It was tantamount to suicide this mission, yet the three of them knew they had no choice. Bounded by a leash, they were nothing more than obedient dogs carrying out the will of their master. The dark clouds rolled in from the distance, with the onset of a catastrophe storm touching down in the region.
Three large mobile suits barrelled down the barren wastelands, their boosters howling with unkept rage. Such a machine would be impossible to move at such blistering speeds to the average citizen's eye. Yet, the creative ingenuity that humanity would go through just to kill an adversary trumped everything else.
"Talons entering the combat zone, beginning phase 2 of the mission." An almost mechanical voice buzzed through the comms channel.
A loud thunderous roar of echoing gunfire filled the air as relentless artillery shells desperately tried to repel them. In a unified blur of grey, the squadron of mobile suits leapt high into the sky and dove into the carnage, plunging recklessly over the ridge towards their unbending objective.
The trio was met with a deadly onslaught of bright crimson red. There was no time to think as the wave careened towards them at blistering speed. Split-second reflexes were the only thing that could save them from certain death. With a burst of energy, they split apart and darted in different directions, desperately dodging and weaving around the lethal force of destruction.
One of the mobile suits surged towards the stronghold, its metal legs skipping on the scorched earth. A pilot's voice crackled over comms as he armed his missile racks. One by one, the missiles shot out of their pods, soaring into the sky before turning sharply down like a flock of birds on prey. The stronghold's defensive structures were instantly eviscerated as the cluster munitions descended, leaving behind blazing infernos and billowing smoke. Through the haze, an opening appeared in the fortress's wall, beckoning to be exploited.
With a heart-stopping roar, the mobile suit charged through the newly-exposed breach, intending to carve a path of destruction through the enemy's failed defences. A red beam shot through the thick billowing smoke, accurate and precise. The mobile suit had no chance to react before its torso was obliterated. Its pilot's corpse quickly disappeared in a sudden cloud of smoke, as if their life was insignificant, just another problem solved.
The remaining two mobile suits pressed on with their attack, remaining indifferent to the loss of their comrade. The only words to grace the comms were, "No. 19's vital signs are lost. Adjusting attack vector."
Plunging deep into the heart of the stronghold, their primary target stood in plain sight. Mounted onto a fixed hardpoint, it bore an uncanny resemblance to a laser cannon only seen on space-faring battleships. Pulsing with life, it began rapidly charging its next shot.
The hail of autocannon fire was concentrated in their direction, yet there was no point in avoiding the onslaught as there were overwhelming amounts. A well-placed shot shredded the arm of No. 21, yet the pilot continued undaunted. With reckless abandon, they pushed forward, disregarding the stark reminder of their vulnerability.
Silently closing the gap between them, the two pilots moved in tandem to destroy the vulnerable super weapon. What seemed to be a straightforward victory was ripped away in an instant when a hulking Guntank erupted from the ground, sending shockwaves through the air. Its intimidating weapons were trained on the combatants and ready to destroy them at any moment.
Plunging the mobile suit into an emergency dive, No 21 scooted through the underbelly, and its head grazed the churning tracks. Sparks erupted violently as the mobile suit escaped the underside and avoided narrow death.
The terrifying mobility exerted by the Guntank was made apparent when its weapons were now trained on No. 21. Their mechanical retinas briefly gunned each other down, reminding the pilot he was staring at another human in there.
Sparing no hesitation, the 200mm Vulcan cannon roared to life as it spewed its payload onto the target with minimal damage against its armour plating. Seeing all four weapons train onto their mobile suit, No. 21 realised he had to make a break for it.
As if their mind was being read, No. 20 cut into their vision and began firing its beam rifle at the enemy. Chipping away at its armour, the Guntank turned its attention to the new threat and fired wildly.
Using the newfound distraction, No. 21 began circling the machine whilst No. 20 drew its attention.
