A/n
Okay here is Phase 60, and I know it is somewhat shorter than they have been recently. However, the reason for that this and the next Phase were originally going to be one Phase but it was becoming too long. Anyway, hope you enjoy the phase!
Phase 60: An Unexpected Operation
February 25th 73 CE.
Hulun Lake Area, Republic of East Asia
Tyler looked out the window of the aircraft he was on to see the Hulun Lake to the left. The plane was about to begin its final approach to the Federation's Hulun base on the lake's east side. It was a sizable base for not being within reasonable travel distance to a city, taking up the majority of the eastern shoreline of the lake and stretching east from there for a couple of kilometers. It was one of the two military bases close to the Republic's northern border facing the Alliance's Eurasian Federation. Hulun and the Mongol Tur base closely watched Eurasia's activities to ensure the Alliance didn't make a successful surprise attack on the Republic. The network of sensor equipment between them ensured the Alliance wouldn't sneak past them.
Tyler's thoughts returned to the message he'd received to head for the Hulun base for an "important mission." The orders didn't paint a good or clear picture to him when he'd read them over. The mission was, in essence, to make a precision strike against an Alliance facility in the Siberian area of the Eurasia Federation. The scarce detail attached to the orders was the facility made dangerous weapons for the Alliance. There was mention of the tip about the base coming from a "protected anonymous source." The specific wording of the informational source made Tyler wonder several things. A protected source normally meant they were either a part of or had been working or the ones the target belonged to. Defectors were usually fine in Tyler's book as they dared to stand up and leave the "bad people" they had been around. However, keeping the source anonymous suggested there was more to them than just working for the Alliance. There was a nagging feeling in the back of Tyler's mind that this mission was going to be anything but straightforward or simple.
The source wasn't the only point of the mission Tyler was going to be on that bothered him to an extent. Special forces ground teams would also be going in for this, along with mobile suits squadrons. The mobile suit squadrons wouldn't be exactly a shock if the target were an Alliance weapon production facility. If planned right, such could get in and out quickly and destroy the facility with little serious issue. Yet, the special forces ground teams strongly implied this was more than a taking out of a production facility. It made Tyler think there was something inside the target facility that higher-ups wanted to be extracted before the Alliance facility was destroyed. And what possibly was inside that higher-ups wanted bothered Tyler since there were no details on that. He'd been on enough missions that the briefs left out "certain" details that caused problems during the operation. Of course, Tyler hoped that whatever mission he was going to be a part of would go okay, but he wasn't confident in that. He hoped he would get more information to fill in the holes the orders left when he arrived.
The aircraft came down to land at one of the Hulun Base runways, bringing Tyler out of his thoughts. Tyler grabbed his two duffle bags and exited the plane as the others who had been on it did. The equipment Tyler had brought he'd chosen when he had read terms "extremely dangerous" and "tactically complex" in the orders. It could explain why special forces personnel were being brought in by what Tyler could figure. Such still didn't explain what the mission would fully entail, but the meeting Tyler would attend would hopefully help with that. He had no issues with missions that could be considered "risky." Tyler just preferred to have details to plan on contingencies and see potential problems with the operation. He was even keener to get details of the orders left out as he would be working with the ground forces rather than the mobile suit squadrons.
Tyler dropped off his duffle bags in the assigned quarters for the mission's duration. He then made his way to where the meeting for those who would be in the ground forces would discuss the operation. Tyler's orders hadn't given any hint as to who he would be working with other than them being from the special forces part of the Earthbound Defense Forces. He'd worked with some from the group during a couple of his missions against the Alliance, but he didn't interact with them often. Sure, Tyler had made a friend or two in the group due to the crap they had gone through together. But the likeliness of any of those being on this assignment was beyond low, and Tyler didn't kid himself about that. And Tyler didn't have a problem with special forces covering his back, and he doing the same for them.
Tyler came into the meeting room and saw it was filled with soldiers in groups talking with one another. There was a group at a large round table which Tyler figured were the ones that would take charge of the operation. One scan around the room didn't bring any faces that Tyler recognized, which he expected. With him being in SOLAS, Tyler didn't interact with others groups directly often. He was often called in as a specialist and left to use his skills to accomplish what was needed. It was part of the reputation Tyler had worked on changing, he was a loner when he did work. Tyler could work with a team, but circumstances tended not to allow or put Tyler in the position to do so. However, Tyler was brought out his thoughts when a voice spoke, "Are my eyes deceiving me, or is that you lucky loco?"
Tyler turned to see a man who was a head taller than him. His skin was slightly darker than Tyler's own. The man had a "marine-type" haircut, short on top and stubble on the sides. The guy was muscular, as would be expected of a solid soldier. Tyler recognized the man after a moment, not for his appearance but for how he referred to Tyler. Tyler had gotten a few nicknames from some he'd worked with during his service. Some were memorable, others less, but "lucky loco" was one he'd known and remembered. The man's name was James Vega, and he was a member of the special forces in the Earthbound Defense Force. Tyler had met him on the mission that had earned him his bronze star. He'd found the guy a dependable ally, and they had become friends during the week that operation had taken place. According to James, he gave Tyler the nickname because he did crazy things yet came out on top. "Your eyes are working just fine, James," Tyler replied. "It is nice to know I will know someone on this operation."
James closed the distance and clapped Tyler's shoulder. He had taken a liking to Tyler shortly after they'd met almost two years ago. The kid wasn't anything like the stories and rumors suggested. Yeah, the kid was younger than most enlisted, but Tyler had earned his position and label as a specialist. Yet, what stood out the most had been the kid went into crazy situations and somehow came out on top when others wouldn't. During the time James had been around him, the mission had been crazy. The Alliance had been bearing down on the group James had been with, and calls for allied reinforcement had gone unanswered. Then Tyler had shown up out of nowhere in a vehicle and bailed the whole group out. He'd gotten them to the extraction point to leave the battle zone without a single soldier lost. Because of Tyler's actions, lives were saved which would've been lost. James hadn't questioned Tyler if he said he could do something since then. The mission ahead felt like a mess waiting to happen; that was the vibe James got from it. So, a lucky soldier like Tyler would put James's mind at ease. "Well, lucky loco, I'm kind of glad you're here," James remarked. "The stuff I've heard about this operation is giving me a bad vibe."
Tyler was glad to know that he wasn't the only one having uncomfortable feelings with the operation as given. And it wasn't that Tyler believed the mission couldn't be done, for he believed it could be done. There were just missing facts that implied things that Tyler didn't like personally. There was one rumor that had stuck out and bothered Tyler, which hadn't left his mind. That rumor had been the "target" had a bad reputation with it, even within the Alliance. It was a place that took kids in, and they didn't come out the same. According to what Tyler had read, they were either "odd," to put it lightly, or were in bodybags when they came out of the place. If the rumor was true, Tyler wondered if an encounter he'd had months ago wasn't significant.
Months ago, Tyler had "bumped into" a trio of girls that had stood out to him at the time. They had given the last name of Galiena and had said they were sisters. From what the one with them had said, they were doing "recovery" from something done to them for years. What had stuck out in his mind was the youngest girl's voice had been a dead ringer for the blue Duel-like unit's pilot he'd gone against twice during the war. If the three were the pilots of the Alliance Gundams, then he was curious as to what they were recovering from. The girls had seemed "normal" enough looking at them, but they couldn't be normal with how they piloted. One line implied they had been "improved" at a "facility" the Alliance had controlled. There was no more said as to what that could've meant, but with what Tyler knew of the Alliance, he didn't want to consider how low they had gone to try and gain an advantage.
Should the "kids" that rumors mentioned be like the girls Tyler had met, that would cause problems. They would be stronger, faster, and more cunning than Naturals would be, on average, by a notable margin. But if Tyler assumed such was true, then it was possible the information for this upcoming operation was from those who knew of the project that turned kids into what those girls were. That group would likely know if other facilities could alter children and make them into what the Alliance wanted. Yet, all of what Tyler assumed was true, then the target the operation was going after was an Alliance facility that made living weapons they used to combat Coordinators. Tyler put a hand on James's, "You're not the only one getting bad vibes about what we're going to do." Tyler paused, "I just hope that the nagging suspicion coming to mind is wrong."
