Chapter Two: Celestial Being
In the middle of the military parade at the AEU Training Grounds unknown MS arrived. It's design was completely different from any kind of MS the world ever saw. The mysterious machine easily defeats the AEU's best mobile suit that just introduced itself to the world, despite it's piloted by the AEU's self-proclaimed ace, Patrick Colassour. The crowd is mixed in awe and panic while the unindentified MS stands still at the scene. The Union's famous(in some sources even infamous) pilot, Graham Aker is madly searching for some kind of identification mark on that strange machine. At last he finds something:
-Graham:Gundam.
Bill blissfully staring at that MS but as he hears Graham's voice suddenly turns towards him.
-Bill:Gundam? What is it? It's codename? It's nickname? The industry's name?There's nothing with that kind of name.
-Graham: Who knows? I thought you have to know. I think it's the unit's name.
-Bill: so it's called Gundam...
Inside the mysterious machine's cockpit Allelujah wonders how long he's stared on the remains of the suit. He experienced first hand the power of a Gundam. The opposing pilot hardly even had a chance. Then there's the reaction of his surroundings. Many people freezes in terror. The ones with a little bit more spirit instantly have started to run as Allelujah landed or after he defeated the Enact. After he disabled the AEU's most advanced MS the people arround him remained defenseless. Allelujah could have killed them in an instant. Still there's some people who just plainly fascinated by his machine. Allelujah found that the most disturbing.
-(Allelujah): They're looking up on me as I am some kind of god. Too bad. This machine is only an item of destruction.
Allelujah despite his name hardly believes in the existence of God. Once in the past he firmly believed in Him, but his painful experiences and the harsh reality convinced him of the opposite. Somehow he still belives in Him, like the constant thought he believes in retribution and repentance, at least on his own part.
-Allelujah:Kyrios, first phase complete. Continuing to the next phase.
The Gundam takes off. It's not like a classical mobile suit. It takes of silently and calmly as if it just levitates. And it leaves a slight trail of turquoise lights.
-Bill: How can that Mobile Suit fly? There's no sound of engines...and that light.
-Graham: It's indeed strange. I think our visit earned it's fruit.
-(Graham:I'm looking forward to our meeting, Gundam.)
The Enact's pilot finally got out. He's miraculously unharmed.
-Patrick: You! I am Patrick Colassour! You'll soon feel sorry for that!
And seemingly unwavered by the happenings...he's looking up to the slowly leaving Mobile Suit and shakes his fist. After that experience a regular human probably loses his spirits for a long time. Patrick exceptionally brave or simply an idiot to be not affected by that traumatising experience.
-Graham:The new Enact at least protects the pilot well. *looks up to the Gundam again*That mobile suit...was it's objective to keep the AEU from attempting to further strenghten it's military, or it was just a plain warning?
-Bill: However there's no way the AEU will keep quiet after that embarrassment.
Meanwhile somewhere in the space there's a strange-looking ship. It's shape similar to dolphin's with 4 rotating container-like things around it. It's the Ptolemy, the Gundams' carrier. On it's bridge currently four people. Everyone's at his/her twenties except a young girl who's just 14.
-Woman:Kyrios surpassed the expected frame of first phase. We can infer that he's entered second phase.
That woman was Christina Sierra, one of the two tactical operators of the ship. She has a long light brown hair and green eyes. She's the best programmer on the ship and always cheerful even if she's serious at work.
- Man : I hope you'r right. Otherwise everything is over.
He's Lasse Aeon. The Ptolemy' gunner. He's a rather muscular build and short black hair with brown eyes. He's often that cynical and probably the most serious member of the ship's operators.
- Christina: no idle talk. The next phase soon starts.
The bridge door opens. Another woman enters.
-Woman 2: Don't act so uptight, Christina! This is our great debut!
She's Sumeragi Lee Noriega, the tactical forecaster of operations. A woman with a very long dark-brown hair and brown eyes. She''s not actually the captain of the ship in title but she's the one who gives the orders. She enjoys drinking greatly. Actually she's bringing in some liquor with herself again in a flask with a straw.
-Christina:*notices the flask*What? You are drinking alcohol?
-Man 2:Seriously!?
He's Lichtendahl Caeli, the ship's helmsman. He has a brown hair and eyes. Always cheerfull and positive. Everyone calls him Lichty because of his name's difficult spelling.
-Sumeragi: Why not? I'm just in charge of planning. *drinks some from the flask*The rest is up to you.
She says it without the sound of concern, but his expression quickly changes to serious.
