1......2......3......4......5......6......7......8...... Decimus counts, still slightly fatigued from his forty-eight hour flight. The last he saw his two lovers, they had appeared to be doing a lot better than he. Absolon was his usual quirky self, making sure his uniform was prim and without stains, and Charles was half in the bag as usual before any encounter – martinis were his way of warding off pre-battle anxiety. Now, though, looking at it, he wasn't so sure that coming to Africa was such a good idea. Before him, sprawled over an immense stretch of plains, is Lake Victoria Base: OZ's central command plaza in the southern hemisphere. And to him, it seems like nothing more than a quick and easy way to heaven.

But no matter. Wasn't that the idea?

“Are you in position yet, gaaiiis?” Absolon calls over the radio, the usual spunk apparent in his voice.

“Chehk,” Charles slurs.

“Yeah, I'm ready. What number are we up to?”

“21,” answers Absolon.

“All right, stand fast. And just be sure to hit something good, okay – namely the gun emplacements?”

“Right,” they answer in unison.

25......26......27......29......30...... Suddenly, from opposite ends of the compass, comes an onslaught of artillery fire. The base is moderately pounded from east and west, the fire in sync with one another and unrelenting in its nature. Decimus takes this as his cue, and races head-long toward the base. As he draws near, he's suddenly filled with an enormous quantity of regret...

...just as he comes to the base perimeter, two full squadrons of Aries and what seems like a regiment of Leos comes toward him...

“Well, shit.” He curses, disappointed that he hadn't given them more of a fight. As the first Leo moves to request his surrender, he flicks his self-destruction switch...

...and a ten by ten square meter of fire engulfs a section of the oncoming force.

“MAAAHHH BAAABBBBY!!!” Cries Absolon, forgetting the plan altogether as the wing of Aries diverts its attentions. Being of little tactical use now, the two Tragos are gunned down without mercy.

Outcome: Lake Victoria Base remains; 5x Anti-MS Cannons destroyed, 6x Heavy Beam Turret destroyed, 23x level 1 Leo's destroyed, 2x level 2 Aries destroyed.
Leo – Pilot killed, (5) days.
2x Tragos wing destroyed.



The Singapore Deception

General Frederik Kleiner abruptly awakens from a dead sleep, his comm ringing off its hook near the door. He gets up, following the blinking lights in the blackness and quickly wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Yes?” He asks, working over the phlegm in his throat.

A young ensign's face replaces the darkness of the console, his eyes filled with worry. “Sorry to bother you at this hour, sir, but something's come over the wireless. I... I was doing a preliminary spot-check of the base's systems when I cam across... something. I'm not sure what to make of it...”

Kleiner works his hands over his gray stubble, “I'll be up in twenty.” The console goes dark. What in sam hell is going on, wonders Kleiner furiously.

As he gets to the bridge, he spies the ensign pouring himself over a tabletop console. Kleiner approaches: “what is it?”

“I...I think it's a request.” The Ensign replies, afraid of a reprimand.

“A what?” The general spits.

“Here, sir, have a look...” He motions him toward the console and replays the encrypted audio...

“This is a formal request from an independent, reliable civilian contractor. A brief pause, wherein static is heard. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Marques O'Doyle, private contractor. I humbly ask that OZ grant me the opportunity to work alongside them in a mutually beneficial, hopefully lucrative, arrangement. I apologize for any and all protocols I've breached in sending this transmission, but it seemed the most prudent and urgent method. Thank you for your time.” The message cuts off.

The general looks blankly through a nearby window, slightly in a haze.

“Sir? Your instructions?”

“Was it only audio?” He inquires, still starring.

“Uh, well, I believe there to be video also, but it was scrambled in the process of the transmission. It would take some time to piece together”

Kleiner releases a heavy sigh, impressed with the man in the message's audacity. “Do it. And grant this whomever limited access the base. If he wants to talk business, then he'd better be willing to do it face-to-face. Take the necessary precautions; if this is an Alliance trap, we'd better be prepared.”

He turns to leave, his uniform creasing in several pivotal areas. “And figure out how he got past our encryption net. I don't want this sort of thing happening again.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Outcome: Singapore Base contacted.
Gundam Griepe – Damaged (0) days.




