Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Combat 5 or Gundam (any of them). I'm also going to use a few parts from Lord of the Rings. Names, lines, etc., but nothing much.

"As A Dark Demon, It Uses Its Dark Power"

Chapter 2

Choices to Save or Take

"Once a man said,' that all wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers.' This is one HELL of a family feud!"

Quoted from Staff Sergeant Gena "Techa" Heartland

From "Life in Purgatory, From the Dairy of a Hero"

By Lu La Flaga, sister of the famous Ace, LTCM Mu La Flaga (KIA, Triple Ship Alliance)

Firebase November, Porta Panama, formerly of the United States of South America, now Atlantic Federation

71 C.E., May 25th

0753hrs. Zulu

The sun was just cresting above the hills for the troops station at Firebase November. The firebase was nestled in a secluded location with an adjacent village that thrived thanks to the troops there. The firebase had been reinforced and now a company of new artillery guns had arrived along with a massive troop of men and women, who were called a mobile unit? No one in the base seemed to know what those soldiers did, but it required lots of supplies. It was also noted that they were black uniforms instead of the blue or white uniforms of the Earth Alliance. The morning shift was talking about them when the first explosions started.

"ZAFT! ZAFT! IT'S ZAFT! ALL PERSONELL! RED ALERT! RED ALERT!"

The troops ran from their beds or from the showers to their assigned posts. The civilians ran to the nearby shelters. The commander of the new mobile unit was seen running back to his unit's underground bunkers, were they worked and slept.


Inside the Firebase November bunkers of the 232nd California Youth Mobile Company

"What was that sound?"

"Missiles hitting the main base and its immediate support bases and outposts."

"Oh!"

"Go back to bed."

"Yeah."

"This is no bombardment! It's a full scale attack! Suit up and move out!"

"YES SIR!" the troops chorus.

The troop of the 232nd jumped out of the beds and grabbed their flight suits.

"Remind me why we where fly-fly clothes?"

"Brass."

"Oh. Assholes."

"You said it!"

"Move it!"

"YES SIR!"

The troop was suited up and mounted in their mobile suits in less than 3 minutes.

"Hey 239 commander!"

"What is it? I'm busy!"

"This is the 232nd! You ready to rumble?"

"My last sniper just got into position, and it's Hawkeye Leader."

"That's a roger and mines Wardog Leader."

"Roger!"

"We're moving out!"

"Thanks for the heads up!"

"10-4! See at chow."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Alright pups lets...LAMBERT!"

"Sorry sir! It won't..."

"Shut UP! That's what you said the last thousand times! If I ever catch you making out before battle again! I'll promote you! Clear?"

"Crystal!"

"Move OUT!"

The 232nd moved out into its battle positions gaining awe from the troops and civvies they passed. In a few minutes they were in their prepared defenses and the ZAFT Orland Team was about to meet them.

"Huh? I got some kind of magnetic kick back from the hills commander."

"Tanks and gun emplacements, nothing more."

"No sir, not tanks and emplacements, but something else."

"What then?"

A stray ZAFT message.

"IT'S THE STRIKE!"

Commander Tzu Orland just about jumpsout ofhis seat when he hears that. Team Orland is a team from the elite forces of ZAFT, the FAITHS. He knows that the regular forces had been badly thrashed when encountering the Strike,' but reports said the Strike was in ruins, therefore….'

"ENEMY MOBILE SUITS IN THE HILLS!"

Too late the two companies of Earth Alliance mobile suits open fire.

"ALL FORCES RALLY ON ME AND COUNTERATTACK!"

"I'M HIT! ARGH!"

"ENEMY CABLES HAVE JUST APPEARED BEHIND US AND AMONG US!"

"IT'S HIM! THE GHOST OF BURMA RIDGE!"

"HE'S RIGHT! ONLY THAT GUY USES CABLES LIKE THIS!"

"I'M HIT….AHHHHHHH!"

The fighting becomes fierce, and Team Orland is wiped out. While back at the ZAFT fleet, the discovery of Orland's defeat is immediate and troops are sent to that area, not knowing that the "Ghost of Burma Ridge" is there.


