Ch 4 – Sadalsuud
Celestial Being is making her steps very carefully, so that the world couldn't discover her before the appropriate time. Jeremiah and I had left Area 51 for another Celestial Being base, where a new Gundam was in production. As for its pilot, it was said that he would be arriving as well.
Docking Bay, Space Colony Krung Thep, Asteroid Belt
With the Orbital Spires in place, it was easier to gain access to space. However, going past the Spires was a different tale. Yet, it was achieved with the proper strings being pulled.
Lelouch looked back at the grim Orbital Spire, dubbed as "Alexander's Column" in the name of the Imperium's tyrannic founder. From the South American deserts, the Column seemed like a structure of doom. Yet in space, it was only a tiny stick that seemed insignificant to the universe at large. Then, he faced Jeremiah who had just come in.
"Have you been enjoying this journey so far?" he asked.
"It's alright, but it would seem that we have allies everywhere," Lelouch remarked.
"True, most of them are called the Observers," Jeremiah explained, "they are members of the society who seek to change this world and provide us with the necessary help, such as funding."
"But can they be trusted?" asked Lelouch.
"It is true that each Observer does have their own agenda, but we need their financial support to fund our projects," Jeremiah said, "but we are here to see one of these projects, a new Gundam."
"Yes, so this puts our units to… say five of them," Lelouch remarked, "until how long we will arrive?"
Suddenly, a voice alert rang in the room.
"Warning, there has been a sighting of an unidentified vessel in the sensors. Space Colony Krung Thep is to be in Fortress Mode momentarily. We will be dispatching Gundam Sadalsuud as per Veda's suggestion."
"Gundam Sadalsuud… is that the new Gundam we're supposed to see?" Lelouch wondered.
"Affirmative, it appears we do get to witness Sadalsuud's true prowess in action," Jeremiah added, "but it would seem that a suitable candidate has been assigned."
ICF Mandated Zone, Asteroid Belt
Space Colony Krung Thep was once a space colony that was left to ruin after the ICF take-over of Mainland Asia. Since then, it was cleverly used by Celestial Being as their base.
When the Solar Wars came to a closure, the superpowers were aiming to reclaim space colonies they had once controlled or those controlled by the predecessor state. The ICF was also the same, trying to reclaim the Krung Thep in her Zone.
Two Tierens Space-Type were travelling into the empty space the Federation was granted, trying to root out all "unlawful" presence in there. They had just uncovered one of those, in the Krung Thep.
"Sir, that energy signature we have detected should be around here," the first Tieren pilot spoke.
"By that amount, it has to be someone out there," the second pilot added on, "and it was not registered by the Space Agency."
"Well whoever he is, he'll be destroyed without mercy," the first pilot said flatly.
Hidden behind an asteroid, a gigantic blue humanoid figure stood close to the space rock. It was tipped several sensors on its shoulders and hips. Its pilot, Grave Violento, stared carefully at the monitors surrounding him. One displayed the two Tierens, while another showed the Krung Thep Colony.
"This Sadalsuud is quite a recon unit indeed," Grave admitted, "so we got two Tierens out there. Data will be sent to Veda for analysis."
Grave keyed in his findings to Veda. Within a few seconds, the order was issued from Veda.
"Eliminate targets. Gundam Plutone and Gundam Sadalsuud shall conduct. No survivors."
"Could've guessed that," Grave said, "too bad the Sadalsuud is not so much of a Combat unit."
Grave charged the engines, and the GN Drive on the Sadalsuud launched it fro its hiding place. The Tierens quickly noticed the Gundam's presence and fired their smoothbore guns on it.
"Unidentified Mobile Suit, cease and desist!" one of the pilots called out, "you are in unauthorised area. And you'll be…"
That pilot's warning was cut short by a beam blast that vapourised his Tieren's nether regions. Everyone looked at the newcomer unit, Gundam Plutone, as it flew beside the Sadalsuud.
"Another one?" a pilot exclaimed, "this must be something. They must be captured!"
Without a second thought, the two Tierens quickly charged in and fired rapidly on the Gundams. However, that hardly scratched the frames of the Gundams. The Sadalsuud drew out two revolver-like guns and shot out two blasts… and the smoothbores were shot off.
"Damn, we're disarmed!" the pilot cursed, "have to send out a dis-"
"Fire now!" cried Grave from his Sadalsuud.
However, his cries were silenced by another blast from the Plutone. Soon, the other Tieren was fired at blank-point and the said mission was declared over.
"Sir Lelouch, how was your first mission?" Grave asked.
"Why…why did we do that?" asked Lelouch, "was killing people ever going to be the case?"
"Much as it can be painful, to kill them we must," Grave answered, "you'll get used to it, like the rest of us… someday…"
"I guess so, but won't this draw more suspicion from the ICF?" Lelouch wondered.
"True, but Veda has settled it," Grave said, "The remnants will be relocated to an asteroid loaded with explosives. It'll be detonated, so that it appears that they had crashed to an asteroid instead."
"And about this unit… the Sadalsuud…" asked Lelouch.
"Hope it is to meet expectations," Grave said, "Not truly a combat unit, but it has great sensors. It'll be the forerunner for a new sniper-type Mobile Suit."
"Ok, I see…" Lelouch replied.