Chapter 9
Merc
"How's it going, Hepner?" Asked Merc as he spoke to the Republic of Zeon militiawoman that was currently in a hospital bed with bandages around her head. The AI had decided to check up on her to see how she's doing. "Are the doctors treating you alright?" Hepner just smiled at the AI. It was sweet just how caring he was underneath all that metal and gung-ho attitude. It reminded her of Nikki and Manning, both of whom were eager for a fight, both of which she missed deeply.
"The doctors are fine." Said Hepner as she looked at the mobile platform's blue visor. "They've been treating me well enough. They said that I'll be free to go in three days." Merc nodded at that, satisfied that she'll be leaving the hospital so soon.
"That's good to hear because without you it's just Kai that can keep me company and not miss hard ass." Said Merc, causing Hepner to frown, knowing who she was referring to as hard ass.
"She's been through a lot, Merc." Scolded Hepner. "Don't be so hard on her. She had to do a lot that a young girl shouldn't be doing at all. She was twelve when the war ended. She had to take care of her baby sister and herself with finite money and no way to get more." Merc, upon hearing that, was stunned.
"What do you mean?" Asked Merc, causing Hepner to sigh.
"Erika lost both her parents in the One Year War. Along with most of her siblings." Started Hepner. "She lost her mother in the early days of the war and she lost her father and older siblings near the end. Her father, Eric Yugo, died with Degwin Zabi when they attempted to travel to Earth Federation territory to negotiate peace. And she lost her older siblings, Miranda and Lucy Yugo, at the battle of A Baoa Qu. That left her as the sole caretaker of her little sibling, Monica. And, as you can imagine, it was hard on her. Taking care of a sibling at the ripe age of twelve. No job experience. No one to turn to. She had nothing but the goodwill and pity of those around her until she found a way to support her and her sister."
"And what's that?" Asked Merc, unsure of how she managed to find a way to support herself and her sister at such a young age.
"When the Earth Federation arrived to both help secure Side 3 and make sure it was complicit in the restrictions placed at the end of the war, Erika somehow managed to get colonel Lombard into taking her sister into Earth Federation custody." That made Merc blink his optics in surprise.
"She did that?" Asked Merc in surprise. "Without any sort of compensation from the colonel?"
"None from what I've heard." Said Hepner. "He just took her sister under Federation custody while she went to become a member of Side 3's militia. When word reached the higher-ups about this, they kept it hush as they were afraid of the consequences for Erika if rumors began to surface of her being a spy or something for the Earth Federation. She already has it rough, Merc. She doesn't need old geezers bullying her for what she had to do." Merc just nodded at that, agreeing with her. "So, please, Merc, go easy on her. She doesn't need more things piled up against her."
"Alright, Hepner. I'll try, but she isn't exactly someone that can handle someone like me without some manner of stress being added. Or Kai for that matter." Said Merc. Hepner sighed at that, afraid that he'll say something like that. "How do you know so much about Erika anyway? Some of the stuff you said seems rather private, don't you think?"
"There are." Said Hepner. "When I learned that another soldier from the militia was going to be placed as security for Kai, I did a bit of research on them. Would look terrible for the Republic if one of the soldiers we lent to protect Kai Shiden attacks him or something because of something stupid like Kai's attitude or because of Kai's affiliation with the White Base." Though Merc could understand that reasoning, he couldn't help but think that something else was involved in her digging up Erika's past. Something that made him snicker internally.
"You sure that's the only reason?" Asked Merc, unable to help himself. "You don't want someone hurting your guy, right?" Upon hearing that, Hepner sighed, realizing what Merc was doing.
"Merc, before you go on that line of thoughts, let me assure you that I have no feelings for Kai." Said Hepner as she looked at the mobile platform in annoyance. "I was merely being cautious and concerned for his safety. That doesn't mean I wish to be his girlfriend or anything. You understand?"
