Cast of Characters
Mercury
Base
Transer
Pilot - Will Baker
Transer Captain - Remers Cole
Student/Mechanic - Reika
M. Mishima
Chief
Mechanic - Ray Heinburg
Lieutenant/Test
Pilot - Jehan Lasus
Doctor/Project Lead - Anastasia
M. Mishima
Doctor/Project
Lead - Heleon Tomas
Episode 3: Tests and Trivialities
"For too long the Zexen's developments have given them a powerful and unexpected advantage in this conflict. But they understand the future of warfare! We can not solely focus on improving the Machine, we too must seek a total approach. We must improve the Man as well! The unification of the two, the Integration of Man & Machine, that bonding… That is the key to the next generation of Weapons technology. And that is what I hope to accomplish with this Project my esteemed associates." - Director of the Icarus Project, speech before the Federation Appropriation Board.
---
Today was the day!
And Jehan Lasus was surely a miniature sun.
Jehan was giddy and high. He could swear his body felt feather light, even as he walked the hall of the exercise rotunda. His feet were practically springing with each new step. Sure his feet actually would be lighter when he returned to the regular low gravity area of the station but this lightness was due to his exhilaration. Jehan was so excited about the prospects of the new day he was practically vibrating. Be glanced at his chronometer. 6:00A.M. (EA), Earth Relative, October 10th, UC 0164, and nodded to himself. Finally the day had arrived when he would get to pilot the new Mobile Suit.
Jehan knew it would be exquisite to feel true acceleration acting on him again! That magnificent press of weight as he made his Mobile Suit dance through space. It was the simple things like that he missed the most.
Jehan, like the other test pilots brought to the base, had become familiar with the basic operations and parameters of Mobile Suits while on the long trip to Mercury. But they all knew that the simulation data was basic at best. Jehan suspected this project went far deeper than testing out a new generation high performance suits for the Military. And his suspicions were proven well founded when he received the actual detailed data upon arrival at the base.
This project has high goals indeed, he thought with a giddy smile. Jehan had spent most of the last 4 days just going over the manuals and proposals they let him have access to. The rest of the time he spent chatting with, or rather bugging, the researcher Dr. Mishima. It helped that she was rather attractive too, he thought, smiling as he again increased his speed of running. They'd been working together rather closely because of his "gifts". Jehan being one of two New Type pilots assigned to the base. Which showed how much the Federation needed this project to pay off. Newtype resources were very valuable, especially in a war like this one. If they could spare such resources then this was definitely a high priority job.
Flirting with the good Doctor Mishima had been about the only fun he'd had in months. Hanging with too many stuff shirts was beginning to depress him. The Doctor was feisty and at least gave as good as she took. She was a lot older than him but that never stopped him before. Jehan shook his head realizing that he might be overcome with a little school boy giddiness because of her as well. He wanted to show off and perform like a gushy little kid.
Well he'd finally get a chance to, as he would be the first to pilot the new Mobile Suit.
-----------------------The concealed testing facilities of the Hermes Research base had been active 24 hours a day, for the last week.
Preparations for the beginning of the Icarus Project had begun in earnest. This process alone involved an immense amount of work. Many man-hours were sunk into the assembly of the Mobile Suits alone.
The Hermes Research Base had increased their patrols in an attempt to lock up near-base security. The outer sensor net had to be set up for the Mobile Suit trials. Tracking on most near-base objects was initiated and old data was updated. The Base's pilots needed to be briefed in procedures. The list went on and on.
The test-pilots themselves had to get up to speed on the base's operations and layout.
Now though it was time. The early trials could now begin, and would this very day.
People moved about the research base with an excitement in their eyes and a spring in their step. There was a feeling of energy in the atmosphere of the research facility. Even among the inhabitants that did not have clearance for the more basic details of the project knew what was taking place today. This was what everyone lived for after all, something new and exciting at a base cut off from the outside solar system. Boredom was a large problem for many far flung outposts. Even though quite a few smaller projects were active it finally felt like the Hermes Research base was living up to its name. It had been a long time since a high profile project had been active at this base. After such a long dry spell, there was no way to keep the populace of the base from being excited.
-----------------------There on the main launch pad of the Hermes testing bay stood the object of every ones excitement.
The once slumbering giants were standing as sentinels. Casting their solemn presences over the bay. The large beings, even inert, looked dangerous, wild, as if daring anyone to try to ride them.
And Jehan would be the first to try to tame one.
With a small bow of respect, Jehan greeted the fine Mobile Suit he was to mount this day. He had seen documents detailing the Mobile Suit, but to see it fully assembled in front of him was a bit more awe inspiring than he figured. Well Jehan hoped the thing was as tough as it looked sleek, he didn't intend to be easy on the Mobile Suit at all.
The Mobile Suit designated for early testing was the IPG-16D Daedalus Gundam. It was the first fully functional prototype of the series to be produced and actually be battle ready. Jehan had been a test pilot before and had an idea of what "battle ready" meant. Most Mobile Suits at this stage of development could dance, for sure, but he didn't know if they could be called fighters. Most test bed units like these got saturated with multiple new developments and ideas that several different research think-tanks wanted to see tested. Sometimes there was tech involved that was in no way related to the original purpose of the vehicle. Jehan guessed that the labheads thought since they were building a new suit anyway, they might as well add in some other projects as well. That way the Federation could get their new suits and the labheads could see if their new and pricey Automaton Smart Select Evaluation System actually worked out in the field, or some such foolishness. The problem was sometimes a lot of these new developments didn't pan out to well, and could even cripple the Suit mass-production wise, because of unforeseen complications and unsuccessful ideas.
