Many years before the Space Colony Revolutionary War, the first Mobile Suits were developed. The year was After Exodus 77, nearly a century after the first Space Colonies were built. For many years, tensions had been building between the people living in the Space Colonies and those on the Earthsphere. The United Nations had been struggling for a long time to maintain total control over the Space Colonies, many of which protested vehemently against many of the laws formed by the United Nations. Finally, as part of its bid to change its policies of peace, United Nations discarded several articles of its original Charter, and adopted a new set of doctrines called "The Constitution of the United Earthsphere Alliance and the Space Colonies." When the Space Colonies learned the new laws they were now subject to, it became evident that autonomy among each Colony was imperative. The Colonies formed much protest against the Earthsphere Alliance, and it became evident that there would one day be a war through space between the Earth and the Space Colonies. But in the year After Exodus 79, thoughts of war were put on hold.
It was announced by the United Earthsphere Alliance Military that a new form of weapon had suddenly been developed, not long after an enormous, mysterious asteroid approached Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in the ocean. A new element had been discovered, but had not yet been put into use. Still, the Earthsphere Military let Outer Space know that the age of Mobile Suits had arrived.
Martial law became even stricter in the Colonies, especially with the use of Mobile Suits to control the people. Laws were passed prohibiting the construction of Mobile Suits in the Space Colonies, as well as use by Colony citizens, which meant that only people born on Earth could join the Military. Many Colonists believed that the Earth had become even more powerful than before, and to fight back against it would be suicide. It was unknown exactly how the Mobile Suit came into existence so suddenly. In fact, no one even knew that Mobile Suits were in development until that mysterious asteroid landed on Earth. Before 79, the thought of giant robotic vehicles as weapons of war seemed ludicrous.
The year is After Exodus 249, over fifty years since the Space Colony Revolutionary War. The only Mobile Suits authorized to exist are those in use by the SAMLE Squadron, meant to take down the threat of the Mobile Suit Gangs. The very origin of the Gundams, perhaps even the Mobile Suits themselves, has finally made its appearance. Still questioned is whether it shall prove to be as much of a threat to the tranquility of humanity as the few that know about it believe. The Gundams have only just seen it revealed in the form of an automaton controlled by an especially large Mobile Suit Gang called Final Judgment. While one may ask if they will be able to defend the Earth from it, the true question is, will they have to?
MOBILE SOLDIER N GUNDAM
By: L. Curtis Totty
And Kenzikou Rainier asked himself every question that could arise in that situation.And Lareika Keaghen felt the intense fear inside every heart that wasn’t Riser’s. And Lienfei Nathaniel heard the souls of all dead warriors, reincarnated as machine. And Tyrahl Jackson saw his own reflection, staring at himself with metal eyes.
Episode 05: Further Into The Silence…
"Attention, Gundam Pilots," said Riser, forcing the words from his mouth. "My name is Riser Caldwell. I am the leader of Final Judgment, the last and only remaining Mobile Suit Gang. What you see before you is our newest weapon, the N Gundam. It is the single most powerful Mobile Soldier in existence, and unless you obey my commands, I will use this Gundam to destroy the Earth."
The other Gundam Pilots were in a state of shock. They never suspected anything like this to come their way. They never knew that the enemy they were fighting would ever gain such power. Nevertheless, they were all certain that the only option left was to fight.
"What exactly do you want from us?" asked Lareika Keaghen.
"Join me, and together we will take over the Earthsphere and all of the Space Colonies," said Riser. "Otherwise, N Gundam shall fire its strongest weapon at this Natural Resource Satellite, allowing the debris to fall to Earth and destroy it. Make your choice now."
The fury in Kenzikou’s blood rushed into his fists, into his eyes, into his heart. His growling mouth opened to speak, and as he did this, his fury subsided, and he managed to speak calmly. "I don’t know and I don’t care what any of the others say, but don’t think for a damn second that I’ll give up without a fight!"
