"Cheers!" The small group brought their glasses together in cheering unison. A haughty shout enveloped the mess hall as the entire crew celebrated the success of their Gundam launch.

Ecstatic voices clambered over one another as people began speculating over the future of this facility. The Doctor weaved in and out of talking circles along his path, personally thanking everyone that made this situation a reality.

Closure raised her frothing mug with the word 'success' printed on its side, and clinked it against the tiny cup in the man's hand. "Congrats on not blowing up," she said with a wink.

"Hey now, if you had gone through with it, I was prepared to swim across the river Styx and haunt your ass for eternity." He raised his hands triumphantly, a satisfied smirk on his face.

As the Doctor kept talking, a familiar voice called out. Karenina stumbled towards him, swaying as if the ground beneath her feet was an unsteady sea. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes glassy, and her speech slurred. She jabbed at his chest with a finger. "Do you know how much maintenance time you've given me with that little stunt of yours?" she said, hiccuping between breaths.

"My, my, it seems like Karen hasn't changed when it comes to her alcohol tolerance." Closure jokingly patted her friend's back.

Karenina's cheeks flushed, and her eyes darted between the Sarkaz woman and the Doctor as she asked in a sly and playful voice, "Hah?! You talking smack again about me, in front of the Doc no less?" She cocked an eyebrow with faux indignation.

Closure closed her eyes and shook her head, letting out a loud sigh. Her mug of ale was almost empty – she took one last swig before slamming it down on the counter. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as an idea suddenly came to her. "Doc, I'm beat," she said, putting on a fake pout. "Could you be a dear and walk Karen back to her room? I don't think she can take another drink tonight." She batted her eyelashes at him, trying to appear as helpless as possible.

The man's steely glare spoke volumes, his eyes conveying a subtle 'fuck you' without a single word. Karenina was making her presence known, having only been granted thirty seconds of peace before she took centre stage in the party. All eyes were on her as she spun around and shouted lyrics to her favourite idol song.

Closure merely offered a shit-eating grin as she gestured for him to control the act. Rolling his eyes in defeat, he set down his cup and began walking towards the performing woman who'd been singing her heart out.

By now, the entire room had been singing along to the same song, and the amount of drunken emotion being poured into the chorus alone could be felt in the air. "Well, this is gonna take a while." He sighed dejectedly.

It was late into the night, and the party fever had well and truly lapsed. Walking down the empty hallway, the sound of a low snore was the only thing occupying the Doctor's ears as he made his way to his destination.

He hoisted Karenina onto his back, her body limp and heavy. After a few minutes of searching, he finally spotted the white door with the number '301' etched on it. Sliding his card through the reader, the door unlocked with a click, and he stepped into the homely room, illuminated by a soft yellow light.

"Parden the intrusion." He whispered as he stepped inside.

In a rush of movement, he hurried to her bed and laid her down. With swift hands, he tucked the thick comforter around her tiny frame and carefully removed two black-coloured hair ties that were woven into her twin ponytails, letting her long locks fan out against the white lines below. The woman softly mumbled some words in her sleep as he silently watched her drift off.

"Thanks for your hard work up until now Karen. I appreciate it, really." He tenderly stroked her head with a soft smile.

Glancing around the room, he took note of the explosive décor that plastered the walls and her desk. He noticed a plush of Closure tucked in the corner of her desk. The crochet was masterful, and the colours vibrant; he couldn't help but grin at it before turning to leave.

Closing the door behind him, he stifled a tired yawn, yet the tiredness hadn't set in yet for him. Knowing his out-of-control sleep schedule the past few weeks, it'd be a miracle if he could close his eyes and drift off now. "Is it a bad time for coffee? Surely not?" He wondered to himself as he continued walking.

He reached his private room and swiped his key card through the reader. Stepping through the door, he took off his coat and threw it over the chair and divebombed into the seat ass first. Within seconds he was engrossed by his computer screen, browsing and switching between several tabs of information.

His eyes caught an interesting article, citing the existence of mobile suits from other countries. His fingers dragged across the screen, scanning the text for any new tidbits of information he could learn. Before long, he'd begun his deep dive down the rabbit hole of the slow emergence of mobile suits. His concentration was so focused that he forgot he brewed a cup of coffee to drink.

The Doctor, engrossed in his monitor, slowly brought up the mug to his lips, savouring the sweet aroma of blended espresso beans. Little did he notice the looming figure behind him, its arms outstretched with hands larger than dinner plates. The Doctor's small shadow was swallowed up by a menacing silhouette.

