Chapter Four: Acts of War
After the mysterious mobile suits' intervention and the video message with an old man the World's eyes are focused on the Gundams and their supposed owner, Celestial Being. The next strike determines whatever the contents of the video message are true or it was just a fairly accurate diversion made by one of the superpowers. Meanwhile Lockon and Allelujah allowed to enjoy their free time as ordinary civilians on Earth.
Allelujah just arrived to Tokyo thanks to the HRL's orbital elevator and a plane. The airport is full of people. He didn't see as many people as there for a long time. Thankfully Allelujah can supress his unusual ability almost completely when he's calm enough. But even without it the crowd brings back unpleasant memories for him.
-(Hallelujah): Hey, Allelujah. Do you remember?
-Allelujah: As i could forget that day. In our first mission you turned a peaceful demonstration at the capital of Sorbania to bloodshed and eventually you caused the Third Eastern European War.
-(Hallelujah):Me, me! Always just me! You're just running away from your sins again! Remember! My hands are your hands too!
-Allelujah: I can't accept it! You did all of that! Only You!
He almost shouted the last two sentences instead of silently whispering as usual. The people stared on him instantly.
-Allelujah: Sorry! I'm just practicing for a play. Sorry!
The people around make a suspicious look for a while then everyone resumes what they're doing before. Allelujah gets on the train.
-(Hallelujah): Expert at apologising and making excuses as usual... Stop dreaming! You're responsible too! You were just plain weak at that time! Well, you're still a pussy.*laughs*
-Allelujah: But...
-(Hallelujah): Well, well. I leave you be in that illusion for now. You still not mature enough yet. And anyways i'm too pissed by your cowardliness to reason with you. Just one thing: You killed two people just three days ago. And you're continuing to kill and kill until you die! Just accept the fact.
Allelujah gets off the train and walks to his new home at Tokyo. It's a flat that CB paid for him. Every member of Celestial Being is paid generously, even if there's not a single member who joined because of it. Allelujah never lived on his own and has close to zero experience with money. His socialising skills are quite bad compared to a guy at his age too(Still he sure that he's thousand times better than Tieria "cyberman" Erde). He just never had the chance to be independent. He ridiculed Tieria's fashion sense but the truth to be told he not even have one. He just dresses as others showed him and as the pople around him usually does. It's the same with that outfit he has. His usual black vest with a brown jacket and black jeans. He has only a suitcase of amount belongings with him, just the absolute necessaries. He thinks about shopping after he packs out and rests a bit. Those were his thoughts until he arrives to his flat-room. He meets with a boy and a girl just before he's about to get in. The boy greets him.
-Boy: Hi! Are you my new neighbour?
-Allelujah: Yeah, I think.
Allelujah's somehow stressed. A complete stranger greets him and starts a conversation with him out of the blue. The only thing he's wished for just few hours of rest.
-Boy:I'm Saji Crossroad. Nice to meet you!
He's a Japanese student. nothing special to talk about. Shorter than him by a half head and has a short black hair. It's evident from his posture that he's unathletic.
-Allelujah:Allelujah Haptism. Likewise.
-(Hallelujah): I hope you packed in that combat knife too. He's annoying. Carefree student with little knowledge about the real world. He pisses me off.
-Girl: I'm Louise Halevy. I hope you get on well with Saji.*notices the suitcase* That's everything you have?
A beutifull girl was near him .She's definietly a foreigner. She has a long blond hair and blue eyes. Probably another neighbour.
-Allelujah: You mean the suitcase? Right, I plan to buy everything I need. You live here too?
-Louise: Oh...no! I just come to visit Saji.*grabs Saji's arm*
-Saji: Uhm...I forgot to mention. She's my girlfriend.
-(Allelujah): Now that's unexpected. I guess miracles do happen.
For that Saji to get a girl like this. No , no that's not the problem. To him even getting a girl is unexpected.
-Louise: We're planning to shop. Do you want to come with us?
Saji drags Louise closer a bit and whispers:
-Saji: Louise! It's supposed to be our first da...
-Louise: I know! But look on him. He's a foreigner. I bet he not even know Tokyo well. And anyways he's quite handsome...
-Saji: Louise!
Saji said that loudly so Allalujah hears it clearly.
-(Allelujah): And now lovers argument. It's like we're in some kind of comic.
-Louise: *whispers*What's it? Are you jealous?
-Saji:*tries to whisper* Of course I am!
Louise smirks and turns to Allelujah.
-Louise: So are you coming with us?
-Allelujah: I don't know. To be honest I'm not even know the city well.
-Louise: *turns to Saji* I told you!*Turns back to Allelujah*More the reason you should come with us! We'll show you the best shops around!
-Allelujah: I'm surely be just a bother.
