LC 26 Febuary 14
NEU Colony Shelter 14, 1.24 PM
“Alright…his vitals have stablised…all his wounds are properly patched…he’ll be fine for now, sir.” “Thank you doctor…” William Gates the 15th said to the paramedic, who then excused himself to tend to other patients in the shelter. It’d been a horrifying day. What was supposed to be an annual Valentines Day Air show had turned into a bloody nuclear mess. His thoughts drifted back to the events of almost an hour ago.
NEU_5 Flight Grounds, 12.36 PM
Everything was going smoothly. He’d cut the ribbon that signaled the start of the event. There was cheering, whistling, rallying cries. Then it happened. A terrific ‘bang’ from above reverberated along the interior of the Colony. The cheering stopped. There was a moment of deafening silence; then a stray beam round pierced through the Colony’s glass walls, shattering the glass panel. Everyone watched, dumbfounded, as a Zaku plunged earthwards, landing violently onto the ground with another, much louder ‘bang’.
It seemed to have an effect on the people, who snapped out of their frozen states and started screaming, running, panicking. “Hurry! To the shelters!” the Mayor of NEU_5 shouted, trying to direct the panic stricken people to safety. “Bill! Help me rally the people!” William nodded and ran after him, trying in vain to stop the citizens of the Colony from running wildly away from the nearest shelters.
Seconds later, he heard a familiar voice. “William!” He turned around to find Peter Newman, the sponsor of the SOLAR Project and an old friend. “Have you seen my son?!” He yelled worryingly. Before William had any chance to reply, Peter froze; then he started to run towards where the Pink Ball was. “Wait, Peter!”
But it was no use. He scanned the area around the Pink coloured Ball. Standing nearby was a twelve year old child. He stood rooted to the ground in fear. Oh no.
Another explosion rocked the ground. William turned back to where his friend was, to find that that spot was now engulfed in soaring flames. No,Peter! Without any hesitation, the middle aged man broke into a sprint toward the child. At that moment the Ball burst apart. Pieces of shrapnel missed William by inches, but they smacked into the kid and blood and flesh tore away from his body. He fell to his knees and collapsed to the ground.
Finally he reached the boy. He quickly slung him over his shoulder and started to head for the nearest shelter. In the background, more explosions; or rather, the rounds of a Mobile Suit’s weapon, tore apart the landscape; destroying cars, breaking apart buildings, tearing away trees, apparently trying to hit the damaged Zaku lying in the field. William was closer to the Shelter’s entrance now. He saw the Mayor, getting the last of the few people he could gather inside. “Hold the door!” William screamed.
The Mayor turned to face him, then he blanched and started to gesture for him to hurry up. William looked behind. From a distance, he could see the Zaku starting to discharge bright sparks of electricity; and that only meant one thing: a nuclear blast was imminent. William approached the entrance and stepped inside. He laid down the child and turned to the door. “Benedict, faster…”
Without warning the opening of the shelter rammed shut with a metallic bang. “Ben!” He shouted, seconds before he was thrown off balance by the shockwave that impacted the shelter. “No!!” The Mayor was gone. He gave up his own life to save his and that of the boy’s. “Dammit!” he shouted, frustrated.
The tremors began to stop only after several minutes. The boy was rushed to the inner sanctuaries of the shelter to paramedics. His operation was completed in an hour.Now he lay before him in the sick bay. William Gates grimaced. Why did this happen?
“Water…” cried a rasp voice. He looked at the child. His eyes were half open, and they were looking straight at him. ‘Wait here,” William assured, running off to get a cup. He hurried out of the sick bay into the main room. The facility was coloured white with shades of light gray, yielding a very futuristic appearance. Overall it held well against the nuclear blast.
There was silence, other than the sound of a weeping woman. The people were huddled together in blankets, faces distraught with sadness and grief. It was a heart wrenching sight.
He returned a minute later with a small plastic cup in hand, only to find that the child was trying to sit upright. William rushed to his aid. “Careful,” he said, putting an extra pillow behind his back for support. The child winced. His breathing was laboured and deep. “Drink up.” William said, handing him the cup. “…thank you.” It was barely audible. His eyes seemed hollow and lifeless. For a long time he sat there, motionless, doing nothing but stare at the cup. Finally he took a sip at the water. Every move that he made seemed to send unbearable pain to his whole body. William decided to make up some conversation.
“Your name,” he began, struggling to remember. “It’s…Keith, right?” The boy looked up. If he was surprised, he didn’t show it. “Yes…” he replied. “Thank you for saving me.” William nodded, not knowing what else to say. He didn’t want to bring up the death of his parents either.
The two sat in silence for a brief while. “My dad; mom…they’re gone, aren’t they.” William looked Keith. He opened his mouth to speak, but he didn’t know how he should respond. “So they are…” The child whispered, looking down into his cup of water. His reflection stared back at him.
”Peter and Catherine…they were good people. I’m sorry I couldn’t help them…” William said. At first no apparent reaction came from the boy, but seconds later his eyes dampened, and tears started flowing down his cheeks. He sniffed and rubbed his eyes, trying in vain to hold back the streaming tears. “Don’t worry. Let it all out.” The boy did, releasing the well of tears that he was keeping. Keith Newman cried long and hard, letting his emotions run free.
William left the room to let him have a moment alone. He sighed. Poor kid...
Outside, in the darkness of space, the Musai II Jr sped off toward Zeon territory. Thanks to the destruction of the Colony they managed to escape. The Zaku IIIs were successfully retrieved, and they were undergoing repairs in the hangar.
16 Year Old engineer Magnus Alexandersson gazed blankly at the fading image of NEU_5 from the Mobile Suit Bay. “So this is war…” he whispered, feeling a chill being sent down his spine. Damned feds…this war needs to stop!
