Chapter 2.1 (2/2)
”I won't wish you luck, you are certain to win.”
Treize nodded slightly with a smile playing about his lips.
At once, Treize selected five cadets: Zechs Merquis ((10)), Lucretia Noin ((10)), Izumi Tarnoff ((14)), Solac Delbruck ((12)), and Elv Honneger ((13)). Each of them had only just barely cleared [the double digits in age] but they were at the top of their cla.s.ses and had excellent performances during their mobile suit battle simulations.
According to the records, Treize Khushrenada and Zechs Merquise's first sortie was in AC 191 ((j.a.p point rebel control)). That, however, was not the truth. The reason [for this] will become clear in due time, but now is not that time.
Treize pulled up a map of Mogadishu on the monitor and explained the operation as he used a simulator to show the corps' moves.
”Today with the setting sun at 1800 hours, we will carry out the operation. Cadet Zechs and I will take Aries. Cadets Lucretia and Izumi will provide ((indirect backup)) backup in the Tragos. Once we announce the exact position, focus all your fire power on that point.”
”Full power... if we do that, there's a chance Professor Treize and Zechs will be hit,” Cadet Izumi smartly mentioned the possibility of being unable to evade [the first].
”We won't be hit,” stated Cadet Zechs firmly. ”We'll dodge. Don't worry about us, just [pump the lead].”
”Roger. I shall give no quarter.”
It was Lucretia who was first to consent. Treize smiled and continued the explanation.
”Cadets Solac and Elv will break through the enemy front line in Leos, concentrate your fire on the enemy's head quarter's main forces. We'll be your back up so you needn't worry [who's got your back].”
”Yes, Sir!” acknowledged the dauntless, resolute pair with youthful energy.
”[Now,] the rebels have been notified of the time of our attack. This is for the sake of keeping civilians from being involved in the battle. Also, you shall not attack any one who is nonresistant, even if they are a rebel. Furthermore, since we are using mobile suits, I do not permit [any] bloodshed in the name of self defense! You will keep thse things in mind.”
Then, the youthful general Treize encourage the young pilots off to a good start by saying, ”This operation will be decided in an instant! [There is not a single element of defeat among us.] We will show them the true power of this corps of 'toys'.”
Twilight, Mogadishu. The city had been turned into a fortress. The rebel soldiers who had taken control of the city thought of nothing but strict caution [against the coming attack]. The light of several searchlights lit up the dark night left and right and (sensed/gathered) anything that came near, and they had installed heavy machine guns to shoot down and destroy.
The OZ [aircraft carrier (lit: flight transport boat)] flew over the cit, maintaining an alt.i.tude high enough to ensure their thrusters weren't heard. There were two white Aries in the hangar. At the time, Treize had had all the Specials machines a standard white. He would, in later battles, unfailingly have all the machines white. White Leos, white Tragos ((transferred to Noin)) and so on, [he had a ] unique peculiarity for the color white. That continued until he at last boarded the Tall Geese II. Again, in AC 196, the Mariemaia army, proclaiming itself the successor charged with carrying out Treize's final wishes, also had its main forces ainted white: the mobile suit Serpent: white snake. It's rather hard to imagine that a mobile suit should be white. The color just stood out far too much. It was like hanging a target upon our neck and shouting ”I'm over here!” to the enemy. Some thought he was bringing back the spirit of chivalry. Others commented that it [the white] revealed his excessive confidence. Treize never clearly explained the reason for the white. Perhaps it was that the image of those icebergs had been seared into his mind.
”Let's go, Zechs......”
”Yes, sir......”
The two of them were already in the c.o.c.kpits of their Aries. Then, Cadet Izumi, who was running (indirect support) contacted them.
”Professor Treize, aren't you going to sprinkle some anti-rader chaff?”
”There's no need... we will challenge them to a fair and square fight.”
”Fair and square?” Zechs thought deeply (skeptically) about that.
”Is that what fighting is supposed to be?”
”A solider must not hesitated...... the first step must always be taken with composure.”
The batch at the back of the aircraft carrier opened. Treize's suit slid out and descended freely without firing the burners.
”That is the path of glory!”
Zechs' suit followed after Treize's.
”That's also a path covered in blood!”
The white Aries fell from the sky. Treize's and Zechs' courses [regarding the nature of warfare] had already begun to differ b this time. Their mobile suits were falling on the same path, but their minds were going in opposite directions (literally: vectors). As they listened to the wind screaming by, both of them checked the whole of Mogadishu as it approached before their eyes.
Years later, Zechs Merquise would return to Mogadishu for another surprise attack. AC 195 after the collapse of the Alliance following Operation Day Break, the remnants of the Alliance holed up in a fortress in Mogadishu. It was the OZ 33rd independent corps on the Somalia front that beat them. Zechs was one of the soldiers in the Somalia Corps and it was there that he [first] saw the Tall Geese.