"N Gundam," ordered Riser. "Activate ‘Cataclysm Cannon’…"
The Gundanium that made up its bulky armor was a dark, navy blue, with black, gold, and white silver-colored all around it. It had four enormous Vernier Engines on its back, and no other weapons besides its fists were visible. But when N Gundam’s grey right hand rose to meet its green, glowing eyes, tiny particles of light began to swirl around it, seeming to appear out of nowhere. As the speed of these revolutions increased, the light grew brighter and brighter, until there was no light at all. Encasing the right forearm of the N Gundam was an enormous gun, a laser cannon, which began to gather energy, powering up, while pointed directly at the Gundam Freakstorm Gear.
"I’ll take care of this thing," said Kenzikou. "The rest of you take down these other two jokers…" His Gundam Freakstorm Gear’s Gearshift Cell had managed to restore its energy, and the Dual Buster Rifle was pointed directly at the N Gundam.
An enormous burst of heat and light exploded from both barrels of the Freakstorm’s Dual Buster Rifle, which flew towards the N Gundam standing there, ready for it. The N Gundam tossed itself off the surface of the Natural Resource Satellite, its Verniers boosting it further into space, further into the silence.
Kenzikou Rainier had been expecting it to, and hoping that it would, dodge by jumping upward. And Kenzikou followed this attack by blasting towards the N Gundam, putting half of the Gearshift Cell’s energy into the Twin Fin Jets. It’s speed boosted as it started to unsheathe one of its Dyad Blades, the lustrous blade’s light reflecting off the surface of the N Gundam, as it went slamming into its left arm. The N Gundam had defended itself easily, and the Cataclysm Cannon pointed straight into the Gundam Freakstorm’s face, and prepared to fire.
"No, you don’t," thought Kenzikou, as his Gundam’s foot flew into the N Gundam’s abdomen, stunning it. His Dyad Blade then swung sideways into N Gundam’s face, knocking it away. The Gearshift Cell intensified the energy in the Dual Buster Rifle, and Kenzikou began to unleash blast after blast of energy at the N Gundam, each shot striking it dead on. As N Gundam was pushed backward, Kenzikou’s mind raced, confused. The Gundam still would not go down. "I don’t understand! Can’t my gun destroy this thing?"
N Gundam was indeed a formidable foe. After taking a few gunshots in its chest, N Gundam transformed the Cataclysm Cannon, swirling light and all, into a large spear with a laser blade. This Shining Spear swung at the Gundam Freakstorm Gear, which blocked with a Dyad Blade. Kenzikou connected the Dual Buster Rifle to the Gundam’s hip, deactivating it. The Freakstorm then pulled out the other Dyad Blade, intensified the energy in it, and began to repeatedly slash at its opponent, with unrelenting aggression. N Gundam would not go down.
Tyrahl watched the battle in horror as he struggled to understand how a single Mobile Suit could have such immeasurable power. His attempts to gain more information about it from his Gundam’s computer were futile; all he got was "ERROR" message after "ERROR" message, filling his screen. He decided that all he could do was focus on the other two enemy Mobile Suits.
"Rannai, what is that thing?" asked Nathaniel.
"Wait a minute…Rannai?" thought Tyrahl. He stared at the Hardcore Mobile Suit with wide, staggered eyes.
All Rannai could do was chuckle. "You said you wouldn’t allow anyone to die today, Nathaniel…What happens now?"
"Rannai…I don’t know what happened to you…" began Nathaniel. "I don’t know what you’ve become, but…You’ve got to stop that thing now! It could destroy us all!"
