John Stason's POV
"So what was were the final months of the war like for you two," I asked
"It was two months of seemingly endless battles on both Earth and space," said James
"The war ended only 3 and a half months after the Three Suns Siege, during that time I along with James was tasked in various space sieges and conquests with the Magpie fleet throughout April and then in May, James and Charlie combined their fleets to help retake the Southern African Front for the Dilganese, by June the New Titans were beginning to fracture and were preparing a last stand on Command-1, Takahiko was throwing everything at the Dilganese to keep the New Titans from capitulating with Dil sending his entire Imperial Fleet to finish off the New Titans as well as to deal with Pester personally," said Yasako
"The final battle, the Battle of Command-1, I was taught from history textbooks that it was the heroic climatic battle that ended the war and brought the lasting peace that we live in today," I said
"And I guess you want me to recollect the battle for you," said James in a tone that sounded standoffish
"I just wanted to recount your perspective of the events of that battle," I said
James suddenly left the room and went into his study where he slammed the door shut and locked the door. I was completely gobsmacked.
"I apologise if I done anything wrong," I said apologetic
"Don't worry, it's just the Battle of Command-1 brings back memories for James," said Yasako
"What kind of memories," I said
"It was the last time he saw his mother," said Yasako solemnly
"What did you do to scare dad," said Stu Jr, James's son
"Nothing, I was just asking questions about the war," I said defending myself
"Stu Jr, go play your VR, James you need to tell your perspective of the final battle, it'll take massive weight off your heart," said Yasako
"Fine, I'll try to recall the events, but it's not going to be easy," said James as he unlocked and opened the door of his study and sits on the sofa in his living room.
I sat down with James and could sense on why he wouldn't want to dwell on the final events of the battle.
"Have you ever been to the Dilganese War Memorial in Salt Lake City?" asked James
"I have and I am aware that your mothers name appears on it," I said
"I have never told on how my mother ended up going MIA, Presumed KIA, I feel I need to tell the story," said James
I sat attentively, getting my notepad out and began writing down everything James was about to say.
"It was June 19th, 1 AC, we had pushed the New Titans back to Command-1, before the battle, my father did a briefing in the massive briefing room on the ACS Grandpa Lou Pickles to the various squadrons that were to be deploy for the battle," said James
Flashback - June 19th, 1 AC, ACS Grandpa Lou Pickles.
James POV
I remember waking up really early in the ships quarters and began heading towards to where the briefing room was, the meeting had started an hour earlier and because I was a reserve pilot for this mission, I wasn't required to be there, but wanted to overhear what were the plans for the main battle.
However as I got there, the meeting had finished and many people exited the room, their were two exits to ensure that the corridors weren't overcrowded with people and both my mother and Mashymere walked out of the room which I approached them both.
"James, it's good to see you, are you ready to back all of us up as a reserve pilot," said my mother
"I am, although I do wish I was being deployed," I said
"The war is nearly over and I would rather you survive it," said my mother
"But I can provide some assistance on the battlefield," I said
"You are as an reserve pilot and you'll most likely be manning a turrets on this battleship, so you will be playing your part," said Mashymere
"I still feel I could do so much more out there," I said
"I know you do, but the enemy we are dealing with is far beyond your capabilities, the only way that you can even defeat Pester is with the Everwood Curse and both me and your father agreed that we don't want you to use it in battle," said my mother
I'd had used the Everwood Curse a few times during the war and while it had been very powerful, it had caused concern for both of my parents as my father knew what the Curse was and it's effects, while my mother saw it first hand in battle which saw me go berserk against Imperial Leni forces and while it would win battles, my body physically and mentally was beginning to grow weary of using the Curse and my parents both discouraged me from using it in battle.
