Chapter 28
CE 74, January 3rd, 'E' Armament Block, Mannheim Base, Germany, Eurasian Federation
Morning 09 52
The lockdown of the base had left most of the administrative buildings empty. Most of the personnel had taken the extended period to either apply for out-of-base time, or had simply stayed in their barracks, which were scattered around the base. The main buildings, the structures that housed the administrative workforce that kept the base running on any other day, were silent.
The visage of the Manhunter Command was reflected in dozens of window panes as the mobile suit crossed the space between two buildings. That was a rarity unto itself; for the rest of the base, unlike city architecture, most of the buildings on the base still followed older-styled construction aesthetics; concrete walls, with even the largest windows taking up only half the floor width per level in height. Some lacked windows entirely, and instead housed ventilation ports. The interior of each and every building Ray came across, however, all shared the same darkness native to deserted urban interiors. The lockdown had affected all but the primary command room and its support lines, which were all underground to begin with.
The Manhunter Command paused, its right foot settling slowly onto the concrete ground as the mobile suit placed its hand on the corner of the building; even then, Ray winced at the reverberations of the multi-ton unit settling into a stable position. A second screen opened on Ray's HUD; it was the feed from the small camera mounted in the index finger of the mobile suit. A requested modification, Ray had it added on to his unit recently; with the impending possibility of ZAFT invasion, Ray foresaw the need for such capabilities in the tangled mess of urban combat.
The Jet Windam had just landed from the air. Vapour washed over the concrete paths below its feet as it brought out a beam carbine from its rear carry rack; within the confines of the inner base, the Windam's own high-powered long rifle would be more of a hindrance than a help.
The Jet Windam took aim; the Manhunter Command withdrew its hand seconds before a piercing blast of energy struck the building corner, sending molten splashes of material onto surrounding surfaces. The whine of thrusters was unmistakable, however, and the Manhunter Command took off in the opposite direction as the Jet Windam rounded the corner, rear and leg rockets providing a ground effect thrust that saved it from the comparatively noisy walking of its Dagger L-based opponent.
The open channel split Ray's hearing with a static-filled screech. "You can't run forever, Ray," Major Venna Calis said. "The Atlantic Federation military isn't some kind of cool-kid club you join and then ditch when you're tired of it."
"Funny you should say that," Ray replied, keeping an eye on the seismic tracker of his mobile suit; the radar pulses that washed over the screen spoke of an approaching unit, no doubt Venna's Jet Windam. "That's how Phantom Pain runs their unit, isn't it? A bunch of self-appointed cool kids pulling the puppet strings of their assigned lackeys."
"Don't deflect the matter," Venna shot back. "Shut down your unit, Ray Feric. I have questions I need to know about Celina Searstone."
"I would happily oblige under any other circumstances," Ray replied.
Venna glanced at her unit's motion tracker; a single Strike Noir was approaching fast, with three Aile Slaughter Daggers trailing behind. Major Geroda Rell's Strike Noir stopped just shy of entering the administrative zone; on Venna's HUD, a signal for connected data-link appeared.
Overriding authorization locks? Venna thought. "I'd appreciate going over the normal authorization procedures next time, Flogger Leader."
"Forgive me for being blunt," Geroda replied, his voice icy. "But after what he said, I have all the more reason to prove that Phantom Pain doesn't play around. Especially when someone who's supposed to be backing me up with her battalion is having words alone with the subject of an arrest warrant."
The Strike Noir's Striker-mounted twin Linear Guns unfolded, arcs of electricity escaping the containment of their internal rails. With a grim countenance, the Strike Noir fired from the air; twin blinding flashes saturated the immediate area as Ray pushed the Manhunter Command into a loping run that saved it from one of the rounds punching through the building it had been hiding behind.
"Come on out, coward!" Geroda said. "It's time you learnt why Phantom Pain exists!"
The Strike Noir dipped through the air as a beam shot lanced out in response; before Geroda could fire on its originating position, he saw a shadow pass over the windows of a nearby building into another block. Another pair of flashes and the rolling rumble in the wake of high-calibre supersonic projectiles saw the Strike Noir's railguns firing through two buildings; there was no explosion or column of rising black smoke, however, only the crumbling of hardened concrete into dust and debris, and the tinkling fall of glass from shattered windows
"I refuse to heel to the demands of those who've usurped the Atlantic Federation military." Ray replied on the open channel. "None of you have learnt anything. None of us have. Not since the Bloody Valentine War, not since the USSA War of Independence... not since the start of this war, too."
