KnightOfZaku: Thanks for the review! Also, I may just skip straight to HADES and add Chloe Croce to the unit. And yes, we will do the SSA rebellion, although it'll focus more on the actual war between the Federation and SSA. I actually plan to do a story essentially covering from the end of the One-Year War in 0080 to the beginning of the Gryps Conflict in 0086/87.
"Listen up!" Yuri Kellerene assembled his pilots in a large briefing hall, "Sorry to wake you guys, but M'Quve has been breathing down my neck to do something, so here we are!"
Several chuckles could be heard, the 300th Newtype Corps stood off to the side of the main division.
"We've driven the majority of the Federation forces out of Eastern Europe, but we need to go further! The Federation desperately wants to protect their Rhineland industrial zones, as such, General M'Quve is ordering me to launch an offensive into Bavaria so we can stage a further assault with the northern divisions into the Rhine." Yuri explained, "However, we need to take out Federation positions in the Alpine mountains before that can happen."
"The word has it that the defenders here are the 44th Mechanized Composite Regiment.
There were some light grumbles among the pilots. Out of the corner of his eye, Ryan saw a pilot in a white suit shift with…was it eagerness? Nonetheless, he understood the pilots' reactions. The 44th had been a pain in their side all across Southern Europe. Even having been beaten half to death, they were still rearing for more. Ryan would admire their ferocity if it wasn't so damn annoying.
"That's not all. We've received intelligence that the Federation has begun deploying Mobile Suits of their own. An advance platoon was wiped out by them already, in fact."
The pilots gasped, 'Federation mobile suits?' They'd all heard the stories of the Golden Valkyrie, and several eyes turned to the members of the 300th. Ryan didn't meet their eyes, he knew that he couldn't protect them all.
"We need to proceed with caution. We will be sticking along a set route, which has been scouted out extensively."
'A set route through the mountains, a recipe for disaster.' Ryan thought to himself, mountains meant ambushes. Even a Type 61 could get a few good hits on even a Gouf if they had the element of surprise.
"We'll give the aerial units a few days to clear out the pass, until then, enjoy the last days of relaxation. I'll see you in Germany boys!" Yuri cheered, "Sieg Zeon!"
One day later
The first thought that occurred to Lilith was:
'This place stinks.'
The air was filled with the stench of motor oil and various other fluids. Dust was constantly being kicked up by passing vehicles. Men smoked and drank openly, it was clear there was little discipline among the division, no wonder those damn Zeons had been kicking ass across Europe if these were the type of people they were fighting.
No matter, when they saw her slaughter entire divisions of Zeon, they would fall in line.
Lilith had a simple yellow pilots suit, with a backpack on her back, and she stepped off the Medea.
"I assume you're the new recruit." Rose approached her,
Lilith scanned the woman - no, girl - in front of her. "How old are you?" Lilith asked.
"Not very nice to ask of your superior officer." Rose rolled her eyes, "But if you must know, I'm 16 turning 17 this year."
"A child is the Golden Valkyrie? How can I be expected to listen to a child?" Lilith asked indignantly. "Someone like you should be at home, leaving the fighting to us adults."
Rose scoffed, "The same adults who assigned you to me? Please, they'd rather recruit newborn babies than touch a firearm." Rose said, Lilith gasped at her bluntness.
"Listen Ensign." Rose turned serious, "Whether you like it or not, I'm in command here. And if a sixteen year old is good enough for the Brass, it's good enough for an ace pilot." Her eyes fell on a file Lilith was clutching.
"For me?"
Lilith said nothing, but reluctantly handed it over, Rose flipped through it. "You're a…Cyber Newtype?"
"Yes, I'm designed to be part of the next generation of soldiers." She said matter-of-factly, "And a direct counter to the 300th Newtype Corps." She spat the last part out.
Rose felt a sharp pain, and could've sworn she saw the faint visage of long black hair and plated armor.
A faint laugh drifted to her ears…
"Commander?" Lilith snapped her fingers, snapping Rose out of her daze.
"O-Oh, I'm fine." Rose shook her head, "Anyway, it's time you meet the team."
The 01st Platoon sat around, doing random things in silence around the barracks.
"Hey, Helios, why do people call you that?" Said Jeremiah in the bunk below him.
