"-Stand down and let us pass!" the familiar voice of Viktor Ramov seemed to echo on in Lieutenant Shale's comm. There was a spark left within him that did burn with Zeonic pride, that did not wish for a seemingly meaningless existence aboard Axis. But his orders were absolute and Captain Jaryk, and by extension any who were party to his escape and campaign were also guilty of treason. Treason, what a laughable idea, that those who sought to continue the fight through any means they could were deemed traitors, yet those who sat at the heads of gold wreathed tables in vast mansions were the 'standard bearers' for Axis.<br/><br/>The men and women of Shale's squadron were all veterans of the One Year War, and he wondered how many of them too felt a pit in their stomachs at arresting a man who had fought so bravely during their war for independence. "You have your orders Shale, carry them out." The cryptic voice came across the comm in Shale's HiZack, he recognized the voice as that of Major Liandra Zarn.<br/><br/>The HiZack shifted in space oddly for a moment, as if acting out Shale's own hesitance. "Viktor, looks like I'll pay you back after all," referring to a time Viktor had saved his life as they fled for Axis years ago. "Negative Major Zarn, we will stand with The Phoenix, Zieg Zeon!" The HiZack turned as if Shale knew what was coming. "Jaryk, Romav, get out of here we'll cover your escape, Carn will be here any second."<br/><br/>Two HiZacks suddenly burst, hanging in space, fires flaring outward from them as they were struck in unison. The faint glint of a line of some 6 Zaku 1 Snipers could be seen coming up from the relative west of Axis. Liandra Carn was not a Zeon soldier in the same sense as those who had fought in the One Year War, her loyalty was tied entirely to the powers within Axis, she would not be swayed by any patriotic rhetoric, no matter how impassioned. Her Dom Gross Beil carried her with extreme speed towards her target, the massive heat saber held at the ready, the additional thrusters made it all too easy for her to evade the fire of the Zeon loyal HiZacks. Her own Rick Dom II squadron was following in hot on her heels, mega bazookas firing in unison as they received supporting fire from the Zaku Snipers. A terrifying display of tactical acumen and well rehearsed savagery. As the thruster assisted giant beam saber accelerated forward and crashed into a HiZack, it sundered the mobile suit completely and immediately. "Make for the Abyssal Fury, I'll hold them!" Shale's voice called out over the comm as his HiZack positioned itself in between the oncoming Dom Gross Beil and the remnants of his squadron. Their HiZacks flitted through the stars as they made their way to the Abyssal Fury. Shale was a good pilot, but the HiZack was a machine built to be a jack of all trades, the Gross Beil however was a butcher designed for close combat in any arena be it land or space. Liandra Carn was a savage opponent and she gave no mercy as indicated in her relentless attack, pursuing the HiZack even as it made evasive maneuvers, firing its 120mm machine gun into the thicker plating of the Dom variant.<br/><br/>Heeding Lieutenant Shale's advice Romav quickly lead his team and the remnants of Shale's squadron back to the Abyssal Fury. Romav could do nothing but look back in sorrow as his friend Shale was finally forced to engage up close with the Gross Beil. Liandra had finally pushed the Gross Beil hard enough and caught the HiZack in range where it could no longer seek to use peppering shots from its machine gun. Shale quickly drew his heat hawk, casting aside his machine gun and firing his thrusters in an unexpected lunge. He brought the heat hawk down, but the Gross Beil as so deceptively agile given its bulk, thrusters firing instantly and taking it outside of the heat hawk's arc. The gigantic heat saber's thruster fired and slammed into Shale's HiZack, the super heated massive blade quickly cutting into the smaller mobile suit. Shale had no means to escape and could only let all know his allegiance over the open comm, roaring out "Zieg Zeon!" before his HiZack exploded.<br/>-------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Jaryk watched the fighting erupt among the forces loyal to Zeon and gritted his teeth as he watched Shale's mobile suit explode. "Damnit Shale," he whispered to himself cursing that his campaign had already spilled loyal Zeon blood. "Is Romav aboard?" Jaryk asked quickly. "He is, sir. Along with two HiZacks from Shale's squadron. Our mobile suits are clear, but the Axis mobile suits are now closing on our position."<br/><br/>"Open fire, all batteries." The order was given now that their mobile suits were cleared of the battle zone, the laser turrets all along the Gwazine class opened fire, tearing into several of the Rick Dom IIs of Carn's unit, and after a moment of sustained fire their thrusters could be seen flaring up and carrying them back towards Axis. "God damn dogs," Jaryk muttered before looking to the relative North. Their sustained fire wasn't the only reason that Carn's squadron had turned tail.<br/><br/>A Zanzibar Class broke the horizon with its guns bristling and lancing out into the darkness of space, tearing after the fleeing Carn Squadron. "Captain Jaryk, apologies for our late arrival, we had some difficulties of our own," the voice was that of Marius Freya a veteran of the One Year War, now a Commander in the Zeon Navy and Zeon Loyalist.<br/><br/>"Good Marius, you're just on time and we're now out of effective range of Axis' mobile suits. Coordinates have been sent to you Marius, we're heading into dangerous waters now. But we'll strike at the Federation right in their hearts." He then switched to an open comm, speaking to the mobile suit pilots aboard both ships. "All pilots, meet me aboard the Abyssal Fury at the Assembly Station and I will brief you on our first mission." With that the Comm went quiet and Jaryk was left to ponder if this was the right course of action, having cost lives already, but there was no turning back now.<br/>*******************************************************<br/><br/>Romav, your words were able to inspire Lieutenant Shale, but ultimately you could do little to help Shale Squadron as they covered your retreat. Report to the Assembly Station to learn about your mission. The sacrifice of your friend has given you both hope in Zeon's ideals but also fills you with sorrow at yet another fire snuffed out.<br/><br/>Garrou: Having had little chance to fight you are left you on edge, report to the Assembly Station and await your orders. Try not to let your brooding and arrogance get in your own way.