"*Chuckles* Whatever you say, Hepner." Said Merc in amusement. "Whatever you say." Sighing again, Hepner asked when he's going to be leaving with Kai, eager to change the subject before Merc can do anything stupid or embarrassing for her. "Well, we're going to one of the red zones in this colony. One of the more "safer" ones, but still dangerous to go to. We've been supplied with more reinforcements as a result and we're being outfitted with lethal weaponry, but I'm still concerned that some of us may not be getting out of this alive." Hepner just nodded at that.
"Yeah, I know." Said Hepner, recalling just how vicious the red zones can be to both Federation personal and Republic of Zeon militia personal. One because of grudges and bitterness of the populace for their victory over them in the One Year war and the other for supporting a regime that actively supported the Earth Federation, a regime that supported Earthnoids over Spacenoids. Some soldiers don't come back from those zones alive, resulting in more mobile platforms taking positions there over live humans, to which none ever objected. "Do me a favor and do your absolute best to keep Kai and his crew alive as well as Hepner. This isn't coming from a girl with a crush, Merc. This is coming from someone that doesn't want any harm come to those that just want to help her nation and those that suffered too much already. You understand?" Merc, though tempted to joke about this, just nodded, noting the severity that Hepner spoke to him.
"I'll be at my best, Hepner. Don't you worry about that." Said Merc seriously. "Kai is my friend too and I'm not going to let anything happen to him from this Side, even if it kills me. That's a promise." Hepner just nodded before telling him that he needed to leave or else he'll get in trouble. Nodding and telling her that he'll see her again after they get back, Merc left for the engineering bay so that he could switch out his riot equipment for lethal arms. To adopt the arms made for this platform should it ever be approved to supplement the current GM trooper platforms in combat-related missions.
Meanwhile
Kai
After arriving back in his quarters, Kai told his crew where they're going next and what they need to do to in order to best prepare themselves for the trials to come. After they left to acquire the arms that they were forced to have around them in case of a few Side 3 citizens getting any funny ideas, Kai was left alone to ponder on Erika and how she reminded her of a past fancy Kai had when he was stationed on the White Base.
"Miharu." Thought Kai as he remembered a red-haired young girl that worked with the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War, if reluctantly. He had met her in Belfast, after Odessa day, where she was spying on the local Federation base for the Principality of Zeon. She didn't want to spy on them, no, but she had to because they provided her the money, she needed in order to support her little siblings, Jill and Milly, after their parents were killed in the war. So, she spied for them, even if her consciousness was tearing away at her because what she was doing was essentially making people orphans or lose loved ones. No doubt in Kai's mind that, at least, some of the intel she provided for the Zeons killed some Federation personal and that knowledge gave her a guilty consciousness. Not enough to prevent her from continuing to spy for the Zeons, but enough that it must have tore her apart on the inside.
When she was ordered to infiltrate the White Base, she did so, but in the end, she helped them defeat a Zeon mobile armor that would have killed Amuro Ray, the White Devil, sacrificing herself in the process. The reason she did so was because of him.
He had met her prior to her infiltration of the White Base and during that time, Kai managed to turn her around to their side. Not through force or a silver tongue, but through his sympathy and willingness to protect her from the consequences of spying for the Zeons. Not that it mattered in the end because she died, leaving her younger siblings to fend for themselves. The kids were fortunate in that Sayla Mass, a crewmate of Kai when they both were stationed on the White Base, was keeping an eye on them among other things. Without their knowledge, unfortunately. They still believed that their sister was still out there, alive and well. It pained Kai that they believed in such things, but he supposed that's what happens when you don't have many things left in this world. You deny your loved ones dying and cling to the false hopes that they are still alive and well, even when all those around them say otherwise.
It didn't take much from Kai to figure out the similarities between Miharu's situation with Erika's. The only differences were their attitudes. Where Miharu was meek and sorrowful at what she was doing, Erika was bitter and angry at those that caused her plights at the first place. Both were not wrong in how they react to their actions or situations. And both were not wrong in their wants to support and care for their remaining family members.
