SUPER ROBOT WARS LW
CHAPTER 06
Please see: all characters in this story will be referred to with their first name preceding their family names, as to follow Western naming style.
The trio looked at the recipients in wonder. So did Lacus, Murrue, Kira and Athrun. The cafeteria (where Van, Wendy and Ibis) were placed at after they were onboard the Archangel was soo packed with crews and pilots as the news of the "strange group" reached their knowledge. It was not just the presence of the Armour that piqued their interest, it was Ibis' role as a singing idol in the Shadow-Mirror Universe, miraging that of Lacus'. "So," Ibis spoke as to start the conversation between the two groups. "What should we talk of? Perhaps a bit of introduction would work. What do you say?" Van lifted his hand. "Yes, Mister Van! What is your question?""Can we eat?" blatantly he asked.
"Van! Where has your manner gone to?" Wendy grumbled. "You only want to eat! What's wrong with you?"
"Huh? I thought she promised to buy us free meal," Van answered.
Ibis giggled. "If that is the case," she said and called up one of the kitchen workers. "Bring us anything delicious!"
Wendy sulked. "Weirdo…" she growled, and was instantly pulled into a playful choke as Ibis seized her neck and rubbed her cheek against hers. "Stop it! What is that for?!"
"Aw! You're so cute when you make that angry face," Ibis replied and tightened the embrace. "You're! So! Incredibly! Cute!!!"
Murrue, Lacus, Kira and Athrun looked at one another. "Are you sure it's safe to bring them here?" Athrun asked.
"They don't look hostile to me," Lacus spoke.
"But I'm more concerned of the tuxedo man's capability," Athrun continued. "The way he fought those Personal Troopers was very humanlike. Even that robot… whatever that is."
"Hey! All of you! Look at the TV!!"
Everybody looked up at the cafeteria TV. What greeted them was not pleasing, and the only reaction on the breaking news was "What in the world?" as asked by Murrue (except for Van, as he was served with the said meal afterwards). The reasons: live footages of Doms and Lion-Fs attacking Pearl Harbour and everyone watched in shock as the Earth Federation Alliance's Pacific Headquarters was under fire.
"Captain! We have been ordered to divert to Hawaii!"
"Alright, then! Bring Archangel to full speed! Everybody get back to battle stations!" Almost in an instant all crews returned to their positions as the Archangel made a detour from their South-East Asia trip. "We may not be able to get there in time! Kira, Athrun, both of you go ahead of us! We'll follow you behind!"
"Understood!" Kira and Athrun rushed to the launching platform and took off less than a minute later in Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice.
"Aw! When I thought I could buy everyone free lunches," Ibis grumbled.
"We're very sorry for the complication," Lacus apologized. "But we're in the middle of a war."
"I don't really get what's happening," Van said and continued mixing the sauces. "But I suppose we're having some big problem here."
"Van! Aren't you going to help them?" Wendy asked; Van's only answer was to yell in excitement after he ate the mixture of flavours. "Van! Are you even listening?"
"Yeah! You can show them those kickass moves!" Ibis continued and proceeded to throw some kicks and punches. "That mecha did THIS and THAT to those Gespensts! That was awesome!"
"Van, you really don't care of anything, do you?" Wendy grumbled.
"Just let me finish my meal first," Van answered.
-x-x-x-x-x-
// Pearl Harbour //
"DORYAA!!"
The green-painted Personal Trooper snatched the attacking Guarlion and slammed it onto the tarmac in a judo-like throw. Leaving the crippled Armoured Module behind, Kai Kitamura and his squad of Huckebein Mark 2Ms continued breaking through the Green Sphere's line to reach the Pacific HQ. They had been called to assist the remaining EFA defenders against the invasion following the ambush, and it was situation critical: with EFA bases around the world attacked (and some captured) the Green Sphere was seemingly trying to throw oil into the fire in a global scale.