This Mobile Suit he was to pilot, the Daedalus, was just as busy test wise. From what he had read and simulated there would be a lot of different developments to be tested. The first and foremost goal of the project was to recreate the technological advances that the Zexen had come up with in the current war. A lot of that had to do with the Pilot, but just as much had to do with the Mobile Suit. He could tell too that there was new work going on with the frame construction. His reading had given him a small glimpse, as much as his non-labhead mind could figure out, into the differences in wiring and control mechanics that went into producing this Suit. The four wing-like binders on the back of the Suit hinted at a new type of vernier and propulsion system. Jehan, of course, was here to test out a lot of the new Newtype specific enhancements. And Jehan had a feeling there were a few more things to test he didn't know about.
The Daedalus was a bit taller than the standard Mobile Suits of this generation. Leaner as well, except for the legs which housed extra propulsions skirts and the shoulders. Odd articulate arms jutted out from the shoulders but seemed to be able to fold and retract back onto the frame. Which they happened to do so as he watched. Jehan guess they weren't to be a part of today's testing. The four long wing-like binders on the back were currently extended in an X pattern. From what he remembered they had a very flexible range of movement and folded back in when the suit was not in use. The Daedalus was painted mostly white, with only light touches of the Gundam's famous color scheme. It looked somewhat like the armored skeletal remains of an ancient celestial warrior, the wings on the back only enhanced this effect.
The other Gundam was more severe looking than even the Dadaelus with odder wing assemblies on its back. But he hadn't really paid much attention to it as it was still in a state of assembly. The torso was suspended from its maintenance dock, the lower portion of the suit still lay on its original flat bed.
"We're ready for you sir," said one of the Technicians. The boy's expression seemed to shift from wary fear of Jehan to straight out jealousy but Jehan only shook his head in bemusement. He then and jumped off from the ground sailing straight to the chest level cockpit of the Mobile Suit. Jehan clicked the release and the cockpit hatch opened quite quickly. He shivered in delight as he entered the cockpit and couldn't keep a wide, probably annoying grin, from his face as he entered.
"Well my dear I hope you are ready to dance today."
-----------------------"Hmmm well the cockpit is a tad different than I expected." Jehan Lasus said, as he absentmindedly went about getting situated in the Daedalus cockpit. "Doctor Mishima you failed to mention that." Jehan thought aloud as he now re-familiarized himself with the layout. He began to sit in the linear seat but the panoramic monitor was still dark even though the Mobile Suit was brought up to full operational status hours ago. Upon sitting in the seat the panoramic screen activated, filling the cockpit with intense and beautiful light. The flash was soon replaced with the view of the Hermes Base's test bay. Jehan nodded his appreciation.
"Hmm a large part of this automated I see." Jehan said as he locked into the seat. "Explains why they went skimpy on the control panel." He joked, though it was true that the control panel was very Spartan. It was very ergonomically designed but lacked some of the displays of the regular Mobile Suit cockpits. Though if the project was going to go where he thought it was then a regular panel was not needed. Jehan ran through the checks and it was almost 100 percent.
"Lieutenant Lasus, do you read me?" a smoother voice said over the open communication line. It was of course the good Doctor Mishima's. Jehan found it very sultry, something about her and that French descended twine.
He laughed at his schoolboy giddiness once again. "Yes good doctor. And I must say it is quite lovely to hear your melodic voice so early in the morning." Jehan pressed a few buttons and her sharp features and light blonde hair appeared before him on the panoramic display.
"Please Lieutenant… let us at least try to make a pretense of being of Professionals," she said, though Jehan thought he could detect a little bit of mirth under her stiff demeanor.
"I promise nothing MM." he smiled upon hearing her exaggerated sigh over the comm. channel.
"At least make yourself useful then pilot. If you could activate those banks of controls to your right, C-9, communication systems. I need you to turn on the feed from there."
"What would that be." Jehan asked as he looked for the right button.
"Federation tax dollars at work, and the result of our increase focus on optics, beams, and imagery since 0079." She said absentmindedly.
"Huh." Jehan said as he obeyed and was pleasantly surprised and more than a little startled when sheets of light jumped into being a meter in front him. There the light beams congealed into the image of a three dimensional holographic display of the Daedalus Gundam. Jehan looked at the amused face of Dr. Mishima and belatedly realized that he had risen out of his seat. "Impressive."
"Indeed. Purely holographic displays have been around for a bit now, mostly on capital ships only, this one is of a newer variety. We finally were able to miniaturize it enough to make it applicable to a Mobile Suit cockpit. Though I doubt it will see wide spread use. The properties of the Zexen DNI system make it rather moot to waste the money on light beam projection for display purposes. Well at least we know it works."
"I see." Jehan said. Dr. Mishima ran him through another thirty minutes of introductions to other such functions and nuances of the controls.
"Yes, well it seems all systems are ready on our end," she finally said, and Jehan let out a sigh of relief. At last. Just then another voice came across the comm. link.
"This is Controller Beta Two calling Alpha One. Lieutenant Lasus. We are ready to begin trial Testing. All recording is ready."
"This is Lieutenant Lasus, I copy that!!"
The Gundam took its first tentative steps. Easily and gracefully. Jehan was already impressed. Just like the sims.
A crowd of onlookers, fully masked in their normal suits, cheered him on. Strange to be receiving praise, He thought, Though I wonder if they would still cheer if most of them knew what I was.