The act of defiance was cruelly cut short when a vicious scatter laser shot from the Guntank blasted No. 20's mobile suit into oblivion, leaving behind nothing but smouldering pieces. Knocking the mech out of the sky, the Guntank further cannibalised the downed remains of the mobile suit with a wall of lead and explosives.
"No. 20, vitals lost." A voice buzzed the comms. No. 21 remained indifferent to another loss of a teammate. Harrowingly avoiding gunfire from the Guntank, they exploited the poor depression angles of the giant machine and ducked into its lower centre where the supposed cockpit sat.
The mobile suit charged forward, its frame shuddering with each thunderous impact against the armour belt. Sparks flew in all directions as it relentlessly pushed its adversary back, metal scraps showering them both. Thruster output set to max, the overwhelming force was enough to stop the lumbering machine briefly.
Jamming the Vulcan cannon into where the headpiece sat, the barrel roared to life as the entire belt was dumped into the target. What felt like an eternity was merely only a few seconds as the cannon had stopped functioning entirely due to the insane heat generated from firing that long.
By now, the Guntank had fallen silent, and fires began to erupt internally as critical systems needed to keep things in check had been destroyed by the reckless exchange. Discarding their weapon, the mobile suit pulled away from the withering metal husk and glared at the laser cannon charging up for another attack.
Alarms blared wildly inside the cockpit as many vital systems were either destroyed or deemed inoperable due to the abusive usage by No. 21. Rising to its full height, the mobile suit creaked and groaned as parts fell off together with hydraulics outright failing.
"Mission parameters updated, initiating phase 3, pattern Iota"
Putting the mission at the forefront, No. 21 retrieved the beam rifle that belonged to No. 20 and pressed forward in a last-ditch attack. Activating the shoulder-mounted rockets, they sent one final volley towards the hulking weapons platform.
Just as the superweapon was about to discharge, a series of explosions peppered the exterior before spilling inside and rupturing the core block. Triggering a chain reaction, the towering weapon exploded from within and sent a violent shockwave reeling across the scorched earth.
An unknown amount of time had passed since the destruction of the superweapon. But it was enough time for the enemy force to abandon the stronghold and for other prying eyes to swoop in.
A lone helicopter buzzed the desolate scene; full-blown carnage and metal husks littered the area as far as the eye could see. Its searchlight panned across the area, desperately seeking something. At last, a visual target was confirmed, and all attention was focused on it.
"No. 21, inoperable. Vital signs are still on the board. Reporting to Handler Nero. Mission complete" The Pilot's voice echoed mechanically through the radio, devoid of even a tinge of emotion.
"And the Sarkaz superweapon?" A disgruntled man asked impatiently.
"Destroyed, all remaining personnel are routed."
"Return No. 21 to us. He has satisfied his obligations, and I will not have it said that my word is not kept." A deathly silence followed, and the man clicked off the transmission with a chilling finality.
The Doctor jolted awake, trembling, with sweat dripping from his forehead. He could feel his pulse racing and instinctively tightened the grip on the dog tags that hung around his neck. Staring into the pitch blackness of his room, a sliver of light appeared as he caught a glimpse of the clock - it was still 3 am in the morning. His body slumped against the bed, realising it was just another flashback that evoked broken memories of a past life. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he felt an emotional wave engulfing him.
The sheets rustle as he rolls over. "There's no way I'll be going back to sleep at this rate." A groan escapes his lips as he pushes his exhausted body out of bed. He can feel every beat of his heart in his brain like a painful drumbeat, and the haze of mental fog makes him long for the silence of solitude.
He flicked the switch, and a warm yellow light illuminated his room. He gingerly picked up his favourite coat from its hanger and slowly buttoned it. He then sat at his desk, picked up a pen and pad of paper and scribbled down a short note to Amiya saying he'd be away for some time.
"Here's hoping Amiya and Kal'tsit don't blast my phone repeatedly with notifications." He grumbled to himself.