The leader of the ground forces called for everyone to take a seat so the briefing could take place. James and Tyler moved forward, took seats next to each other, and looked forward to the mission leader and the screen behind him. The room dimmed as everyone was seated, and the briefing began. "Welcome to you all," the leader started, "This will be the main briefing though the mission won't begin for thirty-six hours." The screen lit up, and a map of the historic Siberian area in the Eurasian Federation's territory. "Our target for the operation is a facility deep in Alliance territory. At this time, the weather conditions will play in our favor as the winter season will give us cover along the approach." The image changed to a closer view of the "facility" the briefing was on. "This complex and the area it takes up is the operation's target." The leader glanced over those listening, "Make no mistake, this isn't a strike-and-destroy mission. It is an extraction mission with its goal. Any that impede it are to be dispatched efficiently, and then you are to move on."
Tyler sat and listened to the briefing that continued. The facts being given didn't dismiss Tyler's suspicions about the complex being a place that produced those like the girls he'd met. If anything, the information from the Network said the complex was decadently defended and could call upon help. If they called for reinforcement, then it would take around fifteen minutes for Alliance forces to arrive. Meaning this operation would have to be time-conscious, and time would be against them. And the Alliance forces on site wouldn't just stand by and let themselves be attacked. The mobile suit squadrons would help deal with the enemy forces that were around the complex. And from what Tyler heard from the mission commander, the mobile suit squadrons would be made up of forces from the pacific nations. The new HFS-T25 Hanzos and HFS-T29 Durandal Fighter models would be employed in the operation. There would also be Orb units joining the mobile suit squadrons.
The general plan for the operation was the mobile suit squadrons would go ahead and clear out enemy forces. The blizzard that would be going on in the area would cover the approach of the squadrons. The stealth systems the mobile suits had wouldn't be needed for the final approach but would simplify the approach. They would clear landing zones for the ground forces, which would come in a short distance behind them. The ground forces would then assault the complex. There would be demolition experts with them to get past the armored entrances with specialized equipment. The ground forces would gain access to the complex and work on taking control of the facility. A team would go deep into the facility and search for the "kids" that were supposed to be there. Once the kids were found, they would be extracted along with any people there who weren't Alliance personnel.
Tyler didn't have any issues with the outline of the plan the operation would use for success. There were still some points that could spell trouble if the Alliance countered in an unpredictable way. However, the Alliance was still fairly predictable as far as the information Tyler had read stated. The end of the war had changed some things, but the behavior outside the public eye of some in the Alliance did wasn't one of them. The operation would be more likely to succeed if communication could be scrambled before the attack started and the Alliance did not notice. The brief had filled in holes that Tyler had been concerned about before.
The point of interest to Tyler was the new Earth-use mobile suits the Federation had developed, which would be used. The other thing was the new aircraft that would carry the ground forces to the target complex. The Pelican drop-ships had several advantages over helis and other aircraft carrying troops. First, it could hold up to forty-five people, an increase from the previous craft. Next, it didn't use turbines or propellors of any sort; it had four twin thrusters to give it lift and flight. The other difference is the Pelican payload capacity, which was substantially larger than the previous hovering aircraft. Depending on the situation, the craft could get in and out quickly or do precision strikes. Tyler could see the real potential the Pelican drop-ship had in military operations. It would be an advantage over the Alliance and ZAFT should or when the need came.
The final equipment that would be employed in the operation that was unusual was the newly made "exo-suits." From the brief explanation that was given, the suits would increase the user's speed and strength. It did so by reading the muscle movements and nerve signals and amplifying the response through mechanical enhancement. The stated details didn't make a great deal of sense to Tyler as he wasn't a science type. Tyler was willing to give the suit a shot as long as it did what was claimed and didn't have notable negative consequences for the assistance. Since he would be with those taking fire from the Alliance soldiers that would be at the facility they would be attacking, he would take the help he could get. The other thing the suit had going for it was the "impact gel," which was mentioned by the presenter. Supposedly, the gel could disburse impacts, including bullets to an extent. It was stated that taking a barrage of bullets wasn't recommended as the gel was limited on how much it could stop without a break so it could reform the layer it made. If it could do what was advertised, the gel layer was better than having light or no armor. Tyler would rather have such when going into a firefight than not.
The general part of the briefing came to a close, and then it turned to the selection of ground team leaders. Tyler wasn't all that interested in who would be chosen for the team leader position. He would be assigned to the team as a specialist, which would most likely need his skills. His bet was the team that would go deep into the Alliance complex, as his knowledge of Alliance systems would come in handy. Tyler hadn't been put on team missions regularly, though he could do them when required. Sure, Tyler had led the small investigation team at Heliopolis and done a fair job with the assignment. The assignment hadn't ended well, but that had been due to bad circumstances. Tyler wasn't a large team leader material if any were to ask him to do the job. He would do the job if forced to, but it wasn't something that his expertise tended to fit.
From the description the briefing gave, James didn't like some of the circumstances the mission involved. He would still participate in the operation and not complain about what came from it in the end. Yet, James would feel much better if Tyler led the team he was going to be on. His name hadn't been mentioned, likely because the kid had the reputation of being a solo act most of the time. So, James raised his hand to nominate Tyler as a team leader. The one who had been running the briefing noticed a hand being raised. After a moment, the man saw it was Lieutenant Vega raising his hand. Vega wasn't known to question much about a mission during his service by his profile. "You have something to add, Vega," the mission leader asked.
James nodded, "You are still deciding on the leader for the infiltration team that will go deep into the complex, right?" The leader nodded as there was still discussion going on as to who would lead what team. He would head the first team that would go for the control center of the complex. There would be the team that would hold the entry area and make sure the Alliance didn't block exit paths. The last ground team would venture into the facility and search for the "children" and "scientists" who were supposed to be there. The "anonymous" source that had given much of the information this mission was using had been insistent about children and scientists being there. They had said the Alliance was likely threatening them to keep them in line. The infiltration team would have to go against the most resistance of the three teams. Thus, the leader would have to be calm under pressure and have good judgment. These qualities were what made the selection of the infiltration leader difficult. "That's right, Vega," the mission leader replied, "What of it?"
James smiled, "I would like to make a nomination for the infiltration leader." The mission leader blinked as there was already a pool to select from for the infiltration leader. Unless the one Vega would nominate stood out, the nomination would be of little consequence. "Okay, there are already several being considered, but who is it you wanted to nominate," the mission leader posed. James pointed at Tyler, "I want to nominate McGregor for the position."
Tyler's head snapped up at hearing James' nomination for him to be a team lead. Yeah, if he were called upon for the job, Tyler would do it. However, he hadn't volunteered for the idea as James had done. "Wait a moment," Tyler began, "I figured that I would be on the infiltration team but not as its leader." Tyler glanced at James for a moment, "Not that I would decline the idea if it was determined I would be the best choice. But I'm not the normal type of person chosen for a team led as my style is different than military expectation."
The mission leader said nothing immediately after Vega put forth the nomination. He'd heard of Tyler McGregor much as most in the special forces, whether in the Earthbound Defense Forces or the Space Forces. The kid had a reputation for getting tasks done, even if by unexpected methods others wouldn't use. Yes, he was young, as files on him said, which made some rumors about him hard to believe. McGregor had leadership experience, according to files on him with a couple of previous missions. His skills as a specialist had been called upon as he had skills and experience against the Alliance more than others tended to. McGregor was going to be assigned to the infiltration team due to his abilities, but more as a special member rather than the leader. "I will consider your nomination, Vega," the mission leader returned.
The briefing was concluded, and those in the ground forces went their separate ways. Tyler glared at James, "What in the hell were you getting at, James," Tyler challenged. "Why did you nominate me for leading the infiltration team?" Tyler pointed at himself, "I'm a specialist, meant to do unique tasks that others don't. I'm not the leader type for this kind of mission unless there is a real need for someone to get things done is called upon." Tyler sighed, " I appreciate I can go into a situation and come out of it with those around me when others would be hard-pressed to do the same. But I feel this mission will be hectic and need those who will be a good team lead."
