Mobile Suit Gundam Deus (Complete 12/12/11)
Sure sure. I would be just as hard-pressed to give precise qualities typical of a Newtype so I don't see that as two far a stretch. As you were, sir, keep on writing.
-We will not be caught by surprise!
*Almost everyone I've killed uttered similar last words.
-Then I am glad once again that you are on my side.
*They've often said that too.
*Almost everyone I've killed uttered similar last words.
-Then I am glad once again that you are on my side.
*They've often said that too.
Phase 06
PHASE 06 - AWAKENING GODS
Spoiler
----------------------------
Elena sat in Augustus medical bay waiting for the doctor to come back in. It hadn't been ordered, but she felt she should drop in to be checked over. There were too many questions she had, and those she could ask were all dead.
The doctor returned to the small examination room, and she looked up.
"Outside of some bruising on the back of your neck, I don't see anything physically wrong with you." he said, reviewing the papers on his clipboard. "Blood tests are fine for your age. Again, I don't see any signs of rape or other sexual conduct, but I can prescribe some morning-after pills as a precaution."
She shifted her eyes to one side as she momentarily thought it over.
"Yeah. Better safe than sorry."
"Okay then. I will get you the medication. In case I forget to say it later, you might be a little dizzy from taking them. I'll write a note for you to be excused from piloting for the few days you'll be taking these pills."
"That's fine. I'm not sure what we'll be doing for the next week anyway."
"Back in a few minutes with the medication." the doctor exited the room again.
She sighed. This mission had given her some unexpected repercussions.
As much as she hated to admit it, Joshua was probably right. She'd heard about Newtypes exhibiting a special 'awareness', for lack of a better term, but the specifics were vague or ambiguous at best.
The possibility of being a Newtype was nagging at her. Was there even a way to make sure one wasn't delusional about this awareness?
The doctor returned again, bottle in hand and a piece of paper.
"Alright. Here's your prescription. Once a day, and keep them on time." he handed over the bottle and paper. "There's also the note I mentioned. If that's it, you're good to go."
"Just one question, out of the air."
"Shoot."
"How would you tell if someone's a Newtype?"
"That's a good question. Let me see if I can give an answer without being too long-winded. The starting premise of a Newtype simply states that they have a heightened awareness, something of a sixth sense. From observation, it seems that Newtypes vary in this awareness from something like a super human intuition to telepathic and/or telekinetic. I used to think it was more fodder made up by tabloids, but from the limited research I've read, it's no hoax. Determining if someone is a Newtype is almost playing catch-22: it takes one to know one. The only common denominator with Newtypes is that they all seem to have some sort of prolonged stay in space at an early age."
"Interesting." she said, mulling it over.
As she headed back to her quarters, she tossed around what the doctor told her. It seemed like something out of a science fiction movie, at least with the reasoning. 'It takes one to know one.' That was the only proof?
"How'd things turn out?" Hawk interrupted her thoughts.
Elena looked up.
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm not supposed to pilot for a few days." she held up the small bottle. "I'm on some morning-after pills for a few days." It made her feel dirty, having to say that.
"Here's a note from the doctor excusing me." She turned away to hide her embarassment.
"That's fine. I think we'll be sitting here for another day or two. There's probably nothing to worry about, but we want to make sure we've got the job done."
Elena pushed on, but Hawk continued.
"Look, don't worry about the pills. It's a precaution, not anything to do with your personal life."
"Yeah. I know."
-------------------------------
Shanghai, China
-------------------------------
Ryuji awoke, Jin standing over him.
"Better hurry and get up."
"Uh, what?" he was confused.
"Get up! Did you hear our names called?"
"No."
"Oh, geez." Jin put his hand to his own face. "We're supposed to report to the hangar in five minutes!"
Ryuji sprang up. "Dammit, Jin, why didn't you wake me sooner!"
"I thought you'd be up already! You missed breakfast."
"Wonderful." he started buttoning up his uniform jacket, when his stomach punctuated Jin's remark.
"I'm not gonna be late. I don't need the captain after me again." Jin was gone.
Ryuji dashed out soon after. Otto was pretty mellow, but being late was his major pet peeve, and Ryuji didn't want to be on his bad side.
He skidded into the hangar. Outside of the mechanics, it was himself, Jin, and Sky.
"Oh, close one." Sky smirked.
Ryuji just looked the other way.
As if on cue, Otto appeared. The three pilots stood at attention and saluted.
The captain returned the salute.
"As you were." the three relaxed.
"Today, this ship is receiving some experimental mobile suits. I've been asked for my top three pilots, which is why you three are here."
"New mobile suits? Don't we have the Zeus?" Ryuji blurted his thoughts.
"Compared to that Orion junk, yes." Otto acknowledged. "However, I hope you haven't forgotten those mobile suits we ran into at Olympus. Someone has produced those units. The placement is suspect, but one incident as evidence is a little rushed to issue a verdict. Even without those, the Zeus has been in production for the past seven years. We don't stay static with our equipment."
"I guess that's a good move..."
"Exactly. We'll be here for the next few days, if not longer, so I expect you three to become intimately familiar with your units. Izanagi Military Design has a test course that I've been informed of. A simulator can only do so much, so you will need to pass the course before we leave."
"Yes, captain!" the pilots saluted.
"Dismissed!" Otto returned the salute.
---------------------------------
Helsinki, Finland
---------------------------------
Leonidas pored over the papers at his desk.
He finally finished one set, signing his name at the end.
"Done." he handed the papers over to an attendant, who shuffled away with them.
A soft buzzer begged for his attention; he answered.
"Yes?"
"Chairman Rask, Commander Pagan Czevik is here to see you."
"Ah, I see. Send him in."
A moment later, a door opened, Pagan entering the room.
"Quite a short business trip, Pagan."
"I have no need to extend things that don't require it."
"You're a horrible politician." Leonidas chuckled. "But, that's a good thing."
He looked to the remaining people in the room. "Leave us be for now."
While the workers exited, Leonidas and Pagan sat down around the desk.
"Now, about your business." Leonidas inquired after the doors shut.
"Those mobile suits were deployed successfully. I'd personally have liked to test them out myself, but you did say you'd rather not start a war." Pagan reported.
"That's true. The Centurion Guard acquires some new mobile suits, and we gain free field-testing. Without political backlash."
"I hope so. I don't think it's a cause for alarm, but a Union vessel was in the vicinity as the mobile suits were being deployed."
Leonidas furrowed his brows.
Pagan continued. "From what I gathered, there was a skirmish between some Zeus mobile suits and our prototypes. It's not quite the field test we were hoping for, but those three units sent the Union dogs running."
"I sincerely hope this doesn't spark any incidents. We can't afford chaos every time a mobile suit is introduced."
"Chairman, try not to worry too much." Pagan coaxed. "I've taken the liberty of ensuring extra security. It's no good to have powerful mobile suits at the expense of a Siberian League chairman every time."
"Thank you."
"It might be a good omen. A successful mobile suit might equal a chairman that retires of his own accord."
"Maybe the gods do smile on us."
"One can always hope. I do believe we have much better performance with these mobile suits than our current Orion model. As much as I'd like to avoid saying so, they've become the laughing stock of military might."
"If I knew back then about the performance, I'd have made changes. It does rest partially on myself for letting such poor products make their way to the battlefield."
"The past is written in stone, Leonidas; we cannot change that. We can map out a new future."
"And these new units are par of that."
---------------------------
Shanghai, China
---------------------------
"Aren't we lucky?" Jin mused as the pilots were escorted along a hall.
"I guess." Ryuji said flatly.
"You guess? What's with that? We get to test out the latest equipment."
"Of course, these aren't mass produced. They're prototypes."
"What do you mean by that?" Jin dismissed him.
"All I'm saying is that there may be some kinks. I'd prefer not to have my machine act up in a dogfight. Don't tell me it's a sin to have that kind of concern."
Jin tried to force a response, but Ryuji had effectively doused his spirit.
"When did you get all tactical?" Jin muttered.
"I have been. I just don't always find the need to verbally display my thoughts."
The three entered the massive room, greeted by the sight of the foreboding mobile suits.
Ryuji took stock of the three units. Artillery, an infantry, and a close quarters unit were on tap.
He turned to their guide.
"Do you have the manuals and specifications for these units?"
"Yes, but I thought you already knew of them."
Ryuji shook his head.
"No. I--no, we, were under the impression that these units were classified. Our captain did mention being provided with rudimentary data on them, but nothing substantial."
"That's right. He was provided with notification. I'm so used to this data being deployed beforehand."
"No problem."
"We have the manuals and maintenance discs nearby. Let me get them."
Ryuji nodded.
"Since when did you become group leader?" Sky demanded.
"Never claimed I was. I just want to know exactly what I'm getting into."
"Fine. So how do we say who gets what mobile suit?"
"Well, that's why I wanted the manuals and such. However, you'll notice each unit is custom-designed for a specific combat role: artillery, close combat, and infantry. Of course looks can only do so much, so feel free to speak up if you disagree with the assessment, Sky."
She said nothing as she looked over the mobile suits.
"You're right." she said, apparently satisfied.
"Thanks."
Their guide returned, a set of thick binders in hand.
"Here we go." he said, setting the stack down on a table. "JXR-XA71 Lilith, JXR-XA65 Marduk, and JXR-XA63 Gilgamesh."
The imposing literature was now laid across the table. Ryuji stepped over to look at the material.
Eying his lingering comrades, he invited them over.
"Well come on."
The two pilots sprang forward to the table.
They stood there, reading the specifications and armaments of the mobile suits for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, it seemed like they were drawn to a conclusion.
"Let's see if we're all thinking the same." Ryuji started. "Jin, you take the Gilgamesh. You like the big guns anyway."
"That's my choice." he approved.
"Sky, you take Lilith."
"And the reason?" she inquired.
"You're not suited for long-range combat. You'd rather be up close and personal, and the cloaking won't hurt."
"Right. You're creepy when you speak up."
"I'll take that as a compliment." he said, grinning decisively. "That leaves me with the Marduk."
"Because you want the versatility?" Jin quipped.
"Yeah, pretty much. Now that's settled, time to try them out?"
Jin and Sky nodded in agreement.
------------------------------
South Pacific Ocean
------------------------------
The lone cruiser drifted along. A man and a woman stood on the deck looking out into the vast blue.
"They're coming, Felix." the woman said.
"You're just sensing things." Felix brushed her off.
"Of course, I sense them. We should get ready to launch."
"Yes. Yes. We shall play battleship."
"That is the task we've been given."
"You're so cold, Shilah."
"A Martyr has no reason to be warm. We'll all be cold eventually."
"No need to dwell on the inevitable. I'll be in my mobile suit." Felix walked off.
Shilah stood a few minutes longer then turned.
"I'm going, too." she said to no one.
"I knew you'd follow." Felix greeted her from the cockpit of his Spectre.
"Like a dog it's master." Shilah climbed up to her Spectre's cockpit.
Felix cracked his neck. "Ready?"
"You enjoy yourself too much."
"And you don't?"
"I'd be lying if I said no." she flipped on her comm. "Captain, we're launching."
"Roger that." came the reply.
A few moments later, the two mobile suits took off into the air.
As the two mobile suits raced above the water, a small fleet of ships came into view.
A wave of panic could be seen on several ships as the machines drew closer.
"I hope you last long enough to use my bits this time!" Felix cackled.
He fired a shot across the bridge of the closest ship. A second blast pierced that same bridge a second later.
"Keep shooting like that and I'll keep my score above yours."
Shilah peppered one ship with the beam rifle.
Some Zeus mobile suits launched from the remaining ships.
"I was hoping they'd start bringing some toys along." Shilah smiled devilishly.
The bits launched from her Spectre's bitpack.
"It would be rude of me not to give you a quick death!"
Beams shot through the air, catching one Zeus in a net of devastating light.
Felix finished sinking another ship, noticing Shilah's attack.
"Hey, hey, hey. I can't let you steal the show."
He released the bits from his mobile suit as well, attacking more ships.
"There's no place to rest, apostates." he bellowed.
Another ship disintegrated from the barrage of beams.
One Zeus managed to move within striking distance of Shilah's mobile suit.
She tore through it with the beam saber, and then impaled it with a blast from the beam rifle. The bits felled two more Zeus units.
She looked around at the carnage at sea. The ships were sunk, and the remaining few mobile suits were fleeing.
"I'm going to win this round as well, Felix." she said, casually shooting down the escaping Zeus units.
"That just won't do."
Felix's Spectre lowered toward the waves, eying the fleeing lifeboats.
"No survivors!"
The bits fired, and the lifeboats and people aboard them vanishing in the light.
"I win this time." he gloated.
"So you did. It's lonely at the top."
The victorious mobile suits turned from the carnage and flew away.
They landed back on the cruiser, and then exited their machines.
The captain was waiting.
"There was a call for you two while you were out."
"Oh." Shilah said. "It must be him."
Felix just nodded.
The two mobile suit pilots entered a room and shut the door.
Felix opened the comm sitting there.
"Sorry we missed you, we were a bit busy this past hour or so." he started.
"Another strike on those Union transports?" the man on the other end asked.
"Yeah."
"They are starting to get smart." Shilah entered the conversation. "We had some Zeus's to deal with on this run."
"Were they a problem?"
"Hmm. Not really, unless you think the shots taken are a problem."
"Excellent. Well, that wasn't what I called about, but it's good you two are alive."
"What do you mean?" Felix inquired.
"Joshua failed in London. His mobile suit was destroyed with him and the hired grunts."
"I knew it. That idiot screws around too much in battle." Shilah huffed.
"I'm sure that was part of it. However, they had captured an enemy combatant at one point. She later escaped, but he seemed quite sure she was a Newtype."
"A Newtype in England? Is that supposed to be a revelation?" she really couldn't care less about a single Newtype.
"You're right, Shilah. A Newtype isn't explicitly special as far as we're concerned. However, she was piloting an advanced mobile suit."
"I still don't see where you're going with this."
"Let me finish. She's part of the Centurion Guard. They have three mobile suits you haven't run into before, and they look like they're far past the abilities of even the Zeus. Given the right circumstances, they're likely on par with your Spectre's." there was a pause. "Including the use of bitpacks."
"Sounds fun." Felix quipped.
Shilah just glared at him.
"Are they headed this way?"
"Mmm. Probably not, as they seem to still be sticking around England. Honestly, I'd worry more about what the Trans-Pacific Union is going to do. They're probably setting their sights on Australia now. Canberra has been told to cease hostilities immediately, but they, naturally, are playing dumb."
"But they've been more than willing to host us. I hope that doesn't change."
She sounded slightly concerned.
"I highly doubt it. Canberra has been adamantly opposed to the Union since it's inception. Just be prepared for some fallout over this."
"Thanks. I think."
"I'll be in touch should something else come up."
The comm shut off.
"Three mobile suits? Could be a slight challenge, Shilah." Felix was elated over the news.
"So what? Only one is a Newtype, and the rest are as good as dead if we run into them."
------------------------------------
End Phase 06
------------------------------------
Elena sat in Augustus medical bay waiting for the doctor to come back in. It hadn't been ordered, but she felt she should drop in to be checked over. There were too many questions she had, and those she could ask were all dead.
The doctor returned to the small examination room, and she looked up.
"Outside of some bruising on the back of your neck, I don't see anything physically wrong with you." he said, reviewing the papers on his clipboard. "Blood tests are fine for your age. Again, I don't see any signs of rape or other sexual conduct, but I can prescribe some morning-after pills as a precaution."
She shifted her eyes to one side as she momentarily thought it over.
"Yeah. Better safe than sorry."
"Okay then. I will get you the medication. In case I forget to say it later, you might be a little dizzy from taking them. I'll write a note for you to be excused from piloting for the few days you'll be taking these pills."
"That's fine. I'm not sure what we'll be doing for the next week anyway."
"Back in a few minutes with the medication." the doctor exited the room again.
She sighed. This mission had given her some unexpected repercussions.
As much as she hated to admit it, Joshua was probably right. She'd heard about Newtypes exhibiting a special 'awareness', for lack of a better term, but the specifics were vague or ambiguous at best.
The possibility of being a Newtype was nagging at her. Was there even a way to make sure one wasn't delusional about this awareness?
The doctor returned again, bottle in hand and a piece of paper.
"Alright. Here's your prescription. Once a day, and keep them on time." he handed over the bottle and paper. "There's also the note I mentioned. If that's it, you're good to go."
"Just one question, out of the air."
"Shoot."
"How would you tell if someone's a Newtype?"
"That's a good question. Let me see if I can give an answer without being too long-winded. The starting premise of a Newtype simply states that they have a heightened awareness, something of a sixth sense. From observation, it seems that Newtypes vary in this awareness from something like a super human intuition to telepathic and/or telekinetic. I used to think it was more fodder made up by tabloids, but from the limited research I've read, it's no hoax. Determining if someone is a Newtype is almost playing catch-22: it takes one to know one. The only common denominator with Newtypes is that they all seem to have some sort of prolonged stay in space at an early age."
"Interesting." she said, mulling it over.
As she headed back to her quarters, she tossed around what the doctor told her. It seemed like something out of a science fiction movie, at least with the reasoning. 'It takes one to know one.' That was the only proof?
"How'd things turn out?" Hawk interrupted her thoughts.
Elena looked up.
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm not supposed to pilot for a few days." she held up the small bottle. "I'm on some morning-after pills for a few days." It made her feel dirty, having to say that.
"Here's a note from the doctor excusing me." She turned away to hide her embarassment.
"That's fine. I think we'll be sitting here for another day or two. There's probably nothing to worry about, but we want to make sure we've got the job done."
Elena pushed on, but Hawk continued.
"Look, don't worry about the pills. It's a precaution, not anything to do with your personal life."
"Yeah. I know."
-------------------------------
Shanghai, China
-------------------------------
Ryuji awoke, Jin standing over him.
"Better hurry and get up."
"Uh, what?" he was confused.
"Get up! Did you hear our names called?"
"No."
"Oh, geez." Jin put his hand to his own face. "We're supposed to report to the hangar in five minutes!"
Ryuji sprang up. "Dammit, Jin, why didn't you wake me sooner!"
"I thought you'd be up already! You missed breakfast."
"Wonderful." he started buttoning up his uniform jacket, when his stomach punctuated Jin's remark.
"I'm not gonna be late. I don't need the captain after me again." Jin was gone.
Ryuji dashed out soon after. Otto was pretty mellow, but being late was his major pet peeve, and Ryuji didn't want to be on his bad side.
He skidded into the hangar. Outside of the mechanics, it was himself, Jin, and Sky.
"Oh, close one." Sky smirked.
Ryuji just looked the other way.
As if on cue, Otto appeared. The three pilots stood at attention and saluted.
The captain returned the salute.
"As you were." the three relaxed.
"Today, this ship is receiving some experimental mobile suits. I've been asked for my top three pilots, which is why you three are here."
"New mobile suits? Don't we have the Zeus?" Ryuji blurted his thoughts.
"Compared to that Orion junk, yes." Otto acknowledged. "However, I hope you haven't forgotten those mobile suits we ran into at Olympus. Someone has produced those units. The placement is suspect, but one incident as evidence is a little rushed to issue a verdict. Even without those, the Zeus has been in production for the past seven years. We don't stay static with our equipment."
"I guess that's a good move..."
"Exactly. We'll be here for the next few days, if not longer, so I expect you three to become intimately familiar with your units. Izanagi Military Design has a test course that I've been informed of. A simulator can only do so much, so you will need to pass the course before we leave."
"Yes, captain!" the pilots saluted.
"Dismissed!" Otto returned the salute.
---------------------------------
Helsinki, Finland
---------------------------------
Leonidas pored over the papers at his desk.
He finally finished one set, signing his name at the end.
"Done." he handed the papers over to an attendant, who shuffled away with them.
A soft buzzer begged for his attention; he answered.
"Yes?"
"Chairman Rask, Commander Pagan Czevik is here to see you."
"Ah, I see. Send him in."
A moment later, a door opened, Pagan entering the room.
"Quite a short business trip, Pagan."
"I have no need to extend things that don't require it."
"You're a horrible politician." Leonidas chuckled. "But, that's a good thing."
He looked to the remaining people in the room. "Leave us be for now."
While the workers exited, Leonidas and Pagan sat down around the desk.
"Now, about your business." Leonidas inquired after the doors shut.
"Those mobile suits were deployed successfully. I'd personally have liked to test them out myself, but you did say you'd rather not start a war." Pagan reported.
"That's true. The Centurion Guard acquires some new mobile suits, and we gain free field-testing. Without political backlash."
"I hope so. I don't think it's a cause for alarm, but a Union vessel was in the vicinity as the mobile suits were being deployed."
Leonidas furrowed his brows.
Pagan continued. "From what I gathered, there was a skirmish between some Zeus mobile suits and our prototypes. It's not quite the field test we were hoping for, but those three units sent the Union dogs running."
"I sincerely hope this doesn't spark any incidents. We can't afford chaos every time a mobile suit is introduced."
"Chairman, try not to worry too much." Pagan coaxed. "I've taken the liberty of ensuring extra security. It's no good to have powerful mobile suits at the expense of a Siberian League chairman every time."
"Thank you."
"It might be a good omen. A successful mobile suit might equal a chairman that retires of his own accord."
"Maybe the gods do smile on us."
"One can always hope. I do believe we have much better performance with these mobile suits than our current Orion model. As much as I'd like to avoid saying so, they've become the laughing stock of military might."
"If I knew back then about the performance, I'd have made changes. It does rest partially on myself for letting such poor products make their way to the battlefield."
"The past is written in stone, Leonidas; we cannot change that. We can map out a new future."
"And these new units are par of that."
---------------------------
Shanghai, China
---------------------------
"Aren't we lucky?" Jin mused as the pilots were escorted along a hall.
"I guess." Ryuji said flatly.
"You guess? What's with that? We get to test out the latest equipment."
"Of course, these aren't mass produced. They're prototypes."
"What do you mean by that?" Jin dismissed him.
"All I'm saying is that there may be some kinks. I'd prefer not to have my machine act up in a dogfight. Don't tell me it's a sin to have that kind of concern."
Jin tried to force a response, but Ryuji had effectively doused his spirit.
"When did you get all tactical?" Jin muttered.
"I have been. I just don't always find the need to verbally display my thoughts."
The three entered the massive room, greeted by the sight of the foreboding mobile suits.
Ryuji took stock of the three units. Artillery, an infantry, and a close quarters unit were on tap.
He turned to their guide.
"Do you have the manuals and specifications for these units?"
"Yes, but I thought you already knew of them."
Ryuji shook his head.
"No. I--no, we, were under the impression that these units were classified. Our captain did mention being provided with rudimentary data on them, but nothing substantial."
"That's right. He was provided with notification. I'm so used to this data being deployed beforehand."
"No problem."
"We have the manuals and maintenance discs nearby. Let me get them."
Ryuji nodded.
"Since when did you become group leader?" Sky demanded.
"Never claimed I was. I just want to know exactly what I'm getting into."
"Fine. So how do we say who gets what mobile suit?"
"Well, that's why I wanted the manuals and such. However, you'll notice each unit is custom-designed for a specific combat role: artillery, close combat, and infantry. Of course looks can only do so much, so feel free to speak up if you disagree with the assessment, Sky."
She said nothing as she looked over the mobile suits.
"You're right." she said, apparently satisfied.
"Thanks."
Their guide returned, a set of thick binders in hand.
"Here we go." he said, setting the stack down on a table. "JXR-XA71 Lilith, JXR-XA65 Marduk, and JXR-XA63 Gilgamesh."
The imposing literature was now laid across the table. Ryuji stepped over to look at the material.
Eying his lingering comrades, he invited them over.
"Well come on."
The two pilots sprang forward to the table.
They stood there, reading the specifications and armaments of the mobile suits for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, it seemed like they were drawn to a conclusion.
"Let's see if we're all thinking the same." Ryuji started. "Jin, you take the Gilgamesh. You like the big guns anyway."
"That's my choice." he approved.
"Sky, you take Lilith."
"And the reason?" she inquired.
"You're not suited for long-range combat. You'd rather be up close and personal, and the cloaking won't hurt."
"Right. You're creepy when you speak up."
"I'll take that as a compliment." he said, grinning decisively. "That leaves me with the Marduk."
"Because you want the versatility?" Jin quipped.
"Yeah, pretty much. Now that's settled, time to try them out?"
Jin and Sky nodded in agreement.
------------------------------
South Pacific Ocean
------------------------------
The lone cruiser drifted along. A man and a woman stood on the deck looking out into the vast blue.
"They're coming, Felix." the woman said.
"You're just sensing things." Felix brushed her off.
"Of course, I sense them. We should get ready to launch."
"Yes. Yes. We shall play battleship."
"That is the task we've been given."
"You're so cold, Shilah."
"A Martyr has no reason to be warm. We'll all be cold eventually."
"No need to dwell on the inevitable. I'll be in my mobile suit." Felix walked off.
Shilah stood a few minutes longer then turned.
"I'm going, too." she said to no one.
"I knew you'd follow." Felix greeted her from the cockpit of his Spectre.
"Like a dog it's master." Shilah climbed up to her Spectre's cockpit.
Felix cracked his neck. "Ready?"
"You enjoy yourself too much."
"And you don't?"
"I'd be lying if I said no." she flipped on her comm. "Captain, we're launching."
"Roger that." came the reply.
A few moments later, the two mobile suits took off into the air.
As the two mobile suits raced above the water, a small fleet of ships came into view.
A wave of panic could be seen on several ships as the machines drew closer.
"I hope you last long enough to use my bits this time!" Felix cackled.
He fired a shot across the bridge of the closest ship. A second blast pierced that same bridge a second later.
"Keep shooting like that and I'll keep my score above yours."
Shilah peppered one ship with the beam rifle.
Some Zeus mobile suits launched from the remaining ships.
"I was hoping they'd start bringing some toys along." Shilah smiled devilishly.
The bits launched from her Spectre's bitpack.
"It would be rude of me not to give you a quick death!"
Beams shot through the air, catching one Zeus in a net of devastating light.
Felix finished sinking another ship, noticing Shilah's attack.
"Hey, hey, hey. I can't let you steal the show."
He released the bits from his mobile suit as well, attacking more ships.
"There's no place to rest, apostates." he bellowed.
Another ship disintegrated from the barrage of beams.
One Zeus managed to move within striking distance of Shilah's mobile suit.
She tore through it with the beam saber, and then impaled it with a blast from the beam rifle. The bits felled two more Zeus units.
She looked around at the carnage at sea. The ships were sunk, and the remaining few mobile suits were fleeing.
"I'm going to win this round as well, Felix." she said, casually shooting down the escaping Zeus units.
"That just won't do."
Felix's Spectre lowered toward the waves, eying the fleeing lifeboats.
"No survivors!"
The bits fired, and the lifeboats and people aboard them vanishing in the light.
"I win this time." he gloated.
"So you did. It's lonely at the top."
The victorious mobile suits turned from the carnage and flew away.
They landed back on the cruiser, and then exited their machines.
The captain was waiting.
"There was a call for you two while you were out."
"Oh." Shilah said. "It must be him."
Felix just nodded.
The two mobile suit pilots entered a room and shut the door.
Felix opened the comm sitting there.
"Sorry we missed you, we were a bit busy this past hour or so." he started.
"Another strike on those Union transports?" the man on the other end asked.
"Yeah."
"They are starting to get smart." Shilah entered the conversation. "We had some Zeus's to deal with on this run."
"Were they a problem?"
"Hmm. Not really, unless you think the shots taken are a problem."
"Excellent. Well, that wasn't what I called about, but it's good you two are alive."
"What do you mean?" Felix inquired.
"Joshua failed in London. His mobile suit was destroyed with him and the hired grunts."
"I knew it. That idiot screws around too much in battle." Shilah huffed.
"I'm sure that was part of it. However, they had captured an enemy combatant at one point. She later escaped, but he seemed quite sure she was a Newtype."
"A Newtype in England? Is that supposed to be a revelation?" she really couldn't care less about a single Newtype.
"You're right, Shilah. A Newtype isn't explicitly special as far as we're concerned. However, she was piloting an advanced mobile suit."
"I still don't see where you're going with this."
"Let me finish. She's part of the Centurion Guard. They have three mobile suits you haven't run into before, and they look like they're far past the abilities of even the Zeus. Given the right circumstances, they're likely on par with your Spectre's." there was a pause. "Including the use of bitpacks."
"Sounds fun." Felix quipped.
Shilah just glared at him.
"Are they headed this way?"
"Mmm. Probably not, as they seem to still be sticking around England. Honestly, I'd worry more about what the Trans-Pacific Union is going to do. They're probably setting their sights on Australia now. Canberra has been told to cease hostilities immediately, but they, naturally, are playing dumb."
"But they've been more than willing to host us. I hope that doesn't change."
She sounded slightly concerned.
"I highly doubt it. Canberra has been adamantly opposed to the Union since it's inception. Just be prepared for some fallout over this."
"Thanks. I think."
"I'll be in touch should something else come up."
The comm shut off.
"Three mobile suits? Could be a slight challenge, Shilah." Felix was elated over the news.
"So what? Only one is a Newtype, and the rest are as good as dead if we run into them."
------------------------------------
End Phase 06
------------------------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:06 am, edited 3 times in total.
Phase 07
PHASE 07 - A PART OF...
---------------------------
---------------------------
Spoiler
Ryuji, Jin, and Sky stood in the observation deck for the testing course.
"So, who wants to go first?" Ryuji asked.
"I'm feeling lucky today." Sky volunteered. "Plus, it's ladies first."
"I can't wait to see this." Jin smirked
Sky brushed him off. "Oh, you won't see much of mine. Just the scraps I leave in my wake."
Jin turned to Ryuji, as if to mention how frighteningly cool her response was.
After Sky was out of earshot, Ryuji spoke up, looking out of the windows.
"I wonder why we really were given these."
"Isn't it obvious?" Jin replied. "Sky's dad is one of the top dogs for this company."
"I know, but even then, this deployment is kinda sudden."
Jin mulled his thoughts for a second.
"I guess you're right. It does seem kinda odd to suddenly debut some new suits. But, then again, governments do weird things..."
"Maybe I'm just thinking too hard. I just have some bad vibes about this."
"What are you, a Newtype or something? It's probably jitters of a new machine."
Ryuji said nothing.
The gate to the course opened.
The Lilith took a few practice swings with its scythe.
"Ready." Sky positioned the mobile suit for attack.
A voice replied, "Lilith, start on my mark. Three...two...one. Go!"
Her mobile suit shot forward.
The gate closed. Zeus mobile suits appeared.
They were unmanned, but that made them no less of a threat.
"Who goes down first?"
The Lilith threw a beam boomerang out, but the mobile suits moved away.
A moment later, Sky sliced through one, then another.
By this time, the remaining units had surrounded her, but out of the reach of her scythe.
She smiled.
"You haven't caught me."
The Lilith disappeared from view.
Suddenly, a Zeus inexplicably fell apart. Another one impaled by a beam dagger.
Soon, the course was filled with shredded mobile suits.
Sky's deactivated the cloak, surveying the damage wrought.
"Quite nice." her voice rang in the observation deck.
Jin was taken back. "Remind me not to piss her off now."
"Hey, just be glad she's on our side." Ryuji had been unsure before, but now was impressed with the Lilith already. "A visual camouflage? That is nice."
--------------------------------------
Tran-Pacific Union Headquarters
Hong Kong
--------------------------------------
The eight council members filed in the meeting room, solemn, yet agitated somehow.
Chairman Adam Martin was the last in, shutting the door behind him.
He made his way over to the round table. There was no reason to delay now.
"Council members, I believe we may begin." he started.
"As you've heard, another transport was lost near Australia. Just as we expected, Canberra has utterly denied this; nothing new. As you all know, we've found solid links, which I'm sure you are all familiar with. Unfortunately, I think this has become our most pressing issue for this meeting, and in the stead of other issues, our hand may have been forced."
"So, we can take this to mean we're considering war, Chairman?" asked Chen Zhao.
"Do we have a choice?" Ren Kimura entered the conversation.
"That's what we're here for." the chairman was not at all pleased with having to entertain the subject. "I think I've made my thoughts quite clear on my distaste for war..."
"However," Cai interjected, "even you are becoming uneasy with the repeated attacks."
"Correct. Even for me, there is a limit."
Kyle Armstrong spoke. "I may be alone here, but West Canada is opposed to military action. Think of the money for such an operation. Think of the soldiers that will die. Think--"
Ren cut him off.
"Mr. Armstrong, we have been thinking. They've been at war with us, yet we've done nothing. There's blood in the water now, and that will continue. We've been far too lenient in dealing with Australia for much too long as it is. How, in any good conscience can you protest lives lost when our civilians have been murdered?"
"Australia has repeatedly denied they are responsible. They've denounced these terrorists, repeatedly."
"That's all they've done! They have always been opposed to the Trans-Pacific Union, but these attacks are out of line."
The room erupted into verbal chaos.
Cai spoke again, the room died down.
