A/N: Reading over the chapter...I feel like things just kind of...happen in this one because the plot demands it. So I ended up revising it at the last second. (Like, today, and only today).

Z.D.C Jotunheim

"Heavily damaged mobile suit coming in!"

"What?!" Monique looked towards the radarman,

"It's a Lt. Ryan Sahalin!"

"What? No wonder combat data stopped coming in!" Oliver realized, "Prepare the rescue crews!"

The damaged Mobility Zaku fell forward unto a hastily set up net, a man in a green Zeon pilot suit climbed out before falling to his knees.

Monique came out first, and gasped. The pilot suit was ripped, and the arm was bleeding.

'What could've done this?' She wondered.

The pilot's eyes fell on her, and for a brief moment, it felt like the two of them were all that existed.

Then the pilot fell unconscious, and right into her arms.

Ryan's eyes twitched as he slowly came awake.

"W-where...am I?" He asked,

"The Jotunheim. I'm part of the onboard Medical staff here."

"Really? Jotunheim…" It took him a solid minute to recognize the name "The technical evaluation ship?"

"Yes." The nurse nodded, "Now that you know, save your strength, or you'll tear your wound open again."

As if on cue, his arm throbbed painfully. He sucked in breath, and fell back down.

A boy desperately tried to turn an entrance into a shelter. His eyes were hollow, his skin sunken. Suddenly, his neck snapped around.

"Your greatest regret is coming for you." He whispered

Ryan shot up straight, breathing heavily. 'My greatest regret?' He wondered, not to mention. He felt like he knew who that boy was. Somehow, he'd seen him before.

"You're finally up." A red-haired woman walked in. "Lt. Colonel Monique Cadillac." She saluted,

Ryan weakly saluted back, "Lieutenant Ryan Sahalin."

"The 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit thanks you Lieutenant. We desperately needed that combat data to be effective."

"If you want to thank anyone-" Ryan said, "Thank Lt. May, I wouldn't have known you guys existed if it wasn't for him."

"I'll take that in mind. Until then, feel free to stay onboard the Jotunheim as long as necessary."

"None of you have seen him?!" Gaia said outraged,

"We last saw him fighting a gold-painted Saberfish. We lost him after that." Ortega sighed.

The Tri-Stars fell into silence, then Char Aznable came up to them. "I wouldn't worry about Ryan too much."

"Get lost!" Gaia growled,

"Suit yourself." Char shrugged, "Just thought you might be interested in finding out where your partner is."

Mash's head snapped around, he stalked over to Char and grabbed him by the collar, "Don't mess with us you little shi-" Gaia placed a hand on his shoulder,

"Let the asshole speak." He nodded, Mash growled, but complied.

Char rubbed his neck, "I saw his Mobility Type Zaku land on a ship in Dozle's Fleet. It stuck out like a sore thumb because I believe it's a new class of supply ship."

"What was it's name?!" Gaia yelled, but Char was already walking away."

"Ciao." He waved dismissively.

"That brat...he always knows just how to push my buttons."

"Couldn't agree more." Erika walked up to them,

"Erika - no, Colonel Erika!" Gaia took a look at her uniform.

"Good to see you, Mash, Gaia, Ortega. Hey, where's Ryan?"

"Apparently, his Zaku was damaged so he made an emergency landing on another ship." Gaia sighed,

Jotunheim

"Should you really be up and around?" Monique asked again, Ryan whirled around, seeing the Lt. Colonel behind her.

"You're everywhere. Aren't you?" Ryan asked, "And besides, I'm fine."

"The combined fleet is heading for Solomon to resupply. You can return to the Special Assault Regiment there."

"Right." Ryan nodded, "How's my Zaku."

"Unfortunately, we're not outfitted to care for Mobile Suits. All we can do is prevent it from blowing up before we reach Solomon,"

"That's no good." He sighed, "Well, when will we reach Solomon?"

"About 2 hours." Monique said,

Ryan yawned, "I need a nap." He walked away, he didn't even regard her rank this time.

'What a blunt man.' Monique shook her head, and walked away.

Z.R.S Great Degwin

"It was a complete success!" Garma sighed in relief. "Next time, I want to fight! I'll do anything! After all, I'm a soldier for the Principality as well!"

"You're too young, Garma." Degwin said resolutely, "You're too immature to understand how horrible war really is." He straightened up, "Send this order to Dozle! 'As Admiral Revil has surrendered, he is to be shown every courtesy.'"

"Yes, sovereign. At once." A woman bowed, and left.

Solomon Fortress

When they arrived at Solomon, they were surprised to be greeted by the sight of the Great Degwin itself in port.

"No way." Oliver breathed…

"It's the Sovereign himself…" Washiya said in amazement.

"M-message from the Great Degwin!" The communications officer stammered, "'Sovereign Degwin Sodo Zabi would like to personally congratulate the crew of the Jotunheim for their excellent handling of the Jormungand railgun! As such, Gunnery Officer...Lieutenant Aleksandro Hemme will awarded with Zeon's Victoria Cross."