In the meantime, 12 Year Old Keith Newman had calmed down sufficiently to think. This war…it needs to end…!
At that moment, two resolves were put down. These were the very wills that were to change the course of history…forever.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
LOST WAR CHRONICLES Sidestory: Memory
LWC Sidestory: Memory
November 28, LC 43
En route Langrange 2, Side 1 Colony
While being cocooned in the cockpit, Zyann noticed a small palmtop computer behind the pilot seat. On its cover were a picture of a green spherical robot and the name of the book’s owner: John Nigel. Zyann’s heart pumped and she turned it on. On its display were the words “Events In Life”. Then and there she realized that it was her father’s e-diary. She opened it and read on.
[The following are excerpts of the diary entries.]
LC 24, November 15
Oh, I am so nervous. The air-conditioning unit in this dressing room is already in full blast but I can’t keep myself from sweating profusely! This is the most awaited day…the wedding of the millennium!!!
It’s been five years since I proposed to the most beautiful woman that I have ever met, more beautiful than that pink-haired singer that I saw in one concert on earth…I just couldn’t ask for more of this… Seriously…. All I ever wanted is to spend this life with my beloved Darlene. Man, I know it sounds crazy and corny at the same time but this real for me… I think we’d settle in a peaceful neutral colony far from the clutches of either Feds or Zees.
This is all for now… my father-in-law-to-be, Mr. La Flaga is calling me now. I can’t be late in my own wedding!!
LC 25, November 2
“...the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away…” These were the words given to me by the doctor. I don’t know whether to believe that or not… I don’t even know what to feel right now… should I feel joy, because of the life given to me, in a form of hazel-eyed bundle of grace? Or pain, because a life that’s a great part of me has been taken away? It’s like I’m laughing a thousand laughters and dying a thousand deaths at the same time.
I really don’t know what to do next… but thanks to Bill and Mellie, they have proven themselves as my true friends. I don’t feel like writing anymore…It feels like my existence has no meaning now. But then again…
LC 25, November 3
The results just came in. My daughter is confirmed as a “Category B emergence” GENETIC Newtype. And those idiot bigwigs from the empire really got into my nerves!! What do they think I’d just do, give away the only memory of my wife to them?!? TO HELL WITH THEM!!!!
LC 26, January 1
Yes!!! The galactic permit for BASURA Inc. has been released today! This is a blessing in disguise, really. Who would have thought that the director of the releasing bureau is Darlene’s second cousin?! And what’s more, he gave me a very late wedding gift: a second-hand transport/cargo ship! It seems that I’m still blessed…but I still miss her…
But Zyann’s turning 2 months tomorrow!! What a bouncy and energetic baby… I often say to myself, “Darlene’s not really gone. If there is such thing as reincarnation (which I don’t believe XD!), this must be it.” Oops! Gotta go… diaper change.
LC 31, April 2
Bravo 4, November 9. Coordinates of some space debris which we just found. I told the crew to keep mum about it but, hey! Everyone’s juiced and jumpy about it!!! Probably our valuable find for months…
I’m still in a heightened state, thought that we came across a pirate mobile suit on radar but luckily it was a damaged one. It’s a red MS, unlike any of that we found before. We checked the database but it seems that no other MS had been created as this. Even luckier, an unknown technology was also recovered nearby. The only problem is, if ever we declare this find and sell it in the mainstream, all might be confiscated…Hmmmm, I think it’d be better off in the black market… I can imagine the fortune I can give to Zyann through this… No, it’s more than fortune; it’ll be a grand future for her! If only Darlene was here to share my joy…
LC 32, June 25
That Bill, such a crazy man! He talked my right into developing the scraps into a mobile suit?!? Can you believe that? Now, I’m officially an outlaw! I can’t believe this… hopefully no one among my crew’s gonna snitch on me to either the Feds or Zees.
But indeed, MS parts these days are no longer selling like hotcakes… Probably because illegal developments are outlawed. Even factories can mass-produce 100 units in seven months flat. AE turned down my offer, Morgenroate just laughed at me…
Maybe I’ll have to quit this business sooner or later….
LC 32, July 9
The crazy man has done it again!!! Ever since he was able to initialize the MS’s operating system yesterday, he can’t be calmed down… he’s like a three-year old boy who found a HARO in the park!
But I’d be sarcastic to say that I’m not curious…that’s an understatement. But this so-called “Zero System” integrated into the OS is kind of giving me the creeps…and all the combat data recorded…and a certain “Yuy” pilot, did he originally own this MS?
Oh, well. For now, this will be all. Zyann’s gonna attend first grade today, and I can’t miss this in a thousand lifetimes.
LC 32, August 20
The crazy man is no longer crazy; he has gone beyond craziness. All he does is outrageous talk about this system he’s creating for the red MS. Maybe, all tactical engineers are insane people, no offense…Hahahaha!!! But Bill is brilliant, too brilliant for his own good.
We had to spend a lot to transfer all this “mad scientist” work on board Labradorica… We don’t know when the industrial inspection will take place next month.
LC 32, December 16
Today I had a fist fight with the craziest man in the whole galaxy. Though he’s my best friend, but Bill doesn’t have the right to use Zyann’s biometric signature on the MS’s “Aletheia System”… Yeah the crazy man finished his invention. But he’s just rotten as those empire idiots who were after my daughter’s assumed innate ability.
I’ll have them know that my Zyann is not a guinea pig!!!!
LC 33, February 14
It’s the 9th anniversary of the destruction of colony NEU_5 today. We were so busy watching the commemoration ceremony on the bridge monitor that nobody noticed space debris heading in collision with the ship. The largest almost broke the plexiglass in the bridge! The crew scrambled for their normal suits but luckily, it held on. It wasn’t an asteroid fragment, but a COMPLETE ASTRAY HEAD UNIT!!! Probably it was decapitated during its combat but when retrieved, we found out that every hardware part of it is still in a very satisfactory working condition: sensors, cameras, electronic gyroscope, even the CIWS had full ammo.