He was about to take a sip of his coffee when he felt an icy hand slide over his eyes, covering them completely. Startled, he nearly jumped out of his chair before realising it was just a harmless prank. He set the mug down on the desk and sighed heavily. "Closure?"

"I wonder what gave it away?" The woman chuckled heartily as she revealed herself.

His gaze flitted over to her, and their eyes locked for a moment. Her bright red irises were like flames that he could get lost in, but his focus returned to the computer screen soon enough. "The fact that you're the only other person in this facility who can wander into people's rooms without getting stopped is a dead giveaway," he said with a smirk.

The woman pouted her lips, peeking around his back. "Watcha~ doing?" She elegantly snaked her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

"Nothing much, just the usual getting lost down the rabbit hole on the internet." He remained unfazed by her actions.

The Sarkaz woman stepped closer, her body heat radiating off of her in a wave. Her long hair tickled the skin just below his ears, and her lips were mere inches from his neck. "It's time for your payment, Doc ~" she whispered playfully into his ear, her voice light and airy.

His fingers slowly grounded to a halt, and he let out a defeated sigh. "Is it that time again?

She leaned forward, her lips hovering over his earlobe. "Remember when you pulled me aside and said you needed my expertise? You promised me something in return." Her fingers trailed down the nape of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. "Your blood, exclusively mine."

As she spoke, the overhead lights flickered, and the air crackled with tension as he hesitated before nodding slowly.

His carefree attitude was evident in his body language, and he displayed effortless confidence as he casually leaned his head to one side and exposed the tender skin of his neck for all to see. His words had a breeziness to her yet still held a finality. "Yeah, yeah, I remember. Not like I can back out now, can I?"

Closure slowly revolved the chair as he felt her body position itself above him. His eyes closed as his senses were flooded with pleasure when she tenderly touched his shoulders and held onto them tightly. He could feel her breath on his skin as she carefully tilted her head to let her fangs graze his neck. As if suddenly unlocking some part of him, she whispered softly in his ear, "Then, if you don't mind~" Her words sent tingles down his spine.

A moan of pleasure escaped the Doctor's lips as Closure's sharp teeth grazed his neck. His hand then moved to her head, savouring every luscious strand of her hair between his fingers. The warm embrace of the room seemed to intensify as Closure slowly drained him of his life force. He felt a wave of pleasure overwhelm his body with each pull from her lips.

He shuddered as he thought back to the number of times he'd allowed her to drink from him. He tried to recall how many times it had been but realised that he had lost count after about 15 attempts several months ago. It made him wonder if his blood was so precious that Kal'tsit herself had even banned Warfarin from trying to get access to it. The thought of vampire Sarkaz wanting his blood was both thrilling and terrifying.

She reluctantly pried her lips away from his neck, and she could feel the stickiness of his blood on her chin. Her tongue lapped eagerly at the tiny pinpricks where her fangs had punctured him, savouring every last drop of his essence. When she finally leaned back, a satisfied gasp escaped her lips as she gazed playfully into his eyes.

She smiled coyly and licked her lips as she said, "Kal'tsit would have my hide if she knew what I've done to you. Even Warfarin might take a swing at me!" She let out a soft giggle before cleaning her mouth with the back of her hand.

"I'm amazed she didn't notice the bite marks during my last check-up." He wiped the side of his neck with his bare palm as he said, "Screw you for doing that the night before as well!"

Closure gave him the widest shit-eating grin she could muster and laughed. "How was I supposed to know Kal'tsit would start springing surprise check-ups on you?" She pretended to act innocent on the matter.

The man rolled his eyes, "Gee, I wonder." A small chuckle escaped his mouth.

The room fell into an intimate hush. Their eyes were locked, the air almost electrified with anticipation. Neither wanted to make the first move and shatter the stillness of their connection. The question lingered in the air - who would be brave enough to take a chance?

Closure slinked towards him, her sinewy figure pressed against his own. She trailed her fingers up his bicep, stopping to graze his cheekbone with the tips of her nails. Without another moment's hesitation, both hands found their way to his face, pulling him closer into her embrace. They breathed in sync, each heart racing with anticipation for what was to come.

He cupped her chin in one hand. His voice, a whispered breath of air, spoke her name - 'Ada' - as his gaze drifted languidly over the deep red pools of her eyes.

