Chapter 1
UC 0095 January 7th
By the time we arrived at the Federation GHQ building, I was sleeping again. Hard to believe it, actually. I guess I never thought I was so tired. Anyway, I had the same dream again. You know, the one with me floating around in a Zaku I don't have. That's twice now. Just watch. It's going to become reality at some point. I won't be surprised.
As the Colonel and I walked over to the building, one of the Federation soldiers walked up to us.
"HALT!" said the soldier. "State your name, rank and affiliation!"
"Colonel Albert von Steiger, 75th Mobile Suit Platoon, Republican Guard," replied the Colonel.
I decided to follow. "Warrant Officer Eric Fritz, 75th Mobile Suit Platoon, Republican Guard."
The Federation soldier eyed suspiciously. I guess he doubts my identity. I can't blame him. I am fourteen, after all.
"Warrant Officer, eh?" said the soldier. "How old are you, boy?"
"He's fourteen, Private!" came a voice suddenly. "And he has more kills and combat time than you will ever have!"
The soldier turned around. There stood another Federation soldier. No, wait. He's an officer. He's holding a file in his hand. Sticking out of the file is a picture of… well what do you know. It's me. That would explain why he knows me."
"Let them through. They're here to see me."
"Yes sir! Sorry sir!"
We walked into the officer's office. Wait… an officer's office… heh heh… ok that was bad. But still, no pun intended. Anyway, the officer began to introduce himself.
"Gentlemen, my name is General Steven Carelson."
Oh shit, I thought. He's a general, and I thought he was a normal officer! I suddenly sprang up in attention. The General laughed.
"At ease, you two. I get that reaction a lot," he said. "Now, about the mission I want to give…"
The Colonel and I walked out of the building about 20 minutes later. Here's a quick run-down of what we're supposed to do.
Escort the transport ships Aether and Ignis
The ships are carrying products from Anaheim Electronics
The destination is Industrial 7
Defend the ships at all costs
That last order, though. Why do we have to protect the ships "at all costs?" We're not at war with anyone, are we? My mind drifted to the image of me, all covered in blood this time, floating around in a Zaku. I shuddered as I put on my pilot suit. No, I told myself. That can't happen. It's only a dream. At least… I think so…
When I arrived at the hanger, I slowly floated towards my RGM-89C Jegan. The RGM-89C is a special variant of the Jegan used by the Republican Guard. Its main feature is its great maneuverability in exchange for paper as armor. As I entered the cockpit, one question popped into my mind.
Am I going to die out there?
I started my Jegan. I was greeted by a rather bland start-up screen accompanied by the whirring noise of the Jegan's nuclear reactor.
RGM-89C
JEGAN TYPE C
START UP
SAFETY: CHECK
VISUAL: CHECK
ARMAMENT: CHECK
MINOVSKY REACTOR: ONLINE
ID: CONFIRMED
WELCOM WARRANT OFFICER FRITZ
Well, at least my suit likes me.
(Comms) "This is Romeo 123, Tower control, come in please."
(Comms) "Romeo 123, this is tower control. You are clear to launch."
(Comms) "Roger. Albert Steiger, Romeo 123, launching!"
There was a "Sppsshh" noise as the catapult went off followed by Colonel Steiger's RGM-89S Stark Jegan being launched into space.
(Comms) "Romeo 124, this is tower control. It's your turn."
"This is Romeo 124. Moving to catapult." I said. As I maneuvered my Jegan towards the catapult, an idea occurred to me.
"Tower control, this is Romeo 124. Do you happen to know what the cargo is that we're supposed to escort?
(Comms) "Negative, Romeo 124. We don't know what the cargo is. However," continued the control officer. "I think it's some kind of construction equipment."
"Why do you think that?"
(Comms) "Well it's from Anaheim Electronics, and it's headed to Industrial 7."
I facepalmed myself. Why didn't I think of that…?
"Whatever, tower control, am I clear for launch?
