Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or anything that has to do with Gundam. All characters portrayed in this fic is ficticious and any resemblence to real people, living or dead is purely coincidental.
Gundam Wing: The Missing Chapter
Episode 5: Building an army, Birth of the Unicorn
Lt Klein in his Virgo MS was patroling the area outside of New Manchester with 5 other Taurus suits. Suddenly they came across what appears to be a small military base. And it appears to have been abandoned.
"Lt. Klein! That must be where the rebels was manufacturing their new mobile suits!" Said one of the officers. Klein looked around. It looked as though that the people using the base had left for quite some time now.
"There's nobody here now. I wonder, did they all leave as soon as we took over the capital?" Klein replied. Then a few of his officers had a few thoughts.
"Hey! Seeing as how they fled they must have left a few valuble resources behind!"
"Yes and probably some food as well! Or maybe some vital information about where they might be right now! Let's search inside!"
The 5 Tauruses quickly flew into the base but Klein did not move. Instead, he pondered.
"This...is not right. ALL of the base's entrances are left wide open and the base is left completly as it is, intact. No attempts made to destroy any vital clues inside that may show where they are now. It's as if they want us to go inside, almost.....inviting us. But why?
Klein continued to ponder, then suddenly...a terrible realisation sprung into his mind.
"....Oh no! All Units! Get back here now!"
Too late. A faint bleeping sound echoed from the base and in an instant the entire base exploded with such force that Klein was forced to use the Virgo's planet defensor's to protect the suit from the shock wave. The Taurus pilots had activated the mines in the base placed by Prime Minister Nemos before he left the base. There was no chance of any of them coming out alive. Klein could only look at the result of the explosion and sees that where there once stood a base containing 5 Taurus mobile suits with 5 pilots inside, now was nothing but a giant crater.
A week has passed since the takeover of New Manchester by White Fang. The A.W.F.M had moved from their military base to the one in New Dublin. The city was quite far away from New Manchester and was only slightly smaller than the capital. The people there had been told of the situation and have prepared themselves for a possible invaision. Some stocked up on food and took refuge in basements with televisions and radios etc to have contant update of the situation. Some just carried on with there normal lives, saying that this war isn't going to put them off their daily routine. Some joined up with the A.W.F.M which add to the recruits of New Manchester. Ellen is one of those recruits. Inside the military base of New Dublin in what is called the simulation room, Ellen as well as several other recruits are taking part in a new sort of training. Alec had once mentioned that the virtual game that he played had once been used as mobile suit training on Earth and so it shall be used as training again. In the simulation room a number of the virtual game had been installed and several of the recruits are getting to hang of trying to pilot a virtual mobile suit. Because then, they would have to pilot real mobile suits. After a week the recruits have slightly, only slightly began to get better at it. Seeing as most of them had never had any military experience. This lifestyle was completly new to them. In one of the machines is Ellen. She now, like her friend Alec a week ago, ditched her old clothes and wears the standard A.W.F.M uniform. She is having difficulty piloting her virtual Leo. She can see the enemies clearly but her reactions are somewhat slow and can't seem to hit the enemy but is herself too slow to avoid being hit by the enemy. After a few manuvers, she once again gets hit and her simulation cockpit shakes violently, signally that her Leo has once again been destroyed. She sighed. She wants to give up but knows she cannot. If what just happened was real, she would have died. She has a sad look as she is about to try again. Then someone approached behind her.
"Having trouble?"
Ellen knew that voice anywhere. It was Alec. She sighed as she replied.
"Alec, how do you do it? How do you pilot a mobile suit so well?"
Alec just smiled.
"Hey, don't worry. You'll get the hang of it. Here let help you."
Alec then wrapped his left hand around Ellen's left hand which is holding the left control stick. Then he did the same with the right hand. Ellen blushed a little bit but Alec didn't notice. The simulation starts once again and the screen shows a desert wasteland. Alec began to guide Ellen through it.
"Now one of the most important information you need prior to battle is the knowledge of terrain. In this case the desert is a pretty rough terrain and you can't see much due to the sandstorm. So it's a good idea to move at a slow pace to begin with."
"Hey Alec, there's something shiny up ahead. I think it's getting clos-"
"MOVE!"
"Whoa!"
Alec moves Ellen's hands to the left, causing her to move the controls to the left. Because of this, the Leo dodged a Bazooka shell. It also caused Ellen heart rate to increase dramatically. She hadn't expect that at all.
"Little tip Ellen, when you see something 'shiny' heading towards you at a fast rate, move or die."
"Um....ok."
"Alright, now we know that the enemy has spotted us. Now we have to be fast, not slow. So move with the thrusters."
The screen now moves at a very fast rate.
"Ok, keep your eyes peeled for any enemies. If he's hiding the key factor is try to look for something out of place with the terrain."
" Hey Alec, that layer of sand. It looks like someone's been digging in it."
"That would be out of place!"
At that moment the virtual enemy Leo sprang out of the sand pit.
"Alec! I found the enemy! I did it!"
"Uh yeah...but watch out!"
Alec once again moved the Leo for Ellen as it narrowly dodges the enemy's beam attacks.
"Finding the enemy is one thing. Defeating the enemy is another! Now we have to fight it! Always dodge when the enemy is pointing it's weapon at you! And strike when you have the opportunity!"
"Like this?"
"Yes that's it. You're doing great!"
Unbeknownst to Ellen, at this point, Alec have very lightly let go of Ellen's hands so it looks like he is still guiding Ellen but really, Ellen is piloting on her own. She is too busy concentrating on the screen to notice. To Alec this is a good sign as Ellen is now completly focused on the battle. After a few minutes Ellen saw an opening and with her own bazooka, shot the enemy Leo's arm off.
"Ellen, now! Finish it!"
