A Sense of Nobility - Kujo

Dec 30, 2020
3
0
1
#1
There was an air of silence in the transport, as it rolled down the road. In the distance, the giant dome that housed the AWC could be seen starting to crest. Based on the time they had left to travel, the structure would be huge when the two got closer.

Tired of the silence, the old man reached over and attempted to turn on the radio. The driver, a young woman, flicked it off with disdain. Glaring at him, she turned back towards the road.

I still can’t believe you were about to take my child to the battlefield without telling me.” The ginger-haired woman spoke firmly, thumping the steering wheel with her fingers. The old man sighed, pulling out a cigarette box. Tapping out a single cigarette, he held it in his knuckles as he stared out the window.

Calling the GM your child doesn’t make it any less of a weapon. I didn’t want to drag you into the world of the Vultures. I’ve avoided it for almost 25 years, and didn’t want to step into it again. You should’ve stayed with your family, Rachel.

You can’t give me back the 10 years we worked together on the Sniper, old man. The polite thing would be to say farewell before running out on a lady.” Rachel huffed in the silence, as she stared out the windshield.

Ha, she calls herself a lady.” Shaking his head at the thought, the old man lit the cigarette. Taking a deep drag, he blew out a large cloud of smoke. The woman rolled down both windows, trying to fan out the noxious fumes.

That’s just rude. Be glad this lady is willing to come along and take care of you; you’d be lost without me to maintain the GM Sniper.” Rachel smiled despite herself, thinking back on the precious cargo they carried.




A decade of sweat, tears, and dreams was stored in the transport; a fully-functioning display of their camaraderie and work. A GM Sniper II, restored from a damaged frame pulled out of the jungles of Ganymede. Painted a dark, almost black green, the stream-lined custom build looked identical to the GM Sniper II’s of the War, with only a handful of minute replacements when the stock parts couldn’t be procured. Rachel had grown from a child who could only hand tools into a woman who was making mechanical decisions and changes of her own. Her love for mechanics and Mobile Suits had been born through this journey, and now she was preparing to take the next step.

Marcus admired the young woman, so vibrant in the light of the afternoon sun. Ganymede was no place to keep such a genuine mechanic, an individual willing to go through all the efforts of restoring a derelict Mobile Suit. For him, it had only been a means of coping with his ‘problems’. For her, it was a genuine passion.

Now, they were driving to their first real contract as a team, the Ganymede’s Reapers. His hand shook, causing the ash to fall into his lap. He ignored the slight discomfort of the heat, before brushing off the burning cinder. He wasn’t sure he was ready to enter that battlefield again, to know that his trigger was capable of ending another person’s life and vice-versa. But he had already signed the contract, and had a hopeful partner next to him that was depending on his skills.

Hopefully...the AWC isn’t picking many fights these days. Let’s hope this is just a guard job.



The journey continued in silence, until the transport found itself rolling up to the giant doors that sealed the dome from outside influence. Bringing the large truck to a halt, the old man pulled out a small comms device. Dialing the number he was given, he waited for it to connect.

Hello...is this the Albrecht Ways Company? I’m Marcus Strait, the leader of the Ganymede’s Reapers. We’re currently waiting to enter your...facility?
 
Apr 11, 2019
108
0
16
#2
Leona Albrecht sat in a half dilapidated room at a makeshift desk made of an old, elaborate vanity. A dusty, grungy speaker device that sat stacked upon a pile of papers chimed in with a warbling tone before broadcasting the mercenary's message. Leona checked a small, ticking clock on her "desk" for the time. 'I thought I told Reeve to be at the gates,' she thought to herself. Pressing a cracked red button on the old device, she opened up the line to reply. "Welcome, Mr. Strait. Come right in, my attendant should be meeting with you shortly and I soon after."

