Act 8: The Last Stand of Odessa
Start Date: 4/21/03
Finish Date: 5/10/03
November 9th, UC 0079
7:30 A.M.
Pilot Samuel Apollo stood in front of a massive insignia of the Zeon propaganda. The star-like symbol was imposed on the outer shell of the Heavy Lifting Vehicle, the very robust piece of junk that he was about to risk his life for later during the day. Due to his naturally laid-back nature, he didn't care much about risking his life for a few supplies and the frame of Zeon's hope. Not many people knew what Apollo was fighting for in the first place, and it didn't help the fact that Apollo's answer was "The Movement". What Movement he was talking about was unknown. (But not unknown to the readers as Gundam fans)
"Samuel," a shrewd voice behind the blonde-haired man called. He knew that sultry voice well, and it was a dead giveaway when that person called Apollo by his first name. There, was Lisa Maes. For the longest time, the woman has been on a vindictive streak. Hell, some even called her psychotic, and the truth was, Lisa probably was.
"Lisa.. I don't want to fight with you right now," Apollo inquired. Putting it straight, he just wasn't up to another emotional quarrel. It was too early in the morning for another soap-opera drama to occur. But for once, Lisa appeared polite, and civilized as she shook her head in negative reply, without ranting off on him.
"No Apollo, that's not it," Lisa said. She tried deviating the subject on a point where she had some dramatic irony on. "Are you still worried about Virocana?" She asked. Apollo promptly shook his head.
"No," Apollo said. Lisa was the one surprised by that statement, since the night before, Apollo was pretty concerned about the mysterious woman. Apollo deeply sighed, and said, "I know she's alive, and she's probably happy where she is."
"I see," Lisa said to herself. There was a silence between the two of them. Lisa leaned upon the outer hull of the HLV at a reasonable distance from Apollo. From the altitude the two Zeon pilots were presently at, they could see the entire settlement before them. Trucks and crates were being loaded into their line of vision, or directly below the bridge they were on into the HLV. The woman could see endless plans of dirt as far as the eye could see, and the land could stretch. "It was just.. I thought you.. Replaced me with her, and so.. I got pretty angry at that." The woman continued. A raven crossed her line of sight, crowing away as it flapped, and rifted into the boundless sky. She looked down to her feet, and started to examine herself, even when Apollo was prolonging the conversation.
"Why would you get angry because of something like that?" Apollo asked. Lisa didn't look up, and made a fib that was suitable for Apollo.
"Well.. I just didn't.. Want to think that I was a bad lover for you, and-" Lisa continued on, until Apollo interrupted her half-lie, half-truth statement. The truth was, she had some sort of vendetta against newtypes, even though the man she loved was a newtype himself. She felt that the newtypes didn't have to act like they were superior to the oldtypes, and this superiority complex had a greater toll on Lisa. She could have just said that she felt guilty about not saving her former comrade Cabochon, but she could give a damn about him. That was 10 months ago.
"Absolutely not.. It was just," Apollo said. He couldn't pinpoint it exactly. "Never mind," he said. The thought that crossed Apollo's mind was that a newtype would just 'know' if the person he or she loved was the right person, and frankly, he didn't feel any sort of specialty about Lisa, and therefore withdrew from her. However, Apollo never thought that Lisa would have an extremely fragile mentality, and was more of a glitch in the way. Regardless, Apollo thought that Lisa was a very nice person deep down. Or that's what Apollo knew.
"I guess I understand," Lisa imposed silently. The two had no further words of consort to exchange, and both just watched the morning sky age. Lisa brushed off the side of her skirt of her dirt-covered uniform from various reasons, like the wind carrying dirt from the ground, and even leaning up against the sloppily constructed HLV. Apollo just watched the actions of the workers below, studying their every moves like he had some special importance for them. Both of the pilots looked to the side as the sound of the lift creaked up to their way.
"So you two finally made up?" Exiting the lift, was General Andrew Jackson. His speech was impaired by the cigar in his mouth, and when he addressed the two pilots, a thick layer of smoke emitted from the captivity of his mouth. Behind him, the lift went automatically down to the ground again for further service. Jackson stepped towards his two little pawns, seemingly with no other business but to annoy them.
"What do you want to ask?" Apollo didn't bother for any sort of introductions, as he could careless about them. The man seemed to steal Lisa's statement before she could speak, so she just allowed Apollo to handle the situation.
"Straight to the point I see," Jackson said. Usually, Jackson had no business with his subordinates unless it was something they did that was worthy of the General's discipline policies, or to tell them something of grave importance. The length of the cigar drastically shortened, as the old man took a deep inhale. He blew smoke out of his mouth, and some even came out of the man's nose. Finding no further connectivity for the cigar, he grinded the lightened edge against a random metallic rafter, and then tossed it off the bridge into the yonder. "We do need some escorts for the HLV. After all, I'm taking the 13th Battalion into space."
"So you decide to tell that to us now?" Apollo asked. Jackson didn't care for the pilot's troubles, since he didn't have to pilot the sign of Zeon's war machine as a daily living. By Apollo's tone, he wasn't too concerned on the General's actions. "Before you start, it doesn't matter to me. I'll stay on Earth. After all, I need to get closer to that Gundam pilot." Apollo's motives were very mysterious to anybody who tried to figure it out that wasn't an all-knowing deity.
"What, you think you can relate to him?" Jackson laughed out of term from hearing himself mutter the leading words. Jackson took a deep breath, and expressed the next motive. "Well, I guess that case is solved. What about you little lady?" Jackson's attention deviated to the young woman, whom was currently in aloof.
"I'll stay on Earth as well." Lisa replied. Both of the cases was sealed, and Jackson seemed distraught on loosing both of his pilots. Somehow, Lisa guessed correct on this matter, and brushed her blue hair back. "It's nothing personal at all, General. Somebody needs to make sure that Apollo doesn't kill himself out there." Lisa said in a jesting manner. Apollo didn't have much to counter that statement, so Jackson continued onward with the conversation.