"Stop your babbling," Venna replied. "If you'd just keep quiet and do as you're su-"
The Manhunter Command drew its beam sabre, but left the blade deactivated. "Like a stray dog scuffling at the heels of a passerby? I did not hold much hope in Geroda, but to hear you say that, Venna, is quite a shock."
"Don't use my name like you know me, coward," Venna shot back. "You have a lot to answer for."
"Enough banter," Geroda said. "Gauntlet Leader, flank him in the streets. My units will provide cover fire."
Venna felt her stomach clench at the orders, but didn't speak a word against Geroda's apparent cautiousness. "Acknowledged." And he's the one with the more advanced mobile suit. Elite, my ass.
From his cover, Ray licked his lips, his tongue catching on a droplet of sweat. Even the Trencin battle hadn't stacked such odds against him, but at the same time, he realized that he didn't feel the customary pre-battle excitement.
He knew his opponents.
Regardless of how they had improved, they still possessed the traits that he had seen in them since he first fought them. "I've had enough. Engage me at your own risk. I won't be holding back."
CE 74, January 3rd, 'A' Armament Block, Mannheim Base, Germany, Eurasian Federation
Morning 10 11
2nd Lieutenant Helen Tylings jumped out of the way as a customized Dagger L stepped past the group of pilots who had been ordered to the hangar. Watching helplessly, the Oracle Lance thrust its beam sabre through the cockpit of the latest of a dozen units since, while a Launcher Dagger L watched the pilots-turned-hostages, with its heavy shoulder autocannon trained on the group.
Helen tapped the side of her helmet, activating an open broadcast channel. "Lieutenant Camelot! Why are you doing this?!"
The Oracle Lance continued its macabre task silently, not slowing down until all twelve Dagger Ls and Windams in the hangar were smoking from their torso. As both mobile suits turned to leave the area, Sheryl deigned to give Helen a reply, one that only the fledging pilot could hear.
"To bring justice back to OMNI."
Guy opened a link to Sheryl's unit. "Approaching Jet Windams. We best leave open area, Hunter 2."
As both mobile suits fled into the center of Mannheim Base, Kaguya's unit joined them. "I managed to destroy twenty-four units on my side. Unfortunately, I've been spotted by Phantom Pain units. I've managed to give them the slip, but it's probably only a matter of time."
"We're going to have to face them sooner or later anyways," Sheryl replied. "All the more easier if they come to us."
Guy clenched his teeth as the Launcher Dagger L landed from a boost jump, before taking to the air again, over a series of vehicle hangars. "I don't like the look of the base interior, though. Smoke's in the air."
The answer came faster than the Manhunters could answer; swooping in from the sky, Jet Windams opened fire on the three Dagger L units, each scattering in a different direction.
Kaguya was the first to bring an enemy down; as the Jet Windams each settled on their targets, the Sword Dagger L raised its left arm backwards; its mounted rocket anchor blasted free moments later, extending far enough to latch onto the nearest mobile suit by its leg. Twisting its body, the thrusters on the Sword Dagger L erupted in flames, the mobile suit quickly twisting its body around to pull the aerial mobile suit down to the ground, the one-way trip ending in a violent display of scattering machine parts.
The Jet Windam struggled to get off the ground, back thrusters firing in a blast of blue flame; the shattered remains of its wings fell off as its pilot pushed the unit into a sitting position. Kaguya's Sword Dagger L was still a step ahead, however, as it slammed down onto the unit, anti-ship sword punching through the torso of its opponent, spitting it to the ground. The mechanical corpse of the Jet Windam shattered as the Sword Dagger L jumped backwards, barely keeping its grip on its main weapon; beam rifle fire shattered the concrete ground seconds later as the remaining units fired back. The formation of mobile suits scattered as Kaguya's unit shot its rocket anchor into the sky again, and the Manhunters took the chance to flee towards the inner areas of the base, their pursuers following.
The remaining Jet Windams paused, their leader motioning for the unit to split up into two groups. "Vambrace Three, Six, engage ground attack mode and follow them; lure them, but don't engage them directly. Overwatch will be handled by Vambrace Eight, Five and m-"
"Order switch," a new voice interrupted. A Sword Strike E strode into view, flanked by a pair of Aile Slaughter Daggers. Captain Vlitz Dyald eyed the Jet Windams. "Vambrace, take your units and go low for direct combat. My flyers will provide air backup. I will be entering behind you."