(Comms) "Affirmative, Romeo 124, you are clear for launch. Good luck, Godspeed, and Seig Zeon!"
"Roger. Eric Fritz, Romeo 124, let's do this!"
I gunned the thrusters and hit the catapult release button. My body was slammed against the back of my seat as my Mobile Suit rocketed off the catapult and into space.
Some might say Space is beautiful. To me, it's just what I always see outside. I've never been to Earth, though. I've never seen it either, except in pictures. Why, you ask? Well, Side 3 is on the other side of the moon. Personally, I want to go there someday, just like most of us. The Colonel and I soon entered an asteroid field. We spotted the two transports soon after.
(Comms) "Romeo 123, this is transport ship Aether. We have you guys in sight. We'll meet up with the Ignis and its escort near Industrial 7. Try to keep us alive, por favor."
(Comms) "Roger," said the Colonel. Then he said, "Hey control, can I ask a question?"
(Comms) "Sure you can."
(Comms) "Are you Mexican?"
I burst out laughing.
(Comms) "I'm Colombian, Romeo 123, though many people make the mistake."
(Comms) "Oops. Sorry Yo."
(Comms) "No problem."
"I guess even you have a sense of humor, Colonel," I said. I could tell the Colonel had a tick-mark on his head, even if I couldn't see him inside his Mobile Suit.
(Comms) "You better shut up, Fritz. Or I'll shove this beam rifle up your ass and fire until you're a molten pile of sludge."
I did as told.
UC 0095 January 8th
(Comms) "Transport ship Aether, this is Transport ship Ignis. We have you guys in sight. We'll rendezvous near Industrial 7 as planned."
(Comms) "Roger that Ignis. You heard that Romeo 123?"
(Comms) "Yup sure did," replied Colonel Steiger. Then he said, "Romeo 123 to Transport ship Ignis, who is your escort?"
(Comms) "Our escort, it's the 44th Mobile Suit Platoon. Know them?"
(Comms) "Sure he does," came another voice. "Don't you know me, Steiger?"
(Comms) "Um… no?"
I giggled. Then I jumped slightly as five more Jegans flew by us followed by a ship, which I assumed to be the transport ship Ignis.
(Comms) "Well, I guess that does not matter. You can call me Charlie 1, by the way," said the voice, which now addressed himself as Charlie 1, which I assumed was his call sign. "Let's get this job over with and get back to Side 3. I have a wife and kids to go back to."
There was a slight silence. Then the Colonel spoke.
(Comms) "Charlie 1, do you happen to know what the cargo is?"
(Comms) "Negative, Steiger. I would also like to know myself."
(Comms) "How about you Aether?
(Comms) "No sé, Romeo 123. Why do you ask?"
(Comms) "Meh. No reason."
As I listened to the conversation, I closed my eyes. Not even the crew knows what they have? What sort of BS (buffalo sauce) is this!? Well, not that I care, I thought. This should be uneventful. As we cruised through space I slowly drifted off to sleep. And yes. I like sleeping in the cockpit. It's strangely comfortable.
While this was going on, a dim reddish-pinkish- light could be seen behind a small asteroid. If one looked carefully, an AMS-119 Geara Doga, a Neo-Zeon Mass Production Mobile Suit, could be seen. Through its mono-eye, the pilot saw two transport ships and seven Mobile Suits. The pilot said through his intercom, "permission to fire."
I woke up with a jolt. Alarms were blaring in my cockpit. I didn't have to turn on my radar to know what was coming. Missiles, ten of them, coming in from seven-o-clock high. I flipped the safety off my 60mm Vulcan gun-pod. The string of lead tore apart most of the missiles that were heading towards me. The rest missed. I sighed. The bombardment should be over. Now, I thought, where are the enemy Mobile Suits?
My question was soon answered. (Comms) "Twelve-o-clock high! Multi-*static* Mobile Suits! Enga-*static*! *Static*-peat! Engage!"
End of Chapter 1