Gundam-Soldiers
Side Story
The Earth Campaign
The gundams sent out by the colonies reflected their retaliatory intentions...the gundams' target, was OZ, an elite group of soldiers hidden in the Alliance military. The Gundams had many missions against OZ. The year was After Colony 195, OZ has finally emerged as the leading military power on Earth. With an army of elite soldiers at his command, Trieze Kushurenada carried out massive operations to devastate and take over the Alliance armed forces. The battles between the gundams, and OZ cause the Earth to shake violently.
At the circus, Trowa's friends were preparing a performance for OZ, but Trowa had an idea that would be great for the performance.
"I assure you the army will like it." Trowa said to the ringmaster
"Wow, if Trowa, who's usually so quiet, says so, I'm sure it'll be great." Catharine said
The scene changes to Heero, still in bed.
"I'd like to act through on my feelings but I learned to be like this." Heero said to Trowa
Trowa was then inside a truck with his Gundam at the back.
"Yeah, this is going to be the final performance of my life."
Choices We Make
At the OZ base, Trowa was scouting the area and sees a group of transports.
"That transport is loading enough fuel for twenty shuttles." Trowa said. From behind him were Chapman and Cockett,
"That means OZ is going to start military operations in space soon." Chapman said, "We should target those first and then hit their fuel storage units."
Later that evening, the stage was set for the performance that was sure to rock the house. Everyone in the audience was all soldiers, and was very excited to see the next performance. Gundam Maxter and Royal Gundam were outside, hidden in cammo, and waits for Trowa to make the first move. Daniel and Mike's forces were also ready to attack. Everyone was just waiting for Trowa.
Mike zoomed in on his monitors to see inside the tent and Trowa's Gundam that is about to reveal itself.
"Looks like the party is about to begin." Mike said
"Trowa, it is best that you prevent the troops inside from escaping. It is unlikely that they are armed with anything that will be a threat to us, but a lot of them are Mobile Suit pilots. We must prevent them from reinforcing the remnant defenders that are still on duty." Daniel said
"Acknowledge Daniel," Trowa said back.
Inside the tent, Trowa showed no sign of emotion at all as he was about to head on to another battlefield. He thinks for a moment of the lives of his circus comrades, and especially for Catharine's. He didn't want to get them involve like this, but he has no choice.
"Today we are pleased to introduce a new performer." the ringmaster shouted in the darkness as spotlights shine on him, "He's sure to become a star. And here he is, Trowa Barton!"
Then, many lights shined on Heavyarms right after the ringmaster points to the direction Trowa told him to. Everyone was surprised, but none were scared. The crowd cheered for what surprises that will come.
"A Mobile Suit!" the ringmaster shouted in surprise himself.
"Trowa?" Catherine said worried a bit,
"That's pretty good for a fake. Don't surprise us!" one of the soldiers said,
"It looks almost like one of those gundams!" another one said
"Yeah, it's starting to scare me!" one other joked.
"Trowa, what did you bring here? What are you up to!" the ringmaster said, and the crowd cheered even more.
"Oh, this is great!" Catharine shouted with delight, "A performance like this will bring the house down, no matter where you take it. We'll be welcomed everywhere in the world, because of this!"
Heavyarms's weapons were armed and ready to fire, as Trowa moves it around the place. He was then aiming at the audience of soldiers.
"Now for my self-destruction show," Trowa said to himself.
"Now Trowa, kill them all before they notice!" Daniel commanded.
And with that, Trowa fires a volley into the crowd. His spread shots left no one alive in its wake. Then, Heavyarms aimed up to shoot down the transport carrying the shuttle fuel and destroyed with several quick accurate shots. Then, he moved on outside and destroyed the rest of the transports that were waiting to dust off.
From not to far, Royal came out of hiding and took aim at the base and shot off his long rifle, destroying buildings, crafts, and unpiloted Mobile Suits. Maxter was hidden in plain view of the fleeing crowd of soldiers that escaped the massacre from the tent, but instead they found Maxter as it got up. Maxter points its weapons at the soldiers and killed them all, then moved on to finish off the rest of the base.
"Ok, that's our cue!" Daniel shouted, "Attack and make it fast! Knock out their comm. systems so that they can't call for reinforcements!"
Daniel and Mike's forces came pouring down from the mountainside. They laid heavy siege on the base, but left most of the front line work to Trowa, Chapman, and Crockett.
"All that's left is to destroy the storage tanks." Trowa said to himself, "This will be my last battle...I don't have to care about conserving my ammunition."
Then, Aries units flew at him, firing their rifles, but Heavyarms's armor protected it from the shots. Trowa popped out his blade and cuts them down, and then shoots some more at the base. Then, for a last attack, he barraged what's left of the base with his missiles and rockets.
When, he was done, he stood in the middle of the battlefield and waits.
"This is the end," Trowa said as he closes his eyes and readies to self-destruct, but then a familiar voice from afar stopped him.
"Trowa! What?! What are you doing?" It was Catherine's voice, she was running for him.
"Catharine, move away!" Trowa shouted back, "I'm going to destroy myself along with this Mobile Suit."
"What are you saying? Come down from there. Hurry up!" Then, one last Leo came out from the wreckage, "Catherine!"
The Leo had shoulder mounted laser cannons, and it fired blindly at Trowa and at Catherine. Trowa moved his suit quickly and blocked the shots and used up the rest of his ammo on the last Leo.
"Move away, Catharine. I have to kill myself." Trowa said again as he opens his cockpit up.
Catherine sees him and lungs at him. When she enters his cockpit, the first thing she did was slap him, hard.
"How do you think about your life!? Killing yourself? Don't joke around. If you do that, how will your parents feel about such a hasty decision!? Have you ever even thought about the people you would leave behind? Don't behave like a spoiled child. You didn't care about us! The people you leave behind! We would just live on in sorrow."
Then, she started to cry with all her heart, and it caused Trowa to stop. He holds her shoulder and tries to comfort her.
The next day, Trowa and Heero prepare to move out. Daniel and Mike's forces were already ahead.
"It's you who involved our Trowa in this." Catherine said to Heero, sitting next to Trowa, "If you don't return him safely, I will never forgive you."
Catherine jumps off the truck with Heavyarms on it.
"If you were me, and a girl cried for you, you would still kill yourself. That's why I admire your strength." Trowa said to Heero
"I told you before--it's alright for humans to act according to their feelings." Heero replied,
"Let's go..."
"Yeah."
And the truck moves with Crockett and Chapman behind them.
"He has such good skills," The ringmaster said, "I'm sorry that he quit the circus. If he trained more, he could have become the best."
"What are you talking about. There is a saying, 'A pampered child learns little. The best education is if he is forced out into the world.' Trowa will be back because he's like a child of this family. He'll come back for sure..." Catherine said as she looks at the truck disappearing over the horizon.
A few days later at a town several miles from their last location, Heero and Trowa were in a library. Heero was looking up for something on a computer. As Heero moves and takes a diskette from the computer, he moved his in juried arm the wrong way and great pain overwhelmed him and he dropped the disk. Trowa then picks it up.
"Treat it carefully. Take care of yourself, too." Trowa hands Heero back the disk, "Is this it?"
The computer showed a girl about their ages. She had brown hair and blue eyes.
"Sylvia Noventa. She's in Marseilles." Heero said
"Are you really going to start there?" Trowa asked
"Yes," Then, Daniel walked in.
"You done guys, cause we got to go." Daniel said
The group then moved on.
Elsewhere, Relena, Noin, and Joyce were on a sailboat, floating down a river.
"We will be arriving shortly." Noin said to Relena, but she noticed the look in her face. "What's bothering you?"
Relena was dressed in an almost militaristic uniform, but which had a royal look to it. She pointed her index finger from her folded arm at the tall objects to their left, which was Mobile Suits. Most of them were in strange poses that a person would set their action figures in. They appeared to be like giant models.
"Those are the Leos for exhibition." Joyce explained as she came out from the ship, "They compose the main force of OZ and the World Alliance."
"Why does the Romafeller Foundation still make Mobile Suits?" Relena asked
"People are usually afraid of huge machines," Noin said, "While at the same time they admire them as well. People like to see wars fought by real men; they don't want it fought with buttons and computers, they want war machines to have two legs."
Then, Joyce continued on,
"That's why most of the ways of the old wars have been discarded for these...giant soldiers. With the likeness of those on the ground, but on a larger scale, though the cost for this kind of war is dreadful."
"That's no reason for killing people." Relena said, "If there was such a reason, that would be just a joke to enjoy killing. Dying like mad in war is the honest way of humans."
Few people knew that the war brought about by OZ was actually orchestrated by the Romafeller Foundation. The Romafeller Foundation hosted a meeting, inviting many of the most influential members of society. The Romafeller Foundation was originally a society of noble families from throughout Europe. They used their financial power and personal connections to promote increased arms development. They supplied Mobile Suits to the World Alliance to extend their power. After creating OZ into a large power base, they successfully carried out a coup d'e tat.
The same can be said about the Federation. Though who founded the Federation remained a mystery, the organization is like OZ and like OZ, it was able to build up power and influence. Then, when the time was right, it coincidently declared a coup against the Alliance the same time OZ did. But there were many that stated that it was too much of a coincident that both side revolt at the same time.
Relena, Noin, and Joyce walked up the wide stairs and when they reached the top, Noin stopped in front of Relena.
"What are you doing?"
"Please forgive me," Noin then checks Relena for any signs of hidden weapons with her hands, while Joyce took out a device that looked like a medical tricorder and scanned Relena's body more thoroughly.
"It's alright. I realize I have a criminal record now."
"Some of the other people who lead to the destruction of your kingdom and family are through those doors." Joyce explained as she puts her device away "But Miss Relena, please don't do anything stupid today, please."
"I understand. I will behave formally as the pacifist head of the Sankt Kingdom."
Joyce and Noin showed their ID's to the guards and enter the great hall. On stage was a distinguished looking old nobleman. It was Dermail the current leader of Romafeller.
"In the past, the World Alliance asked for our financial help and to provide for the defense of Earth. We did our best to cooperate with them to achieve peace. They came to want a peaceful world as a result of our suggestions. This planet Earth has many problems, which can't be solved by suggestions alone. What we need is a system of control. Control is achieved by ruling. Ruling will keep a peaceful society. The World Alliance didn't try to rule. When you rule a society, you are required to bear much responsibility for it. They tried to remain free of this responsibility. We have returned to the traditional way of ruling society. The obscure ideas of equality and freedom collapsed in their society. It is time for us to begin to rule society once again. Our way."
"I can't believe that OZ is trying to conquer the world in such a way." Relena said, disgusted at what she heard.
