[MONTHLY] - Beltorchika's Children Ch.04

　The diversionary operation was intended to distract the Ra Cailum and prevent detection of the launch carrying Char from the Rewloola. The attack on the fleet was carried out solely by the Geara Doga forces of the Musaka.

　The Geara Doga units, launching from either of the two catapult decks on the Musaka, veered off along the port side and made contact with the Shackles standing by in the airspace ahead of them before jettisoning off one after another towards the Earth.

　Shackles were platforms that served as a faster means for mobile suits during long-distance incursions.

　Two or three Geara Doga clung to them as they rocketed along. Despite that, for some time now, mobile suit pilots have referred to these types of vehicles as "sleds." Few people know its origin, though.

　"Don't they realize mobile suits aren't meant to run decoy operations?!" Rezun Schneider, one of the pilots, swore. She was a woman who seemed born to pilot, with a fiery temper that would've earned her the reputation of a gangster if it weren't for the military.

　The launching of the mobile suit teams from the Musaka was at a distance that couldn't be seen by the Rewloola's bridge, but command of the op came from the same ship situated to their rear.

　"Once our mobile suits are engaged in combat, send out the launch."

　"Yes, ma'am!"

　Kaises sat in his seat behind Mesta, contently.

　He watched the Fifth Luna drop operation play out, eager to witness the efforts of a man who had put whatever was left of his life on the line.

　The outcome was beyond gratifying. In a world where it seemed like a far-fetched dream to make a name for yourself for anyone not born near the Earth Federation government, Char's youthful exuberance was an eye-opening experience for Kaises.

　A small civilian launch was anchored on the lower hatch of the Rewloola. Horst, Char, and Glarv had all just boarded it. The rear container of that launch was a sort of cargo ship with enough space to house a single mobile suit.

　"Enemy mobile suits sighted! All mobile suit forces, prepare to engage!"

　It was less than fifteen minutes later when the bridge crew of the Ra Cailum made a dash for the combat bridge.

　Pilots on standby in the briefing room streamed onto the mobile suit deck, Amuro in tow.

　"The Re-GZ still grounded?"

　"Lieutenant Amuro, you can head over to the sixth Jegan! We're short a pilot!"

　Amuro's question had been followed up with an order from the deck chief.

　"On it, chief!"

　Amuro used a wire lift from in front of the damaged Re-GZ to drift up to the opposite side of the mobile suit deck.

　The pilots of the Geara Doga squadrons drawing closer to the Ra Cailum's combat zone were thinking to themselves, "You're a total dumbass if you get damaged in an op like this. Just do what needs doing and get back to the ship!"

　But,

　"Get it together! Now's our chance to squash a few!"

　Even in this one-sided, risk-taking battle, Rezun was brave.

　The three Geara Doga under her command detached themselves from their Shackles and, when its afterburners were fully opened, fell into its shadow and rushed forward. Using sleds in this fashion couldn't be found in any Neo Zeon combat doctrine.

　The moment the enemy Jegan forces were within sight, the dummies equipped on their sleds were unleashed, overwhelming the enemy and allowing the three Geara Dogas to launch a synchronized attack.

　With blazing speed, they plunged straight into the heart of the warzone, shredding through the opposing mobile suits.

　However, Amuro's Jegan was not caught off guard.

　Cool and collected, he flew along the edges of the battle, zeroing in on the most critical areas with precision. This methodology was something only he was allowed to do.

　Amuro possessed a heightened sense, able to perceive the "chi" or energy of his surroundings, even in mobile suits not equipped with a psycommu system. Although not as clear as it could be, it was simply a matter of sharp reflexes.

　This small edge was the dividing line between success and failure, mastery and mediocrity.

　Amuro drifted in front of Rezun's team. Making a counterattack from one flank, he found that he had wrecked one Geara Doga. But Rezun and another were hot on his trail, launching their decoys to both sides of him.

　"Ugh! Damn them!"

　Amuro pulled the trigger on his Jegan's beam rifle but was hit by a direct shot from Rezun's. The beam particles slammed into his suit, jolting the cockpit with a violent shake.

