Yay, Soma is back!

February 23, 2308 the long awaited Allied counter offensive had begun with the lifting of the Siege of Guangzhou. While factions within Celestial Being had been offering limited aid to the Allied Powers they were not yet fully under their control. While Grofaz Corner was already counting his chickens before they hatched the Allies set in motion Operation Dynamo and Double Cross. United by a common foe the Allies set aside their differences to end the Gundam Menace…

Side effects also include death, stupidity, nausea, headache, sexual impotence, and blindness. Please contact your doctor if you have an erection lasting for more than 2 hours.

Prelude

Despite having had weeks allocated towards refitting the 82nd Louise it was found that biological solutions to their ill-equipped state were unable to cope. Nevertheless despite repeated inquiries by Allied High Command the last remnants of the Halevey Imperial Guard had refused adopting a technological solution to their handicap, contenting themselves as cheer leaders for the 1st Saji’s up coming space operations. While the Allies had hoped to increase the number of front line units, most other units were decidedly pleased that the 82nd Louise remained far from the front as it was widely felt that the 82nd Louise were Wehrunwurdig (unworthy to bear arms) that were not even worth their rations.

The Ghost of Louise’s dignity compels you!

The 1st Saji on the other hand were to earn a reputation for fanaticism and Shinn Asuka tendencies as the war progressed. While the Allies had announced their intentions on the international forum events would prove that by choosing not to draft Shirin into their cause would prove tragic. Despite Shirin’s renown for being a shrewd diplomat and political specialist the Allies were hesitant to get involved in the quagmire of the Middle East with their resources already stretched by bitter fighting against the CB.

You sound scared Haruhi-sama forbid you might actually have to think for once…

Despite having achieved their stated goal of bringing the world together the Sumeragi faction kept their arms and remained suspicious of the Allies. Their intelligence or lack there of, informed them that the Allies were all but beaten their bases mauled and morale sinking. Grofaz Sumeragi was convinced that all they had to do was “to kick down the door and let the rotten edifice collapse.” Already the Allies had suffered crushing defeats in the Central Asian deserts and at Ceylon. Nevertheless while the Allied Soldier was bloodied they remained defiant and utterly convinced that CB was mad and that their vision of the future entailed nothing but misery for all. The introduction of 30 GN-X suits was in many ways a sign of how desperate the Allies were to hold the line. Despite the proven superiority of the new weapons, Union Ace Graham Aker refused to pilot it. While he may have been honoring his dead friend most of his fellow pilots criticized him for putting pride before the war effort. While Graham fancied himself as a Black Baron, it was said by many at least the Red Baron was not a fool and did not suffer as many losses. “I wish he were Red,” was to become a common lament amongst Allied troops.

Oh shit, he’s going to pinky swear on it.

The AEU gave command of their GN-X Squadron to Oberst Katie, who had proved herself as an able commander during the debacle in Central Asia. Her ability to manage the most hot headed of the AEU’s aces is still the subject of study for military and business personnel management. While her choice of Patrick Corlasawar as a GN-X pilot was controversial, events would later prove that she was right and that God indeed “has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of America.” While her personal entanglement with Patrick was the source of much speculation at the time, most of her contemporaries noted that it was a purely personal “disaster” and had little effect on her ability to command.

Opposing Commanders

A veteran of the Solar Wars Sergei earned a reputation for cautiousness.

Oberleutnant Sergei Smirnov (Allied HRL)

The HRL under the framed Ace Sergei Smirnov, hero of Guangzhou, was far more appreciative of tactical and strategic realities. While the veteran warrior was proud of his service he had placed the lives of his comrades above his pride. While he did not at first consider Leutant Soma as part of his new squadron he accepted he none the less at the insistence of Allied High Command. Leutnant Soma would prove her self every bit as good as any Allied Ace as one of the first female pilots fight CB she was driven to prove herself amongst the male dominated Sumeragi Faction. Oberstleutnant Sergei rapidly selected his pilots and it was this that allowed the Allies to rapidly mobilize their forces to counterattack at Guanzhou. He also benefited from new Allied forward observer deployments, and improved Allied civil defense and air raid procedures. The early reports allowed Allied commanders to determine CB intentions well before the arrival of Army Group Trinity’s spearheads, and allowed them to scramble enough defenders to blunt the CB advance.

Johann was the only CB commander who advocated strict discipline, as more was expected of his soldaten.