"When OZ was hiding within the World Alliance, the Romafeller Foundation didn't announce their intentions to the public." Noin said, leaning against a wall, "OZ said that if the World Alliance couldn't make a peaceful world, it'd make it for them. Thus, OZ showed their true intentions."
"They'll keep fighting, won't they?"
"Of course," Joyce said, "If they don't keep conquering, the system will collapse upon itself. Reward for winning is the only thing that can keep this system going. The collapse of this system in the past was a revolution of ridiculous politics, which caused poverty. The countries, which cooperate with the Romafeller Foundation, will continue to benefit from war. For this reason, OZ needs the strongest Mobile Suits corps to win."
"I'm sure that Gundam can defeat OZ."
"OZ considers the power of Gundam to be awesome." Noin spoke again, "For this reason, they'll attack the colonies directly. They have to force out the other Gundams from hiding. The Romafeller Foundation will try to get rid of the Gundams as soon as possible."
"They try to rule over many miserable victims. Such people can't understand Heero, who tries not to create any victims, even at the risk of his life."
"At the risk of his own life," Joyce said, "I thought such people like him were extinct nowadays. He's reminds me of Jacen."
"You know Jacen?" Relena turned to her in shock.
"Yes, he's a friend of mind...and from the look on your face you seemed very close to him. Isn't that right?" Joyce said and looked down at Relena, "He sent me to safeguard you, because he can't be everywhere and at the same time protect you, too. He cares about you very much, and wants to ensure your life is save from danger..."
"Jacen..." Relena said, then looked back at the stage to hear what else Dermail has to say.
"I will now introduce the standard-bearer chosen to be the leader of OZ. He wishes to put down the Alliance and fight bravely to make a peaceful world for us. He is a member of the Romafeller Foundation in addition to the commander of OZ. Trieze Kushurenada." the audience applauds at the presence of 'the great Trieze' who walks up to speak,
"You might think we will reign over everything with OZ's many Mobile Suits. To rule is to control. It might seem arrogant. However, I think that we need a government to control our human greed. God left humanity to itself. Humanity needs a man beyond God. Even God couldn't predict that we can never stop warring among ourselves. So, it will be understood by God that our actions are right."
Joyce looked at Trieze and listened to every word he said.
"Trieze's tone was only to spur up the audience." Joyce said, "The real question is...is he really telling the people the truth, or just lying to get them in his favor...it is pretty obvious what he wants."
"Let's leave now. This meeting is not for us. We don't have anything to say to people who consider war beautiful. It's a waste of time." Noin then looked to her left where Relena was and found out that she was only talking to no one. "Miss Relena? Miss Relena?"
Relena found herself on stage and she grabs the mic. Then, she spoke out and surprised the crowd.
"You are all committing terrible mistakes. Gundam will come again in order to rectify your mistakes. I am protesting as a messenger of the people, those who are insulted by you people who wish to avoid all complications-" then Noin jumps on stage to stop her from causing a ruckus,
"Ms. Relena, please stop this."
"No, I have to tell them."
"Ms. Relena, please stop it. We can't solve any problems here, today."
The two walked off the stage and ran into Trieze.
"Good job, Lt. Lucrezia Noin."
"I am sorry, Trieze, Your Excellency, for the trouble." The Trieze felt a stare from Relena and looked at her. Her eyes were ice cold blue, the same kinds that came from Heero. Those were the eyes of a warrior, a determined heart. This surprised Trieze, but yet also intrigues his as well. Those eyes also reminder him of the ones that Zech bore.
The two walked away, leaving Trieze and Dermail wondering. Trieze not wanting to leave him wondering-
"Excuse me, sir. She is the sister of a friend, whom I invited." Trieze said to Dermail
What was she talking about?" Dermail asked
"She knows that we are afraid of the Gundams. She wanted to say, 'Be more proud.'-"
"The Gundams! I think that even though he has good skills, you depend too much on that pilot, Zechs Marquis."
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard that he is rebuilding at Lake Victoria base the Gundam which was destroyed during the threat on the colonies. "
"Is he rebuilding a Gundam which was such a terrible weapon against us?" another man said, "Is he insane? What if they the rebels get it back, or worse it fall into the hands of the Federation!"
"We should completely destroy the Gundam as a warning to the colonies!" another one said
"I understand your concerns." Trieze said. "I will have the Gundam destroyed if that is the wish of the Foundation."
At Lake Victoria, Zechs was talking to Noin on his vid phone.
"So people in high positions know about Gundam?" Zechs asked
"It means that OZ was more severely hurt by Gundam in the last battle than we thought. But His Excellency Trieze seemed against the idea."
"But even he can't refuse the decision of his superiors."
"Will the destruction of the Gundam be done?"
"What is Relena doing now?" Zechs asked ignoring the previous question.
"She is very active. It's hard to protect her. Even with Joyce and I together."
"What does she know about herself?"
"Jacen said that her late stepfather, Mr. Dorlian told her a little bit I told her about you. I said, 'He is a loyal soldier from Sankt Kingdom.' I also said, 'He is the only person who saw the pilot of 01 kill himself.' Because you are rebuilding the Gundam, she wonders if Heero Yuy, the pilot of Gundam, is still alive."
"Heero Yuy? That's the pilot's name, is it?"
"Relena is also connected to him in some way like you. "
"Understood. Thank you for your report, Noin."
"Are you not going to tell Relena the truth? You would have to...sooner or later."
"I can't tell the truth to her, because I am now Zechs Marquis of OZ with a bloody history."
"I know that...but wouldn't you think that she'll discover this later..."
"She is a very intelligent girl, but I can never tell her what I am...I am too ashamed to be her brother..."
"No, don't be ashamed for the path you took."
"...you mentioned Jacen earlier...I recalled him living with Relena...I wonder how much more does he know."
"I can't say, but Major Joyce has told us that she is an envoy for Jacen, and so is Kai. Joyce was sent by Jacen to protect her in his absent."
"Jacen would do that...well enough talk, I look forward in seeing this Heero when you find him."
"I got some leads, but nothing concrete. I'll contact you when I found them." Noin then turns off her comm.
Relena was dressed in sleeping wears and looks out the window that showed the rainy night. She wonders what she should do.
"I can destroy everything right now." Relena said, "With the training I received this terrible place would of disappeared of the face of the Earth...But, God will never forgive me if I do that..."
Inside a ballroom, Trieze overlooks the party below.
"I might be punished by God as a heretic who blasphemes against God. No, God is just an imaginary creation made by humans." he then takes another sip of wine.
Elsewhere on the other side of the world.
Location: Marseilles.
Time: Middle of the afternoon.
General Noventa of the World Alliance had objected to the build-up of armaments as a deterrent to war. It was he who decided to decrease armaments and finally to demilitarize both the planet Earth and the colonies. However, OZ tricked Heero into using his Gundam to destroy the shuttle General Noventa was in. This incident might have closed the way to peace forever. It was the beginning of the new era, an era of total bloodshed, caused by bloodshed and will be ended by bloodshed.
In one of the apartment offices, Sylvia stands and watches outside. Behind her was an Alliance captain, who feared for her safety.
"Please Ms. Sylvia, please escape from this town." the captain urged.
"I thank you for your kindness, Captain."
"In this city of Marseilles, there are many soldiers of the World Alliance on leave. For that reason, OZ, or the Federation might attack here. I thought this place was safe, because there's an Alliance base here, but that same base also makes this place dangerous as well. This place is going to become a battlefield soon."
"I know...but it took me time to be able to leave the sweet memories of my grandfather." She then picks up a photo of her and her grandfather.
"General Noventa was a great person. He always thought about achieving a peaceful future."
"Although Grandpa died, I feel that his soul still lives on. I will always cherish grandpa's memory."
"Miss Sylvia."
"I'm sorry."
Then, another soldier rushed into the room.
"Captain, the enemy is here!"
"Is it OZ or the Federation!?"
"We've detected ten Aries."
"Just Aries? They think just ten Aries can destroy this base?"
"Captain..."
"Don't worry about it. We have our ways of dealing with it. Escape from here now! Goodbye" the captain and the soldier ran to their base nearby, "Don't let them in this base. Prepare to fire!"
Outside, their Leo troops deploy and readies themselves, but most were not prepared to face the OZ forces, who's skills were more than a match for them. Though the Alliance had numbers, the OZ forces had room to maneuver.
"Leos, return fire!" And the Leo's fired at will on the flying suits.
"Heh, this is like guerrilla warfare." an Aries pilot said as he fired back.
"I'm going to shoot down all Mobile Suits. Keep attacking!" the leader Aries shouted.
The Aries' advantage of flight gave them the upper hand. Most of the shots from the Leos missed. The Aries all split up and destroyed all they can. Their power overwhelmed the Leo troops. Leos were dropping like flies. Then, from a distant, a shot from a high caliber cannon flew into the direction of one of the Aires and knocked it down. It made a crash landing, but the pilot was unharmed.
"Shit! I screwed up!" the downed pilot said to himself, "Then, when he got out, Trowa was in front of him, "What the-"
Trowa gave him a hard punch in the face, and he was knocked out. The two boys listened in the comm. system of the Aries' strategy.
"-Leos of the World Alliance is heading toward the water by way of the underpass. All the main force is there. All Aries, go there!-"
"To use the underpass is an obvious tactic." Trowa said
"Don't worry about me. I'll be a burden." Heero said as he found a truck and drove off.
"You don't want OZ to know about my Gundam?"
"I suggest you stop OZ before they realized that your Gundam is hidden there."
Trowa and Heero split up.
"My unit is almost destroyed. Is this the end?" a Leo pilot said as his suit was retreating into the overpass with the rest.
"Take the point!" an Aries shouted, "Main force 2-2-1 is there, hurry up!"
As Sylvia rushed out of her apartment, a Leo was shot down and fell onto the building that she just came out of. The blast knocked her to the ground. Heero saw her, and stopped the truck. He rushed to her get up.
"You are Sylvia Noventa." Heero said as he took her to his truck.
"Who are you?" but Heero didn't answer her.
At the base's command center, the Alliance was tied up.
"The enemy Aries has entered the underpass."
"We can't avoid surrender"
In the tunnel, the retreating Leos pulled back into the darkness, but then as they seem to have nowhere to go.
"Captain!" the group turned to see the gundams. Royal, Heavyarms, and Maxter were right there before them.
"What are those! Gundams?! Why are they here?" the captain wondered.
"Aries are one block away." another Leo pilot said
Inside Maxter, and Royal, their pilots were ready to get up.
"Should we...help them?" Crockett asked.
"Let's wait for Trowa. We don't want to give away our position, yet."