Ellen drew her beam sabre and drove it straight to the chest of the enemy Leo which caused it to explode. Ellen had won. She cried with joy and it was only then that she realised that Alec's hands were no longer covering hers. She looked back and finds Alec smiling at her. She realised what he had done, and realised that she had the capability to pilot a MS all along. She smiled back at Alec. Meanwhile Kyo, Reef and Uriko, who were checking on the progress made in the recruits, looked at the two. Kyo had a worried look.
"I don't know if this is a good thing." He said.
"What's wrong sir? Obviously those two have a thing for each other." Reef replied.
"Yes, I know. That's what's bothering me. If they're too focused on each other, they might lose concentration on the battle."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it sir. Alec never lost his focus whenever he piloted Epyon and just now Ellen was 100% focused on her battle to even realise that Alec had left her on her own. I'm sure they'll give it their all for the real thing."
"I hope you're right Reef."
Reef and Kyo left but Uriko remained. Her eyes fixated on Alec and Ellen, with an almost jealous look.
Meanwhile in New Manchester, now the White Fang's HQ...
"So they all died in the explosion?" Hadrian asked.
"Yes sir. The abandoned base was rigged with mines. It was a trap." Klein replied.
Hadrian looked at Klein for a few seconds, then looked down on his desk as he writes something down. Trajan and Florian sat nearby, going through some files.
"What's done is done I suppose. Anyway, our scouts have reported that there is another city, probably as big as here. It's approxiamatly 400 miles away. I bet that's where the rebels will be Once our new mobile suits are completed I want you to take them and take over that city and destroy the rebels."
"New suits? "
"Yes, the Wasps. It's a new model based on the Taurus suits. Thankfully Kyo didn't steal ALL of my prints. The prototypes are almost finished. Once they are, you are to set out immediatly."
"And what about Gundam Epyon?"
"I must admit. I never expected the Epyon to have crashed here. But....it's now in the hands of the enemy. And in any case our new mobile suits will be superior to the Epyon, even if it is a Gundam. Destroy it."
"Sir."
Klein saluted then walked out.
Hadrian then said, "That was a big waste. Don't you think Trajan?"
"Yes father, it was. Their families-" Replied Trajan.
"Those mobile suits aren't cheap. They cost time and money to build."
"Those mobile suits?"
"Yeah, we don't have many Tauruses left. And our new MS are just being developed. We can't afford to lose any more suits. Right?"
"Uh...yes....of course, father." Trajan returned to his work with a somewhat dissappointed look on his face.
The next day, Ellen and the other recruits, including the Prime Minister are now trying out the mobile suits for real. New Orion suits have been made and more are being produced. Zan is watching from a tower as the recruits adjust to piloting the giant war machines. Some like Ellen are having a few difficulties. Piloting real mobile suits turns out to be a bit different than the simulations. Others have no problem piloting suits but their aims need work as they seem to miss the dummies placed on the field. The Prime Minister is suprisingly quite good at piloting his Orion and also a spiky, blue haired 23 year old recruit named Shinya Tengo also made some noteworthy progress in his Orion. Liam walks to where Zan is.
"So how are they doing?"
"Well they still need some work but they're actually improving. I think we may have a fighting chance after all."
"What about that guy over there?"
"Shinya Tengo? Yeah, he's actually pretty good. According to our data, Shinya's abilities are almost equal to Alec's."
"Hmm, hey what about him. His stats are quite impressive too."
"Let's see. Daffyd Kardy. He's the same age as Alec, but his skills aren't quite as good as Alec's."
"Well in either case-"
Just then, the alarm sounds. Zan and Liam knew what that meant. They quickly hurried to the control room.
By the time the two reached the control room it was already filled with people. Alec, Ellen, Uriko, Kardy, Shinya, Kyo etc were there.
Kyo, was at the front looking at the large screen, the screen shows a mountainous desert which is 200 miles from the city. At first there's nothing, then tiny dots appeared with dust clods behind them. The dots gets bigger as they are getting closer and begin to take shape. Instantly, everyone knew what they are. Mobile suits.
Kyo looked at them and asked, "Are they...Tauruses?"
Reef, who was sitting next to Kyo answered, "No sir! They are definatly not Tauruses!"
As everyone looks at the screen the MS became more visable. These MS have the same colours as Tauruses but something is different. One thing is that they have the head of an Aries. Their left arm is equipped with a dober gun which also has a beam bayonet at the tip of it. The right arm is carrying beam rifles. Also more of them appears in the sky, confirming their ability to fly.
Kyo clench his hands. "New models, damn you Hadrian!" He muttered. "How many are there?" He then asked.
"The screen shows approxiamatly 60 of them. No wait, there's another one. Different colour style. That one is red. 61. They appeared to be coming here."
"So, they found out about this city. I guess this is it."
Then took a deep breath, then turned around facing the soldiers.
"The enemy is fast approaching this city. It is imperitive that we stop them before they reach here. For some of you, this will be your first ever battle. I will give you one piece of advice. Do not hestitate. You give your enemies even a second and it's all over. This is what we have been training for. Now, let's show them what we're made off!"
Loud cheers and approvals followed Kyo's speech by the civilian recruits. Then they all scrambled to get in their Orions. Kyo then turned around again and said, "Alec, Reef, come with me."
The two were a bit confused but followed Kyo anyway. Kyo led them to the hangar where the mobile suits were being constructed. There they gasped in awe at what they saw. One familar but different mobile suit. And one entirely new mobile suit. And the most distinguishing fact about these two new MS is, they're both Gundams. The first one has a colour sceme like the Epyon. In fact Alec is pretty sure it's the Epyon. But something is different. It looks a little bit bulkier because it now has extra armour. The left arm has the heat rod attached and it's hand is holding a titanium arrow launcher, painted red. The shoulders are opened up to reveal (much to Alec's delight) a pair of vulcan cannons. On the right hand, it's holding the ever so deadly Beam Sword, which is linked to it's own generator. The head is the same except at the top is a big red spike to accompany the V shaped design.
