Mobile Suit Gundam 0082: His Dark Materials
Chapter 2: The womb of nature and perhaps her grave...
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
E.F.S.F Transport Ship Qenius
11th November UC0082...
"Lieutenant?" an NCO called out as Lesam approached the wardroom. He grabbed hold of the wall's railings and canceled the thought of going in just yet.
"Yeah?"
"The Commander wants you at the bridge now. New assignment."
Lesam sighed for a moment before saying, "On my way." He followed him as he led the way to the bridge even though he knew the way around. When he entered the bridge, Lieutenant Commander Hewlett was already standing behind the comms officer pouring his attention into it without acknowledging Lesam's salute when he did.
"Lieutenant Duncan Lesam, reporting, sir!"
Lesam stood there, waiting until Hewlett finally faced him and threw the manifest orders into his hands. "You might want to read it first, Lieutenant." He said to him as he sat back in his chair. Lesam grabbed the floating manifest, read it and paid the most utmost attention in to it.
"When are we leaving, sir?" Lesam asked finally after reading through the manifesto.
"As soon as possible but I think your pilots need to get some rest first. What's with what all of you been through just now. I thought it was appropriate and Commander Werfeur thought so too and agrees," Hewlett replied. Lesam almost slapped himself from the remark if it hadn't been for his great power of self-control.
"I think we can handle it, sir. That previous assignment is nothing compared to this. If lives are at stake here, then I think we need to get on it immediately." Lesam spoke with much dignity he could muster over a matter that was his job. He would not let the ship driver Hewlett underestimate them.
Which is basically, the truth. Hewlett lives in the world where big ships and big guns were tops. In fact, he just happens to have helped out in the designing of the newly refitted Salamis class ships they're using currently ready for next year's Naval Review.
"Very well, then," Hewlett said scornfully without as much as hiding it. He turned back to the comms officer to transmit a new message, "But I must insist all of you take a two hour break first."
"Very well, sir!" Lesam snapped a salute before he left the bridge and a scowling Hewlett about some mobile suit or pilots as he ordered the comms officer to contact Brum again.
Lesam got his own back when he started something about Hewlett's wet dream with a ship.
---
"Please, don't talk to me. I want to forget what I just saw," said Mark to no one in particular in the wardroom. His left hand on his forehead and his eyes seemingly very interested in the matted carpeted covers of the wardroom's ceiling where the rest of the 723rd lounge together after their previous sortie. In fact, those who saw what Selrina had found just now are interested in something else that would have been not of meager attention. For example, Parren seems so intent to focus on the screws used to hold the coffee table together. Shilo on the other hand, have the endless blackness of space to be interested at.
For a while, silence was ever present and a companion in the wardroom as all the 723rd kept to themselves and having thoughts on what they have found today. More on what Selrina have found actually. She sat in the corner, away from the rest and head hung down. Some took note that while she did so and in the state of no gravity of the ship, it made her golden tresses float in the air that make her look like a ghost.
And a pretty blonde ghost at that.
Shilo particularly had enough with staring out into space for today. He scans the room and was not very much surprised that everyone is still in the just-thinking state. He was about to comment Mark what does he think the screw is made of when Lesam enters the wardroom with the manifesto in his hand, his voice thundering to shake them awake.
"Alright, people! Shake those neurons, get a coffee or something to do so now 'cause we got new assignments! Briefing after all of you are done in ten minutes tops!" He yelled cordially which would seems rather strange for someone his age, "And don't even think of groaning in front of me, ensign," he said again without catching his breath, finger pointing at Parren, "or I'll make sure an accidental spacing demise looks that way." Parren couldn't argue more. He however gave the finger at Lesam's back only to get hit in the stomach by Mark.
After a few minutes of doing what should be done and cleansing the tired sickness from their system, all eight pilots of 723rd gathered around the larger table screwed to floor in the middle of the wardroom that could get the whole Company around it.
