Gundam MK Dead - This is an AU, there is no longer any Titans(they were wiped out), no Londo Bell, just the Earth Federation. And The Black Dragons aren't an actual faction, just a small special forces team and as for your plot summery, that describes a generic romance, but I'm unique (just like everyone else lol)
Minerva managed to escape the Federation for another two years before finally being caught. She was stripped of her uniform and force to dress in a prison jumpsuit for the cameras. She was taken to Earth alongside Goya and a handful of other officers. Much of the remaining Zeon forces escaped to a secret lunar base and were plotting a final desperate attack in hope to rescue Minerva and possibly inspire the colonies to rise up again.
A huge press conference was being held at a space port. Minerva was forced to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of reporters while the leader of the Earth gave a speech. Goya and the others were being held somewhere in a prison. Behind the stage stood the Black Dragons mobile suits. Halfway through the speech an aide ran up to the speaker and gave some frantic sounding news.
"The Red Army? Impossible they were wiped out!" The speaker exclaimed, loud enough that Minerva could hear and her mood suddenly became happier.
"I'm sure of it sir, there's a single mobile suit headed this way" The aide replied.
"One suit, is nothing, the Black Dragons will take care of it" The speaker said, signalling to the trio of black mobile suits behind him. Almost on cue a flaming object came streaking through the sky heading right towards crowds. The object stopped almost on a dime a few feet off the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. It took a few seconds for the object to become visible. It looked like a mobile suit in a round white pod of some sort. The head was easily recognized as being from one of the previous gundam models.
"Tell him the rest of the news!" A voice came from the new mobile suit.
"What the hell is going on?" The speaker asked.
"It seems that side three, six and two have began open rebellion and have reformed the Duchy of Zeon" The aide said, the news causing Minerva to smile slightly, "They're demanding we turn over the prisoners at once"
"How dare they!" The speaker roared, "Don't they know our forces can crush them with ease!"
"Um, they've been secretly building up armies over the past years, they can't match us but we'd take massive casualties." The aide said, "But they are preaching peaceful intentions"
"I however have no such intentions, I, being the only survivor of the Black Dragons ambush, now lead the new Red Army and I fully intend to attack and destroy any Federation unit I come across" The new Mobile Suit said.
"What makes you think you can just waltz down here to Earth and make these demands?" The speaker asked, "Especially when I have my Black Dragons right behind me"
"Once you release Lady Minerva and the other prisoners I fully intend to destroy your Black Dragons" The Pilot of the suit said.
"Ha! Enough of this, We most certainly will not turn over our prisoners and you will not leave here alive" The Speaker scoffed.
"Have it your way, Major Nex! Twice we've fought and twice you've won, I assure you this time I won't lose." The suit pilot said.
"If that is who I think it is then this will not be a challenge" Major Nex replied, "Eh, Prime Kossack!"
"Prime Kossack was the name of my suit you moron, say hello to Grand Tsar!" Matt replied, throwing his new suit into battle mode. The white pod began to split and rotate to extend out, built to look like the wings of an angel. Major Nex was taken back when he saw the body of the suit Matt had destroyed on Gamma, the decorative Dragon head on the chest replaced by a Bears head.
"Where did you get that!" Nex demanded.
"Federation junk yard, where I was dumped with my old suit after you killed my friends." Matt replied.
"Bah, it makes no difference, only skill of the pilot matters!" Nex exclaimed, his wingmen Bronte and Durante skidding across the ground into a triangle attack formation.
"Call in reinforcements, just in case" The speaker ordered, "Take her some place secure and get everyone else out of here! We'll take care of this colony situation after we kill this insolent flea"
"Get moving Zeon scum" A guard said, smacking Minerva in the back as he forced her to move.
"I'll be nice and let you make the first move" Nex said, drawing his beam rifle, "You have three seconds."
"More than enough time" Matt said, kicking his verniers to max and blasting across the ground for Bronte.
"What the hell! He's too fast!" Bronte exclaimed, trying to block as Matt slammed into his suit. The Grand Tsar grabbed the shoulders of Brontes Black Dragon and was powerful enought to physically rip the arms off it. With a quick slash from his beam saber Matt finished Bronte off by cutting right through his cockpit.
"You'll regret that! Durante! Open fire!" Nex screamed, removing his suits chain gun from the back holder and letting loose a spray of shells in Matt's direction.
"Right boss" Durante said, following Nex's lead. Matt took to the air, zipping back and forth dodging the streams of glowing bullets until he saw an opening and flew full speed towards the two. He stopped a few metres from the two Black Dragons and pulled out a pair of beam sabres. Nex and Durante dropped their chain guns and brought out their own sabres just in time to block a swipe from Matt.
"Fool! No one's ever beaten two of us at once!" Nex laughed.
"Always a first" Matt replied, dropping down and sweeping the legs out from under Nex's suit. Matt then drove his sabres into the chest of Durantes suit and throttled his verniers, pushing Durante's suit back until it slammed into a building, leaving Durante dead.
"Damnit!" Nex yelled, looking around then smirking when he saw the guard pushing Minerva along, "You want the Zabi scum, try and save her!"
"You bastard!" Matt screamed, leaping into the air and heading for Minerva as Nex opened fire with his head vulcans, causing a path of small explosions to head for Minerva.
"Nooo!" Minerva screamed as the guard ran for his life. She closed her eyes expecting to die but opened them when she heard a huge metallic thunk followed by the sounds of bullets ricocheting off metal. She looked to see the Grand Tsar crouched over her, using it's wings to encase her in a protective shield.
"You can't last forever!" Nex laughed wildly, "You'll pay for killing Bronte and Durante!"
"Do you think I'd really be stupid enough to come here all alone?" Matt asked smugly, "Panzers! Now!"