Jager Johann Trinity

One of the most able commanders that served CB Johann had been time and again been denied higher command despite his successes. His rival Sumeragi still pulled enough clout with CB to maintain her position as Captain of Potemayo, but fortunately for Army Group Trinity, Johann was kept on as field commander. While he was not the greatest Gundam Meister in the world, his ability to keep his subordinate commanders in line allowed him to achieve results far in excess of his resources. His under utilization by CB would hand the initiative to the Allies as Sumeragi was given the lion’s share of CB resources in men, weapons, and ammunition. Throughout the war Army Group Trinity remained the poorer relation in the CB order of battle.

Operation Double Cross

Baige likes it to go…

While the Allies had been struggling to hold the line against CB, they were mindful of the fifth columnist Kinue Crossroad whose meddling had cost them valuable intelligence and threatened to uncover their plans for Operation Dynamo. Thus before Operation Dynamo could proceed the Allies selected Leutnant Gaily Biage to plan and execute Operation Double Cross, the Allied attempt to silence Kinue. While the planned start date was supposed to be three weeks later, a chance encounter with Kinue accelerated his plans.

Pwned.

Despite her continued evasion of Allied law enforcement, Kinue’s caution was increasingly being thrown to the wind. It was this legendary arrogance that allowed Biage to lure her into his car. Once trapped Baige deftly questioned her and gleaned that Kinue knew next to nothing and had been publishing her information based largely upon rumor and gossip. While Baige assessed that she was less of a threat than Allied High Command had believed he understood that Kinue constituted a threat that could only grow with time. Goading her one last time he was ceritan that while she had uncovered but a smidgeon of the Allied plans, Kinue had already uncovered too many viable leads to warrant letting her go. In some nameless back alley Baige dealt with Kinue, but failed to ensure a quick death by using a head shot. Preferring instead to make it look like a robbery gone wrong Baige allowed Kinue to bleed out while he tore through her meager belongings. Convinced that he had taken care of it, Biage sped off allowing the rain to wash way any evidence that he may have missed. Operation Dynamo was now secure and given the go ahead to proceed as planned.

Opposing Plans

Stop talking, start dying.

The Allies

The Allies were hard pressed by the recent CB offenses and chose to consolidate their forces at the bases that remained and establish intricate early warning systems for their bases. Opting to keep their first GN-X Squadrons in tactical reserve to best respond to threats to the remaining bases the Allies maintained a defensive posture for their regular troops, while readying their GN-Xs to counter attack any CB action.

Army Group Trinity (CB)

Despite his acceptance of intelligence from Ms. Wang’s Piccadilly Commando Corps, Johann was completely unaware of the new Allied units and proceeded to attack the Guangzhou garrison at his leisure. Once they arrived Johann would need all his skill to avoid the complete destruction of his forces.

Ah from the factory to the Front, just like the good olde days.

The Battle

At 18:26 Allied forward observers sighted the leading spearheads of Army Group Trinity and wasted no time in contacting the local base commander to scramble with all he had. At 18:46 Allied AA artillery opened up as the 6th Johann, 7th Nena, and 8th Michael approached. At 18:50 with their artillery in range Johann’s forces began bombarding Allied positions, though this time with much reduced accuracy. At 19:14 hoping to deliver the final blow Johann formed up the 6th, 7th and the 8th to operate their Trinity Cannon to deliver the coup de grace. However at 19:18 the timely arrival of Oberstleutnant Sergei’s force, forced Johann to loosen up his deployment.

A happy Soma is a lovely Soma.

Staring his attack with a rolling barrage Segei made contact with Nena bloodying her forces in a short and brutal assault. The 8th Michael attempted to intervene but the daring attack by Leutnant Soma resulted in the loss of all his Fangs. At 20:34 Johann ordered a retreat. He realized that the Allies had achieved complete surprise and out numbered him more than 3 to 1. Further more the 7th Nena was still smarting for their last attack, and without the 8th Michael’s Fangs, he was not only out numbered but out gunned. Sergei opted not to purse citing that while he had seen them off he did not want to commit to a battle of attrition so soon after getting his new units. Furthermore while his pilots were good they were still unaccustomed to their new machines. Despite Leutnant Soma’s superb handling of her GN-X, Sergei felt that preservation of his force was more important in the long run. The Allies were still recovering from their recent defeats and the GN-Xs would be needed until the full industrial might of the Allies was mobilized. For now a morale boosting victory was more important than fighting a battle of attrition, which he could have won, but at a high cost.

