Chapter 31

Guel

Guel navigated the labyrinth of the command vessel's ruins, aiding those he could and guiding his father's workers to safety. Grateful that this faction of the legion, molded by his brother's teachings, refrained from firing upon their own.

"Are you still on the vessel, Guel?" Felsi's voice crackled angrily through the radio.

"Not yet," Guel replied, his gaze fixed on another pair of escape pods launching. "I have no intention of escaping."

With determined steps, he descended the stairs, the thunderous echoes of his father's ship resounding around him, filling his senses with the acrid scent of smog and the rumble of explosions. The relentless barrage of shells and bazooka fire turned the once-sturdy vessel into a trembling hulk. But Guel knew his destination, driven by his father's directives.

He and Laude were kept in the dark about the nature of the weapons they transported. Yet, their father hinted that one was confiscated from an Earth factory, while the other was its inspired creation. High Experimental Mobile Suits... both of them. Guel's thoughts wandered to the power of Suletta Mercury and Elan Ceres, and the enigmatic figure of Aiden Winters. His journey through the smoke and chaos led him to the chamber where the suits were stored.

This room, untouched by the masses due to the experimental nature of its contents, revealed the truth to Guel's eyes.

"A g-gundam?" Guel stuttered, his breath catching in his throat as he beheld the two mobile suits suspended in chains. One shrouded in cloth, hiding its massive frame beneath a veil of secrecy.

"Property of Jetturk Heavy Industries," the inscription on the fabric proclaimed, obscuring the second suit from prying eyes.

As another explosion rocked the vessel, Guel's hand trembled as he reached for his radio, calling out for his companions amidst the growing inferno. But amid the chaos, his gaze remained fixed on the looming presence of the mech before him.

The gundam stood before Guel, its regal white form adorned with rich purple accents. Guel couldn't help but wonder if his father had crafted this machine with him in mind. Memories of Suletta's ordeal as a suspected witch flashed through his mind, drawing eerie parallels to the Aerial's humanoid design and the uncanny resemblance of their helmets.

But Guel pushed aside these thoughts, focusing instead on the task at hand. With a heavy breath, he approached the controls, his mind grappling with the gundam's rumored curse. Yet, what more could they do? With resolve in his heart, he floated into the cockpit, ready to take control.

Keith

Meanwhile, Keith, perched with his big gun, scanned the silent battlefield through his scope. In the shadows, a sniper could sway the course of any battle. As his radio crackled to life, he recognized Lieutenant Albany's voice.

"Squad 3?" Keith queried, adjusting his aim.

"Good, Keith," Albany replied. "I need you to use that big gun to carve a path under the ship. There are high-powered turrets there, and if we breach the bottom hangar, Squad 1 can flank from the side. It'll bring the ship down."

Keith chuckled, his focus unwavering. "The battle's nearly won, but I'll leave my mark before it's over."

Albany's laughter echoed through the radio. "That's why you're our lifesaver, Keith."

With a grin, Keith accepted the thanks from Squad 3. "Just doing my part. But if you really want to show appreciation, some extra credits wouldn't hurt."

The mention of money brought a response from Dirty Dan. "Don't forget us little guys, Keith. You're already getting the glory of Squad 1."

Keith sighed softly, his eye never leaving the scope. The turrets still stood, resilient amidst the chaos. "Ask Marko for a raise, and he'll tell you that bringing glory to Harmony is its own reward."

With a fierce shout, Keith pulled the trigger, unleashing a torrent of wavering rainbow colors from his gun. His aim wasn't to tear through the enemy but to scorch their turrets, and scorch them he did. The once formidable turrets now lay melted and mangled, their twisted barrels rendered useless.

Albany's laughter filled the air. "With an army of those, we'd have held Harmony against anything," he remarked.

"They're powerful, but a real pain to make," Keith replied, eyeing his gun thoughtfully. "I'll need to change the barrels on this thing. Takes a lot of juice to fire it, and finding a good location that won't draw attention..."

But before Keith could finish, Dirty Dan's voice cut in, accompanied by the frantic chatter of their squadmates. Keith returned his focus to the scope just in time to witness lasers tearing through the hangar in a blaze of color.

"What the hell is that?" Albany exclaimed. "Keith, is that...?"

Shaking his head, Keith replied, "That's not me, and those lasers aren't normal."

Albany brought his Zaku 1 closer to investigate. "He's right, Captain," Dirty Dan confirmed, his hand reaching toward the lasers. But before he could finish his sentence, a laser sliced through his Zaku's left hand, sending it spinning away.

"Scramble, everyone!" Albany shouted, the urgency evident in his voice.

As chaos erupted around them, one of the squadmates from Squad 3 voiced their confusion. "What the hell was that?"

"We have no idea," Dirty Dan replied, trying to make sense of the situation. Another laser tore through the hangar doors, and then emerged the mech.