"I understand. Well, since you're going to stay," the General reached into his uniform pocket, and pulled out an envelope that was in a pretty appalling condition. He outstretched his hand, and gave the letter to Apollo. Apollo scanned the letter with utmost curiosity, wondering how a single envelope could be in such bad condition, but overall trying to read the contents inside by holding it up to the sun. "Head to Africa after this. I don't care how you do it, but you're going to be doing some desert walking. Give the letter to a commander named Marai Gunner. She'll be your commanding officer after me."
"What relationship do you have to her?" Apollo implored to Jackson. Jackson was searching for a correct statement that would allow the pilots to get the point, but not reveal too much information about himself that is in truth, irrelevant.
"Let's just say, she's the reason I'm in the Zeon in the first place." The people in the 13th Battalion heard rumors that Jackson was originally on the Federation side before the war started. It had something to do with the unfair politics of the Federation, and relating to how Jackson was truly as spacenoid to begin with. Other than that, their General's past still remains an unsolved mystery. By Apollo's judgment, it shouldn't be solved.
"What if we decide to run away from the military?" Lisa asked. That question was just out of her own curiosity, while Apollo thought it was an unnecessary question. The General laughed to himself by Lisa's question, and decided to tackle it for his own amusement.
"If you give Marai that letter, I'll make it worth your while. Especially after the war. That's how important it is," Jackson said to himself. A hint of emotion gleamed with his statement. "Since I can't do it myself, you're going to do it for me. You're like my messengers.. You could just lie, but I doubt that would work in this case. You're going to have to give her the letter and see. If you do.. I'll make you made pilots after the war. That's how urgent this is." Jackson said to himself. The General stepped to the side, leaning over the railing to scope the various workers below. Apollo and Lisa were completely unaware of the true cause of Jackson's sudden display of emotion. It was probably love for this Marai woman.
"How do you know that this war will end?" Apollo asked. Jackson remained dormant from his position, still prolonging the conversation.
"Zeon is getting weak.. Don't you see? The Gundam may just be too much for us. We're losing Odessa, and that means space is going to be the next target," Jackson said. The General didn't seem too fond of predicting loss as a result for his military affiliation. "With incompetent leaders like Captain M'Quve, I'm surprised that Odessa didn't totally go under yet. And from Lisa's report, the Federation are starting to produce mobile suits. Zeon can barley even feed us let alone take care of mass-produced Gundams.
"Has M'Quve made any plans for the retreat?" Lisa asked. Jackson shook his head as one part of the answer.
"He just says to wait for it, and it'll make the Federation retreat. But I don't think anybody's going to trust that one. Not even the Black Trinary is enough to take down Gundam, especially now that they're a man short [1]. Anyway, as I was saying, give Marai that letter, and you'll be rewarded." Jackson said. Apollo sneered in reply.
"You know, this is the only moment where you're actually tolerable." Apollo said to Jackson, who in turn sighed.
"I suppose so, and this is the only time where I won't think of as an annoying bastard." Jackson said in return.
"Even now, you two are still at it?" Lisa asked. Both of the men grunted in reply, and Lisa just shrugged, leaving the matter alone. "Men are such babies," Lisa said.
"It comes with age," Jackson said to himself in a serene state of mind. He pushed himself off from the railing, and walked his way back to the lift at a leisurely pace. The man pressed the up arrow of the control panel that was outside of where the lift's shaft was. With a few painful grinding noises, the lift was promptly beckoned. In the temporary lag between the transition, Jackson turned to face the two pilots again. "I probably won't be seeing you again after this moment. If there is anything of value, make sure to take it with you.. The attack is expected very soon." As the lift came up, Jackson stepped into it. "Good luck, pilots." Jackson lost the sight of his pilots as the lift descended, and it was the same of losing two, very crucial parts of his Battalion. His family.
"That was pretty sudden, wasn't it?" Lisa demanded of the man, who's attention was averted elsewhere. Apollo was the type who took everything in around them, and pondered them with great insight. The transfer to another Battalion, was a matter he could simply not discuss in human dialect. So with that matter unsolved, Apollo also went the path of his General, to descend among the lift.
"I'm going to rest up in my Zaku.. Something tells me this is the last moment of peace we're going to have for a long time," Apollo said to Lisa. By what Apollo was saying, it was like he was truly concerned about the events about to unfold.
"Are you worried?" Lisa asked. It took the lapse of Lisa's question, to the lift presenting itself for the male pilot to find a suitable answer for such an easy question.
"In this next mission, worried about you," the man said to himself as he rode the lift down. Lisa on the other hand, continued to lean up against the HLV's cold, thick metallic coating. She put her left hand over her head, trying to erase some motive of regret.
Worried about me? If anything, you should be worried about yourself if you abandon me for another wretch again, Lisa repeated over and over to herself mentally. The benevolent, and compassionate young woman known as Lisa Maes was just a lie; a charade for Apollo's better interest, that not even a newtype could for see. With those thoughts, the true Lisa exposed herself. The Lisa that would double-cross people on her own lines just to make a point to a woman, but yet, it was almost like she had a fear of being abandoned. Virocana, it would be in your best interest if you just died along the way..
****
To the bridge of the Bulldog, the drill remained the same. The same rhythmic bleeping of the various control consoles maintaining the massive battleship, and the same scattered chatter filled the void of silence within the bridge. To the crew, it was their time to relax. From the outside windows, the view of the fast moving plain of dust was the only thing in sight for miles. There were a few more other Big Tray ships in the vicinity, but they were performing the same autonomous duty that the Bulldog was. The Captain of the ship was virtually absent. So without the orders of their Captain, the crew had to rely on common sense on the expectation of what Tolen expected of them. The sun was still early, dawning over the distance, but certainly not at the Zeon forces whom even now, were in deep turmoil from Odessa's situation.
"It's all the same since I got here.. This sky, the ground.. Nothing changes with the Earth." Satoru Hakiteki was leaning upon one of the display windows, with his right hand holding him up against it. From his notable soliloquy, not once presence actually took note of this. They were just committing their souls to their jobs with their utmost greatest ability, while Satoru was quietly speaking his thoughts aloud. "But with the military, people's minds are fickle."
