>It is April of the 70th year of the Cosmic Era Calendar

>Previous Thread
>>6229634

Frieden Moon, a young man troubled by the catastrophic opening blows of the Bloody Valentines War engaged in an expectedly messy attempt to defect and join the PLANT's ZAFT militia through participating in a shady infiltration mission. Having somewhat attained that goal it remains to be seen what will happen as the war intensifies far away from the PLANT's holds...

>>6252039 (OP)
>>6235591
>>6235704
>>6235825
>>6236356

It always struck you as odd how your own power-block latched to such an ancient ideology.

That some mythical path of evolution and circumstance would yield a superman. No, a whole race of them. To help pioneer amongst the stars without so much pain and suffering.

This ideological New Type of race that would uplift their predecessors to an age of prosperity amongst the void of space, creating warmth where there were nary to be found.

It wasn't needed, time made its way of telling that such accomplishments could be performed without any magic-like abilities with perseverance, ingenuity and cooperation.

It just had to however, end up in the folly of war one way or another

>>6252043
Maybe that's why you decided to hold such testing, you still remember the bigger shots calling the commands of higher authority as they spread the idea around.

That Coordinators were effectively a half-step and that, once Humanity proper could live amongst space, the spatially aware would sprout their wings and punish those who have strayed from their purpose.

In any case, you pop out of the training simulator with a loud hiss of hydraulics as it uncovers.

Rusty already trying to pitch a duel between you and Dearka Elmsman. Another of the class' aces.

"Rusty, if I wanted to practice target shooting, I'd choose a more mobile target." He snarks, seemingly already fed up with the idea as you quietly wonder how much Rusty has tried- "Besides! It's only you and some other greenshirts who end up losing to him."

That's true.... In a sense.

"Well, I ain't losing on purpose!" Rusty chided at his friend as his ego is brushed close, you readying to take off from the sim and pass it over to someone else.

"You aren't, you're just so twitchy that anyone with a brain can read you once you-." The dark-skinned young man gave his two cents on the matter-.

"Well, I can't help it! I get excited in a mobile suit!" The red-haired young man tried to justify himself... Rather poorly as his blond friend just groaned, proceeding to start explaining to the flunking pilot that this isn't a game

Yeah. It isn't.

Even if the simulators end up making it feel like one, you're all signing up for a war, training nonetheless.

But that concern just stresses you out, rightfully so, given how safe the PLANTs have been despite your arrival.

So, Now should be the time where you'd be thanking your sparring partner.

>>6252044
The unsealing simulator pod reveals out a young man pulling off the mock helmet of their normal suit, breathing out in relief.

And giving you a smile as he bows his head lightly "Everyone else wasn't kidding, you have skills despite that band." The green haired boy pulled themselves off the sim, grasping out at your hand as you helped them out and then shook firmly.

It wasn't easy, And you knew for a fact that you won by the skin of your teeth but taking advantage of some of Amalfi's trepidation with some bold action yielded you the-.

"The hell?!" A voice racked from behind you as a sneering silver-haired young man pulled you aside from the pilot "Nicol, how did you lose to the damn Natural?!"

"I-It was fair and square, Yzak..." The boy rubbed his arm as he sighed "Moon has good battle intuition-." He dejectedly explained before being rudely interrupted as the sneering you g man harrumphed, shooning their head as their hair bobbed softly.

"Listen, you've got to keep up if you want to be the best of the class. Which means not losing to-." As he seemed to precipitate in calling you some sort of name, the shoulder of the sneering young man is grasped from behind.

"That's enough, Yzak. I watched the footage. The Natural bested Nicol fairly."

And... Just as the face of the Amalfi boy lights up as Yzak just unhands the grasp from their shoulder while scoffing.

You can say this is probably the best timing for him to show.

>>6252053

[https://files.catbox.moe/1p55jb.mp3]

Athrun Zala. The number one Ace Prospect in all of this class... Nevertheless the rest of the year.

"Athrun. You know exactly who we're fighting. We're better than-!" The silver-haired young man tried to argue his case only for Athrun to scowl.

"Just drop the act, It was weird the first week but..." The blue-haired young man looks over towards you "You've really been trying. Maybe you won't be like the redcoats but..." Athrun seems to throw praise towards you, as you seize up the opportunity ahead.

"I can test that directly." You proclaim, Yzak raising his eyebrow as Athrun looks a bit puzzled "We've got some time before the sims shutdown. Care to duel me?"

Having shot your challenge, it is now that you realized you've been cornered away by various redcoat trainees.

"Who the hell do you think you are, you Natural hotsho-?" Yzak almost fronted at you, attempting to intimidate you out from the admittedly, outwardly absurdly cocky challenge.

Particularly with how in the ropes Nicol had left you, himself only being third best of the whole class.

"Are you... Sure? I don't really want you to fly over your-." Athrun for his part, seemed to try to downplay it, his own skill probably acknowledging how much of a bad idea this was...

Were it not for someone to rep you up... And not just one.

"Alright! I guess this is happening!" Rusty yelled smirking as he clung to your shoulders "You've seen him, Athrun. He's pretty good for a natural."

"Yeah, for a natural." The Dark-skinned sharp-shot pilot commented as he took a side with Yzak "Maybe he can run around and shoot but he will never get to equal even the greenshirts on a Mobile Suit."

As he and Rusty soon engage in a petty argument over Dearka being needlessly pessimistic and Rusty being way over his head in expectations...

Well, it's pretty obvious that this was going to be a far-shot but-.

"Alright... Nicol's at least a good markup of your skill." Athrun nods ahead as the boy beside him gives him a nod, fastening the mock helmet onto his head.

"You can't be taking him seriously just to stomp-!?" Yzak reacts out, seemingly perceiving the situation as inherently unfair as you get to your simpod, the doors sealing with a mechanical latch as monitors light up.

Your... Training and extracurriculars have at least made leagues over what you started in just a week.

Though it's certainly not easy-as-pie, Trying to keep your focus over everything in a mobile suit has you taking into account verniers positioned across its body and the inherent differences having AMBAC functionality is over Mobile Armours designed for particular movement.

It... Has been difficult to adapt, but you take as much as Margellan's hopes that the FLUGG will be fielded by the end of the year.

But... You have options now to choose from, as Athrun's simpod links with yours revealing his GINN.

>>6252079
The options haven't changed much since then, but you've put in your hardest to get some hours in all of them.

>GINN. Keep it fair between you both and try to match your progress since you started.
>High-Mobility type GINN. You feel you're going to need an advantage, even if its frailer than the standard type.
>CGUE. The Ace-type machine hasn't really crossed your mind as something you'd actually pilot. But you could use it's advanced functionality
>Moebius... It still remains there and it is technically the machine you'd be the most skilled with, but can you take down a GINN with it?

>>6252080
>>GINN. Keep it fair between you both and try to match your progress since you started.

Welcome back, OP.

>>6252080
>>GINN. Keep it fair between you both and try to match your progress since you started.

>>6252080
>GINN. Keep it fair between you both and try to match your progress since you started.
glad to see you again

>>6252080
>Moebius... It still remains there and it is technically the machine you'd be the most skilled with, but can you take down a GINN with it?

Well, we've been training on piloting a GINN so we should now have a better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses, which makes me think this is what we should pick.

A GINN vs GINN fight would be interesting too though.

>>6252080
>Moebius... It still remains there and it is technically the machine you'd be the most skilled with, but can you take down a GINN with it?

Time to show that old doesn't mean obsolete.

>>6252080
>>6252101
>>6252106
>>6252163
It's honestly been very humbling to learn to pilot Mobile Suits.

You did turn out to be close to being really good at piloting in the Alliance's bootcamp but these really complex machines have proven that may just be some natural intuition for simpler machines.

And as you quickly set in the standardized loadout and an additional leg-rack of missiles.

It is then that you follow the take-off procedure and thus find yourself in an asteroid field within the simulation

You grasp the control levers tightly upon your hands, relaying across the various monitors and cameras surrounding the GINN's cockpit.

And you... Somewhat start understanding the appeal of the FLUGG's linear seat and camera setup as you instinctually look back into the hull of the cockpit interior.

But you suppose the cost and architectural difficulties would-.

You shook your head, straightening into the duel ahead as you boosted forwards across the debris.

You had remembered that focused fire was one of the best ways to deal with a MS engagement back from the Alliance bootcamp. Which is why it made sense that a ZAFT pilot would avoid trying to expose themselves out in the open without a distraction or speed advantage.

And yet, you're busy yourself also tangling across the rocky debris. Trying to not let them impact your MS as you boosted and adjusted around them.

It's been about a minute and you haven't seen a wick of that red-finned GINN as you scan your surroundings...

