Chapter 4: Crossroads
December 4, UC 0083 "Three tons of titanium, coming your way..." Ming declared as he set a huge piece of metal down the salvage shuttle's cargo bay. "That's VERY nice, Ming," Jefferson observed. Most of the wreckage around Side 2 was actually composed of "mooncrete" or lunar concrete, the primary building material used in colony construction, while more valuable metals like titanium were found in more limited quantites. So finding a piece as big as that was something to celebrate about. "That piece is big enough to cover our costs for this trip..." Herbert added as he made a few mental calculations. Just as long as those Lunarian dealers give them a fair price, he didn't add. "Shouldn't we be going home now?" Jake asked as he brought his pod back in, carrying a few large pieces of less valuable mooncrete. "No," Jefferson replied, "Salvage is an uncertain business, so we don't just turn back when we turn a profit," This doesn't happen all the time, he didn't add. "It's only one more day, Jake," Ming encouraged, enjoying his success at a business he had never tried before, "Besides, we've still got some space in the shuttle for more titanium..."
"Yeah, but what about THEM?" Jake asked, pointing to an incoming Federal patrol. "Vultures..." Sylvie muttered as she spotted the salvage team that had been working here for the past several days. Didn't they know what had happened here during the war? "Should we ask them if they're okay, mam?" Terry inquired. "Yeah, hail them," Sylvie ordered as she checked her position. She was exactly where she should be, six kilometers ahead of the newly arrived 3rd MS Team... "Salvage team, this is the 44th MS Company," Terry hailed coolly over the radio, "How is your mission going? Do you need any assistance?" "No," the salvage team boss, Arnold Jefferson, replied over the radio in his typical swashbuckling voice, "But we've got ourselves a pretty catch. I might be able to buy a few drinks for you when we're done." "Thanks, but you know the army, no drinks on duty," Terry replied with a chuckle. Jefferson is a pretty nice guy, Terry thought with a grin, even if he was a Zeek Colonel during the war. Sylvie scowled as she heard the friendly conversation between Jefferson and Terry. It had been three years, but she still could not forgive nor forget what Zeon had done during the war, even if that guy had a spotless record and a security clearance signed by the mayor of Von Braun himself, "Alright Terry, we've got to get back to business," she ordered.
"Yes mam," he replied as he waved at the salvage team, "Be careful guys," he advised. "See? Nothing to worry about..." Jefferson declared as the three Federation mobile suits began to speed away from them. It had happened many times during this trip, but the result had been the same every time... "But making friends with that Feddie pilot..." Ming started. "He's just a dumb young kid, like we all were back then," Jefferson advised, "But at least he's a nice one." Ming was a little taken back by Jefferson's reply. He had never thought about his enemy in that way, that his enemy was just a nice young kid. He thought of his enemy as something more like that beautiful but cold, cruel looking female Captain that commanded the patrol, or of the ******* sniper he had executed right here during the last day of the war, the one that had killed his best friend and wingman... "Reminiscing about the past?" Jefferson inquired with a grin, seeing Ming's serious face. "Yeah... doesn't it bother you a bit?" Ming asked as he looked around, "We lost a few friends here in Side 2... I feel a bit like a vulture..." "I know..." Jefferson replied as he faced outside and began to view the debris littered space around him, "But after all the times I've done this, I've started to feel better about it. It's as if I'm visiting their ghosts every time I come here..." "Ghosts like Mike..." Ming said quietly as he remembered his best friend's face. He wondered for once if there was indeed something beyond death... That maybe Mike and Mei Li could have gotten together like Mike had hoped in the letters he had written to her... But he really didn't believe in that sort of thing, did he? He just believed in actions, which was why he had joined the military so long ago... "Yeah... Mike was just one of the good kids I've lost under my command," Jefferson agreed. "It hurts when I think about it, Arnold..." Ming said as he began to blink his tears away. "He died saving me back then..." "You know Ming, someday, we'll finish cleaning up this shoal zone, and I'll be out of the job..." Jefferson started. Good, he thought, let the past go Ming... "So?" Ming asked, not getting the point. "But that will take a long time," Jefferson explained, "Just as the wounds left in your heart take a long time to heal. Maybe when we've finished cleaning the last scars left on this place, then the last wounds left in people's hearts by the war would finally heal as well.." "No wonder you left the military..." Ming added almost jokingly, "You ought to be a poet or a writer..." "Yeah... but you and your team should quit the military too..." Jefferson suggested. Come on Ming, quit your revenge already... "Sorry friend, but I don't have the same eloquence as you," Ming replied simply and defiantly, "I'm only a soldier, and I will continue on being a soldier." Jefferson sighed before saying, "Ming, look... there is more to life than just fighting. Think about it first before you make up your mind, alright?"