The two freefalling Aries were detected by the enemy's control room.
”We've picked up two objects falling! They're directly above the city, alt.i.tude 10,000 meters!”
No one could imagine that a bomb had been dropped. However, as soon as they opened anti-aircraft fire, the freefalling stars made an about-face with a terrible thundering roar. The Aries fired up the jet burners and they simultaneously shot out, one to the left and one to the right. The anti-aircraft guns had no hope of following. Treize's suit followed the outer perimeter of the city and destroyed one enemy base after the other [er, probably means he destroyed gun towers but literally, says ”base”]. Inside, Zechs suit flew above the heart of the city, confirmed [the location of] the enemy's headquarters and chief bunker and relayed the information to Lucretia and Izumi. At about the same time, countless long distance sh.e.l.ls were fired (lit: launched) from the white Tragos. The firing was precise. Neither Zechs' nor Treize's suits suffered any hits. But then, the senses of both were superhuman, they immediately sensed incoming fire and, needless to say, quickly avoided it. After all, that was what the sixth sense was for (lit: that 'sense' was something like a sixth sense.) The explosive noise, the howling wind, a moment of stillness, the staleness of the air, the shaking of the Earth, the rustling of the trees; all of this they felt; the evasion and the battle took place simultaneously. In the tension of the battlefield, man's five sense are sharpened (lit: finely honed/whetted). And that held all the more true for youthful boys [like the Specials]. What Treize called ”hesitation” became ”cowardice” and ultimately, danger would be unavoidable.
Placing himself between life and death, and when he ascertained the exact target, that ingle point lit up with a highly precise hit.
The fire from the white Tragos exploded around the city and everything was enveloped in dust and smoke. The two Leos had broken through the city walls and entered the heart of the city. The acme of confusion befell the resistance's forces. Even as they tried to return fire, nearly all their weapons had been broken. The Leos Solac and Elv were piloting arrived at the central headquarters without much effort and with almost no resistance [from the rebels]. For the [unarmed (lit: flesh and blood)] people, the appearane of these giant white G.o.dlike weapons was only a.s.sociated with fear. When the Tragos, which had been running clean up, came hovering into the city, the resistance raised the white flag. The battle had been decided in (that) exact instant.
A communications officer entered the conference room at the Alliance Unification Headquarters. He said there was a notice of the militar situation in Mogadishu. Lieutenant Commander Venti looked at his watch; his expression said See, those toys couldn't handle it.
”Just as I expected, the mobile suit unit alone could not handle the situation. You'll be requesting reinforcements, I suppose?”
”Negative, we have accomplished the mission to capture Mogadishu. The mission is all over. Damage to allies: zero! Enemy casualties: zero! Civilian casualties: zero! The entire rebel army has surrendered.
”Wha-!?” Venit stood without thinking. As if such a ridiculous thing is even possible, he seemed to want to say.
”What about the mobile suit unit's fighting power?” General Noventa calmly said.
”I estimate there were roughly 60 mobile suits at least to have brought us this gain- were there that many mobile suits at Lake Victoria?”
With a satisfied smile, Van said, ”According to Professor Treize Khushrenada's report, it appears he had a small unit of just 6 mobile suits. Ergo, there were naturally six 'children' piloting those suits.”
”But... every one of them had, up until that point, no experience in actual battle,” Brigadier General Chilia said with satisfaction.
Treize and Zechs got out of their respective Aries and stood on Mogadishu soil.
A breeze blew in from the Indian Ocean; it carried a hint of winter despite being so close to the equator. The sun was peeking over the horizon.
”Dawn...”
”Yes.”
”Do you suppose we should welcome it?”
”If [this is] the start of [a new chapter in the book of] warfare,” Zechs said as he looked up at the white machine, ”then I cannot welcome it,”
The other pilots got out of their Leos and Tragos.
”Hm... [Now that I'm thinking about the cadets,] we just might have won a touch too thoroughly.”
”Hm. [Not you (lit: you are different)], Zechs,” said Treize, looking intently at Zechs.
”You are my friend, Milliardo.”
Zechs shuddered. Four years ago, he had a.s.sumed a new ident.i.ty and swore revenge upon the Alliance [er, but isn't OZ part of the Alliance right now?] He had thought no one had noticed. That he was Prince Milliardo Peacecraft of the fallen Cinq Kingdom.
”And how long have you known?”
”Last year, when you came to Lake Victoria.”
”How? (lit: Why?)”
”How indeed...... perhaps it was because you were so young to have the tears frozen, [forbidden from appearing upon] your young features.”
It was true that Zechs had not shed a tear in the four years since The Event.
”What about you, are you cut from the same cloth, Professor Treize? (lit: are you the same)”
He did not answer the question. Treize could not sympathize with revenge.