The Sarkaz woman's desire was too much to bear, and she devoured him with her lips. They melted into each other, becoming one as their breathing merged and their fervent kisses grew more passionate. Her body moulded into his as he pulled her closer, succumbing to the overwhelming intensity of their mutual passion.

She slid her soft lips back away from his, letting out a deep sigh as their passionate embrace was momentarily interrupted. The Doctor looked at her with admiration, taking in her beauty as she slowly surveyed the contours of his face. With a flicker of fire in her eyes, she leaned in and resumed their passionate kiss. Their mouths locked together, creating an intense wave of pleasure that engulfed the room.

The Doctor scooped up his partner without separating their embrace, her legs wrapped around his waist like a silk ribbon. His fervent eyes never left hers as he set her atop of the bed with gentle determination. Closure straddled him with graceful assertiveness as their hands roamed each other's bodies, exploring every curve and corner. With each caress, the intensity of their passion ignited until they were drowning in a sea of desire.

His breath hitched as her slender fingers flicked open the buttons of his shirt, revealing taut muscles and a dusting of chest hair. He took his time peeling away her clothing, like unwrapping a present. As they embraced, he teased her with caresses that made her shudder, sending her into ecstatic moans and whimpers of pleasure.

His fingers delicately explored her breasts, teasing the sensitive nubs beneath them as his hips rotated into hers. Her soft moans filled the air as she nibbled his neck, sending shivers through his body. They were both completely consumed in their passionate embrace, but it wasn't the first time that night they had found themselves in this position. Their forbidden pleasure was too sublime now for either of them to break away.

He grabbed her with force and flipped her onto her back. His heated gaze explored her body before he delicately kissed her neck, teasing it slowly with his tongue. Her breathing became short and rapid as she tried to contain the pleasure that was overwhelming her. Closure bit down on her lower lip, stifling a moan of delight.

"Yeah, we will surely pay for this if Kal'tsit finds out." Closure's words were muffled by soft moans as her partner passionately kissed a path from her chest to her stomach.

He hissed her name in a deep, throaty whisper as he licked up the length of her inner thigh. His hands roamed her body restlessly, as if searching for something lost. "Forget Kal," he growled, his lips hovering over hers now. "You began this, and now I'm going to finish it."

Closure's fingertips caressed his burning skin as she slowly pushed him away. She then straddled his hips, her eyes glimmering with desire as she unbuttoned and pulled his zipper down. His boxers were the only thing left before her sweet touch met his pleads of pleasure. Rocking her hips back and forth against him, Closure moaned in delight at the waves of fire that ran through her veins.

He slid into her wet heat, a deep groan leaving his throat as he slowly, deeply thrust inside of her. She moaned, her body rocking in a gentle motion as she submitted to his powerful thrusts. She smiled to herself, rocking her hips to meet his every thrust. He embraced her and kissed her mouth, passionately exploring her. His thrusts became faster, the pleasure building until it was too much to bear. As the waves of pleasure overwhelmed them, they both fell over the edge. Closure's body shuddered and her pussy clenched rhythmically around his cock as she reached her climax.

His body shuddered as he came as well, his cock twitching and throbbing in the warmth of her wet pussy. He could feel his climax rushing through him, creating waves of pleasure as it rushed to every nerve in his body.

Their bodies writhed in ecstasy as their passion consumed them. The feeling of Closure's hands running up and down his sweaty back made his heart soar. It was impossible to believe that they had done this several times, and it filled him with a sense of longing that he had never felt before. She lay on top of him, both of their bodies slicked with sweat. His cock was still buried deep within her, quivering with the last aftershocks of their mutual passion. Their laboured breathing slowly began to calm as their hearts came to a steady rhythm.

It was Closure who broke the silence, her voice a low whisper as she asked, "What were we thinking?" She gave him a teasing grin. After a moment, she added, "I have a pretty bad habit of forgetting about Kal'tsit - especially when we're like this."

She laid down atop his chest, her skin still damp from their exhilarating activity. Her hair tickled his neck as she snuggled closer. She ran her fingers up and around his arm, exploring the dips and curves of muscle. Gently, she caressed his cheek and felt the roughness of stubble beneath her fingertips. He looked into her eyes and smiled, and she returned it with a satisfied giggle. "Thanks for tonight," she murmured softly.

The Doctor stared at the ceiling; his mind had finally calmed to the point he could organise his thoughts and emotions. He had the sudden urge to ask, "So...," he dragged out the word, "What are we exactly?"