"A sword?" Dirty Dan exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face. But then a grin spread across his features. "What kind of fool brings a sword mech to a gun fight?" he laughed, the absurdity of the situation not lost on him.

Laughter erupted from Albany as the strange mech drew near. "I want everyone to aim their guns at that thing... That's no ordinary mech they've been rolling out."

Keith peered through the telescope, his eyes widening in shock. "It's a Gundam," he whispered slowly, the words catching in his throat. There was a telltale sign, a defining feature of those cursed machines, but they were too far away to see it clearly. Yet, they would see it very soon.

"Don't approach that mech!" Keith screamed into the radio.

"What's the fuss about?" Albany questioned, turning his mech to face the approaching blue behemoth. He signaled his squad. "Focus your fire on that thing. Sword or not, it's something we don't need to—"

But Dirty Dan charged forward without hesitation. "Don't worry about me, Cap," he taunted, his tongue darting out to lick his lips as he charged. Holstering his gun, he drew his heat hawk. "You want to use a sword so badly, let's give it a try—"

And then Guel cleaved through him in an arc.

It happened so suddenly, like a reflex. Albany was about to reprimand Dan, but the words never left his lips fast enough. Guel had killed him in an instant.

Albany, Keith, and the two other members of Squad 3 stood frozen in shock as the white and purple Gundam tore the Zaku and Dan in half. It was like ripping through metal, the mech didn't even explode, just two massive chunks of debris.

Guel's breath came in heavy gasps, his eyes wide and trembling, tears gathering at the corners. Even his grip on the controls faltered. A sickening churn filled his stomach.

"I-I didn't realize it was that strong," he murmured pitifully, staring at the mech that had charged at him as an enemy. His brother and friends were out there, and here he was grieving for some criminal dog?

Yet, guilt gnawed at him. "I didn't even mean to, it was just a r-reflex."

His thoughts turned to Aiden. Aiden wouldn't hesitate, wouldn't feel grief. There was strength in that. Aiden Winters wouldn't feel pity; he would fight. But why?

"Men, shoot at that thing!" Albany roared. The three Zaku's machine guns thundered in response.

"Bricken!" Albany's voice sliced through the chaos, and the Zaku to his side swiftly wielded a stub arm into his hands. The mech...

"It's a Gundam!" Keith's cry pierced the air. "I can see his helmet clear as day with my sights."

"He's just zooming around!" Bricken's voice cracked with frustration. "I need that bastard to stay still for just a brief—"

"This one can deal with that!" Keith interrupted, his movements swift as he whirled the big gun to the side, leveling it underneath the ship.

Guel was locked in a deadly dance with the looming bazooka and the relentless machine fire. He hadn't anticipated the blast of lights coming his way. A scream clawed its way out of his throat as he realized it had nicked the side of his helmet.

"Nearly got him!" Keith's voice rang out triumphantly. "I don't know who they've got in there, but he doesn't have any grit. He's avoiding a fight!"

Albany's lips curled into a smile. "We can use that!" He turned toward Bricken. "Launch everything you've got around the Gundam. Pin him down, and if that pilot is as green as grass, we'll get a clear shot, courtesy of Keith."

Bricken chuckled darkly, loading a new magazine into the bazooka. "A bunch of Zakus taking down a Gundam," he mused, readying his aim.

The missiles grew more relentless, harder to evade. Guel felt sweat bead on his brow as his mind wandered amidst the battlefield haze. He remembered the first time his brother had been introduced to him. Same father, different mothers, still brothers.

"Laude," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the chaos. He closed his eyes briefly, seeking a moment's respite, only to snap them open again to dodge another blast from the annoying beam sniper.

He would die for him if needed. Petra was in one of those escape ships now, wasn't she? And for a fleeting moment, he caught sight of Felsi and Kamil battling in their own mechs, taking shelter among the debris as The Legion's machine guns hammered away, claiming lives. People were dying, and here he was, losing his nerve.

Aiden's face flashed before Guel's eyes, and a memory surged through him—the shame of his first duel, the wreckage of Aiden's titan, a relic from some dead world, which had destroyed his prized personal Dilenza. Guel could only stare in awestruck shock, his mouth gaping, and feel the sting of his father's disappointment like a slap.

But it would never compare to seeing Aiden's black hair flowing in the wind, his eyes ablaze with determination as they focused on his cockpit. What was he thinking back then? Guel had often wondered. Yet, it was Aiden's smile, his unwavering focus, that Guel cherished from that moment.

He had lost the holder position and had been struck by his father. The second loss came from Suletta's Mercury involvement, and now he found himself not only defeated by some aberration but also by Suletta herself. His mind drifted to her words, echoing in his head: "Keep moving forward."

Why now? Why did he think of such things?

"I can't give up," Guel croaked out amidst tears. "I can't die here. Laude, Petra, Felsi, Kamil. I can't let them die."

Aiden would not have faltered. Even through his own traumas, they had forged him into a soldier, a pilot of unparalleled skill. Suletta's talent alone would have won her this duel. And here Guel was, piloting one of Humanity's cursed machines, flying like a frightened scavenger bird.

