Frozen Memories
With Lt. Quattro off for his report to his superior officers, and Paula busy to help Astronage with maintenance, Erin found herself alone in the Briefing Room with the young man that helped them capture the new Gundams. But for some reason Kamille kept quiet as soon as they left the cockpit, and was not interested to engage with her in any form of conversation. Erin instantly thought that that he must have been having second thoughts of joining the AEUG so rashly. In fact, she found herself having doubts as well. But doubt has never been her decisive factor. Otherwise, she shouldn't have been working for Mao Industries in the first place.
So instead of thinking for a common topic, Erin contented herself with just watching him silently.
Doing so reminded her of one of her favorite games with Jed when they were only eight years old… a year after their father left them for the Colony… was to observe the people passing under their window from their Grandmother's apartment during those boring after-school hours. They would spend time watching men and women walking by and would make rather fantastic stories of those individuals. Erin was the "party pooper" of this game: whatever the person wears during work was what they really were, she'd say, and she actually has proof to support this. Jed was the more imaginative of the two; he'd tell stories from characters who were actually super heroes but sporting secret identities to long-lost royalty hiding among the commoners who were protecting themselves from complicated political enemies. It was a game they both quickly outgrew as time went on, but on some ocassions, either she or her brother would feel a sense of nostalgia and play their game of "what ifs" about the people outside their walls. It had been two years since they'd last played that game…
She wondered what Jed would "What if" to a person such as Kamille Vidan. To her, she could mentally see Kamille as an ocean, its wild currents overlapping each other, with no sense of direction or route. But despite that, there was almost a powerful threathening surge in it that was almost as frightening…
"I wish you wouldn't stare at me so intently. It makes me feel as if you're going to open up my insides."
Erin blinked, that warm feeling she vividly recalled in her mind disappeared, replaced by a brief annoyance, then confusion. It wasn't like me to daydream so much… the last time she lost her sense in time was when Sam tried to wake her up for her routines. She hoped it wasn't one of those mental infirmities that she read so much from the newspapers…
Kamille, for his part, was baffled as well, wondering why he chose those certain words for that outburst. He didn't like the sudden intrusion he was feeling from his companion. Even though she was technically not doing anything at all and was just sitting a considerable distance away from him. But that feeling was so persistent that he found himself saying it out loud. Oddly enough, the pressure instantly disappeared, Kamille suspected that it was too convinient to be a coincidence and wondered if Erin was connected with this after all.
"Oiya!" Paula's voice called out as she sort of bounded into the room. She gave Kamille a large grin.
Kamille only gave her a puzzled look in return, which made her reply in mocking anger. "Gee! I could have sworn the natural instinct was to ask who the hell am I."
The blue-haired boy looked away in annoyance. "Not of my concern."
"Oh, you looked so cute when you're mad." Paula replied cheerfully, and Erin wondered if she was being sportful or not. "By the way, you two, Brecks is very pleased with the performance you two did back in Green Noah. With that extra Gundam, we can afford to keep it while the other one's dismantled for studying."
"Really? So then, you're going to have the mk. 2?" Erin asked, in which the younger girl laughed.
"I wish! But I like the G-Falcon over that heavy thing. Besides Lt. Quattro decided to have the new guy keep it."
"I'm not a fighter pilot." Kamille, for the first time, put in.
Erin was as surprised as Paula is. "You're serious?" Erin asked, "You joined AEUG and you still have an intention to remain a civilian?"
"It's not what I meant… it's just well…" Kamille floundered. It certainly never occurred to him that this will end up to. But then again, when this was what he secretly wanted, a small instinct was telling him to take his time, before he could make a decision he will never retract from thereon.
"It's alright." Paula said, "We usually let the newcomer decide what to do here. Before we let them go to a safe colony."
"Heliopolis?" Erin asked, "Why?"
"It's under Orb jurisdiction. And they're pretty neutral when it comes to the war." Kamille said.
"That's right. You're not bad for a guy who came from a Titan's controlled colony." Paula said, but Erin sensed a tone of suspicion under that light-hearted voice.
Kamille looked embarrassed. "I've read underground publications. They usually mentioned Von Braun and Heliopolis would be the best place to go."
