Chapter One: The Beast, Awakened
Earth Federation Space Forces Luna II Base, L3 Sector.
December 24th, PCA 0079. 1400 Hours.
The Federation's key space base was finding, first hand, how ineffective a fleet based on warships truly was against one based on mobile suits.
Since the battle was joined two hours ago, the Federation had lost eight ships, only two of which were to enemy cruisers. The League had lost none. The Titan forces that Luna II was launching, recovering and re-launching from its mobile suit gates were doing damage to the enemy forces, but simply weren't built to take centre stage in conflict. As such, twenty-six had been shot down so far, against the eleven Rhinos that had been picked off. Most of those eleven had, in fact, been taken down by the anti-air pulse lasers of Federal ships, attempting to escape a death literally at the hands of the enemy's weapons.
Mega particle beams lanced back and forth across space, red-purple ones aiming away from Luna II, yellow-green ones toward the great rock. Many of the latter simply hit the rock itself, failing to score an impact on navy-blue liveried Federal steel. The damage to that rock was of no great concern, a few chunks of the stuff would be of minimal consequence. The beams that were hitting Federation ships were of quite significant consequence, as the largest permanently assembled fleet within the EFSF took losses it would find impossible to replace, if Luna II fell.
On paper this battle was reasonably simple: sixty-six of the League's Musai cruisers and two Zanzibar carrier battleships, bringing with them three hundred and sixty Rhinos were facing one hundred and twenty Salamises and twenty Magellans, supported by four hundred and eighty Titans.
Numbers didn't give a true picture, however. The skill of the League MS pilots, combined with their marginally better hardware, led to the widespread slaughter of Federal grunts, whose real function was ship defence, not intensive frontline operations.
As this battle raged on, a far greater one was about to commence quite close by…
Space Colony L3/C-242, Lagrange Point 3 Colony Cluster.
December 24th, PCA 0079. 1429 Hours.
"What?! Luna II is under attack, and this ship is here? What the bloody Hell is Operational Command thinking?!" exclaimed Taylor Barillas, commander of the Federation's latest warship, the assault carrier Gabriel, first completed of the new Archangel class.
"Yes, sir." responded the communications officer. "They want the prototypes out of the way. We are to move them into the colony, where they will undergo emergency activation."
"God Almighty… actually, that's an ironic phrase, with this ship. Alright. Mobile suit deck: move the prototypes off the ship onto the dock, and from there into the colony proper. Keep me informed of developments at Luna II."
Receiving confirmation from his officers, Barillas left the bridge of the Gabriel. His ship had only recently been completed at Jaburo, the subterranean Federation Central Headquarters, located at the Amazon Basin in Brazil. It had been built as the prototype for a new class of mobile suit carriers, developed alongside four new prototype mobile suits, built to test technologies for a new mass-production line, far superior to the League's Rhino model. The launch of the Gabriel from Jaburo, to ship the prototypes off to Luna II for space trials had been diverted to the L3/C-242 colony when the attack on the asteroid base began, to protect ship and cargo from League forces.
Work went ahead carrying out the captain's orders, all conducted according to Federation conventions, despite the situation being quite a far cry from conventional. 'Unconventional' would hardly begin to describe the rest of the day.
Bridge, League Fleet Vessel Voracious, Approaching L3/C-242.
December 24th, PCA 0079. 1618 Hours.
"They still haven't detected us?"
"Negative, sir. All capable visual observations platforms are focused on that colony's spacedock, they can't see any activity."
"This is too easy. That unknown new vessel must be carrying something useful, or the Feddies wouldn't be sending it up to space."
"You think they have mobile suits on that ship? Perhaps from the rumoured 'Ranger Three Plan'?"
"Probably. If so, we'll destroy them and their transport, the colony too if it comes to it."
"Yes, Major."
On that rather grim note, the captain and first officer of the Musai cruiser Voracious, leader of the Twenty-Third Hunting Company ended their discussion. Their unit was present to carry out reconnaissance, and destroy the enemy if deemed a threat. The idea of the Federation developing new mobile suits was not overly unusual; the tensions of the last few months made such development not only useful but necessary. It was the rumours of the supposed 'Ranger Three Plan' that were troublesome. According to said rumours, the Federation had built new mobile suit prototypes, which were more powerful than anything in either Federal or League arsenals at the current time. The idea was nonsense. The Federal Forces saw no real purpose for mobile suits aside from defending the hulks they called warships, they would never build a mobile suit as an integral battle weapon; that was League philosophy.
"Sir, we are in range. Do your earlier orders stand?" enquired the weapons officer of the Voracious.
