SD Gundam Force GF
An SD Gundam Force fanfiction by Preventer Void
Episode 2: Divide and Conquer!
Lightning clashed outside the window of the audience chamber as the General marshaled his thoughts. A large computer display in front of him showed the battle data taken from the previous battle, with particular analyses on as much information as they could gather about the Gundam Force members. As he looked at Captain Nu outshooting and outfighting Zssa, the General grunted unhappily. He knew that it was his fault they had to contend with these new enemies, despite the reassurances his subordinates tried to pay him. Knowing that it was his fault, he realized that it was on his head to figure out how to defeat them...
And just like that, the idea came to him. He felt like laughing at himself for missing something so obvious and so simple. However, if it worked, these Gundams would be no more...
"Guards!" the General yelled to the Soldier Dogas standing guard outside his chambers. When they opened the door and saluted, he continued. "Summon the troops. I believe it's time to strike at Neotopia once more..."
As the assembly looked up at the General, several screens flashed into view, all of them showing clips from the previous fight, with special attention being paid to the members of the Gundam Force. Blaster Zssa looked at the screen showing Nu and muttered under her breath.
"In case you're wondering why I've called you all here..." the General began.
"If it's to entertain us, you've succeeded," interrupted Tetra. Watching the fight, she laughed as the video showed Zssa running away.
Qubeley cleared her throat loudly. "That's more than enough, Lieutenant. The General has something important to tell us, so save the petty squabbling for later."
The General nodded. "Thank you. As I was saying, I believe I have come up with a plan that will allow us to defeat the SDG. In fact, the simplicity of this plan made me wonder if I needed to go back to the academy."
Bawoo gestured politely. "And the plan, sir?"
"Divide and conquer."
As he spoke these words, a display appeared in front of him, showing an overhead view of Neotopia City. Fourteen circles appeared on the display, each marked with the Dark Axis insignia. "Though the enemy has many powerful Gundams, it seems as though they don't have any foot soldiers like our Dogas. Therefore, if we can split their focus, odds are we can overwhelm them with superior numbers."
Dreissen motioned for attention. "An excellent plan, sir, but you're counting on fourteen independent attack squads, and we only have eleven commanders. Where are the other three?"
"Here we are."
The commanders turned around as two figures stepped into the room. The General managed a wave of introduction. "Ladies, gentlemen, these are Diver Kapool, Sniper Zowm, and Shot Gallus, three of the top students from the training academy. If they succeed against the SDG today, they will receive full promotions and join your ranks."
Captain Zaku extended his hand. "Well met, but are you sure you want to jump from the textbook to the field?"
"For our country, we will do anything," Gallus said as he shook the offered hand.
"I'm glad to hear it. Everyone get ready. We'll forestall the use of battleships today, if only because they make big targets. Now, go forth and fight for our future."
"Yessir!"
"Why do I always have to do the hard work?"
Ensign Javelin sighed at his brother's oft-repeated complaint. "Because you signed up for the SDG but don't want to go through combat training. Seriously, James, if you hate menial labor so much and you don't want to fight, why'd you sign up for the Gundam Force?"
With a shrug, Jamesgun turned and went off on his way, muttering all the way. Shaking his head, Javelin started off down the hallway and bumped into Gunblader.
"Heya Javelin, what's bugging you?" the pseudo-Gundam asked.
"What else? It's my brother. You know, I really love the guy, but there are times when I wonder how two so completely different people could be brothers."
ReGZ shrugged. "Nobody gets to control how or when they're born. At the very least, I can say I envy you because I'm an only child. You're lucky to have a brother, even if you don't see eye to eye on everything."
"I guess..."
At that moment, the alarm went off, interrupting their conversation. With a nod to each other, the two warriors ran to the briefing room.
Captain Nu was the first to arrive; he had been in the area anyway. Like clockwork, the other members of the Gundam Force started streaming into the room one after the other and started taking their seats. Given the wildly varying dimensions of their bodies, they each had a personalized chair. X had commented that it reminded him of a comic book he read once, but that had only earned him a few good-natured razzes from the others.
General Haro came in after they were all seated. "Thank you all for such a prompt response. It seems that the enemy forces have chosen to attack once more. Their main force is coming at the west side of the city, but it looks like they're coming on foot, allowing them to avoid the damage we gave them last time."
Mudrock jumped to his feet. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"I don't know," said Leopard as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "This doesn't seem right. I mean, we kicked their butts from here to next week during their last fight. Their leader would have to be a military school drop-out to suggest the exact same plan of attack a second time."
"So what's the issue?" asked Airmaster impatiently. "Their leader's a moron, let's go beat them up again."
As it to answer Aimaster's question, another localized dimensional flux appeared on the east side of the city, followed by one to the northwest, one to the south...in a matter of minutes, there were fourteen confirmed warps.