Maybe they've already seen you? But then he would have shown up on the enemy radar if the debris wasn't blocking them likewise.

You take note that if it were armed, Athrun's MS could shoot at you from within the rocks, as you had to rack your rifle to your GINN's waist to more efficiently weave across the-.

And your eyes go wide as alarming pings blare into your cockpit, projectile motions detected within it and rocketing towards you!

>Roll 2d100-10

Rolled 9, 34 + 10 = 53 (2d100 + 10)

>>6252432

Rolled 71, 34 + 10 = 115 (2d100 + 10)

>>6252432
AMBAC bros, AMBAC!

Rolled 43, 14 - 10 = 47 (2d100 - 10)

>>6252432

>>6252432
>>6252446
>>6252497
>>6252530

A projectile flies past you as it impacts nearby debris, exploding and fragmenting rocky shrapnel at your machine as you protect your main cameras from it.

You rocket back, smacking against idle rocks and pushing them aside as you seek your way out.

>Fragment Shot Reflex = 61 (Minor Success)

Another projectile pinging and being detected as you looked in the projected alarm's direction.

A missile! [I]One that you have no way to avoid but to-.[/i]

You grit your teeth, quickly checking your surroundings within the debris before working on a hail-mary plan, almost operating on instinct alone as your GINN's mono-eyes scanned around itself.

And it clumsily held up towards the largest rock in its vicinity, gripping with both manipulators and spinning the rock forwards into the missile, its warhead detonating as its explosive force dispersed fragments outwards.

Your GINN's armour is tough enough to withstand the strikes, but your sensors are going crazy, taking over the flying rocks as projectiles as you start weaving outside of the field.

Gritting your teeth as you breathe in deep, trying to take hold of your rifle and prepare to shoot off any incoming missiles your way.

Were it not for a brisk shooting star of an MS to burst from the hail of rock fragments, recoilless rifle in hands as it let out its last shot!

You try to shoot it, but are far too slow on the reflex as the bullets rip the warhead aside, exploding in the middle of its trail as its explosive wave pushes you back into the debris field.

And then the bullets began to trail your location, as you started weaving for cover and dodging within the rocks.

>Shockwave Reflex check = 21 (Majour Failure)

Except... Your manipulator had dropped yours from that explosion.

You curse out, feeling your options shortening and the trailing gunfire following your machine getting more and more accurate.

>Weave your way out and try to find your rifle amidst the chaos.
>Try to find a clear shot amidst the hail and shoot a volley of guided missiles.
>Draw your heavy blade and Throw a large rock to close in.
>Write-In

>>6252583
>>Draw your heavy blade and Throw a large rock to close in.

If we can, lets angle our charge so that the sun is behind us to blind the little bitch boy on our way forward

>>6252583
>Draw your heavy blade and Throw a large rock to close in.

>>6252583
>>6252620
>>6252639

You have to act quickly.

Bullet slag and rock fragments start to bump against your MS, velocity not quite managing to pierce its armour but certainly leaving dents as you try to readjust the right shoulder of your machine as you try to use your jet-binders for improvised shielding.

And quickly managing to find an opening out of the debris field, quickly drawing your blade as bullets fly and rip past your MS, trying to weave your machine's articulation to not get any of your cameras hit.

And in the process, grasping a rock with your manipulator, maneuvering the now reduced output of your thrusters as you hear a click from afar.

This is it, your chance!

Throwing the rock with a spin, you start to blitz around the thrown arc, heavy saber in hand as you examine the-.

The red-finned GINN's hip armaments including a fresh rifle.

Athrun's machine dodges out of the way of the thrown rock, leaving you one clear boost to try and impact it with your blade.

Damned if it doesn't feel like a trap, however.

>Roll 2d100-10

Rolled 64, 23 + 10 = 97 (2d100 + 10)

>>6253940

Rolled 99, 36 - 10 = 125 (2d100 - 10)

>>6253940
we need to win this one

Rolled 13, 34 + 10 = 57 (2d100 + 10)

LEEEEEEEROY

>>6253940
>>6253976
>>6254156
>>6254205

[https://files.catbox.moe/g0i1pr.mp3]

You prepare, twisting the lever in your hand as you dashed in with full throttle at the disengaging Mobile suit.

And immediately recoil as they raise the rifle to their hip, aiming it right at your cockpit area as you panic.

Before feeling a pull to your right-side, your ears ringing for a second.

>>6254429

>Approach blitz = 89 (Majour success)

"What the-?!" Athrun's comms link up with yours from proximity as their red-finned GINN turns their mono-eye at your maneuver, verniers unfurling-.

Just a moment too late as your blade hits the rifles.

One of them flies off the Red-finned GINN's grasp as the other, closer one, its barrel and receiver outright hacked off as Athrun forcibly disengages without his weapon.

And much to your chargrin and intuition, that rifle you just destroyed seemed to be yours, having been caught when-.

>Close-Quarters engagement = 26 (Minour failure)

You rock in your faux-cockpit as Athrun descended with a kick, your main camera's feedback growing haptick as he no doubt dived straight for the head.

You recover, feed glitching as you input correcting code off memory, trying to close the gap and hit Athrun with your blade as they fly and distance from you with each subsequent wide-yet-predictable swing your perform.

And with each failed swing, his machine responds with a kick, the first warning sign showing up in your piloting feed as the repeat impacts are compromising the sealing of it-.

To hell with it!

Boosting forth and tackling Athrun's machine mid-kick, your feed soon goes back to normal as you try to swing for one of their legs, narrowly missing as the red-finned machine boosts out, before jetting and zig-zagging away into the-.

The one discarded rifle floating far and away

>Destroy the rifle with a volley of missiles!
>Nail Athrun from behind with a volley of missiles!
>Chase after them and snatch the rifle for yourself!
>Write-In

>>6254433
>Nail Athrun from behind with a volley of missiles!

>>6254433
>>Nail Athrun from behind with a volley of missiles!

Hopefully he doesn't just dodge, but at the very least we can potentially stray him from his course and give us an opening to go for the rifle ourselves, or just close in again and keep hitting him with our sword.

>>6254433
>>>Nail Athrun from behind with a volley of missiles!


Keep up the pressure, keep him reacting.

>>6254433
>>6254540
>>6255027
>>6255050

You flip switches inside of the cockpit, arming the optional-part armament you had chosen for the spar.

Technically something you wouldn't be able to have outright during service but still trained in performing adequately with it.

Your MS' right leg-rack slightly opens up as you adjust your aiming reticles and systems, the dashing red-finned GINN engaging in evasive maneuvers as it tries to reach for its weapon.

Something you can't allow as you're nothing but a sitting duck while commandeering these missiles.

You click your aiming stick, the 3-missile volley releasing as your screen is filled with the winching and wire guidance system of the-.

You grit your teeth as Athrun closed in the distance almost reaching as the range of your missiles escapes optimal distance... Enough to consider just recklessly letting the volley get it in his way.

But you push forth, releasing the guiding wires as you try to make your aim true.

>Roll 2d100-10

Rolled 8, 61 - 10 = 59 (2d100 - 10)

>>6255914
it's do or die now

Rolled 74, 34 - 10 = 98 (2d100 - 10)

>>6255914
Let's do this

>>6255914

Rolled 100, 11 = 111 (2d100)

>>6255914
Do I remember how to roll...?

>>6256250
Oh. I guess I do. Get fucked, Athrun.

>>6256250
>a 90 and 1

The duality of Gundam fights.

>>6256252
it's a nat 100 anon, this is different, kek

>>6256250
Athrun more like Assthrun

>>6255914
>>6255927
>>6255934
>>6256250

You breathe in, rockets flying off from the now discarded winch guiding them towards Athrun's general direction.

And with it, you exhale, focusing as you boosted straight ahead, behind the missiles as the Red-Finned GINN Turned to see them.

>Missile aim = 100 (Critical Success)

And struck by a missile impacting one of their wing-jets, Athrun rocks out of control as the explosive wave pushes him, his now uneven verniers leading them off as the missiles remaining flew into his MS.

Creating a large puff of smoke that you fly past as you ready your right manipulator to grab the discarded rifle.

That shot... Was miraculous, an odd feeling and thrill running from the back of your spine as you had released the guiding wires.

Almost like you had, in that precise moment, calculated all three of them in the precise moment you let go of them.

And you grab ahold of the rifle in your hand, before realizing one thing.

If Athrun's GINN was shot down by that volley, the simulation should have ended.

Startled, you take notice of alert pings as something tackles you from behind, alarms blaring at the pressure adjustment of your faux-cockpit.