"We're all very much aware that some of our people will die. That's a very dark reality. The payment is just not in terms of money, but in blood. I suppose that, yes, we are sending soldiers to their death. On the other hand, we don't have militaries for show. This, no doubt, is a grisly task. Unfortunately, we have a problem where diplomatic efforts have repeatedly failed. Australia has denied and condemned the attack, yet has made no concentrated effort to track down or assist in helping us."
He raised a hand to stop incoming protests.
"I am fully aware that Australia has never been an ally or friend to us. However, we must consider physical action when our citizens have been killed. Unless there's compelling evidence of another nation, the aggression and posturing point the blame squarely at Australia. Money and blood have already been lost in significant quantity. This is no longer a petty incident. It is a threat, and with great hesitation at knowning the heavy penalty our action takes, I must support military action. I hope my fellow council members will consider the costs of both courses of action or inaction. Thank you."
An uneasy silence filled the room.
-----------------------------------------
Elena rapped the door to Hawk's quarters.
"Lieutenant?"
"It's open."
She entered, quickly saluting.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. I wanted to go over your report. Go ahead and have a seat." he flipped open the folder.
She developed a slight grimace as she sat down, and Hawk saw it.
"Don't worry, I'm not interrogating you. I just want to understand what went on. I think I mentioned before that I had heard about that mobile suit, but didn't know what it was. Those remote weapons are something we need to have a battle plan against. Uh, anyway, I wanted to hear from you about the pilot. I heard some of the exchange, but I want the full context."
"That pilot claimed to be a Newtype, and believed that I'm one as well."
"Are you? Remember, it's fine either way here."
"I-I'm not sure. I grew up within the Trans-Pacific Union confines of Hawaii, so there wasn't an encouragement for anyone to develop as a Newtype. I felt some sort of presence around that mobile suit pilot. I started to loose control of myself. I don't know. Maybe I just have bad memories..."
"Bad memories of what?"
"I saw London burning on TV the same day my mother was murdered."
Hawk rolled the idea around in his head.
"Always a possibility I guess. Back to that mobile suit pilot."
Elena thought back to the battle. "Ah, yeah. I felt something, like I had the creeps whenever he was close. The doctor said only Newtypes can really tell other Newtypes, but even then, he was awfully vague on what it means to be one."
"That probably explains those remote weapons it used. I need to dig around to find out more on those Spectre units."
"Well, I don't think that guy was much of a mobile suit pilot. If I was better prepared and that unit didn't have those remote weapons, he'd have been gone. His tactics were awful."
"I agree. If he was trying to finish you off, he was taking too much time. The battlefield doesn't offer the luxury of robust speeches and posturing. Still, we can't discount part of the armament."
"It seemed like when that pilot was concentrating on someone else, he wasn't preoccupied with me. We'll probably need at least two to deal with one Spectre. One as the attacker, one as bait."
"That's what I was thinking. There's been an interest in the military use of Newtypes with their abilities. I guess that's not so bad, so long as they're seen as people."
"And if they're not?"
"Check the present-day Confederate U.S. in North America. A Newtype would be seen as a tool."
"Or a god."
"A god?"
"I'm just throwing it out there, but I've seen martyr's used in a religious context. Followers that died for their cause, their faith, whatever."
"Or this guy could be a nut job in a mobile suit."
"I hope so."
She couldn't help but think this was a false hope.
She stared off, then mused.
"If I am a Newtype, does it change anything?"
"How do you look at it, Elena? Is it part of you, or is it a cause or excuse for you?"
--------------------------------------
Ryuji boarded the Marduk. Jin had done well in the course, so it was his turn to to run through.
He walked the mobile suit out of the hangar, then to the course gate and took a deep breath.
"Marduk, ready."
"Roger that. Ready in...three...two...one. Start!"
The Zeus mobile suits sprang out almost instantly.
He had the shield up to block blasts from the attacks, firing back his own volley. One mobile suit crashed to the ground under this, but the rest continued advancing.
The Marduk strafed, avoiding more shots and laying down a barrage from the beam rifle.
Another mobile suit down, another with its beam rifle arm gone.
Ryuji pulled out a beam saber, charging the damaged unit.
A slash through this one would finish it off.
He whipped around to catch another charging Zeus, hatchet in hand.
The CIWS fired, causing the mobile suit to slow its charge.
Ryuji came crashing down with a vertical slash from the beam saber, another one gone.
These mobile suits were still sturdy, but his machine was quicker and smoother in operation. He knew he was a good pilot, but the Marduk seemed to give him more freedom in battle.
More mobile suits advanced.
This time, they were at a distance, giving him more time.
He peppered the torso of both mobile suits, watching the smoke billow out as they toppled over.
The attacks seemed to relent. Was it over?
Beam shots told him the answer. They came from behind the smoke, so he waited to see them.
Sure enough they came, quickly.
Ryuji was quicker. The Marduk danced around them, firing shots into the pair.
Another was coming from behind. There wasn't time to turn and successfully fire a shot off.
He pulled out the beam saber again, thrusting it backwards as his mobile suit stepped in the same direction.
The Zeus fell for it, impaling itself.
He eyed the battlefield. Were there anymore this time?
The comm came alive.
"Course complete. Return to the hangar."
"Roger that."
"So, how did I look out there?" Ryuji asked his comrades as he entered the observation deck.
"I dunno..." Jin rolled his eyes, but couldn't maintain his charade. "You did fine. I'm still trying to draw some comparisons since our mobile suits are so different."
"They seem, well, more refined than those Zeus we're used to piloting. The armaments seem to have been bumped up a notch."
"Well, yeah, you guys do." Sky piped in.
"Did your daddy tell you that, princess?" Jin asked sarcastically.
"No. If you check the specs, you'd know the Lilith is close range." she huffed.
"Sorry, but she's right." Ryuji shrugged apologetically. "That cloak does draw power, and using much beam weaponry will drain its juice quickly if you try using them simultaneously for any extended period of time."
"Fine. You win." Jin had to relent, then stormed off.
Ryuji sighed; another disaster subverted for time being.
"How did you know so much about my mobile suit?" she was genuinely surprised at Ryuji's defense of her.
"I just read a lot I guess. I finished mine, and then flipped through the ones for yours and Jin's while you were taking a break and such. Maybe it's my way to escape." Ryuji scratched his head.
It felt awkward talking to her, especially when there was an awe of him.
He changed the subject.
"The captain wants to know when we've completed the training course. That's done, so we should report back to the Rhine."
Otto was pleased to see them back.
"I trust you're ready to put those machines to work."
"Sir!" the pilots responded.
"Good. It's not official, but we may very well be moving out in the next day or two."
"Where?" Jin spoke what the other two were thinking.
"Australia. Another group of transport ships were attacked and destroyed by their territorial waters. No survivors." Otto grimaced, then pulled out some pictures. "These were taken by a Zeus moments before it's signal disappeared. There are two unidentified mobile suits that were the cause of it. Furthermore, satellite images show them returning to Australian vessels after the attack."
"I'm not sure what the big deal is about two mobile suits, captain." Ryuji didn't see anything abnormal from the images, despite the mediocre quality.
"They wiped out about fifteen ships and at least ten mobile suits within a few minutes. No mobile suit we know of has that type of firepower. I have no doubt we'll probably be involved in this clean up. Just thought I'd give you a heads up on what we might be facing. The council is supposed to take a vote on what action to take following this attack."
---------------------------------------------------
The pilots stood and saluted in the Augustus briefing room, concluding the mission briefing.
"Morocco, hmm. You should feel right at home, Elena." Smith joked.
"Yeah, save that we won't be on the coast." she coolly dissolved the comment and continued walking.
"Sounds like it's someone's time of the month."
"I'd slap you, but I think you'd like that too much, smart guy."
"Oh, save me, Lieutenant. Save me." he feigned terror.
"You're on your own." Hawk had turned the other direction. "I would be careful, though."
"Huh? Why?"
"Look down."
Elena tapped the toe of her boot around the crotch of Smith's pants, a devious smirk on her face.
"Don't think I won't. I am a little pissy now, so don't push me."
"Okay, okay. That's enough. I need everyone for the mission, not stuck in the medical bay or brig." Hawk knew Elena would do it, but at least she was a little better than she had been. Still, as much as he would have enjoyed seeing the end result, having all the pilots trumped the warped little desire.
"She's too used to using what she's got to her advantage." Smith mourned to Hisham.
The other pilot just shrugged.
"Wouldn't you? Anyway, I need to check a few things on the Anubis. There seems to be a mission in the near future." Hisham broke off of the dwindling crowd.
------------------------------------------------
Hong Kong
------------------------------------------------
Cai stared into the mirror backstage. The press conference would start soon, as would dealing with the press. He hated the badgering, but reminded himself it was part of the job. At least the heat wouldn't be on him so much.
"Did we do the right thing?" he muttered to himself.
"Those are the last words I'd have expected from you with that little speech you gave." Adam was standing by him, checking his appearance before going out.
"Doing the right thing never can be easy. Truthfully, I'd hate myself either way." he had to chuckle at his own inner conflict.
"I know what you mean. People think politicians are idiots, and they're right. We're idiots to take this job."
Cai approached the podium on the stage.
Cameras flashed. Reporters attempted to squeeze out answers. Cai gracefully put his hand up to quiet the ruckus.
"Thank you for coming to this press conference. I am Cai Deshang, China's council member to the Trans-Pacific Union. Before Chairman Martin comes up, I want to quickly dispel a few false rumors and set the stage for him.
The recent attack on another transport did gather a few images that you will see on the screen behind me. We do not know who built these mobile suits, so we do deny, at this time, that they were manufactured or designed by the Siberian League. This is the first we've seen them, as other attacks did not return any remotely clear images of the attackers. If the situation changes and we have the proof, we will pass along those details."
He could see the faces yearning for more information.
"Now, it is my pleasure to introduce the head of the Trans-Pacific Union, Chairman Adam Martin."
He backed away from the podium as the other man took his place behind it.
"Thank you all for coming today. Forgive my lack of formalities, as this is rather urgent. As you are all aware of, many of our transports have been attacked and destroyed in recent months, the latest happening just a few days ago. From the information we've gathered, the culprits are based out of Australia. While Australia has condemned these attacks, we have seen no concentrated effort to assist us by hindering, providing relevent information, or attempting to track down these perpetrators. While I readily admit that we have never been on the best terms with Australia, the council has come to a decision on this matter. Citing my previous statements, we believe this aggression and harboring of these attackers has crossed a line. Citizens of the Trans-Pacific Union have been killed, and our goods destroyed. We have exercised and exhausted diplomatic means of resolving this. They have failed, as Australia does not offer a hand in bringing those who slaughter our citizens to justice.
As Chairman, it is my solemn duty to announce the council's decision. We have found that peaceful options have been exhausted, and that we have no further options to exercise, save for war. This is a declaration of our intentions to go to war with Australia!"
---------------------------------------
End Phase 07
---------------------------------------
"So, who wants to go first?" Ryuji asked.
"I'm feeling lucky today." Sky volunteered. "Plus, it's ladies first."
"I can't wait to see this." Jin smirked
Sky brushed him off. "Oh, you won't see much of mine. Just the scraps I leave in my wake."
Jin turned to Ryuji, as if to mention how frighteningly cool her response was.
After Sky was out of earshot, Ryuji spoke up, looking out of the windows.
"I wonder why we really were given these."
"Isn't it obvious?" Jin replied. "Sky's dad is one of the top dogs for this company."
"I know, but even then, this deployment is kinda sudden."
Jin mulled his thoughts for a second.
"I guess you're right. It does seem kinda odd to suddenly debut some new suits. But, then again, governments do weird things..."
"Maybe I'm just thinking too hard. I just have some bad vibes about this."
"What are you, a Newtype or something? It's probably jitters of a new machine."
Ryuji said nothing.
The gate to the course opened.
The Lilith took a few practice swings with its scythe.
"Ready." Sky positioned the mobile suit for attack.
A voice replied, "Lilith, start on my mark. Three...two...one. Go!"
Her mobile suit shot forward.
The gate closed. Zeus mobile suits appeared.
They were unmanned, but that made them no less of a threat.
"Who goes down first?"
The Lilith threw a beam boomerang out, but the mobile suits moved away.
A moment later, Sky sliced through one, then another.
By this time, the remaining units had surrounded her, but out of the reach of her scythe.
She smiled.
"You haven't caught me."
The Lilith disappeared from view.
Suddenly, a Zeus inexplicably fell apart. Another one impaled by a beam dagger.
Soon, the course was filled with shredded mobile suits.
Sky's deactivated the cloak, surveying the damage wrought.
"Quite nice." her voice rang in the observation deck.
Jin was taken back. "Remind me not to piss her off now."
"Hey, just be glad she's on our side." Ryuji had been unsure before, but now was impressed with the Lilith already. "A visual camouflage? That is nice."
--------------------------------------
Tran-Pacific Union Headquarters
Hong Kong
--------------------------------------
The eight council members filed in the meeting room, solemn, yet agitated somehow.
Chairman Adam Martin was the last in, shutting the door behind him.
He made his way over to the round table. There was no reason to delay now.
"Council members, I believe we may begin." he started.
"As you've heard, another transport was lost near Australia. Just as we expected, Canberra has utterly denied this; nothing new. As you all know, we've found solid links, which I'm sure you are all familiar with. Unfortunately, I think this has become our most pressing issue for this meeting, and in the stead of other issues, our hand may have been forced."
"So, we can take this to mean we're considering war, Chairman?" asked Chen Zhao.
"Do we have a choice?" Ren Kimura entered the conversation.
"That's what we're here for." the chairman was not at all pleased with having to entertain the subject. "I think I've made my thoughts quite clear on my distaste for war..."
"However," Cai interjected, "even you are becoming uneasy with the repeated attacks."
"Correct. Even for me, there is a limit."
Kyle Armstrong spoke. "I may be alone here, but West Canada is opposed to military action. Think of the money for such an operation. Think of the soldiers that will die. Think--"
Ren cut him off.
"Mr. Armstrong, we have been thinking. They've been at war with us, yet we've done nothing. There's blood in the water now, and that will continue. We've been far too lenient in dealing with Australia for much too long as it is. How, in any good conscience can you protest lives lost when our civilians have been murdered?"
"Australia has repeatedly denied they are responsible. They've denounced these terrorists, repeatedly."
"That's all they've done! They have always been opposed to the Trans-Pacific Union, but these attacks are out of line."
The room erupted into verbal chaos.
Cai spoke again, the room died down.
"We're all very much aware that some of our people will die. That's a very dark reality. The payment is just not in terms of money, but in blood. I suppose that, yes, we are sending soldiers to their death. On the other hand, we don't have militaries for show. This, no doubt, is a grisly task. Unfortunately, we have a problem where diplomatic efforts have repeatedly failed. Australia has denied and condemned the attack, yet has made no concentrated effort to track down or assist in helping us."
He raised a hand to stop incoming protests.
"I am fully aware that Australia has never been an ally or friend to us. However, we must consider physical action when our citizens have been killed. Unless there's compelling evidence of another nation, the aggression and posturing point the blame squarely at Australia. Money and blood have already been lost in significant quantity. This is no longer a petty incident. It is a threat, and with great hesitation at knowning the heavy penalty our action takes, I must support military action. I hope my fellow council members will consider the costs of both courses of action or inaction. Thank you."
An uneasy silence filled the room.
-----------------------------------------
Elena rapped the door to Hawk's quarters.
"Lieutenant?"
"It's open."
She entered, quickly saluting.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. I wanted to go over your report. Go ahead and have a seat." he flipped open the folder.
She developed a slight grimace as she sat down, and Hawk saw it.
"Don't worry, I'm not interrogating you. I just want to understand what went on. I think I mentioned before that I had heard about that mobile suit, but didn't know what it was. Those remote weapons are something we need to have a battle plan against. Uh, anyway, I wanted to hear from you about the pilot. I heard some of the exchange, but I want the full context."
"That pilot claimed to be a Newtype, and believed that I'm one as well."
"Are you? Remember, it's fine either way here."
"I-I'm not sure. I grew up within the Trans-Pacific Union confines of Hawaii, so there wasn't an encouragement for anyone to develop as a Newtype. I felt some sort of presence around that mobile suit pilot. I started to loose control of myself. I don't know. Maybe I just have bad memories..."
"Bad memories of what?"
"I saw London burning on TV the same day my mother was murdered."
Hawk rolled the idea around in his head.
"Always a possibility I guess. Back to that mobile suit pilot."
Elena thought back to the battle. "Ah, yeah. I felt something, like I had the creeps whenever he was close. The doctor said only Newtypes can really tell other Newtypes, but even then, he was awfully vague on what it means to be one."
"That probably explains those remote weapons it used. I need to dig around to find out more on those Spectre units."
"Well, I don't think that guy was much of a mobile suit pilot. If I was better prepared and that unit didn't have those remote weapons, he'd have been gone. His tactics were awful."
"I agree. If he was trying to finish you off, he was taking too much time. The battlefield doesn't offer the luxury of robust speeches and posturing. Still, we can't discount part of the armament."
"It seemed like when that pilot was concentrating on someone else, he wasn't preoccupied with me. We'll probably need at least two to deal with one Spectre. One as the attacker, one as bait."
"That's what I was thinking. There's been an interest in the military use of Newtypes with their abilities. I guess that's not so bad, so long as they're seen as people."
"And if they're not?"
"Check the present-day Confederate U.S. in North America. A Newtype would be seen as a tool."
"Or a god."
"A god?"
"I'm just throwing it out there, but I've seen martyr's used in a religious context. Followers that died for their cause, their faith, whatever."
"Or this guy could be a nut job in a mobile suit."
"I hope so."
She couldn't help but think this was a false hope.
She stared off, then mused.
"If I am a Newtype, does it change anything?"
"How do you look at it, Elena? Is it part of you, or is it a cause or excuse for you?"
--------------------------------------
Ryuji boarded the Marduk. Jin had done well in the course, so it was his turn to to run through.
He walked the mobile suit out of the hangar, then to the course gate and took a deep breath.
"Marduk, ready."
"Roger that. Ready in...three...two...one. Start!"
The Zeus mobile suits sprang out almost instantly.
He had the shield up to block blasts from the attacks, firing back his own volley. One mobile suit crashed to the ground under this, but the rest continued advancing.
The Marduk strafed, avoiding more shots and laying down a barrage from the beam rifle.
Another mobile suit down, another with its beam rifle arm gone.
Ryuji pulled out a beam saber, charging the damaged unit.
A slash through this one would finish it off.
He whipped around to catch another charging Zeus, hatchet in hand.
The CIWS fired, causing the mobile suit to slow its charge.
Ryuji came crashing down with a vertical slash from the beam saber, another one gone.
These mobile suits were still sturdy, but his machine was quicker and smoother in operation. He knew he was a good pilot, but the Marduk seemed to give him more freedom in battle.
More mobile suits advanced.
This time, they were at a distance, giving him more time.
He peppered the torso of both mobile suits, watching the smoke billow out as they toppled over.
The attacks seemed to relent. Was it over?
Beam shots told him the answer. They came from behind the smoke, so he waited to see them.
Sure enough they came, quickly.
Ryuji was quicker. The Marduk danced around them, firing shots into the pair.
Another was coming from behind. There wasn't time to turn and successfully fire a shot off.
He pulled out the beam saber again, thrusting it backwards as his mobile suit stepped in the same direction.
The Zeus fell for it, impaling itself.
He eyed the battlefield. Were there anymore this time?
The comm came alive.
"Course complete. Return to the hangar."
"Roger that."
"So, how did I look out there?" Ryuji asked his comrades as he entered the observation deck.
"I dunno..." Jin rolled his eyes, but couldn't maintain his charade. "You did fine. I'm still trying to draw some comparisons since our mobile suits are so different."
"They seem, well, more refined than those Zeus we're used to piloting. The armaments seem to have been bumped up a notch."
"Well, yeah, you guys do." Sky piped in.
"Did your daddy tell you that, princess?" Jin asked sarcastically.
"No. If you check the specs, you'd know the Lilith is close range." she huffed.
"Sorry, but she's right." Ryuji shrugged apologetically. "That cloak does draw power, and using much beam weaponry will drain its juice quickly if you try using them simultaneously for any extended period of time."
"Fine. You win." Jin had to relent, then stormed off.
Ryuji sighed; another disaster subverted for time being.
"How did you know so much about my mobile suit?" she was genuinely surprised at Ryuji's defense of her.
"I just read a lot I guess. I finished mine, and then flipped through the ones for yours and Jin's while you were taking a break and such. Maybe it's my way to escape." Ryuji scratched his head.
It felt awkward talking to her, especially when there was an awe of him.
He changed the subject.
"The captain wants to know when we've completed the training course. That's done, so we should report back to the Rhine."
Otto was pleased to see them back.
"I trust you're ready to put those machines to work."
"Sir!" the pilots responded.
"Good. It's not official, but we may very well be moving out in the next day or two."
"Where?" Jin spoke what the other two were thinking.
"Australia. Another group of transport ships were attacked and destroyed by their territorial waters. No survivors." Otto grimaced, then pulled out some pictures. "These were taken by a Zeus moments before it's signal disappeared. There are two unidentified mobile suits that were the cause of it. Furthermore, satellite images show them returning to Australian vessels after the attack."
"I'm not sure what the big deal is about two mobile suits, captain." Ryuji didn't see anything abnormal from the images, despite the mediocre quality.
"They wiped out about fifteen ships and at least ten mobile suits within a few minutes. No mobile suit we know of has that type of firepower. I have no doubt we'll probably be involved in this clean up. Just thought I'd give you a heads up on what we might be facing. The council is supposed to take a vote on what action to take following this attack."
---------------------------------------------------
The pilots stood and saluted in the Augustus briefing room, concluding the mission briefing.
"Morocco, hmm. You should feel right at home, Elena." Smith joked.
"Yeah, save that we won't be on the coast." she coolly dissolved the comment and continued walking.
"Sounds like it's someone's time of the month."
"I'd slap you, but I think you'd like that too much, smart guy."
"Oh, save me, Lieutenant. Save me." he feigned terror.
"You're on your own." Hawk had turned the other direction. "I would be careful, though."
"Huh? Why?"
"Look down."
Elena tapped the toe of her boot around the crotch of Smith's pants, a devious smirk on her face.
"Don't think I won't. I am a little pissy now, so don't push me."
"Okay, okay. That's enough. I need everyone for the mission, not stuck in the medical bay or brig." Hawk knew Elena would do it, but at least she was a little better than she had been. Still, as much as he would have enjoyed seeing the end result, having all the pilots trumped the warped little desire.
"She's too used to using what she's got to her advantage." Smith mourned to Hisham.
The other pilot just shrugged.
"Wouldn't you? Anyway, I need to check a few things on the Anubis. There seems to be a mission in the near future." Hisham broke off of the dwindling crowd.
------------------------------------------------
Hong Kong
------------------------------------------------
Cai stared into the mirror backstage. The press conference would start soon, as would dealing with the press. He hated the badgering, but reminded himself it was part of the job. At least the heat wouldn't be on him so much.
"Did we do the right thing?" he muttered to himself.
"Those are the last words I'd have expected from you with that little speech you gave." Adam was standing by him, checking his appearance before going out.
"Doing the right thing never can be easy. Truthfully, I'd hate myself either way." he had to chuckle at his own inner conflict.
"I know what you mean. People think politicians are idiots, and they're right. We're idiots to take this job."
Cai approached the podium on the stage.
Cameras flashed. Reporters attempted to squeeze out answers. Cai gracefully put his hand up to quiet the ruckus.
"Thank you for coming to this press conference. I am Cai Deshang, China's council member to the Trans-Pacific Union. Before Chairman Martin comes up, I want to quickly dispel a few false rumors and set the stage for him.
The recent attack on another transport did gather a few images that you will see on the screen behind me. We do not know who built these mobile suits, so we do deny, at this time, that they were manufactured or designed by the Siberian League. This is the first we've seen them, as other attacks did not return any remotely clear images of the attackers. If the situation changes and we have the proof, we will pass along those details."
He could see the faces yearning for more information.
"Now, it is my pleasure to introduce the head of the Trans-Pacific Union, Chairman Adam Martin."
He backed away from the podium as the other man took his place behind it.
"Thank you all for coming today. Forgive my lack of formalities, as this is rather urgent. As you are all aware of, many of our transports have been attacked and destroyed in recent months, the latest happening just a few days ago. From the information we've gathered, the culprits are based out of Australia. While Australia has condemned these attacks, we have seen no concentrated effort to assist us by hindering, providing relevent information, or attempting to track down these perpetrators. While I readily admit that we have never been on the best terms with Australia, the council has come to a decision on this matter. Citing my previous statements, we believe this aggression and harboring of these attackers has crossed a line. Citizens of the Trans-Pacific Union have been killed, and our goods destroyed. We have exercised and exhausted diplomatic means of resolving this. They have failed, as Australia does not offer a hand in bringing those who slaughter our citizens to justice.
As Chairman, it is my solemn duty to announce the council's decision. We have found that peaceful options have been exhausted, and that we have no further options to exercise, save for war. This is a declaration of our intentions to go to war with Australia!"
---------------------------------------
End Phase 07
---------------------------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:08 am, edited 3 times in total.
Minor Characters
Well, some of the minor characters will have names. I should've thought about that, but I didn't. Anyway, here's the current list:
Martyrs
--------
Joshua
Felix
Shilah
Maxwell
William
Lucy
Uriah
Trans-Pacific Union Council
---------------------------
Michael Keyes (California)
Hwang Bae (Korean Republic)
Ren Kimura (Japan)
Cai Deshang (China)
Adam Martin (Hawaii) --Chairman (at start of series)
Chen Zhao (Taiwan)
Kyle Armstrong (W. Canada)
Peter Douglas (Alaska)
Siberian League Council
-------------------------
Leonidas Rask (Lithuania) --Chairman
Edvard Kasper (Sweden)
Dag Ragnvald (Norway)
Tarja Anderson (Finland)
Klaudia Zabor (Poland)
Ruslan Nata (Ukraine)
Sergei Kleshkov (Russia)
Karl Winter (Germany)
Lucas Cohn (Greece)
Vittore Calvino (Italy)
Mehmet Fidan (Turkey)
Martyrs
--------
Joshua
Felix
Shilah
Maxwell
William
Lucy
Uriah
Trans-Pacific Union Council
---------------------------
Michael Keyes (California)
Hwang Bae (Korean Republic)
Ren Kimura (Japan)
Cai Deshang (China)
Adam Martin (Hawaii) --Chairman (at start of series)
Chen Zhao (Taiwan)
Kyle Armstrong (W. Canada)
Peter Douglas (Alaska)
Siberian League Council
-------------------------
Leonidas Rask (Lithuania) --Chairman
Edvard Kasper (Sweden)
Dag Ragnvald (Norway)
Tarja Anderson (Finland)
Klaudia Zabor (Poland)
Ruslan Nata (Ukraine)
Sergei Kleshkov (Russia)
Karl Winter (Germany)
Lucas Cohn (Greece)
Vittore Calvino (Italy)
Mehmet Fidan (Turkey)
Last edited by Big B on Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I'm finding out that the probability of 1 installment per week is tough to churn out. Phase 08 is about half written right now, so have no fear. Also, having a girlfriend again (Hi! babe) has reduced the time I'd spend in front of my computer...I think that's probably a good thing. 
In the meantime, some music:
Opening theme:
"Got the Life" --KoRn
Ending theme:
"Semi-Charmed Life" --Third Eye Blind
In the meantime, some music:
Opening theme:
"Got the Life" --KoRn
Ending theme:
"Semi-Charmed Life" --Third Eye Blind
Phase 08
PHASE 08 - BLOOD IN THE SANDS
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Spoiler
"Time to earn your keep. Let's go!" Hawk ordered his pilots.
"I'll be on the ground if you need me. Anubis, launch!" Hisham's mobile suit rocketed out from the catapult.
Smith and Lee were lined up next.
"Smith Bersche, Zeus, launch!"
"Lee Hurst, Zeus, out!"
Hisham was holding a position when the two Zeus arrived.
"You're slow."
"Whatever, Hisham." Smith blew him off.
"Remember the intel stated they're using Zeus's, not Orion's."
"Orion. Zeus. I get paid the same. Let's just go do this."
"Well, they're on their way."
Hawk monitored the three mobile suits position.
"Are you ready for this?"
"Yeah, I'm good to go. If I sense anything, I'll scream or something." Elena called down from the open cockpit of the Engel.
"Good. We're about ready to launch." he turned to the Vulcan.
Elena made a few final checks before moving the Engel to the catapult.
"Elena Faust, Engel. Go!"
Hawk was right behind her.
"Hawk Quinn, Vulcan. Launch!"
The two mobile suits made their approach toward the target position. Flashes from the beam weapons could be seen as they drew closer.
"They've started, good." Hawk assessed. "I just want to make sure they're doing alright, then we'll head to the plant."
"Right."
Hisham slid aside, slashing through the attacking Zeus. Another fired at him from beyond the reach of his beam saber. He deflected the shots with the Anubis' shield, then charged. The Anubis plowed into the attacker, driving it back.
Lee struggled against a Zeus that had caught him off guard. Their hatchets were locked, neither machine able to force the other back. He finally drew back, letting the enemy push forward. As it did so, he pushed it to the side, and it continued moving, attempting to slow down. Lee took his chance, firing shots into the back of the mobile suit. He watched as it toppled over, smoke starting to come out the new ventilation.
Smith kept his distance, firing at the Zeus he was engaging in combat. This one was pretty good, dodging or blocking the shots. He fired again, this time a little off the mark. The Zeus went to block the shots, as if by force of habit. Now Smith had his opening and shot off the mobile suit's head. It stumbled around, many of it's sensors gone. He let loose a volley of blasts into the torso of the disoriented machine.
"I guess they're fine." Elena saw her comrades were doing alright.
"You're right, but there's probably more in the area. We've got some fireworks to start, so let's get going."
Hawk was satisfied with the mission's progress.
The Vulcan and Engel continued on the move.
As expected, there were some mobile suits guarding the facility.
"We'll have to make this quick."
"Don't worry. We used to pilot these, so I think I've got a handle on fighting them."
Elena wasn't worried about this job.
"Well, have at it."
"Right."
She charged ahead, confronting the closest Zeus. She was on top of it before it's pilot realized what happened. This proved to be a fatal mistake. The Engel's beam saber sliced off the forearm bearing the shield before impaling the mobile suit.
Hawk watched from the distance before picking a target. He aimed the Vulcan's buster rifle, waiting for a lock on the unlucky mobile suit. He fired, vaporizing the right side of the torso. He frowned. His mobile suit must need to have some calibration done in the OS to compensate for the heat convection. The mechanics would need to look at that after the mission, but he wished he'd known about this sooner.
The Engel's heat rod knocked the beam rifle out of a Zeus's hand. It regrouped and brandished its hatchet. Elena fired with the palm cannon, knocking it to the ground.
Another one fired from out of melee range. The shots were blocked, but the Zeus kept pounding away. Without a break, it would be hard to make an effective move into range.
A beam seared through the Zeus's torso. The barrage stopped.
"Thanks!"
"Behind you!"
She barely had time to move the Engel around. The Zeus she'd just cast to the ground was still able to move. Her mobile suit grabbed the hand with the down swinging hatchet. The machines struggled, fiercely vying for the upper hand.
She fired the thrusters for a second. It was just enough to push the other mobile suit back. Wasting no time, she buried the beam saber in its torso before a swift kick sent it away.
"I think that's all of them." she looked around to be sure.
"Sure looks like it." Hawk had come to the same conclusion. "Keep an eye out while I check with the rest of the team."
He flipped on the comm. "Hisham?"
"Lieutenant."
"Status report."
"We've cleared the area of targets, but..."
"But what?"
"There's civilians fenced up near by; no guards or posts though."
"Odd, though I suppose you just cleaned up whoever was guarding them."
"Probably. I don't get it: we heard nothing about civilians, especially nothing about women and children."
"I know. Something stinks here. Maybe we'll find a few clues over on our end. Stay put for now and wait for us."
"Roger that."
Hawk shook his head. "Quite a revolting development. I hope I'm wrong on my suspicions about this."
"About what?" Elena wasn't quite sure, not having caught the entire conversation.
"I think, the men might be forced into labor around here. It's pretty sick, but given this place is owned by a warlord, I wouldn't put it past him."
"Yeah, but..." she trailed off.
"But what?"
"There wasn't any mention of forced labor in the briefing. That's going to change our tactics."
"Only if I'm right. I hope I'm not."
The two mobile suits proceeded forward.
They looked around after stopping before a large door to what appeared to be the main section.
"I wonder if anybody's home." Hawk cracked.
"Why don't you knock and find out?"
He took out the Vulcan's beam saber.
"They probably won't open up. Stand back and keep an eye out for trouble."
The Vulcan cut out the door and peeled it back like a can of sardines.
Elena gasped. She felt her pulse quicken as she loosened her hands from the controls.
"No. Way."
