The Epyon stood on the top of the building that crowned the Space Fortress. Milliardo Peacecraft opened the cockpit in order to look upon the Earth as it came over the horizon.
Milliardo – "Funny, it feels as though space is trying to stop what has been set into motion. No matter, this blow will end the sad history of war and aggression once and for all. Just try to stop me, Amuro."
The cockpit door closed in perfect timing with Milliardo's eyelids; his foe would be some time yet in arriving. And looking at the distant battle did not intrigue him in the slightest.
Setting: En route to A Baoa Qu from Texas Colony 5:39 a.m.
The estimated time of arrival at A Baoa Qu was 80 minutes, the time until A Baoa Qu reached the Point of No Return was about 3. Amuro knew that his foe was the last one left in this pointless tournament; even so, it meant that whoever he was going to face would be on equal terms. He had found a High-Speed transport in the hanger bay of Texas Colony, and it would be entirely out of fuel by the time he caught up with A Baoa Qu. Getting on the communicator, Amuro made contact with Londo Bell Command.
Amuro – "Bright, do you read me? This is Amuro here."
Bright – "…launch Bravo Squad now; I don't care if the catapult isn't working! Amuro, where the devil are you? I'm in the middle of a war zone here, what's going on? I've been in nothing but skirmishes for the last three weeks now. Ready the Main Guns!" Amuro – "I'm en route to A Baoa Qu; it's going to collide with Earth."
Bright – "…Fire! Yes, I know that Amuro. We're busy fighting its advance fleet, but their mobile suits are too powerful. Hold on, I'm getting your coordinates… how did you get behind enemy lines?"
Amuro – "It's a long story, one we've no time for now. Do you have any nukes?"
Bright – "None I can use at the moment, I can't get a missile past their… They've broken through! Radish group, move in. We might be able to get one pilot through their lines with a warhead, but I don't think it will be enough."
Amuro – "I don't like it either Bright, but that is our best option; Amuro out."
Setting: Battle Line 250 km from the Point of No Return 5:42 a.m.
Bright had enough things to worry about without sending someone on a suicide mission carrying a nuclear warhead. Just as he had made his decision on the matter he was informed that someone was taking the RE-GZ out with the warhead.
Bright – "Pilot, identify yourself! Who's in there?"
Chan – "I heard the whole thing Bright, and I'm going on this mission permission or not. If Amuro needs the warhead, I'll be the one to bring it to him."
Bright – "All right. Fa, give Chan cover until she takes off; all ships ready a barrage to give the RE-GZ cover. On my mark… Fire!"
The combined force of the Londo Bell was able to punch a hole in the enemy's line of defense just big enough for Chan to get through safely.
Bright – 'Good luck Chan.' "Bravo Squad, why haven't you launched yet!"
Setting: Lunar Super-Microwave Power Station 6:52 a.m.
Quatre – "So, this place does exist. I had heard rumors of it, but now I see it with my own eyes. What's your take Rasid?"
Rasid – "I don't like this place Master Quatre, but at least you had enough sense to bring the whole Maganac Corp with you this time."
Quatre – "This place is supposedly some kind of power station for a weapon of extreme power. It might be the only thing that can stop that Space station from falling on the Earth."
Rasid – "All right Maganacs, listen up. Begin a search of the premises and report anything suspicious back to Master Quatre."
Quatre was already busy searching through the debris; by the look of the place a major battle had taken place here. He wondered if it had been a fight in that insane tournament.
Abdul – "Master Quatre, I've found something."
When Sandrock arrived at Abdul's location, its scanners found a Mobile Suit, no a Gundam, with a hole neatly put through the cockpit.
Quatre – "This wasn't a fight, this was an execution... I'm going to see if I can find anything we can use in that suit. It might be the key to understanding this place."
Rasid – "Master Quatre, you have an incoming communication." Quatre – "What, who could be calling me? I never told anyone where I was going. Ahmad, take over for me here."
Quatre went back into the Sandrock's cockpit and turned on the transmission.
Milliardo – "Hello Quatre. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
Quatre – "Milliardo Peacecraft, as a matter of fact this is a bad time. I'm currently busy working on one of my mineral satellites." Milliardo – "You should stick to the truth, lying does not become you. I know exactly what you are looking for in that abandoned Lunar Station; it is probably the one thing that can stop me." Quatre – "I was right then; you are the one behind that Asteroid drop. Are you still convinced that will bring peace to mankind?" Milliardo – "Last time I was stopped before we could find out, this time, there is no one left to fight; that ridiculous Tournament saw to it"
Quatre – "I'll stop you, and you know I will before the Asteroid even gets close to Earth."
Milliardo – "I wouldn't bet on that."
Rasid – "Master Quatre, incoming Mobile Suit! Unbelievable, look at the size of it!"
Landing just outside of the compound was the Psycho Gundam.
Milliardo – "After I defeated the Guardian of this Fortress, I found this giant of a Mobile Suit with a pilot inside. Her mind was a complete blank; and I guess that if I had lost she was to be the Guardian's Bodyguard. But having won I found that I was able to 'program' her. I knew you would somehow find a way to stop me, just like last time, so I sent her after you. Well, I am expecting company shortly so I must say goodbye. Please know that I hold you in the highest regards, as you were the only one of the 5 that had potential."
