UC 0084 February 1
Aboard the SS King, Lieutenant Commander Pummel was determined to destroy the federation fleet. His only thought of a fault was the fact that he had just lost one of his pilots to the federation pilot once again. Petty Officer Stykes barely had any experience in combat, but losing him to a damaged mobile suit was embarrassing. Moving forward, he had forgotten about Commander Ritter�s order for him not to advance further. Ignoring this, he moved on, reaching further and further to the midpoint of the federation�s fleet�
�I want to know what happened out there! Where�s Ulmeyer?! Can�t we reach him you idiots!�, Pummel shouted at his crew. Becoming more and more frustrated, he ordered the crew to stop searching, and move on ahead instead. �They must be close by. I can almost feel it. The fleet has to be somewhere close ahead�, he thought. �Sir, we�ve found Ulmeyer, sir� an operator said. �Put him on visual, immediately� Pummel ordered. Watching the screen carefully, he could make out two mobile suits in the distance chasing each other. �Lock onto that point, and zoom in� he said. Obeying his demands, the operator was able to get a clear shot of what was going on. �A Zaku chasing a limping GM? I�m surprised Ulmeyer hasn�t killed this feddy by now. If he doesn�t get rid of him soon, I�ll be very disappointed�� he thought.
Within the perimeter of the ship�
�Dammit! Hold still so I can kill you!� Ulmeyer screamed at his target. Continuously dodging fire from Ulmeyer�s machine gun, Burns was beginning to tire out. �I�ve got to hold on�just until the federation fleet can see me�� Burns thought. With Ulmeyer gunning at him from behind, he didn�t know if his suit�s power would be able to handle it. If he didn�t have to dodge fire every second, he could�ve conserved a lot more power. �At least I haven�t worn out yet, but I don�t know how much longer I can take this�� he thought. Pulling hard on the throttle, he shot in an upward direction, attempting to lose Ulmeyer. �What the�Ha! Can�t get away that easily!� Ulmeyer grinned. Following Burns up, he was faked again as Burns dashed to his left. �Not again!� he said. �Almost didn�t think I could make it, but that should slow him down�� Burns thought.
On board the King, Pummel and his crewmen continued forward, hoping to spot a vessel. �Sir! We�ve just spotted a ship!� a crewman said. �What?! Where?!� Pummel asked, jumping from his seat. �There sir!� the crewman shouted. �Ha! We�ve caught them now! How many are there?!� he asked. �Just one sir, a Salamis-Class battleship� the crewman responded. �Is that all?! I would have expected our opponent be better equipped! This should be a good challenge and opportunity for promotion, gentlemen!� Pummel said to his crew, standing hands over hips like an idle.
The Salamis-Class cruiser was getting ready for attack position, recognizing the incoming SS King. Suddenly, a different ship began to appear in the distance, heading closer towards the SS Sword. As the ship came closer, it was identified as an Irish-class Titans ship, known as the SS Shamrock. �Calling to the Captain of the SS Sword, this is Captain Atrevedis of the SS Shamrock, do you copy?� he asked. �SS Shamrock, this is the SS Sword, we read you. We are in need of assistance. There is an enemy ship approaching, but a Lieutenant Burns is in need of urgent backup now. If you would help us secure him, our mobile suits will willingly follow your orders in stopping the enemy ship.�, the SS Sword replied. �Good, I�ll send one of my pilots to aide the Lieutenant, meanwhile, get your mobile suits ready for combat.� Atrevedis replied.
Firing off into space from the SS Shamrock, Petty Officer Larkins began his run to retrieve the Lieutenant. �Larkins, move out and find Burns! I�ll meet you back here afterward, and hurry!� Atrevedis ordered. �Yes sir� Larkins responded. �Earth Federation mobile suits! When the enemy ship approaches in the correct range, on my order, surround the enemy ship and begin attack on its turrets!� Atrevedis commanded to the mobile suits, before Larkins headed off for Burns. Coming closer to the target on his radar, Larkins saw that two mobile suits were in an intense chase. An enemy Zaku II F2, which was firing nonstop at Burns, was pursuing Burns. Taking the element of surprise, Larkins waited until the enemy was in targeting range, and fired at full auto with his 90mm GM rifle. Making a foolish mistake, the enemy was not hit once, and Larkins had already used up a full clip. The enemy had been too far away, but as Larkins hurried to reload, the enemy was already approaching him. Frantic to get help, he shouted to Lieutenant Burns over the intercom �Burns! Get you ass over here so I can get a better shot! Lead him to me!� he yelled. Too late for requests, Larkins ran straight ahead for the Zaku II, when suddenly the Zaku II took a hard swoop to his right. Losing sight of him for a moment, the Zaku II F2 came full speed ahead at him, firing its MMP-80 machine gun, then shooting upward to avoid opposing fire. Because the Zaku II F2 was so fast, Larkins opened his eyes to notice that his armor was only chipped at. He was lucky to be alive.
