Chapter 11

RedRat8 and Dragon lord Syed 101- We'll see.


Kai

Last checkpoint until entry to Red zone 4


"Alright, everything checks out." Said the Earth Federation officer as he finished inspecting all of Kai's paperwork. He then radioed the gate guards. "Alright, let them in. They're clear." As the gates were opening up, the officer wished Kai good luck in there. Nodding in thanks, Kai got back in his APC. As soon as he did, the convoy began moving again. As they moved, Kai couldn't help but got a feeling that they were being watched. Right from the moment that they exited the last checkpoint, Kai felt like he was being watched. Even from the safe confines of the APC, he was in, he felt like he was being watched. Like a hawk watches a mouse scurry across an open field and was waiting a perfect moment to pounce. That was what he was feeling at the moment.

Looking at Merc as the warbot was standing nearby, ready for a fight in case once actually happens, Kai wondered if any of these Side 3 residents had ample access to weapons that can destroy combat droids with ease. If they did, then they're going to be in big trouble.

He then looked at Erika, who was still not looking directly at him, causing him to sigh. She was stubborn. Very stubborn.

Slinking into his seat, Kai wondered how long until he can safely get out of this APC. It was starting to get cramped.

Luck would have it, the ride soon ended and the APC driver told him to get out.

"Alright, Mr. Shiden, we're here in your first destination." Said the driver as he stepped into the cargo bay of the APC. "Your first place to go to apartment block four of this section. There's a couple there that we can confirm that will allow you to interview them. After them, there's an old man in an orphanage nearby. He may give you some time for questions."

"Thanks." Said Kai. "That it though?"

"Yeah." Said the driver. "The commodore tried his best to find more for you, but a lot of people here weren't very cooperative. As to be expected out here. Anyway, good luck man. You're going to need it in these parts." Kai just nodded at that before leaving the APC with his escort. Upon exiting out the vehicle, Kai could see the conditions of the red zone and was immediately appalled.

The whole area around Kai was more akin to a war zone than an actual place where people lived. Electric cars littered everywhere, broken beyond repair with some even on fire. The roads were filled with potholes and debris. And the buildings were full of holes big enough for Kai to see what was on the other side of rooms.

"This is one of the milder ones?' Thought Kai as he looked at the destruction all around him. Living with all this destruction, were the people of Side 3 and Federation soldiers patrolling the destroyed streets of this area of the colony. Both of which were glaring at each other as they passed each other. It was like the war had never ended here and Kai was sure that it was the same for other places in the colony and Side 3 as a whole.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at his security team and thus decided to move on to his first location. As he was making his way, he noticed a lot of glares were being given to him by the people of Side 3. They even went as far as to insult him.

"Federation lacky." Said someone as Kai and his crew kept walking.

"It's your fault that we're like this." Said another.

"Liberty haters."

"Traitorous whore." Said someone spotted Erika and her uniform. Soon more and more insults were directed towards her over Kai. Upon hearing them all, Kai clenched his fists slightly, angered at this behavior towards a young girl. A girl that had little choice to do what she was doing right now.

She lost her parents and most of her siblings in the One Year War, thus leaving her without some sort of stable income and forcing her to get a job somehow before she was even a teenager. It was sickening that these people were treating her this way. Of course, they had no way to know her pain, but still. It angered him that they were still doing it regardless.

And this was the case with the AIs as well. Many of them were quite upset with how these citizens of Side 3 were treating Erika. The poor girl didn't deserve anything that these people were giving her. Some of them wished that they could give those people a piece of their mind, but refrained from doing so, knowing that it'll only make the situation in Side 3 worse if they did so. Thus, they carried on their duty, watching these people in case they try to do something against their charge.

"Your hero status doesn't mean shit in this place, murderer." Said a man with several prosthetics as he glared at Kai, who just ignored it and went on to his first destination.

A few minutes later, they reached their first destination. A relatively clean and intact apartment on the outside, but Kai knew that it was probably rundown when he got inside.

"Alright, a squad stays outside to guard the perimeter." Said Kai. "The rest of you with me. And try not to cause a commotion. We're here to help these people. Not ruin their lives further." His security team nodded at that before doing what he said. A group of combat droids stayed behind to guard the perimeter while the rest went inside with Kai and Erika. Unbeknownst to all of them, however, they were being watched by a group of people that would very much like Kai to fail in his job.

