Throwback

[Broly]

I wrote this in college. It was going to be my Gundam character for an RPG me and Thaal were working on. My one true life goal was to be a fighter pilot. With that out the window I turned to writing to get my fix for flying.

It had been a month since the start of the war between the Federation and Zeon. The space race had all but collapsed and the fight for territory on Earth had sprung up yet again. Staking claim to southern Europe the Principality of Zeon constructed their new base of operations with little effort before declaring all-out war on the Federation's European assets. It wasn't long before Mobile Suit production was under way and troops were being positioned all around Zeon's borders for the inevitable push into Federation territory. The first week resulted in a crushing defeat for Federation forces as Zeon was able to claim all of the territory east of the Rhine and was now amassing it's forces for the push into southern Russia. Using the Rhine as their defense to the west the 25th Mobile Suit Corps marched across the border into Russia. It was late summer when Jericho Silvis and the rest of his fellow battalion made their way to the front lines. They were fresh out of boot camp equip with fresh off the line Zaku II mobile suits. With a large supply line backing them they moved into position on the Northern Line to hold the position for the winter. Zeon Command wanted to halt all progress north for the winter and set their sights on securing the eastern front. Part of the reasoning came from the fact that they didn't have the proper resources to conduct winter warfare. The temperatures north of the Northern Line dipped into the negative triple digits in some areas. The main cause was severe nuclear war over a millennium ago that had seriously damaged the atmosphere around Russia. While the mobile suits could sustain themselves in such temperatures the supply line could not and it was decided not to push any further.

What Zeon Command did not realize was that two miles north of their Russian Front Line the Earth Federation had amassed a defensive force and was preparing a push south to back Zeon out of Russia. Jerciho and his fellow pilots were in for a winter they were never going to forget.

***
It was early morning-- reaching to his right Jericho turned the environmental temperature knob over to the blue and lowered the fan speed. Pulling his blanket tighter he smiled and closed his eyes as the temperature in his cockpit dropped a bit. Through all of his young adult life he had had trouble breathing in warm air. The cold air calmed him and assisted with sleeping. He had suggested the idea to a couple of his comrades who disagreed. His watch was in a couple of hours and all of his monitors were offline, his mobile suit in standby power. His radio was switched to a channel reserved for those soldiers who were trying to get some sleep and the only noise he could quietly listen to was that of the power plant situated beneath him as it hummed idly providing power to the basic life support systems.

The interior of his Zaku II was a lone bucket seat with enough leg room to provide adequate mobility for the floor pedals and enough leeway so that the pilot could lounge if he needed to. Surrounding him were three large thirty-inch-high definition monitors that piped in the view from his suits mobile eye and other exterior cameras. A smaller monitor rest just above his forward display to show what lie behind him. Resting in a slide out shelf beneath Jericho's seat was a storage container that held the blanket he was using and a sidearm. Behind his headrest was a container built into the seat that contained water and food rations. A loud crack of thunder roused Jericho from his sleep. Yawning and rubbing his eyes he rejoiced at the pitter patter of rain slamming against the hull of his mobile suit. Checking the time on his watch he groaned and rolled over to go back to sleep. Lack of a pillow made sleeping a difficult task for the young pilot. No matter. He made due the best he could. His shift starting in the morning meant he could greet the young woman who went around serving coffee to the soldiers coming off of sack time. Her name was Jessica. She was a pretty girl with blonde hair and a good figure. She was definitely out of Jericho's league, but he still liked the thought of them dating. Even if it was strictly forbidden.

***

The timer Jerico had set started to go off and with a groan he threw off his blanket and twisted his cockpit heater to the grey area and let it heat up a bit. Boot camp had been in southern Europe so even the fall temperatures which were above freezing felt cold to him and his team. The rain had stopped, but left the area covered in a beautiful sheen as the sun rose over the horizon. Folding his issued blanket, he stowed it under his seat and straightened the chair in which he sat. Sliding back the protective case on his control panel Jericho secured it in the open position and switched his radio to the morning duty station. Flipping the main generator switch he turned the ignition key and his mobile suit roared into life. One by one each monitor flickered online and the early morning setting flooded into his eyes. Turning on his cabin lights he dimmed them to allow for appropriate lighting. To his left and right situated exactly one hundred yards away were two of his fellow soldiers also watching the line. Ahead of him through the dense forest about two miles out was the Federation line which, according to the morning reports coming over the radio, was quiet.

Taking his headset from behind him Jericho placed it over his matted hair and clicked the button on his dashboard.

“Corporal Jericho Silvis, Mobile Suit number 66983, reporting in for Dawn Patrol.”

After a few moments he received a reply. “You're twenty minutes early, Silvis.”

“Understood, sir. I'm running my system diagnostics and startup protocols as we speak. I'll be ready to go as soon as my shift starts.” Jericho replied. His voice was monotone like he had been doing it for years. He simply didn't see the need to be excited or depressed about his job. That and he was still waking up.

“Excellent. I like the promptness. We'll be sure to get you your orders before you start. Command out.”

Though the military code stated each soldier was to begin their assigned duties at the start of their shift the local battalion command sent around Jessica and her fellow nurses to make sure the pilots got some coffee and warm food when possible. It was a luxury earned by the previous corps occupying the area, but because it had proven beneficial to morale it was kept. After a few short minutes Jericho's heads up display came online and started tracking each of the primary systems in his mobile suit. Everything from core temperature, booster output, and ammunition levels were listed on the screen in crucial locations. The display was stream lined for ease of use, but each recruit had the layout jammed into their head in basic so it had become second nature to know exactly what was going on with your suit without needing to think about where to look.