　"Tch! What's wrong? Has Char sucked the life out of me?"

　Amuro cursed to himself as he tried to evade and fight back.

　Meanwhile, in the vicinity of the same battlefield, the Tian Lu shuttle drifted aimlessly with the Earth as its backdrop. Two figures, clad in normal suits, were frantically working to repair the battered hull. After drifting too close to Fifth Luna, the shuttle sustained massive damage and was in dire straits.

　"What're those lights over there? You don't think it's a battle, do you?"

　The officer was the first to spot the lights of battle and rushed to drift toward the cockpit. Meanwhile, the captain and co-pilot were crouched on the cockpit floor, pouring over the wiring beneath the deck plating. They were completely unaware of the conflict that lay ahead.

　"Change course! Change course! There's a battle over there!"

　The two men bolted upright, panic in their eyes.

　"The damn apogee motor won't listen to me. That's why I said to fix it quickly! Look at this mess!"

　"What do you think we're doing?! We're trying!" the officer replied, darting back to the stern.

　The captain was fed up with the entire debacle. All he could think about was the fact that a certain individual from Lhasa had brought this misfortune upon them.

　"Oh no, don't come this way!"

　The mechanics sudden outburst horrified the officer, who looked away from the hull he was trying to repair. An unfamiliar mobile suit flew past them, its mono-eye gleaming.

　"There's no God in outer space, is there?!"

　Amuro was the first to spot the shuttle in their combat zone, though he didn't hear the officer's exclamation. He was quick to pick up on it since he had just retreated from Rezun's suit, which was demonstrating remarkably well-trained and coordinated attacks.

　"Huh? What's that? A civilian craft has drifted into the battle zone?!"

　Amuro brought his Jegan in close to the Tian Lu, which was flashing a civilian aircraft signal, before laying down a barrage of fire against the enemy mobile suits that mistakenly tried to approach.

　In the shuttle's cabin, passengers weren't allowed to don normal suits, so they were cowering on the floor and between the seats. Quess was stretched across two seats, using Hathaway as a makeshift pillow, as she watched Adenauer's frenzied pounding on the cockpit door.

　"He looks so hopeless," she muttered. "Trapped, with no escape."

　Hathaway could feel the soft touch of Quess' body on his back and her breath on the back of his neck.

　"Captain, send out the civilian craft signal! You can do that much, can't you?!" Adenauer implored, desperation in his voice.

　In the cockpit, realization dawned on the Captain at what he could do on account of Adenauer's protests, so he pulled the signal flare lever.

　"It's your fault this is happening!"

　The flare skyrocketed away, not as a stray bullet but as a brilliant beam that grazed the shuttle's wing. It exploded into a magnificent display of seven colors, painting space like a beautiful fireworks show, a stark contrast to the violence and destruction of war.

　"So it's a civilian craft?! Tch! We'll pull back five seconds earlier than planned!"

　It was a principle of the space colony era that even in the heat of battle, all hostilities would cease if a civilian craft wandered into the crossfire. Even Rezun abided by this. Three signal rounds were fired from her Geara Doga to signal the order to retreat, and the Rewloola's squadron swiftly pulled back.

　Staring out at the tail nozzles as they spread and converged from all directions like fireworks, Amuro was perplexed.

　"They sure know when to quit... but how?"

 　At the same time, the launch carrying Char, which launched from the Rewloola, was on course for Londenion.

×         ×         ×

　"Seems we now have a troublesome passenger aboard," Bright grumbled, tossing the passenger list of the Tian Lu onto the console where it stuck with a magnetic attachment.

　"Who could that be?"

　"The Vice-Minister of the Earth Federation Forces Space Forces."

　"Wowza! What was he doing on a civilian shuttle?"

　"Probably running away."

　Bright's joke sparked a burst of raucous laughter on the bridge, breaking the tension and bringing a sense of relief. Unfortunately, in the midst of the merriment, Bright overlooked Hathaway's name on the passenger list.

