View source for MS GUNDAM: THE LOST CENTURY Interquel: Episode 7 - Cyclone

{| align="right" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 300px;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|'''MS GUNDAM: THE LOST CENTURY Interquel: Episode 7 - Cyclone'''
|-
|'''Written by:'''
|[[User:John Nigel|John Nigel]]
|-
|'''Suggested soundtrack for reading:'''
|
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">“I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING” by Aerosmith</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">'''<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;line-height:115%">MS GUNDAM: THE LOST CENTURY Interquel</span>'''</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">'''<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;line-height:115%">Episode 7 - Cyclone</span>'''</p>




<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Anaheim Electronics</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Black Wing Division office</p>


[[Derf Dorough]] was sitting at his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was looking intently at some mobile weapons development record, including the progress of the mobile armor, [[XMAF-1102vg Valkyrie Gust|Valkyrie Gust]].<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Suddenly, his mobile phone rang.

“Mars here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Talk to me.”

“Sir, [[Diko Sidhikoro|Eagle Eye]] has returned.

“Tell him to report to me right now.”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>* <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

“Sir, I was told you want to speak with me,” said Diko Sidhikoro also known as Black Wing Division operative, ‘Eagle Eye’.

Dorough gestured for him to sit down.

“Eagle Eye, I’ll go directly to the point.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is about that mysterious mobile armor, [[LL-MA2mod.37 Moebius Adelphe|Moebius Adelphe]].<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And come to think of it, this is also about the lady pilot that Aeolus spoke of.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I recently heard rumors, albeit unconfirmed, of sightings about a red and black mobile weapon in Europe, especially after the holocaust brought by that orbital weapon.”

“Honestly, sir, I haven’t seen it yet.”

Dorough continued, “I know that you and [[Knight ]]are brothers-in-arms, closely knitted like real flesh-and-blood brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But do you know any information of Knight having a subsequent contact about the lady and the mobile armor after the deployment of Gust?”

“Nothing that I know of, sir…”

“Meaning, Knight may have met her, as you are putting it.”

“I don’t know, really.”

“Your recent operation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight summoned you to help him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It even called for the deployment of [[ATG-X07 Gundam Achilles|Achilles]].<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For what exact purpose was it that Achilles had to do the job?”

“It seemed that Knight had a very tight situation with some Earth Federation pilots, two, actually.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He needed a window of escape, lest he be found out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But Achilles’ existence remains a secret.”

Dorough rose from his chair and went to a window overlooking the BWD hangar and repair bay.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Give me the actual battle reports later.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For now, we have a very difficult situation.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He passed to Sidhikoro a tablet computer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He read the documents displayed and his eyes widened in surprise.

“I’ll be damned by this.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It says here that the orbital bombardment weapon known as The Heaven’s Fist has escalated the war into a whole new level.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Royal Zeon is currently mobilizing its forces towards the Federation’s lunar base as their first step of retaliation against the uncalled-for act of the Federation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I believe that there’s more to this force buildup in space.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I believe that the fierce battle will also take place here on earth.”

Dorough lighted his smoking pipe and said, “Read on.”

“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Zeon’s Lord Clay Mardha was aboard the Empire’s cruiser?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But why don’t we hear more about this in the news?”

“Media blackout.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>An hour ago, I received a call from the Royal Zeon’s general, a certain [[Tigo Trueno]], hailing from the empire’s territory in Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They are the ones who will take over the development of the mobile armor, since [[Lord Clay Mardha]] is now dead.”

“So are they pulling out the development of Gust untimely, much earlier than agreed?”

“It seems so.”

“What shall we do sir?”

“Call the men.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We will be meeting at the Burrow in 2200 hours.”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Burrow</p>

Undisclosed Black Wing hideout

Knight came in late.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was wearing a sling for his left arm.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bandages were evidences that he had sustained injuries, though minor ones.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Upon entering the hideout, the rest of the group did not expect him to be in this shape.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They remained silent in utter surprise.

“Hi guys!” he greeted blandly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Actually, I am a lot better than these gauzes seem to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Got some mishap, that’s all.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight noticed that no one of the guys cracked a joke.

“Seems like I’m missing something here.”

Dorough motioned him to sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“There’s something that you need to know, Aeolus.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He passed a folder of documents to him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight pored over the contents and in a sheer surprise and fury, he slammed the documents on the table.

“Wha – What’s the meaning of this?! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Royal Zeon is going to seize all existing developments of the V Gust?!”

“Knight, just calm down, okay?” Nadia spoke softly.

“This can’ be serious!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There must be some kind of mix-up somewhere!”

“It’s authentic, Aeolus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Blame the Peacecraft Treaty if you must.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There seems to be a provision from the international treaty that in the event of a forthcoming threat to a country’s national security, they can demand certain compliances from entities and private organizations, especially the neutral ones, including us to whom they made deals for weapons development and manufacture.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Royal Zeon had been a long client, probably way back when all of us here were not yet born.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is for the purpose of their reinforcing of their military might and security for their country.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now the empire is invoking their right along that line.”