The new Gundam's design is different. It has a white on sky blue colour scheme. It too features vulcans. But the legs are different. Each of the two legs have been fitted with thrusters on the sides. In fact so are the arms and the waists. It has a dober gun on it's left arm and on the top of it's shoulders lies a pair of cannons. The right arm has noting at the moment.
"Alec," Kyo began, "We're able to analyse the Gundam Epyon and have rebuilt it so it'll be most efficient in combat. First of all, we have fitted it with new armour, making it more durable. Second we've taken out the original fusion reactor and gave it an improved version, giving it more power so despite the weight it gained it'll still move without any trouble. As for the weapons, vulcans are added, and your launcher has two barrels, one for shooting titanium arrows and one for beam."
Kyo then turned to Reef.
"Reef, I can't forget the time when you saved my life. And you've always been there to support me. This is the only way I can think of to repay you. This is the Gundam Sidewinder. Why is it called that? Because with the thrusters added to the sides of this Gundam, you will be able to strafe faster than any other MS, catching the enemies completly by suprise. It has a dober gun, beam cannons, and the thigh is a hidden component where it can be opened to reveal a combat knife. Alec, your Epyon also has this ability as does the Orions. The beam saber is on the back of the Sidewinder."
Alec and Reef are very suprised. Reef was the first to speak
"Captain, you stayed up every night for this?"
Then a voice came from behind them. "Well he didn't exactly designed them all on his own."
Reef and Alec turned around. There was Prime Minister Nemos.
"Prime Minister?" Alec was quite stunned.
Nemos smiled. "We went through the blueprints Captain Kyo obtained and we're able to create these new models. Now, show your appreciation by getting in them and drive back the enemy."
"Yes Sir!" Both Reef and Alec saluted.
As they got in, they both realised that the cockpits are pretty much the same. They were about to take off but then Alec stops for a minute. "Captain if I may, can I make a request?"
Kyo looked puzzled but acknowledged.
"I would like to rename the Gundam Epyon seeing as how it's been, "reborn"."
"Ok, what name would you like?"
"My mother, when I was young, would tell me myths and legends all the time. One of which I particularly like was the tale of a Unicorn who would come from the sky and smite the wicked. Captain, from this moment on, I wish the Gundam Epyon to be called, the Kirin Gundam! (Author's note: Kirin is a Japanese mythical Unicorn)
"As you wish. Now, take the Kirin Gundam and show them what we're made of!"
"Yes sir!"
Both Reef and Alec rushes off to the battlefied where the others have already left to. Nemos approaches Kyo.
"Hehe, the youths today, they have quite an active imagination eh?" Nemos chuckled. Kyo chuckled as well. "Well, Kirin is a decent name I suppose." Nemos then became a bit more serious, "I think I'll join them now. You coming with us?"
Kyo was about to answer when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He clutches his heart as his struggles in pain. Nemos was concerned and rushes towards Kyo.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Ahh!!....nothing..I think.....I'll sit this out."
"Yeah, I think it's best."
Nemos called for someone to help Kyo. Kyo then nods for Nemos to go. Nemos then went to his Orion and left for the battlefied but not before looking at Kyo one more time to see if he's ok.
By the time Reef and Alec reached the battlefield, the battle had already started.
"Damn! We came late!" Alec exclaimed.
"Something's not right! It looks like the Orions are getting pushed back." Reef noted.
Alec and Reef landed near one Orion, who happens to be piloted by Uriko.
"Uriko!" Reef called. "What's going on!"
"It's not looking good! Our forces are still too green. Either they're not skilled enough or they're too scared to even move! All they're doing is hiding behind rocks. We've already lost 7 Orions and have yet to take out an enemy. So far the only Orions even attempting to make an attack are the ones piloted by Ellen, Shinya Tengo and Daffyd Kardy!"
Just then Nemos and his Orion arrives.
"All right everybody. How are we doing?"
It was at that point Alec let out a frustrated yell and flew towards where the Orions are taking cover.
"Alec wait!" Reef yelled but to no avail.
"Hmm, that bad huh?"
Alec rushed to where the Orions are and landed. And opened his cockpit.
"HEY! What are people waiting for?!"
One of the pilots spoke. "We.....We can't do this. We're just not ready!"
"What the hell do you mean by that?! What the hell had you been doing during all your training sessions."
Then another pilot spoke. "Hey kid, give us a break will ya?! This is all new to us!"
"Oh? And it isn't to me! I'm 19 years old! I have NO military experience and I have only piloted this suit THREE times! So don't give me that "new at this" CRAP!"
This seems to have shamed a few of the pilots.
Suddenly Alec hears a girl screaming over the transmitter in his MS. The Kirin turned around and sees that a Wasp unit has knocked down one of the Orions who are actually fighting. Alec knew at once that the pilot was Ellen. The Kirin Gundam speeds towards the scene just as the Wasp pulled out a beam saber and was about to deal the finishing blow.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!!" Alec yelled as the Kirin shot a titanium arrow at the Wasp which cuts one of it's arm. Alec shot another arrow which cuts off another arm.
"Rrrrrraaarrrrrghhh!" Alec cried and slashed the Wasp vertically in half using Kirin's beam sword.
Kardy and Shinya provided cover fire as Alec tried to get Ellen's Orion to safety. Then Nemos, Uriko and Reef arrived too. Uriko in her Orion contacted Alec. "Alec, I'll take care of her."
Alec paused for a few seconds then agreed. Ellen who was still inside her Orion, opened her eyes and sees Alec's face on the screen.
"A....Alec."
"Don't worry Ellen, Uriko's gonna take you back to base."