Exiting his office, he paced down the empty corridors that would normally be bustling with activity during the day. The only soul he saw passing him was the overnight watch. Even then, the person greeted him with a simple nod and resumed their duty.
He pressed the button for the elevator, which slowly descended down into the vehicle depot and opened to a large array of Jeeps and other vehicles. He walked over to one, admiring its sleek curved lines, and opened up the launch doors. The automated voice began counting down as the outer door of the landship opened, and steam rose up from the ground like fog. As soon as the all-clear signal illuminated on the dashboard, he started up the engine and drove off into the dark night sky dotted with stars.
The Doctor's vehicle slowly climbed its way up the winding path, jostling and creaking from every pothole and uneven patch of terrain. The engine sang a low tune, like a mournful lullaby as they drove through the landscape. After what felt like an eternity, the car finally pulled into an open clearing, coming to a stop in front of his destination.
He stepped out of the vehicle, the door clanking shut behind him. He squinted as he approached the tall circle-shaped structure; it was an old gas holder, its metal panels now corroded and rusted. The pavement around the structure was overgrown with weeds, and nearby were dilapidated buildings that had once been part of a gas refinery. There was no evidence of any recent human activity.
Approaching a nearby door, he entered the inconspicuous structure and disappeared from prying eyes. His boots made a heavy sound as he waded across the poorly maintained concrete floor. Entering a dodgy elevator that seemed half functional, he pressed the only number available on the panel and heard a soft ding as the door closed on him.
The rickety contraption shuddered abruptly as the gears and cables began moving. The ride was short-lived as the steel box came to an abrupt halt. With another soft ding the door slid open and a whole new world was blasted into the Doctor's face.
Stepping outside the steel box, he casually walked into a bristling underground hangar with technicians and engineers scurrying about with their tasks. At the centre of the giant hangar stood a large object covered with cranes and bridges obscuring it.
Power tools went off simultaneously together, overpowering most of the other noises inside the hangar. Standing at the base of the plastered object was a familiar face delegating orders to a group of workers.
As she heard him approaching, her ears perked up and she spun around. A bright smile illuminated her face as she saw who it was. She waved enthusiastically, and the corners of her eyes crinkled with joy.
She ran up to the Doctor, her eyes alight with surprise and delight. She wrapped her arms around him in an exuberant hug, and he stiffened momentarily before enveloping her in a warm embrace.
"Good morning, Closure!" He rocked both of their bodies back and forth.
The Sarkaz woman broke free from the hug and stared at him with gleaming eyes. "What happened? I thought you were supposed to come later today?"
The man scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Yeah...well, I couldn't sleep properly." He laughed it off.
"Looks like I'm not the one suffering sleep problems them." Closure winked whilst giggling.
Within a sudden eye blink, the Doctor's eyes were covered by a pair of hands. The cold hands pressed against his skin, serving as a dead giveaway as to who they would belong to.
"Uhhhh, I wonder who this person could be?" He said sarcastically. The sound of Closure snickering in the background further solidified his suspicions.
Hearing the sound of mechanical objects chirping excitedly, a high-pitched voice filled his ears. "Jeez, you're no fun," The woman grumbled as she removed her hands.
Turning around to face the familiar person, a soft smile spread across the Doctor's face. "Karenina, good to see you!" He opened his arms inviting her for a hug.
Not squandering this chance, the woman wrapped her arms around his back and hugged him tightly. "It's been a while since you last swung by." She grinned.
"Well, you know what life is like aboard Rhodes Island." He pulled out of the embrace.
Karenina gently rapped the back of her hand on his jacket, "So, what brings you here so early in the morning? The engineering team isn't done putting the test bed together yet."
He quickly shared a glance with Closure, "Sleep, yeah, let's keep it at sleep."
Karenina sighed, "You're becoming more like us on the engineering team, working ungodly hours, consuming caffeine and neglecting sleep."