"I understand, but do you think this battle will end the war," I asked
"If Lawrence Pester and Takahiko Arima fall today, then it's likely, apart from remnants which can be dealt with in the peacetime, a Dilganese victory will most likely end the war," said my mother
"So this could be the day that the war ends," I asked
"It will be the day it ends, which is why I want to tell you something," said my mother
"What's that," I asked
"If me and Mashymere don't make it out of this battle, I want you and Yasako to have a good life," said my mother
"What do you mean," I said slightly worried
"Your mother and I have been assigned on a risky mission to take on Takahiko head on and to capture Command-1, whilst Dil and a few battalions are to take on Lawrence as well as the various Titans fleets in the battle, it's known that Takahiko has many anti-Newtype weapons and we don't know the full weapon capabilities of Command-1," said Mashymere
"We know Pester's planning Project Alpha with Command-1 being the staging point and with Takahiko's forces being stationed around it, it could be a very risky mission," said my mother
"What do we know about Project Alpha," I asked
"We know that it needs to be stopped in order for a peace to be guaranteed," said my mother
"Although I have my doubts about the Key to Time being used to combat Project Alpha," said Mashymere
"It might be the only option if we are unsuccessful," said my mother
"Karn, Cello, prepare to sortie, the battle is about to begin," said General Warfield as stern as he always was.
"Looks like this is where we part, hopefully we will all see each other again," said my mother who gave me a quick hug before leaving with Mashymere, heading towards where the hanger was.
As I watch more people exit the meeting room, one of the last to leave was Charlie who had an aura of uncertainty around him.
"Charlie, it's been a while," I said as Charlie had arrived on the ship the night before.
"Good to see you James, I hear we are close to total victory," said Charlie
"I've heard this could be the deciding battle in the entire war," I said
"Hopefully, this war is becoming exhausting and I have had enough of the constant battles and effects on everyone," said Charlie
I also began to sense something, something that felt ancient, but also powerful, it was coming from not far from the ship.
"It's been a tough experience, is it me or do I sense a ancient presence," I said
"I can sense something, but it might be just battle nerves," said Charlie
"Possibly, have you made any career plans in case you survive the war," I said
"I have some ideas, Rugby League maybe, maybe some other options," said Charlie
"Charlie, you're needed in the hanger, prepare to sortie," said father who appeared all of a sudden
"Very well, good seeing you James," said Charlie before he leaves the room.
Father turned to me and said "James, enter the bridge and prepare to man a turret if necessary,"
"Very well," I said
I leave the room and head to the bridge, there was Yasako who had arrived in the room earlier, in the Captain's chair was General Warfield as my father had decided to take to the field and sortie in an newly built Reptar unit that was built for this battle.
"James, looks like you're on the bridge for this battle," said Yasako giving me a hug.
"Yeah, apparently I'm in reserve as they feel I'm not needed in this battle," I said
"I wouldn't say not needed, but too valuable to be lost," said General Warfield
"What do you mean," I said
"Dil was only willing to send Charlie out as he along with many others felt that Charlie's MS could stop Lawrence Pester, as for you and Holly, he felt that it would be better to keep both of you out of the way so that you'll survive the war, he didn't want to sortie Charlie for this battle either, but he had no choice on that matter," said General Warfield
We start to hear laser fire, faint explosion sounds as well as the sounds of rockets moving which was the sound of MS and Spaceships which indicated that the battle had begun.
"The battle is about to start, shall we prepare battle formations," said Taylorinik
"We shall indeed, James, Yasako man a turret, everyone else man a battle station," said General Warfield
I along with Yasako ran into the turret room which was large and vast, there were already a few troops in there who had manned their turrets beforehand, we were approached by the Turretmaster.
"James, Yasako, man the two unmanned turrets on the right, the New Titans are trying to attack the ship on the side, stop them," said the Turretmaster as we both manned the turrets.
As we began to aim down the turrets, we could see many different MS battling each other ranging from Dilganese, Dangos, North Japanese and even SGDR who sent some units and ships to assist in defeating the New Titans and Intergalactic Forces.
I begin finding New Titans MS and after getting the targeting system to target them, I used my Newtype senses to fire at the right moment before managing to take down various New Titans MS including Hizacks, Marisais, Baund Docs, Tactical GM's, and Snoopy's whom had either tried to attack the ship we were on or were encountering our MS.
Yasako also managed to sink some New Titans MS as well as the New Titans were clearly being pushed back to Command-1 where a big push had been made to try and capture it.