We retrieved it for our souvenir, as someone among the deck crew suggested to install it in Labradorica’s bow. I said, wow, where did he get that funny idea…and you know what he said? From an Ender ship of a cartoon series he watched as a kid! Can you believe that?
LC 33, March 11
7:46 AM, GMT
An Asian mercenary whom the crazy man contacted secretly arrived today, for the commencement of the developed MS final testing phase. He’s met with suspicion by my crew because of his looks, and nationality. I fumed in front of them, that racism can start a war.
Anyway, this man’s data USB records that he’s Adrian Zowih Frost, 31 years old, born in the forsaken Fed territory Neo Zeeland. That’s all, since all other entries are unknown, not applicable, or classified. But it is interesting to note that he’s a “Category F emergence” ENHANCED Newtype.
9:20 PM, GMT
The test procedure went without a hitch, but the space coordinates will remain a secret. Frost was able to remotely control some independent units and weaponry, based on what we have salvaged two years ago…but it caused him severe migraine after the test that totally changed his temperament and behavior. Bill said that it was due to the fact that Frost was an artificial Newtype, and a category F at that. But the Aletheia System worked as we wanted it to be. All tests yieled 96% results.
11:30 PM, GMT
Bill and I designated the finished MS as a GUNDAM-type tactical assault mobile suit, ASTRAEUS BLAZE. ASTRAEUS is homage to its two significant parts: the Astray head unit and the name “Mercurius” which was originally on its OS.
We also included the mysterious “Macross” technology armaments which, after some in depth analysis, turned out to be a complete electromagnetic pulse module. Hence the name BLAZE, as suggested by the crazy man himself, which stands for Blast Zero EMP module.
It turns out that I am a crazy man myself as well, since I offered to install a barrier generator that we salvaged from a mobile armor years ago. It’s the last equipment to be installed as for now, though it’s just an ordinary technology I-field generator, but the crazy man renamed it H-field or H.A.R.O. field, a hyper anti-beam repelling orb… I laughed my head off on this but still, I’d gotta give it to the man.
As to ASTRAEUS’ use, I don’t know, but primarily it’ll be for Labradorica’s basic defense. But whose gonna pilot it? the only Newtype among us on board is me, but I’m not proficient of the typical abilities, as being a category E emergence genetic Newtype. Besides no one knows about this except Bill.
It’s been a long day, got to take my rest now…
LC 33, June 30
I failed my crew; their hunch was right all along. That mercenary pilot was actually a spy for the Zees!!! We’re on the run now, what a mess… Now my crew is considered fugitives, we can’t go home nor seek refuge in just any colony. Maybe we’d be better off in earth. By and by our supplies, though should last for at most 5 months, will be depleted. It’s all my fault!!!
Astraeus’ development caught the empire’s curiosity; probably they want to use it in the war against the Feds. I’m at loss as to what to do next.
LC 33, September 15
4:03 PM, EST
For more than two and a half months we’ve always been a step ahead of the empires hound dogs. But earlier this day, we’ve been detected in their radar. Now we have a battle cruiser on our tail. For the first time ever, we are preparing of an imminent ship-to-ship battle. The only weapons on hand are of those of Astraeus’…
LC 33, October 31
9:40 AM, EST
We found an oasis in this space desert, a floating island in this ocean of darkness and peril. An abandoned industrial colony came into view. No one knew of its existence as we are way beyond our permitted route.
I made a decision to hide the MS together with Bill and some of our old crew into the colony. Inasmuch as I wanted to hide there too, the least that we can do is to divert the hounds’ attention to us, while the others try to escape. But I have to remain alive…to return to my daughter, whose turning eight two days from now… Got to live through this.
6:00 PM, EST
I finished my recording for Zyann… it was hard to put up a happy and cheerful countenance before the camera… Got me crying real hard… Can’t settle myself… it feels like we won’t be seeing each other again.
Time to transfer the MS and Bill’s group into the colony. Hope that this will not be my last entry into this diary. So what ever happens, I’m slipping this palmtop into the cockpit… May this bring light to Zyann eventually…
----------
Zyann could not determine which is colder; the cockpit, or her heart.
November 28, LC 43
En route Langrange 2, Side 1 Colony
While being cocooned in the cockpit, Zyann noticed a small palmtop computer behind the pilot seat. On its cover were a picture of a green spherical robot and the name of the book’s owner: John Nigel. Zyann’s heart pumped and she turned it on. On its display were the words “Events In Life”. Then and there she realized that it was her father’s e-diary. She opened it and read on.
[The following are excerpts of the diary entries.]
LC 24, November 15
Oh, I am so nervous. The air-conditioning unit in this dressing room is already in full blast but I can’t keep myself from sweating profusely! This is the most awaited day…the wedding of the millennium!!!
It’s been five years since I proposed to the most beautiful woman that I have ever met, more beautiful than that pink-haired singer that I saw in one concert on earth…I just couldn’t ask for more of this… Seriously…. All I ever wanted is to spend this life with my beloved Darlene. Man, I know it sounds crazy and corny at the same time but this real for me… I think we’d settle in a peaceful neutral colony far from the clutches of either Feds or Zees.
This is all for now… my father-in-law-to-be, Mr. La Flaga is calling me now. I can’t be late in my own wedding!!
LC 25, November 2
“...the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away…” These were the words given to me by the doctor. I don’t know whether to believe that or not… I don’t even know what to feel right now… should I feel joy, because of the life given to me, in a form of hazel-eyed bundle of grace? Or pain, because a life that’s a great part of me has been taken away? It’s like I’m laughing a thousand laughters and dying a thousand deaths at the same time.