Leopard snapped his fingers. "So much for that theory."
Looking at the General, Nu shook his head. "Even if it's a trick, we have no choice. If any one of those groups gets into the city, there'll be Hell to pay."
Haro sighed. "I wish you were wrong, Captain. As it is, we have no choice. Everyone pick a destination and launch. We have no time to lose."
Captain Nu jumped off his jet sled as he approached the place where the northern enemy forces were said to be. Remaining wary, he scanned the surrounding area. Just then, he became aware of an almost imperceptible whine all around him. It sounded like...
Nu jumped into the air, thrusters boosting him upwards, as a shower of beam shots came from all directions at the space he once occupied. Tracing one of the shots back to its source, he showered a nearby bush with a burst of fire from his vulcans, hoping to flush out the enemy. However, as he landed the bush remained silent. Another beam erupted out of it, aimed straight at him. He dodged to the side, only to have another beam strike him in the back. He wheeled around in time to see a conical white object trying to dart away. With a spray of vulcans, he shot it out of the air, then dodged forwards as he saw a beam come at him from the side.
"Very well done...Captain Nu, was it? You're the first to avoid my funnels."
He looked up as an unfamiliar enemy approached, flanked by two almost identical bodyguards and followed by several Soldier Dogas. "And you are?"
A beam saber slid into her right hand and activated. "My name is Lady Qubeley of the Dark Axis. Of course, by the time I get done with you, you won't be in any condition to tell anyone."
Gaza-W jumped in front of his charge. "My lady, let us take care of him. We..."
"No. I'll fight this one myself."
Before they could raise any more protests, she launched herself at Nu.
At the southwest side of the city, the Z2 Gunner team landed at the edge of Lake Dublin and looked around in confusion. The leader activated his radio. "Z2 Gunner 1 here...there don't seem to be any enemies around..."
Before he could finish, the calm waters of the lake burst as Kapool and several Aqua Dogas leapt to the surface, catching the team off-guard. The Dark Axis team started shooting missiles at the Z2 Gunners, most of which were absorbed by their armor.
"If you guys want to get us, you'll have to play by our rules!" cried Kapool as he jumped back into the water, followed by his subordinates.
Z2 Unit 3 grunted unhappily. "Yeah, right! Take this!" Raising his heavy hyper mega cannon, he fired a shot into the water - only to watch as most of the beam was dissipated by it.
The Z2 Gunners looked at each other. Unit 2 shrugged. "I guess we have to..."
"Just stay out of my way, you cannon fodder!"
Silhouette turned around as she heard the shout. Smirking, she leveled her beam rifle at the forest from which the voice had come and fired it, as well as the beam spraygun mounted on her arm. Several angry cries came from the trees, followed by several loud thuds. After a second, a bright crimson streak burst out of the foliage, beam machinegun blazing away. Sil raised her left arm and activated her beam shield, blocking the shots.
"Damn Dogas!" yelled Tetra as she landed. "If you can't do anything properly, then just go back home!"
Sil laughed. "You'd be better off treating your subordinates with more respect. I doubt you can beat me on your own."
"We'll just see about that!"
Screaming wordlessly, Tetra drew her beam saber and charged.
The Zeta Gunners swirled and looped through the air, dodging beam blasts and missiles fired by the Soldier Dogas on their jet sleds. Sniper Zowm darted between their ranks, taking occasional potshots with his hyper knuckle buster.
"How are we supposed to deal with these guys!" Gun Zeta Two asked, half-rhetorically.
"Like this," responded his team leader. He hefted his beam smartgun and fired a full-power blast, knocking several Dogas out of the fight and destroying their sleds.
Zowm laughed almost maniacally. "Nice, but you two are no match for me!"
"Just keep telling yourself that!" Gun Zeta One cried as he pointed his hip beam cannons at the flying enemy and fired.
Back at Blanc Base, General Haro looked over the battle data and frowned. The Gundam Force was outnumbered and outgunned. He turned to Julie. "What are the percentages of activation for the Soul Drives?"
The operator checked the battle data on her computer. "Captain's is at .00001, and he's the highest out of them. Pardon me for stating the obvious, but this does NOT look good."
"Don't worry," Haro said as he folded his hands. "Percentages don't matter when you have the courage that those young people do."
Bright bursts of lightning and sparks flew as Double-Zeta locked sabers with Physalis. The Dark Axis commander laughed as he pushed the saber forward. "Stupid kid...you can't hope to defeat me! Give up now and I may just make your end painless!"
Double-Zeta grunted as he tried to push back. "You know...you...are REALLY getting on my nerves!"
With a sudden burst of power, Physalis was blown back, landing hard on his back. Rising to his feet, he drew his second saber. "I'll show you, brat!" Then he saw that Double-Zeta's eyes were burning with a great internal power.
