Mobile Suit Gundam Lost War Chronicles Volume 2: v. 2 - Tapa blanda

Following the fall of Odessa Base, the region falls under the overwhelming control of Federation forces. The 03rd MS Team conducts repairs on its Mobile Suits while putting a new batch of rookies through training to pilot the Federation's ever-expanding MS forces. Suddenly, new orders arrive: the rookies will accompany the team on its next mission. 2nd Lt. Matt follows the order reluctantly, fearing bringing raw rookies into combat - he wants these young men to live. Meanwhile, Mei's father's political connections have arranged for a new model MS barely entering production to be dropped from space for use by Ken's Zeon expatriate unit. For this to occur after the loss of Odessa is quite remarkable. However...the drop point is in what is now Federation territory...and Matt's team, augmented by the rookies, is already on the scene, guarding the H(eavy) L(ift) V(ehicle) that has landed And so, Matt and Ken meet on the battlefield once again. The rookies are taken by surprise; one is quickly killed. Jack and Gusky's Zakus keep Anish and Raury busy while Ken slams Matt's Gundam against the HLV and pins it while he and Mei hurry inside. Soon, the new Mobile Suit - possessing a Beam Rifle, a weapon previously reserved for prototype Gundams themselves - emerges. Ken ransoms the life of a surviving rookie for safe passage. Matt knows that if he doesn't stop Ken here, he and this MS might kill many more Federation soldiers but, Ken says he is not fighting to kill, but to survive. Matt...believes him, and both lower their weapons. Ken says Matt is a failure as a soldier...every bit as much as he himself is. Matt is court marshaled and briefly imprisoned for his actions before being sent back to the South American subterranean HQ base - Jaburo, just in time for a major airmobile assault on the base by 12 heavy bombers and Zeonic MS' dropping down into the jungles. Matt learns that Ken's MS has gone to the Eastern front and won't appear here. However, Matt's ideals catch up with him. He stops Raury from firing on a heavily damaged Zaku; Anish finishes the Zaku off with a beam saber stab from above. However, a stray shot has struck Raury's cockpit anyway...leading to the Ensign's death. As Anish's heart hardens, Matt undergoes a crisis of ideals. The others - including Annie the mechanic, who is transferring to a Pegasus class carrier and leaving the team, heading off to space, the new front line - do their best to convince him his path is correct. Also, that they, and even Anish, believe in his ideals and to shed the least amount of blood possible. Before long, the 03rd's new mission has arrived - heading East to find the new model MS and destroy it. Meanwhile, while Ken and Gusky have sortied to do battle with Federation Mobile Suits, their base camp is attacked. Corporal Yuuki is mortally wounded in the process, though Jack barely stopped the ground force. With her dying words, Yuuki urges Ken to get at least Mei to space, knowing that Ken sees Mei the same as his own daughter...and so, Ken's heart hardens as well. When Matt discovers the name of his foe - the MS known as the Gelgoog - he also discovers that Ken has undertaken a murderous rampage. Both sides converge on Biconnel Space Base. Ken's forces reach the base first and prepare to send Mei into space, whatever it takes, with Jake escorting her for safety. Ken refuses Mei's pleas to say goodbye in person, or even on camera. He does not want her to see him as he is now...Federation ground forces arrive. In spite of Matt's admonishments to Anish that hatred will solve nothing, Anish wants nothing more but to slay his foes, wounded or not, fleeing or not. He is determined not to end up like Raury. And so, Matt and Ken meet on the field of battle once more...Matt asks Ken what happened to his noble words. Ken says that his friend was killed by Federation troops like him and that he would collect the wages of their sin - in blood. Matt, who has lost his own friend, cannot back down, or allow Ken to prolong the war...As the two clash, Noel informs Matt and Anish that an HLV is preparing to launch. Anish breaks off and retrieves a Long Range Rifle (a sniper's beam rifle) with only one maximum charge shot. One shot, though, will be enough to shoot the HLV down before it reaches space. But Matt will not allow it. Matt breaks off his duel and, to Ken's astonishment, puts his own MS directly in Anish's line of fire. Anish threatens to fire but...he does not. The HLV escapes and reaches space. Ken recognizes that his duty is done...and Matt's mission will continue. There is no reason to continue the battle today. For it shall resume soon enough.