"What!" Nex exclaimed as his suit suddenly rocked hard and everything shut down. As his suit fell he managed to spin around to see a squad of four heavy looking mobile suits, each carrying a beam sniper rifle aimed at him, and one that looked similar to a Jeagan but painted different, "Damned kid! Go ahead, finish me off!"
"I don't think so" Matt said, not releasing Minerva from the protective shield, "I'm going to let you live with the shame that you were beaten by a meer boy, unlike you I'm not a monster who will kill everyone in a battle for the hell of it"
"I'm going to get you for this!" Nex screamed right before his communications died.
Minerva watched as the wings retracted and folded behind the Tsar. The suits hand reached down, allowing her to step onto it then lift her to to chest. The cockpit opened and she practically threw herself at Matt, hugging him tight on the verge of tears.
"Are you alright?" Matt asked, putting a comforting arm around her.
"I was so scared, I almost died and you risked you life for me again" Minerva said, "I thought you had been killed two years ago"
"I almost was, but I lived and I came back to visit you, as I promised I always would." Matt said as Minerva looked into his eyes, seeing for the first time a large scar that extended from his forehead, over his left eye and half way down his cheek.
"My god what happened?!" Minerva exclaimed, sitting up on his lap.
"Long story" Matt replied, smiling, "Let's free the others and get out of here"
"Is it true?" Minerva asked, "About the colonies declaring themselves a new Duchy of Zeon?"
"Yep, And they're waiting for you to lead them" Matt said, making his suit stand up and walk towards the prison complex not far away, "Tsar to Kaiser, spread out and destroy any backup that might be on the way"
"You got it cap'n" A Man a few years older than Matt said, "Leave it to me and the Panzers"
"Who's he?" Minerva asked.
"Jorg Gren, better known as Kaiser, he was a former Titan who until recently worked as a freelancer" Matt said, "And the Panzers are the Red Army elite squad."
"Why didn't you ever come back to see me before now?" Minerva asked.
"I spent almost a year trapped in the feddie junkyard, then I couldn't find you" Matt said, his suit stopping in front of the prison, "According to my intel Goya and the rest should be in these three cells"
"Ma'am, the battles over, you should take a look" An officer said, looking out the barred window, "On second thought, get back!"
"Huh?" Goya said, looking over as the wall suddenly crumbled away giving her a perfect view of the Grand Tsar, "They did it! They beat the Black Dragons!"
The cockpit opened and Minerva waved to Goya as the Tsar's hand extended to allow the prisoners onto it.
"Min! Thank god you're safe! Thank you so much Matt!" Goya exclaimed.
"Have you heard the news! Sides three, six and two have declared independance and are reforming the Duchy!" Minerva called, "We don't have to run anymore!"
"I can't believe it!" Goya laughed, hopping off the hand.
"There should be a shuttle landing soon to take you back to space" Matt said, "You should go with them Minerva"
"No, I want to stay right here, I feel safer with you" Minerva said.
"Fine, but going back into space may make you pass out if you aren't used to the G-forces." Matt said as the shuttle landed and he finished letting the prisoners down to the ground, "See on the Diablo Goya"
"See you later!" Goya called, rushing onto the shuttle as the sounds of the Panzers engaging the federation reinforcements off in the distance could be heard.
"Ready to go?" Matt asked, sealing the cockpit.
"Yep" Minerva smiled, "I can't wait to get out of this jumpsuit"
"Here we go" Matt said, extending the Grand Tsars wings and activating to booster engines within them as well as his verniers, "Lift off!"
Minerva felt the G-forces pushing on her as the Tsar rocketed into the sky, gaining speed as it neared the barrier between the atmosphere and space. A few moments after lifting off she felt the weight lifted from her as all gravity disappeared.
"I missed this" Minerva laughed as she floated around the cockpit.
"There's the Diablo" Matt said, setting a course for a trio red painted Musai crusiers.
"That thing is almost twenty years old!" Minerva said, "Why do you use them?"
"Refit them properly and they are still formidable" Matt said, "And they were the best we could get right now"
"I can't believe all that's happened" Minerva said, settling down next to Matt, "Just fifteen minutes ago I was a prisoner and now I'm going to lead a nation"
"Lifes funny isn't it?" Matt said, guiding his suit to one of the custom added mobile suit docking ports added to the Musai's. A small tube extended out and formed a seal between the port and the cockpit hatch. Minerva floated out of the cockpit and into the corridor where she was met by a pair of soldiers in Red Army uniforms, who gave her an odd look, but stopped and saluted when Matt emerged.
"Bring Miss Zabi to some quarters and get her some new clothes, get ready to depart as soon as Kaiser and the Panzers return" Matt ordered.
"Sir!" The soldiers said.
"When you're cleaned up and dressed I'll be on the bridge" Matt said as Minerva followed the soldiers down the corridor, "And how many times do I have to tell you guys no formalities!"
"Sorry sir! oops!" One of the soldiers corrected himself.
"Federation army doesn't train it's soldiers it brainwashes them" Matt chuckled to himself as he headed for the locker room to take off his pilot suit.
Within half an hour the shuttle carrying Goya and the others arrived alongside the Panzers and the fleet left Earth orbit destined for side three. Minerva, having washed up and changed into the provided outfit, headed towards the bridge of the ship only to bump into Goya on her way.
"Min!" Goya exclaimed, hugging the younger girl, "Did the feddies hurt you at all?"
"Yes, but now they're regretting it" Minerva said smiling, "Come up to the bridge after you get cleaned up and changed!"
"All right" Goya said, following the soldier who was leading her to some quarters.
Minerva made her way through the ship until she came to the bridge. Matt was standing and watching out the large bridge window.