"James, Yasako, your presence are requested on the Bridge," said General Warfield on the PR system.
Me and Yasako would head to the Bridge as fast as we could to see the battle unfold before our eyes, Command-1 began moving its antenna's which was an sign that Project Alpha was about to be fired.
"Project Alpha is preparing to fire, prepare the Key to Time to be fired against it, we got possibly very little time," said General Warfield
"Preparing to launch the Key to Time," said Taylorinik
Suddenly a Orange flash could be seen with the faint sound of more MS and Ship explosions could be heard, two lights with one being pink and the other being green could be seen and heading towards the orange light.
However something seems oddly familiar with these lights, I slowly pay attention to them as they follow the orange light into Command-1 and a realisation begins to hit me.
'Mother, Mashymere, that must be their Newtype aura's illuminating in the battle'
"What's the status on the Key to Time," said General Warfield
"Prepared and ready to fire," said Taylorinik
"Don't fire, many of our most prestigious units are in that area," I said
"If Project Alpha fires, we are all doomed, we need to fire the Key at once," said General Warfield
"Hold your fire, our units are infiltrating Command-1," I said as I could feel some of our units entering Command-1, I could also sense the orange light begin to emit an intense aura around the area.
"They won't be able to make it in time, we need to fire it now," said General Warfield
Suddenly we heard a voice on comms.
"Don't fire the Key to Time, the orange aura will corrupt it if the Key is fired, offer our forces additional support," said Phil
"Who's orders are you operating on, Dil has ordered me to fire it if Project Alpha is preparing to fire," said General Warfield
"Dil has given me operational command of this battle as he is engaged in battle with Pester, that orange aura is related to some ancient entity which is currently being combated by both Dilganese and New Titans forces as it's gotten out of control," said Phil
"Have we got any news on the front," said General Warfield
"Takahiko Arima is KIA, we're not sure on the other New Titans or Intergalactic leadership, but we know Pester and Dil were last seen battling each other, but they are crossing dimensions at a speed judged to be faster than light speed," said Phil
"General, we are receiving comms from the SGDR Volksmarine Admiral Gerholtz of the DDNV Schritte," said Taylorinik
"Activate dual-screen comms," said General Warfield as Admiral Gerholtz appeared on the ships comms screen.
"This is Dilganese General Warfield acting in Dil Pickles seat on the ACS Grandpa Lou Pickles," said General Warfield
"This is Admiral Gerholtz of the DDNV Schritte, we have been sent by our Supreme Leader Lyssa Von Karn to assist with the war effort, our ground troops have already made an considerable impact as MS pilots," said Admiral Gerholtz
"Your troops have been an immense help to the battle, but may I ask, why are you comming into the ACS Grandpa Lou Pickles," said General Warfield
"Because General, we have been informed that Lyssa Von Karn has requested that the Volksmarine attack Command-1 head on with our fleets," said Admiral Gerholtz
' That would overwhelm the station, plus the ancient entity may get drawn to our ships which we may not be able to handle,'
"But we've begun to infiltrate it, the timing of it wouldn't be wise," said Phil
"Go forward with your request, but be wary, that orange aura looks more trouble than it's worth," said General Warfield
"Don't we run the risk of having the orange aura head towards us," I said
"What can you sense, James," said Phil
"Something ancient that existed long ago in an another dimension, it's being combated by many of our MS with only a handful including my mother and Mashymere's MS being able to contain it," I said
"See if you can sense the battle going on," said General Warfield
"I can't, the pressure coming from the entity is too powerful," I said
I'm trying to sense what it is, but all I get is cryptic voices that is connected to some sort of ancient power or thing.
But suddenly I try to break into it and then I feel like flames surrounding me, the flames were intense and were the only that I could see.
"James Maharaja Pickles, you dare try to sabotage the conquest of all of space under my domain" said a powerful, booming voice.
"Who are you?," I asked
"I was once known in an another dimension as the Dark Lord of Mordor, but my power along with Mordor were destroyed many eons ago and since the failure of Dagor Dagorath, my spirit has survived crossing multiple realms and dimensions in space and time and now with the ring that one of your forces has activated, I have returned," said this voice booming as ever
"What do you want with our people," I asked
"Total domination and then when all is seized by my hand, all will become one in the void," said the voice
"What do you want with me," I asked
"You impeded into my plan and thus you must die," said the voice as a heavily armoured figure with a giant mace appeared.