"Especially with all these independent government factions sprouting up nowadays." Erin said. "Now with ZAFT and Neo-Zeon to boot, it's amazing… I'm afraid the neutral nations will be pressured to pick a side."
"Not unless the Federation remains." Paula said.
"What do you mean?" Kamille asked.
"The Titans are mostly a "help" army originally, and I'm not really sure why the Feds regular forces are so unusually busy nowadays. But Brecks isn't the only man dissatisfied with the Titans' actions, and if the top brass from the government would want to disband them, they still have the powers to do so."
"Unless they are planning to become an independent army anyway."
"Yes, but they cannot possiby tackle with ZAFT and Neo-Zeon all by themselves. They would either take over the Federation or get more backers from the Colonists. Either way, they won't do anything drastic."
"You know quite a lot from a person who pilots a plane." Erin said, echoing Paula's earlier observation.
Paula gave a shrug. "I used to work with the Preventers a year ago."
"Preventers?" Kamille asked.
"A Federation branch tackling on information. Kind of like Intelligence in the earlier years."
"So why'd you leave?"
"I find them boring, that's all."
Erin doubted that reason, but tact has pointed out that Paula would have to keep the reasons to herself. For now.
Paula stood up, "Well, we have free time until we're en route to Luna. Let's get a bite to eat, shall we?"
"So, that means we're the only AUEGs here, huh?" Kamille asked as Paula shuffled him and Erin outside.
"Yep. Everyone else will be assumed as enemies. And we have to be alert when we're away from the asteroid field."
"Then I guess I'll have to choose soon," Kamille said quietly.
The three of them headed for the cafeteria for their evening meal. And Erin wondered what her family were doing back home. Hopefully a lot peaceful than her own predicament.
-----
"SIR! HQ said that our mechas will reach our destination in 3 minutes!"
"DON'T SHOUT AT MY EAR!" Jed shouted back, his eardrums still ringing from the fire blasts of the nearby enemy robot. Then he added the next word to show he wasn't really annoyed, "PLEASE!" Then his brain caught on what Sagara has just said. "What the heck do you mean our mecha!"
"Arbalest and Sentinel are heading for us!" Sagara shouted back, but at least he was three feet away from him when he answered.
"You're mistaken! I don't HAVE a mecha! Nor I can pilot it if I do have one!"
For the second time since the attack, Sagara gave a look of complete confusion, but only for a second. "The captain told me your case was serious! I never imagined!"
"What do you mean! What case!"
"Here it comes!"
"Hey, what do you mean serious!" Jed was saying when something shook beneath his feet as something crashed into a building. He looked up as a very huge missile was speared into the ashspalt of the street like an arrow. For a moment, Jed thought that they'll be annhiliated into pieces, then belatedly remembered Sagara's words awhile ago that the missile was only an empty shell.
"Hurry, sir, before the enemy sees us!" Sagara said as he went to the silver mecha strapped on the end of the shell. Fortunately, the rubble that collected itself beside it served as a footing that will help the both of them reach their machines. Jed looked at the other mecha aghast, not really sure if his brain can handle it. It seemed that the other mecha was more extraordinary than what he thought it would be.
"It's a Gundam. What the hell?" Jed muttered… those MS that were the fighting force behind the endless wars years ago… before Sagara called out in warning. "LOOK OUT!"
Instinctively Jed looked up at the grinning Karada as it prepare to stomp them with its huge limbs. Neither he nor Sagara had any chances of seeking shelter in time. The former was beginning to utter a prayer for himself…
When a huge flying knuckle flew overhead and hit the enemy's chest dead center. The impact from the attack threw the Karada off balanced and fell on the ground with a large THUNK!
"Are you alright?" Tetsuya's voice rang out from the Great Mazinger as the huge mecha decapitated the fallen enemy with its Mazinger Blade. "The professor told us MITHRIL agents were caught up in the fight. I'm glad we found you before they did."
"Thanks." Jed called back, not really sure what to say.
"We'll repay you by backing you up against the invaders." Sagara replied, finally setting Arbalest into motion. "Sir!"