"They stand," replied the commander. "prepare to initiate Plan Alpha. Signal the Berlin and the Hamburg; tell them to do the same when we begin."
Acknowledgments received from the gunner and communications officer, the ship's commander sat in his chair in the centre of the bridge, his whole crew awaiting his order.
"Initiate Plan Alpha."
With those three simple words, history would be profoundly affected. For with them, the Voracious opened fire with her four forward twin-barrelled main gun turrets, and all twelve missile launchers. The other two ships of its unit copied this manoeuvre a split second later, all three vessels targeting the spacedock of the Federation's L3/C-242 colony.
Bridge, EFSFS Gabriel, Docked at L3/C-242 Spacedock Berth #8.
December 24th, PCA 0079. 1622 Hours.
"Confirmed! Colony spacedock's main gate is taking external damage, three League cruisers are firing on us!" exclaimed the radar operator.
"Dammit! We're carrying three Titans, for defence, aren't we? Deploy them now, full armaments!" responded Captain Barillas.
Minutes later, three Titans, equipped not only with 90mm submachine guns but also 320mm bazookas, left the colony dock via the unaffected sub-gate above the main. They made it several kilometres from the colony, and even managed to fire several rounds from their machineguns before the five Rhinos of the Voracious tore them to shreds with their own 120mm rifles.
With the League's attack so ruthlessly cutting away any resistance, it would be soon they reached the Gabriel itself, and then the colony. To avoid the possibility of his ship being lost before it had fired a shot, Barillas ordered it to enter the colony proper, to rendezvous with the new mobile suits and hopefully put up a fight against their opponents.
Inside Space Colony L3/C-242, Lagrange Point 3 Colony Cluster.
December 24th, PCA 0079.1657 Hours.
Within the colony, over one hundred Federation officers scrambled to prepare for combat within a colony, a battlefield they never thought would see bloodshed. Four Federation officers did not scramble. They wore white pilot suits with a slight trace of silver, a significant contrast to the Federation's usual tasteless yellow. The pilot suits, essentially skin-tight spacesuits, signified that they were trained as mobile suit operators. The silver-tinged white colouring indicated that they weren't piloting any old mobile suits.
On receiving word that the League mobile suits were close, the four walked towards long transport vehicles, on which were their mobile suits, laying on their backs but fully ready to fight. If a person read the words on the back of one of these trucks, they would read:
Earth Federation Space Forces
RGX-79-01
Mobile Suit "Gundam Prototype"
The four Gundams stood, their bodies bearing a navy blue and gray colour scheme. The pilots then pressed a button marked 'KN System' on the front panel of their cockpits, which created a drastic change. These four mobile suits, seconds before with only mere metal protecting them, were now graced with a slight luminosity, as the 'Kinetic Neutraliser' cells built into the frame came to life.
Holding their rifles in right hands, rectangular shields attached to the left forearms, the quartet of humanoid superweapons that together were the Federation's greatest prize and only real hope of victory prepared to fight.
Seven Minutes Later.
Entering the main cylinder of space colony L3/C-242, the five elite Rhino pilots found it noticeably empty. The civilian population had evacuated before Barillas ordered the Gabriel into the colony, and were now cowering in the emergency shelters. The lead pilot, whose mobile suit was distinguished by the 'horn' antenna on its head, spotted the mostly-white hull of the newest Federation vessel several kilometres from the gate they had entered through. Using their backpack thrusters to control their descent to the surface of the cylinder from its centre, the Leaguers ran toward the ship.
It was at that point they realised the Hell they had entered.
Four red-purple beams lanced out toward the Rhinos at that point, narrowly missing members of the League team. The pilots were stunned for a moment. Beam weapons, being carried by a mobile suit?! Even the League's own development facilities were months, if not years from perfecting such advanced technology.
Firing their own machineguns, the Leaguers scored multiple hits on the Gundams, in areas fatal to the Titan and Rhino, the central torso cockpit hatch, and the lower torso, where thick armour protected the reactor housing. A combination of factors made the dozen or so bullets that hit the new Federal MS utterly useless.
First was their armour. The Gundam-type was built not with ultra-high tensile steel like the Rhino, or titanium ceramic composite like the Federation's own Titan, but with Luna Titanium. A new alloy based on rare minerals found only found in quantity within the rock of Luna II and titanium, this metal could withstand explosions and physical impacts fatal to other contemporary mobile suits, even warships were not as well defended by their reinforced hulls.
The 'Kinetic Neutraliser' was the second factor involved. These cells within the frame not only produced a luminescence that made the mobile suits appear to have a ghostly aura, but also, and more critically, absorbed kinetic energy from physical impacts and dissipated it as heat energy.