But suddenly as the figure approached me, I could hear ghostly voices and suddenly a few figures began guarding me, some wore old Titans piloting suits as well as a few that were wearing the piloting and Officer suits of the AEUG.
"Leave James at once, fiend," said a purple haired woman (Rosamia Badam)
"Newtypes are no pawn of the Dark Lord, your presence is not wanted," said a blue haired woman (Four Murasume)
"Leave him alone, let James live his own life," said a man with a blonde beard and AEUG uniform (Henken)
"Go back to drifting, Dark Lord," said a woman with a orange AEUG piloting suit (Emma Sheen)
"You are to leave this dimension and never return, if you return, you will be dealt with by the combined will of every Newtype that has ever lived," said two people in unison, one was a woman with a gold dress (Lalah Sune) and the other was none other than my old commander Quattro Bajeena.
These voices caused the fires to weaken as the supposed Dark Lord's presence began to fade as the Newtype's began to shove the Dark Lord back into a void.
"James, be careful when dealing with deities like that, Newtypes can be vulnerable to those sort of things," said a familiar figure
"Aunt Marlene, did you send those Newtypes," I asked
"Sort of, I had to ask a few Newtypes still living in the U.C. if they can help your case, two of which fought your mother in combat and they sent their fallen friends as ghosts to assist," said Aunt Marlene
"Really, how easy was it to convince them," I said
"Some agreed to do it as it was the right thing, while others did it as they felt that the son of the Ghost of Zeon does not need any more burdens," said Aunt Marlene
"Will that presence disappear from the war," I said
"Should do which may cause the life force of the welder of such a thing to fade," said Aunt Marlene as she began to fade away and soon my senses began to snap into reality.
"What did you see, James," said Yasako concerned
"I saw some sort of Dark Lord who must of took control of someone in the battle before a flurry of Newtypes assisted in containing it, the orange aura should dissipate in a minute," I said
"There's been too much supernatural crap that the war has triggered, prepare the Key to Time, has soon as the aura dissipates, fire it, there may be less time to lose," said General Warfield
"But there is still many Dilganese that are infiltrating it," I pleaded
"As long as it's still in fireable state, it's not worth the risk to capture it, Pester can fire that thing remotely, no matter what faction is on board," said General Warfield
"Preparing the Key to Time, again," said Taylorinik as he prepared the Key to fire
As the orange aura dissipates, Project Alpha begins its firing sequence which then causes the inevitable.
"Fire the Key," said General Warfield
The ships began firing a bright white beam almost as bright as the sun which hit the Project Alpha cannon at the right moment which caused a gigantic explosion which then led to a creation of a black hole.
"All hands to battle stations, we need to avoid entering the black hole," said General Warfield
I was getting worried, my mother was near that black hole with her lover Mashymere, my father was probably either in this dimension or fighting Pester outside of known reality.
Some of the ships near the black hole including the SGDR ships that had assaulted Command-1 were beginning to get sucked in which caused concern on our ship.
It's at the moment when my personal comms began going off.
"This is Captain James Pickles of the ACS Grandpa Lou Pickles speaking," I said formally
"James, its good to speak to you again," said my mother
"Mother, I see you made it out," I said
"Not necessarily, which is why I'm calling your comms, I have come to an decision," said my mother
"What sort of decision," I said
"The black hole is going to continue expanding until it'll engulf the entire Dilganese Empire, I'm going to try and stop it," said my mother
"What are you planning on doing," I asked
"I'm going to use my Newtype pressure to seal the Black Hole downwards which means I'm going to go with it to save everyone," said my mother
"Why, why not come back to the ship, the war is over," I said
"Because there won't be anything to return to if I don't try to stop this Black Hole, James I want you to promise me one thing," said my mother
"What's that," I said
"Have a good life and be the master of your own destiny, you were the greatest son that a mother could ever ask for and I am and always will be proud of you, goodbye James," said my mother who sounded like she was tearing up as she was saying those words before her comms shut off.