"Realize, Nathaniel, that there’s no point trying to change my mind now," said Rannai. "I’ve chosen my path, and I’ve had enough of you trying to impede me. It’s better that you just get out of my way…"
"Rannai…No…" pleaded Nathaniel, despite the hopelessness of his attempt. The Hardcore Mobile Suit flew towards the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO, its pilot no longer considering Nathaniel to be anything worth considering. "Please, Rannai…You…can’t do this…"
Tyrahl Jackson was shocked. He remembered Rannai. It was only a few years after he had quit the Endless Nomadic when he found out that their war with the Dragon Slayers had ended. He remembered going to the alley where his old friends used to hang out, seeing the scared girl with red under her eyes. Tyrahl knew that the experience had to have hardened her heart beyond the point of no return. He saw it happen to André when the Endless Nomadic was formed. He remembered how his brother became cold and distant, trusting no one. The only thing he believed in was killing. Tyrahl knew that Nathaniel was broken, and that there was only one option left.
"I think I can pick her off…"
"What?" cried Nathaniel.
The Gundam Shockwave Storm pointed its Assault Rig at the Hardcore Mobile Suit, charging up its energy, preparing to fire. The Hardcore Mobile Suit suddenly stopped flying towards the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO and turned to face the Shockwave. It stopped and stared.
"Stand back, Nathaniel…" said Tyrahl.
"NO!"
The Gundam Talonfang Stealth leapt towards the Gundam Shockwave Storm, as the Caloric Cable on its left arm extended, sending its Hydra Fang towards the Shockwave’s Assault Rig, knocking the Gundam’s aim off. The blast was fired at a large rock on the surface of the Natural Resource Satellite, decimating it.
"What the hell are you doing?!" cried Tyrahl.
"I can’t let you harm Rannai!" yelled Nathaniel.
"You’ve gotta be kidding me!" exclaimed Tyrahl. "She’s gone, man! Whatever you had with her is over with!"
"No!" yelled Nathaniel. "You’re wrong! She just doesn’t realize the mistake she’s making!"
"Give it up!" yelled Tyrahl. "She’s our enemy!"
"Correction," said Nathaniel. "She’s your enemy!"
"What?"
"I had one mission and one mission only," said Nathaniel. "I’ve already defeated the Endless Nomadic, and I’ve found her. I don’t care about any of the other Mobile Suit Gangs, I don’t care about Final Judgment, and I don’t care about you!"
"You’re making a huge mistake, Nathaniel! You can’t turn her now!"
"Then I won’t try," said Nathaniel. "I’ll protect Rannai no matter what, and I won’t let any of you stop me!"
"I guess…" began Tyrahl. "I guess that makes you my target!"
"I guess so!" replied Nathaniel.
The Gundam Shockwave Storm pulled out its Nuke Glaive, and pointed it at the Gundam Talonfang Stealth. The Talonfang then opened the Thunder Talons on its Hydra Fangs and activated the laser blades inside them. The Shockwave rushed towards the Talonfang, and swung its Nuke Glaive at the opposing Gundam’s head. The Talonfang blocked with its right Hydra Fang, and used the other to serve a knuckle sandwich with a free laser blade topping at the Shockwave, which dodged the attack and swung its leg into the Talonfang’s face to knock it away. The Shockwave then opened its Guard Cloak and fired the Shade Barrage at the Talonfang, which managed to fly fast enough to escape the blast. As it flew, the Talonfang fired the Rapid Machines on the tips of the Hydra Fangs’ Thunder Talons back at the Shockwave, which defended itself by holding up the Assault Rig, absorbing the shots. In an attempt to slow down the Talonfang, the Shockwave’s Assault Rig activated its electromagnet function, to try to pull the other Gundam back towards it. The Gundam Talonfang’s Caloric Cables uncoiled as it fired its Hydra Fangs towards the Gundam Shockwave, which used the Thunder Talons to clap a claw grip around the Assault Rig. The Rapid Machines began to fire at the exposed torso of the Gundam Shockwave, which was forced to lower the Guard Cloak again in defense. The Hydra Fangs disconnected from the Assault Rig and returned to the Gundam Talonfang. The two Gundams flew towards each other at an even speed, full of rage, unrelenting, intolerant, and prejudiced in battle. Their pilots, however, struggled honorably and valiantly to understand each other.