With few exceptions, the Gundams were invulnerable.
Running towards their enemies, the four RGX-79-01 models fired once more, this time hitting a Rhino in its cockpit, killing the pilot instantly. As they got closer the Gundams continued to shrug off bullets, and drew their melee weapons. Each taking a cylinder from the left side of their thruster backpacks, the Gundam-types pressed a small trigger on the cylinder with their left thumbs. This action led to the rapid expansion of a blade of red-purple particles, a beam saber.
The Rhinos, finding their rifles useless, took their long swords from the clips the hilt attached to on the left waist armour in their right hands, and stood prepared for a melee. The lead Rhino made the first attack, making a diagonal slashing movement, attempting to cut through the torso of the Gundam from its left shoulder to the top of its right leg. The sword, two-thirds through its arc towards the armour, was blocked by the beam saber's blade. The steel blade began to fracture from the pressure of the contact, and shattered within seconds.
Stunned, the lead Rhino began to back away, hands now empty, as his rifle was stored on the attachment clip fitted the rear skirt armour. The Gundam he had attacked was far more effective with its weapon. Bringing its left arm back the mobile suit instantly pushed it forward again, putting its particle blade through the cockpit.
Three of the Gundams backed away. Firing the beam rifles they still held they destroyed two more Rhinos; only one now remained, and it was duelling the fourth Gundam.
Stabbing forward, the tip of the Rhino's long sword made contact with the abdomen of the Gundam it was engaging. However, the 'KN System' was, by absorbing the kinetic energy intended to put the metal blade through the fusion reactor, essentially suspending the sword. The Gundam's pilot, annoyed by letting himself reach such a position, dropped his rifle and took the second beam saber from its recharge rack on the right side of the backpack. Slashing with the left hand saber the Gundam cut the sword in half, and with its right hand stabbed the cockpit.
The Rhino team was wiped out completely within five minutes, the Gundams were untouched. A certain League commander was very displeased.
Bridge, League Fleet Vessel Voracious, Close to Space Colony L3/C-242.
December 24th, PCA 0079. 1717 Hours.
"All five were destroyed?" repeated the commander, questioningly.
"Yes, sir. Should we order Berlin and Hamburg to send in their mobile suits, Major Sanders?" replied the first officer.
"We have awakened a beast, it seems. Order them in, carrying a Type Twelve nuke. That colony is their stronghold; no more colony, no more protection. Do it."
Though he objected to the idea of being part of the force that was responsible for the first ever destruction of a colony, Captain John Prince knew that such an action was a necessary evil in war. In World War Two, the British and German air forces had bombed each other's cities; in this war, it was nuclear-armed warships attacking the innocent colonies, whose only crime was to fly the flag of the Federation.
Within minutes, five Rhinos launched from the hangars of the Hamburg and the Berlin, those of the former ship carrying a large coffin-like object. They were carrying the nuclear warhead. The unit from the Berlin, with the two unencumbered mobile suits of the Hamburg, would escort them into the colony and keep the Gundams distracted for long enough to leave the warhead, activate its five minute countdown and hopefully escape. The plan was reasonably flawless; unfortunately, it relied on the Gundams and their pilots not being able to handle ten-to-four odds, which was a serious unknown.
Close To The EFSFS Gabriel, Inside Space Colony L3/C-242.
December 24th. PCA 0079. 1735 Hours.
Alexander Williams was nervous. Very nervous, in fact. He and the other three pilots had fended off five Rhinos from the League force, but that left another ten out there, ready to attack. Inside the cockpit of his Gundam he silently waited, hoping they would fall back after seeing the power of the new Federation mobile suits.
For seemingly the billionth time, he studied his cockpit. In front of him was the main console, which contained two display screens and a variety of control buttons, including the generator switches and the deliberately very obvious 'KN System' button. Also in front was the forward visual monitor, which provided a computer-enhanced view of the outside world, transmitted from the main cameras in the head. If he glanced up he could see the upper monitor. To either side of the front panel were another six monitors, providing a complete 180-degree view of the outside world.
To his left and right, running below the monitors, were banks of miniature systems display screens and switches, allowing him to control the functions of the mobile suit that were not handled by onboard AI. Inside from these consoles, at the ends of the cockpit seat armrests, were two control sticks. Similar to those seen in fighter aircraft of the early twenty-first century, the movement of these sticks controlled the limbs and thrusters of the Gundam, as well as its weapons.
"Williams, this is Gabriel." came a soft female voice over the cockpit speakers. It seemed far too gentle to belong to a soldier, an officer no less.
"Gabriel, Williams here. Go ahead." the young pilot replied.