"Here's what we got so listen up," Lesam began after a single harumph took their attention back to him, "An hour ago, the Scenario reported receiving a distress signal with E.F.S.F IFF signature emitted from inside the Shoal Zone. Apparently, it is believed that it could be survivors of the Sharrap but we can't exactly tell because of the range and all those debris out there. So for now, we are not sure whether it is genuine or a trap but the risk of leaving out survivors out there is too great so we are going in. After all, this is our job.
"Unfortunately, we are going to rely on ourselves on this one," murmurs came from the rest on what he means by it, "as you kids know we are in the Shoal Zone and it has been proved that ships of the size we are with can't get in without scratching paint and yes, we are very kind to the skin of our new ships here, folks. We are to proceed with the mission without the ships as back up if we are to encounter zeeks in the junkyard.
"But thanks to our ever benevolent Commander, not to offend or anything, Werfeur he doesn't want that. What we will do is this. We are to split the company into two groups; one group is to carry on the rescue mission while the second group is to stay behind and do some cleaning work." Silence greeted him which was obvious why to him. "In other words, the second group is to stay behind and help the ships remove debris so they can get in too, ya got it?"
More murmurs issued. And Lesam has just about enough with it.
"Look, if you got anything to say, just spit it out, okay?" Lesam said irritatingly, shaking his hand up and down. Though he tried hard to foster unity in his Company, they still don't get it. He at least wished he could get these babies deserted on an island somewhere and let's see them survive together. Too bad Survivors went out of popularity in the last few years before UC stepped in. Universal Idol seems much preferable these days.
Selrina raised her hand.
"Yes, Ensign Werfeur?" Lesam asked, glad that someone was paying attention when everyone doesn't look like it.
"How are we to split our teams, sir?" Came the question from her.
"Good question, Werfeur. That is why I have... this!" He fished something out of his pocket and in his fist, were eight straws. He took note that some of them have their mouth agape while the others quirked an eyebrow. "Anybody pulled the short straws gets to stay behind."
"We're gonna pull straws? Very smart, sir. Very innovative. No one can think of that in a hundred years." Parren commented offhandedly and chuckled with his face in a smirk. He wished now he didn't, as his reply was an evil grin from Lesam. He wondered how long did he have that strange swell in his throat.
"Seeing that you're always talking, why don't you pull it out first, huh, Ensign?" Lesam gave him the straws as the others followed it and faced the grimacing Parren. The stares from everyone made his realization what will happen if he politely refused even if he tried.
"Me and my big mouth..." He muttered as he pulled a straw and somehow, he didn't know if he was supposed to feel relieved or panic when he pulled a long straw. Lesam gave each of the pilots a pull for a straw and finally, the result was official.
"Alright then, now that the decisions are set and with no way you can go against it, meet me in the hangar in ten minutes if any of you puppies have anything else to do," There was silence for a moment before he spoke again, "Fine, half an hour. Or I'll spike each and of your heads to the fish batter when we get back to Konpei. Cate, follow me." As both officers left the wardroom, everyone except Shilo let out a collective sigh and went on to look at each other before shrugging and leaving the wardroom too.
"Something wrong, sir?" Cate asked as they left the wardroom. Lesam shrugged which all the more made Cate much more confused.
"No, no. I just want you to go and prepare your squad's suits for your mission. If you're going to expect a promotion to replace me, you'll have to learn that you can't rely on most of your men all the times and its cardinal, you see, to see everything yourself or end up going more than a demotion, ya got me?"
"Yes, sir," Cate nodded, "but what about Shilo. We're both of the same rank and he's…"
"No. He's already experienced in this back in the War. Let me tell you though, if there are more people like him, then there is no need for soldiers."
"Why is that?" Cate asked, confused by the credit Shilo is getting.
"You'll find out one day. It's something only those who have seen the horror of the war could tell," He finished just as they reached the hangar airlock door, "But now, we got work to do."
---
Before Shilo could exit, he turned around, holding the door's frame, to see Selrina floating slowly towards the door, heads down, haven't aware of her surroundings. If she did, it was too late for anyone to do as her head bumped into the wall beside the door instead, resulting in a string of curses from her that could make anyone's ear fall off. Shilo was surprised that a beautiful woman like her could even say those things and remembered again who her father was and went to think about whether genetics came to play here.