"OK, stop retreating through the underpass. We're going to counterattack." the captain of the Leos ordered.
"Sir?!"
"We'll hold off the enemy until the pilot of this Gundam comes back. Can you do it?"
"Are we going to protect the Gundam?"
"Yeah, it's our only hope now."
The Aries entered the area and open fire. The Leos fired back, but they were losing.
"Keep shooting! Don't be afraid." the captain shouted as the last of his unit falls to battle. He then looks at Heavyarms and sees movement. "He's here!"
Trowa jumps up onto his truck and gets inside his Gundam. The last Leo charged at the group of Aries, but was shot.
"Please end this war, Gundam." the Leo's pilot shouted with his dying breath and he too fell victim to the war.
"We destroyed all the Leos. Secure the area." the Aries captain said, but saw Heavyarms and the others move out of hiding, "What Gundams?! Here!?"
"I have to destroy all of you before you tell anyone about me." Trowa said, "This war is between the World Alliance and OZ, so I'm not going to interfere. But I can't allow you to tell anyone about my Gundam."
Trowa and his friends dashes toward the Aries and destroyed them instantly.
At the Alliance command center, the sight baffled them.
"Five Aries have been destroyed. Is it a miracle?" a soldier asked
"What is this Mobile Suit? another said
"I don't care who it is. I just appreciate it." the commander said
"Sir, our sensors just detected Federation forces entering the city!"
"What? Not now."
"But sir, they are leaving our forces alone. Their attacking the rest of OZ's troops!"
"They're aiding us?"
Outside, Daniel's unit attacks and destroyed the rest of the squad of Aries and heads for the Alliance base.
"Sir, we are receiving a communicate from the leader of the Federation troops."
Their main screen turned on to show Daniel's face.
"This is commander Daniel Wilson of the Federation armed forces. We are here to assist you in your struggle. In return all we ask is your cooperation...enough blood has been spilt this afternoon..."
"We thank you for the help, but I ask you why help us, your enemies?"
"...you are no longer our enemy...our enemy is OZ. Your troops will be welcome to fight with us, but the banner of the Alliance must be taken down...the era of the Alliance is over...the future will be decided by us..."
"Hmp...very well then..."
Later, outside of the city in a cemetery, Heero and Sylvia stand at the grave of the once great general Noventa. Heero sets some flowers onto the grave and stood up.
"You say your name is Heero Yuy?" Sylvia said
From not too far, Trowa and company watches. Trowa smiles to have learned Heero's name.
"Heero Yuy, eh..." Trowa said.
"This is my grandfather's grave. What do you want to tell me?"
Heero looked at her and then held a gun for her to take.
"The one who killed General Noventa...was me." Heero said, which shocked her, "It was a mistake. I killed General Noventa and a great many people who wished for peace."
"W-Why? Why?"
"What I can do is this...Sylvia Noventa. I can't atone for my sins. I hope this gun calms the souls of those I killed and the anger of their families."
Sylvia takes then gun and looks at it for a moment. She thinks to herself...the cause of her family's pain. The reason for this war, was right before her, and she has a single opportunity to take revenge for the people of peace...but as she points the gun at Heero, she hesitates, and doesn't fire. She then lowers the gun.
"You are a coward! You're making me kill you so you can be free from your guilt?"
"What I can do is just this."
"You cowardly bastard...never, even if it means to silent grandpa's ghost...a life for a life is not just...if you want to then do it yourself." she tosses the gun to Heero.
"I want you to understand that I do not want to cause any more pain. Then, I will ask your grandmother. I heard that she lives in Sicily."
"I believe that you will find the same answer that I give you...life is too precious...grandfather has lived his live...and I believed that his death will make the people that cause war understand the results are always the same..."
From where Trowa is,
"This is just the beginning." Trowa said to himself, "His life will depend on their family's judgment. What he does is always perfect. Heero Yuy."
"War is just killing people." Sylvia continues, "Why do you think that war is a beautiful thing?"
"I can't change my way of living..."
"...I don't believe that..." she replies.
Heero then bids her farewell and leaves.
Elsewhere, at Lake Victoria. From afar, what appears to be Gundam Wing was set on the side of a mountain. In a boat, Zechs, Kai and an inspector from Romafeller watch the destruction of Wing take place.
"Begin, Kai." Zechs said and Kai pushes a button that activates explosives that were placed all over Wing. From afar, we can see that Wing was completely destroyed. "There, I've destroyed Gundam 01, Investigator Hahad."
A man in a trench coat looks at the wreckage for a moment.
"I acknowledge that is was destroyed. Can I collect the wreckage?"
"Do you have a complaint about our report?" Kai asked
"I want to check it out for myself because I have to account to all the higher-ups at the Romafeller Foundation."
"As you wish." Zechs said as he leaves.
The inspector takes a small raft to get a closer look at the destroyed Wing.
"Maybe there is no doubt about him. He will not make a mistake so easily, that Zechs Marquis."
"There were no parts of Gundam retrieved from Lake Victoria base." one of the inspector's underlings said
"He loves Mobile Suits. He will not give up his plans so easily."
"If Zechs opposes the Romafeller Foundation, won't it be dangerous for him?"
"I don't know about Zechs. Right now he is still the Foundation's hero. The Romafeller Foundation runs this world. In order to win their favor, I have to find fault with Zechs."
Back with Zechs, he watches the inspector leaves.
"In order to win favor with the Romafeller Foundation," Kai said to Zechs, "He has to find fault with you. But he won't find any discrepancies with the data in the report."
"I'm sorry you had to lie."
"I didn't want to destroy even the fake Gundam, also we had to use some of the parts from Tallgeese in the real one."
"I see. I must be careful not to damage it, then."
"Zechs, sir, there aren't any pilots with that skills that can match you and Tallgeese."
"No...that's not true...I know a few that could."
The watercraft moves around, then heads back to shore. But underwater, the Real Wing Gundam sits and waits. Its almost completed, except for its arm and buster rifle.
"So let's bring what we have to the base at the South Pole. There it would take longer for the Romefeller to notice, and it won't draw attention."
"Thank you for all your help Kai."
"I was never that loyal to OZ anyway...to know such a soldier like yourself, I am honored to help you out."
A few days later, Heero and Trowa leave a mansion. Heero cross out another name on a paper and then threw the piece of paper away.
"This is the last one. Are you satisfied?" Trowa asked
"It isn't that easy."
"You can't forgive yourself because you killed some pacifists, even though it was a mistake, you were tricked into it by OZ. I can understand your feelings, but I can't believe you'll let your life depend on the families of the men you killed."
"I just want to do what is right."
"Let's go, Daniel and the rest are waiting for us near the harbor."
As the two walked back into town, they realized that they were followed.
"I knew someone was going to find us if we kept searching like this." Trowa said as the two keep on walking, but knew that there was a car trailing them.
"I'll stop them," Heero said
"No. Don't do anything. You're injured. I'll stop them by myself."
A truck separated the two and Heero got in it when it went passed them. Trowa spotted a motorcycle parked behind an alley and grabbed it.
Then, when the car that was following them saw the truck moved away, they see that Trowa was on the cycle and raced toward them. He made the cycle ran over the car and behind them then into an alley. The car followed, and was gaining speed. Trowa looked ahead and then looked up. He then jumps off the bike and catches onto a rope and swings around to land his feet on it. The car that was chasing him drove into the sea. Trowa looked at the mess and walked away on the rope very casually, with his hands in his pockets.
Later, Trowa went to a warehouse near the harbor, where Heero was.
"Thank you," Heero said as he tosses an apple to Trowa.
"Not at all." Then, Daniel approaches them.
"It's impossible to transport this by land. With the number of remaining suits I got with me, we'll stick out like a sore eye."
"By ship then?" Trowa suggested.
"You can use my carrier," Noin's voice said from behind them. Trowa lets go of the apple and draws his gun so fast that he was pointing it before the apple hit the floor, "Your ability to survive amazes me. This is the first time I've gotten to meet you. I am Lucrezia Noin, a subordinate of Zechs."
"Of Zechs?" Daniel asked,
"He was the pilot fighting against you in Siberia." she said to Heero
"I won't allow myself to be captured." Trowa said
"Zechs wants to meet you."
"To meet us? He thinks he can get information from us?" Heero asked
"Don't misunderstand me. He wants to meet you not as a pilot of OZ, but as a Mobile Suit pilot. He wants to fight with you again."
"He wants to duel. What a great man this Zechs is." Trowa said
"It's up to you if you believe it or not."
"Where is he?" Heero asked
"You believe her?"
"He's not the kind of person who resorts to such tricks."
"I see. You can use my Mobile Suit, then."
"Trowa..."
Elsewhere, Relena was sitting in a room talking to her servant Pargan.
"We have not yet found the pilot of the Gundam who died at the Siberia base." Pargan said
"I see." Relena said and lowered her head, disappointed.
"Although I tried to contact the OZ pilot Zechs who fought the Gundam, he already moved on from the Lake Victoria base."
"Then, we have no information on him."
"Yes, there is one bit of information."
"What is it?"
"There is something suspicious about what Zechs did."
"Suspicious?" This statement intrigued Relena, wondering more about Zechs.
"From information given to us by an operative working fro Jacen, after the battle in Siberia, he transported a lot of Gundanium alloy from space."
"Is it because those are for fixing the Gundam. Even I know the Gundam was destroyed since the act was witnessed by those against OZ."
"There are rumors that the destroyed Gundam might be a dummy."
"A dummy?"
"The quantity of Gundam alloy seems to be enough to make two Gundams."
"They might have used some Gundam alloy for creating a fake Gundam and the rest for fixing the real Gundam?"
"Possibly."
"Why is he concerned with the Gundam so much?"
"I guess he wants a fitting conclusion. He's that kind of man. Thirteen years ago, I was fencing with him when he was six years old."
"He didn't like an opponent to have a handicap."
"Do you know Zechs?"
"He used to be a hero of the Peacecraft family. There are many famous stories about him."
Pargan remembers a scene in the past when he was dueling with Zechs as a boy, and showing that Zechs never likes his opponent to have a handicap.
"I see...If we can contact Zechs, we can get information about Heero."
"There is one other person who is looking for Heero Yuy." Relena was shocked.
"Who is that?"
"Mrs. Noventa."
"Noventa?"
"Yes, she is the wife of president Noventa who was killed by the Gundam at New Edwards base. Her search seems to be secret from OZ."
"Contact this Noventa person as soon as possible."
"Right. I will try."
Elsewhere, Noin contacts Zechs from her Mobile Suit carrier. It was a small craft, only big enough to carry about three Mobile Suits. Heavyarms was uploaded into it.