The mood turned somber, "Tell them...Lt. Hemme was glad to serve Zeon, and will graciously accept the award. Posthumously or not." Cpt. Martin ordered

The communications officer nodded, and turned back to his screen.

As Ryan disembarked, he jumped off the Jotunheim in a pilot's suit. Gravity wasn't active yet, so he could easily float to the platform, and entered the fortress.

"Leaving so soon?" Oliver came up to him,

"I need to find where the Special Assault Regiment from A Baoa Qu docked."

"Oh, well thank you again." Oliver waved,

Ryan paused, "About Aleksandro...don't worry about him too much. He was at peace when he died."

Before Oliver could reply Ryan was already away, and disappeared into Solomon.

Ryan traversed the halls with a gravity rail. And stopped the first pilot he saw, a blond haired man in a pinkish-purple pilot suit.

"Excuse me, would you happen to know where the Special Assault Regiment docked?" Ryan asked,

"You're unlucky if you're this far out. They docked all the way across the base. Come on, I'll show you." The pilot motioned for him to follow,

"You sure?"

"Yeah...they're repairing my Zaku. Pest of a Feddie Ace got me good in the leg."

"Really? I got hit in the arm by a gold-painted Saberfish's missile."

"What luck. Probably the same ace that destroyed my leg."

"Huh." Ryan nodded

"What's your name? I'm Nimbus Schterzen,"

"Ryan Sahalin," Ryan replied off-handedly.

"Nice to meet you Ryan."

Ryan said nothing in response.

For the next ten minutes it took to traverse the base, it was mostly Nimbus talking about himself, and Ryan adding occasional input when something aligned. Turns out he was a second year when Ryan entered the academy. And had been in his own test team before the war, he helped test the MS-04 Bugu and later the YMS-05 Zaku I.

"Here we are!" Nimbus nodded, Ryan leaned at the rail, where he immediately noticed Mash, Ortega, and Gaia all talking.

Ryan jumped off the rail and floated down to them. "Hey guys!"

"Ryan! So that Red brat wasn't lying after all."

"Red brat? You mean Char?"

"He told us you'd landed on a supply ship."

"I did. It was the Jotunheim."

"Jotunheim? The guys who operated that Railgun?"

"Very ones," Ryan nodded,

"They're famous now." Mash chimed in,

"Well, anyway, I need a new Zaku now." Ryan shrugged, "Completely totalled mine when I got this." He displayed his bandaged left arm.

"Ouch." Gaia sucked in breath, "Looks brutal. We'll put in a request."

"I'd like that."

"Ryan?" A woman with light blue hair came up to him, "Ryan is that you?"

He turned around, "Aina! It's been years since I've seen you in person!" Ryan hugged her

"I'm glad to see you as well." Ginias came up from behind her.

"Ginias. I'm glad."

"It's quite impressive really." Ginias nodded, "Can I talk to you?"

Ryan nodded, and followed him.

"The truth of the matter is Loum was more devastating than we predicted."

"What?" Ryan looked at him in confusion.

"Many of the pilots that were trained between 0077 to 0078 were killed in the previous battles." He looked away, "We can't train enough mobile suit pilots in time. If negotiations fall through it may turn into disaster for Zeon."

Ryan was surprised, if his brother was speaking as he was now, then it was turning into a serious problem. He looked sorrowfully back at Aina,

"I wish she hadn't volunteered to be moved to active service."

"She did?" Ryan asked,

He nodded, "She's too much like father. Strong-willed and goodhearted, but headstrong, and naive in some aspects."

"I agree." He watched her eagerly converse with the Black Quad-Stars. He turned towards him, "I'm worried about you though."

"Why?" Ginias asked,

"I don't want you getting involved with Zabi politics." Ryan said, stopping in front of Ginias. "Operation British, I don't like it."

"It was a necessary sacrifice." Ginias said, but his tone made it clear he didn't believe his own words.

"Be careful, if given the chance, they will repeat this again." Ryan said,

"I will. I'm not even going to be in a Zabi run branch of the military. I'm going into the Z.A.E.D"

"Army Engineering?"

"Correct, away from politics."

Ryan nodded, "Good luck."

"Ryan!" Gaia walked up to him, "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure," He shrugged, "What's up?"

"Listen...I'm thinking I should have you run the squad from now on." He said at last,

Ryan raised an eyebrow, "What? Why?"

"I hate to admit it, but I'm getting on in years. I can't react as fast as I used to, besides-" He pulled out a picture, "I...I'm thinking of settling down. After this, you know?"

Ryan looked at the picture, "You're not leaving us, are you?" Ryan asked,

"'Course not!" Gaia said indignantnly, "Not until this bloody mess is over. But I'm just saying I can't keep ahead of the team well enough to be your leader anymore."

"I see, by the way..." Ryan looked up, "How come I'm just hearing of this now?"

Gaia flushed red, "Well...I mean we just met about a month ago...we kind of hit it off..." He stammered,

"I'm kidding old man." He deadpanned, "Go get a drink before you get a stroke instead,"