"You okay, ensign?" Selrina, still holding her forehead in pain, looked up immediately too see Shilo looking at her with a bemused look. She blushed furiously realizing that her superior officer had witnessed her 'behavior'.
"Yes, sir. Nothing to worry about." Selrina stammered, hanging her head low, to hide her face from Shilo.
"That was one hell of a bump," Shilo said reaching his hands out for her head and raised her face eye to eye level, "Maybe you should check with the infirmary first." Shilo hadn't realized of the precarious position his hands are and Selrina could help but hold herself from squirming.
"I'll...," She began again, swallowing hard first and removed her head from Shilo's hand, "Go now, sir. I'll be fine…" She didn't say anymore and quickly went out of the door as Shilo gave her way. Only when she turned around the corner did Shilo realized it and slapped his forehead.
"Oh my God…"
---
"You're still here, sir?" Cate asked Lesam when he saw his superior still standing by the railing in the hangar, staring at the work of the engineers as they went on to adjusting and servicing the 723rd's mobile suits. It was a while now after they had left the hangar just now and Cate decided to come back in here to check the progress, another of Lesam's tip and behold, there was the man doing just the thing as well.
"Oh, Cate. Didn't realize you were here. Been long?" Lesam asked back.
"Nah, just came in. Just want to see if everything's ready, I guess." Cate replied. He followed Lesam gaze as they looked on at the maintenance work being done for a while. They didn't say a word too for now.
Then Cate began to spoke first, "Sir, what do you think of this mission? Do you think we should even be here?" Lesam kept his stare while he replied.
"Why, do you ask? Tell you the truth, lieutenant I don't care what our mission are, as long as we get out there and do something," He turned sideways to face Cate, "Why? You're not chickening out are you? Or you want to switch assignment. I could replace you with Shilo. One lieutenant isn't going to make a difference what's their assignments are as long as they do something."
"No, no," Cate replied quickly, wondered whether it was right of him to even ask this, "It's just that, I don't feel right about all this. I mean, stolen GMs, wrecked ships. There is just something not right about this." Lesam turned back his attention to the maintenance as Cate continued, "And in the Shoal Zone? Isn't it like crossing the border of the dead or something?"
"Know what? I feel the same way too," Lesam said again, "Except with the whole crossing the border thing."
"You do?"
"Seriously, as far as I can see from what we've seen here today, it's enough to tell us something we're not supposed to know. But we got no choice but do it. Like it or not," he waved his hand in front of an illusionary facade of situations, "I am not a superstitious person to begin with, Cate but I know how that feels."
Cate followed Lesam's gaze again and did not discuss anything more. It was enough awkward as it is to question their mission.
So he changed the subject.
"You sure has seen a lot of combat before, huh, sir?" Cate asked suddenly again in the silence between them. Lesam coughed a little and grinned widely but kept his gaze at the work.
"Yeah, I sure have. I've seen a lot back during the War and by God…" he stopped for a moment and asked, "Where have you been during the war?"
"I was in Luna II the whole time. The first time I went to Konpei was after the war ended in 80," he replied, feeling his answer would be dwarfed by Lesam's. He knew little about him that he felt that it has a bigger significant. Before Shilo's of course, which he knew back then.
"Not bad," Lesam began, he sighed inwardly, his lament now beginning to pour out, "I wished we were in Luna II back then too."
"We…?"
Lesam seem not to hear it, "I was transferred under the 1st Combined Fleet soon when I got to space and went to Solomon for Operation Star One. That was when I saw the thing."
"The… thing?"
"The ship killer Dozul Zavi piloted to defend Solomon. The Byg-Zam," He said the name through clenched teeth, "It killed my wife and son right in front of my eyes." He sighed again and looked down, "My wife was an executive officer on board a Magellan. My son was a GM pilot in my squadron. I can't seem to forget everything as if it happened yesterday."
"Sorry for asking, sir." Cate finally said after he was sure Lesam had nothing else to say.
"Nah, its okay. Been wantin' to let it all go one day. Sorry to have an old man lament his losses to you, Cate."
