Battle for Gander Island

by Andrew

The Exia plunged from the clear blue sky like a stone from heaven, Gander Island expanding exponentially beneath it with every passing moment. In mere moments the ocean had gone from a featureless blue matte to a kaleidoscope of blue and green hues with white caps. Inside, Hermes burped loudly, a combination of adrenaline and nerves causing his stomach to churn as he watched the base grow larger by the second. He couldn’t have been more nervous, or more excited, praying that his first real military operation was a credit to his family’s heritage.

It was at a couple hundred meters from the ground that the beam turrets began firing, spitting red beams of energy at the falling mobile suit. However the river of green particles flowing from the Exia’s GN Drive had already begun doing their job, only two shots scoring hits as the blue and white mobile suit dropped earthward. The few missiles that were fired never had a chance, flying around wildly as they failed to lock on with either their radar or heat tracking sensors before plunging into the ocean for lack of a better target. Even before Hermes had started slowing the Exia’s descent down with the GN Drive, he could hear the klaxons from Gander roaring beneath him.

With little more than a mechanical whirring the Exia’s screaming dive toward the ESA base came to a gentle stop, Hermes grinning as he had the Exia float for a moment in the center of the base, the laser and missile turrets ineffective at such close range. However pleased he was with his perfect landing, he didn’t waste time gloating for longer than a moment, almost immediately hover-dashing toward the massive radar control building. It seemed like there would be no resistance for him to fight through, a pair of Aries swooping down on him, both of their chainguns disabusing Hermes of the notion that his mission would be an in-and-out affair.

Accuracy wasn’t Hermes’ forte as both of the Aries were able to avoid the Exia’s bursts from its GN Vulcans and GN Rifle, neither particularly interested in engaging the obviously bladed mobile suit in close quarters. The bullets from the two aerial mobile suits that showered the Exia weren’t particularly damaging, but another two Aries flew in from a different direction, coordinating their attack as they both fired off their missiles pods at the distracted Exia. The blasts were enough to rock Hermes, forcing him to dash for cover behind one of the empty hangers.

“Surrender intruder!”

It was the first coherent message Hermes had been able receive, all other communications garbled beyond recognition by the GN Particles in the air. An Aries had doggedly chased him as he tried to find cover, the blue-gray mobile suit flying toward him with its guns ablaze. The GN Blade flipped into place, Hermes grinning as he charged the mobile suit. The bullets only left the minor dents as they hit the particle reinforced alloy, the Exia literally cutting through the Aries as they passed each other. However the destruction of the aerial mobile suit caused it to explode all around the Exia, the blast knocking Hermes and his mobile suit through one of the hanger walls, the gundam falling on its belly as it skid through the rubble.

Recovering, Hermes listened as he could hear at least two Aries flying over the hanger, searching for him. Between the thick black smoke thrown up by the recently defunct Aries, and the densely spread GN particles Hermes had a chance to sneak closer to the radar building. The mercurial pilot realized as he slunk the Exia through the base that his stomach was no longer a churning morass, but rather he was enjoying himself. Muttering something along the lines of “I guess I really was born to pilot” he boosted the Exia from behind the last of the sheltering hangers to cover behind the base’s command building. Lost in his thoughts Mauser looked up just in time to realize he had jumped directly in front of a Pisces shuffling around in its amphibious mode looking for him. The variable mobile suit, a fair thirty meters away, immediately started firing its torpedo-missiles at the GN suit, the torpedoes functioning like dumb fire rockets.

Missing, the explosives themselves were just as effective as if they had actually hit the Exia, the blasts alerting the rest of the bases’ mobile suits of his location. The trio of remaining Aries screamed in from above, all guns firing, while an additional two Pisces appeared, firing their torpedoes as they shambled toward him. Even with its reinforced armor, the Exia was having a hard time standing up to the bombardment from the six mobile suits, the blasts staggering it as Hermes struggled to get close enough to finish the massive radar array that made the base tick.

The GN Drive flared as Hermes Mauser, grandchild of two Gun Saints, made a last dash at the heart of Gander Island. The GN Blade, still extended from Hermes’ earlier run in with the Aries, tore into the building itself with its first swing, a second swing severing a massive portion of the radar system. Hermes decided then and there that the sight of the explosions that ripped through the entire block of buildings was one of the single most satisfying things he had ever witnessed, turning the Exia to face the advancing mobile suits. Still being bombarded, Hermes took time to wave the Exia’s hand at the ESA’s guards before running his mobile suit off the platform, the Gundam landing in the water with a massive plume of water shooting from its entry.

Fully expecting his mission to be over, Hermes turned his thoughts back to the orbital cannon that he had originally been sent to investigate. His thoughts were rudely interrupted by a pair of torpedoes slamming into the precious GN Drive on Exia’s back, the pilot’s forehead kissing the Exia’s control panel as he was thrown about by the blasts.

“Oh f*%& me.”

The expletive was entirely unbidden as Hermes realized that the water he had expected to be his sanctuary was crawling with Pisces, and Cancer mobile suits. The torpedoes appeared swiftly, cutting through the blue without mercy. The already damaged GN Armor was quickly mangled further, Hermes frantically trying to escape the pursuing armada of aquatic MS. A single Cancer appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the Exia with its pincers and firing its claw mounted torpedo launcher repeatedly into the Exia’s left knee at point blank. The Exia’s response, a GN Blade through the enemy’s cockpit, ended its attempt at detaining the Federation pilot with an implosive sphere. The pursuit ended after what felt like an eternity to Hermes, hairline fractures in the Exia’s armor criss-crossing over much of the mobile suit, the left leg badly mangled as well at the knee joint. Still, a slightly concussed Hermes’ optimism was untarnished as he cruised the Exia through the depths, his first mission mostly a success.

Outcome: Gander Island stands, Exia escapes.
Gundam Exia: 15 VP, 2 days damage
Gander Island: 1x Aries destroyed, 1x Pisces destroyed, Advanced Sensor Array destroyed, 1x Hanger damaged, main platform cratered