The Bay doors where opening now and Jehan could see the incredible beauty of space. "Finally, it's been too long my friend."
"Pardon, Lieutenant?." he heard Controller Beta Two say.
"It's nothing. This is Lieutenant Lasus I am starting her moving now, watch your heads."
The doors of the Hermes testing bay were now open. Jehan disengaged his mags that keep the suit attached to the floor. He uses a slight amount of thrust to carry the Dadaelus free and clear of the Bay. Then let out a laugh of contentment and shot the suit off at a Full, chest squeezing, Burn. The Daedalus shot of out of the Bay at its highest acceleration possible. Already voices were yelling at Jehan from Control, but he didn't really listen to them, he was in bliss.
"Lets have some fun shall we Control!!"
-----------------------"He's too cocky," responded one of the annoyed lab assistants in the bay's control room. They didn't intend to take the Mobile Suit up to red zone until much later. Jehan Lasus's disregard for procedure was already
"Not like we have much choice, we just have to put up with him," said Dr. Tomas, the project lead was smiling as he looked out of the control room to the bay below. "Right Miss Mishima."
"Hmmmp If we must," she said, though he noticed the Doctor had an almost disguised smile. It didn't look like something she was used too.
"Alright lets begin shall we, the pilot has the right idea. Enough stalling lets begin the tests!"
"Copy that sir." The scientists and researchers at once busted into motion.
-----------------------"So Reika what do you think of it?"
"It's beautiful Will." Reika said from here perch overlooking the Hangar. "Even from here." Will Baker was beside her. They were both prone on a small observation ledge overlooking the testing bay. They both were in their normal suits as the bay had been ventilated for launch. Below small figures swarmed over the Mobiles Suits of the Icarus Project, and it caused Reika to feel sympathetic joy. Like when a person sees someone else getting a massage and remembers how good it feels. Mobile Suits, particularly being able working on them gave her a strange pleasure. She didn't think it that odd, though some did say it was odd for a child to be interesting in such things. But she figured that some people liked movies, or sports, or gambling, or sex. She liked mechanical things. In particular certain bipedal war machines called Mobile Suits.
Reika had definitely wanted to get a look at the new suits and she was about to try using her own methods to gain entrance. But surprisingly Will had managed to get in himself, with some sort of clearance password. Though why he would be interested in the Mobile Suits was a little curious. Will usually wasn't interested in Mobile weapons. Though she guessed that even he wanted to see this.
Another thing that bothered her initially was Will's clearance codes. Last she knew he was just a delivery boy… Why he had access to this part of the base had flared up her curiosity. She guessed he had connections like hers, but all these concerns where long forgotten though when she actually entered the bay. To actually see the new Gundams had made her forget all her worries.
As she watched, one of the Gundam's lifted off and then flew out of the testing bay. She watched with childlike fascination.
-----------------------Like a bullet the Dadaelus sped out of the concealed reasearch bay, it's boosters on full It dashed to and fro like a hornet. Jehan put the suit through a number of twists and turns. Jehan had to admit that he was impressed with its overall acceleration and vernier of the suit so far. In the cockpit of the Daedalus the stars spun around in a wild light show. He executed a stop to cancel the turn and Hermes Research Base framed the forward view, the form of Mercury obscured by the large rock.
"Pilot!" came the sultry voice of the Doctor Mishima. Followed by her appearance on one of the display screens. She seemed rather calm, which saddened Jehan a little, he was hoping fluster the researchers, a little. "It would have been wise to wait for clearance before running the suit up to its Maximum thrust. There are things we need to be able to record and mechanical considerations to take into account."
"Chill milady. We can do all the boring stuff later." He said keying in a few switches. "I haven't piloted anything in months. Thought I was going insane."
He kicked the Daedalus to thrust once more. Vectoring towards the Hermes base, flying past the observation outpost.
He put the Gundam through a few more high speed corkscrews "Not bad at all. I like what you guys have here." He grunted as he went through a continuous Split S maneuver, G-forces grabbing at him from all angles, which he found quite pleasurable. "Hmm nice stability, and good output. Great agility, obviously resulting from the binders on the back."
"Do you intend to destroy your new tow on its first try." A slightly amused Doctor Mishima said.
"Merely getting a feel for it." Jehan said. "It's a world of difference than in the simulations. I'm rather curious as to its limits."
"I'm sure you are familiar with the story behind this projects namesake," she said with a raised eyebrow, "Push too hard or your wings are liable to melt off."
"Ah but do not forget Milady. That was Icarus, this is the Daedelus."
"Humph. Here you go Pilot. Here is the itinerary for today if you have gotten the bugs out of your system."
The data streamed in and Jehan smiled looking over today's testing goals and let out a little sigh. Time to get to it I guess.
"Ok let's see what else she can do."
-----------------------"Well at least he's enthusiastic about his job sir," said one of the technicians admiring the Daedalus as it ran through its maneuvers. All the researchers had been at their stations doing readings and testing for many hours. Comparing actual readouts versus the simulated. Checking stress and strain on the suit and the function and efficiency of its systems. A hefty days worth of work was already done and without to many breaks. But the pilot was still eager to keep going, and he had been like this since they started tests four days ago. No one, on the first day, had accounted for this. No one expected this from the supposedly brash and reckless test pilot Alpha One.
"Seems like we got a good candidate after all, eh Doctor?" another scientist said, looking to the Chief researcher on the project, Dr. Tomas, and the second, Dr. Mishima.
