Side and it's people."
"Really?" Asked Kai. This kind of behavior was usually reserved for older people. Not people in their teens. What caused her to develop this so early on in her life? "This type of cynicism isn't typical of most people your age. And those people usually have a good reason for doing so. Past trauma or some event that caused it to happen that made you like this. And given relatively recent events, I'm assuming it has something to do with the One Year War. Am I…" Kai didn't get to finish that sentence when Erika turned around and glared at him, causing everyone to stop before they could collide into each other.
"If you're that curious to know, yes. It's because of the One Year War and how it caused my family to end up what it is today." Said Erika, staring at Kai with anger in her eyes. "And the days after that caused me to develop a strong opinion against patriotism and people that still see the Federation as the monsters that the Zabi family made them out to be. I don't have anything but pity for those that still want to continue the war despite it being logically impossible for us to win. So, because of all that, I don't feel any remorse if I have to kill idiots that fail to see that trying to hurt or kill you will only make things worse for us. Do you understand?" Kai, staring blanky at her, just nodded. Nodding back, Erika turned around. "And don't try to make friends with me, Mr. Shiden. It just won't end well for either of us." With that, she continued walking, forcing the others to follow her lest they be left behind.
"Damn, talk about a hard woman." Said Slick as he walked, careful so that Erika couldn't hear him.
"Can't really blame her though." Said Tick. "Must have lost a great many loved ones in the war. Maybe both of her parents and some other close family members."
"Agreed." Said Crick, feeling sympathy for the girl if that was the case. "Must have been hard for her. Losing both your parents at such a young age can't be good for a child. Especially if there is no one else there to take care of them." Kai, overhearing that part, nodded in agreement. Remembering Miharu's baby brother and sister. Erika may be older than both of them, but the principle issue remained the same. Given the war was over for over three years, she must have been twelve or eleven when her parents died. Not even a teen and she lost her parents. God damn.
"Guess I got some stuff to use for my article already." Thought Kai as Erika led them to their room.