2 hours into the fighting

ZAFT fleet in orbit

"Dropping Gungnirs in 5, 4, 3, 2, ABORT!"

"Inform the ground forces that it will take another orbit."

"ENEMY SHIPS!"

"Prepare to engage."

"ENEMY MOBILE SUITS!"

"WHAT?"

"Confirm! Twelve enemy ships and accompanying mobile suits!"

"LAUNCH A COUNTERATTACK!"

"THE GOREBERCHELLY HAS BEEN SUNK!"

"WE'VE ALREADY LOST TWENTY MOBILE SUITS!"

"COUNTERATTACK NOW!"


Mid-afternoon: 1344hrs Zulu

ZAFT submarine fleet

"The enemy space forces have been driven away, for now. Commander Dhrystone reports that at least two more orbits are needed and they should be able to drop a few Gungnirs in six hours sir, about 1944hrs. Zulu."

"Very good. Have the Duel continue to lead our forces."

"Yes sir."


With Wardog and Hawkeye Companies

"The lines are stable for now. Only thing stopping us is that damned Duel," reported Hawkeye Lead.

"This is Hawkeye 5. I have enemies approaching my….ARGH!"

"Hawkeye 5 is gone!"

"This is Wardog Lead! The Duel got Hawkeye 5. Watch yourselves, we don't have PS Armor."

"Roger!" was the chorus.

The fighting was very fierce. Both Wardog and Hawkeye had so far lost only a few units and even fewer pilots. ZAFT Forces weren't so lucky and neither were the rest of the Earth Alliance Forces. The shooting was indeed the most nerve racking going on. Anyone seeing the battlefield would have thrown up. The hatred on both sides was great, but not with the Youth Companies on the southern flank. Their attacks were cold and calculating. The exact opposite of the rest of the line, which was kill as many as you can, before YOU die.

"Sir!"

"No we are not going to sink to Blue Cosmos's level."

"Just checking."

The entire southern flank had adopted the mind set of "Were enemies, because of the times, and we don't care about anything else, including your genetic background." They remained the most capable units on the field and the ZAFT were just beginning to shift their strategies, so that the EAF southern flank would be tied down and not go north to support the line.

"That's seventeen for me Gimli!"

Explosions from Gimli's hole.

"'hat's 'hree for fir 'e, for ah 'otal o' 'wenty-'hree, Legolas!" announced Gimili happily.

"Hot shot!"

"Mama's boy!"

"Dwarve!"

"Elf boy!"

"Shorty!"

"Pointy ears!"

"SHUT UP THE TWO OF YOU!"

"Sorry captain!"

"Techa!"

"I see'em!"


Gunshots, a few explosions and three GINNS running for their lives later.

"Ghost!"

"Yes, Techa."

"I've got thirty-four kills today!"

"Excellent Gena! Lamb-Chops! You could learn from her."

"Not now sir! I'm fighting a FAITH!"

"I see you!"

"Hawkeye 3 here! Fall back Wardog 7!"

"I can't! Help!"

PFC. Linda Lambert is shoved back and she falls to the ground. Hawkeye 3 doesn't wait and takes the shot and punches a hole through the FAITH CQUE's chest and through the leg of Lambert's mobile suit.

"I'll live, but my mobile suit is a sitting duck."

"On mine way Wardog 7."

"Thanks Hawkeye 3."

"Not at all. I punched that hole in your leg, so I should carry you back."

"Still, you saved my life."

"You would have done the same."

Hawkeye 3 arrives at the crippled mobile suit only to have three FAITH GINNS jump him and begin trying to rip him apart. Another GINN appears and walks over to Wardog 7. Had the mobile suit had a mouth, it would have a cynical, evil smirk on its face as the mobile suit draws its sword.

"SOMEBODY HELP US!" Lambert screams over the radio.

"TARGET AQUIRED!"

BrrrZOOOOM! BOOM! The FAITH GINN explodes!

"TARGET DESTROYED!" came an unknown voice.

"This is Jolly Leader to Wardog 7! Your 75! Fire it!"