"What do they really want from this act of terror?" he asked and dodged a Dom's heat sabre. "You can't beat me with that!" The Gespenst Mark 2M Custom punched the Dom's head and kicked the MS into a burning hangar. "Team Aegis! Split up and head to the dock! The rest of you follow me!"
"Yes sir!"
The breakthrough continued. With Team Aegis heading to the dry dock, Kai and the remaining Huckebeins made their way to the HQ, currently bombarded by Barrelions and Guntanks. "The Aggressor is here!" one of the GS grunts shouted. "Don't let him approach the building!" Immediately five Doms charged at the lone Gespenst and opened fire.
"Who do you think I am!?" The Gespenst dodged and counterattacked with split missiles that knocked the Doms' rocket launchers. The Gespenst pounced at one of them, caught it on the upper body and tossed it to an unsuspecting Barrelion. The other Doms attacked, only to be easily repelled by Plasma Bucklers.
"Eat this!!!" The Gespenst delivered a "half-an-inch" punch that sent the Doms flying out of its way. Kai reset the Gespenst and signalled at the Huckebeins to attack the Barrelions, while he himself attacked the Guntanks.
"Sir! Enemy reinforcements are approaching five clicks to the southwest!"
"They really want to capture this base; its location is strategic to launch attacks to the American mainland," Kai pondered. "Like what they had tried to do at Shirokaze Town. Aegis 1, can we contact the HQ yet?"
"Negative, sir. We don't have their radio signal."
"All units regroup!" The moments all the Real Troopers regrouped, the sky was dotted with mechas flying towards Pearl Harbour. Kai wasted no time and ordered the soldiers to form a barrier line between the HQ and the invaders. "Where did they get the financial resources to construct robots that many?" Kai asked. "Fire only when you have targets on sight! Don't waste your ammos on one enemy! Got it?"
"Roger!"
The defenders waited, and they were about to open fire when an unknown transmission came in. "Archangel to Pacific HQ. Archangel to Pacific HQ. Do you read?"
"About damn time," Kai snorted. "This is Aggressor 1! Send in reinforcements, and fast! They're already coming!"
"Aggressor 1, reinforcements are on the way. Please hold on a bit longer."
In a sudden the horde split into smaller skirmishes. The reinforcements had indeed arrived: it was the white- and maroon-painted advanced assault mobile suits, and they were wercking havocs to the Green Sphere upon arrival.
"Strike Freedom, ikimasu!"
"Infinite Justice, ikuzo!"
Strike Freedom fired all its Super DRAGOON Launchers, and at once half of the grunts were shot down. Infinite Justice was next and dashed through the enemy, slicing every mecha it came across with beam sabre. The enemy was at disarray as the duo hacked and slashed without giving them any space to retaliate.
"Sir! The enemy is breaking through!"
"This is it! All units fire at will!" The Real Troopers fired their payloads at the enemy, while Kai himself took his green Gespenst towards the invaders. One Guarlion braved itself confronting Kai, only to be beaten by the almighty Personal Trooper's superior Jet Phantom. The Gespenst dodged a railgun fired by another Guarlion and returned the attack twice as much with Plasma Bucklers.
"Sir! Behind you!"
Three Guarlions pounced at the Gespenst, too fast for Kai to react. Strike Freedom immediately rushed in and sliced the Guarlions' propulsion system with surgical precision. "Are you alright?" Kira asked.
"I'm fine. Thanks for saving me."
"Kira, the enemy is regrouping!" Athrun shouted.
"Got it!" Kira brought Strike Freedom to the front and prepared the Super DRAGOON Launchers, but to his, Kai and Athrun's surprise, the enemy suddenly retreated. "The enemy is retreating!"
"They know they won't stand a chance against us," Athrun said. He was later dumbfounded when a black Space Noah-class space battleship emerged from the sea at where the enemy had retreated. "What the hell? It came out just like that!"