"It's not advisable to go direct, Flogger Three," Vambrace Leader replied. "All three of the Manhunter units are ground combatants and-"
Vlitz growled as he repeated his demands. "Get in there and go ground, cowards," he hissed, "Or I'll make you, by shooting out all of your flight units. GO!"
The line was silent for a moment. "Acknowledged," Vambrace Leader said, the units of his command descending to a few meters above ground, their thrusters shifting their output from the blue fire of flight to the white glow of ground-effect operation.
Vlitz watched as Venna's pilots approached the buildings of the administrative block. Another line opened, this time from one of his own. "Flogger Ten, initiating air-to-ground support."
Vlitz snorted derisively. "A moment. If you find them being overwhelmed, feel free to open fire."
"Even if I have to shoot through them, sir?" Flogger Ten asked.
"Don't be an idiot," Vlitz said, a grin breaking out over his face as he took the controls of his unit. "Pilots like them are in plentiful supply. What's three or more to take an enemy life?"
CE 74, January 3rd, 'E' Armament Block, Mannheim Base, Germany, Eurasian Federation
Morning 10 25
Esther winced as her helmeted head slammed against the back rest of her pilot seat, her mouth tasting blood as she bit down on her lip.
Dust obscured the sides of her HUD as the Hyperion G strained against its opponent; Hanna Ignas' Linebreaker Strike E pushed against the lighter unit, both of them with their hands locked against each other's.
Esther clenched her teeth, her Hyperion G squatting down; as the Linebreaker Strike E bore down on the lighter Eurasian MS, Esther unlocked the limiters in her MS's left arm for just an instant, releasing the tension from its joints. The Linebreaker Strike E, overbalanced without a force pushing against it, fell forward, and the Hyperion G, with its right arm, hooked its opponent at the waist, throwing the Phantom Pain unit to the ground.
As the Hyperion G rebooted its drives for its left arm, Esther whirled her unit around, beam sabre held at the ready; a heavy impact from the Linebreaker Strike E's last-minute kick, however, sent both pilot and machine reeling, and the Hyperion G crashed onto its back as the Strike E lowered its left foot, and clambered to its feet, beam sabre reigniting in its right hand.
Esther eyed her HUD; a part of the Hyperion G's head optics had been destroyed by the kick, the heaviest damage dealt to her unit so far. Both sets of her unit's limbs were still operating well within limits, but so far, the Linebreaker Strike E had only lost a few plates of armor and a single beam cannon from its back. Neither of them had any handheld ranged weaponry left, but that was all the more disadvantageous for her.
The Linebreaker Strike E's left autocannon snapped into position, the heavy rotary cannon coming up, barrels already spinning up. The Hyperion G's own beam shield flashed into existence just an instant before the Strike E's autocannon fired, the heavy rounds bursting their high-explosive payloads on the outer surface of the shimmering energy shield.
Esther bit back a curse and pushed her Hyperion G into motion, the mobile suit ducking into a space between two buildings. The Blu Duel from before stepped into view from behind, beam pistols raised; the Hyperion G crashed into the mobile suit, both units grappling for supremacy as the Blu Duel attempted to put down Esther's unit. The left arm of the Hyperion G raised up, beam sabre hilt in hand; with a swift chopping motion the Blu Duel's right arm was sheared off, a single shot from its railgun going wide before it could fully acquire its target.
Both units rolled; the Hyperion G came up faster, the beam sabre leaving its right arm in a fast throw. The Blu Duel stumbled as the energy blade embedded itself in its left leg; as it fell, the Phantom Pain unit reached into its top shoulder compartment with its left arm, sending a flight of kinetic penetrators hurtling towards the Hyperion G.
One of the penetrators got through before Esther could refocus the Hyperion G's shield; the projectile detonated in the space between the Hyperion G's left shoulder and torso, blowing the shoulder joint into a twisted mess.