James kept a small smile and shrugged, "I believe you would do a great job being the team lead. And with what we may face, I would rather you leading the way, lucky loco." Tyler exhaled heavily at his friend's response as if it was a compliment, but not at the same time. It was nice to be told he would do well in a harsh situation. Yet, in the team lead position, they were responsible for the rest under them. Tyler had no issue getting himself into crazy crap, but he did have a problem when others came with him and did not volunteer for the point beforehand. He stood by his behavior when questioned, but Tyler didn't like when others had to suffer for something he did or was involved in. Nonetheless, he was just nominated for the position, not chosen for the idea, even if it was still possible. "Well," Tyler started, "I supposed that is something for later." Tyler paused for a moment, "How about we go check out the exo-suits that were mentioned and see what we can find out on them, shall we?"
James agreed to the suggestion since there was enough time before the mobile suit forces would be participating would arrive. Thus, the two headed off to the building the exo-suits were supposed to be. Tyler wanted to see the suits that had been talked about and perhaps see them in action if possible. Upon arriving in the building they had been told the exo-suits were in, they saw what appeared to be rings surrounded by equipment. Tyler assumed that the ring was for putting on the exo-suit for an individual, but he couldn't be sure. Both he and James observed as a soldier stepped into one of the rings and grabbed onto handles on the top. The soldier was wearing what appeared to be some sort of light, flexible one-piece suit. Tyler figured it was the under piece for the exo-suit, so it didn't come into contact with skin. As Tyler watched, the soldier stepped into "boots," which shifted and closed snuggly over the soldier's feet and ankles. That was followed by mechanical arms moving along the ring, carrying armor pieces to put them into place. The process continued, and Tyler was getting a tad more confident in the suit as it covered the majority of their body. Tyler kept observing as the soldier stepped out of the ring, fully equipped with the exo-suit now.
The soldier started with simple movements, like slowly extension of the arms and twisting different body parts. That transitioned into the suited soldier moving slowly forward in measured steps. Tyler was left to wonder about the measured movements. He couldn't help but be curious if there was something about the exo-suit that made movements different or needed concentration. The first time Tyler had worn the Federation's pilot suit, it had felt odd with the dynamic frame it had built in. If it was a similar experience, Tyler wanted some practice with the exo-suit before using it on the mission. As the soldier began doing more involved movements, James whistled, "Got to say, that looks interesting," he remarked. "I wonder what it will be like to do that ourselves." James glanced at Tyler, "What do you think, lucky loco?"
Tyler hummed in response, "It is indeed interesting, I'll admit," he stated carefully. "I think I'll have more to say once I get in one and try it out for myself, I think." Tyler stopped there, not wanting to say anymore as he was considering getting in an exo-suit right now if he could. James clapped Tyler on the shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts, "Well, no time like the present, right lucky loco," James said. Tyler would've told him he would go and ask when he was good and ready. However, James pulled Tyler with him as he moved forward toward the building staff. After coming up to the staff, James said that Tyler wanted to give one of the suits a go and get experience with how they worked. None of the staff saw a problem if Commander McGregor wanted to get into one of the suits and try it out.
Tyler didn't appreciate James essentially pushing him into getting into an exo-suit and trying it out. However, observing the suit's performance only answered a few questions and left others. So, instead of arguing, Tyler followed two staff members, leading him off to get one of the under suits on. The outfit was formfitting but was able to flex with Tyler's movements without restricting movements. There was padding around the major parts of his body, especially where the "armor" had been placed. Once the "flex suit," as the staff called it, was on to their satisfaction, Tyler was led back to the complex floor. He got into one of the rings putting his feet onto the boot bottom. The boots were closed and snuggly fit Tyler's feet as he took the handles at the top of the ring. Mechanical arms slid along the ring, bringing armor pieces for his arms and setting them in place before putting them together and securing them. The armor for the legs was being attached at the same time as the arms were.
The ring shifted and oriented to have Tyler at forty-five degrees with the floor, but hanging onto the handles prevented him from falling. Tyler felt an armor piece push against the back of his upper torso and a second part set on his lower back. Armor parts were set on Tyler's front, a heavier piece on the upper torso, while a multi-piece was placed on his abdomen. The ring was reoriented to have Tyler upright. Mechanical arms were supporting the armor that Tyler was now in as he was upright. He glanced up as something caught his eye, and Tyler saw a helmet being lowered down. The mechanical supports retracted for his arms, and Tyler reached up and grabbed the helmet. The other mechanical supports released and retracted, freeing Tyler to move on his own.
Tyler measured his movements, not wanting any surprises he would have to deal with. The weight of the armor wasn't more than Tyler could handle. With his muscle build from his military service and other activities, he could deal with the weight without much negative effects as a result. The under suit, combined with the armor, was having an effect as Tyler could feel the response to his movements. From what he could tell, they were amplifying Tyler's movements. The armor seemed to read his muscles' movements or nerve signals, but Tyler couldn't be sure if either were true. Tyler put on the helmet and saw the heads-up display come up a moment after he did. "Okay," one of the staff said, "take slow steps forward. Make sure you concentrate and don't make sudden movements. The exo-suits will amplify movements, and the stronger muscle movement, the more it will be amplified."
Tyler did as instructed, took measured steps, and kept upright. As he glanced around, the HUD identified people and actively scanned the surrounding environment. If he didn't have the training he did with Federation spacesuits, then the task of walking would be difficult while paying attention to the HUD display. On the HUD, there was a readout of the suit's condition, which Tyler merely glanced at. He was stopped by the staff, who were watching the movements and readings carefully. Tyler was then instructed on what movements to do and was observed as he did as told. After ten minutes of doing "basic" motions to get a baseline for himself and the staff helping him, Tyler was ready to move on. Over the next hour, Tyler worked with the exo-suit doing things like running, rolling, and other motions that Tyler may use while in combat.
Tyler was impressed at what the exo-suit could do for the wearer. It amplified his movements, allowing him to move faster and increasing his range of motion. Tyler could definitely see the clear advantage the suit would give in combat for the wearer. Not only would it be protective armor to a degree, but it would also make the wearer harder to hit and easier for them to get to their opponent. The staff said the "impact gel" could stop bullets, but taking a barrage wasn't recommended. They also said that Tyler would be tired after wearing the suit, the price one paid using them. However, Tyler took the time to get some more practice with the exo-suit while James tried another on. Before depending on one for the upcoming mission, he wanted to be confident in using the exo-suit. The sun was setting by the time the two left the building, which was used for the exo-suits.
Tyler felt drained after the session in the exo-suit, much as the staff had said it would. However, Tyler was satisfied with the performance of the exo-suit. It had answered questions he'd had about it, which was what Tyler wanted to have done. He was now confident in putting faith in the exo-suit working for him in the upcoming mission. The suit would protect him from potential issues the Alliance could create enough that Tyler could manage. Tyler was now convinced the exo-suit would give them a real advantage in combat against the other factions. Of course, Tyler hoped that the exo-suits wouldn't be needed regularly in combat and other types of operations. In the upcoming operation, with the information which had been given, Tyler felt the use of the exo-suit was justified.
Tyler returned to the quarters he was assigned to turn in for the day, as the operation would take place tomorrow evening. He reviewed the specs of the two new fighter models participating in the operation. They were more streamlined than the Valkyrie model from which they were developed. Their arsenal consisted of railguns, missiles, and a beam rifle to work with in combat. Tyler could see minor differences between the two, which he assumed were for better performance in different situations. The Hanzo was more aerodynamic than the Durandal and had better top speed and performance for bursts of time. The Durandal was built sturdier and could withstand the stress of high-speed flying and aerial combat. The two models working in tandem would be a force to be reckoned with, Tyler was sure.