Quatre – "Milliardo!..."
The line of Communication was cut off before Quatre could respond to Milliardo's remarks, and before he could collect his thoughts the Psycho Gundam transformed into its Mobile Suit-mode.
Four – "Forty-one targets identified; mission objective, destroy all Mobile Suits."
Quatre – "Maganacs, scatter…"
Quatre's warning to his men was cut off as the Psycho Gundam opened fire with its Mega particle Cannons. What was only a few moments ago a quiet deserted Power Station, had now erupted in conflict.
Setting: En Route to A Baoa Qu, via the Battle Front, 6:59 a.m.
Chan was beginning to think that this might not have been the smartest thing to volunteer for. She was fast approaching A Baoa Qu, and resistance was getting worse. Her Back Weapon System was running out of Fuel and was also on the verge of overheating. Still being a good 10 minutes away from A Baoa Qu, she rededicated herself; Amuro needed her help, and she would not fail.
Chan – 'Hold on Amuro, I'm coming.'
Setting: The Pinnacle of the Tower of Destiny, A Baoa Qu, 7:00 a.m.
Milliardo – "He's finally here."
Amuro moved into the cockpit of Nu Gundam, the shuttle was out of fuel and on a collision course with the building that lay on the peak of A Baoa Qu. His scanners picked up a Gundam waiting on the top of that edifice; it looked as though it were waiting for him to arrive. The Nu Gundam ejected from the shuttle and before Amuro could blink his scanners were met with a pair of Green Eyes. Amuro swiftly equipped his Beam Saber and met his opponent in kind. The two were locked together until Amuro forced his foe back; they landed a respectful 30 meters away from one another.
Milliardo – "We are the last two left, Amuro Ray. I am Milliardo Peacecraft, and this is the Gundam Epyon."
Amuro – "I was expecting to face Char here; I guess he must have been defeated somewhere along the line. You know, your Gundam is really short."
Milliardo – "Well, that was pithy. But it's not the size of your Gundam that counts."
Amuro – "Really then, how do you measure a Gundam's stature?" Milliardo – "By it's Beam Saber, and mine's much bigger." Amuro – "By this point, we should be past all the trash talk. The best pilot will win."
Milliardo – "Of course. Do you want to do this like those silly pilots from G Gundam?"
Amuro – "Why not? Gundam Fight…"
Milliardo – "Ready…"
Amuro and Milliardo – "Go!"
Setting: Battle Line 140 km from the Point of No Return 7:07 a.m.
Bright – "Argama, don't pursue those Musai; stick to the objective. Engine Room, I want Ra Cailum at 105 output. All ships, full speed ahead. We're breaking through the enemy lines now, it's all or nothing!"
The combined force of the Londo Bell fleet had broken through the Enemy's front lines and it was now on its way to the Point of no Return. Bright knew that he had to stay strong though, for he had only broken the front lines, and the majority of the enemy fleet lay ahead.
Bright – 'We're not going to make it.'
Captain Om – "Bright, thanks for clearing this space for us, it was most considerate."
Bright – "Om! What are you doing here?"
Om – "This is no time to argue politics; I may be a Titan, but I am also a soldier. If you can buy us an hour we can get the Solar System up and running."
Bright – "We're in the dark half of the world; the sun is clear over the other side. And it will take you much more than an hour to set the System up."
Om – "Leave that to us, you have your own battle to worry about." Bright – "Right. Londo Bell forces stay sharp."
Setting: Lunar Super-Microwave Power Station 7:08 a.m.
Four – "Die, die, die, die, die!"
Quatre – "Third Company, fall back! Rasid, status report now." Rasid – "We've lost 6 men so far, and we still haven't found anything among these ruins."
Quatre – 'Very well… all Maganacs fall back, this thing is mine." Maganacs – "No Master Quatre."
Quatre – "Silence! You will follow my orders, everyone you are to leave the Psycho Gundam to me. Your task is to find whatever scared Milliardo enough for him to send her to stop us."
Rasid – "….alright then. Maganacs move out. Good luck Master Quatre." 'You've finally become a man; I'm very pleased with the way you have turned out.'
Quatre – "Hey you, leave the others alone. Your main goal is to kill me, is it not?"
Four – "It is."
Quatre – "Then, let's do this. Have at thee!"
What did that fool think to accomplish with such a small Mobile Suit, its power was nothing compared to the Psycho Gundam's. Four fired her Finger Beam Cannons at the suit, but the thing was more nimble that she gave it credit for.
Four – "Not bad, but can you handle this?"
The Psycho fired its Scattering Beam Cannons; the colossal attack hit everything in the area, except for her target.
Four – 'Why does that attack never work? I've never seen it work even once, who designed the system? It's so inaccurate I couldn't hit a stationary target right in front of me, because the Beam energy lances off in all directions except forward! Stupid weapon. Now where did the little one get to?'
Quatre didn't know how much longer he could stay in her blind spot; she was franticly searching for him. Then he saw it, a miniscule opening, but one he had to take. He charged in with his engines at 150, he closed the distance in record time despite having a slow suit. He brought out his Heat Swords burning with the same fierce intensity he felt.