Sighing, Kai wondered how he was going to get Erika to open up to him. She was a tough nut to crack, that was for sure. With Miharu, it was different as she was meek and more trusting towards individuals, especially once she learns they aren't a threat to her or her siblings. Erika though. She was incredibly bitter towards, well, everyone and kept everyone at a professional length and relationship. She hated his attitude and wanted nothing more than to protect and support her little sister it seems. Yes, sir, a very hard nut to crack, but Kai wasn't one to give up so easily. Yes, sir on that. Already he was thinking up of ways to get her to open up so he can both interview her as well as get her to open up in general.
With a stroke of his chin, Kai wondered how the rest of the side was doing at this very moment and he wasn't thinking about the Earth Federation personal.
Meanwhile
Side 3 capital building
"Does Kai Shiden require anything from us, Mr. Lombard?" Asked a beautiful young woman with light blue hair and eyes. She was currently addressing colonel Lombard from the capital building on Side 3. The capitol building was the former palace of Degwin Zabi. After the deaths of all members of the Zabi family, the palace was made the capital building of the Republic of Zeon on account of its size and defenses, though they removed any and all traces of the Principality of Zeon and the Zabi family on account of the One Year War. It took a full year, but it was done. The palace was now free of any and all signs of it being the palace of the Zabi family as well as any lineage of it being part of the Principality of Zeon, baring history books and the memories of people, of course.
"Not at the moment, Mrs. Sahalin. Our current security measures for Kai Shiden are more than sufficient in protecting him. And if they're, somehow not, then rapid response units are on standby to assist him in whatever dangers he's in." Said Lombard as he addressed the current head of the Sahalin family, Aina Sahalin, who was also the Republic of Zeon's top ambassador to the Earth Federation. Much like Prime Minister Bakharov, she wanted peace with the Earth Federation and for Side 3 to become productive members of the Earth Sphere again. It'll take a long time, what with the current amount of, understandable, prejudices and grudges against Side 3 for the number of war crimes and destruction they did in the war, but it was a fight that Aina was willing to fight. It was because of that, along with her views on the Earth Federation and her skills in the fields of politics, that Bakharov did all that he could in bringing back her family from the brink of extinction, even though she was the only one left of her family that can do anything remotely helpful at all. Her brother, Ginias Sahalin, was confined to their home on account of an incurable disease he acquired when he was young. It wasn't anything fatal, at least Aina hoped so, but it left her forcing her brother to stay home while she handled the day-to-day politics that were required of her. It infuriated her brother, but it was something he begrudgingly accepted as, now that the war was over and there was no possible way for them to continue his project in the One Year War, the Apsalus project without drawing the ire of the Earth Federation, he begrudgingly allowed it as his sister and their friend Norris Packard are the only things he had left. He even begrudgingly allowed Aina to marry that Earth Federation pilot, Shiro Amada, something that pleased Aina a great deal. It certainly helped with the stress that she had to deal with as ambassador to a group of people that held a lot of hatred to her people, none of which she can blame them for having.
"That's good to hear." Said Aina as she addressed the colonel with the respect he deserved. He was one of the few Federation officials that she knew that held no real grudge against the Republic of Zeon, believing that it was time to let go of past hates and just work together to advance humanity as a whole. That was an attitude that Aina can get behind. If only more people had his mindset. "I wish your reporter the best of luck in the red zone you're sending him. If I could, I would be sending more men to assist, but I'm afraid that the bulk of our forces are contained trying to suppress other, more violent, colonies at the moment."
"In addition to most of the forces of the 4th fleet." Thought Lombard before speaking up.