"I...I think I got two of them."
"Really? That's great!"
"The...other two...are they..?"
"Kardy and Shinya are fine. They're brave soldiers. Unlike the others....."
"Alec, please don't blame...them.."
Ellen then fainted.
"!!!! Ellen!"
"Alec!" Uriko cried, "She's gonna be fine! You just worry about the enemy! I'll take her back now!"
Uriko's Orion carries the damaged Orion and flies away. As Uriko heads back to base she looks at the damaged Orion and thinks about the girl inside. "You sure are lucky. More lucky than you probably know..."
Reef in his Sidewinder then approached Alec.
"Alec, What do we do now?"
Alec just sat there in his cockpit but the anger in his eyes are clearly showing. Then suddenly he flies towards the Orions again. Then stopped.
"I just don't get it. If a gentle and sweet girl like Ellen and a little brat like me can find the courage to fight for what we believe in, then WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU PEOPLE?!"
Everyone in their Orions were stunned at Alec's sudden outburst. Finally, Alec and the Kirin draws out the beam sword and turns around facing the advancing Wasps.
"Forget it! Screw you people!"
With that, Alec flies towards the enemy, intending to help Kardy and Shinya by himself.
"Alec wait. Ahh, that kid's gonna get himself killed! I'm going too." Reef then rushed to where Alec is going in his Sidewinder.
"I may be old but I'm no coward." Nemos then joins Reef in the battle.
The other Orion pilots just sat in shock. And they watched on.
Kirin flew in between two Wasps.
"Huh? What is that?!" One of the White Fang officers cried.
"That looks like the Epyon! Shoot it!"
The two Wasps began firing their beam rifles at the Gundam Kirin but the Gundanium Alloy easily takes in the beam attacks.
"Kirin is definatly a fierce beast!" Alec thought.
Then one of the Wasps shoots it's dober gun which fires shells instead of beams. This exploded on impact with the Kirin and actually caused damage.
"Ahhh! But I can't overestimate it's defense capabilities!" Alec noted.
The Kirin then shoots out it's heat rod which easily slices one of the Wasps in half. Then he aimed and fired a titanium arrow at the other Wasp which tried to dodge it but was hit in the leg. Kirin then flew down and sliced the Wasp with it's beam sword. But then the Kirin gets hit by another dober gun shell, this time blowing a bit of the armor away on it's legs reveling some of the mechanisms. Alec was lucky the shell didn't hit any higher, where the cockpit is.
Reef was fairing quite well in his new Gundam. Sidewinder's strafing easily dodges the enemies attacks and all the while he hits the enemies with his own dober gun. He then opens up the Sidewinder's left leg and pulls out a combat knife and drives it straight in the reactor of a Wasp, making it explode.
Nemos, Kardy and Shinya also had a good tactic. Focusing on one enemy at a time, they form a triangular formation around the enemy and repeatly shoot at it until it is no more.
About 12 Wasps are now destroyed but all too soon the group once again finds themselves cornered as the other Wasps decides to charge them. Kirin and Sidewinder stood firm side by side whilst the three Orions were stand a few distances behind them.
"This isn't good.!" Alec remarked
"Unless we think of something, we're going to be goners!" Nemos responded.
Klein who was in the red Wasp sees that victory is near. He smiled as he orders his troops, "They're exhausted. Victory is ours! All units charge!
Suddenly a hail of titanium arrows shot out from behind the A.W.F.M mobile suits and some of them hits the Wasps units.
"What?" Klein was barely able escaped this violent hail.
Alec and co. turned around and were suprised to see the other Orions rushing to the battlefield. One of the Orion pilots spoke to him.
"Kid, we've decided to fight."
Another Orion pilot came up and spoke.
"Watching you put your lives on the line like that.....we want to help you help all of us to save our home!"
"Yeah! And I guess what you said to us pretty much forced us to battle!"
Alec smiled. "I glad to see you guys finally decided to fight. Now let's get them!"
"Yes sir!"
Reef commanded, "All Units! Charge!"
Alec then thought, "Now let's see what the outcome will be now that the odds are now even!"
Nemos looked at the Kirin and had a startling thought, "This boy. He really seems to know how to motivate people. These times require a leader who can properly lead his people to glory. Perhaps...."
Nemos snapped out of his thoughts and joins in on the charge.
On the other side Klein looks at the oncoming enemy.
"Ugh! All Units! Destroy the enemy!"
The Wasps recovered from the last assault and activated the beam bayonets on their dober guns and charged at the enemy. The two armies, A.W.F.M and the White Fang now faces each other for the first time. Each of the mobile suits picked out a particular target for themselves. Wasps and Orions alike dodging and shooting at each other as well as engaging in melee combat. One of the Wasps struck down an Orion with it's beam bayonet only to be skewered by Nemos's Orion and it's combat knife seconds later. Reef dodges a Wasp's attempts to strike and launches an attack of his own.
Just then Klein's red Wasp manages to destroy another Orion when it approaches the Kirin Gundam which had just sliced another Wasp in half. Klein was sure that this Gundam is Epyon. He decides to contact the pilot.
"You! The pilot in the Epyon! Identify yourself."
Alec at once knew who that voice belonged to. He switched on his transmitter over to the red Wasp so Klein can see his face.
"Remember me? cretin?"
Klein was shocked to see who it was. The same boy who threw a rock him. The same boy who made a fool out of him the last time they met. Anger slowly shows in Klein's eyes. "You...." was all he says.
The red Wasp pulls out it's custom made twin fang beam saber (Author's note: Imagine Heavyarms Custom from Endless Waltz. You know the twin gatling gun it has on it's arm? Swap the two gatling guns barrels with beam sabers. That's Klein's weapon.)
The Kirin Gundam readies it's beam sword. The battle between Alec and Klein is about to begin again!
