UC 0084 January 31
Looking back into the stars as the Neo-Zeon fleets departed back to the Colony, Petty Officer Powell awaited aide from Lieutenant Burns. In the previous battle, they had been the only survivors of a massacre on Side 7. Unfortunately, the Federation did not deem any survivors of the ambush, and so Powell and Burns were on their own�
With Burns and his GM approaching, Powell smiled in relief. �Thank god you�re here, I had second thoughts about getting out of here. I don�t think they spotted us�, he said. �Don�t be too sure, I don�t trust the Neo-Zeon to not make a sweep�, Burns replied. �I had warned Hemes that this would happen. If only the Federation had not underestimated their strength, we wouldn�t have lost so many�� he said. Powell, confused about a reply, simply asked the real question. �Uh, Lieutenant�Just how the hell are we going to get out of here?� he said. �How badly damaged is your mobile suit?� Burns replied. �My left leg is inoperable, and my left thruster�s been acting up. I�m on a limp�, said Powell. �Stick with me and I�ll get you out of here. We should find the nearest Federation flagship.� Burns said. �But, I thought that we were the only Federation fleet out there.� said Powell in a worried tone. �Let�s hope not�� replied Burns, trying to deny that Powell may as well be right.
With a short chance of reaching the nearest Federation base in time, Powell and Burns set off for an early start, before the Neo-Zeon fleets may begin a sweep�
No matter how hard he tried to hold it in, Powell was petrified of the enemy, and Burns knew it. This was Powell�s first combat mission, as it was for most of the other four pilots who had died in the battle. After a few short minutes of traveling in a vulnerable state, they began to make way around the wreckage of the Finn and Crawfish.
�Oh god�look at the bodies�, said Powell seeing a first hand view of death. �It may help if you not look at it�� Burns replied. Burns was indeed a veteran, joining the mobile suit forces just toward the end of the One-Year-War. He had fought bravely in attacking the space fortress Solomon during Operation Star One, destroying two Zakus. He had seen combat before, and to him, Powell had done well to keep his sanity so far.
Thinking to himself and not paying close attention, he had finally woken himself up after realizing a vessel was passing by them at least 60 kilometers away. �What is it, sir? Do you see it too?� said Powell. �Yeah, I see it. Let me get a closer visual.� Burns said. Powell was breathing heavily, and exhausted yet very awake. �Shit! It�s a Musai-Class.� Burns said in frustration. �May�maybe they�ll pass us.� Powell stuttered. �Let�s just keep moving and hopefully��, replied Burns only to see to it that he was wrong.
On board the Musai-Class ship the King�
�Sir, we�ve picked up small readings of two unidentified targets� a crewman said. �Finally, some real action. Those feddies were no match to us before. I�ve been disappointed in the Federation�s progress. Let�s send two of our Zakus for a reconnaissance run, and inform the Venom about our readings. It may be another civilian shuttle, but we can�t be too sure�, replied Lieutenant Commander Pummel. In the Mobile Suit bay of the King, Lieutenant Junior Grade Kellin of a Zaku II MS team had just been told of he and his team�s assignment. �Another Recon mission, eh Lieutenant?� said his Chief Petty Officer Ulmeyer. �Let�s just hope we�ll see some real combat out there� replied Kellin. �Ha! The feddies have already shown us what they got, and I have to say that I�m not at all impressed. They�re as good as dead if they go up to us, those feddy clowns.� Ulmeyer remarked sarcastically. �Whatever Ulmeyer, but it�ll be your own ass out there if you�re wrong.� Said Kellin, reaching up to his mobile suit�s cockpit, with Ulmeyer following behind. �Don�t worry, Lieutenant, like I said, one of these days I�m gonna get to be squad leader. Then we�ll see who�s the real deal out there.� Said Ulmeyer, mocking the Lieutenant. �Whatever you say Ulmeyer, but you just remember who you�re working for. I�ll see you in the field.� Kellin replied, closing his mobile suit hatch. �Remember, Lieutenant, I�m gonna be the one to take your place!� yelled Ulmeyer, through the Lieutenant�s cockpit hatch.