Four spotted the Sandrock just in time; those glowing weapons of his were the only thing to give him away. She brought her Shield up to block just in time; but those things were stronger than she had thought. Sandrock completed his strokes by ripping the broken and melted Shield off of Psycho's left Arm.
Quatre – "The asp may be a small snake, but its fangs still contain lethal venom."
Four – "Indeed."
Setting: Docking Bay of A Baoa Qu, 7:13 a.m.
Chan – "I've finally made it; hold on Amuro, I'm coming."
Chan started to move towards the signal she was receiving from the Nu Gundam, but before she could get up to full speed she had to avoid a shot from a Beam Rifle.
Chan – "Who…?"
Noin – "Hold it right there, lady. I'm not going to let you get in Zechs' way."
Chan – "Why are you defending this, don't you know this is wrong."
Noin – "You risked your life to go behind enemy lines, carrying a Nuclear warhead, not knowing what dangers you might find, and you did it all for the same reason I am doing my actions for."
Chan – "What are you talking about?"
Noin – "We are desperately in love with men who possess great strengths, and we contently dedicate ourselves to assist them in any way possible."
On that note, Noin once again fired at the RE-GZ. Chan managed to dodge the attack, and set the warhead down inside a fissure of A Baoa Qu. That white Mobile Suit, although smaller than the RE-GZ, did seem to reflect the fierce determination of the woman piloting it.
Noin knew that she was going up against a superior Mobile Suit, but she didn't care. Even if Zechs never learned of her actions here, her principles would be satisfied.
Setting: A Baoa Qu 7:15 a.m.
This fight was unlike any other Amuro had ever experienced. Given enough time, Amuro usually is able to read his opponent's actions and see their movement patterns; but this Epyon, and the pilot within, were unlike anything he had ever encountered before. For the past 10 minutes the two had been locked in Beam Saber combat, it really did look more like a dance than anything else. Neither one had used any other weapons other than their Beam Sabers; Amuro didn't like the feel of that though. Usually Beam Sabers are used at the end of a fight, not the beginning. Something felt wrong, and the Earth was getting ever bigger on the view screens.
Milliardo was beyond any "toying" with his opponent, he was using every move he had in his repertoire in order to take down the Gundam. Still, as the battle was going, the two were getting nowhere; so, the Epyon pushed the Nu Gundam back, and in a quick motion, tried to take off the Gundam's head with its Heat Whip.
Amuro's reflexes kicked in just in time, he brought up his Shield to block the Whip before any real damage could be done. Amuro then fired his Shield Missiles at the Epyon, but he only managed to put Milliardo on edge.
Amuro – 'Wait a second; the Epyon doesn't have any Long-Range Weapons, I have to use this to my advantage.' "All right then, Funnels go!"
Amuro pulled back and launched his Funnels; at the same time he began firing his Bazooka at the Epyon. The abrupt torrent surprised Milliardo enough for several Funnel Shots to make hits on the Epyon; but none of the hits was anything more than a glance. Amuro continued to fire at the Epyon, which came in on the Nu Gundam in an outburst of unbelievable speed. The Heat Whip came in, and in a moment of Déjà vu for Amuro it wrapped around the Bazooka causing it to overload and explode.
Milliardo – "Victory is mine!"
The Epyon pressed its advance; the Nu Gundam tried to defend itself with a Beam Saber, but the pilot must have been so shaken from the explosion that the Beam Saber was easily knocked out of the Gundam's hand. The Epyon thrust forward with its Beam Sword, targeting the cockpit of Nu Gundam.
Amuro panicked, he was out of options; he would take a critical hit even if he dodged. All of the sudden time seemed to slow down, and the walls of the Nu Gundam's cockpit dissolved. The Epyon looked like a statue, frozen in its place; Amuro knew this place all too well. The place where existence congregates: love with hate, sorrow with joy, and life with death.
Amuro – "Hello Lalah, you here to give me some kind of warning. Or could it be to inform me that Char is dead."
Lalah – "Amuro, you're in danger. Somehow reality itself is being bent, and you do not know all the facts of what is transpiring." Amuro – "I killed Camille because my mind was clouded, clouded with its own illusion of self-magnificence. Being a newtype, I have discovered, is much more of a curse than a blessing. The whole world has gone insane, and you're describing the padded walls. Keep your warnings; you must let the dead rest, and let the living decide their own fate."
As Lalah faded away and reality began to return, Amuro saw a look of disappointment on her face, but Amuro knew he would not gain anything from listening to her advice; after all, this was his fight, not hers. The Epyon began to move again, and Amuro regained control over his senses. As fast as the Epyon was, the Funnels proved faster when coming to the aid of their master. A Pyramid-shaped energy shield formed around the Nu Gundam, defending it from the Epyon's Beam Sword.
Milliardo – "Well played. By the way, who was the girl in white?"
Amuro – "What?'
Setting: Battle Line 80 km from the Point of No Return 7:19 a.m.
Bright – "Status report."
Operator – "A Baoa Qu is about 1 hour from reaching the Point of no Return; Radish and Argama are currently engaging a Squadron of Zanzibar's; Albion and White Base are finishing off those Gaplants we detected earlier; and we are approaching the enemy's final line of defense."