"What do you mean? Helios is my name." He replied,
"Wait - your name is actually Helios?" Jeremiah snickered,
Helio shrugged, "My parents were pretty big ancient literature fans. Loved greek mythology and stuff like that, so that's why they named me that."
"Fun fact: Helios actually means 'sun' in Greek." A glasses-wearing woman closed her book softly.
"Damn, but who the fuck asked?" Jeremiah snarked,
"Your absent father." Vanessa snapped back, tossing the book at him.
"At least I don't look like I stepped out of a horror movie." Jeremiah caught the book and threw it aside.
"At least my hairline can't be used as the Jollibee logo."
This was the real state of the 01st. A group of practical strangers hastily forced into mobile suit cockpits, fighting under a supposed war hero. It didn't exactly make for the best
"Alright pussyfarts!" Rose entered the room, and clapped her hands together. "We have a new addition to our squad! Everyone, meet Ensign Lilith Aidan! Treat her with respect yada-yada just don't do anything that'll make me pissed at one of you. Oh, by the way, Jeremiah, Vanessa, the toilets need cleaning."
Jeremiah and Vanessa gaped, as Rose left the room.
"That's unfucking natural." Jeremiah complained, "She wasn't anywhere near us."
"That woman is a monster." Vanessa agreed, the entire squad had to admit, their commander had unnatural levels of precognition and perception.
Helios rolled off his bunk, and approached Lilith, who had merely stood motionless. "I'm Helios Staten." He extended his hand, but Lilith didn't take it.
Suddenly, a bell rang out,
"Shit, what is it now? A briefing call?" Vanessa complained,
"Looks like we dodge the toilets for now." Jeremiah joked.
"Attention!" A lieutenant shouted out over the unruly masses of soldiers.
"Listen well men!" Colmatta shouted, "We've just received word of a Zeon attempt to break through the Alps. In fact, they're on the way as we speak, as such, we'll be sorting immediately."
"We estimate they have an entire division of mobile suits, two tank divisions, and an infantry division all trying to break through."
"That many?"
"How can we expect to hold them?"
"Our defenses have been hit especially hard by bombing runs, so this is something of a hasty sortie. Our job - however - is not direct combat, against those kinds of numbers it's no less than sucide. However, we will instead hit them as they head through the pass."
Colmatta's eyes fell on the 01st Platoon, "The 01st Mixed Independent Platoon is the cornerstone of this plan. They will have free reign to strike anywhere they please in the mountains."
"Dismissed and move out!"
"Ryan-chan…" Alma groaned,
"Yes, Alma?" Ryan asked,
"I'm hungry!"
"I told you to pack ration bars for the trip." Ryan looked back at her with his Gouf, "But you said and I quote: 'They are tasteless and unfilling'."
"Meanie!" Alma pouted, Ryan said nothing, but pulled out a ration bar of his own, and ate it in front of the camera.
Alma moaned sadly, and Marion sighed.
"Seriously though, the girl is right. When the hell are we going to get there?" Gaia asked,
"Well, we've just passed Ljubljana. So we're about to enter the Alps. So I'd give it several more hours. Maybe between half-a-day to a day."
"Damn…" Gaia moaned,
In a Weasel APC below them, Seven was sleeping peacefully beside some communications equipment.
"Why can't we take the Zanzibars?" Marion asked,
"We don't have air superiority over this space. I don't feel like getting shot down." Ryan told them, "This is a safer bet."
"So, you're the Black Knight?" A white mobile suit approached him,
"Yes, I am." Ryan shuddered, something felt…dark about this mobile suit, not from its pilot, but from behind him.
"My name…is Elmer Snell, but they call me the White Ogre."
"The White Ogre…one of the Attack Force's greatest aces." Ryan noted
"An empty title, considering you've only been squashing tanks." Gaia snarked,
"You space boys have no idea what it's like down here. Not as many places to move, a lot more places for the enemy to hide." Elmer told them,
"Why are you telling me this?" Ryan stopped his Gouf,
"Just letting you know." The white Zaku marched on, and Ryan watched him go.
"...What a weirdo." Alma noted,
"Yeah…he felt strange. Bitter, somehow." Marion noted,
Ryan didn't reply, and stared straight ahead.
The 01st Mixed Independent Platoon landed at the southern base of the Alpine mountains.
"The enemy is a good few hours from now. The main body of the division is setting up in the mountains themselves. I'll take the lead and scout out the enemy." Rose explained.