Closure clapped her hands together excitedly, changing the subject. "Any news on your end, Doc? Are the materials going to arrive as scheduled?"
"It should; our courier said there would be no delays."
Karenina let out an excited noise. "They'd better! We've spent close to a year getting this project up to speed. Any more delays, and we'll soon find ourselves out of funds." A worried look crossed her face.
The Doctor waved his hand, "Don't worry, I'll make sure it doesn't come to that."
Closure's eyes widened, and her lips pursed as she sucked in a breath, "Are you really sure about this? You know how dangerous it is to go back to working for Nero again."
The man's broad shoulders slumped as he released a heavy sigh. His eyes glistened with worry, and his hands trembled nervously. "At this point," he said, his voice barely a whisper, "I'm at the mercy of his beck and call. I owe him a great debt."
"Tch, the leverage this bastard has against us is too good. If we plan on turning the tables on him, we need to be crafty about it." Karenina growled. The thought of being a lowly slave disgusted her to her core.
Avoiding their gaze, the man simply tilted his head upwards and caught a glimpse of a head towering above everything else. Its soulless green eyes glared back down towards him. "Such is the price to pay when you pilot a Gundam..." He murmured.
A fair amount of time had passed since the Doctor arrived at the confidential facility. The sound of machinery and tools that would normally flood the hangar walls had fallen silent, replaced instead by the low hum of generators.
Closure leaned against the railing of the catwalk, taking in the sight before her. The enormous mech crouched silently at the centre of the hangar, a menacing figure looming over the darkness surrounding its steel prison. She felt for a cigarette in her pocket and struck a match to light it. Taking a deep drag, she exhaled slowly, a cloud of smoke momentarily obscuring her view. She watched as it billowed away into the air and sighed heavily.
Another figure promptly joined the lonely Sarkaz woman; it was Karenina. Karenina's eyes widened in surprise when she saw the woman take another drag from her cigarette and exhale a cloud of smoke into the air. Her face scrunched up in disdain as she folded her arms. "I didn't know you smoked," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Closure reached up, brushing her black hair behind her ear. She tugged at the sleeves of her leather jacket and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I quit, actually, a long time ago," she said, her voice low and unemotional. The disdain on her face was palpable, even more so than the acrid smoke surrounding them. "It eases up on the stress, a shit excuse, but it works." She shook her head slowly, eyes dark and unfathomable.
Karenina knew she couldn't blatantly judge her. After all, Closure is living her own life. Yet the sight of it rubbed her the wrong way. "Your mind must be unequivocally fucked right now if you're smoking a drag." She sighed, "Need to vent?"
The Sarkaz woman, her chin leaning on her free hand, breathed out a swirl of smoke from the cigarette grasped between her fingers. She took another drag and let it out in an almost wistful exhale. "I just have this feeling that there's something more going on here," she said, although she couldn't describe what. Her gaze drifted away as she recalled the moment when the Doctor had approached her with the mysterious plan, and how she had scoffed at his craziness. But then there was that look in his eyes—something like the old Doc still glimmering there—a look that convinced her to take a chance.
Karenina shifted slightly, her hands adjusting the sleek silver headband around her head. The mechanical flaps on top of it fluttered rapidly, a sure sign that her mind was racing with questions. "Thinking back on it now," she said, voice low and laced with intrigue, "we basically helped revive an ancient war machine that predates this whole place. Makes you wonder why the Doctor needs such a terrifying weapon in the first place."
Closure frowned, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and anxiety. "I don't know if I can keep doing this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Rationalizing our actions seems impossible at this point." She crushed the cigarette into the ground, as if trying to crush her own doubts along with it. "But then again, I can't abandon everything after coming this far, can I?" The Doctor's words echoed in her mind, pulling her in conflicting directions. "I swore to see this through with him...but at what cost?"
Karenina tilted her head upwards to take in the intense steel beams of the ceiling, buying time for the right words to come out of her mouth. "You're forgetting that you kind of forced me into this too." She let out a light laugh mixed with exasperation. "I guess the Doc must be feeling the same about this whole thing."