　Directing the shuttle passengers to the officers' mess hall was a test of patience, as most were unaccustomed to zero gravity. Most of them had finally made up their minds to go into space following Char's occupation of Sweetwater.  

　"As long as you keep your feet flat on the floor, you'll be fine!"

　The Ra Cailum crew did their best to instruct the passengers but ended up having to physically guide them into the mess hall.

　As Bright descended the lift grip, the frustration from the earlier commotion still lingered, and he mentally berated himself for the impending encounter with Adenauer.

　"Hathaway?!" Bright called out, spotting his son behind the ship's crew and wondering why he hadn't seen his name on the passenger list.

　Hearing his father's voice, Hathaway turned towards Bright, slipping back by Quess since he was almost in the mess hall.

　"Dad?!"

　Clearly unaccustomed to space, Hathaway flailed awkwardly, hit the ceiling, and drifted away. Bright stepped forward and grabbed onto him."

　"C'mere you!"

　"Dad!!"

　"Why were you on the shuttle?"

　"I didn't know you were the captain of this ship..."

　"Hathaway, where's your mom and Cheimin?"

　"Huh? Oh, it's just me. They only let one of us on the shuttle."

　"Just you?"

　Their face-to-face meeting didn't last long.

　"Captain, I'm sorry to break up your family reunion and all, but..."

　Adenauer balanced himself on Quess' shoulders, making it evident he, too, was unaccustomed to zero gravity.

　"This man is the one who got me on the shuttle."

　"Oh really? You must be the Vice-Minister."

　"That I am. You'll need to redirect this ship to Londenion."

　"Londenion? That's already our ship's intended destination."

　"That's good to hear. When do you think we'll arrive?"

　"Well, we'll be in contact with a military unit, so I'm afraid I can't discuss that with you."

　"I'm on special assignment. Here's the paperwork," he said in a somewhat low profile as he produced a document from his pocket and handed it to Bright. This is what happens when it comes to those who protect themselves.

　"Hathaway, go straight to the mess hall. We'll discuss why you've come later," Bright said to his son as he took the paperwork.

　"S-sure!" Hathaway said, eagerly agreeing.

　As he floated away, Bright shot a sideways glance at the girl who was supporting the Vice-Minister, feeling a twinge of annoyance that he hadn't even bothered to introduce her.

×         ×         ×

　Amuro's figure was writhing in the cascade of shimmering light. He was transfixed, his eyes fixed on a single source of light.

　He gasped in wonder as a single swan emerged from the light, transforming into the shape of a young woman. Her features seemed to be of a mixed race, and she was clad in pale yellow-like garb.

　"Lalah Sune!" he shouted her name in the light before his voice turned into a furious scream.

　"If you think you can treat me like Char, you're sorely mistaken!"

　Hearing Amuro's cries, Lalah's outline swiftly turned away.

　"It's torture, you know. Having one's consciousness live on for eternity. All I wanted was to see you both. To provide me with some respite from that pain... That's all I wanted!"

　"You can't hold him one moment and me the next!"

　"For as long as I was alive, I was torn between the two of you! Do you have any idea how painful that was?!"

　"As if! Let Char go!"

　"But... Char is pure."

　"Pure?!"

　Amuro's upper body jolted. He had been talking in his sleep. His body moved with such force inside the zero gravity sleeping bag as he sat up that he struck its seal, and his body rebounded, hitting the cushioned wall. Finally, he blinked.

　"This is what happens when you let your mind get slow..." he muttered, chiding himself for being shaken by a dream.

　Shaking off the remnants of his dream, he opened the seal on the sleeping bag, allowing the dim light of the quarters to illuminate his nearly naked form.

　The Ra Cailum drifted silently through space, its engines now silent.

　"It's not like there's a manual for captured mobile suits!" Amuro grumbled, running his hands through his fiery red hair before making his way to the shower room.

　"Is the psycommu on this mobile suit similar to the one used in the Gundam?"

　As he opened the door to the shower room, the sudden brightness from the automatic lights caused him to squint.