Xihei added, “And we can’t do anything about it.”

“They can’t…they can’t do this! Damn!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight’s fist banged the table.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The rest of the group was surprised at his reaction.

“Dorough said, “Don’t get mad, genius.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There’s nothing to be pissed off for.”

Knight sat down between Sidhikoro and Oleg.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The latter gave him a consoling pat on the back.

“It’s exactly what that General Tigo Trueno said,” Tomino spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“War is ultimately securing vital positions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He said that ‘this little toy’ of ours wasn’t going to tip the balance of the war in any major way.”

“And yet they’re sequestering the Gust?”

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">Abacus inputted, “So it seems.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With the existence of the Heaven’s Fist, the deciding battle is going to be out in space, of course, unless Royal Zeon has still something up in their sleeves.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">“What do you mean, Abacus?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">“Please call me by my call sign, Tinker.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I have said, I don’t think that the empire’s just gonna let them get away with it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can almost anticipate that something dreadful will happen in retaliation.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">“Yeah, just to think of it gives me the creeps.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">Knight grunted, “Nevertheless, I disagree about giving the Gust to them.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">“Are you dumb, Aeolus, or just plain stupid?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We have an arms deal with them; they just want our end of the deal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>End of the story,” Dorough harshly said.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t hand over the mobile armor to them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or do you want international sanctions be placed on the whole corporation?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Besides, AE executives already gave the consent.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">Everyone turned to Knight and waited for his answer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead, he took a beer bottle and drank it bottoms up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finally he muttered, “We can’t do this business.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The moment we hand the Gust over to them, people are going to die.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:135.75pt">“Well, boohoo, Aeolus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Somebody needs to wake up to reality.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Isn’t that what we’ve been doing all along?” Dorough disagreed.</p>

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The next day, Knight spoke with Sidhikoro and Oleg about his plans concerning the Valkyrie Gust.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He realized that he has contributed much to a mobile weapon designed to search and destroy Moebius Adelphe of which the pilot was Amber Leigh La Flaga.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The trio met in a secluded area where Knight thought of putting up a plan.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Are you out of your freaking mind, Aeolus?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dude!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You got a lot of really stupid ideas but this one’s for the record!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Besides, how do you think can we manage to take the Gust out fo the facility without being noticed?” Sidhikoro exclaimed.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“We can think of something.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Loki, will you help me?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“I don’t know, young man…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Depends on what drives that passion of yours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you know, or do you have any idea about the repercussions that this intervention will bring down on us?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I have to help you, then tell me the reason.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Knight closed his eyes and heaved a sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I came into contact with the lady pilot of the Moebius and her friends on the day when the orbital weapon was used.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It turns out that she was just a victim of this whole mess between the Empire and the Federation; she was just doing the wrong thing at the wrong place and in the wrong time.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Victim, you say?” Oleg mused.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“You…met the pilot?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As in, met her face to face?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Yeah, Eagle Eye.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The reason why I was in '''''that''''' mess on that day was because I tried to protect her and her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some freak coincidence that is, actually.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Okay, okay.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So you’re saying that the Gust being your creation will kill the one you’re trying to protect?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Ironic, man.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Well, obviously, the plan went from impossible to insanely ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So how do you think are we gonna pull this off, ‘Knight in bloody armor’?” Oleg impatiently asked.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Here’s the plan.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I need your expertise as a saboteur and we’ll need bombs; lots of bombs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also, we need V1ru5’s handiwork to leak bogus information to the Federation concerning the dry run test of a mobile weapon for the Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That way, we can fake the Valkyrie Gust’s destruction and thus prevent the Royal Zeon’s hand to get a hold of it.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Hmmmm…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Suddenly, I became interested. What’s my role?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Achilles will also play a major part, but in the shadows, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s too early for Achilles to come out in the open, bro.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“What about Mars?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“I’ll think of something to distract him.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Oleg just shook his head.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">As they started to leave the place, Raijin said, “Hold your horses, young man.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There’s one more thing that is missing in the puzzle, Aeolus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why would a ‘god of war’ like you go to great heights, depths, and lengths to help save a woman?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Knight glared at him but his face started to redden.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“THAT,” Sidhikoro exclaimed grinning while pointing at Knight’s reaction, “is what I am talking about!”</p>