His restraint of the pursuit would later be vindicated with the introduction of CB’s GN Arms system.

She gave them a quickie.

Aftermath

The success of Operation Double Cross and the relief of the Guangzhou garrison was the much needed victory that the Allies needed and the successful employment the new GN-X gave reaming Allied forces the breathing spaces they so desperately needed. With the imminent integration of the GN-X with the AEU and the Union the Allies opted to begin a series of raids against CB. It was hoped that by using a combat rotation that each GN-X squadron would be able to better absorb the lessons of battle and familiarize themselves with CB tactics and perfect pilot coordination. It was hoped that by limiting themselves to raids they could wear down CB units and maintain the initiative to prevent any new CB offensive operations until the downgraded versions of GN-X weapons could be developed to upgrade existing forces.

A bunch of still frames and people clapping.

While the Sumeragi Faction had lost the services of Ms. Wang they were able to call upon the first of the new GN Arms units and wasted no time in pressing the sole unit into service with out field testing. Despite their loss at Guangzhou Johann was able to retreat in good order and preserve his forces for future operations. In the mean time Grofaz Corner had at last discovered Aeolia’s well furnished tomb with drastic consequences for all sides in the war. Ms. Wang however would lose her sanity as the war dragged on. Despite her idealism in forcing the world to change her syphilis made it increasingly hard for her to process new information, as her ignorance to the obituary section would attest.

Baige actually works for a living unlike some teenage tart suffering from syphilis.

Impressions

Well if nothing else it was good to see Soma, Aker, Katie, Sergei, Patrick, and Ali again. I hope Ali enlists with AEU GN-X squadron as the AEU could use some much needed muscle to maul the Kurdi Kid. Ali and Patrick would make for a neat comedy duo. I am sure Patrick’s chronic luck would be instrumental in preventing Ali from going completely mad. Besides I am sure Oberst Kaite can keep the bastard in line. I just love how Leutnant Soma was rip roaring and ready to go take a war ride in her new GN-X. Granted the things aren’t the most beautiful suits in the world, but hey at least it’s better than her old one. Still I want her to paint it pink and the rest of the HRL pilots to paint their either green or like a flying circus. Same goes for the AEU and Union as the factory finish is oppressively bland.

Tenacious Soma is fine too.

I still am holding out hope that Aker despite his foolish pride will be forced to at least use some GN-X derived weapons to pimp out his arsenal as even his vaunted Flag could use an upgrade in firepower. It was good to see the poor Patrick finally got a date with the formidable Oberst Katie. Patrick did say the right thing in putting his love first over everything else; I have yet to meet a woman who would accept anything less that being her man’s top priority. I guess Oberst Katie has a soft spot for idiots, I hope she is happy with her fool. Indeed Patrick is blessed with the Luck of the Irish. It was also good to see that Oberst Katie opted for functional décor and showed a bit of modesty when answering the door. She was smart enough to keep Patrick waiting outside while she got ready for dinner, so Patrick could not peep. I hope she just puts on a regular uniform, but an elegant dress would be fine too, though I don’t think Patrick has earned that privilege yet. Still I wath this series even after it goes train wreck if the rabu rabu comedy of ‘When Katie Met Patrick’ kept going. You know its almost as if Haruhi Fujioka was reborn and ran into Tamaki, Patrick needs to call himself Katie’s otou-san…

Mien Oberst you’re looking especially radiant today.

I for one am very much pleased with the death or at least grievous wounding of Kinue. She was a traitor to the Union and cost the Allies vital intel regarding Nena. You have to admit that what she did was astoundingly stupid. Well at least Baige was a gentleman about it and didn’t rape her to boot. Still I like Ali because he’s the kind of unprincipled mean spirited lunatic you need to win a war, heck Patton was a bigot and loony so I expect the same results from Ali. At least unlike Nena he doesn’t kill at random as there is a method to his madness.

Embarrassed Katie is fine too.

She knows who you are man…

Yes he’s been stalking you…

I suspect you already know.

There ya go.

Pity date: 2 hours. Telling Patrick No: 48 hours. Pity date it is then.

Patrick Corlasawar 1; CB 0…Liverpool 3.

Also Nena finally said Urusai. Nevertheless having Ms. Wang try and be evil is rather lame, so she wants to change to world or break it. The world changes every day, so I wonder what kind of stimulus motivated her to cosplay a Bond Villian…It better be good because Black Lagoon’s Hansel and Gretel still hold the crown for fucked up childhood.

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