A few hours passed when the Wing 1 made contact and dropped off its passengers. With all of their loses recouped the Rogue Wings were given a preview of a full sized hangar again when the new Panther units were loaded into their position.
Mercurio led the new recruits around the hangar bay when he showed, “Obviously we have our mobile suits aligned over here. Key thing to remember about them is to remain with your designated suit only unless a superior officer orders it.”
Zachariah emphasized the requirement, “We’ve had enough volunteer heroes as it is. Most you can ask for is some maintenance advice from fellow pilots.”
Mercurio gestured to Gawel’s computer desk when he added, “Speaking of which if you have any requests just be sure to tell Majewski. He’s got a bit of short temper when he’s working though so give it to him in written form first. That should do it for now. Stay on standby before our next order gets here.” The new recruits dispersed when they made their way to their Panther units and prepared for their next mission.
Mercurio saw Pascal leading some of them while Zachariah asked, “So I want to hear it from you Yuy. Have you found out if Donna is ever going to get back to being her old self? Before all of this she wasn’t anywhere near this inclusive. Same thing has been going for Suchart but it seems like he’s still trying to pull his best effort around here.”
Mercurio wondered about the situation but didn’t have an answer when he said, “She seems to be at ease around Milou for now. Some people might end up being overwhelmed when there’s too many around them.”
“At the same time if Donna loses him she’ll probably be in worse shape than she is now. You know that’s possible right?” Zachariah reminded him.
Mercurio sighed before he answered cryptically, “With how many of us have fallen, I guess so.” He tried not to think about seeing one of his own cousins die given how he had nearly killed Naina himself. “Our mission is to see that we keep one another from dying so that we can fulfill our mission. We can’t afford any more casualties especially when we have so much at stake.” He added in an attempt to bring back the hopeful energy he was known for bringing.
Zachariah took out his water flask when he agreed, “Let’s just hope we still have that luxury.”

Within the Parliamentary Building the Earth Sphere representatives gathered before a hologram of Lucas Lehrer for another meeting. Malcolm stood before him with Relena at his side when he introduced, “Mr. Lehrer. I’m afraid that I must contact you with unfortunate news.”
“Speak freely Mr. Hunter.” The hologram accepted.
“We have sent one of our spies on a recent mission to look into the matter of Neil Goslin. As it has been discovered, he was perhaps the main wrongdoer of our conflict.”
Lucas seemed curious about the case when he asked, “You have only recently discovered this correct?”
“Yes Mr. Lehrer. His connection to Kecker’s policies weren’t traceable until we found the questioned one of our own about a certain case.”
“Will you at least let us see the evidence you have found?”
“We present you the video from our findings.” He played the video found with General Ulbricht’s paper before he continued, “This is Neil Goslin’s recorded words before his death.” The final recording of Neil Goslin’s plans was played for all to hear.
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The council gathered at 3 Juno saw the two pieces of evidence as the things that both Hermine and Nathaniel Falson had fought for so long to expose. “The Earth Sphere was being used after all…” One of the Generals observed.
“This ought to prove it now. The Falsons are vindicated!”
“We must demand compensation from them now!”
Before the remaining Generals could voice their demands Lucas calmed them, “Gentlemen! We are in a meeting with the Earth Sphere!” As soon as they stopped talking he promised, “We will discuss terms such as these once we have decided who will be held responsible for these past years of destruction.”
Thomas stood at Lucas’s side while he offered his silent comment, “Grandmother… Grandfather… You were both correct all along.”

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“We have the evidence we need now Mr. Hunter. It is clear now that Kecker is planning to use this Sol Invictus to enact a great act of destruction.” Lucas thanked.
“That is what we wish to warn you about Mr. Lehrer. We may have found what the former president was referring to.” Malcolm held up the plans of the weapon while explaining, “These plans were meant to assist in the terraformation of Mars, but now it seems to have more than just this use. Judging from the trajectory of Kecker’s escape, we have guessed his location.” Malcolm held a map of the solar system when he pointed near the second planet, “If he continues his path our best guess has been to determine his position approximately 3 million miles from Venus. We strongly recommend a possible evacuation of the area as it is likely to be the first target from Kecker’s position. We estimate that you will have about three weeks before it is too late to escape.”
Lucas gave a nodding confirmation, “We shall take your warning with the utmost seriousness Mr. Hunter. If we require any further updates you will be contacted.” before the hologram dissipated from the room.

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One of the Generals voiced her concern, “What do we do now Mr. President? We do not have the resources to evacuate our entire populace from here in such a short amount of time.”
Lucas thought for a few brief moments before he ordered, “We must make do with what we have at our current disposal. We must put 3 Juno on high alert for offensive action. We must use every scrap we can to prepare an evacuation for Mars.”
Lucas left the council on this order while one of his secretaries advised, “Mr. Lehrer. With the utmost urgency we must see you safely taken to a safe location on L2.”
“Will the colonies be safe from the Sol Invictus’ range?”
“Even the Earth Sphere is uncertain about Kecker’s first target. If he is planning to create the greatest human atrocity we have ever seen, then Earth may be his first target before anything else.”
Lucas sighed before he was forced to agree, “A gamble we have no choice but to agree to.” He found Thomas nearby when he ordered, “Thomas. You must accompany me. I promise the Falson name will not end with you and we will do everything we can to correct humanity’s path.”
Thomas was shaken bust still prepared to follow the order, “Yes Lucas. I will see it done.” He followed him while he asked, “Starting today we must see the acts of these men brought to a halt. We must be able to do something about it?”
“I believe we will Thomas.” Lucas agreed turning to one of the Generals, “Contact Moscow.”

