"What the hell?!" Yoko shouted outloud as a fireball flared up in the jungle are just east of her. She looked on in shock, wondering if it was one of her men or...
"Mam! Large explosion registered due east of your position!" O'Connor belatedly reported to her, "We haven't sent anything to that area yet!"
No... Yoko thought... This wasn't happening. That fireball could only mean one thing, because no matter how good Ming is...
"Damn it!" Yoko shouted into the radio net, "All units converge on that fireball, and this time shoot to kill!"
---------------
Should... should have been more careful... Sylvie though painfully as she felt the burns on her back. She had... just barely managed to survive that explosion... that explosion that Ming had probably set on his Rick Dias to take her out... and because of her stupidity...
No... Sylvie realized as she saw Ming was still breathing, albeit painfully from his wounds and burns. She still had a chance... He'd be dead in minutes due to blood lost anyway, but she could make sure that...
She suddenly felt the ground beginning to shake as several Mobile Suits began to converge on her position. She ignored it, and instead quickly cocked her gun and aimed it at Ming's head. This time...
"Sylvie! Get your hands in the air..." a female voice started as the ground shook harder, "Don't make me..."
Too late, Yoko... Sylvie thought as she closed her eyes, and finally squeezed the trigger. The round had barely left the barrel of her gun when Sylvie felt a bullet striking her in the leg, and she welcomed the coming darkness, knowing this time she had finally hunted down her prey...
--------------
*****... Yoko thought angrily as she scrambled down her Mobile Suit and ran towards Ming, keeping her gun at Sylvie at all times and wanting to squeeze off the final round. But she couldn't yet... because maybe somehow... Ming...
But it wasn't so. Yoko stopped running as she finally came close enough to see Ming's face, and her heart sank as she realized Sylvie's last shot had struck true, the bullet now implanted in Ming's face, blood pouring out of the wound that had torn off much of Min's left cheek. He... he truly was dead... All because...
"You..." Yoko growled as she turned her full attention to the now unconscious Sylvie, aiming the gun straight at her head, "I gave you many, many chances, Subject V, but this time..."
"Stop it Yoko!" a voice suddenly pleaded, before Yoko felt the full weight of a body crashing onto her and ruining her aim. She quickly turned around and fully expected only one meddlesome face to greet her: John.
"Stay out of this John!" Yoko shouted back as she tried to aim at Sylvie, but then John lunged at her, trying to grab the gun away from Yoko's hands, "She killed one of us, and this time there is going to be NO forgiveness... So let me..."
"This is MURDER Yoko!" John shouted back as he tried to point the gun away from Sylvie, but felt himself being overpowered by the much stronger woman, "You don't shoot somebody who can't defend herself!"
"Ming is dead, and you still defend this monster?!" Yoko shouted back as she began twisting the gun around, beginning to aim the gun at John instead, "Maybe I should send YOU to hell first before..."
"Yoko I don't care if..." John started.
"Let go now, or I will shoot you..." Yoko ordered, the gun now aimed at John's abdomen.
"Yoko!" John protested, but not letting the gun go.
Yoko didn't hesitate. She pulled the trigger.
---------------
God... what a mess... Jean thought as he arrived on the scene with O'Connor's paratroopers. The two Mobile suits had been practically destroyed, fires were burning out of control everywhere from the fuel, and what looked like one bloody body...
"Sir! Yoko..." O'Connor reported panically, "I think she just shot Mister Recto!"
"What?!" Jean demanded as he began to scan the area, and quickly saw a now bleeding John lying on the ground beside Yoko, who was now aiming at...
"Sir! She's trying to kill Sylvie!" O'Connor reported panically, "****! She's lost it! What do we...?!"
"Take her out!" Jean ordered as he aimed his GM II's machine gun, "Take her out now!"
---------------
"I told you to let go..." Yoko whispered as to John as he gave out a low moan, before aiming her weapon at Sylvie. Ming, you will be...
Before she could complete the thought, she felt a massive force hitting her from behind, sending her flying into the air. Merciful darkness descended before she crashed headlong into the ground.
---------------
Close... Jean thought as his shell landed just behind Yoko, missing the injured John entirely and hopefully just knocking Yoko out, "O'Connor, move in! And give everybody medical attention ASAP!"