-(Sumeragi): I hope everything is alright.
The Ptolemy's center in the front opens like a large mouth. It hides an internal launch pad.
-Girl: container loading complete. Sarissa, moving to catapult deck.
She's Feldt Grace. The other tactical operator of Ptolemy. she has long pink hair and green eyes. Despite being just 14 she's an expert in computers and mechanics. Perhaps it have it's drawbacks. She's very shy and reserved. It's rare to hear her except if it's necessary, like on missions.
-MS Pilot:The time has come. Well, I guess the world never change with idle waiting. Are you ready, partner?
-Haro:Any time! Any time!
It's a Haro. An machine with artifical intelligence close to a human's. It's about the size and shape of a human head. With proper equipment it can do almost anything like a human with limited repertoire of judgements. Somehow every Haro speaks with short sentences and they always repeat it once more.
-Feldt:Sarissa has arrived on the catapult deck. Sarissa, ready to launch.
-MS Pilot: Right! I have control , Lockon Stratos launching.
Sarissa moves to the target zone.
Meanwhile at the HRL's orbital elevator, Heaven's Pillar:
The people celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first electricity transmission of the elevator. The Soloar Power Generation System gathers the energy from the sun and sends it via the orbital Elevators to Earth. Perhaps it's only one of the many functions of this eneroumus structure. Amongst others it works as a linear space lift to help the construction in space and for civillian travel perhaps.
Many ambassadors of the countries and companies who contributed to the construction of the orbital elevator as the military officers are here not to mention the televisions and reporters. The whole meeting place's crowded with people floating everywhere. A rather appealing girl in a Chinese dress is here too.
-Waiter:May i offer you a drink?
The girl turns back.
-Girl 2: I'll take one.
She's Wang Liu Mei, a young celebrity and the chief of a well known corporation. the waiter blushes out of surprise.
-Wang: Having your face turn that color isn't that manly.
The waiter's face turns even more redder. The girl moves away next to the window. Soon a man arrives and whispering to her.
-Man 3:It has begun, Mistress.
He's Hong Long, her faithful servant. He's her steward and bodyguard in one person. The girl's expression changes to serious.
-Wang:They're finally on the move.
Meanwhile in the skies near one of the AEU's MS hangars a strange and bulky mobile suit flies towards the base at extremely high altitude. It's piloted by Tieria.
-Tieria: Virtue, Tieria Erde. Exterminating the targets.
He stops not too far away from the base and descends.
-Tieria: Set particle condenser rate to 40%. Adjust spread radius to maximum. Change particle release duration to 10. Take 12 different pictures about the base and the surrounding area for future reports. and take 6 more after the mission's completed.
-Computer:Pictures taken. Charging primary weapon condensers... Charge complete.
The people at he hangars just noticed him. They have hardly enough time for panicking. Tieria fires. The only thing they see a huge purple light. He pulls the huge beam at the whole base. After 10 seconds everything burned to the ground.
-Tieria: Fifth base successfully destroyed. Second phase complete. 24 Hellion type Mobile Suits and 146 personnel exterminated total. Resuming the close supervision of Gundam Meister, Allelujah Haptism. Detailed combat data including the actions of other meisters are going to be sent later.
Meanwhile near the AEU's orbital elevator Allelujah chased by two Hellion suits. Allelujah constantly chased by them since he left the military parade. They can't use their missiles because of the Gundam's jamming ability so the only weapon they have currently thire linear rifles. Compared to a chaingun the linear rifle has slower rate of fire so pursuing suits rarely had even chance to aim at the Gundam that without a doubt faster than them.
-Allelujah:Ok there's no reinforcements. Tieria did a good job.
-(Allelujah?):Kill that two. It's humiliating to be chased.
-Allelujah: *grabs his head*Relax. I keep my word. Just wait.
Five Hellions arrived from the orbital elevator and started to fire at the Gundam, but Allelujah with a sudden maneuver evaded all of them.
-Allelujah: Sumeragi's predictions are always correct. The AEU housed military weapons in the orbital elevator despite the treaty.*sighs*.I guess I have no choice.
He grabs Kyrios's rifle from it's hip store and aims at the hellion front of him. He's attacking from the side so they have no chance to return fire and the other two is not in a position to corner him.
-(Allelujah?): That's the spirit! Now fire!
Allelujah hesitates. The 5 suits splits into two separate groups and with the cooperation of the earlier two they're trying to surround him.
-(Allelujah?):*sighs* You're still weak. Let me handle this!