Closure sat herself upright, a curious expression draped across her face. She shuffled her body and lay down next to him. "We're both adults; what's the harm in being more than just friends?"

He took a deep breath, his eyes refusing to meet hers. "No, I-I...It's just that what we're doing here is making me feel a certain way..." He grumbled at the lack of words conjuring in his head, "I'm so shit when it comes to stuff like this he scoffed.

As Closure gazed at him, she saw the root cause of his distress. He shifted uncomfortably from side to side, unable to find the right words to express himself. She wrapped her arms around him in a loving embrace and whispered softly into his ear, "You're afraid of losing me, aren't you? Of committing yourself fully?"

She could feel his heart pounding against hers as he nodded slowly in agreement. With a gentle hand on his cheek, she turned his face to look into her eyes. "You don't have to worry," she said with a reassuring smile, "I'll still stick with you until the very end, that was my promise, and I intend to uphold it."

The tension in the air seemed to melt away as she murmured her assent. He furrowed a dark brow, and his gaze drifted off into the distance as he mused out loud, "You know, you were the last person I least expected to agree to work with me on this project. Does it not bother you—the things we built and what we're about to do?"

Closure's face contorted into a scowl as she spoke. She clenched her teeth and threw her shoulders back before continuing, her voice low and gravelly. "I've thought of it more than once. I'd say we're hardly the 'good guys' in this situation. But we do what we must to survive, just like every other breathing soul on this planet."

She pulled away from him, feeling a sudden chill as she tugged the sheets up tighter around her bare body. "Amiya and Rhodes Islands ideals may be admirable, but right now, I'm just focusing on my own goals."

He lifted his head and looked at us pointedly, "I know I'm asking for a lot here. You all are taking on a huge risk to help me, while I get to gain my freedom. It's unfair that you lot have to suffer through this too." He turned away, guilt washing over him in waves.

The Sarkaz woman sighed and slowly rolled her shoulders in a shrug. She looked around the dimly lit room. "Well," she said with a wry smirk, "We all knew what we were getting into when we signed up for this. Sacrifices be damned."

"Looks like I owe this group a lot when this is done and over." He inhaled deeply.

He let out a tired yawn and raised his arms above his head, arching his back and exposing the soft curve of his stomach. His dark eyes flickered to hers in an unspoken invitation as he said, "It's getting late. Shall we go to sleep?"

As she embraced him, her fingers tangled in his hair. She nuzzled into his neck, humming a gentle tune. "Yeah," she whispered, "let's do that."


-BRRRRRRRT!-

The deafening blast of the Gatling gun shook the heavens as short bursts of fire were unleashed in a precise and deadly syncopation with the fierce warzone. Bullets poured forth from its barrels like molten lava, their 120mm casings littering the scorched ground around the Gundam's feet like tiny tombstones, visually appearing to be half the size of a human.

"Cease fire, FCS is working as intended, looks like the minor adjustments we made this morning were worth it." Closure's voice audibly lit up the cockpit.

"I can only imagine the bill once this training mission ends." The Doctor remarked at the imaginary price tag in his mind.

"Final phase of the trial, let's test the manoeuvrability of this Gundam in Urban and jagged terrains. You have four minutes to destroy the targets, time starts now!" Closure abruptly began the timer.

"Talk about getting a headstart!" He exclaimed as the boosters roared with life, propelling the giant robot into the air.

The colossal metal war machine thundered through the air in a maddening frenzy, tearing across the desolate terrain as it headed towards an abandoned village beneath. The crumbling buildings below shook like leaves in a hurricane as it soared over them and rose into a white-knuckled ascent through the heavens.

Stopping on a dime, it spun around and aimed the giant Gatling cannon at the desolate village below. Inside the cockpit, sensors picked up multiple moving drone targets and displayed them for the Doctor to see, giving him free discretion to attack.

The barrel spun freely as the sound of a thunderous roar suddenly ripped the air apart as the Gatling gun spoke its fury. The giant shells tore through the air and peppered the ground, churning up dirt and plumes of dust.

Four targets had been eliminated already, yet six more were scurrying about the narrow dirt streets. The mobile suit kept plunging towards the ground, its speed brakes extended to slow its descent. Adjusting his vector, the thrusters came to life once more and accelerated the dive.

Crashing down onto an unsuspecting house, the building was merely reduced to flattened rubble as the mobile suit easily towered over the empty houses. With its gun at the ready, it hovered briskly over the rooftops as it hopped around, covering large swathes of land.

