Gundam Crucible - [An AU Universal Century Quest]

[X] Argue for Eris's plan. You would rather approach this fight loaded to bear, and if you don't find anything and the Mobile Armor is active, retreat is always an option.

"That Birnam Gundam has had more than enough time to inform their allies about our presence." You tell the others, "Not to mention, Zeon Republic forces have been fighting them as well. I think it's safe to say that they know we're here. We're not going to get the drop on that Mobile Armor."

Theo frowns, "I don't want to get picked off by it heading back to Bellerophon, but our loadouts aren't great for bypassing I-Fields."

"Eris has the right idea," you affirm, "we should locate any munitions or equipment here that could help us in the fight against the Mobile Armor. There should still be a good number of Mobile Suits and weapons that were abandoned by Neo Zeon."

"Heh, maybe we'll find a Mobile Armor of our own?" Mort suggests, which just has you and Christina laughing.

"Yeah, as if we'll be so lucky." She shakes her head, chuckling, "Who would abandon a functional Mobile Armor?"

---

Zeon Republic Sadalahn-class Battleship "Astraia" – Presidential Suite

"Five years…" Amuro cradles the teacup Sayla gave him, forcing a sense of sickening vertigo down, "I don't understand… I can't believe it."

Sayla nurses her own cup with a troubled frown, "I know. Honestly, Amuro, it's a shock to see you. I thought you died along with my brother. I'd hoped that you survived, of course, since I never felt you die, but… I couldn't feel you at all afterwards."

"So, Char really is dead." He closes his eyes, regret and relief mixing together in his chest, "I wish that there was another way, but…"

Sayla nods, silently agreeing. There was no other way.

"There may be an explanation for what happened to you." She returns to the subject at hand, "The Federation developed a Mobile Suit with Psychoframe integrated throughout its structure. The Newtype Pilot who flew it eventually developed the ability to… it's hard to describe. He seemed to reverse the timeline of an object. Specifically, he was able to disassemble the reactor of multiple Mobile Suits as if they'd never been assembled in the first place. In addition, he claimed that during a Psychoframe Resonance, he travelled in time to the Heat Death of the Universe, then came back."

"…Time Travel…" Amuro mutters, "It sounds almost too absurd to be true, but here I am… damn it Char, what have you unleashed?"

Psychoframe is powerful indeed. But was this power too much for Humanity to handle? Amuro was starting to think that maybe it is.

"The Psychoframe in the Nu Gundam resonated with the Sazabi, which pushed back Axis and apparently sent you into the future." Sayla concludes, "I imagine the scientific community is going to have a field day with this."

He nods, taking a sip before looking at his old friend. She was definitely older than the last time he saw her, which wasn't that long ago from his perspective. If this was all a trick, it was certainly an elaborate one. But he trusted Sayla. Plus, she was wearing something that she once would never have been caught dead wearing.

"So, Prime Minister of Zeon?" Amuro teases her with a smile, "What's the story there?"

Sayla blushes a bit, "Ah, well, you're not caught up on current events, but to summarize the Republic of Zeon recently declared independence from the Earth Federation. Again."

At his disturbed expression, she quickly adds, "Londo Bell is also in open rebellion. The Earth Federation has been forcibly detaining and relocating Newtypes and individuals suspected of being Newtypes. As you might imagine, Bright took exception to that."

Amuro sets down his cup and rests his head in his hands. He always knew that the Federation was deathly afraid of Newtypes and mistreated them to varying degrees, but to outright imprison them? No wonder that things deteriorated so badly.

"So…" He looks back up at Sayla, "You took up the torch?"

"In a sense." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small device, hitting a button on it. A quiet whining fills the room, barely audible to both of them. She sets it down on the table and leans in, whispering to her friend. Her words were only for the two of them, and she wouldn't let anyone else hear.

Just as quickly, she picks up the device and turns it off, leaning back in her chair as if nothing had happened, "Spacenoid independence was my father's life work, Amuro. How could I stand by the sidelines when my very name could serve as a banner for Spacenoids to unite under?"

Amuro sits back, thoroughly disturbed by what he just heard, "I… I see. Do you need help?"

"I appreciate the offer," Sayla smiles kindly, "but I think we both know that Londo Bell needs you more than I do. Besides, I'm already surrounded by capable individuals. I'm not sure that there'd be much for you to do. Even if you tried, they might get jealous."

"I understand. As long as you understand that you can always call on me for help." He says, pondering both what Sayla said and what she didn't say, "Still, fighting the Federation again… I'm getting déjà vu here."

