Dakar – Africa
The medium sized Zaft base loomed off in the distance half hidden by the night. Rain fell down heavily, even more obscuring the area around it as only the bases lights, were visible as in the distance the city of Dakar gleamed like precious jewels on black satin cloth. The Zaft airbase was medium in size, with two runways stretching 11,000 feet to accommodate the heavy transport jets that transported mobile suits and their pilots to different parts of the globe.
Each were separated by fields of flat earth and pavement used for service vehicles to help taxi the plains from one runway to the other after their cargo was unloaded. At the end of one runway, two massive hangers sat side by side, as smaller buildings and the control tower for the base sat off to the right. Further down the runway and to the left, opposite of more hangers sat three large two cylinder objects, as a third sphere like object sat just out of reach from the other two. During the Bloody Valentine War, the Zaft forces overran and captured the base before continuing on to lake Victoria.
Later Zaft threatened to take the entire whole of Africa, corning the Earth Alliance with their backs to the Indian Ocean during the opening Zaft offensive of Earth. Over the course of the war, the Earth Alliance made a heroic counter offensive, and pushed back Zaft forces, therefore making a pocket and splitting the African continent before the war ended. Most of the top half of Africa belonged to Zaft, linking it to the Plant Aligned Territories. The official name of the country under Zaft control named themselves The African Community. The quarter that was not under Zaft control was named The South African Union, and placed under the control of the Earth Alliance.
That left Victoria, one of the major four Zaft bases, and smaller bases such as Dakar and Mount Kilimanjaro.
The control tower came into focus under three times magnification, as Zaft soldiers wearing green uniforms manned the controls, radar and other sensitive machinery as a taller bald man in white stood over them sipping on a cup of coffee and staring out one of the windows that over looked the airfield. He was most likely the bases commander. "Ramierez, status report." Sergeant-Major Thomas Glory ordered over the secure encrypted radio as he continued to monitor the situation though the micro binoculars built into the helmet.
Glory was part of a four man team consisting of himself, Corporal Ramierez the scout, PFC Khan, of the tactical team, and Sergeant Quentin the demolitionist. This was supposed to be an easy hit and fade mission, and despite the size of the ZAFT base, Glory was more then confident that the four-man team was more then enough for the job.
"Ramierez here. Light patrols for an air re-supply depot. Looks like we caught the Coordinators with their pants down." The over all situation of the base was relaxed yet slightly on guard. The Coordinators were over confident that no one would attack them so deep into their own territory. That assumption would prove to be deadly.
"Cut the chatter Ramierez." Glory replied. "Tactical." Yards away near the fence that marked the perimeter of the base a four-man team lay in wait. Like everyone else on the mission, they were clothed in black to keep them hidden to blend in with the surroundings. They didn't mind the rain as they were already soaked through, more concentrating on the mission at hand. "Khan here, waiting for your orders."
"Demolitions." Glory checked. "Quentin here. I'm ready to give these coordinators a fire works display that they won't soon forget." Glory nodded to himself in approval. Everyone was in position and where they were supposed to be. Glory checked the time on the heads up display one last time. Keying all the comm. Channels in he spoke. "This is Sergeant Major Glory. Commence the mission."
Confirmatory remarks came back over the com as they sprung into action. Khan's four-man team made for the fence running in silent formation before stopping where a small hill overlooked the control tower. Silently as one they un-slung rifles from their shoulders before loading in steel tipped arrows into the muzzle of the gun. Lining up the sights with their weapons they pulled the trigger, quiet muffled thumps of compressed air escaping as the arrows flew over the fence and impacted into concrete above the glass windows of the control tower. Thin yet sturdy black rope flailed out behind it as the rope uncoiled before growing taunt.
After tying off the opposite ends of the ropes to support their weight they hooked up onto the lines themselves with metal clips that attached to the uniforms that they wore. After giving them a silent nod, Glory, Khan, Quentin and Ramierez slid silently down the lines before impacting feet first against the glass of the control tower. The speed of the four were traveling combined with their weight shattered the glass inwards in an impressive display of sound as the light reflected off the pieces of broken glass.