The Doctor's fingers danced around the joysticks as he controlled the mobile suit with utmost precision. His muscle memory worked in tune with his practised skills, putting on a frightening display for all to see.

A medium-sized drone with a painted target around it popped up around the corner, exploding into a fiery ball as a burst of 120mm shells tore through it. One by one, the drones began to fall as the Doctor picked them off. This was child's play compared to what he used to fight.

He glanced at the timer out of the corner of his eye. There was a whole minute remaining, and yet one drone was still lurking about. He grew impatient with this game of cat and mouse and manoeuvred to the town's central plaza. Fortunately for the man, he didn't have to look far for the last drone.

Hovering aimlessly, the pre-programmed robot simply faced its sensors in various directions hoping to pick up a target. Its wish would come true as the lumbering mobile suit jumped right in front of it.

The Doctor rested a finger on the trigger switch, raring to fire the first shot, yet he hesitated. The targeting systems on his display gave him the all-clear, but he ignored that and focused on the calm drone.

Every nerve in his body screamed as a sixth sense warned him of danger. Without hesitation, he threw the mobile suit to the right, narrowly dodging an anti-tank shell that fired with a blinding muzzle flash and ripped through the air, grazing the paint on its right arm.

He scowled at the automaton and aimed the giant gun at it. His fingers squeezed the trigger, and a sharp burst from the weapon blew the makeshift weapon into a smouldering heap.

"Looks like I win Closure." He smugly said over the radio. The timer stopped with thirty seconds to spare.

The woman shrugged her shoulders while staring at the screen, "Alright, you can gloat when you're back at base. Hurry up before the technicians start complaining again."


Karenina walked briskly down the hallway, carrying a thick folder with her as she hastened her pace. Anxiety chewed away at the back of her mind as she stopped outside the large door. She clutched the folder tightly and inhaled deeply, steadying herself. She scanned her card, and the door opened.

The door creaked open, revealing a large room full of people, their voices melding together in an indistinguishable murmur. She stepped inside and paused, her presence unnoticed by the crowd that had crowded around an expansive table at the centre of the room. Papers were scattered all over the surface, and hands were gesturing wildly as ideas and suggestions were thrown out.

"Our odds of completing this operation stand at a near 98% success rate. The enemy is under-equipped to repel a mobile suit. We just need to ensure total annihilation of the enemy base." Tactical officer Duncan Blackwood reminded the small group.

A woman leaned against the table and circled various points of interest on the map, "Which is why I still think it would be a wise idea for the Doctor to destroy these key locations. The loss of their airfield would deal the biggest blow to their reactionary force." Amélie lifted her head to look at the man across her.

The man scratched his head as he studied the terrain and layout of the base. From a glance, the entire stronghold screamed of typical Ursus design, compacted and gathered in one place save for the airfield. He straightened his posture and looked at the six other faces staring at him simultaneously.

"The airfield is worth prioritising, in my opinion. Our intel on their air defence is shit at best; I'd rather take my chances with their ground-based weaponry than deal with aerial headaches." He folded his arms and pursed his lips, "Two minutes is all I need to move in and render this base inoperable. Anything that comes after, well, improv." He shrugged.

"Do we have a contingency for handling a response force?" Duncan wore a worried look as he focused on the Digi-markers.

The Doctor held up two fingers as he replied, "The nearest Ursus base is a two-hundred kilometres away. Two minutes is our window. I don't intend to hang around any longer than I should."

The officer nodded silently, understanding the situation. Everyone else in the room had no qualms with the current plan, it was now up to them to execute it.

"Alright then!" Closure clapped her hands together, "Everyone has a role to play; let's get this show on the road. We start at 0700 tomorrow, and I don't want any delays, understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" They replied.

As the personnel shuffled out of the room, the founding trio stood around the messy table, silently glancing at each other. Karenina broke the silence by saying, "My crew and I have already begun retrofitting the necessary modules; we should be done by early morning at the latest with the pace we're going at."

"Is that the big maintenance manual you got there?" Closure curiously pointed at the thick folder.

"Of course it is! Since no one bothered to compile or update the existing manual, someone had to do it!" She gave the Sarkaz woman am offended side-eye stare.

Closure merely giggled at the woman's reaction. She was well aware of how easy it was sometimes to tick her colleague off.

"So Doc," Her tone shifted to a more serious one, "Who's the client? You've told us our mission, but who's the one that commissioned it? Seems like our customer has a grudge against Ursus."