The two head of the project were a mixture of emotions. Doctor Tomas seemed to waver between joy seeing his Mobile Suit in use, to jealousy at the thought of anyone touching his Mobile Suit but him. Let alone seeing a Newtype put the Daedalus through its paces. Something he'd rather do himself but wasn't physically able.
The other Doctor Mishima was poring over the biometric readings from the Mobile Suit's pilot. These days she exhibited an odd sense of mirth at the progress and accomplishments of the pilot, which mixed with concern every time he pulled a high stress maneuver or passed a difficult test. "Interesting….."
"Ms. Mishima?"
Dr. Mishima looked up from her data smiling wistfully despite the jab at her, "I was just thinking what a shame it was that we aren't ready to run the new computer. He definitely has what it takes to push the program to it's limits. And the strength of his special abilites is better than I expected."
Dr. Tomas shrugged, now pouting. "Performance aside, his showboating is dangerous and annoying. But perhaps his grandstanding can play to our advantage…"
"And that would be." Asked the third top researcher, Doctor Weiss Haltenkaph. He was a man with skeletal features and exuded an air of eeriness. Even more so than Dr. Tomas. Mishima thought him the picturesque avatar of some sort of mad surgeon.
"We may be able to move up our schedule on other parts of the project," Dr. Mishima said, anticipating were Dr. Tomas was going. "I assumed it would take a while before the pilots were used to the Suits operations. Even for the new types but Mr. Lasus was quite a boon."
"He has taken to it like a fish in water." One of the technicians interjected, while observing a rainbow stream of data.
"Yes, Your boy there may allow us to proceed with the testing in your field Ms. Mishima much earlier."
"And the others as well I guess," Dr. Haltenkaph said, "Even though it is a shame we won't have the medical capabilities to mimic the Zexen hot interface for some time." The gaunt faced Doctor seemed dejected. "What was it? Last I heard another four weeks until the arrival of our proper medical equipment."
"Don't worry you'll get your chance to play Dr. Frankenstein," Dr. Tomas giggled, which did not look natural on the man. And though the Doctor expected an adverse reaction from Haltenkaph, he also wasn't surprised by the other man's cold smile either. Dr. Haltenkaph seemed to appreciate the reference.
"Well, we do have most of my equipment and I'd like to test the Artificial as soon as possible as well." Dr. Mishima chimed in as well. "Hopefully we can find out if she as at least as stable as the Directors said she was."
"Indeed. That would be wise." Said Tomas, "I heard things Earthside before my arrival. The Zexen have High command seeing demons in the night. As such they are considering mass production of those dreadful things just to keep pace."
"I for one don't trust them, they are even less controllable than the Naturals. Less efficient on a per unit basis as well." a revolted Haltenkaph added. "Nature is so vulgar that way."
"Which is why we are tasked to do what is necessary here." Tomas reminded him. "With our help they can gain parity in the war again, with out relying on a 'special kind' of pilot."
"With Jehan here, it should make things easy." Dr Mishima interjected, " Though if he will survive the process is another matter." She added somberly. "We don't have enough empirical data on the affects of the interface technology on the New Type mind. Far to less for my tastes."
"Why miss Mishima, I hope that you are not getting attacked to our little mouse are you?"
Anger flashed on Mishima's face but quickly dissipated. She would not fall for his bating. "Your little experiments on these subjects may help you, but it definitely would not help me if Jehan is shut down by the process."
"Your worries are insignificant," Tomas deflected, "I have it on good authority that the Zexen's precious super soldiers keep their Newtype abilities after implantation. "
"But do we know how to do the process as they do?"
"Trust me Dr. Mishima. The process has been tested sufficiently. Why do you think I'm here," Haltenkaph laughed wickedly and Dr. Mishima repressed a shudder of revulsion.
"But Mr. Frankenstein, I have to concede a point to Miss Mishima's worries, what we intend may be a bit different than how their system works. But let us stop here. "He said holding up a hand to slow Haltenkaph's response. "We all seem to be a bit giddy today. All wanting to see our plans come to fruition. We have months and miles to go yet."
"I agree. We get ahead of ourselves. I guess Mr. Lasus has infected us with his activities as of latey. " Mishima keyed the comm. system. "Mr. Lasus. I believe that will be enough drills for today. Prepare to bring the Daedalus in."
"Ahh well I guess I could turn in for the night hun .. Be in in a second."
-----------------------The smell of greasy foods and black drinks pervading the air. The severe overlapping of conversations collecting into a haze of sound. The bustling of bodies to and fro, creating traffic jams as the bodies collided together. This was the main mess hall of the Hermes and this was Lunch 3, right after the shift change. One of the busiest of the day. Reika stood, looking over the bustling mass for….
"Ray!!," Reika yelled over the general clamor of the Lunch Room crowd. She stood waving her little arms back and forth to catch his attention.
The older man smiled as he picked her out of the crowd and walked over to her table. Reika managed to hold down a table all by herself despite the Lunch hour congestion. Though Ray did notice one other person sitting with her. A young man with brown hair slicked back away from his face. Ray thought he looked a bit shady but Reika seemed to be enjoying his company immensely. She still stood waiting for him and flashing that winning smile in greeting.
"Hello Reika." He said, finally walking over to the other side of the table facing Reika.
Reika nodded a greeting back to him. Then she turned to the other man and Ray could swear she blushed a little. "Ray meet um… this is Will Baker," She said finally, introducing the older man to the slick looking man to her left. Ray nodded in greeting as he sat down opposite them.
"Nice to meet you sir," the young man said.
"Sir? No one calls a spacedog like me sir," Will said in jest. "Just call me Will."
