Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 14

Specials base, outside the Sank Kingdom

Zechs stood in the command tower, looking at the city. His hometown. It was battle-worn, but still in good shape. Noin entered the command room from behind him and gave him the report.

"The city's been showing heavy resistance. It's not going to be easy to penetrate their defenses."

Zechs reviewed the data, "Their main offense appears to be the laser cannons on their main base. All we have to do is take those out."

Noin looked out of the window beside him. "That's going to be tough."

Another officer came in from behind them, "Lt. Zechs. We have an emergency. A swarm of Radham is approaching our area rapidly."

Zechs turned halfway, "Have the Space Knights detected them?"

The soldier was a little surprised, but answered, "Yes. They are fifteen minutes away from us."

Noin now turned, "That's still too long."

Zechs agreed, "Right. And I don't think they would appreciate fighting just to save us. Have units five and six ready for battle. I will be leading them."

The soldier saluted and left to carry out his orders. Zechs left a few minutes later, but Noin eyed him and followed him into a corridor, "You're going to use the Tallgeese, aren't you?"

"Consider this a trial run."

"But you haven't even had a test run with it yet."

Zechs turned his head to her, a half grin under his masked face, "I'll take it easy, but you know I'll take my chances with this suit."

With that, Zechs continued into the hanger bay. Before him was the Tallgeese Sol-Tekka. The suit was at least 50% larger than the Leo Sol-Tekkas nearby. It glistened in the light in an ivory white and equipped with a new system quantum cannon and large venier boosters. Zechs looked over his new suit, seeing the power as well as the speed and grace within it.

This is going to be tough

__

The Specials had gathered in a small line, awaiting the Radham attack. The two squads consisted mostly of Leo Sol-Tekkas, with three Aries and the Tallgeese in the lead. Several dots appeared in the sky and they began to come in closer. The Radham swarmed toward city, straight at them.

"Unit six, provide cover fire. Unit five, you're with me." This is it.

The Tallgeese's boosters opened and the white Sol-Tekka shot toward the Radham at high speed. Zechs had to strain with the controls just to keep it in control. The Radham came up to him sooner than expected, but Zechs was ready. Pointing the cannon, he fired two bolts of incredible energy, wiping out a large number of Radham. Some of them made it through and attacked. Zechs changed the direction and the Tallgeese changed according, flying at the same speed. The stress pressed down on Zechs and he gritted his teeth in pain. However, he remained in control and continued fighting, destroying the Radham in seconds. By the time his unit had reached him, many of the Radham were destroyed. They all looked in shock as the Tallgeese swooped, dove, and charged at intense speeds.

"Look at that."

Tekkaman Sommer, Hiver and Vesna arrived at the battlefield. However, their services didn't seem to be needed as they watched the Tallgeese in action.

"Look at him go."

The Tallgeese swivled again and blasted another group. Then, twisting around again, it fired, destroying the last of the Radham.

"I don't believe it. Not even we can move that fast."

"What does this mean?"

Tallgeese hovered in the air for a moment before falling to the ground. The unit Sol-Tekka flew to him, but Tallgeese didn't move.

"Lt. Zechs? Lt. Zechs, respond. Get him back to base immediately."

___

Space Knights HQ, Hidden Chamber

"So much has changed so quickly."

"Yes. The team is getting tense. Also, they reported that OZ has a new Sol-Tekka."

"I see. We will stick to the Radham. For now, it is too dangerous to try anything."

"And the gundams?"

"They will be fine. They...are a necessary part of the times to come."

"Why must humans always war with each other? Why must we be so foolish?"

"It is our nature."

___

"Hey, have any of you guys seen Yumi around?"

Hayato had entered the lounge area where David and Dead were playing chess while Anita and Natasha were talking to each other after they returned from their 'mission'.

David answered, "No. We haven't seen her."

Hayato looked down, "Nobody's seen her all day."

Anita looked over, "You don't think she did something reckless, do you?"

Natasha frowned, "It wouldn't be the first time."

__

Special's base, infirmary

Noin entered the infirmary where Zechs lay, conscious but with a respirator around his neck. Noin stood next to him.

"I really underestimated the Tallgeese. That Sol-Tekka is far more powerful than indicated."

"How powerful?"

"Well, due to the output, I'm sure that if mastered it could very well take on a tekkaman."

Noin's eyes widened, "No way. Are you serious?"

Zechs looked forward, "That suit may be the key to defeat the gundams." He began to sit up from the bed, "But I need to get used to it, to learn how to use its capabilities."

Noin held him down, "Are you kidding? You barely survived the battle today. You have to stay and rest."

"No. We still have to retake the Sank Kingdom."

Noin continued to hold him, "The Sank Kingdom will still be there tomorrow. Get some rest first. The last thing we need is you killing yourself simply for being too stubborn."

Zech looked up at her through his mask and slowly lay back down. Truthfully, he didn't feel like he could walk, much less fly the Tallgeese. And convincing Noin would be impossible at this point anyway.

"Fine then. We'll resume our attack tomorrow."

Noin saluted, "Yes sir."

"How about the Space Knights?"

"Well, they were surprised to say the least."

I see. Perhaps...

___

The next day...