Orb's mobile suits would only add to that advantage in the mission coming up. Tyler may not get to see the specs on them, though he could've requested them should he'd wanted to. Anything that came out of Morgenroete was high quality, and they had proven that quickly. The only reason they didn't have the reputation Teswa had was that they hadn't been on the public stage as long. Those were some of his thoughts as Tyler got to his bunk and lay down on it. He fell asleep quickly with the tiredness he was experiencing, but his thoughts were present in the dreams that came to him.
When the sun rose, two groups of mobile suits became visible on the horizon. One group was from the Equatorial Union, comprised of a mix of the new HFS-T25 Hanzos and HFS-T29 Durandal Fighter models. The other group was from Orb and had their new MVF-M11C Murasame machines, with a few M12A Ootsikigata variations with them and a custom model in their ranks. The two groups were directed where to land on the base so they could get down. There was a need for a briefing for the newcomers for the upcoming operation so they knew what they would be doing.
Tyler had woken up at around half an hour after sunrise as his internal clock seemed to have him do. After dressing, he left the barracks his bunk was in to see what was going on and perhaps get involved. Tyler wanted something to do to occupy his time so it would go by faster and he wouldn't be left to his thoughts. When he got outside, he saw that mobile suits were coming into land at the airfield. Tyler jogged over to the area to get a look as to what suits were arriving. They would be in the group that would be keeping heavy Alliance forces off the ground troops. Tyler liked to know who it was that would be covering him and others during the operation. It would give him peace of mind, and Tyler would prefer that right now.
Tyler got to the area of the airfield where mobile suits were landing within ten minutes. Around half of the arrivals had come to the ground, and the other half was working on the task. Some were the new HFS-T25 Hanzos and HFS-T29 Durandal Fighter models. The insignias on them said they were from the Equatorial Union. Tyler had no issues with that as he knew soldiers from there watched others' backs and bailed allies out without hesitation. The other suits were a model Tyler hadn't seen before, yet the coloration suggested they were new Orb models. They had the same colors as Orb's mass-production Astray models, but these machines had different features. These Orb machines had wings, and from those still in the air, Morgenroete had employed Federation transformation technology. Some had shields, others didn't, yet all had beam rifles and a hilt for a beam saber. A few suits were blue and white, with a strong sensor emitter on their left shoulder.
Tyler would applaud that Orb had produced new models of their own in the time since the war had ended. Their implementation of Federation technology would be something Tyler would love to see. He doubted the transformation technology was the only thing Morgenroete looked at and integrated into their designs. The stealth tech would be another area Tyler would bet they took an interest in and used in their machines. The use of the technology was fine as Orb was a member of the Federation, it was a perk of the idea. They wouldn't use the technology in horrible ways like the Alliance would if they could get access to it. Tyler was more interested in the different paths of development Orb had taken from places as Teswa had gone down.
Then Tyler's attention was caught by a custom model taking its turn to land on the ground. Before landing, it shifted into its suit mode, revealing it was a Gundam-type machine. Tyler knew the rules set by the Treaty of Junius Seven had a provision that limited the number of custom models, specifically Gundam types. Even if the Alliance likely wasn't observing the provision, though there wasn't solid evidence of the point, the Federation and ZAFT were doing so thus far. From what Tyler understood, each member nation was told they could have a certain number of Gundam types and custom models. He didn't know the exact number each nation got, but he couldn't help but wonder at seeing Orb's Gundam.
The Gundam was mostly white but had blue highlighting and edging with gold vents at the chest level. The lower torso was red, much like the Strike, and appeared to have the same type of cockpit entrance as the Strike. The arms looked to have binders with an emitter, much like the Aurora's shield did, along with a beam saber emitter. The "shield" emitter made Tyler wonder if the defection field technology had been further developed. With how Teswa worked on things, it wouldn't be a surprise to Tyler if deflection field tech had been advanced. The tech had serious potential in Tyler's mind, more so after he'd used it himself. The Gundam's flight mode also looked good, built for sustainable speed much as the Aurora had for itself. The coloration strongly suggested the Gundam had phase shift armor which was expected of the mobile suit type. The wings had Tyler thinking the Gundam could have the HiMAM system as the Aurora did, which gave it an advantage in aerial combat. Tyler wondered who was the pilot of the Gundam as they wouldn't be given out to anyone with the limited numbers. Thus, pilot selection would be considered more than for a mass-production machine.
Tyler made his way over to where the Gundam was landing, hoping to get a look at the pilot. By the time he had gotten to the desired area, Tyler had found an older teen surrounded by people, likely two years or younger than himself. It took a moment for Tyler to realize some in the crowd were badgering the teen. Others were defending the kid, but there were more badgerers than defenders. The kid was a few inches shorter than Tyler, but that was something Tyler wouldn't hold against the teen. His eyes were yellow, which was a rarer color but not a "designed" color exclusively. The teen's messy hair was much the same as it was blue, which Naturals normally didn't have, but it was possible. Tyler focused back on the group as a whole and didn't like the kid being picked on. Tyler knew what it felt like to be picked on and bullied, and he'd had more than his fair share during his service. Thus, Tyler pushed some aside to get to where the "conversation" was taking place.
At the same time, Tatsumi Hori kept his mouth shut to those picking on him. He knew that others wouldn't like the fact he'd been selected to pilot the MVF-X08 Eclipse Gundam. The machine was amazing when Tatsumi had looked its specs over after being given them. The Eclipse had tech that Orb hadn't had before joining the Federation and the war. It had the Federation's phase shift armor system as well as the Federation's stealth technology. There was also the system that manipulated air currents which he was told was based on something called the HiMAMs system, which the Federation had developed. Then there were the deflection field emitters that had interested Tatsumi. But with the conversation going on, it brought to mind the other fact about Gundams.
Pilots of Gundams were held to a higher standard than others, and he'd figured that out with the reading he'd done about them. Granted, he had a good six-month record with Orb's Disaster Relief Team. His colleagues said he was a very good soldier and that he got good results with given tasks. Tatsumi was still wrapping his brain around how that had translated into him being chosen for the Eclipse's pilot. Miss Simmons had said he was the best candidate who had been considered. Tatsumi had responded he was honored to be considered, but he was too young and inexperienced for the post. Miss Simmons and others had insisted he would do great and that he should be the pilot for the Gundam. Those at Morgenroete had made Tatsumi believe they could be right and that he was qualified to be a Gundam pilot. It would take time and opportunity to prove he could, but he'd been convinced before leaving Orb.
Those who he'd traveled with from Orb had echoed what had been said around Morgenroete. That had boosted Tatsumi's confidence in being selected for his piloting job. However, now that he had come to the Republic base his group was to report to for an operation, Tatsumi wasn't as sure he was the right choice. Others said he was too young and inexperienced to be assigned to the Eclipse. The soldiers he faced used the same arguments he'd initially given Morgenroete. Tatsumi did appreciate his teammates defending him, but he couldn't deny the truth being said. He was younger than most, if not all, Gundam pilots on record were. Tatsumi had far less experience than any of those pilots, making him question why he had been selected.
Meanwhile, Tyler got through the crowd to where the argument was going on. From what he heard, he'd caught some of what was being said, and the debate had to do with the Gundam pilot. While the teen was young, that shouldn't be a disqualifier for the point. Kira and Lacus had been around the teen's age when they had stepped into Gundams, and they had done amazingly. The kid didn't deserve any of the crap he was taking from others. If he'd been chosen by those at Morgenroete, the teen had potential. Should Morgenroete have confidence the kid could be a Gundam pilot, then the teen should be given that chance. Morgenroete's judgment had been good before now, and there was no reason to doubt it. "Hey," Tyler just about shouted. All turned to face him as he glared at those picking on the kid while Tyler jabbed a thumb at Tatsumi. "What the heck are you doing picking on the kid?"