"Uh, yeah." Jed said. Erin would never believe this, that's for sure…
He could either walk away and hide and hope that he was being paranoid by the idea of grandmother caught in the battle. But he could use this machine and help the Mazinger Team, and then bring them to his neighborhood… Jed chose the obvious choice by opening the Gundam's cockpit when Sagara said. "MITHRIL agents secured your grandmother, sir, she's safe now. But you were right back then, Dr. Hell is attacking the place as soon as Ashura did."
"What for?" Tetsuya asked, alarmed now.
"Don't know, but we have to secure this place first." The Arbalest moved forward now, its rifle ready in its hands. And Jed knew he can't just stand by and watch. Even if he had no idea what was going on, really.
"OK. Sentinel, let's see if I'm the person for this," incredibly, he felt familiar to the cockpit and the controls. As if he was piloting all his life. He took a deep breath and pressed the activation sequence. The mecha moved. But how was this possible?
"Hey, reinforcements!" Kouji said out loud as he saw the two new mechs.
"From MITHRIL, huh?" Sayaka asked.
"Hah, who needs new robots! Boss Robot will kick the enemies' behind de-wa-sa!" As if to prove his point, Boss' robot attempted to kick the still moving Daburas, in which its action caused the Boss Robot's leg to fall off. "GYAAAAHHH!" Boss cried out in distress.
"Enemies!" Baron Ashura said, "Now there's no holding back!" From his/her fortress, another wave of huge mechas commenced attacking.
"They'll only keep this up to make us busy, aim for the leader unit!" Jed cried out before he caught himself. What on earth…
"ROGER!" Sagara said, opening fire with its rifle. Arbalest was the smallest of the robots in the group, but he was the most agile, and in this case speed was completely at his favor. Before their eyes, Sagara managed to fell three units simulteniously by blowing up the mecha's legs, while evading the enemy fire thrown at him.
"Wow. That's cool." Jed said, dumbstruck, when he noticed an enemy unit attacking Sentinel with its eye beams. Instinctively, Sentinel shielded itself from the blow… only to find it dissipating a few inches away. "Oh, the I-Field…" I-Field? He realized he couldn't afford the enemy another attack, so he willed the Sentinel's beam saber and sliced the new Daburas in half. "Stick together!" he called as Sentinel, Arbalest, the two Mazingers, Aphrodite and Boss Robot pushed through the enemy forces, with Sentinel and Arbalest serving as bait for the Mazinger team to finish off.
"NOW, KABUTO!" Tetsuya called, as Great Mazinger and Manzinger Z broke away from the group and ran to the drop ship Ashura commandeered.
"Got it, Tetsuya!" Kouji cried ecstatically. "Eat this, Ashura! DOUBLE BREAST FIRE!" The two Mazingers released an energy surge from their metallic chest, aimed at the fortress' engines. Immediately the ship's primary systems exploded, with the loss of its main power supply.
"Direct hit!" Sayaka said, looking at her instruments. "Ashura's fleeing!"
"I'll stop them---!" Kouji was saying when Tetsuya stopped him. "No, Kobuto. We have to finish off the remaining enemy mechas. Besides, we have to reach the rural area."
"Damn, I almost forgot Dr. Hell is there. We have to hurry."
Despite Sagara's report, Jed still felt uneasy… please let her be alright…he wasn't sure if it was to Grandmother, or to Erin. Or both. Clenching his teeth, he willed Sentinel's beam rifle to open fire.
-----
Basque Ohm had decided that it was time to give chase to the errant AEUG with Alexandria. But making sure he brought along a couple of important people along the way. When he finally received the reports that they were secured, he summoned for Bright Noah to his office.
Noah's bruises and wounds were still healing from the last time he entered that room. But the captain was unusually quiet as he took the written reports Ohm wanted to give to the Federation council.
"And a minute of your time, Captain." Ohm was saying. "Have you heard anything of Heliopolis?"
"Recently, sir. There's a Federation inspection going on right now to all neutral colonies." Bright said.
"I see." Ohm looked bored. "According to the usual procedures, yes?"
