Chapter 1
The year is 2044; the Haydonites have struck from the Shadows that bear their name and have rendered the UEEF fleet nigh impotent. The Earth is liberated, the Invid fled, leaving behind only uncertainty, despair, and those rogue elements that did not heed the Regess call to ascend and transplant. In orbit around the moon, the ships of the United Earth Expeditionary Fleet seek to consolidate. Now, a new chapter is beginning to be written. Aboard the UES Stellar Jungle, an Ikazuchi carrier at the van of a small flotilla, captained by the relentless perfectionist, egotist, racist, Tidus Gray. This ship, relegated to the escort duty of colony ships destined to repopulate the Earth after so many years of bitter struggle, has acquired new blood, young blood. Ishida Suki, born on Earth, her home Japan, known now as Nihon, spirited away at a young age into the safety of space. Sarah Amdahl, a resistance fighter from the Dakota’s, trained in the use of nigh obsolete mecha, and who harbors a deep secret. They have come together as part of the newly formed 145th Tigers Squadron. New meat for the grinder; unproved, untested, and now, relegated to the seemingly menial task of point defense aboard their mother ship.
With the appearance of the first wave of colonial transplants, damaged, having barely escaped a Haydonite raiding party and flanked by a new wave of devastating weaponry; our hero’s must now sally forth, and prove themselves worthy to a xenophobic captain and a motley cadre of fellow pilots.
March 3rd, 2044. Joined by their new squad mate William Jameson, a veteran of the Neptune Division, the 145th Tigers are sent to recover a Haydonite Wraith embedded into the hull of the DSSD-02 Bismark. The recovery operation starts normally, but all is not as it seems. The Haydonite fighter is not unduly damaged and is quite capable of defending itself. Once free, it's Infiltrator unit splits off whilst the Wraith itself wreaks havoc. Bravely, if not stubbornly holding her ground, Suki Ishida's Alpha is dealt major damage while Sarah engages the Infiltrator in one on one combat, yet, the Tigers show their mettle and shortly after the Infiltrators destruction, and with Jameson's timely use of his Command Alpha's up-link ability, Suki is able to disable the Wraith, allowing the Tigers to capture it. The Tigers return to the UES Steller Jungle is halted by the sudden de-fold of a Haydonite battle group and the Tigers watch, helpless, as the Steller Jungle's advance squadrons are destroyed outright followed by the destruction of the Steller Jungle itself in a kamikaze run on a Haydonite cruiser.
Image copyright Harmony Gold
As the
Haydonites run roughshod upon the
UEEF fleet the
UES Magellan and her two Gunship escorts spring into action and within minutes are able to level devastating fire upon the
Haydonite foe.
Now, aboard the UES Magellan, their former ship sunk, the Tigers, with their Wraith prize, are left to contemplate their future as the Magellan's fighter screen begins the grim and somber task of retrieving the surviving escape pods from the battered UEEF fleet.
With the Wraith under guard by the security forces of the UES Magellan, the Tigers are allowed a moment of rest. Under the orders of Lt. Colonel Melanie McGregor, sanctioned by the UEEF Command based at Moon Base ALuCE, the Tigers are rolled into the Magellan's R&D Department while being 'loaned' out the Colonial Defense Forces under Commander Sanchez. Their search for a new home within the Magellan colony leads the Tigers to a property abandoned by descendants of the Yamato family. Identical in all respects to a traditional Shinto Shrine, the grounds are embedded with modern amenities and is located within spitting distance of a hitherto unused hanger bay.
Now, with word of a new Haydonite fleet having folded in beyond the orbit of Pluto, the die is cast and the UEEF must rally to defend their newly liberated home world.
The Haydonites return in force to harass the fleet, and the Tigers are called into action to protect the UES Magellan, at the top of the dome. During a very heavy scrap, Lt. Ishida's fighter is damaged heavily during the battle, ad forced to return, while Lt. Amdahl stays out in her new Z4 Hovertank.
After the battle is wrapped up, Suki took Sarah for a drink, and Sarah discovered some of the more exotic and hard drinks at the colony's bar. While tipsy and out of it, things are forgotten, and secrets about the true nature of the young hovertank pilot come to light…
Also: Salvage Operation on the remains of the UES Stellar Jungle the next day, and another nasty encounter!
After the attack, the Tigers are called back to the briefing areas, to speak to the Colonel (Melanie) from R&D about mecha issues against Haydonites.
Truths are revealed about more than one of the people in the room, as the R&D chief listens to thoughts as easily as words, and outs Sarah.
New mecha are discussed, and a captured unit never seen in action may just get fielded, to increase numbers of fieldable mecha!
The plans get set for the next attack.
Meanwhile, dark revelations surface about the events surrounding the ship. Events which could shake it to the core, and turn our heroes into potential pawns. They're being sent into extreme danger!
The boarding of the Robotech Factory…
The final showdown with Revan(?) and the return home with the factory.
Three weeks after the factory is captured, it's time to test new mecha, and meet some of the new people better…
The first mission with the new test mecha doesn't go quite as well as planned… in fact, far from it!
(auth note: What a bankrupt chapter…)
Things are found out about why people are and might be hiding in their quarters. The truth behind some of the nature of the attackers becomes more clear as time progresses. Speculation abounds, and we find out what Sarah has been growing a whole grove of somewhere in her head.
A Garfish folds in and is under attack! Time for a rescue!
The first test for upgrades to all of the mecha. Including a FAST pack for the Overlord!
Though it isn't without a cost… the loss of a squad member weighs heavily upon all, even as the attack is repelled….
A waited visit from a VIP turns into a chance encounter when a huge ship unlike any seen appears, with firepower to match, and people never before heard of aboard. But they aren't here to attack…
Diplomatic relations and dealing with VIPs becomes a major issue for the Tigers, after!
Part one of the attempt to rescue the SDF-3!
WARNING:
Contains mature subject matter. Should not be read by anyone under 17.
The true abomination of the ARA is exposed as the mission to rescue the SDF-3 continues. It tests the humanity of everyone involved to see some of the things that have been done or are being done to the SDF-3 crew members.
And one member of the party… is not human at all…
The Battle for the Station wraps up, the beginning of the end?
