//------------------------------// // Chapter Five: The Insult of Luna II // Story: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Mane Invasion // by awkwardGardener //------------------------------// Robert Stallion followed Slender through the hallways of the Magellan battleship. It had been four hours since the recapture of A Baoa Qu, and spirits among the Federation soldiers were high. The Mane forces had finally been bested, and Slender had even managed to capture an enemy pilot. However, Robert couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the situation. He had most likely known most of the Mane soldiers that had been killed in the fight. He had never agreed with the methods of the Mane forces, but they were still his kin. Turning a corner, Robert and Slender were approached by a young Federation officer who addressed them. “Lieutenant Slender and Ensign Stallion, the Red Comet has asked for you two in the interrogation observation room.” The officer reported as he saluted. Saluting back, Slender said, “Thank you, Petty Officer Gable. We’ll head there straight away.” And with that the two continued down the corridor. *** Roland Zeck sat at his desk looking over a clipboard. An unsettling grin crept across his face as he examined Amuro Ray’s medical charts. Amuro was recovering smoothly after the operation Roland had performed. It was only a matter of time before he was able to pilot the Gundam again. The screen next to the desk flickered on and Ensign Bright Noa’s face appeared. “What’s Amuro’s status is he improving?” Bright asked the doctor. Bright’s expression had become similar to that of a war veteran. Roland gave his captain a somber look as he said, “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t tell at this point in time. Given a day or two I should be able to determine when he will awake.” Ensign Bright paused and looked off to one side. “Alright… Let me know if anything changes…” The screen went black as the communication ended. Turning back to the charts, Roland smiled yet again. No one on this ship had any idea why he was really here. He aimed to keep it that way. *** Corsair Sky sat in an interrogation room uncomfortably. Human chairs were certainly not made to accommodate ponies. It didn’t help that her eye, or what was left of it, still hurt like no one’s business. Across from her sat a rather round man in a green uniform, a Zeon officer. The man just sat there quietly, only opening his mouth to ask her questions every few minutes. She was surprised by how weak human interrogation seemed, there wasn’t even any yelling. Behind the man was a mirror, probably a one way window. The door opened. A man in a red uniform walked in and dismissed the rounder man. Sitting in the briefly empty seat the man asked, “Do you know who I am?” His voice was remarkable familiar, yet Corsair couldn’t quite place it. She shook her head slowly, her expression unchanged. The man exhaled and spoke again, “I’m Char Aznable, a Lieutenant Commander with the Principality of Zeon.” Corsair’s face quickly became a mixture of shock, anger, and pain as she realized that this was the man that had taken her mother’s life. Her lips quivered as she opened her mouth and said, “Red Comet… I swear to Princess Luna… I will kill you for what you have done…” She looked up and glared at the man before her. Char had seen this look before. It was the same look that Pegasus on the ship had given him. “So that must have been your mother on that ship? She died honorably.” He could almost sympathize with this pony. There was a knock on the door and Char turned and answered. Slender stood outside the door and saluted. “You wanted to see me, sir?” “Yes, come in, Slender, you too, Robert. I’ll be just outside speaking with Dren.” Char left the room and Slender entered, followed by Robert. Robert looked over at Corsair, but turned away almost instantly. “Aw jeez. Of all of the ponies…” He said under his breath. “Robert?” Corsair exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. Slender looked back and forth between the two curiously. “You two know each other?” He asked. Robert turned to Slender. “I’d rather not talk about it, but we were both stationed on the same battleship for a while.” He explained. Corsair slammed her head against the table in anger, and instantly regretted it. “This is freaking brilliant! I lose my eye, my mom dies, and now you’re a traitor? I’m done, this is too much!” As she struggled to get free Corsair knocked the chair over, losing consciousness as her head hit the floor. *** A colossal battleship flew by what was once the colony, Side 7. A fleet of smaller ships followed alongside the ship as it passed the colony wreckage. The ship’s side read Draconequus, and it was the flagship of the MANE armada. On board the Draconequus, the MANE’s Fleet Admiral was receiving unwelcome news. “Sir, A Baoa Qu was retaken by the humans. Rear Admiral Pale Sky was lost, and her ship captured.” A nervous unicorn stated. The Fleet Admiral took a moment to ponder what had happened. She brought her hoof up to her chin and replied, “Tragic, but it is of no true consequence. Capturing A Baoa Qu was meant to assert ourselves against the Zeon, it was never a necessary command point. You are dismissed.” The starry maned Fleet Admiral turned to the navigator. “Set a course for the Federation stronghold, Luna II. I will no longer abide the existence of such an insult to my name.” Luna commanded. *** “What do you mean we can’t leave?” Bright Noa asked the man before him. “Commandant Wakkein, I demand to know why you’re refusing to let us leave.” “Watch your tongue, Ensign. You are addressing a superior officer.” Wakkein replied stiffly, “But if you must know. Our scouts have detected a large enemy force approaching. We will need White Base to remain here to aid in our defense. Is that understood, Ensign Bright?” Bright saluted reluctantly, “Yes, sir. White Base will stay to aid in the defense of Luna II.” The Commandant turned and said, “You are dismissed.” A young man with blonde hair waited outside Wakkein’s office. His name was Job John, and he had been assigned as the temporary pilot of the Gundam. He followed Bright as he left the office. “What’s the word, Captain? Is the Commandant gonna let us head to Earth or what?” Job asked. Bright sighed and then replied, “We’re to stay here until the enemy has been fought off. Apparently there’s a small fleet on its way.” A resigned look on his face, Job simply said, “Well, guess we’ve gotta fight then. I’ll make sure the Gundam is ready.” And he walked off towards White Base’s dock.