Ming turned to face Jefferson, his eyes still determined, "Alright, but don't expect me to change my mind..." "Pete, come on! She already said yes, she WON'T change her mind..." the 3rd MS team's squad leader encouraged as his subordinate once again began to worry about his fiancee. "I know Lieutenant, but I feel like such an insensitive guy getting myself transferred here a day after she answered," Pete replied in a worried tone. Damn those Zeek rebels, he thought, they just had such perfect timing... "You're a nice guy Pete, she'd wait. Only a fool would leave you," the third member of the team, Dan, remarked as he shook his head. That Peter, he thought, such a worrier... "3rd MS Team! Keep those personal transmissions down!" Captain Sylvie Gressier ordered angrily over the radio, "We're still on a mission," she reminded. "Yes, mam," the squad leader replied promptly, knowing not to try her patience, "Alright, you heard her guys, let's keep quiet until the patrol is over." "Geez, we were only talking..." Dan muttered to himself. "I heard that," Sylvie remarked coldly over the radio. "Sorry, mam..." Dan replied quietly over the radio. "Fine, now get back to work," she ordered as she signed off.
"One tough Captain eh?" the squad leader observed. "Dumb rookies..." Sylvie muttered. Unnecessary radio chatter like that could alarm any Zeon forces around here as long as they had the correct equipment, and that would probably lead to a dead squad. She didn't want that to happen, lest that kid's fiancee end up like her. She sighed, Max... "We've arrived at waypoint five," Jin reported as they reached the wreck of an old Salamis class cruiser. "Any contacts?" Sylvie inquired in a tired tone. And the answer will once again be... "None, shall we move on, mam?" Jin asked.
"Yes," Sylvie replied, "Tell the 3rd MS Team that the coast is clear." "Alright squad, take careful aim..." Lieutenant Ralph Preston ordered as he aimed his Dra-C's 90mm machine gun. His squad running out of ammunition after they had used up their last supply depot three days ago, but he still had to do this. The people of Side 2 needed to be shown the duplicity of those Federation *******s, else they will never be truly independent. "They're getting closer..." one of his pilots reported, "Damn, this will be hairy..." "Don't worry, this will be our last battle," Ralph promised. He had also managed to contact a resistance cell in Side 2 the other day, and they were willing to provide a safe haven for them once this mission was over. The problem, of course, was getting there in one piece... "Enemy is in range," his second wingman, Vince, reported as he tightened his grip on the trigger. I can't afford to miss this time, he thought.
"Alright," Preston started as he aimed right for the squad leader's cockpit, "Fire!!!" "Damn, those 3rd MS guys just don't know how to shut up..." Sylvie muttered as she heard more chatter over the radio, "3rd MS Team! I told you..." "This is 3rd MS!!!" their squad leader suddenly reported in a panicked voice, "We're under..." he blurted out just before his voice turned to static. The members of the 44th quickly exchanged a look.
"Oh ****!" Sylvie muttered, "Let's go guys!" she ordered, hoping they could get there in time. Fireballs going off in the distance told her they probably wouldn't. "There's a battle going on out there!" Ming shouted out loud as he pointed to several fireballs off in the distance, "I have to..." "Ming, don't..." Jefferson advised as he shook his head, "All you've got is a patched up GM, you can't possibly help them..." "Which has no weapons," Herbert added, "Unless you literally want to fight hand to hand..." "But I have to try!" Ming protested. "I really don't want to go..." Jake started. "Then don't, you coward!" Ming shot back. "Jake, shut up!" Jefferson reprimanded angrily. Ming wasn't thinking clearly, and the more that idiot angered him... "Look Ming, I can't stop you," Jefferson continued on reasonably, "But stop walking that damn path already! It's over Ming, don't you understand?!" "Not to me..." Ming replied defiantly. It'll never be over for me... "Fine..." Jefferson muttered, "I won't stop you, but be careful, and use your head."
"...Thanks," Ming managed to reply, just as he sped towards the battle. "Pete, get out of here!" Dan shouted as he fired off a burst at one of the approaching enemy mobile suits. His target quickly evaded and fired back, lopping an arm off his GM Kai, "I said get out of here!!!" Dan repeated as he saw Pete's GM Kai holding its position, trying to support him. "I'm not going to..." Pete started. "I'm ranking officer now, and I ORDER you to get the **** out of here!!!" Dan shotback. Their squad leader was already dead, and Dan wasn't going to let Pete die as well. Not with his fiancee waiting back home...
"But..." Pete started just before he saw a pair of Zeon mobile suits heading right towards him. He instinctively fired off a burst, and, remarkably, one of them went down in flames...