"Fit well?" Matt asked, referring to Minerva's new uniform.
"How'd you guess my size?" Minerva asked.
"Wasn't my job, I don't know womens sizes." Matt said, pointing out the main window, "Look, there one of your fleets."
"That's big..." Minerva said a dozens of battleships could be seen off in the distance.
"Incoming communication." The comms officer said, "Coming from the Zeon fleet."
"Put them on." Matt said, turning to a screen and pushing Minerva out of the Zeons field of view, "And what can we do for you today?"
"Identify yourselves" the Zeon fleet commander said.
"I am Commander Matt G. of the Red Army." Matt said, not revealing his last name.
"Red Army, you were wiped out two years ago!" The Zeon commander said.
"Well here we are stronger than ever." Matt said, "What's with the major military buildup?"
"We're in the middle of a rescue operation. Lady Minerva Zabi must be rescued from the Federation prison and the Black Dragons must be destroyed." The Zeon commander said, "You're welcome to join in, but if you don't want to we must ask you staqy clear of the area."
"Well my friend, we have just saved you a lot of time and effort." Matt said, pulling Minerva back into view, "Presenting Lady Minerva Zabi, safe and sound courtesy of the Red Army. And the Black Dragons, let's just say I had a very large beef to pick with them."
"Well I'll be damned." The Zeon Commander, "Lady Minerva, it's a pleasure. We shall send a transport to bring you home."
"That's alright, I want the Red Army to transport me home." Minerva said, leaning against Matt, "Just lead the way."
"As you wish." The Zeon Commander said, "Sending co-ordinates."
"Thank you sir." Matt said, as the comm link cut off, "Interesting turn of events."
"Yes, No more running." Minerva said, "And are you going to stay?"
"I'd love to but there's something big that's going to happen soon and I'm needed." Matt said, "But, if we have permission, we could regularly visit the new Duchy to resupply."
"You do realize you're talking to the new leader of Zeon right?" Minerva asked.
"Where?" Matt asked, getting punched by Minerva.
A while later the Red Army and the Zeon Fleets arrived at the colony Volt. The Red Army fleet docked inside the massive hangar bay while the Zeons remained outside in a defensive position.
"Well, ready to meet your adoring puclic?" Matt asked Minerva as she, Goya and the rest of the Zeon officers stood around waiting to leave the ship.
"It won't be that big of a turn out." Minerva said as the door opened and she stepped out onto the platform. Her jaw dropped as a roar of celebratory cheers came from the thousands of people gathered in the hangar awaiting her.
"Told ya." Matt said, putting an arm around he shoulders and walking with her.
"Amazing, this whole thing must have been in the works for years!" Goya exclaimed.
"Fourteen to be exact." An aging man said, stepping out of the door into the main colony, "My name is Herb, It warms my heart greatly to see you safe."
"All your thanks should go to the members of the Red Army." Minerva said, noticing Matt listening to something from a communicator, "They defeated the Black Dragons like it was nothing."
"We cannot thank you enough!" Herb said, grabbing Matts hand and shaking it vigourously, "You must stay and be the guests of honor at the banquet tonight!"
"As much as I'd like to I'm afraid I must decline, we need to move out right away." Matt said, putting the communicator down.
"But why!" Minerva exclaimed, staring into Matt's eyes.
"We just recieved a message from a spy in the Federation Blue Earth ship yard, Something we've been monitoring for a long time is on the move and we need to capture it." Matt said, "I'm very sorry but if all goes well then we should be back within the week."
"Fine.. But if you're not back by then I'll have the entire army of Zeon hunting you down!" Minerva snapped, making Matt laugh.
"This time there's no Black Dragons to stop me." Matt said, giving a little bow then dashing back towards the command Musai. Soon after the trio of Red Army ships left Volt and headed off into space at full speed.
In deep space a fleet of Federation battleships departed on a mission that was supposed to be top secret. The fleet was there to escort a new prototype Super Battleship from Blue Earth to the Federation Space Fortress Crown for final tests. The Super Battleship was almost three times the size of the largest Federation battleship and was designed to be the flagship of the fleets. It had no crew on it for the voyage and was being towed by a pair of old looking tug vessels. Dozens of mobile suits escorted the battleships ready to engage. The fleet arrived at the halfway point in the mission. Up ahead was an old looking Kossack, a second survivor of the slaughter that occurred at Gamma.
"What a time for the rear sensors to die on me!" Vash screamed, smacking the console infront of her, "Damned piece of junk, how am I supposed to resurrect the Red Army with just one cruddy mobile suit!"
She adjusted a radio knob and began intercepting messages from the oncoming Federation fleet.
"The usual interfleet messages, they haven't detected me yet." Vash said, suddenly hearing something different.
"Incoming units! It's the same force that slaughtered the Black Dragons!" A Federation officer said, "The Red Army!"
"The hell? I'm the Red Army!" Vash exclaimed, throwing on her engines and charging towards the fleet. From the right came a group of Mega Particle blasts that impacted on one of the battleships and caused it to explode.
"Grand Tsar and Panzers ready to go in, Diablo, fire Starbursts and take out some of the mobile suits. Tiamat and Grendal, fire on the battleships but don't hit the prototype." Matt said, disengaging from the Dialo in his suit and flying towards the convoy. The Panzers followed close behind as a salvo of shots from the Diablo whizzed past. The shots flew near the battleships and exploded, sending shrapnel in all directions and crippling a number of mobile suits. The Panzers began firing their long range weapons at the battleships, sending them up in flames one by one. Matt continued on closer and as soon as he was within range the battleships opened fire with anti-aircraft weapons. Federation mobile suits began charging Matt with their beam rifles at the ready.