And with a quick dash of all your cameras, a heavily damaged Red-Finned GINN with the armoured plates of their left arm and legs peeled off and sparking using the last vestiges of their currently leaking leg boosters to throw you off.

You panic, before slamming the butt of the rifle into the red-finned GINN's damaged shoulder, Thrown off as servos glitch out, sparking and finding yourself tumbling out of control.

Finding both manipulators full, you struggle for a moment to stabilize yourself before dashing back, trying to clumsily aim your rifle at Athrun's machine and only managing to rip a volley of bullets across their armour-.

Before the weapon clicks.

>CQC check = 51 (Minour Success)

"The hell?!" You exclaim, before looking off in the distance...

Athrun having managed to disarm the box-magazine of it in the midst of his tackle.

You grit your teeth, tossing away the rifle as Athrun charged forth with uneven, erratic movements from their currently failing machine.

Blade in hand as you weigh in your options, the final push already in his hand.

>Hold your ground on their charge, Counter-their charge
>Meet them in kind, charge for their weak points!
>Meet them in kind, Strike with a feint!
>Hold your ground, Feint and strike for their back!
>Pass on it, Use your remaining volley of missiles!
>Write-In

>>6256917
>Meet them in kind, charge for their weak points!

>Hold your ground on their charge, Counter-their charge

ATTAAAAAAAAAAACK

>>6256917
>Meet them in kind, Strike with a feint

>>6256917
>>Meet them in kind, Strike with a feint!

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>6256917
>>6257347
>>6257712

You held in your breath, anticipation creeping on you as the goosebumps risen onto the back of your neck... Slightly threw you off.

Your instructors would say that forcing a GINN to that level is not only ill-advised... But also suicidally so.

But...

There's a strange degree of empathy, as if the whole of time had stopped.

Particularly because his comms linked up with yours, Athrun haggerdly declaring he's not going to die.

It dawned upon you that maybe this red-finned GINN could be the same one from your entry-.

But that moment didn't last long as you had to react on reflex boosting forth towards the charging Mobile Suit... And making sure to dodge as your controls rocked in your hands

>Roll a d100

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>6257852
We'll get you this time Athrun

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>6257852

Rolled 52 (1d100)

THROW HANDS

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>6257852

>>6257852
>>6257858
>>6257863
>>6257967

You charged forth, dashing with your saber on hand as the damaged GINN gave it their all to meet your frame.

Unfortunately...

>Athrun GINN malfunction = 56 (Minour Failure)

Athrun's remaining vernier fin grows far-too-hot as it sparks, exploding behind the Red-finned GINN as it leaves it with even less maneuvrability but still rocking forth towards you.

And you grit your teeth, the flash of the explosion nearly blinding you weren't you already trailing your sharpest maneuver yet.

Because you cross paths, for a moment, the GINN precisely swinging their blade upon you as you readjusted your mobile suit's position...

And dodged a direct hit by just a graze, the tip of the sword ripping a deep mark upon the chest and cockpit armoured area of your Mobile Suit before you passed by it.

>Feint strike = 76 + 10 = 86 (Majour Success)

"H-Huh?!"

Athrun's exclamation came out as he dashed past you, machine already damaged so far and depleted from boosting fuel it couldn't correct their trajectory.

Not in time as you dashed to their back raising your blade...

And slashing true!

There's a moment as your entire simulation stops, red lighted text awarding you the victory in your main camera's screen...

And then it's dark.

>>6258289


You breathe out, trying to relax from that tense stand-off as hydraulic hisses open up the sim-pod that you were just using.

And you expected someone to lend you a hand out, at least Rusty for that matter.

But peering out of the pod, you raised your eyebrows in concern at the scene

"The hell was that Athrun?!" Joule held up Athrun by the collar of his neck, bystanders attempting to break up the commotion but standing at a reasonable distance...

Because Athrun looked far more confused than anything "I-I-." He was just about to explain himself only for Yzak to wrestle their collar again.

"The hell was this not gonna die or can't let down act?!" he sounded off, Athrun shutting up as he looked around "Your first time losing and you just had to immerse yourself in the simulation! It ain't like that out there!"

You were about to reasonably intervene only for... The young green-haired boy to block your path "Sorry... It looks bad, but Athrun probably needs this lesson." You tilt your head at what he meant...

Just as Rusty pulled you out of the scene, himself sighing as soon as you both pass the simulator pod room's doors.

"Man... That wasn't exactly pleasant." He downplayed what he saw as he shook his head "But hey, Look at you! You somehow managed that promise of yours fair and-." Rusty was a terrible liar and him usually changing the topic was an admittance that he's given up on it

So it really came down to if you wanted to get your answers or trust him and Nicol over this turn of events.

>Ask Rusty what exactly happened after the duel.
>Trust the situation and just let it go
>Barge back in and face Yzak over the meaning of it all

>>6258290
>>Barge back in and face Yzak over the meaning of it all

Needs to hear this from us.

>>6258290
>Ask Rusty what exactly happened after the duel.

>>6258290
>>Ask Rusty what exactly happened after the duel.

>>6258290
>>6258369
>>6258826

The moment your brow furrowed quizzically made Rusty's nervous smile drop as he could already read-between-the-lines.

"Okay, I guess you didn't know..." He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked out "Wanna get out of the normal suit first though?" You raised your brow at what he meant then...

Yeah, you probably need to change.

Rusty proceeded to explain in far simpler terms what exactly ha transcurred for that kind of display to be seen as necessary.

And it clearly linked to something you didn't quite expect.

The Valentine's Day Massacre is one of the leading motivations for ZAFT pilots and while it seemed obvious that many would have been affected...

"Athrun's... Got it bad when their mother perished that day." Rusty mentioned, handing you a cold can of juice "It's funny how we realized, last week we had a live exercise and..."

You crack the can open, interrupting Rusty's telling as you nod... Because you have a feeling you can't simply listen in on a recount of your entry without seeming suspicious.

"Anyway, Athrun threw himself at an armed craft without anything but his GINN... And it was already when the colony militia was at high-alert." As he recounted, taking a swig from their can, you tried to earnestly listen to it...

Then again, it did seem strange for someone to just try to overtake your armed Moebius using nothing but their MS' limbs.

Not impossible, but... Oddly suicidal.

"And he's been having close brushes or so I'm told. Yzak was starting to think that he was getting his ace status over their head." You nod to that much as Rusty sighed "I thought it was a far shot but hey, I got to recognize it... You got guts for piloting."

Yeah... You have to at least mix in the prerogative addition "For a natural?"

Rusty had conceded many times your odd situation with that one, that in some form your performance is a fluke.

"No. Amongst us all."

>>6260274

You raised an eyebrow at Rusty saying that... Before the phone provided by the council rung in your pocket.

Picking it up and answering the call was Margellan... Propositioning something you didn't deem possible.

"Yeah, today's a free day for you, I'm busy with a backlogged project and don't have the time to instruct my team on the FLUGG's performance testing." The blonde man answered from the other side of the line as you could hear the racket and bustle of a whole mechanic's bay.

"I... Don't have anything else to do, Margellan." You covertly tried to hide the identity of your caller from Rusty as he had disengaged to flirt with some female trainees.

"Tough luck, Natural. Get a life." The man chided as you just frowned "What The- the hell are you doing?! - of course not! I'm working with what we have! Don't fumble that CGUE!" And now you're ignored

Hanging up, you look up to Rusty as you pull out of the academy together.

And... Just like that, he excused himself off before you could even ask if he had plans of his own.

Well, fine then, maybe you did pull late hours getting the FLUGG's testing downput but maybe...

Actually, you haven't really been out and about in the colonies.

And something tells you trying your luck out without having a single clue is a pretty bad idea.

You guess... You'll figure out what to do once you're back home, or just tuck in early.

Actually, you do have something you want to do.

>>6260275

[https://files.catbox.moe/jyugqs.mp3]

You have never seen the sunset within the Colony.

It was a small thing you'd overheard as the history of the PLANTs was relayed in a lesson, but the engineering behind it is really complex.

In order to stimulate cicardian rhythms and all that jazz, but you've never taken the time for it given you're busy giving notations on the FLUGG's system.

Arriving at your apartment, you take your path upwards towards the top floor, having bought some snacks to watch it on your own in a vending machine.

It's funny, something taken for granted back on earth is a marvel of engineering in the colonies

Thinking it back, you and Etie shared a similar conversation, you knew he came from some neutral colonies back when he joined but...

There was something enthralling to him when you both finished your lessons, taking a scant moment to watch the dawning sky across the old town's streets.

It makes a smile creep up on your face without you even realizing it.

Something that droops as you open the door towards the ceiling silently.