"They're alive, Noin?" Zechs asked
"Yes, their survival skills are impressive."
"I apologize for making you run such personal errands."
"That's OK. I am also a Mobile Suit pilot. I understand you a little bit as a pilot."
"Thank you, Noin. Please be very careful dealing with the investigative group. I can't help you with them. You'll have to throw them off track by yourself."
"Yes, sir."
"01 should be repaired by the time they arrive."
The carrier then prepares to take off. From afar, the investigative group spies on them.
"That is a cargo plane of OZ." one of Hahad's underlings said
"I see...So they might be in there."
"Reports indicated that there is also about two unmarked large carriers flying in the same directions as they are going to be headed."
"They might have friends with them,"
"Aren't you going to do anything?"
"Don't rush. I'm sure that they are going to show their true colors. Keep watch until then."
"Yes, sir."
"I'm not going to let them escape...get me all available forces in this area...we are going after them. They'll lead us to way we want eventually."
A few hours later on the carrier, Trowa teaches Heero how to pilot his Gundam. Heero tries to pull up the left arm, but it was a bit tough for him to pull with the injury in his arm.
"Does the auto-balancing system work in keeping the weight balance off the left side?" Heero asked, knowing that the auto balancing system keeps a mobile suit standing upright. Us being living beings have natural center of gravity to keep us balancing.
"No, I didn't use it on purpose. I made my body learn it so I could do better in close combat."
"I see." Heero lifts up the right arm and bit and brought out its blade.
From the cockpit area, Noin watches.
"Its strange...They are just like ordinary young pilots when they talk like that." Noin said
"If we kill them right now, Zechs will not have to experience a dangerous battle." one of her subordinate said
"You don't understand him yet. If I do that, he will hate me." Noin said back, "Plus our 'escorts' might have a problem with that."
"Is the shield also set with a gatling arm?" Heero asked again
"It's rather heavy."
"I'm sorry. Usually, a pilot doesn't like someone else touching his Mobile Suit."
"If you feel that way, hurry up and learn this Mobile Suit's characteristics."
"Yes, I'm going to win this time."
Meanwhile, back to Relena. Pargan enters the room with a letter in his hand.
"I contacted Mrs. Noventa. And, I received this letter from her. She wants you to read it, first."
"From Mrs. Noventa?"
"This letter is also addressed to Heero Yuy."
"To Heero?" She takes the letter and opens it, then starts to read
"-I was very surprised by the suddenness of your visit. So, I couldn't convey what I was thinking very well. That is why I am writing this letter. Don't suffer from the regret of your mistake in the battle. Noventa and Venti died in order to create a world for pure young people like you to live in peace. No regrets. This is war. Everybody regrets their own mistakes. However, you are still young, and have a lifetime to think about. Think about a peaceful future. We were very glad to know you. I hope that peaceful future will come soon. That it would be brought upon by the next generations. My dear Heero Yuy.-"
"Heero is still alive." Relena said with joy, "I'm going to leave for Sicily to see Mrs. Noventa and ask where Heero is."
"Yes, Miss. I'll ready an airplane."
"Heero is alive..."
Elsewhere, just right over the continent of Antarctic. In the carrier, Noin brings the two boys some coats and hot coffee.
"I don't want our important visitors to catch cold. Put these on."
As Heero puts on the coat, his arm was grazed by it and it stung him.
"Where are we going?" Trowa asked.
"To the South Pole."
"A battle of Mobile Suits on the icy continent."
"Otherwise, someone would notice us."
At the South Pole base. In a factory complex, the final finishing touches to Wing were about to begin. Kai walks up to Zechs to update him on the progress.
"Zechs, we have already checked every measurable ability." Kai said
"I want it fixed perfectly. It has to be as good as it was during our last fight."
"Why do you want to do that?"
"I want to know about this Mobile Suit and its pilot."
"But, it's impossible to make its right arm perfect. If we fix the power of the huge beam rifle and the fast beam saber system perfectly, we'll need almost as much time as it takes to make a new Gundam."
"Then at least fix the 01's beam saber system with parts from the Tallgeese's left arm"
"Zechs, what do you hope to gain?"
"I'm sorry. Please forgive my selfishness."
"Understood." Kai leaves and talks to the rest of the techs, "Everyone, come here. I'm going to tell you how to fix 01's right arm."
Back with Noin, their sensors detected trouble,
"Lt. Noin. An emergency. We're being followed by several planes from the investigative group."
"For how long?"
"We only detected them when we reached the continental border."
"They probably followed just outside detection range. They guessed we were going to rendezvous with Zechs."
"I'm going to change direction and lose them."
"No. We can escape from them be sending out two Aries. Even if they find the location of the base, we can attack them from there."
"Yes ma'am."
"Open a comm. link to Commander Daniel's carriers. Tell them that we might need some help."
Noin runs to her Mobile suit with another pilot and readies to battle.
"Don't lie. You're not going to impose such a burden on Zechs." Trowa said
"You're going to attack with the Aries." Heero said
"You will be surrounded by a lot of enemy."
"I'm just responsible for getting you there safely." Noin said back as she readies to launch, "I will pursue things my way."
At Daniel's carrier, they also released some of their suits. He's Gundam Nu came out first with his team of five suits.
"Two Aries and five Federation Suits dropped out and are going down." A soldier from the enemy carriers said, "They aren't in firing range."
"Don't be tricked." Hahad said as he moved to his mobile suit, "We'll also deploy our troops."
And the enemy carriers dropped its own Aries. Noin and her wing mate hide in the clouds, using them as cover.
"Noin to Daniel," Noin called out, "You'll emerge right after we do. I'm counting on you for cover."
"Roger that Noin, out" Daniel responded.
"Lt. Noin...are you sure we can trust these people. They are the Federation, our enemies."
"I know, but these are strange times...and strange times calls for strange measures."
Then, Noin's Aries busted out from the clouds behind the carriers and fired on them. Daniel followed and they took one of the carriers down.
"All forces, attack at will!" Daniel fires his powerful beam rifle and shoots a blob of pinkish burst of energy at the enemy Aries flying unaware. "Delta 2, and 5. Duck back toward the clouds, take cover and come to our aid when they come to us."
"Roger, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
Two Hyperions banked away and disappeared into the ocean of clouds.
"Let's go around again," Noin said to her wing mate
"Yes, ma'am." The two damaged another carrier. "The second one will go down with one more pass."
"Don't rush! Hide in the clouds first."
"No, I'm going in!" but the daring pilot was ambushed from behind as an enemy Hahad's Aries pops out of the clouds and shot him.
"I got you!" Hahad shouted as he knocked one of Noin's Aries down. The damaged Aries fell into the clouds and onto the ground.
"Are you OK?"
"Shit! I'm sorry. That was my mistake." Then, Daniel landed next to Noin.
"Is he alright?!" Daniel asked
"He can still fight! But-" then a lot of Leo Mobile Suits landed around them, cutting them off and surrounding them. "Damn, we're surrounded!"
"They're reinforcements!" Daniel shouted as he took positions, "All troops, prepare yourselves!"
Daniel's team readies weapons and fire.
"Let me know when Zechs or the Gundam appears." Hahad said, "Attack!"
The Leos and Aries laid heavy fire on the pinned down troops.
"Sir! We can't take on this many suits!" one of Daniel's soldiers shouted and continued firing, "We'll be overwhelmed!"
"Just give the transport carrier with the Gundam pilots some time to leave! We are responsible for their safety!" Daniel shouted back.
"I'm going to fight on by myself." the down Aries said to Noin "Please escape from here."
"What, no!"
In the carrier, the pilots were very worried about Noin.
"Shit. We're going back to help Noin." the pilot said as he turned the ship around.
"You're disobeying orders." Trowa said
"What? You don't have a right to say anything about us. We're turning around!"
"No discipline at all."
The carrier came about and heads back into the battlefield.
Noin and the others were stuck and couldn't escape.
"Damn it! This storm is messing up or systems!" Daniel shouted as he brought out his funnels and they flew toward a couple of enemies sand destroyed them.
"OK. That's it. We're going to surrender." Noin said
"What? We can't do that!" Daniel said
"They might let us live if we come quietly." Noin puts down her weapon and Daniel complied. "We've thrown away our weapons. We surrender. Please stop your attack."
"The Romafeller Foundation doesn't show mercy to traitors like you. If you give us the Gundam Zechs has as evidence of your betrayal, I will think about it."
"What!"
"But, even if you do that, the destiny of Zechs remains the same. At the South Pole we will kill him. If we kill him, we and our skills as pilots will be highly regarded."
"I'm not going to tell you where Zechs is."
"So! You do know where Zechs is!"
"You..."
"It doesn't matter. We're going to kill you anyway."
Then, the carrier came into firing range and shot its laser turrets at some of the suits and destroyed them.
"Why did you come back!" Noin shouted.
The Leos attacked the carrier, and damaged it. The carrier flew away so that it won't be taking fire, but it wouldn't stand another encounter.
"We can't do another pass." the pilot said
Then, Trowa stepped in.
"Wait. Let me go out there. I'll show you the consequences of disobeying orders."
Then, Heavyarms was dropped from the carrier and it attacked the Leos and Aries, destroying them instantly. Hahad was shocked.
"Gundam...Gundam 03?" he fired his weapon at Heavyarms, but the bullets didn't back dents on its armor. "This is Gundam. So strong!"
"The Gundams would be their excuse for attacking a colony." Trowa said "I can't let them report the existence of a Gundam here."
Soon after, Maxter and Royal joined up with Trowa and together, they smashed the rest of the resistance. But then Heavyarms ran out of ammo, and it dropped its gun. Trowa popped out its blade and attacked the last suit, which was Hahad's. He charged at him and cut off his arm. This caused Hahad to fall. He tried to crawl away, long enough to get a message out.
"At point 103 at the South Pole, we are fighting with the soldiers of Zechs right now." Hahad said, "A Gundam is...Gundam is..."
"Finish him Trowa!" Daniel shouted, but Noin couldn't take such a slaughter anymore.
"That's enough. Stop it." but Trowa didn't listen,
"The Gundams are here!" Hahad shouted with his last breath before Trowa butchered his suit.
Trowa stood on the cold battlefield in silence, he was shocked. Shocked for the first time of what he did. This was not another fight. It was a slaughter. He felt a realization of the war that encloses around him.
"Why..." Trowa said, "Why do I have to fight like this?"
He lifts his hand away from the controls of his suit, but as he did, they were shaking. He opens his cockpit door and stood outside. He surveys the carnage that he has brought upon this land.
"...How long must I fight..." Trowa said.
