Author's Note: This next chapter just offers more of a glimpse at the normal circumstances that Earth remains in, unaware of the coming hostilities.
21 Dec 0085; 0445 hrs
On the surface of Earth:
Inside the Ecole De Feu grounds, approximately 12 miles from the Eastern Conglomerate Research Base
Malleri Deverson broke out into a light cold sweat, as her mock cockpit, jolted back and forth trying to reenact how a shaking mobile suit felt. Quickly she tried to do a roundabout on the Zaku that filled her frontal vid-screen, while at the same time her right hand pressed the small green button on the side of her keyboard, in order to unleash a torrent of light machine gun fire from her head vulcan cannons.
Instead of remaining stationary, and letting Malleri go in for the kill, the computerized Zeonic pilot, slid to her left, turned towards her GM Sniper, and slashed at her open left side with it's heat tomahawk.
She let out a grunt, as her combat seat shook again, trembling to an even greater extent than before, when her virtual GM's arm was torn from it's socket, and dropped to the ground next to her. Instead of surrendering or running as most Federation pilots were trained to do, Malleri held her position and countered by shoving the Zeonic mobile suit with as much force as she could.
Still coming up from it's attack, and unable to balance very well, the Zaku II immediately hit the ground, sending great hurricanes of dust, and small debris in all directions. While the debris flew everywhere, several large chunks from the nearby buildings also landed onto the mobile suit, living tiny minuscule scratches on it's surface. As the Zaku had fallen, it's heat tomahawk had been thrown several hundred meters away, giving the federation mobile suit an even greater advantage over it.
Looking to finish off the prey as fast as possible, Ms. Deverson's GM strode quickly, yet noisily beside the head of the stopped enemy mobile suit. Then suddenly without warning her GM Sniper's left leg came up, and then thrust downward and crushed the Central Module Unit located within the Zaku's head, along with it's most identifiable piece of hardware.
Malleri let out a great sigh, as the FCS's lights turned off completely, and the hatch to the compartment opened up to her side. Slowly she pushed her hand against the arm rest of her seat, and strode out, down the ramp into the massive crowd of fellow Federation trainee's waiting outside.
Outside the wide, encompassing colorful lights positioned on the simulator building's roof, cast great paths of light, amidst the enveloping shadows of darkness. The masses of people outside lay chatting away beside several tables laden with various petit foods, and drinks in celebration of the night's simulator finals finishing.
"WOO HOO! NICE KILL, MALLERI!" Called a somewhat distant voice.
Malleri gazed around, quite dazed from the lighting of the outside world in comparison to the packed steel chamber she had just resided in. She didn't know where the voice had come from, but for some reason she blushed when she heard it. Instead of finding the owner of the mysterious voice, she managed to find Daryl Kim, a friend of her's from the colonies, waiting for her along with some of her other friends, and a stranger.
As Malleri walked up to the group, Daryl, her other friends, and the stranger greeted her. For a minute she studied the individual, as Daryl proceeded to introduce the man to her. The stranger was a man definitely older then Malleri, and her fellow trainees, also that he actually wore the official clear white dress uniform of an officer in the Federation Navy. His face held many lines, along with hazel eyes, and short black hair.
"Well,' Daryl said pointing at the stranger, 'this is Lt. Reginald Kerv, he's a member of the TOS for Harlick's Academy a not-so-well known Naval Academy to the north."
The man named Reginald leaned forward, and took Malleri's right hand into his, and kissed her hand. Malleri reeled back in shock, completely disgusted at the Lt.'s actions. Surprised, the older man withdrew his hands slowly, revealing his still calm composure.
Unknown to the Lt., Malleri was unfamiliar, and almost unaware of hand gestures, such as kissing hands. Considering her family had come from the colonies, and been occupying them since the beginning of the colonies. And her education included nothing on "Lady-like" hand gestures, while she was still in her younger years.
Seeing her response, Daryl quickly proceeded to conclude the introduction.
"Well as I was saying, Lt. Kerv here is on an assignment at the Eastern Conglomerate Research Base. He's here to..well let's just say find able pilots in case of any war breaking out between us and our fellow Zeon brethren."
"That was a great show you put on for us, Ms. Deverson. I must say you finished off that Zaku with style. No weapons either. Great job," answered the Lt. breaking his own silence.
"Umm..thanks, Lt. Reginald." Malleri wasn't shy, but she was still a tad bit scared from Reginald's hand gestures.
Thinking that she was tense from the recent battle simulation, Daryl turned to Malleri and handed her a glass of wine, froma nearby table,muttering something about relaxing, and it being ok, to still be a bit not calm after a small show like that.
Turning back to Malleri, Daryl proposed a cheer over her simulator battle.
"Well...how about cheers to your battle Malleri?"
Malleri lifted her glass, and tapped it along with the others. This was something she could actually celebrate considering it was hairs.
Overhead a myriad of gigantic jungle green objects flew in the distance. Then suddenly a multitude of them exploded in flames. So many of them exploded at once that the faculty, and students of Ecole De Feu, thought it was a massive fireworks display done by the nearby research base for unknown reasons.