"Umm…. Will this is Ray." Reika said blushing again.
"Pleasure." The two men shook hands. Reika beeming at the event.
'This is great." Reika said smiling wildly. "I finally I have a chance to sit with the only two friends I have within billions of miles. My only two friends really."
Will raised an eyebrow in thought. "So you are the one she's been telling me about." He rubbed a hand over his slicked back hair idly. "This is good, I worry about this kid when I'm away, glad to see she has someone looking out for her."
"Wow. To tell you the truth umm… Will? I actually didn't know she considered me such a friend." Ray said blushing slightly. "Thank you Reika." Then it was Mishima's time to blush again.
"Typical of Miss Mishima here," Will said shaking his head. "I just thought she liked bothering me and causing trouble when I first met her." He saw Reika scrutinizing him and placated her with a shrug. "Reika your pretty odd kid."
"And you aren't yourself," She said frowning at him, though not too seriously. "Sorry I guess I dunno… I figured you guys would just know. You know?"
"We can't read your mind kid, you think I'm a Newtype?" Will said laughing aloud. Though Ray tensed a little bit at the word. And Will noticed that a few bystanders took interest in the conversation briefly. He shrugged again. Will had not figured things were so bad in the Federation and that the news had traveled this far out. The Zexen had them more on edge than he would have allowed. "Sorry,"
"Yeah well with things as they are. People are understandably anxious with the mention of Newtypes," Ray mentioned.
"I don't see the problem. So a few New Types are on their side. Doesn't mean they all are," Reika exclaimed.
"Sorry kid I have to agree with Ray." Will said clapping his hands together and then knocking his fingers of as he ticked off points. "More than a substantial number of Newtypes turn up in Zexen Militaire one day. Then they start some sort of fanatical war with the Federation. And now may have a chance at winning. Not to mention all the horror stories I have heard. Hell I am not surprised folks are gonna to get jumpy, and filled with a need to blame something." Reika just shrugged.
Will cringed a bit as he tasted his soup. "What is this stuff?"
"Yeah the soups a little bland today, but at least the sandwich is decent. This new soymeat a bit better tasting than that last batch," exclaimed Reika as she bit into it.
"So you say," Will said taking a hesitant bite out of it. "So" he said with his mouth still full. "You say Ray is your friend here."
"Yes. He's great," She said smiling at Ray. "He's been teaching me all about Mobile Suits, how to maintenance them, and the theory behind their basic function."
"That so,"
"Yeah. Its pretty interesting stuff!" she said smiling with contentment. "You know how I get the fuzzies from machinery. I mean I have piloted one before but to see how they work is almost more satisfying! Ray's made it so easy.."
"Well I wouldn't say that my teaching skills are any good, its more Reika. She is rare 'perfect student.' She kid devoirs knowledge and is almost intuitively aware of how things work."
"Feth me kid. I'm impressed," Will said patting Reika on the head. He dodged her predictable swat and flashed her a raised brow. "I am. Hell even I don't know how to pilot an MS."
"Well…" she hesitated, "My old… um 'friend' used to pilot them recreationally. He sort of taught me how among other things. It was just before I came here actually."
"No offense kid. But you have strange choice in friends." Will said taking another big bite out of his soymeat sandwich. "No offense Ray."
"No problem." Ray smiled back.
"Why no one younger? More your age kid?" Will asked her.
"Well most of the children here are pretty young. And there are only a few my age, but they don't like me." Ray and Will, looked at each other as Reika looked down into her meal. A little hurt and loneliness was evident in her voice. "I'm weird to them I guess. And I have different interests than them…" She looked up her face a little hard. "And they're too mundane for me."
"I see," Will said surprised by her admission, not really understanding what she meant by mundane. "but Reika this older man thing you got going is kinda distressing." He said with humor patting her on the head again. Which caused her to slap in the arm. Which he allowed her to do. She seemed a little better because of it and he smiled; as that was what he was hoping would happen. "What about your mom how's she doing?"
"I don't know." Reika said. "I'd rather not talk about her." Ray did a slight shake of his head. Will just shrugged.
"So Reika, what did you want to tell me about? In that message.." Ray said intending to change the subject.
"Feth yeah! I almost forgot." She said suitably distracted. "Ray we got a chance to see the new MS."
Ray slyly observed how Will seemed to shrink back from the admission. "What! Who's we?"
"Me and Will here. He managed to get us clearance. And we saw them."
Ray cast another look at Will, though he didn't seem to catch it, or care to. "Even I didn't get clearance yet."
Will just raised his hands deflecting the veiled question. Then shushed the young girl, "Hey Reika lest not tell the whole world here..."
"Heh sorry," she beamed. "They were beautiful Suits. Two of them. We weren't that close but I got a good look at them. I have to see more. You know I love this kind of stuff."
"That she does." Ray said.
"Well I just have to see them again. But this time up close!"
"Hey even I can't manage that kid." Will said, rubbing a hand over his slick backed hair. He didn't look too enthusiastic about her admission.
"I have my ways Will."
"I don't know if that's wise Kid. You get caught they're going to ask a lot of questions," said Will, though he could tell from his look that Ray had more than a few questions of his own.
"Trust me it will be ok. I'm not a spy or anything." Reika said and Ray noticed Will's discomfort.
"Reika I don't think that's wise. Mother working on the project or not," Ray said. "I don't think they would cut you too much slack."
"Guys come on…." Reika said but stopped mid sentence. An odd look in her eye, she turned as if listening to something.. She absentmindedly rubbed her head. Just then though she noticed an odd whispering in the back ground running around the cafeteria. She looked up and there he was again, the gold haired pilot from before. Though this time he was flanked by two Guards with guns.