"That ship looks like the Hagane! But Tetsuya didn't inform us he'd come by," Kai uttered.
"I don't have the ship on radar," Kira reported. "It must be using jammers to conceal its presence."
"The grunts were for distraction while the real player is hiding from us," Athrun grumbled. "So that's how their game is."
Amidst the new confusion, Kai spotted a Huckebein taking a kneeling position on the Space Noah's hull, and immediately recognized the Real Trooper from the red scarf on its neck. "Be careful! It's that Huckebein!"
"That Huckebein?"
The Huckebein leapt off the Space Noah. It flew past the Gespenst, Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice, and headed towards the HQ. Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice chased after the Huckebein, and Kai was about to do the same when a Schwert Gewehr obstructed his way.
"I wouldn't go there if I were you, Major."
Kai turned around. It was a Sword Strike Gundam, and it was holding the anti-ship sword close to the Gespenst's neck. "You're from the Green Sphere, aren't you?"
"To be more precise, I'm one of the high-ranked commander," the Mobile Suit pilot replied. "Let's make a landfall. We don't want our flight modulators to overheat, do we?"
-x-x-x-x-x-
The last of the Huckebein Mark 2Ms had fallen. Alicia stood victorious, its red scarf flapping freely with the sea breeze. Margaret took a deep breath; her task in destroying the Pacific Divisions' Real Troopers was a success, and she was waiting for Alicia to reset as it analyzed its post-combat performance.
"Alicia, battle report."
"(Success rate is 99.99 percent. No major damage is sustained.)"
"Thank you, Alicia." Margaret fell into silence; again, she never found the satiscaftory she had craved for from the mission. The mass-produced Huckebeins, like all the RTs and PTs and MSs she had dealt with, offered very light resistance, and she was in the need for something more challenging.
"(Sir, two Mobile Suits approaching at 3 o'clock.)"
As soon as Margaret looked at the direction, Infinite Justice fired its beam rifle at Alicia. It hit, but the Huckebein Mark 3 was unscathed. "It's them; the White Terror and the Maroon Knight."
Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice cornered Alicia. "Please lay down your weapons. We don't want to hurt you."
"You think you can trick us by sending those grunts as distractions? We won't be fooled again!" Athrun barked. "Surrender yourself!"
"(Sir?)"
Margaret closed her eyes. "I know. Let's go."
"(Yes, sir. Accessing Combat Form Mode R.)"
Alicia crossed its arms. In one continuous stream, multi-trace missiles were released from their pods and chased after their targets. Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice had to outmanoeuvre the micro-missiles, and more of them as they were fired at them. Alicia threw the Fang Slasher at Infinite Justice and pursued it while the maroon Mobile Suit were dodging all projectiles.
"(Linked Power Core Synchronization, Execute.)"
Alicia came face to face with Infinite Justice. Before Athrun (or Kira) could react, a reverse roundhouse kick smashed Infinite Justice's left torso and sent it crashing into a building. "That Huckebein just used a kick?!" the dazed Athrun groaned, shocked by the attack but survived the crash. "Impossible!!"
"Athrun!" Snapped in SEED Mode, the infuriated Kira charged at Alicia and aimed the beam sabre at the black Huckebein. To his dismay, Alicia caught Strike Freedom's hand and disarmed the sabre.
"Is this what the White Terror has to offer?"
Kira was startled. "It's a girl!" In his negligence Strike Freedom's arm was caught, and Alicia tossed it to the bay before it caught back the returning Fang Slasher. Strike Freedom recovered and fired multiple shots from its beam rifle; everything it threw at Alicia, including the Super DRAGOON Launchers, was nimbly dodged due to the Real Trooper's double image.
"She's dodging all attacks like they're made of nothing! What is she?!"
Alicia somersaulted. It hovered over Strike Freedom and, in the blink of an eye, drop-kicked the Mobile Suit into the sea. The kick disengaged, and the stunned Strike Freedom lingered in the blue water before it was caught on the leg and thrown out of the sea. "Damn it! This is not a regular Huckebein!" Kira moaned.