"You mean.. Captain Tolen's sudden replacement of the late Avery?" From absolutely no corner of the Earth, the female pilot Amelia was standing along side of Satoru. For what reason the woman would accompany the already agonized pilot was intelligible at first.
"Exactly," Satoru said to Amelia, not even taking the moment to look behind to her. From the display, he could slightly see the woman's reflection. The woman's hair was tied up, most likely to be able to fit the strongly recommended helmet for mobile suit activity. From the look from her crimson hair, she had not the time to maintain it properly, due to the various rough edges and random strands falling out. "But I'm curious.. Why are you here with me?"
"Well, I still don't know you that well. However, because of your naturally impulsive attitude, you may still want to argue with Tolen," Amelia preached, and Satoru just sighed, slumping onto the display in his act of mental fatigue, even after a single sortie.
"You've read my mind," Satoru muttered, which Amelia didn't catch, and didn't bother. "How do you feel about this?"
"Well," Amelia looked to the side, and her brown eyes deviated to the artificial ground below her. She had to take into consideration that the woman probably truly didn't mean any harm. However, it was still one of her pilots that was killed. Then, another thought rang through. "I didn't really know him that well," Amelia began to say, but stopped while she was ahead when she saw Satoru look to the side. And his expression was nothing less than aggravated.
"You didn't know him that well? He was one of us," Satoru attempted to say without yelling. If he wasn't on the bridge which required the moderate silence, he would be yelling for all in the battleship to hear. From the look of his face, he felt angered, but mostly confused because of the actions of the people he thought he knew well. "How come none of you will feel sympathy for him? We have the killer onboard, and nobody will do anything!" Satoru failed to catch himself in the act, as the occupants in the bridge eyed the two pilots curiously. With a few pushes and tugs, Amelia forced the conversation into the hallway outside of the bridge, with nobody insight but them.
"That won't bring him back. Besides, what about the people you killed? The fathers and mothers that you snatched away from families? We're in the military because we can't live any other way," Amelia said. But by Amelia's latter comment, Satoru failed to comprehend the deeper meaning to that one.
"What does that matter? Our friend was killed, and we just grant the she-devil who committed the crime a second chance! If they wanted to forgive her so badly, they should have just let out and find her way on her own," Satoru addressed. His eyes never left the line of vision of Amelia during the argument.
"So tell me, do you truly have some compassion for her?" Amelia asked. Satoru just muttered out his response.
"Compassion for a Zeon? Don't make me laugh. Those bastards don't deserve forgiveness for all the crimes that they caused," Satoru replied.
"What have the Zeon ever done to you?"
"They stole all of the things I ever cared for.. That's what they did! I wouldn't even be in this damn ship if it wasn't for the Zeon! Do you justify them gassing colonies of civilians and dropping colonies on Earth? Do you?" Satoru demanded of the woman. However, Amelia could not figure a reply, she could only listen to Satoru's ranting. "They claim that they fight for spacenoid independence, but the causalities inflicted the spacenoids the most! How can you sympathize with such a hypocritical force ruled by that dictator!?"
"Satoru, you have to understand.. There is no evil force. What Admiral Zabi did was wrong, no arguments against that. However, that doesn't mean that the underlings are just as evil. In fact, if you knew about Virocana's story, you'd sympathize with her instead of shooting at her like you're doing. She killed Avery, but she was forced to," Amelia said. "So why don't you ask her?"
"I refuse to ask that wretch anything. Damn it.. Damn Zeon-sympathizers." Satoru muttered under his breath before he walked on past Amelia. However, before Satoru completely vanished into the distance, Amelia had a little bit more to say to him.
"Before you go, and be honest, do you think it's possible that you can like Virocana?"
"Absolutely not."
"I said, be honest." From Amelia's request, Satoru had to ponder the situation carefully. However, he was still very skeptical on the fact that she was one of the newtypes that he used to read about. The evolution of mankind. Satoru refused to consider the woman who killed one of his friends one of the souls who will lead mankind into a new age.
"I hate her for killing Avery.. But.. I feel as if some part of my mind is telling me to forgive her. I don't know what that feeling is, as I can't identify it myself. And it annoys me to no end."
"You're foolish to think that everybody thinks like you do," Amelia said, and she caught the sight of an angered Satoru walking down the corridor. A split second later, Tolen also came from the same corridor. Without any scars left from the argument. Tolen looked at Amelia in a curious manner, but could easily predict what just happened. Amelia stepped into the bridge through the electronic door, and Tolen followed.
"Was he still angry?" Tolen asked.
"Of course. That being said, people are thinking that you held Avery in low regard." Amelia said to herself, something that she could not bring herself to say in front of Satoru. Tolen looked around to the crew, whom was taking note of this. However, Tolen saw it as if he continued the conversation, he could secretly foreshadow his deeper motives.
"I told you about her origin."
"No. That's not what I mean at all. There has to be something deeper than what it seems.."
"I told you, I felt sorry for her.."
"Do you plan on using her just like the Zeon?" Amelia asked. That question took Tolen some deep pondering to answer honestly.
"I don't," Tolen said, seemingly still having more to say. "But somebody else is eager."
"Eager for what?" Amelia asked curiously.
"Eager to use the power. The power of a newtype. Plus, along with Miss Vivian, more unusual suspects are coming to surface. The Gundam pilot is one of the more obvious ones. I can't name any others considering that's classified information," Tolen addressed Amelia. Her reply, was a smirk to try to pry the secrets out of the Captain.
"Any others? Well, if you can't say that, at least tell of some of the people who thirst for the power." Amelia said, seemingly not knowing the true capabilities of a newtype. In fact, not many people for sure knew.
"I don't think you've read the works of Zeon Daikun. Newtypes are the evolution of man. Their souls, not weighed down by gravity, are now free to pursue new dreams. These newtypes were a myth, until the Zeon opened the Flanagan Institute [1], and actual testing ground for newtypes."
"What power does these newtypes have?"