Tatsumi stared at the newcomer that had appeared out of the crowd. They were a tad older than him and looked to have at least some authority, as some saluted him. Juri Wu Nien recognized the individual that had spoken out, stopping the argument. It was none other than Tyler McGregor who had helped out the Kusanagi during the war. His rank would help get things in order with this needless argument that had been going on. Mr. Hori didn't deserve the treatment he was getting from others. Yes, he was young to be a Gundam pilot, but Morgenroete had selected him, and that should be enough. The young pilots from the Archangel had been around Tatsumi's age when they stepped into a Gundam's cockpit. So, Juri saluted Tyler, "Commander McGregor, good to see you again," she greeted. Tyler glanced at the speaker and saw it was one of the three girls who had been pilots on the Kusanagi. "Indeed," Tyler replied, "Should I ask what sparked the debate which was going on before I interrupted?" Juri pointed at those who had been badgering Tatsumi, "They were stating that the Eclipse's pilot, chosen by Morgenroete, is not up to the post he has been put to."
Tyler turned to those who, by what he could tell, were from the Equatorial Union. "Whether you think it's right or not, it is not your decision," Tyler stated. "Morgenroete selects their pilots, and the factors they judge by are to a credible standard, I assure you." Tyler waved a hand dismissively, "So, move along and leave the kid alone. He isn't your issue, so get over that and move on." The gathered people broke up and moved away from the Orb group and Tyler. Tyler shook his head and turned back to those from Orb, "Apologies for the greeting," he sighed, "The upcoming operation is a complicated one and is causing stress for many."
While Tatsumi was grateful for this McGregor helping the debate end, he didn't see why the guy would see the need to do that. Tatsumi had never met this McGregor, though the name did sound oddly familiar, even if he couldn't place why. "Why did you just help me," Tatsumi asked. Some of the Orb group tried to assure Tatsumi that what had been said would be dismissed. However, Tyler smiled before he replied, "Because I can sympathize with being the target of attention because others think you shouldn't be here for whatever reason." Tyler let out a sigh, "I have lost count of how many times I was on the receiving end of such crap during my service." Tyler's voice changed to mocking: "You're too young for that, and you don't have the experience to do the job. You're being sent to die on this, and you only have yourself to blame." Tyler exhaled, "Any of those lines sound like what you got, kid?"
Tatsumi could only blink as those were extremely similar to the lines he'd heard moments ago. He slowly nodded in response, "Yeah, but how did you-" Tyler cut over Tatsumi, "Because that's what I used to get when I enlisted. I admit it quickly got annoying to hear from others and irritated me." Tyler sighed, then looked directly at Tatsumi, "What they say is wrong. You are here for a reason, and it is important, kid. Don't dare doubt that point or let what others say to sway you away from that fact. Those at Morgenroete chose you for a reason, and it wasn't pity, social standing, or because of your looks. You were chosen as a Gundam pilot because those at Morgenroete felt you would be able to grow into the role effectively." Tyler closed the distance and jabbed a finger on Tatsumi's chest, "Gundam pilots aren't chosen for their record or rank. They are selected because they have shown qualities which say they can be of the caliber needed for Gundams to make a difference."
It was nice to meet someone who understood what it was like to be looked down upon because of stupid reasons. What Commander McGregor said had restored a good amount of the confidence Tatsumi had before landing. But Tatsumi was curious how this guy knew so much about Gundams, as he implied. "How do you know about Gundam types," Tatsumi questioned.
Tyler scoffed, "Wow, rare is it that just hearing my name doesn't get most to salute and treat me differently." Tyler patted Tatsumi's shoulder, "It is refreshing to be treated as just a person instead of a war hero as some do with me." Tatsumi blinked, and then it clicked in his mind. He now knew where he'd read the name McGregor. It had been on reports from the final official battle of the Alliance-PLANT War. McGregor had been key in ending the battle, which had gotten him the title of a war hero, as a few had. It didn't explain how he knew about Gundam types unless he'd used one during the battle, which was possible. Tyler noticed Tatsumi's eyes widening, meaning the kid had heard of him. "Now, don't go being all formal with me, not my thing, thanks, and I don't care for it. As for how I know about Gundams, I've piloted three, though one was only for a short period." Tyler pulled back and put a hand on the kid's shoulder, "So, I can assure you no one is prepared to pilot a Gundam before they are put in the position they are to do so. I certainly wasn't prepared for the first Gundam I got into, and it had issues I had to deal with to get it working how I wanted."
Those from Orb listening were grateful to Tyler for what he was saying to Tatsumi. The young man was a member of Orb's Disaster Relief Team, which wasn't simple. The ODR was a team that handled crisis situations of all kinds, and members earned their spots on the team. Yet, Tyler wasn't done giving advice to the kid. He would give the teen the advice he'd wished he'd received in his first year of military service. "Let me give you some advice I wish I'd gotten when I started military service. The fastest way to shut up the critics is to prove their views of you wrong. Show them you can do what is expected and more. Ensure they know you were selected for a reason, and that selection was the right one for Morgenroete to make. If you do that, those who say you can't do something will shut up themselves, or others will do that for you."
Tatsumi was floored at the advice he was being given. It made sense, but he hadn't thought about it as it was stated. He'd always been told to do his best in any given task, and he'd done just that. Tyler continued, "You will be with those that will be covering those of us in the ground forces. So, please do what you can to keep Alliance mobile suits off us and disable the target's defenses. You do that, and you'll be fine and show you are the choice for a Gundam." Tyler shrugged, "Should you be able to do more, all the better and way to prove others are wrong about you. Don't stress yourself over what others say about you, use it as motivation to prove them wrong." As Commander McGregor had put it, the task was much clearer than what the mission brief he'd been present for back in Orb. Much of what had been said was the mission was going against an Alliance facility which had been brought to the attention of the Federation. The "facility" was deemed dangerous, though little had been said about what made it so. The other thing stated was that resistance from the Alliance was to be expected during the operation.
Tyler paused in what he'd been saying, realizing he didn't know the kid's name even though he'd been familiarly talking to him. "You'll have to forgive me," Tyler said, "But I got so wrapped up in what I was saying that I didn't ask for your name." Tatsumi blinked at the commander, saying he didn't have Tatsumi's name. It hadn't come up in conversation yet when Tatsumi thought back. "It's Tatsumi, sir," he returned, "Tatsumi Hori." Tyler offered a hand, "Well, I and others will be counting on those like you to cover us on the ground. I don't doubt you'll keep the Alliance off our backs enough for the operation to go well." Tatsumi shook the offered hand, "I'll do my utmost, sir," he replied. Tyler left the group as they began making their way to get an operation briefing that Tyler got yesterday.
As the sun dropped behind the mountains to the west, orders were given to prepare for the mission to begin. The ground forces had all been equipped with an exo-suit for whatever they would face during the operation. There had been a second briefing for the mobile suit squadrons who would participate since half had arrived earlier the same day in the morning. The pilots had confirmed they understood what their part in the operation was to be. They would first break through enemy defenses and draw enemy mobile suits away from the facility. When they did that, the ground forces could move in, get into the complex, and get to work. The mobile suit squadrons would be given around seven minutes to finish their initial task or nearly so. With that in mind, the squadrons would head out before the pelicans carrying the ground forces would. Enemy communications would be blacked out, so they couldn't call for help right away, but that would only buy time. According to Intel, this facility reported to Alliance command regularly. Thus, when the complex didn't check in with the Alliance, they would know something was going on. And that was why it had been pointed out that timing was key in this operation.
Tyler was making his way to the pelican he would board to travel to the enemy facility. He had what equipment he could foresee using in this operation. He had switched out his trusty SMG for the MK45 Sidekick he owned for weapons. Tyler also had his MK15 Mammoth assault rifle, which he kept for dicey or harsh situations and operations he was put on/in. The gun was based on the historical FN F2000 bullpup assault rifle made by the FN Herstal company. The rifle may not have as quick an auto mode as the Federation's Avenger assault rifle, but it made up for that in a different way. It had a higher caliber of rounds than the Avenger rifle, and the rounds were standard piecer-type rounds. Those kinds of rounds were the next level of armor piercing from what had been historically. They could penetrate more efficiently and made current body armor effectively useless against them.