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops: 185.25pt">Mediterranean Sea</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Aboard '''''Magna Carta'''''</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">A communications personnel received a mission order via an encoded transmission from the Earth Federation headquarters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He patched through a private intercom to Admiral [[Carlos Zeiss|Carl Zeiss]]’ room.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Admiral Zeiss, a mission order from HQ has arrived.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">''At last,time for some action!''<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Zeiss replied, “Okay, I’ll look into it at the bridge.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Later that day, the admiral personally headed the strategy outlay at the briefing room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were twelve pilots in the room; all of them had been recently assigned to the ship after Zeiss’ mobile suit units were all decimated by Gundam Axiom during the fateful day of the Heaven’s Fist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unsurprisingly, there was media blackout ordered by the Federation; every news outfit that tried to investigate the chain of events was “silenced”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All information that Earth Federation released was about the detonation of '''''Solstice '''''over Apsalia.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Evidently, no one believed them.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The pilots were whispering among themselves.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Did you hear about the rumors concerning the previous mobile suit units assigned here?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Especially during the day of the Heaven’s Fist?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Yeah, but when I asked a few of the personnel here, they remained mum about it… Scares the hell out of me.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“But what if it’s true?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“What if the same thing happens to us? What if the ''Sandman'', who is reputed to sacrifice his pawns when necessary will do the same thing to – !”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“I’ll fight.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Everyone looked at a man sitting at the back row, eyes closed and arms crossed in an apathetic manner.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was a wiry man in his 30s, with narrow eyes and icy expressionless face.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He wore a pair of spectacles.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Such arrogance!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What would you know, stranger?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And who are you?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You’re not from the division where we all came from.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The man simply answered, “You’ll know soon enough.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Few minutes later, the door slid open and Admiral Zeiss entered the room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Immediately the pilots stood and saluted.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“As you were, gentlemen.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The pilots took their seats.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“As you all know by now, the mission order from HQ arrived this morning while we are on a patrol mission in the southern European territories.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It seems that our intelligence division intercepted valuable information about Royal Zeon putting their newest mobile weapon into a test.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is hailed as “Gust”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The coordinates are 54 15<sup>o </sup>N, 4 30<sup>o</sup> W.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are heading over to The Isle of Man in Britannia as we speak.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The room darkened as a map display was flashed behind Zeiss.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He moved over to the left side and continued.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“As you probably have heard, the secret concerning the orbital bombardment weapon is out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But we need to destroy our enemies and inflict critical damage on them fast and hard.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Pointing a red laser onto an island image, he said, “This is the Isle; it had been deserted since Lost Century started but the gathered information indicates that Royal Zeon held its weapons tests in the area a number of times already.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The isle is also a strategic place for their European stronghold in Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While Britannia remains largely neutral, they granted us unlimited air space.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is where we will crush some Zeon nuts.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">A liaison officer handed out mission strategy information stored in hand-held computers.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Your designation for this operation is stored in these modules.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You are to upload the information manually onto your new [[RGM-105G Jugho|Jugho]] units to prevent leakage.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As for your group, from henceforth, you shall be known as the Zeiss Disciples.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Gesturing the wiry man sitting at the back to come forward, Zeiss said, “This is Lieutenant [[Litzner Edge]], and he will serve as your commander in this attack unit.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">All the rest of the pilots were surprised and whispered among themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edge said, “My rules are simple yet firm: you act when I say so.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you don’t, I will personally shoot you down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Understand?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Yes, sir!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Operation: STAMPEDE, begin!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Standby in your units!”</p>

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Xihei gave Raijin a thumbs-up sign.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I’m done here, Loki!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Better inform the man!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Raijin called in, “This is Loki, reporting.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The packages have been planted.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was referring to the sonic bombs prepared for the group’s elaborate plan to fake the Gust’s destruction to prevent it from reaching Royal Zeon’s hands.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Three days earlier, the Black Wing Division unfolded a very crucial plan just to save the Moebius’ lady pilot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At first, the group was hesitant to play a role because they had to keep their division head, Dorough, out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Upon hearing Knight’s reason, the rest agreed to help.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Roger that, Loki.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>V1ru5, any sign of the vulture?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“V1ru5 here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The big vulture is detected heading our way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The propaganda worked.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tell Tinker to place the RC now.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Doing it already.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Back at the Black Wing Division hangar, Knight took his phone and called Sidhikoro.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Eagle Eye, how’s everything in your end?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“I’m on my way, bro. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But you’re utterly demanding this time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not to mention that this is insane.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“You just have to, bro, you just have to.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m placing my whole life on your trigger finger.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That scares me enough, so please refrain from saying crazy nonsense.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">He hung up and helped Tomino in controlling the mechanical cranes hoisting the Valkyrie Gust onto the linear catapult.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After that, Knight began donning the pilot suit when Nadia came running into the hangar bay.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Knight, Lexxis!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We have a serious problem!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“What?!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“Not what.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Who.”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">A gruff angry voice demanded, “What is the meaning of this?!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Knight shockingly said, “Dorough!”</p>