End Episode
Next Episode: The souless fighters returns
Gundam Wing: The Missing Chapter
Episode 5: Building an army, Birth of the Unicorn
Lt Klein in his Virgo MS was patroling the area outside of New Manchester with 5 other Taurus suits. Suddenly they came across what appears to be a small military base. And it appears to have been abandoned.
"Lt. Klein! That must be where the rebels was manufacturing their new mobile suits!" Said one of the officers. Klein looked around. It looked as though that the people using the base had left for quite some time now.
"There's nobody here now. I wonder, did they all leave as soon as we took over the capital?" Klein replied. Then a few of his officers had a few thoughts.
"Hey! Seeing as how they fled they must have left a few valuble resources behind!"
"Yes and probably some food as well! Or maybe some vital information about where they might be right now! Let's search inside!"
The 5 Tauruses quickly flew into the base but Klein did not move. Instead, he pondered.
"This...is not right. ALL of the base's entrances are left wide open and the base is left completly as it is, intact. No attempts made to destroy any vital clues inside that may show where they are now. It's as if they want us to go inside, almost.....inviting us. But why?
Klein continued to ponder, then suddenly...a terrible realisation sprung into his mind.
"....Oh no! All Units! Get back here now!"
Too late. A faint bleeping sound echoed from the base and in an instant the entire base exploded with such force that Klein was forced to use the Virgo's planet defensor's to protect the suit from the shock wave. The Taurus pilots had activated the mines in the base placed by Prime Minister Nemos before he left the base. There was no chance of any of them coming out alive. Klein could only look at the result of the explosion and sees that where there once stood a base containing 5 Taurus mobile suits with 5 pilots inside, now was nothing but a giant crater.
A week has passed since the takeover of New Manchester by White Fang. The A.W.F.M had moved from their military base to the one in New Dublin. The city was quite far away from New Manchester and was only slightly smaller than the capital. The people there had been told of the situation and have prepared themselves for a possible invaision. Some stocked up on food and took refuge in basements with televisions and radios etc to have contant update of the situation. Some just carried on with there normal lives, saying that this war isn't going to put them off their daily routine. Some joined up with the A.W.F.M which add to the recruits of New Manchester. Ellen is one of those recruits. Inside the military base of New Dublin in what is called the simulation room, Ellen as well as several other recruits are taking part in a new sort of training. Alec had once mentioned that the virtual game that he played had once been used as mobile suit training on Earth and so it shall be used as training again. In the simulation room a number of the virtual game had been installed and several of the recruits are getting to hang of trying to pilot a virtual mobile suit. Because then, they would have to pilot real mobile suits. After a week the recruits have slightly, only slightly began to get better at it. Seeing as most of them had never had any military experience. This lifestyle was completly new to them. In one of the machines is Ellen. She now, like her friend Alec a week ago, ditched her old clothes and wears the standard A.W.F.M uniform. She is having difficulty piloting her virtual Leo. She can see the enemies clearly but her reactions are somewhat slow and can't seem to hit the enemy but is herself too slow to avoid being hit by the enemy. After a few manuvers, she once again gets hit and her simulation cockpit shakes violently, signally that her Leo has once again been destroyed. She sighed. She wants to give up but knows she cannot. If what just happened was real, she would have died. She has a sad look as she is about to try again. Then someone approached behind her.
"Having trouble?"
Ellen knew that voice anywhere. It was Alec. She sighed as she replied.
"Alec, how do you do it? How do you pilot a mobile suit so well?"
Alec just smiled.
"Hey, don't worry. You'll get the hang of it. Here let help you."
Alec then wrapped his left hand around Ellen's left hand which is holding the left control stick. Then he did the same with the right hand. Ellen blushed a little bit but Alec didn't notice. The simulation starts once again and the screen shows a desert wasteland. Alec began to guide Ellen through it.
"Now one of the most important information you need prior to battle is the knowledge of terrain. In this case the desert is a pretty rough terrain and you can't see much due to the sandstorm. So it's a good idea to move at a slow pace to begin with."
"Hey Alec, there's something shiny up ahead. I think it's getting clos-"
"MOVE!"
"Whoa!"
Alec moves Ellen's hands to the left, causing her to move the controls to the left. Because of this, the Leo dodged a Bazooka shell. It also caused Ellen heart rate to increase dramatically. She hadn't expect that at all.
"Little tip Ellen, when you see something 'shiny' heading towards you at a fast rate, move or die."
"Um....ok."
"Alright, now we know that the enemy has spotted us. Now we have to be fast, not slow. So move with the thrusters."
The screen now moves at a very fast rate.
"Ok, keep your eyes peeled for any enemies. If he's hiding the key factor is try to look for something out of place with the terrain."
" Hey Alec, that layer of sand. It looks like someone's been digging in it."
"That would be out of place!"
At that moment the virtual enemy Leo sprang out of the sand pit.
"Alec! I found the enemy! I did it!"
"Uh yeah...but watch out!"
Alec once again moved the Leo for Ellen as it narrowly dodges the enemy's beam attacks.
"Finding the enemy is one thing. Defeating the enemy is another! Now we have to fight it! Always dodge when the enemy is pointing it's weapon at you! And strike when you have the opportunity!"
"Like this?"
"Yes that's it. You're doing great!"
Unbeknownst to Ellen, at this point, Alec have very lightly let go of Ellen's hands so it looks like he is still guiding Ellen but really, Ellen is piloting on her own. She is too busy concentrating on the screen to notice. To Alec this is a good sign as Ellen is now completly focused on the battle. After a few minutes Ellen saw an opening and with her own bazooka, shot the enemy Leo's arm off.
"Ellen, now! Finish it!"