"We're detecting multiple League mobile suits incoming. Your job, along with Ensign Yoshihara, is to escort the ship out of the colony, via the smaller dock at the other end of the cylinder. Johnson and Anderson will handle the enemy here."
"Understood, ma'am."
Once again readying for battle, Williams moved his hand toward the 'generator mode select' button panel, pressing the button marked 'active'. The nineteen metre humanoid showed no outward sign of being any more active than it had been before, but the cockpit displays showed otherwise, claiming that the Gundam was at full power. Williams proceeded to set the sensor mode to 'scan', which did cause a visible change. The main sensors - two smaller ones based on the "dual eye" system – lit up, a pair of pale blue jewels in the centre of the Gundam's faceplate.
As it began first to walk, then run forward, light strayed across the V-fin antenna on the front of Gundam's head, above its 'eyes'. The pointed golden antennae shone brightly as the light played across them, unlike the navy blue irregular pentagon at the centre of Gundam's 'forehead', to which the V-fins were attached, which remained its same dull shade.
As Williams, Yoshihara and the Gabriel made their exit, battle commenced at the other end of the colony.
Inside Space Colony L3/C-242, Lagrange Point 3 Colony Cluster.
December 24th. PCA 0079. 1751 Hours.
The two Gundams engaging, the Unit-01 and Unit-03, piloted by Richard Johnson and Amie Anderson respectively, found themselves having problems. They had radioed the Gabriel about the nuke and found that they would have to destroy the ten enemy MS alone, without letting them detonate the nuke. This was proving extremely troublesome. The Leaguers were flying within the centre of the cylinder, where the artificial gravity produced by the rotation had no effect.
Beam rifle fire had claimed two so far, but the enemy was forming up around the nuclear warhead. The battle was becoming one the Federation mobile suits could not win.
Four Rhinos chose that point to break formation, and charged the Gundams, rifles spraying them with bullets. Once again, Luna Titanium and the 'KN System' kept them safe. Another two Rhinos joined in a second later, all six spraying the Gundams with 120mm shells from the hundred-round drums on their machineguns. The battle was becoming more and more a no-win scenario, a 'Kobayashi Maru' as the science-fiction obsessed Yoshihara might say.
Gundam 01 claimed a kill seconds later, as a beam finally tore through the reactor of a Rhino, causing it to explode in a pyre of flame. Though devastating, the explosion's effect on the colony was minimal in the zero-G centre of the cylinder. Accelerating forward, 03's head-mounted vulcan cannons shattered the mono-eye main camera of a Rhino, blinding it before the third Gundam danced behind it and fired a beam through its thruster backpack, causing another explosion.
Within seconds, two things happened. One was the Gabriel signalling its exit from the colony. The other was the retreat of the remaining half-dozen Rhinos. The Gundams pursued them to the spacedock, where they found themselves confronted by the possibility of a warship barrage if they ventured out. Suddenly, the two pilots made a realisation: the nuclear warhead would, by now, be active.
Dashing back into the colony as fast as possible, Johnson and Anderson headed for the area their sensors confirmed a major infra-red source, obviously the bomb. When they reached it, they found a display on it, counting down:
00:00:03… 00:00:02… 00:00:01… 00:00:00
At that point, it seemed that all the fury Hell could muster had been unleashed. A blinding white ball of light expanded rapidly outwards, accompanied by a tremendous shockwave that tore the colony cylinder in two. The continuing electromagnetic resonance shockwave from the blast shook the two halves further, causing them to break apart where panels had been joined together.
Within minutes, a habitable space colony had become little more than a field of debris. Amongst that debris were the bodies of three million civilians, and two Federation officers. The two Gundam pilots had been killed by the initial pressure wave of the bomb's explosion, which had also trashed the Gundams 01 and 03.
A few kilometres away from this debris, a major in the League Fleet smiled as he saw the remaining mobile suits of his unit return. In a position almost parallel, a Federation ensign was frozen by shock, sadness, anger and hatred, all focused in one direction: the League of Free Colonies.
At that point, Alexander Williams vowed to use Gundam to protect not only the crew of the Gabriel, but also to destroy as much of the League as he could. His life did not belong to him any more; it belonged to a cause greater than any one man: revenge.
With the surviving Gundams, the 02 and 04 recovered, Captain Barillas ordered his ship to refuel and resupply the mobile suits and prepare for battle. They had to fight their way through to Luna II, where they could stand alongside whatever remained of their comrades there. But first would come the fight. One ship, with two Gundams versus three ships, with six Rhino mobile suits. The battle could swing either way very easily.
In Williams' mind, though, it would only go one.