I really don’t know what to do next… but thanks to Bill and Mellie, they have proven themselves as my true friends. I don’t feel like writing anymore…It feels like my existence has no meaning now. But then again…
LC 25, November 3
The results just came in. My daughter is confirmed as a “Category B emergence” GENETIC Newtype. And those idiot bigwigs from the empire really got into my nerves!! What do they think I’d just do, give away the only memory of my wife to them?!? TO HELL WITH THEM!!!!
LC 26, January 1
Yes!!! The galactic permit for BASURA Inc. has been released today! This is a blessing in disguise, really. Who would have thought that the director of the releasing bureau is Darlene’s second cousin?! And what’s more, he gave me a very late wedding gift: a second-hand transport/cargo ship! It seems that I’m still blessed…but I still miss her…
But Zyann’s turning 2 months tomorrow!! What a bouncy and energetic baby… I often say to myself, “Darlene’s not really gone. If there is such thing as reincarnation (which I don’t believe XD!), this must be it.” Oops! Gotta go… diaper change.
LC 31, April 2
Bravo 4, November 9. Coordinates of some space debris which we just found. I told the crew to keep mum about it but, hey! Everyone’s juiced and jumpy about it!!! Probably our valuable find for months…
I’m still in a heightened state, thought that we came across a pirate mobile suit on radar but luckily it was a damaged one. It’s a red MS, unlike any of that we found before. We checked the database but it seems that no other MS had been created as this. Even luckier, an unknown technology was also recovered nearby. The only problem is, if ever we declare this find and sell it in the mainstream, all might be confiscated…Hmmmm, I think it’d be better off in the black market… I can imagine the fortune I can give to Zyann through this… No, it’s more than fortune; it’ll be a grand future for her! If only Darlene was here to share my joy…
LC 32, June 25
That Bill, such a crazy man! He talked my right into developing the scraps into a mobile suit?!? Can you believe that? Now, I’m officially an outlaw! I can’t believe this… hopefully no one among my crew’s gonna snitch on me to either the Feds or Zees.
But indeed, MS parts these days are no longer selling like hotcakes… Probably because illegal developments are outlawed. Even factories can mass-produce 100 units in seven months flat. AE turned down my offer, Morgenroate just laughed at me…
Maybe I’ll have to quit this business sooner or later….
LC 32, July 9
The crazy man has done it again!!! Ever since he was able to initialize the MS’s operating system yesterday, he can’t be calmed down… he’s like a three-year old boy who found a HARO in the park!
But I’d be sarcastic to say that I’m not curious…that’s an understatement. But this so-called “Zero System” integrated into the OS is kind of giving me the creeps…and all the combat data recorded…and a certain “Yuy” pilot, did he originally own this MS?
Oh, well. For now, this will be all. Zyann’s gonna attend first grade today, and I can’t miss this in a thousand lifetimes.
LC 32, August 20
The crazy man is no longer crazy; he has gone beyond craziness. All he does is outrageous talk about this system he’s creating for the red MS. Maybe, all tactical engineers are insane people, no offense…Hahahaha!!! But Bill is brilliant, too brilliant for his own good.
We had to spend a lot to transfer all this “mad scientist” work on board Labradorica… We don’t know when the industrial inspection will take place next month.
LC 32, December 16
Today I had a fist fight with the craziest man in the whole galaxy. Though he’s my best friend, but Bill doesn’t have the right to use Zyann’s biometric signature on the MS’s “Aletheia System”… Yeah the crazy man finished his invention. But he’s just rotten as those empire idiots who were after my daughter’s assumed innate ability.
I’ll have them know that my Zyann is not a guinea pig!!!!
LC 33, February 14
It’s the 9th anniversary of the destruction of colony NEU_5 today. We were so busy watching the commemoration ceremony on the bridge monitor that nobody noticed space debris heading in collision with the ship. The largest almost broke the plexiglass in the bridge! The crew scrambled for their normal suits but luckily, it held on. It wasn’t an asteroid fragment, but a COMPLETE ASTRAY HEAD UNIT!!! Probably it was decapitated during its combat but when retrieved, we found out that every hardware part of it is still in a very satisfactory working condition: sensors, cameras, electronic gyroscope, even the CIWS had full ammo.
We retrieved it for our souvenir, as someone among the deck crew suggested to install it in Labradorica’s bow. I said, wow, where did he get that funny idea…and you know what he said? From an Ender ship of a cartoon series he watched as a kid! Can you believe that?
LC 33, March 11
7:46 AM, GMT
An Asian mercenary whom the crazy man contacted secretly arrived today, for the commencement of the developed MS final testing phase. He’s met with suspicion by my crew because of his looks, and nationality. I fumed in front of them, that racism can start a war.
Anyway, this man’s data USB records that he’s Adrian Zowih Frost, 31 years old, born in the forsaken Fed territory Neo Zeeland. That’s all, since all other entries are unknown, not applicable, or classified. But it is interesting to note that he’s a “Category F emergence” ENHANCED Newtype.
9:20 PM, GMT
The test procedure went without a hitch, but the space coordinates will remain a secret. Frost was able to remotely control some independent units and weaponry, based on what we have salvaged two years ago…but it caused him severe migraine after the test that totally changed his temperament and behavior. Bill said that it was due to the fact that Frost was an artificial Newtype, and a category F at that. But the Aletheia System worked as we wanted it to be. All tests yieled 96% results.
11:30 PM, GMT
Bill and I designated the finished MS as a GUNDAM-type tactical assault mobile suit, ASTRAEUS BLAZE. ASTRAEUS is homage to its two significant parts: the Astray head unit and the name “Mercurius” which was originally on its OS.