Assault on Colony V-21899

Marianne goes over the battle plan Rehana gave her. It simply reads, “rush the colony with guns. Tea (maybe cookies) later.” Sketched in the margins are two minuscule mobile suits with smiley faces instead of heads, standing over a charred colony. Marianne facepalms, a migraine spinning in the recesses of her head. She looks around the empty space around her at her companions. The assault group had gathered: Rehana in the Geminass 02, herself in her Leo-R, a Serpent, and a Taurus. Not quite the Earth invasion force, but probably enough to do the task they've set out to do. The minor intelligence they'd been able to gather marked this colony as a low-priority target, not even worth a color index.

“Let's go, team!” Shouts Rehana, without provocation. The Geminass 02 blasts from formation toward the colony beyond. Rehana's caught off guard, as are their fellow wingmates. They give chase, hoping to stay in-step with their de facto leader. The colony ahead, blue amongst a stark background, ignites with anti-MS emplacements. Apparently, the colony didn't want any uninvited guests. Soon, Marianne surmised, they'll launch their mobile suit compliment.

And, with that, three Leo's blast out to meet them. Between dodging the turret fire, and sortieing with the Leo's, Rehana's wingmate gets clipped by fire, sending hurtling into even more fire. The anti-mobile weapon beam eats from the suit's armor like butter and it promptly explodes. Obviously, there had been a miscalculation.

“Oh shi---” Marianne sputters, “she's dead! They're bating us!”

“Keeeep moving!” Urges Rehana.

The Leo-R destroys a Leo with its dobergun, dodging as best she can. Another Leo comes to her right, sporting a bazooka and fire round after round. One misses, but another arcs high and pegs the Leo-R in its counter-maneuvers. Just as the Leo is about to fire another round, her wingmate shoots it in the head from a distance. The Geminass takes care of the last one...

“We're almost there!”

But there are supposed to be five mobile suits...three from fives leaves two--- But just as she finishes her modest calculations and enters the colony's main hangar bay, two Leos spring from behind a downed shuttle craft and launch a mixture of beam and bazooka fire at the attackers. Geminass catches the majority of it in the face and torso. Leo-R and her wing take prompt cover behind two loading arms.

“They hit the rifle, I think it's broken...” Rehana is out of ideas and frozen with fear. The plan hadn't been going as originally perceived. The Leo's seem determined to take the monstrous Gundam down, and continue to blast it with everything they have. All or nothing. Which was good for Marianne, who was more or less invisible to them.

Coming from their flank, the Leo-R and Taurus companion blast the unsuspecting Leo's in the back. They explode, as does the shuttle craft.

“Backwater scum,” Georgia, the Taurus pilot, curses.

Rehana moves to their position, bloodied but still hanging on. “All right!” She says shakily, “we are winners!”

Marianne clenches her teeth, the image of her flighty friend biting her resolve. “We'd better move to the command area and finalize this...”

They disembark from the hangar.

Outcome: Colony V-21899 captured by Geminass 02; 5x level 2 Leo's destroyed.
Geminass 02 – Damaged (1) day.
Serpent wing destroyed.
Leo-R – Damaged (1) day.
Taurus wing promoted to level 3.




Capturing MO-III

The Wing Gundam Zero launches from its atmosphere transit vehicle. After breaching the Earth's exosphere, the crafts initial velocity was enough to allow a full day's travel from the Earth. And, quite conveniently, to its destination. The Wing Zero glimmers with silent brilliance, pushing farther and farther away from the Earth's hold. Inside, Richard Blake smiles covertly to himself, relishing the thought of what's to come. He checks all power readings on his weapons and propulsion systems - all green.

MO-III, a simple and out of the way manufacturing plant – the perfect target. A giant rock with several discernible viewports and docking bays comprises most of the structure's outer surface, everything else hidden within the rock no less.

Blake brings the Zero closer to the installation's sensor perimeter. By now, they've had time to scan his mobile suit.

Trrriiing, trrriiing...

“This is independent manufacture installation MO-III, state your business or be on your way,” an authoritative voice commands, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

“I am Richard Blake, United Earth Sphere Alliance pilot and enemy to any and all OZ sympathizers. I have the means to destroy your facility in a single blast,” he pauses to allow what he'd just said to set in. “Your installation is now under my jurisdiction.”