Bright – "Good. Tell the missile crew to ready the Nuclear warheads. And try to make contact with Amuro and Chan again, we have to get them out of there before we start firing."
Operator – "Roger sir. Enemy fleet within sight, scanning… Sir, we have identified six Gwazine-class Battle Cruisers!"
Bright – "Have the Grey Phantom move up to support us; stand by to launch decoys, and ready the main Guns. Fire on my mark… fire!"
Setting: Lunar Super-Microwave Power Station 7:23 a.m.
The Sandrock could not keep up with the Psycho Gundam forever; Quatre's engines were over heating, but the damage he had inflicted was mostly cosmetic. The Psycho was standing there one moment, and attacking with unbridled fury the next, Quatre could not understand what it was his opponent was doing.
Rasid – "Master Quatre, we have found what appears to be a large Energy Rifle. The thing is enormous; give us some more time, however, to figure out its operating systems."
Quatre – "How much time do you need?"
Rasid – "Uncertain, but things might be safer if you allowed some Maganacs to fight with you, now that you don't need us all to search."
Quatre – "No, stay out of this fight! I must follow through with that which I have assigned myself to do. Everyone else aid in the deciphering of the system."
Quatre had no time to listen to a response, for the Psycho began to move once more. Much to Quatre's surprise, one of the hands opened up at the wrist, and fired a substantial Beam Cannon blast at the Sandrock. Quatre blocked with his Shield, which melted from the intense power of the discharge.
Four knew that her small opponent was weakening; those Swords of his, annoying as they were, could not do any real damage to the Psycho Gundam. Four continued her assault by firing her Finger Beam Cannons; her opponent was just too slow to avoid the full attack. Sandrock lost its Right Arm, and took damage to the lower torso. A follow-up strike put the Sandrock on its back; when Four moved in for the final blow, however, the Sandrock fired Missiles right at the Psycho's head. The resulting damage disrupted the Psycho Cockpit System, damaged the visual monitors, and scattered debris throughout the cockpit. Inside her cockpit Four screamed in pain, and in a violent twitch of the controls the Psycho landed on its back.
Quatre – 'I can't stop with that, I have to press forward.'
Four – "Psycho, get up! Come on, get up!"
Setting: A Baoa Qu Interior 7:29 a.m.
The darkness within the depths of A Baoa Qu was broken, only momentarily, by the shots of Beam Rifles and the fires of Engines. Chan was giving her all to defeat the White Mobile Suit, but its pilot would dodge to the sides to avoid the RE-GZ's attacks. Chan managed to get a lock on her target with her Grenade launcher, but Noin used a nearby Gelgoog as a screen. Noin counterattacked, and through a complex firing pattern, she scored a hit on the RE-GZ. The shot tore through the upper Left Arm, and severed the entire appendage. The explosion brought Chan's Mobile Suit to its knees.
Noin – "Stand up. Unless this is far as you are willing to fight for Amuro."
Chan – "Amuro… Yes, you're right. Let's finish this!"
Chan threw away her Beam Rifle and withdrew her Beam Saber.
Noin – "Yes, that is it. Men fight each other to please their egos; but women do battle to prove that they are, in fact, the stronger sex."
Chan – "What are you talking about? Are you trying to sound deep or something, or is that the actual way you speak?"
Noin – "…To be honest, I'm not quite sure myself. It just seems to be the way people talk where I come from…. On second thought, I guess that we are fighting because we are just as self-centered and stubborn as men are."
Noin also equipped her Beam Saber and the two began to fight once more; this time without all the moral/ethical garbage cluttering the picture. After all, this was war; and one really does not have the time to make speeches in the middle of a battlefield.
Chan did a quick thrust forward, but her assault was blocked by Noin. Noin cut downward, but the RE-GZ sidestepped out of the way. Chan saw an opening and sliced at the Taurus, Noin tried to stop the attack by catching the RE-GZ's Right Arm. The Beam Saber veered off Chan's intended course and only hit one of the Taurus' ornamental "Horns." Noin, with a grip on the RE-GZ's Right Arm, forced the Beam Saber out of its hand. Chan was forced to do a reverse engine thrust to free herself and avoid losing her other Arm. Noin tired to press her advantage, but the RE-GZ's Vulcans managed to keep Noin at bay while Chan pulled out her last Beam Saber.
Chan – 'She's really good. I don't have the time to do this, but neither can I just escape. Hold on Amuro.'
Noin – 'I have to keep her away from Zechs; these battles need to stay one on one.'
Setting: Battle Line 140 km behind the Point of No Return 7:36 a.m.
Captain Om – "Status Report."
Operator – "Sir, the Solar System is at 20 readiness, we will require at least 2 more hours to finish the assembly."
Om – "We have one hour soldier. Patch me through to Titans Command."
Om walked back to his quarters, reached for his private line receiver, and waited for a response from the other end.
? – "What is it Om. I told you that I was too busy for your interruptions."
Om – "Yes, I know that Admiral. But you sent me to the front line to set up this Solar System that has no chance of being completed in time, and I believe that I am entitled to an explanation."
Jamitov – "Very well Captain. You are a diversion; you need to keep the enemy distracted so they don't expect anything from a lonely colony named Gryps II. Does that answer your question?" Om – "Yes sir… uh oh..."