�Fool, he�s too cocky for combat. Stupid son of a bitch is gonna get himself in some deep shit one of these days and he�d better pray for someone to be there for his ass.� Kellin said to himself. After jumping into his seat, and closing in the hatch, Ulmeyer booted up his Mobile Suit. �Okay, are we ready?� asked Kellin. �Ulmeyer here, I�m good�, he said. �Okay, this is Lieutenant Kellin to bridge, requesting permission to launch.� he said. �We�re ready whenever you are Lieutenant, just bring her back in one piece�, replied the head controlman. �Alright, get ready on my mark� Kellin said to his wingmen. �Understood� replied Ulmeyer. �3..2..1..and let�s go!� Kellin ordered. The two mobile suits shot downward and then made a quick sweep upward to verify the SS King that they were now enroute.
In the distance, after passing through the wreckage of the Finn and Crawfish, Burns and Powell watched in fear as the Musai-Class cruiser launched mobile suits.
�God dammit! It just keeps getting worse� said Burns. �What now? We need to get out of here!� said Powell, almost in panic. �Calm down! Let�s head over to that asteroid field, it�s about 100 kilometers from here, but I think we can make it. We�ll lose them once we get there�, said Burns frantically trying to find a way to escape. Boosting off at full speed, the fire emitted from their rockets had drawn the attention of the two Zakus�
�Did you see that?! More mobile suits!� said Ulmeyer in excitement. �Think they�re ours?� Kellin said. �Not a chance! Let�s go after them!� Ulmeyer said, tempted to track it down. �Let�s wait, we�re not even sure if it�s the right target, and we need to inform the King about this, hold on� said Kellin, trying to persuade Ulmeyer. �Forget this bullshit, I�m going for it� said Ulmeyer, blasting off without a second thought. �You idiot!!! Get back here now! We don�t have time to play games!� yelled Kellin over the comm. �Are you coming or not? Or should I mark two kills on myself already?� smiled Ulmeyer. Ulmeyer, thinking to himself��This is my chance to prove myself. Once I destroy these targets, I�ll surely be promoted. And if they aren�t what I think they are, it looks like Kellin will get the blame. Then I�ll surely take his position as Lieutenant!�
�Lieutenant! They�re coming right for us!� screamed Powell looking back. �We�re almost there, just hang on!� said Burns. �Let�s just hope we can make it in time�� he whispered to himself.
�So it IS a feddy! Two of them! Must be my lucky day!� grinned Ulmeyer. Using his targeting screen and joystick, Ulmeyer stopped to lock onto the target. Waiting to get the right shot, he found his target a sitting duck as the crosshairs flashed red. �Now you�re mine, feddy!� he said out loud. Suddenly, before he could fire the right shot, he was distracted as he felt a short jolt in the suit. �AH!..� he jumped as his finger hit the trigger while the target was still in place. �Ulmeyer, you stupid son of a bitch! Do you know what you could�ve gotten us into?!� screamed Kellin. �Shut up, Lieutenant! They�re feddies!� Ulmeyer snapped back. �They�re what?!� said Kellin.
A sudden burst of fire sent Powell�s GM shooting downward. �Powell! Answer me! Are you okay?!!!� yelled Burns. �I�m alright, but I�ve been hit! My suit�s arm is gone!!� Powell yelled back. �God, they�re closer than I thought. Right on our tail!� he said in anger. �Lieutenant, let�s find hiding point to ambush them in those asteroid ahead.� Powell replied. �We�ve got to keep moving!� he said. �You�re right�can you still make it?!� Burns asked. �I think I can manage to hold on� Powell said. �Just don�t let me down, we�ll make it!� Rush said, as he boosted off with Powell behind.
�They�re heading for those asteroids, let�s go after them or else we might lose them!� said Ulmeyer in frustration of the Lieutenant�s intrusion. �Just hold the hell on! We need to inform the others about it!� said Kellin. �The hell with them! I found them first, and I�m gonna go claim my prize now!� said Ulmeyer, once again disobeying Kellin. �You stupid bastard! Why are you so stubborn?!� yelled Kellin.
Reaching the Asteroids, Powell and Burns took a large rock for cover. �How much more of this?� said Powell, exhausted. �I don�t know, but let�s hope they haven�t followed us yet. Be careful here too, I wouldn�t want a rock to crush us.� Burns said. �I copy that� Powell replied.
Not too far behind were their hunters, as Ulmeyer reached the asteroid field no less than two minutes afterward. �Hiding behind those rocks, eh? Not to worry, I�ll find you feddies. And when I do, I�ll show Serjhin my true skills as a fighter!� he said, grinning. After surveying the field from outside, predicting where they may be, he decided to look at the largest rocks, one by one. After nearly losing site of him in the asteroid field, Kellin, unknowing to Ulmeyer, was trailing behind. �I swear, I�ll rip the patches off his jacket once I get a hold of him!� Kellin remarked.