Allelujah tries to back off. To be honest he wanted a little time to be alone. He wants to finish his argument with Hallelujah, not to mention for him being in crowds really exhausting.
-Louise:I don't think so*turns to Saji* Am I right?
-Saji ...Right.
Saji bows to the situation. He knows if Louise decides something he can't change her mind.
-Allelujah: Well, if you say so... I should pack out before. I'm back right away.
Allelujah entered to his room and hastly closes the door.
-(Hallelujah):What is it? You're acting awfully nice. Aren't you tired?
-Allelujah:I can't refuse their kind invitation. Besides I've just arrived here. I don't know anything about the place.
-(Hallelujah): And not even about the life of the civilians. You acted well, but you'll be exposed soon.
-Allelujah: I don't know until I try.
-(Hallelujah): Heh...Try it and fail!You learn horribly slow, Allelujah. I let you play the innocent civilian for now. But remember it: You won't find a peaceful life no matter how hard you try. You're a living killing machine just like me!
-Allelujah: I hope you're wrong.
Allelujah packed out his belongings from the suitcase and leaves the room. Saji and Louise is waiting for him.
-Saji: Are you ready?
-Allelujah: Yeah.
-Louise: Let's go!
Meanwhile on Ptolemy the crew slowly prepares for the next mission. Miss Sumeragi consults her opinion about the operation with Veda, Celestial Being's supercomputer. Veda is the "mind" of the whole organisation. It has "extensions" spread all over the world. This includes monitoring systems, auxially processors and memory banks and many other kind of things. The system makes perdictions based on it's constant both physical and virtual(by hacking various networks) monitoring of the world. Every member of Celestial Being have chosen by Veda's decision and it contains every information about their background and actions. Even the Gundams are at the constant guidance of Veda's backup. It's not exagreating to say Veda is the reason for Celestial Being's success.
-Sumeragi: I see...It's good to know my and Veda's opinion matches about the next operation.
She sounds statisfied. To reach the same conclusion as a colossal machine is quite an achievement.
Meanwhile Feld analysing the data of the Gunams' drive output. The drives itselves called Solar Furnances. It serves as both for energy generation and production of a mysterious particle called GN particle. Almost everything of the Celestial Being is based on thoose special particles. The drives working without pause for a long time and they're designed to be almost perfect. The main problem is the other components. Even if the they reached the third generation of Gundams they must be on watch. The condensers, the weapons and almost everything quite complex and even if it's technology refined enough, they can't allow the slightest fault. 4 Gundams against the whole world. No matter how you see it, a small problem could be fatal at mission. Feld helps in everything she can. It's the least thing she can do for the Meisters, who risk their lives on every mission. That's what she believes in at least.
Christina and Lichty working on the bridge. Lichty navigates the ship and Christina checks the surroundings and does her everyday routine.
-Lichty: Uhm... Christina.
-Christina: What is it?
-Lichty:Just a quick question. Is your hair color natural?
-Christina: What? Of course! Don't be rude!
She's mad. Lichty quickly apologises.
-Lichty: Sorry.
-(lichty): I'm an idiot. After I managed to gather all my strenght I say something utterly ridiculous!
-Christina: You have to be more considerate with women. Just take Lockon as an example.
-(Lichty):That guy again. It seems she's more interested in anyone other than me. Maybe I'm hopeless to begin with?
Lichty shakes his head.
...
Dr. Moreno is the only medic of the ship. The medical examinations are over and he's done with the processing a while ago. He's reading a newspaper currently. He was full of worries when he heard about Allelujah's situation but he proved wrong. Actually he has the least work to do of the crew up until now. Now as the missions starts he has to examine the Meisters both physically and psichologicaly before and after every mission. It's tiring just to think about it for him.
Kovac lying on the bed in his room. It's a plain room except a bookshelf full of carvings of various animals. All of them made by Kovac. It's been his hobby siince 12 and he continued to do that at his free time even when he fought in the War. He firmly belives that was the only thing that kept him sane at that crazy times. He's looking at a picture on the desk near his bed currently. It's from beutiful young woman with a long blond hair. She has such a shining simle on it. The picture is an old memory for Kovac about his life before that War.
Tieria is missing as always. He often disappears somewhere on the ship and returns only when he thinks it's needed. He rarely interacts with anyone. At the rare times when he says something, he says it bluntly and in a commanding attitude. Casual talk is out of question with him.
Few hours later the Ptolemy launches the two Gundams.
Their mission is to end the battling in the island of So Rogma . Two factions(belonging to two different cultures) constantly conflicts with each other. The faction currently in control(Sanglec) decided to erradicate the other(Tellam). It caused armed resistance from the other naturally. The HRL secretly supports the stronger Sanglec faction in a hope of quick resulution of conflict and good relations with the new government.