Jamitov – "What did you say?"
Om – "This line wasn't secured!"
Jamitov – "What!"
Om quickly hung up the phone and ran back to the Bridge, where he was greeted by the sight of spherical blood drops suspended in zero gravity. The entire Bridge Crew was dead, all save one who was holding a Machine Pistol. Before Om could pull out his sidearm, the traitorous crewman shot him. Om took four shots to the chest and he stumbled backward into the wall of the Bridge. Before he lost consciousness, Om noticed a White Scarf tied to the man's Left Arm.
Setting: Colony Laser Gryps II en route to A Baoa Qu 7:41 a.m.
Jamitov was still yelling at the phone long after Om had hung up. You let slip one little fact over an unsecured transmission line and the whole thing falls apart. He went to the control center to get an update on the situation.
Jamitov – "What are we looking at operator."
Operator – "Sir, it will be another 20 minutes before we have a clear shot at A Baoa Qu. Until then we are unable to guarantee a hit that will destroy it."
Jamitov – "We work with what we have… What are those incoming blips on the scanners?"
Operator – "The computer can't identify them. Incoming vessels identify yourselves or be fired upon."
? – "You might as well begin to firing; we are the White Fang interceptor force. And this fortress of yours looks quite defenseless."
Jamitov – "White Fang?
Quinze – "Yes, and you are the Titans. Prepare to die."
The line of communication was cut off.
Jamitov – "Launch all mobile suits, and work out the firing data for the Main Gun."
Quinze – "Send out the Virgo II's and Serpent Mobile Dolls. This fight will be over in no time."
Setting: A Baoa Qu 7:45 a.m.
In the heat of battle Milliardo was able to catch a glimpse at the newly ignited conflict over at Gryps II. He had to chuckle at the fools who believed themselves smarter just because they had more military might.
Amuro – "What are you laughing at?"
Milliardo – "I'll answer that question, as soon as you tell me who the girl in white was."
Amuro – "None of your business!"
Milliardo – "No need to get so defensive; she must have been quite the individual to get that kind of response out of you." Amuro – "Shut up!"
Amuro found himself staring at the Epyon; this fight had been going on for forty-five minutes straight. Amuro was unsure how much longer he could continue to fight at this echelon of intensity. The Epyon's green eyes were like two infernos burning in the darkness.
Fifty-five minutes. That was how much longer Milliardo had to wait. Quatre might still be able to defeat Psycho Gundam, but he would not be in time to use that Power Station. The fleets attacking from the front would be crushed by the Virgo II Mobile Dolls. Gryps II was well taken care of. All that was left was defeating the lone Gundam that stood in his way.
Amuro called in his Funnels, as they had run out of Beam Energy by this point; he hoped that they could be used as close range Shields or something else that would be to his benefit. Amuro didn't have any more time to think on the matter because Milliardo decided to redouble his hostilities against the Nu Gundam. Amuro pulled out his last Beam Saber and met the Epyon's Beam Sword. A wide slash came in, Amuro blocked, but he found that the Epyon was just as strong as the Nu Gundam. Amuro swung his Saber around his head and made a downward strike, one that caught Milliardo off guard, but not enough. The Epyon wrapped its Heat Whip around Amuro's mid-section and pulled the Nu Gundam down. Milliardo followed that with a vicious kick to the Gundam's head. Still, that only managed to put a dent in the armor. Milliardo tried to finish the fight by impaling the Nu Gundam with his Beam Sword, but a Funnel came in at the last second and deflected the drive. Milliardo jumped back to avoid Amuro's attempt to inflict the same attack.
Amuro was wet from perspiration, but he would not yield. Just then, he found an opening. His Funnels didn't have any ammo, but they still had fuel. He launched off one of his Funnels on a collision course to the Epyon, an attack Milliardo simply disposed of with his Heat Whip.
Amuro – "Got you!"
Amuro rushed forward at max speed. The Funnel had drawn away Milliardo's attention for just long enough. Amuro did a quick sideways maneuver to avoid the Beam Sword, and took hold of the Epyon's Heat Whip. 'Turnaround is fair play.' Though Amuro. The Nu Gundam gave the Heat Whip a mighty tug, which yanked the Epyon backwards.
Milliardo felt about three G's of pressure put on him from that move. Movement which came to a sudden stop when the Nu Gundam punched its fist right into the Epyon's back. Barely able to keep it together, Milliardo put the Epyon into a spin and kicked the Nu Gundam in its upper torso. After the separation, both pilots forced themselves to keep their respective Gundam's standing, even though they were both exhausted.
Milliardo – "Gryps II is being destroyed because they though to attack me form the rear."
Amuro – "What are you talking about?"
Milliardo – "That is what I was laughing at. Now tell me, who was the girl?"
Setting: Battle Line 40 km from the Point of No Return 7:52 a.m.
Operator – "Sir, we have been able to open a line to Amuro!" Bright – "Synapse, move your Squadron to point 7-mark-8.2. Amuro, I need a report on your current situation now." Amuro – "Bright, I'm in the middle of battle here. This is not a good time to talk."
Bright – "How many enemies are there? Is it Char?"