The Hyperion G's energy shield winked out of existence to make way for the glowing barrel of its beam cannon, unleashing a short wave of green plasma that blew what was left of the Blu Duel's lower torso into a spray of molten slag that splattered all over the buildings and road of the narrow street. The decimated mobile suit collapsed onto the ground, components strewn all over, a beam pistol still in the grip of its left hand; the barrel fizzed, but no shot followed up. There was little time for Esther to appreciate her own handiwork, however, as Hanna's Linebreaker Strike E rounded the corner.
The space filled with blinding light as the Strike E's beam cannon unleashed a powerful blast that was barely kept at bay by the Hyperion G's beam shield. The sustained blast strove against the crackling surface of the beam shield, streamers of energy cutting deep gouges into the surrounding walls as the weapon unleashed its full charge. When the beam shot finally petered out, the Hyperion G was still standing; its shield emitter, however, was smoking, arcs of electricity breaking through its casing to run over the surface.
Inside the MS cockpit, a siren greeted Esther; the Hyperion G was overheating from the Linebreaker Strike E's attack, and the Blu Duel's lucky strike had hit deeper than she had thought. She didn't expect the left arm to remain usable, but the Hyperion G's internal systems had been compromised; the mobile suit was leaking joint reactant and coolant from its left side. On the screen, a warning light came up as the Hyperion G's power reserved dipped to emergency levels. An alert for the Hyperion G's back beam cannon flashed up; there was no longer enough power to sustain a weapons reaction in its plasma stores, nor its beam shield.
The communication line crackled once, and Hanna Ignas spoke again. "I will give my offer one last time, Captain Granmark. Surrender."
"You're awfully persistent for a dog of the Atlantic Federation," Esther replied. "I don't think it's because you need the technology in this mobile suit."
"Hardly," Hanna replied. "I simply see no need in continuing a worthless battle. The Atlantic Federation will have control of this base and many others at the end of all this. Your life would be better spent against the ZAFT encroachers."
"You wouldn't gain the forces of the Eurasian Federation for your command even after that," Esther replied, the Hyperion G beginning to back away. "Only resentment. We're not going to fight your war for you."
"We don't need your skills," Hanna replied tonelessly. "Only your bodies."
A multicolored afterglow lighted up the front of the Linebreaker Strike E as its beam cannon fired, its multiphase blast reaching out towards the Hyperion G. Esther clenched her teeth; the beam shield of her Hyperion G flashed to life, ready to intercept the Strike E's overpowering attack. On her HUD, the power meter spiked; the battery drain of her units already meagre-reserves dropped like a rock, and even then, the surface of the beam shield flickered unsteadily as its power supply came ever close to giving out.
On Esther's HUD, another signal flashed; Rolan's unit crashed down from above in an instant, dragging chunks of concrete, glass shards, and other building debris down with it, putting itself in-between the Linebreaker Strike E's killing blow and her own battered unit. The street was overcome with a blinding white light as Rolan's Hyperion G held against the furious assault, stray bands of weapons plasma bounding off its beam shield to cut lines into the surrounding buildings.
"Blizzard 2!" Esther said. "I thought I told you to spread out and find the rest of them!"
"Done and dusted, Leader," Rolan replied. "For now. I have good news. Radio isn't clear, but I think the Manhunters are wandering somewhere inside here too."
"And you couldn't pick them up on the allied band?" Esther asked.
Both Hyperion G stood at the ready, as the Linebreaker Strike E remained where it was. Its beam cannon cut out and retracted, only to be replaced by both of its autocannons deploying. Seconds felt like hours as Esther watched the enemy unit, waiting for any sign of its attack.
Rolan was the first to move. The Hyperion G raised its beam submachinegun to firing height and let loose with a torrent of beam shots; plasma shots burst into bright flares of energy upon laminated armor as the Strike E manoeuvred backwards, leg thrusters on fire as it lay down a blanket of cover fire that struck uselessly against the Hyperion G's beam shield.
"Well, that takes care of that," Rolan said. "I have bad ne-"
"I can guess. If they're not on the allied band, then they're either keeping silence or being jammed." Esther said. "Neither possibility is good."
"Our team channel is still open, though," Rolan said.
"It could be a frequency search-and-jam," Esther said. "Either way, both possibilities point to the enemy converging on this location; keeping silence to avoid detection, or being jammed with air assets. We didn't get as many of the enemy on the ground as we should have. I only hope we don't pay too much for that."