We also included the mysterious “Macross” technology armaments which, after some in depth analysis, turned out to be a complete electromagnetic pulse module. Hence the name BLAZE, as suggested by the crazy man himself, which stands for Blast Zero EMP module.
It turns out that I am a crazy man myself as well, since I offered to install a barrier generator that we salvaged from a mobile armor years ago. It’s the last equipment to be installed as for now, though it’s just an ordinary technology I-field generator, but the crazy man renamed it H-field or H.A.R.O. field, a hyper anti-beam repelling orb… I laughed my head off on this but still, I’d gotta give it to the man.
As to ASTRAEUS’ use, I don’t know, but primarily it’ll be for Labradorica’s basic defense. But whose gonna pilot it? the only Newtype among us on board is me, but I’m not proficient of the typical abilities, as being a category E emergence genetic Newtype. Besides no one knows about this except Bill.
It’s been a long day, got to take my rest now…
LC 33, June 30
I failed my crew; their hunch was right all along. That mercenary pilot was actually a spy for the Zees!!! We’re on the run now, what a mess… Now my crew is considered fugitives, we can’t go home nor seek refuge in just any colony. Maybe we’d be better off in earth. By and by our supplies, though should last for at most 5 months, will be depleted. It’s all my fault!!!
Astraeus’ development caught the empire’s curiosity; probably they want to use it in the war against the Feds. I’m at loss as to what to do next.
LC 33, September 15
4:03 PM, EST
For more than two and a half months we’ve always been a step ahead of the empires hound dogs. But earlier this day, we’ve been detected in their radar. Now we have a battle cruiser on our tail. For the first time ever, we are preparing of an imminent ship-to-ship battle. The only weapons on hand are of those of Astraeus’…
LC 33, October 31
9:40 AM, EST
We found an oasis in this space desert, a floating island in this ocean of darkness and peril. An abandoned industrial colony came into view. No one knew of its existence as we are way beyond our permitted route.
I made a decision to hide the MS together with Bill and some of our old crew into the colony. Inasmuch as I wanted to hide there too, the least that we can do is to divert the hounds’ attention to us, while the others try to escape. But I have to remain alive…to return to my daughter, whose turning eight two days from now… Got to live through this.
6:00 PM, EST
I finished my recording for Zyann… it was hard to put up a happy and cheerful countenance before the camera… Got me crying real hard… Can’t settle myself… it feels like we won’t be seeing each other again.
Time to transfer the MS and Bill’s group into the colony. Hope that this will not be my last entry into this diary. So what ever happens, I’m slipping this palmtop into the cockpit… May this bring light to Zyann eventually…
----------
Zyann could not determine which is colder; the cockpit, or her heart.
LOST WAR CHRONICLES Sidestory: The Beginning
LC 24 February 14th
Colony NEU_5
Keith ran, excited, out of his house and into the lawn before his patio. He took a deep breath. Today’s the day. “Mom, Dad! Hurry up; we’re gonna miss the performance!” The twelve-year-old shouted. In moments a man and a woman, both in their early thirties, stepped out of the house. “Slow down son! The show is starting in 30 minutes. We’ve plenty of time, right Catherine?” The man smiled, looking over to his wife. “Indeed, Peter.” Catherine replied, returning the smile.
“Damned feds!” Richard cursed. GM IIs were closing in on his Rick Dom Custom, and he was by far on the losing side. The fighting had started about an hour before, when a his subordinate insulted an Earth Federation pilot. The event ended in violence. This gave all the excuse his soldiers needed to open fire…and it also gave an excuse for the Feds to retaliate. As the battle dragged on, Federation reinforcements arrived. His team, however, was losing numbers. Richard recalled seeing David, Domovio, Tommy, Kenneth, and several others being shot down by Feddies. Now it was only him, Yuuki, Joseph, Aziel, and Edd. A few other conficts like this had happened before, and Rick was surprised that the Empire had not yet declared war upon the Federation.
A sudden rush of static brought Richard out from his daydream. “Edward!” He shouted as he put his MS into reverse. There was no reply. Now it was just the 4 of them. “Everyone, pull back! We won’t last longer if we continue to fight! Time to go!” Richard barked. The GMs were still onto him. Fools. They began to fire, and Rick easily dodged the shower of attacks brought upon him. In response, stopped his MS and flew forwards, activating his Beam Saber. The GMs desperately tried to change course, but the Dom was faster and more agile. In two swipes, the GMs were sliced into two. Fortunately there was no blast. His monitor beeped, and live images of several other advancing GMs made the Zeon pilot clench his teeth. “I’ll make you pay, Federation.”
Jumping into the car, the boy waited, fairly impatiently for his parents, who were still strolling across the lawn, chatting with one another. When his dad finally got his butt on the driver’s seat, Keith started to protest loudly, saying how late they would be, what an embarrassment they’d become. It took menacing glares from both Peter and Catherine to stop his screams of unhappiness. “We’ll be there in 15.” Peter said simply. Keith checked his watch. 25 minutes left.
The reason behind the young lad’s excitement was this: There’d be an air show in the centre of town. Last year, space fighter jets had carved a symbol of a pink heart in the sky. Rumour has it that this year a Mobile Armour would do it. The news immediately piqued his interest in the Valentine’s Day Air show. Maybe next year we’ll have an actually Mobile Suit performing. The thought made him smile in anticipation. Though I really wish a Mobile Suit would appear today…
Richard Diaz ran a scan of the area, hoping that the GMs were no longer on their tails. No such luck. He was flying behind the Musai II Jr, acting as its escort. His teammates had returned inside for repairs. Rick’s Mobile Suit was the least damaged, therefore he volunteered to guard the Musai as the rest of his team finished their repairs. As they neared Side 5, a horrible reality dawned on Richard and his cohort. No…a Federation Space ship? This is bad…the squad behind them must have ratted on the conflict. The group was now considered to be hostile.
