"What the hell is happening out there?!" Lt. Colonel Yang demanded as the Anzio and her escorts arrived at the blocking position. Any Zeon units wanting to escape would have to go through them first.

"Two Musais and a Tibe have destroyed along with most of the enemy mobile suits, however..." the communications officer started before being cut off by an explosion, "****! That Gwajin type is here!"

Yang took a quick look outside and saw the cruiser Quatre Bras slowly tilting over, covered in smoke. That damn red monster! "Target that *******! Open fire!" he ordered.

"Sir! High energy beam coming from below!" a lookout reported in a panicked voice.

"WHAT?!" Yang shouted. The floor under him seemed to break apart a moment later.
-----------------------------

"Got'm!" Billy Richardson, pilot of the Gelgoog Cannon (right), remarked as his shot hit the Salamis. It wasn't a fatal hit yet, but the Salamis was now trailing smoke while several secondary explosions rocked its hull.

"Keep firing Billy," Ming Chow advised as he fired a burst off to the pursuing GM Sniper. It missed.

Max Harper quickly took aim at the Ming's Gelgoog Jaeger as soon as he evaded the burst, and the enemy mobile suit entered the center of his sights. Another burst followed, but Max managed to get the shot off before evading.

"Damn you!" Ming growled as he barely evaded the the shot fired by the sniper. Suddenly, there was an explosion behind him. Ming turned and saw to his horror that Billy's Gelgoog Cannon had been blown in half, its wrecked internal circuitry trailing out of the dismembered portions. To further add to the gruesome scene, blood trickled out of the Gelgoog's upper torso, announcing the death of yet another Zeon pilot.

"Captain Ming!" General Wavell suddenly ordered, "Return to the Bismark now!"

Ming growled in frustration. He wanted revenge. That sniper had killed one too many...

"Ming! Look out!" Mike warned as another beam headed off in Ming's direction.

Ming quickly realized that the sniper was still ging for him and tried to evade. This time he failed, losing an arm to the beam. Several other Federation mobile suits had now caught up with the sniper, and they were seriously outnumbered.

"Ming... Out of here, now!" Mike warned as he turned around and started heading towards the Bismark.

"I'm coming," Ming replied in a frustrated voice. That sniper... I'll get you someday...
-----------------------------

"Lady Luck, please watch over us a little longer..." Major Miles prayed as his ship barely evaded a volley of beams fired by the escorting Musai. The Johnston was the luckiest damn ship in the entire Federation space fleet after all... The Johnston was suddenly rocked by an explosion. ****, Miles thought, we just had to run out... "Damage report!"

"That was the Quatre Bras exploding sir," the communications officer reported, "We're still in one piece."

"What's the status of the Anzio?" Miles demanded as he turned to the heavily damaged cruiser. It suddenly fired a volley of beams in the direction of the Gwajin.
-----------------------------

"Mike!" Ming screamed as he saw a volley of beams head straight for the Bismark, Mike's Rick Dom II right in their path. Mike tried to evade, but to Ming's horror Mike was caught in one of the beams, slicing off both of its legs. Ming turned in anger at the cruiser that had fired and aimed straight at its bridge...
-----------------------------

"We hit him sir!" the Anzio's gunnery officer reported.

"We caused some structural damage," a lookout reported, "But enemy guns are still operational."

"Alright," Yang ordered as he pressed his hand on his shoulder. Damn shrapnel, he thought, "Begin evasive..."

"Sir!" the lookout suddenly reported in a panicked voice, "The ace is aiming right at us! He's firing!"
-----------------------------

"Take that you *******!" Ming shouted in delight as he saw the enemy ship's bridge flare up. A backup volley of beams from the Bismark quickly finished it off.

"Remind me not to get you mad, Ming..." a voice told him. To Ming's utter relief, it was Mike.

"Mike, are you alright?" Ming asked as he pulled his Jaeger just beside Mike's damaged Rick Dom II.

"Yeah..." Mike started before realizing to his horror that the sniper was just behind Ming, already aiming its beam rifle, "Look out Ming!" he screamed as he pushed the Jaeger away.