------------------------
Everyone in the cafeteria quieted. Some had a look of anxiety or fear on their faces. And some had open hostility on their faces. Word had obviously spread. The pilot of the new Daedalus Mobile Suit was a Newtype.
Jehan Lasus moved towards the Cafeteria Line with purposeful steps. The Two guards were a bit uneasy following him in. There were plenty of disgruntled faces Reika saw. Even more so now that it was evident the pilot seemed bold enough to eat with them. Not everyone was casting the Gold haired pilot vicious stares. More were just wary. A few were even fighting their fear.
The pilot approached the line. And put his tray on the cafeteria rails. "I wouldn't mind one of those Soymeat sandwiches." He said in a mirthful voice, though it had a certain depth to it. The lunch clerk hesitated and said nothing. Her face showed she knew how many glares were directed at her from around the room. The poor girl looked like she didn't know what to do.
"Hey you freak. Why don't you just take your Zex ass out of here!" some voice said. Then a metal plate flew at the Newtype pilot from behind flying through the air like a frisbee. Ray visibly flinched knowing what might happen, though Will and Reika couldn't take their eyes away. The Newtype pilot though, simply side stepped the plate and it went smashing into the lunch counter. "As you can plainly see." The Pilot said raising his voice. "I'm in the Federal Forces."
"Oh yeah then why are your kind always massacring the Earth and dropping colonies." A voice answered. Followed by a chorus of agreements.
Jehan just shook his head in disappointment. "If anyone has a problem with me then lets deal with it here and now." He said calmly though his open invitation was obvious.
"Feth, don't provoke them," Will muttered under his breathe. Will saw that the situation was getting progressively out of control. It was too late now.
A group angry Soldiers had rose up out of the mass of onlookers. The crowd gathered around the four men circling the young Newtype and the two MPs that were escorting him were effectively neutered by the large crowd. The Newtype pilot just stood there, an eye in the storm, almost insanely calm. This seemed to provoke the aggressors even more. A few spit violent obscenities as the rest of the crowd just roared or cheered.
"Will we have to do something!" Reika said, angrily rising out of her seat. As she moved towards the crowd a strong hand gripped her wrist. She looked at Will's hand and then at Will as he gave her an almost over exaggerated headshake. She was about to break his grip and rush in anyway.
But oddly as she looked up her eyes locked with that of the Newtype pilot. Those same haunting eyes from the landing bay. She sat down, suddenly feeling the need to. She felt unwell. As if the madness in the cafeteria and her inability to help was weighing her down.
That's when it began.
Simultaneously two soldiers charged Jehan from behind intent on rushing into his back from behind. The Newtype just casually side stepped the attack. The two soldiers' momentum carrying them violently into the crowd. The Newtype didn't pause though, as he went about ducking and then parrying attacks from another soldier wielding a chair. His skill in self-defense was obvious, though there was something else involved. Some of those people attacking him seemed to be trained fighters as well. Marines maybe to Will's eye.
But the Newtype always seemed to be in control, casually deflecting attacks. Though he did receive a few bad blows. Reika had never seen anything like it How he could multi-task were his opponents where. Almost as he had advanced warning and reaction. She originally thought that Newtypes were just really good pilots of Mobile Suits, only strong in that world, she didn't realize it translated to physical action as well. She'd have to rethink her opinion of them. Obviously the Soldiers didn't know any better either. At first the crowd roared whenever the Newtype pilot effectively subverted their attacks, but now the crowd was deadly silent. In awe of his abilities and many were now wearing masks of fear. The Newtype pilot had disabled three men as though it was easy. Yet it was evident his exertions had taken a lot out of him.
The frustrated soldier with the chair had obviously had enough of being made a fool of. As the Newtype pilot's back was turned dealing with the last of his attackers, the soldier angrily drew a long bladed knife strapped to his lower leg. "You'll see Zex bastard. We'll win this war," He said incoherently "At any cost!." The soldier grabbed it by its tip and flung the blade end over end at the Newtype. Much to shock of the crowd. The Newtype pilot barely managed to deflect the blade with the knuckles of his hand, blocking it to the ground. The yellow haired pilot struck like a cat, scything the soldier's legs, blood pooring from his wounds. Jehan reached for the knife; swing it in an exaggerated arc towards the Soldiers head... Reika flinched at what was to come, yet Will looked on in grim determination.
The blade stopped a mere centimeter from the soldiers face. "I told you," He yelled to everyone, slamming the blade into the tile floor by the soldiers face. "I'm in the Federal Forces."
"What the hell is going on here!" I loud voice said intruding upon the crowd shocked noises. It was an Military Police Sergeant flanked by two more MPs. " Well I'll be…." He said looking at the Newtype pilot arced over the fallen soldier with the knife grip still in his hand. " I knew your kind was going to be trouble as soon as I heard you were on station."
He flicked a thumb at the tipsy soldiers involved in the brawl then at the Pilot. "Alright round these worthless dogs up and brig them." He said with disgust. "As for our golden boy here, put him in his quarters until further notice."
""Hey he didn't start it!" Reika said to Will, her disgust at the whole even evident in her voice. "They started it you big buffoon!" She yelled at the MP Sergeant. Will and Ray both flinched, holding her down.
