Mobile Suit Gundam: Blood is freedoms stain
Chapter 3
Secret detention centre 'Höfn'
Location unknown
Time unimportant
"Wake up, you bastard"
The rough voice bellows, unable to wake the unconscious prisoner. Even a swift kick to the chair he sits on doesn't help. But then again the beatings and sodium pentathol didn't achieve any progress in the interrogation either.
"Maybe some water to help you?"
A second person asks, before emptying a bucket of water on top of their prisoner. The hard shock that flows through his body from the icecold water is enough to let him spring back to consciousness. Lying in a pool of water he looks up and vaguely sees two blurry figures in beige uniforms.
Slowly the awakened mind starts to remember and in less than a second a gigantic informationflow from the region in charge of short term memory comes rushing in.
Feddies…Damn how long was I out? Did the shuttle make it out alive… Ken, you idiot… Solomon…
"Welcome back sleeping beauty" the leader of the two Federates spoke.
"Are you ready to tell us where the shuttle was headed for?"
Ken Layzner, still drugged by the sedatives, slowly crawls up without taking his eyes of his captors. The high ranking officer is a giant of man, bald and wears strange red goggles. A coarse smirk and an excessive air of superiority decorate his visage. His nose reminds of a boxer, but seeing the attitude of the officer it probably comes from a brawl too much. If Layzner heared correctly he is called Ohm.
"G… Geh…"
Ken has more difficulty to speak than he anticipated. The sodium pentathol dosage must have exceeded the limit for sure.
"Granada? Is that what you try to say?"
He kneels behind Ken, who in the meantime managed to lean on his ellbows. A triumphant spark can be seen in Ohm's eyes, thinking he succeeded.
"G… Go to hell, Feddie sonnuva…"
Before he could even finish his insult Ohm had already pulled Ken's head back by his hair. Layzner's spine bends in a not so very healthy manner. His teeth clenched tightly together to bite back the pain, still not enough to hold the tears in his eyes. The Federate has to laugh when he throws helpless Ken back to the ground.
"Why so stubborn, Zeek?"
"You…"
While getting back up Ohm puts on his cap and makes way for the door. The other feddie quickly follows behind him like an obedient dog, after giving a firm introduction of his shiny black boot to Ken's face.
"Too bad my friend, you should have cooperated when we offered you the chance. Then you could have returned home after this war. But now you're just another MIA on the list…"
-
As the days pass by you try to keep track of time. But once the days start to become months or even years not many continue their calender. I stopped at 481 days, almost a year and a half. All this time we are kept in the dark of the affairs of the outside world. I just hope we pushed the Feddies back at Solomon…
The routine in the small prison facility keeps its slow pace. Sometimes a random interrogation, if you still can call it that, and sometimes just entertainment for the guards. Whatever sort of information they might have had is long since outdated and of no longer consequence for the outcome of the war.
Last night that scroungy little private finally did it, Sato I think his name was. Strung himself up with his belt up the radiator in his cell. A miracle he lasted so long, but the last few weeks… Well I guess it's been weeks… The Feddies have been tormenting him all that time, even the female guards. And then you'd think a women would be more sensible… Laughable!
In the beginning the unspeakable acts that are used by the guards had at least some meaning, however inhuman they are considered. To break the inmate psychicly into spilling the beans. Now the acts are still being committed but serve a purpose no longer. The prisoner have changed through these experiences along with their guards, the one becomes a shadow of his former self while the other becomes some dominant animal.
I just get a good beating now and then, figure that's what my good friend Ohm wanted. Just old-fashioned physical pain… Others are deprived of sleep by any means, those poor bastards are all going insane after nine days. Then some are just humiliated in any depraved manner humanly possible. And at times a prisoner doesn't survive his interrogation or not long after it. Going from unfortunate accidents to incurable medical conditions. In the early days Captain Von Haelen killed himself with two gunshots in the head. And another one, I forgot his name, was found stabbed in the back fourteen times. He was classed as suicidal.
You know the funny thing about this?
Nobody cares for the truth…-
Another glorious day in the Federate Maximum Security Facility, or God's Blind Spot as it's more commonly known among the inmates.
For the last couple of days the Feddies have been more tense and cautious. As some invisible threat hangs in the air. Guards patrol in teams of two carrying the biggest gun they can. Some take out their uneasiness on some unfortunate prisoner. Constantly orders given over intercom.
Most prisoners are currently on the courtyard, a small square area cut out of the building with the size of half a footballfield. The thirty metres high walls keep out direct sun as well the local surroundings. Here the men come to exercise, walk or generally pass away the time.