Closure moved away from the railing and began walking back inside. "Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough, won't we?" She stifled a tired yawn.
The two women made their way through the inner sanctums of the facility, navigating the same coloured corridors with painted numbers indicating their location. Arriving outside the command centre, the two exchanged brief glances before unlocking the door.
Both of them stepped into the room and were immediately drawn to the large screen occupying the back centre. Lines of multicoloured light connected geographical points around Terra while text scrolled across the display. At the centre stood a giant table, its surface covered with hidebound maps and high-tech digi-marks; Closure knew what it was immediately – it was the same type of table used by tacticians and commanders.
The Doctor stood at the end of the table, pressing his palms into the frame as he studied the reports before him. His gaze quickly shifted between each log, looking for any missed detail that could change the outcome. His brow was furrowed in worry and uncertainty as his eyes raced across the text, struggling to make sense of all the information.
"Seems like you've got your worked cut out for you." Closure's voice seemingly snapped the man out of his dazed trance.
"To be honest, I've just about had it trying to process any more new information." He rolled his eyes tiredly, yet there was a hint of relief in his tone seeing them. "Is everything ready for our trial run?"
Karenina nodded affirmatively, "I've made some minor adjustments to the haptic feedback in your suit. Apart from that, everything else should be similar to the simulation rig." She wore a proud gaze.
"Thanks for that, Karen." He quickly shot Closure a glance, seeing if she had anything else to add to the conversation. The woman shook her head, prompting him to continue.
He tapped his fingertips on the tabletop, each staccato beat more forceful than the last. His smile stretched so wide it looked like it might split his face in two. "Well then," he said, "what are we waiting for?"
The excited buzz in the room was palpable as they prepared to begin their new adventure together.
Bright lights swept the tarmac and illuminated the chaotic scene within the hangar. Amidst the flashing red, yellow, and blue hues of alarm signals, crew members scrambled around mechanic's carts filled with tools and parts. Every now and then, they'd pause to consult diagrams on tablets or yell out a query for help from the other side of the room. Meanwhile, in the command centre, Closure barked orders into her radio as she watched the hustle and bustle on her digital display.
The Doctor stepped onto the sky bridge, his heavy boots clanging against the metal with each step. The Gundam's chest seemed to loom closer and closer, giving the illusion that he was walking into a giant mechanical beast's snarling jaws. He tightened the chest rig around him, feeling its weight increase as it attached all the protective gear he wore. His silhouette gave him a mercenary look.
Karenina followed closely behind him, her eyes rapidly scanning through the datapad as she crunched the numbers. She tried to suppress her anxiety, yet was broadcasting it clearly towards the Doctor.
"Relax, it'll be fine." He said with a light-hearted chuckle.
The woman turned away and sighed deeply, her eyes betraying a hint of frustration. She resisted the urge to shout at him, knowing it would be fruitless. "I know," she said quietly, "But I just can't help how I feel."
The man's arms encircled her waist, and suddenly Karenina felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She managed a weak smile. "You'd better come through with that promise of drinks," she said. "I'm jumping across the river Styx to fulfil that proposal." His mouth curled into an impish grin.
He began putting the helmet over his head and secured it to the locking mechanisms. "How do I look?" His voice came out through the helmet's speakers
The woman rested a hand on her hip and smirked at the getup, "Like shit, really." She giggled.
The Doctor let out a sigh and shrugged his shoulders. "At least you're honest about it." He turned around and waved.
Karenina pointed the datapad at him with a serious face, "You'd better not break it, or else I'll kick your ass if you do!"
"Yeah, yeah." The man replied nonchalantly to her threat.
Climbing into the cockpit, he saw into the chair and began flicking an array of switches and levers. His hands moved automatically, knowing the ins and out of this cockpit thanks to the countless hours he spent in simulation training.