To Be Continued...
Side Story
The Earth Campaign
The gundams sent out by the colonies reflected their retaliatory intentions...the gundams' target, was OZ, an elite group of soldiers hidden in the Alliance military. The Gundams had many missions against OZ. The year was After Colony 195, OZ has finally emerged as the leading military power on Earth. With an army of elite soldiers at his command, Trieze Kushurenada carried out massive operations to devastate and take over the Alliance armed forces. The battles between the gundams, and OZ cause the Earth to shake violently.
At the circus, Trowa's friends were preparing a performance for OZ, but Trowa had an idea that would be great for the performance.
"I assure you the army will like it." Trowa said to the ringmaster
"Wow, if Trowa, who's usually so quiet, says so, I'm sure it'll be great." Catharine said
The scene changes to Heero, still in bed.
"I'd like to act through on my feelings but I learned to be like this." Heero said to Trowa
Trowa was then inside a truck with his Gundam at the back.
"Yeah, this is going to be the final performance of my life."
Choices We Make
At the OZ base, Trowa was scouting the area and sees a group of transports.
"That transport is loading enough fuel for twenty shuttles." Trowa said. From behind him were Chapman and Cockett,
"That means OZ is going to start military operations in space soon." Chapman said, "We should target those first and then hit their fuel storage units."
Later that evening, the stage was set for the performance that was sure to rock the house. Everyone in the audience was all soldiers, and was very excited to see the next performance. Gundam Maxter and Royal Gundam were outside, hidden in cammo, and waits for Trowa to make the first move. Daniel and Mike's forces were also ready to attack. Everyone was just waiting for Trowa.
Mike zoomed in on his monitors to see inside the tent and Trowa's Gundam that is about to reveal itself.
"Looks like the party is about to begin." Mike said
"Trowa, it is best that you prevent the troops inside from escaping. It is unlikely that they are armed with anything that will be a threat to us, but a lot of them are Mobile Suit pilots. We must prevent them from reinforcing the remnant defenders that are still on duty." Daniel said
"Acknowledge Daniel," Trowa said back.
Inside the tent, Trowa showed no sign of emotion at all as he was about to head on to another battlefield. He thinks for a moment of the lives of his circus comrades, and especially for Catharine's. He didn't want to get them involve like this, but he has no choice.
"Today we are pleased to introduce a new performer." the ringmaster shouted in the darkness as spotlights shine on him, "He's sure to become a star. And here he is, Trowa Barton!"
Then, many lights shined on Heavyarms right after the ringmaster points to the direction Trowa told him to. Everyone was surprised, but none were scared. The crowd cheered for what surprises that will come.
"A Mobile Suit!" the ringmaster shouted in surprise himself.
"Trowa?" Catherine said worried a bit,
"That's pretty good for a fake. Don't surprise us!" one of the soldiers said,
"It looks almost like one of those gundams!" another one said
"Yeah, it's starting to scare me!" one other joked.
"Trowa, what did you bring here? What are you up to!" the ringmaster said, and the crowd cheered even more.
"Oh, this is great!" Catharine shouted with delight, "A performance like this will bring the house down, no matter where you take it. We'll be welcomed everywhere in the world, because of this!"
Heavyarms's weapons were armed and ready to fire, as Trowa moves it around the place. He was then aiming at the audience of soldiers.
"Now for my self-destruction show," Trowa said to himself.
"Now Trowa, kill them all before they notice!" Daniel commanded.
And with that, Trowa fires a volley into the crowd. His spread shots left no one alive in its wake. Then, Heavyarms aimed up to shoot down the transport carrying the shuttle fuel and destroyed with several quick accurate shots. Then, he moved on outside and destroyed the rest of the transports that were waiting to dust off.
From not to far, Royal came out of hiding and took aim at the base and shot off his long rifle, destroying buildings, crafts, and unpiloted Mobile Suits. Maxter was hidden in plain view of the fleeing crowd of soldiers that escaped the massacre from the tent, but instead they found Maxter as it got up. Maxter points its weapons at the soldiers and killed them all, then moved on to finish off the rest of the base.
"Ok, that's our cue!" Daniel shouted, "Attack and make it fast! Knock out their comm. systems so that they can't call for reinforcements!"
Daniel and Mike's forces came pouring down from the mountainside. They laid heavy siege on the base, but left most of the front line work to Trowa, Chapman, and Crockett.
"All that's left is to destroy the storage tanks." Trowa said to himself, "This will be my last battle...I don't have to care about conserving my ammunition."
Then, Aries units flew at him, firing their rifles, but Heavyarms's armor protected it from the shots. Trowa popped out his blade and cuts them down, and then shoots some more at the base. Then, for a last attack, he barraged what's left of the base with his missiles and rockets.
When, he was done, he stood in the middle of the battlefield and waits.
"This is the end," Trowa said as he closes his eyes and readies to self-destruct, but then a familiar voice from afar stopped him.
"Trowa! What?! What are you doing?" It was Catherine's voice, she was running for him.
"Catharine, move away!" Trowa shouted back, "I'm going to destroy myself along with this Mobile Suit."
"What are you saying? Come down from there. Hurry up!" Then, one last Leo came out from the wreckage, "Catherine!"
The Leo had shoulder mounted laser cannons, and it fired blindly at Trowa and at Catherine. Trowa moved his suit quickly and blocked the shots and used up the rest of his ammo on the last Leo.
"Move away, Catharine. I have to kill myself." Trowa said again as he opens his cockpit up.
Catherine sees him and lungs at him. When she enters his cockpit, the first thing she did was slap him, hard.
"How do you think about your life!? Killing yourself? Don't joke around. If you do that, how will your parents feel about such a hasty decision!? Have you ever even thought about the people you would leave behind? Don't behave like a spoiled child. You didn't care about us! The people you leave behind! We would just live on in sorrow."
Then, she started to cry with all her heart, and it caused Trowa to stop. He holds her shoulder and tries to comfort her.
The next day, Trowa and Heero prepare to move out. Daniel and Mike's forces were already ahead.
"It's you who involved our Trowa in this." Catherine said to Heero, sitting next to Trowa, "If you don't return him safely, I will never forgive you."
Catherine jumps off the truck with Heavyarms on it.
"If you were me, and a girl cried for you, you would still kill yourself. That's why I admire your strength." Trowa said to Heero
"I told you before--it's alright for humans to act according to their feelings." Heero replied,
"Let's go..."
"Yeah."
And the truck moves with Crockett and Chapman behind them.
"He has such good skills," The ringmaster said, "I'm sorry that he quit the circus. If he trained more, he could have become the best."
"What are you talking about. There is a saying, 'A pampered child learns little. The best education is if he is forced out into the world.' Trowa will be back because he's like a child of this family. He'll come back for sure..." Catherine said as she looks at the truck disappearing over the horizon.
A few days later at a town several miles from their last location, Heero and Trowa were in a library. Heero was looking up for something on a computer. As Heero moves and takes a diskette from the computer, he moved his in juried arm the wrong way and great pain overwhelmed him and he dropped the disk. Trowa then picks it up.
"Treat it carefully. Take care of yourself, too." Trowa hands Heero back the disk, "Is this it?"
The computer showed a girl about their ages. She had brown hair and blue eyes.
"Sylvia Noventa. She's in Marseilles." Heero said
"Are you really going to start there?" Trowa asked
"Yes," Then, Daniel walked in.
"You done guys, cause we got to go." Daniel said
The group then moved on.
Elsewhere, Relena, Noin, and Joyce were on a sailboat, floating down a river.
"We will be arriving shortly." Noin said to Relena, but she noticed the look in her face. "What's bothering you?"
Relena was dressed in an almost militaristic uniform, but which had a royal look to it. She pointed her index finger from her folded arm at the tall objects to their left, which was Mobile Suits. Most of them were in strange poses that a person would set their action figures in. They appeared to be like giant models.
"Those are the Leos for exhibition." Joyce explained as she came out from the ship, "They compose the main force of OZ and the World Alliance."
"Why does the Romafeller Foundation still make Mobile Suits?" Relena asked
"People are usually afraid of huge machines," Noin said, "While at the same time they admire them as well. People like to see wars fought by real men; they don't want it fought with buttons and computers, they want war machines to have two legs."
Then, Joyce continued on,
"That's why most of the ways of the old wars have been discarded for these...giant soldiers. With the likeness of those on the ground, but on a larger scale, though the cost for this kind of war is dreadful."
"That's no reason for killing people." Relena said, "If there was such a reason, that would be just a joke to enjoy killing. Dying like mad in war is the honest way of humans."
Few people knew that the war brought about by OZ was actually orchestrated by the Romafeller Foundation. The Romafeller Foundation hosted a meeting, inviting many of the most influential members of society. The Romafeller Foundation was originally a society of noble families from throughout Europe. They used their financial power and personal connections to promote increased arms development. They supplied Mobile Suits to the World Alliance to extend their power. After creating OZ into a large power base, they successfully carried out a coup d'e tat.
The same can be said about the Federation. Though who founded the Federation remained a mystery, the organization is like OZ and like OZ, it was able to build up power and influence. Then, when the time was right, it coincidently declared a coup against the Alliance the same time OZ did. But there were many that stated that it was too much of a coincident that both side revolt at the same time.
Relena, Noin, and Joyce walked up the wide stairs and when they reached the top, Noin stopped in front of Relena.
"What are you doing?"
"Please forgive me," Noin then checks Relena for any signs of hidden weapons with her hands, while Joyce took out a device that looked like a medical tricorder and scanned Relena's body more thoroughly.
"It's alright. I realize I have a criminal record now."
"Some of the other people who lead to the destruction of your kingdom and family are through those doors." Joyce explained as she puts her device away "But Miss Relena, please don't do anything stupid today, please."
"I understand. I will behave formally as the pacifist head of the Sankt Kingdom."
Joyce and Noin showed their ID's to the guards and enter the great hall. On stage was a distinguished looking old nobleman. It was Dermail the current leader of Romafeller.
"In the past, the World Alliance asked for our financial help and to provide for the defense of Earth. We did our best to cooperate with them to achieve peace. They came to want a peaceful world as a result of our suggestions. This planet Earth has many problems, which can't be solved by suggestions alone. What we need is a system of control. Control is achieved by ruling. Ruling will keep a peaceful society. The World Alliance didn't try to rule. When you rule a society, you are required to bear much responsibility for it. They tried to remain free of this responsibility. We have returned to the traditional way of ruling society. The obscure ideas of equality and freedom collapsed in their society. It is time for us to begin to rule society once again. Our way."
"I can't believe that OZ is trying to conquer the world in such a way." Relena said, disgusted at what she heard.