�Shit, this guy�s good� he thought to himself. Larkins, like most Titan pilots, were fresh from training. They were inexperienced rookies, but hopefully that was all about to change. Relocating the Zaku in his sites, he burst at full speed, this time holding his shield up to be ready for enemy fire. As he came upon the Zaku�s back, it turned its head, glaring its mono-eye at Larkins. Turning over it revealed its MMP-80 once more, and fired backward at Larkins, attempting to lose him. This time the fire was in a short controlled burst, and the pilot had aimed carefully. Widening his eyes, as his heart beat faster, Larkins jolted his controls to the left, keeping one eye on the Zaku and the other on the incoming fire. Feeling the rush of adrenaline, his luck took a short break as one bullet hit the top of his right foot, disabling its leg thrusters. �Fuck!� he shouted. �Damn I�ll get you for that!� he yelled at the escaping Zaku. Not too far from him, Larkins fired his 90mm machine gun in 3 short round bursts. �Die you son of a bitch!� he shouted as he fired. The fire hit the Zaku II F2 in the left side of its body, and its left thigh as well. Veering out of control into the distance, before a short explosion the Zaku was not seen again. Larkins was interrupted with an incoming transmission, before he could finish the enemy off. Realizing Burns was safe, he had completed the objective, as he listened to the transmission. �Thanks pilot, I owe you� Lieutenant Burns said. Ignoring his thanks, Larkins knew his time limit was restrained as he told Burns what to do next. �Burns, Come with me! Time to go back to base, I�ll escort you!� Larkins ordered. Opening his space helmet to wipe the sweat off his face, he was relieved that the Zaku didn�t kill him. He had survived his first encounter, but now knowing that training had never prepared him for this. Nevertheless, he knew that the battle was far from over.
Onboard the SS King, Lieutenant Commander Pummel and his crew approach the incoming fleet. "Sir! We've just lost Ulmeyer, and we're approaching the federation fleet, but there is an extra ship sir!" a crewman said. "What? The federation have reinforcements already? Dammit!" Pummel yelled, slamming his fist across the control board. �Should we turn back, sir? I�m sure we could get�� the crewman said before being interrupted. �WHAT?! Are you mad?! Turn back in our time of triumph?! I think you've overestimated their chances! We'll crush this pathetic fleet in a heartbeat!" Pummel responded. "Should i inform colonel Ritter..." said the crewman. "F*ck colonel Ritter! We don't need him! We can handle this situation ourselves! Once victorious, I will take Ritter�s place! You'll see...we'll all see..." Pummel said with eyes widened.
Radioing in to the GM pilots, Captain Atrevedis made his final briefing, �Listen up men, this may be the hardest thing you will ever do, but I need you to do it for the Federation. Here is the battle plan...We�re going to use Scatter formation. Surround the turrets, and fire when you have a clear shot.� he said. Heading out with the final word, Atrevedis checked his ship�s radar and location, to designate the position of the enemy ship. It had not moved its stance since, besides heading towards the SS Sword. All he could do now is to hope and pray that they would be able to take out its weapons in time. Heading with him was Larkins, as Burns retreated to the SS Shamrock. �Sir, I�m back with the fleet. What do you request of me?� Larkins asked. �Larkins, take 2 GMs and go at their turrets. They seem to be too far from being in range. The rest of you give cover fire! Use short round bursts� Atrevedis ordered.
Flying in at top speed, Larkins and his two companion GMs dove at the SS King. Being greeted by fire from the cannons, they struggled to dodge the oncoming fire, but one GM was hit dead on, and destroyed. �You�re not quick enough! Stay to the side scattered with your shield up! I�m going in!� Larkins said. Firing blindly at the ship, while dodging its fire, Larkins moved in closer to get a hit at its main guns. �3 of you move in at the left! The rest take point with me! Back up Larkins and the other GM!� Atrevedis ordered. As the other suits took their new positions, Larkins fired once more at the ship, this time aiming specifically for its cannons. �Now it�s time to raise some hell!� he yelled. Damaging one cannon, he attempted to break off and run back. Firing with its two other cannons, the SS King aimed at Larkins and his companion. �Shit!� Larkins thought while trying to maneuver his way back safely. Turning around, Larkins was unexpectedly hit with a powerful blast that sent him spiraling into three flips backward. Happening so quickly, he almost went unconscious as his head smacked onto the sideboards. He had lost his shield, and his companion was gone, destroyed by the blast. �Larkins! Are you okay? Pull back and join the rest of us!� Atrevedis ordered. �I�m fine. I copy that, Captain� Larkins responded.