A friendly voice came over his radio that brought a smile to the young pilot's face.

“Corporal Silvis. This is Nurse Jessica. I've brought you some breakfast. Please open your cockpit hatch.”

Pulling a yellow handle Jericho released the locks on the forward hatch which shut off the monitor and shifted his heads up display to the left view screen. As the door slowly lowered he was graced with Jessica's smiling face. She was even more beautiful in person. As the hatch reached it's one hundred eighty degree point a solid doormat slid over it allowing the young nurse to step onto it without harming the instruments. Removing his headset Jericho stepped out to meet her. Flashing a joyous smile, he took the cup of coffee she had prepared from her hands and took a drink. It was a chilly morning and the warm liquid resting in his gullet felt marvelous.

“I apologize for my lack of manners. I needed something to drink. How are you today, Jessica? Sleep well?”

She nodded with a smile. Bending down under her cart she removed a covered plate with his name on it and some silver ware. As she was handing him his food a single rifle round grazed her right shoulder and bounced off the thick armor of the Zaku II missing them both on the rebound. Immediately the red combat lights in his cockpit switched on and a commander’s loud voice came over the radio.

“ENEMY CONTACT! GROUNDED INFANTRY AND MOBILE SUIT SUPPORT! SILVIS' WATCH! DEPLOY AND DISPATCH THREAT!”

Acting like the kind man he was Jericho kicked the food cart from his cockpit door and pulled Jessica to him. She was in a state of shock. Whimpering at the blood running freely down her arm he pulled her inside the cockpit and sat down, putting her across his lap. Pulling the red emergency handle he wrapped an arm around her neck and ducked her down as the cockpit door was slammed shut, sealed, and his forward monitor reactivated. As the hydraulics' sealed the door with a hiss Jessica let out a shriek of terror.

“Stay with me Jessica. You've been grazed. Everything is going to be okay.” He comforted.

She clung to him in terror. Her arms fully wrapped around his torso. He couldn't bring her back. He was the only mobile suit that was operational. The enemy couldn't have assumed this! Ignoring his doubt Jericho pushed down on the pedals and slid the generator throttle to full. Pressing both booster buttons he brought up his machine gun and launched into the forest in front of him. A red alert message reading “Enemy Territory” flashing on his screen twice before retreating to the bottom left corner of his heads up display told him that he was now over the border and into Russia.

“Corporal Silvis advancing past the line. I have Nurse Jessica with me. She was injured by sniper fire. She has a minor surface wound. Nothing life threatening. As I'm the only active mobile suit I am taking her with me. Command I am also requesting the medical team stand by, radar shows multiple units close to the border.”

Clicking off his microphone he rotated right behind a tree. Peeking out Jericho zoomed in on a basic Federation ground assault vehicle making its way forward. About two meters behind it was a single enemy GM mobile suit armed with a brandished beam saber. Noting the specific quirks of that mobile suit model Jericho knew its armor was thinner and vulnerable to his machine cannon. Bringing up his targeting reticule he locked onto the ground assault vehicle and readied his weapon. Moving his eyes to the trembling nurse in his lap he exited cover and opened fire. Gritting his teeth Jericho fought to keep the weapon level as he blew apart the enemy unit before returning to cover. Jessica was now crying softly begging to be let out. All Jericho could do was peak out from behind the cluster of oak trees and examine the smoldering ruins of the Federation vehicle. Pulling back the slide on his weapon he ejected a round from the chamber to preventively make sure it didn't jam upon firing. A proximity alert came up on his screen and one of his camera's showed the GM moving left. Doing the same Jericho mimicked its movements.

“Ground assault vehicle down. Enemy GM in range. Standby.” He reported.

Spinning counter clockwise Jericho came out from behind the Federation pilot and used the butt of his weapon to knock the suit to the ground. Placing the barrel of his gun to its back he opened fire ripping the man made machinery to bits. A simple scan showed that the suits power system had shut down and the pilot had been killed. Reaching above his head Jericho activated his long range radar and began sweeping the area. Zero targets between the line and the Federation line was now twenty feet closer. Quickly switching it off before the enemy could trace it he immediately turned to fall back to Zeon's front line. His two fellow watch members immediately went out to patrol as he came back into view.

“Good job, buddy. We'll cover you from here.”

Making his way to the field hospital Jericho docked his suit in one of the empty bays and quickly began releasing his cockpit door.

“We're behind the line, Jessica. The medics are on their way.” He comforted her.

Once the cockpit door was open he picked her up and carried the frightened and wounded woman outside. The bleeding had stopped, but it still needed to be cleaned and bandaged. Upon arrival she needed to be pried from Jericho's arms. She broke down into tears as they placed her on a gurney-- they had to restrain her before wheeling her away. After mildly sedating the frightened woman one of the medics came back to bring Jericho a change of clothes.

“She'll be fine. I'll request that you get some time to visit her after your shift.” She told the young pilot.

“We barely knew each other, why-” He said in a slight state of shock.

“Because you saved her life. When a person experiences trauma like that they need the most basic of things to ease the pain. You having saved her she feels safe around you. Give her the pleasure of your company. We'll probably keep her over night to make sure she's okay.” Her voice was stern yet comforting. She needed him to continue being a soldier and let them worry about Jessica.

With a nod the medic left down the elevator to the tarmac and rushed back inside to do her duty. Looking at the clean clothes he was now carrying Jericho sighed and turned back to his cockpit. Sitting down he disengaged the locks and readied himself to continue his morning patrol-- without breakfast. At the end he would report his findings and his after action report and visit Jessica.

***