"That, I don't know. Miss Vivian said that her officials identified her as a newtype. And I simply couldn't have left her to the guys upstairs. She'd never be able to get out of the war," Tolen said in a dreadful tone. "Or out of Federation hands to be more specific."
"So, have you told anybody about it?"
"Not me. But Shin did. You know Shin, the interrogator. You should see him in the brig." Tolen remembered Shin. His "interrogation" of the Zeon woman consisted of brutal, physical abuse which didn't help the situation. In fact, Shin was border lining on shooting the woman on the spot until Tolen intervened.
"That tall guy. So, are those officials taking interest in your unit now?"
"Pretty much. That might greatly effect where we are sent after this mission. Either way, I wanted to keep her out of harms way because I sympathized with her. A case of déjà vu if you will."
"I see. Who's taking interest in her the most?"
"A man named Jamitov [1]," Tolen said. Amelia's eyes shot open when that man's name was spoken. Amelia attempted to contain herself in front of the Captain, and not reveal too much. From the situation, Amelia contained some sort of feelings for Jamitov. Whether it was love, or hate, those regions were left unanswered as the alarm struck through all vicinities of the ship.
"Sir, we've reached the Dnieper River. Command wants us to start the deployment." The Operation director, Leon said. As Tolen began barking orders, Amelia stood in the brig, as some sort of presence ate away at her stomach, being overcome with grief. However, whatever Amelia was thinking had no place in the present. She had to focus on the factor that Zeon's last stand in Europe was about to begin.
****
At that very moment, the Zeon force was dismay. Spies from afar reported the situation of the Federation's imminent sweep of the area. The scattered amount of Zeon forces attempting to load on cargo, or prepare the behemoth HLV for it's flee was distressing. The soldiers knew for a fact that the HLV had only so much room. Men from squadrons annihilated at Odessa found themselves helplessly at the retreat zone. The people who weren't piloting the mobile suits tried their best to help out as well.
"Commander, we're about to deploy," a man televised as a display addressed. Within Apollo's Zaku II mobile suit, the display settings were on. To the front, and to the sides of him, a perfectly simulated view of the chaotic surroundings through the point of view of the Zaku's single eye was laid out in front of him. Aside of him, a multitude of other Zakus ceased their kneeling posture, and joined Apollo in unison.
"Commander.. I don't want to be commander of all these rogue units," Apollo complained to himself. Apparently, Apollo didn't catch himself in the communication line, and it was a random soldier who replied to the comment.
"Sir, I know how you feel. But you're the best suitable one in this situation," the grunt soldier said, being honest to Apollo. "I know you can get us out of this situation." The communication ceased to be, and with a flick of switch on his console, a majority of communications were blocked except for the vital ones.
"Oh boy, what in the hell is the old man thinking?" Apollo asked himself out loud. Another bleep occurred within the Zaku. Looking at the tag on the corner of his display, he knew the assortment of numbers to identify Lisa. Apollo pressed another switch, and promptly accepted the woman's assumed bellowing. "What now, Lisa?"
"Just wondering what you plan on doing, Commander," Lisa said in a mocking tone. Apollo snickered to himself, attempting to joke along with Lisa.
"Well. Let me think here," Apollo said as he temporarily cut the conversation with his love interest short. Apollo opened a map that was previously installed in his basic operating system that coded all AI related operations within his mobile suit, like a computer system. There he was presented with the map of Europe. Longitudinal and longitudinal lines covered the map to the fullest extent, possibly to give the pilots the best possible coordinates if the need arose. Apollo already knew the origin of Federation attack, across the Dnieper River. "Hm. We have land mines set across the horizon," Apollo said to himself, but then, an idea struck him. Apollo turned his Zaku to the nearest ally with what he needed. "Hey, you, give me your cannon!"
"Yes sir!" Without delay, the other Zaku handed Apollo the long range cannon that was usually the standard outfit of Magella tanks. Apollo manipulated his Zaku onward, as a deep azure fog emitted from the Zaku's backpack. Momentarily, the Zaku was rifting above the soil. Lisa looked up curiously, wondering what the proclaimed commander was about to commit to.
"What are you going to do?" Lisa asked.
"Simple. I'm going to play with them first, and get a positive recon. You guys hold position at the first mine field crossing, and make sure to be good targets," Apollo said without conveying the full extent of his plan. With one swoop, the Zaku was off at unfathomable speeds into the sky. Apollo was well adjusted to the G forces pounding against his form, in relation to the Zaku's main capabilities. Apollo made sure to keep his Zaku airborne, passing over a plain that was the assumed Zeon mine field. After moments of travel, he forced the Zaku into a momentary retire. Kneeling the Zaku down, his senses granted him a good vantage spot. He had a faint view of the river, and a multitude of large structures gathering. Apollo raised his cannon, and smirked.
"Let's play sniper. Let's see how good the Federation mobile suits really are when they seem cornered.."
****
There, was the much informed about Dnieper. It appeared just alike that of any other river, as it was entirely no spectacular site to make a special note of. It was just a river, proving yet another barricade of mother nature before the human tainted battleground ahead. The collection of battleships composing the 4th Division laid in dormancy, with their human runners in anticipation. The Bulldog, just being one of many within the Division, also laid in patience with it's companions. The bridge, was filled with scattered, yet silent scatter.
"Sir, I still haven't confirmed any opposition yet," Leon said within the bridge. Tolen, positioned in the commander's chair, peered onward at the environment in front of him. He had the view of the bridge and it's occupants in front of him, the river in front, and the endless wasteland enveloping beyond the horizon. "However, I have a big reading on the thermal scanner. It's the HLV, I'm sure of it," Leon confirmed twice, not doubting an object of the magnitude he was reading.
"We can't just charge into this," Tolen said to himself. With another bleep on the control console, Tolen looked to Leon's vicinity.
With precision, Leon read the message and said, "Sir, it's from the leading Big Tray unit. They want us to use the mobile suits to scout ahead forward." From Leon's message from command, Tolen simply sighed at their plan. From Tolen's point of view, it would be much easier to have the Big Tray units provide a rain of fire first, and then move in. The old man rubbed his forehead, that was slightly obscured by the Federation cap he was wearing.