As Larkins moved back, Atrevedis and 3 GMs charged at the SS King to get a vantage point, as 4 GMs behind backed them up with firepower. Deciding to follow up with the GMs and Atrevedis, Larkins dove with them to attack the SS King. �Everyone! Fire at full auto, now!� Atrevedis ordered. Firing nonstop at the SS King, the three cannons suddenly turned toward Atrevedis and his 3 GMs. Knowing what would happen, but too late to act without casualties, Atrevedis could only let fate have its way with them. Struggling to dodge to the left, he yelled at his pilots. �Watch out!� he yelled. Before a moments notice, 2 GMs were destroyed, as the other GM�s left arm exploded rendering him only damaged. Thinking fast for an opportunity to strike, Atrevedis fired at the middle cannon, wasting his 90mm clip, while the other 4 GMs backing him up fired at all cannons. While one cannon was destroyed, two others were only damaged. Now it was the SS King�s turn, and Atrevedis knew it was angry. Unexpectedly, Larkins showed up with the other damaged GM, but Atrevedis was not happy to see them there. They needed to retreat, before the SS King made its next attack, but by then it was again too late. Seeing Larkins and the other damaged GM in perfect range, the two remaining cannons fired upon them. �No! I�ve got to run!� Larkins thought as he saw the cannons fire at him. The damaged GM was hit in the back, as it tried to escape, and exploded in seconds. As Larkins attempted to turn to his left, his left arm was hit and destroyed, sending him hard to the right.
�Larkins! Retreat back to the ship!� Atrevedis yelled at him. �Yes, sir� Larkins said, being somewhat confused. Seeing where he was, Larkins headed toward the SS Shamrock, knowing that he had almost lost his life that day. Now, it was only Atrevedis and his 4 remaining GMs. It was time to make a final stand, and finish off the cannons. �I�ll go after the middle cannon again, the rest of you, take the lower!� Atrevedis ordered. Moving in, Atrevedis wasted his second clip on the middle cannon, as the 4 GMs stayed where they were to fire at the lower one. The lower cannon was destroyed, as the middle one fired at Atrevedis while he tried to destroy it. Taking no chance to stand by, Atrevedis zoomed in and shot at his right, to avoid any fire. The fire made its way inches from hitting him, as he closed in for a shot. �Everyone, aim for that turret!� Atrevedis yelled. Atrevedis and his 4 GMs fired upon the cannon, destroying it on contact.
Onboard the SS King, the crew is in panic because of the loss of their cannons. "Sir! we've taken heavy damage, our main cannons are out!" a crewman said. "I know dammit! But we can't turn back now! Although the opponent is better than I expected, there is no difference. the federation is still weaker! I'll prove it to you all! I have a little surprise for them now..." Pummel grinned.
As Atrevedis and his 4 GMs closed in on the SS King, 10 missiles were fired at them, catching them completely off guard. The missiles headed for the 4 GMs as Atrevedis was slightly distanced from them. The missiles destroyed 3 GMs, as another wave of missiles came to finish off the last. The second wave destroyed the last GM, leaving Atrevedis as the last mobile suit on the battlefield.
�There�s one left sir!� a crewman said aboard the SS King. �Then destroy it!� Pummel ordered in a strict tone.
The third wave of missiles sped like bullets at Atrevedis. Struggling to dodge them, he raised his shield and moved left, only to be hit by two of the ten incoming missiles. Exploding on contact, the 2 missiles sent his suit flying to the right, as the explosions set off the other eight in a quick reaction. The explosions spread like wildfire, as the captain remained alive. As the fire cleared, his mobile suit�s right arm and leg were missing and his chest armor was deformed and smoking. Realizing his nose was bleeding, he went full throttle for the SS Shamrock, hoping to reach it in time before the SS King could finish him. �I�ve got to�hold on�� he thought. Reaching the SS Shamrock in time, Atrevedis ordered the SS Sword to attack the SS King. It was time for a ship battle. The mobile suits had done all that they could. It would be the end if the ships could not hold out.
Firing 38 missiles at the SS King, the SS Sword made its attack run, damaging the SS King by one tenth of its armor. The SS King struck back, firing 2 of its large missiles at the SS Sword, causing much greater damage. Resurfacing from the blasts, the SS Sword fired its 4 laser turrets at the SS King�s hull, creating scourge marks on its armor. Suffering heavy damage, the tables had turned on the SS King.
"Sir! they've hit us with lasers!" a crewman aboard the SS King cried. "Don't you think I know that?! DESTROY THEM!!!" Pummel yelled at the crewman, grabbing him by the shirt as the ship's control station rumbled from the blasts.
Firing two large missiles back at the SS Sword once more, the SS Sword moved in to fire at the SS King with another round. Firing its laser turrets again, the SS Sword was able to damage the SS King enough to send the enemy retreating backward in defeat.