As if responding to his actions, the machinery inside stirred to life with a series of hums and whirrs. Lights flickered on inside whilst exterior functions jolted to life. "Priming ignition of thrusters one to four!" He informed through the radio.
"Roger, confirm TVC nozzles for me." Closure instructed him.
Gripping the right joystick, he began to move it around like a madman spontaneously. Several small thrusters around the Gundam moved in response to the sporadic input.
"All good, begin firing sequence of engines one to four."
"Copy that."
The pilot of the Gundam reached towards the controls, pressed a single button, and held it down. Immediately, the main boosters on the back of the mobile suit ignited in an orderly succession. Great plumes of white smoke escaped each exhaust port, followed by bright orange flames that roared into the air. The hangar shook with each roar as if it was alive with energy.
"Idle numbers are good. So far everything is proceeding as normal Closure." He told her.
"Affirmative, undocking the sky bridge now and arming the catapults." She replied. Out of the corner of her eye, Karenina joined next to her and gave her a reassuring thumbs up. "Marco, you're cleared to open the hangar bay doors. Nat, how are we looking for traffic?"
"Radar shows no approaching objects within a 20-kilometre radius."
"Marco, rig up the catapults."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Two steel-sheathed tracks snaked along the floor of the hangar, and at their base, a pair of giant robotic clamps glided forward. As they approached the Gundam's feet, the tracks split and curled around them, fitting precisely into contours in its armour. A loud metallic click reverberated as the clamps locked into place, leaving the immense machine immobile as the surrounding floodlights illuminated the entire length of the track.
"We're clear to launch, ma'am."
"I'm handing the controls over to you, Doctor, Godspeed," she said over the radio, her voice taking on a slightly higher pitch than normal. She nervously twisted her fingers together, biting her nails as she watched the monitor with wide eyes.
The man's chest heaved in anticipation as he listened to the confirmation. His limbs twitched nervously, eyes wide with anxiety, and his left hand firmly grasped the launch lever while his right furiously quivered. A wave of terror seeped into his veins from a buried memory - flames, smoke, and deafening gunfire ringing through the air. He remembered being inside his Gundam as he courageously drove it towards its death.
He desperately wanted to take off running. He wanted to leave the memories behind and forget his promises. He felt the cold metal of his dog tags beneath his suit as he willed himself to stay. "No more running," he silently reprimanded. Though a huge part of him wanted to flee, he had made promises to those he held dear. He had also sworn it to himself.
He clasped his sweaty hands around the joystick, knuckles turning white as he leaned forward in his cockpit. His heart raced with anticipation as he prepared for launch. With a sharp inhale, he willed himself to take the plunge. "MSA-0033 launching!" The clank of metal echoed through the cockpit as he slammed his left hand down on the lever and felt the thrusters ignite with raw power. Smoke billowed out in thick clouds as jets of flame propelled him forward at breakneck speed.
The Gundam surged ahead, accelerating so fast that it seemed to warp space around it. Time slowed as he focused all his attention on piloting the massive machine.
Blitzing across the rail tracks, a bright light revealed itself at the end of the tunnel, blinding the man through the digital screen. With a violent shudder, the Gundam was launched into the air for the first time in a long while since its unearthing.
He pushed the throttle forward, feeling the Gundam respond as the altimeter slowly rose. The reactor whirred and hummed, staying within the normal ranges he had trained for. His knuckles were white from gripping the joysticks so tightly, but the instruments were all in agreement; they were climbing well. He exhaled a long sigh of relief.
"I have full control now. Let's see what the old gal can do." He psyched himself up for the next part of the trial.
Back down in the control room, the engineering force let out a triumphant cheer upon witnessing a successful launch.
Closure's voice boomed through the room, her words calm but authoritative, "Let's save the energy until after he's touched back down, ladies and gentlemen." Her black eyes twinkled as she spoke, and a wide grin plastered all over her face. "The real test begins now."