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Royal Zeon Iberia Base, Spain</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">A nurse came running through the halls of the infirmary.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Doctor!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Doctor!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The patient has awakened!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Somebody contact Lord Heimlich, quick!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The two of them run back into the ICU room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Inside, the patient was ripping off the intravenous hoses and the biosensor probes from his arms and body.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He angrily glared against both of them and while leaping from the bed, he grabbed the nurse’s throat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Gripping it tight, he choked her in spite of the doctor’s efforts in trying to stop him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The patient released his grip of the nurse only until she slumped flat on the floor dead.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The doctor ran to the intercom unit on the wall and shouted, “Call security!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We need to subdue the – gakkkk!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">The patient shoved a metal tray against the doctor’s head, slamming his face hard against the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As he fell down to the floor, blood trickled on the wall’s surface.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“GAAWWWRRRR!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Take these voices outta my head!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What have you done to me?!?”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Lord [[Piotr Heimlich]] came into the room and faced the patient.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His eyes glowed with a reddish halo around the pupils.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">''Calm down, [[Adrian Zowih Frost|Frost]]! Everything is fine now!''</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">“W-why are you inside my head?!?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Get out!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Get out!!”</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">''You have this power, too, Frost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You will use this power to kill and destroy your enemies…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All of them.''</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Frost was greatly astonished by this phenomenon that he did not notice that he responded using brain waves.</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">''A-all of them?''</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">''Yes, Frost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And I promised before that I will provide you the means to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You, Frost, will crush all your enemies to attain true peace.''</p>

<p style="tab-stops:185.25pt">Heimlich gave out an evil grin.</p>

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

“What is the meaning of this?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Answer me, Knight!”

Knight faced Dorough sternly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I said before that I will not allow the Empire to take hold of such weapons because lives will be at stake if we do!”

“Stupid!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How then will you explain this to the Royal Zeon delegation that is coming today?”

“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They’re coming…?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight’s voice trailed off.

“With General Tigo Trueno from Iberia Base.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stop this nonsense at once!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Initial information had already been given to Lord Clay Mardha last November 18.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All your efforts will be in vain!”

“The day when the Gust was first deployed…”

“The AE execs gave over everything, Knight; schematics, operating system, data logs, performance notation, everything!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So give it up already!”

Knight became silent.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tomino was about to reverse the cranes and remove the Gust from the catapult when Knight placed his hand on the lever to stop him.

Tomino muttered, “There’s no sense in going on, man.”

He just smiled and winked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Turning to Dorough, Knight said softly but pleadingly, “Taisa, we’ve been through a lot of hell and back in this kind of work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did very proficiently everything you ordered without question in every single operation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s true that there are times that I’ve pissed you off and all that but please, let me do this… just this once, let me have my way.”

Dorough searchingly stared at Knight, Nadia, and Tomino.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Why, Knight?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why the sudden change of heart?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why now?”

Knight put up a stern face and boldly said, “Because I care for her.”

Silence.

A few moments, Dorough demanded, “Who else is on board?”

It was Nadia who answered, “Everyone else, sir, except you.”

“Now, why the heck did you automatically exclude me?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Who will do the role of stalling the Zeon general?”

At this, Knight beamed in relief and tried to hug his leader.

“TAISA!!!”

“Whoa, whoa!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Easy there, boy!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not about to give you some love anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well then, I need to get going as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And Knight…”

“Yes?”

“Be sure to cleanly pull this off.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With that, Dorough left the hangar.

Knight, Tomino, and Nadia hurried on with the plan.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tomino proceeded with loading the catapult, while Knight and Nadia hastily went to the hangar platform.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As he was about to climb the ladder to the cockpit, Nadia said, “Knight, you need to tell me something.”

“About what?”

She stared on the floor for a moment, and then faced him.

“What is she like?”

“Who?”

“This Moebius pilot… what is she like?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A man like you would willingly throw away his life for her.”

“Why would you want to know?”

She suddenly gave an outburst.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I HAVE TO KNOW!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I… I… I just need to know.”

Knight was surprised at her display of emotions that all he could ever think was to touch her cheek with the back of his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He immediately slid into the cockpit and closed the canopy hatch.

On the commlink, Tomino said, “Ready when you are, Aeolus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Launch control has already been transferred to you.”

“Thanks, Grease Monkey.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll take it from here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I have a request.”

“Yep?”

“Please look after Silverlight.”

“I understand, man.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I will, don’t worry.”

“[[XMAF-1102vg Valkyrie Gust]].<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Test Pilot #8.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Launching!”

Hums from the mobile armor’s engine went to a high pitch as it sped out of the hangar into the afternoon sky.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nadia remained where she stood.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Two precious drops of water fell onto the dusty and oily floor.

“Idiot.”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">English Channel</p>

Aboard '''''Magna Carta'''''

Admiral Zeiss issued the launch order for the Disciples to sortie.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were 12 Jugho units all in all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unlike the earlier Jughos, these units come with assault shields and beam swords.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What made these units better was that the assault shields were mounted with two-barreled beam cannons.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These shields were also capable of sub-flight and could be used as a separate attack unit.