"Who are we to question them? Prepare the mobile suits for launch," Tolen commanded. With that order, Leon made the dispatch. Within the hangar, the mobile suits were configured for combat in a minimal amount of time. From using cranes to prepare the mobile suit's weapons, to fueling the various joints to allow the mobile suits to run fully functional. On a random lift with it's designation to the hangar itself, the pilots were standing around in a disorganized fashion. In the corner of the lift, Virocana looked to nothing that held much interest. Her eyes laid fixated on the moving wall with her back turned towards the pilots. Behind her back, Satoru managed to sneak in a whisper to Senra, both looking alike in their piloting uniforms.
"Hey, do you think that woman is leading us into a trap?" Satoru whispered into Senra's ear. Senra didn't know much of what to think of the Zeon woman being located onboard, especially after causing Satoru the trouble of killing off one of his friends. It wasn't the dilemma of Senra being a skirt chaser either in this situation. Senra just never could find the ability in the depths of his soul to hate the woman, and he didn't even know as much as Amelia did about Virocana. Satoru refused to bring Senra's matter to surface as much as possible, even though this comment.
"I doubt it. Retreating forces simply couldn't muster up the military ability to make a trap," Senra said, obviously not the answer that Satoru wanted to hear. He sighed to himself, and looked away to the former Zeon woman. Amelia on the other hand, seemed rather annoyed by Satoru's attitude.
"Satoru, will you just face the facts? She-" Amelia's sentence was cut off by a powerful outside force. An earthquake struck the entire ship it seemed. The pilots with the exception of Virocana lost their footing in the lift. With a few painful grinding noises, the lift dropped even faster than designated. Fear among the pilots of the aftereffect struck them as all binds of the lift were severed, and the block plummeted down. The force was alike that of several G's pushing onto their bodies. With one hard crash, the lift landed into the metallic flooring of the hangar. The pilots were nearly thrown out of the lift itself from the large crash, and they found themselves scattered. Amelia, rubbing her head struggled to stand, and a random worker approached to her aid.
"Lieutenant Keen!" The worker exclaimed. The woman's response were random assortments of grunts as she struggled to regain her pace in the world and suppress her dizziness. The lights in the hangar flickered, as there was a large dent in the ceiling above. "The Zeon are attacking us!" Simultaneously, the pilots forced their bodies to recover from the shock.
"We'll go now!" Amelia said as she rushed onward. To Satoru's point of view, the aftereffects from the sudden drop still took a great toll on his body. However, an image rushed through his head. Everything around him seemed to lag, as he just focused on Amelia. With all movement that defied logic, the boy moved at a quickened haste towards Amelia, in a movement that defied normal human reflexes.
"Look out!!" Those words escaped the barriers of Satoru's mentality as Amelia didn't even get the chance to fully turn around for an explanation. Senra didn't realize that overcame the boy, but Virocana did. Satoru pushed Amelia down on the ground, as she skidded some feet away. A surprise overcame the woman, but before she could demand an explanation, a large piece of shrapnel fell from the ceiling where the hole was. From a piece of debris that large, it would have killed Amelia in a gruesome manner on the spot. If it wasn't for Satoru, she would have lost her life. Now, she only had a medium-sized piece of shrapnel embedded deeply into her outstretched right leg.
Amelia didn't even scream, and she didn't cry either. She showed the signs of a strong woman as she looked downwards to the damage on her body. From seeing the foreign object piercing into her leg, the pain suddenly increased a great deal before she even realized it. Instead of screaming out in shock, she just smirked, like somebody who was used to injuries like this. She put her thumb up to the pilots and said, "Ah! I've taken a lot worse injuries than this, but there's not time. The HLV is probably close to escaping, so you guys will have to move quickly. Lieutenant Virocana-"
"Miss Amelia, please do not call me of military rank. I do not wish to be affiliated with them, but I do want to help in this situation," Virocana said. Her tone was audible, but still rather soft compared to normal tones of speaking. Satoru didn't view the prediction of Virocana's position in any positive view whatsoever. Instead, Amelia just smiled towards Virocana.
"I understand. Virocana, if you can, can you lead them?" Amelia asked. With Virocana requesting of not being of military decent in a polite manner, it wouldn't be right to order her like Amelia was going to do. In response, Virocana nodded, and walked to her mobile suit, the poorly repaired Stealth Dom. Satoru and Senra scattered to their mobile suits, as Amelia thought to herself. I'm sorry, but Satoru is going to have to realize that Virocana is truly a nice woman. Hell, this is what Avery probably even wanted. Even in hell, she thought.
"That woman is going to be commanding us? Great," Satoru muttered to himself. He saw the sight of Senra getting into the Guntank, and Virocana getting into her Dom. What he noticed about the Stealth Dom was that it was ripped completely of it's black armor, and had the original silver frame as it's coloration. It was armed with a damaged machine gun that was no doubt salvaged from Avery's Guncannon. Speaking of salvaged materials, the first thing that Satoru noticed was how vastly different his GM looked. Instead of the normal configuration, it's appearance was slightly more armored at it's torso, and it's visor was much more thinner. Plus, it had two cannons armed upward at it's waist.
"What in the hell happened to my GM?" Those were the only words that Satoru could muster as a worker along side of the cockpit peered at him. Satoru hopped into the cockpit, and the worker attempted to fulfill Satoru on the details.
"Oh sir, we could not salvage most of the parts from Ensign Davies' Guncannon," the soldier stopped in his sentence when he got the motion that Satoru wasn't paying attention. Satoru was calmly pressing buttons on the control console without making a glare to the worker. When Satoru put his helmet on, a statement was commanded, muffled by the helmet.
"Go on," Satoru said sternly.
"As I was saying, we knew that the GM was slightly more compatible with the Guncannon's parts than the Gundam [G] was. So we just decided to outfit your GM with a slightly new configuration. Just so we couldn't put the parts to waste," the worker addressed. Satoru said one more thing directed to the worker before the hatch began to close, leading to the only pathway to the cockpit compartment.