"I'd say it's my turn to show you something!" Energy that seemingly appeared in thin-air began gathering in Double-Zeta's forehead crest, coalescing into a single point of light focused in the center of his forehead.
Physalis threw one of his sabers aside and pulled out his giant bazooka. "You don't scare me!" He fired a bazooka shot, which shot threw the air straight for Double-Zeta's face.
"Take this! HI-MEGA CANNON!"
The gathered energy exploded outwards into a gigantic wave of golden light that was headed right for Physalis. Too late, he grabbed for his discarded shield and put it in front of himself. The energy hit with the force of a tidal wave, pushing him backwards several hundred yards, tearing into the shield until it had completely melted away.
"Kid, you have no idea what you're in for!"
Bawoo pointed his shield and fired, unleashing a stream of beam blasts at Zeta. The golden energy struck home, making a gigantic cloud of dust and smoke. Smirking, he relaxed...
...Until the cloud suddenly burst outwards in a torrent of glowing purple-pink power, all concentrated on Zeta's body.
"You...how did you..."
Zeta glared at the enemy captain. "I think you've had enough."
He reached over to his hip and drew out a beam saber. The field momentarily dimmed as the power flowed from all around his body into his right hand, forming around the beam saber.
Bawoo's monoeye widened. "You're kidding!"
Zeta swung his saber as the power shot forth, making a mile-long blade that crashed down right on Captain Bawoo's head...
Captain Nu dashed across the ground, dodging beam blasts and retaliating with his own beam rifle shots. "You should surrender. The Zeta Gunners have defeated your air force, the Z2 Gunners have beaten your naval units - with a little trouble, but beaten all the same, and..."
Behind Captain, an enormous wave of bright blue energy appeared, shooting away from the city. Without missing a beat, he continued. "...And it looks like Ensign X has taken care of whoever he was fighting."
Qubeley growled angrily. "Your problem is that you need to stop sermonizing and fight like a man!" Her funnels began firing more intensely, trying to anticipate his movements.
Captain backflipped away from Qubeley, landing in a kneeling position. "Trust me, I'm just warming up."
The six fins on his back lifted off, forming into U-shapes, and raced into the thick of battle. They began firing almost in unison, taking out most of Qubeley's own funnels and striking her in the right shoulder, making her drop her saber and screech to a halt. They stared at each other for a long time before either of them said anything.
"Your allies are defeated. I'd advise you to give and never come back here."
Gazu-E ran up and took Qubeley's shoulder as his brother picked up her saber. Qubeley cursed under her breath. "Until I destroy each and every one of your people for what they've done, I will never give up. We will be back."
A portal, resembling a horizontal pool of turbulent water, opened into existence behind her. After she and the wounded Dogas had retreated through it, it winked out of existence. Captain lowered his beam rifle as the fin funnels reattached themselves to his back. He activated his radio. "Nice job, everyone. Let's head home."
The General let out an angry growl as he watched the footage of the Gundams' Soul Drive-powered attacks. He had hoped that superior numbers and tactics would allow his forces to beat the power of the SDG. Unfortunately, there had been one thing he hadn't planned on, and right now he was watching the results as they happened in great detail. While the commanders recovered from their injuries, the plans would have to go on hold. That was just one of the many things that were doing little to improve his mood at this point.
"If I could go and fight them myself, I would...but for now, I will have to wait..."
Zako...Zako...Zako...
It's the Zako Zako Hour!
Zako 1: Ladies and gentle-bots, welcome to the Zako Zako Hour!
Zako 2: Today, our subject is...
Zakos: (together) "What the Heck is a Soul Drive, Anyway?"
Zako 3: Zako! I have a question!
(The screen shows Double-Zeta, his eyes aflame.)
Zako 3: Why's it look like that Gundam's face is on fire?
Zako 1: That's one of the visual signs that a Soul Drive is active and providing power!
Zako 2: Oooh! I thought it was an advertisement for eye drops...
Zako 1: (furious) You idiot! Why would we advertise eye-drops in the middle of an episode!
Zako 3: I dunno, we do sell a lot of stuff...
Zako 1: ANYWAY!
Zako 2: Oh, right!
(The screen shows a montage of the SDG members using their super attacks.)
Zako 2: How the heck did they do that?
Zako 1: While the Soul Drive is active, it gives you an incredible power boost that makes you almost unstoppable!
Zako 3: Oooh! I thought they had to go to the bathroom and were just trying to get the battle over with so they could...
Zako 1: (furious) You idiot! Why do I have to deal with such morons!
(His anger makes him catch fire...and his armor falls off.)
Zako 3: (shielding his eye) Um...I think that's all the time we have for today.
Zako 1: Really, I could have sworn there was more time than that...
For the future of the Dark Axis, ZAKO SOLDIERS, FIGHT!
(Fade to black)
Zako 1: Zako! Is there a draft in here, or is it just me?