Chapter 3: The First Fight
The cockpit came to life. General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Automatic Maneuver synthesis system ran down across the main screen.
"RX-78-1, Lieutenant Kei Dacova, I'm taking off!"
The giant unit shot forward out into the pitch black emptiness of space. Immediately he turned to find a green Zaku coming right at him. He shifted the prototype beam weapon to his right hand. He lined up the oncoming unit and fired twice. His weapon was more power full than the Zaku's machine gun but if fired slowly and had a maximum of six rounds before it over heated. The first round missed but the second struck the Zaku square in the chest. It hit right above the cockpit. It remained there in space for a few seconds then exploded leaving nothing but small bits and pieces.
"Got ya!"
Kei headed forward into the middle of the battle. Multiply targets appeared on his heads up display. The computer's targeting system brought up six specific targets. Kei pulled the trigger. Six shots rang out into space. Two explosions put a small smile on Kei's face. The four units that he missed turned and started at him. The three Zakus and a Dom opened fire.
"Kei, your shield is taking to many hits. It's not going to last long at this rate!"
The shield busted into hundreds of pieces. Kei tossed the small handle; the only part left of the shield, aside and drew one of the beam sabers. The first Zaku passed him by. Kei turned and shot the unit in the back of the head.
The Dom was next. With its heat saber drawn, the unit slashed at him. Kei was able to dodge its attacks easily. He shoved the pink beam down into the Dom through the top of its head and yanked it back causing a large trench in the Dom's back.
A second Zaku drew up right behind Kei, brandishing its heat hawk. Kei started to turn around just as the deadly weapon came crashing down. The heat hawk sliced right down on Kei's beam rifle, splitting it in two. In response Kei swung his beam saber up severing the Zaku's arm off, taking the machine gun with it. Then with both hands Kei cut into the chest of his foe. The Zaku's arm floated passed Kei's gaze. He ceased it and pried the gun from its dead grip.
Kei didn't know it yet but he was about to face the unknown ace pilot, Johnny Ridden, the Crimson Lightning.
The last Zaku charged out to the side, then turned and boosted forward with incredible speed. Many of the machine gun rounds found homes inside Kei's mobile suit. Kei locked on and fired back. Kei's targeting computer had a very difficult time keeping pace with the swift moving Zaku. Ridden put an end to his swift hit and run tactics and drove strait at the enemy mobile suit. He shifted the Zaku's shoulders around so that the spikes faced his foe. He increased his speed to the most his generator could handle. The spikes were rammed into the upper right hand corner of the mobile suit's chest.
To shots of the Lorelei's main guns struck the Zaku. The near totaled Zaku stopped his attack and feebly flew back to its ship.
"RX-78-1, Lieutenant Kei Dacova, please return."
"Rodger that. I'm coming back."