　"Did Beltorchika know about Char's hidden agenda? He had the Psycho Doga built at Anaheim, after all. He had the audacity to do that!" Amuro spat out as the shower sprayed over him. The vacuum in the floor roared to life, sucking the water down. Just then, a call chirped from the bridge.

　"What is it?!"

　"It's the Nu Gundam, sir! It's making its approach to the ship."

　Claire Thrune, the non-commissioned officer from the bridge, seemed to bound up and down in elation on the three-inch display she popped up on.

　"Quit clowning around," Amuro shot back, launching himself out of the shower room and dabbing his wet hair.

　"Who is it?"

　"Who is what?"

　"The pilot of the Nu Gundam!"

　"Beltorchika Irma!" operator Messis Brown yelled from the display on the wall facing the living room, their expression clearly indicating that it was obvious.

　Once in the normal suit room, Amuro changed into his pilot suit.

　As reports of the Nu Gundam's approach course filtered in, the crew was buzzing with excitement. They were expecting reinforcements, but the arrival was quicker than they had anticipated.

　The rear mobile suit deck was open and facing Earth, indicating that it wasn't returning from the moon. Amuro was so relieved that he had momentarily forgotten about his dream.

　A familiar mobile suit silhouette gradually drifted in. It was the Nu Gundam.

　A Base Jabber, which had been following the Nu Gundam, started its approach, making a three-point landing on the rear of the mobile suit deck, followed by the Nu Gundam as it, too, made a soft vertical touchdown.

　It was a sight to behold.

　Amuro was taken back to the first time Beltorchika made contact with him and the others. During the Titans rebellion, they were aboard the carrier Audumla orbiting the planet when she descended in a small vintage plane, a replica of a classic.

　Amuro couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her Beechcraft Comet, even though he didn't see the landing. They later had a conversation about the Helen-Helen brand of soap that Amuro used.

　Three people in normal suits emerged from the Base Jabber. They looked up at the cockpit in the Nu Gundam's chest and saw Beltorchika's suit floating down.

　"Why didn't you come up to welcome me?

　"You were expecting me to?"

　"You couldn't even be bothered to come up to the Gundam's cockpit!" she huffed like a petulant child as she pressed her normal suit's visor against Amuro's. This skin-to-skin conversation relied on the vibrations between each of the visors to transmit voices.

　"Lieutenant Amuro!" A voice called out from the Base Jabber. It was October Saran, a technician from Anaheim Electronics.

　"You brought the funnels too?" Amuro asked, surveying the pile of parts stacked on the platform of the Base Jabber as he acknowledged the favor that October had done for him.

　"They haven't been tested yet, but we brought them along. At Beltorchika's insistence..."

　"He's right. I forced him to. But, thanks to you, you were able to run a familiarization test on the Nu Gundam, though, right?"

　"This is it. I'm totally going to keel over. I haven't gotten a lick of sleep. You know that?"

　"Gotcha. I'll finish up the checks on my end until we get back to Londo Bell. Get some rest."

　Amuro also gave a few words of encouragement to the mechanics that October had brought along with him and also introduced them to their chief mechanic, Astonage.

　"Astonage, except for the psycommu, there are no exceptions. Secure the Nu Gundam here and start the final checks," Amuro instructed.

　"I guess we'll have to. The forward deck air is fouled up from the repairs to the Re-GZ and going over the Psycho Doga."

　Astonage's casual mention of the Psycho Doga caught October off-guard.

　"A Psycho Doga is here?"

　"Yup, but it's missing its arms and legs, so what?"

　Astonage's tone was slightly irritable, with a hint of disdain.

　"Please. Show it to me."

　"You guys built it, though, didn't you?"

　"I wasn't involved. The Granada factory and our Von Braun factory are two completely separate companies on opposite sides of the moon."

　"What do you want to see on it?"

　"It's the Psycho Doga, isn't it? It's equipped with a psycommu. If we don't compare the two, there could be some weird interference that could affect the pilot, right?"