"When OZ was hiding within the World Alliance, the Romafeller Foundation didn't announce their intentions to the public." Noin said, leaning against a wall, "OZ said that if the World Alliance couldn't make a peaceful world, it'd make it for them. Thus, OZ showed their true intentions."
"They'll keep fighting, won't they?"
"Of course," Joyce said, "If they don't keep conquering, the system will collapse upon itself. Reward for winning is the only thing that can keep this system going. The collapse of this system in the past was a revolution of ridiculous politics, which caused poverty. The countries, which cooperate with the Romafeller Foundation, will continue to benefit from war. For this reason, OZ needs the strongest Mobile Suits corps to win."
"I'm sure that Gundam can defeat OZ."
"OZ considers the power of Gundam to be awesome." Noin spoke again, "For this reason, they'll attack the colonies directly. They have to force out the other Gundams from hiding. The Romafeller Foundation will try to get rid of the Gundams as soon as possible."
"They try to rule over many miserable victims. Such people can't understand Heero, who tries not to create any victims, even at the risk of his life."
"At the risk of his own life," Joyce said, "I thought such people like him were extinct nowadays. He's reminds me of Jacen."
"You know Jacen?" Relena turned to her in shock.
"Yes, he's a friend of mind...and from the look on your face you seemed very close to him. Isn't that right?" Joyce said and looked down at Relena, "He sent me to safeguard you, because he can't be everywhere and at the same time protect you, too. He cares about you very much, and wants to ensure your life is save from danger..."
"Jacen..." Relena said, then looked back at the stage to hear what else Dermail has to say.
"I will now introduce the standard-bearer chosen to be the leader of OZ. He wishes to put down the Alliance and fight bravely to make a peaceful world for us. He is a member of the Romafeller Foundation in addition to the commander of OZ. Trieze Kushurenada." the audience applauds at the presence of 'the great Trieze' who walks up to speak,
"You might think we will reign over everything with OZ's many Mobile Suits. To rule is to control. It might seem arrogant. However, I think that we need a government to control our human greed. God left humanity to itself. Humanity needs a man beyond God. Even God couldn't predict that we can never stop warring among ourselves. So, it will be understood by God that our actions are right."
Joyce looked at Trieze and listened to every word he said.
"Trieze's tone was only to spur up the audience." Joyce said, "The real question is...is he really telling the people the truth, or just lying to get them in his favor...it is pretty obvious what he wants."
"Let's leave now. This meeting is not for us. We don't have anything to say to people who consider war beautiful. It's a waste of time." Noin then looked to her left where Relena was and found out that she was only talking to no one. "Miss Relena? Miss Relena?"
Relena found herself on stage and she grabs the mic. Then, she spoke out and surprised the crowd.
"You are all committing terrible mistakes. Gundam will come again in order to rectify your mistakes. I am protesting as a messenger of the people, those who are insulted by you people who wish to avoid all complications-" then Noin jumps on stage to stop her from causing a ruckus,
"Ms. Relena, please stop this."
"No, I have to tell them."
"Ms. Relena, please stop it. We can't solve any problems here, today."
The two walked off the stage and ran into Trieze.
"Good job, Lt. Lucrezia Noin."
"I am sorry, Trieze, Your Excellency, for the trouble." The Trieze felt a stare from Relena and looked at her. Her eyes were ice cold blue, the same kinds that came from Heero. Those were the eyes of a warrior, a determined heart. This surprised Trieze, but yet also intrigues his as well. Those eyes also reminder him of the ones that Zech bore.
The two walked away, leaving Trieze and Dermail wondering. Trieze not wanting to leave him wondering-
"Excuse me, sir. She is the sister of a friend, whom I invited." Trieze said to Dermail
What was she talking about?" Dermail asked
"She knows that we are afraid of the Gundams. She wanted to say, 'Be more proud.'-"
"The Gundams! I think that even though he has good skills, you depend too much on that pilot, Zechs Marquis."
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard that he is rebuilding at Lake Victoria base the Gundam which was destroyed during the threat on the colonies. "
"Is he rebuilding a Gundam which was such a terrible weapon against us?" another man said, "Is he insane? What if they the rebels get it back, or worse it fall into the hands of the Federation!"
"We should completely destroy the Gundam as a warning to the colonies!" another one said
"I understand your concerns." Trieze said. "I will have the Gundam destroyed if that is the wish of the Foundation."
At Lake Victoria, Zechs was talking to Noin on his vid phone.
"So people in high positions know about Gundam?" Zechs asked
"It means that OZ was more severely hurt by Gundam in the last battle than we thought. But His Excellency Trieze seemed against the idea."
"But even he can't refuse the decision of his superiors."
"Will the destruction of the Gundam be done?"
"What is Relena doing now?" Zechs asked ignoring the previous question.
"She is very active. It's hard to protect her. Even with Joyce and I together."
"What does she know about herself?"
"Jacen said that her late stepfather, Mr. Dorlian told her a little bit I told her about you. I said, 'He is a loyal soldier from Sankt Kingdom.' I also said, 'He is the only person who saw the pilot of 01 kill himself.' Because you are rebuilding the Gundam, she wonders if Heero Yuy, the pilot of Gundam, is still alive."
"Heero Yuy? That's the pilot's name, is it?"
"Relena is also connected to him in some way like you. "
"Understood. Thank you for your report, Noin."
"Are you not going to tell Relena the truth? You would have to...sooner or later."
"I can't tell the truth to her, because I am now Zechs Marquis of OZ with a bloody history."
"I know that...but wouldn't you think that she'll discover this later..."
"She is a very intelligent girl, but I can never tell her what I am...I am too ashamed to be her brother..."
"No, don't be ashamed for the path you took."
"...you mentioned Jacen earlier...I recalled him living with Relena...I wonder how much more does he know."
"I can't say, but Major Joyce has told us that she is an envoy for Jacen, and so is Kai. Joyce was sent by Jacen to protect her in his absent."
"Jacen would do that...well enough talk, I look forward in seeing this Heero when you find him."
"I got some leads, but nothing concrete. I'll contact you when I found them." Noin then turns off her comm.
Relena was dressed in sleeping wears and looks out the window that showed the rainy night. She wonders what she should do.
"I can destroy everything right now." Relena said, "With the training I received this terrible place would of disappeared of the face of the Earth...But, God will never forgive me if I do that..."
Inside a ballroom, Trieze overlooks the party below.
"I might be punished by God as a heretic who blasphemes against God. No, God is just an imaginary creation made by humans." he then takes another sip of wine.
Elsewhere on the other side of the world.
Location: Marseilles.
Time: Middle of the afternoon.
General Noventa of the World Alliance had objected to the build-up of armaments as a deterrent to war. It was he who decided to decrease armaments and finally to demilitarize both the planet Earth and the colonies. However, OZ tricked Heero into using his Gundam to destroy the shuttle General Noventa was in. This incident might have closed the way to peace forever. It was the beginning of the new era, an era of total bloodshed, caused by bloodshed and will be ended by bloodshed.
In one of the apartment offices, Sylvia stands and watches outside. Behind her was an Alliance captain, who feared for her safety.
"Please Ms. Sylvia, please escape from this town." the captain urged.
"I thank you for your kindness, Captain."
"In this city of Marseilles, there are many soldiers of the World Alliance on leave. For that reason, OZ, or the Federation might attack here. I thought this place was safe, because there's an Alliance base here, but that same base also makes this place dangerous as well. This place is going to become a battlefield soon."
"I know...but it took me time to be able to leave the sweet memories of my grandfather." She then picks up a photo of her and her grandfather.
"General Noventa was a great person. He always thought about achieving a peaceful future."
"Although Grandpa died, I feel that his soul still lives on. I will always cherish grandpa's memory."
"Miss Sylvia."
"I'm sorry."
Then, another soldier rushed into the room.
"Captain, the enemy is here!"
"Is it OZ or the Federation!?"
"We've detected ten Aries."
"Just Aries? They think just ten Aries can destroy this base?"
"Captain..."
"Don't worry about it. We have our ways of dealing with it. Escape from here now! Goodbye" the captain and the soldier ran to their base nearby, "Don't let them in this base. Prepare to fire!"
Outside, their Leo troops deploy and readies themselves, but most were not prepared to face the OZ forces, who's skills were more than a match for them. Though the Alliance had numbers, the OZ forces had room to maneuver.
"Leos, return fire!" And the Leo's fired at will on the flying suits.
"Heh, this is like guerrilla warfare." an Aries pilot said as he fired back.
"I'm going to shoot down all Mobile Suits. Keep attacking!" the leader Aries shouted.
The Aries' advantage of flight gave them the upper hand. Most of the shots from the Leos missed. The Aries all split up and destroyed all they can. Their power overwhelmed the Leo troops. Leos were dropping like flies. Then, from a distant, a shot from a high caliber cannon flew into the direction of one of the Aires and knocked it down. It made a crash landing, but the pilot was unharmed.
"Shit! I screwed up!" the downed pilot said to himself, "Then, when he got out, Trowa was in front of him, "What the-"
Trowa gave him a hard punch in the face, and he was knocked out. The two boys listened in the comm. system of the Aries' strategy.
"-Leos of the World Alliance is heading toward the water by way of the underpass. All the main force is there. All Aries, go there!-"
"To use the underpass is an obvious tactic." Trowa said
"Don't worry about me. I'll be a burden." Heero said as he found a truck and drove off.
"You don't want OZ to know about my Gundam?"
"I suggest you stop OZ before they realized that your Gundam is hidden there."
Trowa and Heero split up.
"My unit is almost destroyed. Is this the end?" a Leo pilot said as his suit was retreating into the overpass with the rest.
"Take the point!" an Aries shouted, "Main force 2-2-1 is there, hurry up!"
As Sylvia rushed out of her apartment, a Leo was shot down and fell onto the building that she just came out of. The blast knocked her to the ground. Heero saw her, and stopped the truck. He rushed to her get up.
"You are Sylvia Noventa." Heero said as he took her to his truck.
"Who are you?" but Heero didn't answer her.
At the base's command center, the Alliance was tied up.
"The enemy Aries has entered the underpass."
"We can't avoid surrender"
In the tunnel, the retreating Leos pulled back into the darkness, but then as they seem to have nowhere to go.
"Captain!" the group turned to see the gundams. Royal, Heavyarms, and Maxter were right there before them.
"What are those! Gundams?! Why are they here?" the captain wondered.
"Aries are one block away." another Leo pilot said
Inside Maxter, and Royal, their pilots were ready to get up.
"Should we...help them?" Crockett asked.
"Let's wait for Trowa. We don't want to give away our position, yet."