The comm goes silent, and the cockpit of the Wing Zero grows dim. After a brief thirty second deliberation, the facility's operator comes on, “This is William Dobrivnek, facilitator of MO-III. I am in charge of nearly 100,000 persons and do not wish them any ill-will. In that sense, we respectfully surrender and give all command over to you.”

“I expect to see the facility's head staff upon my arrival. There will be something I'd like to add to the agenda.” Richard adds, making his very first decree as facilitator of MO-III.

“As you command, Mr. Blake.”

Outcome: MO-III captured by Wing Gundam Zero.
Wing Gundam Zero – Damaged (0) days.

Reports were still coming in regarding yesterday's tragedy. Commander Tsu had little idea what had actually occurred, but he knew it meant bad things. The whole nation is now mobilizing as result. Rumors had spread that OZ had bribed local dissidents into blowing up the nation's largest hydroelectric dam. Tsu didn't know what to believe. Seven or eight of his officers had requested leave in spite of the incident, and he didn't blame them. They deserved to be with their families – to be able to bury them with some form of honor intact, despite their untimely demise. Tsu looks around the readied, yet seemingly emptied, command center. He brushes off the feeling of being ill-prepared, and instead looks out the window. He has a perfect view of the entire complex from where he stands atop the command walkway. He's more than confident in his men. He feels that whatever had obliterated Chongqing would definitely find more than just simple peasants this time. Fascist OZ. No one crosses us and lives to do it again.

“I want all systems on standby and twelve hour crew rotations,” Tsu commands several of his subordinates, gesturing towards the base's defense line out the viewport. Despite their sudden bewilderment, they do as told. “And I want a patrol out on the hour.”

A junior lieutenant nods with mock enthusiasm, no doubt hurrying to finish his duties so that he, too, could take his leave. Whatever happens, it won't be my head on the chopping block. No way.

------------

A single Taurus mobile suit stands complacent amongst a rock formation, waiting.

BZZzzsst ”... Roger.” Its body suddenly jerks as if someone had whispered its name challengingly. Its giant yellow sensor crackles with understanding, the gears inside turning. Transforming into flight mode, the Taurus's thrusters ignite on cue and propels it off toward a distant string of teaming lights. It keeps low to the ground, avoiding detection from the air as well as dodging any sensor nets that might have been “expertly” placed around the compound's heavy traffic zones. It weaves in and out of passing rock and tree formations, spinning playfully, threading the needle. As it nears its target, it makes one glancing maneuver toward the base's left-most perimeter, mocking the would-be defenders.

It transforms back into mobile suit mode and fires a series of well-placed beams across the gun line. Several hit their mark, destroying searchlights and a beam turrets alike. The Taurus begins its domination of the sky.

------------

“What the hell was that! A Taurus? We don't have any of those! Shoot it down! Now!” Tsu's cheeks slowly burn red and begin to blend well with the flashing alarms that surround him. The comm operators move to scramble all mobile weapons and gun emplacements. Leo after glorious Leo began pouring out of the hangars across the airstrip, guns trained and ready. Everything begins to glow with an absolute magnificence that only Tsu seems to recognize and appreciate. He calms down. It's show time.

------------

John Henry Blackburn sees the Taurus pass overhead, its exhaust trail leaving a wide, arcing smile in the sky. He had been inching his mobile weapon, the Heavyarms, foot by foot on its stomach, all day. The camonetting was falling off anyway, he sighs. Now is a good a time as any. He watches as the entire base begins to unleash its firepower on the lone Taurus. The untrained enemy disperses its forces in all directions, leaving gigantic gaps in the defensive perimeter. This was his chance. Moving to a runner's stance, Blackburn launches the Heavyarms toward the base. A meager barrage of micromissile fire, and a few trained shots from his Gatling gun, take care of several gun emplacements and a section of the meek-looking concrete outer wall. With that simple gesture, the Heavyarms was in the base. They were certainly aware of his presence as emblematic of all the sirens, but with the base commander's attention fully-trained on his ally in the sky, the base was relatively unguarded. Blackburn is rather surprised, but overtly content with the situation... that is, until he turns a corner near the base's communication's tower and comes face-to-face with a lone Leo Cannon flanked by several Aries.