The base commander never knew what hit him as Ramierez slammed into him. Letting out a surprised yelp, the commander fell unconscious before crumpling to the floor. CWM-17 mk II's at the ready they quickly swung the silenced assault rifles to the surprised and shocked tower personnel. A series of short quick muffled blasts escaped from the muzzles of the rifles as moments afterward cries of fear, shock, and pain filled the room of the control tower as they were mercilessly gunned down.
"Clear! Room Secured!" Khan shouted out. The four quickly moved to the shattered window of the control tower and repelled down the side to the base where Quentin placed a brick of C-4 plastic explosive. After digging the wires of the detonator into soft givable form Quentin flicked a tiny switch. The remote detonator became activated, a small red led light blinked on and off for a moment or two before turning stale red.
Quietly the unhooked themselves from the lines and spread out in four directions to cover more ground. Ramierez moved toward where the living quarters were located carrying another of the C4 explosives. Suddenly he froze before quickly moving to one of the slim pillars that held up a series of stadium style lights that helped better light the area of the base. He heard voices, and they were coming his way. Silently he produced two combat knives from their sheaths and waited.
"I swear Mack! I heard something from over in the direction of the control tower." Once of the sentries said as the two of them walked side by side dressed in dark colored green ponchos that helped keep them dry from the relentless downpour. "Yea right Leon. That's what you said the last time when you told me you heard a Lion." His partner said back to him. "But its true!" Leon protested. Mack cut Leon off with an annoyed and slightly angry tone of voice. "Look, there is no way a Lion can be located here in Africa. They have either been hunted to extinction or put away in zoo's."
The two sentries walked closer to the pillar, unsuspecting to where Ramierez silently lay in wait, their voices growing louder. "Furthermore" Mack continued. "If this turns out to be another one of your wild goose chases I will seriously kick your-" That was as far as Mack got. Ramierez leapt out from behind the support pillar as they were just passing him. A quick slice of the combat knife and Mack dropped, gasping and choking on his own blood as his air pipe and major arteries were severed.
Leon fared better, but not by much. It took only a moment for his arm to flash toward his side arm to draw it. Yet he too found himself on the business end of Ramierez's combat knife as it penetrated between his ribs and into his heart. With a sudden jerk, the knife was pulled out and Leon staggered back before falling dead next to his partner. Ramierez regarded the two without a second thought before moving on and planting his explosive device in the dormitories.
The four-man team met up back outside a good distance from the base, where PFC Argrave, the teams driver sat waiting for them in a blacked out transport truck. Having successfully deposited the remote explosives at their assigned targets they started packing up. The Control Tower, Radar, hangers, ammunition storage faculties and fuel were primary targets. Dormitories, and offices were secondary while targets of opportunity were third on the list.
"Blow it." Glory commanded. Sergeant Quentin pulled out a remote detonator that was simply a hand held push button switch. Pulling out its power pack from one of the small pockets that lined the front of his uniform Quentin inserted it into the bottom. Small six small red lights on the side of the switch lit up, signaling that all of the planted explosives were armed and ready.
Without hesitation Quentin mashed his thumb on the button, circuits connecting before sending out a signal to the detonators planted all over the base. All at once the stale red lights located on the top of the explosives turned a stale green. From the Hellhounds vantage point, chained explosions ripped from one end of the base from the other. The control tower tilted over to the right before falling on top of the dormitories, crushing those inside that were not outright killed by the explosion.
The planes that were inside the hangers exploded in massive fire balls fueled by full tanks of jet fuel. The steel hangers warped and fell in on themselves as the temperatures skyrocketed, causing the steel to melt. The radar dome and the fuel containers near it went up in three large balls of fire, reducing the structures to nothing but twisted remains of metal. The largest of the explosions came from the ammunition depot that stored both regular and mobile suit sized rounds. Large guizers of fire erupted into the air fallowed the large bangs of the explosives going off as shock waves rippled across the decimated base.
"Mission Accomplished. For the preservation of our blue and pure world."
The keys fumbled slightly at the apartment door before finally sliding into the dead bolt. With a twist to the left the keys slid the bolt back in place within the door itself, allowing its occupant to enter. The reddish and orange light from the setting sun filtered through the windows to Shinoski's apartment as he stepped in and closed the door behind him, before locking it once more.
