The shuttle slowed to a halt near an abandoned colony at L4, the sun barely visible from behind the Earth. The bay door opened quietly, the Full Armor Enhanced ZZ stepping out and letting it float out of the ship. Cole, sitting in the cockpit, closed the visor of his helmet and strapped himself in. He opened a channel to the bridge of the shuttle, seeing Melina's face appear on the screen.
"All right. Close the hatch," he said to her. Melina nodded and leaned to the side, the bay closing as she returned to her position in the seat. "Well, wish me luck." The ZZ's thrusters fired off lightly, the suit catching up and passing the shuttle. "I'll see you soon."
"Hopefully not too soon," Melina replied, smiling. "Be careful, Cole." In response, the ZZ looked back, giving her a thumb up. It turned around and blasted off, leaving the shuttle behind. Melina sighed, watching the ZZ disappear as the sun lowered behind the Earth, casting the shuttle in darkness. The shuttle began moving forward and made a u-turn, heading back home. "I hope he comes back in one piece."
Meanwhile, the ZZ kept going, moving as fast as it could. Cole was waiting, reading some information on the Mars colonies as the red planet came into view. "Home, sweet home." He said as he closed the information window on the computer and hit the communications button. "This is Cole Leonix coming up on Mars airspace. I am returning in the Full Armor to make final arrangements before heading back out." Suddenly, two mobile suits appear from out of nowhere, both of them an enhanced Blitz.
"Roger that, sir. We'll escort you to the docking bay," one of the pilots replied as the two black suits turned and headed to Mars with the ZZ, staying ahead of it. "It's good to have you back, sir."
"It's good to be back. Are all of the crew assembled for the Defiant?"
"Yes sir. They're all awaiting debriefing at the headquarters." One of the Blitz-type suits hanged back a bit. The pilot opened a visual. He was a blonde, long-haired teenager with light blue eyes.
"So, how was your trip, Cole?" the kid asked, watching Cole sigh as he responded.
"Like hell. The Earth Alliance hated that I knew so much, so they tried to dispose of me."
"Well, you at least got to see your girlfriend again." Confused, Cole sat for a minute, but growled angrily.
"What the heck are you talking about! She's not a girlfriend!" The kid laughed as Cole yelled.
"Seriously, you two'd make a perfect couple. You argue like one, too!"
"Damn it, are you spreading rumors, Sean!" Sean kept laughing.
"Nah, this is my own personal opinion, that's all. I won't make anyone else think the same as me unless they want to." Cole sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, we're just about there," Sean added as a group of large metallic domes came into view. The metal framework was light gray and the glass forming the domes crystal clear. Each dome was connected to the other with a small, fully-metallic tunnel, making the domes appear to be a large web of colonies. The largest dome, located near the westernmost side of the domes, had a tall skyscraper in the center with a multitude of smaller buildings surrounding it. At the edge was the docking bay, which was a separated dome that led into the main dome. The docking bay was completely made of metal, the top opening up as the ZZ and Sean's Blitz hovered downward into the dome. They flew across the bay slowly, floating above a bluish-silver Archangel that was being prepared for liftoff. The suits passed the Archangel and landed in a separate hangar for individual suits. The dome closed slowly as the other Blitz headed back out, disappearing again. The ZZ watched the mobile suit hangar door close, the air vents hissing as a voice came onto the PA.
"Pressurization complete. Life support online." Cole took off his helmet and opened the cockpit door, climbing out. He landed on the scaffolding in front of the suit, sighing as he watched Sean jump from the Blitz onto the same scaffold.
"I keep on forgetting that Mars has its own gravity," Cole said as he loosened the collar of his suit. Sean walked over to him, smiling. "Well, let's get moving." He walked along the scaffolds, Sean close behind. After changing into normal clothing, they exited the hangar, walking into the tunnel leading to the main dome. Cole was wearing long white pants and a blue sleeveless buttoned shirt while Sean was wearing camouflage green pants and a white shirt. "Is everything set up?"