Lieutenant Edge gave out his strategic commands.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Contact Maniac Control.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Patch data to all assets.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Contact Britannia armed forces.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Have them initiate an immediate evacuation in the vicinity of coordinates 54 15 N, 4 30 W and provide a 20-kilometer radius clearance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Otherwise we will engage them into combat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Confirm that the area has been cleared.”

Few minutes later, a pilot reported, “Britannia confirms are being cleared.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All applicable assets online, sir!”

“Gentlemen, it’s time to dig in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I want the target stopped in its tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I got the target on radar.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mark target designation, ‘Gust’.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Take formation RX78.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Team A, take left.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Team G, right flank.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Team E will follow me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Show Royal Zeon what we’re made of!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>IKUSO!!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Abacus received a tripped alarm warning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“V1ru5 calling Test Pilot #8.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Alien swarm detected 80 kilometers from southeast.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Count, eleven or twelve!”

''They acted sooner than expected!''<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight radioed back, “Roger that.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Have Tinker power up the RC.”

“Eagle Eye reporting in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am experiencing turbulence up here.”

“Does it pose a threat to you?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“There’s a good lad, bro.”

“Yo, #8!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We’ve set the bombs as you initially said but that gives you a very slim margin.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Can you handle that?”

“It’s fine as it is, Loki.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tell Satsugaisha to move to high ground.”

“I understand!”

“#8, this is Silverlight.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Trueno is furious, but Mars is dealing with them now.”

Sidhikoro was amused and surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Oy!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How did you get Mars to agree to your idea?”

“Long story, dude.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Head’s up!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I got a visual on the swarm.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They’ve taken the bait!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Clear the area now!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Get to the designated safe distances!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

The Valkyrie Gust banked sharply to the right, its thrusters spewing off tremendous power.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Teams G and E immediately set high speed pursuit until they flew parallel to Gust’s.

“Open fire!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Fire at will!” Edge screamed.

Eight beam carbines spurted off red beam pulses that rained down on the mobile armor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight said to himself, “I need to fool them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And the key is the H-Field array.”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

“Shousa!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Gust seems to be covered with anti-beam coating!”

“Keep on firing!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It can just tolerate few hits in the same spot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When its surface temperature increases, it will ablate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then it becomes vulnerable,” edge replied.

“Okay!”

“Team A, advance!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Converge your attacks with ours!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s perforate this scum!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Inside the Gust, alarms blared around Knight.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Despite the air-conditioned cockpit, he was breaking sweat.

“Keep your calm…” he said to himself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“They’re but randomly targeting.”

On the radar, four bleeping dots were nearing him from the left.

“Uh-oh.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I got to show them some tricks, too.”

Pressing a couple of buttons, he released missiles from the pods stored on the Gust’s hovering system.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The first two pursuing Jugho units immediately were hit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But luckily this time, they were equipped with sturdy shields.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The missiles virtually inflicted no damage other than scratches and burnt discoloration.

“Unrelenting bunch!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s see if you can keep up with me!”

He brought the Gust’s nose upward, causing the mobile armor to rapidly brake.

“Watch out!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Break left, dammit!”

“Evade! Evade!”

“What the –!”

Some Jugho units collided against each other, causing their formation to fall apart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight immediately brought the thrusters to life and flipped to the opposite direction.

Edge braked, “Team A, intercept the target.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Switch to beam cannons!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Team G and E, regroup formation and continue pursuit!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t fall for the same trick again!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Back at the Royal Zeon Iberia Base hangar, two men walked along the hoisted catwalk inside the huge shed.

“Frost, I need to show you something.”

“What is it, my lord?”

“Your sole means of attaining true peace.”

They came upon a control panel monitor with a biometric scanner.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Heimlich placed a palm on it that set alight a green glow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He pressed a button that opened a huge metal door on a wall and a red and white mobile armor slid out onto the raised platform below them.

“This is… this is…”

“This is your weapon, Frost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>True peace can only be attained as an outcome of war.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Your father died because of war.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many people died because of war.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You may ask why there is a war in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Humanity as we know it has degenerated to a pathetic existence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Wars refuse to cease because of the weak people.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They infect the survival of humanity into its evolution.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is the weak that depends heavily on the strong, draining them with strength, dragging them down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is the weak that refuses to break free from the earth’s gravity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is the weak that fears the vastness of space because they cannot adapt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>True peace will result from purging the earth of the weak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the end, the strong will live, the weak will die.”

Heimlich placed his hand on Frost’s shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“But you, Frost, have an enormous power within you!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And with this as your weapon, you will be unstoppable!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

The Gust shook violently as successive shots from four beam cannons managed to hit it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight activated the H-Field fully to prevent any substantial damage to the mobile armor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>

“Shousa!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Gust is equipped with a force field!”