"Not to worry, Mrs. Sahalin. This is an Earth Federation operation." Said Lombard. "We can handle it by ourselves if we must, though any help from you will be appreciated. I do, however, wish that such an operation wasn't needed in the first place, but the politicians back at Earth are getting significant mileage out of continually painting Side 3 as the scum of the Universal Century. I wouldn't be surprised that some new politicians will use Side 3 as a way to advance their career. The Earth Sphere does need someone to demonize and be the target for the ire of the people. And Side 3 is the easiest one to paint as such." Aina just nodded sadly at that.
"Just like what the Zabi family did to start the war in the first place." Whispered Aina as she remembered the Zabi family's tactics to get the populace of Side 3 to declare war on the Earth Federation for independence. Well, actually the entire Earth Sphere in all honesty. "Tragic, but one that I know all about. I just hope that this operation has the effects that your high command thinks it will."
"*Chuckles* In all honesty, Mrs. Sahalin, even they question the effectiveness of this operation for the people of the Earth Sphere." Said Lombard, surprising Aina. "Hate is such a powerful emotion. Same with sorrow. Combined the two can make even the most reasonable of people into a being filled with rage and near impossible to be reasoned with. And it doesn't help that Zeon remnant groups just add more things for people to be angry with." Aina just nodded in agreement.
"I just wish that these groups will realize the futility in more fighting." Said Aina with a hint of frustration. "All they're doing is just making things worse for all of us. Why can't they see that? Are they just that ignorant and blind? Or are they just fighting because…they have nothing left in their lives? Or are they just that patriotic?"
"Blind and obsessive amounts of patriotism can do that to people, Mrs. Sahalin." Said Lombard. "Whatever their reason is, we'll stop them before they do more damage to the Earth Sphere. Londo Bell and ECOAS will make sure of that."Aina nodded in thanks to Lombard before ending the call. Sighing, Aina wondered what her husband, Shiro, was doing right now. Looking at a picture of Shiro and her in wedding attire, Aina thought of those days.
Sometime after the war and after she was released from Federation custody along with her brother and Norris, Shiro came to her and started a relationship with her. It was rough at first, with Shiro being a part of the Londo Bell task group, dealing with Zeon remnant forces that refused to surrender, and her taking the life of a politician, but eventually, they made it worked. And their hard work paid off when last year Shiro got the courage to ask her hand in marriage, to which she eagerly accepted. Her closest friends and advisors saw this as a step in the right direction for reintegration into the Earth Federation while her critics saw this as her whoring herself out for the good of Side 3 or other, likeminded things and she had no doubt that Shiro also suffered from similar things from friends and enemies alike. But she didn't care about either of them, she was marrying the man she loved and nothing was going to stop her. And neither did Shiro. They currently weren't planning on having children as they didn't want them to live in such a hectic time. Plus, their busy work schedule prevented them from seeing each other much. But, Aina knew that Shiro wanted to have children and so did she in all honesty.
Sighing again, she hoped Shiro was doing well right now and that nothing was going to happen that'll make things worse for Side 3. With those thoughts, she went back to work.
Meanwhile
"Supreme commander Hymen. I'm pleased to report that our infiltration teams have entered Side 3 and are beginning their tasks." Said a person over a long-distance call.
"Excellent. Be sure to make them do only enough damage to achieve our goals." Said Hymen as he spoke with the person. "Too much damage will cause people to question how such massive damage is inflicted at Side 3 with a large contingent of ECOAS teams stationed there. Too little and Revil's plan may actually succeed."
"Understood, sir." Said the person. "Rest assured, we'll do as you ask."
"Good." Said Hymen, satisfied. "And one more thing. This reporter, Kai Shiden? Only attack him when he's filming something that shows Side 3 in a positive light or can damage Side 3's reputation if we attack. If we say, attack him when he's filming Federation personal tending to the poor and weak by giving out rations and we attack, disguised as disgruntled Side 3 citizens, then that'll help our cause. Is that understood?"
"Of course, sir." Said the person. "I understand completely. Rest assured, you'll have your results by the end of the month." Jamitov pursed his lips at satisfaction at that.
"Good. See that you and your men don't fail me." Said Jamitov before ending the call.