　Amuro was relieved by October's response, as he saw him as a strong ally.

　The performance of a mobile suit isn't entirely dependent on the performance of its psycommu, but having superior abilities to detect the enemy's presence is always an advantage. Furthermore, if you can assess the performance of an enemy psycommu, you can find ways to avoid it.

　The psycommu for the Nu Gundam was designed by Amuro himself, though it is solely intended for the control of the brainwave-controlled missiles and funnels.

　However, the Psycho Doga's psycommu is considered a psycho-frame which was embedded into the frame around the cockpit. A psycho-frame has a tendency to constrain the pilot's intentions even more than that of the Nu Gundam. One could say that it has a coercive force that keeps a pilot's consciousness moving forward.

　"He said Psycho Doga. Is that the psycho-type mobile suit made by Char?"

　"Yeah. Wanna see it?"

　"Duh."

　Beltorchika, seeming to forget just how tired she was as well, caught up to October and the others, drifting along toward the forward mobile suit deck.

　The main mobile suit deck and the rear mobile suit deck were in separate compartments, connected by three lift grip ways.

　"This is great! They've already come up with a simulation using data from the last battle!"

　The voice came from a young girl which seemed terribly out of place on the mobile suit deck.

　"Remember, that's classified information. Keep it under wraps."

　Beltorchika looked overhead. Disbelief was painted on her face.

　Adenauer Paraya, Bright Noa, and Quess were on a crane platform that extended upward in front of the cockpit to one of the Jegans.

　"Crap, dang, this guy! You're goin' down!"

　Hathaway's voice came from inside the Jegan's cockpit.

　"Huh? Who's that?"

　"The Vice Minister of the Earth Federation Forces. He was on the shuttle."

　"What're they doing?"

　"Bright's entertaining them. He's letting Hathaway and Quess play a game with the Jegan's computer graphic simulation."

　"So why's the Vice Minister here?"

　"Rumor has it he fled from Lhasa."

　"So Fifth Luna fell?!"

　"That's the state of the Earth Federation government for you."

　"What fools!" spat Beltorchika as she drifted towards the section where the Psycho Doga was kept.

　"I think she's got good instincts."

　"I had no idea she was interested in stuff like this."

　Adenauer seemed to scoff at Bright's comment, neither flattering nor serious. Just then, Quess' body drifted away from the platform and toward the same direction as Amuro and the others.

　“…?”

　Amuro couldn't miss the look of discontent on Quess' face. It was evident she did not want to be around her father.

　"Quess, you'll get all greasy that way. They're repairing mobile suits," Amuro said, a smile on his face as he drifted upward in front of the girl.

　"Huh?"

　"Plus, this is a military vessel. There are some things we don't want civilians to see. Not to mention some pretty strong language from adults and soldiers, too," he added, catching Quess by the elbow and pointing towards the tarp-covered area with a nod of his head.

　"Oh, the other side of that tarped wall?"

　"Yup. That's a military suit."

　"Ah, gotcha! Mind giving me a push?"

　Quess noticed they were drifting in the center of the mobile suit deck.

　"Sure."

　With a shove to her shoulder and hip, she drifted up toward the cat deck, which could be seen between the Jegan. Despite the recoil sending Amuro drifting toward the other side, he still had his wire lift.

　"Are you Amuro Ray?"

　Quess asked as she drifted.

　"That's right, I am."

　Amuro fired the wire of the lift toward where Beltorchika was floating.

　"I see! He's so kind, isn't he?" Quess mused, grabbing onto the railing of the catwalk.

　“…?”

　Looking back, Quess could see Amuro floating along by the wire lift, drawing closer to Beltorchika in her normal suit, who was between the legs of a Jegan.

　The confident and poised demeanor of the woman in the normal suit caught Quess' attention, but she was also touched by the warmth in Amuro's response. She felt it was best not to say anything for now and instead savored the feeling.

　"They say Amuro is no ordinary person. Could he be the one?" Quess thought, feeling content.

　"Quess, you'll get in the way. Come back!"