A Raven-haired woman of long locks standing tall by the railing, shoes discarded behind her and sizing her fall

>>6260277
damn, wait for us pretty woman

>>6260277

You rush in, dropping your snacks down as the woman's hair blew by the wind.

Your own body lunging forth, grabbing them by the hip in a full embrace as you dig your heels in, lifting the woman whole over you.

And smacking back into the ceiling, the woman's body collapsing atop of your chest and head as you groan out in the sudden crushing motion.

That brief rush of motions made you dizzy as the woman soon realized what had happened, starting to force and pull away from your grip.

"L-Let me go, I don't have anything to-!" The strangely youthful voice of the woman made you freeze shut... Which further emboldened her to thrash around your grip, beginning to hit back with their arms at your head.

But you still held on, her resistance crumbling bit-by-bit as she tired herself out... Before just collapsing into wheezing and crying, slump to their side as you slid yourself off their back.

And rubbed your face in reflexively as you felt a trickle over your lip, either pinning her fall with your upper body or her trying to force her way out having made one of your nostrils to bleed.

And then... Came the moment you realized that the woman's oddly youthful voice wasn't a peculiarity.

You just stopped a child from throwing themselves off the rooftop.

>>6262173

It... Didn't take long for the girl in front of you to recover from her dejected stupor, them no looking older than the youngest cadets at the academy...

Yet... Why would they-?

"You... You stopped me, why?!" They demanded, tears streaming down their freckled cheeks as you held up your bleeding noise to try and stim it from dripping "How could you?! You-!?"

And that's the moment that, from the way you held out your arm, they saw the black band tied around it...

You froze, acknowledging that pause could turn incredibly nasty altogether.

And it seemed to do as much as she looked away with a frown... Before suddenly turning to give a once-over to your uniform.

"I..." You trailed around, nasal-pitch coming over as you still held your injured nose "I guess I should ask that off you, Are you okay?"

You approached slowly, the girl straightening up her posture as you knelt closer to them, brow furrowed as they seemed to stand on edge about the Black band.

"You... I hope you know what your kind did in-!" Straightening her tone... You couldn't quite take her straightforwardly, reddened face and wet, freckled cheeks making this no more than a tantrum.

But a Tantrum born out of legitimate circumstances... And apparently enough to end their life so young.

"The massacre... My condolences." You decide to let go of your nose as your nose stops dripping crimson, making sure to look back to your discarded snacks.

Well, You can't exactly just excuse yourself given what just happened.

Grabbing your things and settling close to the railing, the young girl scoots over to grab their shoes, clearly bothered by your presence...

And you hope that much carries as you're still on the lookout for them doing anything crazy and yet...

You still carried yourself on asking why they were about to do what they did, to no avail.

They aren't exactly cooperative, but given the exact circumstance you met... You think asking for their name wasn't going to fly.

It was clear however that she couldn't manage to maintain the stony facade, as with enough prodding she relented some information as you two watched the sun set.

She lives in the same building, allegedly in the care of her extended family after the massacre of Junius Seven.

And It seems a lot for her to take in, something you try to think over to excuse the rather improper way you met.

And... Maybe you should have ran it through Margellan before promising it. As you carried your duties the next day

>Spatial Awareness Testing
>FLUGG weapon-testing
>A meeting with Siegel Clyne
>An Invitation to the Zala Household

>>6262179
>An Invitation to the Zala Household
This seems like a terrible idea, so I'm in.

>>6262179
>An Invitation to the Zala Household

>>6262179
>>A meeting with Siegel Clyne


This would be fun.

>>6262179
>>6262254
>>6262298

"You are, So lucky that you've proven useful so far, Natural."

Margellan was very bothered as you had included the dark-haired freckled girl to your testing of the FLUGG and proceeded to try and make-up for it all with some fancy piloting.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I've just-" You've tried to explain to him for many, many days now that her hanging around was just for the week.

And time and time again, he didn't seem to care to hear you out, reneging to his staff to deal with your explanations.

Not exactly ideal, but he hasn't exactly called for a stop altogether.

Yet he seems to listen intently to the girl as you caught up surprisingly quick with all your performance notations and changing off your Normal suit into some... Regular plainsclothes

"He's got something with a past girlfriend of his, maybe you look similar." You held up for a moment at the airlock still being unnoticed by both of them as Margellan jots down things while hearing the quiet girl out "He's 30 years old for God's sake, put some respect in your health minis-"

Margellan was smirking despite his berating tone, a smirk that goes off as he takes his eyes off his clipboard and towards you.

"Alright then, Minx. Off you go." They called off the girl as she stood up, getting to your side of the airlock while cautiously looking over "Go away, Natural, I'm busy!"

And again with the usual attitude. Though you are a bit curious what he was talking about...

And as you ask uh... Her, who keeps insisting you don't learn her name.

It was about Durandal. Particularly the one time these spatial awareness tests collided with your FLUGG testing.

He doesn't seem like a weirdo, hell, outside of Margellan, he's probably among the youngest people inducted into the PLANT's council.

And actually fit in with an air of sophistication unlike the cranky and snarky Chief Engineer

No matter, you got lost on Martius 4 for this change of clothes for a reason.

And that reason is soon to be clear as you see it kicking up dust across the asphalt.

>>6262825

You have to flinch forth as the car nearly swerves over the curb of the shipyard grounds, shielding the girl as two teenage boys stood inside.

"Rusty, I'm not covering my dad's car and the status of your license if you keep driving like this!" The younger voice of the two sat behind as Nicol berated his orange-haired friend.

"Relaaaax~! I just got excited!" Rusty chuckled as you straightened your posture, the freckled girl peeking behind you at the occupants... Leading cue for the cocky young man to look at you both and swing his large sunglasses up "'Sup."

[ https://files.catbox.moe/otzwe9.mp3 ]

The large grin is... Offputting to say the least, given the context.

"You almost ran me over, you goofball!" The girl's outburst startled Rusty as he fumbled the sunglasses over his head... And Amalfi looked behind you.

"Hey, Moon. I know it's a bit nosy, but why are you at the main shipyard's development division?" Amalfi's innocent question was still probing at your background and... You had to keep appearances with something you'd prepared.

"Extra credit, I'm learning about the coming modifications to Nazca-class vessels." You'd smile internally at that much... Were it not for Rusty to raise an eyebrow at your statement.

"Really? Mind giving me a lift for some of those too?" Rusty's goofy smirk as he asked immediately shattered your confident plan as you stressed out on how to respond...

Were it not for a blonde man to roll out "Who just rolled tire-marks into my damn loading bay?!"

Rusty immediately jumped to the side-seat as Amalfi rushed you both to hop in.

"Do you know how to drive, Moon?!" Amalfi asked nervously on the lookout for Margellan as you stared down...

Whoa, this wheel and the gear-shift is in the wrong-

You just nod it off, having had a similar situation happen when you were deployed at the Mass Driver in Arizona.

And... Nicely done, as you speed-off, the conversation changes the topic, right after Amalfi chastises Rusty from slacking in his studies.

And focused on the girl...

She's not exactly talkative to them but does ask the question that lied over your driving thoughts.

Where are we going, exactly?

>>6262827

And the welcome you get is uh...

Ostentatious to say the least.

"Rusty wasn't-?" Athrun commented as he opened the door of the large homestead by the hills, the automatic gate of the estate closing off in the distance as-.

"Nope, definitely not." Rusty rushed in, hiding the stinging red slap-mark he got from trying to ask out the girl he almost ran over, which just led the azure-haired young host to sigh as Rusty slid by the door

"Sorry, Good Evening Athrun." Nicol excused themselves as he presented you both "Rusty invited in here Moon and... Uh." The green haired boy stumbled at the freckled girl's lack of a care to lend her name.

"I wasn't informed about-." Athrun disparaged, before Rusty could be heard making a ruckus inside, Athrun sighing "Well, I guess it's not a problem. Make yourselves welcome."

The warm smile he gives is at least indicative that this won't be-.

Your wrist is grabbed as you try to head in, turning to your side as the freckled girl looks a bit disgruntled and afraid to step in.

"Athrun... Zala, THE Athrun Zala?" She sounded off, incredulous as you just blinked, saying that he is indeed that- "You realize what house we're entering?! Are you daft or just retarded?!"

You frown a bit but nevertheless explain it off "Yes, we've just been invited to Athrun Zala's home. I understand his father is one of the leading councilmen but he's not eponymous with-." You don't see her exactly getting the point illustrated.

So you sigh, before pulling them inside with you delicately.

For what it's worth, it's the fanciest place you'd ever been in the colonies.

Not that you'd been to many, but-.

"The hell's he doing here?!"

That... Would be Yzak's now infamously familiar outbursts as you look in the direction of his screaming.