"I can't die here. I have to win, and with the power of this cursed machine…" His thoughts raced to Aiden's smile, to his lost bride, to Suletta's Mercury. "I will use this machine to move forward!"

And the marks of the Gundam curse began to manifest. Permit 1 initiating, Guel felt great pains coursing through his body, his breaths coming in short gasps as if a phantom hand threatened to strangle him. Yet, amidst the agony, he felt strong, powerful. His eyes remained focused, all other thoughts pushed to the recesses of his mind.

It was like before—before the losses to Suletta Mercury and Aiden Winters. Both physical and mental. His mind flashed to his brother's stabbing, to the moments he lay beaten by Aiden himself. "With this," he bluntly stated. "I can win!" And the Gundam began to light up.

"Oh no," whispered Bricken. "That thing is—"

"Everyone scramble!" Albany's roar cut through the tension.

The six staves emerged from the great mace-like weapon. Two wrapped around Guel as he leveled the weapon in front of himself, while the other four shot towards them in blazing, matching purple light.

They orbited around the three Zaku 1s, and Bricken fired his bazooka. It nicked and exploded one of the staves, leaving three remaining. But they retaliated with full force.

The Zakus blasted off in blue beams of light, but they weren't quick enough. The third of their squad, Jeffrey, found himself in the crosshairs.

"Jeffrey, get the hell away!" Ordered Albany, his voice thick with urgency.

But before Jeffrey could react, one of the staves shot lasers that ripped through his Zaku. The purple light impaled his machine gun and tore through its legs, leaving Jeffrey screaming in terror.

"Jeffrey!" Bricken screamed, leveling his machine gun as the opposing two focused on him. Multiple lasers streaked towards him, forcing him to discard his bazooka and unleash a volley from his machine gun.

"Die, Gundam!" Bricken's scream was swallowed by the chaos as the shots rained down. But the retaliation was swift and brutal. A laser shot through both of his legs, another ripped through the barrel to the ammo box of his machine gun, and a moving blast took off his left arm.

"If Albany didn't nick the second one!" Bricken's voice was filled with pain and desperation.

"You okay?" Albany shouted over the chaos.

"Hell no, I ain't!" Bricken's response was laced with anguish as he tested his thrusters and grasped his only weapon left—the heat hawk. "Keith, where the hell are our shots?"

"Barrel needs reheating!" Keith's voice crackled over the radio.

"Keith, radio the other squads to join us in dealing with this threat. Screw the cargo, this one machine could kill us all!" Albany's command was drowned out by the escalating violence.

But as Albany screamed the order, the Gundam came blazing towards them, its beam blade gleaming with lethal intent. Guel's breath grew heavy, memories of his former glory flooding back. This was how it felt when he was the ace of Atisstica.

Bricken swung his heat hawk, but it was futile. The beam saber cleaved through his Zaku, and in a swift motion, Guel turned the blade into a deadly stab. It was a move he had seen before, Aiden to Elan Ceres.

The beam saber pierced straight through the cockpit, and Bricken was engulfed in light. The Gundam Schwarzette loomed in space, its blade slashing through Bricken's Zaku before turning its attention to Albany.

"Die, Gundam, Die, Die, Die!" Albany's desperate cries echoed in the void as Guel charged forward, slashing through Albany's Zaku's legs.

"Keith, kill this bastard!" Albany's command was a final plea as the battle raged on.

"Barrel is reloaded!" Keith's voice pierced through the chaos, a desperate cry in the midst of the onslaught.

Guel darted away as a bright, powerful blast charged towards him, his heart pounding with adrenaline-fueled determination. "This is true power!" he shouted into the void, feeling the grip of destiny tighten around his heart. "With this... I can beat him!"

The beam staves unleashed their devastating force, rendering Albany's arms useless. Guel charged forward, his eyes wild with determination. "Thanks, Aiden, for teaching me this!" His voice echoed through the void, mingling with the whispers of battle. Memories of loss flashed before his eyes, a grim tapestry of sacrifice and survival. "I'll most definitely show you and Suletta this when I come back!"

Images of Harmony's fall haunted his thoughts—the black skies, the radioactive cities, the faces of lost loved ones. Yet amidst the darkness, there were glimmers of hope, moments of love and laughter that defied the despair. Guel embraced his identity as a Son of Harmony, one of the older ones, bearing the weight of their shared history.

"Mary for-" Albany's words were cut short as Guel leveled his arm launcher, unleashing a point-blank blast that extinguished the spark of life in Albany's eyes.

Keith witnessed the carnage, his body trembling with shock and fear. Death surrounded him, a grim reminder of the price of war. "Squad 3...?" His voice trembled as he surveyed the wreckage, his mind struggling to process the magnitude of the loss. "Oh my god, they're all dead... they're all dead," he repeated, his words choked with emotion.