Alicia reappeared and seized Strike Freedom's neck. "I was expecting you to be a bit… more aggressive," Margaret spoke and made Alicia tighten the grip.
"Don't force me!" Strike Freedom kicked Alicia out of the way and fired another burst of Super DRAGOON Launchers; it missed, and the Real Trooper was facing the white Mobile Suit in a stalemate-loke situation. "Who are you? What do you want from us?"
Alicia made a soft land on the beach. "I only want to prove myself a worthy friend," Margaret spoke. "What about you? Do you have a reason to fight this war?"
"I fight to protect those I cherish the most!" Kira replied. Margaret chuckled at the answer, and it agitated Kira. "What's so funny about?"
"It's ironic. Both of us share the same desire, and yet we have to take contradicting paths." Alicia opened stance and was prepared to launch its finishing attack. "I'm sorry, but I must eradicate you as well. You're standing in my way."
"SEKIHA!!! TENKYOOOOOKEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!"
The gigantic fireball shot across the coastline towards Alicia. Margaret saw it coming but it was dangerously close she had to take the attack head-on. The energy ball hit, and Alicia was pushed far across the beach; it would have been destroyed had it not used Gravity Wall to absorb the attack.
"Alicia! Are you alright?"
"(I am alright, sir.)"
"Who could do this to you, Alicia?"
"Black Huckebein!" loudly Domon bellowed, as the God Gundam posed on a radar mast in its prowess as the King of Heart. "Your reign of terror shall end here!!!"
"Queen Regent to Viper 1 and 2! The enemy has regained strength! Retreat!"
"What about the headquarters? We still have to destroy it," Margaret insisted.
"We can't afford to lose elite units! Viper 2, retreat! This is an order!"
"Margaret, it would be wise to listen to Captain Kidd's advice," the Sword Strike Gundam pilot said and lowered the Schwert Gewehr before it turned back at the Space Noah. "Besides, it would be foolish if we continue our operation when the enemy becomes stronger, wouldn't it Major?"
"Who the hell are you? How did you know about me?" Kai demanded
"You can call me Yukimura. Until we meet again."
Margaret looked back and forth between Strike Freedom and the God Gundam. "When I thought I could finish this… White Terror, tell me your name."
"Kira Yamato," Kira replied.
"I'm Margaret. It is a shame we must… postpone our introduction," Margaret spoke. "Alicia. The enemy is not what we were expected to fight. We're retreating."
"(Yes, sir.)"
Margaret paused. She switched on the Real Trooper's speakers. "Kira Yamato. I suggest you move away."
"Right away!"
Alicia fired off another barrage of Multi-Trace Missiles. Strike Freedom (and the God Gundam) veered away in defensive manoeuvres. Margaret had her Huckebein leap straight into the air. Plunged downwards at terrific speed, her good foot extended.
"Heavenly Rider Kick!"
-x-x-
"Domon, we've lost track of the enemy!"
"Using the explosion of dirt to mask her retreat? Good strategy," Kai pondered.
"She used the drop kick to cover her escape…" Kira spoke as the dust finally settled in. "That girl… who or what is she?"
"Damn it. The black Huckebein escaped," Domon cursed.
What was left of the task force regrouped. Domon explained to Kai and Kira he had long pursued the black Huckebein for what it had done to his Shuffle Alliance colleagues during a past confrontation, and stated the role of the Green Sphere behind the unique Real Trooper and its pilot's rank as one of the Heavenly Lord Generals.
"So you're telling me she's working for the terrorists?" Kira asked. "It can't be. She said she wanted to prove herself a worthy friend!"
"She's fighting with the enemy. Therefore she is to be treated as one," Kai spoke.
"I know that, but still… I couldn!t forget what she had said to me," Kira murmured. "Does the Shuffle Alliance know anything about Mar… the Huckebein pilot?"