Hawk looked in to see the alarming discovery.
"This is not good."
Although they were in various stages of construction, both quickly concluded there were mobile suits.
Spectre mobile suits.
They noticed men, glistening in sweat stop and stare at them, unsure of what was about to happen.
"I wish I were wrong." he muttered.
A familiar pressure started pulsating in Elena's head; just like before, the same feeling.
She had thought through how she would handle it again, but wasn't sure.
The Engel started to move.
"Hey, where are you going?" Hawk was confused by her actions.
"Someone's coming." she struggled to keep control of herself. She wouldn't allow herself to fall apart like the last time.
"How do you know? Nothing's showing up."
"Just wait. I'm trying to figure out which direction this is coming from."
"What?"
"I'm feeling the same pressure I did back in London! I know what's coming!"
She gritted her teeth as her mobile suit marched around, waiting for the pressure to subside or increase. But after that, she still wasn't sure. Would she even be able to function against another Newtype yet?
"Uh, does anybody know what they're saying?"
Smith couldn't make out what the captives behind the fence were saying, much less the language they were speaking.
"I'll try." Hisham offered. "I'm a little rusty, but I picked up some of the local dialect as a boy."
"You speak their language?"
"Not really, but my family lived around here for a few years."
"Learn something new everyday." Smith's response hinted of dry sarcasm.
"Shh! I need to hear what they're saying."
Hisham listened intently to the pleas and wails from the captives.
It went on for several minutes before he started asking questions, leaving his comrades in the dark momentarily.
After some dialogue, he paused. He knew what the other two pilots would ask.
"They were dropped off here a couple of days ago, and the husbands taken away."
"By who?"
Hisham spoke to the captives again.
"They don't seem to know, but seem to mention a mobile suit that's different from the Zeus when they were taken. At any rate, let's see what the captain wants to do."
An uneasiness settled in as they suspected the worst.
-------------------------------------
Shanghai, China
-------------------------------------
"So, I guess you'll be off to war soon?" Anders asked.
He sat at a small table across from Sky.
"We haven't been given orders, but I'm assuming." she took a sip from the cup in hand.
"There's still time, so I'm sure I can pull a few strings." he indicated, gesturing with his hands.
Sky brushed over the offer. "I'm sure you could, but I enlisted myself. I'm not a little girl anymore, dad. I've been your little princess, but that's all I've been. You'll have to let go someday."
Inside, Anders feared that most, but he knew she was right. He nodded, subtly acknowledging defeat.
She changed the subject.
"How's mom?"
"She misses you, but outside of that, she still pays more attention to those cats of hers." he chuckled.
"That's mom, alright."
"It's also like her to do this, so I'll just warn you now. One of her friends has a son..."
Sky just shook her head. Things hadn't changed.
"That's mom. She won't rest until I'm married."
"You don't want to?"
"No. Not yet, anyway. I'm not even sure what I want to do now. That's probably why I enlisted; do something until I figure things out."
Ryuji sat in the Marduk's cockpit, checking settings.
"You're still there, Ryuji?" Jin called up to him.
"Yeah. I'd like to get this thing in perfect order while I've got the chance."
"Right. Hey, I'm taking a break. You should too."
Ryuji looked over at the mechanics he was working with, knowing they'd heard the exchange.
One nodded, appearing ready to take off himself.
"Yeah, I guess it's about time for a breather." he called down to Jin.
The two pilots walked out of the hangar.
"Sure is busy." Ryuji thought out loud.
"Well, we are prepping for a war." Jin reactively replied.
"I'm just not used to seeing this much hustling for this long. I kinda wish we weren't."
"Too late for that now. Plus, Australia's had it coming." Jin felt justified about the upcoming mission.
"Maybe I just hope for peace to hard."
"Reality check. That's been tried, but some people are too ignorant to understand. We're just going to educate them."
"I guess I'm just too much the optimist." Ryuji had to laugh at himself. "The irony is thick. Hoping against having to kill. I've never killed someone before."
"You will. Our new machines outclass whatever we're going up against."
"Just make sure you've got it all checked out."
"Been doing that."
"Sky?"
"She was, but then she ran off. I didn't hear her say it, but one of the mechanics working on her machine said she was visiting her dad. Money buys a lot of power." Jin was becoming scornful.
"Wouldn't you take the chance if you had it?"
"Sure. If I had a family to visit anymore."
"Huh?"
"You heard me." Jin took a moment to breathe and compose himself. "My village was wiped out several years ago by some sort of militant group. As far as I know, I'm the only one who's left."
"Who'd be able to pull that off in this day and age?"
"I don't know, but all I've found out is that they were Newtypes!"
Ryuji couldn't say anything for a moment.
"At least you had a family." he commented, walking ahead.
"What do you mean?" Jin was temporarily jolted out of his rage.
Ryuji stopped to make sure Jin heard him.
"I'm an orphan. The military is the closest thing I have to a family."
-------------------------------
Morocco
-------------------------------
Hawk and Elena could see a lone mobile suit rapidly approaching.
"It's a Spectre." she strained against the pressure.
"You're right. I wish you weren't, but you're right." Hawk confirmed the unit moments later.
"So do I."
"Got a strategy?"
"Yeah. Run."
The Engel shot away from its position.
She saw the Vulcan hesitating. "Dammit, Hawk! I'm serious--run. Now!"
Hawk didn't wait any longer, forcing the mobile suit to leave its position.
A streak of light filled the space where the Vulcan just was. Both pilots felt the explosion and saw the smoke plume out of the hole freshly cut.
She wasn't sure how she'd known it. She hadn't paid attention to her systems for any heat signals.
"Keep running, Hawk."
"Why? We avoided the blast, so unless it's firing again, we don't need to be running around without a plan. Plus, I am the ranking officer."
"I know. I apologize for any perceived insubordination, but I'm asking you to go along with my strategy. I'll probably be able to sense that pilot's focus on me or not. That's how I'll know to strike. Please."
"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice. You've actually battled one, so I suppose you're the expert for us."
"Thank you."
"Now then, what's you're strategy?"
"When it releases its remote weapons, keep moving."
"Gotcha."
"Good. I'm going in."
The Engel attempted the first blow with its beam saber. The Spectre responded, blocking then drawing it's own.
"I was just going to destroy that factory." the voice came from the mobile suit.
"Likely story."
"Unfortunately, you've seen too much. Mark my words: I am going to kill the both of you. Nothing personal---"
"--Just business. Yeah, yeah." she tried taking the steam out of his speech.
Elena took another swipe, the blow met with a beam saber.
She was breathing heavy already. Finishing this was going to be critical for her, as she was pretty sure she couldn't sustain a drawn out battle with a Spectre, at least at this point.
"You're quite feisty."
"I haven't heard that since prom night."
She fired off the CIWS. She had to get this guy to release those remote weapons.
"I'm not even having to really try against you. Little girls shouldn't be sent out to fight. You must have a shameless employer." the mobile suit pilot was quite calm.
"Hey! I'm an adult!"
"That's all in the way you present yourself, not in your age."
The Engel's heat rods uncoiled.
"Who are you to lecture me? I don't even know you."
"You know enough. You're my enemy, and I am yours. Someone is going to die."
"Probably. I know my risks. Anyway, let's do this!" Elena set her sights on the Spectre, and then charged.
"I'm prepared to die. I wish I could say the same of you."
Hisham closed the channel with the Augustus.
"The Augustus is coming to pick up the civilians."
"Shouldn't we, uh, let them out?" Lee asked.
"I was just about to do that."
He called down to the people inside the fence once again, and they backed away to one side. The Anubis stretched out an arm, pulling the links down like paper. There was relief on the faces of the captives, and they began moving forward.
As the first wave rolled out of the confines, sand and smoke shot into the air, accompanied by a rumble.
"What was that?" Smith turned from his post as look out.
The confusion began turning to wails.
"Landmines!" Hisham could see scores of bodies lying a few feet from the perimeter of what used to be the fence. "That's sick. No wonder the patrol was so light."
"Light? That was no cake walk."
"You fought a machine on your own level, Smith. A Zeus is simply a better mobile suit than those Orions we fought last. Scan the area, I need to talk with the survivors."
Hisham turned his attention back to the remaining captives. At the very least, it was extremely difficult trying to talk amid the ensuing chaos.
"Ya’ know, I don't think the medical staff is going to be ready for this scale." Smith remarked.
Hisham's fuse was growing short under the circumstances.
"Right now, shut up and keep your eyes open! I'm trying to talk with these people and you are not helping."
"Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood."
"The last thing we need is a circus clown right now. Humor is not something of great value at this time."
Lee broke in. "There's something moving toward us."
"The Augustus?" Hisham's interest was piqued. "Wait." he interrupted himself. "No. It wouldn't be here this soon."
"Well, someone's coming."
"I hope they have some body bags."
"Something just launched. We should have a visual in a moment."
The three pilots held their breath, anticipating what or whoever was coming.
An outline of a mobile suit appeared.
Hisham barely had time to shout.
"Scatter!"
The form of a Spectre was visible, along with its bits that were launched.
"Oh, a rescue?" a voice rang out. "How noble. What a waste of time."
The bits moved in, the three mobile suits keeping on the move.
Hisham had a sickening realization as he moved around.
Before he could react, his worst suspicions came true. He watched the bits rain down blasts on the helpless captives. It was as if he were frozen, the images searing into his mind.
"Don't try to fight back." the mysterious pilot commanded, turning from the slaughter.
In the distance, the outline of a ship became visible.
---------------------------
End Phase 08
---------------------------
"I'll be on the ground if you need me. Anubis, launch!" Hisham's mobile suit rocketed out from the catapult.
Smith and Lee were lined up next.
"Smith Bersche, Zeus, launch!"
"Lee Hurst, Zeus, out!"
Hisham was holding a position when the two Zeus arrived.
"You're slow."
"Whatever, Hisham." Smith blew him off.
"Remember the intel stated they're using Zeus's, not Orion's."
"Orion. Zeus. I get paid the same. Let's just go do this."
"Well, they're on their way."
Hawk monitored the three mobile suits position.
"Are you ready for this?"
"Yeah, I'm good to go. If I sense anything, I'll scream or something." Elena called down from the open cockpit of the Engel.
"Good. We're about ready to launch." he turned to the Vulcan.
Elena made a few final checks before moving the Engel to the catapult.
"Elena Faust, Engel. Go!"
Hawk was right behind her.
"Hawk Quinn, Vulcan. Launch!"
The two mobile suits made their approach toward the target position. Flashes from the beam weapons could be seen as they drew closer.
"They've started, good." Hawk assessed. "I just want to make sure they're doing alright, then we'll head to the plant."
"Right."
Hisham slid aside, slashing through the attacking Zeus. Another fired at him from beyond the reach of his beam saber. He deflected the shots with the Anubis' shield, then charged. The Anubis plowed into the attacker, driving it back.
Lee struggled against a Zeus that had caught him off guard. Their hatchets were locked, neither machine able to force the other back. He finally drew back, letting the enemy push forward. As it did so, he pushed it to the side, and it continued moving, attempting to slow down. Lee took his chance, firing shots into the back of the mobile suit. He watched as it toppled over, smoke starting to come out the new ventilation.
Smith kept his distance, firing at the Zeus he was engaging in combat. This one was pretty good, dodging or blocking the shots. He fired again, this time a little off the mark. The Zeus went to block the shots, as if by force of habit. Now Smith had his opening and shot off the mobile suit's head. It stumbled around, many of it's sensors gone. He let loose a volley of blasts into the torso of the disoriented machine.
"I guess they're fine." Elena saw her comrades were doing alright.
"You're right, but there's probably more in the area. We've got some fireworks to start, so let's get going."
Hawk was satisfied with the mission's progress.
The Vulcan and Engel continued on the move.
As expected, there were some mobile suits guarding the facility.
"We'll have to make this quick."
"Don't worry. We used to pilot these, so I think I've got a handle on fighting them."
Elena wasn't worried about this job.
"Well, have at it."
"Right."
She charged ahead, confronting the closest Zeus. She was on top of it before it's pilot realized what happened. This proved to be a fatal mistake. The Engel's beam saber sliced off the forearm bearing the shield before impaling the mobile suit.
Hawk watched from the distance before picking a target. He aimed the Vulcan's buster rifle, waiting for a lock on the unlucky mobile suit. He fired, vaporizing the right side of the torso. He frowned. His mobile suit must need to have some calibration done in the OS to compensate for the heat convection. The mechanics would need to look at that after the mission, but he wished he'd known about this sooner.
The Engel's heat rod knocked the beam rifle out of a Zeus's hand. It regrouped and brandished its hatchet. Elena fired with the palm cannon, knocking it to the ground.
Another one fired from out of melee range. The shots were blocked, but the Zeus kept pounding away. Without a break, it would be hard to make an effective move into range.
A beam seared through the Zeus's torso. The barrage stopped.
"Thanks!"
"Behind you!"
She barely had time to move the Engel around. The Zeus she'd just cast to the ground was still able to move. Her mobile suit grabbed the hand with the down swinging hatchet. The machines struggled, fiercely vying for the upper hand.
She fired the thrusters for a second. It was just enough to push the other mobile suit back. Wasting no time, she buried the beam saber in its torso before a swift kick sent it away.
"I think that's all of them." she looked around to be sure.
"Sure looks like it." Hawk had come to the same conclusion. "Keep an eye out while I check with the rest of the team."
He flipped on the comm. "Hisham?"
"Lieutenant."
"Status report."
"We've cleared the area of targets, but..."
"But what?"
"There's civilians fenced up near by; no guards or posts though."
"Odd, though I suppose you just cleaned up whoever was guarding them."
"Probably. I don't get it: we heard nothing about civilians, especially nothing about women and children."
"I know. Something stinks here. Maybe we'll find a few clues over on our end. Stay put for now and wait for us."
"Roger that."
Hawk shook his head. "Quite a revolting development. I hope I'm wrong on my suspicions about this."
"About what?" Elena wasn't quite sure, not having caught the entire conversation.
"I think, the men might be forced into labor around here. It's pretty sick, but given this place is owned by a warlord, I wouldn't put it past him."
"Yeah, but..." she trailed off.
"But what?"
"There wasn't any mention of forced labor in the briefing. That's going to change our tactics."
"Only if I'm right. I hope I'm not."
The two mobile suits proceeded forward.
They looked around after stopping before a large door to what appeared to be the main section.
"I wonder if anybody's home." Hawk cracked.
"Why don't you knock and find out?"
He took out the Vulcan's beam saber.
"They probably won't open up. Stand back and keep an eye out for trouble."
The Vulcan cut out the door and peeled it back like a can of sardines.
Elena gasped. She felt her pulse quicken as she loosened her hands from the controls.
"No. Way."
Hawk looked in to see the alarming discovery.
"This is not good."
Although they were in various stages of construction, both quickly concluded there were mobile suits.
Spectre mobile suits.
They noticed men, glistening in sweat stop and stare at them, unsure of what was about to happen.
"I wish I were wrong." he muttered.
A familiar pressure started pulsating in Elena's head; just like before, the same feeling.
She had thought through how she would handle it again, but wasn't sure.
The Engel started to move.
"Hey, where are you going?" Hawk was confused by her actions.
"Someone's coming." she struggled to keep control of herself. She wouldn't allow herself to fall apart like the last time.
"How do you know? Nothing's showing up."
"Just wait. I'm trying to figure out which direction this is coming from."
"What?"
"I'm feeling the same pressure I did back in London! I know what's coming!"
She gritted her teeth as her mobile suit marched around, waiting for the pressure to subside or increase. But after that, she still wasn't sure. Would she even be able to function against another Newtype yet?
"Uh, does anybody know what they're saying?"
Smith couldn't make out what the captives behind the fence were saying, much less the language they were speaking.
"I'll try." Hisham offered. "I'm a little rusty, but I picked up some of the local dialect as a boy."
"You speak their language?"
"Not really, but my family lived around here for a few years."
"Learn something new everyday." Smith's response hinted of dry sarcasm.
"Shh! I need to hear what they're saying."
Hisham listened intently to the pleas and wails from the captives.
It went on for several minutes before he started asking questions, leaving his comrades in the dark momentarily.
After some dialogue, he paused. He knew what the other two pilots would ask.
"They were dropped off here a couple of days ago, and the husbands taken away."
"By who?"
Hisham spoke to the captives again.
"They don't seem to know, but seem to mention a mobile suit that's different from the Zeus when they were taken. At any rate, let's see what the captain wants to do."
An uneasiness settled in as they suspected the worst.
-------------------------------------
Shanghai, China
-------------------------------------
"So, I guess you'll be off to war soon?" Anders asked.
He sat at a small table across from Sky.
"We haven't been given orders, but I'm assuming." she took a sip from the cup in hand.
"There's still time, so I'm sure I can pull a few strings." he indicated, gesturing with his hands.
Sky brushed over the offer. "I'm sure you could, but I enlisted myself. I'm not a little girl anymore, dad. I've been your little princess, but that's all I've been. You'll have to let go someday."
Inside, Anders feared that most, but he knew she was right. He nodded, subtly acknowledging defeat.
She changed the subject.
"How's mom?"
"She misses you, but outside of that, she still pays more attention to those cats of hers." he chuckled.
"That's mom, alright."
"It's also like her to do this, so I'll just warn you now. One of her friends has a son..."
Sky just shook her head. Things hadn't changed.
"That's mom. She won't rest until I'm married."
"You don't want to?"
"No. Not yet, anyway. I'm not even sure what I want to do now. That's probably why I enlisted; do something until I figure things out."
Ryuji sat in the Marduk's cockpit, checking settings.
"You're still there, Ryuji?" Jin called up to him.
"Yeah. I'd like to get this thing in perfect order while I've got the chance."
"Right. Hey, I'm taking a break. You should too."
Ryuji looked over at the mechanics he was working with, knowing they'd heard the exchange.
One nodded, appearing ready to take off himself.
"Yeah, I guess it's about time for a breather." he called down to Jin.
The two pilots walked out of the hangar.
"Sure is busy." Ryuji thought out loud.
"Well, we are prepping for a war." Jin reactively replied.
"I'm just not used to seeing this much hustling for this long. I kinda wish we weren't."
"Too late for that now. Plus, Australia's had it coming." Jin felt justified about the upcoming mission.
"Maybe I just hope for peace to hard."
"Reality check. That's been tried, but some people are too ignorant to understand. We're just going to educate them."
"I guess I'm just too much the optimist." Ryuji had to laugh at himself. "The irony is thick. Hoping against having to kill. I've never killed someone before."
"You will. Our new machines outclass whatever we're going up against."
"Just make sure you've got it all checked out."
"Been doing that."
"Sky?"
"She was, but then she ran off. I didn't hear her say it, but one of the mechanics working on her machine said she was visiting her dad. Money buys a lot of power." Jin was becoming scornful.
"Wouldn't you take the chance if you had it?"
"Sure. If I had a family to visit anymore."
"Huh?"
"You heard me." Jin took a moment to breathe and compose himself. "My village was wiped out several years ago by some sort of militant group. As far as I know, I'm the only one who's left."
"Who'd be able to pull that off in this day and age?"
"I don't know, but all I've found out is that they were Newtypes!"
Ryuji couldn't say anything for a moment.
"At least you had a family." he commented, walking ahead.
"What do you mean?" Jin was temporarily jolted out of his rage.
Ryuji stopped to make sure Jin heard him.
"I'm an orphan. The military is the closest thing I have to a family."
-------------------------------
Morocco
-------------------------------
Hawk and Elena could see a lone mobile suit rapidly approaching.
"It's a Spectre." she strained against the pressure.
"You're right. I wish you weren't, but you're right." Hawk confirmed the unit moments later.
"So do I."
"Got a strategy?"
"Yeah. Run."
The Engel shot away from its position.
She saw the Vulcan hesitating. "Dammit, Hawk! I'm serious--run. Now!"
Hawk didn't wait any longer, forcing the mobile suit to leave its position.
A streak of light filled the space where the Vulcan just was. Both pilots felt the explosion and saw the smoke plume out of the hole freshly cut.
She wasn't sure how she'd known it. She hadn't paid attention to her systems for any heat signals.
"Keep running, Hawk."
"Why? We avoided the blast, so unless it's firing again, we don't need to be running around without a plan. Plus, I am the ranking officer."
"I know. I apologize for any perceived insubordination, but I'm asking you to go along with my strategy. I'll probably be able to sense that pilot's focus on me or not. That's how I'll know to strike. Please."
"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice. You've actually battled one, so I suppose you're the expert for us."
"Thank you."
"Now then, what's you're strategy?"
"When it releases its remote weapons, keep moving."
"Gotcha."
"Good. I'm going in."
The Engel attempted the first blow with its beam saber. The Spectre responded, blocking then drawing it's own.
"I was just going to destroy that factory." the voice came from the mobile suit.
"Likely story."
"Unfortunately, you've seen too much. Mark my words: I am going to kill the both of you. Nothing personal---"
"--Just business. Yeah, yeah." she tried taking the steam out of his speech.
Elena took another swipe, the blow met with a beam saber.
She was breathing heavy already. Finishing this was going to be critical for her, as she was pretty sure she couldn't sustain a drawn out battle with a Spectre, at least at this point.
"You're quite feisty."
"I haven't heard that since prom night."
She fired off the CIWS. She had to get this guy to release those remote weapons.
"I'm not even having to really try against you. Little girls shouldn't be sent out to fight. You must have a shameless employer." the mobile suit pilot was quite calm.
"Hey! I'm an adult!"
"That's all in the way you present yourself, not in your age."
The Engel's heat rods uncoiled.
"Who are you to lecture me? I don't even know you."
"You know enough. You're my enemy, and I am yours. Someone is going to die."
"Probably. I know my risks. Anyway, let's do this!" Elena set her sights on the Spectre, and then charged.
"I'm prepared to die. I wish I could say the same of you."
Hisham closed the channel with the Augustus.
"The Augustus is coming to pick up the civilians."
"Shouldn't we, uh, let them out?" Lee asked.
"I was just about to do that."
He called down to the people inside the fence once again, and they backed away to one side. The Anubis stretched out an arm, pulling the links down like paper. There was relief on the faces of the captives, and they began moving forward.
As the first wave rolled out of the confines, sand and smoke shot into the air, accompanied by a rumble.
"What was that?" Smith turned from his post as look out.
The confusion began turning to wails.
"Landmines!" Hisham could see scores of bodies lying a few feet from the perimeter of what used to be the fence. "That's sick. No wonder the patrol was so light."
"Light? That was no cake walk."
"You fought a machine on your own level, Smith. A Zeus is simply a better mobile suit than those Orions we fought last. Scan the area, I need to talk with the survivors."
Hisham turned his attention back to the remaining captives. At the very least, it was extremely difficult trying to talk amid the ensuing chaos.
"Ya’ know, I don't think the medical staff is going to be ready for this scale." Smith remarked.
Hisham's fuse was growing short under the circumstances.
"Right now, shut up and keep your eyes open! I'm trying to talk with these people and you are not helping."
"Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood."
"The last thing we need is a circus clown right now. Humor is not something of great value at this time."
Lee broke in. "There's something moving toward us."
"The Augustus?" Hisham's interest was piqued. "Wait." he interrupted himself. "No. It wouldn't be here this soon."
"Well, someone's coming."
"I hope they have some body bags."
"Something just launched. We should have a visual in a moment."
The three pilots held their breath, anticipating what or whoever was coming.
An outline of a mobile suit appeared.
Hisham barely had time to shout.
"Scatter!"
The form of a Spectre was visible, along with its bits that were launched.
"Oh, a rescue?" a voice rang out. "How noble. What a waste of time."
The bits moved in, the three mobile suits keeping on the move.
Hisham had a sickening realization as he moved around.
Before he could react, his worst suspicions came true. He watched the bits rain down blasts on the helpless captives. It was as if he were frozen, the images searing into his mind.
"Don't try to fight back." the mysterious pilot commanded, turning from the slaughter.
In the distance, the outline of a ship became visible.
---------------------------
End Phase 08
---------------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:10 am, edited 3 times in total.
PHASE 09
PHASE 09 - ORDER TO SURVIVE
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Spoiler
The beam sabers clashed between the Engel and Spectre.
Elena had to admit, this pilot was much different than the last one. He was definitely concentrated on fighting rather than babbling quasi-religious nonsense. In any case, using the heat rods seemed like a poor choice against this one.
"You know, you're a lot less talkative than the last guy."
"It's a lot easier to kill you by not knowing you. Joshua wasn't optimized and ill trained, no wonder he failed."
She was taken back, shocked slightly. "You're a Martyr?"
He pushed her mobile suit back. "It doesn't matter. I'm here to kill you."
The Engel dug in, Elena pressing back. "If that's going to happen, why won't you answer me?"
"What do I owe you? You're inferior and don't even know your full potential. I know what I'm dealing with, but you don't."
"Don't change the subject!" she snapped. "Answer the question!"
"Defeat me."
"That's my plan."
"Defeat me, and I'll tell you."
With that, the Spectre pulled back. The bits rose out of the backpack, turning toward her.
This was what she'd wanted to happen. She just hoped her strategy worked.
Several bits fired, but her reflexes dodged or blocked the attack.
"That's good. I'd hate to kill you so soon." the pilot said casually.
"Yeah, I bet." Elena kept her eyes on the moving bits, trying to anticipate when they might strike again.
A bit fired, then a second one, barely missing the Engel’s left arm.
There were six changing positioning she could be shot from at any given point, and that made her nervous.
"You know, anytime you'd like to lend a hand would be nice." she yelled at Hawk.
"Sure. Just pull back some. If I try shooting him, I might hit you."
"Roger that."
She pulled the Engel back, followed by blasts from the bits.
"You're avoiding the inevitable."
Great. There was nothing like going up against a babbling psycho.
She could still feel the pressure, and the near constant stream of consciousness was growing tiresome already.
"Elena! Move out of the way." Hawk called over the comm.
"I'm trying!"
It was becoming obvious that the man in this Spectre wasn't going to give her space.
"He's not letting up! I can't get away from this guy!"
"Damn! Let me circle around and see if I can hit him."
The Spectre continued its assault on the Engel.
Elena was doing what she could to avoid taking hits. This guy wasn't as much talk, but he was a much bigger threat than Joshua.
A blast from behind jolted her from her thoughts. Her body lurched forward in the seat, restrained only by the safety belts. She cursed as her mind refocused on the battle.
"You're a terrible pilot. I doubt you're even using half the potential of that mobile suit of yours."
The mobile suit pilot was starting to get on her nerves.
"Are you trying to piss me off?" she retorted, stabilizing the Engel.
"Not really. I don't know why I'm critiquing you when I'm going to kill you." the other pilot mused.
Another barrage from the bits contrasted the calm voice of the enemy.
Her mobile suit took a few hits.
"Alright, I'm ready." Hawk paged her.
Finally.
"Have at it, Hawk."
Hawk locked on to the Spectre.
"Gotcha!"
He fired the Vulcan's railguns at the mobile suit and then awaited the inevitable impact.
To both his and Elena's horror, the Spectre moved enough to avoid the shots.
"I think you'll find I'm quite aware of my surroundings."
It turned and fired at the Vulcan with its beam rifle and sent two bits toward its position.
They heard Hisham's voice over the comm.
"Hawk, we're up against a Spectre. Lee's Zeus has been damaged and we could use some help. The Augustus is on the way, but we may not last that long."
"I wish we could, but we've got one we're dealing with right now." Hawk was less than thrilled with the news.
Elena heard it too. Things were going from bad to worse.
Her head throbbed.
Her pulse quickened.
The Engel cowered under the continual barrage from the Spectre's bits.
She noticed the Vulcan making desperate moves to avoid taking fire, but it was only a matter of time.
They were going to die. That mobile suit pilot was right. They were going to die.
She began to sink out of consciousness.
It felt like she woke up suddenly. How, she didn't know, but now she felt like she knew what was going on. More importantly, she understood how to take care of this Spectre.
She righted the fallen Engel.
"I can't believe you're still standing." came the condescending voice.
"I'm just full of surprises."
"Big words for someone about to become a corpse."
As before, the bits fired.
This time, she avoided them completely.
She watched as the bits changed positions before firing, bringing up the Engel's arm to fire the palm cannon.
"You can't shoot down these bits. You've barely defended yourself."
"Just watch me."
A bit exploded, jolting the Spectre's pilot. He quickly recovered.
"Lucky shot."
Elena didn't return a comment this time.
The Engel downed another bit.
"Now you think I'm just lucky?"
"You still haven't won."
Hawk saw the bits that were harassing him back off and fall back toward Elena and the mobile suit she was fighting.
"Elena, watch out!"
The bits closed in and fired.
Her shield blocked while she kept her eyes on the Spectre.
"I know your tricks now. I'm taking away you're toys."
She downed a third bit.
Before the enemy could respond, she took out another.
The Spectre's beam rifle came up, aimed at the Engel.
"You still have me to deal with. Don't forget that."
She dodged the blast.
"Oh, I haven't."
The Engel had switched to a heat rod, flailing it out. It wrapped around the beam rifle.
She ripped it out of the Spectre's hands, then flung the weapon away. The mobile suit's CIWS fired, jolting the nearly disarmed opponent.
The Spectre stumbled for the first time, but recovered and drew its beam saber.
"A duel to the death? I guess that's chivalrous." She returned the favor and drew one of the Engel's. "Let's make it on equal terms then." the final bit was disintegrated with a palm cannon blast.
"It seems there's been some underestimation on my part." the Spectre's pilot seemed to muse at the rapid change of the battlefield.
The mobile suits charged each other. The beam saber's clashed, light sparking in all directions.
"Looks like I took the wind out of your sails" Elena was more confident now with a more level playing field.
"You haven't won yet." the pilot shot back.
The Spectre tried to shove itself into the Engel. Her mobile suit dug in, pushing back.
Both machines fired their CIWS at each other.
Elena sensed something, instinctively blocking with the shield.
The enemy chuckled. "You're starting to respond to your power. You may very well become a god."
"Whatever. I don't know why psychos pilot those kind of mobile suits, but I don't care!"
A swift slash at an upwards angle cut through the Spectre's upper torso.
"Congratulations, you won." the voice came from the damaged mobile suit. "I try to keep my promises. Yes, I am a Martyr."
"Why?" Elena couldn't help but ask.
"It's the task I was given by a god."
"Who is this 'god'?"
Somehow, she found this to be a little much, even from her defeated enemy.
"If he's interested in you, he will make himself known."
Sparks were now shooting from the remains of the mobile suit.
"Look for me on the other side."
It sent chills up her spine.
"Look for who?" she reactively asked.
"Maxwell."
With that, the Spectre exploded.
Elena turned her head away from the intense light.
She took a moment to catch her breath. The pressure was gone now, but she still felt the chills from the pilot’s last words.
"Nice work, Elena." Hawk commended her.
"Thanks. I think I'm starting to understand things better, now."
"Good. Our job's not done yet: we need to go give the other guys a hand."
"That bad?"
Hawk's tone changed. "Yeah, real bad. They're facing a Spectre and some support ship."
Her stomach churned at the thought.
-----------
Hisham kept moving. That was about all he could do against the Spectre and hope that the Augustus arrived sooner than later.
Inside the Spectre, the comm flickered to life.
"William, finish the job already."
"I'm going to have some fun." the pilot watched the Anubis and the undamaged Zeus dash around trying to avoid taking hits.
"You can play later. We just lost Maxwell's signal, so it's likely the enemies he was facing are alive. If they're with those mobile suits, you can expect them to head this way."
"More? I doubt Maxwell's gone. There's no mobile suit out there that can top this one."
"Maybe so, but I'm paying a lot of money for this job, so I expect a good return on that."
"You will. It's not like they're going to escape." indicating the damaged Zeus.
Bear could see the enemy ship and the lone mobile suit his pilots were fighting.
"Aim Longinus! Target the enemy ship's engines. Confirm status of cloak." he rattled off a short list of orders, which the bridge crew snapped into action.
"Cloak active and holding."
"Target locked, ready to fire."
He acknowledged the responses with a nod.
"On my mark. Fire!"
The Augustus' main cannons unleashed their fury on the enemy ship.
"Take care of them now!" the voice on William's comm angrily demanded.
"If you insist." the pilot casually responded.
"I very much do, so if you will conclude this matter..." the voice snarled back.
He looked at the three mobile suits he was battling, and saw the Zeus he had damaged earlier.
"I might as well start with you."
Lee saw the bits moving in his direction, and struggled to get the mobile suit moving.
Error messages about the machine's damaged leg blazed across the machine.
"I know, I know! Just move for me, alright." he grunted at the computer as he continued to work the controls.
He picked up on a bit aimed at the cockpit hatch of his Zeus.
Things began to move in slow motion.
Was this the end? He was sure that was the case since the damage left him a sitting duck.
He could see the light warming up, ready to send him to the next life.
He waited for the inevitable, but it never came.
There was a rumble; something had exploded. The bit had disappeared, accounting for the explosion.
The Engel stood, arm outstretched from firing its palm cannon.