CE 74, January 3rd, 'E' Armament Block, Mannheim Base, Germany, Eurasian Federation
Morning 10 31
Venna's Jet Windam moved around the street corner, beam rifle turned to face another silent location. Mannheim's administrative block was not large by any means, but it was densely-packed; most of the personnel shuttled between buildings using the underground connectors or the bridges between buildings; the streets were only there because military building constrain dictated a certain level of space between structures for the passing of heavy vehicles in an emergency.
Overhead, Geroda's squad hovered, searching for the enemy. The Phantom Pain leader had originally ordered his squad to chase every lead that they could catch on, but after losing an Aile Slaughter Dagger to return fire, he had ordered his units to circle lower to lessen their exposure.
"Gauntlet Leader, you're being too cautious," Geroda said. "We'll never catch him at this rate."
"Roger," Venna replied, her tone icy. Ignoring Geroda's words, Venna put her Jet Windam close to the edge of a building; the mobile suit placed one hand onto the edge, its build-in camera bringing in a visual feed of whatever would be around the corner.
Venna eyed the grainy video feed, her eyes straining to pick out even the smallest odd detail. The street, however, remained empty and silent.
"This is Gauntlet Leader, nothing so far," Venna said, moving her unit forward. "Proce-"
From behind a building, the Manhunter Command dashed into view, rounding a corner around a building. Its thrusters fired; flames erupted from its shoulders, torso, and legs, as it placed its legs behind itself, and, as though it were in space, kicked off the surface of another building behind it.
Ground effect took over as the force of the Manhunter Command's front torso thrusters were pointed downwards; Venna's Jet Windam had just enough time to fire off a single shot, the beam missing the Manhunter Command to impact into the building behind it, as Ray cut the power to the torso thrusters for just an instant, before both mobile suits made contact with each other.
The Manhunter Command slammed into the Jet Windam with its shield, throwing Venna's unit backwards. The force of the impact slammed the Jet Windam into the ground, tearing off one of its wings, and both units tumbled and smashed into the road.
In the cockpit, Venna coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood into her helmet. Even as her head rang with the force of the two units crashing, her hands moved on instinct alone; as its right arm attempted to get its beam rifle into a favourable angle, the Jet Windam's left arm ejected its shield, and its left beam sabre popped free of its casing. With a swift strike Venna moved her unit to stab upwards; however, the Manhunter Command shifted its stance, leaning slightly to the right; the beam sabre scored nothing but air.
Before Venna could react with the Jet Windam's other arm, the Manhunter Command drew back into a standing position and slammed its foot down, trapping its sword arm to the ground; as its shield ejected from its left arm, it drew both beam sabres and swept them upwards in slashing strikes, removing the Jet Windam's arms at their shoulder joints.
"You'll regret this, Ray Feric!" Venna gasped. "If you had surrendered, I... could have...!"
Ray let the corners of a smile touch his lips for a brief moment. "You're still naive, Venna. Rank means nothing to the conspirators who sit at the top."
On the screen, the Manhunter Command retrieved its shield and backed off. "But that's fine. Keep it. Someday, it will make you a great commander."
"Ray... Feric..." Venna released the straps on her seat, climbing out of her Jet Windam. "Then, just tell me! What she did! Why she had to end up like that!"
The Manhunter Command stopped for a moment. "She never believed in Blue Cosmos' words from the start. But she had to follow their orders anyways. Ideology isn't the only way they bring people in."
"That's n-"
Venna's words were lost in the roar of an explosion, railgun projectiles striking the ground between the Manhunter Command and her. Venna put her arms up instinctively, shielding her face from the blast of light that erupted from the impact point. When she raised her sight again, the Manhunter Command was gone from the Windam's visual monitors, its heavy footfalls growing fainter by the minute on the MS' seismic detectors.
The Manhunter Command ducked, a pair of railgun shots smashing through the building to impact the walls on the other side. Up high, alongside the Strike Noir, the two remaining Aile Slaughter Daggers took aim and fired, raining beam shots down onto the buildings below.
Before Ray could take aim and return fire, a single high-powered beam lanced out into the sky, the shot barely missing Geroda's Strike Noir as it held its shield in-between itself and the beam. One of the Aile Slaughter Daggers turned towards the source, rifle raised; a second shot took the unit in its torso, and the mobile suit fell towards the ground, belching smoke.