"It's okay too, sir. You needed it anyway." Cate replied, "If you'll excuse me, sir." Lesam nodded and Cate heavily pushed himself back to the airlock door and went back in to the ship's interior.
Lesam kept his gaze again at the work, sighed again and under his breath, he muttered, "Lydia… Aaron…"
---
"There, that'll fix it up. Now with a wave of my magic wand, the bruise is gone and your beauty is spared, my princess." Tara Pleria remarked as she applied the small band-aid over Selrina's bruise. She grinned at being remarked like that.
"Tara, what did I tell you about not making fun of my relation to my father?" She knew that Tara meant to poke fun of her being treated by her father as if his daughter is everything in the whole world, which pretty much annoys her the most. She joining the military is just to prove that daddy's girl have freedom to do other things, without his consent of course.
"Oh, but you look cute when you look annoyed." Tara replied with a childish giggle as she closed the first aid box. She is a 723rd MS pilot too but she also happens to have experience in first aid. The ship's doctor was out right now but not his assistant, which is her.
"Tara…" She was about to say something more when Tara turned around and floated towards her to place a finger on her lips, thus silencing her out right.
"Now you listen to me here girl," Tara began, "I know what you have gone through to deserve this and I know a lot more than everyone in the company put together and tell me that that doesn't tell you how much I care for you Selrina. You're my everything in this whole world and you know I will do anything just to make sure you are happy." She then lifted her finger after letting her speak.
"Mein. That is something my father would tell me if he cared enough…" Selrina said, saw that Tara stared at her with an annoyed look, "But thank you, Tara, for caring." And she smiled to which Tara smiled back before she gingerly sat beside Selrina.
Sitting side by side, people can tell the difference between them already through their rather close friendship. Selrina has a lighter skin tone and blonde hair, a contrast to Tara's darker skin and black hair. Despite that, Tara regarded her as a sister since they first met back in Nijmegan and Selrina knew that she has lost her family back in the War and that accepting her as a sister was way for her to help her get over her grief. It worked wonderfully for Tara is much livelier than she was when they first met.
"SO, what do you think of the boys here now?"
"What on earth do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Just checking if you're starting to get close to anyone here," Tara replied jokingly, "Especially with both Lieutenant Cate and Shilo."
Hearing the latter being mentioned, Selrina blushed furiously which was clearly visible through her white complexion, making Tara chuckle and poked her. The later made Selrina squirm and giggled too.
"What?"
"I knew you would act fast," Tara said through her chuckling, "So who is it? Tell me."
"It's nobody. I haven't done anything yet. I'm still new here." was the equally chuckling reply, still trying to avoid more poking from Tara.
"Liar, you blushed and you know it." Tara screamed this time as she broke through her defenses and started the 'multi-poking' action which made the infirmary rather lively now with laughs from both women.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
E.F.S.F Cruiser Brum
11th November UC0082...
"What the? What is this doing here?" The sensor operator muttered under his breath as he got something on the refitted Salamis' very powerful sensors after the refit program and proved to be functioning perfectly well. Across him to his side, the comms officer too got something on her equipments, looked sideways at him before she turned to Werfeur and reported.
"Sir?"
"Yes?" Werfeur replied.
"We got a civilian ship coming in close and are hailing us."
"Put it through then." She complied and pressed a few buttons and on Werfeur's own monitor screen, displayed the face of a woman.
"This is Natalie Weaver of the Discovery. We would like to ask what you are doing here?" asked the woman.
"I should be asking you the same thing, Miss Weaver. You are talking to an officer of the Earth Federation Space Force after all. We have complete authority over you." Werfeur said, peeved at the way the woman said to him, "And I'm Commander Arthur Werfeur of the Brum."
"Then I'm sorry if I have offended you, sir. We are from Augusta and we are going on a search in the Shoal Zone. We would also like to know why Federation forces are doing here in this secluded space of space trash too."
"We are undergoing a rescue mission as of now and that is all I can tell you," Werfeur replied. He thought of her answer for a while and asked, "Did you just say you are going on a search in the Shoal Zone?"