The Gundams are splitting up to complete thire misions effectively. Gundam Praetorian intervenes the fighting at the main front while Gundam Virtue attacks the the much stronger Sanglec reverse forces(mainly consist of Tierens bought from the HRL) with a crushing surprise attack concentrated at the So Jayawaga military base. With that simultaneous attack the Gundams forces the two factions to ceasefire at the very least.
-Tieria: Kovac. We're splitting up.
-Kovac: Roger that. We're meeting at the predetermined meeting point.
The Gundams part ways. Kovac heads to the north corner of the island where the fighting probably the fiercest. He mantains the high altitude to avoid the only way of his detection, the visual confirmation. Preatorian arrives at the designated start point of the first phase and descends. Kovac sees almost fifteen Tierens. Probably there's much more than that.
-Kovac:*smirks* Miss Sumeragi's forecasts are damn precise. Kovac Sturmer, Praetorian Gundam initiating armed intervention.
Someone noticed the approaching Gundam and tries to alert the others. It's too late. The communications are already down. The Gundam slides forward it's large GN Sword and slices the Tieren nearby. The other 4 of the group are just noticed that and they're aiming towards the Gundam. The nearest one is almost ready to fire but Kovac's faster. He directs a small burst of beams with his GN pistol and two shots pierces the Tieren's cockpit. Even if the Tieren has the best armor of any mobile suit of the superpowers it's useless against Celestial Being's advanced beam weaponry. Actually a full powered shot would have blowed up half of the mashine.
Kovac charges towards the next suit with full power. it flies through the 600 meters of distance in mere seconds. The unfortunate pilot not even have a chance to retaliate. The Tieren sliced in half. The other two tries to cooperate somewhat. Without any kind of communication it's quite surprising to Kovac. The nearest suit tries to flee and fires wildly somewhere near the Gundam while the other stands still and tries to get accurate shots on the Gundam from the left side.
- Kovac: Clever. It's a sad thing I can't afford to lose!
Kovac stops and keeps the shield at the side to protect himself from the other's long range attack. He aims with the GN pistol. The Tieren in front of him still tries to run away while constantly seeks cover and fires almost blindly. One of these shots accidentally hits. The shell not even did a scratch on the Gundam's white armor.
-(Kovac): You managed it. But that's all. You should've escaped the machine instead.
Kovac shoots a longer burst with the GN pistol and many beams hit. The Tieren is full of holes like cheese. The last remaining Mobile Suit tries to run. It's destination probably the other platoon of Tierens. Kovac chases it with full power. The Praetorian is much faster than the Tieren so it's only matter of seconds and Kovac gets in front of the mobile suit. The pilot stops and readies his Carbon Blade.
-Kovac: He's challenging me? He's got a resolve. I accept it!
Kovac charges towards the Tieren. It's at the GN Blade's length. Praetorian Gundam swings but the Tieren dances backwards and the blade only scratches the cockpit. The pilot clearly visible. Kovac zooms on it and he sees that the pilot is a woman. It's obvious from her black long hair and other slight features. It surprises him but even more the pilot's next action. She rushes forward and tries to slash him with the Carbon Blade. Kovac punches away the attack with his GN Shield and finishes the mobile suit with a backwards swing(the easiest retailation from the Gundam's current pose)
-Kovac: You fought well. I'll remember your act of courage.
It wasn't a joke. Kovac deeply respects every good soldier. Kovac has something like the "soldiers' code". That's his idea about the ideal soldier. The woman a while ago matches some points about that. Perhaps even if Kovac feels pity about her he never hesitates to do what he must. That's one of the points about his idea of "true soldier".
Suddenly another platoon of Tierens notices him and begins to fire. Luckily they're in the range of jamming. Kovac is still stares at the recently destroyed mobile suit.
-Kovac:*laughs* You were so close...That's the truth of life. No matter how brave someone. Courage is useless without power.
Praetorian Gundam heads towards the next platoon of enemies.
Meanwhile at the military base and field HQ of So Jayawaga the commander of the whole operation just received the new informations about the front via radio communications.
-Commander: What? What do you mean about that whole mobile suit platoons' communications stops working?
-Officer: As i said. The communications of the platoons is gone one by one! I think it's some kind of mobile jamming device.
-Commander: What? No! It can't be! Encircle that thing immediately!
-Officer: I've already dispatched the recon forces and they begun encircling that mysterious thing.
The officer just receive a radio message from the battlefield.
-Officer: What? This is bad...Commander! The platoons in question are destroyed and we've spotted a mobile suit strangely similar to the White Knight at the Heavens Pillar incident.
-Commander: It's the worst thing that could ever happen! Try to surround it! Mobilise everything nearby! Cease the pursue of the Tellam army! That white monster is the real threat now!