”No, if anything...” he looked at the four approaching cadets, ”my [feelings (lit: heart)] is probably closer to poor Lucretia Noin's,” he said.
”Lucretia....”
All the other cadets were smiling with pride over their victory; there were tears only in Lucretia's eyes. Perplexed, Zechs asked, ”What happened? Did you get hurt?”
”No, it's not that.”
”You were just worried about Professor Treize and Zechs, they're fine! Shouldn't you be relieved?” the always cheerful Solac chimed in, half teasing.
”It's not that either, I...” Lucretia wiped way her tears and said with resolute pride in her voice, ”I hate war.”
Afterwards, Mogadishu was an important base connecting Eurasia and Africa. They erected a mighty fortress and set up an enormous laser canon crowned with Noventa's name, the Noventa Canon. In the eyes of the upper echelons of the Alliance, who did not want to concede the OZ Specials achievements, their att.i.tude- which bordered on hara.s.sment- came to light.
Nevertheless, the Specials' , with their so-called ”toy soldiers,” first foray had effected revolution in the Alliance command system including regulations regarding mobile suit usage, and all logistical support and communications.
You might say it was too successful. It is understod that what Treize and Zechs had called the ”[beginning of a new chapter in the book] of warfare” was related to this success.
AC 186 SPRING
Following the capture of Mogadishu, naturally the higher ups in the Alliance set a course for the mobile suits that primarily employed them as a means to protect (lit: guarantee the lives of) the soldiers on the front lines. However, behind enemy lines at the resistance, they, too, jumped at the mobile suits and in the s.p.a.ce of a few months, mobile suits could be seen at battlefields the world over. And as the demand for mobile suits grew by leaps and bounds, Romefeller ama.s.sed a fortune. Romefeller controlled and ran the ”Ocean of Storms,” the Marius Plant. The cutting-edge factory made various new weapons and small-scale fusion reactors possible. Of course, the Leo, Aries, and Tragos mobile suits were also manufactured there. While the mobile suit battle went on, the Marius Plant continuously churned out mobile suits. Even so, the orders didn't cease, but rather steadily increased. Moreover, production of new model mobile suits was sped up. The Marina (lit: Marina, meaning some kind of naval force) wanted a mobile suit designed for underwater battle, the Pisces, and the s.p.a.ce forces wanted the Leo II, aka Chimera, to be quickly produced in order to guard convoys [commodity troops.h.i.+ps? big s.h.i.+ps carrying goods.]
By the calculations, the Alliance mobile suits should have been finished even if the factor hadn't operated until then. However, there was a traitor in the Alliance [there was someone within the Alliance who was sympathetic to the rebels/out right traitor] who sold vast quant.i.ties of mobile suits [to the rebels] on the black market. Also, acts of piracy occurred frequently where a s.h.i.+p carrying several hundred mobile suits would be attacked by a single Chimera and the entire s.h.i.+pment [would fall into the hands of the rebels]. Because of that, there was still a shortage of mobile suits despite the Marius Plant running 24/7/365. The Lunar plant was expanded in area and scale to increase production.
At the time, it was likely Earth's economy was [wholly] centered on the manufacturing of mobile suits and Romefeller certainly ama.s.sed an astounding fortune. Within the foundation, the Khushrenada brothers were conferred high value for their distinguis.h.i.+ng services. Especially the younger Van, who, for the sake of improving the lunar plant's production efficiency, implemented automatization, shorter work hours, and a large increase in personnel s.h.i.+fts, all to increase profits.
Becuse of this, Van Khushrenada was only [at the tender age of] 13 when he was elevated into the heart of the foundation.
In the 'subtly' named rank of deputy director to the acting representative [Dermail], Van put the foundation's overwhelming financial power on the back burner and increased their political friends. He removed those who were unable to look beyond the old foundation style;and he purged the old customs and vested interests of the n.o.bility. He also denounced dirty politics and corruption.
Around this time, Hundert- head of the Khushrenada household at the time- had already retired, but the n.o.bility which had suffered hards.h.i.+ps because of Van['s policies] came often to pet.i.tion him. ”We were friends, once, weren't we?” They would say. Van, however, paid no heed whatsoever to what Hundert had to say; his words were entirely without meaning to him. As for Hundelt, he also bore no affection for the condescending n.o.bility. Nonetheless, the pet.i.tioners continued to come, Hundert became troublesome about every last little thing; and he took everything from Van and Treize and escaped to a medical colony in the L-1 cl.u.s.ter. [I'm not sure if Hundelt takes everything from the Khushrenada boys for the Khushrenadas take everything from Hundelt BUT since the actual sentence is not in pa.s.sive voice, I'm guessing it's Hundelt who takes it all] There, there was a special facility for the aged; also his wife Angelina was receiving treatment [at the same hospital] in a different section, but (the man called) Hundert did not once go to see her.
[END PART 1]
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