His gaze shifted towards the looming Gundam, its menacing presence casting a shadow over the battlefield. Keith raised his weapon, his hands shaking uncontrollably. "Brother, please, I need help!" he cried out, his voice cracking with desperation.

Fear gripped him as he stared into the Gundam's eyes, two beacons of death fixated on him. The lights played across the glass of his flight suit helmet, casting eerie shadows on his face. "Oh no."

Ensign Marty

Marty was running, his breath ragged, his heart pounding in his chest. The once-promising situation had devolved into chaos, time slipping away like grains of sand through his fingers. He sprinted down a hallway engulfed in flames, a makeshift helmet shielding him from the suffocating air.

A roaring explosion nearly knocked him off his feet, but Marty pressed on, his determination unwavering. Flames licked at his heels as he navigated the fiery staircase, his heart pounding with urgency. "Damn it, where the hell is the special hangar!" he shouted, his voice drowned out by the inferno raging around him. Frantically, he rifled through his mission notes, his fingers trembling with adrenaline. "Damn it!" he screamed, frustration boiling over as he searched for the elusive location.

Flicking on his radio, he called out, "This is Ensign Marty, anyone reporting!"

A crackling voice responded, "Ensign Marty, switch to a secure line."

"Fuck that, I don't have time!" Marty snapped back, the urgency of the situation propelling him forward. Another explosion rocked the vessel, flames searing his skin as he narrowly avoided being consumed by the fire. Suddenly, the window shattered, and Marty was sucked into the void of space, the vacuum pulling at his limbs as he desperately clung to the doorframe.

Gasping for breath, he pleaded, "Please, whoever this is, tell me where—"

"Coordinates are here!" Norea's voice cut through the chaos, and Marty felt a surge of relief as he spotted a blip on his helmet display.

"Thank you!" he breathed, his heart pounding in his chest as he sprinted towards the designated location. With determination fueling his every step, he leaped across the flaming pathway, his body a blur of motion against the backdrop of destruction.

As he reached the correct hallway, the power suddenly cut out, plunging him into darkness. Fighting against the lack of gravity, he propelled himself forward, his muscles straining with effort. The deafening roar of explosions echoed in his ears, a symphony of destruction heralding the imminent demise of the ship.

Forcing open the door, Marty gazed out at the mangled wreckage of the hangar, flames dancing hungrily below. With a burst of adrenaline, he kicked himself forward, inching closer to the cockpit. Drawing his knife, he sliced through the metal, sparks flying as he connected with the button. Another explosion rocked the ship, threatening to send him hurtling into oblivion.

With nerves of steel, Marty clung to the edge of the cockpit, flames closing in around him. Despite the chaos engulfing the vessel, he remained focused.

He slinked into the cockpit, the darkness enveloping him like a shroud. As the cockpit powered on, Marty's frustration boiled over. "Damn it, I can't make heads or tails of this thing... it's nothing like a Zaku or a titan!" he shouted into the void, his voice echoing back at him. At least the radio seemed to be functional.

"Sophie... Norea!" he called out, hoping for a lifeline.

To his surprise, the images of the two girls appeared on the screen, their voices emanating from the speakers. The technology was leagues ahead of the familiar Zaku and Titan radios, and Marty felt a pang of unease.

Norea's voice cut through the chaos. "There are presets for you to configure through. Look around, there should be a manual or—"

"A manual!" Marty interjected, panic creeping into his voice. "This whole ship is about to blow to kingdom come with me in it if I don't figure out how to pilot this thing!"

Norea shot him a withering glare. "Listen, Spacian, I've saved you once already. Calm down and—"

"So we're keeping score now?" Sophie chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Marty bristled at the jab. "Whatever," he retorted. "And watch your language. I've only called you by your name."

Norea fell silent, her expression unreadable. Another explosion rocked the vessel, eliciting a groan from Norea. "The pilot's task is to configure the controls for easy access in battle," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "If you can't do that, you're as good as dead."

Marty clenched his fists, his anger simmering beneath the surface. But he knew he didn't have time to argue. With a determined nod, he set to work, flipping switches and adjusting dials as he familiarized himself with the controls. "Okay, let's see... this button should..." he muttered to himself, his focus unyielding despite the chaos engulfing him.

As he wrestled with the controls, another explosion rocked the hangar, sending flames dancing around him. Sophie remained by his side, her posture relaxed as she aimed her minigun at the encroaching threat. The ship was a lost cause, but Marty was determined to salvage what he could, even if it meant risking it all for the mission.

They had managed to put some distance between themselves and the doomed ship, forming a pincer unit to confront the remnants of the Jetturk forces. Petra was safely aboard an escape vessel, while the trio of Petra, Felsi, and Laude held their ground elsewhere, leaving Guel to grapple with his Gundam.

As Marty surveyed the controls, a sense of awe mingled with his mounting anxiety. "What kind of firepower does this thing have?" he muttered, eyeing the imposing armament clenched within the mech's grip. His gaze fell on a button nearby.

