Chapter 4
Kraut007- Hmm. Yeah you're right. I'll think of one before it becomes relevant.
Warmachine375- Not everything fell on Char. That's…all I got.
RedRat8- You'll see
Kai
Erika wasn't amused with Kai's nonchalant attitude and thus spoke about it.
"You're one of the most important members in the A.E.U.G., act your position, Kai." Said Erika as she looked at Kai with unamused green eyes. Kai just sighed at hearing her response. He should have figured that she would make that response.
"Whatever you say, Erika." Said Kai as he looked at the Gundam Mobile Suit that he stole from the Titans. "Hope the lab guys at Sweetwater can dismantle this thing to get whatever secrets and advancements the Federation managed to achieve in the past four years."
"They should be." Said Erika with confidence as she also eyed the Mobile Suit. "They would prefer if we managed to steal all three Gundams, but I don't think we can do that. Not with the Titans now in full alert. May I ask how that came to be?"
"Well, there was a test going on with one of the Gundams. A test that both Londo Bell and E.C.O.A.S. was overseeing alongside the Titans. So I decided to steal it during that test in order to both embarrass the Titans and complete our objective. Pretty cool, right?"
"No, it isn't." Said Erika, narrowing her eyes at Kai. "You could have jeopardized the entire operation with that stunt. You could have gotten yourself killed. Or worse, get yourself arrested and you know just how brutal the Titans are when it comes to their interrogations." Instead of acting concerned or even remotely worried, Kai just gave Erika a smile. Waving off her concern and anger, Kai spoke up with a cocky smile.
"Relax, Erika." Said Kai, annoying the red-headed woman as she glared even further at Kai. "Everything turned out fine in the end. We got one of the Gundams and we can make plans to get the other ones later. There's nothing to be worried about." Erika, rather than be assured, just resumed her glare at her friend and left without saying a word. Sighing at this, Kai looked at the Gundam that he had stolen and thought about the potential consequences this will have on the Earth Federation and the Titans.
"Probably bad." Thought Kai with a smirk. "Those guys hate being made a fool of. No idea why Erika is all worked up. Even with Bask Om, they don't have anyone here that can catch us."
Meanwhile
Bask Om
"I'm beyond furious with what has occurred under your watch!" Yelled Bask Om as he looked at the MPs in charge of the local Titan's base security. Both men just sat in their chairs in fear as they watched Bask Om, the Commander-in-Chief of the Titans, just reamed them out for their, what he saw, as a blunder of epic proportions. "Not only has a terrorist managed to infiltrate our base of operations in this batch of colonies, but also managed to steal a strategically important Mobile Suit that could advance the Federation's influence in the Earth Sphere. And it all happened under your watch! What is the meaning of this!?" One of the men felt a little brave and told Bask Om what he thought was the cause of all this.
"I…If I may sir." Said one of the two men being yelled at by Bask Om. "The terrorist may have been from those that used to be from Londo Bell. They've always been dissatisfied with the way that the Titans dealt with things. They may have collaborated with known terrorist organizations or even Zeon Remnants to do this." If the man thought his theory would garner respect from Bask Om, he thought wrong. Instead, the man just glared at the MP.
"Do you have proof of this?" Demanded Bask Om as he glared at the man, who whimpered. When he shook his head, Bask Om yelled at him. "I don't care for theories! I want facts! If you can't understand that simple fact, then get out of my sight! Now! And don't ever let me see your faces ever again unless you have something actually useful!" With that, the MPs scrambled to get away from the angered man. Sighing in frustration once they were out of his sight, Bask Om addressed the one person left in the room beside him. Or rather one thing.
"What do you think of this? Who do you think is responsible for this outrage?" Asked Bask Om as he looked at the single machine in the room. An AI that was affiliated with the Titans.
Contained in a prototype Mobile Platform model based on the new GM II, this prototype model was for AIs that were designed specifically to act as field tacticians in the event that a human officer wasn't present or was incapacitated for a myriad of reasons, the AI flexed its right servo arm before responding.
"Given what the terrorist said before taking off with our Gundam as well as my own research into his identity of him, I can safely say who it is." Said the AI as it looked into an underslung launcher on both of its arms, both connected to its backpack, containing its power supply among other things.
"Really?" Asked Bask Om as he looked at the machine, pleased that at least someone was doing their job correctly. "And who is it, may I ask? If only so I can kill them myself."
"You will be pleased to know that I can confirm that the perpetrator is none other than the reporter that the Earth Federation sent to Side 3 prior to its destruction." Said the AI, surprising Bask Om. Not in this revelation as he knew exactly who they sent to Side 3 prior to its destruction.