"That is correct," was her short reply.
"And a search for what exactly, if I may so asks?"
"Something my boss asks me to. We are in a hurry if I may add."
"Allow me to discuss with my people for a moment, please. I believe we have a problem here. Please wait right there." He quickly ordered the line to be closed and a new line established to both Qenius and Scenario. When both Commanding Officers of both ships finally face him, he began to reveal a new plan with the new situation.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
Augusta Transport ship, Discovery
11th November UC0082...
When the screen turned blank in front of her, Natalie Weaver turned back to the bridge crew as they stared at her.
"What?" She demanded with the authority she couldn't challenge Werfeur.
"Is there going to be a change of plans?" The driver asked. He was shaking slightly with fear and despite the small bridge was very much air-conditioned, he was sweating profusely and beads of sweat was trailing down his face. Natalie was disgusted by even looking at it.
"No. No matter what, we can't go back now. Or would you rather get sacked from Augusta? Jobs are very hard to come by these days." She chided evilly. The mood in the bridge changed drastically with the intonation Natalie spoke.
"Eh, never mind…" He didn't say anymore, knowing well he can't possibly against her. Natalie left the bridge into the adjacent room behind. As she closed the door, she found herself, as usual, in the room she had been forced to reside in for the past few weeks. A few more people, the ships occupants and passengers, turned to look at her and noted the expression on her face which shows she is displeased.
"Something wrong, boss?" Rico Marley asked, his hands ever presently tugging a strand of his long dreadlocks. He was the computer expert and a legal Augusta hacker.
"We're going to experience a change of plans soon. We got Federation ships out there on a search and rescue mission." She sat in the nearest chair which was hers anyway and only she could sit in it. She couldn't possibly stand having the men on the ship sit in it not with what they do.
On one side of the room, Jasper Fidaye was sighing out loud, much to the displeasure of Natalie, "I still can't believe we went against the Directors' words. Are we even sure that thing is still there?" Natalie breathed in deeply, controlling her anger on this one because she doesn't want him to be in a bad mood, for his skills of silent killing and mobile suit piloting is something she needed most for this.
"I've told you several times, Jasper. We'll find it there." Natalie said as she stared intently at her nails.
"And how did you know about that, if I may so ask, your ladyship?" He hissed slightly angry in his tone. Natalie had to be careful with him or she could find herself his next victim, raped or murdered, she couldn't tell now. Yet.
"I told you, we have lost contact with Dr. Alfred Laurel back in the War when he was last heard helping the Federation in designing the thing. You've seen the hard data I presented and that is all we know that he has left."
"Yeah, but where the hell did he go? And of all places why here?" Jasper sat up from his slouching position for he knew his answers will be anew fresh hindsight to his tasks ahead. He doesn't trust the way things are being run much less being run by a traitorous bitch like Natalie.
"Dr. Laurel was working with the Federation back then, as you already know, and what they were conducting was all done in hush-hush. You know how prototypes like these were built back then. Especially when it got the name Gundam tied to it," She said waving her hand lazily in his general direction, "And the last message we got from him was the whereabouts of his location and that is, here." She pointed to the floor without looking up.
"Well, I hope we get a big commission for this one. I hate to go empty handed, know what I mean." Jasper declared as he slouched again on the chair.
Natalie cackled evilly from where she was, "Don't worry, when the Directors sees that Laurel's experiments did work, they'll be begging at our feet for the technology. So will the Feds for that matter."
"I hope so," Jasper said hopefully as he crossed his arms, "Which reminds me, what could have happened to Dr. Laurel?"
Natalie was silent for a few minutes, not knowing the answer herself until she finally admitted, "I don't know," she said, " I don't know. We'll just have to find out ourselves."
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
E.F.S.F Transport Ship Qenius
11th November UC0082...
"What?" Lesam couldn't believe his ears when he heard the change of plans. He swore he was going to explode right here, right now. Hewlett was no different too.
"Your team will be escorting the Augusta ship through the Shoal Zone and to make sure they safely carry out whatever their doing while you carry out your mission." Hewlett answered nonchalantly. He wasn't even looking at him.