"Vince!" Preston screamed out loud as he saw his wingman's Dra take a few hits and explode. That lucky Federation ******* he thought... "Take down the damaged one," he ordered to his remaining wingman, "This one is MINE..." "This is bad..." Pete remarked as he reached Dan's damaged GM Kai. "Just get out of here, buddy..." Dan replied in a resigned tone. "No, I can't!" Pete protested. "Pete, this is no time..." Dan started just as he saw the surviving pair of enemy mobile suits heading straight for them, "****! Look out!" he said as he fired off a burst, damaging one of the incoming Dras. But his wingman fired back, and before Dan could do anything a trio of shells punctured his reactor. He stayed alive just long enough to realize he was going to die... "Dan!!!" Pete screamed as he saw his remaining companion's GM explode in a blinding flash. He turned to meet his assailants and aimed his machinegun. One fired at him and scored a few hits, but he didn't care about it anymore. Instead this was all about avenging his teammates. He fired back, firing at the one who had killed Dan. He missed, but kept firing his machine gun on full auto, letting bullets fly. He missed and missed again, but then he managed to hit the Dra's monoeye. The Dra quickly tumbled out of control, and before the pilot could regain it the Dra took another hit, this time in the cockpit, killing the pilot instantly. "You *******!" Ralph shouted as he charged the GM that had killed his two wingmen. The GM shifted its aim towards him. But fortunately for Preston, its machine gun was out of ammo... "Oh ****!" Peter growled as he realized his gun was out, and, he realized, so was his luck. He simply cringed as he saw the Dra stop right in front of him, mono-eye flashing and machine gun aimed straight at his cockpit... "Looks like your luck has run out..." Ralph said as he prepared to depress the trigger. He never saw what was comign up behind him.
Pete started to close his eyes just as a beam seemed to just barely miss the Dra. The 44th had finally arrived, he thought, but looking at the Dra's gun still aimed at him, he knew it was over. Fiona... I love you... "That is one cool shot..." Jin observed as he saw a neat hole right where the Dra's cockpit should be. Sylvie's shot had been so accurate and so sudden that the Dra was still in its menacing pose, even though its pilot had already been vaporized. He turned to the damaged GM. There were a lot of holes in it, but the cockpit seemed intact, "GM Kai pilot, are you alright?" "I'm... I'm alive?" Pete asked shakily as he realized the final blow had not come, "I'm really still alive?" "Are you alright?" Sylvie asked in a more serious tone. But Thank God, she thought, that the survivor was the guy with the fiancee... "Yeah..." Pete replied, still shaken, "But my squad..." "We know, we saw the explosions," Sylvie replied grimly, "Let's get you home," she continued. "My GM seems to be leaking some fuel..." Pete started. "Yeah... I see a nice hole right in the middle of the main fuel tank," Terry observed, "You're damn lucky that it didn't explode..." "Alright, abandon the unit, we'll just call a salvage team," Sylvie ordered as she saw fuel leaking out of the main fuel tank. She knew those gasses were very dangerous and could be ignited with the tiniest spark, and it was best to leave the clean up job to experieced engineers. "I believe I will..." Peter replied as he opened the cockpit. He emerged from it, completely unharmed, and began to wave at Sylvie. Sylvie almost ventured on a smile as she saw the pilot waving at her. That expression quickly changed as she saw a tiny spark occurs just behind the damaged GM. She didn't know what caused it but if it was close enough...
Fiona... Pete thought, I'm coming home to you... He suddenly felt a searing heat all around him.
"Burn..." Ming declared as the damaged GM's fuel tanks exploded into a massive fireball. He had not arrived in time to save the Dra team, but he was in time to draw blood. By firing a flare at the fuel the GM was leaking, Ming was able to ignite the main fuel tanks and kill that murderer who had shot down two of his countrymen. He quickly turned around and headed back towards the salvage shuttle, sure he had not been seen and wanting to keep it that way. The better, he thought, for it to seem like an accident as not to arouse suspicion. Ming grinned, THIS was his real job... "Oh no... damn it, no!" Sylvie screamed as the fireball subsided. There was nothing left... only ashes. No... she thought, as she felt tears well up her eyes. Why? Damn it why?! Why him? Why not me? "Oh ****... Oh ****," Jin said as he stared dumbfounded into the charred wreckage. How cruel could fate be? To let him survive the battle only to die like this... "Search the area..." Sylvie ordered as she blinked away her tears. Damn... I should stop crying, stop feeling the pain... she thought to herself, I'm an officer now... But I can't, can I? I can't ever... even if I'll end up only having a hollow shell inside... "Mam, it was probably..." Terry started, without any life in his voice.
"An accident, I know," Sylvie replied sadly, "But, let's just do it... so maybe we could find something left..." Something left for the lady he had left behind, she thought. So at least she has something to remember him by... unlike me... "Ming, you're back..." Jefferson noted quietly as he saw Ming's GM return to the shuttle. "I got me one, but there are three more Zeon dead," Ming reported solemnly. "That is no longer important, listen to this..." Jefferson replied as he turned up the radio's volume and patched it through to Ming. There was a speech being broadcast right now throughout the Earth Sphere by some Colonel named Bosque Ohm. And Jefferson could tell that this boded ill for the future of all spacenoids... "Titans?" Ming asked just as he caught the last part of the speech. Who were they? Ming thought, a bunch of Earth fanatics? He never realized at that time on how much he would come to hate that name...
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. |