Lareika Keaghen had seen enough. She knew that it was pointless to attempt to divide the Talonfang and the Shockwave in their intense battle, and she saw that the Freakstorm managed to hold its own against the monstrous N Gundam. She then looked towards the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO and the Hardcore Mobile Suit. Riser Caldwell made himself out to be the most dangerous human adversary they had to face. "The time has come to find out if that’s true…"
Suddenly, Lareika noticed something on her sensors. She looked up through her Gundam’s eyes, and zoomed in to see five Mobile Suits from the SAMLE Squadron. "Well…" she thought. "It certainly took them long enough…"
"All right, guys," began Lt. Darlene Millar. "Sgt. Michaels and I will head in first, but you guys just stay back and take notes or something."
"Understood, Lieutenant," said Foster and Psalter, as Guilden groaned.
"If things get rough, call for backup," said Lt. Millar, glaring specifically at Guilden. "Only then will I consider allowing you to fight yourselves. What are we up against, Michaels?"
"Six Gundams and another unidentified Mobile Suit," said Sgt. Kenneth Michaels.
"Six Gundams?" asked Lt. Millar, slightly shocked.
"Yes," confirmed Sgt. Michaels. "From what my scanners are saying, the unidentified Mobile Suit is made of Neo-Titanium."
"I see," said Lt. Millar. "All right, Michaels. Get ready. We’re going in…"
"I’ll have to advise against that," said Lareika Keaghen. Lt. Millar was surprised to see her on her computer screen. She saw that Lareika was the pilot of the Gundam Atomsmash, who she remembered from the incident at Colony GA-85P232.
"What are you talking about?" asked Lt. Millar.
"Ma’am, do you understand that we are the SAMLE –"
"I’ll handle this," said Lt. Millar, cutting off Sgt. Michaels. "What’s going on here?"
"Things are actually a little too hectic around here to explain," said Lareika. "The only thing that I think you can do right now is take care of the Mobile Suits near that spaceship over there…" She indicated the Colonnade, and the Neo-Titanium Mobile Rogues that were boarding it.
"But what about you?" asked Lt. Millar.
"Don’t worry about me," began Lareika, as a small smile crept across her face. "Just stay back and take notes or something…" Ishmael Guilden chuckled.
Riser Caldwell knew when the Gundam Atomsmash Bomber began to slowly walk towards his Gundam that a fight was imminent. He decided that Rannai had fought enough for one day. "Have all of the other members of Final Judgment finished loading the Neo Titanium onto the ship?"
"Yes, sir," replied Rannai.
"Good," said Riser. "Then go back to the Colonnade. I’ll take care of her alone…"
"I understand," said Rannai. The Hardcore Mobile Suit began to join the other Neo-Titanium Suits already on the ship, leaving the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO on its own. The Gundam Atomsmash Bomber still walked towards the Gundam, its footsteps somehow resonating through the soundless vacuum of space.
"You’re the leader of Final Judgment?" asked Lareika.
"Yes," said Riser. "Didn’t I make myself clear already?"
"I don’t really believe you," said Lareika.
"What?" asked Riser. "Why not?"
Lareika was silent for a few seconds. Riser watched with anticipation as Lareika watched calmly as Riser’s eyes struggled to keep steady. "You don’t have the look of someone who would plan something as elaborate as all this," said Lareika, finally.
"Well, I did, all right?" said Riser. "Now, are we going to fight, or what?"
"If you insist," said Lareika, as the Gundam Atomsmash’s Full Bombers rose to attention, and opened up to reveal the Burst Particles. Several of them flew out and formed an energy field around the Gundam, protecting her from energy attacks.