"Almost. One of the main problems is mobile suit development. We're stuck with using lost technology until we can build our own weapons," Cole sighed as Sean spoke. "Well, the good thing is the conversion of H.Q. is complete."
"Well, good. I was hoping they'd finish. I wouldn't want someone to easily enter my office and kill me," he replied, rubbing the back of his head. They made it to the end of the tunnel, Sean walking to the side panel and pressing a few buttons. "Now I get to see how much it's changed." Sean smiled, sliding an ID card through the panel's card reader. The doors slid open slowly, revealing a large metallic metropolis that stood from the ground, the streets hanging above and all about the buildings. Cole and Sean walked up the steel slope to the translucent blue roads above. Cole watched as a few cars sped by and seeing the people walking on the sides.
"Well, not much has changed except for the main office. It's just like you left it." Sean started walking ahead, leaving Cole standing at the top of the ramp. He looked up and smiled.
"No... It's different. It's home now," he commented to himself as he caught up with Sean. "And what about you? Anything new happening with you, kiddo?" Sean growled silently at Cole's 'kiddo' comment.
"Nothing... You know, I'm not a kid, and you're not old enough to be calling me a kid anyways."
"Hey, I can call you kiddo if I want. Besides, I've had a lot more experience than you." Sean sighed as Cole walked past. "Doesn't matter if I'm a year or fifty years older, I can still call you a kiddo." Cole put his hands behind his head, laughing.
"I'm gonna get you for that someday, sir," Sean retorted. Cole stopped walking and looked back at him.
"Not funny. You know I hate being called that." Sean smiled and walked past.
"I know. I think I'm the only one who understands that considering how everyone refers to you: 'Commander', 'sir', and a lot of other stuff." They keep walking, making their way to the main building. It stood at over twenty stories high and looked like a large steel sword splitting the air about the dome. "But, would you rather be called 'brother'?" Cole smiled at Sean.
"Nah. That'd be a little too much. Well, speaking of 'brothers'..."
"Sam was in the other Blitz. He's very vigilante when it comes to guard duty, so he's out there a lot."
"I see. Well, he's the military type. You..." Cole opens the front doors of the building slowly. "... Are the comic relief," he finished, the doors swinging open. The inside looked completely different from what the outside would suggest: the interior was furnished like a regular office building on Earth. The walls had a wooden texture to them as did a great deal of other things. The information center and the many other work stations had thick birch counters topped by smooth marble slabs. The doors to the sides leading to other offices were made of oak and well-decorated with brass doorknobs. Across from the front door was a set of elevators, the only pieces to the first floor that weren't wood, marble, or to the likeness of either. One of the elevators had a label that read '1st – 23rd floor' and was constantly opening and closing, people in formal attire walking in and out. The other elevator was labeled '24th' and had an attendant standing next to it. The attendant looked at Cole and saluted lightly.
"Welcome back, sir. How was your trip?" Cole sighed, shaking his head.
"Eventful. I'm gonna go arrange my office if you don't mind," Cole said, then pointing to Sean. "He's coming to help me." The attendant nodded, smiling. He pressed the elevator button, the door sliding open. Cole walked in with Sean following reluctantly. Cole pressed the button inside, closing the doors. The elevator shook to a start and began ascending. "Now there's the official paperwork not to mention assigning rank to those who are joining from the start." Sean smiled, leaning back.
"Well, you can just give me the highest rank below overall leader, whatever that'll be," he commented, grinning gleefully.
"Ensign it is," Cole responded, Sean looking at him in disbelief.
"You serious? That's the rank right below--"
"No. It's the lowest rank you can have when a mobile suit pilot." Sean practically yelled at hearing this.
"WHAT!" The elevator slowly came to a stop, the doors opening as the elevator bell rang. Cole walked out, leaving Sean exasperated, escaping the elevator just as it closed. "Wait a minute, Cole. Why am I stuck with that rank!"