"OK, stop retreating through the underpass. We're going to counterattack." the captain of the Leos ordered.
"Sir?!"
"We'll hold off the enemy until the pilot of this Gundam comes back. Can you do it?"
"Are we going to protect the Gundam?"
"Yeah, it's our only hope now."
The Aries entered the area and open fire. The Leos fired back, but they were losing.
"Keep shooting! Don't be afraid." the captain shouted as the last of his unit falls to battle. He then looks at Heavyarms and sees movement. "He's here!"
Trowa jumps up onto his truck and gets inside his Gundam. The last Leo charged at the group of Aries, but was shot.
"Please end this war, Gundam." the Leo's pilot shouted with his dying breath and he too fell victim to the war.
"We destroyed all the Leos. Secure the area." the Aries captain said, but saw Heavyarms and the others move out of hiding, "What Gundams?! Here!?"
"I have to destroy all of you before you tell anyone about me." Trowa said, "This war is between the World Alliance and OZ, so I'm not going to interfere. But I can't allow you to tell anyone about my Gundam."
Trowa and his friends dashes toward the Aries and destroyed them instantly.
At the Alliance command center, the sight baffled them.
"Five Aries have been destroyed. Is it a miracle?" a soldier asked
"What is this Mobile Suit? another said
"I don't care who it is. I just appreciate it." the commander said
"Sir, our sensors just detected Federation forces entering the city!"
"What? Not now."
"But sir, they are leaving our forces alone. Their attacking the rest of OZ's troops!"
"They're aiding us?"
Outside, Daniel's unit attacks and destroyed the rest of the squad of Aries and heads for the Alliance base.
"Sir, we are receiving a communicate from the leader of the Federation troops."
Their main screen turned on to show Daniel's face.
"This is commander Daniel Wilson of the Federation armed forces. We are here to assist you in your struggle. In return all we ask is your cooperation...enough blood has been spilt this afternoon..."
"We thank you for the help, but I ask you why help us, your enemies?"
"...you are no longer our enemy...our enemy is OZ. Your troops will be welcome to fight with us, but the banner of the Alliance must be taken down...the era of the Alliance is over...the future will be decided by us..."
"Hmp...very well then..."
Later, outside of the city in a cemetery, Heero and Sylvia stand at the grave of the once great general Noventa. Heero sets some flowers onto the grave and stood up.
"You say your name is Heero Yuy?" Sylvia said
From not too far, Trowa and company watches. Trowa smiles to have learned Heero's name.
"Heero Yuy, eh..." Trowa said.
"This is my grandfather's grave. What do you want to tell me?"
Heero looked at her and then held a gun for her to take.
"The one who killed General Noventa...was me." Heero said, which shocked her, "It was a mistake. I killed General Noventa and a great many people who wished for peace."
"W-Why? Why?"
"What I can do is this...Sylvia Noventa. I can't atone for my sins. I hope this gun calms the souls of those I killed and the anger of their families."
Sylvia takes then gun and looks at it for a moment. She thinks to herself...the cause of her family's pain. The reason for this war, was right before her, and she has a single opportunity to take revenge for the people of peace...but as she points the gun at Heero, she hesitates, and doesn't fire. She then lowers the gun.
"You are a coward! You're making me kill you so you can be free from your guilt?"
"What I can do is just this."
"You cowardly bastard...never, even if it means to silent grandpa's ghost...a life for a life is not just...if you want to then do it yourself." she tosses the gun to Heero.
"I want you to understand that I do not want to cause any more pain. Then, I will ask your grandmother. I heard that she lives in Sicily."
"I believe that you will find the same answer that I give you...life is too precious...grandfather has lived his live...and I believed that his death will make the people that cause war understand the results are always the same..."
From where Trowa is,
"This is just the beginning." Trowa said to himself, "His life will depend on their family's judgment. What he does is always perfect. Heero Yuy."
"War is just killing people." Sylvia continues, "Why do you think that war is a beautiful thing?"
"I can't change my way of living..."
"...I don't believe that..." she replies.
Heero then bids her farewell and leaves.
Elsewhere, at Lake Victoria. From afar, what appears to be Gundam Wing was set on the side of a mountain. In a boat, Zechs, Kai and an inspector from Romafeller watch the destruction of Wing take place.
"Begin, Kai." Zechs said and Kai pushes a button that activates explosives that were placed all over Wing. From afar, we can see that Wing was completely destroyed. "There, I've destroyed Gundam 01, Investigator Hahad."
A man in a trench coat looks at the wreckage for a moment.
"I acknowledge that is was destroyed. Can I collect the wreckage?"
"Do you have a complaint about our report?" Kai asked
"I want to check it out for myself because I have to account to all the higher-ups at the Romafeller Foundation."
"As you wish." Zechs said as he leaves.
The inspector takes a small raft to get a closer look at the destroyed Wing.
"Maybe there is no doubt about him. He will not make a mistake so easily, that Zechs Marquis."
"There were no parts of Gundam retrieved from Lake Victoria base." one of the inspector's underlings said
"He loves Mobile Suits. He will not give up his plans so easily."
"If Zechs opposes the Romafeller Foundation, won't it be dangerous for him?"
"I don't know about Zechs. Right now he is still the Foundation's hero. The Romafeller Foundation runs this world. In order to win their favor, I have to find fault with Zechs."
Back with Zechs, he watches the inspector leaves.
"In order to win favor with the Romafeller Foundation," Kai said to Zechs, "He has to find fault with you. But he won't find any discrepancies with the data in the report."
"I'm sorry you had to lie."
"I didn't want to destroy even the fake Gundam, also we had to use some of the parts from Tallgeese in the real one."
"I see. I must be careful not to damage it, then."
"Zechs, sir, there aren't any pilots with that skills that can match you and Tallgeese."
"No...that's not true...I know a few that could."
The watercraft moves around, then heads back to shore. But underwater, the Real Wing Gundam sits and waits. Its almost completed, except for its arm and buster rifle.
"So let's bring what we have to the base at the South Pole. There it would take longer for the Romefeller to notice, and it won't draw attention."
"Thank you for all your help Kai."
"I was never that loyal to OZ anyway...to know such a soldier like yourself, I am honored to help you out."
A few days later, Heero and Trowa leave a mansion. Heero cross out another name on a paper and then threw the piece of paper away.
"This is the last one. Are you satisfied?" Trowa asked
"It isn't that easy."
"You can't forgive yourself because you killed some pacifists, even though it was a mistake, you were tricked into it by OZ. I can understand your feelings, but I can't believe you'll let your life depend on the families of the men you killed."
"I just want to do what is right."
"Let's go, Daniel and the rest are waiting for us near the harbor."
As the two walked back into town, they realized that they were followed.
"I knew someone was going to find us if we kept searching like this." Trowa said as the two keep on walking, but knew that there was a car trailing them.
"I'll stop them," Heero said
"No. Don't do anything. You're injured. I'll stop them by myself."
A truck separated the two and Heero got in it when it went passed them. Trowa spotted a motorcycle parked behind an alley and grabbed it.
Then, when the car that was following them saw the truck moved away, they see that Trowa was on the cycle and raced toward them. He made the cycle ran over the car and behind them then into an alley. The car followed, and was gaining speed. Trowa looked ahead and then looked up. He then jumps off the bike and catches onto a rope and swings around to land his feet on it. The car that was chasing him drove into the sea. Trowa looked at the mess and walked away on the rope very casually, with his hands in his pockets.
Later, Trowa went to a warehouse near the harbor, where Heero was.
"Thank you," Heero said as he tosses an apple to Trowa.
"Not at all." Then, Daniel approaches them.
"It's impossible to transport this by land. With the number of remaining suits I got with me, we'll stick out like a sore eye."
"By ship then?" Trowa suggested.
"You can use my carrier," Noin's voice said from behind them. Trowa lets go of the apple and draws his gun so fast that he was pointing it before the apple hit the floor, "Your ability to survive amazes me. This is the first time I've gotten to meet you. I am Lucrezia Noin, a subordinate of Zechs."
"Of Zechs?" Daniel asked,
"He was the pilot fighting against you in Siberia." she said to Heero
"I won't allow myself to be captured." Trowa said
"Zechs wants to meet you."
"To meet us? He thinks he can get information from us?" Heero asked
"Don't misunderstand me. He wants to meet you not as a pilot of OZ, but as a Mobile Suit pilot. He wants to fight with you again."
"He wants to duel. What a great man this Zechs is." Trowa said
"It's up to you if you believe it or not."
"Where is he?" Heero asked
"You believe her?"
"He's not the kind of person who resorts to such tricks."
"I see. You can use my Mobile Suit, then."
"Trowa..."
Elsewhere, Relena was sitting in a room talking to her servant Pargan.
"We have not yet found the pilot of the Gundam who died at the Siberia base." Pargan said
"I see." Relena said and lowered her head, disappointed.
"Although I tried to contact the OZ pilot Zechs who fought the Gundam, he already moved on from the Lake Victoria base."
"Then, we have no information on him."
"Yes, there is one bit of information."
"What is it?"
"There is something suspicious about what Zechs did."
"Suspicious?" This statement intrigued Relena, wondering more about Zechs.
"From information given to us by an operative working fro Jacen, after the battle in Siberia, he transported a lot of Gundanium alloy from space."
"Is it because those are for fixing the Gundam. Even I know the Gundam was destroyed since the act was witnessed by those against OZ."
"There are rumors that the destroyed Gundam might be a dummy."
"A dummy?"
"The quantity of Gundam alloy seems to be enough to make two Gundams."
"They might have used some Gundam alloy for creating a fake Gundam and the rest for fixing the real Gundam?"
"Possibly."
"Why is he concerned with the Gundam so much?"
"I guess he wants a fitting conclusion. He's that kind of man. Thirteen years ago, I was fencing with him when he was six years old."
"He didn't like an opponent to have a handicap."
"Do you know Zechs?"
"He used to be a hero of the Peacecraft family. There are many famous stories about him."
Pargan remembers a scene in the past when he was dueling with Zechs as a boy, and showing that Zechs never likes his opponent to have a handicap.
"I see...If we can contact Zechs, we can get information about Heero."
"There is one other person who is looking for Heero Yuy." Relena was shocked.
"Who is that?"
"Mrs. Noventa."
"Noventa?"
"Yes, she is the wife of president Noventa who was killed by the Gundam at New Edwards base. Her search seems to be secret from OZ."
"Contact this Noventa person as soon as possible."
"Right. I will try."
Elsewhere, Noin contacts Zechs from her Mobile Suit carrier. It was a small craft, only big enough to carry about three Mobile Suits. Heavyarms was uploaded into it.