The Gundam Ghostblade ZERO immediately flew towards the Gundam Atomsmash Bomber, its Beam Wings fully extended, ready to strike. The Syringe Sniper was pointed directly at the Atomsmash, but Lareika knew that Riser Caldwell would try to push the Sniper through her force field and then fire. She was prepared.
"There’s no way you can defeat me, so why even try?" asked Riser.
"I’ve learned from our last battle," said Lareika. "I know now that it’s useless to try to get used to any sort of battle style that you might use, since you base your strategy entirely on the capabilities of your opponent…"
When the Ghostblade’s Syringe Sniper stabbed through the Atomsmash’s force field, she deactivated it and pointed all of her available Burst Particles at the Gundam Ghostblade, and fired a hailstorm of laser blasts at it. The Ghostblade stumbled back and covered its front with its Beam Wings, to avoid further onslaught. Then, Riser remembered that the Atomsmash’s Burst Particles could surround his Gundam. He was leaving his Gundam’s hind side open for an attack. The Ghostblade quickly swung its left Beam Wing at her, which was blocked by the force field she quickly put back up. The Gundam Atomsmash Bomber quickly rushed towards the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO, ramming it with its shoulder, knocking it back. The Atomsmash’s Burst Particles then began to repeatedly fire at it from all sides. Then, all but one of them flew away, and several openings on that single remaining Burst Particle revealed themselves, and unleashed a huge explosion. The Beam Wings covered the Ghostblade ZERO, but the Gundam was still blown away, albeit with minimal damage. The Gundam Atomsmash Bomber began slowly walking towards the downed Gundam once again.
"Tell me the truth," said Lareika. "Tell me who’s really in charge of all this…"
"I told you…It’s me…" said Riser. The Gundam Ghostblade ZERO rushed towards the Gundam Atomsmash Bomber and swung its Beam Wings at it. To Riser’s surprise, the Atomsmash counterattacked with a weapon he had never seen before.
Connected to each of the Gundam Atomsmash Bomber’s arms were a pair of Full Bombers. On two of these Full Bombers, one on each arm, an enormous laser blade was now connected. These blades swung at the chest of the Ghostblade ZERO, stunning it, knocking it to one side. Lareika smirked. "Just a little something Tyrahl installed for me. It’s amazing what parts you can get from a few Mobile Rogues…"
An exhausted Riser Caldwell let the grip of his hands on the controls of his Gundam loosen, and his lowered. He felt like giving up and letting the Atomsmash Bomber destroy him right then and there. He barely had the energy to breathe. He didn’t feel like thinking about Kincayde or Rannai or the Mobile Rogues or the Gundams or Death Row or anything at all.
He just wanted out of all of it.
He didn’t want to raise his head to look at his computer screen, to see reality, to see himself losing. But he did, and he looked at the woman staring at him on the video link communication screen. Only it wasn’t Lareika.
He blinked. He didn’t recognize that face from anywhere. He had never seen that woman from anywhere. She had pale skin, gray eyes, and long black hair. She had no clothes, and it was then that he realized, looking around, that he was no longer inside his Gundam. There was nothing but darkness around him.
"Is that what you really want?"
It was a female voice that, despite the fact that Riser had never heard it before, seemed somehow familiar to him. It did not come from this woman’s lips, but some instinct told Riser that she was the source.
"What are you talking about?"
"You just want out of all of it…"
The answer was foremost in Riser’s mind. Deep down, on the surface, and all throughout, it was all he wanted. Without a second’s hesitation, he told her.
"Yes, I do…"
Her eyes closed, and Riser Caldwell was back in his Gundam again. He looked at his computer screen and saw that the Gundam Atomsmash Bomber had backed off, staring into outer space. In the distance, he could see the Gundams Talonfang and Shockwave, their fight stopped, both staring at the same focal point that the Atomsmash did. The Gundam Freakstorm Gear was inching backward, and floating before it was a massive radiance.