"Yes sir..." O'Connor replied weakly as he felt color drain from his face, partly from the initial fear of being ordered to shoot Yoko, but largely from finally being able to see all of the carnage in the field, and the reason for Yoko's seething anger. Both Sylvie and Yoko were down now, and showing no signs of life, while John moaned loudly as he tried to get up, a bullet now planted in his leg. But what really shocked him was Ming... Captain Gressiere, how could she do this?
"Still have a pulse sir..." a trooper reported as he checked Sylvie, albeit carefully at that. Another trooper quickly reported that Yoko was still alive as well. Nobody in the platoon however, was too eager to check out Ming... or what was left of him...
"You... you alright John?" O'Connor asked without taking his eyes off Ming, and deciding that as the platoon leader, he'd better be the one to do it, and be the one to cut the rope still wrapped around his corpse...
"Fi... fine..." John muttered as two men helped him out, before suddenly getting his first real look at Ming, so busy had he been earlier trying to stop Yoko, "Dear... dear God... Sylvie... she didn't..."
"Afraid so sir..." O'Connor replied quietly as he took out a knife start cutting away the rope, before checking out Ming's pulse, just to be sure. His eyes widened as he felt a tiny increase in pressure going through his fingertips, before his mouth opened in shock...
"Sir?" one of the paratroopers asked as he saw the surprise in his superior's face.
Holy... how... O'Connor thought as the pressure came back again. His head quickly turned to his men, his eyes wide with shock.
"Sir?" one of the paratroopers repeated.
"Get a medic down here now!"
---------------
August 1, UC 0087. 1730 hours Zulu.
Headquarters 16th Mobile Battalion. Saigon, Vietnam.
"Get those Marasais loaded now!" Natalie ordered as some last minute check-ups were completed on the newly arrived jungle-green painted Mobile Suits, "Hawkins, what's our total strength?"
"Mam, we have a total of eight Marasais that are combat capable, along with another ten GM IIs, the rest of our Mobile Suits being inoperable due to maintenance failures and lack of spare parts," Hawkins reported as he read through his notes, "Three Guntank IIs will also be on hand for fire support, with a total of thirty-seven aircraft of all types to support us. Also, Colonel Wilkins is also promising to bring up a U-class submarine to support our attack."
"Remind me to thank him..." Natalie replied, though adding as much sarcasm in her tone as possible, knowing that he was probably responsible for the fact that nearly half of the Mobile Suits that had been sent to her had been missing all sorts of vital components, "What about the pilots?"
"Except for Hoffman, Ivan, you and myself, the rest are green pilots fresh from Luna 2 and have barely gotten started getting used to operating under gravity," Hawkins reported grimly, "Hasegawa would have been included, but his injuries are preventing him from..."
"Sir! Permission to join the attack!" the Lieutenant suddenly intruded as he joined the two senior officers, standing up using crutches thanks to his injured leg.
"Hasegawa, you are injured," Hawkins reminded, "And it is not wise to..."
"You need every man and woman under your command sir!" Hasegawa argued.
"No buts Hasegawa," Natalie agreed, "I won't be accused of neglecting the injuries of my pilots. You may come with us if you wish, but not as a combat pilot."
"But mam..." Hasegawa started.
"Either that, or you stay," Natalie replied firmly.
Hasegawa opened his mouth as if to retort again, but decided not to argue with the hardheaded Colonel, "Very well, mam. I will go with you and follow your terms," he then turned around to leave.
"My is he reasonable today..." Natalie observed when Hasegawa was finally out of earshot, "I wonder if he's finally shaping up."
"Somehow... I doubt that..." Hawkins replied disapprovingly, but decided to ignore it for the moment. He had many, many other kids who were probably going to need his help soon. Bloody High Command, didn't they have any troops left other than unseasoned reservists?
---------------
August 1, UC 0087.
Federation Asteroid Fortress Luna 2
More orders from those idiots at High Command... Brigadier General Heinrich Pluskat thought as another pile of "requests" arrived at his desk. Officially the "Fleet Commander of the Second Echelons Fleet", his actual title was something closer to "The Official Caretaker of the Federation's Ship Junk Yard." His job was to make sure every single one of the mothballed ships in Luna 2 was ready to be put back into service in under a week if needed, and also to make sure that each of those ships was equally ready to be SCRAPPED if needed as well, all at the same time. All because of the bloody war going on and some idiotic officials demanding FURTHER cutbacks on military spending. Wonderful.