"Target acquired. Commencing operation."


Few minutes later


"Thank you for giving your time." Said Kai as he sat down with the elderly couple he was interviewing. While his crew was doing their usual things, including filming these people for an audio documentary, which would be the first in his mission, his security team was guarding the entire apartment they were all in, both outside and inside. "It must be a brave thing to do so, given the history of these red zones."

"It's not as bad as it looks out there." Said the old man, wrinkles all over his face. "The younger folk may be so angry with your people and may even start a few fights here and there, but overall things are more peaceful than the Federation and the Republic of Zeon says these red zones are." Though he looked genuine when he said that, Kai knew that he was lying through his teeth.

"Sir, there's no need to lie." Said Kai as he looked at the elderly couple. "I saw what was out there, you know. I'm not blind to what's going on here and I'm sure that my knowledge will only grow the longer that I stay here. So, why don't you just tell me all that you know so we can get out of your hair faster." Both the elderly couple smiled at that as if he was making this a bigger deal than it actually was.

"My dear fellow." Started the elderly man. "Please don't make this entire situation worser than it really is." Erika narrowed her eyes at that.

"Oh really?" Asked Kai as he clutched his notepad. "Then what exactly is the situation in your eyes? Educate me on your side of the story regarding the situation with Side 3 and why it's so different from the beliefs of those in power."

"Well, for one, look at what is happening now." Said the old man with a smile. "Side 3 is back into the fold of the Earth Federation and our people are once again citizens of the Earth Federation. The cries for independence are gone, baring a few holdouts. And things are finally getting back to what they should be. Peace and prosperity for all of humankind. Yes?"

"Well, technically correct, but have you've seen what is going on out there?" Asked Kai as he took notes on all this. So far, nothing was looking good for these two. Nothing they're giving him was usable for his articles. "Your people are being treated unfairly by other citizens of the Earth Federation. Are forced to pay reparations that are bleeding your Side dry, to the point that it may collapse as a whole. And your whole population is being treated like pariahs. How is that any good?"

"Oh dearie, that's all just a consequence of everything Side 3 did." Said the elderly woman, wrinkles over her face as well. "It'll fade in time."

"Before those consequences completely destroy Side 3 economy and population?" Asked Kai, allowing some incredulity to seep through his voice.

"Oh dearie. If there's anything that can be said about the people of Side 3, it's that we can get through anything." Said the woman with a smile. At this point, Merc was thinking, as he watched this old couple smile as if nothing was wrong in the world that they may be a little off the rocker. And judging by the disapproving and angry look on Erika's face, he can only guess she wasn't too happy with what these old people were saying.

"That may be true to an extent," Said Kai, trying to act as nicely as possible, even with the annoyance building up in him. "But even your people have limits. It's only a matter of time before they finally crack and we have another war on our hands. And this time it won't be about independence. It'll be done from desperation and vengeance for all the injustice they're facing from all this nonsense the Earth Federation council is giving out right now. So, please, can you two give me something that I can work with to show the rest of the Earth Sphere that any more reparations will only lead to war?" Instead of answering like Kai hoped, the old couple just smiled again.

"Mr. Shiden, we appreciate everything that you're trying to do for our people, but I'm afraid that…" The old man that was speaking right now was then interrupted when the sounds of a gunshot and breaking glass happened. Upon hearing all that, the combat drones immediately went into action and protected both Kai and Erika from any potential harm. Another shot then occurred with more sound of breaking glass happening with it.

Merc, upon hearing the second shot, looked to see the old couple dead with holes in their heads.

"Damnit." Thought Merc as he looked towards the windows, eventually finding the entranceways of both bullets. Seeing them, he tried to triangulate the positioning of the bullets so he can find out who did it. Eventually, he found the location of where the bullets were shot and thus went to investigate. Taking two other AIs with him, Merc told Kai what he found and that he was going to investigate.

"Be careful man." Said Kai as he laid on the ground with Erika while being covered by the rest of the mobile platforms. Merc nodded at that before leaving with the other two mobile platforms.

"This is going to cause some issues later on." Thought Merc as one of the other AIs contacted local law enforcement of the recent murders as well as a Federation patrol.


Meanwhile


"Mission accomplished. Commencing phase two."