Chapter 16

Fielding was in his quarters, looking over some of his personal belongings. He kept them in a box under his bunk, which was anything but comfortable. His quarters in general were no better than that of an enlisted crewman. He picked up a picture of him and his older brother, both in USC uniforms, fresh out of the academy.

"Jonathan," Fielding said softly, "why? Why couldn't it have been like it used to be. You, Me, both aboard the Hellion, back when we were on the same side. Why? Why did you leave space and headed to Earth, eventually joining the EMF? You killed our parents without a second thought, but, know that I have avenged them, it is shallow. I hated you with every fiber of my being, my own flesh and blood. I respected you, but you defected, all I want to know is why."

Fielding continued to think about his brother's past ordeals that lead up to his death, at Thomas's hands. Fielding set his picture down and picked up another, a old photograph of his parents, when he was a small child, Jonathan the same.

"If only things could have stayed that way, one big happy family," Fielding thought, studying the picture.

His father appeared to be a handsome man, tall, dark, and well built, young to boot. His mother, a beautiful woman, a woman men would beg to spend the rest of their lives with. He missed them, he missed Jonathan, nothing will ever bring any of them back."

Fielding continued to sift through the many years of photographs he had of memories, good memories, which were very few and far between for the tragedy of a life that he had lived up until then. A knock sounded on his door.

"Yes?" questioned Fielding, sliding his box back underneath of his bunk.

"You are needed on the bridge, Sir," informed Priss, concern about his voice.

The rolling landscape flew by as Brandt glanced out his window. He returned to his work on his personal computer, checking current reports of activity.
"Seems the closest known threat is nowhere near this transport," Brandt commented to himself, "but, there are always surprises."
Brandt had the entire car to himself, the Officer's car is what it was referred to. Nothing more than a mobile cabin is what it was, very bleak, with no variance besides the doors at either end and the 4 windows, 2 on either side.
The EMF didn't use much of their budget on accommodations, but Brandt didn't mind.
"I would like to know who is responsible for these recent attacks though," Brandt said, looking at the files containing information about patrols being wiped out and losing an entire base to the USC.
He took a sip of his coffee that was setting on his desk and looked out the window again.
"I can't see why people wouldn't want to live here on Earth," Brandt said, setting the cup down, watching the transport cross deep gorge that contained a river many feet below.

"I have something," Rush informed, looking at his radar screen.
"So do I," replied Rachel, "It's the transport, I won't begin my attack until you do, ok?"
"Got it," he replied, taking the safeties off of his weapons.
The sound of wheels hitting the rail connections in their regular clack-clack sound grew louder and louder as it neared, coming closer and closer to Rush and Rachel's hidden position.
"I have visual," Rush informed, taking aim with his right side Twin Dober Gun.
The transport rounded the bend coming nearly head on towards the hidden Gundams.
"Lock," Rush stated, squeezing the trigger on the control joystick.
A thunderous boom emitted from the gun, sending the projectile speeding towards the transport. The transport locked up its brakes, attempting to avoid the shot. The Dober shell hit the engine of the transport train, causing it to stop dead in its tracks, derailing some of the trailing cars.
"Direct hit," Rush said, pleased with himself.
"Don't get too cocky," replied Rachel, as 10 high mobility units lifted off of the cars and began firing at their position. A bright, red beam pierced one of the air units, causing it to rupture into a violent fireball.
"Where the hell did that come from?" questioned Rush, as the target he locked on to exploded.
"I have no idea," replied Rachel, as she opened fire on another unit, "but, by the look of things, they are with us."
Another flying unit bit the dust, same as the last did, with pinpoint accuracy.
"Glad they are," commented Rush, taking aim at another unit.

"Commander-...need...itence," informed the Lt. towards the front of the transport, his transmission garbled and staticy.
"Repeat, Lieutenant," replied Brandt, picking up his communicator.
"The enemy is attacking," managed the Lt. coming in clear, "Our air units are being slaughtered, we need your help."
"I will be ready as soon as I can," Brandt stated.
"It is-," the Lt.'s transmission was cut short something off screen.
"It is what, Lt.?" Brandt questioned, seeing the Lt.'s face turn pale on the screen.
"I have never seen an enemy suit like that," commented someone off screen.
"Lt., Report!" yelled Brandt, wanting to know what was going on.
"The enemy suits are G-" the transmission went dead.
"Damn it," sweared Brandt, running to his suit in the next car.