"Bring it on!" Matt said as another battleship exploded from the Panzers, leaving only three remaining. The Grand Tsar pulled a pair of compact beam rifles out and began rapidly firing and destroying the Federation GMIII's that were attacking. The battleships stopped firing once their own suits were in the line of fire.
"This is the Red Army commander to all Federation units, the battle is lost for you, Join with us and you will not be harmed!." Matt said, broadcasting to all remaining Federation units.
"This is Federation battleship York, we're standing down and willing to join you." A commander with a russian accent said.
"This is Federation battleship Adder, We're also standing down." Another federation officer said.
"Traitors! Fight!" The commander of the third exclaimed, aiming his turrets at the other two ships. Suddenly there was a flurry of beam fire as the remaining mobile suits turned against the Federation. The last enemy battleship exploded and all the firing stopped. Vash then finally arrived on the scene.
"Well I'll be damned, a Kossack." Matt snickered as the Panzers closed in. The Federation Mobile suits returned to the remaining battleships, "Who are you?"
"A better question is who are you!" Vash snapped.
"Ah, I know who that is." Matt said, "So Vash, disappointed I'm still alive."
"More relieved, I haven't had anyone to insult." Vash replied.
"Welcome home Vash, Red Army's back!" Matt said, heading for the Super Battleship, "And we have a new toy, I christen this ship the Volga!"
Vash and the Panzers followed Matt into the Volga's mobile suit decks as the Diablo launched a shuttle with a skeleton crew for the new vessel.
Once landed Matt, Kaiser, The Panzers and Vash left their suits in the large Mobile suit deck and headed through an airlock.
"Oh god it's good to see you again!" Vash said, wrapping her arms around Matt and squeezing him.
"Okay, need to breathe..." Matt said, freeing himself, "So tell me, how did you get away?"
"After I saw your suit crippled at the battle of Gamma I hightailed it out of there." Vash said, somewhat embarassed, "If you couldn't take out the Black Dragons then I had no hope."
"Didn't you know he just destroyed the remaining three a few hours ago?" Kaiser asked.
"No way in hell!" Vash exclaimed.
"Saved Minerva Zabi too, and with the return of the Duchy we have a place to rest with protection if needed." One ofthe Panzers said.
"We'll get all caught up later, let's head to the bridge and set course for Fortress Moscow." Matt said, "I'll also fill you in on Operation Red Dawn."
Fortress Moscow, hidden on the dark side of the moon. Constructed by the members of the Krasnaya Mest', the Red Revenge decades before and abandoned after the Federation wiped them out. The Red Army found the fortress and turned it into a base of operations. The three new ships in the Red Army Fleet docked and began to be transformed and refitted to Red Army specification. The Volga was done within a week and left with an escort consisting of the Tiamat and the Grendal. It headed back to Volt, as promised by Matt to Minerva.
On Minerva's side things weren't looking so peachy. It was decided that she wasn't old enough to take full control. She still had some power but wouldn't take total control until her eighteenth birthday. Goya came up with an idea that Minerva didn't like one bit. She suggested sending Minerva to school for a year, to give other youths an example to follow. It was halfway through her first week and no one would leave her alone since she was the great Minerva Zabi, leader of the Duchy. It was the middle of classes when one of the other students noticed something big.
"Whoa! Look at the size of that ship!" One of the students exclaimed, looking out the window and at one of the large sections of glass that allowed a view into space.
Everyone in the class crowded to the window, but leaving plenty of room for Minerva to go and look.
"What is that thing?" Another student asked.
"It looks like it's coming to dock." A third said.
"It couldn't be." Minerva said, pulling a communcator that linked right to the central command off her belt.
"This is Red Army Super Battleship Volga requesting permission to dock." Vash's voice came.
"Zeon command to Volga, you have permission to dock, where did you get that thing?" The Zeon control officer said.
"Gift from the feddies." Vash replied, "Volga out."
"Hey Minerva, it was the Red Army that rescued you?" A student asked.
"Yes, and I am going to hurt the leader very badly." Minerva said as students returned to their seats.
"Why?" The student who sat next to her asked.
"Because he promised he's be back in a week and he's late!" Minerva said, starting to chuckle.
When school was over Minerva arrived back at the presidental palace with a small group of other students. They were assigned a group project and were getting started working on it.
"Look at this place, this is a palace!" Ami, one of Minerva's friends said.
"It's more than I deserve." Minerva said, opening the door.
"Don't be so modest, you're going to lead Zeon! You deserve this!" Meg, her other friend said, following the other two inside.
"I had to see this to believe it!" Matt said, breaking out into laughter, "You forced into school! This is too much!"
"Shut up!" Minerva snapped, kicking Matt in the shin.
"Ow! See if I come to visit you again!" Matt said, still laughing.
Back on Earth, Major Nex had just been released from hospital with a clean bill of health. His entire time was spent cursing Matt and the Red Army and plotting revenge.
He walked through a Federation test facility with another officer.
"I can understand your anger, having been undefeated then suddenly being defeated so easily." The other officer said.
"Shut up unless you want to get hurt." Nex replied, "I just want something that will allow me to crush that little worm."
"Did you hear the latest that has command's panties in a bunch?" The other officer asked, "The Red Army attacked the convoy moving the new prototype battleship then stole it. It was spotted by a spy docking in the colony Volt."
"He seems close to the Zabi girl, perhaps if I took her out it would crush his spirits." Nex sneered.
"That would also be a big help for Operation Chaos to Order." The officer said, coming to a door an punching a code in, "Kill the Zabi girl, demoralize the new Zeon then we can crush this rebellion in no time. This is the newest prototype mobile suit. It's so advanced that your old suit wouldn't stand a snowflakes chance in hell of even hitting it."
"Excellent, That little punk is going to suffer for making a fool of me." Nex said, smirking as he looked over the new suit.