"Roger." The team replied
"We're not engaging them?" Lilith asked.
"Like hell. We're not Newtypes here." Rose scoffed, "No, we need the cover provided by the tanks and artillery to engage them. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"You're not even going to talk to Colmatta?" Vanessa asked
"He gave us a license." Rose shrugged, "I don't want to talk to him if I don't have to."
"Understood, Commander." The team responded,
"The rest of you, fortify with the rest of the Division. Vanny, Jeremiah you got the packages?"
"Yes ma'am!" Vanessa replied.
"Good," Rose nodded.
"Package?" Lilith questioned, and they unslung two large weapons containers.
On them were rows of beam sniper rifles, there were also two railcannons attached on each side of Vanessa's.
"No way…" Helios breathed,
"R-3X Type Beam Snipers. Can rip through even a Gouf with a single shot. Sadly, they're not as efficient as mine or the Spray Guns used by the Sky/Ground Types. Then we got the YHI-RC180 Railcannon, like the snipers; it can rip through a Gouf in one shot. You may now applaud me."
The team was stunned, "How…did you get these?" Helios lifted a sniper up
"I may be cannon fodder. But I'm valuable cannon fodder, ask and you shall receive." Rose chirped,
"Now, don't blow your own heads off!" Rose transformed into Fighter form and shot off,
Lilith stared at a beam sniper, grabbed one, and flew after her.
South America, Jaburo
"Our Cyber Newtype program is proceeding on schedule." Herman Graves explained, "We believe that M-0 will be ready for combat within the week."
"What about the Psycommu Systems?" Coliny asked, Graves shook his head.
"We've developed the first set of weaponry. But they're for Zero-gravity use only, creating a system that operates on Earth will be difficult, and will not be ready before the deployment of the Gundam Alex at least."
"I see…" Coliny nodded,
"Revil has been pushing for resources to be reallocated again. He wants GM development sped up."
"Don't worry about him. I'm the one producing results right now, he'll never catch the ear of the Federation Parliament." Coliny said dismissively, "More importantly…"
"The Witch." Grave stated, and Coliny nodded.
"She's done nothing to note so far." Graves said,
"Keep an eye on her." Coliny ordered, and Graves nodded.
'Rose Sahalin…a transfer student from Side 3…I won't be surprised if she's a spy of some sort.' Coliny thought to himself.
South of Austria
Rose checked her sensors once again, aside from the occasional Zaku, she hadn't spotted anything significant, she knew the Minovsky Particles were thick in this region, so she wasn't to worried about being detected.
Suddenly, without warning, a single blip came up on her radar, and at first Rose was ready to engage the Dopp or Gaw, but then she realized the IFF was read as friendly.
"I swear to god whoever followed me-" Rose opened comms
"Commander. I decided to follow you." Lilith said blankly
"This was a one man job." Rose shot at her, "Return to base before you're detected."
"I can't do that." Lilith said resolutely.
"Like hell you can't. Go. Back." Rose said, but then Lilith simply cut off her comms.
"Did she- that bitch!" Rose facepalmed, finally realizing that, whether she liked it or not, she was stuck with Lilith.
They flew in silence for a few minutes, before Lilith finally reopened her comms.
"I've spotted the enemy."
"No shit. Land some distance away. We don't want to be spotted." Rose banked and managed to bring the Golden Gundam to landing several hundred meters away in a grove of trees., a good distance from any Zaku, but still within good viewing range of the enemy.
Rose dismounted the Golden Gundam, "Alright. Get out." Rose ordered,
"...Isn't it better if one of us remains in our mobile suit?" Lilith asked,
"Yes, if I was with anyone except you. But you're shit at following orders, so get out." Rose told her, and after a few seconds, Lilith dismounted and lowered herself from the cockpit.
"What now?" Lilith asked,
"We do a little spying."
A/N: So...as you can see. The squad is very new to each other and rowdy, but Rose has experience from leading Moore Brotherhood with Claudia, although the 01st doesn't work together nearly as well (not yet anyway).
As for her relation to Lilith. Lilith's blind hatred of Zeon will be a mix of comedic relief and genuine issue. Rose - of course - is highly disturbed by it, as she is from Zeon and has living family there. This coupled with Lilith's general disregard for her due to her young age will lead to tensions between the two, but they will eventually get past it and...we'll see how it goes.
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Official Solar Century Wiki (remove odd spaces):
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