He really had to thank all of those crazy officials sometime for making his job so miserably complicated, like say, selling off a few of his ships "on the side" to those AEUG rebels? THAT should earn him a pretty penny and teach those misers not to leave him with a skeleton staff. As it stood, he barely had enough men to crew ONE of those ships, and his security was so undermanned that he was amazed that those AEUG rebels hadn't come and stolen one of his ships yet...
"More ships getting the axe sir?" dock master Captain Henry "Chief" McDermut asked as he entered the General's office. The two men had become friends ever since Pluskat had been re-assigned to this duty, and both shared their contempt for their superiors for leaving this in this predicament.
"Afraid so," Pluskat replied as he scanned through the documents, "The Battleship Nevada has just arrived in the Gryps, and the Titans have begun taking her apart, so I don't think we'll be having her back. Cruisers Von Der Tann and Queen Mary are both in Side 1 now, and it seems our requests to postpone their scrapping has been denied as well. Cruisers Phoenix and Moltke are also both going to be scrapped, and the Titans want them both in the Gryps within a week. And, also..."
"The Old Lady's going to get it too?" McDermut asked worriedly.
"Sorry Chief, but her time has come," Pluskat replied sympathetically, knowing McDermut had great affection towards the ship, having helped build the Warspite and having been its chief engineering officer through its entire career, "Battleship Warspite is officially being decommissioned and will be used as a target ship in an upcoming exercise. You have a week to get her to Green Oasis."
"Who asked for her sir?" McDermut asked quietly, trying not to show any grief at the loss of his ship.
"You know who," Pluskat replied, and tried not to remember the ******* who was trying to erase all traces of the distinguished Commodore Megan Hawkins's career, "And despite his rank, I'm afraid his influence far exceeds mine."
"Don't worry about it sir..." the Chief replied with a sigh, "Anything else?"
"Yes... well, it seems we did get some good news," Pluskat replied as he reached the very bottom of the pile, "It seems that some reservists are being called up here for some training exercises, and they are considering completing the modifications on the West Virginia. They are still trying to... 'recruit' some OYW veterans to train those kids though."
"Then I'll get started on the West Virginia's..." the chief started.
"No, Chief, not this time," Pluskat ordered, "Spend your time working on the Old Lady. I know goodbyes can be hard."
"Yes sir..."
---------------
August 1, UC 0087. 2340 hours Zulu.
Titans New Guinea Base
"Erich, you SAW what that monster did to the Captain," Yun shouted back angrily as his argument with the rookie pilot reached its height, "She TORTURED him before very nearly killing him, and those former Feddies are acting as if nothing's happened. It's time we took matters to our own hands."
"But Yun sir..." Erich replied meekly, wanting to end this conversation before anybody could here them, "We can't just act like we're a law all on our own... We have rules..."
"And those rules include protecting our own people," Yun replied angrily, "The Captain saved my life four years ago during that Delaz Fleet mess, and even if it means..."
"Lieutenant Thompson! Are the repairs on your GM II complete?" Major Anderson suddenly intruded as he joined the two pilots, "The engineers say the repairs are complete. What's taking you from taking your positions?"
"Just... just calibrating the AMBAC system sir," Erich replied nervously, and wished that the Major hadn't heard their little conversation. Yun merely remained silent.
"Well get it done quickly soldier," Anderson ordered as he eyes Yun, "We need every Mobile Suit we can get. Hitachi, get ready to move out as well when the repairs on your Nemo are done. In fact, go check up on the repairs to see how they are coming along."
"Yes sir..." Yun replied quietly, before turning to leave. Anderson merely frowned upon seeing the expression Yun's face. Sylvie's little sortie had caused them all a fair bit of trouble. And whatever its result, it was causing them trouble still.
---------------
"How's the patient doc?" Jean asked as the doctor, going by the name of Harrington if Jean remembered correctly, stepped out of the operating theater, visibly exhausted after several long hours of surgery. The man took a deep breath before he spoke.