To Be Continued....
Coming up next time!
Assassination attempt, "I never want to see you again!", Red Dawn....
Minerva managed to escape the Federation for another two years before finally being caught. She was stripped of her uniform and force to dress in a prison jumpsuit for the cameras. She was taken to Earth alongside Goya and a handful of other officers. Much of the remaining Zeon forces escaped to a secret lunar base and were plotting a final desperate attack in hope to rescue Minerva and possibly inspire the colonies to rise up again.
A huge press conference was being held at a space port. Minerva was forced to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of reporters while the leader of the Earth gave a speech. Goya and the others were being held somewhere in a prison. Behind the stage stood the Black Dragons mobile suits. Halfway through the speech an aide ran up to the speaker and gave some frantic sounding news.
"The Red Army? Impossible they were wiped out!" The speaker exclaimed, loud enough that Minerva could hear and her mood suddenly became happier.
"I'm sure of it sir, there's a single mobile suit headed this way" The aide replied.
"One suit, is nothing, the Black Dragons will take care of it" The speaker said, signalling to the trio of black mobile suits behind him. Almost on cue a flaming object came streaking through the sky heading right towards crowds. The object stopped almost on a dime a few feet off the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. It took a few seconds for the object to become visible. It looked like a mobile suit in a round white pod of some sort. The head was easily recognized as being from one of the previous gundam models.
"Tell him the rest of the news!" A voice came from the new mobile suit.
"What the hell is going on?" The speaker asked.
"It seems that side three, six and two have began open rebellion and have reformed the Duchy of Zeon" The aide said, the news causing Minerva to smile slightly, "They're demanding we turn over the prisoners at once"
"How dare they!" The speaker roared, "Don't they know our forces can crush them with ease!"
"Um, they've been secretly building up armies over the past years, they can't match us but we'd take massive casualties." The aide said, "But they are preaching peaceful intentions"
"I however have no such intentions, I, being the only survivor of the Black Dragons ambush, now lead the new Red Army and I fully intend to attack and destroy any Federation unit I come across" The new Mobile Suit said.
"What makes you think you can just waltz down here to Earth and make these demands?" The speaker asked, "Especially when I have my Black Dragons right behind me"
"Once you release Lady Minerva and the other prisoners I fully intend to destroy your Black Dragons" The Pilot of the suit said.
"Ha! Enough of this, We most certainly will not turn over our prisoners and you will not leave here alive" The Speaker scoffed.
"Have it your way, Major Nex! Twice we've fought and twice you've won, I assure you this time I won't lose." The suit pilot said.
"If that is who I think it is then this will not be a challenge" Major Nex replied, "Eh, Prime Kossack!"
"Prime Kossack was the name of my suit you moron, say hello to Grand Tsar!" Matt replied, throwing his new suit into battle mode. The white pod began to split and rotate to extend out, built to look like the wings of an angel. Major Nex was taken back when he saw the body of the suit Matt had destroyed on Gamma, the decorative Dragon head on the chest replaced by a Bears head.
"Where did you get that!" Nex demanded.
"Federation junk yard, where I was dumped with my old suit after you killed my friends." Matt replied.
"Bah, it makes no difference, only skill of the pilot matters!" Nex exclaimed, his wingmen Bronte and Durante skidding across the ground into a triangle attack formation.
"Call in reinforcements, just in case" The speaker ordered, "Take her some place secure and get everyone else out of here! We'll take care of this colony situation after we kill this insolent flea"
"Get moving Zeon scum" A guard said, smacking Minerva in the back as he forced her to move.
"I'll be nice and let you make the first move" Nex said, drawing his beam rifle, "You have three seconds."
"More than enough time" Matt said, kicking his verniers to max and blasting across the ground for Bronte.
"What the hell! He's too fast!" Bronte exclaimed, trying to block as Matt slammed into his suit. The Grand Tsar grabbed the shoulders of Brontes Black Dragon and was powerful enought to physically rip the arms off it. With a quick slash from his beam saber Matt finished Bronte off by cutting right through his cockpit.
"You'll regret that! Durante! Open fire!" Nex screamed, removing his suits chain gun from the back holder and letting loose a spray of shells in Matt's direction.
"Right boss" Durante said, following Nex's lead. Matt took to the air, zipping back and forth dodging the streams of glowing bullets until he saw an opening and flew full speed towards the two. He stopped a few metres from the two Black Dragons and pulled out a pair of beam sabres. Nex and Durante dropped their chain guns and brought out their own sabres just in time to block a swipe from Matt.
"Fool! No one's ever beaten two of us at once!" Nex laughed.
"Always a first" Matt replied, dropping down and sweeping the legs out from under Nex's suit. Matt then drove his sabres into the chest of Durantes suit and throttled his verniers, pushing Durante's suit back until it slammed into a building, leaving Durante dead.
"Damnit!" Nex yelled, looking around then smirking when he saw the guard pushing Minerva along, "You want the Zabi scum, try and save her!"
"You bastard!" Matt screamed, leaping into the air and heading for Minerva as Nex opened fire with his head vulcans, causing a path of small explosions to head for Minerva.
"Nooo!" Minerva screamed as the guard ran for his life. She closed her eyes expecting to die but opened them when she heard a huge metallic thunk followed by the sounds of bullets ricocheting off metal. She looked to see the Grand Tsar crouched over her, using it's wings to encase her in a protective shield.
"You can't last forever!" Nex laughed wildly, "You'll pay for killing Bronte and Durante!"
"Do you think I'd really be stupid enough to come here all alone?" Matt asked smugly, "Panzers! Now!"