Tyler had been told hours ago that he had been selected as the infiltration team leader in the operation. He still didn't see what made him better than the others who had been considered for the job, but Tyler hadn't argued the point. There wasn't the time to refuse the post as the operation had been hanging ahead. So, he would be responsible for twenty-six other people along with himself during the operation. Two of those were the demolition experts with slightly weaker armor than the rest. They would need to be protected along the way to the entrance to the complex as they had the means to get inside through the expected blast doors. Of course, Tyler fully intended that not one person on his team would be lost during the operation, but he couldn't guarantee that at the moment without knowing what would happen.
It was expected that the Alliance forces defending the facility would not make things easy for the ground forces mission. The data from the information network was not as detailed as Tyler would like about the place. There were no informants inside, at least, not any longer since the one which had been there had "died" in an accident. It was assumed the Alliance had killed the informant for something. The place was similar to a fortress and so had decent defense and would be hard to assault conventional. The "doors" to the outside from the inside were heavy and would take heavy explosives to get through. It was also possible that there would be just as heavy doors further in the facilities. And Tyler's team would be the one that would go the deepest into the complex, so they needed the demolition experts with them more than the other two teams.
Tyler encountered James as he was heading for the pelican he was assigned to. He saw he was also in an exo-suit though his was dark blue, while Tyler's was a neutral blue with white stripes along the shoulders. Tyler noted that James had what looked like a shotgun on the back of his hips and an assault rifle on his back. "Good to know you will be in charge of the infiltration team, lucky loco," James greeted. He glanced Tyler over and found he didn't have the gun he normally did on his right thigh.
The few times he'd worked with Tyler, the kid had an SMG he liked to use, but Tyler had a Sidekick pistol and a Mammoth assault rifle. The pistol was sensible to James as the kid had a knack for good aim, so he normally needed few bullets to get the job done. It was the Mammoth assault rifle that kind of surprised James as the gun didn't fit Tyler's normal style exactly. The Avenger assault rifle was the standard gun Federation special forces used as it was dependable and effective in most situations. On the other hand, the Mammoth assault rifle was meant for brute force and powering through enemy forces. The latter had more weight than the former, and its ammunition was piercing rounds, normally specialized piercer-type rounds which penetrated body armor with little issue. The other thing the Mammoth did that the Avenger didn't was rip through flesh and splatter gore around the area. James respected Tyler's choices regarding equipment, so he didn't say anything about the rifle selection.
Tyler stopped and faced James, "I didn't ask for the idea, but I'm willing to do it in this operation with the factors we have." Tyler paused as pilots boarded mobile suits, which he and James observed. "Now, if they can throw off the Alliance and neutralize the defenses for us before we get to the target facility, then the operation should go smoothly." The mobile suit squadrons began moving to the runways they would launch off from. James watched the suits in their flight modes lining up to take off. "And you doubt they can do that before we arrive," James asked.
It wasn't that Tyler thought the mobile suit squadrons wouldn't be able to complete their given task in the time they would have. He believed the pilots on the operation would do as expected and more if they could. The ground forces would have a clear enough landing zone for their approach to the target facility, he was confident in that. Tyler was more concerned about the operation going smoothly and not having losses by the end. The Alliance wouldn't just sit by and welcome Federation forces to their complex. That was more so if the place was an illegal development or training facility which it was looking like. The Alliance's reaction was the thing that would determine what direction the operation would need to take. If they reacted as expectations predicted, then the operation would be relatively smooth as it could be. Should they respond differently, those in the operation would have to adapt the best they could.
The timing factor was the most volatile part of the operation. Acquired information said the facility regularly reported to Alliance command every thirty minutes or so. Thus, the operation had to take place in that thirty-minute window and take a little longer than that. Once the Alliance something was going wrong, it was expected they would attempt to destroy the facility to hide evidence of its activities. Mobile suit squadrons could delay Alliance responses for a time, but it was unlikely to stop them in their attempts to destroy the facility. So, the briefing made it clear there were to be no time-wasting activities during the operation. Every minute counted for this mission, and it was more so as it was being classified as a rescue op. Lives were on the line, making a difference to those participating in the operation. The Federation took lives at risk more seriously than the other two factions seemed to show.
Tyler shook his head in response to James' question, "No, they will do just fine," he replied. "They will have things ready for us when we get on the scene; I'm confident in that. The more important question is how the Alliance will respond to us coming in, and we don't have a good answer for that at the moment. The problem, as I see it is by the time we do have the answer, there is little time to change and adapt with the window we have to work with." Tyler gestured for them to get onto the Pelican they would be riding on, "Let's board and not worry about what is ahead for the time being. We've done what we can prepare, and that's the best any can do." Tyler and James filed into the line, which had soldiers in exo-suits boarding the transport.
Tyler glanced around the pelican interior after coming onto the aircraft. He saw those who were on the infiltration team, which was being referred to as "silver team." James was taking one of the few empty seats on the right side of the aircraft as Tyler was scanning the interior. He spotted the three demolition experts in the center row of seats who would be helping the infiltration team. Those three had slightly different suits than the rest on the Pelican, being a bit lighter than the rest of the team's. They would be needed to get through at least one of the facility's outer armored doors. "Is everyone assigned to Silver Team here," Tyler asked the hold at large. There were muttering in agreement to the question, which Tyler took as all were where they should be. Thus, Tyler headed to the craft's cockpit to tell the flight crew they were ready.
Meanwhile, the base's air traffic control was managing and directing the fighters who were lining up to take off. Timing for the operation, which was about to start, was a heavy determining factor. Everything from time on the ground for those going in to take off and travel time for the fighters had been planned out and calculated down to a ten-second margin. There had even been a communications blackout worked into the operation's timetable, so there was the maximum amount of time to work with. Five runways had been designated for use, with six fighters launching per lane. The Gundam would take off from the ground instead of a runway, but they had timing when they did that too. The timetable, as had been figured and set, had been given to all the participants, so they knew the plan. Unless those leading the mission stated adjustments had to be made, the table was to be followed.
Tatsumi's heart had been beating faster than normal as he'd been boarding the Eclipse. The operation was straightforward enough that he didn't have any major questions about it. Simply put, they were going against a "secret" Alliance facility which was likely doing "illegal activities," according to the available information. The mobile suit squadrons were to head out first, deal with enemy units, and neutralize defenses. They were also to clear and secure a landing area for the ground teams to come in and land. There was even a timetable given out to say how long a given task should take. That was because the target kept in regular contact with the Alliance, so when they didn't call in, the Alliance would know something was wrong. If the ground forces needed a bit more time, mobile suits would have to delay Alliance forces.
This was Tatsumi's first clear combat assignment he'd had since becoming a member of ODR. Before this, he helped with disaster cleanup and some education issues the ODR had been sent to help with. He'd done the combat simulations which were required of all Orb soldiers and had done fine on them. But he wasn't foolish enough to think real-world combat would be different than what the simulations had shown. Tatsumi didn't like the thought he would likely be taking lives soon enough. The very idea sickened him, if he was honest. He'd joined ODR to help save lives, not take them. However, Tatsumi knew there were situations where killing was necessary even though it wasn't nice.
Yet, the advice that Commander McGregor had given him was coming back to his mind. This would be a chance to prove his selection by Morgenroete to be a Gundam pilot wasn't just by chance. Miss Simmons had said he had qualities that set him apart from other candidates, even if she hadn't said what those were. It had been one of the few times that Tatsumi could remember where another had said something to the effect that he was special. And Tatsumi would love nothing more than to prove to others his youth shouldn't be held against him in what he could do. No, Tatsumi knew he couldn't be the only one that was badgered on their age with what they did for a job. But it had been enlightening to hear the Commander talk about how he had suffered through much the same as he had. Tatsumi was brought out of his thoughts when he heard the pause and hold order from the base's control center for the mobile suit squadrons. There was supposed to be an official announcement of the operation starting, more for the timetable than anything else. The timing was important, that was a point made clear at the briefing Tatsumi had been required to go to.