''Just as I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>''

“I can see that, idiot!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Load the launchers with armor-piercing heat seekers!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Its defensive barrier won’t work against physical attacks.”

“Aye, sir!”

Team A fired their launchers against the Gust.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight realized that they switched tactics this time.

“Oh, shoot!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, they’re thinking!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He reached for the flare release button.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Gust left a trail of blazing flares to counter and confuse the heat seekers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some were successfully destroyed but a significant number were still trailing behind and getting closer by the second.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight eyed the radar constantly until before the projectiles could hit, he called, “Eagle Eye!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Target all bogeys!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>NOW!!”

Up above, Sidhikoro flashed a delighted smile and said, “No matter how big or small or fast the target is…”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>

He peered into a sniper scope.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“…EAGLE EYE ALWAYS GETS HIS TARGET!!!”

Knight heard the statement and smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I know you always do.”

Seven high-energy beam pulses flashed from above them, hitting all the remaining heat seekers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Enormous explosions followed, causing dismay and confusion among the Jugho pilots.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight tugged at the control stick while pushing the thrusters to the limit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The maneuver sent the Gust to an inverted loop and brought it above the enemy units.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The pursuing team was by now right below it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While the Jughos were still distracted by the explosion, he then activated the “Sango Yasha”, a twin-barrelled hyper beam rifle mounted on the Gust’s fuselage that functioned like a turret .

“Take this!!”

PSHOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOM!

BOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>BOOM!

He managed to take down two units by hitting them on their blind spot: above their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He then maneuvered the Gust to hover in mid-air while priming the Caliburn.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The other two Jughos were still struggling to gain control from the loss of momentum.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight pulled the trigger and the Caliburn sent a consistent stream of particle blast.

BLAM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>BLAM!

“Piece of cake, actually.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No new tricks there!” he pleasingly cheered on himself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seeing the other group approaching, Knight met them head on.

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Edge was furious to see the Team A completely annihilated.

''Four units in 20 minutes?!''

“Fools!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Allowing a single armor to make fun of them!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Team E, follow my lead!”

The Gust started to spurt beams against the lead unit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight muttered, “This must be the leader.”

“You won’t get me that way!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edge sent his unit’s assault shield flying directly towards the Gust.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instinctively, Knight pulled up, only to meet head on the Jugho’s kick on the Gust’s fuselage’s midpoint.

BLAG!

The impact sent the Gust into a flat spin and it started to descend rapidly, spinning at its axis.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Warnings followed.

“WARNING!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rapid descent!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Losing altitude!”

Knight’s mind went haywire.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He tried to gain control of the mobile armor but to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Suddenly, the power plant turned itself off.

“Wh-what?!?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A system glitch?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Power generator shut down!!”

The mobile armor plummeted towards the ground.

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Frost strapped himself into the mobile armor’s seat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He rested his hands on the console.

''My weapon.''

“Place your palms on the monitor for a biometric lock.”

Upon doing so, the system scanned his palm print and stored the data into the mobile armor’s operating system.

“Biometric scan complete.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pilot identified as Adrian Zowih Frost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>System booting.”

Five neuro-electronic modules automatically connected into the conduits along Frost’s spine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the electricity flowed into it, he felt a weird sensation.

“I…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I feel that this mobile armor is…is a part of me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can feel it…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I feel that I can control it as easily as I can control my arms and legs!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It feels like… like it’s my body’s extension!” he said, genuinely amazed by the unique system.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“This is my weapon… my weapon to destroy the weak…to attain true peace.”

Heimlich let out an evil grin.

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

“COME ON, GUST!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>WAKE UP!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>

By chance, the mobile armor’s power generator suddenly became online, as if responding to Knight’s coaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He immediately set the hovering system into full scale deployment, preventing the Gust to be smashed against the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The maneuver, however, caused a tremendous stress on him.

“ARGH!!”

Meanwhile the Earth Federation mobile suits were forming a tactical position.

Edge commanded, “The Gust is coming about!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hit it with all you got!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Fire!”

The Jughos blasted against their sole enemy, but the mobile armor was fighting back, shooting against the nearest Federation unit and hitting its leg in the process.

BOOM!

“G4 is down!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Provide cover before he tears him apart!”

“I’ve got no clear shot!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>G1, do you have a line of fire?”

“Negative on that G2.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Watch it!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The enemy’s turret is aiming at you!”

PSHOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOM!

“AHHHH!!!”

“Mayday!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mayday!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>G2 is down!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>E Team, get him off us!”

“Team E lead unit here!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s just one opponent!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All weapon systems hot!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Fire at will!”

“But Shousa!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Team G is still in the line of fire!”

“Then tell them to get away!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t care, just fire!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have no use for allies that can’t move!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knock them together with the enemy if you have to!” Edge angrily commanded.

“G team!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pull back!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Clear the line!”