"I made it." Elena gasped.
"Nice timing." Lee was relieved to still be alive.
"Hey, I try." she kept her eyes on this new Spectre.
"You!" she called to it. "Listen to me. I just took out your buddy, and I have no reservations about doing the same to you."
"Are you asking me to retreat? I've got your friends all tied up with my bits and I'm not even trying!" the pilot laughed at the thought.
"Your ship's damaged, and even with your mobile suits weapons, you're outnumbered. You're on the losing team, so give it up."
She fired off the Engel's palm cannon again, the shot whizzing by one of the remaining bits to get her point across.
"Apparently, I'd be better off taking care of you first."
William saw that she was a genuine threat, fixated on doing battle.
He fired the bits, fully expecting them to hit the silver mobile suit.
Elena pressed forward, casually blocking the shots. She was determined to finish this one off much quicker than the last one.
The attack from the bits became more frenzied and desparate as she moved forward.
"Stay back!" William shouted.
There was no response from the advancing mobile suit.
The Engel's palm cannon dropped another bit, as she came closer and closer.
"I'm warning you, stay back!"
"Those are big words for someone like you. Slaughtering families like this," she indicated the bodies nearby. "and you have the balls to even criticize me?"
"This is just a job. You're doing a job too, so we're just the same."
The Spectre produced its beam rifle.
"Don't compare yourself to me! I don't mindlessly kill innocent people."
More shots faded harmlessly into the Engel's shield.
"A job's a job. Does it matter who's at the end of your bullets?"
By this time, the Engel produced a heat rod.
"There's a big difference between a child and a soldier. I'm starting to think you and your employer aren't martyr's but monsters!"
The heat rod flailed out, winding around the beam rifle and flinging it away.
She watched the Spectre go to draw its beam saber, but intervened. She used the heat rod to grab one of the mobile suit's arms and pull it down.
"If you kill me, I'll be a martyr for sure." William struggled to move his mobile suit and reposition the bits that had fallen out of place.
Elena was bearing down on him with her own beam saber.
"I can live with that, but not people like you!"
She swung down, slicing through the Spectre's head and torso.
"Clear out!" she yelled, moving the Engel away from the downed mobile suit.
Bear watched the flash of lights and proceeding smoke from the Spectre as it exploded.
"Put me through to the enemy vessel, audio only." he ordered.
"To the members of the damaged enemy ship: this is the Centurion Guard battleship Augustus." he spoke into the console phone on the captain's chair. "This is her captain speaking. Under the authority granted me, I am demanding your immediate, unconditional surrender. All crewmembers are to disarm and disembark your ship within the next ten minutes. Should you fail to comply fully within this time frame, we will open fire. This is your only warning."
"Pretty brutal, huh?" Smith remarked.
"It's effective, and if they have any brains, they'll surrender." Hawk explained. "If we didn't want to pick their brains, we'd have wiped them out already."
"You sure it's that guy we're after? 'The Dagger' or whatever?"
"You got it, the Dagger is our man. That's his personal ship too, so that should make things easier for us if he's on it. I'd be surprised if he wasn't."
A few minutes later, the crew began exiting the ship, a white flag being waved.
"I know we were given pictures, but I'm having a hard time picking this 'Dagger' guy out." Elena tried to see who there was such a fuss over.
"It's that scrawny looking guy. He really looks like a nerd you'd find in a server room rather than a brutal warlord."
"Oh, I see him. Yeah, you're right. Appearances are sure deceiving."
-------------------
Helsinki, Finland
-------------------
Leonidas flipped on the conference monitor, folding his hands together and finding a comfortable position in his chair.
Pagan appeared onscreen.
"Chairman Rask."
"Commander."
The two men exchanged brief greetings with each other.
"I apologize for being unable to meet in person for this conversation." Pagan started.
"No, that's perfectly understandable. We're both busy men, so it's just part of the job."
"Well, getting along with business, Chairman. I received word from Dietz regarding the new mobile suit line."
"Good to hear. It's a long overdue change."
"Certainly. We'll be meeting in Berlin to see these production models. I'd like to test these units early on to ensure we aren't stuck with underperforming units this time around."
"I appreciate the initiative on your part. That's probably where we went wrong the last time. I blame myself for letting those units move to and stay that long in production." Leonidas frowned as he brought up the subject.
"You're still so hard on yourself over that. It's hard to be perfect going into a new era of weaponry. We know what a failure the Orion series is. Knowing that, I'm sure this new model will rectify those problems."
"It helps that there's such an active officer like you involved in this project."
"Too kind, you really are too kind. There's some squabble going on at the border between Poland and Germany."
Leonidas frowned. "I hope that doesn't become an issue. Our upcoming council meeting is having a vote on Germany entering the League."
"And you're hoping it's not the Germans causing trouble? It's not. There is some militant opposition to Berlin's pending application to the League, but it appears to be a very small minority. Unfortunately, peaceful negotiations have not gone over well, and I do anticipate having to flex some military might." Pagan worked to calm the Chairman's fears.
"Council member Zabor has indicated Poland would like some assistance, so there shouldn't be any trouble should intervention be required."
"I hope not."
"Are you considering testing out those new mobile suits there?"
"If the opportunity presents itself, then yes, those are my intentions. It may seem hasty, but that would show off our new mobile suits and dishearten the few that oppose this otherwise positive change for Germany."
Leonidas sighed. "I'd like to introduce them to the council before going public, but that may not be possible under the circumstances."
"I should be back in a week or less, depending on how circumstances develop."
"Godspeed, Commander."
"And to you as well."
-----------------------
End Phase 09
-----------------------
Elena had to admit, this pilot was much different than the last one. He was definitely concentrated on fighting rather than babbling quasi-religious nonsense. In any case, using the heat rods seemed like a poor choice against this one.
"You know, you're a lot less talkative than the last guy."
"It's a lot easier to kill you by not knowing you. Joshua wasn't optimized and ill trained, no wonder he failed."
She was taken back, shocked slightly. "You're a Martyr?"
He pushed her mobile suit back. "It doesn't matter. I'm here to kill you."
The Engel dug in, Elena pressing back. "If that's going to happen, why won't you answer me?"
"What do I owe you? You're inferior and don't even know your full potential. I know what I'm dealing with, but you don't."
"Don't change the subject!" she snapped. "Answer the question!"
"Defeat me."
"That's my plan."
"Defeat me, and I'll tell you."
With that, the Spectre pulled back. The bits rose out of the backpack, turning toward her.
This was what she'd wanted to happen. She just hoped her strategy worked.
Several bits fired, but her reflexes dodged or blocked the attack.
"That's good. I'd hate to kill you so soon." the pilot said casually.
"Yeah, I bet." Elena kept her eyes on the moving bits, trying to anticipate when they might strike again.
A bit fired, then a second one, barely missing the Engel’s left arm.
There were six changing positioning she could be shot from at any given point, and that made her nervous.
"You know, anytime you'd like to lend a hand would be nice." she yelled at Hawk.
"Sure. Just pull back some. If I try shooting him, I might hit you."
"Roger that."
She pulled the Engel back, followed by blasts from the bits.
"You're avoiding the inevitable."
Great. There was nothing like going up against a babbling psycho.
She could still feel the pressure, and the near constant stream of consciousness was growing tiresome already.
"Elena! Move out of the way." Hawk called over the comm.
"I'm trying!"
It was becoming obvious that the man in this Spectre wasn't going to give her space.
"He's not letting up! I can't get away from this guy!"
"Damn! Let me circle around and see if I can hit him."
The Spectre continued its assault on the Engel.
Elena was doing what she could to avoid taking hits. This guy wasn't as much talk, but he was a much bigger threat than Joshua.
A blast from behind jolted her from her thoughts. Her body lurched forward in the seat, restrained only by the safety belts. She cursed as her mind refocused on the battle.
"You're a terrible pilot. I doubt you're even using half the potential of that mobile suit of yours."
The mobile suit pilot was starting to get on her nerves.
"Are you trying to piss me off?" she retorted, stabilizing the Engel.
"Not really. I don't know why I'm critiquing you when I'm going to kill you." the other pilot mused.
Another barrage from the bits contrasted the calm voice of the enemy.
Her mobile suit took a few hits.
"Alright, I'm ready." Hawk paged her.
Finally.
"Have at it, Hawk."
Hawk locked on to the Spectre.
"Gotcha!"
He fired the Vulcan's railguns at the mobile suit and then awaited the inevitable impact.
To both his and Elena's horror, the Spectre moved enough to avoid the shots.
"I think you'll find I'm quite aware of my surroundings."
It turned and fired at the Vulcan with its beam rifle and sent two bits toward its position.
They heard Hisham's voice over the comm.
"Hawk, we're up against a Spectre. Lee's Zeus has been damaged and we could use some help. The Augustus is on the way, but we may not last that long."
"I wish we could, but we've got one we're dealing with right now." Hawk was less than thrilled with the news.
Elena heard it too. Things were going from bad to worse.
Her head throbbed.
Her pulse quickened.
The Engel cowered under the continual barrage from the Spectre's bits.
She noticed the Vulcan making desperate moves to avoid taking fire, but it was only a matter of time.
They were going to die. That mobile suit pilot was right. They were going to die.
She began to sink out of consciousness.
It felt like she woke up suddenly. How, she didn't know, but now she felt like she knew what was going on. More importantly, she understood how to take care of this Spectre.
She righted the fallen Engel.
"I can't believe you're still standing." came the condescending voice.
"I'm just full of surprises."
"Big words for someone about to become a corpse."
As before, the bits fired.
This time, she avoided them completely.
She watched as the bits changed positions before firing, bringing up the Engel's arm to fire the palm cannon.
"You can't shoot down these bits. You've barely defended yourself."
"Just watch me."
A bit exploded, jolting the Spectre's pilot. He quickly recovered.
"Lucky shot."
Elena didn't return a comment this time.
The Engel downed another bit.
"Now you think I'm just lucky?"
"You still haven't won."
Hawk saw the bits that were harassing him back off and fall back toward Elena and the mobile suit she was fighting.
"Elena, watch out!"
The bits closed in and fired.
Her shield blocked while she kept her eyes on the Spectre.
"I know your tricks now. I'm taking away you're toys."
She downed a third bit.
Before the enemy could respond, she took out another.
The Spectre's beam rifle came up, aimed at the Engel.
"You still have me to deal with. Don't forget that."
She dodged the blast.
"Oh, I haven't."
The Engel had switched to a heat rod, flailing it out. It wrapped around the beam rifle.
She ripped it out of the Spectre's hands, then flung the weapon away. The mobile suit's CIWS fired, jolting the nearly disarmed opponent.
The Spectre stumbled for the first time, but recovered and drew its beam saber.
"A duel to the death? I guess that's chivalrous." She returned the favor and drew one of the Engel's. "Let's make it on equal terms then." the final bit was disintegrated with a palm cannon blast.
"It seems there's been some underestimation on my part." the Spectre's pilot seemed to muse at the rapid change of the battlefield.
The mobile suits charged each other. The beam saber's clashed, light sparking in all directions.
"Looks like I took the wind out of your sails" Elena was more confident now with a more level playing field.
"You haven't won yet." the pilot shot back.
The Spectre tried to shove itself into the Engel. Her mobile suit dug in, pushing back.
Both machines fired their CIWS at each other.
Elena sensed something, instinctively blocking with the shield.
The enemy chuckled. "You're starting to respond to your power. You may very well become a god."
"Whatever. I don't know why psychos pilot those kind of mobile suits, but I don't care!"
A swift slash at an upwards angle cut through the Spectre's upper torso.
"Congratulations, you won." the voice came from the damaged mobile suit. "I try to keep my promises. Yes, I am a Martyr."
"Why?" Elena couldn't help but ask.
"It's the task I was given by a god."
"Who is this 'god'?"
Somehow, she found this to be a little much, even from her defeated enemy.
"If he's interested in you, he will make himself known."
Sparks were now shooting from the remains of the mobile suit.
"Look for me on the other side."
It sent chills up her spine.
"Look for who?" she reactively asked.
"Maxwell."
With that, the Spectre exploded.
Elena turned her head away from the intense light.
She took a moment to catch her breath. The pressure was gone now, but she still felt the chills from the pilot’s last words.
"Nice work, Elena." Hawk commended her.
"Thanks. I think I'm starting to understand things better, now."
"Good. Our job's not done yet: we need to go give the other guys a hand."
"That bad?"
Hawk's tone changed. "Yeah, real bad. They're facing a Spectre and some support ship."
Her stomach churned at the thought.
-----------
Hisham kept moving. That was about all he could do against the Spectre and hope that the Augustus arrived sooner than later.
Inside the Spectre, the comm flickered to life.
"William, finish the job already."
"I'm going to have some fun." the pilot watched the Anubis and the undamaged Zeus dash around trying to avoid taking hits.
"You can play later. We just lost Maxwell's signal, so it's likely the enemies he was facing are alive. If they're with those mobile suits, you can expect them to head this way."
"More? I doubt Maxwell's gone. There's no mobile suit out there that can top this one."
"Maybe so, but I'm paying a lot of money for this job, so I expect a good return on that."
"You will. It's not like they're going to escape." indicating the damaged Zeus.
Bear could see the enemy ship and the lone mobile suit his pilots were fighting.
"Aim Longinus! Target the enemy ship's engines. Confirm status of cloak." he rattled off a short list of orders, which the bridge crew snapped into action.
"Cloak active and holding."
"Target locked, ready to fire."
He acknowledged the responses with a nod.
"On my mark. Fire!"
The Augustus' main cannons unleashed their fury on the enemy ship.
"Take care of them now!" the voice on William's comm angrily demanded.
"If you insist." the pilot casually responded.
"I very much do, so if you will conclude this matter..." the voice snarled back.
He looked at the three mobile suits he was battling, and saw the Zeus he had damaged earlier.
"I might as well start with you."
Lee saw the bits moving in his direction, and struggled to get the mobile suit moving.
Error messages about the machine's damaged leg blazed across the machine.
"I know, I know! Just move for me, alright." he grunted at the computer as he continued to work the controls.
He picked up on a bit aimed at the cockpit hatch of his Zeus.
Things began to move in slow motion.
Was this the end? He was sure that was the case since the damage left him a sitting duck.
He could see the light warming up, ready to send him to the next life.
He waited for the inevitable, but it never came.
There was a rumble; something had exploded. The bit had disappeared, accounting for the explosion.
The Engel stood, arm outstretched from firing its palm cannon.
"I made it." Elena gasped.
"Nice timing." Lee was relieved to still be alive.
"Hey, I try." she kept her eyes on this new Spectre.
"You!" she called to it. "Listen to me. I just took out your buddy, and I have no reservations about doing the same to you."
"Are you asking me to retreat? I've got your friends all tied up with my bits and I'm not even trying!" the pilot laughed at the thought.
"Your ship's damaged, and even with your mobile suits weapons, you're outnumbered. You're on the losing team, so give it up."
She fired off the Engel's palm cannon again, the shot whizzing by one of the remaining bits to get her point across.
"Apparently, I'd be better off taking care of you first."
William saw that she was a genuine threat, fixated on doing battle.
He fired the bits, fully expecting them to hit the silver mobile suit.
Elena pressed forward, casually blocking the shots. She was determined to finish this one off much quicker than the last one.
The attack from the bits became more frenzied and desparate as she moved forward.
"Stay back!" William shouted.
There was no response from the advancing mobile suit.
The Engel's palm cannon dropped another bit, as she came closer and closer.
"I'm warning you, stay back!"
"Those are big words for someone like you. Slaughtering families like this," she indicated the bodies nearby. "and you have the balls to even criticize me?"
"This is just a job. You're doing a job too, so we're just the same."
The Spectre produced its beam rifle.
"Don't compare yourself to me! I don't mindlessly kill innocent people."
More shots faded harmlessly into the Engel's shield.
"A job's a job. Does it matter who's at the end of your bullets?"
By this time, the Engel produced a heat rod.
"There's a big difference between a child and a soldier. I'm starting to think you and your employer aren't martyr's but monsters!"
The heat rod flailed out, winding around the beam rifle and flinging it away.
She watched the Spectre go to draw its beam saber, but intervened. She used the heat rod to grab one of the mobile suit's arms and pull it down.
"If you kill me, I'll be a martyr for sure." William struggled to move his mobile suit and reposition the bits that had fallen out of place.
Elena was bearing down on him with her own beam saber.
"I can live with that, but not people like you!"
She swung down, slicing through the Spectre's head and torso.
"Clear out!" she yelled, moving the Engel away from the downed mobile suit.
Bear watched the flash of lights and proceeding smoke from the Spectre as it exploded.
"Put me through to the enemy vessel, audio only." he ordered.
"To the members of the damaged enemy ship: this is the Centurion Guard battleship Augustus." he spoke into the console phone on the captain's chair. "This is her captain speaking. Under the authority granted me, I am demanding your immediate, unconditional surrender. All crewmembers are to disarm and disembark your ship within the next ten minutes. Should you fail to comply fully within this time frame, we will open fire. This is your only warning."
"Pretty brutal, huh?" Smith remarked.
"It's effective, and if they have any brains, they'll surrender." Hawk explained. "If we didn't want to pick their brains, we'd have wiped them out already."
"You sure it's that guy we're after? 'The Dagger' or whatever?"
"You got it, the Dagger is our man. That's his personal ship too, so that should make things easier for us if he's on it. I'd be surprised if he wasn't."
A few minutes later, the crew began exiting the ship, a white flag being waved.
"I know we were given pictures, but I'm having a hard time picking this 'Dagger' guy out." Elena tried to see who there was such a fuss over.
"It's that scrawny looking guy. He really looks like a nerd you'd find in a server room rather than a brutal warlord."
"Oh, I see him. Yeah, you're right. Appearances are sure deceiving."
-------------------
Helsinki, Finland
-------------------
Leonidas flipped on the conference monitor, folding his hands together and finding a comfortable position in his chair.
Pagan appeared onscreen.
"Chairman Rask."
"Commander."
The two men exchanged brief greetings with each other.
"I apologize for being unable to meet in person for this conversation." Pagan started.
"No, that's perfectly understandable. We're both busy men, so it's just part of the job."
"Well, getting along with business, Chairman. I received word from Dietz regarding the new mobile suit line."
"Good to hear. It's a long overdue change."
"Certainly. We'll be meeting in Berlin to see these production models. I'd like to test these units early on to ensure we aren't stuck with underperforming units this time around."
"I appreciate the initiative on your part. That's probably where we went wrong the last time. I blame myself for letting those units move to and stay that long in production." Leonidas frowned as he brought up the subject.
"You're still so hard on yourself over that. It's hard to be perfect going into a new era of weaponry. We know what a failure the Orion series is. Knowing that, I'm sure this new model will rectify those problems."
"It helps that there's such an active officer like you involved in this project."
"Too kind, you really are too kind. There's some squabble going on at the border between Poland and Germany."
Leonidas frowned. "I hope that doesn't become an issue. Our upcoming council meeting is having a vote on Germany entering the League."
"And you're hoping it's not the Germans causing trouble? It's not. There is some militant opposition to Berlin's pending application to the League, but it appears to be a very small minority. Unfortunately, peaceful negotiations have not gone over well, and I do anticipate having to flex some military might." Pagan worked to calm the Chairman's fears.
"Council member Zabor has indicated Poland would like some assistance, so there shouldn't be any trouble should intervention be required."
"I hope not."
"Are you considering testing out those new mobile suits there?"
"If the opportunity presents itself, then yes, those are my intentions. It may seem hasty, but that would show off our new mobile suits and dishearten the few that oppose this otherwise positive change for Germany."
Leonidas sighed. "I'd like to introduce them to the council before going public, but that may not be possible under the circumstances."
"I should be back in a week or less, depending on how circumstances develop."
"Godspeed, Commander."
"And to you as well."
-----------------------
End Phase 09
-----------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:13 am, edited 2 times in total.
Phase 10
PHASE 10 - BIRTH OF THE FEDERATION
--------------------------
--------------------------
Spoiler
Bear watched from the bridge as the Augustus docked into a port of the Julian Kaiser III base. He mulled around the events of the ship's last mission. That girl was starting to become a very valuable pilot. Especially since she'd come back from leave.
More pressing matters were at hand, however. Nothing had been stated yet, but he knew the board would be deeply interested in his reports about the past missions since Elena's return. He cringed, not at the factory, but of having to refer to the prized captive as 'the Dagger'. Of all things, having to soil a professional report with a silly name. From the looks of the man, he seriously wondered if the man wasn't some comic book geek.
The ship came to a halt, but that was far from the end of his duties.
"I've been informed that the technicians need to run some diagnostics on this ship. They need the crew in here for a part of it, but once that's completed, you are all dismissed until further orders."
He headed toward the door.
"Inform me if any problems crop up."
The crew exchanged brief salutes with him before he exited the bridge.
"Yeah, that'll be fine." Elena called back to the mechanic standing on part of the Engel's maintenance frame.
"Do whatever you think needs done. I'm pretty sure we're going to be here for a few days, so we might as well take advantage of that."
"Right, Sergeant. Will you be around later? I'll probably need to go over a few settings before the end of the day."
"I should. Aside from a report, I don't have anything planned."
"Alright, then. Have fun."
She waved him off with mock disgust before walking away.
Lee and Smith crossed paths with her as she left the hangar.
"Hey." she said, as they walked toward each other.
"Where are you going?" Smith, as usual, had a smart remark to make.
Elena shot him a look.
The trio stopped momentarily.
"Unlike some bozo around here, I'm done for now."
"Done already?" Lee was somewhere between surprised and amazed.
"I'm going to need the time anyway." she grumbled.
"For what?"
"Punching up another report. Yay for me." came her mock enthusiasm.
"Such wonderful perks, eh?" he empathized.
"Whatever."
Then she was out of earshot to hear anything else.
Lee looked at his Zeus and shook his head.
"I suppose mine will be the last one finished."
"You lucky boy." Smith chewed on a toothpick.
"Err, right. Hey, I gotta do something real quick." Lee turned and headed out the way they just came.
"Okay." Smith stepped onto a lift on the maintenance frame with his Zeus.
As she walked down the hall, Elena could hear some footsteps pounding. She kept on going, as she expected to be passed by any moment.
"Elena."
She turned her head, and slowed down to see who called out.
It was Lee, but she couldn't figure out why he'd just run down the hall.
"Did I forget something in the hangar?" she glanced down between her arms to check for anything missing.
"No. It's nothing like that at all. I definitely want to thank you for saving my life back in Morocco."
"I just did it as part of the mission. I'm starting to see how those Spectre's work, so I hope I can take them down faster if we run into anymore."
Lee rubbed the back of his head.
"I see. Uh, I'm going off the base tonight, so if you wanted to join me." he was a bit sheepish with his words.
Elena had a sly grin that he could see, now that she'd turned around to face him.
"You wouldn't be asking me out by chance?"
"Uh, sorta."
It was becoming obvious that being a ladies man was not Lee's gift in life.
"I mean, if you wanted to."
"Yeah, actually, I'm probably not going to do much anyway. I haven't seen what it's like around the Mediterranean area before." she started talking to relieve him of the pressure, but she really did want to look around. "So, yeah, stop by later."
"When your report's done?"
"Yeah."
---------------
Berlin, Germany
----------------
Pagan stepped off the military chopper, followed by eight other men.
He quickly saluted the welcoming party standing at the landing area.
"Ah, Dietz, it's a pleasure to meet you again."
The two commanders shook hands.
"Yes, and this time on Earth." he started walking, leading the way, Pagan catching up beside the older man.
"As I'm sure you're aware, we've started production of the new mobile suits."
"Yes I am. Both myself and Chairman Rask hope that this line will prove to be a solid force."
"Absolutely. This time we know what we're looking for, plus internal testing with those prototypes helped determine the armament."
"I commend you on handing those units over to the Centurion Guard. We can still keep an eye on other weaponry for future purposes."
"Well, the original intent was to have them test it for us, but you know how bureaucracy works."
"I see. Apparently, there was a slight miscommunication on that. This won't cause any security issues?"
"The Centurion Guard aren't there to terrorize, so even if those three mobile suits would have the data leaked, it wouldn't apply to our new units."
Pagan produced a slight smile. "Very good."
Inside the factory, Dietz introduced the subject of interest.
"This is the new model for the Siberian League. Allow me to introduce the culmination of our work with Munich Mobile Industries, the RMX-D109 Scorpio."
Pagan studied the gray and blue mobile suits before him.
"How soon until they go into mass production?"
"Not for at least a couple months. Our problem lies mostly with some actual combat, and while simulation and drills help, we don't happen to have the real thing. I'm not particularly hoping for war, but it's almost as if that's the only way to get the data we need." Dietz was frustrated with the situation progress was in.
"I might be able to provide that data, Dietz."
The older man turned his head, in slight disbelief.
"Where and how would you furnish that?"
"I'm sure you've heard about some of your countrymen causing trouble over by Poland?"
"Yes I have."
"Poland may be asking for League support if the situation doesn't diffuse itself. What I am proposing is field testing a few Scorpios there, should things go sour."
Dietz understood the gravity of the situation, and the expression showed it.
"I do sympathize with putting you on the spot like that, but remember, it's a few select individual's causing the problem. Anything Germany does to help distance itself from them will make it much more welcomed within the League. There is to be a vote over Germany entering the League, possibly today."
Dietz sighed. He knew what Pagan told him was absolutely true. Fundamentally, this was no different than a police officer subduing a violent criminal, yet it troubled him to even have the thought cross his mind. To him, it was as if he were a traitor.
"I know you're right. Even though I've had to make difficult commands, the reasoning doesn't comfort me."
"Nobody claims the right decision is ever easy."
------------------
Julian Kaiser III
------------------
Hisham and Smith sat at the bar inside the officer's club.
"I still don't get it." Smith said, lazily swirling the ice in his drink. "How does she know where those remote weapons are at? We've been doing this longer than she has. I mean, she's not even been with us a year, and she's been running circles around us as of late."
"You're already drunk." Hisham sipped his beer.
"Hey, this is only my second one and I don't even feel a buzz."
"What's it to you if Elena is a better mobile suit pilot? Although..." he trailed off.
Smith motioned with his hand as if to draw the response out.
"Although what?"
"In England, that Spectre--I believe that's what it's called--had its pilot saying something about her being a Newtype."
"Don't tell me you buy into that Newtype stuff."
"Truthfully, I don't know what to think." Hisham took another sip. "The existence of Newtypes is still being debated last I heard. From what I've seen so far, it's hard to think it's just luck. I don't know how she figured out those remote weapons."
Smith was quick to try and dismiss his doubt. "Computers do some wonderful things these days."
"They do, however, the agility and response those things had...that's just one hell of a computer. On both machines."
The conversation died off, as the two men worked on their drinks.
A few stools over another man pulled up a seat. The bartender walked over to take the order.
"Been a while since you've been in for a drink, Blake. The usual, right?"
"I've been out on missions aboard the Hadrian for awhile, but I'm getting moved around again." Blake grumbled, then added. "Better make a good first impression, so I'll just have a beer for now."
The bartender started to rattle off the selection at hand.
Smith had turned his attention over to the exchange by this time, his eyes lighting up.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
Blake turned.
"Holy hell, man. Nice to see someone I know around here."
Hisham had tilted his head slightly to see who Smith was talking to.
"Oh, yeah." Smith indicated his drinking buddy, "This is one of the guys I'm working with, Hisham Tariq."
Blake nodded to greet him.
"Blake Weisser." he turned his attention back to his friend.
"So what've you been doing all this time?"
"Traveling the world, blowing stuff up; the usual. You?"
"Same here. Actually, I'm glad to be over here right now. Far away from the Pacific."
"What's going on over there?"
"The Union blew a gasket and is prepping to hand it to Australia."
"Didn't know that."
"You're not surprised though?"
"Eh, not really. I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner. Anyway, did I hear you right? They're pulling you off the Hadrian?"
"Yeah, that's right. I gotta pull my stuff off, but I've been reassigned to the Augustus."
Smith grew a big grin and raised his glass.
"Well then, welcome aboard, bud. We're both on that ship."
Hisham lifted his drink up in acknowledgement of a new team mate.
"Alright." Blake nodded. "I can drink to that."
---------------------
Helsinki, Finland
---------------------
As the Siberian League council members exited the meeting room, Leonidas briskly made his way over to the German representative, Karl Winter.
"Chairman." the man humbly greeted the chairman.
"Karl," Leonidas extended his hand, the other giving a firm shake. "I'm glad your country is now part of us."
"My superiors will be relieved to finally be admitted in, even with some of those minor changes."
"Without Germany's help, we wouldn't have a mobile suit program. Really, this has been long overdue, given how much help your country has helped this organization stand up on it's own. Think of it more as gratitude. The changes we've made, as I'm sure you understand, are cosmetic in nature and better reflect the changes."
He returned to his office much sooner than he'd anticipated, especially with all the buzz happening. It was about time to discuss matters with Pagan anyway, and hopefully, he was in a position to answer.
The chairman sat down and flipped on the screen to make the call, waiting for someone to pick up.
An unfamiliar face appeared, not that it mattered.
"Yes, is Commander Czevik there?"
"He should be in his quarters, I'll put you through."
"Thank you."
The familiar masked face appeared on-screen shortly after.
"Greetings Chairman. This must be about that little problem between Germany and Poland."
"It is. As expected, Germany is now part of the League. Berlin has been attempting to peaceably deal with this little group. Unfortunately, they've managed to acquire a few mobile suits. I'm sure you can deduce what this means."
"Completely. I already have a few scenarios in mind on how to go about this little problem."
"Good. Please keep me informed as soon as you can regarding the outcome." Leonidas shifted the subject. "The reason I want that information is because we'll be announcing some changes to the League."
"Oh, really." Pagan acted surprised.
"Obviously, Germany is now part of us. The big change, as the council discussed is the organization's name. 'Siberian League' isn't befitting for a group that includes Italy and Poland. The council has adopted a new name: the European Federation. I have let the council in on the new mobile suit program, and should things bode well with your little exercise, we'll be announcing it next week with the organization name."
"If anything is suspected at this point, they'll likely believe the new mobile suits are still in the development stage, not production level."
"Quite. That was an excellent suggestion."
"I just wish to see our forces equipped with a formidable mobile suit."
"After all the resources invested in this project, I hope so.
"I must say, these units are quite an improvement over their predecessor. Of course, I'll have a better understanding in a few days."
"Very good."
-----------------------------
Near Julian Kaiser III
-----------------------------
Elena stood in the ankle-deep water, watching the last rays of sunlight slowly disappear on the horizon. Lee stood further back, holding her sandals for her.
She finally turned and headed to shore.
"You really do love the ocean." Lee commented.
"Yeah. I don't know if it's just me, or growing up in Hawaii. I bet today would've been a good day for surfing." she retrieved her sandals.
"Kinda exotic, isn't it?"
She looked a little confused.
"Hawaii. Surfing. Not exactly the average girl."
"I suppose if you don't live there, it would be atypical. Lots of people surf; most of my friends back home do."
They had started walking along the shore by now.
Elena continued.
"I know it's been a vacation spot, but I don't think of it that way."
"It's not everyday you know someone who calls a tropical paradise home. I'm just one of those average schmucks in the mid-western States. The only sea of anything I saw was corn and soybeans." he chuckled.
"All I've seen of that has been pictures in textbooks."
"Pretty much the same for me. I didn't even see anything when we picked you up from vacation."
"What? You didn't ask the captain about taking a short tour?"
"Yeah. Can you imagine? 'Hey, captain! I'm gonna go check out the volcanoes with girls in grass skirts.'"
They both laughed at the thought. Both knew such a question would have garnered a raised eyebrow from Bear.
Elena was still laughing when she corrected Lee.
"Nobody wears grass skirts anymore. The closest I got was a skirt with a grass skirt pattern."
"I must have been cooped up in the ship too long. I expected it to be pitch black out for some reason, but there's the moon and stars."
"It is kinda romantic."
Lee looked bewildered by the sudden prospect.
"Err, yeah." he looked down.
"Don't worry, I'm not that super gushy." she said, quickly relieving the awkwardness of the situation. "I've never really been that girly, but I bet you could already tell that."
"You do fit in well with the guys..."
"Probably why I had a lot of friends that were guys, but never wanted to date me."
"I've never been all that lucky on the dating front either. I got along with lots of girls, but it was always the same old story."
"The 'You're a nice guy, but..."
"Yeah, pretty much. Makes you kinda give up almost."
"I know I scared away some guys in high school. I totally decked one guy out cold once."
"For what?" Lee balked.
"Trying to get into my pants, or rather me out of them."
"Ah." Lee put his hands up, as if to remove himself from suspicion.
"Hey! I didn't say I did that with everybody, just one guy." she pulled his arms down. "Plus, I've gotten a little wiser about the dirt bags. I mean, if they want it that badly, go find a hooker, not me."
"Heh. That's not my focus, so much as keeping one. It's kinda hard to get girls as a skinny, pale red headed dork, especially if it's a cute one."