"What!" Nex exclaimed as his suit suddenly rocked hard and everything shut down. As his suit fell he managed to spin around to see a squad of four heavy looking mobile suits, each carrying a beam sniper rifle aimed at him, and one that looked similar to a Jeagan but painted different, "Damned kid! Go ahead, finish me off!"
"I don't think so" Matt said, not releasing Minerva from the protective shield, "I'm going to let you live with the shame that you were beaten by a meer boy, unlike you I'm not a monster who will kill everyone in a battle for the hell of it"
"I'm going to get you for this!" Nex screamed right before his communications died.
Minerva watched as the wings retracted and folded behind the Tsar. The suits hand reached down, allowing her to step onto it then lift her to to chest. The cockpit opened and she practically threw herself at Matt, hugging him tight on the verge of tears.
"Are you alright?" Matt asked, putting a comforting arm around her.
"I was so scared, I almost died and you risked you life for me again" Minerva said, "I thought you had been killed two years ago"
"I almost was, but I lived and I came back to visit you, as I promised I always would." Matt said as Minerva looked into his eyes, seeing for the first time a large scar that extended from his forehead, over his left eye and half way down his cheek.
"My god what happened?!" Minerva exclaimed, sitting up on his lap.
"Long story" Matt replied, smiling, "Let's free the others and get out of here"
"Is it true?" Minerva asked, "About the colonies declaring themselves a new Duchy of Zeon?"
"Yep, And they're waiting for you to lead them" Matt said, making his suit stand up and walk towards the prison complex not far away, "Tsar to Kaiser, spread out and destroy any backup that might be on the way"
"You got it cap'n" A Man a few years older than Matt said, "Leave it to me and the Panzers"
"Who's he?" Minerva asked.
"Jorg Gren, better known as Kaiser, he was a former Titan who until recently worked as a freelancer" Matt said, "And the Panzers are the Red Army elite squad."
"Why didn't you ever come back to see me before now?" Minerva asked.
"I spent almost a year trapped in the feddie junkyard, then I couldn't find you" Matt said, his suit stopping in front of the prison, "According to my intel Goya and the rest should be in these three cells"
"Ma'am, the battles over, you should take a look" An officer said, looking out the barred window, "On second thought, get back!"
"Huh?" Goya said, looking over as the wall suddenly crumbled away giving her a perfect view of the Grand Tsar, "They did it! They beat the Black Dragons!"
The cockpit opened and Minerva waved to Goya as the Tsar's hand extended to allow the prisoners onto it.
"Min! Thank god you're safe! Thank you so much Matt!" Goya exclaimed.
"Have you heard the news! Sides three, six and two have declared independance and are reforming the Duchy!" Minerva called, "We don't have to run anymore!"
"I can't believe it!" Goya laughed, hopping off the hand.
"There should be a shuttle landing soon to take you back to space" Matt said, "You should go with them Minerva"
"No, I want to stay right here, I feel safer with you" Minerva said.
"Fine, but going back into space may make you pass out if you aren't used to the G-forces." Matt said as the shuttle landed and he finished letting the prisoners down to the ground, "See on the Diablo Goya"
"See you later!" Goya called, rushing onto the shuttle as the sounds of the Panzers engaging the federation reinforcements off in the distance could be heard.
"Ready to go?" Matt asked, sealing the cockpit.
"Yep" Minerva smiled, "I can't wait to get out of this jumpsuit"
"Here we go" Matt said, extending the Grand Tsars wings and activating to booster engines within them as well as his verniers, "Lift off!"
Minerva felt the G-forces pushing on her as the Tsar rocketed into the sky, gaining speed as it neared the barrier between the atmosphere and space. A few moments after lifting off she felt the weight lifted from her as all gravity disappeared.
"I missed this" Minerva laughed as she floated around the cockpit.
"There's the Diablo" Matt said, setting a course for a trio red painted Musai crusiers.
"That thing is almost twenty years old!" Minerva said, "Why do you use them?"
"Refit them properly and they are still formidable" Matt said, "And they were the best we could get right now"
"I can't believe all that's happened" Minerva said, settling down next to Matt, "Just fifteen minutes ago I was a prisoner and now I'm going to lead a nation"
"Lifes funny isn't it?" Matt said, guiding his suit to one of the custom added mobile suit docking ports added to the Musai's. A small tube extended out and formed a seal between the port and the cockpit hatch. Minerva floated out of the cockpit and into the corridor where she was met by a pair of soldiers in Red Army uniforms, who gave her an odd look, but stopped and saluted when Matt emerged.
"Bring Miss Zabi to some quarters and get her some new clothes, get ready to depart as soon as Kaiser and the Panzers return" Matt ordered.
"Sir!" The soldiers said.
"When you're cleaned up and dressed I'll be on the bridge" Matt said as Minerva followed the soldiers down the corridor, "And how many times do I have to tell you guys no formalities!"
"Sorry sir! oops!" One of the soldiers corrected himself.
"Federation army doesn't train it's soldiers it brainwashes them" Matt chuckled to himself as he headed for the locker room to take off his pilot suit.
Within half an hour the shuttle carrying Goya and the others arrived alongside the Panzers and the fleet left Earth orbit destined for side three. Minerva, having washed up and changed into the provided outfit, headed towards the bridge of the ship only to bump into Goya on her way.
"Min!" Goya exclaimed, hugging the younger girl, "Did the feddies hurt you at all?"
"Yes, but now they're regretting it" Minerva said smiling, "Come up to the bridge after you get cleaned up and changed!"
"All right" Goya said, following the soldier who was leading her to some quarters.
Minerva made her way through the ship until she came to the bridge. Matt was standing and watching out the large bridge window.
"Fit well?" Matt asked, referring to Minerva's new uniform.
"How'd you guess my size?" Minerva asked.