In a corner, shaded by the walls, sits Ken Layzner pondering. Next to him a Lt. Commander of the EAF, part of the navy hence the rank. His naval blue vest hangs loosely over a thick sweater and scarf to keep him warm in the cold northern winter weather. A sigarette butt in his mouth.
Attention inmates, 5 minutes before cell lockdown. Failure to comply will result in severe punishment!
Prisoners relaxing in the courtyard show different kinds acknowledgements, some try to protest but are quickly hauled to their cell by present guards. Others run heads-down towards their wing, fearing the warnings. And some leave the field with a bit more dignity.
"His Excellency has spoken" jokes the Lt. Commander whilst tapping Ken on the shoulder.
Interrupted in his chain of thoughts Layzner mumbles agreeingly.
"Hmm, right behind you Gruber"
Back in their cells, the prisoners start to speculate about this unforseen lockdown, for normally they had another hour in the courtyard. Through the entire block possibilities are yelled.
"Maybe the Zeon are finally retaking Earth?"
That was quickly laughed away.
"Yeah and Gihren's leading the charge on our prison!"
"We might get some new residents to our fine estate."
"Hell, that'd be great. Maybe a woman for a change instead of the continuous coming-ons of Billy here! Har har har…"
"Screw you Vickers, I don't pound butt!"
"No, that moustache of yours says you take it in the butt!"
…
The chatter of the inmates fades out when the heavy plasteel doors slam open with guards piled together storm in. Upon closer inspection it are five guards trying to hold down a Zeon MS pilot. Still in his green normal suit, kicking and screaming like a pig on its way to the slaughter.
"Those who don't share our Cause will be destroyed!"
"Shut this Zeek up, will ya!"
The Federate sergeant orders to one of the guards. But the command doesn't scare the Zeon. No it provokes him to yell even louder.
"Major Gato will unleash the nightmare of Solomon once more! Delaz Fleet will –ughn…"
His last threats are silenced by a hard knock of the Federate's assault rifle to the back of the prisoners head. Unconscious they drag him in a cell. Such behaviour provokes criticism from other inmates trying to quote the Antarctic Treaty.
"Pipe down Zeon scum! The Treaty ain't worth anything here."
-
As soon as the guards leave and the doors close behind them protest erupts again, along with waves of questions. Too bad that the only one who can answer them, lies knocked out in Layzners and Grubers cell. The first attempts to wake him are fruitless, but somewhere around the tenth try he finally does.
"You allright? How many fingers am I holding up?"
Ken hangs over his face, swaying three fingers.
"Ughn… If the… If the room stopped spinning I could answer you."
The pilot stammers, holding his left hand over his eyes.
"They hit you pretty bad. Can you sit up?" Asks Gruber concerned.
"I can probably do that, with some effort."
Both men help the pilot slowly to sit up on the bunk, each holding one of his arms. He sits like a drunkard, unable to keep his balance. Gruber stays next to him to keep him steady. Ken on the other hand goes to the sink to prepare a cold compres, just a handkerchief soaked in cold water really. Medical supplies aren't that common in the cell block, again an example that the Treaty isn't present here.
"Oh god, it just got worse with the spinning. Feels like I'm gonna barf!"
Gruber jokes to break the tension whilst he takes a small step back out of caution.
"Please don't, it's the maids day off."
Ken gives the wet cloth for his neck injury. Layzner can't control himself any longer, burning with eager anticipation, he has to ask:
"What news from Side 3?"
"What about those Federate lapdogs?" the pilot asks surprised in turn.
"Lapdogs!" Ken's outraged, he's been imprisoned for so long for the freedom of those colonies and now one of their own dares to scold them? Angry he lifts the pilot from the bunk and starts shaking him about.
"How dare you disgrace the Fatherland like that! I should kill you on the spot. Do you know what we all went through for Side 3?"
The violent shaking doesn't do any good to the pilots situation as he vomits all over Kens vest. Gruber has to intervene and pull him of the helpless fellow.
"Easy Ken, let him explain the situation first." Gruber tries to be the voice of reason "We've been here so long, the world can have changed a lot for all we know."
"Crazy, next he'll say that the Zabi family is overthrown!" He yells still outraged, more over his befouled uniform than his besmurched ideals.
"The Zabi Dynasty is…is…"
"Speak up man! What happened?" Gruber asks with commanding tone.
"They're dead… All dead" the pilot looks away, ashamed of saying such blasphemous words.
Both have took take breath on hearing such news, shattering their remaining hopes for a independant space state. A silence hangs over the concrete cell. The pilot slowly crawls back unto the bunk, helped by Ken.
"Ooh boy…" Gruber is the first to break the deafening silence, rubbing his head in a state of defeat.