Amuro – "Char is dead, it is someone else…"
Bright – "Who it is isn't important. Amuro, I have to begin firing the nukes or we will run out of time… Amuro, Amuro are you there?"
Milliardo – "Sorry, Bright is it? I cut off Amuro's line of communication. So, you are going to blow A Baoa Qu to pieces with nuclear weapons? I invite you to try."
With that the line of communications was closed completely.
Operator – "Sir, we are reading six enemy mobile suit carriers coming this way."
Bright – "… Fire the nuclear weapons; hit A Baoa Qu with everything we've got!"
The specialized missiles issued forth from the Ra Cailum's batteries, but just as they began to pass the mobile suit carriers the six squadrons of Virgo II's were launched. With their advanced targeting computers the Missiles were destroyed well short of their mark.
Bright – "We don't have time for this, all ships to the front!" Operator – "Sir, our forces are too far apart. We barely have the Albion and Argama with us."
Bright – 'That's it then, we've reached our limit.'
The Virgo II's began pounding the broken up fleet. Bright had no maneuvers up his sleeves that could save him this time. The Main Guns were unable to penetrate the Virgo's Energy Shields, and his Mobile Suit forces were vastly depleted. Londo Bell was finished. A shot from a Virgo's Beam Cannon had nearly hit the bridge, were it not for a last second ram from Fa. The energy blast still rocked the bridge crew, sending shrapnel throughout the room. The faithful operators, bruised but not broken, returned to their posts.
Operator – "Sir we are picking up four battleships coming up from aft."
Bright – "The Radish group?"
Operator – "No sir." Bright – "Well, who are they then?"
Setting: Battle Line 41 km from the Point of No Return 7:56 a.m.
Lady Une – 'How in the world did I get stuck with these people again?'
Oliver Inoe – "Remember your objectives ladies. You are to make some room for the Londo Bell to do their stuff."
Shrike Team – "Yes sir! Shrike Team moving out."
Oliver Inoe – "Thanks again for lending us the use of your vessels."
Lady Une – (In a very sarcastic tone) "You're welcome."
Setting: Lunar Super-Microwave Power Station 8:00 a.m.
Quatre had gotten out of his cockpit and went over to the head section of the Psycho Gundam. He did not know why he was doing this; it was as though he was being compelled to do so by an outside force. Not even knowing what he was doing, he opened the cockpit. Oddly enough it opened, even though Quatre's best guess would have placed the cockpit in the torso.
The door opened suddenly, Four pointed her gun at the entrance and was ready to fire. She hesitated though, was that Camille coming to take her away from all this, she wondered. She dropped her gun and embraced the one entering the cockpit, no Camille.
Quatre was shocked at the fact that he was greeted by a hug, rather than a gun. Wait, this really was a woman; Quatre had forgotten that Milliardo said that his opponent would be a woman in the heat of battle.
Four – "Camille, you came. I knew you would."
Quatre wanted to say something, but he could think of a single thing in reply. Camille, Camille, that name seemed familiar for some reason. Quatre's concentration was interrupted, however, when he noticed blood on his gloves, her blood. Quatre twisted in her grasp and managed to close the cockpit door.
Four – "Please Camille, take me away from all of this. I don't want to be afraid anymore."
Quatre's mind began to fill with images of a great fight taking place outside a colony; two Mobile Suits, no Gundams fighting one another. Was this Camille another victim of this insane tournament?
Quatre – "Excuse me whoever you are, I am not this Camille you speak of."
Four – "Don't be silly Camille; I would know you across the barrier of death itself."
Quatre – 'I don't have time for this. She needs those wounds taken care of, and I need to finish the work on the Satellite Cannon.'
Before she said another word, Quatre got out his medipack and started to treat her cuts.
Four – "Do you remember that night we spent in New Hong Kong, it was truly unforgettable."
Quatre – 'She is beginning to get delirious. I think I might have gotten here too late to do anything.'
Rasid – "Master Quatre, everything is ready. But your suit is the only one strong enough to handle the weapon."
Quatre – "Please hold on, don't die on me."
Rasid – "Master Quatre, who are you talking to?"
Quatre – "Rasid, get anyone with medical training up here now!" Four – (Weakly) "You really are too kind, Quatre."
Quatre – "What?"
Four – "Don't bother with the medics; I won't live that long anyway, I don't want to."
Quatre – "What are you saying?"
Four – "I saw the whole thing in your mind, Camille is dead; he was killed by this forsaken tournament. Quatre, you need to stop Milliardo. Stop him… before… this tournament… claims any more lives. Camille…"
With that Four Murasame was finally freed from the cockpit of the Psycho Gundam. Quatre stood holding Four's body until Rasid himself came to get him. Time was running out.
Setting: A Baoa Qu Interior 8:06 a.m.
Chan parried her opponent's thrust and countered with a slice of her own. A tired Noin was able to save herself, but at the cost of her left arm. Using the loss of weight to her advantage, Noin spun her Taurus around and kicked the RE-GZ. Chan quickly rebounded though, and met the charging Taurus with a Beam Saber. Noin reprimanded herself for not remembering her clear instruction to never charge. The White Taurus fell to both knees as its Right Arm lay on the ground behind it.
Chan – "Will you be able to escape?"