The Sergeant barely acknowledged her, "Someone get that kid out of here 'fore I throw her in the brig too! My patience is too short for this shit. And you two!" he said scowling at the two MPs designated to guard the Newtype. They both looked ill as his gaze swept upon them. "How the hell did you let this escalate?!! You know how valuable he is to this base! Feth…" he said waving his arms at everyone. "I should throw the whole lot of you in the brig!!"
"That's our queue," Ray said picking the girl up and partially dragging her out of the lunchroom. Will quickly followed.
-----------------------It was about an hour after the incident. Will had stayed to see if Reika was ok and that the incident hadn't bothered her too much. Then he departed to his quarters for the night. It seemed he have a lot of work to take care off. Reika noticed Ray watch him leave, a strange look in the older man's eyes. Now it was just the two of them in a small lounge.
"It's decided then," Reika said suddenly.
"What?"
"I have to check out that Suit! Up close and personal…" Ray was definitely unsettled by the determination on her face.
"That could be decidedly dangerous miss Mishima. Especially the idea of you getting in trouble with that Will Baker fellow. Something is not right about him."
"What are you at talking about? Will's fine. He just seems shadowy but really he is a big softy."
"Still don't trust him." Ray said, with a resigned shrug of his shoulders.
"Look don't worry about it. I won't be needing him to get access to the Suit. I have another way."
"But Reika this is crazy. Granted I want to see this Mobile Suit that has caught your attention, but I'm not going to risk getting caught in a High Security Zone. Why do you want to do this so bad?"
"I can't sleep on it now Ray. Did you see that Newtype pilot? That means it has to be a Newtype Suit," she said hitting her knuckles together. "I have to see it! To touch it." Ray was off put by her sudden faraway expression. "Seeing what that Newtype did in there, I just have to 'feel' this up close…"
"I'm not your parent. But I guess I am your friend I just want to say I don't think this is a good idea. God what is wrong with me… but if you're determined I guess it's your responsibility."
"Thank you Ray," Reika said as she flashed him that famous smile of hers.
"Silly girl… What am I to do with you."
-----------------------Reika returned to her living quarters, still a little shaken by the events of the day. And yet below that malaise she was electrified, brimming with latent excitement at what she had chosen to do. She stepped over the foyer and into the apartment proper. The quarters were as spacious and furnished as a Senior Officer's. But decidedly different in that they were crammed with an insane amount of her mother's artifacts. Stacks of real paper books, datacards, mounds of faux-paper research booklets, and scientific instruments littered the living room space. The rest were filled with her mother's bioengineered plants, created to be vibrant and still require a low amount of water and upkeep. Reika's mother was one, Anastasia M. Mishima, a very important researcher on the new Gundam project.
In the past Reika only had a vague idea of what her mother really did… until recently. Reika saw so little of her mother at the best of times, as they kept different schedules, so Reika had taken to reading up on some of her mother's work, learning what she could. The young girl sighed, she told herself it was because she was board and was hungry for a little knowledge, but she knew it was really a desperate attempt to find some connection with her estranged Mother. Incidentally, with the Gundam project in full swing she doubted she would see her mother at all. Which was fine with her, as they didn't really get along when they were together. They were vastly different people. Possessing different temperaments, different interests. They interacted with people differently. They even differed in looks, her mother's old-European beauty versus Reika's, with her parents mix of Japanese and French. Still…. even with all that…. the senior Mishima was her mother. Reika always got so frustrated with those weird genetic types of connections. She still longed for her mother.
Reika picked up a random book, frowning, she bet her mother didn't even bother to conceal what she was doing. Reika doubted that her mother even thought her smart enough to understand these books. The mechanical specs always fascinated her, oddly her mother's more extensive collection on genetics, evolution, and bio-sensors didn't catch her that much. She picked up one report that caught her interest and carried it with her. She sighed heavily, in that sort a span she had went from excited to depressed again…. Mother.
The Kitchen was clean today. That was odd. Her mother usually left those types of chores to her. She reached into the refrigerator and picked up a Soymilk and some flavored krill slices. She sat on her bed thinking to kill some time until she went to her rendezvous with the Gundam… my mother's Gundam. Fatigue hit her that she hadn't realized she was carrying. Before she knew it… she was asleep.
------------------------
Will was a bit weary from the day. A little too much had transpired in his opinion.
Will managed to get some repairs done on the Transport. He got a lot of his paper work done too. He had even braved another debriefing "session" with the Hermes' local spooks, and allowed himself another smile at that triumph. He had even found time to razz his Captain, Remers Cole. But this was just the mundane day to day things. That thought though caused him to laugh, some old farmer in New Hunan would hardly call that mundane…
What had really made Will so weary was what had transpired today with Reika and what he still had to do. The fight in the cafeteria had taken a lot out of him. Which sometimes happened when he hung out with Reika. The girl was so vibrant, she sometimes made him feel old and tired. What he still had to do though, what he had been putting off till now, is what really made him feel tired.
Will Baker got out his clothes locker and opened a secret compartment in one of his normalsuits. In it were a few ports for electronics. To it he attached his Navi, a small personal computer, he also attacked a small line from his concealed micro cam into another port. He began downloading all the captured pictures he had taken off the Gundam and various other projects at the Base. He powered up the Navi and began filing away his reports, which would instantly be encrypted by the normalsuit's special equipment and stored aboard it.
This was a part of his life even Remers didn't know about. …Hell Remers doesn't know a lot of things about my past. It had been a boon to get sent out here from the Federation. Had been a boon to get placed in the Federations stable of secret couriers. His real "handlers" would definitely be interested in any information he could report to them concerning what was going on out here. It was a risk to bring Reika with him earlier in the week when he had taken footage of the Gundams but…she was just a kid right? Besides he doubted that he was at risk. Federation security at these types of facilities was heavy, but just like elsewhere in the Federation, it was still lax in some of the same old ways.