His fingers danced around the keyboard, changing the table's display to a wider map with information articles floating about. "Ever heard of Shanhaizhong?" Eyes glancing at both of them.

Their eyes darted to each other and back, eyebrows furrowed. A silent communication passed between them, and they shook their heads in perfect harmony. The air between them hung thick with unspoken words.

The man cleared his throat for another round of exposition, "From what I could gather, our client wants Ursus's presence gone from the region so they can secure the rights to a mining town in the Zhenbao region." His finger pointed to the faint outline of a large town.

"Wait, isn't this the same region the Yanese government and Ursus had a conflict with a few years ago? I thought Yan owned this place?" Closure cocked her head to one side curiously.

"Yes, and no. Who owns the land is none of my business, but the two governments both have territorial claims over it historically speaking." He air-quoted the last part of his sentence.

Karenina's eyebrows furrowed as she folded her arms, trying to understand the implications of the situation. "So," she said slowly, "is Shanhaizhong a corporation that is taking matters into its own hands outside of Yanese government approval?"

"Far from it, Shanhaizhong is certainly not aligned with the Yanese government. In fact, they are a clandestine syndicate that continuously seeks to destabilise the current system. These fanatics appear to worship their deities as if their life depended on it, and yet they have powerful allies and resources at their disposal." He threw his hands up in the air, unwilling to debate this topic, "They have the money, so we're offering them a service."

Closure let out an audible click of her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Not that I'm complaining, but I hope they pay us handsomely for the shit show we're about to unleash." She adjusted the straps of her toolbelt before turning around to leave. "Is that all for tonight Doc?"

"Ah, yeah, sorry to keep you two any longer. Thanks again for your hard work. Really, I appreciate it." He bowed deeply.

Karenina rolled her eyes and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She spun on her heel, but the edges of her lips curved upward ever so slightly, betraying the swell of joy in her chest that the Doctor had put faith in them. "Hmph, you can show your thanks by not breaking the Gundam and coming back alive!"


The hangar shook with activity as the mechanics worked frantically to put the finishing touches on the Gundam. It was a behemoth of a machine, now loaded out with its full array of weaponry: missile pods clung to its legs and shoulders, accompanied by a hulking 280mm cannon mounted on its back. It was an intimidating sight, standing menacingly compared to its barebones form from the previous day.

The cockpit of the towering machine lay open, and a single light illuminated the cramped space. Inside, the pilot was consumed in his pre-flight checklist as he adjusted knobs, flicked switches, and tapped out commands on his keyboard. He failed to notice a figure joining him inside until they stepped closer and cleared their throat.

"Oh, fancy seeing you here." He smiled at the woman before returning his attention to the instrument cluster.

The muscles in his jaw tensed as she grabbed his chin, her touch gentle yet firm. He met her gaze, and the air around them felt charged with static. Their eyes connected like a live wire of emotion and understanding, briefly speaking volumes without words. She leaned in closer and gave him a quick kiss, pressing her lips against his lightly before pulling away. "Be safe," she said firmly.

He grinned behind her back as he watched her leave, "I'll try to." He quickly placed the helmet above his head and locked it in place. Flipping a switch on the cluster, the cockpit whirred to life, and the main doors spurred shut.

The rest of the Gundam jolted to life as the reactor spurred on the rest of the electronics. Every part of the Gundam's body began to twitch, its joints whirring and its thrusters firing. Lights blinked on and off across its frame as the low hum overpowered everything else in the hangar as the towering machine prepared for a hasty departure.

The man closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath. He opened them again and firmly grasped the two joysticks, his knuckles turning white from tension. "MASX-0033, ready!" he shouted as he gripped the launch lever.


Annnnnd, that's a wrap for Chapter 2. Ho boy, this is a rare sight. This was fun to write, getting to explore other writing aspects other than big robot go brrrrrrrrr. I'll try my best to write in more action for the next chapter, although don't hold your breath.

Fun fact, Zaku mobile suits field the Zaku Machine Gun which pumps out 120mm rounds at a rate of 280 round per minute or 4.6 rounds a second. To put that into perspective, the average modern MBT crew can load and fire 4 to 5 seconds at best (don't hate, I'm just taking a rough shot in the dark). Whatever is on the receiving end of this gun is not walking out alive.

In other news, I highly recommend watching the 08th MS Team if anyone hasn't watched it yet.