Ken, calmed down by such news, now asks "Ok, just start with the beginning. We know everything up to the Battle of Solomon."
And thus the pilot begins the sad story of the downfall of and following resurrection of Zeon.
The fall of Solomon and Dozles ultimate sacrifice. A Baoa Qu and the deaths of Degwin, Gihren and Kycilia Zabi. The re-establishment of the Republic of Zeon after the war on UC 0080.01.01.
"Cowards and bureaucrats who didn't have the guts to fight then have been appointed, by the Earth Federation, to control Side 3." The pilot says venomous and laughs for the simple and obvious plot "They're just puppets for the blasted Feddies. And they are grateful for what power they got for their treachery to our homeland…"
"But what happened to Lord Dozles family? Did they reach Granada safely, Are they still alive?" Ken asks, hoping that his and his teammates sacrifices weren't in vain. "Tell me, please"
"Zenna Zabi died of illness a year after the war. But their child Mineva still lives safely on Axis"
Relieved by the positive ending of his last mission Ken thanks the pilot for this good news. "Thank you, I and as well my fallen comrades can rest peacefully now. Knowing we succeeded in keeping the lineage safe."
"After the war renegade Zeon forces, not wanting to return to the Republic, travelled to the asteroid base Axis seeking refuge. About thirty thousand people have made their new home in the far reaches of the asteroid belt. Rebuilding their lost Fatherland and maybe even return some day to the Earth sphere."
"So I take it that you're not an Axis Zeon?" Gruber remarks.
"Correct, I was on my way with fellow remnant Zeon to the Sea of Solomon to join up with Delaz Fleet. Unfortunately we were intercepted by Federates patroling the area. Just my luck, I'm the only one captured while my comrades died honorably…"
Ken steps in "Sorry but I think you're skipping a part there, mate. What's a Delaz Fleet and what's going on now?"
"Right, I went on ahead a bit" the pilot jokingly apologizes "While half the surviving Zeon fleet headed to Axis to conserve what they had left, others stayed behind hoping for revenge or at least a fight to the bitter end.
Vice Admiral Aguille Delaz was such a man that wanted both after the shameful battle at A Baoa Qu. He gathered what troops he had and went into hiding, devicing a plan for revival and resistance to the Federation's rule."
"And?" Both Ken and Gruber ask excited, expecting to hear the victory of this new Zeon offensive.
"I don't know the outcome myself. After the first steps of the operation, called Stardust, they broadcasted their declaration of war and inspired all remaining remnant troops to join in the struggle. Thus me and the rest followed the call and tried to join up with Delaz Fleet, but it wasn't ment to be."
"The objectives of Stardust, do you know them? You make it sound like a suicide operation…" Gruber asks suprised "A ragtag bunch like that couldn't defeat the Federation!"
"In a sense it is a suicide mission, but at least it's better than to live further with this shame and disgrace. We were all sick and tired hiding from the Feddies! As for objectives, all i know is that they were going to attempt a colony drop on Earth. So in the next couple of days we might feel, hear or see the colony crash…" the pilot says somewhat discouraged.
"…Maybe right on top of us" Ken adds to it.
Once again it is Gruber that steps in to lighten the mood, somewhat irregular for an officer like himself. But in places like this rank no longer counts and humor is the best way to get through these rough times. A day not laughed is a day wasted.
"Where are our manners, we haven't formally introduced ourselves"
He stands in line, salutes and says "Lt.Cmdr. Karl Gruber, Earth Attack Force, Naval Branch. Commanding officer of the U-76 Richthofen, lost at sea."
Ken follows his lead and stands next to Gruber in line saluting "2nd Lt. Ken Layzner, Space Attack Force. Teamleader of the now defunct 527th MS team."
Still sickly sitting on the bunk the pilot makes a feeble attempt at saluting and says "Private Tony Perce, Delaz Fleet. Zeon Irregulars."
All three, somewhat relieved joke around further, whilst ending introductions with firm handshakes. And then come the stories and anekdotes of the past war as well new ones from the current conflict. Abruptly ending the conversation when a mild earthquake is felt throughout the prison.
"Can it be…"
"…the Glory of Zeon stained no longer…"
"…Stardust…"
The year is Universal Century 0083 and Operation Stardust has changed the galaxy in an unfathomable way. Surely the the rebellion has seized Glory for Zeon and paved the way for the triumphant return of Axis to the Earth sphere, but it has cost them many sacrifices.
Millons of people crowded inside space colonies where Zeon remnants and anti-Earth movements create rebellions the Earth Federate Forces could not control.
Thus the Earth Federation authorizes the construction of a new elite force. A force with the power to dispense both justice and punishment.
Titans