The N Gundam glowed, and its particles began to dissipate before their eyes. Riser was nearly blinded by the light, and soon the N Gundam was nothing but a swirling mass of light particles; a miniature, swirling galaxy. These particles were starting to fly towards his Gundam. They began to cover the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO, and swirl around it. Riser’s screen was filled with light, and once again, he found himself somewhere outside of his Mobile Suit. Instead of being placed in darkness, he was enveloped in light. When the light disappeared, Riser and all of the other Gundams were amazed by the spectacle before them.
"His Gundam," struggled Kenzikou. "It’s…changed…"
Riser’s grey Mobile Suit had been enhanced with huge, shimmering armor that covered its entire chassis, provided a dramatic improvement in protection, as well as many other attributes of the Gundam Ghostblade ZERO. The Syringe Sniper had disappeared, but the enormous Beam Wings received an upgrade. The armored engines on the Gundam’s shoulders that had once launched the wings of light were larger, and connected to these machines were enormous wings made of Gundanium, where the energy wings once were. But once Riser Caldwell activated the necessary functions, these six metal wings began to glow, and for each glowing, metal wing, three ethereal, laser wings appeared, seemingly from nowhere, floating near the enormous Mobile Suit, made up of millions upon millions of feathers of light. The N Gundam Ghostblade ZERO was complete.
The eyes of this new Gundam pointed upwards, toward a descending beacon of light, falling closer and closer, slowly but surely, into the cupped hands of the N Ghostblade. The light faded, and Riser Caldwell looked at a large metallic device of some sort. He could make out some serial numbers on it, and a few lights were still on. Riser knew exactly what to do.
The N Gundam Ghostblade tossed the apparatus upwards, away from the Natural Resource Satellite. It flew and spun at an incredible speed. It was a great distance away when the N Ghostblade suddenly flapped its enormous Radiance Wings and dashed up off the Satellite’s surface. The Radiance Wings suddenly clapped together, shooting millions of small, glowing, needle-like Golden Feathers from them. They flew towards the small machine and stuck in them, holding it in place. Riser could have destroyed it right then and there using the explosive capabilities of the Golden Feathers, detonating them right then and there, but he wanted to see what his machine could really do.
The Radiance Wings, all of their tips already converged together at a single point, suddenly flew back, to the Gundam’s full wingspan. A massive burst of energy was released, shooting a gigantic light beam towards the small contraption, and when it hit, a sky-filling explosion of fire soared across space, forcing the other Gundams to retreat from the Natural Resource Satellite. When the light faded, N Ghostblade stood alone on the Satellite, and then shot away from it, away from the Gundams, away from the Hardcore Mobile Suit, away from the Colonnade, away from the SAMLE Squadron, away from Riser Caldwell’s burden of fear and pain. The bomb inside his Gundam had been destroyed. Vaughn Marisson-Kincayde’s Detonation Switch threat was now futile. And Riser Caldwell knew, as he immediately began making plans to find and free the remainder of his Mobile Suit Gang, Death Row, the truth that he had come to recognize, the truth he had become.
"And now," learned Riser. "I am finally free…"
Meanwhile, in what seemed to be another dimension altogether, the protests of Kenzikou Rainier echoed through the stereo speaker systems of the other Mobile Suits present. "Wait a minute!" he yelled. "I’m not finished with you yet!"
"Take it easy, Kenzikou," said Lareika Keaghen. "Just let him go…"
"‘Let him go?’" asked Kenzikou, incredulously. "What do you mean ‘let him go?’ He wants to destroy Earth!"
"No, he doesn’t," said Lareika. "I could sense his apprehension, especially when he gave that little ultimatum of his. My guess is, we won’t be seeing too much of him for a while…"
Kenzikou was speechless. On one hand, he thought Lareika was quite possible the most naïve person alive. On the other, he remembered the odd, yet somehow rational, skeptical feeling he had when he listened to Riser declare his war on Earth. He just found the idea that Riser was behind it all quite hard to believe.