A tired sigh left his lips as he kicked off his shoes before walking up two or three steps into the kitchen area before making his way through and sitting down on the large easy chair that faced a twenty six inch flat screen television in the living area. A couch and another chair sat around the room incase guests came to visit. Pushing back on the chair with his weight, a footrest slid out from under the bottom to catch his feet in a reclining position. It had been a rather long couple of weeks. The business seemed to be getting more people in these days as news spread by word of mouth on how great the service was.
Shinoski's thumbs and fingers ached, and were even soar to the point that it even made him wince when he simply went to grab something like a screw driver. Non-the less, he enjoyed this feeling as to him it was the feeling of accomplishment and hard work. After getting himself comfortable Shinoski spoke in a loud yet clear voice. "TV on." And almost immediately the black TV screen flashed to light with video and sound.
The sound of helicopter blades thumped over the scenery that stretched for miles around. However the focus of the camera was that on the large house below. The house was three stories high, with sixty rooms divided among three floors. Behind the house was a lake, a smaller forested area and open grassland. Red and blue lights flashed blow in front of the iron gates that sat in front of a large winding driveway to the manor itself.
Behind the finely wrought iron gates people milled about and anxious parents worried about the safety of their children. Above a red background with white letters read "Terrorist Attack on Halloween Party." Shinoski unconsciously leaned a bit forward before closing his eyes and letting out a sigh while shaking his head back and forth. "What the hell is this world coming to?" Shinoski asked himself as the footage played out before him.
"This is braking news for those just joining us." The voice of the female reporter said as the footage switched to young kids, perhaps only his age being loaded into an ambulance to be taken to the nearest hospital. One was dressed as a princess, dressed all in pink with a silver ringlet around her forehead. The view switched to a second ambulance that was being loaded up with a young man dressed as a Viking warrior.
"Terrorists, believing to be the anti-coordinator group 'Blue Cosmos' have attacked a large get together at the Zunnichi estate. The property is owned by Cervantes Zunnichi, one of the top contributors to the Earth Alliance Military."
Shinoski felt his heart beat harder in his chest as he watched the news. That could of very well of been him, given that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He wondered what their names were, if they had family that would worry about if they were okay or not, and more importantly if the injured pulled through. 'I never understood the reason behind Blue Cosmos.' Even growing up in the Atlantic Federation there had been a strong dislike of Coordinators.
Yet not fanatic as some other parts of the Federation were. Shinoski was not one to fall to all the hype that tended to stem from their own government and the media. All that did, Shino realized one day, was help spread hate and fear. And people who were ignorant or did not understand the whole worldview were too quick to believe what others said. 'Even though they were genetically engineered, does that not make them people too? Do they not have the same red blood that flows through their veins? We are all human- both Naturals and Coordinators. Coordinators were made to help guide us into space. Least that's what Gorge Glenn wanted us to realize.'
A picture of a older man, perhaps sixty appeared on the screen. It was only taken from the waist up, but the man appeared to be tall and well built, based on how broad the mans shoulders were. He was dressed in an luxurious business suit which hinted on his wealth prestige. His white hair was perfectly styled backwards as his eyes were bright yellow orbs, which seemed to hold a ruthless cunning. His face was only slightly lined and topped off the look with a short mustache and a goatee. "Eleven people are confirmed dead, while nine are seriously injured and in guarded condition."
Shinoski paused for a moment as the news report continued on about how public opinion had dropped sharply against Blue Cosmos for attacking a group of kids. Mostly the sons or daughters of political figures and high Earth Alliance command. 'I have the funniest feeling that I have seen him someplace before.' Shinoski thought to himself. 'But where?'
Atlantic Federation North America Territories – Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area. Cosmic Era 71. March.
"Good Afternoon Mrs. Cala, is my father available?" Shinoski asked as he stood in front of the reception desk. Behind the desk on the computer was a older chubby woman with graying black hair, with brown eyes. Looking up from her work she smiled at him and paused. "I'm sorry, but he's in a meeting at the moment. Your father should just be getting done. If you want I can check for you." Shinoski smiled while nodding. "Thanks, that would be great." Turning her chair over to access the phone she pressed a button that connected with a direct line to the boardroom.