He blushed after realizing what he just said.
"Uh, I hope that didn't just sound like a cheesy line to hit on you or something."
"No, it was sweet. Most guys have been way too slick in the delivery. Those are the dirt bags I'm talking about. I don't think you're like them."
"Thanks, Elena."
---------------------------
South Pacific Ocean
---------------------------
"I may not be in touch with you for a few days. There's some business I'm attending to, and it will be difficult to keep in contact during that time. I'm sure you can operate independently during that time." the voice came from the comm.
"You aren't taking us for children, are you?" Shilah responded with a hint of disdain.
"Don't get excited just yet. You'll have the Union to deal with shortly. No need to waste that energy here."
"We were looking to send some additional Martyrs your way, but with the plant being destroyed recently, that's severely curtailed our plans for the moment."
"That's what you get for being cheap." Felix shrugged.
"The Dagger was hardly what I'd call cheap. Unfortunately, he's in Centurion Guard custody, so there's no way to tell exactly what happened."
"Just break him out. It's not like you don't have the resources." Shilah exasperated.
"That would be messy to say the least. I don't think he's a source of much valuable information. I won't be close by to easily attempt it, even if I wanted to. Anyway, you know what to do on your end. Good day."
The comm switched off.
--------------------------
End Phase 10
--------------------------
More pressing matters were at hand, however. Nothing had been stated yet, but he knew the board would be deeply interested in his reports about the past missions since Elena's return. He cringed, not at the factory, but of having to refer to the prized captive as 'the Dagger'. Of all things, having to soil a professional report with a silly name. From the looks of the man, he seriously wondered if the man wasn't some comic book geek.
The ship came to a halt, but that was far from the end of his duties.
"I've been informed that the technicians need to run some diagnostics on this ship. They need the crew in here for a part of it, but once that's completed, you are all dismissed until further orders."
He headed toward the door.
"Inform me if any problems crop up."
The crew exchanged brief salutes with him before he exited the bridge.
"Yeah, that'll be fine." Elena called back to the mechanic standing on part of the Engel's maintenance frame.
"Do whatever you think needs done. I'm pretty sure we're going to be here for a few days, so we might as well take advantage of that."
"Right, Sergeant. Will you be around later? I'll probably need to go over a few settings before the end of the day."
"I should. Aside from a report, I don't have anything planned."
"Alright, then. Have fun."
She waved him off with mock disgust before walking away.
Lee and Smith crossed paths with her as she left the hangar.
"Hey." she said, as they walked toward each other.
"Where are you going?" Smith, as usual, had a smart remark to make.
Elena shot him a look.
The trio stopped momentarily.
"Unlike some bozo around here, I'm done for now."
"Done already?" Lee was somewhere between surprised and amazed.
"I'm going to need the time anyway." she grumbled.
"For what?"
"Punching up another report. Yay for me." came her mock enthusiasm.
"Such wonderful perks, eh?" he empathized.
"Whatever."
Then she was out of earshot to hear anything else.
Lee looked at his Zeus and shook his head.
"I suppose mine will be the last one finished."
"You lucky boy." Smith chewed on a toothpick.
"Err, right. Hey, I gotta do something real quick." Lee turned and headed out the way they just came.
"Okay." Smith stepped onto a lift on the maintenance frame with his Zeus.
As she walked down the hall, Elena could hear some footsteps pounding. She kept on going, as she expected to be passed by any moment.
"Elena."
She turned her head, and slowed down to see who called out.
It was Lee, but she couldn't figure out why he'd just run down the hall.
"Did I forget something in the hangar?" she glanced down between her arms to check for anything missing.
"No. It's nothing like that at all. I definitely want to thank you for saving my life back in Morocco."
"I just did it as part of the mission. I'm starting to see how those Spectre's work, so I hope I can take them down faster if we run into anymore."
Lee rubbed the back of his head.
"I see. Uh, I'm going off the base tonight, so if you wanted to join me." he was a bit sheepish with his words.
Elena had a sly grin that he could see, now that she'd turned around to face him.
"You wouldn't be asking me out by chance?"
"Uh, sorta."
It was becoming obvious that being a ladies man was not Lee's gift in life.
"I mean, if you wanted to."
"Yeah, actually, I'm probably not going to do much anyway. I haven't seen what it's like around the Mediterranean area before." she started talking to relieve him of the pressure, but she really did want to look around. "So, yeah, stop by later."
"When your report's done?"
"Yeah."
---------------
Berlin, Germany
----------------
Pagan stepped off the military chopper, followed by eight other men.
He quickly saluted the welcoming party standing at the landing area.
"Ah, Dietz, it's a pleasure to meet you again."
The two commanders shook hands.
"Yes, and this time on Earth." he started walking, leading the way, Pagan catching up beside the older man.
"As I'm sure you're aware, we've started production of the new mobile suits."
"Yes I am. Both myself and Chairman Rask hope that this line will prove to be a solid force."
"Absolutely. This time we know what we're looking for, plus internal testing with those prototypes helped determine the armament."
"I commend you on handing those units over to the Centurion Guard. We can still keep an eye on other weaponry for future purposes."
"Well, the original intent was to have them test it for us, but you know how bureaucracy works."
"I see. Apparently, there was a slight miscommunication on that. This won't cause any security issues?"
"The Centurion Guard aren't there to terrorize, so even if those three mobile suits would have the data leaked, it wouldn't apply to our new units."
Pagan produced a slight smile. "Very good."
Inside the factory, Dietz introduced the subject of interest.
"This is the new model for the Siberian League. Allow me to introduce the culmination of our work with Munich Mobile Industries, the RMX-D109 Scorpio."
Pagan studied the gray and blue mobile suits before him.
"How soon until they go into mass production?"
"Not for at least a couple months. Our problem lies mostly with some actual combat, and while simulation and drills help, we don't happen to have the real thing. I'm not particularly hoping for war, but it's almost as if that's the only way to get the data we need." Dietz was frustrated with the situation progress was in.
"I might be able to provide that data, Dietz."
The older man turned his head, in slight disbelief.
"Where and how would you furnish that?"
"I'm sure you've heard about some of your countrymen causing trouble over by Poland?"
"Yes I have."
"Poland may be asking for League support if the situation doesn't diffuse itself. What I am proposing is field testing a few Scorpios there, should things go sour."
Dietz understood the gravity of the situation, and the expression showed it.
"I do sympathize with putting you on the spot like that, but remember, it's a few select individual's causing the problem. Anything Germany does to help distance itself from them will make it much more welcomed within the League. There is to be a vote over Germany entering the League, possibly today."
Dietz sighed. He knew what Pagan told him was absolutely true. Fundamentally, this was no different than a police officer subduing a violent criminal, yet it troubled him to even have the thought cross his mind. To him, it was as if he were a traitor.
"I know you're right. Even though I've had to make difficult commands, the reasoning doesn't comfort me."
"Nobody claims the right decision is ever easy."
------------------
Julian Kaiser III
------------------
Hisham and Smith sat at the bar inside the officer's club.
"I still don't get it." Smith said, lazily swirling the ice in his drink. "How does she know where those remote weapons are at? We've been doing this longer than she has. I mean, she's not even been with us a year, and she's been running circles around us as of late."
"You're already drunk." Hisham sipped his beer.
"Hey, this is only my second one and I don't even feel a buzz."
"What's it to you if Elena is a better mobile suit pilot? Although..." he trailed off.
Smith motioned with his hand as if to draw the response out.
"Although what?"
"In England, that Spectre--I believe that's what it's called--had its pilot saying something about her being a Newtype."
"Don't tell me you buy into that Newtype stuff."
"Truthfully, I don't know what to think." Hisham took another sip. "The existence of Newtypes is still being debated last I heard. From what I've seen so far, it's hard to think it's just luck. I don't know how she figured out those remote weapons."
Smith was quick to try and dismiss his doubt. "Computers do some wonderful things these days."
"They do, however, the agility and response those things had...that's just one hell of a computer. On both machines."
The conversation died off, as the two men worked on their drinks.
A few stools over another man pulled up a seat. The bartender walked over to take the order.
"Been a while since you've been in for a drink, Blake. The usual, right?"
"I've been out on missions aboard the Hadrian for awhile, but I'm getting moved around again." Blake grumbled, then added. "Better make a good first impression, so I'll just have a beer for now."
The bartender started to rattle off the selection at hand.
Smith had turned his attention over to the exchange by this time, his eyes lighting up.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
Blake turned.
"Holy hell, man. Nice to see someone I know around here."
Hisham had tilted his head slightly to see who Smith was talking to.
"Oh, yeah." Smith indicated his drinking buddy, "This is one of the guys I'm working with, Hisham Tariq."
Blake nodded to greet him.
"Blake Weisser." he turned his attention back to his friend.
"So what've you been doing all this time?"
"Traveling the world, blowing stuff up; the usual. You?"
"Same here. Actually, I'm glad to be over here right now. Far away from the Pacific."
"What's going on over there?"
"The Union blew a gasket and is prepping to hand it to Australia."
"Didn't know that."
"You're not surprised though?"
"Eh, not really. I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner. Anyway, did I hear you right? They're pulling you off the Hadrian?"
"Yeah, that's right. I gotta pull my stuff off, but I've been reassigned to the Augustus."
Smith grew a big grin and raised his glass.
"Well then, welcome aboard, bud. We're both on that ship."
Hisham lifted his drink up in acknowledgement of a new team mate.
"Alright." Blake nodded. "I can drink to that."
---------------------
Helsinki, Finland
---------------------
As the Siberian League council members exited the meeting room, Leonidas briskly made his way over to the German representative, Karl Winter.
"Chairman." the man humbly greeted the chairman.
"Karl," Leonidas extended his hand, the other giving a firm shake. "I'm glad your country is now part of us."
"My superiors will be relieved to finally be admitted in, even with some of those minor changes."
"Without Germany's help, we wouldn't have a mobile suit program. Really, this has been long overdue, given how much help your country has helped this organization stand up on it's own. Think of it more as gratitude. The changes we've made, as I'm sure you understand, are cosmetic in nature and better reflect the changes."
He returned to his office much sooner than he'd anticipated, especially with all the buzz happening. It was about time to discuss matters with Pagan anyway, and hopefully, he was in a position to answer.
The chairman sat down and flipped on the screen to make the call, waiting for someone to pick up.
An unfamiliar face appeared, not that it mattered.
"Yes, is Commander Czevik there?"
"He should be in his quarters, I'll put you through."
"Thank you."
The familiar masked face appeared on-screen shortly after.
"Greetings Chairman. This must be about that little problem between Germany and Poland."
"It is. As expected, Germany is now part of the League. Berlin has been attempting to peaceably deal with this little group. Unfortunately, they've managed to acquire a few mobile suits. I'm sure you can deduce what this means."
"Completely. I already have a few scenarios in mind on how to go about this little problem."
"Good. Please keep me informed as soon as you can regarding the outcome." Leonidas shifted the subject. "The reason I want that information is because we'll be announcing some changes to the League."
"Oh, really." Pagan acted surprised.
"Obviously, Germany is now part of us. The big change, as the council discussed is the organization's name. 'Siberian League' isn't befitting for a group that includes Italy and Poland. The council has adopted a new name: the European Federation. I have let the council in on the new mobile suit program, and should things bode well with your little exercise, we'll be announcing it next week with the organization name."
"If anything is suspected at this point, they'll likely believe the new mobile suits are still in the development stage, not production level."
"Quite. That was an excellent suggestion."
"I just wish to see our forces equipped with a formidable mobile suit."
"After all the resources invested in this project, I hope so.
"I must say, these units are quite an improvement over their predecessor. Of course, I'll have a better understanding in a few days."
"Very good."
-----------------------------
Near Julian Kaiser III
-----------------------------
Elena stood in the ankle-deep water, watching the last rays of sunlight slowly disappear on the horizon. Lee stood further back, holding her sandals for her.
She finally turned and headed to shore.
"You really do love the ocean." Lee commented.
"Yeah. I don't know if it's just me, or growing up in Hawaii. I bet today would've been a good day for surfing." she retrieved her sandals.
"Kinda exotic, isn't it?"
She looked a little confused.
"Hawaii. Surfing. Not exactly the average girl."
"I suppose if you don't live there, it would be atypical. Lots of people surf; most of my friends back home do."
They had started walking along the shore by now.
Elena continued.
"I know it's been a vacation spot, but I don't think of it that way."
"It's not everyday you know someone who calls a tropical paradise home. I'm just one of those average schmucks in the mid-western States. The only sea of anything I saw was corn and soybeans." he chuckled.
"All I've seen of that has been pictures in textbooks."
"Pretty much the same for me. I didn't even see anything when we picked you up from vacation."
"What? You didn't ask the captain about taking a short tour?"
"Yeah. Can you imagine? 'Hey, captain! I'm gonna go check out the volcanoes with girls in grass skirts.'"
They both laughed at the thought. Both knew such a question would have garnered a raised eyebrow from Bear.
Elena was still laughing when she corrected Lee.
"Nobody wears grass skirts anymore. The closest I got was a skirt with a grass skirt pattern."
"I must have been cooped up in the ship too long. I expected it to be pitch black out for some reason, but there's the moon and stars."
"It is kinda romantic."
Lee looked bewildered by the sudden prospect.
"Err, yeah." he looked down.
"Don't worry, I'm not that super gushy." she said, quickly relieving the awkwardness of the situation. "I've never really been that girly, but I bet you could already tell that."
"You do fit in well with the guys..."
"Probably why I had a lot of friends that were guys, but never wanted to date me."
"I've never been all that lucky on the dating front either. I got along with lots of girls, but it was always the same old story."
"The 'You're a nice guy, but..."
"Yeah, pretty much. Makes you kinda give up almost."
"I know I scared away some guys in high school. I totally decked one guy out cold once."
"For what?" Lee balked.
"Trying to get into my pants, or rather me out of them."
"Ah." Lee put his hands up, as if to remove himself from suspicion.
"Hey! I didn't say I did that with everybody, just one guy." she pulled his arms down. "Plus, I've gotten a little wiser about the dirt bags. I mean, if they want it that badly, go find a hooker, not me."
"Heh. That's not my focus, so much as keeping one. It's kinda hard to get girls as a skinny, pale red headed dork, especially if it's a cute one."
He blushed after realizing what he just said.
"Uh, I hope that didn't just sound like a cheesy line to hit on you or something."
"No, it was sweet. Most guys have been way too slick in the delivery. Those are the dirt bags I'm talking about. I don't think you're like them."
"Thanks, Elena."
---------------------------
South Pacific Ocean
---------------------------
"I may not be in touch with you for a few days. There's some business I'm attending to, and it will be difficult to keep in contact during that time. I'm sure you can operate independently during that time." the voice came from the comm.
"You aren't taking us for children, are you?" Shilah responded with a hint of disdain.
"Don't get excited just yet. You'll have the Union to deal with shortly. No need to waste that energy here."
"We were looking to send some additional Martyrs your way, but with the plant being destroyed recently, that's severely curtailed our plans for the moment."
"That's what you get for being cheap." Felix shrugged.
"The Dagger was hardly what I'd call cheap. Unfortunately, he's in Centurion Guard custody, so there's no way to tell exactly what happened."
"Just break him out. It's not like you don't have the resources." Shilah exasperated.
"That would be messy to say the least. I don't think he's a source of much valuable information. I won't be close by to easily attempt it, even if I wanted to. Anyway, you know what to do on your end. Good day."
The comm switched off.
--------------------------
End Phase 10
--------------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
Phase 11
PHASE 11 - BEGINNING STRIKES
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Spoiler
The Rhine cruised a top the water's surface, as the light broke the morning dawn.
Otto glanced at his watch. A few more minutes of calm, then all hell would break loose.
"We should see the coast in a few minutes. Make sure all mobile suits are ready for launch, and verify all weapon systems are online."
A quick verbal affirmation preceded the crew snapping into action.
Ryuji stretched, then clenched his hands around the controls in the Marduk's cockpit. He breathed deeply to calm himself. He watched blankly as the mechanics and other crew scrambled to finalize everything before the battle began.
The comm came to life.
"You're up first."
"Roger that."
The mobile suit stepped forward, moving onto the catapult. Ryuji scanned the displays and controls one last time, as he settled the machine in place.
"I'm ready for launch."
The launch crew cleared out, so he knew what was coming.
"Marduk, you are cleared for launch."
"Ryuji Kai, Marduk. Launch!"
This feeling was different. He had some brief training with catapult launches, plus the experience with a space-based one, but this was the first time he'd had it in actual battle.
He corrected his thoughts that he wasn't in battle yet, refocusing on the reality as the coast appeared below.
"So this is Australia?" he mumbled to himself, not knowing why he verbalized that particular thought.
He could see the idyllic layout of Brisbane growing closer and more detailed.
Several beam shots blazed past the Marduk, and he could see the forms of mobile suits behind them.
It quickly became obvious these were different mobile suits than what he was used to seeing. He told himself they must be the Bulldog mobile suits he'd read about.
The Marduk fired back at the Bulldogs, watching as they only moved as necessary to avoid his shots.
"Looks like I'll have to be more precise."
He landed the mobile suit amid the blasts, blocking the few shots that would connect before he could move around.
Now he was on level ground, but he had to keep moving.
Ryuji turned to the nearest Bulldog and charged, drawing the beam saber. It cut the mobile suit's beam rifle in two, forcing the mobile suit to attempt a duel. He quickly thrust his beam saber into the torso while the Bulldog had it's arm raised for a slash.
He eyed the other nearby units, leveling the beam rifle. A few shots scattered them, and he pressed on with his attack.
The Marduk plowed into another Bulldog, slicing through it's torso before there was a chance to recover.
In the distance, he could see battles between the Zeus and Bulldog mobile suits. One Bulldog tore through a Zeus with a blast from it's beam cannon, then bested by another Zeus's beam hatchet.
"So this is how it is?"
Ryuji refocused on his enemies. He had to keep focused on them, not others further away. The Bulldog's closest to him had started to regroup. He also noticed more distant units, which seemed to be equipped with sniper rifles. He had a better machine, but those snipers were still a problem.
There was a whistling through the air, quickly proceeded by a couple Bulldogs exploding from a missile attack.
"Good. You saved some for me." Jin's said over the comm.
The Gilgamesh landed, unleashing a barrage from it's beam rifles. The Aussie mobile suits were split into two stunned groups.
"What side do you want, Jin? Right or left?"
"I'll go right."
"Okay, let's do this!"
The two mobile suits parted ways.
Jin aimed a beam rifle while he targeted one Bulldog. The reticle locked on the mobile suit.
"Sayonara, you pig."
The burst blew through the torso, the machine crumpling to the ground.
He looked for his next target.
Another Bulldog was closing in on the Gilgamesh.
"You need to stay back where I can kick your ass at a distance."
His mobile suit retreated, serving the would be attacker a short round of bursts.
Ryuji pushed back the mobile suit he just impaled when shot whizzed by the Marduk.
He looked at where the shot came from, coming across Bulldogs with sniper rifles in the distance.
"Jin, I think we're going to run into a problem with those snipers." he voiced his concern.
"I hope you're wrong."
Further away, they saw an explosion.
"Don't worry about those. I'll deal with them." Sky corrected them both.
The Lilith uncloaked before dashing at the confused Bulldog snipers.
The Marduk followed suit, attacking a nearby mobile suit distracted by the Lilith's attack.
"These guys must be rookies! This is too easy."
"And you're complaining?" Jin responded.
"It's just...never mind." Ryuji stabbed another Bulldog with the Marduk's beam saber.
"That should help some." Ryuji observed the ground littered with the remains of a few Bulldog teams.
"No problem." Sky replied.
The Marduk turned.
"Relay this to the Rhine. We're working our way to the center of Brisbane now."
------------------------------
Germany/Poland border
German side
------------------------------
Pagan sat relaxed in his Scorpio's cockpit, fixated on the long-range camera feed.
"So, they have a small army of mobile suits." he mused at the collection of Orions. "I don't think we can allow this to go on."
He opened the comm to the other Scorpios.
"Move forward, but don't fire unless I give the order."
With various acknowledgements, the mobile suits moved forward.
As the Scorpios came into view of the rebel Orions, it could be seen that those on the ground were scrambling to mobilize.
Pagan opened the comm to page the rebels.
"This is Pagan Czevik, Commander in the Siberian League. Demobilize immediately and leave your mobile suits where they are. If you value your lives, follow my orders as you won't get a second chance."
He watched the mobile suits eyes light up as they powered on.
"Perhaps they didn't hear me."
He prepared to issue his statement again, but stopped himself.
There was a curt reply from someone.
"Are you coming here to force us to be a part of the League?"
"No I'm not. I am giving you a choice between life and death, and I'd rather see you choose life."
"Then leave us be. The citizens of Deutschland don't want to be part of this League. I thought we were just sold out." the voice paused, regaining some composure. "No, it's worse. You're going to force us to compliance."
Pagan reiterated.
"I'm not forcing anything, unless making one choose their beliefs is what you consider 'forcing'."
"What choice is that? We're all going to die eventually."
"Fine." Pagan resigned himself from the argument. "Then you can die today!"
His Scorpio blazed forward, tearing through two Orions before the pilots could react.
Upon seeing this, the remaining Scorpios began their attack.
"You rejected this gracious gift of salvation."
An Orion charged from his left, beam saber drawn.
"What gift?"
Pagan nor his mobile suit flinched as it blocked with it's own beam saber.
"Isn't life a gift in itself?"
"What?" the Orion pilot was caught off guard.
"Isn't life a gift?"
"Are you mad? You're asking philosophical questions in a battle?"
The Orion swung again. Pagan blocked effortlessly, also again.
"A gift is given, not wasted. To kill you would squander that gift."
"My life is my own, not dictated by some government. It's people like you that make it so cheap!"
"Oh, you're quite correct."
The Scorpio wasted no time, slicing off both arms.
"If you valued life, you'd fight harder!" Pagan chastised. "Apparently you don't, so I'll make room for those that do."
There was no response as Pagan buried the beam saber in the Orion's torso.
-------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
-------------------------
Hawk walked through the hanger followed by a man and woman.
"We got some new guys? When did that happen?" Lee asked upon seeing the two new faces.
"I don't know who the chick is, but I know the other guy." Smith answered him.
"And who's that?"
"Blake. We ran into him at the officers club last night."
"Oh, okay." Lee turned back to his work.
"Speaking of...where were you? You usually come with me and Hisham for a few rounds."
"I had some plans."
"Like what? A hot date or something?" Smith had turned away to look at some data.
Lee pondered what to say at that point.
Before he could render a response, Smith started up on something else.
"What the hell is that?"
"What's what?" Lee looked around to see what the fuss was about.
"That ball...with wings. What is that? I know I didn't drink that much."
"No, you're definitely seeing that. I'm sure there's an explanation. Outside of any chemical interference."
Lee couldn't figure out what that ball was either.
Elena saluted Hawk in passing, watching the two unfamiliar faces move by. Seconds later, a fluttering ball bounced past.
She blinked, then rubbed her eyes. It couldn't have been.
Hawk stopped at a door.
"Okay, this is the captain's quarters, so I'll let you go from here." he motioned at the following ball with his head. "I'd leave that thing outside, though."
The woman looked over her shoulder.
"Settle down and wait here, Haro."
The ball temporarily fluttered and managed an "Okay!" before settling along the wall.
Blake knocked on the door.
"Come in." Bear said, his voice muffled by the wall.
The two entered, stood and saluted.
"Sergeant Blake Weisser."
"Sergeant Alice Hathaway."
Bear returned the salute.
"Bear Graves, captain of the Augustus." he gruffed.
He sat back down in his chair and motioned for them to move in front of it.
"I've been told I'm not particularly friendly, but don't take me to be an interrogator. I need to know my people in order to best plan missions, so I'll be asking some questions."
He flipped open one of the folders on the desk.
"Ladies first. Sergeant Hathaway, you requested a transfer from the Octavian, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"If you would, please elaborate on the circumstances."
"In short, the harassment. I know there's going to be some joking, but it was well beyond that. There were many open discussions about the other pilots doing things to me in bed, as if I were on call to provide those types of services. More importantly, I believe it was beginning to affect my ability as a pilot."
"I see. I will speak for my crew to inform you that we are conforming to the Centurion Guard guidelines. Additionally, this ship already has a female pilot aboard. Hopefully, this will make your assignment to the Augustus a marked improvement over your last."
"Thank you, sir."
"Now, it is noted about one of your personal items. This robotic 'Haro' is some sort of pet?"
Alice was unsure of where the conversation was going.
"Uh, just a companion given to me, sir."
"I see. In any case, while it is permissible under our regulations, you will make sure it does not interfere with this ship's operations."
"Yes, sir."
"Good." he closed the folder and opened another.
"Now, Sergeant Weisser. You're a transfer from the Hadrian?"
"Yes, sir."
Bear paused to glance at the folder's contents.
"It appears as though you're being shuffled around."
"Correct, sir. I've seen many people moved in and out for no reason, so it's been difficult to form much in the way of team work."
"About how often was this?"
"On average, about once a month."
"Interesting. I don't see any notes on your conduct or abilities to indicate a transfer."
Blake suddenly lit up.
"If I may, sir. I bumped in to Smith Bersche, and we did train together. That's about the only thing that might've influenced this decision."
"I see. Hopefully you haven't learned to be a smart ass from him."
"No at all sir."
"That's all. Your mobile suits are scheduled to be transferred over tomorrow. I doubt you'll have trouble finding your way around this ship, so take the time to acquaint yourselves with our other four pilots after you've settled in your quarters."
The two saluted.
---------------------------
Lee and Elena sat in the jeep as he drove.
"Anyway, I saw a couple new people Hawk was showing around." Elena said. "The main office wanted more details on the Spectre's, so I didn't get a chance to try and meet either one before we went out.
"Yeah, same here--sans report. Smith seemed to know the guy, but no clue on the girl."
"That's more than I knew." she seemed grateful for at least that. "What's really odd is that ball with wings."
"You saw it too?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I'm not hallucinating, then." his brow furrowed. "I'm sure there's an explanation for it."
"There better be! I hope we're not being replaced."
"I don't think so. The ship has a capacity for eight mobile suits plus crew."
"Well, that's good."
"Sure is. I'd hate to start a long-distance relationship right now."
They both laughed.
"Hey, you like Greek food, right?"
She nodded.
"Uh-huh."
His eyes lit up as he developed a grin.
"Great, there's this killer place around here. I hear it's better than authentic Greek."
--------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
--------------------------
Ryuji looked at the massive dome in front of the Marduk.
It was virtually unscathed, standing out from the rest of the war zone.
"What is this thing?" he wondered.
"How should I know? It's probably a civilian shelter for a nuke attack or something. It's not like we're here for a tour." Jin ran his mouth off.
"I'm not sure it's a shelter. We haven't run into one of these so far, and I don't think we will."
"So what if it is?"
"It could be important."
"So then we waste it."
Ryuji fired the Marduk's beam rifle at the dome. It was left unfazed by the blast.
"With what? This isn't like kicking over sand castles, Jin. Personally, I'd like to check it out by seeing what's in there."
"By yourself?"
"Of course not. You're coming with me."
"Me!? Why me and not Sky?"
"Because her mobile suit has a cloaking device. She can patrol the area without being seen."
"Oh, yeah..." Jin let off.
"Sky?"
"Got it." the Lilith disappeared into thin air.
The two exited their cockpits and descended to the ground.
Ryuji checked his machine gun over before reloading the clip.
Jin nodded at him.
"Okay. It's your funeral."
"Let's just do this."
They walked around the perimeter looking for a door of some sort.
It seemed like eternity as they searched, but they finally ran across an entrance.
Ryuji played with the knob.
"Locked."
"Well, duh. What did you expect, a doorman?"
Ryuji reached into his vest and pulled out a grenade.
"Not really. You might want to stand back."
Jin was already bolting, and Ryuji was dashing after him moments later.
The explosion produced a rumble and wasn't nearly as loud as either one thought it might be.
They moved back to their selected entrance to observe.
"I'm impressed, the door's still on." Ryuji said, looking at the door.
"So can we get in?" Jin didn't share the enthusiasm.
"Yes. The latch is broken, and all that's needed."
Ryuji slowly led the way inside.
------------------------
Hong Kong
------------------------
Cai and Adam walked along a corridor.
"I suppose we'll start receiving reports on the war by the day's end." Adam said.
"That would be my guess. I'll monitor things from here." Cai replied.
"Thank you. If you're not already aware, I have to make a stop in Korea for some diplomatic issues. Fortunately, after that I can return to Edmonton and see my son."
"It's a well deserved break, especially in light of your work, Chairman. Didn't you say your wife gave birth a few weeks ago?"
"You don't miss a thing." Adam did his best to maintain a reserved appearance, but his excitement still showed through. "As you can tell, I can't wait, so I'm hoping things go smoothly."
"Of course. Even without your personal situation, the last thing we need is another military scuffle right now."
"That's certainly what I'm trying to avoid. Hwang Bae tells me of some unrest, and we're hoping to quell this one without force."
"I wish you well and hope this proves a more successful effort for the Trans-Pacific Union."
"So do I."
------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
------------------------
Ryuji and Jin crept along the hallway, eyes darting back and forth.
"What is this place?" Ryuji said aloud to no one.
"Looks pretty clean. I wonder..." Jin sniffed and made a disgusted look on his face. "It smells like a hospital."
"Yeah, but it's a pretty odd hospital." Ryuji paused. "If that's what it is."
"True. I don't see any rooms."
"Maybe they're just really big."
"Shut up." Jin scowled.
They continued moving for what felt like hours.
Ryuji continued to marvel at the facility. "This place is definitely big."
Jin just grumbled, stopping in front of a set of double doors.
"Well, at least we found a door in this place."
"I guess we can go in."
Ryuji paused to check the door before opening it.
"Odd." he muttered to himself.
He pulled the door open, and stepped inside. He immediately started feeling some pressure in his head.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Jin was dumbfounded at what he saw.
There were clear tanks, some with naked people floating inside.
Ryuji pressed forward, despite the pressure. His eyes darted around looking for something to say what was going on.
Jin did the same, brushing though papers on desks and consoles.
"Nobody's home."
"Jin." Ryuji called at him. "You're not going to like this."
"I'm afraid to ask. What is it."
"I don't know either, but there's a lot of references to Newtypes here."
"What?"
----------------------
End Phase 11
----------------------
Otto glanced at his watch. A few more minutes of calm, then all hell would break loose.
"We should see the coast in a few minutes. Make sure all mobile suits are ready for launch, and verify all weapon systems are online."
A quick verbal affirmation preceded the crew snapping into action.
Ryuji stretched, then clenched his hands around the controls in the Marduk's cockpit. He breathed deeply to calm himself. He watched blankly as the mechanics and other crew scrambled to finalize everything before the battle began.
The comm came to life.
"You're up first."
"Roger that."
The mobile suit stepped forward, moving onto the catapult. Ryuji scanned the displays and controls one last time, as he settled the machine in place.
"I'm ready for launch."
The launch crew cleared out, so he knew what was coming.
"Marduk, you are cleared for launch."
"Ryuji Kai, Marduk. Launch!"
This feeling was different. He had some brief training with catapult launches, plus the experience with a space-based one, but this was the first time he'd had it in actual battle.
He corrected his thoughts that he wasn't in battle yet, refocusing on the reality as the coast appeared below.
"So this is Australia?" he mumbled to himself, not knowing why he verbalized that particular thought.
He could see the idyllic layout of Brisbane growing closer and more detailed.
Several beam shots blazed past the Marduk, and he could see the forms of mobile suits behind them.
It quickly became obvious these were different mobile suits than what he was used to seeing. He told himself they must be the Bulldog mobile suits he'd read about.
The Marduk fired back at the Bulldogs, watching as they only moved as necessary to avoid his shots.
"Looks like I'll have to be more precise."
He landed the mobile suit amid the blasts, blocking the few shots that would connect before he could move around.
Now he was on level ground, but he had to keep moving.
Ryuji turned to the nearest Bulldog and charged, drawing the beam saber. It cut the mobile suit's beam rifle in two, forcing the mobile suit to attempt a duel. He quickly thrust his beam saber into the torso while the Bulldog had it's arm raised for a slash.
He eyed the other nearby units, leveling the beam rifle. A few shots scattered them, and he pressed on with his attack.
The Marduk plowed into another Bulldog, slicing through it's torso before there was a chance to recover.
In the distance, he could see battles between the Zeus and Bulldog mobile suits. One Bulldog tore through a Zeus with a blast from it's beam cannon, then bested by another Zeus's beam hatchet.
"So this is how it is?"
Ryuji refocused on his enemies. He had to keep focused on them, not others further away. The Bulldog's closest to him had started to regroup. He also noticed more distant units, which seemed to be equipped with sniper rifles. He had a better machine, but those snipers were still a problem.
There was a whistling through the air, quickly proceeded by a couple Bulldogs exploding from a missile attack.
"Good. You saved some for me." Jin's said over the comm.