Norea's voice had gone silent, leaving Marty alone with his struggle, save for a brief exchange with Sophie. "Hey there, Mr. Stiff," she quipped, her tousled auburn hair catching the light. "I have a saying: sometimes, in our darkest times, all we can do is laugh and face the music head-on."

With a determined flick of switches, Marty activated the machine, prompting a chuckle. "So this is the power button," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Sophie's response was laced with a mix of humor and sincerity. "You found the power button? Well, well," she teased before offering a more earnest plea. "Don't die."

As the ship began to drift away, Sophie had that look within her eyes. "Here is a bit of inspiration." She spoke loudly and proudly.

With a swift motion, she lowered her flight suit's zipper exposing her bra. Then pulling it down fully to reveal two surprising sights that left Marty wide-eyed. "Let's see if you live or die, Mr. Stiff," she taunted before disconnecting her radio feed.

Stunned into silence for a moment, Marty grappled with his predicament. "Holy shit... I can't die," he muttered, his mind racing. With determination coursing through him, he lashed out, pounding the floor beneath him and grappling with the restraints holding his mech in place. "Then I'll make my own way," he declared, aiming the unfamiliar wrist weapon at the chains and pulling the trigger.

A brilliant blast tore through the fabric, severing the chains and sending Marty hurtling forward. "Hell yeah!" he exclaimed, his fist connecting with the mech's ceiling in triumph. Gripping the controls tightly, he tested the thrusters, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

In the shadow of the shredded fabric, Marty beheld the monstrous cannon affixed to his arm. "This ain't your run-of-the-mill contraption," he muttered, his voice tinged with foreboding. "This here's a Gundam."

The ship erupted in a cataclysmic explosion, hurling debris in all directions, scattering mechs like toys tossed by an angry child.

Summoning Lieutenant Tobias over the radio, Marty's mind raced. "Tobias, it's me. Where do you need me?"

Tobias's urgency jolted Marty into a grim realization. In his haste to secure the experimental mech and flee, he had overlooked their primary objective: destroying the opposing machine.

"Another enemy," Marty muttered, his heart pounding as he redirected the mech's thrusters toward his comrades.

Keith

Meanwhile, Keith grappled with fear as he squeezed the trigger, unleashing desperate volleys of fire. "I just need one good hit," he shouted, frustration and desperation mingling in his voice as Guel deftly evaded his every shot.

Then, salvation arrived. "Take it down, now!" Tobias's command echoed through the chaos as Travis, Wilkerson, and others surged into action.

With precision and determination, they cornered Guel, their attacks a relentless barrage amid the swirling debris. Wilkerson's bullets found their mark, puncturing one of the defensive staves, eliciting a roar of defiance from Guel.

"Hell naw!" Travis voice cut through the chaos as he darted forward, narrowly dodging Guel's retaliatory strike, while Keith seized the moment, unleashing a torrent of firepower.

The beam sliced through the Gundam's lower leg like a hot knife through butter, and Guel's scream pierced the chaos of battle. "You're becoming a real pain," he spat at the sniper, his thoughts involuntarily drifting to Aiden. "I'll deal with you later...permit 2," he growled, the words rolling off his tongue with a sinister edge.

As the tension tightened around him, Guel felt his breath grow heavier, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. But amid the rising panic, a surge of strength coursed through him, and the lights of the machine flickered with newfound intensity.

"Tobias, what the hell's..." Travis's voice was abruptly silenced as Guel unleashed a devastating barrage from his weapon, the rapid-fire lasers tearing through Travis's mech and tearing through chunks of debris.

"Travis!" Tobias's cry reverberated through the chaos as he lunged forward with his heat hawk, only to have his mech's forearm slashed in half. The weapon slipped from his grasp just before Keith's timely intervention, a blast from his mech providing a momentary reprieve.

But instead of pressing the advantage against Tobias, Guel's attention shifted to the sniper lurking in the distance. "Keith, get out of there!" Wilkerson's urgent warning echoed across the battlefield. "You won't outrun that thing in a damn Zaku!"

Keith hesitated, torn between abandoning his position and following his brother's lead. With a burst of speed, Tobias snatched Travis's bazooka and took aim, but the missile missed its mark, and Guel dodged the incoming blow with unnerving agility.

"Damn it, I missed!" Keith's frustration rang out as Guel's retaliatory strike sent Wilkerson hurtling through the debris, his consciousness slipping away as darkness closed in.

"Keith... my brother..." Wilkerson's words faded into the void as he drifted into unconsciousness, leaving Guel to descend upon Keith with deadly precision. With a mighty swing, Guel cleaved through the cockpit, and in an instant, both Keith and his sniper platform were engulfed in flames.

"Curse you, Gundam!" Tobias's fury erupted as his weapons faltered, his ammunition depleted. With a forceful kick, Guel propelled himself away from Keith's platform, the sheer strength of his movement threatening to tear the flooring asunder.