"Rusty made him tag-along but-." The dark-skinned friend of his commented, crouched down with Rusty as the latter pulled out Movie cases from a backpack "Yzak, can you give it a rest? I don't really mind when-." Rusty chuckled, catching Elmsman's attention as he rubbed his chin at a cover.

"Well, I do." Yzak eyed you as Athrun seemed insecure, as if readying for anything before intervening "You got lucky there with Athrun, were he on his A-Game he'd-" Athrun seemed to take irk to it as he stepped in.

"Is this about that again?! He won, fair and square! Drop the attitude already Yzak, we just managed to scrounge some time to-." Yzak scoffed, making Athrun relent his position.

"This ain't it, it's about Honour, what glory is there in defeating someone not in optimal condition?"

>>6262828

You...

Scoff at the idea, something that makes Yzak's brow raise.

War... No, this war isn't a matter of honour or chivalry, nor a game, not to you, not to them.

Not to anyone that has gotten harmed by it.

So it seems as much that you'd be bothered by someone placing so much importance in something so absurd like glory over people you'd know he considers lesser.

And an idea does spark to mind as you notice something stuck to one of the walls of the large, encompassing hallways.

A pair of fencing sabres, crossed over and decidedly looking used.

>Inquire Athrun about them, settle this honour thing shut.
>Just lay your thoughts straight, This is starting to seem obstinately foolish of Joule.
>Sigh and let it go, you came here to hang out with Rusty and the rest, no need to encourage a bitter mood.

>>6262829
>>Just lay your thoughts straight, This is starting to seem obstinately foolish of Joule.

Kids need to understand that war is dirty, nasty and brutish. Quicker they get that, the harder it will be for them to get hoodwinked by fucking Rau.

>>6262829
>Just lay your thoughts straight, This is starting to seem obstinately foolish of Joule.

>>6262829
>>6262883
>>6263075

You... Are getting a bit too hot-headed given your company.

You sigh, averting your brief glance at the sabers as you reconsider a less abrupt means of refuting the silver-haired young man.

"You think there's honour to be earned during training?" You try to ask, His raised brow furling as he...

Smirks "Far more than anything. We're Redcoats, the best of the best amongst ZAFT trainees. We carry the pride of the militia upon our chest and shoulders." The freckled girl blinked as she seemed even more out-of-her-element.

And you had to hold your chance to groan, because you've already gone through a similar kind of cliques during Basic Training.

Unfortunately, there's a big difference to just contending that statement than just temporary labelling.

In the structure of ZAFT, he's completely right.

While the Alliance forces, with decades of independent and co-operative instruction was far more of a structured and rigid military than ZAFT's beginnings as a security and volunteer force.

And that amounted to their officers and ace cadets holding hierarchical and structural responsibilities to their ranks.

Which is why, you think this nepotistic position these children of members of the ZAFT council, despite their proficient records ammounted to.

To that point, you had to agree on disagreeing, as much as...-

"You both done?" Rusty quickly interjected as you thought of something "We're deciding between some of the records my dad's agency's got and-." Rusty flipped as he shown three covers.

And... Unexpectedly, the raven-haired girl lept across from you and in front of them.

"Is-... Is that a Lacus Clyne concert?!" The girl's sudden change into exhilarated glee at the jewel-cased cover, something that Rusty smirked at as he separated it from the other two.

"Not just that! Special interviews and uncut promotional footage." Rusty seemed to stoke her enthusiasm, as they direct them to discuss with the group over that fact.

And left you with Joule, as he gave you one last glancing look of disdain "I don't know what your issue is, but know your place, Black-band."

You take that to mind as you rejoined the group, then discussing the selection with the now completely invested girl in the group.

"Moon brought her along, but are we really using our off-day to-?" Yzak asked sounding ticked off by it.

For his part, Dearka just shrugged as he got comfortable "I've been listening to some of the songs here and there during maintenance work, might as well see the whole album in full." Yzak frowned and rolled his eyes but nevertheless relented as Amalfi was thrown the case, setting it up for a retractable projector screen.

And... Leading to a strange, teasing comment from Rusty as it started up, Athrun bringing a sizeable platter of snacks and refreshments.

"How'd you feel looking at your Fiancee on her big-stage element, Athrun?"

>>6262829

Under the artificial blue light of navigation maps and lists of various data, lies, in the top of the hierarchy of ZAFT's military leadership, a group of supreme council-members.

"Our allies in the Oceania Federation have granted us safe passage back and forth through the Pacific sea" A general of ZAFT, golden embroidery outlining their white-coated chest. Informs ahead to the council from the other side of the line "But we've been having issues making our numbers match up with our logistics."

A silver-haired woman taps a button ahead into her side of the square table "We understand, but, as a survivor of the gravity front, Getting ships and recruits across the orbit of the earth has proven... Daunting."

The general nods, seemingly lamenting something "About the... Defector."

A man with a ZAFT black-coat speaks as he taps his button "It has been dealt with, without minimizing our combat readiness. Mercenaries paid a finder's fee on his head."

The general nods solemnly before staring around the table "I understand Wattfeld's been working wonders in the african front... But, I am still requiring additional assistance for aiding the south-american front."

That... Was the moment that set the course of ZAFT's military pursuits.

"The Moon. That is their main foothold along with the fortress of Artemis that repels our envoys." The highest authority in the room spoke.

Patrick Zala stared at a projection of the three Moon Bases in the Alliance's control.

"We will ready our troops. Rally those stationed around relay points and... Take over the Moon as our staging grounds for the invasion of the entire Earth sphere."

And thus, even with objections about the lack of manpower and how direct a push that will be.

Thus began the preparations. For the Grimaldi Front.

>>6264244

It's...

It's odd, really odd how so many people you've known have sung these praises and hopes onto this songstress.

Granted admittedly, people concurrent with your age aren't as open as the youngest in the militia but...

Lacus Clyne.

For as much as Yzak complained about the concert being a waste of time, even he's enraptured with her voice and mannerism upon the stage.

Singing a song of hope and optimism... It's hard to correlate.

So many people seem to want her lyrics to be akin to their valkyrie riding into battle.

You shake out of your confused inner-ramble as you take heed on perhaps the person most enraptured by the performance.

That girl... She's so smitten by them.

You suppose the lyrics and the scenery, as odd as they sound like in a battlefield, do help out someone who has gotten harmed quite like them.

Anyone, really.

She's good, you have to admit that you aren't estranged on how she'd be the talk of all the colonies with a voice and production like hers.

And as the concert comes to an end in recording, is it that you realize the time.

Time to go, if you want to meet for the academy on-time

And maybe it's just the magic of that Idol-like Songstress giving you that one evening where it didn't really matter if you had that black band by your arm or sought glory out of bloodshed.

Or saw hope after such a recent tragedy.

Or even simply, a moment that would stand forevermore everlasting.

>>6264253

But you couldn't help but cling back to that memory as you reached the research center that Durandal was using for his spatial awareness testing.


This time, you weren't alone.

>Roll 3d100

Rolled 24, 55, 55 = 134 (3d100)

>>6264254
Are we rolling for newtype shenanigans?

Rolled 29, 35, 31 = 95 (3d100)

>>6264254

Rolled 27, 95, 83 = 205 (3d100)

>>6264254

>>6264254
>>6264288
>>6264319
>>6264386

The tests beforehand were similar in nature to those the Alliance had you partake in during Artemis.

A dark chamber that spotted your reaction speed to visual stimuli.

And you remember scoring about as well as you did back then. Rather poorly.

So, it's odd how you see the small row of coordinators, the tallest one of them all being the only to not react to seeing the black band wrapped around your right arm.

And yet, the fact a red-haired young man with wispy side-burns was the first one to break the formation to point at you and exclaim.

"The hell's the Natural doing here?!"

Well, you expected no less of these high-profile testing groups-.

"Shut it, Ayon!"

You had a brief moment of startling surprise at someone so vocally calling out for your sake and...

Widened your eyebrows at that teenager that had been at Durandal's side for all these tests.

"What was that, Za Burrel?!" The red-haired young man turned as his shoulder was grasped by someone in the formation, pulling them back into the row.

Something you took as you reared into the formation, taking a brief look at all the participants.

No uniforms, that much was certain, but you have to wonder who these four people are.

Particularly the tallest amongst them, those sunglasses hiding most of their visage as Durandal's staff took notice of the equipment around you.

It surprised you a bit as Rey did a brief name-call on everyone involved.

And you swear the name of the tall person in the room is oddly familiar, before he was escorted out of the room at the alleged request of Durandal.

Leaving you with these three complete strangers and Rey's orders for today's exercise.