Ellen drew her beam sabre and drove it straight to the chest of the enemy Leo which caused it to explode. Ellen had won. She cried with joy and it was only then that she realised that Alec's hands were no longer covering hers. She looked back and finds Alec smiling at her. She realised what he had done, and realised that she had the capability to pilot a MS all along. She smiled back at Alec. Meanwhile Kyo, Reef and Uriko, who were checking on the progress made in the recruits, looked at the two. Kyo had a worried look.
"I don't know if this is a good thing." He said.
"What's wrong sir? Obviously those two have a thing for each other." Reef replied.
"Yes, I know. That's what's bothering me. If they're too focused on each other, they might lose concentration on the battle."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it sir. Alec never lost his focus whenever he piloted Epyon and just now Ellen was 100% focused on her battle to even realise that Alec had left her on her own. I'm sure they'll give it their all for the real thing."
"I hope you're right Reef."
Reef and Kyo left but Uriko remained. Her eyes fixated on Alec and Ellen, with an almost jealous look.
Meanwhile in New Manchester, now the White Fang's HQ...
"So they all died in the explosion?" Hadrian asked.
"Yes sir. The abandoned base was rigged with mines. It was a trap." Klein replied.
Hadrian looked at Klein for a few seconds, then looked down on his desk as he writes something down. Trajan and Florian sat nearby, going through some files.
"What's done is done I suppose. Anyway, our scouts have reported that there is another city, probably as big as here. It's approxiamatly 400 miles away. I bet that's where the rebels will be Once our new mobile suits are completed I want you to take them and take over that city and destroy the rebels."
"New suits? "
"Yes, the Wasps. It's a new model based on the Taurus suits. Thankfully Kyo didn't steal ALL of my prints. The prototypes are almost finished. Once they are, you are to set out immediatly."
"And what about Gundam Epyon?"
"I must admit. I never expected the Epyon to have crashed here. But....it's now in the hands of the enemy. And in any case our new mobile suits will be superior to the Epyon, even if it is a Gundam. Destroy it."
"Sir."
Klein saluted then walked out.
Hadrian then said, "That was a big waste. Don't you think Trajan?"
"Yes father, it was. Their families-" Replied Trajan.
"Those mobile suits aren't cheap. They cost time and money to build."
"Those mobile suits?"
"Yeah, we don't have many Tauruses left. And our new MS are just being developed. We can't afford to lose any more suits. Right?"
"Uh...yes....of course, father." Trajan returned to his work with a somewhat dissappointed look on his face.
The next day, Ellen and the other recruits, including the Prime Minister are now trying out the mobile suits for real. New Orion suits have been made and more are being produced. Zan is watching from a tower as the recruits adjust to piloting the giant war machines. Some like Ellen are having a few difficulties. Piloting real mobile suits turns out to be a bit different than the simulations. Others have no problem piloting suits but their aims need work as they seem to miss the dummies placed on the field. The Prime Minister is suprisingly quite good at piloting his Orion and also a spiky, blue haired 23 year old recruit named Shinya Tengo also made some noteworthy progress in his Orion. Liam walks to where Zan is.
"So how are they doing?"
"Well they still need some work but they're actually improving. I think we may have a fighting chance after all."
"What about that guy over there?"
"Shinya Tengo? Yeah, he's actually pretty good. According to our data, Shinya's abilities are almost equal to Alec's."
"Hmm, hey what about him. His stats are quite impressive too."
"Let's see. Daffyd Kardy. He's the same age as Alec, but his skills aren't quite as good as Alec's."
"Well in either case-"
Just then, the alarm sounds. Zan and Liam knew what that meant. They quickly hurried to the control room.
By the time the two reached the control room it was already filled with people. Alec, Ellen, Uriko, Kardy, Shinya, Kyo etc were there.
Kyo, was at the front looking at the large screen, the screen shows a mountainous desert which is 200 miles from the city. At first there's nothing, then tiny dots appeared with dust clods behind them. The dots gets bigger as they are getting closer and begin to take shape. Instantly, everyone knew what they are. Mobile suits.
Kyo looked at them and asked, "Are they...Tauruses?"
Reef, who was sitting next to Kyo answered, "No sir! They are definatly not Tauruses!"
As everyone looks at the screen the MS became more visable. These MS have the same colours as Tauruses but something is different. One thing is that they have the head of an Aries. Their left arm is equipped with a dober gun which also has a beam bayonet at the tip of it. The right arm is carrying beam rifles. Also more of them appears in the sky, confirming their ability to fly.
Kyo clench his hands. "New models, damn you Hadrian!" He muttered. "How many are there?" He then asked.
"The screen shows approxiamatly 60 of them. No wait, there's another one. Different colour style. That one is red. 61. They appeared to be coming here."
"So, they found out about this city. I guess this is it."
Then took a deep breath, then turned around facing the soldiers.
"The enemy is fast approaching this city. It is imperitive that we stop them before they reach here. For some of you, this will be your first ever battle. I will give you one piece of advice. Do not hestitate. You give your enemies even a second and it's all over. This is what we have been training for. Now, let's show them what we're made off!"
Loud cheers and approvals followed Kyo's speech by the civilian recruits. Then they all scrambled to get in their Orions. Kyo then turned around again and said, "Alec, Reef, come with me."
The two were a bit confused but followed Kyo anyway. Kyo led them to the hangar where the mobile suits were being constructed. There they gasped in awe at what they saw. One familar but different mobile suit. And one entirely new mobile suit. And the most distinguishing fact about these two new MS is, they're both Gundams. The first one has a colour sceme like the Epyon. In fact Alec is pretty sure it's the Epyon. But something is different. It looks a little bit bulkier because it now has extra armour. The left arm has the heat rod attached and it's hand is holding a titanium arrow launcher, painted red. The shoulders are opened up to reveal (much to Alec's delight) a pair of vulcan cannons. On the right hand, it's holding the ever so deadly Beam Sword, which is linked to it's own generator. The head is the same except at the top is a big red spike to accompany the V shaped design.