“Shousa, all lines are clear!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Enemy unit has descended into the canyon below.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s hovering among the crevasses.”

''You won’t escape this time, you rat!''<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edge irately thought.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“All units, salvo all!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Turn the entire area into a desert land!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>FIRE!!”

With beam carbines and cannons blazing, the Jugho units caused a massive destruction on the terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Had it not for the need to recharge their weapons’ energy capacitor, the Federation pilots would have continued to fire.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Upon clearing from the dust and smoke, Edge ordered, “Investigate!”

One Jugho approached the flattened area below them and reported, “Shousa, your desert is ready.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am sure it did not survive the –!”

BOOM!!

A particle cannon shot hit the Jugho unit before its pilot could even finish his statement.

“What the?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be advised, target’s not destroyed!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He’s on the move again!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Admiral Zeiss made a direct and sole contact with the lieutenant via an encoded line transmission,.

“Did you get him?”

“Not yet, Admiral.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s too feisty, but we’ll –!”

“I don’t need excuses, lieutenant, I need results!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, think!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m sure you can think of something!”

Edge gritted his teeth in frustration but dared to ask, “What are you suggesting, sir?”

“Why, in a battle, sometimes it can’t be avoided that mishaps do happen, right?”

Edge mulled over the possibility of the admiral’s suggestion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Upon realization, his eyes widened.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Are you saying, Admiral, that we’ll blow out one of our own mobile suits?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The nuclear powerpla –!”

“Whatever it takes, lieutenant!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It really doesn’t matter at all because a person’s life is about what they’ve accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or do you want all this as ''your ''failure?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You should know by now that in order for Earth Federation to win this damn war, failure is never an option!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you understand, Lieutenant?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or are you plain coward?”

“I fully understand, sir!”

“Then run along and finish it already!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>''Sandman'', over and out!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

''Die already, you freak!''<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edge reconfigured his unit’s carbine and set it to a medium-ranged sniper mode.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He tugged at the sniper scope that slid out from behind and zoomed into the Gust’s cockpit, which was hovering below them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was surprised of what he saw.

''It’s him!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s the man who humiliated me and my ZAKU!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why, you?!''

Edge’s Jugho dashed forward and fired at the mobile armor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“How dare you show yourself here?!?”

DADADADADADADADA!

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

One tail rudder was hit by the Jugho’s barrage.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight was having a hard time.

“Oh crap!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now this one’s persistent!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All right, joker!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s see if I can give you a run for your money here!”

He looked at the power level and saw that it was running low.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pretty soon, he would have to recharge the power system for the weapons system.

“I’m using more power than what Gust can actually provide.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This could be a problem later.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’d better go with the plan now.”

The remaining six units started to pursue him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knight turned toward the place where the sonic bombs were deployed earlier and did a sudden supersonic flyby over the area.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the sonic boom passed through, caused the bombs to set off, sending a mixture of fire, dust and earth all around the vicinity, engulfing all the approaching Jugho units.

“Spread out!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>NOW!!”

Edge was by now furious.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>''Don’t mock me, fool!''<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Giving out an order, he said, “E3 and 4, pursue the target.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m sure it’s nearing its breaking point now!”

“Roger!”

As the two units left and moved forward, Edge sent an encrypted text message to the other three Jugho pilots.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On their monitor screen, the following message flashed.

“Retreat from here as fast as you can.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Prepare for a nuclear detonation!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

Knight noticed on his radar that there were only two dots keeping the pursuit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One blinking dot became stationary while the other three went the other way as if retreating.

''Hmmm…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Is this some sort of a trap or plan?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What are you bamboozles up to now?''

He sent a direct laser transmission to Eagle Eye, who was in a very high altitude above him.

“Eagle Eye, do you have a visual of the lead unit marked with upsilon code on the radar?”

“Setting scopes… got a visual now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yes, it’s crouching and hoisting it carbine weapon for a snipe at you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Better be careful down there!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There’s no time for horsing around.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Uh-oh, I think he’s starting to shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you want me to take him out?”

“No, no.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s fine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thanks for the assistance, by the way.”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

PSHOOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOOM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSHOOOM!

A highly concentrated beam shot zipped through the air.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After firing, the Jugho immediately took off, taking an abandoned assault shield with it in addition to its own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Slipping into a deep crevasse along the terrain, the Jugho drew the two shields tightly together against its torso and braced for the disaster that was about to happen.

The target was not the Valkyrie Gust.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The carbine shot hit one of the pursuing Jugho, causing its nuclear reactor to heat up and overload.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Crackling electricity was followed by an instant detonation.

KZZZZT!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>KZZZZT!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>KABOOOOM!

A bright flash was seen over the island followed by a shockwave and a deafening roar.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The other Jugho, being mere meters away, disintegrated from the intense heat until its own power plant overloaded as well and detonated.

KABOOOOM!