The gate outside shuddered for a moment before rumbling open slowly, steadily unveiling the grand "kingdom" that lay within the odd dome on Ganymede's surface. The greenery outside was nothing to the sprawling garden of the AWC's seat of power, the Kronjuwel, even in its dilapidated state. The hot sun filtered through the elaborate domed structure, casting rays along rows of vibrantly colored hedges and overgrown flowerbeds; once rare trees, now towering and thick, cut up the light and spread it out among various pavilions and park-like areas. The only thing more monumental were the grand "statues" that were clearly old mobile suits set upon pedestals. Indeed, there was no greater show of the AWC's old glory than its "collection", at least save for the grand castle that resided straight ahead from the old soldier at the gate.

The main, grand causeway that led to the Kronjuwel itself was remarkably pristine compared to the various paths and trails leading off from it. Going along the road , it would be impossible not to notice the squad of gilded GINNs leading up to the entrance of the castle. The Mobile suits were all powered on and in various states of saluting, some reaching their sabers out to cross with a counterpart and others just managing to hold their swords or rifles. Indeed even these suits were not spared for the overall dilapidation of the place, sections of the armor on some of the mobile suits had been taken off to reveal the wiring and mechanics underneath, cables were spilling out of the actuators on some with some sort of computer hooked up to them.

As Marcus' vehicle would pull up, a final GINN in the line would be slowly but surely raising its sword into a salute, directed by an older looking man with a slight stoop at the mobile suit's feet. He ceased calling out to whoever was manning the GINN and turned to see the truck making its way forward; waving for Marcus to come his way for a moment, the old man turned back to the mobile suit and called out again. Instead of moving the suit simply powered off and opened its cockpit to allow a notably young man to step off onto the pilot winch and descend. Both men wore remarkably extravagant uniforms with epaulets and various filigrees, the older man notably wearing a mantle while the younger simply bore a sash. However what marked both men as operatives for the AWC was the fine blade on their hips.
 
Dec 30, 2020
3
0
1
#3
The old man nodded in satisfaction at the curt response, but before he could reply, the line was cut. He stared at the comms device, before tossing it on the dash between them. As if on cue, the gate began rumbling open. Once it opened far enough, the truck started forward again. The pair rode in silence, simply admiring the spectacle in front of them. It was as if they had left the modern civilization of Ganymede and stepped back into a medieval setting. The ornate suits lining the impressive road caused the mechanic to gasp in awe, leaning out of the window so she could try to get a better look. The old man grabbed the steering wheel as she leaned fully out of the window, squeaking in delight by each new weapon and suit.

Good to see you’re the same excitable child from all those years ago; is a couple of old GINNs enough to make you giddy? Your child is going to get jealous, you know.

These Suits don’t hold a candle to my kiddo, but it’s not fair to compare the two! I haven’t seen such old GINNs still in a running state, not like this! I’d love the opportunity to chat with their mechanic, and maybe work on one or a few!

I doubt their budget or patience could put up with you adding ‘new children’ to your family. We barely managed to keep out of the red with the GM Sniper.” Marcus relinquished the wheel as Rachel slipped back into the window. She playfully punched his shoulder, as the old man crushed out his cigarette.

At the end of the road, was a GINN not arrayed like the others. It was flashing a military salute with its sword, as an old man directed it from the feet. They noticed the incoming vehicle, and the old man motioned for them to drive over. Rachel guided the truck closer, before bringing it to a stop. The two kicked open the old doors, exiting with far less grace than the well-dressed man descending from the Ginn’s cockpit. Based on the dossier he had been given by their employer, the two men in front of them were members of the AWC. It wasn’t their fancy attires, but the blades they wore that identified them.

The name is Marcus, Marcus Straits. This woman is my partner, Rachel Middens. We’re the new Vulture team your boss hired.” He extended one hand towards the older man, nodding towards the younger one. Mimicking Marcus, the young mechanic strode forward, extending her hand towards the younger man.

Name’s Rachel! I’d love to see more of your Mobile Suits, if you can spare the time!