-Allelujah:*grimaces in pain* Be patient!
With a sudden change of direction he brakes of the enemy's gap and aims at the packed bunch.
-(Allelujah): They're humans. They're living! I feel them! They have emotions, they have aims, they may have future! And now i steal all of it...
-(Allelujah?): You're pathetic. Just fire damn it!
Allelujah aims again but now fires too. The burst of purple beams got 2 suits. The whole thing was sudden. The two didn't have the time for noticing their coming death.
-Allelujah:I hope you're satisfied Hallelujah. Now i am at the same level as you.
Hallelujah is the name of Allelujah's alternate sadistic personality. He places survival above everything else and for him others' suffering is plain pleasure. Hallelujah the self-proclaimed protector of Allelujah and he constantly expresses his opinion about Allelujah's actions. Allelujah is far from happy with the results. He just killed two soldiers. Thanks to his unusual ability he clearly sensed their emotions when they're dying. He though if he do it quickly then maybe it's less of a bad feeling for him. But it's almost like at that day.
-(Hallelujah):*madly laughs* That's it! The leader is out! Now get the remaining 5!
Allelujah feels that the other 5 pilots in awe. It's not surprising after suddenly they lost 2 of their comrades while they can't even get a hit on the enemy. The little confidence they had lost with that painful second.
-(Hallelujah): It's slaughtertime! The leadership in ruins! Kill them!
-Allelujah:I know that. We have the clear advantage now.
Allelujah hesitates again. Someone snapped out of the awe somehow and ordered the suits to scatter. Then with two groups they're attacking from two different directions. Allelujah headed towards the bigger party. He intentionally blocked some of the shots with Kyrios's shield to get a more favourable position. He suddenly slows down when the 3 suits passes above him and shots down the engines of two MS's. Then he rushes with full throttle towards the remaining other and disables it in melee. In response the remaining two Hellions retreats.
-(Hallelujah):What are you doing?*pissed*
-Allelujah: *smiles faintly*There's no need for killing them.
-(Hallelujah):What? The survivors can leak info about the gundams' abilities.
-Allelujah: I doubt that they could tell any extra. Besides...
-(Hallelujah):*laughs* I got it! You still scared! You offered quick and painless death to the other two cause you can't bear their pain! Allelujah! You still a kid!*continues laughing*
Hallelujahwas right. He's hardly matured even a bit.
Somewhere near the orbital elevator another Gundam stations.
-Tieria: Third phase complete.*calls Allelujah*. We're going back.
Meanwhile Bill and Graham enters their van. They're constantly talking on the way and they continue it even in the car.
-Bill: That mobile suit is smoking out the AEU forces?
-Graham. Yeah. It's probably trying to show the world that the AEU had more military power than allowed by the treaty. This is a check and a warning.
-Bill: And why would it do that?
-Graham: *smirks*You should ask the pilot.
Meanwhile at Heaven's Pillar in the high orbit the people at the control tower notices a quite large debris.
-Crew Member 1:Another? An it's mass quite large.
-Crew Member 2: Probably just a wreckage of an old generation satellite.
-Officier: Don't forget that the ceremony still going on!Confirm it with the highest magnitude.
The "debris" is a pack of mobile suits , five altogether. two of them carrying a large missile pod They're pushing against the station's protective shield.
-Crew Member 1: Impossible...not only their mobile suits but the pilots inside...
One of the mobile suits from the front stopped moving. It's cockpit probably crushed by the force.
-Officers: That's only shows their resolve. Call all affiliated personnel!
Every military officer's got informed. Perhaps even Commander Sergei Smirnov, the current chief of the local defense forces and a veteran soldier. He abandons the celebration and rushes to take command of the situation 's listening to the headset and not even close to happy with the things going on
-Smirnov: Hellions? Damn AEU! That happens wen they sell weapons to anyone with money. Launch the 32nd Defense Force to intercept them immediately!
-Officer: But Sir, the 32nd Defense Force hardly enough to defeat them.
-Smirnov: Hell if i don't know! The only thing we need is time! The 31st and 43rd Defense Forces way too far to intercept them in time. Notify them too, but first the 32nd immediately!