"What is it's name?" Satoru asked. The worker ducked down to a level where the door of the cockpit did not obscure his speech.
"The GM CA-Type." With those words, the cockpit door closed, and the three panels within the mobile suit came to life. Satoru had a complete view of all of the dimmed hangar, absent of any ceiling lights. Satoru folded his arms across his chest, and smirked in relation, or perhaps in a mocking tone about the unforeseen benevolence bestowed upon him.
"GM CA-Type… As long as it helps in battle, I don't care how ugly it becomes," Satoru said out loud to himself as the mobile suit jolted. Clamps holding the mobile suit in place originating from it's shoulders freed the titan, simultaneously greeted with the sight of the Guntank, and the damaged Stealth Dom whirling into activity. No further conversation was held, as with some painful screeching, the hangar doors were forced upwards. The mobile suits waddled their way forwards in the congested space. Through each step that the mobile suits took, the humans scattered from the scene, slightly hampered by the quakes the suits were making. Outside, the pilots were greeted with the early sky, somewhat shielded by the smoke that various Big Trays were giving off from the previous attack.
Back in the Bulldog, Amelia forced her way into the bridge. Everybody within the bridge, including Tolen, looked at the foreign visitor. A worker helped Amelia into the bridge, as all viewers immediately caught the sight of a crudely treated wound in her leg. Amelia beckoned the worker to make her way towards Leon. Leon looked up, not sure what the woman needed, or the situation in general.
"I need to use that communication link," Amelia said as if it was in her position to order around bridge manipulators. Leon looked back to Tolen in a puzzling manner, and the Captain just nodded his head in reply. He needed not of a study of the situation, and words were not needed. Amelia leaned up against the communications panel as her slave-like worker left the bridge and it's entirety. Holding up a microphone that was previously on Leon's head gear, she attempted to communicate with her squadron. "Miss Vivian.. Satoru, Senra, report in."
"Yes ma'am?" Virocana asked in a polite tune. She was distracted by the entire factor that there weren't any more deployed forces in an eye-sight range. The radar however, was heavily disrupted. That was something expected of all of the pilots that they had to cope with.
"Well. Due to our delay with the launch, the other two squads of three mobile suits went forward already. Whatever opposition they'll face, it'll be sure to follow back onto you," Amelia said. She took a look at her surroundings, and with the judgment, the woman conducted her orders. "The HLV is straight ahead, so the best I can do is order the forces forward. So just proceed, and look out for any Zeon forces trying to get a sneak hit." The communication line was severed willingly, and the pilots were forced to go about their orders.
"Well. We don't have much of a choice. Let us proceed," Virocana said in her usual tone. The Stealth Dom busted forward, almost like it was skating amongst the ground at lightning fast speeds. Speeds that neither the GM CA-Type or the Guntank could muster. Satoru found even more dispersion at the fact that the Guntank started to thread along the ground much faster than what the GM could run. Both of his squadron members were dusting Satoru and his sluggish mobile suit, and it wasn't like he could take to the air to increase time. With an audible sigh, Satoru discarded the discomfort granted by the helmet. He tossed the helmet into some corner within the cockpit, forgetting about the safety it allows altogether.
"Damn both of them.. Nobody but me seems to know what danger the Zeon impose," the boy said to himself. In his moment of his mental examination in relation to how others act, Satoru looked to the side, as something caught his eye. It was a Zeon Zaku, from what it appeared. It seemed to be a normal Zaku II, so the challenge wouldn't be that great. From the look of it's long range cannon, and the assumption on how far it was from the HLV, it probably was the one who caused the damage. The Zeon Zaku remained motionless for what seemed like hours, but truly nanoseconds. Satoru pressed the targeting button, but there wasn't anything for the crosshairs to lock onto. Nothing on the radar signified the Zaku's existence, and Satoru couldn't simply call it an illusion. "What the.. I was just looking at it. How did it.." Satoru promptly left the thought alone, feeling as if he was wasting enough time anyway. With a few pulls on his control levers, Satoru manipulated the GM CA-Type forward, into the wasteland by himself.
Deserted by his comrades who were much farther ahead, Satoru proceeded on his own. Azure hazes formulated at the GM's backpack, as twin powerful thrusts vaulted the GM CA-Type forward at high speeds. Much higher speeds than what the original GM [G] could muster.
****
Through the endless plains composing of the Ukraine region, three Federation mobile suits were making their way forward at a leisurely pace. They were all of the GM Type, but lacked the bulky appearance that the ground hugging GM [G] trademarked. The two GM units traveling behind the assumed leader, were armed with machine guns. The leader's GM was armed with a miniature weapon of unknown configuration. It must have been a prototype Beam Spray Gun, or a new Federation weapon that would emulate the powers of the Gundam's beam rifle on a much lesser, and cheaper degree. Every moment or so, the GM's head would shift to the right, and then to the left. They scouted their surroundings and saw no opposing forces.
"This is Leader One to base. We haven't gotten a sight on the sniper yet, and we are continuing forward to the HLV," the leader reported to his home Big Tray. The image on the screen presented a woman with blonde hair.
"Affirmative, Rick. Be careful out there," the woman said, as if she had some overbearing attachment to the pilot. It was probably love, the type of love that could bloom even on the frontlines.
"I'll be alright, honey," the leader said as he ended the transmission. Naturally, it was very dangerous to have lovers on the front line like this. As the GM team proceeded onward, the man known as Rick grunted in regards to the situation. "Where in the hell are Tolen's forces?" He said to his comrades.
"Oh, they're probably too coward to fight," the first comrade mentioned.
"Right. We can't let that bastard Tolen hog everything. We'll take care of the HLV ourselves, and we'll be treated as heroes," the second comrade said.