At that very moment, every memory I had with my mother flashed before my eye as I watched a pink light begin to envelope the black hole as it began to emit different coloured lights.
"General, we're getting word that a Newtype is an attempting to seal the Black Hole," said Taylorinik
"Must be Haman, Amuro had boarded, Mashymere is on his way back," said General Warfield
"She better seal it quick or we'll all get consumed," said Taylorinik
As I watch the pink light begin to shutter the Black Hole, I remembered a Star Trek film that I watched when I was younger where Captain Kirk sacrificed himself to save the USS Enterprise-B. But in that film Kirk was saved by the Nexus, I was holding hope that the black hole could transport Mom somewhere after sealing it in a similar scenario.
Suddenly we heard a great shockwave/vibration as the Black Hole had been sealed with a big collision, suddenly there was nothing but open space in front of us, the war was over, the Black Hole was gone, Command-1 was gone, my mother was...
Gone
My initial emotion is one of shock, I can feel Yasako hugging me to comfort me on what's just happened, I just look at where the battle had taken place which was now just empty space and then every memory I ever had with my mother flashed before my eyes again before my knees buckled under pressure and tears began to race through my eyes.
Back to Present
John Stason's POV
"And that's how the war ended from my perspective, my mother went MIA, presumed KIA at the very last moment of the war and I had live on my life in a new unfamiliar post-war world," said James
"I'm so sorry, how did the post-war world fair for you," I asked
"I managed, I dabbled in soccer and motorsport, playing for Charlton Athletic before a injury ended my career prematurely and then after getting my degree and masters in psychology, I became a therapist and I have my office a short walk away from here, I actually want to show you something," said James as he motioned me to his garage.
What sat there was a full scale replica of a 1989 Onyx F1 Grand Prix Car with a F1 helmet sat on top of it.
"This is a retro Formula 1 car," I said
"That is correct, I race it in the Formula Retro Series and if you look on the side, you can even see my mothers old Stock Car team logo which I added on there as a tribute," said James showing me a logo with a arrow with what looked like a witch flying it like a broom.
"How does James do at Formula Retro," I asked Yasako
"He does fairly well, whether he bothers to pit as his Newtype tunnel vision can get the better of his racing sometimes," said Yasako
"Sometimes I get too focused and end up desperate to defeat my opponent," said James
"I do have a question to ask though?" I asked
"What is that," said James
"How come there is no pictures of your parents in your house," I asked
James walked over to the replica F1 car and sat on the nose of the vehicle with a face that looked tired as well as reminiscent before saying "I haven't spoken to my father in years, I had an argument with him not long before I went to college as I felt his war and ideas had caused my mothers death and I was very bitter on how the Alien Republic treated veterans of the Alien/Titans War that were simply demobilised without much thought of their futures," said James
"What about your mother, why isn't there any pictures of her around your house," I asked
"I keep all family photos of her in a binder that I open to reminisce from time to time," said James
"How often do you do that," I asked
"Not that often, I have shown my close family as well as occasionally looking at it in private," said James
"James, I feel like you need to put a photo or two of your mother in your house, she sacrificed many things to ensure that you had a good upbringing and life and I know you still have your disagreements with your father, but I do feel a memorial photo of your mother should be in the house," said Yasako
"Maybe your right, Yasako, maybe it's time I stop hiding my emotions on the war that changed my life as well as on the past," said James
"I'll put a memorial candle in front of the photo of your mother," said Yasako putting a arm on James's shoulder
"Yeah, can I play my F15 Simulator for an hour before coming up for dinner," said James
"You may, although you might have to lead your guest out first," said Yasako
"Fine, but GS-1000 might be online and I want to become the best player on the flight simulator," said James
"After you lead your guest out," said Yasako
"Come on John," said James as he leads me to the front door.
"Before you go, I'm going to give you this, this may help with the research," said James handing me a written note.
It contained the contact details of Mashymere Cello and Kojima Utsumi
"Good luck on the research," said James as him and Yasako wave me off.