"Wasn't my job, I don't know womens sizes." Matt said, pointing out the main window, "Look, there one of your fleets."
"That's big..." Minerva said a dozens of battleships could be seen off in the distance.
"Incoming communication." The comms officer said, "Coming from the Zeon fleet."
"Put them on." Matt said, turning to a screen and pushing Minerva out of the Zeons field of view, "And what can we do for you today?"
"Identify yourselves" the Zeon fleet commander said.
"I am Commander Matt G. of the Red Army." Matt said, not revealing his last name.
"Red Army, you were wiped out two years ago!" The Zeon commander said.
"Well here we are stronger than ever." Matt said, "What's with the major military buildup?"
"We're in the middle of a rescue operation. Lady Minerva Zabi must be rescued from the Federation prison and the Black Dragons must be destroyed." The Zeon commander said, "You're welcome to join in, but if you don't want to we must ask you staqy clear of the area."
"Well my friend, we have just saved you a lot of time and effort." Matt said, pulling Minerva back into view, "Presenting Lady Minerva Zabi, safe and sound courtesy of the Red Army. And the Black Dragons, let's just say I had a very large beef to pick with them."
"Well I'll be damned." The Zeon Commander, "Lady Minerva, it's a pleasure. We shall send a transport to bring you home."
"That's alright, I want the Red Army to transport me home." Minerva said, leaning against Matt, "Just lead the way."
"As you wish." The Zeon Commander said, "Sending co-ordinates."
"Thank you sir." Matt said, as the comm link cut off, "Interesting turn of events."
"Yes, No more running." Minerva said, "And are you going to stay?"
"I'd love to but there's something big that's going to happen soon and I'm needed." Matt said, "But, if we have permission, we could regularly visit the new Duchy to resupply."
"You do realize you're talking to the new leader of Zeon right?" Minerva asked.
"Where?" Matt asked, getting punched by Minerva.
A while later the Red Army and the Zeon Fleets arrived at the colony Volt. The Red Army fleet docked inside the massive hangar bay while the Zeons remained outside in a defensive position.
"Well, ready to meet your adoring puclic?" Matt asked Minerva as she, Goya and the rest of the Zeon officers stood around waiting to leave the ship.
"It won't be that big of a turn out." Minerva said as the door opened and she stepped out onto the platform. Her jaw dropped as a roar of celebratory cheers came from the thousands of people gathered in the hangar awaiting her.
"Told ya." Matt said, putting an arm around he shoulders and walking with her.
"Amazing, this whole thing must have been in the works for years!" Goya exclaimed.
"Fourteen to be exact." An aging man said, stepping out of the door into the main colony, "My name is Herb, It warms my heart greatly to see you safe."
"All your thanks should go to the members of the Red Army." Minerva said, noticing Matt listening to something from a communicator, "They defeated the Black Dragons like it was nothing."
"We cannot thank you enough!" Herb said, grabbing Matts hand and shaking it vigourously, "You must stay and be the guests of honor at the banquet tonight!"
"As much as I'd like to I'm afraid I must decline, we need to move out right away." Matt said, putting the communicator down.
"But why!" Minerva exclaimed, staring into Matt's eyes.
"We just recieved a message from a spy in the Federation Blue Earth ship yard, Something we've been monitoring for a long time is on the move and we need to capture it." Matt said, "I'm very sorry but if all goes well then we should be back within the week."
"Fine.. But if you're not back by then I'll have the entire army of Zeon hunting you down!" Minerva snapped, making Matt laugh.
"This time there's no Black Dragons to stop me." Matt said, giving a little bow then dashing back towards the command Musai. Soon after the trio of Red Army ships left Volt and headed off into space at full speed.
In deep space a fleet of Federation battleships departed on a mission that was supposed to be top secret. The fleet was there to escort a new prototype Super Battleship from Blue Earth to the Federation Space Fortress Crown for final tests. The Super Battleship was almost three times the size of the largest Federation battleship and was designed to be the flagship of the fleets. It had no crew on it for the voyage and was being towed by a pair of old looking tug vessels. Dozens of mobile suits escorted the battleships ready to engage. The fleet arrived at the halfway point in the mission. Up ahead was an old looking Kossack, a second survivor of the slaughter that occurred at Gamma.
"What a time for the rear sensors to die on me!" Vash screamed, smacking the console infront of her, "Damned piece of junk, how am I supposed to resurrect the Red Army with just one cruddy mobile suit!"
She adjusted a radio knob and began intercepting messages from the oncoming Federation fleet.
"The usual interfleet messages, they haven't detected me yet." Vash said, suddenly hearing something different.
"Incoming units! It's the same force that slaughtered the Black Dragons!" A Federation officer said, "The Red Army!"
"The hell? I'm the Red Army!" Vash exclaimed, throwing on her engines and charging towards the fleet. From the right came a group of Mega Particle blasts that impacted on one of the battleships and caused it to explode.
"Grand Tsar and Panzers ready to go in, Diablo, fire Starbursts and take out some of the mobile suits. Tiamat and Grendal, fire on the battleships but don't hit the prototype." Matt said, disengaging from the Dialo in his suit and flying towards the convoy. The Panzers followed close behind as a salvo of shots from the Diablo whizzed past. The shots flew near the battleships and exploded, sending shrapnel in all directions and crippling a number of mobile suits. The Panzers began firing their long range weapons at the battleships, sending them up in flames one by one. Matt continued on closer and as soon as he was within range the battleships opened fire with anti-aircraft weapons. Federation mobile suits began charging Matt with their beam rifles at the ready.
"Bring it on!" Matt said as another battleship exploded from the Panzers, leaving only three remaining. The Grand Tsar pulled a pair of compact beam rifles out and began rapidly firing and destroying the Federation GMIII's that were attacking. The battleships stopped firing once their own suits were in the line of fire.