"Hah. Treated as heroes. Well, let's get to it!" The pilots rejoiced as they continued onwards to grasp their imaginary fame and glory. As the trio of giants marched onward, something loomed in the distance. A mobile suit was straggling not to far behind the squadron. From the sheer mass of the shadowy figure, it wasn't of Federation design. As it crept in closer in stealth, it's figure became apparent. It was a Zeon Zaku, complete with a Magella Cannon. It was no doubt Apollo's mobile suit, but due to the mass radio interference, Rick's squadron never had a chance. The Zaku vaulted forward at top speed, as it's pilot laid back in the pilot seat. His expression was that of a calm demeanor as a smile filled across his face.
"Lisa, proceed forward to my signal. Leave the rest of the forces to guard the HLV. I'm going to have a little fun with these guys."
****
Not far from the final traces of Rick's squadron, Virocana and Senra continued onward in their mobile suits. By their hastened pace, they didn't even realize that they left Satoru in the distance. Virocana stopped, as the monoeye of the Stealth Dom twitched uncontrollably. Within the Dom's cockpit, Virocana directed the camera around, attempting to pinpoint the Zeon forces with her technology, and also with her gifted abilities. Senra's Guntank came to a complete stop, as it's caterpillar style legs ceased to rotate. The Guntank panned around, trying to locate Satoru's GM.
"Were did Satoru go?" Senra asked. Virocana also faced the direction opposite towards her. All she saw was the dirt that stretched as far as the eye could see.
"I don't know where he went to. Do you think we were going to fast?" Virocana asked. Senra just shrugged in reply.
"I'm not sure. Well, he has the ability to take care of himself well, so I wouldn't worry," Senra said. Virocana just sighed as she pulled back on one of the joysticks in the cockpit. The Stealth Dom quickly turned around to the direction it was once facing, and continued onward. Senra also directed the Guntank forward, as a loud bleep echoed in both of their cockpits. Virocana looked at the display message with curiosity, obviously unknown to what it was.
"What is-"
"It's a distress signal. Connect it," Senra commanded. Both of the pilots did so with a flick of a button. As a response, no character portrait was displayed. It was just static, and barely audible voices.
"This is…. Leader One to all….. Mobile Suits.. We….under.. Attack… This is just…. One Zaku… Bad… Dream-" The communication was promptly cut, as a series of explosions sounded over the horizon. Senra and Virocana immediately sprang into action, manipulating their mobile suits with excellent precision.
"It looks like the attack has started," Senra said. Virocana didn't offer much to the conversation as her Stealth Dom immediately traveled to the point of the distress signal. Senra didn't say anymore either, as the Guntank followed Virocana. Satoru, please be safe. This is no game,
****
Back at the final resting place of Rick's team, flames scored across the metal of the three GM units. All of them, were twisted in uncomfortable positions, with limbs and arms being bent backwards, defying the logic that it was supposed to go within. Massive holes were riddled throughout the GM units, and what was once the cockpits were now molten slumps of wreckage. No bodies could be easily identified without an extensive survey. The culprit of it all, was Samuel Apollo. Apollo's Zaku stood above the Federation mobile suits, as he was just smiling. Not of the death of the soldiers, but rather the Federation's battle strength.
"So, this is the Federation mobile suits I've been hearing about. You're powerful, but you're certainly no Gundam…" Apollo said to himself. The Magella Cannon that the Zaku was armed with, was badly damaged from the battle. What exactly Apollo did to win, was unknown. Judging from the wreckage, Apollo was a superb pilot. The Zaku's eye slid to the far left, as from behind, yet another presence entered the location of the fray. It was yet another Zaku, who's ownership belonged to Lisa Maes.
"You drag me out here, and you're already done?" Lisa asked. Apollo just smirked.
"I called you because I need your help to take care of some cruisers across the river," Apollo asked. Lisa sneered, as if they were acting like a real couple.
"What makes you think I'd do it?" Lisa asked.
"Because, we make a pretty good team, right?" Apollo asked. Lisa just smiled.
If you want a lover like this, you'll have to work for it, Lisa thought to herself. She had to go through many acts of treachery that would normally get her executed on the spot. Just to be with Apollo. True love or not, Lisa had an indefinite attachment with Apollo, even with her vendetta against newtypes. However, one object stood in front of her that would ruin everything she had achieved. Lisa was motionless at the sight of a Zeon Dom, and a Guntank, inclosing on them.
"Did the Federation steal a Zeon model? No.." Apollo glared closer. The irregular design of the Dom brought a bit of nostalgia to his mind. He remembered, that was the mobile suit that Virocana conducted. It was stripped of all it's painting, but it was no doubt her. Something overcame Apollo, something of joy. For Lisa, that was fairly opposite as she clutched the control sticks tightly. Lisa was not able to control her anger, as many thoughts came through her mind. "Lisa, that's Virocana! But what is she doing with a Federation model?" Lisa did not reply.
"That.. Little.. *****." Lisa said to herself in a tone of a whisper. It wasn't heard by Apollo, but anger was swelling in the woman. What if Virocana would turn Lisa in? The newtype woman is living proof that Lisa betrayed her. If that was so, Lisa would lose everything. Her rank, her rights, her life, and her lover. She wouldn't have it, not at all. As she was about to move her Zaku forward, a communication rang into both of the pilot's cockpits.
"That's from the HLV base," Apollo said to himself. Apollo accepted the reply, and lurched forward. The Zakus remained motionless, as the Federation mobile suits crept closer every passing moment. "This is Apollo. Come in, HQ."
"Sir, Federation mobile suits are already attacking us! We can't hold them back, these suits are too powerful! Commander-" The communication was cut, and Apollo turned back from the incoming enemy. Apollo withdrew his emotions, as he knew that the operation was taking a turn for the worst.
"Lisa, we need to go back, you heard the transmission, right?" Apollo asked. Lisa smiled, as this was the perfect opportunity to clean up a mess that she caused. Lisa was very confident on her victory, even though Virocana was in fact a newtype.
"You go back. I'll take care of the Feddies here," Lisa said.
"I can take care of them faster than you can. Please, let me do it," Apollo protested.