Upon witnessing the act, Knight realized the imminent danger of meltdown.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He fully expanded the protective array of the H-Field while feeding enormous power to all the Gust’s thrusters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In a matter of seconds, the mobile armor moved from subsonic to hypersonic, as atmospheric aerodynamics would permit.

His radio cracked, “Aeolus!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What was THAT?!”

Knight screamed in reply, “ABORT!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>ABORT, EVERYBODY!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>CLEAR THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY NOW!!!”

“Oh, shoot!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">English Channel</p>

Aboard '''''Magna Carta'''''

A beaten down and barely flying Jugho unit returned to the ship five hours after the tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was in a very bad shape; some extremities were burned to crisp, the head unit was deformed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Its arms were awkwardly fused onto the shields.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The shields themselves also were fused together resembling a melted candle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As it came aboard, one Jugho pilot who survived cursed.

“Kisama!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You dare come back?!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He ran toward the deck platform and as soon as Lieutenant Edge got out from the cockpit hatch, the other pilot immediately took a wrench and swung it toward him.

“YOU KILLED THEM!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>YOU MERCILESSLY KILLED THEM!!”

Instinctively, Edge ducked and strafed, kicking the pilot at the shins and bringing him to fall forward hard on the hangar floor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As he tried to stand, Edge sent a solid punch to his stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He them took his sidearm holstered behind him and pointed at the downed man cowering in pain.

“What is done is done.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why, did you ever think that you could defeat it with your pathetic skills and determination?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or you might have not noticed that the pilot was toying with you all?!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you don’t have the balls to do what is necessary, then there is no point of having you in my team!”

“There’s no point in being part of your team because you kill your own!!!”

Mechanics and other people started to gather around them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edge raised a hand in warning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No one’s gonna interfere, you hear?!”

“You killed them without hesitation!”

“Yeah, I did.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you have any problem with that?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because if you do, probably a single bullet can shove some sense into this thick skull of yours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What do you say?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s find out!”

Edge slid the pistol chamber and pulled the trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The pilot closed his eyes tightly.

CLICK!

There was no gunshot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edge cleverly released the magazine before pulling the chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Hahahahaha!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Got you right there, didn’t I?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Somebody give him water to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And a diaper, too.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He pissed in his pants.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Oh, and by the way, pilot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Everything is fair in love and war.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In order to win the war, survival of the fittest is the only way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If collateral damage is necessary to grasp victory, I’d deal more than two collateral damages with a smile on my face.”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Royal Zeon Iberia Base</p>

Tarmac

Inside the control tower, Lord Piotr Heimlich and General Tigo Trueno were talking.

“It seems that the chemical concoction that was administered to the ensign works, my lord.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Based on the conclusive reports from the Newtype Bureau, Frost is elevated from a type F to a type B enhanced.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is a day of the Sixth Day protocol, and of course, the Ministry of Collective Science Research.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Congratulations, my lord.”

“You’ve done your work as well, General.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You have done a great job in developing this Valkyrie prototype.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is a pity that seemingly the original and initial prototype was destroyed during its final testing procedure.”

“Anaheim reported that while they were conducting some final tests for the blue prototype, they were ambushed by the Federation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Apparently, the mobile armor was destroyed, missing in action, or worse, captured.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Damn these Federation scums.”

“But look at the brighter side, General.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s a good thing, though, that through your visionary efforts, this red prototype will do the job.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I look forward for its mass production.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kudos to you.”

On the tarmac below, the red mobile armor that the Royal Zeon developed based on the Gust was set for its initial deployment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A soldier wearing red and white pilot suit and helmet started to walk toward the mobile armor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once seated inside, he started the engine and prepared for its maiden flight.

“Overall mobility control, complete.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Neural linkage ion concentration, nominal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Full extent movement parameters updated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nuclear reactor and power flow, normal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Systems, all green.”

A technician working on a monitor console at the control tower reported, “General Trueno, prototype mobile armor is all set and ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Awaiting orders.”

Heimlich said, “Let’s do this, General.”

“Authorize,” Trueno commanded.

When the pilot received the authorization order, he directed the mobile armor to the end of the runway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“[[XMAF-1103vc Valkyrie Cyclone|XMAF-1103vc]], designation callsign changed to Valkyrie Cyclone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Adrian Zowih Frost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>LAUNCHING!!!”

<p style="text-align:center">*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>

What will happen to Knight and the rest of the Black Wing Division?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Have they survived the nuclear blast and fallout?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Where could Amber and her friends be at this time?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Where will this conflict head, now that Frost has his own mobile weapon?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What will the Earth Federation and Lieutenant Edge’s next move in the coming days?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Find out in the '''MS GUNDAM:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>THE LOST CENTURY INTERQUEL Episode 8 – ENEMY'''.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You wouldn’t want to miss it.
[[Category:Lost War Chronicles Interquels]]
[[Category:Stories by John Nigel]]