To coordinate and learn of each other's strengths and weaknesses for a group simulation, starting with...

>Millons Ayon, The Redhead who didn't seem pleased with your presence.
>Fleur DesLisle, A Dark-blue haired woman who kept her distance and silence.
>Marth Flambe, A young man with a chipped front-tooth who seemed ecstatic at your presence.

>>6264659
>Marth Flambe, A young man with a chipped front-tooth who seemed ecstatic at your presence.

>>6264659
>Marth Flambe, A young man with a chipped front-tooth who seemed ecstatic at your presence.
might as well go for the friendliest guy in the room.

>>6264659
>Fleur DesLisle, A Dark-blue haired woman who kept her distance and silence.

Mystery!

OP ?

>>6264659
>>6264710
>>6265274

Well, you had to start one way or another.

You introduce yourself to the three other testees, the Red-haired Ayon just scoffing at you before distancing themselves from you.

You'd rather not tolerate that much when you're supposed to be exchanging info but your path's blocked ahead as a dark-skinned green haired boy with a red bandanna tied to his neck spots in front of you.

"Whoa! And you're ranked to be a pilot? Cool!" Their eyes trailed from the black cloth tied to your arm to your face as he stretched his hand "You've got to be real special! Name's Marth...! Although, I think you've heard it already!" You'd... Do really well without the overbearing energy he has but.

> ??? = 29 (Majour Failure)

You stretch your hand in a handshake the boy vigorously shaking it with both hands as you pull back as soon as you can on reflex.

"So... You've got to be really special to join ZAFT's piloting corps as a Natural... What's your secret?" The boy asked inquisitively as you arched an eyebrow.

Is he implying some-?

>>6268351

"What?!" The red-haired man with the wispy sideburns turns wildly "How the hell does a Natural make it to-?!"

The green haired Boy fussled with his kerchief "Y'know... If you paid attention. You'd know he sits with Zala's class..." Ayon takes a step forth threateningly as Flambe gulps.

"Stupid Redcoats... Whatever, you'd best not get in my way. Natural." the Red-haired pilot stated getting close enough to tap your forehead condescendingly...

> ??? = 95 (Majour Success)

And recoiling immediately as he flicked his fingers, cursing out as you didn't manage to feel any pressure from the flick.

Huh... That's weird...

>>6268354

Marth keeps trying to get an answer off of you in how'd you match up to Piloting duties...

And doesn't seem to believe that you just did, albeit, not rudely... But it's odd how insistent he is of you having a special trait that'd let you pilot.

You try not to let that get to you, as you approach the woman in the room.

And the sideglance she gives you with her cold, ice-blue gaze stops you for a moment as you realize her standing posture was that of a seated officer.

"Oh, uh..." You try to not imply anything as the woman gives you a slight nod "You have any guess as to-."

The woman cuts you off as she firms up her stance "Lieutenant Fleuret Deslisle, I've been assigned as a scout for all of my deployments in ZAFT. I may over-extend given that."

That's... Concise... You're speaking to a black coat

You steel your nerves as you stretch your hand for a handshake, the woman taking you up on it as-.

> ??? = 82 (Majour Success)

You flick your hand back as a discharge of static electricity shocked you, stimming out a curse word as you look off for a moment.

And the woman just seemed wide-eyed for a brief second before assuming her own professional expression, lowering her hand as she looks off to an opening airlock.

"I suppose by now you're acclimatized." Durandal's helper commented as he jotted down on a clipboard "Please follow me, the next part of the exercise is going to involve some... Piloting experience."

Huh... What does that mean?

>>6266543
(I'll admit that I've been busy these past few days, will try to round up the doots since we're close to wrapping the prologue here)

>>6268357
alright, waiting warmly

>>6264254
There's hushed conversation in a dark office, unusual of the sterile white lights of the medical center.

"And... This should be enough to last for the next three months." The voice of Gilbert Durandal trailed as he left four small containers full of pills by his desk, sitting down into an office chair "How are you faring in the symptoms, My friend?"

The response he'd get from the sunglasses-wearing blonde man was but a scoff of discomfort, taking one of the pills from a container and downing it quickly.

"As per usual."

The deadpan response seems to draw a concerned raise of an eyebrow from the dark-haired medical chief, only for them to sigh.

"I assume you're aware of the initiative I'm-." As he tried to clarify, the blonde man just intensified his glare.

"[iCrystal."

Durandal's concern is evident, as he lowers some documents into the desk table, the blonde man taking them as he reviews their contents quickly.

"I understand that... Some of these trials may be brushing close to discomfort, but I assure you. They are necessary for our-." Durandal explained as their companion pulled one specific file from the dossier.

"A... Natural is undergoing these tests?"

>>6269558

Durandal sighed, the dark-haired medical officer looking towards the ceiling "Yes... I assure you that his presence will not compromise our mutual agreement. The council had to save face to it, as you know."

Though the doctor seemed concerned upon his friend's reaction, almost juggling between bringing up another topic to change it altogether.

Rau le Creuset just smirked, confident as he reached for the mask sitting by the desk.

"This world keeps bringing surprises to my attention. So be it."

>>6268357

And... The surprise was well-merited even after a few hours of practice have elicited.

"Shit!" A flying craft speeds past you, clearly out of control as one of its side-thrusters boosts it into tipping over into a barrel roll "Why the hell is this Natural death-trap so damn twitchy?!"

As Ayon struggled with the simulation provided, you'll give him some rest.

Because even if the Moebius was just a simplified successor, the Moebius Zero does feel very sensitive control's wise.

Not to mention keeping track of its control board that displays the status and operating capacity of its four separate linebarrel cannons.

Firing them in coordination is far harder than it would seem, and then some.

"Man, how can one be a knight with such weaponry like this?" Marth complained as you peered at your reverse camera. His craft toying with releasing and directing the tethered barrels "I feel like an octopus in this thing... Not very romantic." as he lets out a rather childish hum as his tantrum while on the cockpit.

You do have to wonder how effective these Spatial-Awareness corps really were.

After all, the Moebius Zero doesn't have any of the optional armaments like the Vulcans or the missile attachments. It needed the space for the reeling and batteries required for its four line-barrels.

Which, at least, on technical spectation, are just mobile vulcans that can't properly pierce a GINN's main armour

"Lieutenant, anything to say about-?" You try to ask the woman who-...

Took rather swimmingly and competently to the craft, deploying her linebarrels and boosting at the same time without whipping the cords.

You suppose given she's the most senior of your group, the fact she'd have the most experience to-.

"On your right." As she calmly commented, you took to your control, an odd feeling running by the back of your neck as Ayon's craft violently whipped...

Nearly avoiding the collision course as he cussed out, trying to regain control as you let out a bit of a laboured breath.

"You intuited the linebarrel's propulsion adding to your own's. Good job" You are slightly confused on what she meant only for you to realize that... You did dettach them to push your machine out of the way.

Seemingly by instinct, altogether. You still are a bit skittish on getting complimented by a superior one way or another.

But now... You notice the Sim's interface reporting a change of parameters, as all of you are instructed to move to a particular quadrant

>Roll a d100

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>6269561

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>6269561

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>6269561

Let's give this closet edgelord a real workout.

>>6269561
>>6269595
>>6269682
>>6269688

Ayon keeps struggling with the propulsion and handling of his Moebius as he unwittingly competes with Lieutenant DesLisle in scouting ahead of the location.

Leaving you to drift ahead carefully with Marth, overlooking sensors in your Mobile Armour as he hummed a suspiciously familiar tune...

Hey, didn't you hear this at Athrun's...?

"In this quiet night... I'm waiting for you..." The boy sings shortly before stammering, realizing he was singing the lyrics of a Lacus Clyne song.

Well, It does help pass the time, even if it's not much. Slowly tidying your way into the designated zone of training as Ayon violently stops his momentum using his linebarrel verniers.

"Ow, damn it!" The redhead pilot complains over the airwaves as you'd heard a muffled thud "Damn recoil made me smack my head to the monitor, ugh!"

You wince in sympathy before checking the sensors of your craft for anything out of the ordinary or any indication from the Simulator itself.

So far, nothing out of the ordinary...

"Rey, any technical difficulties?" You asked ahead openly, having familiarized yourself with asking Durandal's assistant on anything wrong with the previous darkroom tests.

"Uh... Not really." Rey's voiced complied as Ayon grumbled "I'm uploading a different connection. Your objective is to use all the enhanced spatial sensory features of your simulated Mobile Armour."

"Go to hell, Za Burrel!" Ayon was quick to call out as you turned to the front camera "I'm not using Natural toys for this crap. Why couldn't the eggheads at R&D cooked up an actual mobile suit instead of this-?!"