"D-..." The lone syllable hung in the air, a futile protest, before Guel's beam saber cleaved through the Zaku's torso with a merciless precision, leaving nothing but a consuming explosion in its wake. From the blaze emerged the mech, its eyes blazing with a fierce purple light.

Ensign Marty.

"Lieutenant!" The Ensign's cry pierced through the chaos as he charged towards them, his voice laced with desperation. "Oh shit, oh my god, oh fuck!" he shouted into the radio, his words a frantic plea for any sign of life. "Wilkerson, Tobias, Keith, Travis... is anyone still alive?"

"Ensign!" Tobias's choked voice crackled over the radio, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. And there he was, charging forth with a rage that burned hotter than the fires of battle.

"Marty, it's a Gundam!" Tobias's warning echoed through the chaos, but Marty was undeterred.

Leveling his strange wrist gun, Marty blasted through the fabric barrier, unleashing a torrent of destruction. Guel's eyes widened as he dodged the deadly onslaught, his survival hanging by a thread.

Then, with a morphing roar, the mech's shoulder revealed a monstrous cannon, poised to unleash devastation upon its target.

"Eat this, fucker!" Marty's battle cry reverberated through the air as he unleashed the cannon's fury, narrowly missing Guel's agile form. The force of the explosion sent Guel sprawling, his last defensive beam drone sacrificing itself to shield him from the inferno.

The fabric around Marty's Gundam burned away, revealing a machine of formidable design, painted in dark gray and green hues, intended to blend seamlessly into the chaos of combat.

As the flames subsided, Guel and Marty found themselves locked in a deadly dance, their beam swords clashing in a brilliant display of power and determination. With each strike, they screamed their defiance.

Guel's eyes widened as he scrutinized the letters and numbers before him. "This must be the Jetturk model," he muttered to himself, sweat cascading down his features. "I can decipher the controls, so this must be one of the prototypes that inspired its construction. What kind of weapons are the Earthians crafting?"

Meanwhile, Marty deftly maneuvered the controls of the Full Armor Gundam, breaking free from the saberlock and hurtling into the debris-laden void.

Suddenly, the crackle of the radio pierced through the tense silence.

"You there, you piece of shit Gundam!" Marty's voice crackled with anger and malice, each word dripping with venomous intent. "You're going to die, Gundam!"

The camera flickered to life as Guel allowed them to establish contact. "Ah, so you're the pink-haired cocksucker who killed my team," Marty sneered, his gaze cold and unforgiving. "Tobias and Keith. They would've taken you out like the dirty dog you are!"

Guel's eyes widened as Marty tore through what he thought was a mere chunk of debris, clipping Guel's mech in the process, sending him dipping and descending downward.

With a fierce determination, Guel deployed his laser drone as Marty bore down on him. "I'm going to relish every moment of this!" Marty's voice echoed through the void. "You only managed to kill them because of the damned powers of your cursed machine!"

Marty leveled his Twin Beam Rifle, and the twin beam blast streaked towards Guel. With a nimble dodge, Guel avoided the deadly onslaught, sweat flying in the weightless expanse. Marty chuckled darkly. "I recognize your face... you're one of the sons of Jetturk?"

Guel's eyes widened in realization.

Marty's chuckle softened into a grim smile. "Don't act surprised. Did you really think we wouldn't do our research before coming after you?"

"So, you truly are the Sons of Harmony?" Guel asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Marty's expression shifted, his eyes widening before softening. "We are Legion... all of us. We are the Nexus 65th, one of the last militant Harmony associations. The Sons have abandoned us."

As Marty heard the click of his reloaded tank shot, he knew this shot could be the one to turn the tide. One well-placed shot could tear the Gundam in two.

"Tobias... Keith... Travis... Wilkerson," Marty muttered grimly, his gaze locked in. "I'll make my shots count."

"Brother!" came the voice over the radio, prompting Marty's eyes to narrow.

"Brother... you have a brother?" Marty scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping him.

Norea's voice chimed in through his camera. "It's time for us to leave. You've recovered the mech, and the other is—"

"The other is being piloted by the CEO's son," Marty interjected curtly. "My squad is all dead or injured. This bastard killed them all... I'll... I'll—" His words trailed off into a growl, his gaze shifting towards a photo of his fallen comrades. "I'll fucking kill him!" Marty's voice rose with rage.

"Ensign Marty!" Norea's voice cut through sharply, only to be met with static as Marty muted her.

Norea and Sophie had been aiding the Zakus around the destroyed vessel, which was slowly descending into space. Despite the opportunity to end the conflict, Marty's relentless pursuit of vengeance kept the battle raging.

"Ensign Marty, report," Norea demanded into the radio, frustration evident in her tone as static greeted her.

"Damn Spacians!" Norea cursed, her frustration boiling over.