"Yes." Bright seemed not thrilled to have a chit-chat with such mundane topic. And Ohm shared the same sentiments as Bright said shortly "Then I'll be going, sir." Then he made a hasty retreat after the former gave his nod of approval. Ohm then opened a channel… "He doesn't know."
"Of course not," his companion replied. "The operation in Heliopolis has been going on now without Federation knowledge."
"Then what do you propose?"
"I propose to let the information go to another organization who will most benefit from it. Since Haman Khan's group has too much power, we will leave it…"
"To ZAFT, huh? Can you trust them?"
"Much better than a group who believed Newtypes are the future… don't you agree?"
"I see your point. I gave authorization to do so, Shagia Frost…"
"Always a pleasure, Commander." Shagia said smoothly, as he cut off from the communication.
"So, we can now move?" Olba, his younger twin, asked.
"Well. Yes. Now we'll have to watch what happens next from thereon."
"Understand, Brother."
-----
"Thank you for your patience, Minister Darlian." Uzumi Nara Attha said as he shook hands with the Vice Minister of External Affairs. The youngest member of the United Earth and Space Federation, Darlian was following her father's footsteps a year ago, when he was killed by OZ soldiers, then later served as Queen for the Romefeller Foundation. With the rise of White Fang, the Federation, with Treize Khushrenada as head, led a disastrous war that almost ended the world. With OZ gone, the Titans were later formed with the Federation's blessing, regardless of the voices that shouted against the strategy. Uzumi could see the strains of work on the Vice Minister's features. She and her father had been working so hard and for so long… but both could not make that first step.
"I see you came here for my answer." Uzumi said, inviting the Minister for tea, which the latter accepted. "And I'm afraid the council's decision is to say no."
"But why? Surely you know that Anaheim is producing illegal weapons that's banned from the Antarctic Treaty… the Gundam Physialis was enough…" Relena stopped when she saw the older man at her with a neutral expression in his features.
"With no solid proof on the matter as that Gundam was completely destroyed before it can be studied, as we have pointed it out before." he said again. "And you know I have no jurisdiction over Anaheim, just like the Earth Federation over Nergal Corporation. I merely had connections, and I cannot grant you permission to head there right now. You should plead your case to the Federation Council and get their approval."
Relena frowned. Orb was a neutral country, just like Sanc. In fact both her fathers were old acquaintances to the Atthas many years ago before she was even born. Unlike her former country, however, Uzumi firmly believed in military might. With power he can maintain protection for both Coordinators and Naturals. She can symphatize with that, but she firmly believed that weapons should not be confused as protection.
"Waiting for such a case is impossible, since the Federation pay Anaheim for new MS models."
"Then I'm afraid that decision still stands," Uzumi looked sorry. "I know you've worked very hard for this. I apologize."
Relena gave a wry smile. She wasn't a novice when it comes to politics, for it took her quite a while to realize that not everyone would willing to give way to her unquestionably simply because she used to be a queen of the world. She would just have to try again… somehow. Uzumi's casual mention of Nergal sparked her interest, though, and Relena made a mental note to check the Preventer's files regarding that company as soon as she finished her business here in Orb.
-----
"Hah! Eat that, forces of Evil!" Boss Borot shouted in glee as he kicked the already disintegrated limb recently blasted by Great Mazinger's Thunder Bridge.
"Let's head for Dr. Hell's ugly face!" Kouji said.
"We'll have to lift all four of you." Tetsuya reminded his eager friend. Looking at Aphrodite A, Boss Robot, Gundam Sentinel and Arbalest.
"I'll carry Arbalest, this Gundam has a bird mode." Jed said. It does?
"Well, this changes everything, then!" Kouji said. "I'll carry Aphrodite."
"Oh, Kouji!" Sayaka gushed.
"Well, I'll carry Boss Borot then." Tetsuya said.
"Darn, I prefer Venus A to carry me." Boss griped.
"You know Jun-san is back at HQ to assist the professor." Sayaka reminded him tartly. A part of her inwardly relieved that her robot wasn't a flyer either.
"Then let's go, everyone!"