A terrorist attack was excepted. The HRL as the other two power blocks have many internal and external enemies. With the construction of Solar Power System and the orbital elevators most of the world united as the three superpowers. Perhaps there's always people who remained unstatisfied by the current government or don't like such centralisation of power. It would be a real surprise if no one tries to use this moment to deal a blow on them. The problem is that the enemy exactly knows the main weaknesses of the defense and the large scale of forces they use. It must be a doing of one of the international terror organisations like the Faquarad, GLF or the long-dead KPSA. They must have a member amongst the engineering crew or even in the stationing forces. That kind of thoughts ran in Simirov's head amongst others as he arrives to one of the command hubs from the many at stations. Everyone salutes him.
-Smirnov: Any information about the launch pod the two mobile suits carrying?
-Officer 2: Not enough, Sir! The only thing we know that it's probably has enough power to destroy the Grand Hall.
-Smirnov: Damn it! How long until they're able to shoot it?
-Officer 2: About 8 minutes. The 32nd Defense Force is almost ready to launch. The other squadrons can intercept them in 12 minutes.
-Smirnov:*sighs* Time's against us as always.
In the meantime at the celebration party every military personnel and high ranking politician got informed about the coming terrorist attack. They're started to evacuate. The Grand Hall has a grave fault: The lack of sufficient amount of evacuation devices. The leadership decided to evacuate the most important personnel without raising attention. This method at least minimises the loss. Wang Liu Mei noticed it, perhaps because she's expecting that.
-Wang: Oh my! Marching out all by yourselfes...What selfish people.
She said that with a soft tone and with a slight grin on her face as she usually speaks. She even added a playful tone to it.
-Hong: Shall we evacuate?
Hong Long's worry is right. Evacuation of the higher ups means only one thing. The Grand Hall is far from safe.
-Wang:Of course not...as expected of Miss Sumeragi. Her forecasts are splendid.
The 32nd Defense Force only contains 3 Tieren class mobile suits as opposed to the standard 5. Their squad leader, Xiong Shengtiaoan is experienced leader, but many of his men changed to ground service. Only one of his former comrades remained and he's freshly got a newbie pilot. Far from good. The squad launches to intercept the terrorists.
-Soldier:Sir! I have only 120 hours of space experience. What about the reinforcements?
-Squad Leader:They're arriving too late. We're ordered to stop them until the 31st and 43rd Defense Force arrives.
The terrorists changed course towards the celebration place at last. Thanks to the rather unusual route they've little problems with the shield and they've avoided the enemy forces. The 32nd Defense Force notices them opens and fire . 2 hellions starts to engage them while the two with the huge box-like thing marches forward. The other two blocks the way for the defense force.
-Xiong: The hell with their information! They're expecting us! Prepare for close range fight.
Luckily in that kind of fighting the Tierens' have the upper hand. The Hellion's light armor hardly a challenge for the Tieren's 200mm shells. Even if the Hellions have better mobility the only way they can harm the Tieren's huge armor at the weak spots or with a highly charged shot. The later has an extremely slow rate of fire so it's next to useless in dogfights. Xiong's confident. That's why he thinks he have enough time to return fire a bit to ensure his comrades safety.
But it was a horrible mistake. The enemy's Hellions were the relatively new F type models. They're equipped with missiles that stored in the leg. Even if they have only 4 of them the power of an individual missile is enough to break even the Tieren's frontal armor. Perhaps using a missile in a dogfight still requires a skilled pilot. The two hellions splits in two directions and the Tierens are sorrounded. Despite Xiao's effort two of the missiles hits the target. Luckily the private's mobile suit is able to move, but the head and the right arm is gone.
-Xiong: Damn! they're quite skilled. Private Kirill! Return to base!
-Private: Roger that! But...
-Xiong: Never mind. You are no use in that situation. Just fly back to the base. Don't worry, the enemy's occupied enough with us.
In the meantime the two Hellion with the launch pod got closer. the hatch of the launch pod opens. The weapon completely ready to rain out it's content. It has 8 large missiles.
-Terrorist: What hell?
The launcher's targeting messed up because of some kind of interference.
-Terrorist 2: Curses! That junk!
-Terrorist: Hey! What kind of mobile suit is that?
He meant a strange mobile suit in the front of their target. It looked quite strange. Somehow it resembled a giant knight in white.
The people at the celebration are panicked. The communication devices are down and a strange mobile suit almost next to the window. No to mention the mysterious light spraying out from it.
-?:What is that?
Wang Liu Mei heard this and just replied to the thin air.
-Wang: Gundam Praetorian.
The machine is another Gundam, but it's only remotely resembles the other seen at the AEU Training Grounds, near Break Pillar. It's much more cleaner looking with a larger shield and a huge blade slided backwards on the right arm. The right hand even carries a pistol-like weapon.