"The more things change, the more things stay the same?" She suggests with a laugh, "I think it's safe to say that Human Nature never chan-"

Alarms interrupt their conversation, and Sayla immediately heads to the comm panel and opens a line to the bridge.

"Status report!" She orders, and a panicked voice comes through.

"Lady Artesia, there is a Mobile Armor fast approaching! Lieutenant Camilla is already moving to intercept!"

Sayla curses under her breath, "Get our Pilots in the air, now! I will be sortieing as well! Prepare my Bawoo and the Mobile Suit I selected for Captain Ray!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Amuro follows his friend as the two of them head for the locker room for their Normal Suits. She looks back at him apologetically.

"I know you worked hard to get that Sazabi working again, but we need it. Don't worry, we'll send you back with your cockpit. In exchange, I've arranged for you to receive one of our Mobile Suits. You can keep it too."

"Will it be of any use against a Mobile Armor?" He asks as he wonders what Sayla picked for him. She just smiles in amusement.

"I think that's up to the skills of the Pilot," Sayla teases, "don't you?"

---

Axis - Mobile Armor Development Bay 4

Neo Zeon left a functional Mobile Armor behind.

"I dunno, Cybele," Christina frowns over your shoulder as the two of you look at the systems readout on the MA's control panel, "This thing is clearly a prototype. I mean, it's meant for Newtypes, so I think any of you kids can use it, minus Mort. But… well, I was just a Test Pilot at Anaheim, but these systems look a lot more patchwork than I'm comfortable with."

You can sort of see what she means. This Mobile Armor was clearly incomplete when it was abandoned. The Funnels are missing any kind of beam emitter, for example, making them just a bunch of guided missiles for all intents and purposes. There's an old sticky note on the control panel warning Test Pilots not to charge the Mega Beam Cannon beyond a certain point or "BAD THINGS" will happen. The I-Field generator looks to be transplanted from another machine, barely fitting in the allocated space for it.

Despite all that, however, the reactor is working. The beam weapons are functional. It's all gassed up and ready to go.

"Big Sis! Big Sis!" Sicilia eagerly climbs into the cockpit, "I can fly it!"

"It would help to have our own Mobile Armor with an I-Field," Christina admits reluctantly, "but she probably shouldn't do more than act as our shield against beams. Sorry if I don't trust this thing to explode if you try and fire the beams."

Perhaps. It definitely would put Sicilia at greater risk, but she wants to do it and there is merit…


[][Sicilia] Little Sis will keep being your Copilot.

[][Sicilia] Little Sis will pilot the Mobile Armor, but purely in a defensive role.

[][Sicilia] Little Sis will pilot the Mobile Armor, and engage in offense as well as defense.

---

Axis - Mobile Suit Reserve Hangar

If there is one good thing about Anaheim's near-complete saturation of the MS market, it's that their standard is used by practically everyone. So, while Mort wasn't able to find replacements for his missiles, he was able to attach Zssa missile pods to his GM III, as were the Jegans on Christina's team!

…

It looks ridiculous.

Theo, Eris, and Christina are opting for the slightly-less ridiculous option of holding old Clay Bazookas in their off-hand. Thankfully, enough old AEUG personnel joined Axis after the Gryps War that there's more than enough ammo for them.

As for yourself… you're having a little problem.

The Woundwort already has both arms occupied, along with many hardpoints. There aren't a whole lot of things here that you can add on.

However, you do have a Psycommu unit installed on your MS, and you're looking at a giant Bit Carrier sitting docked next to a white modified Dom.

"System says that it's called the Schnee Weiss," Theo calls out from inside the Dom's cockpit, "These Bits are old, pretty much identical to the ones on the old Elmeth. But I think I can get them working with the Woundwort."

"They aren't too customized for this Dom?" You ask worriedly, "I don't remember the Elmeth Bits as being designed to easily swap between Psycommu control systems."

"True," Theo answers, "but I think it'll work. We just need to boot this Dom up, hook the Woundwort up to the Dom, and then I'll try to get the Bits to sync up with your Gundam instead. Kind of like a handover."

"…You ever done this before?"

"Nope! This is all just theory. Should work, though."

That's encouraging. Still, having Bits would help a lot. Sure, they're not much use against an I-Field, but it does help create distractions, and can shoot down any escorts following the Mobile Armor.

Also, in a pinch, you can suicide them into to MA. Not like you paid for these Bits anyways.

You wonder who used to fly this white Dom?

Eh, not important.

---

[][Bits] Sync them to the Woundwort's Psycommu.

[][Bits] Leave them, you're fine without them.



Author's Note: I updated the relations informational post on the first page! Camilla (Ple ??) now has an entry!