"I'm coming, Grandmother," Jed swore when something was beeping on his control panel. After hesitating for a minute, he put it on and found himself facing at…
"I'm Commander Lady Une of the Preventers." The older woman was saying, "It's good to see you again, Lieutenant Shore."
"Uh, me too… I think."
"Sergeant Sagara gave me a report about you. I'm sure you'll be asking a lot of questions after this."
"Good thing you've realized that."
"I've sent reinforcement units at your direction." Lady continued seriously. "Jamil Neate and his team will support your forces against Dr. Hell 15 minutes from now. And… Captain Tessa also sends her regards."
"Captain Tessa?"
"She only said you'll understand." Lady Une said. "Safe journey."
"Thanks." Questions would have to wait. As the flying units lifted off, carrying their counterparts with them. Doing this was seriously slowing them down, but they really have no choice over the matter.
Jed couldn't help thinking if Erin knew what was happening right now, it eerily reminded him of that game they used to play years ago. Only this time the subject was about him.
-----
"It's not here! Blasted Federation! They're alerted to our presence!" Dr. Hell shouted, as the mecha dinosaurs attacked the GMs protecting the rural city. But the time was enough for him to study from his instruments that what he was searching for was not here. It seemed that their calculations had been off, or that it chose to hide away from anyone after its escape. In either case, from the reports he received from his allies, it had been set in motion. Then, when the time comes, the Federation will be powerless against their new weapon.
"Dr. Hell!" a subordinate android pilot called out from Dr. Hell's musing. "Our radars are picking up enemy mechas heading to our direction!"
"The Mazinger team." Dr. Hell said. "So I guess our coming here is not a waste after all." Dr. Hell had another reason for being here, and this time he had no intention of destroying them.
Not yet, anyway.
-----
Jed was relieved to see the Federation forces standing on their ground against the invaders. But it was obvious they can't hold this out for long. "We'll have to spread out and attack them one by one to support the surviving GMs."
"Roger that, sir." Sagara replied, in which he willed Arbalest to loosen its grip from the Sentinel and rolled forward to the ground, splaying hollow bullets to the oversized mecha dinosaurs nearest to it.
"Look out!" Kouji cried out as one of the brontosaurus looking mecha shot a huge ball of fire at the Arbalest. It seemed it cannot get away from its attack in time, and no one was close enough to serve as a defensive shield. Surprisingly, instead of attempting to jump away to safety, the silver mecha stood it's ground… and the fireball disappeared by a strong vibration from Arbalest.
"Amazing! What's that?" Tetsuya breathed.
"Lambda Drive. So they've perfected it." Jed answered the Mazinger pilot.
"Not quite. But you didn't seem to loose all your memories, sir."
"It felt like, the more I sat in this machine, the more jumbled thoughts are coming unbidden. I still don't understand." Jed grimaced, "but before that, we have to finish this battle first."
"Dr. Hell's fortress wasn't moving at all." Sayaka confided to the others. "And he's not bringing out more robots."
"Maybe he's run out of 'em." Kouji suggested lamely.
"I doubt it. In any case, be careful, he may be up to something," Tetsuya warned as he used his Drill Pressure Punch at the nearest Daburas.
A few rounds between the two groups commenced, before something went wrong for the defending team. A broken Karada managed to take a death grip of Mazinger Z's legs, making it immobile against a couple of missiles the remaining Daburas released. Sentinel had somehow lost its shield while deflecting enemy missiles and even Arbalest was having a hard time against its huge counterparts. Great Mazinger was too busy protecting Boss and Aphrodite after the rest of the dinosaur army decided to concentrate their fire on them instead.
"GAAAHH! They're too many!" Sayaka cried as another stray missile caused her cockpit to shake violently.
"Hang on! Lady told us the reinforcements are coming!" Tetsuya reminded her. Almost as if he was prophetic, the charging brontosaurus was blown away by a well-placed missile blasts on its frontlegs. Tetsuya immediately took the initiative to finish it off with Great's Breast Burn.
"Janjajan! Heaven sent Mobile suit pilots are here to rescue the day!" A young voice shouted in their communicators.