Their need for concern increased when the Irish class Battle Ship deployed 4 GM IIs. Crap.
Miraculously…they made it in time. Keith breathed a sigh of relief. Anxiously he yanked open the door and rushed to the field. Thousands of people had gathered to watch, and indeed, there was a Mobile Armour. “Oh my god, it’s a Ball!” He squealed. The boy’s pulse rate rose as he inched closer to it. “It’s an RB-79…except that it’s pink…and the cannon is facing…backwards?” Meanwhile Peter and Catherine Newman rushed to catch up with their son. “I remember when I was his age,” Peter recalled. “I’d react exactly like that.” He finished, grinning. Catherine smiled. “I guess boys will always be boys...” She shrugged. The air show was going to start, and the Mayor of NEU_5 stepped onto the Rostrum. “Today, on Valentine’s Day…”
“This is Yuuki Sato! Zaku III, heading out!” The catapults on the launch pad of the Musai II roared to life and pulled the Zaku III forwards, flinging it into the darkness of space. Yuuki counted the enemies. “12 in total…we’re in deep shit.” He cursed. Behind him, a second, then a third Zaku III was launched. They were the Musai’s last line of defense. “Yuuki, you guard the front and sides of the Musai with Joseph and Aziel! I’ll handle the ones coming from the back!” The team leader, Richard ordered. “Yes sir!” The three cried in unison. The Musai’s thrusters flared up and the battleship accelerated to maximum speed. Here goes nothing…
The first wave of attacks came in the form of long range missiles. The Zakus shot them down with ease. The GMs were closer now, and the ones in front raised their Beam Rifles and started to fire. The three Zakus returned the shots, which were simply dodged by the GM IIs. They were even closer now. “Screw it! I’m going to kill those Federation scum!” Aziel scowled, rushing forwards. “Aziel! You’re breaking formation!” Yuuki called out, but his words fell on deaf ears. “DIE!” Aziel screamed, bringing down his Beam Axe on a nearby GM. The attack was so sudden the pilot never had the chance to react. The Beam Axe ruthlessly slashed through the cockpit, instantly killing the unfortunate pilot. “Come on!” Aziel taunted, but was cut short as a GM II rushed in from it’s side, ramming it’s torso into Aziel’s Zaku III. He screamed as his head rocked back and forth, smashing itself against the small monitor located in front of the seat and the chair. The GM armed itself with a Beam Saber and lunged forward. “As if I’ll let you do that!” Yuuki yelled. He raised his Beam Rifle and fired, tearing off the GM’s arms. It gave enough time for Aziel to escape; and subsequently to strike back, and of course, Aziel being Aziel did just that.
“And so, I would like to invite Sir William Gates The 14th, to cut the ribbon and begin the Valentine’s Day event!” The Mayor proudly declared. Oh hurry it up! I wanna see the Ball in action! Keith thought. He’d ignored the past few minutes of speech, and was instead admiring the Ball. As the person the Mayor mentioned stepped up the stage, Keith looked away again, diverting his attention to the Ball. Then he saw something. A very disturbing yet very cool something. In the layer of glass that protected the Ball’s ‘eye’, he could see a Musai II nearing the Colony. His gaze drifted upwards to the Colony’s glass layer and he froze, staring wide eyed at the events that were taking place beyond NEU_5. Oh no.
“YOU’LL PAY!!!” Aziel exclaimed, plunging his Beam Tomahawk into the GM II. The tomahawk tore through the GM like a knife would through paper, and seconds later the MS was engulfed by a ball of purple light. “Aziel that spiteful-!” Yuuki began, but was cut off when a beam ripped through the darkness out of the blue, scorching the Zaku II’s left shoulder. Yuuki was thrown off balance, and the next thing he knew, another shot had struck his MS that destroyed its left arm and a chunk of its shoulder completely. “They have a sniper!” was all Yuuki could say before he plunged downwards, slamming onto the Colony wall facing downwards. It knocked him out.
Then the third shot came, sawing off the Zaku’s leg and narrowly missing the cockpit. In the process the Colony’s glass exterior shattered, and the Zaku was forced inside.
By that time, everyone in the Colony had noticed. Everyone froze. The people of NEU_5 could only stare at the events unfolding outside the Colony. Then the inevitable happened. One of the Zakus got damaged and was thrown against the glass wall, causing cracks to appear. Another shot helped break it, the sudden force throwing the Zaku III inwards. The unit was facing the ground, and suddenly its thrusters rumbled to life, bringing the Mobile Suit crashing down.
All hell broke lose.
The tremendous shaking woke Yuuki up. “What…” He mumbled, before realizing what serious trouble he was in. “I am going to die.”
As the Zaku collided with the earth, a humongous ‘bang’ was heard that reverberated throughout the Colony’s interior. People ran away from the site immediately. There was screaming, crying, all sorts of noises. Keith could only stare. He stood rooted to the ground in fear, and he could feel his legs liquefying. “Keith!” The boy’s head shot round. It was his dad. Oh how he had wanted to shout ‘father’, but when his mouth opened nothing came out.
Next, the boy saw a blur approaching his father. NO! The blur turned into a large explosion, a burning inferno of flames. His father was gone. As the boy struggled to control the emotions welling up within him, a second blast occurred nearby. It was the Ball. His head instinctively turned over to the direction where the blast was, and suddenly his body was impacted by shrapnel. Pieces of metal gored through his torso and thighs, and one put a large gash at his left eyebrow. His staggered backwards and collapsed to his knees. He could feel his life force fading, and as darkness ate into the corners of his vision, he saw a middle aged man running towards him. Everything went black.