"Rain is gathering all the information as we speak," Domon replied. "It may take a long time, but we'll eventually know who the Green Sphere really is. For now we can only speculate."
"I hope so…" Kira said. "Because I don't want to fight her again."
-x-x-x-x-x-
// onboard Queen Regent //
Alicia knelt. She jumped off the cockpit and landed on its palm, battered after taking a direct of the God Gundam's Sekiha Tenkyoken. She was brought down to the floor, where she was immediately greeted by ground crews and personal assistants. "Welcome home, General," one of the people greeted and gave her a towel. "It's good to see you again."
She didn't answer. Instead, she returned to Alicia and rested her hand on the mecha's hand. "I'm sorry for pushing you this far, Alicia," she whispered and softly rubbed its metallic skin. "Don't worry; we'll teach that person a lesson." She later turned around and walked past the ground crews. "I want Alicia's hands to be ready in 24 hours. Do you understand?"
"Yes, General!" they replied with a salute. They watched, as she headed to the Sword Strike Gundam that had returned from its sortie. Everybody around Alicia looked at the young blonde in intrigue and started whispering with each other as she met up with the Mobile Suit's pilot. "General Margaret Testarossa, one of Green Sphere's top aces," one of them commented. "Her skill as a mecha pilot is bested only byher partner General Yukimura."
"Oh, man, I so envy General Yukimura for having a great woman working alongside him," his friend muttered. "I mean, look at her! She's got beautiful hair, she's got nice body, and she's got gorgeous legs."
"Hey, don't forget the skintight suit she sometimes wears in combat," another crew added. All of them stared at Margaret, nodding in approval at their fantasy of their revered general. "Mmm… skintight…" they murmured in awe before the MS pilot gave them a murderous glare and made them return to their work. "Lucky bastard."
Margaret left the hangar and was escorted to her room. "You sure you don't want to attend the post-mission briefing?" Yukimura asked.
"I'm so tired after fighting the EFA soldiers," Margaret said. "But I'm fine. Thanks for the concern." She entered the room, thanking him for the escort, but the privacy she was going to have was slightly disturbed when Yukimura walked in and patted her head. "I've told you I'm alright. Please leave. I need to dress up."
"Obviously, Margaret, you were not," he suggested and proceeded to ruffle her hair. "Let me guess. You've almost beaten the White Terror, right?"
Margaret sulked. "It had nothing to do with my current state," she murmured, and could only gasp as Yukimura pulled her into his arms. "It… it was so close…"
"I know," he spoke and held her in a comforting embrace. "You've done your best."
"I almost had the chance to defeat him when someone interfered," Margaret mumbled and clung onto him. "I almost had victory in my hand and yet…"
"It must be a hard day for you and Alicia, isn't it?" he spoke as he gently cuddled her.
She nodded. "I thought I could prove to her I'm… her worthy friend."
"She understands," he replied and placed soft kisses upon her scalp. "I'm sure she will."
"…yes, Yukimura-san…"
Yukimura chuckled at the reply. "How many times I have to remind you not to be too tied up with formality?"
"I'm sorry, Kenji-san. I forgot."
"Oh, Margaret. You know you don't have to be shy," he teased and began pinching her cheeks. "Come on. Say it. You know you want to."
Margaret flushed. With great strain, she tried saying the words while the spectacled man continued his playful act until she could no longer take it. "Stop… stop teasing me, Oniichan!!"
Yukimura laughed out. "Gotcha! I knew you'd call me that in the end." Margaret became embarrassed and hid her burning face beneath his arms, murmuring "Oniichan, you moron…" in low voice. "So? Do you have anything else to say, my dear Imotou?"
She nestled herself closer to the comfort of the embrace. "Please hold me a bit longer… Oniichan…"
He smiled. "For you, Margaret, I will do everything for you." He tightened the embrace. "Everything…"
// to be continued //