"She’s probably right," thought Kenzikou. "Besides, with a Gundam like that, he could’ve just destroyed us all, let alone the Natural Resource Satellite…"
Kenzikou’s thoughts were interrupted when he saw the Gundam Talonfang Stealth on his screen, flying from behind him, heading towards the Colonnade. "Nathaniel?" he asked.
Lost and alone in his thoughts, Nathaniel disregarded everything around him, facing what was directly in front of him. The Hardcore Mobile Suit stared off into outer space, where the N Gundam Ghostblade ZERO had disappeared.
"Rannai…" was all he could utter when he arrived.
Rannai sat alone in her Mobile Suit, giving no response. She stared at the screen of her computer, trying desperately to zoom her camera in and get a shot of the Gundam as it departed further into the silence. She gave up, and pressed the button on her console to revert it to its default setting. She sat back in her pilot’s chair, her eyes unable to close, realizing what had happened.
"I just can’t believe he got away," thought Rannai. "That bastard…I don’t know how something like that could happen, but it sure as hell did…"
"Rannai…" Nathaniel’s utterance, after the relatively short distance it traveled through space, and the long and winding road it traveled from her ears to her mind, finally managed to register. She looked up at her computer screen, at the sad, sympathetic face on it, and suddenly felt like a lost child in the woods that found her favorite tree, and was ready to sit down and wait until someone came for her.
"Leafy…" she began, whispering, eliciting a look of surprise to spread into Lienfei Nathaniel’s eyes. "Don’t follow me…"
"What?"
"I know you really want to…" she said. "Just don’t…"
"But…I…"
"You know you can’t, Leafy…" she said. And suddenly, Nathaniel had the feeling he was looking into the window of an old and beautiful house, a house he had once lived in, and moved away from at slightly too young an age, through a window that he never expected would open on its own. "It’s for your own good…"
And before he knew it, Nathaniel was watching the Hardcore Mobile Suit float into the Colonnade, and as the bay doors closed, he found himself adamantly resisting the pleas his heart made for him to just let go.
"I think he’s come to his senses," thought Tyrahl Jackson, watching the Gundam Talonfang Stealth. "At least…I hope he has…"
Kenzikou looked through the eyes of his Gundam and saw the small SAMLE Squad Unit hovering near the Colonnade, as several Neo Titanium Mobile Rogues encircled it. Kenzikou wondered why the SAMLES hadn’t attempted to apprehend the Mobile Rogues or the pilots aboard. He decided to ask whoever was in charge.
"So there’s nothing we can do?" asked Lt. Darlene Millar.
"I’ve already called for backup," said Sgt. Ken Michaels. "They’re on the way, but the terrorists in that ship claim that their Main Weapon can destroy the Natural Resource Satellite and rain the fragments down on Earth."
"Is that really possible?" asked Lt. Millar.
"Theoretically, yes," said Sgt. Michaels. "There was a situation similar to that during the Space Colony Revolutionary War. What’s more, there’s all those Mobile Suits guarding it. There’s nothing we can do…"
"I see…" said Lt. Millar. "Sgt. Michaels…"
"Ma’am?"
"As soon as backup arrives, have our Mobile Soldiers attack that ship," said Lt. Millar. "If they can and do fire their Main Weapon, we’ll have the Mobile Soldiers get in the path of the beam. Hopefully, they can block it…"
"I understand, ma’am," said Sgt. Michaels. "But I doubt that would work…"
"So do I," said Lt. Millar. "But right now that’s all we can do…"
"Excuse me…"
Lt. Millar saw another video link communication open on her screen. At first, she was slightly irritated, but then she saw the familiar face and headband of Kenzikou Rainier, and was even more annoyed.
Kenzikou was speechless at first. "Um, hi…" he began, half-smiling. "Hey! Glad to see that injury of yours has healed!"