　She could see Adenauer and Bright floating toward the cat deck on the other side, but she was still upset with her father for ruining the good mood she was in.

　"Go ahead without me!" she called out with a scowl.

　Adenauer was about to say something to address Quess' hostile demeanor, but Bright pulled him away and concealed him behind the catwalk.

　"I shot down three enemies!" Hathaway boasted as he drifted over from the Jegan, blissfully ignorant of Quess' sour mood.

　"That's how many I got."

　"Really?"

　"He's pretty chill," she thought, given Hathaway's carefree attitude.

×         ×         ×

　The Side 1 colony of Londenion is a standard open type. A tranquil view of Earth, seemingly unmarred by the deep freeze operation, spreads out before it.

　Just prior to the Ra Cailum's acquisition of the Nu Gundam, Char and his crew were aboard a launch navigating their way towards Londenion's port, following the glowing guide lights of the dock.

　"We're on target, thanks to the code the Federation provided."

　"They're pretty casual with their information, aren't they?"                    

　"You've got that wrong, Captain. It's all thanks to us laying the groundwork behind the scenes," said Horst, peeking over Char's back, pouting in a way that was completely uncharacteristic of him.

　"Ah, I must commend your and Kaises' expertise. I presume you've also booked a luxurious hotel?"

　"I see. I should have had Mesta go along as well, then."

　Horst wasn't joking around; he was being deadly serious. This was one of the many instances where Char and his team found themselves clashing with Horst's approach.

　"Is that what we appear to be?" Char quipped with a sarcastic edge, but Horst only gave him a bewildered expression. Those who view secretaries as merely hired arm candy would not appreciate Char's reaction, as it was too sober and honest.

　Char's launch was subjected to customary checkpoints and immigration inspections, but with their VIP passports issued by the Federation, they glided through the beltway alongside Londenion's Londo Bell unit's wharf without raising any red flags.

　"Too bad the fleet isn't here, eh?" said Horst with a wry smile.

　"I've seen enough in actual combat. We can take the launch into an industrial block, right?"

　"Yes. The permission to use the Notomi Mining Company's hatch is a genuine one issued by the Earth Federation government. No one will suspect anything."

　Horst stroked his prized goatee and looked at Glarv, who was sulking behind him.

　"Heh!"

　Glarv snorted as he looked up at the mobile suits flying in the skies- albeit at the height of only a dozen or so meters above the harbor.

　"Does the Earth Federation government think it can wipe out the remaining forces of the Zabi Family, Haman, or the like, with this kind of force?"

　"Don't be so dismissive. They have a fleet stationed on every colony and every rock in lunar orbit. That's the Earth Federation government for you. You're making a huge mistake if you continue to think the same way as when you were in outer space."

　The captain of the launch admonished Glarv.

　"The same sort of unit?"

　"They're no joke. Londo Bell may be a special forces unit, but they're the smallest among the Earth Federation forces. The others may have larger forces, but they're lying untapped."

　Said the pilot, following Horst's question.

　"The Captain plans to attack the head of the Earth Federation before they wake up. That's why we're going to all this trouble."

　"Please don't take this the wrong way, but I come from an Island 1 colony with a population of 15,000. I lost my parents in the colony destruction during the One Year War, and I've lived out of orbit ever since."

　"I know. That's why I'm asking you to be humble and face reality. You won't be able to bring down the Earth Federation government with just a few enhancements," said Char just before he drifted into one of the elevators ahead.

　"You are aware that the Federation government may be using these negotiations as a pretext to arrest the Captain, aren't you?"

　"Ah! Is that why we entered the port covertly?"

　Upon hearing Horst's words, Glarv realized, finally comprehending the true purpose of their mission.

　"When that time comes, Glarv, I'm counting on you. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in this colony."

　"Yes, sir!"

　In the elevator window, several floors sped past upwards until finally, the sight of construction within the cylinder came into view from under the clouds.

　"So much greenery," Glarv marveled, feeling a hint of the meaning behind Char's and the others' warnings against the backdrop of the picturesque surroundings.