Alarms blared as Geroda moved his Strike Noir downwards, reducing his altitude further. The remaining Aile Slaughter Dagger in his squad followed suit, but a second beam shot struck the unit, burning off its right arm joint and a full half of its Aile Striker; the unit spiralled towards the ground trailing black smoke.
"Flogger Seven!"
"Unable to maintain altitude, Leader," Flogger Seven replied. "I'll need to land."
"Try and make your way out without engaging the enemy," Geroda replied.
On the Strike Noir's HUD, new contacts flashed into view. The rest of Venna's unit had entered the area.
"This is Gauntlet Two to Flogger Leader. Requesting situation update."
"Gauntlet Leader has been shot down in combat," Geroda said. "As per Phantom Pain's authority, I am placing your unit under my command. Spread out and enter the city. Hunt down the traitor and any other units within."
There was a moment of pause. "Understood, Flogger Leader."
A second channel opened to Geroda's unit. "Flogger Two to Leader. We're approaching your position in pursuit of the enemy."
"How many?"
"Three. From the Manhunters."
In the air, Vlitz's Aile Slaughter Daggers took up position. Vlitz's own Sword Strike E landed on a building-top after a boosted jump. "The other units are scrambling. The traitors did a number on the nuggets, but we have at least a regiment following up. There is also word from Atlantic GHQ..."
"We won't be waiting for Atlantic GHQ," Geroda replied curtly. "Flogger Two, make contact with Flogger Three. The rest will hold up the others long enough to turn things around... but first we must have the head of their leader."
Vlitz snorted. "That brooding bastard, eh? What about you, though?"
The Strike Noir had already began descending when Vlitz had voiced his reply, drawing its heavy swords from their holders. Geroda watched on as his subordinate touched ground below. "I wouldn't miss it for anything else," Geroda replied.
Down amongst the street, the Manhunter Command parried a blow from a Jet Windam, the collision of beam sabre on shield lighting up the walls in discordant flashes of lightning. The Jet Windam stumbled backwards as the Manhunter Command pushed back with its shield, and Ray took the opportunity; the mobile suitstepped forward, slammed its right shoulder into the enemy, and with the moment gained from the disorienting move, lashed out with its beam sabre, cutting the Jet Windam's legs out from under it.
Before Ray could ascertain the condition of his opponent, however, an alert lighted up in his HUD. The Manhunter Command sidestepped with scant moments to spare, as a Sword Strike E rounded a corner and immediately came charging, anti-ship sword alight and held forward.
"Ha ha! Well, now, who do we have here?" Vlitz chortled on the open band. "The traitor leader himself!"
"The foghorn of the Floggers," Ray remarked. "Geroda should be somewhere close then."
"He won't get a chance to see you in one piece!" Vlitz snarled. "I'll end you before he gets here!"
The Sword Strike E charged, blade held close and straight. Ray's Manhunter Command caught the attack with its shield, using the seconds gained from throwing the blade off-course to move forward. to Vlitz's credit, the Sword Strike E dug its right foot into the ground and drew back, bringing its anti-ship sword to its front before Ray could get a slash in; the collision of beam blades lit up the front of both mobile suits in a blinding white.
The Sword Strike E, however, was slower, and Vlitz less experienced in the scramble of close-up fighting, as the Manhunter Command bashed its shield into the side of the Phantom Pain mobile suit, causing it to stumble and lose its stance. The Manhunter Command caught the hilt of the anti-ship sword under its right arm, and overtaking the Sword Strike E, turned to face backwards while sticking its left foot in-between the GUNDAM's stance, and bore downwards, tripping up Vlitz's machine. The Sword Strike E slammed heavily into the ground, its centre of gravity thrown off by the Manhunter Command's grappling move.
The cockpit restrains barely held Vlitz in place as the impact slammed the back of his head into his helmet, hard enough for him to taste blood in his mouth. "... you... bastard!"
The Sword Strike E struggled to lift itself off the ground, thrusters flaring. Ray moved the controls, the Manhunter Command straining against the force for an instant; Vlitz then felt the pressure on his unit lighten as the Manhunter Command boosted itself into the air, away from the Sword Strike E.
Viltz looked sideways to see the Strke Noir descend and approach with both swords held outwards in a fighting stance. In the distance, the Manhunter Command matched it with both arms holding its beam sabre. "Flogger Leader!"
"He's not someone you can fight solo. Back me up!" Geroda growled.
"I understand," Vlitz snarled.