�Huh?! Oh great! They�re looking for us!� Powell said, watching Ulmeyer�s suit fly by in the distance. �And another one?!� he said as he watched Kellin in pursuit. �Don�t worry, they won�t find us, as long as we keep moving� said Burns. �I copy that� said Powell. �You stay here, while I distract them, when I do, make a run for it� said Burns. �But, what about..� Powell was interrupted. �Don�t worry about me, I�m not damaged. Just stay here, and watch yourself� said Burns.
While in pursuit of Ulmeyer, Kellin realized he had lost his target, and finally gave up hope. �God dammit, Ulmeyer, you�d better pay for this. Huh, what the hell�� he stuttered after realizing he had found a GM hiding in the outskirts of a rock. Quickly, Kellin took to his right for cover.
�Huh? Did you say something?� Burns asked Powell. �Oh, no, I thought I saw something� said Powell. �Keep your guard up, Powell. They could be anywhere.� Burns said. �I can�t find them anywhere!�
Approaching on the other side of Powell, was the ignorant Ulmeyer, now in frustration. �Dammit! They can�t hide amongst these rocks forever! Where the hell are they?!� he said impatiently. �So that�s where you are Ulmeyer. I�ve finally found you now� Kellin whispered to himself. �Huh?!�what the�Ulmeyer!!! Watch out damn you!!� he yelled. Kellin took a thrust at full speed, bringing forth his MMP-80 as he came to a sudden hault.
�Powell!! Look out!!!!� Burns cried, as he saw Kellin approaching. �What?! Where is he??!!!�GAAHHH!!!� screamed Powell. Without a moment�s notice, a machine gun blazed, tearing through the metal that plated his suit�s back. Powell�s suit exploded almost on contact. �There�s one down, what about the other�AH!� Kellin yelled as he turned his head to an angry Burns heading at full speed. �You bastard! You killed him! You bastard!� shouted Burns. Dodging a sweep from his beam saber, Kellin dropped his weapon and pulled out his own. Kellin sped after Burns, as Burns turned back toward Kellin, blazing his 60mm vulcans. Kellin struggled to dodge the fire, taking a quick right and landing behind an asteroid. �That little son of a bitch!� he yelled. As Burns escaped Kellin�s grasp, he unknowingly stepped into plain view of Ulmeyer�s suit. �Aha! There you are!� he said, finding his prey. Before he could pursue Burns, Kellin dropped out of nowhere to block his passage.
�What the hell? Get out of my way Lieutenant!� he yelled. �Ulmeyer! This is the last straw! You�ve disobeyed my orders twice! There won�t be a third time, which is why you�re coming with me so that I can send you back!� Kellin yelled. �What are you talking about?!� Ulmeyer snapped. �You�re through! I will no longer accept you as a mobile suit pilot!� Kellin explained. �I�m telling our Commander about your lack of cooperation and disobedience. Until then, consider yourself dismissed, Ulmeyer� he said. Ulmeyer, shocked at Kellins words and angry, couldn�t let Kellin walk away. �I�m sorry you�ve forced me to do this, Lieutenant, but it�s my only option� Ulmeyer said. �What?� Kellin asked, expecting an insult from Ulmeyer.
Suddenly, Kellin felt a rumbling in his suit, as systems began to malfunction. �Ulmeyer! What the hell are you doing!!!� Kellin screamed as his mobile suit began to fail. Outside the cockpit, Ulmeyer had his beam saber splitting Kellin�s suit from behind. In a malfunction that sent Kellin�s suit shooting downward toward the rocks as his backside was sparking. His thrusters would not respond as they kept him in a spiral of flips and turns. Kellin gripped to the controls for his dear life, as Ulmeyer watched in awe at his Lieutenant�s fate. Suddenly, a rock smashed into the back legs of Kellin�s suit blowing them apart. Ulmeyer saw this explosion as the last of his Lieutenant.
�I told you Lieutenant�but you did not listen to me. Now you�ve paid the ultimate price for you incompetence� he said to himself. �Dammit! The feddy got away! I would have had him if it weren�t for Kellin! Oh well, I�ll find him later. First, I must get back to the ship for a casualty report. Dear me, the feddy killed Kellin�� Ulmeyer said with a grin.