"Mr. Inoue, your son Shinoski is here." Carla paused as she listened to his father on the other end. "I see. Yes. I'll let him know. Goodbye." She hung up the phone and turned back to Shinoski. "Your father is almost done with the meeting. Wait out here and he'll speak with you afterward." Shinoski sighed, but gave his thanks to Carla anyways as he made his way to the row of chairs that pressed up against the wall lined with different pictures of air planes, computers, and the different sites where the manufacture plants were located.
Minutes stretched by into hours as Shinoski patiently waited as he passed the time by doing the home work that he brought with him from school. Later he slipped the ear buds of his portable music player into his ears and listened to music. As he was beginning to nod off, movement caught his eye as a man rounded the corner to where his dads offices and board rooms were located. Thinking that it was his father, Shinoski rose to make his way over and greet him, only to find that it wasn't him. Strikingly bright yellow eyes gazed down at him, and almost seemed to look directly into his soul. Searching for something that wasn't supposed to be there, something that made him impure.
That gaze made Shinoski fidget slightly, as it made him feel uncomfortable, like he was under a microscope. The white business suit that the rather tall man wore seemed to match perfectly with his white hair, while a walking cane with an impossibly large jewel on top was gripped in his right hand. After a moment or two, the man gave him a curt nod before continuing on his way, leaving the young Shinoski rather awestruck.
Having realized where he had seen him previously, a feeling of uneasiness spread its way over him. 'Why exactly was that guy meeting with my parents?' Shino asked himself. Getting up and making his way to the phone he picked it up off the recharge rack and dialed up his parents phone number. He swallowed slightly as the phone began to ring and his heart beat faster. The last time he had talked to his parents was when he left for Orb over a year ago.
The first few rings went un answered before the line picked up and his mothers voice came through from the other end. "Hello?" Silence came from his part. Suddenly what he was thinking about saying just left his mind. "Hello?" His Mothers voice answered a second time with a slightly more questioning tone. He could hear his fathers voice in the background. "Who is it?" Her voice was slightly muffled as she turned away from the phone. "I don't know. I think it's one of those weird phone calls that we have been getting again. But I can hear what sounds like a TV in the background."
'Weird Phone calls?' Shinoski's face turned to that of worry. Okay now this is getting way out of hand, its just coming up with more questions then answers. Steeling his nerves he brought the phone up to his lips again before speaking. "Hello? Mom, this is Shinoski. I couldn't hear you at first. The phone lines here are still a bit screwy and they are trying to get them fixed."
A pause was heard on the other End as the sound of his mother going to hang up the phone was heard from the other end. Was she going to hear what he had said or go about her original business before he called? 'Shinoski!? Its been a year! We have been worried sick about you! We thought that you had gotten hurt or lost, even died in the confusion of Orbs situation there!"
"I am sorry mother. It has taken me this long just to get settled down and organized. The economy here isn't doing so good. Same thing with its political status. I was able to get myself a full time job and got an apartment for myself. Even made a friend here."
"Oh! I am so glad that you were able to get yourself a job! And even your own place! I am very proud of you Shinoski!" His mother beamed from the other side of the p hone line. "And you made a friend? What's the persons name? Are they a Boy or a Girl? What do they look like?"
"To many questions at once Mom! Actually, I called because I wanted to talk to my Father. Can you put him on?"
"Your Father? Sure, one moment." The sound of his mother pulling away the phone and walking around the house with it in her hand was heard before she spoke. "Yoshio, it's Shinoski. He's doing just fine. He says that he wants to talk to you."
Silence again as Sarah passed the phone to her husband. "Shinoski. I trust that you are well. What can I do for you?" His father asked into the phone. There wasn't any 'I missed you' or 'are you doing okay? Do you need any help?' Even outside of work his father was cool and still business like.
A sigh was taken by Shinoski's part. "I am fine. I didn't have the heart to tell my mother this, but I am still upset that you just suddenly had me pack up and leave to Orb. For my own good or not. Though I have seemed to grow to like it here, and even made some friends. However that is not what I want to talk to you about. Is there a television or a computer near you? Could you turn it to BNN?"
"What is this all about anyway? Calling out of nowhere after not hearing from you in a year, saying your fine yet suddenly asking me to turn to the news? Are you in some sort of trouble? If so that is something that you have to get out of on your own. I refuse to help pay the money to help bail you out."