"Mike..." Ming started as his Jaeger began to tumble away from the Rick Dom II. To his horror, the beam meant for him struck the Rick Dom II right in the chest instead, turning it into a glowing ball of death a second later.

"MIKE!" Ming screamed in pure rage as he saw that. He turned, and saw the sniper, his eyes now burning in anger. He fired madly at it, missing and missing again, until finally getting a scratch hit on the leg. But then it turned at him and fired back, narrowly severing his remaining arm.

"Captain! Return NOW!" General Wavell ordered. With only one Salamis left in action, his two remaining ships could now slip pass the blockade. And he was going whether Ming was with them or not.

Ming very badly wanted to fire more, and kill. To kill the taker of so many Zeon lives. The killer of his best friend. But ammuniton was almost out, as was fuel, and Ming's military training had begun to take over once again. With the greatest reluctance, he turned away and headed towards the Bismark. Tears flowed down his cheeks all the way.
-----------------------------

"Damn it, they're getting away!" Major Miles growled as he saw the Bismark start outrunning them, closely followed by its escort Musai. I'll get'm for you, Yang...

"Missile approaching!" the lookout reported in a panicked tone, "Heading straight for us!"

"Evade! Evade!" Major Miles ordered. Suddenly a huge Zeon missile pooped up right in front of his bridge, and he knew it was too late...
-----------------------------

"Damn..." Max muttered to himself as the ace entered the enemy ship's hangar. He wanted to pursue, but with the Johnston badly damaged as well as his own thrusters, it was impossible. He quickly flew past the Johnston's bridge, its outer glass panels all shattered by the missile hit. Her luck finally seemed to...

"Major Miles here," the Johnston's wounded, but still living CO reported, "It was a dud! A dud! Man is it good to be alive!"

"How bad?" Max replied in a calmer tone. He shook his head. Johnston had more lives than a family of cats.

"Most of the bridge crew is wounded, but none seriously," the Major reported with a smile, "Go get'm!"

"Don't worry Max, leave it to us," Jean told him as he passed by the Johnston and Max with the rest of the MS teams, "Sorry we're a little late, but we had some problems with the base's fixed defenses," his GM quickly snapped into a salute and headed in the direction the fleeing Zeon ships took.

"He's pretty fast," Max warned, "I could barely keep up with that ace." And he had the fastest GM, he didn't add.

"All units, cease the pursuit," Brigadier General Dolvich suddenly ordered, "Return to our intial positions."

"What the hell?" Major Miles asked out loud. They had them on the run, and if they didn't go get him...

"We got another transmission from General Nicolo," Dolvich explained with contempt in his voice, and it was certainly all the explaining the fleet would ever need.
-----------------------------

"How's the Major?" Sylvie asked worriedly as she saw John waiting quietly outside the operating room.

"Very bad, Sylvie," John replied grimly, "He might not make it."

"Can... can we see him?" Sylvie asked, shocked. Karl Gunther didn't seem the type who would get killed so easily...

The door suddenly opened a female doctor stepped out, her eyes red with tears. It was Jessica.

"How is he, doc?" John asked somberly.

"He's dying," Jessics replied, her voice cracking, "And I can't save him... He's asking for somebody from his unit..."

"I'll go," John replied firmly, "Stay here a while, Sylvie," he ordered as he quickly turned around and entered the room.

"Excuse me, but do you know the Major?" Sylvie asked the doctor. He didn't seem to be the type who was interested in women...

"He was... still is my husband," she replied quietly as she sat down on a bench beside the door, "And now I'm going to lose him forever..."
-----------------------------

"Major?" John asked as he saw Karl lying on the hospital bed, an IV unit dripping blood into his bleeding body. But with all the injuries...

"Ah... Lieutenant Recto..." Karl replied weakly, "Good I..." he started before coughing.

"Sir, you shouldn't talk, you should..." John warned.

"I don't have much time left, kid," he countered, "So you'd better listen."

"Yes Sir," John replied weakly. He realized he was here for the man's last will.