Sophie's gatling gun tore through a swarm of Dilenza's, but her attention was drawn to a flock of ten heading towards Marty's location. "He doesn't know?" she mused aloud.

Norea turned to the Zakus in the area. "I want everyone to start preparing for a tactical retreat back to the main cruiser."

"What?" protested one of the Zaku Ensigns. "Squad 1 and 3 are—"

"Squad 1 and 3 are dead save for Ensign Moreno," Norea stated curtly, her eyes closing briefly as she grappled with the shock of their losses. "Likewise, I've received a report from one of our scouts that multiple vessels are heading our way."

The news sparked bickering among the groups. "It could be reinforcements for the Jetturk Private Army or The Space Assembly League responding to their distress signal," someone speculated.

Norea cast a backward glance, her eyes fixed on the unfolding battle between Guel and Marty. "Ensign, I hope you know what you're doing," she murmured, her voice tinged with concern.

Sophie's head snapped towards the retreating Harmony, then back to Norea. "Come on, Sophie, we're—"

Without a word, Sophie steered her mech towards Marty's location. "Sophie!" Norea's cry echoed through the radio. "Dammit!" she screamed, propelling her mech forward in pursuit of her impulsive friend.

"Is that all you've got, you corpo dog? You're absolutely disgusting, Guel Jetturk," Marty taunted.

Lost in the frenzy of battle, Guel felt the cold detachment emanating from Marty. His grief would be his weapon, but not before he made Guel suffer.

"How many of you corpo dogs must I kill?" Marty dodged a blow, his voice dripping with contempt. "Pitiful dog. I feel sorry for you... I really do. Maybe if you were born of a different Pa, you'd be blowing your spunk into some High Noble Spacian girl. But you've come to me... your end."

Sweat beaded on Guel's brow, the permit blazing in his head as they danced through space. "You think you're going to win?" he shouted into the mic. "You won't stop me from saving them!"

"Brother!" Laude's voice crackled through the radio as Guel deftly evaded an array of rockets, maneuvering through the debris. But in his distraction...

Guel spotted Dilenza's approaching. "Laude, fall back! This isn't a normal machine!" he shouted, but it was too late. His momentary lapse proved costly.

"Got you, mutt!" Marty's voice rang out gleefully as he unleashed the tank cannon.

"No," Guel whispered as the cannon tore through his Gundam's shoulder, leaving it hanging limply. The ensuing explosion sent him tumbling through space, crashing into a sea of debris. A panel slammed across his face, blood seeping into his mask as he tasted metal.

Marty chuckled darkly. "You like that, you son of a corpo whore!" he shouted. His gaze shifted towards the three approaching mechs. "Is that your brother?" he asked suddenly, his tone chilling.

Guel's eyes widened through the blood.

"It is, isn't it?" Marty continued. "How about we let them in on this frequency as..."

"Brother is...?" Laude's voice trailed off, his concern palpable.

"Laude, get out of here!" Guel's voice boomed, urgent and commanding. "It's a Gundam!"

"A Gundam?" Felsi echoed, the weight of the word sinking in slowly.

Kamil stood frozen, a chill creeping up his spine as he comprehended the significance of what he just heard.

Marty's laughter echoed darkly. "You killed my brothers... and it's only fitting."

Marty, encased in the full armor Gundam, surged towards the trio.

"Duck and scatter, evade and evade!" Laude's command pierced through the chaos.

"Do we have any—" Felsi began, but Kamil cut her off.

"No!" Kamil's voice rang out with a mix of fear and frustration. "We don't have any anti-Gundam weaponry, and even if we did—"

But his words were cut short as the massive enemy Gundam closed in on them. Marty examined his controls with growing anger, tapping the glass of his cockpit in disbelief. "My fuel is so low? Did they not fuel these?" He slammed his hand against the cockpit in frustration. "I'm going to need to finish this quick."

Hovering before them, Marty fixated on his targets. Kamil, Felsi, and Laude froze, realizing the peril they were in. Guel struggled to his feet amidst the debris, aiming his weapon at Kamil.

The twin beams locked onto Kamil's mech as he stood paralyzed, his wide eyes betraying his shock. "Kamil, get out of there!" Laude's desperate cry filled the air.

But Kamil remained frozen, shock coursing through his veins as Marty unleashed his attack. "Time to die," Marty declared ominously.

Kamil desperately maneuvered his thrusters to evade, the crackle of Laude and Felsi's laser rifles filling the air. Yet, Marty effortlessly dodged their every blow.

"We can't hit him!" Felsi's voice trembled with fear.

With a deafening blast, one of the twin beams tore through Kamil's Dilenza, severing his left arm and leg in a single devastating strike.

"Keep firing, brother, brother!" Laude's cries urged Guel on, his determination fueled by desperation as he fought on, the marks of the Gundam Permit igniting once more.

Kamil's scream pierced the chaos as Marty descended upon him. "Come here, fat boy!" Marty's voice echoed with malicious glee as his beam saber ignited, its purple blade cutting through Kamil with chilling efficiency.

