"You know this is a fucking stupid idea, right?" Scarth's co-pilot said. "A duel? Seriously?"

"Mind your place and shut up," Scarth ordered. "If you do not wish to accompany me, you're welcome to eject."

The Dodai looked down at the sea, the waves churning to and fro. He swallowed, knowing Scarth was serious about ejecting. The Dodai pilot wasn't necessary; he just made controlling the unit easier. He shut his mouth, opting to stay quiet until spoken to again.

"I am a warrior," Scarth explained. "I shall meet the enemy in battle face-to-face and judge if he is worthy of my esteem."

Just then, the Dodai's radar picked up incoming units from the coast, a wave of fightercraft.

"Already the challengers come," Scarth thought to himself. "Will they face me all at once?"

"Attention hostile craft, this is California Base," a voice said. "Turn back or be destroyed."

"I am Scarth Maheart," Scarth explained. "I come-"

"Yeah, yeah, we heard," the controller interrupted. "We don't duel here; we fight wars. Turn back or die."

Scarth gritted his teeth; he was determined to find an honorable match in this country and he would not leave until he'd gotten one. He raised his machinegun, waiting for the enemy fighters to take the first shot. They did not fail to fire without announcing themselves, sending two missiles each in his direction. He fired, waving his weapon back and forth to intercept the warheads, taking down several of them with fratricide. Several managed to get through though, slamming into his Zaku.

"You're hit! We're surrounded! We need to turn back!" the Dodai pilot howled desperately.

"No, I-!" Scarth began to chastise when he suddenly came under more fire.

The fighters had closed in close enough to use their machineguns, hammering the mobile suit as they passed. They had ignored the Dodai thus far, but that would likely change if they felt the mobile suit on top was too tough to kill. That would come soon enough, Scarth thought, as he weaved back and forth, avoiding as many shots as he could. He returned fire, though the Dodai's evasive maneuvers threw his aim off. He clipped one fighter's wing, forcing it to break off and return to base, but that only prompted the rest to begin assailing the Japanese plane.

"Alright, alright!" Scarth grunted. "Retreat!"

The Dodai pilot almost cried with relief, turning them around as quickly as he could and pushing the thrusters as hard as he could. The fighters, seeing their target turn tail, regrouped and followed closely, watching for a trap but not willing to pursue without orders. The Zaku and Dodai slowly disappeared over the horizon though, ending the brief threat and Scarth's challenge with it.

Outcome: American Union wins
Scarth Maheart: 6 XP, Repairing 3