The Gilgamesh landed, unleashing a barrage from it's beam rifles. The Aussie mobile suits were split into two stunned groups.
"What side do you want, Jin? Right or left?"
"I'll go right."
"Okay, let's do this!"
The two mobile suits parted ways.
Jin aimed a beam rifle while he targeted one Bulldog. The reticle locked on the mobile suit.
"Sayonara, you pig."
The burst blew through the torso, the machine crumpling to the ground.
He looked for his next target.
Another Bulldog was closing in on the Gilgamesh.
"You need to stay back where I can kick your ass at a distance."
His mobile suit retreated, serving the would be attacker a short round of bursts.
Ryuji pushed back the mobile suit he just impaled when shot whizzed by the Marduk.
He looked at where the shot came from, coming across Bulldogs with sniper rifles in the distance.
"Jin, I think we're going to run into a problem with those snipers." he voiced his concern.
"I hope you're wrong."
Further away, they saw an explosion.
"Don't worry about those. I'll deal with them." Sky corrected them both.
The Lilith uncloaked before dashing at the confused Bulldog snipers.
The Marduk followed suit, attacking a nearby mobile suit distracted by the Lilith's attack.
"These guys must be rookies! This is too easy."
"And you're complaining?" Jin responded.
"It's just...never mind." Ryuji stabbed another Bulldog with the Marduk's beam saber.
"That should help some." Ryuji observed the ground littered with the remains of a few Bulldog teams.
"No problem." Sky replied.
The Marduk turned.
"Relay this to the Rhine. We're working our way to the center of Brisbane now."
------------------------------
Germany/Poland border
German side
------------------------------
Pagan sat relaxed in his Scorpio's cockpit, fixated on the long-range camera feed.
"So, they have a small army of mobile suits." he mused at the collection of Orions. "I don't think we can allow this to go on."
He opened the comm to the other Scorpios.
"Move forward, but don't fire unless I give the order."
With various acknowledgements, the mobile suits moved forward.
As the Scorpios came into view of the rebel Orions, it could be seen that those on the ground were scrambling to mobilize.
Pagan opened the comm to page the rebels.
"This is Pagan Czevik, Commander in the Siberian League. Demobilize immediately and leave your mobile suits where they are. If you value your lives, follow my orders as you won't get a second chance."
He watched the mobile suits eyes light up as they powered on.
"Perhaps they didn't hear me."
He prepared to issue his statement again, but stopped himself.
There was a curt reply from someone.
"Are you coming here to force us to be a part of the League?"
"No I'm not. I am giving you a choice between life and death, and I'd rather see you choose life."
"Then leave us be. The citizens of Deutschland don't want to be part of this League. I thought we were just sold out." the voice paused, regaining some composure. "No, it's worse. You're going to force us to compliance."
Pagan reiterated.
"I'm not forcing anything, unless making one choose their beliefs is what you consider 'forcing'."
"What choice is that? We're all going to die eventually."
"Fine." Pagan resigned himself from the argument. "Then you can die today!"
His Scorpio blazed forward, tearing through two Orions before the pilots could react.
Upon seeing this, the remaining Scorpios began their attack.
"You rejected this gracious gift of salvation."
An Orion charged from his left, beam saber drawn.
"What gift?"
Pagan nor his mobile suit flinched as it blocked with it's own beam saber.
"Isn't life a gift in itself?"
"What?" the Orion pilot was caught off guard.
"Isn't life a gift?"
"Are you mad? You're asking philosophical questions in a battle?"
The Orion swung again. Pagan blocked effortlessly, also again.
"A gift is given, not wasted. To kill you would squander that gift."
"My life is my own, not dictated by some government. It's people like you that make it so cheap!"
"Oh, you're quite correct."
The Scorpio wasted no time, slicing off both arms.
"If you valued life, you'd fight harder!" Pagan chastised. "Apparently you don't, so I'll make room for those that do."
There was no response as Pagan buried the beam saber in the Orion's torso.
-------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
-------------------------
Hawk walked through the hanger followed by a man and woman.
"We got some new guys? When did that happen?" Lee asked upon seeing the two new faces.
"I don't know who the chick is, but I know the other guy." Smith answered him.
"And who's that?"
"Blake. We ran into him at the officers club last night."
"Oh, okay." Lee turned back to his work.
"Speaking of...where were you? You usually come with me and Hisham for a few rounds."
"I had some plans."
"Like what? A hot date or something?" Smith had turned away to look at some data.
Lee pondered what to say at that point.
Before he could render a response, Smith started up on something else.
"What the hell is that?"
"What's what?" Lee looked around to see what the fuss was about.
"That ball...with wings. What is that? I know I didn't drink that much."
"No, you're definitely seeing that. I'm sure there's an explanation. Outside of any chemical interference."
Lee couldn't figure out what that ball was either.
Elena saluted Hawk in passing, watching the two unfamiliar faces move by. Seconds later, a fluttering ball bounced past.
She blinked, then rubbed her eyes. It couldn't have been.
Hawk stopped at a door.
"Okay, this is the captain's quarters, so I'll let you go from here." he motioned at the following ball with his head. "I'd leave that thing outside, though."
The woman looked over her shoulder.
"Settle down and wait here, Haro."
The ball temporarily fluttered and managed an "Okay!" before settling along the wall.
Blake knocked on the door.
"Come in." Bear said, his voice muffled by the wall.
The two entered, stood and saluted.
"Sergeant Blake Weisser."
"Sergeant Alice Hathaway."
Bear returned the salute.
"Bear Graves, captain of the Augustus." he gruffed.
He sat back down in his chair and motioned for them to move in front of it.
"I've been told I'm not particularly friendly, but don't take me to be an interrogator. I need to know my people in order to best plan missions, so I'll be asking some questions."
He flipped open one of the folders on the desk.
"Ladies first. Sergeant Hathaway, you requested a transfer from the Octavian, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"If you would, please elaborate on the circumstances."
"In short, the harassment. I know there's going to be some joking, but it was well beyond that. There were many open discussions about the other pilots doing things to me in bed, as if I were on call to provide those types of services. More importantly, I believe it was beginning to affect my ability as a pilot."
"I see. I will speak for my crew to inform you that we are conforming to the Centurion Guard guidelines. Additionally, this ship already has a female pilot aboard. Hopefully, this will make your assignment to the Augustus a marked improvement over your last."
"Thank you, sir."
"Now, it is noted about one of your personal items. This robotic 'Haro' is some sort of pet?"
Alice was unsure of where the conversation was going.
"Uh, just a companion given to me, sir."
"I see. In any case, while it is permissible under our regulations, you will make sure it does not interfere with this ship's operations."
"Yes, sir."
"Good." he closed the folder and opened another.
"Now, Sergeant Weisser. You're a transfer from the Hadrian?"
"Yes, sir."
Bear paused to glance at the folder's contents.
"It appears as though you're being shuffled around."
"Correct, sir. I've seen many people moved in and out for no reason, so it's been difficult to form much in the way of team work."
"About how often was this?"
"On average, about once a month."
"Interesting. I don't see any notes on your conduct or abilities to indicate a transfer."
Blake suddenly lit up.
"If I may, sir. I bumped in to Smith Bersche, and we did train together. That's about the only thing that might've influenced this decision."
"I see. Hopefully you haven't learned to be a smart ass from him."
"No at all sir."
"That's all. Your mobile suits are scheduled to be transferred over tomorrow. I doubt you'll have trouble finding your way around this ship, so take the time to acquaint yourselves with our other four pilots after you've settled in your quarters."
The two saluted.
---------------------------
Lee and Elena sat in the jeep as he drove.
"Anyway, I saw a couple new people Hawk was showing around." Elena said. "The main office wanted more details on the Spectre's, so I didn't get a chance to try and meet either one before we went out.
"Yeah, same here--sans report. Smith seemed to know the guy, but no clue on the girl."
"That's more than I knew." she seemed grateful for at least that. "What's really odd is that ball with wings."
"You saw it too?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I'm not hallucinating, then." his brow furrowed. "I'm sure there's an explanation for it."
"There better be! I hope we're not being replaced."
"I don't think so. The ship has a capacity for eight mobile suits plus crew."
"Well, that's good."
"Sure is. I'd hate to start a long-distance relationship right now."
They both laughed.
"Hey, you like Greek food, right?"
She nodded.
"Uh-huh."
His eyes lit up as he developed a grin.
"Great, there's this killer place around here. I hear it's better than authentic Greek."
--------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
--------------------------
Ryuji looked at the massive dome in front of the Marduk.
It was virtually unscathed, standing out from the rest of the war zone.
"What is this thing?" he wondered.
"How should I know? It's probably a civilian shelter for a nuke attack or something. It's not like we're here for a tour." Jin ran his mouth off.
"I'm not sure it's a shelter. We haven't run into one of these so far, and I don't think we will."
"So what if it is?"
"It could be important."
"So then we waste it."
Ryuji fired the Marduk's beam rifle at the dome. It was left unfazed by the blast.
"With what? This isn't like kicking over sand castles, Jin. Personally, I'd like to check it out by seeing what's in there."
"By yourself?"
"Of course not. You're coming with me."
"Me!? Why me and not Sky?"
"Because her mobile suit has a cloaking device. She can patrol the area without being seen."
"Oh, yeah..." Jin let off.
"Sky?"
"Got it." the Lilith disappeared into thin air.
The two exited their cockpits and descended to the ground.
Ryuji checked his machine gun over before reloading the clip.
Jin nodded at him.
"Okay. It's your funeral."
"Let's just do this."
They walked around the perimeter looking for a door of some sort.
It seemed like eternity as they searched, but they finally ran across an entrance.
Ryuji played with the knob.
"Locked."
"Well, duh. What did you expect, a doorman?"
Ryuji reached into his vest and pulled out a grenade.
"Not really. You might want to stand back."
Jin was already bolting, and Ryuji was dashing after him moments later.
The explosion produced a rumble and wasn't nearly as loud as either one thought it might be.
They moved back to their selected entrance to observe.
"I'm impressed, the door's still on." Ryuji said, looking at the door.
"So can we get in?" Jin didn't share the enthusiasm.
"Yes. The latch is broken, and all that's needed."
Ryuji slowly led the way inside.
------------------------
Hong Kong
------------------------
Cai and Adam walked along a corridor.
"I suppose we'll start receiving reports on the war by the day's end." Adam said.
"That would be my guess. I'll monitor things from here." Cai replied.
"Thank you. If you're not already aware, I have to make a stop in Korea for some diplomatic issues. Fortunately, after that I can return to Edmonton and see my son."
"It's a well deserved break, especially in light of your work, Chairman. Didn't you say your wife gave birth a few weeks ago?"
"You don't miss a thing." Adam did his best to maintain a reserved appearance, but his excitement still showed through. "As you can tell, I can't wait, so I'm hoping things go smoothly."
"Of course. Even without your personal situation, the last thing we need is another military scuffle right now."
"That's certainly what I'm trying to avoid. Hwang Bae tells me of some unrest, and we're hoping to quell this one without force."
"I wish you well and hope this proves a more successful effort for the Trans-Pacific Union."
"So do I."
------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
------------------------
Ryuji and Jin crept along the hallway, eyes darting back and forth.
"What is this place?" Ryuji said aloud to no one.
"Looks pretty clean. I wonder..." Jin sniffed and made a disgusted look on his face. "It smells like a hospital."
"Yeah, but it's a pretty odd hospital." Ryuji paused. "If that's what it is."
"True. I don't see any rooms."
"Maybe they're just really big."
"Shut up." Jin scowled.
They continued moving for what felt like hours.
Ryuji continued to marvel at the facility. "This place is definitely big."
Jin just grumbled, stopping in front of a set of double doors.
"Well, at least we found a door in this place."
"I guess we can go in."
Ryuji paused to check the door before opening it.
"Odd." he muttered to himself.
He pulled the door open, and stepped inside. He immediately started feeling some pressure in his head.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Jin was dumbfounded at what he saw.
There were clear tanks, some with naked people floating inside.
Ryuji pressed forward, despite the pressure. His eyes darted around looking for something to say what was going on.
Jin did the same, brushing though papers on desks and consoles.
"Nobody's home."
"Jin." Ryuji called at him. "You're not going to like this."
"I'm afraid to ask. What is it."
"I don't know either, but there's a lot of references to Newtypes here."
"What?"
----------------------
End Phase 11
----------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:17 am, edited 3 times in total.
Phase 12
PHASE 12 - THE LIT FUSE
---------------------------
---------------------------
Spoiler
Newtype.
With that word, Ryuji had Jin's rapt attention.
"What are they doing with Newtypes?" Jin demanded.
"That's what I'm trying to find out if you'll be quiet for a few minutes." Ryuji was becoming a little terse with Jin. "My head hurts and your talking isn't helping."
"Okay, I'll keep watch then." Jin began pacing around the room, untrusting of what was inside.
"That's fine."
He started to rifle through the pages, unsure of what he was looking for, much less at. The pressure was becoming more intense, making it harder to concentrate on reading through.
He winced. The seemingly unconscious people in the tanks seemed to permeate into his mind. Were they trying to talk to him?
The pages became blurry. He blinked to clear his eyes, but then everything went black.
Jin heard a slight thump, casually looking around to locate the source.
"Ryuji?" he walked back toward the tanks. "You alright?"
There, Ryuji lay on the floor.
"Hey, don't screw with me right now!" Jin tried to rouse him with his foot.
There was something wrong, because Ryuji wasn't responding.
When Ryuji came to, he was momentarily confused at where he was. It wasn't where he remembered being before, wherever that was. His eyes searched as he lay where he was, finding the place to be in a medical bay.
As questions started rushing to his mind, the door opened and someone came in.
"Oh, you're awake."
It was the Rhine's doctor.
"What happened?" was what Ryuji wanted to know.
"You seemed to have passed out in some facility. I can't really tell why, but it doesn't look like there's a poison or some sort of radiation behind it. In any case, you appear to be fine, although I wouldn't look to jump back into battle again."
Ryuji just nodded.
The doctor continued a little more. "I'll call the captain down. He wants to ask some questions about what you saw."
After what seemed like hours, the door opened again.
Ryuji looked at who it was, although he was pretty sure he already knew.
Otto stepped toward the bed he was on, and he started to raise himself and salute.
"No need." the captain stopped him. "I want to ask you about what you saw inside that facility. It's being investigated, and there's quite a buzz over it."
"It, it was some sort of medical facility, maybe a hospital. But, at the same time, I don't think it is because I shot the building with a beam rifle." Ryuji began retracing what transpired back there. "I saw people in tanks--for what, I don't know."
"I see. Some sort of experimentation, perhaps?"
"Sir, this is going to sound a bit crazy, but it was like those people were trying to speak to me. In my mind."
There was an awkward silence.
Otto mulled what was just said.
"I don't think I was exposed to anything like gas or radiation or something like that, but when I entered the room, I started feeling some pressure in my head."
"Jin said you felt something, but outside of being a little bizzare, he didn't notice anything. I'll talk to the doctor about a toxicology for you to make sure you're alright." Otto turned to leave.
"Wait. I know what I said sounds crazy, and I agree. Before I woke up, the last thing I remember were the papers I looked at." Ryuji watched the captain stop. "They had a lot of references to Newtypes."
"Do you know specifically what they said?"
"No, sir."
"I'll pass that along and see about having an investigation done. I still want you checked out, but something still doesn't seem right."
He was done and resumed to exit the room, but paused again.
"In the future, if you run across something like that in the field, let us know and await orders. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
---------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
---------------------------
Hawk handed the papers back to Bear.
"So the interrogation of the Dagger didn't get much?" he crossed his arms.
"No, not really. We've already concluded he's not the top dog, nor anywhere close." Bear was none too impressed by the abysmal data the report gave them.
Hawk was equally exasperated by the situation."I'd like to know what I'm looking at here. Not to say you wouldn't, captain, but there's a lot of pieces missing. All we know is that the Spectre's are definitely real, not just some boogeyman mobile suit. We suspect that they might be piloted by suicidal Newtypes."
"Even then, we're the only ones to have run across them. Don't you think that's odd?"
"A little, but it's possible we've cut off the head of the snake--at least when it comes to the mobile suit production part."
"I'd like to think so, but what we encountered doesn't inspire any confidence in those sentiments."
"Oh, I definitely agree. It's probably wishful thinking on my part."
Bear grunted.
"In any case, I do agree that there's a lot we're not seeing here. Even with Elena's detailed reports, some of the higher-ups still debate if there really were Newtypes involved. Some have even speculated hallucinations on her part."
"The only medication she might be on is birth control, although that should've been wrapped up by now." Hawk quickly explained.
"Is that so?"
"It was speculated that there was a possibility of her being raped when she went missing for a few hours back in London. The doctor gave her something for that, but I'm fairly certain that's not something to cause hallucinations."
"True. Changing subjects, we should be moving out in the next few days. It looks like we're headed to Helsinki for the next mission."
----------------------------
Felix leaned against his Spectre, taking a draw from a cigarette.
"You're starting that again?" Shilah scolded him as she walked by.
"So what? I'll hit the tank before we do our thing."
"That's beside the point. We can't run back to the facility for re-optimization now."
"I know that." he gave her a dull glance.
"You'd better put that thing out. There's fuel around here, and--"
Felix shoved his hand over her mouth.
"I know that. I don't need you to be mommy, alright?"
Shilah nodded, but her eyes had narrowed with contempt for him..
"We'll just sit pretty and blow some stuff up again here soon. I know the plan." he said, withdrawing his hand.
She backed off.
"Just don't screw it up." she said quietly, then stormed off.
"Tell that to Lucy." he muttered.
--------------------------
Berlin, Germany
--------------------------
The team of Scorpios lined up inside the massive hangar.
Pagan shut down his mobile suit before exiting the machine. Dietz was waiting.
"How did things go, Commander?"
"The situation required a less diplomatic approach, but this new model seems quite promising." Pagan brushed over what had happened. "Obviously, one combat situation isn't enough to gauge its full potential. None the less, it's performance is leaps ahead of the Orion. You've done an excellent job on this project."
"Thank you. Once we've secured the supply line, we'll move into mass production."
"Splendid. I'm confident the chairman will be pleased." he addressed his men. "You're dismissed until further notice."
The two began walking away.
"I assume Germany has been accepted?"
"Yes, and I hear there's a change in the League's title?"
"It's not official yet, but it will be announced in due time. The chairman will likely do so at the celebration ball."
"Will you be attending?"
"Of course. With the Scorpio ready, the chairman will want to show it off, along with the officers behind it."
--------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
--------------------------
The pilots sat in the briefing room aboard the Augustus.
"Time to see what we get to blow up." Smith leaned back in the chair.
"You wish." Hawk said, entering the room, followed by Bear.
Those sitting rose to exchange salutes, then returned to their places.
"For those unaware, we have two new pilots assigned." Hawk started. "Sergents Blake Weisser and Alice Hathaway."
There was a pause as the additions were greeted by nods and grunts.
He continued. "Alright, we have our new mission. We'll be leaving for Helsinki in two days, but we have some prep to do before we leave. The Siberian League is having a celebration for Germany's induction into the organization. Not something we normally care about, but there's some buzz about a major announcement coming down. At this point, we're not exactly sure what, other than it's supposed to be big...really big."
There was a pause after his introduction, but he continued. "This mission is, well, atypical of what we normally do. We're to be at this little party as observers, meaning we'll be dressing for the occasion. Tuxedo's for the gents and gowns for the ladies. This organization will be reimbursing you, and if you need some sort of guideline for what to pick out, formal is the key." he waved a thick stack of paper. "I do have the specifics here should you need them."
"The Augustus will be in the area." Bear added. "While we do not believe we'll be engaging in combat this time around, we will be prepared if needed."
"This should be a fairly easy assignment, anyway. Any questions?" Hawk went to close.
"Yeah." Elena raised her hand. "We're just dressing up and attending a party? What about the security?"
Hawk shrugged. "Pretty much. I'm sure mobile suits will be around, but with lots of high-level officials around, I expect security to be rather tight."
Hisham spoke. "Won't they be checking for ID and/or a guest list?"
"That's already taken care of. You'll be able to use your names without issue. They've been run against a database of problematic names within the Siberian League, and nobody's comes up."
He panned the room. "That it?"
No response this time.
"Alright. So you don't get any unnecessary attention, go in pairs when you go shop. Hisham and Lee, Smith and Blake, and Elena and Alice. Dismissed."
"So where are we going?" Elena asked as the car started moving.
"Well," Alice started thinking, "there's a few places with some nice gowns, I know of. Right, Haro?"
The ball's eyes flashed. "Right."
Elena looked, and then looked again at the ball.
"Wait? Did that thing talk?"
"Mm-hmm. Haro does talk a bit, but he's just fine." Alice explained. "He's the closest thing to a pet you can get away with, so I'll take it." she smiled.
"You do realize it looks a bit...odd, right?" Elena shifted her eyes back at Haro
"Yeah, I do, but most people get over that pretty quickly. I hope they do."
The jeep stopped at the gate, while they waited for the guards to raise it.
"Anyway," Alice continued, "I suppose we can just be girls and talk about the shopping. Like I was saying, there's some places with very nice gowns."
"That's good, because I have no clue where much is around here. I don't even know what to get on such short notice...and it's awfully formal."
"It's not prom, but I can help. I'm sure there's something cute for you."
"Err, right." Elena looked out the window.
"What is it?" Alice glanced over at her.
"Nothing really. I just find this a bit...weird."
"Weird?"
"Going shopping for a gown. I guess I just don't see being a mobile suit pilot one minute, then dressing up like in some fairy tale the next. That, and well, I'm just not into being that dressed up. Hell, I can't remember the last time I wore a skirt, let alone a dress."
"Well, it might not hurt to start back up. I bet your boyfriend wouldn't mind you in one."
Elena tried hard to keep from blushing with embarrassment. She hadn't said anything about going out with Lee. How did she know?
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh, you don't have one? I'm currently unattached too, so don't feel bad."
"It's not that, but..."
"...You just want to keep it private?"
"For the time being."
"I can live with that. It's a shame we're doing this for a mission or I'd tell you to get a picture to send him."
--------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
--------------------------
The area around the mysterious facility was buzzing with men in hazmat suits, some moving in and out of the building. Its perimeter was lined with Zeus mobile suits, active and ready.
Jin watched from a distance inside the Gilgamesh. He glanced at the console. Seeing nothing, he resumed staring out at that facility. He didn't know exactly what Ryuji had found, but what he had gathered made him start to seethe. Newtypes. That was all he needed to know. This attack was even more justified if Australia was supportive of anything having to do with Newtypes.
"The Union is right about Newtypes." he muttered to himself. "They're nothing but trouble."
"You're complaining about that again? You've been griping about Newtypes, Newtypes, Newtypes ever since you came out of that thing!" Sky snapped at him.
"If you'd seen what I have, you'd be this way too. They're not special, they're monsters. They just get a pass because of their supposed power."
"You actually believe in Newtypes? How childish." Sky was exasperated. "I mean, do you, like, read manga or something? Newtypes are made up, and you--"
She was sharply cut off as a Zeus inexplicably exploded.
"What just happened?"
"One of our suits just blew up, idiot!" Jin yelled at her. "I wanna know what kind of mobile suit that is."
The Gilgamesh pointed to an unfamiliar mobile off in the distance.
"A dead one in a few seconds."
The Lilith vanished.
Sky could see the mobile suit before her as her mobile suit dashed toward it.
"Perfect."
Her unit started to swing its scythe for the kill, but the enemy mobile suit turned.
"I still see you." a female voice said.
Almost instantly, the would-be target fired right at her, knocking the Lilith back.
Sky was confused.
"How did it know I was coming?"
"Probably because you're too loud." Jin mocked her. "I'll show you how it's done."
He fired the Gilgamesh's beam rifles and a volley of missiles at the enemy.
"You won't be showing anyone anything." he heard a different female voice say.
The mobile suit had moved out of the way of his shots before he knew what happend.
"Who said that? Sky, stop screwing around, alright."
"Hey, I didn't say anything." Sky corrected.
Jin focused at the new mobile suit. That voice had to be it's pilot, then.
"You won't be finding out anything from inside."
They both heard the voice and saw some objects rise from behind the mobile suit.
Ryuji stepped out of the infirmary, greeted by the sight of people rushing around.
He stopped one of them.
"What's going on?"
"We don't know, but there's an attack on our mobile suits around that building you ran across earlier."
"How big is the attack force?"
"I don't know, but they've destroyed several of our Zeus units and are giving those new models a hard time."
"Any orders for mobile suit pilots?"
"No. You're the only one here."
"I guess the captain thought I'd still be down. Thanks."
He'd probably be sent out, so he started out toward the hangar.
As he jumped into the cockpit, he switched it on, then called the bridge.
"Captain?"
Otto promptly responded. "I see you're up. Are you in a mobile suit?"
"Yes, sir. I'm ready to go out and fight again."
"Hold up. I need to know if you're ready to go. I don't want to send an dead body out there."
"I'm fine, sir. Really. Allow me to launch."
"Watch yourself. We've confirmed one mobile suit, but it's unlike anything we've come across and seems to be very tough."
"I will, sir."
The Lilith and Gilgamesh hid behind buildings, their pilots trying to come up with a plan.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." the enemy pilot half sang a taunt at them.
"She's sure creepy, whoever she is?" Sky wrapped her hands around the controls, nervously anticipating being struck at any moment.
Jin was in complete agreement. "That's for sure. What are those little remote thingys with it?"
"If I knew, I'd say so. Try shooting them down, if you can."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you're the one with the firepower." she chastised.
The Gilgamesh hugged the building as it aimed one of the floating objects, waiting desperately for the reticule to lock on the target.
"Yes!" he hissed, his mobile suit squeezing off a shot.
"There you are!"
Almost instantly the enemy was on top of them both. The Gilgamesh was knocked to the ground before Jin could think about what happened. The enemy's mobile suit had one foot on the Gilgamesh's shoulder.
"That was fun."
He saw a beam saber flash to life, and he knew what was going to happen.
"Do you know what a beam saber does to a human body?" That pilot was going to toy with him!
Suddenly the mobile suit straightened and backed off right before beam shots zinged by.
The Marduk stood, beam rifle fixed on the strange mobile suit.
"Perhaps you know?" the voice hissed at Ryuji.
"I know it's fatal. What I don't know is how you popped out of nowhere."
He could feel the same pressure he felt back in that facility. Was this pilot a Newtype?
The Marduk fired again, and the enemy turned to face him.
"It's hopeless! You won't hit me!" the pilot was confident.
"Yeah, well, we'll see about that."
---------------------------
End Phase 12
---------------------------
With that word, Ryuji had Jin's rapt attention.
"What are they doing with Newtypes?" Jin demanded.
"That's what I'm trying to find out if you'll be quiet for a few minutes." Ryuji was becoming a little terse with Jin. "My head hurts and your talking isn't helping."
"Okay, I'll keep watch then." Jin began pacing around the room, untrusting of what was inside.
"That's fine."
He started to rifle through the pages, unsure of what he was looking for, much less at. The pressure was becoming more intense, making it harder to concentrate on reading through.
He winced. The seemingly unconscious people in the tanks seemed to permeate into his mind. Were they trying to talk to him?
The pages became blurry. He blinked to clear his eyes, but then everything went black.
Jin heard a slight thump, casually looking around to locate the source.
"Ryuji?" he walked back toward the tanks. "You alright?"
There, Ryuji lay on the floor.
"Hey, don't screw with me right now!" Jin tried to rouse him with his foot.
There was something wrong, because Ryuji wasn't responding.
When Ryuji came to, he was momentarily confused at where he was. It wasn't where he remembered being before, wherever that was. His eyes searched as he lay where he was, finding the place to be in a medical bay.
As questions started rushing to his mind, the door opened and someone came in.
"Oh, you're awake."
It was the Rhine's doctor.
"What happened?" was what Ryuji wanted to know.
"You seemed to have passed out in some facility. I can't really tell why, but it doesn't look like there's a poison or some sort of radiation behind it. In any case, you appear to be fine, although I wouldn't look to jump back into battle again."
Ryuji just nodded.
The doctor continued a little more. "I'll call the captain down. He wants to ask some questions about what you saw."
After what seemed like hours, the door opened again.
Ryuji looked at who it was, although he was pretty sure he already knew.
Otto stepped toward the bed he was on, and he started to raise himself and salute.
"No need." the captain stopped him. "I want to ask you about what you saw inside that facility. It's being investigated, and there's quite a buzz over it."
"It, it was some sort of medical facility, maybe a hospital. But, at the same time, I don't think it is because I shot the building with a beam rifle." Ryuji began retracing what transpired back there. "I saw people in tanks--for what, I don't know."
"I see. Some sort of experimentation, perhaps?"
"Sir, this is going to sound a bit crazy, but it was like those people were trying to speak to me. In my mind."
There was an awkward silence.
Otto mulled what was just said.
"I don't think I was exposed to anything like gas or radiation or something like that, but when I entered the room, I started feeling some pressure in my head."
"Jin said you felt something, but outside of being a little bizzare, he didn't notice anything. I'll talk to the doctor about a toxicology for you to make sure you're alright." Otto turned to leave.
"Wait. I know what I said sounds crazy, and I agree. Before I woke up, the last thing I remember were the papers I looked at." Ryuji watched the captain stop. "They had a lot of references to Newtypes."
"Do you know specifically what they said?"
"No, sir."
"I'll pass that along and see about having an investigation done. I still want you checked out, but something still doesn't seem right."
He was done and resumed to exit the room, but paused again.
"In the future, if you run across something like that in the field, let us know and await orders. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
---------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
---------------------------
Hawk handed the papers back to Bear.
"So the interrogation of the Dagger didn't get much?" he crossed his arms.
"No, not really. We've already concluded he's not the top dog, nor anywhere close." Bear was none too impressed by the abysmal data the report gave them.
Hawk was equally exasperated by the situation."I'd like to know what I'm looking at here. Not to say you wouldn't, captain, but there's a lot of pieces missing. All we know is that the Spectre's are definitely real, not just some boogeyman mobile suit. We suspect that they might be piloted by suicidal Newtypes."
"Even then, we're the only ones to have run across them. Don't you think that's odd?"
"A little, but it's possible we've cut off the head of the snake--at least when it comes to the mobile suit production part."
"I'd like to think so, but what we encountered doesn't inspire any confidence in those sentiments."
"Oh, I definitely agree. It's probably wishful thinking on my part."
Bear grunted.
"In any case, I do agree that there's a lot we're not seeing here. Even with Elena's detailed reports, some of the higher-ups still debate if there really were Newtypes involved. Some have even speculated hallucinations on her part."
"The only medication she might be on is birth control, although that should've been wrapped up by now." Hawk quickly explained.
"Is that so?"
"It was speculated that there was a possibility of her being raped when she went missing for a few hours back in London. The doctor gave her something for that, but I'm fairly certain that's not something to cause hallucinations."
"True. Changing subjects, we should be moving out in the next few days. It looks like we're headed to Helsinki for the next mission."
----------------------------
Felix leaned against his Spectre, taking a draw from a cigarette.
"You're starting that again?" Shilah scolded him as she walked by.
"So what? I'll hit the tank before we do our thing."
"That's beside the point. We can't run back to the facility for re-optimization now."
"I know that." he gave her a dull glance.
"You'd better put that thing out. There's fuel around here, and--"
Felix shoved his hand over her mouth.
"I know that. I don't need you to be mommy, alright?"
Shilah nodded, but her eyes had narrowed with contempt for him..
"We'll just sit pretty and blow some stuff up again here soon. I know the plan." he said, withdrawing his hand.
She backed off.
"Just don't screw it up." she said quietly, then stormed off.
"Tell that to Lucy." he muttered.
--------------------------
Berlin, Germany
--------------------------
The team of Scorpios lined up inside the massive hangar.
Pagan shut down his mobile suit before exiting the machine. Dietz was waiting.
"How did things go, Commander?"
"The situation required a less diplomatic approach, but this new model seems quite promising." Pagan brushed over what had happened. "Obviously, one combat situation isn't enough to gauge its full potential. None the less, it's performance is leaps ahead of the Orion. You've done an excellent job on this project."
"Thank you. Once we've secured the supply line, we'll move into mass production."
"Splendid. I'm confident the chairman will be pleased." he addressed his men. "You're dismissed until further notice."
The two began walking away.
"I assume Germany has been accepted?"
"Yes, and I hear there's a change in the League's title?"
"It's not official yet, but it will be announced in due time. The chairman will likely do so at the celebration ball."
"Will you be attending?"
"Of course. With the Scorpio ready, the chairman will want to show it off, along with the officers behind it."
--------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
--------------------------
The pilots sat in the briefing room aboard the Augustus.
"Time to see what we get to blow up." Smith leaned back in the chair.
"You wish." Hawk said, entering the room, followed by Bear.
Those sitting rose to exchange salutes, then returned to their places.
"For those unaware, we have two new pilots assigned." Hawk started. "Sergents Blake Weisser and Alice Hathaway."
There was a pause as the additions were greeted by nods and grunts.