"Kamil!" Felsi's cry of anguish echoed through the commotion. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god... Laude, he's going to—"

"I know!" Laude's response was urgent, his voice laced with desperation. "Keep firing. Give Guel some time and we'll—"

"Oh, I am going to save you for last. A brother for a brother!" Marty's taunting words reverberated through the radio. "Looks like the girl is up next!"

With a surge of dread, Felsi watched as Marty charged towards her, his beam saber blazing with purple intensity. But instead of striking her down, he swiftly turned his attention to Laude.

Laude's Dilenza moved to intercept Marty, wielding its beam glaive, but Marty's swift kick sent him spiraling sideways. "F-Felsi!" Laude's cry was lost as he was tossed aside.

Marty knocked aside Felsi's beam rifle, her desperate attempts to defend herself futile. "Get off of me!" she shouted, reaching for her beam blade, but found herself staring down the barrel of Marty's double beam cannon. "Night night," Marty's words were chilling as the blast consumed everything in its path. Felsi was enveloped in indigo, her existence fading into the void.

As Laude stared at the empty space where Kamil and Felsi once stood, his body trembled uncontrollably. The Gundam's attention returned to him, its beam saber igniting once again.

"Stay away from me!" Laude's voice cracked with fear as he fired his laser rifle, the bright blue beams piercing the darkness.

But Marty's fury was unyielding, his blue fuel struggling. "Damn it..." he muttered, his gaze fixed on the failing nozzle. "Don't you dare give up on me," he growled at the machine.

With terrifying speed, Marty tore through Laude's defenses, his beam saber slicing through the Dilenza's limbs with ruthless precision. As the cockpit opened, Marty descended upon Laude, his intent clear.

The Gundam's hand came towards him…and Laude's eyes widened with fear. For a moment, he remembered something in History Class about Harmony. How some of the titan pilots were brutal, and how they would crush there enemies. And as Marty's fingers were about to wrap around Laude's body…

"I'll fucking kill you!" Shouted Guel. His rockets roaring, but spent like flickering pilot lights careening hard into Marty as both were thrown through a great deal of rubble. They each winced from the pain, separated through a big hunk of cinder they broke through, yet, as both young men rose there…

"My fuel…," Guel began as his eyes widened.

And as Marty smirked he… "My fuel…the energy is nearly drained."

Maybe, he could kill him, but he'd be damned out here with the mech. He'd be captured and convicted, but his brother's would not go avenged.

He glared at Guel's mech…and the ruins of his brother's mechs, and his gaze lingered to the other two that he had killed. Maybe, they were close, maybe they weren't. But he was a Son of Harmony, they did not forget easy.

"So, how does it feel?" Questioned Marty.

Guel's eyes widened.

Marty continued. "The only reason why you didn't die early, like you should, the only reason you were able to kill my brothers were due to that cursed mech. Does it feel good, nothing more than a drugged up pilot at that point."

Guel sneered. "Don't you pilot one as well?"

Marty snickered. "…and accept the Gundam curse? I'll pilot this one just like a normal mech," And Marty knocked on the metal of it. "Power, there is always a price, and your paying for it…next time you meet, you won't be so lucky."

Guel sneered. "You attacked my father's company, you murdured innocent workers, you killed my friends!" He shouted.

And Marty rolled his eyes. "…so what?" He questioned. "You killed my brothers first…fuck you."

Marty started to blaze into the air as Guel watched. Marty turning to his scanners and with widened eyes realized that a fleet was slowly approaching the scene.

"Next time, Guel Jetturk," Spoke Marty. "I'll be gunning for you…,"

"Alright then, Ensign Marty," Guel's voice cut through the tense stillness of space like a blade. "...and this cursed machine is going to be your downfall."

With those words hanging in the void between them, both mechs drifted apart. Guel's gaze fixed on the distant ships, a cautious eye watching for any treacherous move from Marty. He couldn't afford to trust him, not after everything that had transpired. But right now, his priority was his brother. He opened the cockpit, a silent invitation, and embraced his sibling as they were reunited, tears mingling in the weight of their shared grief.

Marty listened to the faint sounds of their embrace, a poignant reminder of the bonds that had been shattered in the chaos of battle. His eyes flickered to the old photo nestled within his Zaku II, a relic of happier times before the nightmare of war consumed everything. It was the last vestige of Squad 1, a reminder of the comrades lost and the lives irrevocably changed.

"What am I going to tell Petra?" Laude's voice broke, raw with emotion. "She loved her... and what of Kamil and his family?"

As Marty guided his mech through the vast expanse of space, his thoughts swirled with the weight of unanswered questions and the burden of guilt. The stars stretched out before him, a canvas of endless blue against the void of black, a stark contrast to the turmoil within.

"I don't know, brother," Guel's voice trembled with uncertainty as he held his sibling close, seeking solace in their shared grief. "I don't know."