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Malcom saw the hologram end and announced to the remaining representatives, “The Coalition has been warned. Let us hope that it is now to make a difference.”
Relena agreed with the effort, “Saving what lives we have is more than enough to begin undoing our past mistakes.”
Zlata was the first representative to agree, “Now that we are no longer officially within a war it would seem the only decent action to take.”
Elena voiced her warning, “More so now that this faceless enemy Kecker and Goslin wish to be bears as much weight as it does.”
One of the First Priority members brought the next question, “Shall we at least begin planning for what to do about the Sol Invictus however?”
Malcolm stood in silence before he announced, “As much as it may burden them we must prepare OZ and the Gundams for a desperate final mission. The Sol Invictus must be destroyed.”
Hiram was at the front row when he agreed to the sentiment, “As regrettable as it may be, we should better see a tool of progress dismantled before it seals its history as one of destruction.”
Relena reminded the rest of their path, “The battle plans shall be handled by the commanding officers we have and General Neustadt will provide our main forces with the command necessary.” She looked down before she prayed to herself, “Mercurio… Please return again…”

Gawel and one of the new strategic recruits were looking over the European map and projecting the next possible course. Dana looked over the paths when she asked, “Are we about to meet with the enemy pretty soon?”
Gawel nodded when he confirmed, “Things are not looking so bright out there Captain. We might need something to change pretty soon.”
Dana shrugged at the observation, “How would you like it? Calling those Sol Thero units and asking for a nice round of talks?”
The new recruit answered, “Who wouldn’t by now? But we might have to go on a serious defensive if they keep making their way through our defense lines.”
Dana looked up when she cursed, “Damn. We are not going to have anything left once they’re through at this rate.”
Gawel placed a line between the projected arrows and the two capitals when he estimated, “Just a hop skip and a jump before they get to our guys in Amsterdam.”
Dana began to feel more concerned about the observation but ordered, “Get me Nasir.” Gawel made his way to the communications board when he adjusted the signal to Amsterdam. As soon as it was adjusted Dana began, “Epstein. How’s the border holding up?”
She heard Nasir’s voice on the other line answer, “We haven’t had any enemy contact. It looks like they decided not to show up today.” Before Dana decided to call off the alert she heard him announce, “Hold up. I got some Earth Sphere signals heading our way.”
She kept hold of what ideal scenario there was when she asked, “Can you make out who’s out there?”
“Captain, I think it’s those Sol Thero units.”
Dana tried to make sense of the situation while working through her growing concern, “Sol Theros? How did they get here?”
“No idea. There’s only seven of them now but it doesn’t even look like they seen much action.” There were audible explosions a second after he answered, “Shit! Captain we got contact!” There were several more explosions when he was finished and Dana begun to fear the worst.
“Epstein report!” Dana ordered.
Nasir was still on the other line when he answered, “They just fired a volley on us Captain! It seems like they’re aiming for the space port installments!”
“Those are the only installments?”
Nasir sounded like he was back to normal when he reported, “It looks like it. Oh damn! We need some serious backup right now Captain! We’re getting hit pretty hard!”
Dana ordered, “Hold the line Epstein! Don’t fire unless you’re 110% sure you can kill those things in one shot! We’re getting in there to help!”
“Any time today would be great. Just try not to – oh shit!” Was Nasir’s last words before the signal was lost from another explosion.
Dana turned to Gawel when she asked, “How many of us are prepared to get in there and get our guys out?”
Gawel looked over the recruits and answered, “Not many sir. If we all leave there won’t be anyone to defend the capital.”
“Formation!” As soon as Dana gave the order through the hangar the pilots were lined up and prepared to hear her order. “We’ve got news that Amsterdam is under attack but we have to maintain our defenses here in the capital. Volunteers for the Amsterdam mission?”

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Ten hours had passed before the mobile suit carrier brought the remaining Kaliningrad forces to the nearly leveled city of Moscow. The civilian population was all but gone while soldiers and pilots searched the debris for anything useful or missing survivors. The carrier landed against a mound of debris while the pilot checked the area for anything headed their way.
He turned to the Kaliningrad forces greeting, “Here we are. I don’t recommend taking in the view.”
Oleg nodded when he unbuckled and made his way to the landing zone. He saw and older man in a Coalition trench coat waiting for him and several guards behind him. “Captain?” Oleg saluted.
“Tsubarov.” He saluted back. “I take it you would be Lieutenant Kiprotich correct?” He turned asking Tano.