Yuuki blinked. I’m still…alive? Weakly, he tapped several buttons and pushed the throttle forwards. The heavily damaged Zaku III pushed itself off the ground. It was a wrong move, for one of the GM’s noticed this, and thus its pilot had decided to end the Zaku’s misery. The federation pilot eased his MS into the Colony and tried to balance his suit while it got buffeted by escaping air. Nonetheless he pulled the trigger. The GM II’s machine rifle started up and started propelling rounds into the Colony. A few were off, and some had accidentally destroyed what looked like a Ball.
But at last it hit, and the Zaku crumpled back onto the ground. The GM landed, and the federation pilot took his MS in for a closer look at the fallen enemy Mobile Suit. “All in a day’s work, I guess.” He shrugged, but as he turned to leave the MS’s temperature started to increase rapidly. The Minovsky particle count spiked.
“OH SHIT!” He growled, jamming his foot on the gas. But it was too late. The Zaku III exploded, and the GM was quickly engulfed in the explosion, causing the federation Mobile Suit to go ‘boom’ as well. Everything in the colony burst into flames, and the explosion overwhelmed the burning buildings and people as clouds of radioactive dust swept through NEU_5. A familiar mushroom cloud materialized, and shortly after it was gone, for the hole in the colony had sucked out the dust and debris. Everything in NEU_5 ceased to exist…
Or at least, almost everything.
Colony NEU_5
Keith ran, excited, out of his house and into the lawn before his patio. He took a deep breath. Today’s the day. “Mom, Dad! Hurry up; we’re gonna miss the performance!” The twelve-year-old shouted. In moments a man and a woman, both in their early thirties, stepped out of the house. “Slow down son! The show is starting in 30 minutes. We’ve plenty of time, right Catherine?” The man smiled, looking over to his wife. “Indeed, Peter.” Catherine replied, returning the smile.
“Damned feds!” Richard cursed. GM IIs were closing in on his Rick Dom Custom, and he was by far on the losing side. The fighting had started about an hour before, when a his subordinate insulted an Earth Federation pilot. The event ended in violence. This gave all the excuse his soldiers needed to open fire…and it also gave an excuse for the Feds to retaliate. As the battle dragged on, Federation reinforcements arrived. His team, however, was losing numbers. Richard recalled seeing David, Domovio, Tommy, Kenneth, and several others being shot down by Feddies. Now it was only him, Yuuki, Joseph, Aziel, and Edd. A few other conficts like this had happened before, and Rick was surprised that the Empire had not yet declared war upon the Federation.
A sudden rush of static brought Richard out from his daydream. “Edward!” He shouted as he put his MS into reverse. There was no reply. Now it was just the 4 of them. “Everyone, pull back! We won’t last longer if we continue to fight! Time to go!” Richard barked. The GMs were still onto him. Fools. They began to fire, and Rick easily dodged the shower of attacks brought upon him. In response, stopped his MS and flew forwards, activating his Beam Saber. The GMs desperately tried to change course, but the Dom was faster and more agile. In two swipes, the GMs were sliced into two. Fortunately there was no blast. His monitor beeped, and live images of several other advancing GMs made the Zeon pilot clench his teeth. “I’ll make you pay, Federation.”
Jumping into the car, the boy waited, fairly impatiently for his parents, who were still strolling across the lawn, chatting with one another. When his dad finally got his butt on the driver’s seat, Keith started to protest loudly, saying how late they would be, what an embarrassment they’d become. It took menacing glares from both Peter and Catherine to stop his screams of unhappiness. “We’ll be there in 15.” Peter said simply. Keith checked his watch. 25 minutes left.
The reason behind the young lad’s excitement was this: There’d be an air show in the centre of town. Last year, space fighter jets had carved a symbol of a pink heart in the sky. Rumour has it that this year a Mobile Armour would do it. The news immediately piqued his interest in the Valentine’s Day Air show. Maybe next year we’ll have an actually Mobile Suit performing. The thought made him smile in anticipation. Though I really wish a Mobile Suit would appear today…
Richard Diaz ran a scan of the area, hoping that the GMs were no longer on their tails. No such luck. He was flying behind the Musai II Jr, acting as its escort. His teammates had returned inside for repairs. Rick’s Mobile Suit was the least damaged, therefore he volunteered to guard the Musai as the rest of his team finished their repairs. As they neared Side 5, a horrible reality dawned on Richard and his cohort. No…a Federation Space ship? This is bad…the squad behind them must have ratted on the conflict. The group was now considered to be hostile.
Their need for concern increased when the Irish class Battle Ship deployed 4 GM IIs. Crap.