In the base's command center, those who would do tactical support were reviewing the data. The current weather report for the area of Siberia in which the facility was located said they were in the middle of a blizzard. The storm's low visibility would help mask the Federation forces' approach. The blizzard would also be blamed for the communications blackout the Federation would initiate. It could make the extraction part of the operation a tad more difficult, but that couldn't be helped. The new moon would also help in the Alliance's response being as predicted, for it would give little to no light for the Alliance to use. There was a tap on the Alliance's communications to know when they reported to their command, which would be the start of the operation window. The factors that could be accounted for had been as much as possible before the beginning of the operation.
The mission commander was told the target facility was going to give their regular report to Alliance command shortly. The captain gave the order for the operation, which had the clock start and the timetable come into play. The mobile suit squadrons began taking off from the runways and climbing to a high altitude. They would need to fly over the mountains before descending into the plains the target was set in. The storm which was reported was below the altitude the squadrons would be at before coming down to the plains. The squadrons would have around ten minutes to do their tasks before ground forces would arrive. The pelicans were almost done loading and would take off in approximately seven minutes to follow the mobile suit squadrons.
Tatsumi took position with the second squadron to which those from Orb had been assigned. He was around the squad's center as they flew, focusing on what lay ahead. The operation would have combat which Tatsumi had only done simulations for. He was nervous and not looking forward to the high likelihood he would end out killing others. Killing others had always been described to him as a sick thing that wounded the soul from other soldiers. But the Alliance's OMNI wasn't known for being cooperative, even less lately than just after the war. So, it was logical that those on this operation would have to kill Alliance personnel that would resist. That didn't make the sick feeling of killing another go away or lessen it, just made it somewhat simpler to swallow.
The mobile suit squadrons had climbed to a height that was above Alliance detection methods as they traveled forward. They were directly above the storm system that was going over the Siberian region. None in the fighters could see the ground below with the heavy masses of clouds moving and dumping snow. The group was to travel for a short distance before they started descending into the storm. The pilots would have to rely on sensors rather than visual input to keep flying forward. The enemy wouldn't see them coming as the blizzard would blind them to their approach until it was too late for them to react quickly enough. And the communication blackout would prevent those at the facility from calling for help immediately and hampering the operation. The mobile suit forces were to get in and neutralize both defending forces and defenses the place could have. The task was to be done efficiently, as the ground forces would be seven minutes behind. They would need a landing zone that the squadrons were to clear and secure.
Tatsumi also had heard during the briefing he'd been in the mobile suit squadrons would be defending the ground forces and their transports. Once the ground forces got inside the Alliance facility, they would be on their own. However, the mobile suits would protect the Pelicans, who would be waiting to extract the teams and those they rescued. The squadrons were to curtail Alliance responses they would make to the operation. There was the chance they could do something unpredictable, and that would require the mobile suits to assist the ground forces. Tatsumi would have plenty of opportunities to prove he could pilot a mobile suit well enough. He could even show that those at Morgenroete had made the right choice in selecting him for the Eclipse Gundam.
He was brought out of his thoughts when the order came to begin the descent down toward the target facility. Tatsumi watched as the leaders of the squadrons pointed their noses down and dove into the clouds. When his turn came, Tatsumi pushed his controls forward and tilted downward, following those in front of them. Visibility became almost zero once Tatsumi entered the cloud cover, though sensors were working just fine. The signals of his allies were still around the same distance from him as they were before. Tatsumi focused ahead, keeping an eye on his sensor display to gauge where his allies were with respect to him. A counter also showed the distance remaining to the target facility above the sensor display.
As they kept going forward, the squadrons leveled off to be between two hundred and a hundred feet from the ground. They had moved into smaller formations with eight groups of five as they flew through the heavy blizzard. With the weather as it was, visibility was down to around under a hundred feet, though it was blurry. The good thing about that was Alliance forces would have the same issue, and their sensors weren't as good as the Federation's. So, the initial strike would hopefully surprise those at the target facility and throw them off. If the Alliance was thrown off balance, neutralizing their defenses and the majority of their ability to respond should be simpler. Thus, as the squadrons locked into their final approach, the leader gave the order to engage at will and neutralize the Alliance as they could.
A/N
Alright, I'll leave off here an pick up in the next Phase which will be longer than this one. There is a great deal to go over on this Phase. For those who are gamers, I would bet you recognized some of the references I made in this Phase. Let's start with the setting for this Phase, shall we?
So, this chapter is completely written from scratch if that isn't obvious, which I hope you readers appreciate. Hulun Lake is an actual place, you can look it up on a map and see it is near the border of China and Russia. I always strive for believability and accuracy in my writing, so the names I use for places can mirror real-world places. The base as mentioned is one of those which watch the border the Republic has with the Alliance's Eurasian Federation. Thus, it isn't a small base nor an inactive one with the Alliance being how it is. The other point I would point out is the reference implied by anonymous source the mission gets it info. I will go more into detail with that in a bit, but it is important.
Moving onto Tyler's view as he is coming to the base and going toward the mission briefing. So as mentioned, Tyler is suspicious about the source for the mission, for rarely does the Federation refer to a source the way Tyler read. And he gives you readers a hint as to who the sources is which will be confirmed in the next Phase. Now, Tyler is concerned about there not being some details about the mission. This comes because of past experience Tyler had where missing details had caused trouble for him. But as Tyler is a specialist, he was called for the mission, which is implied but not mentioned specifically. And the details that Tyler did get before coming to the base hadn't been encouraging. However, I would point out that Tyler does admit he doesn't always work well with large groups. I've implied that point before now, but he actually admits it in this Phase.
So for you gamers, you may know the "character" I brought into this Phase James Vega, as he was a character from Mass Effect 3. I did a playthrough of the game in recent months and found him to be an interesting character so brought him in. He fits with a small back story involving Tyler that I've been considering bringing in. The back story got recognition from some in the Federation's Military which also let's Tyler get away with some of what he does. Plus, I needed a character I could refer to in the next Phase which you readers will understand then.
Next, Tyler's view of the mission and what it "involves." So, if the hints don't give you a direction in which to guess, then let me tell you more. if you readers recall, when I went into the Enhanced Human Project, I said there were "three" labs that did the work. I also discussed some of the rumors around the labs which the locals tended to have. So, if I haven't painted a picture of how horrible the labs are, then I've not done my job as I should. The next Phase will go into more detail of how horrible the labs can be, but I won't go into more detail than that right now.
During the briefing, there are two ideas introduced, two new mobile suits models and the use of "exo-suits." The models' specs will be at the end of this for you to look at, so I won't say more about them here. The exo suits are based on something gamers would know. For those who have played or heard of Halo, the exo-suits are based on the Spartan suits if it wasn't obvious. As in the halo universe, the suits enhance strength and response making the wearer stronger and faster than should be humanly possible. the idea of impact gel also came from the halo universe which I think worked out nicely. You readers will get to see more of what I used in the next Phase I assure you. But they impress Tyler and I wanted to bring these in for a while and this revision gave me the chance to do so. The other addition from the Halo universe that comes into the Phase is the Pelicans. I felt there was a need for a different type of aircraft for the Federation to use. The Federation has had a technological advantage over the other factions, and I'm not about to let that change.
Moving on to why Tyler will be the infiltration team lead. Was it really that surprising that I had him doing the job? He is a good fit for infiltration and Tyler is a good team lead when he is put in the position. Tyler may not like the idea when suggested by Vega, but he comes to terms with the point and prepares accordingly. This will more come into play in the next Phase, but I wanted to put in this phase and point it out.
Now onto the scene that many readers wanted me to write which brings in Orb's Eclipse Gundam. Readers have asked me to bring in the Gundam and its pilot, which I hope you have appreciated. I wanted to portray Tatsumi as a good kid that wants to help where he can, though I can't say if that's his character in canon, since I've not read the manga for it. So, I take author and artistic license if the character is different than canon. However, I also wanted to have Tatsumi go through some of the things Tyler did when he started his service at around sixteen. Rest assured, Tatsumi will be in the next Phase and will play a part, so this was just an introduction to him as a character and getting a bit of his background.
