In the Midea transport, Steiner sat, a recoilless rifle at his head, a tired looking Fed next to him. He poked the rifle's barrel and it slid in then popped back out. Steiner grinned inwardly. He had heard that these Federal popguns had a tendency to jam if played around with enough.

Well, it's playtime for the Gray Vampire, he thought. He pushed the rifle in and turned it slightly, not enough to notice but enough for the barrel to jam. The guard got annoyed and scooted over, but Steiner would not relent in his pestering. Finally the guard's nerves gave in and he calmly stood up.

"You stupid Zeon son of a bitch." He raised the rifle and fired. The gun exploded and shrapnel slashed him to ribbons.

"Who's the stupid SOB now?" Steiner grabbed a handgun and hopped out of the pickup truck on cement blocks that constituted the "Ace Brig."

He looked out the window and saw a faint outline of a Gau Assault Carrier below them. He grabbed a helmet and vernier pack, along with a pair of RPGs in the weapon's racks. He fired it off and hit the cockpit, killing the crew in a brilliant blossoming explosion. The hatches began to open as Steiner had predicted and felt himself get sucked out into the clear blue sky. As the hatches were shut by a cinder block hitting the control panel, Steiner saw a Zeon grunt get pulled back in by his comrades and waved. He maneuvered to the top of the Gau and shot a hole in the roof and slipped in as patch film was deployed. He removed his helmet as the other Zeon soldiers looked at him in amazement.

"Damn, sir, that's a hell of an entrance."

"Uh sir? What's going to happen to the Midea prisoners?"

Steiner waved a hand. "The box will drop and they'll maneuver to the Airbase we're headed to."

"The box, sir?"

Steiner rolled his eyes. "Yes, the box." A Midea Transport was built differently than the Gunperry class ships. Instead of unfolding and releasing the mobile suits, the hatches in back opened, and the mobile suits dropped. The Midea was equipped with a detachable "box" with could be dropped for a less vulnerable landing, but more preparations were required and was less cost effective. The box was equipped with parachutes and verniers to ensure the relative safety of the occupants.

"Now come on, soldier, prepare for landing."

-------------Zeon African Airfield 1

The Midea Box and the Gau had landed safely and unloaded and Steiner had reported in the accounts of his battle. He stepped out into the sweltering heat of the noon sun over the sandy cement and went to the remaining Federal Forces officer. "Some heat huh?"

"Yeah."

"So...what are you planning to attack next?" he asked, expecting a Federal version of a "Seig Zeon."

"It's the 8th Egypt Squadron in Giza," came the flat reply.

"Was that intentional?"

"What's it to you if I tell the plans?"

"You're an enemy officer?"

"I'm a POW. It doesn't make any difference. I'm sick of this damn war." The officer stood.

"Don't you feel you're fighting for a worthy cause?"

"I used to..." the officer said, walking past. "Now I just don't know." And with that, he disappeared into the dust.

-------Inside the Gunperry approaching Zeon African 1

Daisuke slept, remembering the events of the One Week Battle. The apex of the assault by the Zeon had been reached and the Federal Forces were turning tail. The colony booster was activated and had reached the point of no return. Stationed on atmospheric defense in a Jet Core Booster, he had rushed the colony. He opened fire with his cannons and fired his rockets, to no avail. The colony pieces were flying off and Daisuke dodged madly. He locked the controls to the JCB and ejected. The colony booster took the hit and part of it exploded sending the colony off course toward Australia. Daisuke's parachute unfurled and he began to drift until a piece of shrapnel caught him in the stomach. Everything went black then and then gray as his eyes caught the cold metal interior of the Gunperry. He sighed slightly, remembering the frighteningly beautiful day when the colony dropped.

"What kind of supreme being would allow such irony?" he wondered aloud.

Kiver threw a sideways glance at his commander over his reading glasses, looking up quickly from his book. "You all right there, Sarge?"

"I seen better days," he said, leaning back. His grey eyes nearly matched the interior. Kiver rolled his jade oculars and pushed his reading glasses back up. He twisted a finger idly around his brown front locks.

"Knock it off, Kiver, you remind of that Zeek the Gundam shot down when you do that."

"Sorry."

The alarm blared, shattering the silence like so much glass. Daisuke and Kiver rushed into the cabin. "The hell's goin' on here?!" they shouted in unison.

The pilot turned to them. "Our orders are drop you here."

"You are, of course, aware that we're right on top of a Zeon Airbase?"

"That's the idea," said the pilot, swinging his arm a bit.

Kiver turned to Daisuke. "My god, they are trying to kill us."

"I don't like this…."

Daisuke steadied his machine from the wire guided missile that had struck it. "I REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS!"

"You and me both, brother," Kiver agreed, blasting a Dopp as it began to lift off.

Steiner rushed into the hanger, explosions roaring behind him. "Tell me you've got a mobile suit here! A Zaku, hell, even one of those prototype Dum things!"

"It's called a Dom, thank you, Mjr. Steiner, and furthermore I…" Steiner dashed past him and swung around the corner to see none other than an RGM-79G standing before him. He stopped and looked around.

"I'll take it."

"Hey 'Suke! Look! It's a GM!" Kiver called out as the Federal Suit left the hanger.

"What the hell…?" Daisuke wondered aloud. His answer came in the form of a spray of 100mm shells striking his yellow suit.

Ok, so that's the fire button… that's the dash…where's the close combat button? Steiner thought as the Anubis backed away. Maybe this one?

"Hey Daisuke! That's Zack's GM! See, they haven't cleaned the blood off yet!"

"Yeah, I gathered," Daisuke snapped, pulling a beam saber from his backpack.

"Oh hell, I remember this part..." Steiner moaned, frantically searching for the beam saber trigger. He found it, as evidenced by the leg lock sliding open and the plugs connecting. He heard the hiss of plasma being injected into the I-field, then the beam saber coming around to the view screen. Steam hissed from the vents of both MS, as the pilots prepared to duel.