Miraculously…they made it in time. Keith breathed a sigh of relief. Anxiously he yanked open the door and rushed to the field. Thousands of people had gathered to watch, and indeed, there was a Mobile Armour. “Oh my god, it’s a Ball!” He squealed. The boy’s pulse rate rose as he inched closer to it. “It’s an RB-79…except that it’s pink…and the cannon is facing…backwards?” Meanwhile Peter and Catherine Newman rushed to catch up with their son. “I remember when I was his age,” Peter recalled. “I’d react exactly like that.” He finished, grinning. Catherine smiled. “I guess boys will always be boys...” She shrugged. The air show was going to start, and the Mayor of NEU_5 stepped onto the Rostrum. “Today, on Valentine’s Day…”
“This is Yuuki Sato! Zaku III, heading out!” The catapults on the launch pad of the Musai II roared to life and pulled the Zaku III forwards, flinging it into the darkness of space. Yuuki counted the enemies. “12 in total…we’re in deep shit.” He cursed. Behind him, a second, then a third Zaku III was launched. They were the Musai’s last line of defense. “Yuuki, you guard the front and sides of the Musai with Joseph and Aziel! I’ll handle the ones coming from the back!” The team leader, Richard ordered. “Yes sir!” The three cried in unison. The Musai’s thrusters flared up and the battleship accelerated to maximum speed. Here goes nothing…
The first wave of attacks came in the form of long range missiles. The Zakus shot them down with ease. The GMs were closer now, and the ones in front raised their Beam Rifles and started to fire. The three Zakus returned the shots, which were simply dodged by the GM IIs. They were even closer now. “Screw it! I’m going to kill those Federation scum!” Aziel scowled, rushing forwards. “Aziel! You’re breaking formation!” Yuuki called out, but his words fell on deaf ears. “DIE!” Aziel screamed, bringing down his Beam Axe on a nearby GM. The attack was so sudden the pilot never had the chance to react. The Beam Axe ruthlessly slashed through the cockpit, instantly killing the unfortunate pilot. “Come on!” Aziel taunted, but was cut short as a GM II rushed in from it’s side, ramming it’s torso into Aziel’s Zaku III. He screamed as his head rocked back and forth, smashing itself against the small monitor located in front of the seat and the chair. The GM armed itself with a Beam Saber and lunged forward. “As if I’ll let you do that!” Yuuki yelled. He raised his Beam Rifle and fired, tearing off the GM’s arms. It gave enough time for Aziel to escape; and subsequently to strike back, and of course, Aziel being Aziel did just that.
“And so, I would like to invite Sir William Gates The 14th, to cut the ribbon and begin the Valentine’s Day event!” The Mayor proudly declared. Oh hurry it up! I wanna see the Ball in action! Keith thought. He’d ignored the past few minutes of speech, and was instead admiring the Ball. As the person the Mayor mentioned stepped up the stage, Keith looked away again, diverting his attention to the Ball. Then he saw something. A very disturbing yet very cool something. In the layer of glass that protected the Ball’s ‘eye’, he could see a Musai II nearing the Colony. His gaze drifted upwards to the Colony’s glass layer and he froze, staring wide eyed at the events that were taking place beyond NEU_5. Oh no.
“YOU’LL PAY!!!” Aziel exclaimed, plunging his Beam Tomahawk into the GM II. The tomahawk tore through the GM like a knife would through paper, and seconds later the MS was engulfed by a ball of purple light. “Aziel that spiteful-!” Yuuki began, but was cut off when a beam ripped through the darkness out of the blue, scorching the Zaku II’s left shoulder. Yuuki was thrown off balance, and the next thing he knew, another shot had struck his MS that destroyed its left arm and a chunk of its shoulder completely. “They have a sniper!” was all Yuuki could say before he plunged downwards, slamming onto the Colony wall facing downwards. It knocked him out.
Then the third shot came, sawing off the Zaku’s leg and narrowly missing the cockpit. In the process the Colony’s glass exterior shattered, and the Zaku was forced inside.
By that time, everyone in the Colony had noticed. Everyone froze. The people of NEU_5 could only stare at the events unfolding outside the Colony. Then the inevitable happened. One of the Zakus got damaged and was thrown against the glass wall, causing cracks to appear. Another shot helped break it, the sudden force throwing the Zaku III inwards. The unit was facing the ground, and suddenly its thrusters rumbled to life, bringing the Mobile Suit crashing down.
All hell broke lose.
The tremendous shaking woke Yuuki up. “What…” He mumbled, before realizing what serious trouble he was in. “I am going to die.”
As the Zaku collided with the earth, a humongous ‘bang’ was heard that reverberated throughout the Colony’s interior. People ran away from the site immediately. There was screaming, crying, all sorts of noises. Keith could only stare. He stood rooted to the ground in fear, and he could feel his legs liquefying. “Keith!” The boy’s head shot round. It was his dad. Oh how he had wanted to shout ‘father’, but when his mouth opened nothing came out.
Next, the boy saw a blur approaching his father. NO! The blur turned into a large explosion, a burning inferno of flames. His father was gone. As the boy struggled to control the emotions welling up within him, a second blast occurred nearby. It was the Ball. His head instinctively turned over to the direction where the blast was, and suddenly his body was impacted by shrapnel. Pieces of metal gored through his torso and thighs, and one put a large gash at his left eyebrow. His staggered backwards and collapsed to his knees. He could feel his life force fading, and as darkness ate into the corners of his vision, he saw a middle aged man running towards him. Everything went black.
Yuuki blinked. I’m still…alive? Weakly, he tapped several buttons and pushed the throttle forwards. The heavily damaged Zaku III pushed itself off the ground. It was a wrong move, for one of the GM’s noticed this, and thus its pilot had decided to end the Zaku’s misery. The federation pilot eased his MS into the Colony and tried to balance his suit while it got buffeted by escaping air. Nonetheless he pulled the trigger. The GM II’s machine rifle started up and started propelling rounds into the Colony. A few were off, and some had accidentally destroyed what looked like a Ball.
But at last it hit, and the Zaku crumpled back onto the ground. The GM landed, and the federation pilot took his MS in for a closer look at the fallen enemy Mobile Suit. “All in a day’s work, I guess.” He shrugged, but as he turned to leave the MS’s temperature started to increase rapidly. The Minovsky particle count spiked.
“OH SHIT!” He growled, jamming his foot on the gas. But it was too late. The Zaku III exploded, and the GM was quickly engulfed in the explosion, causing the federation Mobile Suit to go ‘boom’ as well. Everything in the colony burst into flames, and the explosion overwhelmed the burning buildings and people as clouds of radioactive dust swept through NEU_5. A familiar mushroom cloud materialized, and shortly after it was gone, for the hole in the colony had sucked out the dust and debris. Everything in NEU_5 ceased to exist…
Or at least, almost everything.
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