Will was extremely tired of having to maintain his secret life sometimes, but it was worth it. Someone has to keep and eye on the Federation. And the Zexens too for that matter….
------------------------
Ray looked up from his work, exhausted, a large object attracting his attention. Up above the mighty bulk of the Casey was coasting out of the Hermes' main launchbay. It seemed that some incidents were causing problems out in the shoals of Mercury, probably some old mining colony housing pirates again.
Ray had been called out of his sleep to help with some last minute repairs and maintenance. He really did not want to be in his normalsuit right now. He was too tired. He hadn't been able to sleep. The lunchroom fight, his worries for Reika, his suspicions of her friend Will, the War and its effect on humans. These things had him wound up too tight, even with the pills it was still hard to sleep. He had just dozed off when he got the emergency call sending him out here. At least when he worked he could forget about some of his worries… Partially…
------------------------
Late in the "night" cycle of Hermes Base two figures were alone in the Hermes' testing bay. Its other inhabitants were gone, the personnel involved in the testing had long since knocked off for their rest periods. Only the Daedalus Gundam and its incomplete sister Mobile Suit were their company. They stood under the Daedalus Gundam a wine glass in each hand. A small insignificant light shinning on their little rendezvous. Jehan Lasus beckoned and the beautiful and exotic Anastasia Mishima floated over to him as he sat on the Gundams prostrate hand. In the pale, almost nothing, light Anastasia looked even more ravishing than she normally did. It was a little intoxicating. She sat down right next to him and he couldn't resist it. He leaned over causally and kissed her gently on the mouth. She resisted for slight second then leaned into it herself, and kissed him back stronger. After a while they parted, and Jehan let out a long held sigh of relief and comfort. Anastasia looked at him with her usual seriousness, though a small smile was hiding on her face. Even here she doesn't let that much show…he thought shaking his head.
"Problem?" she said with an arched eyebrow, which excited Jehan even more, rather than causing him worry.
"Nothing… you know you are a remarkable woman…"
"You mean strange," She said, an odd wistfulness finally coming onto her face. Some old pain there, some old memory from the past. Yet oddly, it did not detract from her strength. "I am stranger than any of your other women…"
He shrugged then caressed her not denying the fact he was a womanizer, of sorts. "I'd say you were intriguing. Delightfully different, that is what distances you from the other women I have ever met." She did not seem phased but she shrugged as well.
"You are unusual as well Mr. Lasus. I've never seen a true Newtype like you before. It's a little intoxicating. You are quite above par in the testing, so much so you are pushing us…" she stopped. Shaking her head, she had begun to talk about work again. Silly Mishima silly… she said to herself. Finally a smile, a placating smile, appeared on her face. "Sorry…" she said softly.
Jehan waved her worry away with his hand. He knew she only had that part of her life, work. He understood. Instead of responding with words he held his glass up. "To the success of the Icarus Project. And to you Miss Mishima." They tapped their glasses together eliciting a nice rhythmic clink from the glasses. Jehan leaned in giving Anastasia Mishima an even more passionate kiss.
And Mishima finally allowed herself to relax. She relaxed for the first time in months… In Years really, she finally thought, with a small amount of fearShe hadn't realized she missed such companionship. That she needed it. She felt her worries disappear for a moment. No more project; No more pain in the posterior researchers with colossal egos; no more annoying Federation officers to deal with that kept her from her work. She was able to escape for a moment. It was an amazing feeling. Jehan embraced her passionately and in his ear Mishima whispered.
"Thank you."
-----------------------
A few kilometers away from the Hermes Research Base space debris floated.
This was no normal flotsam though. Embedded within the camouflaged outshell of debris, highly complicated systems were at work. Highly expensive electrical surveillance equipment resided within the debris spy sat. It sat happily going about its stated task. Keeping an eye on and recording data on the Large asteroid base before it. Most of the time it just sat, spending its time recording vid images and recording stray transmissions. The debris spysat spent other time queuing up its large amounts of recorded data, splitting them into smaller packages. It was better to send off smaller clumps of data in encrypted tight beam transmissions. It was a quick, low energy, low emission method; the perfect technique for keeping an eye on something interesting without letting the eye be caught. In this case that something interesting was a deep inner system Federation Base.
Suddenly the main bay of the Research base opened and a Federation Cruiser left the bay. This was of particular interest to the little spysat, a larger priority bit of data. It recorded the data, moving it to the front of its data queue, thanks to its differentiating subroutines. It cast a low level scan in a certain direction and confirmed the location of its other friend. It locked onto the coordinates and fired a tiny beam of energy to its sister spysat a few kilometers away from the base. This was higher priority data and thus as required to be as up to date as detection subroutines allowed the sat to be.
The sister sat caught the data, verified the encryption, saw it was a high priority and instantly looked for its brother farther along then sent off another tight-beam transmission. This baton of data was passed back two more times. The last little spysat sent its data home to its mother.
A good many kilometers from the Hermes Research base, concealed under a tarp of floating wreckage was a large double scalene, a long diamond shaped vessel. The vessel was black, the kind that lent well to blending in with the vast space behind it. A keen observer would able to identify it as a Zexen vessel.
It received the data from its children and relayed the data, primarily visual footage, to the station of a Zexen communications officer. He smiled at the information flowing into his station and began decrypting it.
Shadowed enemy eyes were upon Hermes.