"They're alive, Noin?" Zechs asked
"Yes, their survival skills are impressive."
"I apologize for making you run such personal errands."
"That's OK. I am also a Mobile Suit pilot. I understand you a little bit as a pilot."
"Thank you, Noin. Please be very careful dealing with the investigative group. I can't help you with them. You'll have to throw them off track by yourself."
"Yes, sir."
"01 should be repaired by the time they arrive."
The carrier then prepares to take off. From afar, the investigative group spies on them.
"That is a cargo plane of OZ." one of Hahad's underlings said
"I see...So they might be in there."
"Reports indicated that there is also about two unmarked large carriers flying in the same directions as they are going to be headed."
"They might have friends with them,"
"Aren't you going to do anything?"
"Don't rush. I'm sure that they are going to show their true colors. Keep watch until then."
"Yes, sir."
"I'm not going to let them escape...get me all available forces in this area...we are going after them. They'll lead us to way we want eventually."
A few hours later on the carrier, Trowa teaches Heero how to pilot his Gundam. Heero tries to pull up the left arm, but it was a bit tough for him to pull with the injury in his arm.
"Does the auto-balancing system work in keeping the weight balance off the left side?" Heero asked, knowing that the auto balancing system keeps a mobile suit standing upright. Us being living beings have natural center of gravity to keep us balancing.
"No, I didn't use it on purpose. I made my body learn it so I could do better in close combat."
"I see." Heero lifts up the right arm and bit and brought out its blade.
From the cockpit area, Noin watches.
"Its strange...They are just like ordinary young pilots when they talk like that." Noin said
"If we kill them right now, Zechs will not have to experience a dangerous battle." one of her subordinate said
"You don't understand him yet. If I do that, he will hate me." Noin said back, "Plus our 'escorts' might have a problem with that."
"Is the shield also set with a gatling arm?" Heero asked again
"It's rather heavy."
"I'm sorry. Usually, a pilot doesn't like someone else touching his Mobile Suit."
"If you feel that way, hurry up and learn this Mobile Suit's characteristics."
"Yes, I'm going to win this time."
Meanwhile, back to Relena. Pargan enters the room with a letter in his hand.
"I contacted Mrs. Noventa. And, I received this letter from her. She wants you to read it, first."
"From Mrs. Noventa?"
"This letter is also addressed to Heero Yuy."
"To Heero?" She takes the letter and opens it, then starts to read
"-I was very surprised by the suddenness of your visit. So, I couldn't convey what I was thinking very well. That is why I am writing this letter. Don't suffer from the regret of your mistake in the battle. Noventa and Venti died in order to create a world for pure young people like you to live in peace. No regrets. This is war. Everybody regrets their own mistakes. However, you are still young, and have a lifetime to think about. Think about a peaceful future. We were very glad to know you. I hope that peaceful future will come soon. That it would be brought upon by the next generations. My dear Heero Yuy.-"
"Heero is still alive." Relena said with joy, "I'm going to leave for Sicily to see Mrs. Noventa and ask where Heero is."
"Yes, Miss. I'll ready an airplane."
"Heero is alive..."
Elsewhere, just right over the continent of Antarctic. In the carrier, Noin brings the two boys some coats and hot coffee.
"I don't want our important visitors to catch cold. Put these on."
As Heero puts on the coat, his arm was grazed by it and it stung him.
"Where are we going?" Trowa asked.
"To the South Pole."
"A battle of Mobile Suits on the icy continent."
"Otherwise, someone would notice us."
At the South Pole base. In a factory complex, the final finishing touches to Wing were about to begin. Kai walks up to Zechs to update him on the progress.
"Zechs, we have already checked every measurable ability." Kai said
"I want it fixed perfectly. It has to be as good as it was during our last fight."
"Why do you want to do that?"
"I want to know about this Mobile Suit and its pilot."
"But, it's impossible to make its right arm perfect. If we fix the power of the huge beam rifle and the fast beam saber system perfectly, we'll need almost as much time as it takes to make a new Gundam."
"Then at least fix the 01's beam saber system with parts from the Tallgeese's left arm"
"Zechs, what do you hope to gain?"
"I'm sorry. Please forgive my selfishness."
"Understood." Kai leaves and talks to the rest of the techs, "Everyone, come here. I'm going to tell you how to fix 01's right arm."
Back with Noin, their sensors detected trouble,
"Lt. Noin. An emergency. We're being followed by several planes from the investigative group."
"For how long?"
"We only detected them when we reached the continental border."
"They probably followed just outside detection range. They guessed we were going to rendezvous with Zechs."
"I'm going to change direction and lose them."
"No. We can escape from them be sending out two Aries. Even if they find the location of the base, we can attack them from there."
"Yes ma'am."
"Open a comm. link to Commander Daniel's carriers. Tell them that we might need some help."
Noin runs to her Mobile suit with another pilot and readies to battle.
"Don't lie. You're not going to impose such a burden on Zechs." Trowa said
"You're going to attack with the Aries." Heero said
"You will be surrounded by a lot of enemy."
"I'm just responsible for getting you there safely." Noin said back as she readies to launch, "I will pursue things my way."
At Daniel's carrier, they also released some of their suits. He's Gundam Nu came out first with his team of five suits.
"Two Aries and five Federation Suits dropped out and are going down." A soldier from the enemy carriers said, "They aren't in firing range."
"Don't be tricked." Hahad said as he moved to his mobile suit, "We'll also deploy our troops."
And the enemy carriers dropped its own Aries. Noin and her wing mate hide in the clouds, using them as cover.
"Noin to Daniel," Noin called out, "You'll emerge right after we do. I'm counting on you for cover."
"Roger that Noin, out" Daniel responded.
"Lt. Noin...are you sure we can trust these people. They are the Federation, our enemies."
"I know, but these are strange times...and strange times calls for strange measures."
Then, Noin's Aries busted out from the clouds behind the carriers and fired on them. Daniel followed and they took one of the carriers down.
"All forces, attack at will!" Daniel fires his powerful beam rifle and shoots a blob of pinkish burst of energy at the enemy Aries flying unaware. "Delta 2, and 5. Duck back toward the clouds, take cover and come to our aid when they come to us."
"Roger, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
Two Hyperions banked away and disappeared into the ocean of clouds.
"Let's go around again," Noin said to her wing mate
"Yes, ma'am." The two damaged another carrier. "The second one will go down with one more pass."
"Don't rush! Hide in the clouds first."
"No, I'm going in!" but the daring pilot was ambushed from behind as an enemy Hahad's Aries pops out of the clouds and shot him.
"I got you!" Hahad shouted as he knocked one of Noin's Aries down. The damaged Aries fell into the clouds and onto the ground.
"Are you OK?"
"Shit! I'm sorry. That was my mistake." Then, Daniel landed next to Noin.
"Is he alright?!" Daniel asked
"He can still fight! But-" then a lot of Leo Mobile Suits landed around them, cutting them off and surrounding them. "Damn, we're surrounded!"
"They're reinforcements!" Daniel shouted as he took positions, "All troops, prepare yourselves!"
Daniel's team readies weapons and fire.
"Let me know when Zechs or the Gundam appears." Hahad said, "Attack!"
The Leos and Aries laid heavy fire on the pinned down troops.
"Sir! We can't take on this many suits!" one of Daniel's soldiers shouted and continued firing, "We'll be overwhelmed!"
"Just give the transport carrier with the Gundam pilots some time to leave! We are responsible for their safety!" Daniel shouted back.
"I'm going to fight on by myself." the down Aries said to Noin "Please escape from here."
"What, no!"
In the carrier, the pilots were very worried about Noin.
"Shit. We're going back to help Noin." the pilot said as he turned the ship around.
"You're disobeying orders." Trowa said
"What? You don't have a right to say anything about us. We're turning around!"
"No discipline at all."
The carrier came about and heads back into the battlefield.
Noin and the others were stuck and couldn't escape.
"Damn it! This storm is messing up or systems!" Daniel shouted as he brought out his funnels and they flew toward a couple of enemies sand destroyed them.
"OK. That's it. We're going to surrender." Noin said
"What? We can't do that!" Daniel said
"They might let us live if we come quietly." Noin puts down her weapon and Daniel complied. "We've thrown away our weapons. We surrender. Please stop your attack."
"The Romafeller Foundation doesn't show mercy to traitors like you. If you give us the Gundam Zechs has as evidence of your betrayal, I will think about it."
"What!"
"But, even if you do that, the destiny of Zechs remains the same. At the South Pole we will kill him. If we kill him, we and our skills as pilots will be highly regarded."
"I'm not going to tell you where Zechs is."
"So! You do know where Zechs is!"
"You..."
"It doesn't matter. We're going to kill you anyway."
Then, the carrier came into firing range and shot its laser turrets at some of the suits and destroyed them.
"Why did you come back!" Noin shouted.
The Leos attacked the carrier, and damaged it. The carrier flew away so that it won't be taking fire, but it wouldn't stand another encounter.
"We can't do another pass." the pilot said
Then, Trowa stepped in.
"Wait. Let me go out there. I'll show you the consequences of disobeying orders."
Then, Heavyarms was dropped from the carrier and it attacked the Leos and Aries, destroying them instantly. Hahad was shocked.
"Gundam...Gundam 03?" he fired his weapon at Heavyarms, but the bullets didn't back dents on its armor. "This is Gundam. So strong!"
"The Gundams would be their excuse for attacking a colony." Trowa said "I can't let them report the existence of a Gundam here."
Soon after, Maxter and Royal joined up with Trowa and together, they smashed the rest of the resistance. But then Heavyarms ran out of ammo, and it dropped its gun. Trowa popped out its blade and attacked the last suit, which was Hahad's. He charged at him and cut off his arm. This caused Hahad to fall. He tried to crawl away, long enough to get a message out.
"At point 103 at the South Pole, we are fighting with the soldiers of Zechs right now." Hahad said, "A Gundam is...Gundam is..."
"Finish him Trowa!" Daniel shouted, but Noin couldn't take such a slaughter anymore.
"That's enough. Stop it." but Trowa didn't listen,
"The Gundams are here!" Hahad shouted with his last breath before Trowa butchered his suit.
Trowa stood on the cold battlefield in silence, he was shocked. Shocked for the first time of what he did. This was not another fight. It was a slaughter. He felt a realization of the war that encloses around him.
"Why..." Trowa said, "Why do I have to fight like this?"
He lifts his hand away from the controls of his suit, but as he did, they were shaking. He opens his cockpit door and stood outside. He surveys the carnage that he has brought upon this land.
"...How long must I fight..." Trowa said.
To Be Continued...