Shinoski raised a free hand to his eyes before closing them before rubbing his eyelids with his thumb and forefinger gently. This was like pulling teeth, as the old expression went. "No Father. It's nothing like that. I am fine, safe and sound in my own apartment watching the news. I wanted to discuss something to you about the latest headlines."
After a moment of silence the sound of the news station that he was currently watching joined in a slight second or two behind the current footage he was watching. Yet again the slightly glaring visage of Cervantes was on the screen, though slightly shrunken and off to one corner as the news was explained again.
"Father, its time for me and you to have a little talk. After seeing the news I remembered that you had met with the man earlier on in some type of business meeting. What was that about?"
There was silence on the other end as Shinoski's words sunk in. "I see. I was hoping that issue discussing it could have been avoided. It was in fact one of the main reasons of why we sent you to Orb."
"Wait, what?" Shinoski was not expecting that answer at all. And Yoshio could sense that in his son's voice. "I have been fearing that question would come sooner or later. So instead of skirting around the issue at hand, I will give it to you straight. I have gotten our family into a…tight spot due to some mistakes that I have made when I was younger. One does not care to acknowledge the mistakes of ones youth."
"Father?"
"Let me explain Shinoski. When I was younger and had just inherited the company from my parents, I acted foolishly and spent most of the money on lavish presents and vacations for your mother and I. It even went so far that I sent you to the best schools that money had to offer in the Atlantic Federation."
"However due to my careless spending I soon realized that I was spending more money than the company was bringing in. I tried to fix the actions that had made, but it was too late. The company was facing bankruptcy and the bank was ready to foreclose on our house. However I had sources in the stock trading business and used that to further my goals."
"Father, inside trading is illegal."
"Yes, I know that Shinoski. Please let me finish." From the other side of the phone back in the Atlantic Federation, miles upon miles away, Yoshio took off the thin black rimmed glasses that he was wearing and walked over to gaze out of a large glass window overlooking the estate it was on. Given that orb was two or three time zones ahead, it was only late afternoon currently on the west cost of the Atlantic Fedration.
"It was so well done and planned out I figured I had got away with it, and life had continued on as normal. I raised you to realize money was not everything, to make sure that you wouldn't make the same mistakes as I did later down the line. However, things were not as perfect as I thought and was visited by Mr. Zunnichi with a business proposition."
"Zunnichi wanted the company to help develop advanced weapon targeting systems and software control for experimental uses. I declined at first. Funneling money and resources into the war is lucrative business as there was always demand for newer and better systems. Yet, I couldn't deal with the thought of how many those systems will later end up harming, or killing someplace down the line. I would not have blood on my hands."
"I- I don't know what to say to this. I thought you always helped with civilian contractors."
"Yes, I did. However Zunnichi was persistent in getting his deal across. He plays dirty Shinoski. Cervantes made it clear that if we did not agree to help him with the development, that he would bring up our less then spotless past business dealings to the media. With that amount of public exposure, and proof if it, there would be no way that your mother, and I, even you Shinoski, would get a decent job in the future."
"So you agreed, didn't you?"
"I had no choice. I wanted a future for you Shinoski.. Cervantes is not a man to be trusted, or angered for that matter. Fearing for your safety your mother and I agreed to send you to the safest spot we could think of."
"So you sent me to Orb to help cover for your past mistakes."
"No Shinoski, you got it all wrong. We were over our heads in the dealings. We had no control over what was happening and feared that they would come for you."
There was silence and a long sigh from Shino's end. "I can't believe you did that. There were plenty of ways to get out of that mess. Cervantes was blackmailing you. You could of went to the press first and released the information about your meeting with Cervantes to the media first."
"Shinoski, its not that simple-"
There was a click from the other end of the phone line before the dial tone made its way through the earpiece.
Yoshio continued to stare out of the window after turning off the phone and setting it down on the windowsill. "Shinoski, you are far to naïve and trusting for this world."
It was just after dusk as Shinoski exited the apartment building. The phone conversation with his father had answered the questions that he had been seeking. However the conversation with his father served nothing but to cause more a sense of disbelief on his part. After hanging up on his Father, Shinoski didn't feel much of watching the current news anymore, and found himself walking the streets the clear his mind.