-Officer: Roger that!
Meanwhile Virtue Gundam's just arrived to the base. It's starts descending.
-Commander: The long range radio isn't working! What kind of junk is that?
The soldiers around him starts to look up to something in the air. It's a strange mobile suit pulling a turquoise light-like trail. The Commander notices that too and he's speechless out of terror. At last he murmurs something.
-Commander: We're doomed...
Meanwhile in the Gundam Tieria has arrived at optimum range.
-Tieria:Tieria Erde, Virtue Gundam iniciates the second phase. GN particle spread to maximum! Establish direct connection with the main GN condenser.
Virtue attaches the GN Bazooka to it's main body and starts charging. When the weapon fully charged he spreads out that large beam over the Field HQ, killing almost every high ranking officer. The beam stays and Tieria pulls it around the place's defenses in the vicinity.
The answer perhaps harsh. Wild AA shell and missile fire answers from everywhere. Thanks to the extreme range of jamming they're unable to call reinforcements(but short range communications may still working far from the Gundam). Their precise targeting devices are useless. They're aiming with simple optical sights and they're firing the missiles in dumb mode. So it's natural that they have almost no chance to hit him.
Virtue descends close to the ground to avoid the strong barrage and waits for the recharge of the Bazooka. It takes about 2 minutes. Then he rapidly ascends and shoots another continous beam to devestate a bunch of MS hangars this time. Then he descends to somewhere again and repeats that thing over and over again. The people on the ground are trying to stop him, but they not even have proper anti-MS weaponry. Tieria pays no attention to them. His mission is about destroying any vehicle, mobile suit or other heavy equipment that present not about killing the soldiers. . The So Jayawaga base is huge and houses more than 100 mobile suits and almost 500 other vehicles and heavy weaponry of various kinds. It'll be a long fight.
-Tieria: Second phase in progress. Mission is going to be complete in the estimated time frame without problems.
Meanwhile Kovac's done with the Sanglec forces. He destroyed about 40 mobile suits and even more other vehicles. In the end many soldier decided to abandon their machines just to save their lifes. Compared to the first platoon he encountered no one showed that much of resistance. Actually it was almost just a massacre to be honest.
-Kovac: Kovac Sturmer, Praetorian Gundam completed the first phase. Moving to the third phase.
The third phase means an attack against the Tellam forces. They have much fewer mobile suits and mainly the old Anf type. But according to some dubious information they could have hired veteran mercenaries with modern equipment. Kovac suddenly notices the marching Tellam army. An Anf on the front holds a huge white flag. Kovac's surprised. The army stopped except the Anf with the white flag.
When the Anf was just about 40 meters away it said with it's speakers:
-Soldier: Um...Thanks for helping us out Great Gundam. Now it's our time to crush our opressors! Once again we're...
He can't finish it because the Gundam charged towards him and sliced the Anf in half. The Gundam's answer was obvious. They don't side with anyone. They're just simply going to stop wars.
-Kovac: Idiots! So that's how it is...
The Gundam charged straight towards the enemy army.
A group of mercenaries stationing about 15 kilometers from the battlefield the Gundam currently encounters the Anfs. Everyone is toally prepared to sortie out. This is the mercenary group that hired by the Tellam faction. It's name the Crimson Dogs, a quite infamous group. Every member has at least 5 years of experience in fighting, especially with Mobile Suits.
-Mercenary: Boss, It swallowed the bait.
The person called as the boss is currently leaning to the leg of his Mobile Suit and smokes a cigarette. After he heard the mercenary's report he continues smoking like nothing have happened. After a while he stands up spouts out the remains of the cigarette.
-Ali Al'Saachez: *smirks*Good... *looks up to the mercenary*It seems like I get that bonus sooner than I expected. Dogs! Ready the new toys! We're going to capture that Gundam whatever!
Author's Notes: I've decided to avoid using the names of real countries, factions and cities in some cases where they may feel themselves ridiculed or threatened because of the picture I draw from them with my story. We're in the 24th century. Countries can change names or new cities can be built. I keep using the names of the superpowers(and their capitals etc..), because they're well known and I don't have the far of drawing greatly improper picture of them.
Sorry for the delay, but I hardly have time for writing. I tried to make it even more exciting as i originally wanted in return. Possibly I can't complete the next chapter at Sunday so it's probably ready sometime later.
About the Tierens: Every land based Tieren in my fanfiction is actually the Tieren High Mobility Type B(See MAHQ for further information), So they're not only capable to walk but to "hover" at greater speeds. It makes them more mobile than the common ones at the original story. I decided so because I found the original tierens vastly inferior in ground battles without this added speed and dexterity compared to the Mobile Suits of other superpowers.