"Very well then, I'll inform my Company about it." Lesam saluted
---
"Hey, sir," Parren asked from his GM's cockpit as he finally got it off the maintenance platform, "Tell me again, what the hell does Augusta has to do with this mission again?"
Shilo could clearly hear Lesam sighing from his GM Kai and couldn't help but shook his head.
"Parren, do you listen with half an ear? I could ask one of the mechanics to pass me a power driver and clear your ear with it, seeing it seems to be full of crap so thick, I think I'll ask for gun instead."
"No sir, just checking, that's all." Parren replied timidly. He shrugged, reminding himself he wouldn't need to know much anyway.
There has been a change of plans; one that was agreed by Commander Werfeur after the Augusta ship arrived though only slightly. The search and rescue team, commanded by Lesam himself with the rest of the six mobile suits of the 723rd, will be escorting the Augusta ship as they traverse through the Shoal Zone. They will also be escorted by four Balls which are to aid in removing debris for the Augusta ship. The rest of the three remaining mobile suits, led by Cate, will stay behind as ordered.
Also, the Scenario will return to Konpei for communications in the Shoal Zone was neigh impossible to reach anywhere and there was a need to report the current situation to Konpei. Lieutenant Commander Jones was already halfway out of the Shoal Zone, he sent one last transmission to Brum as a farewell before communications was cut. Brum on the other hand will stay behind instead with the three remaining GMs of the 723rd who will stay behind and escort Brum while waiting for them to return.
"723rd, you have permission to launch." The hangar control said through the speakers.
"Roger that, Control," Lesam replied, "This is the 723rd mobile suit Company, launching!"
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
11th November UC0082...
"Man, look at all this junk!" Parren exclaimed as he used his GM's hand to throw a large piece of colony railings out to one side and turned around to get his crosshair over the Augusta to let it past again. The rest of the company kept forward ahead of the ship to grab more debris and throw it out of the way, which prompted Parren not to stop just yet.
Two of the Balls were also joining in the sport of 'debris chucking' while the last two, piloted by Sergeant Drena Undid and Private Ash Ryh was waiting behind with the ship. Lesam's own GM Kai too was standing by beside them. Trailing behind them on a strong specially made tug rope, Ash's Ball was tugging a large fuel tank to help refuel the GMs in case an emergency requires it.
"This is place's a mess. Why can't they take care of this place first?" Drena asked to no one particular over the open channel, "I mean, compared to the other sides, this one has much lesser mass of junks compared to those which have no more colonies left. Shouldn't they choose the easy job first?"
"Drena, one thing you should learn when you're a Federation is that don't ask what the brass thinks about their sense of duty." Lesam berated, not to her, "We don't get much worthwhile heads these days since Revil was toast back then."
"Maybe so, sir. But at least there are some of those who are." Drena added
"And that's where you are correct." Lesam replied.
"Thanks, sir."
"Jack! That one to the left!" Lesam shouted suddenly, his voice emanating in said pilot's speaker. Using his machine gun's barrel, Lesam pointed to the large moving piece of an unidentified ship's hull. Jack's GM's head nodded in reply and with another GM, Selrina's, both grabbed the oncoming debris and pushed it out of the way before it could come any closer.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
Augusta Transport ship, Discovery
11th November UC0082...
"How long are they supposed to be tagging along?" Jasper said exasperatingly as he watched another Ball grabbed a small conglomerate of what seem to be steel pipes just in time before it hit the Discovery. "They seems to be going our way too."
"Don't worry, that can't be possible. They'll be in and out before you know it after they find whatever needs rescuing in here." Natalie commented as she watched the work going on outside. But she somehow, she herself isn't sure about her own answer.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
11th November UC0082...
Lesam turned his sights back down on another panel he had been watching for quite a while now. It was the signal directional finder and it is honed in on the distress and IFF signal they are looking for.
"Just a little bit closer now," Lesam stated to his men via the open channel, "We'll get there soon enough. It's just right ahead of us now."