Noin – "Yes. You know you don't have to be so nice."
Chan – "I get the feeling that if you had won, you would have chosen to spare my life as well."
Inside her cockpit Noin smiled at the remark. She then took off in her battered and scarred Taurus and flew to the docking bays, where she had her personal transport parked.
Chan, on the other hand, had pressing business elsewhere.
Setting: Colony Laser Gryps II en route to A Baoa 8:08 a.m.
Gryps II is surrounded by a sea of small explosions, Mobile Suits are launched into the fray where they fight and die against the hordes of White Fang Mobile Dolls. Virgo II's have at last found their way into the main power reactor of the colony and are readying their final attack. Inside the main control center Jamitov is planning his final move, amidst the bodies of his crew, he is mortally wounded.
Jamitov – "The Titans were greater than the Gods themselves. You may think we are beaten, but in fact the only victory this day will be mine. Die White Fang."
The Colony Laser had powered up to 65 capacity, and even though the targeting computer was damaged, Jamitov knew that he would at least take someone along for the journey into oblivion. Overcome with a maddening laugh Jamitov pressed the button confirming the order to fire. A Virgo fired on the Control Center, and Jamitov was consumed by brilliant light.
Jamitov – "You're too late! Ha, ha, ha!"
Quinze tried to order his ships to move out of the way, but they were too slow. The Mobile Dolls managed to avoid the blast, but when their controller ships sank, they lost all operative functions. The massive overload in the power stations caused a chain reaction that destroyed Gryps II.
The massive Colony laser shot raced through space like a mute banshee. It took one minute for the shot to reach A Baoa Qu. It missed the Space Station by 18 kilometers, hitting Milliardo's personal defense force, the last line of defense for A Baoa Qu. In death, Jamitov scored one of the most impressive hits of the day.
Setting: A Baoa Qu 8:10 a.m.
Amuro had to bring in one of his Funnels to block what could have been a finishing blow from the Epyon; Milliardo had managed to take out all save one of them. The Nu Gundam moved in quickly to use its own Beam Saber, but Milliardo managed to parry the blow. By this point Amuro was getting desperate, and Milliardo was getting restless; the clock was ticking.
Milliardo – "20 minutes Amuro, you are nearly out of time." Amuro – 'Shut up!"
Amuro had to watch several things: foremost was the clock, but he also needed to make sure that his Beam Saber did not run out of energy. Then the Epyon came in once more, the Heat Whip flew towards Nu Gundam's head. Something happened, however, that had not yet happened to Amuro in this fight; he saw the movement. Amuro quickly activated his Beam Saber and did a quick duck followed by an upward thrust. Milliardo was caught off guard by the action, but he did not lose his focus. The Epyon twisted to avoid Amuro's thrust; it then grabbed the kneeling Gundam by the head and slammed it into the rocky surface of A Baoa Qu. Amuro tried to counterattack, but the Epyon was just too fast. The sheer violence of the action caused Amuro's Beam Saber, his last weapon, to fly from his grip. When Amuro looked at his view screens he found the Epyon at point black range with its Beam Saber pointed right at the Nu Gundam's cockpit.
Milliardo – "You are really good Amuro, but Psychic impressions and superhuman reflexes are really no match for the Zero system. Victory is mine."
Amuro – 'I… I've lost.'
As the Epyon raised its Beam Saber for the final blow, a sudden shake rocked A Baoa Qu. The brutal force of the quake almost brought the Epyon to its knees. On his scanners Milliardo found that A Baoa Qu was being split in two by a massive explosion. Milliardo did not know how Amuro had done this, but he was able to deduce his involvement with the action. Milliardo brought his Beam Sword down for the last strike.
Chan – "Amuro!"
Amuro had known Chan was behind the explosion, but he would have never guessed she would show up here of all places. The RE-GZ used its Beam Saber to deflect the Epyon's Beam Sword in the very moment before it would have destroyed the Nu Gundam's cockpit. The Epyon flew back a distance, landing about 40 meters away. Amuro stood the Gundam up and received Chan's Beam Saber.
Amuro – "It's over Milliardo, A Baoa Qu is destroyed." Milliardo – "Fool. I've won. You may have thrown the bottom section of A Baoa Qu off course, but this top section on which we now stand will still hit the Earth."
Amuro – "Chan, I want you to retreat now. No objections! Find a transport, I'll be by soon."
Milliardo – "A Baoa Qu is speeding up, at this rate it will reach No Return in 5 minutes, and it will hit Earth in 15. It's just the two of us now, bring it on."
Amuro – "Let's dance."
Setting: Lunar Super-Microwave Power Station 8:14 a.m.
Quatre – "How does the power output look?"
Rasid – "We are at 60 Master Quatre."
Abdul – "A Baoa Qu has been blown off course by an unknown explosion; we can only guarantee a 76 lock on at maximum room." Quatre – "That will have to do, everyone ready? ... All right then, Satellite Cannon Fire!"
Quatre was not completely prepared for the power of the weapon he was in control of. The shot tore through space with deadly intentions for A Baoa Qu. With the energy cells blown out, Quatre could only sit back and wait for the results of his labor; he hoped it would be enough.
Setting: A Baoa Qu 8:18 a.m.