Both units started towards the Manhunter Command, the Sword Strike E bringing up the rear, when another unit dashed out into the open; in a blink, Vlitz's unit disappeared from his HUD's rear camera as a Sword Dagger L took the Sword Strike E down in a flying tackle. Geroda barely had time to react, as Ray closed in with his own unit; beam swords met shield and sabre, but before Geroda could bring the Strike Noir's blades down in another strike, the Manhunter Command planted a kick solidly into the mobile suit's lower torso, throwing the Strike Noir backwards.
The Strike Noir's back boosters fired, slowing the unit almost instantly, and Geroda took the chance to call out. "Ray! Surrender, before I turn you into mincemeat!"
"You're welcome to try," Ray replied. "But if this is the best you can do, you're better off scampering back to the American mainland, Geroda!"
Geroda choked back the urge to let loose with a diatribe. "I'll make you eat those words, bastard!"
The Strike Noir closed in again, a stabbing strike with its left sword that would have speared through Ray had he not moved the Manhunter Command aside fast enough. Slashing right and turning, one of the wings of the Strike Noir lifted, and the railgun mounted on it fired. A bolt of light smashed into the edge of the Manhunter Command's right shoulder, the kinetic energy from the round enough to push the mobile suit aside.
Ray gritted his teeth; firing his unit's thrusters, the Manhunter Command turned with the blow and lowered its stance, stabilizing its centre of gravity. Its shield fell into position just in time to block Geroda's horizontal strike with the Strike Noir's right blade, the impact throwing the older unit into the side of a building. The Strike Noir slammed its blade down moments later, barely missing the Manhunter Command's head as it hunkered down. Setting its right arm forward, braced by its left hand, the Manhunter Command slammed its foot down, and stabbed forward towards the Strike Noir. The blow grazed the Gundam, merely shaving off its external Phase Shift armor, but it was the follow-up that dealt more damage.
Before Geroda could respond with another strike, the Phantom Pain unit was thrown backwards by the Manhunter Command's shield strike; thruster fire erupted from the back as Geroda forced its thrusters to full power, the flames overflowing onto the walls and streets to counter the force of being pushed backwards. Geroda shook his head, murmuring a curse; the Phase Shift Armor, for all it was worth, only blocked damage to the mobile suit, not the physical effects of inertia on the pilot.
The Manhunter Command struck first; the blade of a beam sabre flashed by the side of Geroda's vision as Ray thrust his unit forward. The Strike Noir dodged left, the blade missing its head camera to pierce its right wing joint, shearing the entire part off.
The Strike Noir fired a rocket anchor from its left arm; thrusters lighting up, Geroda boosted his unit forward. The rocket anchor angled downwards to wrap around the Manhunter Command's right arm joint, pulling the unit backwards and onto the ground. The Strike Noir reached for the beam gun on its left hip clamp; to Geroda's shock, however, Ray had rolled his unit along with the blow. Bracing against the ground, leg thrusters alight, the Manhunter Command kicked upwards and over its head; the next instant, Geroda saw the sky, as the Strike Noir was sent sprawling from a direct hit to its torso.
To Geroda's surprise, the Manhunter Command did not press its advantage. The unit stood where it was, beam sabre flashing to life again in its hand. A slow pass burned through the composite metal cable of the Strike Noir's rocket anchor line, the cable falling slack. One of the Strike Noir's "Shorty" beam guns lay on the concrete; the Manhunter Command set its beam sabre through the weapon, burning it into a pile of slag.
"Stand up," Ray said, the tone of threat evident in his voice. "Is this the best Phantom Pain has to offer? You're twisted, Geroda Rells, just like the rest of them. I only regret that I've ever served in the same unit as a bastard like you before. It's high time OMNI excised Phantom Pain from its ranks!"
Afterword:
While the Destiny Druggies are often regarded as the face of Phantom Pain pilots, I've always envisioned that their ranks are more filled with regular humans on the levels of Sven and the others in Stargazer. You may have noticed that I skipped almost entirely over the issue of the Lodonia labs that was shown in Destiny; while I am interested in seeing how it fits into the series settings, its direct results (eg. artificially-boosted pilots) weren't something I was keen to include amongst the more numerous subgroup of the organization; I feel like their defining feature should be more of the fact that they willingly chose to serve Phantom Pain, for whatever reason that I might have a chance to showcase in the future.