He continued. "Alright, we have our new mission. We'll be leaving for Helsinki in two days, but we have some prep to do before we leave. The Siberian League is having a celebration for Germany's induction into the organization. Not something we normally care about, but there's some buzz about a major announcement coming down. At this point, we're not exactly sure what, other than it's supposed to be big...really big."
There was a pause after his introduction, but he continued. "This mission is, well, atypical of what we normally do. We're to be at this little party as observers, meaning we'll be dressing for the occasion. Tuxedo's for the gents and gowns for the ladies. This organization will be reimbursing you, and if you need some sort of guideline for what to pick out, formal is the key." he waved a thick stack of paper. "I do have the specifics here should you need them."
"The Augustus will be in the area." Bear added. "While we do not believe we'll be engaging in combat this time around, we will be prepared if needed."
"This should be a fairly easy assignment, anyway. Any questions?" Hawk went to close.
"Yeah." Elena raised her hand. "We're just dressing up and attending a party? What about the security?"
Hawk shrugged. "Pretty much. I'm sure mobile suits will be around, but with lots of high-level officials around, I expect security to be rather tight."
Hisham spoke. "Won't they be checking for ID and/or a guest list?"
"That's already taken care of. You'll be able to use your names without issue. They've been run against a database of problematic names within the Siberian League, and nobody's comes up."
He panned the room. "That it?"
No response this time.
"Alright. So you don't get any unnecessary attention, go in pairs when you go shop. Hisham and Lee, Smith and Blake, and Elena and Alice. Dismissed."
"So where are we going?" Elena asked as the car started moving.
"Well," Alice started thinking, "there's a few places with some nice gowns, I know of. Right, Haro?"
The ball's eyes flashed. "Right."
Elena looked, and then looked again at the ball.
"Wait? Did that thing talk?"
"Mm-hmm. Haro does talk a bit, but he's just fine." Alice explained. "He's the closest thing to a pet you can get away with, so I'll take it." she smiled.
"You do realize it looks a bit...odd, right?" Elena shifted her eyes back at Haro
"Yeah, I do, but most people get over that pretty quickly. I hope they do."
The jeep stopped at the gate, while they waited for the guards to raise it.
"Anyway," Alice continued, "I suppose we can just be girls and talk about the shopping. Like I was saying, there's some places with very nice gowns."
"That's good, because I have no clue where much is around here. I don't even know what to get on such short notice...and it's awfully formal."
"It's not prom, but I can help. I'm sure there's something cute for you."
"Err, right." Elena looked out the window.
"What is it?" Alice glanced over at her.
"Nothing really. I just find this a bit...weird."
"Weird?"
"Going shopping for a gown. I guess I just don't see being a mobile suit pilot one minute, then dressing up like in some fairy tale the next. That, and well, I'm just not into being that dressed up. Hell, I can't remember the last time I wore a skirt, let alone a dress."
"Well, it might not hurt to start back up. I bet your boyfriend wouldn't mind you in one."
Elena tried hard to keep from blushing with embarrassment. She hadn't said anything about going out with Lee. How did she know?
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh, you don't have one? I'm currently unattached too, so don't feel bad."
"It's not that, but..."
"...You just want to keep it private?"
"For the time being."
"I can live with that. It's a shame we're doing this for a mission or I'd tell you to get a picture to send him."
--------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
--------------------------
The area around the mysterious facility was buzzing with men in hazmat suits, some moving in and out of the building. Its perimeter was lined with Zeus mobile suits, active and ready.
Jin watched from a distance inside the Gilgamesh. He glanced at the console. Seeing nothing, he resumed staring out at that facility. He didn't know exactly what Ryuji had found, but what he had gathered made him start to seethe. Newtypes. That was all he needed to know. This attack was even more justified if Australia was supportive of anything having to do with Newtypes.
"The Union is right about Newtypes." he muttered to himself. "They're nothing but trouble."
"You're complaining about that again? You've been griping about Newtypes, Newtypes, Newtypes ever since you came out of that thing!" Sky snapped at him.
"If you'd seen what I have, you'd be this way too. They're not special, they're monsters. They just get a pass because of their supposed power."
"You actually believe in Newtypes? How childish." Sky was exasperated. "I mean, do you, like, read manga or something? Newtypes are made up, and you--"
She was sharply cut off as a Zeus inexplicably exploded.
"What just happened?"
"One of our suits just blew up, idiot!" Jin yelled at her. "I wanna know what kind of mobile suit that is."
The Gilgamesh pointed to an unfamiliar mobile off in the distance.
"A dead one in a few seconds."
The Lilith vanished.
Sky could see the mobile suit before her as her mobile suit dashed toward it.
"Perfect."
Her unit started to swing its scythe for the kill, but the enemy mobile suit turned.
"I still see you." a female voice said.
Almost instantly, the would-be target fired right at her, knocking the Lilith back.
Sky was confused.
"How did it know I was coming?"
"Probably because you're too loud." Jin mocked her. "I'll show you how it's done."
He fired the Gilgamesh's beam rifles and a volley of missiles at the enemy.
"You won't be showing anyone anything." he heard a different female voice say.
The mobile suit had moved out of the way of his shots before he knew what happend.
"Who said that? Sky, stop screwing around, alright."
"Hey, I didn't say anything." Sky corrected.
Jin focused at the new mobile suit. That voice had to be it's pilot, then.
"You won't be finding out anything from inside."
They both heard the voice and saw some objects rise from behind the mobile suit.
Ryuji stepped out of the infirmary, greeted by the sight of people rushing around.
He stopped one of them.
"What's going on?"
"We don't know, but there's an attack on our mobile suits around that building you ran across earlier."
"How big is the attack force?"
"I don't know, but they've destroyed several of our Zeus units and are giving those new models a hard time."
"Any orders for mobile suit pilots?"
"No. You're the only one here."
"I guess the captain thought I'd still be down. Thanks."
He'd probably be sent out, so he started out toward the hangar.
As he jumped into the cockpit, he switched it on, then called the bridge.
"Captain?"
Otto promptly responded. "I see you're up. Are you in a mobile suit?"
"Yes, sir. I'm ready to go out and fight again."
"Hold up. I need to know if you're ready to go. I don't want to send an dead body out there."
"I'm fine, sir. Really. Allow me to launch."
"Watch yourself. We've confirmed one mobile suit, but it's unlike anything we've come across and seems to be very tough."
"I will, sir."
The Lilith and Gilgamesh hid behind buildings, their pilots trying to come up with a plan.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." the enemy pilot half sang a taunt at them.
"She's sure creepy, whoever she is?" Sky wrapped her hands around the controls, nervously anticipating being struck at any moment.
Jin was in complete agreement. "That's for sure. What are those little remote thingys with it?"
"If I knew, I'd say so. Try shooting them down, if you can."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you're the one with the firepower." she chastised.
The Gilgamesh hugged the building as it aimed one of the floating objects, waiting desperately for the reticule to lock on the target.
"Yes!" he hissed, his mobile suit squeezing off a shot.
"There you are!"
Almost instantly the enemy was on top of them both. The Gilgamesh was knocked to the ground before Jin could think about what happened. The enemy's mobile suit had one foot on the Gilgamesh's shoulder.
"That was fun."
He saw a beam saber flash to life, and he knew what was going to happen.
"Do you know what a beam saber does to a human body?" That pilot was going to toy with him!
Suddenly the mobile suit straightened and backed off right before beam shots zinged by.
The Marduk stood, beam rifle fixed on the strange mobile suit.
"Perhaps you know?" the voice hissed at Ryuji.
"I know it's fatal. What I don't know is how you popped out of nowhere."
He could feel the same pressure he felt back in that facility. Was this pilot a Newtype?
The Marduk fired again, and the enemy turned to face him.
"It's hopeless! You won't hit me!" the pilot was confident.
"Yeah, well, we'll see about that."
---------------------------
End Phase 12
---------------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
Update:
I've been busy with a lot of stuff as of late: a computer for a client, Thanksgiving, work, and other odds and ends, so I haven't been working much on the next parts. They are in the works, and I'm working on Phase 13 at the moment, so this project hasn't been forgotten, just delayed with life.
I've been busy with a lot of stuff as of late: a computer for a client, Thanksgiving, work, and other odds and ends, so I haven't been working much on the next parts. They are in the works, and I'm working on Phase 13 at the moment, so this project hasn't been forgotten, just delayed with life.
Phase 13
PHASE 13 - INTO YOUR OWN
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
Spoiler
Ryuji knew he'd just challenged an enemy he knew almost nothing about. The perimeter around the building was now lined with destroyed Zeus's, and the only two units capable of backing him up apparently had not been faring well against this enemy. What was worse was the eerie pressure he felt. He breathed deliberately and slowly so he could focus.
"Ryuji, watch yourself. I don't know exactly what's up, but that mobile suit has some sort of remote weapons with it." Jin warned.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." he replied with his eyes on the enemy.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Marduk fired, breaking the tension in the air.
The mobile suit darted away.
"Keep firing at me, but you won't get a hit in."
He drew the beam saber. "Well aren't you just full of yourself."
"Only the apostate is ignorant of what power we have through salvation." the pilot shot back.
The Marduk's blow came to a halt against the enemy's own beam saber.
"See this power, know and believe."
Energy crackled as the machines matched blows.
"Believe what? Believe in what?"
"Salvation; the meaning of it."
The Marduk attempted to force a lunge forward.
"Salvation? There's no salvation here, not for the dead."
The mobile suit stopped his advance as it slashed its beam saber at Ryuji's mobile suit.
"Of course there isn't." The machines struggled again. "There is no salvation for the apostate dead in his sin."
Ryuji could not piece together what she was talking about. Insane? Maybe. Or was it something else.
His head pulsed from the pressure. He remembered reading something about Newtypes when he felt this pressure before. The Marduk was losing ground.
"What are you?" he yelled through clenched teeth.
"I am reborn."
He was becoming tired of these senseless responses. "That means nothing to me! Why can't you speak plainly?"
Jin and Sky watched the exchange from their mobile suits.
"I can't tell what they're blabbering about." Sky was straining to understand what seemed to be gibberish
"You're asking me? What the hell would I know?" Jin growled.
An alarm broke in the moment before Sky could respond.
"Maybe we'll find out if we live through this." the Lilith began moving.
Jin quickly followed suit in the Gilgamesh. "Oh, you're not going ahead of me."
"Ladies first, cretin."
Ryuji could only surmise that the alarm was not indicating backup. The chatter he had picked up from his comrades didn't inspire confidence that he was wrong on that assumption.
He caught a glance of the mysterious facility he'd been in earlier and had a thought.
"You." he called out to the enemy pilot. "Why are you so protective of that building?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I get the same sense from you as I did in that place."
He punctuated his response by slamming the Marduk into the enemy machine.
The pilot was startled.
"How can that be? You've never been offered salvation! You can't have it without being offered."
The Marduk took another slash in the interim, almost connecting this time.
"Like I said, I don't know what you're talking about!"
This time, he was able to strike the enemy mobile suit.
Sky swung at a Bulldog with the Lilith's scythe, cutting cleanly through the machine. Neither she nor Jin had been back to the Rhine for re-supply, so she wasn't sure about having the cloaking device active right now.
"Watch out at two o'clock!" Jin warned her.
The Lilith tossed a beam dagger into the Bulldog bearing down on her.
"Thanks." she replied as she went to finish off the would-be attacker.
From the cover of one damaged building, Jin surveyed the slowly dwindling numbers of Aussie mobile suits. They were winning, weren't they? A glance back at the duel between the Marduk and the unfamiliar enemy mobile suit left him with no answer. He turned back and fired at another Bulldog.
Ryuji could hear the forearm of the enemy mobile suit hit the ground in the silence between the two machines.
"There's no way." he heard the pilot's voice whisper. "You can't be one of us. You can't be a Newtype."
He wasn't sure of everything, but some pieces started coming together.
"Newtype?" he spoke the word, as if to help his mind digest what he just heard.
"No way. There's no way, apostate." she began changing from shock to rage.
Ryuji snapped out of his thoughts as he could almost instinctively tell this mobile suit wasn't down just yet.
As his attacker drew closer, he could see some pods come out from behind it.
Were those what Jin mentioned?
It was getting too close to use the rifle, and he still had the beam saber drawn.
He sent the Marduk charging at the enemy.
The machines smashed into each other, enough that Ryuji gripped the controls for his own life.
He realized that he wasn't feeling that pressure anymore and started looking around.
The other mobile suit was on the ground, the hilt of the Marduk's beam saber in the other mobile suit.
He exhaled with relief. Whatever that thing was, it was gone now.
"You took that thing out?" Jin seemed a little more upbeat than usual.
"Yeah." Ryuji replied softly.
He stared blankly into the cockpit displays as he watched the Gilgamesh and Lilith clean out the few remaining Bulldogs. The other pilot's words drifted inside his head. He attempted to make something of the words, but could not.
-------------------------------------
Pyongyang, United Korean Republic
-------------------------------------
Adam Martin sat in one of the plush chairs as Hwang Bae paced around the room. The chairman sipped from his glass, calmly and patiently waiting for his host to speak.
"As you can probably tell, our current situation has me rather stressed." the UKR representative spoke rapidly with a hint of nervousness.
"I can tell." the Chairman paused to collect himself before responding.
"So, if I understand, there's a lot of dissent over the government's handling of resources?"
"Yes. But the problem is--"
"--That the charges aren't really true?"
"Y-yes. If this is some prank, it's in very poor taste. We're on the verge of rioting. Someone has been siphoning off all that money. Unfortunately, I don't have the authorization to request a Union investigation into the matter." Hwang Bae briskly chattered away.
"I see."
An uneasy silence permeated the room.
Adam spoke slowly and firmly. "So, then, Representative, why am I here?"
"There are some arrangements made for Premier to meet with you and heads of each party." the Korean took a pause to calm himself. "I believe they're of the mindset to give the needed authorization. The problem is security and secrecy. There's a threat of assassination."
"That's unfortunate, but I do understand the predicament. We already have enough bloodshed as of late."
--------------------------------
Near Julian Kaiser III
--------------------------------
"Are we done yet?" Elena whimpered.
She didn't want to sound whiny but she was not prepared for this.
"Yeah, I think so. We'll come back later and pick up our gowns. In the meantime, let's eat."
Alice giggled, and started walking.
"I like that idea." Elena perked up. "I can't believe how many gowns I tried on in there."
"There were some really nice ones; those backless ones--oh, I can't believe you didn't go for one of those. They really do something for you."
"Not too crazy about those kind, really. Plus, I'd like to stay as wrapped up as I can." she paused.
"Please tell me you haven't forgotten where we're going to wear these at."
"Not at all. I kinda missed the opportunity to before I moved into this employment."
Elena didn't follow.
"What opportunity?"
"Oh, marriage. No fancy dress for me, yet." Alice saw that Elena was having trouble making the connection. "Yeah, there's not a lot of connection between that and becoming a mercenary."
"Yeah, I bet."
"Anyway, he was a nice guy and all, but his ideas and dreams weren't quite the direction I wanted right then. After we broke up, I wasn't sure on what to do, and I thought about enlisting in the League's armed forces, but..."
"They got to you first."
"Pretty much. And the whole package was just a better offer. I know I probably seem like a ditz, but I know an opportunity when I see one."
There was a silence, then a giggle.
"Oh, wow. That just made me sound like a gold digger." Alice bent over trying to control her laughter.
Elena just shook her head.
Later, the two sat in a small restaurant, eating.
"You should've seen the look on the XO's face--it was priceless." Alice finished a story.
Elena swallowed her current mouthful. "That's nuts! Did he ever find out you were involved?"
"If he did, he never let on." Alice flipped the fork around in her fingers, then switched subjects.
"Oh, I forgot to ask!"
"Ask what?"
"Why you joined."
"I guess we never got to that point." Elena sipped her drink. "I was job hunting for something before heading to college. I was looking part time, but someone was near a Union recruiting station when I was dropping off applications. I suppose all that firearms training I got from dad helped when the guy asked about it. I still don't know what possessed me to do it, free ride through college and all."
Alice nodded approvingly.
"Well, the payout starts immediately instead of after a few years, and it's a good pay."
"No doubt. I've also learned how to pump out reports in nothing flat, but I hope they don't give me any new equipment anytime soon. That much reading interferes with my sleep."
"...Or phone time with your boyfriend."
"Err, yeah. That too." Elena wasn't sure why this tidbit was so fascinating. Maybe Alice was just boy crazy; she could only hope.
-----------------------------------
Pacific Ocean
-----------------------------------
"That's not the point, Felix. Lucy lost, and the Union has the sanctuary under control." the voice on the comm was becoming exasperated.
"They would've found it sooner or later." Felix retorted.
"That's entirely possible, but this is distorting the time line."
Shilah stood at the back of the small room, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
"Look..." Felix paused, "Lucy wasn't ready. Joshua wasn't ready. Of course they're going to lose!"
"You're not seeing the issue here: Lucy didn't fall to the same mobile suit as Joshua and the others. It's a new model in the Union. I can't say if it's a prototype from the images we have from Lucy's battle, but it doesn't appear to be a Zeus. Do you honestly think I'd set Lucy up if I knew she'd be fighting an unknown?"
Felix started to speak, but stopped momentarily, thinking.
"No, of course not." he relented.
"I'm just as upset about this development as you are, but I know you believe in the source of your salvation."
"Of course I know!" Felix appeared insulted. "It's just that I've seen our brothers and sisters fall and even the sanctuary under siege by the apostates."
"Felix!" Shilah barked.
The voice consoled the two. "But many who make their claim with us yield under duress. You have stood firm in these times, and that's why you've survived. You are true Newtypes; gods among men."
--------------------------------
Beijing, China
--------------------------------
Cai sat in his office clicking through the slides, watching them on the laptop screen.
"So these are the models you showed me, Anders." he muttered to himself.
It wasn't as if they needed to replace the Zeus right now, but Izanagi Military Design couldn't make due on the Zeus line indefinitely, and Anders was no fool in business.
"That's correct. I'm hoping to analyze their data in the near future. My company will need that to develop a successor to the Zeus." Anders voice replied over the speaker.
"It shouldn't be a problem to arrange that. Right now we just have to wait on progress in Australia and pull that battleship back to Shanghai at the earliest convenience."
"Won't Chairman Martin want to know that?"
"Of course, but right now, he is in the Korean Republic on request. I fully intend to run this by him, though I don't expect any opposition on the matter. I have no intention of disturbing him right now. Especially not for something like this."
"I completely understand. Ah, well, business calls, so I'll leave you alone, Representative."
"Thank you."
The speaker fell silent.
He rolled his chair back and stood. He eyed the clock. It had been quite busy today, and he needed to break for a few minutes.
As he sipped the coffee from the cup, he stared at the row of vending machines, lost in thought.
A voice to the side interrupted his internal dialog.
"Mr. Deshang, sir?"
Cai turned his head toward the sound, his secretary several feet away.
"Yes."
"Sir, Chairman Martin is on the line for you."
"I'll take it in my office."
He picked up the handset.
"Chairman?"
"Yes, Mr. Deshang."
"I wasn't expecting a call from you. What's going on?"
"Assemble and prepare a group of analysts from the treasury department. Have them ready to move out as soon as you can."
Cai didn't follow.
"Does this have something to do with the Korean Republic?"
"Indeed it does. They have some financial issues that seem to indicate some serious corruption within their government. The Korean government claims large sums of cash have disappeared and have just authorized an investigation by the Union."
"Can't they do it themselves?"
"They would, but they fear assassinations. I've been instructed to leave--the sooner the better. I'll be leaving with escort fighters in the next few hours. I'll call when I reach Hawaii."
"Understood. What about Representative Hwang?"
"He's been escorted to a secure location and he's quite shaken."
"I see. I'll start immediately."
"Good."
There was a click and the line went dead.
Cai could tell this was not a good sign.
"Multiple assassination threats?"
Had things deteriorated that quickly? Or did they just miss the warning signs.
He couldn't tell, but that was for the treasury analysts to discern.
--------------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
--------------------------------
Ryuji stood on the hangar floor, watching the mechanics scurry around on his Marduk. He watched, lost in thought over what had happened over the past couple days.
There had been a warm reception for him when he returned to the Rhine. He was a hero for defeating that oddball mobile suit. The victory was secondary, however. It was secondary to the enemy pilot's words. Was it her words, the fanatical speech of some sort of cult member? Or was it that pressure he felt in battle against her?
Newtype. The word hung over him like a dark cloud. While not persecuted, the Union did not give a favorable outlook to Newtypes. He had a sinking feeling that he was very much a Newtype. It could be he was just dealing with stress in an odd way, but wasn't sure.
He sighed, putting the swirling thoughts to rest.
"You're awfully quiet for a budding ace." Sky's voice came from the side.
"I've got a lot on my mind and just getting around to processing it all now." he glanced over at her.
"So I see."
There was an awkward silence, and Ryuji wasn't picking up on this.
Sky attempted to restart the conversation.
"Have you eaten since you got back?"
"No." he continued to stare at the Marduk.
"Well, you could join me in the mess hall. We've been back for a few hours now, so I think you should eat something."
It took him a few seconds, but he could tell this hinted at more than a simple request.
"Alright."
------------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
------------------------------
"I wondered when someone would show back up." Hawk called down to Lee and Hisham as they walked in front of the Vulcan.
"We figured we'd make sure you weren't getting lonely." Lee joked.
"Yeah, I'll bet. Anyway, put your stuff up and get with the mechanics about your mobile suits. I want everything prepped and finished tonight. We're moving out tomorrow morning."
His two subordinates did a quick salute and moved on.
"This is kinda odd for a mission." Lee remarked as the two walked away.
"But, it's quite easy from the looks. Stand around, look good and make money."
"I guess. It just doesn't seem like the typical thing the Centurion Guard would pick up. I was under the impression we just blew stuff up."
"So was I, but I guess it's whatever the higher-ups decide. This time we dress up. I'm sure Elena won't mind you in a tux."
Lee was a little surprised.
"You know about us, then?"
"I just pay attention to what goes on. Just make sure you don't bring the relationship to work."
"Huh?"
"Check the policy book."
"Oh, yeah."
Hisham felt the need to clarify. "Don't misunderstand, I am happy for you. I just don't want to see either of you take any heat over this relationship."
"Gotcha. Thanks."
"No problem. Just covering for you."
"Well, that was fun. I don't mind this mission so far." Alice was still energetic as she stepped out of the car.
"The change of pace is nice, but I'm about ready to drop. I guess I'm really just not used to shopping like this." Elena said, pulling her purchases out of the back seat. "However, I should thank you for helping out."
"That's no problem. It's nice to have another woman to talk with."
"Same here."
------------------------------
End Phase 13
------------------------------
"Ryuji, watch yourself. I don't know exactly what's up, but that mobile suit has some sort of remote weapons with it." Jin warned.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." he replied with his eyes on the enemy.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Marduk fired, breaking the tension in the air.
The mobile suit darted away.
"Keep firing at me, but you won't get a hit in."
He drew the beam saber. "Well aren't you just full of yourself."
"Only the apostate is ignorant of what power we have through salvation." the pilot shot back.
The Marduk's blow came to a halt against the enemy's own beam saber.
"See this power, know and believe."
Energy crackled as the machines matched blows.
"Believe what? Believe in what?"
"Salvation; the meaning of it."
The Marduk attempted to force a lunge forward.
"Salvation? There's no salvation here, not for the dead."
The mobile suit stopped his advance as it slashed its beam saber at Ryuji's mobile suit.
"Of course there isn't." The machines struggled again. "There is no salvation for the apostate dead in his sin."
Ryuji could not piece together what she was talking about. Insane? Maybe. Or was it something else.
His head pulsed from the pressure. He remembered reading something about Newtypes when he felt this pressure before. The Marduk was losing ground.
"What are you?" he yelled through clenched teeth.
"I am reborn."
He was becoming tired of these senseless responses. "That means nothing to me! Why can't you speak plainly?"
Jin and Sky watched the exchange from their mobile suits.
"I can't tell what they're blabbering about." Sky was straining to understand what seemed to be gibberish
"You're asking me? What the hell would I know?" Jin growled.
An alarm broke in the moment before Sky could respond.
"Maybe we'll find out if we live through this." the Lilith began moving.
Jin quickly followed suit in the Gilgamesh. "Oh, you're not going ahead of me."
"Ladies first, cretin."
Ryuji could only surmise that the alarm was not indicating backup. The chatter he had picked up from his comrades didn't inspire confidence that he was wrong on that assumption.
He caught a glance of the mysterious facility he'd been in earlier and had a thought.
"You." he called out to the enemy pilot. "Why are you so protective of that building?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I get the same sense from you as I did in that place."
He punctuated his response by slamming the Marduk into the enemy machine.
The pilot was startled.
"How can that be? You've never been offered salvation! You can't have it without being offered."
The Marduk took another slash in the interim, almost connecting this time.
"Like I said, I don't know what you're talking about!"
This time, he was able to strike the enemy mobile suit.
Sky swung at a Bulldog with the Lilith's scythe, cutting cleanly through the machine. Neither she nor Jin had been back to the Rhine for re-supply, so she wasn't sure about having the cloaking device active right now.
"Watch out at two o'clock!" Jin warned her.
The Lilith tossed a beam dagger into the Bulldog bearing down on her.
"Thanks." she replied as she went to finish off the would-be attacker.
From the cover of one damaged building, Jin surveyed the slowly dwindling numbers of Aussie mobile suits. They were winning, weren't they? A glance back at the duel between the Marduk and the unfamiliar enemy mobile suit left him with no answer. He turned back and fired at another Bulldog.
Ryuji could hear the forearm of the enemy mobile suit hit the ground in the silence between the two machines.
"There's no way." he heard the pilot's voice whisper. "You can't be one of us. You can't be a Newtype."
He wasn't sure of everything, but some pieces started coming together.
"Newtype?" he spoke the word, as if to help his mind digest what he just heard.
"No way. There's no way, apostate." she began changing from shock to rage.
Ryuji snapped out of his thoughts as he could almost instinctively tell this mobile suit wasn't down just yet.
As his attacker drew closer, he could see some pods come out from behind it.
Were those what Jin mentioned?
It was getting too close to use the rifle, and he still had the beam saber drawn.
He sent the Marduk charging at the enemy.
The machines smashed into each other, enough that Ryuji gripped the controls for his own life.
He realized that he wasn't feeling that pressure anymore and started looking around.
The other mobile suit was on the ground, the hilt of the Marduk's beam saber in the other mobile suit.
He exhaled with relief. Whatever that thing was, it was gone now.
"You took that thing out?" Jin seemed a little more upbeat than usual.
"Yeah." Ryuji replied softly.
He stared blankly into the cockpit displays as he watched the Gilgamesh and Lilith clean out the few remaining Bulldogs. The other pilot's words drifted inside his head. He attempted to make something of the words, but could not.
-------------------------------------
Pyongyang, United Korean Republic
-------------------------------------
Adam Martin sat in one of the plush chairs as Hwang Bae paced around the room. The chairman sipped from his glass, calmly and patiently waiting for his host to speak.
"As you can probably tell, our current situation has me rather stressed." the UKR representative spoke rapidly with a hint of nervousness.
"I can tell." the Chairman paused to collect himself before responding.
"So, if I understand, there's a lot of dissent over the government's handling of resources?"
"Yes. But the problem is--"
"--That the charges aren't really true?"
"Y-yes. If this is some prank, it's in very poor taste. We're on the verge of rioting. Someone has been siphoning off all that money. Unfortunately, I don't have the authorization to request a Union investigation into the matter." Hwang Bae briskly chattered away.
"I see."
An uneasy silence permeated the room.
Adam spoke slowly and firmly. "So, then, Representative, why am I here?"
"There are some arrangements made for Premier to meet with you and heads of each party." the Korean took a pause to calm himself. "I believe they're of the mindset to give the needed authorization. The problem is security and secrecy. There's a threat of assassination."
"That's unfortunate, but I do understand the predicament. We already have enough bloodshed as of late."
--------------------------------
Near Julian Kaiser III
--------------------------------
"Are we done yet?" Elena whimpered.
She didn't want to sound whiny but she was not prepared for this.
"Yeah, I think so. We'll come back later and pick up our gowns. In the meantime, let's eat."
Alice giggled, and started walking.
"I like that idea." Elena perked up. "I can't believe how many gowns I tried on in there."
"There were some really nice ones; those backless ones--oh, I can't believe you didn't go for one of those. They really do something for you."
"Not too crazy about those kind, really. Plus, I'd like to stay as wrapped up as I can." she paused.
"Please tell me you haven't forgotten where we're going to wear these at."
"Not at all. I kinda missed the opportunity to before I moved into this employment."
Elena didn't follow.
"What opportunity?"
"Oh, marriage. No fancy dress for me, yet." Alice saw that Elena was having trouble making the connection. "Yeah, there's not a lot of connection between that and becoming a mercenary."
"Yeah, I bet."
"Anyway, he was a nice guy and all, but his ideas and dreams weren't quite the direction I wanted right then. After we broke up, I wasn't sure on what to do, and I thought about enlisting in the League's armed forces, but..."
"They got to you first."
"Pretty much. And the whole package was just a better offer. I know I probably seem like a ditz, but I know an opportunity when I see one."
There was a silence, then a giggle.
"Oh, wow. That just made me sound like a gold digger." Alice bent over trying to control her laughter.
Elena just shook her head.
Later, the two sat in a small restaurant, eating.
"You should've seen the look on the XO's face--it was priceless." Alice finished a story.
Elena swallowed her current mouthful. "That's nuts! Did he ever find out you were involved?"
"If he did, he never let on." Alice flipped the fork around in her fingers, then switched subjects.
"Oh, I forgot to ask!"
"Ask what?"
"Why you joined."
"I guess we never got to that point." Elena sipped her drink. "I was job hunting for something before heading to college. I was looking part time, but someone was near a Union recruiting station when I was dropping off applications. I suppose all that firearms training I got from dad helped when the guy asked about it. I still don't know what possessed me to do it, free ride through college and all."
Alice nodded approvingly.
"Well, the payout starts immediately instead of after a few years, and it's a good pay."
"No doubt. I've also learned how to pump out reports in nothing flat, but I hope they don't give me any new equipment anytime soon. That much reading interferes with my sleep."
"...Or phone time with your boyfriend."
"Err, yeah. That too." Elena wasn't sure why this tidbit was so fascinating. Maybe Alice was just boy crazy; she could only hope.
-----------------------------------
Pacific Ocean
-----------------------------------
"That's not the point, Felix. Lucy lost, and the Union has the sanctuary under control." the voice on the comm was becoming exasperated.
"They would've found it sooner or later." Felix retorted.
"That's entirely possible, but this is distorting the time line."
Shilah stood at the back of the small room, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
"Look..." Felix paused, "Lucy wasn't ready. Joshua wasn't ready. Of course they're going to lose!"
"You're not seeing the issue here: Lucy didn't fall to the same mobile suit as Joshua and the others. It's a new model in the Union. I can't say if it's a prototype from the images we have from Lucy's battle, but it doesn't appear to be a Zeus. Do you honestly think I'd set Lucy up if I knew she'd be fighting an unknown?"
Felix started to speak, but stopped momentarily, thinking.
"No, of course not." he relented.
"I'm just as upset about this development as you are, but I know you believe in the source of your salvation."
"Of course I know!" Felix appeared insulted. "It's just that I've seen our brothers and sisters fall and even the sanctuary under siege by the apostates."
"Felix!" Shilah barked.
The voice consoled the two. "But many who make their claim with us yield under duress. You have stood firm in these times, and that's why you've survived. You are true Newtypes; gods among men."
--------------------------------
Beijing, China
--------------------------------
Cai sat in his office clicking through the slides, watching them on the laptop screen.
"So these are the models you showed me, Anders." he muttered to himself.
It wasn't as if they needed to replace the Zeus right now, but Izanagi Military Design couldn't make due on the Zeus line indefinitely, and Anders was no fool in business.
"That's correct. I'm hoping to analyze their data in the near future. My company will need that to develop a successor to the Zeus." Anders voice replied over the speaker.
"It shouldn't be a problem to arrange that. Right now we just have to wait on progress in Australia and pull that battleship back to Shanghai at the earliest convenience."
"Won't Chairman Martin want to know that?"
"Of course, but right now, he is in the Korean Republic on request. I fully intend to run this by him, though I don't expect any opposition on the matter. I have no intention of disturbing him right now. Especially not for something like this."
"I completely understand. Ah, well, business calls, so I'll leave you alone, Representative."
"Thank you."
The speaker fell silent.
He rolled his chair back and stood. He eyed the clock. It had been quite busy today, and he needed to break for a few minutes.
As he sipped the coffee from the cup, he stared at the row of vending machines, lost in thought.
A voice to the side interrupted his internal dialog.
"Mr. Deshang, sir?"
Cai turned his head toward the sound, his secretary several feet away.
"Yes."
"Sir, Chairman Martin is on the line for you."
"I'll take it in my office."