"You're a newtype. The HLV is our priority, and think of it this way. If you do a good job, they might let us go into space with them," Lisa said in a joking manner. Apollo started to laugh, but he was interrupted by a failed shot by the Guntank. Without any more delay, Apollo directed his Zaku back to the HLV base. "I love you Apollo," Lisa said in the transmission before the communication was promptly cut. She turned her Zaku forward, and faced two enemies. Looking at them more carefully, she saw that one of the Guntank's cannon's was improperly repaired. "That's that same mobile suit again!
"Okay, here we go!" Senra yelled as he tried to take aim on Lisa. Virocana also joined the fray, firing the machine gun with excellent precision. Lisa manipulated her Zaku's arm forward, as it's shoulder pad took the brunt end of the machine gun fire. Several dents were riddled into the Zaku's arm, and some even pierced through it. When the Guntank fired another volley, Lisa boosted to the side.
"If I could just get rid of that tank.." Lisa muttered to herself. Lisa remembered that on the Zaku's waist, three grenades were positioned. With a flick of a button, the Zaku pulled out one of the grenades, and hurled it directly into the air. Lisa fired upon the Guntank with her mobile suit's machine gun, trying to force it according to her plan. "Well, if I can't destroy it.." Lisa said to herself as she stopped her attack, just at the moment that the grenade fell. An explosion occurred directly in front of the Guntank, as Virocana ceased her assault to watch. "I can just disable it."
"Oh ****!" Senra yelled as the Guntank plummeted forward into the Earth. The grenade exploded directly at the Guntank's base in front of it's treadmill, and left a ditch as a result. The Guntank fell into the ditch, unable to commit any movement. Senra frantically pushed on every control operator possible, but the Guntank twitched uncontrollably. He couldn't roll the Guntank out, because shrapnel was jammed into the crucial operating parts of the treadmill. Senra couldn't make the Guntank fly out, because there was some operating system incorrect that Senra couldn't comprehend. The truth was, the booster system was jammed as well. "Man.. That guy is good.. This damn piece of **** won't move!"
"Senra!" Virocana yelled, on the assault once again. Lisa forgot about the Guntank altogether, since due to it's angle, it could barely fire shots above the ground. Both Lisa and Virocana fired their machine guns, but it was clear that Virocana was the winner. Lisa's Zaku was being damaged by the rain of gunfire, while the Stealth Dom could easily escape any volley that violated it's defenses. Both of the mobile suits took the minute to reload their ammo, while Lisa took it upon herself to start even more trouble by communicating with Virocana.
"Well, well well. Isn't the traitor.." Lisa said in a mocking tone. That comment put Virocana on the offensive.
"You're calling me the traitor?" Virocana asked, as her Stealth Dom pointed it's freshly loaded machine gun at Lisa's Zaku, simultaneously the other way around for Lisa's actions.
"You know, if you would have just stayed out of the military, or stay dead, we.. I wouldn't have this problem," The two mobile suits remained motionless, undisturbed by anything else in the surrounding area.
"I have no time for this, Miss Lisa. Please, get out of my way," Virocana said. Lisa took the comment to more offense than originally intended.
"Right, the newtype thinks that she can order me around. I have a newtype of my own, so I'm not afraid of you!" Lisa yelled.
"Are you using Samuel for your personal interests? Are you using him to be your puppet?"
"Shut up, shut up!!" Lisa yelled, as she was forced into a frantic rage. She quickly raised the machine gun, and fired upon the Stealth Dom. Virocana was able to dodge the shots, considering Lisa's aim was getting worse and worse with every volley she fired and every moment that passed. The Stealth Dom made it's counterattack by firing it's own machine gun. The Federation model weapon was much stronger than the Zeon machine gun, and Lisa attempted to block the incoming fire with her arm. However, each shot did heavy damage, some shots ricocheted and hit other parts of the Zaku, others inflicted heavy damage. Lisa's Zaku kneeled down, steam erupting from it's vents as sparks shot and small fires upon the mobile suit started. The Stealth Dom skated up close to the Zaku, and pointed the machine gun at it's cockpit.
"Lisa, please. I don't want to kill anybody else. Please, give up," Virocana said in a calm manner.
"No.. No.. I refuse to give up.. I refuse.. To give up to a freak!!!" In Lisa's moment of rage, she went for the move of absolute desperation. She vaulted her Zaku forward as fast as it could go. She didn't care of the restraints of how badly damaged the Zaku would be if she did so. The Zaku collided into the Stealth Dom, which due to it's thermo thrusters, gave the Zaku even more thrust as the Dom skated backwards along the ground. Lisa did not let go of Virocana, until they were far enough along the battle field. The Zaku skid to a halt, but the recoil kept the Dom going. The Zaku tossed a grenade into the air, intended to hit the Stealth Dom, before revealing the purpose of the last attack to Virocana. "It's shame you have to die now. An oldtype beating a newtype. You may have the ability to see the future, but I have something that you don't have. Combat experience.." Lisa said, as the grenade struck. Virocana had a quick flash into the future before realizing her fate.
"A mine field?!" Those were the last words of the newtype woman heard by Lisa as the grenade struck the Stealth Dom. As a chain reaction, numerous explosions crawled throughout the ground in a massive radius. The back draft nearly knocked Lisa's Zaku off of it's footing, but Lisa enjoyed every moment of the sight she was observing. Flames scored everywhere among the ground, as shrapnel fell high from the sky. The mine field was supposed to be a trap for the Federation forces, even though the Federation did not fall for it. Lisa took advantage of Virocana's lack of combat abilities to lure her into the mine field. Lisa saw the molten, damaged fire of the Stealth Dom slump forward. It's head, and one of it's arms were gone, destroyed in the series of explosions. No pilot could have survived something like that, as Lisa laughed to nobody in general. A laugh of victory, a victory so that nobody would stand in the way of her goals. The laugh of the woman's insanity…
To Be Continued.
Author's Notes
[1] - The Flanagan Institute is the first institute for the study of Newtypes. However, it was for the most part, in Zeon control.
[2] - The man named Jamitov. Well, I cannot give this one away. Sure, the point of Author Notes is to point out the nostalgia and the connections to the original Gundam series.. But for all who know who Jamitov is. Well, you can expect on what's to come. For all who doesn't know, you'll find out later on.