"Good sir, then maybe you can tell in which direction now?" Shilo asked, "'Cause, frankly, we don't have any idea where to start now." Lesam looked up and saw to his horror that in front of them, laid a large mass of wall of debris complete with jutting debris out from what isn't a perfectly flat wall, blocking their path in every direction as they could see except for the path they taken. He checked the signal finder panel again and there was no doubt, that whatever they are looking for, it is right behind that wall of debris.
Lesam concentrated at it and saw that other than colony debris and asteroids, the wall was also made up of ships debris and some old ships of both Federation and Zeon littered the wall as well. It was like facing the gate of hell itself and no one could take their eyes of it for a long time.
"How… how could this have happened?" It was Selrina. Nobody could possibly answer that one now.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
Augusta Transport ship, Discovery
11th November UC0082...
"What the…?" Natalie's eyes just went wide when she saw the wall in front of them. She too checked the small piece of paper she held in her hands which contained the coordinates where Doctor Laurel has been during the War and there is no doubt that the exact coordinates is exactly a bit farther behind the wall as well.
"What the fuck is that Natalie?" Jasper asked as he kept his eyes on the view.
"I…" she began, "I don't know. But whatever we're looking for is right behind that thing."
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
11th November UC0082...
"What shall we do now sir?" Shilo asked Lesam as he pulled his GM Kai beside Lesam's.
"Well. We'll just have to blow through it then. Do we have any explosives?"
"No. But they might have." Shilo's GM Kai pointed to the Discovery, much to the surprise of the Discovery's crew. "Try asking them, sir."
"Good point, Shilo." Lesam acknowledged and he quickly contacted the Discovery.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
Augusta Transport ship, Discovery
11th November UC0082...
"Discovery, this is Lieutenant Duncan Lesam," his voice emanated through the ship's radio. "We would like to know if you have some explosives to spare for us to blow one little hole through that thing since it seem that we have to through it."
Natalie nodded to the Discovery's helmsman who glanced at her to ask for permission before he grabbed the radio's microphone and replied, "Affirmative. We have more than enough explosives here. How much do you need?"
There was silence for a moment as Lesam took another glance at the wall before he replied, "Maybe not more than 5 pounds will do. We can still blow it a little bigger with our weapons."
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
11th November UC0082...
It took time to set the explosives as the wall while expansive, was very uneven as Lesam predicted and the plastic C4s were placed everywhere on the wall whether horizontally or vertically. But nobody complained and soon, everyone was at a safe distance away from wall.
"All is set, sir," Shilo exclaimed as he pulled up with the rest of the group, in what they estimated as a safe distance.
"Okay then," Lesam began, "Lieutenant Shilo."
"Yes, sir?"
"Do us the honor." It took Shilo a few moments before he understood what Lesam meant and grinned. He turned his GM Kai around and set his targeting sights back on to the wall, trained the Beam Spray Gun towards where a large batch of explosives was, and depressed the trigger.
A white flash of energy spat from the Beam Spray Gun and traveled through the space between them and the wall and with precision, hit the batch of explosives and resulted in a chain reaction that quickly created a flash of white and orange as fire burned and nitroglycerine exploded. It somehow looked like working but after the ensuing explosion, came the unearthly groaning of metal as the explosion made the debris to spat forward towards the group. Lesam saw this and quickly shouted orders for evasive maneuvers which they did. The Discovery did too but was little slow and forced Lesam to order the three free Balls to help pull it away.
The small and large pieces of debris from the wall rushed past them as the six mobile suits of the 723rd evaded it. But Jack was a little slower and as he evaded a piece of a discarded Musai gun, he didn't saw the large wreck of the Musai itself until it crashed into him, the GM performing uncoordinated spins and tumbling on the hull until it by passed his GM. Just as he was about to orient himself, a shouting order from Lesam over the radio forced him to look up and saw another wreck of a Magellan to crash into him again. This time, he hold on which was the wrong thing to do as the much faster Magellan sandwiched Jack's GM between it and the Musai wreck. In a last scream from his realization, his GM was crushed between the two wrecks and the ensuing explosion from a chain reaction of rupturing fuel tanks and reactor damage marked the first death of the 723rd. It would mark the beginning of horrors to come.