The new Gundam's design is different. It has a white on sky blue colour scheme. It too features vulcans. But the legs are different. Each of the two legs have been fitted with thrusters on the sides. In fact so are the arms and the waists. It has a dober gun on it's left arm and on the top of it's shoulders lies a pair of cannons. The right arm has noting at the moment.
"Alec," Kyo began, "We're able to analyse the Gundam Epyon and have rebuilt it so it'll be most efficient in combat. First of all, we have fitted it with new armour, making it more durable. Second we've taken out the original fusion reactor and gave it an improved version, giving it more power so despite the weight it gained it'll still move without any trouble. As for the weapons, vulcans are added, and your launcher has two barrels, one for shooting titanium arrows and one for beam."
Kyo then turned to Reef.
"Reef, I can't forget the time when you saved my life. And you've always been there to support me. This is the only way I can think of to repay you. This is the Gundam Sidewinder. Why is it called that? Because with the thrusters added to the sides of this Gundam, you will be able to strafe faster than any other MS, catching the enemies completly by suprise. It has a dober gun, beam cannons, and the thigh is a hidden component where it can be opened to reveal a combat knife. Alec, your Epyon also has this ability as does the Orions. The beam saber is on the back of the Sidewinder."
Alec and Reef are very suprised. Reef was the first to speak
"Captain, you stayed up every night for this?"
Then a voice came from behind them. "Well he didn't exactly designed them all on his own."
Reef and Alec turned around. There was Prime Minister Nemos.
"Prime Minister?" Alec was quite stunned.
Nemos smiled. "We went through the blueprints Captain Kyo obtained and we're able to create these new models. Now, show your appreciation by getting in them and drive back the enemy."
"Yes Sir!" Both Reef and Alec saluted.
As they got in, they both realised that the cockpits are pretty much the same. They were about to take off but then Alec stops for a minute. "Captain if I may, can I make a request?"
Kyo looked puzzled but acknowledged.
"I would like to rename the Gundam Epyon seeing as how it's been, "reborn"."
"Ok, what name would you like?"
"My mother, when I was young, would tell me myths and legends all the time. One of which I particularly like was the tale of a Unicorn who would come from the sky and smite the wicked. Captain, from this moment on, I wish the Gundam Epyon to be called, the Kirin Gundam! (Author's note: Kirin is a Japanese mythical Unicorn)
"As you wish. Now, take the Kirin Gundam and show them what we're made of!"
"Yes sir!"
Both Reef and Alec rushes off to the battlefied where the others have already left to. Nemos approaches Kyo.
"Hehe, the youths today, they have quite an active imagination eh?" Nemos chuckled. Kyo chuckled as well. "Well, Kirin is a decent name I suppose." Nemos then became a bit more serious, "I think I'll join them now. You coming with us?"
Kyo was about to answer when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He clutches his heart as his struggles in pain. Nemos was concerned and rushes towards Kyo.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Ahh!!....nothing..I think.....I'll sit this out."
"Yeah, I think it's best."
Nemos called for someone to help Kyo. Kyo then nods for Nemos to go. Nemos then went to his Orion and left for the battlefied but not before looking at Kyo one more time to see if he's ok.
By the time Reef and Alec reached the battlefield, the battle had already started.
"Damn! We came late!" Alec exclaimed.
"Something's not right! It looks like the Orions are getting pushed back." Reef noted.
Alec and Reef landed near one Orion, who happens to be piloted by Uriko.
"Uriko!" Reef called. "What's going on!"
"It's not looking good! Our forces are still too green. Either they're not skilled enough or they're too scared to even move! All they're doing is hiding behind rocks. We've already lost 7 Orions and have yet to take out an enemy. So far the only Orions even attempting to make an attack are the ones piloted by Ellen, Shinya Tengo and Daffyd Kardy!"
Just then Nemos and his Orion arrives.
"All right everybody. How are we doing?"
It was at that point Alec let out a frustrated yell and flew towards where the Orions are taking cover.
"Alec wait!" Reef yelled but to no avail.
"Hmm, that bad huh?"
Alec rushed to where the Orions are and landed. And opened his cockpit.
"HEY! What are people waiting for?!"
One of the pilots spoke. "We.....We can't do this. We're just not ready!"
"What the hell do you mean by that?! What the hell had you been doing during all your training sessions."
Then another pilot spoke. "Hey kid, give us a break will ya?! This is all new to us!"
"Oh? And it isn't to me! I'm 19 years old! I have NO military experience and I have only piloted this suit THREE times! So don't give me that "new at this" CRAP!"
This seems to have shamed a few of the pilots.
Suddenly Alec hears a girl screaming over the transmitter in his MS. The Kirin turned around and sees that a Wasp unit has knocked down one of the Orions who are actually fighting. Alec knew at once that the pilot was Ellen. The Kirin Gundam speeds towards the scene just as the Wasp pulled out a beam saber and was about to deal the finishing blow.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!!" Alec yelled as the Kirin shot a titanium arrow at the Wasp which cuts one of it's arm. Alec shot another arrow which cuts off another arm.
"Rrrrrraaarrrrrghhh!" Alec cried and slashed the Wasp vertically in half using Kirin's beam sword.
Kardy and Shinya provided cover fire as Alec tried to get Ellen's Orion to safety. Then Nemos, Uriko and Reef arrived too. Uriko in her Orion contacted Alec. "Alec, I'll take care of her."
Alec paused for a few seconds then agreed. Ellen who was still inside her Orion, opened her eyes and sees Alec's face on the screen.
"A....Alec."
"Don't worry Ellen, Uriko's gonna take you back to base."
"I...I think I got two of them."
"Really? That's great!"