Lastly, I wanted to point out some of the new weapons introduced in this Phase since I took the time to create some. The sidekick pistol is much as Master Chief uses in Halo, so you want info on it go to Halo's wikia. The Mammoth assault rifle is my invention and is unique in the way that is isn't a semi-auto gun as other assault rifles. It is the trade off for the powerful ammo it uses and the affects it has. So, the rounds it uses are similar to 50 cal rounds but can piece armor even better. Thus body armor is little to useless against this rifle which should scare the pants off those going against it. Tyler only uses this gun on "risk" operations and not for normal stuff he may need a gun for as the rifle is bulkier than his SMG. You will see how mean this rifle is in the next Phase rest assured.
In conclusion, I hoped this Phase was to your liking and has you excited for the next one which I'm working on. Sorry these closing notes are back to being long. I said the last Phase's closing notes were a fluke and I stick to that until further notice. Below are the specs for the new Federation machines for you to look over, they are from Macross. And as always, please some of you write reviews and tell me what you think or ask questions. I appreciate those that do that for me as I read all of them. I'm hoping with how things are going, I will be getting back to the two week updates rather than three, we will see. Peace out until the next Phase.
Model number: HFS-T25
Official name: Hanzos Fighter (see Macross VF-25 Messiah)
Unit type: Mass-Production Transformable Aerial Combat Mobile suit
Manufacturer: Federation's Military
Operator: Federation's Military
First deployment: Feburary 27th 73 C.E.
Accommodation: Pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Overall Height: 18.05 m
Weight: 49.9 t
Power-plant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armor Material: Phase Shift Armor
Equipment and design features:
Phase shift type Beta
A new version of the PS armor invented by the Federation. Type beta is a basic version of the type Sigma which takes less power to run. It is a two-layer armor system with the PS armor in the inner layer activating only when the outer armor is breached much as Trans-Phase armor.
Wraith Stealth System
Much like the previous stealth equipment, the "Specter Optical Camouflage Field", this system allows the fighter not to be detected or seen by projecting a field that shows in real time images of what's behind the field, though it is more efficient and the field is smaller. Along with the image projection, heat disbursal is changed so that the heat won't give away position of the fighter. The system drain the power supply even less than before.
Armaments
Fixed:
MK50 25mm Automatic CIWS
The Hanzos has a total of four 12.5mm CIWS, two in its shield and the other two on its wings (one per wing). These CIWS are mainly used to shoot down incoming missiles or to deter closing in enemy units. The shield mounted CIWS are usable both in MS and Flight mode, while the wing-mounted ones are usable only in Flight mode.
35mm "Mandus" Machine Gun
Two located at the wing joint or sides of hip in MS mode. The high-speed machine gun can be loaded with Anti-phase shift rounds.
FS-T40 "Vorn" Beam saber
For close combat, the Hanzos is equipped with a beam saber, which is usually mounted on the suit's left side armor when not in use. The "Vorn" Beam saber is an improved version of the beam saber made from data of Gundams in the Alliance-PLANT War. It has a longer operating time as it consumes less energy, and has better reliability as well as being easier to maintain.
LN-68 High-energy Beam Cannon
Mounted in the central stabilizer right behind and above the cockpit, this beam cannon is usable only in Flight mode and its power is slightly better than the suit's beam rifle.
MX-90 Air-to-air Missile
Another ranged weapon of the Hanzos are its six anti-air missiles, which are stored in its wings in missile banks (three missiles per bank). These missiles are mainly used during Flight mode.
Handheld:
CG-25 "Hound" Beam rifle
Aside from the high-energy beam cannon, the only other ranged beam weapon of the Hanzos is a Hound beam rifle. The rifle is stored on the right-side fighter's center when not in use or during Flight mode. It differs from the Wasp as it is single bolt shots rather than rapid fire shooting giving better accuracy It is usable in both MS and Flight mode, in the latter mode, the beam rifle is facing the front due to the repositioning of the side of the fighter and can be fired without its trigger being depressed.
Shield
The main defensive equipment of the Hanzos, mounted on center rear dorsal fuselage in Fighter mode or on lower left arm section in suit mode. It has an anti-beam coating on it for blocking beams in combat.
Optional Armaments:
"Danbo" Air-to-surface Missile
Guided heavy anti-ground target missile mounted on hardpoints on the underside of the suit's wings. It is only usable during Flight mode. it is similar to the Alliance's Jet assumed to be based on the Danbo.
MN321 Quad "Shina" Air-to-air Missile Pod
Missile pod that each holds four anti-air "Shina" missiles that is mounted on the underside of the suit's wings. It is only usable during it is similar to the Alliance's Jet assumed to be based on the Shina.
Model number: HFS-T29
Official name: Durandal Fighter (see Macross YF29 Durandal)
Unit type: Mass-Production Transformable Aerial Combat Mobile suit
Manufacturer: Federation's Military
Operator: Federation's Military
First deployment: February 27th 73 C.E.
Accommodation: Pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Overall Height: 18.05 m
Weight: 49.9 t
Power-plant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armor Material: Phase Shift Armor
Equipment and design features:
Phase shift type Beta
A new version of the PS armor invented by the Federation. Type beta is a basic version of the type Sigma which takes less power to run. It is a two-layer armor system with the PS armor in the inner layer activating only when the outer armor is breached much as Trans-Phase armor.
Wraith Stealth System
Much like the previous stealth equipment, the "Specter Optical Camouflage Field", this system allows the fighter not to be detected or seen by projecting a field that shows in real time images of what's behind the field, though it is more efficient and the field is smaller. Along with the image projection, heat disbursal is changed so that the heat won't give away position of the fighter. The system drain the power supply even less than before.
Armaments
Fixed:
MK50 25mm Automatic CIWS
The Durandal has a total of four 12.5mm CIWS, two in its shield and the other two on its wings (one per wing). These CIWS are mainly used to shoot down incoming missiles or to deter closing in enemy units. The shield mounted CIWS are usable both in MS and Flight mode, while the wing-mounted ones are usable only in Flight mode.
35mm "Mandus" Machine Gun
Two located at the wing joint or sides of hip in MS mode. The high-speed machine gun can be loaded with Anti-phase shift rounds.
FS-T40 "Vorn" Beam saber
For close combat, the Durandal is equipped with a beam saber, which is usually mounted on the suit's left side armor when not in use. The "Vorn" Beam saber is an improved version of the beam saber made from data of Gundams in the Alliance-PLANT War. It has a longer operating time as it consumes less energy, and has better reliability as well as being easier to maintain.
LN-68 High-energy Beam Cannon
Mounted in the central stabilizer right behind and above the cockpit, this beam cannon is usable only in Flight mode and its power is slightly better than the suit's beam rifle.
MX-90 Air-to-air Missile
Another ranged weapon of the Durandal are its six anti-air missiles, which are stored in its wings in missile banks (three missiles per bank). These missiles are mainly used during Flight mode.
Handheld:
CG-27 "Wasp" Beam assault rifle
Aside from the high-energy beam cannon, the only other ranged beam weapon of the Durandal is a Wasp beam assault rifle. The rifle is stored on the right-side fighter's center when not in use or during Flight mode. It differs from the Hound as it is rapid fire shooting giving up some accuracy It is usable in both MS and Flight mode, in the latter mode, the beam rifle is facing the front due to the repositioning of the side of the fighter and can be fired without its trigger being depressed.
Shield
The main defensive equipment of the Durandal, mounted on center rear dorsal fuselage in Fighter mode or on lower left arm section in suit mode. It has an anti-beam coating on it for blocking beams in combat.
Optional Armaments:
"Danbo" Air-to-surface Missile
Guided heavy anti-ground target missile mounted on hardpoints on the underside of the suit's wings. It is only usable during Flight mode. it is similar to the Alliance's Jet assumed to be based on the Danbo.
MN321 Quad "Shina" Air-to-air Missile Pod
Missile pod that each holds four anti-air "Shina" missiles that is mounted on the underside of the suit's wings. It is only usable during it is similar to the Alliance's Jet assumed to be based on the Shina.