"JACK!" Shilo could only look on and said nothing. He pushed his GM Kai forward to the wrecks, wanting to make sure if he could find him alive and well. He had seen deaths by mobile suits against mobile suits but not like this. To see one of their numbers die like that was unbelievable in a time where a bullet can end your life. Nobody expected this to happen. Lesam's GM Kai grabbed hold of his GM's shoulder before he could go.
"Forget it, Lieutenant," Lesam's voice no longer contains the cordial tone he used, "That's that and there's nothing we can do about it."
"But…" Shilo began before he was cut off again by Lesam.
"I said forget it," he spoke again, this time with a serious tone in his voice, "We'll report this after we save lives. Ya got me, Lieutenant?"
"Ye… yes, sir…"
"Good. Come on, let's go." And Lesam maneuvered his GM Kai towards the now open path followed by everyone. Shilo took one last glimpse back before he joined in with the rest and they went on.
---
What was that?
Has someone come to die?
No…
I sense nothing…
But…
Vengeance…
---
"What the hell!" Parren exclaimed as he and the rest stopped suddenly to see what was in front of that. Even Shilo full of grief was somehow lost of what to think for right in front of them, laid a perfect rotating, cylindrical form of metal. A colony.
What's left of it that is. Lesam turned to look around just to make sure this isn't a trick and found that the wall they blew through was actually a small part of a conglomeration of debris that surrounded this particular colony as they could barely see any light from the sun to illuminate the darkness within this secret garden of metal debris.
The colony itself was though perfect in shape, no longer has its three large mirror arrays that is used by the many colonies of its type to reflect light in to the colony's interior, leaving what they could see a very dark and gloomy interior from what they could see through the glass panels from where they are.
Lesam turned his sights back at the signal finder panel and as much as he is confused, the signal was emanating much stronger now from inside the colony.
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
Augusta Transport ship, Discovery
11th November UC0082...
"How could this be?" Jasper finally said after a moment of silence ensued after they saw the colony, "Natalie, are you sure this is the coordinate?"
"Yes," was the reply that came from her, finally tearing herself away from the view, "I think Dr. Laurel has a lot of explaining to do about this."
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
11th November UC0082...
"Sir, your orders?" It was Shilo, finally overcoming the initial shock everyone had shared and his voice over their speakers washed the rest of it away and regains their composure.
"We…" he glanced at the panel again, "have to check inside the colony. The signals coming from inside it."
"How do we get in?"
Lesam scanned the colony for a moment from one end to the other before replying, "The docks over there," his GM Kai pointed towards the place he mentioned, "It should still be working."
"Roger that, sir."
"Alright, everyone," he said through everyone else's speakers, "Get to the docks. We'll have to look for our survivor inside. Shilo," Lesam called out again which he acknowledged with a "Yes?", "Tell the Discovery of our plans."
---
Side 2, L4, Shoal Zone
Augusta Transport ship, Discovery
11th November UC0082...
"In and out, huh?" Jasper said scornfully after Natalie acknowledged Shilo's message, "Now what do we do?"
"Oh shut up. It is just the Federation after all and they know they can't interfere with our work." Natalie replied back equally.
"If they know we're doing it illegally." He added as a-matter-of-factly.
"Who needs to know."
---
As Shilo went after the Discovery which was now heading forward towards the dock as well, he couldn't help shaking away a feeling of being watched from behind him but when he turned to where he think it was, there was nothing there. He shrugged and quickly hit the acceleration and went after everyone else as they headed towards the dock of the colony.
And he'll never realized right then, that a shadow darker than the shadows there was staring back at them with blank stares, a shadow Shilo couldn't see through the shadows itself as he will soon. If he did saw it, then maybe, things might turn out much differently now.
---
Getting curious? Next on Mobile Suit Gundam 0082: His Dark Materials, the 723rd MS Company and the crews of the Discovery find hell in heaven as they find unearthly horror lurking within the walls of the lost colony deep in the Side 2 Shoal Zone. Find out how they encounter and deal with this horror in 'Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire.'