"The...other two...are they..?"
"Kardy and Shinya are fine. They're brave soldiers. Unlike the others....."
"Alec, please don't blame...them.."
Ellen then fainted.
"!!!! Ellen!"
"Alec!" Uriko cried, "She's gonna be fine! You just worry about the enemy! I'll take her back now!"
Uriko's Orion carries the damaged Orion and flies away. As Uriko heads back to base she looks at the damaged Orion and thinks about the girl inside. "You sure are lucky. More lucky than you probably know..."
Reef in his Sidewinder then approached Alec.
"Alec, What do we do now?"
Alec just sat there in his cockpit but the anger in his eyes are clearly showing. Then suddenly he flies towards the Orions again. Then stopped.
"I just don't get it. If a gentle and sweet girl like Ellen and a little brat like me can find the courage to fight for what we believe in, then WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU PEOPLE?!"
Everyone in their Orions were stunned at Alec's sudden outburst. Finally, Alec and the Kirin draws out the beam sword and turns around facing the advancing Wasps.
"Forget it! Screw you people!"
With that, Alec flies towards the enemy, intending to help Kardy and Shinya by himself.
"Alec wait. Ahh, that kid's gonna get himself killed! I'm going too." Reef then rushed to where Alec is going in his Sidewinder.
"I may be old but I'm no coward." Nemos then joins Reef in the battle.
The other Orion pilots just sat in shock. And they watched on.
Kirin flew in between two Wasps.
"Huh? What is that?!" One of the White Fang officers cried.
"That looks like the Epyon! Shoot it!"
The two Wasps began firing their beam rifles at the Gundam Kirin but the Gundanium Alloy easily takes in the beam attacks.
"Kirin is definatly a fierce beast!" Alec thought.
Then one of the Wasps shoots it's dober gun which fires shells instead of beams. This exploded on impact with the Kirin and actually caused damage.
"Ahhh! But I can't overestimate it's defense capabilities!" Alec noted.
The Kirin then shoots out it's heat rod which easily slices one of the Wasps in half. Then he aimed and fired a titanium arrow at the other Wasp which tried to dodge it but was hit in the leg. Kirin then flew down and sliced the Wasp with it's beam sword. But then the Kirin gets hit by another dober gun shell, this time blowing a bit of the armor away on it's legs reveling some of the mechanisms. Alec was lucky the shell didn't hit any higher, where the cockpit is.
Reef was fairing quite well in his new Gundam. Sidewinder's strafing easily dodges the enemies attacks and all the while he hits the enemies with his own dober gun. He then opens up the Sidewinder's left leg and pulls out a combat knife and drives it straight in the reactor of a Wasp, making it explode.
Nemos, Kardy and Shinya also had a good tactic. Focusing on one enemy at a time, they form a triangular formation around the enemy and repeatly shoot at it until it is no more.
About 12 Wasps are now destroyed but all too soon the group once again finds themselves cornered as the other Wasps decides to charge them. Kirin and Sidewinder stood firm side by side whilst the three Orions were stand a few distances behind them.
"This isn't good.!" Alec remarked
"Unless we think of something, we're going to be goners!" Nemos responded.
Klein who was in the red Wasp sees that victory is near. He smiled as he orders his troops, "They're exhausted. Victory is ours! All units charge!
Suddenly a hail of titanium arrows shot out from behind the A.W.F.M mobile suits and some of them hits the Wasps units.
"What?" Klein was barely able escaped this violent hail.
Alec and co. turned around and were suprised to see the other Orions rushing to the battlefield. One of the Orion pilots spoke to him.
"Kid, we've decided to fight."
Another Orion pilot came up and spoke.
"Watching you put your lives on the line like that.....we want to help you help all of us to save our home!"
"Yeah! And I guess what you said to us pretty much forced us to battle!"
Alec smiled. "I glad to see you guys finally decided to fight. Now let's get them!"
"Yes sir!"
Reef commanded, "All Units! Charge!"
Alec then thought, "Now let's see what the outcome will be now that the odds are now even!"
Nemos looked at the Kirin and had a startling thought, "This boy. He really seems to know how to motivate people. These times require a leader who can properly lead his people to glory. Perhaps...."
Nemos snapped out of his thoughts and joins in on the charge.
On the other side Klein looks at the oncoming enemy.
"Ugh! All Units! Destroy the enemy!"
The Wasps recovered from the last assault and activated the beam bayonets on their dober guns and charged at the enemy. The two armies, A.W.F.M and the White Fang now faces each other for the first time. Each of the mobile suits picked out a particular target for themselves. Wasps and Orions alike dodging and shooting at each other as well as engaging in melee combat. One of the Wasps struck down an Orion with it's beam bayonet only to be skewered by Nemos's Orion and it's combat knife seconds later. Reef dodges a Wasp's attempts to strike and launches an attack of his own.
Just then Klein's red Wasp manages to destroy another Orion when it approaches the Kirin Gundam which had just sliced another Wasp in half. Klein was sure that this Gundam is Epyon. He decides to contact the pilot.
"You! The pilot in the Epyon! Identify yourself."
Alec at once knew who that voice belonged to. He switched on his transmitter over to the red Wasp so Klein can see his face.
"Remember me? cretin?"
Klein was shocked to see who it was. The same boy who threw a rock him. The same boy who made a fool out of him the last time they met. Anger slowly shows in Klein's eyes. "You...." was all he says.
The red Wasp pulls out it's custom made twin fang beam saber (Author's note: Imagine Heavyarms Custom from Endless Waltz. You know the twin gatling gun it has on it's arm? Swap the two gatling guns barrels with beam sabers. That's Klein's weapon.)
The Kirin Gundam readies it's beam sword. The battle between Alec and Klein is about to begin again!
End Episode
Next Episode: The souless fighters returns