"This is the Red Army commander to all Federation units, the battle is lost for you, Join with us and you will not be harmed!." Matt said, broadcasting to all remaining Federation units.
"This is Federation battleship York, we're standing down and willing to join you." A commander with a russian accent said.
"This is Federation battleship Adder, We're also standing down." Another federation officer said.
"Traitors! Fight!" The commander of the third exclaimed, aiming his turrets at the other two ships. Suddenly there was a flurry of beam fire as the remaining mobile suits turned against the Federation. The last enemy battleship exploded and all the firing stopped. Vash then finally arrived on the scene.
"Well I'll be damned, a Kossack." Matt snickered as the Panzers closed in. The Federation Mobile suits returned to the remaining battleships, "Who are you?"
"A better question is who are you!" Vash snapped.
"Ah, I know who that is." Matt said, "So Vash, disappointed I'm still alive."
"More relieved, I haven't had anyone to insult." Vash replied.
"Welcome home Vash, Red Army's back!" Matt said, heading for the Super Battleship, "And we have a new toy, I christen this ship the Volga!"
Vash and the Panzers followed Matt into the Volga's mobile suit decks as the Diablo launched a shuttle with a skeleton crew for the new vessel.
Once landed Matt, Kaiser, The Panzers and Vash left their suits in the large Mobile suit deck and headed through an airlock.
"Oh god it's good to see you again!" Vash said, wrapping her arms around Matt and squeezing him.
"Okay, need to breathe..." Matt said, freeing himself, "So tell me, how did you get away?"
"After I saw your suit crippled at the battle of Gamma I hightailed it out of there." Vash said, somewhat embarassed, "If you couldn't take out the Black Dragons then I had no hope."
"Didn't you know he just destroyed the remaining three a few hours ago?" Kaiser asked.
"No way in hell!" Vash exclaimed.
"Saved Minerva Zabi too, and with the return of the Duchy we have a place to rest with protection if needed." One ofthe Panzers said.
"We'll get all caught up later, let's head to the bridge and set course for Fortress Moscow." Matt said, "I'll also fill you in on Operation Red Dawn."
Fortress Moscow, hidden on the dark side of the moon. Constructed by the members of the Krasnaya Mest', the Red Revenge decades before and abandoned after the Federation wiped them out. The Red Army found the fortress and turned it into a base of operations. The three new ships in the Red Army Fleet docked and began to be transformed and refitted to Red Army specification. The Volga was done within a week and left with an escort consisting of the Tiamat and the Grendal. It headed back to Volt, as promised by Matt to Minerva.
On Minerva's side things weren't looking so peachy. It was decided that she wasn't old enough to take full control. She still had some power but wouldn't take total control until her eighteenth birthday. Goya came up with an idea that Minerva didn't like one bit. She suggested sending Minerva to school for a year, to give other youths an example to follow. It was halfway through her first week and no one would leave her alone since she was the great Minerva Zabi, leader of the Duchy. It was the middle of classes when one of the other students noticed something big.
"Whoa! Look at the size of that ship!" One of the students exclaimed, looking out the window and at one of the large sections of glass that allowed a view into space.
Everyone in the class crowded to the window, but leaving plenty of room for Minerva to go and look.
"What is that thing?" Another student asked.
"It looks like it's coming to dock." A third said.
"It couldn't be." Minerva said, pulling a communcator that linked right to the central command off her belt.
"This is Red Army Super Battleship Volga requesting permission to dock." Vash's voice came.
"Zeon command to Volga, you have permission to dock, where did you get that thing?" The Zeon control officer said.
"Gift from the feddies." Vash replied, "Volga out."
"Hey Minerva, it was the Red Army that rescued you?" A student asked.
"Yes, and I am going to hurt the leader very badly." Minerva said as students returned to their seats.
"Why?" The student who sat next to her asked.
"Because he promised he's be back in a week and he's late!" Minerva said, starting to chuckle.
When school was over Minerva arrived back at the presidental palace with a small group of other students. They were assigned a group project and were getting started working on it.
"Look at this place, this is a palace!" Ami, one of Minerva's friends said.
"It's more than I deserve." Minerva said, opening the door.
"Don't be so modest, you're going to lead Zeon! You deserve this!" Meg, her other friend said, following the other two inside.
"I had to see this to believe it!" Matt said, breaking out into laughter, "You forced into school! This is too much!"
"Shut up!" Minerva snapped, kicking Matt in the shin.
"Ow! See if I come to visit you again!" Matt said, still laughing.
Back on Earth, Major Nex had just been released from hospital with a clean bill of health. His entire time was spent cursing Matt and the Red Army and plotting revenge.
He walked through a Federation test facility with another officer.
"I can understand your anger, having been undefeated then suddenly being defeated so easily." The other officer said.
"Shut up unless you want to get hurt." Nex replied, "I just want something that will allow me to crush that little worm."
"Did you hear the latest that has command's panties in a bunch?" The other officer asked, "The Red Army attacked the convoy moving the new prototype battleship then stole it. It was spotted by a spy docking in the colony Volt."
"He seems close to the Zabi girl, perhaps if I took her out it would crush his spirits." Nex sneered.
"That would also be a big help for Operation Chaos to Order." The officer said, coming to a door an punching a code in, "Kill the Zabi girl, demoralize the new Zeon then we can crush this rebellion in no time. This is the newest prototype mobile suit. It's so advanced that your old suit wouldn't stand a snowflakes chance in hell of even hitting it."
"Excellent, That little punk is going to suffer for making a fool of me." Nex said, smirking as he looked over the new suit.
To Be Continued....
Coming up next time!
Assassination attempt, "I never want to see you again!", Red Dawn....