"You have to earn a higher rank, kiddo. No one will start off at the higher ranks unless they have proven themselves in previous battles. If the need arises, there will be promotions to higher ranks for specific missions and roles." Cole stopped in front of a pair of large oak doors with the same brass handles as the doors from the first floor. He slowly opened them, looking into his office.
Cole's office had glass windows on the sides, the wall opposite of him and the wall next to the door adorned with more oak countertops and marble. Near the door was a long desk made of dark beech, the chair behind the desk black leather. Another similar chair was placed on the other side of the desk for people with appointments. Cole walked towards the desk, seeing what was on top of it: a long silver-bladed sword that had the handle and chamber of a magnum replacing the regular sword hilt. Inscribed on the blade was a set of runes and an imprint of a lion's head above it. Cole grabbed the handle and lifted it up, inspecting it.
"Down to the very detail. James was telling the truth," he commented, looking about it, his eyes wide with amazement. Sean walked over and looked at it from the other side.
"A gunblade?" he asked, deciding to let his eyes wander about its brilliant design.
"Revolver to be exact." Sean caught a glimpse of the runes on the blade.
"What does it say?"
"No idea... I've had people try and read it, but it's of unknown origin," Cole commented, lifting the blade up and placing it on his shoulder. "A fitting symbol for this faction and its purpose." He placed the gunblade down on the desk and pulled out some papers from the drawer of the desk. Sean stood in front of the desk at attention. "So... 'Sean Tilbit. Age: 15. Birthdate: September 10, 152 C.E. Birthplace: Neo Heliopolis. Ethnicity: Caucasian. -- Stop me if any of this is wrong. -- Previous occupation: Mars Defense Initiative. Skills: Mobile Suit pilot, OS design, Mobile Suit maintenance, and... Command position; Commander of Echo Squad, MDI.'" He flipped the page over. "'Living family: None. Guardian: None. Race: Natural. Health problems: None. Health history'..." Cole paused for a moment. "'Health history: unnamed muscle-degrading disease...' That's right. You had it, too." He flipped the front page back to the front, sighing. "You will be assigned the rank of Ensign due to your expertise on handling a mobile suit in both combat and non-combat situations. You will be assigned to the Archangel-class ship Defiant. Your allotted mobile suit will be your custom ZGMF – X10A Freedom Gundam." Cole stood up and raised his hand to shake Sean's. "Welcome to Leonheart, Ensign Tilbit." Sean extended his hand and shook Cole's, smiling.
"Thank you... Commander," he responded, saluting as soon as they finished shaking hands. Sean then walked to the door and stopped, turning around. "By the way..." Cole looked at him as he spoke. "I guess you'll be wanting more information on the Devil Gundam, and since you didn't exactly make a wonderful introduction before, I can try to find what I can from the Earth Alliance... With your permission of course." Cole sighed, sitting back down.
"Well, rest first, then go on down to Earth. You have permission to use your own suit as transportation." Sean saluted again.
"Thank you, sir. I won't fail you." He turned and walked out, closing the door. Cole leaned back in his chair, looking at the gunblade.
James... he thought to himself, This is my tribute to you... for being a great leader, a great friend, and a great father. He watched as the lights on the ceiling reflected off of the blade's sharp edge, shining brightly. The phone on his desk rang silently underneath the blade. Cole turned the sword and lifted the phone up. "Yeah? What is it?"
"Your girl-- I mean Miss Melina Roland has sent a message." Cole's eye twitched as he listened to the secretary speak. "The message is: 'I have arrived safely. Make sure you do the same.'" He smiled at the last part.
"Thanks, but for the record, she's not--" he stopped as he heard the phone being hung up by the secretary. He sighed and put the phone down. "I hate rumors... I don't even know her that well." Cole stood up and pressed a small button on the desk, picking up the gunblade. As he walked to the middle of the room, the ceiling panels opened up, allowing a multitude of red and white targets connected to long metal wires to dangle and move about. "Time to blow some steam." He turned his head and dashed to one of the targets, swinging the gunblade towards it.