"What’s he talking about?" asked Sgt. Michaels.
"I’d rather not talk about it…" said Lt. Millar. "Listen, are you all right?"
"You know me, always in one fight or another…" said Kenzikou.
Darlene chuckled. "I must say I was a little worried. You didn’t fight as well as you usually do…"
Kenzikou was slightly embarrassed. "I was up against an especially difficult opponent today…"
"I see," said Darlene.
"So how have you been?" asked Kenzikou.
"Kenzikou…" said Lt. Millar, rather coldly. "Do you really expect me to just shrug all of this off?"
"You’re not going to?" asked Kenzikou, appearing to be surprised.
"Of course not," said Lt. Millar. "You’re breaking the law just by sitting in that Mobile Suit…And that goes for all of you…"
"But…"
"If you come quietly," she began. "You’ll receive a fair trial, and, in light of your service, probably a minimal sentence…"
"Minimal sentence…" said Kenzikou, somewhat cynically. "You know I won’t go quietly…"
Lt. Millar said nothing.
"…And you know I haven’t completed my mission yet," said Kenzikou. "You can go ahead and bring all of the SAMLES Mobile Suits you want…You know that you don’t want to start a fight with us…"
"Fine…" said Lt. Millar.
"We’d better get a move on, then. Their reinforcements are already on the way…" said Tyrahl Jackson. "Lareika, are you coming, too?"
"Yeah," said Lareika.
"What about Nathaniel?" asked Kenzikou.
The Gundam Talonfang Stealth still floated in its position by the Colonnade. Lienfei Nathaniel sat in his Mobile Suit quietly, contemplating, his eyes diminishing, getting smaller and smaller, beneath their closing lids. He received a video link message from Kenzikou.
"Nathaniel," said Kenzikou. "Listen, the rest of the SAMLES is on their way. We’ve gotta get out of here…"
"…Right," said Nathaniel, his eyes slowly growing to their normal size. "Um…Is everyone ready to go?"
"Yeah," said Kenzikou. "Hey, you all right?"
"Don’t worry about it," said Nathaniel. "Where are we going?"
"There’s a Colony not too far away. It’s pretty big, we can get lost there," said Tyrahl.
"Okay," said Nathaniel. "Let’s get ready…"
"Nathaniel, I, uh…um…" began Tyrahl. "I’m sorry…"
"Forget it," said Nathaniel. "It’s my fault, too. I guess I was only blinding myself…I moved too fast for my brain to catch up…"
It was then that several shots from the Mobile Rogues outside the Colonnade rang out at the Gundams and the SAMLES Officers. The Advanced Soldier V325 Mobile Soldiers blocked the shots and returned fire. The Colonnade suddenly activated its engines and jetted away at top speed. The Mobile Rogues then followed after it, as the Gundams Shockwave Storm and Freakstorm Gear fired their Assault Rigs and Buster Rifles at the escaping Rogues, missing each time.
"Crap, they escaped!" said Kenzikou.
"Just forget about it…" said Tyrahl. "I have a feeling we’ll have an opportunity to meet up with them again…"
"Thank God…" thought Nathaniel.
"Let’s go…" said Lareika Keaghen. Her Gundam Atomsmash Bomber launched off the surface of the Natural Resource Satellite towards the Gundam Shockwave Storm. They took off into outer space, followed by the Gundam Talonfang Stealth, and the Gundam Freakstorm Gear, picking up the rear.
"See you again sometime! Bye!" called Kenzikou, as he followed.
"Why aren’t we going after them?" cried Guilden.
"Just calm down," said Sgt. Michaels. "Right now, it’s pointless to try and fight them…They’re way too powerful…"
"Come on," said Lt. Millar. "We’d better head back to base…"
The Gundams and SAMLES flew in opposite directions, flying with the Sun in their horizons, watching them fly further away from each other, further through space, further towards the stars around them…further into the silence…
77"<