Doing as told, Lambert fires her 75mm Close In Weapons System, or CIWS. The three FAITHES are caught off guard and one is shot down. Crashing into the ground, the GINN explodes, knocking its companions off Hawkeye 3.

"GOT'CHA!"

Drawing his saber, Hawkeye 3, CAPT. Miroku Ling, stabs the first GINN just above the cockpit and then slices the second GINN clean in half. Both mobile suits fall and explode, while a FAITH DINN begins a strafing run only to be brought down by missiles from the Jolly Roger VF-604Naval Fighter Squadron! A squadron with a proud history dating back to the days of the World War TwoUnited States Navy. Some call them the Skull Squadron, the Death Squadron, but they are the Jolly Rogers!

"This is Jolly Lead to mobies! What's your Sit-Rep?"

"This is Hawkeye Leader. Condition Green. What about the others?"

"Getting beat around. They'll attack'n and not defend'n."

"All because of Josh. Damn Bluies!"

"To Hell with those asses!"

"Here! Here!"

"I'm gonna shoot the Son of a Bitch that order that battle! Personally!"

"YEAH!"

"With them around and sayin' what they say, how do they expect a Pure and Blue World?"

"It's called an oxymoron. Meaning that they're being asses and pricks!"

"No comment."

"Bandit! Check Six!"

"Four DINNS!"

"Jollies, we got'em!"

The Jolly Rogers evade the four DINNS in their Skyclaws, another type of Skygrasper, but their not able to carry the support packs for the GAT-101X Strike, but they have increased firepower, ammo, armor, and speed, with agility and maneuverability.

The Strike Daggers take aim and all four DINNS quickly became falling shrapnel on their own forces.

"Thanks mobies!"

"No problem fly-flies!"


The fighting still becomes even more fierce as some ZAFT mobile suits were dropped from space to join the battle. The new troops immediately begin to turn the tide in favor of the ZAFT Terrestrial Forces. The fighting along the all lines begins so intense that the Alliance begins to lose their edge, but then again, ZAFT has to abandon their chances of a breakthrough to prevent one!

"GOD DAMMIT! MORE ZAFT!"

"Where the hell did they come from Wardog 1?"

"I saw'em come in. It was a drop-op."

"Frick'in great!"

"DAMN THEM TO HELL FOR THAT!"

"I got another one!"

"Techa! Are you enjoying yourself?"

"I'm gonna be famous sir! I just bagged my 50th kill! AHHHH!"

"TECHA!"

"I got her covered!"

"Enemy forces withdrawing!"

"Techa's breathing! MEDIC!"

"I'm here!"

"Thank Allah for you Doc!"

"Praise Buddha I was nearby tending to Hawkeye 14. He hit his face on his screen and Hawkeye 15; she wouldn't let me leave until I was sure that he would survive. He only had a small scratch. Young love. Now about Techa."

After exiting his mobile suit and tending to her wounds.

"She'll live and fight in the next battle. Lucky girl."

"Praise the Heavens she's gonna be fine!"

"Still, there will be a scar, but from what I can tell, she'll have to beat the guys back with a stick, it'll make her look that sexy!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"You and your jokes Doc!"

"What do you expect Rats?"

"Less chatter! ZAFTs droppin' somethin'!"
"I'm detecting increased EM readings. THEY'RE EMP DEVICES!"

"Dammit! Sparks are sure?"

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! YES!"

"BACK TO BASE ON THE DOUBLE!"

"ALL FORCES IMBOUND EMP DEVICES! BACK TO NOVEMBER!"


The Gungnirs landed and were detonated. The Jolly Rogers, along with other air units fled to the safety of a zone south of Firebase November, while ground units fled to the safety of its bunkers and shelters. The pulse never went further south than Firebase March. The troops at March fled southward and joined the southern flank troops and held firm, fighting to rescue their comrades of north, but they never made it past Firebase Kevlar. Troops from the north, with civilians filtered south during the fighting and brought only sad reports. It had been a black day for the Earth Alliance, but more over, for all of humanity. The Earth Alliance would act like a caged and wounded animal now and additional fuel had been added to the fire.