Shinoski's mental state at the moment was a complete jumble of thoughts as he made his way through the empty streets. The sun had just gone down, the sky a mix of dark blues and purples as stars began to appear one by one. A refreshing breeze moved in from the sea, giving relief from the oppressing heat of the day. Yet that didn't seem to do much to cure him of the troubled feelings within him, which ranged from shock, to disbelief and even anger.
Shinoski walked the darkening streets as the streetlights and lampposts flicked on by their own accord one by one as their sensors deemed it dark enough for them to turn on. 'I thought that my father was a honest business man. Instead he tells me that he's been dealing with a less then savory character.' He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, wrinkle lines appearing on either side. 'What am I supposed to think about my own family now? What about myself?'
Turning one of the corners Shinoski continued to make his way toward one of the nearby small parks used for recreation. It consisted of a good amount of trees, fields and a playground or two. The paths through the park were paved, smoothed out and also well lit. The parks were closed at dusk, so those who came out in the park at night were druggies, the homeless, or lovers.
Making his way across the paths and into one of the grassy fields near it, he slumped against a base of a tree. 'Was everything that I had just lived for the past five to ten years just a lie?' Things didn't seem to make any sense anymore. Once again his world had been turned upside down by another revelation. 'Its no use crying over something that can't be changed.' He thought. Yet still it hurt him just as much as when he found out he was being sent out of the country.
"Hey, you okay?" Shinoski looked up from his thoughts to find a female standing over him. She looked very familiar as her blue eyes gazed down at him with slight curiosity and worry from behind bangs of purple hair. "I-I'm fine." Shinoski replied, as he held back the tears that had threatened to spill over. "Well, if you say so. Though I believe you should be on your way home. The parks closed at this time of night."
She offered a hand this time to help him up from his spot beneath the tree. Shinoski took it before the purple haired woman helped him up to his feet. "I knew I recognized you from someplace. You're the woman I ran into a couple days before."
Her eyes glanced off to the side. "Yea…" It seemed that she was uncomfortable. "I'm sorry that happened when we first met. Yet, why are you here in the park this late? And why did you help me?"
Shinoski asked as he pushed his sadness away to deal with later in private. "Well if you must know, I was taking a short cut through the park to get to where I was going. Also, I can't stand to see someone looking so sad. So I wanted to know what was wrong." She replied. "Well, I am fine now. Usually people don't stop and ask complete strangers if they are feeling alright. So I thank you."
She hmmed slightly as she turned to walk away. "Your welcome. Anyway you should get going. The police usually tend to pick up stragglers that hang out in the park for too long after night fall. And, I accept your apology."
"Okay, thanks for the advice. But I never got to know your name. Mines Shinoski." He replied to the retreating back of the female. She paused for a moment and turned to regard him for a moment or two. "If your lucky, I might give you mine the next time we meet. Shinoski huh? That name doesn't suit you. I think I'll call you pervert."
Shinoski blinked slightly, completely caught off guard as his mouth hung agape in surprise. It even hurt his feelings slightly. "W-what? Hey! What for!?" The woman smiled at him slightly, holding back a giggle of laughter. "Calm down. It's just a nickname. It's because of how you ran into me. Trying to make light of the whole situation you know? Anyway, I hope next time we meet its under better circumstances."
"Yea. Later."
Authors Note: Sorry for the long pause between chapters one and two. I kind of neglected the story for a while. But I am back. I didn't really know where I was taking this story, so I stopped to start writing some chapter outlines to get a better idea of events. Second, I am not really good at writing combat scenes from the view of special ops.
If anyone knows how they operate, what kinds of tactics they use, and how they deal with certain situations, please send me a private message, or in a review.
Do you like how I added a twist as of why Shinoski was sent to Orb? What do you think Shino's reaction will be when he finds out that the Bane, Merciless, and Fury's weapon computer targeting systems and software control for the mobile suits were of his fathers design?
Also review people! The more reviews I get, the more I feel I have to write. If anyone has ideas to lend to my story, please do! I might incorporate them in later chapters!
Next chapter describes the events of 'Interlude 1' in more detail from the main Seed character's point of views. Till Next time.