"Hey, Garrod! Don't ruin our entrance with corny dialogue!" The pilot of the green… Gundam, Jed realized… which fired the missiles that rescued Tetsuya's group, protested. In fact there were three Gundams, two flyer types and one land-based type, with a landship drawing close from the rear. Jed recognized the older models… X, Leopard, Airmaster…
"This Captain Jamil Neate of the Freeden." An older looking man's face appeared on their screens. "I'm here as reinforcement per Lady Une's command."
"Good to see you, then!" Kouji answered, his optimism climbing another notch as he willed Mazinger Z's Breast Fire to melt the annoying Karada's hands from it's metallic limbs.
"Gundams! Support the friendlies and attack all enemy units! Try to draw them away from the shelters!" Jamil ordered.
"Got that, Jamil!" The pilot of the GX replied. "Good to see a fellow Gundam pilot too."
"Ehh." Jed said, feeling a sweatdrop forming. The eager GX pilot didn't seem to change at all… oddly enough, since this is the first time he ever met the newcomers.
With the coming of the reinforcements, the battle once again tipped its favor for Jed's group, and soon they were slowly decimating the enemy force, forcing them back from the residential area.
Dr. Hell had seen enough, and he finally obtained sufficient data from the battle to decide it's time for him to leave, accepting that the Mazingers had won this round this time. Sentinel's computer had warned Jed of the fortress' apparent retreat, and the pilot decided he won't the villain get away for the next fight, and willed its beam rifle to open fire shouting "You're not going anywhere!"… when something strange occurred.
For Jed, it happened too fast, and for the rest they were simply too far away from Gundam Sentinel to offer support. No sooner had he raised Sentinel's weapon to attack, an enemy unit that Sentinel's computer, nor the rest of their instruments actually, couldn't identify and thus weren't warned properly, attacked the Sentinel's vulnerable torso with its beam rifle.
"What the?" Jed managed to shout before he could react… and the beam hit dead center on Sentinel's cockpit. It was a lot stronger than what Jed anticipated.
"AHHH!"
"Lieutenant Shore!" Arbalest was at the Sentinel's side in an instant, firing wildly at the mysterious unit. The red mecha moved with uncanny speed away from Arbalest's rifle. A speed that Sousuke find eering familiar.
No! It can't be! Sagara thought as he continued his attack, it's impossible…
The unknown unit vanished as soon as it appeared from sensors, and Dr. Hell's huge fortress was now too far away from them to attack. The dinosaur mechas left behind renewed their attack on the helpless Sentinel when suddenly the Gundam somehow reactivated itself, and moved away from the incoming units, Arbalest securing its escape.
"Sir?" Sagara tried again. The comm to Jed's frequency was quiet, and it was enough to know the pilot was out of commission. There was only one explanation why his Gundam was moving now… So, it's ALICE… he really is Lt. Shore…
Arbalest was soon joined by the three Gundams and to ease the enemies off it's tail. The Freeden moved closer to get the damaged units, specifically Sentinel and Mazinger Z… and after a few more rounds, it was over.
-----
"Jed." Erin whispered, inattentively. The cold feeling was only brief, but it almost made her feel sick at the stomach.
"Anything wrong?" Quattro asked, routinely checking his squad consisting of himself, Erin, Kamille and Paula.
"Nothing. I had a bad feeling is all."
"Bad, huh?" Kamille echoed, but his gut feeling was also saying the same. The mk.2 that he rode in was given a new paint job to at least stand out from its Titan brethren. Now it was white, as white as the original Gundam seven years ago. Kamille still hasn't decided to become an AEUG fighter pilot, but Brecks and Henken suggested that a couple of more rides with the mk.2 would at least help him to figure it out, but to make him more familiar with outer space maneuvering as well.
Not to mention they were out in a defensive formation for a reason, the Titans had somehow caught up with them. And a battle was almost imminent.
"Radar is showing a Titan flagship off our port bow." Tores, the Ahgama's communication officer, reported. "It's the Alexandria."
Henken flashed a concerned look to Brecks. Although both were expecting the Titans to give chase after their attack on Green Noah, battle protocol almost dictate that the enemy ship should at least release Minovsky particles as a screen from their radar. Alexandria not doing so was an unnatural act, to say the least.