Milliardo pressed ever harder, he had to beat Amuro before they reached the Point of No Return. For him and Amuro as well, this was as personal a grudge match as any they had ever experienced before. Amuro needed a break, so he deliberately went too wide in a slash. Milliardo saw this and came in for a finishing blow, but he just fell into Amuro's trap. The final Funnel came in with blinding speed for a suicide run on the Epyon's Heat Whip, destroying it. Milliardo cursed himself for not seeing the trap, Amuro followed that up with another Beam Saber slash, but the Epyon easily dodged that.
Milliardo – "We finish this now!"
The two Gundams threw caution into the wind, without restraint they went sword to sword, toe to toe. The Epyon cut Nu Gundam's right Shoulder; Nu Gundam damaged the Epyon's knee with a violent kick. Milliardo punched Amuro's cockpit; Amuro cut off the Epyon's left Arm below the elbow. Amuro followed that up by head butting the smaller Epyon, but Milliardo sidestepped the attack and kicked the Nu Gundam's torso by the cockpit. The savage blows to his cockpit had shaken up Amuro quite a lot; so when the Epyon full body checked the Nu Gundam, Amuro went down.
Milliardo lifted up his Beam Sword and made two cuts on the Nu Gundam's head, one on each cheek.
Milliardo – "I've won; A Baoa Qu has reached No Return. Good bye Amuro."
Amuro saw the Beam Sword come down for the final blow, but he no longer had the strength to fight. So, he closed his eyes and waited for the end to come. But for some reason it did not.
Milliardo was bringing his Beam Sword down for the last strike of the tournament; but before he could finish it, another massive explosion shook A Baoa Qu. The enormous Energy Beam could only have come from Quatre.
Milliardo – 'That boy is good.'
Amuro came to a minute later; the explosion had knocked him out. As he stood he saw A Baoa Qu in ruins and the Epyon sitting down.
Amuro – "You still had time to finish me after all of that." Milliardo – "Yes."
Amuro – "Why didn't you?
Milliardo – "I'm blind."
Amuro – "The Energy Beam?"
Milliardo – "No, I mean I'm blind. All my motives and objectives, I was mistaken."
Amuro – "Now what?"
Milliardo – "I have someone coming to get me, as for you. You have five minutes to stop this rock."
Amuro – "So who won?"
Milliardo – "I technically won the fight, but the day is yours. Let's just say that you won. It will make things simpler that way. Farewell Amuro."
Amuro – "She was a friend of mine, the woman in white. She was very special."
Amuro did not watch as Milliardo left, his mind was already preoccupied. A Baoa Qu was falling, and he was the only one who could stop it. Amuro worked his way in-between the falling asteroid and Earth and with the full power of the Gundam, he began to work against Earth's gravity.
Bright – " Amuro, you... never... it. Amuro! Do you... me? Respond, respond."
Amuro – "Bright, I can't read you. You're breaking up."
Amuro was forced to cut off the line as static was making communication impossible. Amuro bringing his attention back to the matter of A Baoa Qu saw that he was fighting a losing battle. At full engine output, A Baoa Qu was still gaining speed.
Amuro – 'Never a nuclear missile or super beam cannon around when you need it.'
The Nu Gundam was starting to get a little warm in the cockpit. But Amuro was not about to give up, this chunk could still wipe out a continent. Fatigue was his enemy now, both Amuro and the Nu Gundam had been through so much, and he did not know how much farther he could push his limits.
? – "Need some help up there?"
? – "Of course he needs some help, what are you dense or something?"
? – "Come on Bro, just hold out until we get there"
? – "Don't give up, never give up!"
Amuro – (Weakly) "Who are you guys?"
Domon – "What, you've never heard of the shuffle alliance?
Amuro – "You have to escape; your suit won't take the strain." Sai Sici – "Hey Bro, just for your information, we are all in Gundams, and we can handle it."
Five more Gundam's hit the heated surface of A Baoa Qu and at full output tried to push it back. The effort, though, was not looking like enough to push it back.
Amuro – "See, it's too much for you to handle, retreat while you can."
Argo – "And I thought I was a pessimist. Amuro, we are not the only five Gundam's in the world we are from."
Amuro – "What?"
George – "Looks like our reinforcements have arrived."
Amuro could only look in disbelief as dozens of Gundam's came from Earth side and slammed themselves into A Baoa Qu. The combined force of over 200 Gundam's had a much greater effect on A Baoa Qu than one alone did.
Domon – "We're pushing it back, come on. Just a little more!" Bright – "Amuro, do you read me, Amuro? I don't know how, but you've done it. A Baoa Qu is leaving Earth's gravity well." Amuro – 'It is a new world we live in Lalah. And for some reason I can't understand, we seem to be stuck together.'
Domon – "Rain!"
Amuro – 'Although, whether this change is for the better or the worse is beyond me.'
Setting: Deep Space 12:15 p.m.
Noin – "We are coming up on the Epyon. Zechs, do you read me?" Zechs – "Yes, I hear you Noin. Can you bring me in? I'm out of fuel."
Noin – "Sure Zechs, setting course for Luxembourg. We can't be late for our appointment."
Zechs – "Appointment? Noin who are we going to see?"