He picked up the handset.
"Chairman?"
"Yes, Mr. Deshang."
"I wasn't expecting a call from you. What's going on?"
"Assemble and prepare a group of analysts from the treasury department. Have them ready to move out as soon as you can."
Cai didn't follow.
"Does this have something to do with the Korean Republic?"
"Indeed it does. They have some financial issues that seem to indicate some serious corruption within their government. The Korean government claims large sums of cash have disappeared and have just authorized an investigation by the Union."
"Can't they do it themselves?"
"They would, but they fear assassinations. I've been instructed to leave--the sooner the better. I'll be leaving with escort fighters in the next few hours. I'll call when I reach Hawaii."
"Understood. What about Representative Hwang?"
"He's been escorted to a secure location and he's quite shaken."
"I see. I'll start immediately."
"Good."
There was a click and the line went dead.
Cai could tell this was not a good sign.
"Multiple assassination threats?"
Had things deteriorated that quickly? Or did they just miss the warning signs.
He couldn't tell, but that was for the treasury analysts to discern.
--------------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
--------------------------------
Ryuji stood on the hangar floor, watching the mechanics scurry around on his Marduk. He watched, lost in thought over what had happened over the past couple days.
There had been a warm reception for him when he returned to the Rhine. He was a hero for defeating that oddball mobile suit. The victory was secondary, however. It was secondary to the enemy pilot's words. Was it her words, the fanatical speech of some sort of cult member? Or was it that pressure he felt in battle against her?
Newtype. The word hung over him like a dark cloud. While not persecuted, the Union did not give a favorable outlook to Newtypes. He had a sinking feeling that he was very much a Newtype. It could be he was just dealing with stress in an odd way, but wasn't sure.
He sighed, putting the swirling thoughts to rest.
"You're awfully quiet for a budding ace." Sky's voice came from the side.
"I've got a lot on my mind and just getting around to processing it all now." he glanced over at her.
"So I see."
There was an awkward silence, and Ryuji wasn't picking up on this.
Sky attempted to restart the conversation.
"Have you eaten since you got back?"
"No." he continued to stare at the Marduk.
"Well, you could join me in the mess hall. We've been back for a few hours now, so I think you should eat something."
It took him a few seconds, but he could tell this hinted at more than a simple request.
"Alright."
------------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
------------------------------
"I wondered when someone would show back up." Hawk called down to Lee and Hisham as they walked in front of the Vulcan.
"We figured we'd make sure you weren't getting lonely." Lee joked.
"Yeah, I'll bet. Anyway, put your stuff up and get with the mechanics about your mobile suits. I want everything prepped and finished tonight. We're moving out tomorrow morning."
His two subordinates did a quick salute and moved on.
"This is kinda odd for a mission." Lee remarked as the two walked away.
"But, it's quite easy from the looks. Stand around, look good and make money."
"I guess. It just doesn't seem like the typical thing the Centurion Guard would pick up. I was under the impression we just blew stuff up."
"So was I, but I guess it's whatever the higher-ups decide. This time we dress up. I'm sure Elena won't mind you in a tux."
Lee was a little surprised.
"You know about us, then?"
"I just pay attention to what goes on. Just make sure you don't bring the relationship to work."
"Huh?"
"Check the policy book."
"Oh, yeah."
Hisham felt the need to clarify. "Don't misunderstand, I am happy for you. I just don't want to see either of you take any heat over this relationship."
"Gotcha. Thanks."
"No problem. Just covering for you."
"Well, that was fun. I don't mind this mission so far." Alice was still energetic as she stepped out of the car.
"The change of pace is nice, but I'm about ready to drop. I guess I'm really just not used to shopping like this." Elena said, pulling her purchases out of the back seat. "However, I should thank you for helping out."
"That's no problem. It's nice to have another woman to talk with."
"Same here."
------------------------------
End Phase 13
------------------------------
Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:20 am, edited 2 times in total.
Phase 14
PHASE 14 - FANNING THE FLAMES OF WAR
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Spoiler
"I can't say I'm exactly the type that likes being the center of attention." Ryuji explained as he sat with Sky in the Rhine's mess hall.
"Well, you certainly are the quiet one." she replied. "You should be proud that you were able to stop that mobile suit back there."
There was a pause while he finished his current mouthful.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I took care of that, but there's a lot of things that raise some red flags about it all. I want to talk it over with the captain once I sort it out in my head."
He gave a slight apologetic look.
"Anyway, right now, I'm not ready to talk about it."
Sky looked like she'd press for more, but didn't.
"Oh, okay. What would you like to talk about?"
There was another pause.
"I have a question about you."
"Me?"
"This might be odd, but how does an British girl end up in Union piloting one of their mobile suits?"
She took his question on.
"Oh, yeah. I guess that is a little odd. We lived in London until terrorists bombed the entire city. My dad was with IMD at the time, so when we fled, we ended up in Shanghai. England used to be the home of an empire, but there's nothing to see of it anymore. Not unless you feel like touring a perpetual war zone."
Ryuji was a little shocked.
"That's awful."
"Yeah, but we split as soon as we could, so I didn't see much of anything. I guess a lot of the former European powers weren't happy when the western part began eclipsing them. Anyway, now that you know that, what about you?"
"I lived at orphanages until last year, sometimes even some foster homes. I read everything I could get my hands on. There are a lot of places I'd love to see, and the military promised that, so I signed up. I've had a longer stay on the Rhine than any place before."
"That's kinda sad. Nobody wanted you?"
"Not that. Apparently my mother was deemed unfit for raising a child, and they took me away. The adoption rate is very low, so it was pretty normal to just sit around until you were legally allowed to leave on your own."
"Haven't you tried to find her?"
"No. I don't know why, but I never had the drive."
"Ryuji..."
It was Sky's turn to be shocked.
Ryuji slowly elaborated.
"I know that might seem odd, but how can I have feelings for someone I never knew? The only family I know is the people on this battleship."
"That's just odd, but maybe you're right."
-------------------------------
Pacific Ocean
-------------------------------
Adam Martin glanced out the window in his office on board the executive jet. The escort fighter was still there, relieving him of worries.
The door opened, and a black suited man stepped in.
"You look tired, Chairman." he commented.
"That bad?"
"I'm sure things will work out once the investigation is complete. In the meantime, would you care for anything?"
Adam thought for a moment. "I wish I could say 'Scotch on the rocks', but since I'm not home free just yet, I'll have to settle for some coffee."
"Very good, then. I'll have some in a few minutes."
His eyes closed and he heard the latch click as the door closed.
A rumble shook the jet, and his eyes sprang open.
The door burst open.
"Mr. Chairman! Are you alright?"
"What was that?"
The suit looked out the window.
"We just lost an escort." came the grim answer. There was a pause as he listened intently to his earpiece. "It appears to have been shot down. We're taking you to the escape pod, sir."
There were no questions as the chairman stood up and came out from behind the desk.
"Follow me."
Another rumble shook the plane.
The two men instinctively assumed wide stances to keep themselves upright.
"Please hurry to the back."
Outside, a mobile suit was trailing the jet.
"I bet they're just shaking now, yes, Uriah." the pilot cackled. "Yes, they did let me test out this Wraith. That's so nice."
The reticule danced around as the pilot watched in anticipation.
A beep sounded as it locked on the jet.
"This is for desecrating our sanctuary!" he squeezed the trigger.
The beam punched through the aircraft's belly.
"3-2-1!"
Uriah's eye widened as the jet exploded.
"Such a lovely show."
The Wraith landed on the cruiser.
"Oh, look who's come back." Shilah muttered resentfully.
"I'd rather not." Felix seemed to agree by the tone of his voice. "Unfortunately, this hasn't been our call."
Uriah stumbled out of the cockpit as if drunk. He waved when he spotted them.
"I hope his performance is worth what we've been told." Felix was even more disdainful. "I'm getting sick of these half-ready jokes running around."
"Well, so far, he's managed to complete his objectives." she blurted out.
"Shut up." Felix turned and headed inside.
"How can he save such fools?"
-----------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
-----------------------------
Elena sat on a bench, staring at the Augustus. She brought the cup of coffee up to take a sip, and rested it back in her lap.
"Hey."
She turned to the voice and saw Lee approaching her.
"Hey, yourself." she acknowledged when she saw him.
"Trying to wake up?"
"Yeah. Alice really shops like mad, so I wish I could sleep in after yesterday."
"But not today."
She nodded, taking another sip.
"Yeah. I figured I'd get out of the ship while I had the chance."
He leaned back to stretch. "Same here. We'll be cooped up inside for awhile."
"Oh. Feel free to sit down."
She indicated a spot beside her on the bench.
"Thanks." he said, plopping down. "So, what did you end up buying?"
"Ahh, you're making me think this early?" she obviously faked frustration, then continued.
"I don't know if it's so much a gown, per se, but I think it'll work. Uh, it's mostly green with some white accents and part of top. Not really flow-y, but I'm pretty sure I can run in it if I need to."
"Run? I didn't get the impression we were doing much outside of going in and looking good."
She gave a sheepish grin.
"I guess that's true. I don't shop for clothing just for fun. It ends up being utilitarian first, good looks second."
Lee chuckled slightly.
"What?"
"Nothing really, but I never though I'd hear any girl say something like that."
Elena raised her eyebrows, but he quickly continued.
"Maybe I'm just a bit of an oaf, but I tend to think girls look for something fashionable or cute. It just was a little odd to hear you mention function over form on clothing."
"You're right." she sighed.
He was surprised. "I am?"
"Yeah, I haven't been all that typically feminine, but I've watched out for myself for quite sometime now. It's not something I really like to talk about, but I probably owe you this bit of information."
He quietly nodded, unsure of what she would say.
She sipped the cup again before continuing.
"My mother was stabbed to death in front of me when I was about 10."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's not your fault. Anyway, I've always been sorta on the defensive since then. I took advantage of my dad's gun hobby and learned about pistols and rifles--pretty sure this made me an attractive recruit for Centurion Guard. But, yeah, when most girls were looking at dresses for their sweet sixteen and starting to drive, I had my dad helping me figure out which was the best pistol to hide in a purse."
"Yeah, that's not the typical girly thing, but I'm starting to see what makes you tick."
"And it's not scaring you off?"
"Should, but we're all trained with firearms anyway."
She slumped to the side against Lee.
"Elena…" he was surprised.
"Thanks for listening to me." she said quietly.
"It's a beautiful morning and we are back in this can en route for playing dress-up." Smith announced, setting his plate down at the table.
"It's another beautiful morning, and we're on a lovely cruise to Finland." Smith announced as he set his tray down.
Blake followed along. "Well, if things go like they say, the hard part's over."
Smith snorted. "Ha! Nothing goes like they plan...but that's why we get the big bucks."
Hisham gave an incredulous look.
"If you don't like it, there's other employment waiting." he offered.
"Aw, hell, no. A few more years of this and I can have a nice long vacation."
"Oh, come on, man. The pay's good, but not that good." Blake scoffed.
"True, but I've got it in the stock market."
"Wow. I figured you'd play it off in cards."
"I can't play worth anything, so that'd be stupid. Plus, I ain't that big on cards anyway."
Blake stopped eating and thought for a second. "Yeah, that's right. I creamed you the last time I played."
The two laughed.
"That's not good." Hisham commented.
"What? What's not good?" Smith turned his attention.
"The news--the Union Chairman's plane went missing yesterday."
"You're kidding."
"Watch the TV, then."
"I'm glad we're not over in that part of the world." Blake commented as the three left the mess hall.
"Someone's really stirred them up, after Australia..." Smith trailed off. "Oh, well. Not my representative." He shrugged and walked off.
"Not mine either, but I know Elena's from Hawaii." Hisham muttered to himself.
"Huh? Who's Elena?" Blake was confused.
"Oh, you haven't formally met. She's the girl with the short dark hair. One of the mobile suit pilots."
"Okay. I don't remember much, but I guess that's alright."
"Yeah, she's from Hawaii I guess."
He started to shuffle off. "Anyway, I probably ought to give the Lieutenant a heads-up."
---------------------------------
Beijing, China
---------------------------------
Cai looked at himself in the restroom mirror.
He was weary. He'd barely slept at all since last talking with Adam, and it showed on his face.
He exited the restroom. As he approached his office, he saw the secretary walking from the opposite direction.
"I was just coming for you."
"So I see. What is it?"
"There are new details on the Chairman's disappearance. Here."
Cai took the papers from him, reading them.
A scowl began to come over his face as he read the reports.
"Damn whoever did this!"
He composed himself.
"Have the other council members been told?"
"Not to my knowledge. Shall I do so?"
"Immediately. Find out how soon they can meet in here in Beijing."
"Even Mr. Hwang?"
"If you can reach him, yes."
-------------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
-------------------------------
Otto shook his head.
"I hate having to do this right now, but there's never a convinent time for something like this." he muttered to himself.
He took the handset and spoke into it.
"Officers and crewmembers of Union battleship Rhine, this is your captain and your attention is requested. We have received word that Union Chairman Martin's transport was shot down yesterday. At this time, we do not know who committed this act, but that information will be passed along as it becomes available as with any other specifics relating to this matter."
"That was unexpected." Jin said.
"Uh-huh." Ryuji nodded, his face buried in a book.
"Do you think it'll affect us at all?"
"Hard to say. Depends on who did the deed. I know about as much as you do."
------------------------------
Aboard the Augustus
------------------------------
"So, you're sure she's fine?" Hawk asked.
Lee nodded affirmatively. "Yes, sir. She wasn't phased by it at all then, and hasn't let on about anything. She told me she's so detached from home that it's not really a concern for her."
"That's a little harsh."
"Eh, well he was a politician." Lee shrugged. "It's not like he was royalty."
"Good enough. I guess it's too bad as he seemed to be a pretty decent guy."
"Sure, sure. Oh, yeah. One thing: they did get the parts to fix the leg on my Zeus. If they have it ready before we head out tonight, I'm going to check it out."
"Sounds good. Thanks for letting me know. The captain was starting to get on my case about it."
Elena sat at the desk in her quarters, cleaning her pistol. She leaned back in the chair to stretch. As she did, she glimpsed the gown hanging on the wall. Frowning at its sight, she returned to hunching over the disassembled firearm.
There was a tap at the door.
"Yeah?" she called, not looking up.
"Can I come in? It's me, Alice."
"Door's unlocked."
The door unlatched and Alice slid inside.
"Hello!" a different, mechanical voice said.
"You're not in the middle of anything important, right?"
Elena turned.
"Not really, just bumming around until I need to--holy mother!"
She put her hand up to stop the ball coming toward her.
"Hello." the ball restated.
"Uh, hi." Elena was slightly bewildered.
Alice picked up the ball.
"Sorry about that. Haro just gets a little excited to meet new people."
"I see. Anyway..."
"Anyway, I wanted your opinion on some hairstyles."
She produced a magazine, handing it to Elena.
Alice continued as Elena looked over the pages.
"So what are you going to do for your hair?"
"I don't think there's much to work with." Elena pulled at her hair to drive that point. "I'll have to see if I have anything on hand to put in."
"That's true. You could go with a tiara." Alice thought aloud.
Elena waved her hands in a crossing motion. “No. No way. I don't do tiaras."
----------------------------
Helsinki, Finland
----------------------------
Elena gritted her teeth.
"I can't believe she got me to wear a tiara."
Lee grinned as he drove the car.
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"A chance to see you look like a lady? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
He reached over and patted her shoulder.
"Seriously, you look fine and I do enjoy it. All you have to do is stand around for a few hours, pop some food, and leave."
She breathed deeply.
"I guess you're right."
The limousine gracefully cruised through traffic.
"Too bad you don't get to come in and enjoy the party, Hisham." Smith chuckled.
"Not really. I don't exactly have that European look."
"Well, you'll miss all the fun."
Blake shifted in his seat.
"Boring political speeches? I'd rather be in here with Hisham."
"Got me there."
"Boring?" Alice interjected. "Not likely. Whatever's being announced is something major."
Hisham was quickly to agree.
"She's right. This isn't just some dinner party. We all pilot mobile suits, so there should be some good reason to have us on hand as part of the crowd."
"But, we're also mercenaries." Smith countered.
"I don't see that as something our employer would send people out for. Lots of resources for a party? Come on; some client wanted this."
"For what?"
"Apparently that's on a need to know basis. We didn't need to know."
Pagan stood in the room watching as Leonidas adjusted his tie.
Leonidas turned his head.
"You've been standing there for awhile. What is it?"
"Nothing. I was just making some final checks before things get under way."
"I see. The guests have started to arrive, haven't they?"
"Yes, and before I came in the room, there was a sizeable amount."
"Good."
"As I said, I was just checking on you, but I'll leave for now and make my presence known on the main floor."
"Don't they have something to drink that's non-alcoholic?" Elena wondered.
"Good question." Lee scratched his head. "Although, it should be a problem here. The drinking age is pretty young."
"That's not the point. I don't want that stuff on the job."
Lee started to say something, but declined. "No, better not."
"'Better not' what?"
"I'd get myself in trouble."
He saw one of the stewards moving in their direction.
"I'll ask this guy." He pointed over at a man with a large tray full of drinks.
"Okay."
Elena looked around. There were a lot of political big shots around she noticed. Of course there would be; this was a political event after all.
"Here."
Lee held out a glass and Elena took it.
"What is it?"
"Non-alcoholic champagne."
She took a sip.
"Hmm."
"What do you think?"
"Not sure, really. It's not what I expected."
"Which was..." Lee coaxed.
"That's the thing...I don't know."
She laughed at herself slightly.
"It's good to see you go into a better mood."
"Yeah. It's just odd to be here living it up, looking like we know what we're doing."
He nodded with a grin.
"I know."
Her face suddenly grimaced, and she put a hand up to her head.
"You okay?" Lee was concerned.
"I'm fine...it's just this pressure." She said through clenched teeth.
It couldn't be, not here.
The pain worsened, and the glass slipped from her hands.
"Miss, are you alright?"
It was a different voice than one she was familiar with.
Her eyes opened up, and saw a masked man before her.
"I-I'm fine. I just got a sudden pain in my head."
"That's no good. If you'd like to sit down, there are some seats over there." The man indicated.
"I'll have someone clean this up. If you need anything, I'll see to it. Just ask for Commander Pagan
Czevik."
"Thank you." She replied feebly.
Lee helped her walk towards the seats, while Pagan stood there.
As they walked away, Pagan looked over at them, then away.
"Did she sense me?" He wondered quietly. "No. It's too brief to tell."
---------------------------------------------------
End Phase 14
---------------------------------------------------
"Well, you certainly are the quiet one." she replied. "You should be proud that you were able to stop that mobile suit back there."
There was a pause while he finished his current mouthful.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I took care of that, but there's a lot of things that raise some red flags about it all. I want to talk it over with the captain once I sort it out in my head."
He gave a slight apologetic look.
"Anyway, right now, I'm not ready to talk about it."
Sky looked like she'd press for more, but didn't.
"Oh, okay. What would you like to talk about?"
There was another pause.
"I have a question about you."
"Me?"
"This might be odd, but how does an British girl end up in Union piloting one of their mobile suits?"
She took his question on.
"Oh, yeah. I guess that is a little odd. We lived in London until terrorists bombed the entire city. My dad was with IMD at the time, so when we fled, we ended up in Shanghai. England used to be the home of an empire, but there's nothing to see of it anymore. Not unless you feel like touring a perpetual war zone."
Ryuji was a little shocked.
"That's awful."
"Yeah, but we split as soon as we could, so I didn't see much of anything. I guess a lot of the former European powers weren't happy when the western part began eclipsing them. Anyway, now that you know that, what about you?"
"I lived at orphanages until last year, sometimes even some foster homes. I read everything I could get my hands on. There are a lot of places I'd love to see, and the military promised that, so I signed up. I've had a longer stay on the Rhine than any place before."
"That's kinda sad. Nobody wanted you?"
"Not that. Apparently my mother was deemed unfit for raising a child, and they took me away. The adoption rate is very low, so it was pretty normal to just sit around until you were legally allowed to leave on your own."
"Haven't you tried to find her?"
"No. I don't know why, but I never had the drive."
"Ryuji..."
It was Sky's turn to be shocked.
Ryuji slowly elaborated.
"I know that might seem odd, but how can I have feelings for someone I never knew? The only family I know is the people on this battleship."
"That's just odd, but maybe you're right."
-------------------------------
Pacific Ocean
-------------------------------
Adam Martin glanced out the window in his office on board the executive jet. The escort fighter was still there, relieving him of worries.
The door opened, and a black suited man stepped in.
"You look tired, Chairman." he commented.
"That bad?"
"I'm sure things will work out once the investigation is complete. In the meantime, would you care for anything?"
Adam thought for a moment. "I wish I could say 'Scotch on the rocks', but since I'm not home free just yet, I'll have to settle for some coffee."
"Very good, then. I'll have some in a few minutes."
His eyes closed and he heard the latch click as the door closed.
A rumble shook the jet, and his eyes sprang open.
The door burst open.
"Mr. Chairman! Are you alright?"
"What was that?"
The suit looked out the window.
"We just lost an escort." came the grim answer. There was a pause as he listened intently to his earpiece. "It appears to have been shot down. We're taking you to the escape pod, sir."
There were no questions as the chairman stood up and came out from behind the desk.
"Follow me."
Another rumble shook the plane.
The two men instinctively assumed wide stances to keep themselves upright.
"Please hurry to the back."
Outside, a mobile suit was trailing the jet.
"I bet they're just shaking now, yes, Uriah." the pilot cackled. "Yes, they did let me test out this Wraith. That's so nice."
The reticule danced around as the pilot watched in anticipation.
A beep sounded as it locked on the jet.
"This is for desecrating our sanctuary!" he squeezed the trigger.
The beam punched through the aircraft's belly.
"3-2-1!"
Uriah's eye widened as the jet exploded.
"Such a lovely show."
The Wraith landed on the cruiser.
"Oh, look who's come back." Shilah muttered resentfully.
"I'd rather not." Felix seemed to agree by the tone of his voice. "Unfortunately, this hasn't been our call."
Uriah stumbled out of the cockpit as if drunk. He waved when he spotted them.
"I hope his performance is worth what we've been told." Felix was even more disdainful. "I'm getting sick of these half-ready jokes running around."
"Well, so far, he's managed to complete his objectives." she blurted out.
"Shut up." Felix turned and headed inside.
"How can he save such fools?"
-----------------------------
Julian Kaiser III
-----------------------------
Elena sat on a bench, staring at the Augustus. She brought the cup of coffee up to take a sip, and rested it back in her lap.
"Hey."
She turned to the voice and saw Lee approaching her.
"Hey, yourself." she acknowledged when she saw him.
"Trying to wake up?"
"Yeah. Alice really shops like mad, so I wish I could sleep in after yesterday."
"But not today."
She nodded, taking another sip.
"Yeah. I figured I'd get out of the ship while I had the chance."
He leaned back to stretch. "Same here. We'll be cooped up inside for awhile."
"Oh. Feel free to sit down."
She indicated a spot beside her on the bench.
"Thanks." he said, plopping down. "So, what did you end up buying?"
"Ahh, you're making me think this early?" she obviously faked frustration, then continued.
"I don't know if it's so much a gown, per se, but I think it'll work. Uh, it's mostly green with some white accents and part of top. Not really flow-y, but I'm pretty sure I can run in it if I need to."
"Run? I didn't get the impression we were doing much outside of going in and looking good."
She gave a sheepish grin.
"I guess that's true. I don't shop for clothing just for fun. It ends up being utilitarian first, good looks second."
Lee chuckled slightly.
"What?"
"Nothing really, but I never though I'd hear any girl say something like that."
Elena raised her eyebrows, but he quickly continued.
"Maybe I'm just a bit of an oaf, but I tend to think girls look for something fashionable or cute. It just was a little odd to hear you mention function over form on clothing."
"You're right." she sighed.
He was surprised. "I am?"
"Yeah, I haven't been all that typically feminine, but I've watched out for myself for quite sometime now. It's not something I really like to talk about, but I probably owe you this bit of information."
He quietly nodded, unsure of what she would say.
She sipped the cup again before continuing.
"My mother was stabbed to death in front of me when I was about 10."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's not your fault. Anyway, I've always been sorta on the defensive since then. I took advantage of my dad's gun hobby and learned about pistols and rifles--pretty sure this made me an attractive recruit for Centurion Guard. But, yeah, when most girls were looking at dresses for their sweet sixteen and starting to drive, I had my dad helping me figure out which was the best pistol to hide in a purse."
"Yeah, that's not the typical girly thing, but I'm starting to see what makes you tick."
"And it's not scaring you off?"
"Should, but we're all trained with firearms anyway."
She slumped to the side against Lee.
"Elena…" he was surprised.
"Thanks for listening to me." she said quietly.
"It's a beautiful morning and we are back in this can en route for playing dress-up." Smith announced, setting his plate down at the table.
"It's another beautiful morning, and we're on a lovely cruise to Finland." Smith announced as he set his tray down.
Blake followed along. "Well, if things go like they say, the hard part's over."
Smith snorted. "Ha! Nothing goes like they plan...but that's why we get the big bucks."
Hisham gave an incredulous look.
"If you don't like it, there's other employment waiting." he offered.
"Aw, hell, no. A few more years of this and I can have a nice long vacation."
"Oh, come on, man. The pay's good, but not that good." Blake scoffed.
"True, but I've got it in the stock market."
"Wow. I figured you'd play it off in cards."
"I can't play worth anything, so that'd be stupid. Plus, I ain't that big on cards anyway."
Blake stopped eating and thought for a second. "Yeah, that's right. I creamed you the last time I played."
The two laughed.
"That's not good." Hisham commented.
"What? What's not good?" Smith turned his attention.
"The news--the Union Chairman's plane went missing yesterday."
"You're kidding."
"Watch the TV, then."
"I'm glad we're not over in that part of the world." Blake commented as the three left the mess hall.
"Someone's really stirred them up, after Australia..." Smith trailed off. "Oh, well. Not my representative." He shrugged and walked off.
"Not mine either, but I know Elena's from Hawaii." Hisham muttered to himself.
"Huh? Who's Elena?" Blake was confused.
"Oh, you haven't formally met. She's the girl with the short dark hair. One of the mobile suit pilots."
"Okay. I don't remember much, but I guess that's alright."
"Yeah, she's from Hawaii I guess."
He started to shuffle off. "Anyway, I probably ought to give the Lieutenant a heads-up."
---------------------------------
Beijing, China
---------------------------------
Cai looked at himself in the restroom mirror.
He was weary. He'd barely slept at all since last talking with Adam, and it showed on his face.
He exited the restroom. As he approached his office, he saw the secretary walking from the opposite direction.
"I was just coming for you."
"So I see. What is it?"
"There are new details on the Chairman's disappearance. Here."
Cai took the papers from him, reading them.
A scowl began to come over his face as he read the reports.
"Damn whoever did this!"
He composed himself.
"Have the other council members been told?"
"Not to my knowledge. Shall I do so?"
"Immediately. Find out how soon they can meet in here in Beijing."
"Even Mr. Hwang?"
"If you can reach him, yes."
-------------------------------
Brisbane, Australia
-------------------------------
Otto shook his head.
"I hate having to do this right now, but there's never a convinent time for something like this." he muttered to himself.
He took the handset and spoke into it.
"Officers and crewmembers of Union battleship Rhine, this is your captain and your attention is requested. We have received word that Union Chairman Martin's transport was shot down yesterday. At this time, we do not know who committed this act, but that information will be passed along as it becomes available as with any other specifics relating to this matter."
"That was unexpected." Jin said.
"Uh-huh." Ryuji nodded, his face buried in a book.
"Do you think it'll affect us at all?"
"Hard to say. Depends on who did the deed. I know about as much as you do."
------------------------------
Aboard the Augustus
------------------------------
"So, you're sure she's fine?" Hawk asked.
Lee nodded affirmatively. "Yes, sir. She wasn't phased by it at all then, and hasn't let on about anything. She told me she's so detached from home that it's not really a concern for her."
"That's a little harsh."
"Eh, well he was a politician." Lee shrugged. "It's not like he was royalty."
"Good enough. I guess it's too bad as he seemed to be a pretty decent guy."
"Sure, sure. Oh, yeah. One thing: they did get the parts to fix the leg on my Zeus. If they have it ready before we head out tonight, I'm going to check it out."
"Sounds good. Thanks for letting me know. The captain was starting to get on my case about it."
Elena sat at the desk in her quarters, cleaning her pistol. She leaned back in the chair to stretch. As she did, she glimpsed the gown hanging on the wall. Frowning at its sight, she returned to hunching over the disassembled firearm.
There was a tap at the door.
"Yeah?" she called, not looking up.
"Can I come in? It's me, Alice."
"Door's unlocked."
The door unlatched and Alice slid inside.
"Hello!" a different, mechanical voice said.
"You're not in the middle of anything important, right?"
Elena turned.
"Not really, just bumming around until I need to--holy mother!"
She put her hand up to stop the ball coming toward her.
"Hello." the ball restated.
"Uh, hi." Elena was slightly bewildered.
Alice picked up the ball.
"Sorry about that. Haro just gets a little excited to meet new people."
"I see. Anyway..."
"Anyway, I wanted your opinion on some hairstyles."
She produced a magazine, handing it to Elena.
Alice continued as Elena looked over the pages.
"So what are you going to do for your hair?"
"I don't think there's much to work with." Elena pulled at her hair to drive that point. "I'll have to see if I have anything on hand to put in."
"That's true. You could go with a tiara." Alice thought aloud.
Elena waved her hands in a crossing motion. “No. No way. I don't do tiaras."
----------------------------
Helsinki, Finland
----------------------------
Elena gritted her teeth.
"I can't believe she got me to wear a tiara."
Lee grinned as he drove the car.
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"A chance to see you look like a lady? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
He reached over and patted her shoulder.
"Seriously, you look fine and I do enjoy it. All you have to do is stand around for a few hours, pop some food, and leave."
She breathed deeply.
"I guess you're right."
The limousine gracefully cruised through traffic.
"Too bad you don't get to come in and enjoy the party, Hisham." Smith chuckled.
"Not really. I don't exactly have that European look."
"Well, you'll miss all the fun."
Blake shifted in his seat.
"Boring political speeches? I'd rather be in here with Hisham."
"Got me there."
"Boring?" Alice interjected. "Not likely. Whatever's being announced is something major."
Hisham was quickly to agree.
"She's right. This isn't just some dinner party. We all pilot mobile suits, so there should be some good reason to have us on hand as part of the crowd."
"But, we're also mercenaries." Smith countered.
"I don't see that as something our employer would send people out for. Lots of resources for a party? Come on; some client wanted this."
"For what?"
"Apparently that's on a need to know basis. We didn't need to know."
Pagan stood in the room watching as Leonidas adjusted his tie.
Leonidas turned his head.
"You've been standing there for awhile. What is it?"
"Nothing. I was just making some final checks before things get under way."
"I see. The guests have started to arrive, haven't they?"
"Yes, and before I came in the room, there was a sizeable amount."
"Good."
"As I said, I was just checking on you, but I'll leave for now and make my presence known on the main floor."
"Don't they have something to drink that's non-alcoholic?" Elena wondered.
"Good question." Lee scratched his head. "Although, it should be a problem here. The drinking age is pretty young."
"That's not the point. I don't want that stuff on the job."
Lee started to say something, but declined. "No, better not."
"'Better not' what?"
"I'd get myself in trouble."
He saw one of the stewards moving in their direction.
"I'll ask this guy." He pointed over at a man with a large tray full of drinks.
"Okay."
Elena looked around. There were a lot of political big shots around she noticed. Of course there would be; this was a political event after all.
"Here."
Lee held out a glass and Elena took it.
"What is it?"
"Non-alcoholic champagne."
She took a sip.
"Hmm."
"What do you think?"
"Not sure, really. It's not what I expected."
"Which was..." Lee coaxed.
"That's the thing...I don't know."
She laughed at herself slightly.
"It's good to see you go into a better mood."
"Yeah. It's just odd to be here living it up, looking like we know what we're doing."
He nodded with a grin.
"I know."
Her face suddenly grimaced, and she put a hand up to her head.
"You okay?" Lee was concerned.
"I'm fine...it's just this pressure." She said through clenched teeth.
It couldn't be, not here.
The pain worsened, and the glass slipped from her hands.
"Miss, are you alright?"
It was a different voice than one she was familiar with.
Her eyes opened up, and saw a masked man before her.
"I-I'm fine. I just got a sudden pain in my head."
"That's no good. If you'd like to sit down, there are some seats over there." The man indicated.
"I'll have someone clean this up. If you need anything, I'll see to it. Just ask for Commander Pagan
Czevik."
"Thank you." She replied feebly.
Lee helped her walk towards the seats, while Pagan stood there.
As they walked away, Pagan looked over at them, then away.
"Did she sense me?" He wondered quietly. "No. It's too brief to tell."
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End Phase 14
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Last edited by Big B on Tue May 24, 2011 11:22 am, edited 2 times in total.