"Sir, two mobile suits are heading our way." Paula added, a look of disbelief in her features. "And a Gundam mk. 2 is carrying…" She no longer need to add any more details as the bridge can see from their own main screen that the Gundam mk. 2 Unit 1 was indeed waving a white flag. Kamille wondered if the pilot of the remaining mk.2 was that bastard Jerid Massa again.
It was a female voice that penetrated in the silence. "I have an important message for the leaders of the AEUG regarding negotiation for the stolen Gundams. I need to give them a handwritten letter from Commander Ohm directly."
"All alone? How brave." Quattro reacted.
"Emma Sheen." Kamille murmured, recognizing the voice.
"It's not like Basque's normal tactic, maybe it's a trap." Henknen voiced in his opinion.
Brecks gave a minute or two to think this over. "We'll make this brief. We need to find out what they're up to."
"Yes sir."
-----
It was Paula who volunteered to accompany Emma Sheen to the briefing room with the rest left behind to guard the ship. A lot of people from the Ahgama crew commented on the Titans' messenger. Some were rather impressed by Emma's apparent courage but the others couldn't help but disdain towards her for being among their number. Nevertheless, the Titans soldier met Brecks and Henken face to face without further mischief.
"Please give your answers as soon as you're able." Emma simply added as she passed the letter to Brenks.
Brecks gave a short nod as he opened the folded paper and gave a quick look at its contents. A few moments later, Henken and Emma gave a look of complete surprise at Brecks' expression of controlled rage, shouting "How shameless!"
"Wh-what do you say?" Emma gasped, not expecting this reaction. Brecks ignored her, and passed the letter to the captain for him to read. "Lt. Sheen, do you know what that letter contains?"
"No." was her honest reply.
"So that's why you're so unconcerned." Henken after finishing reading it, then returned the paper to Emma for her.
Emma knew that this was against her orders, but her curiosity got the better of her as she scanned the paper, her expression changed from disbelief to shock in a matter of seconds.
"Surrender the mk.2s and Kamille Vidan, or else they'll kill his parents." Brecks said flatly.
"That's… it's impossible!" Emma gasped.
"But that is handwritten by Ohm, you said so yourself. It's not what a military army should do."
"Maybe it's just an empty threat." Henken suggested, seeing Emma's apparent distress. Brecks shook his head in disagreement "Ohm is capable of doing such a thing." He replied.
"Then we will just have to rescue them somehow…" Henken was rudely interrupted by the bridge's comm overhead. "Captain!" Tores shouted. "Kamille's Gundam just broke out from formation!"
"What!" Brecks shouted, "Did you know where he's going!"
"He's heading for the Alexandria… Erin is giving chase after him!"
"Paula!" Henken said, thumbing his radio on. "Inform Lt. Bajina that the Titans are holding Kamille's parents as hostage. The Ahgama will follow to lend support."
"Yes, sir!"
Henken gave a grim look to Brecks. "Now it's a race…" the former senator whispered under his breath.
-----
"Hey, Kamille! Where the hell do you think you're going!" Erin cried out belatedly when the errant mk.2 suddenly broke away from their defensive line without any explanation and was heading toward the enemy flagship with total disregard to the truce. Quattro was left behind to protect the Ahgama and left Erin, whose mecha was much faster than his yellow mobile suit, to be the one to get him back.
"Get out of my way!" Kamille shouted back batting away the Hyuckebein's hands from the Gundam. "I have to save my mother!"
Erin looked at Kamille's face on the screen as if he'd gone mad. "WHAT!"
"I can't explain it now! I have to get there!"
"Well I won't let you go out there alone. I'm coming along as support." Kamille, to his annoyance, knew that he had no other choice in the matter, realizing that her words made sense.
"Just don't slow me down!" was his arrogant reply as his Gundam sped away as if its life depends on it.
"You're welcome!" Erin sarcastically answered, but then if Kamille's hunch has been right, then they're the only ones who'll be facing against anything the Titans would throw at them.
Bad luck for them, I guess… Erin thought psyching herself for the long battle ahead.
The Hyuckebein, with the Gundam mk.2 leading the way, followed suit.