Chapter 5: Zeon's Assault

Robert Giliam, commanding officer of the Zeon Musai class battle cruiser Baromel, had been sent out on patrol when he came across a lone Earth Federation ship. He radioed back to the main fleet asking for permission to engage the enemy.

Communications officer onboard the Lorelei, Ensign Karen Joshua, picked up the transmission almost instantly.

"CAPTAIN! I've intercepted a transmission from a Zeon ship. Their tiring to gain clearance to attack."

"Scramble all fighters! Get the mobile suits ready to launch! ALL HANDS LEVEL 1 BATTLE STATIONS!"

Kei ran slid down the corridors on the hand conveyor to the main bay. His Gundam was loaded with over 600 rounds of ammo for the machine gun and the new shield was locked in place. Akia was already in the locker room and in her pilot out fit. Kei quickly slipped his uniform on over what he already had on. Turned, left the room, pushed off toward the open cockpit, then saluted down to the crew. He strapped in and prepared for the battle ahead.

The force of the Lorelei's catapult shoved Kei back in to his seat to the point where the padding didn't seem to exist. Once free of the ship Kei hit the thrusters and put the unit through a barrel roll. Kei's heads up display brought up three contacts. Two Rick Doms and a new mobile suit that didn't match any current known data.

Elliot Lem was the pilot of Zeon's first high mobility Zaku. He signaled back to the other units. Both Rick Doms stopped their forward momentum and drew up their bazookas. Their targeting computers locked on to the darkened unit. Elliot still boosted forward at their foe. The Doms fired down upon Kei. As the shots raced toward the Gundam, Elliot suddenly rotated and headed above the target.

Kei noticed the rounds fired and prepared to make adjustments to his heading. The two 360mm bullets were right on target, but Kei boosted to the left just at the last second and returned fire. The Doms split up and headed in different directions to each of his sides.

Elliot drew his heat hawk. He was right above the enemy mobile suit. Elliot slammed the controls down. The Zaku raced toward Kei with tremendous speed.

Kei's computer warned him of the unit above. He stowed his shield on the booster unit and drew a beam saber without activating the beam. Kei shifted to the right. The heat hawks blade cut though the empty space where the Gundam was a moment ago. Kei activated the blade and sliced sideways at the Zaku's head. Elliot dived and avoided the attack. He punched the Gundam in the stomach with the three spikes located on his shield attached to the left arm. The shock hit Kei hard. It whip lashed his head inside his helmet nearly knocking him out.

Two beam shot raced across in front of Kei, each striking the Zaku. The beams ripped off the right arm and severely damaged the lower left corner of its chest.

"Hey, Kei! Don't hog all the fun."

"I don't wana share! It's my fun."

Akia laughed. Her Guncannon was racing forward. The two cannons on its shoulders were extremely effective at a long range.

The Doms advanced. Each took a different target. Kei quickly switched from his machine gun to the second beam saber. The Dom drew its heat saber in response. The two units drew up face to face. Kei brought his right saber around but was intercepted by the Dom's. The Zeon pilot raised the giant bazooka level with the Gundams cockpit, but was rewarded by Kei jabbing his other weapon into the shoulder through his arm. The Gundam's foot pushed off against the Dom's chest. Kei forced himself backward pulling the beam saber out with him. The Dom shuddered and exploded.

Akia rotated with the other Dom. Each exchanging fire with one another. To her it seemed as if she was spinning for eternity. Finally she got feed up with it.

"Screw this."

She aimed the dual cannons and fired. Each scored direct hits, completely decimating the enemy Dom.

"Kei, Akia. Please return."