“Halt!” A woman's voice echoes from over the Leo's loudspeaker. It then freezes in place, weapons at the ready.

Blackburn notices the Leo's double-crested markings and rifle position – special forces?. Blackburn shakes the thought from his mind. Clearly, just an overpaid goon in need of a good schooling. He does her a favor and opens his chest Gatling gun ports - she seems to take notice, and scatters before he's able to get a fix. He takes the opportunity and simply adjusts his weapons a few degrees up and takes out an Aries. Its companion flies upward, and dodges the tracer rounds. The Leo sees the distracted Heavyarms and fires a few blasts from its shoulder-mounted cannons. They impact on the gun bays, igniting a few rounds and sending the Heavyarms into a nearby structure. The feminine-seeming Leo takes another chance, against better judgment, and rushes the Gundam with its 105mm rifle blazing a path.

Blackburn lifts the Heavyarms off the concrete structure, leaving behind a hollowed piece of modern art. The pitter-patter of futility rains over his cockpit, and still the Leo rushes forward. Then, within a heartbeat of colliding, the Leo drops the rifle and fetches a beam saber from its shield. Arms raised high, it attacks. Blackburn raises his own gun-shield up to block, unwittingly forgetful of its dual purpose. The blade cuts partly through the Gundanium shielding and into the barrels themselves, destroying the beam Gatling gun's functionality. The Leo throws itself off with miraculous finesse, and retreats once more behind nearby defilade.

“What in the hell was that all about?!” Blackburn curses, doing a quick weapons check. 20% micromissiles, Gatling's at 50%... he still had a few surprises... “We'll just forget you for now.”

The Leo just a memory now, a group of three regular Leo's approach the stilled Heavyarms from across the airfield. Blackburn fires two homing missiles into each, catching them in both the head and groin compartments. All three crumple the the ground. Just as he begins to modestly congratulate himself, seven more Leos make landing a few meters from one another in a moon-shaped pattern. He wishes he had saved a few missile from before.... Lances of beams fire skyward still, reassurance that his Taurus companion was still with the living. That much kept his spirit from blemishing. The Leos stumble to and fro around the Heavyarms, corralling him in. They seem to get him where they want him...

The Leo's are firing, peppering the Heavyarms with one gigantic on-rush of contempt. The Heavyarms fires its chest machinecannons in a sweeping pattern, from right to left, until he completes a full circle. The Leo's all catch fire – all but the one with the dobergun atop a hangar, the one he missed. Shells pound the Gundam's outer-shell, leaving massive dent-like wounds. Several more join in from atop other monstrous structures, adding to the misery. Aries now fly overhead, doing their part. Blackburn fires the last of his missiles, smothering the hangars, as well as the Leos, in flames. He trains his vulcans on the Aries, hoping to get lucky.

“So it comes down to a knife and some vulcans – not enough if that She-Leo comes back.” He sighs as several Aries go down in defiance. He checks his micromissile payload: two left. Just enough to leave a mark. He opens a public channel,“all right, Eagle-One-Five, retreat to point-oh-one.”

He puts everything into his thrusters, coercing life into several of the more severely damaged. He searches in all directions and spies the one domineering structure with ease – the command center. Gotcha, UESA scumbags. The acronym barely forms in his mind before he feels the violent shudder from his launching payload.

------------

Tsu is busy reading the battle readouts, the casualty lists, the commander reports. Suddenly, the smarmy lieutenant from before begins shouting in some archaic dialect of Mandarin. He looks up just in time to see the missile's pierce the glass of the thirteen by twenty view pane.

“In the name of Confu---” He, and all around him, are swallowed by flame.

Outcome: Lanzhou base remains; 1x Command Center destroyed, 1x Hangar destroyed, 11x Average Beam Turrets destroyed, 5x Heavy Beam Turrets destroyed, 15x lvl 1 Leos destroyed, 8x lvl 1 Aries destroyed.
Gundam Heavyarms – Damaged (2) days.
Taurus wing promoted to level 3.