The Gundam soared in the sky, its boosters propelling it through the air with a roar and leaving behind a trail of white-hot exhaust. Through the vast expanse of clouds, the Doctor could feel his soul merging with this machine as if it was calling to him from some unknown void deep within. Every twist and turn of the Gundam felt natural and right, as if it was a part of himself, and together, they created an amazing aerial ballet in the open skies.
As if suddenly stopping on a dime, the robot entered free fall and began rapidly picking up speed as gravity took over. At this point, the Doctor was toying with the mobile suit, commanding it through 180-degree turns and death-spiralling dives, executing enormous g-force-induced turns and breaking the sound barrier.
"Is this...what a mobile suit can do?" A technician stared in awe as she watched through the digital screen. Everyone else in the room, save for Closure and Karenina, had their eyes glued to the screen for the spectacle.
"Tch, there he goes, showing off again." Karenina pinched the bridge of her nose in dismay.
Closure smiled so wide her cheeks hurt, and she threw her arms up into the air in jubilation. Tears of happiness streamed down her face, and laughter soon bubbled out of her mouth. "Looks like the Doc's shouting for drinks after all!"
Up in the clouds, in his own little world, the Doctor couldn't help but feel relieved. "It's good to be back," He gently tapped the machine, "Looks like we're going to make some fine memories together."
Dark clouds began settling in through the green mountain ranges. The initial pitter-patter of rain began drumming off the exterior metal panels that stretched a fair distance at the base of an inconspicuous mountain.
An old man with bristly grey hair and wrinkled skin sat in a chair surrounded by metal bookshelves and filing cabinets. The room was illuminated by a soft yellow light from a worn ceiling lamp, and the only sound was the slow dripping of water from the windows outside his office. His gaze was focused on each individual raindrop as it lazily made its way down the window's glass surface.
Even as the door to his office slid open, he refused to avert his gaze to acknowledge the presence of his secretary simply. The footsteps were muffled by the carpet as they drew closer to his desk.
"No. 21 has successfully reactivated their mobile suit, sir." The man spoke in a low, humble tone.
The old man leaned forward in his chair, resting his hands on the knob of a weathered wooden cane. His gnarled fingers tapped against the cane's handle as if pondering a distant thought. "Is that so?" He said in a gravelly voice and shook his head. "I told myself that machine would never take flight again, yet here we are." He huffed out an incredulous laugh and blew air through his lips. "Perhaps No. 21 can be useful after all."
"Are we still proceeding with your idea then, sir?" The man asked him.
The aged man struggled to push himself to his feet, only to find every creaking joint aching with the effort. He shuffled across the room and planted his hands on the windowsill, taking in the sight of what once had been a majestic spaceship now sitting forlornly at the foot of the mountain. Its once proud wings were limp and drooping towards the ground like broken wings. A cold wind tore through its thinning exterior, revealing the scars of strip mining that had removed half its hull. Plastic sheets flapped in the wind, acting as makeshift covers over gaping wounds where parts had been scavenged.
He moved back into his chair, a low sigh slipping from his lips. His black eyes were cold and calculating as he spoke. "Bring me the list of high-profile clients seeking mercenary work," he said gruffly. "I'm not talking about petty small-scale operations. I want the work that would put nations on the edge of their seats and deepen our pockets." His words hung heavy in the air, and a tense silence descended upon the room.
Annnnnd that's Chapter 1 done. This has been sitting in my drafts for a while now, but I guess the itch to write a Gundam fic was too great to suppress.
Fun fact, my first ever Gunpla was an MG 1/100 EX-S Gundam. You'd think a noob like me would settle for EG or RG, but nah, I opted to jump straight to MG. To be fair, building it was quite enjoyable, and I didn't break anything. Since my painting and colouring skills are non-existent, I'll come back to it when I'm feeling more confident.
Anyways, that's it from me for now. Perhaps a chapter 2 looms on the horizon?