Zechs began to enter the Sol-Tekka once again. Although he wasn't 100%, he felt that he was still capable to fly out in battle again. Noin stopped by on her way to her Aries Sol-Tekka to talk with him.

"Is there any way I can change your mind?"

"I have to do this." The half-grin came up again, "Think of it this way. If I die, you'll be the new ace pilot."

She frowned, "That is not even remotely funny Zechs."

His grin disappeared, "I wasn't kidding."

__

"A mobile suit force is approaching. It looks like it's the Specials."

The commander looked at the view-screen and saw the oncoming attackers.

"Deploy mobile suits. Ready the beam cannons."

The Specials came close to the outskirts of the town. But before they could get any closer, swarms of high energy beam flailed out, destroying a few of the Sol-Tekkas. Tallgeese and the other Sol-Tekka managed to dodge the fire, but unable to get any closer to the city

No. I will not let this beat me!

In a seeming rage, Tallgeese shot toward the base at top speed.

"Zechs!"

Zechs ignored the call and continued to gain speed. The laser fired at him bounced off of him as he reached dangerous speeds. His caution was overridden by his drive to master the machine and reclaim the kingdom. Zechs could feel the immense pressure against him, but he kept going. The turbulence shook the interior of the suit, causing his body to shake. A short necklace popped out of his jacket, revealing a little crystal on the end of it. The crystal glowed briefly as Zechs got close to the base. Then in one fluid motion, Tallgeese veered to the side, with the cannons in front of him. Shooting one blast, the cannons all exploded by both the explosion of the energy and the shockwave of the speed of the Tallgeese. The Specials behind him all looked in shock

"How? With only one pass?"

Noin was the first to shake it off, "All units. Move in now!"

The fighting in the city continued. But without the laser cannons, the military in the city was quickly overtaken. Not giving up, the commander launched a full assault the Specials. But the act was utterly futile as the Specials overwhelmed them. To top it off, they had to deal with the powerful Tallgeese.

____

"Keep them out. Don't let a single one through!"

However, his plans went dead as a bolt flashed out and destroyed his entire troop. The command Leo fell down and the smoke before him cleared to reveal the massive white Sol-Tekka.

"I agree that your security here was splendid. But you relied on your laser cannons too much. A fatal mistake."

The commander's surprised voice came over, "Zechs Marquise?"

"So you do recognize me after all. You were cautious around me during the Alliance days, so I knew you were able to tell me apart from the other people."

The Leo struggled to rise, to get away, "Please. It wasn't my idea to attack the Sank Kingdom. Those were my orders from the entire Alliance."

Tallgeese raised its cannon slightly, "You were afraid of the Sank Kingdom because you saw it as a threat to your power. At the time, the kingdom didn't want to be joined in with the Alliance and it was a brick-stone for other countries that felt the same. But it was your idea to attack it in order to increase your own military rank since it had a great influence over the surrounding nations. In fact, you personally lead the attack. To top it off, the Radham attacked what was left over and you used them as a cover, claiming that they were responsible for its destruction. But you and I know better than that. I was there." Zechs voice became angry, "I had to watch my father die in one of the Radham pods, rejected because he wasn't strong enough to survive the process."

The commander backed away in realization, "No. Millardo Peacecraft."

Panicked, the commander raised the Leo's beam rifle. But he couldn't so much as react as the Tallgeese blasted him into oblivion.

"May you rest in peace. The betrayed and outraged Millardo Peacecraft."

It was then that behind him, Noin and her squad of Aries came behind him. Upon seeing the wreckage of the commander Sol-Tekka, Noin remained silent.

"Have all units converse on the city and set up base." Zechs ordered. "I'll join with you shortly."

Saying nothing else, Tallgeese walked down the street of his former hometown, heading toward the castle of the Sank Kingdom.

__

Castle...

The lone figure of Zechs Marquise strode into the hallway. He walked through the castle's hallways, heading toward the grand hall before him. The years had not dulled him memory of the place, nor had the leftover shreds of Radham pods made him forget his own nightmares. He finally stopped before a massive picture. The face of an elderly man was there, seeming to look down at him. Slowly, Zechs removed his grey mask and placing it on the table, revealing his face. His clear eyes looked up at the picture.

"Father, please forgive your son. There has been much bloodshed along the way back here and I have only been able to live a live that counters your teachings of peace." He looked down at his hands with disdain, "My hands are too stained with blood. I am no longer fit to claim the Peacecraft monarchy." His eyes dropped low to the ground and fell upon a small picture frame. Lifting it up, he saw a picture of a little girl, smiling.

"But I'm sure she will rule in the way you intended. I will fight to make that happen." He placed the frame on the table beside his helmet and bowed his head, "I have failed you. Please forgive me."

With those final words, he lifted up his mask, placed it back on his head and walked out of the castle, a place that used to be his home.

____________

So much has happened. Relena thought to herself as she sat in her room. The gundams, OZ, the Space Knights, and that mysterious white tekkaman. Sooner or later, these things will come back to me. I think it's time I found some answers. With her mission in mind, she arose and left the house, going to the only place she could think of to find the answers. The Space Knights.

________

Lady Une continued to focus on her target, the gundams. She sets up bait in order to destroy the gundams. But in a last ditch effort to save the colonies, Heero makes a deadly sacrifice. Next on Gundam Tekkaman- Heero, Distracted by defeat.