"Good, so take this down..."
-----------------------------

Sylvie looked on quietly as Mrs. Jessica Grunther cried beside her. She didn't know what to do, what to say...

"Was he a good commander?" Jessica suddenly asked her, though her eyes were still fixed on the floor.

"Yes, he was. He did a lot of brave things to save his men," Sylvie replied honestly.

"The last time I met him, he was only a Sergeant..." Jessica explained, "That was when I left him..."

"Why did you...?" Sylvie started before stopping. STUPID! she thought to herself. This is the wrong time to make her...

"I just wanted him to be with me..." Jessica answered to no one in particular, "He told me before we were married that being a military wife would be too hard for me... But I didn't listen. And I blamed him for it..."

"Mam..." Sylvie started, still not knowing what to say...

"I'm sorry," she replied, wiping away her tears, "Here I am pouring my heart out to a stranger, when it's not your problem. But I just can't help myself..."

"It's alright, mam," Sylvie replied in as comforting a tone as she could. She should be back there, she thought, spending her time with the Major instead of out here. What was taking John?
-----------------------------

"Alright... got that?" Karl asked as he finished his parting words, mainly for his old friend Colonel Patterson. Now all he needed was to see Jessica again...

"Yes sir," John replied teary-eyed, "I'll call her now, Sir."

"And John, make sure those two... start understanding each other again..." Karl requested, "I'd hate to see them end up like me..."

"Don't worry, Sir..." John replied quietly, knowing exactly who those two were, "I'll try my best."

"You'll do well, John," Karl told him with a smile, "You'd make a good officer someday..."

"Thank you, Sir. I really appreciate that."
-----------------------------

"How's the Major?" Sergeant Juan asked as he met Sylvie outside the Major's room, a middle aged woman siting beside her. He knew he was late, since he had to make a detour to deliver the slightly wounded Fred to an operating room, but he couldn't be that late, could he?

Sylvie shook her head, "It's very bad..."

"Can we visit him?" a new voice asked in a quiet tone. It was Max.

The door opened again as John stepped out of the room, "Doctor, he'd like to speak with you now..." John said in a subdued tone.

The woman simply nodded and went in, leaving the rest of them outside. "Who is she?' Juan asked.

"His wife," John replied quietly.
-----------------------------

"Karl... I'm sorry..." Jessica started as she entered the room, her eyes filled with tears.

"No you shouldn't..." Karl replied, "You did all you could... it's just my time..."

"No, it's not just that..." Jessica replied, though it was part of it. Being a doctor yet unable to save the one she loved, "Even though I left you, it wasn't... it wasn't because I hated you..."

"I understand," Karl replied simply, his voice getting weaker and weaker, "I was never home, how could I expect you to wait for me all the time? But I am happy to see you again, one last time."

"Karl... I also have one last thing to tell you..." Jessica started, not sure wether she should continue or not. But he had to know, didn't he? He had to know...

"If you've found somebody else, then congratulations," Karl replied, joy in his eyes. That made Jessica regret her decision in the past even more.

"No Karl, I haven't..." Jessica explained, "You see..." she continued, holding his hand tightly, "We have a son now... you see?" she asked as she produced a picture of a baby boy, "Erwin Grunther..."

Karl simply looked at the picture and felt tears filling his eyes. It must have been that last night they spent together. The last time they truly let their passion out one last time before truly contemplating seperation. His son... his very own son... One that he'll never see grow into a man...

"He's safe in Side 6 with my sister..." she continued, "I should have... I should have written back to you... But I was afraid that you stopped loving me but..."

She couldn't finsh that last sentence. Jessica finally collapsed and wrapped her arms around Karl, sobbing as she did so. Wishing that she her grip could keep him from death. But she knew that there was nothing to stop the inevitable... "I love you..."

She then suddenly felt a pair of lips kiss her forehead, and a hand stroking her hair. She held her head up and saw his face... smiling. Still smiling at her... despite...

"I still love you too, Jessica," Karl told her with a smile while tears trickled down his face, "And I'm sorry... that I won't be able to take care of the both of you anymore..."