"H-hey! Give it a rest. It's not cool. I'll give you that!" Marth pushed up to speak over the irate young greencoat "But if it helps the war, I'll gladly toss my cape and sword for-!"

"Again with that crap!" Ayon complained, but this time sounding off as if he'd already experienced a similar retort "Stop it with the knight schtick before you end up trying to heroically throw your life away!"

You decided to stay away from the spat as you heed notice of one of your sensors detecting a heat signature.

You peer it closely, it not being very noticeable on that fact.

Almost like a lone vernier, yet still noticeably in the cold void of simulated space.

Wait... Doesn't that...?

It's suddenly spiraling towards Ayon as he held out floating in space while arguing, making you suddenly look off towards the approaching turret.

"Ayon, Dodge!"

>>6269907

[ https://files.catbox.moe/ispfjg.mp3 ]

Ayon only lets out a confused gasp before his craft's verniers push him to the left, stray bullets flying around his previous and trailing his position if not for the violent last minute take-off.

Your machine's sensors soon picked up on an enemy IFF, blaring a high-pitched trill as you look off towards it.

A cable quickly rappels back into a boosting Mobile Suit unit, snapping firmly into their back-mounted emplacement.

A white CGUE with a curiously deadly backpack boosting forth around you all.

Quickly engaging in Evasive maneuvers, you notice the Mobile Suit raising their rifle towards your general direction, gritting your teeth as you-.

Felt an odd tug at your right, pushing your controls towards it as you dodge both the rifle rounds and a hidden linebarrel that gets dodged around by Flambe.

"Whoa, who is that?!" Marth yells out in an unfitting awe "That Mobile Suit... It's so Regal!" Marth dodges away from bullet fire as you separate from the hail.

Quickly noticing various things around the battlefield as you grip your controls tightly

>Ayon is still having issues with handling his craft, take some heat off him
>Marth is held out agasp, snap him to the situation and coordinate an attack
>Fleur has remained silent but is maneuvering around the back of the CGUE, join in as a Wingman for incoming warnings
>Take it up for yourself, try to scramble around this sudden opponent!
>Write-In

>>6269909
>Marth is held out agasp, snap him to the situation and coordinate an attack

4th of july really got people

Nadesico music in a SEED setting, getting Super Robot Wars nostalgia.
>>6269909
>Marth is held out agasp, snap him to the situation and coordinate an attack
>>6270477
4th celebrations into a long ass saturday shift put me out

>>6269909
>Marth is held out agasp, snap him to the situation and coordinate an attack

>>6269909
>>Marth is held out agasp, snap him to the situation and coordinate an attack

>>6269909
>>6269967
>>6270770
>>6271052
>>6271264

You grit your teeth as you keep dodging stray gunfire, the positioning of the shots slightly addling you up as Ayon flails their way around them.

You'd like to help him, if not for the fact One of the Moebius-Zero is explicitly floating idle

"Flambe! What're you-?!"

>Miracle save = 91 - 10. 80 (Majour success)

You suddenly pull upwards, your sensors alarms blaring as the CGUE rushes up towards you, Vulcan-shield littering your surrounding area as you're forced to dodge, one last minute turn taking off as the mobile suit flies close to Flambe's craft.

It's mono-eye shining at the craft before attempting to kick it, were it not for your vulcanpods to fire onto its armour, stray shots hitting joints as the mobile suit disengages.

"Flambe! Don't just gawk at it, do something!" You yell out, disengaging two of your pods as you check signals in your sensors for the CGUE's other gunpods.

Which seems preoccupied with DesLisle as she maneuvered around them, trying to trail the CGUE into the line of fire of their main line-gun.

And getting her shots blocked by the CGUE's specialized shield, forced to disengage as they clamp their gunpods close while being shot at with the vulcan shield.

"O-oh, right! Sorry I-!" Marth just realized as he sounded snapped out of a fantasy.

"Don't sorry me! Follow my lead!" You call upon the green-haired pilot as in the distance. Ayon deploys three of his gunpods.

Only to yell out as the fleeing CGUE blitzes past his focus and brandishes their large blade, snapping the extended wires loose as the electrical discharge of their sudden rupture...

Rocks Ayon's cockpit away as the gunpods explode, alarming you as the CGUE turns in its blitz to strike at the craft proper.

>>6271829
(Darnit I thought I posted in the options earlier in the day, must have overlooked it because I've been busy)

>Coordinate with Marth to lease Ayon off the fire.
>Coordinate with Marth to damage the CGUE while it's got its jaws open.
>Rush in alone and tell Marth to wingman your chance
>Write-in

>As well as Roll 2d100-10

Rolled 29, 24 - 10 = 43 (2d100 - 10)

>>6272188
>Coordinate with Marth to damage the CGUE while it's got its jaws open.

Rolled 34, 76 - 10 = 100 (2d100 - 10)

>>6272188
>Coordinate with Marth to damage the CGUE while it's got its jaws open.

Rolled 55, 16 - 10 = 61 (2d100 - 10)

>>6272188
>>Coordinate with Marth to damage the CGUE while it's got its jaws open.

Rolled 26, 98 - 10 = 114 (2d100 - 10)

>>6272188

>>6272188
>>6272571
oops, dropped this:
>Coordinate with Marth to damage the CGUE while it's got its jaws open.

Rolled 69, 58, 48 = 175 (3d100)

>>6272188
>>6272385
>>6272553
>>6272567

"Flambe, on me!" You yell out, maneuvering two of your gunpods as you realign yourself to the CGUE, opening fire as the boy's machine crosses past you.

"Roger! I've got them right under my sight!" Detaching all four of their gunpods and spreading them around him, the vulcans begin firing as the CGUE quickly notices the incoming firing line...

> Fire Line = 45 (Minour failure)

The CGUE kicks off of Ayon's craft the young man screaming as they're pushed off, the firing line almost nailing him as you retract your gunpods, the CGUE opening fire with their rifle as you begin to sway across of its shooting line.

Crud, why are these touted as the lynchpin of the Alliance if they can't even pierce a-?!

>Furtive Attack = 66 (Minour Success)

You feel a pull over and under you, quickly spiraling towards your right in a barrel roll as the CGUE's gunpods tried to corner and pincer at you, following your craft closely as your panic-ridden maneuver could only succeed if you had...

Something to curtail that line of fire.

You end up deploying one of your gunpods, not to shoot back at the already disengaged mobile Suit currently dodging salvo after salvo from Marth's craft. But to falsify a hit as you fly out the gunpod's verniers to-

As bullets suddenly rid it, it explodes, your cable severing itself automatically as you roll out, the CGUE checking for damage only to see you readying your line-gun for it.

Time to do this.

>>6273155
waiting warmly

>>6273155

You shoot.

And shoot consistently, trying to nail the CGUE as it weaves around the discharges of your Line-Gun!

Marth picks up the pace as he's freed up, shooting both the vulcan gunpods and the main line-gun of his Mobile Armour. The CGUE finding itself cornered as stray fire surrounds them.

"Got you, Bastard!" Ayon joined in, firing his line-gun repeatedly...

And wordlessly enough, DesLisle charged ahead...

It would be impossible to free yourself from such hail, just as per Alliance doctrine in anti-MS warfare.

And yet...

>Rau Piloting check = 69 + 25 (94, Majour Success)

Your head... Feels a click.

A chime resounding over your ears only for the Mobile Suit to boost back.

Miraculously dodging all these strikes as two detachable gunpods pull out, swirling across the simulated space.

>Ayon Check = 58 - 20 (38, Minour Failure)

>Marth Check = 48 - 20 (28, Majour Failure)

Ayon seems to struggle, deploying his last remaining gunpod as it explodes right in front of him, a scream being held out before his Moebius vanishes, being taken off the simulation.

Something that isn't equal to Marth as his mobile armour is riddled with shots, exploding in simulation as you fly past its remnants.

You grit your teeth, how did that pilot do all that and...

Why did you almost come to the realization that they could do that?

>Get close, Ram the Mobile Suit if you have to!
>Disengage, regroup with DesLisle and try to come up with a plan of engagement.
>Write-in

>>6273997
>Get close, Ram the Mobile Suit if you have to!

>>6273997
The dice gods have decided we must suffer against the masked man.
>Disengage, regroup with DesLisle and try to come up with a plan of engagement.

>>6273997
>Disengage, regroup with DesLisle and try to come up with a plan of engagement.

Rolled 42, 61 = 103 (2d100)

>>6273997
>>6274035
>>6274098

This pilot's hounding you as it is... So it was only a matter of time that it could focus on less targets overall.

