Mobile Suit Gundam: Lives on The Line
Chapter 5 (the real one): Secrets Revealed
Brian stared wide-eyed at his commander in disbelief, but the look on her face belied nothing but how serious she was.
"Hear me out Brian, you're not in trouble, I just want the truth" she said. Brian's disbelief and surprise had faded by now, his head hung low sulkingly.
"Alright, sit back commander this is going to be a long story." He began. "It's true…it's true, I was born on Side 3, but when I was very young, my mother and I moved from there to earth. She didn't want me to be around the war and the violence she knew was brewing. However as time passed, about when I was fifteen, my father returned and took me back, filling my head with stories about the "glory" of Zeon and it's cause. He enrolled me in a top Zeon military academy. As you can guess, my attitude was lacking and it was my errant piloting skill that saved me from being expelled. After that I got dumped in some dead end team that more or less was slated for destruction when earth was assaulted."
"Hold on, how exactly did you wind up fighting for the Federation? Did you defect?" Eve interrupted.
"Well our team got ambushed and was wiped out, aside from our commander I was the only one that survived. I got as far as I could with my wounded Zaku, but I was captured and imprisoned at the very same base my team was sent to attack. To say the least, they didn't jump when I told them I wanted to defect, though I couldn't blame them. While in prison, via word of mouth I learned that the base was to be a waypoint stop for an experimental mobile suit! Somehow the Zeon found out and attacked the base, in the confusion I escaped and stole… er, commandeered the suit and defended the base. I destroyed about three Zakus in the process. At this point they believed me and I was treated to a crash course in Federation Mobile suits. I got shuffled from team to team until they sent me here and to my surprise, some of my old friends to form a new. Well that's my story." He stood in front of his commander, awaiting her response.
"Brian it's my turn to be honest. You see, I knew all along, everything you told just now was in your file." She said, holding the aforementioned file in her hands. "Don't' worry, I'm not going to think any different or any less of you, I just wanted to hear the truth straight from you" She smiled and it put Brian a little more at ease to see her do that.
"Thanks, Eve, that means a lot to mean, but don't let the others know, okay?
"No problem, Brian. I have one more question, who was your commander?" Brian visibly shuddered, a look of disgust swept across his face.
He was a nightmare, that sadistic son of a bitch worked us like we were his slaves. He was skilled though; I never was to see or here of him again. His nickname, I unfortunately remember was either the Black Plague or the Plague Ace. Please, don't make me think of him anymore."
"Of course, Brian. You're dismissed, get a good night's rest." He smiled back at her, turned and walked back to his bunk where he quickly fell fast asleep.
The scene changes, many miles away. A young ensign runs across a field, hurrying to give his report to his commander. This was his first assignment in the field and he didn't want to upset him by being late to deliver the results of the battle that occurred not long ago. He came to the foot of the hill and made his way up, under the spotlights of numerous Zakus he saw his commander. He was a young man in his twenties, and possessed an eerie charisma and looks that made it impossible not to notice him. He had jet-black hair, a permanent sneer and a profile that was usually reserved for roman emperors. He was tall but by no means a physical, his presence however, towered over everyone near him. But perhaps his most impressive attribute were his eyes, a steel-like grayish hue that denied explanation, they were so intense that despite their drab color, could drill a hole through the most hardened individual. Beside him stood his second in command, an ugly man with a sinister grin on face. Just like everyone else, the young ensign found it difficult to approach the man let alone speak to him, but he knew what he must do.
"Um, excuse me, sir" He stuttered. His commander turned and fixed his eyes on him. 'The uprising has been put down, and all of the rioters have been apprehended." There was a silence, as his commander obviously thought over the ensign's next orders. He spoke, his voice as steely as his eyes.
"Excellent work, ensign, now I want you and your men to burn the village to the ground and kill everyone of the villagers. Man, women or child, it doesn't matter, those peons need to be taught a lesson. They will be the example of what happens to those who rise up against the glory of Zeon." The ensign gasped, horrified at what he just been ordered to do.
"But sir, we can't do that! It's inhuman!" The man narrowed his eyes as he stared down the ensign.
"You dare to question my orders? He growled. "Mr. Oz, please execute the ensign for his insubordination" The man called Oz calmly pulled his sidearm from it's holster and place a shot directly between the young ensign's eyes, killing him instantly. "Now Ethan, will you take care of those villagers for me?"
"With pleasure, Commander Arcan" His grin grew wider as he rushed to his Zaku. Arcan now stood alone of the hilltop.
"Soon." He mused. " Soon, this whole area will belong to the Principality of Zeon."
End of part 5
Next time on Mobile Suit Gundam: Lives on the Line: Who are these men, and what do they have to do with our heroes. Find out this and more in the next installment. Stay tuned.