"Karl... don't..." Jessica started, before Karl finally lay his head over her shoulder, his heart beating ever more slowly...

"Find some one else to take care of you, alright?" he asked, "And thank you..."

"Karl? ...Karl?"
-----------------------------

"That idiot..." Colonel Patterson muttered as he read the orders from Nicolo. Cancel ALL patrols around Side 2 and 6 he says... AND let any Zeon units go. What rubbish!

"Sir... I've got a transmission from the Nightingale," the communications officer reported.

"What is it?" the Colonel asked solemnly. He was afraid of this. He still hoped for the best but...

"Major Grunther is dead, Sir." the comms officer reported, grief in his voice.

"Let's head over to the Nightingale," he ordered, his face betraying only a fraction of his feelings. Damn. Not Karl...
-----------------------------

"They are not pursuing us?" General Wavell asked.

"No, Sir. It's been over an hour and nobody is still pursuing us," the XO reported.

"Could this be a trap?" General Wavell considered. His force was heading in the direction of Granada for the moment, and though he doubted there would be a second blocking force there might be one just waiting for them...

"Sir! I've spotted several ships! Identity unknown!" the lookout reported.

"Identify! Who are they!?" the General demanded. Damn it, did we just get trapped?

"This is Colonel Jefferson of the Granada Fleet," a voice over the intercom declared, "Hold your fire Bismark, we're back."
-----------------------------

"Here's his last words for you sir," John told the Colonel as he handed him a sealed envelope, "And sir, he asked that instead of taps we should play..."

"I Once had a Comrade in his funeral, correct?" the Colonel asked solemnly, "I know. He liked that song better. What about his wife?"

"I'll... I'll be alright," the doctor standing behind John assured, "At least I didn't let him die alone..."

John quickly took a step back to let the two meet. Only Colonel Patterson had known that Karl had a wife, and it seems only appropriate that those two met.

"Mrs. Grunther, please accept my sincerest apologies for the death of your husband," the Colonel told her as he stood at attention, eyes locked onto hers, showing only sincere regret.

"I understand. Thank you, Colonel," Jessica replied, "But I still will never have him back..." she finished, before turning away. She had more crying to do in her room.
-----------------------------

"Ming, how are you?" the Colonel asked as he entered his top pilot's room. He must be devastated, he thought.

"I'm alone now," he replied solemnly, "I've lost everything, my family, my friends, and I'll make those Feddies pay," he continued, this time his voice filled with rage.

"You still have me don't you Captain?" the Colonel asked, "I do consider you a friend, you know."

"Sir, it's not possible for a Captain to be friends with a Colonel," Ming replied rather bluntly, "Military hierarchy, Sir."

"Yeah, but off duty, I consider you a friend," he explained, "Come on, I'll help you clean out Mike's room..."

"As you say, Sir," Ming replied without much enthusiasm.
-----------------------------

Nearly the whole crew of the Spruance was there to pay their last respects, the Colonel saw. The Major wasn't exactly the friendliest person onboard, but he was among the most respected.

The trumpeter took a step forward and began to play the final tune for Major Karl Grunther. As he requested, it was not the usual taps, but an old German war song. "I Once had a Comrade." One that had marched by our side. One who had left a widow, and a son fatherless. A scene that had been repeated countless times in this war.
-----------------------------

Letters from Mei Li? Ming thought as he went through Mike's belongings. So is that why he was trying so hard to save Ukiya?

He sighed and simply put it into the box. Something he'll never know now. The next thing Ming found surprised him. It was a harmonica, with a couple of music sheets. Mike had used to practice in the begininnig of the war... One song sheets in particular caught his attention.

"I Once had a Comrade." Another old German war song Zeon had adopted from the German military. Ming knew how to play the harmonica a little, and he picked it up and started to play the tune. The song was appropriate for the moment. I once had a comrade, he had marched by my side...

Notice: This story and all related material is copyrighted by Thomas E. "Zinegata" Ting, no part of this story may be taken by any other person. If you wish to use any material, please contact me first. Gundam and all related trademarks are owned by their respective companies.