-Terrorist 2: Nevermind. Just fire them in dumb mode.
-Terrorist:Alright.
-Pilot:Praetorian Gundam, Kovac Sturmer ready for combat . Interceping missiles.
The large missiles were old and rather slow compared to the present models. The Gundam aims with it's pistol and fires. Purple beams spraying out rapidly. Thanks to the mobile suit's computer the path of missiles already calculated and the only thing Kovac have to do is to fire. The dumb launched missiles not even have any evasive patterns. All eight missiles have been destroyed in an instant. The terroristsare shocked by the sight. Even if they're expected the missiles interception a little, but both the weapon and the quick succession was shocking. Even with 4 CIWS battery takes more time to accomplish something like that. And those purple beams of light...
Kovac:It's been a long time. Propulsion systems to maximum!
The concical thing at the back of the Gundam which sprayed that turquoise light suddenly become more intensive. Then the Gundam rushed towards the two Hellion. They were still confused but they're soon noticed the charging mobile suit. They can't belive to their eyes. It's way too fast!
-Kovac: Still confused? That makes things much easier.
The Gundam fires two shots with it's GN pistol and it's destroys one of the hellions. The other is fleeing but it has no chance to escape. A long GN Blade attached to the Praetorian's right forearm slided forward from it's original position and the Gundam slices the Hellion in two.
-Kovac: Praetorian completed executing targets. Fourth phase complete. Returning to Ptolemy
Meanwhile the defense forces are still fighting with the remaining Helions. Xiong and his subordinate Solomon are far from beginners. But the terrorist still have the upper hand and they have to hold on for another minute at least. One of the hellions even have a remaining missile and nows have the perfect time to use it. Solomon notices that but he can't do anything with it. The missile is heading towards Xiong. He's not even aware of it. Suddenly a purple line of light consumes the missile. Soon another light arrives and destroys the sender of missile.
-Xiong: What that light? Where did it come from?
He just noticed that. The other Hellion's pilot is confused. The terrorist tries to flee.
Somewhere far away:
-Haro: Direct hit! Direct hit!
-Lockon: I know Haro. I won't show any mercy to terrorists.
Sarissa fires another beam from it's lance-like rifle. It's another direct hit on the cockpit despite the remaining pilot's desperate evasive maneuvers.
-Haro: Mission complete! Mission complete!
-Yeah. Sarissa, Lockon Stratos. Finished sniping the targets. Last phase complete.
Both Xiong and Solomon are shocked. The two enemy suits destroyed less than a half minute from some kind of unseen position. It's similar to a mirracle from God.
-Xiong: What was that? Nevermind. Solomon, we're heading towards the other two.*message arrives from command centre*. What? Unknown mobile suit? It's becoing more and more mysterious...*calls Solomon* We're heading back! Someone has already done our job.
Next day morning every television is full of the news about the Gundams and their actions. There's pictures about the AEU's overmilitarisation at Break Pillar, the Gundams, video recordings about the terrorist attack on Heaven's Pillar and huge amount of speculations. The JNN's news from Tokyo Special Economic Zone is full of it too. Two Engineering students, Louise Halevy and Saji Crossroad hears it on the train.
-Louise: Saji! It's deffinietly strange doesn't it?
Louise's speciality is questioning the obvious. Saji starts to get used to it. Of course it's strange! Otherwise it shouldn't have place in the news. Saji answers as usual.
-Saji: Yeah...
The news suddenly interrupts with an announcement.
-Newscaster:The JNN has just received a video message from the group claiming responsibility for stopping the terrorist attack. While no substantial information about the group has been gleaned, we have a reason to believe their credibility. We'll now display the entire message uncut, please observe.
The video shows an aged man in a totally unrecognisable but somewhat elegant place sitting on a chair. He's bland, wears a monocle and leaning on a staff. Some kind of rich man...probably.
Old Man: I will now deliver a message to all children of Earth. We are Celestial Being.
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Author's Notes: At last! I was busy lately so the update's got delayed a few days. I try to release one new chapter every one or two weeks in Sundays. The story plot slowly but surely deviates from the story. I'll try my best to avoid the totally OOC moments, but the characters going to be somewhat different because of the altered situations and focus. In terms of pairings i have some surprising one(no worries...nothing Slash/Yaoi or other crazy pairings). I hope I'll get someone to do the pictures of the new Gundams. I'll post the link of the images when they're done.
EDIT: I've extended the describing parts about the story to make it more understandable. I've tweaked some facts about the background and extended it. I hope you like it.