You grit your teeth before roughly redirecting you outwards, sharp turn being met likewise with bullet trails from the MS' Gunpods as you sway to the best of your ability.

Coasting through the shots is difficult with one of your gunpods gone and imbalancing your movement when using them to boost away from the shots but... That's only temporary.

Deslisle's Moebius boosts ahead, trailing the attention of the Mobile Suit away from you as it discharges one shot from their line-gun... In such a way that the Mobile Suit has to raise their shield to block the otherwise direct hit.

"Gotcha!" You yell out, doing a sharp diversion from your trail as you redirect your line-canon, simulated G-Forces already pushing you deeper into your seat...

Before you had a shot.

One that discharges with the railgunned projectile of your craft as its projectile narily misses the intended target, grazing it...

Rather opposite of gently as the CGUE's outstretched rifle is torn apart by sheer force, exploding in their hand, a plume of smoke enveloping it entirely!

>>6274744

Yeah, you got 'em, you got 'em right!

You were just about to check for it, before you heard a chime of alerts in your simulated cockpit.

What the-?

>Fleur Check = 42 - 20 ( 22, Majour failure)

Fleur's craft explodes as two wired gunpods drop out from the smoke, filling it with bullets as it explodes, psyching you out as you straighten your craft and-.

>Rau Piloting Check = 61 + 15 (76, Majour Success)

The CGUE dashes out of the smoke, gunpods firing and closing you into its trajectory as it draws its heavy blade, near unperceptably closing the distance.

As you trust your instinct at the last moment and boost downwards, extending your topmost gunpod as the pilot takes a swing at it.

Needless to say, the explosion rocks you as you panic, suddenly remembering a function that you hadn't thought about using given how superfluous it seemed.

A vernier-powered rocket anchor.

You grit your teeth nearly losing your bearings as you activate it, the claw boosting ahead of your craft's left side as it smacks the CGUE's shield, its shield machine-vulcans damaged as you retract the claw...

Just as its wire gets ruptured.

Damn it... that just...

It has two gunpods remaining, but given how much they've fired them, they've certainly ran out of ammunition by now... But can you take that chance?

You scoff... suddenly feeling a strangely... comforting pressure in your head.

As you press full-throttle into the Moebius-Zero, dettaching your verniers and beginning to fire.

Here goes everything... Just like these alliance corps!

>Roll a d100+10

Rolled 77 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

Time to dance.

Rolled 31 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>6274748
Lets gooooooo

Rolled 46 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>6274748

Rolled 59 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>6274748
give us some hope

>>6274748
>>6274765
>>6274768
>>6274771

Your adrenaline really leads you to making short-sighted decisions, now that you're like this.

Because your bet... Seemed to pay off wrong.

The CGUE blocks your line-gun's shots with its shield, their gunbarrels dettaching away and taking shots at yours.

They explode, before you just keep on going, the simulation shutting down as you call out towards the enemy pilot.

"Just. One... Scratch!"

You were going to wipe-out, that was guaranteed with your craft

getting as crippled as it is but...

>??? = 87 (Minour Success)

The pressure on your head... Expands and clears out as a thrill runs behind your spine.

You grit your teeth from the strange sensation, only to blink and find yourself staring.

Outside of your own simpod.

>>6275123
What the hell is going-?

You feel a pull outwards, making you flinch as you blink once again.

Outright being yanked out from it as you scream out in panic, feeling this out-of-body experience dragging you past airlocks, doors and walls as you-

Flinch as you pass Rey, his gaze having been focused on a monitor before he shivers, passing right through him and into another pod...

A pod that had that man with the sunglasses... Now wearing a strange face-concealing mask as he flinches likewise.

Because you blink, one last time, that very same mask peeling off of him into fragments as his expression turns into one of shock.

Who is this... Man and-?

Why did he look so afraid as his face was revealed to-?

You flinch, but this time... Because you almost hit your head onto the simpod's screen, a very violent lurch forwards of simulated recoil as the securing straps hit you on the sternum!

You lay back, almost holding out an ill breath from the impact as you hold your stomach out of pain...

Figures you'd... Go off and hallucinate from all these tests if they just ramped up the intensity like this.

>>6275124

That was the end of the tests and for the proceeding future, a stop on the program as they needed to recompile the data gathered with... An unfortunate realization that the CGUE you'd engaged was just a mockup based on data from the Moebius-Zero.

Suffice to say, Marth was not enthused it wasn't actually planned for production and Ayon almost threw a fit at the unfairness of being matched up with something that doesn't actually exist.

But nothing about that tall long-haired man, he almost disappeared after being called out by Durandal so long ago

You'd come to learn his name though, part of your education and also... Circumstance.

The brightest, shiniest star Ace Pilot. One of the first men to rank as an Ace in fact. In a mobile suit back over Yggdrasil in the starting days of the conflict.

Rau Le Creuset. The White Phantom.

That does give you an idea of what he was doing when you saw his name being led up in the coming days of The Grimaldi Front

And... as it is now.

The strange coming days where the PLANTs have gotten no news of progress in the battlefront.

"My dad really hasn't said much but... I assume there's nothing to worry about, We're probably cruising like in South America!" Rusty mentioned to Athrun as he remarked how strange the ominous frontline news feed on the moon had become scarce.

"You think? Last I'd heard from ORB sources is that the Amazon's become a stalemate." You add to your own, having decided to take your own news intake to heart after the state media's been silent for over three weeks.

"Naturals and their lies protecting their ilk." Dearka added as he took a spoonful of his rice ration. "Even if they claim neutrality,

They're in cahoots with the Alliance for trade relations" He shrugged off Nicol's unenthused dissentment on ORB's political status but...

He did give a good point... even if you ignored it back then.

ORB's neutrality on the conflict has been only achieved with how part of their politicians are openly related to Alliance branches from all

participating earthen spheres of power granting them partial immunity compared to South America's subjugation campaign.

It is to be seen how truthful that proclamation must be in these trying times of war...

Something crudely interrupted as the mess hall's doors are tackled open by a green-shirt trainee.

One that stumbles down into the ground as they do so, wispy sideburns touching to the ground as their redhaired visage immediately made you realize who this is...

>>6275128

Ayon tries to stand up only to be grabbed by two approaching MP uniformed ZAFT officers, the young man forcing away at their grasp as he snarled "Let go of me! I haven't finished-" His defiant cries are silenced as he gets smacked in the back of the neck with a night-stick.

And you didn't expect that Yzak would be the first one to take off from their seat, going off as the dazed young man is dragged away.

Just as you and Athrun follow behind, passing by the door as Yzak stopped the MP officers "What the hell is going on over here?!" He exclaims, the officers stopping as they try to tell this nosy redcoat to get off "Do you want a write-up from Chairman Joule?! Explain, now!"

As the taciturn bit of nepotism was used, you grit your teeth, Athrun following just past you as the MP officers outright stated their reason to detain the cadet.

"He's been chosen to participate in the Grimaldi Front from his performance".

That... Can't be right.

And as Yzak raised an eyebrow in sheer shock as well as Athrun outed himself from beside you...

It came into realization that Ayon had just gotten drafted without finishing his training proper... But, why?

"That's absurd! He was fighting against it so why don't you get someone willing like me?!" Athrun outed himself as one of the MP's faces palened up upon his showing.

And that distraction was enough for Ayon to regain his composure, struggling against both grips before he stomped down into one of the officer's boots.

Only managing to earn himself a straight hit to the face with the same baton, knocking him out into the ground as a spray of blood hit Athrun's face.

And... that same officer locked eyes with you, most specifically. The black band around your arm.

"You, Black-Band. Come with us post-haste"

He didn't seem pleased as he wiped away the blood from his baton, Yzak staring back at you while Athrun jerked forth.

"I said me! I'm coming to the Grimaldi Front! You don't have to take-!"

His panicked insistence only led for the pale MP to instantly stamp on the suggestion "W-We can't... You're both sons of Supreme Council members, There is no way you'd-"

And he shuts himself off as the MP with the baton prodded him by the ribs, Ayon being slumbered atop the scared MP's shoulder.

And Athrun still trying to offer himself up as the MP started to look pissed off by your holding up.

>Go Willingly. It seems it is your time.
>Hang back. Maybe Athrun or Yzak have a plan...?
>Run away. This is NOT how ZAFT operates... What could be the meaning of this?

>>6275130
>Go Willingly. It seems it is your time.

>>6275130
>>Run away. This is NOT how ZAFT operates... What could be the meaning of this?


We're involved in testing with their research bureau, I smell a rat.

>>6275130
>Run away. This is NOT how ZAFT operates... What could be the meaning of this?

Fishy fishy...

>>6275130
>Hang back. Maybe Athrun or Yzak have a plan...?