"Not sure," the doc replied as he took off the now bloody surgical mask from his mouth, "We've stabilized him, but he's still unconscious. Considering all the bruises, gun shot wounds and God know what else she's inflicted on him, it's almost a miracle that he's still alive. How the hell could she have done that much damage in such a short time anyway?"
"Not sure yet doc, so make sure to keep Sylvie sedated for the moment, and keep the guards posted on her doors at all times," Jean ordered as he warily scanned the corridor around him, "The word's slowly filtering out on what she did, and most of the former Zeon soldiers in our ranks are NOT happy, and the friction is really beginning to tell."
"I know..." the doc replied before deciding to take a quick look at Jean, "Captain, have you gotten any sleep lately? You seem bone tired, as do the rest of the..."
"No doc, but I'm still fine..." Jean muttered in reply as he wished for some hot coffee, "We're too busy restoring defenses around the base and preparing the Shigure for launch. We can't afford to delay anything, especially without Yoko around anymore. How's our hot-headed ***** doing anyway?"
"Starting to regain consciousness and demanding to be released from the hospital," the doc replied as he rolled his eyes, "I think she still wants to do something nasty to Sylvie, and she insists that Captain Gressiere be referred to only as Subject V and be placed in a straight jacket to make sure she doesn't pull any stunts like this again. Personally, I'd like to put a straight jacket on HER instead."
"And John?" Jean responded as he tried to suppress a chuckle, knowing his brain must now truly be horribly mushed to find Yoko's rebellious tendencies amusing.
"Almost as bad, and is demanding Yoko be thrown in jail or something to that effect," Harrington replied as he slapped himself in the forehead, "And he's also demanding to see Sylvie to get things straightened out. Personally speaking, with four insane people in my hospital and one freaked out Titans prisoner, keeping everything running is starting to be a chore."
"Hold on a bit more doc, we'll be done soon," Jean promised as he tapped the doc's shoulders, "And hopefully we'll be leaving this little mess far behind our backs..."
---------------
Stupid guards, always forgetting to check their backs... Yoko thought as she quietly clambered through the window and into Sylvie's room. It had taken a little more effort for her to escape her hospital room and get herself here, thanks to that nasty concussion Jean had left her, but the thought of leaving Ming unavenged was providing her with all the motivation she needed. Inside, she felt glad that Ming HAD survived, and was almost in a forgiving mood, but she could use that on Subject V now... and with Jean breathing down her neck for shooting John, this might very well be her last chance.
Sleeping like a baby... Yoko observed as she stood right beside Sylvie's bed, and almost... found herself growing envious of Subject V. Sylvie's normally fierce face was often enough to scare the faint hearted away, but asleep, the ***** actually looked beautiful, though her down-turned lips remained to serve as a reminder of her dark self. Oh well... too bad, because she was now going to give her one NASTY awakening...
---------------
Max... where are you? Sylvie found herself asking once again. There was nothing. Only darkness. She'd always been afraid that they had both come apart this much... but now...
Perhaps this is my punishment... Sylvie thought as she still found herself feeling the pain inside her. Trapped in eternal darkness... with only myself to tear my own soul apart... But at least, this way...
And then she sensed something. Something that to she knew was not coming from her. Hatred. Who...?
Before she could find out, a pain suddenly shot through her arm. The pain spread, rapidly going through her arm... her chest, and finally... through her head. She tried to stop it, tried to thrash around to ignore the pain, but couldn't... she tried to open her eyes, now sure she was still truly alive and wasn't merely dreaming, but couldn't. She tried to scream... but her voice failed her... And all she could hear was silence... until...
"Well, well Subject V, who is the plaything now?"
Yoko? How...?
"Well I'll tell you, my little killing machine, it's going to be YOU..."
---------------
Alright, cut it a bit short, but I have studies to do still(finals start next week, but have to study like mad for them now), but I didn't want to leave everyone hanging for a new chapter, so here it is ^_^.
Notes:
* Another subtle What Cost for Freedom reference here, concerning the Forrestal upgrade ^_^. ** I've also hinted on an upcoming appearance, anybody care to guess who? ^_^.

Notice: This fic and all its contents are copyrighted by Thomas E. "Zinegata" Ting. No part of this work may be taken by any other person without permission from the author. Gundam and all related trademarks are owned by Bandai and their respective companies.