"Kai Shiden." Said Bask Om in surprise. "You're certain of this?"
"Of course, I am." Said the AI as it looked at Bask Om. "After all, I was the one in charge of destroying Side 3. Do you not remember, Commander Om?"
"Of course, I remember that." Said Bask Om in annoyance as he looked at the one truly responsible for Side 3's destruction. A then prototype AI called Miasma.
The then prototype had been created in secret by the Titan's top brass to help deal with their manpower shortage at the time. In the beginning, they had so few men and capable officers that both Bask Om and the founder of the Titans, Jamitov Hymen, realized that they needed more. Even though they have plenty of manpower now, back then they weren't the strong and powerful special forces group they are now. Not unlike E.C.O.A.S. and Londo Bell today. Thus, they had secretly commissioned a new AI model that was focused more on being a tactician rather than a soldier. The result was Miasma and Bask Om was proud to see that it was a glorious success. Miasma had not only succeeded in his first objective of eliminating Side 3 but had done so in a way that benefitted the Titans perfectly. He even helped popularize the Titans with the people by eliminating Zeon remnant group after remnant group in record time, surpassing even Londo Bell. Miasma was Bask Om's and Jamitov's top officer and loyal to the Titan's cause as well. Thus, he trusted Miasma's word, which was why he was stationed in Green Noa I in the first place. Not only so that Bask Om can have a competent officer around but also someone he trusted to do whatever he desired them to do and do it efficiently. And Miasma was all of that.
"Focusing on the subject, I have run a voice identification program on the perpetrator's voice and found it to be a match with Kai Shiden. Though I never met him personally, I used his last publicized broadcast to check. Though aged and a bit deeper than before, I can confirm without a doubt that it is Kai Shiden. The terrorist's taunt and his attitude towards the Titans also point to this as well." Explained Miasma, showing his findings to Bask Om. Bask Om hummed at that before looking out the window of his office, allowing him to oversee Green Noa.
"If that's the case, then is Bright involved?" Asked Bask Om, silently hopping so as it would give him an opportunity to remove a thorn in the Titan's side.
"Unlikely." Said Miasma as he walked over to Bask Om's side. "Bright is likely not involved. Despite grievances towards the Titans and the politicians of the Earth Federation Council as well as his previous comradeship with Kai Shiden, he would have alerted us of what his former crewmate was planning on doing today. Even go as far as to arrest him."
"I see." Said Bask Om, slightly annoyed at this. "Still, we found who is responsible for this and I'm more than pleased with that. Especially when it's someone that has been a thorn in our side previously and had returned. Miasma, I want this Kai taken down."
"I understand." Said Miasma as he looked at Bask Om, allowing the human to see its blood-red visor. "Do you prefer that he's captured alive?"
"I prefer if you would kill him in the most torturous of ways." Said Bask Om as he smiled sadistically at Miasma. "But, you are correct in wanting to capture him. There is no possible way that he could have done this alone. He had to have help to pull this off. Thus, I want you to capture him and whatever cohorts he has so we can interrogate them for information about their group so we can assess the danger they are towards the Earth Federation."
"Understood." Said Miasma. "I will accomplish my orders to the best of my abilities."
"See that you do." Said Bask Om, trusting that Miasma will succeed. "I'll give you full access to the Titan forces here as well as the garrison. Take whatever you want. Just bring back people for us to interrogate."
"Understood." Said Miasma as he bowed his head at Bask Om. "In fact, I already have a plan in mind that will please you." Miasma then told its first plan to Bask Om and the Titan officer couldn't help but smile at Miasma's plan. He really enjoyed working with the AI. He really did.
A few minutes later, Miasma was walking out of Bask Om's office and was informed a few MPs to take into custody, several individuals. As he did so, he thought of Kai. He recalled how he never got a chance to eliminate Kai back at Side 3 as he did his friend. Despite accomplishing his objective and receiving praise for it, the AI felt something akin to dissatisfaction that he couldn't eliminate the then reporter, despite the multiple attempts on his life during his tenure on Side 3. He had always predicted that Kai, unless he was confirmed dead or captured, would be trouble for the Titans in the future. It seemed he was not only right, but it seemed that Kai was a part of a group of individuals that could pose trouble to both the Titans and the Earth Sphere. Thus Miasma saw it as a personnel failure for failing to kill Kai. It appears that it was time to rectify that.
Walking down a hall, Miasma felt something akin to joy at the prospect of finally having the chance of killing Kai himself. After all, sometimes, if you wanted something done right, you have to do it yourself.