The sky above Odessa burned like the gates of hell thrown open. Flashes of beam fire streaked across the horizon, cutting through clouds and smoke. The earth trembled beneath the Federation's assault, but now, above it all, the heavens themselves were at war.
Gary Lin's Strike Gundam dived through the crimson clouds, sensors screaming warnings. The Psychommu-type Gelgoog of General Griveous pursued like a vengeful spirit, its verniers blazing with emerald flame. Every strike from its beam saber sent shockwaves through the thin air.
Gary grit his teeth. "Man, and here I thought facing Char one day would be the craziest crossover. Nope—today's menu: one cyborg general with murder issues."
> [Advisory: Threat level classified as catastrophic. Recommend immediate retreat.]
"Yeah, and I recommend you stop nagging me while I'm busy not dying!" Gary shot back, flipping the Strike to dodge another slash.
The two mobile suits clashed midair, sparks trailing from their blades. The impact sent both spiraling apart, contrails twisting behind them like scars across the sky.
Griveous's voice cracked through the comm, mechanical and disdainful. "You joke even in combat. How predictably human."
Gary's mouth curled into a grin. "Hey, humor's a survival trait. Helps me forget I'm seconds away from becoming stardust."
He fired his beam rifle. A brilliant shot lanced through the haze, catching the Gelgoog across its side. Armor peeled away in a molten burst, but Griveous didn't falter. The Gelgoog spun like a predator, beam saber carving the air, and charged again.
Gary braced, blocking with his shield. The shock rattled his cockpit; pain lanced through his shoulder from the inertia feedback. "Okay, that's… new. Note to self: install better G-dampers next time."
> [Humor detected again.]
"Yeah, yeah, I'm hilarious," Gary muttered, swinging his saber upward. "Now shut up and calculate me a win!"
The Strike's blade flared blue, meeting the Gelgoog's red. The sky lit up like a miniature sun as both machines locked in a deadlock of strength and will.
Below, the Federation lines fought to hold the shattered plains of Odessa. Tanks rolled through craters, GMs exchanged beam fire with Zeon Zakus, and burning debris rained down like meteors. No one on the ground could tell which side the stars above belonged to anymore.
Gary exhaled sharply, his grin fading. "All jokes aside… if I screw this up, the whole front collapses."
> [Acknowledged.]
"Yeah," he whispered, "so let's not."
He shoved his controls forward, thrusting the Strike into another clash.
---
Far above, the quiet of orbit felt unreal after the roar of war. Zeon's reinforcement fleet floated like a silent armada waiting to descend. Red lights marked the launch bays, and the countdown to atmospheric drop ticked down with dreadful calm.
Char Aznable stood at the forefront, his crimson-painted Zudah reflecting the glow of the planet below. His tone was level as always. "Maintain spacing. Entry vectors confirmed. The Federation's command ships are our priority."
His subordinates responded in perfect unison. These were Zeon's elite — pilots who needed no further speeches.
Behind them, Jason Arkadi sat in the cockpit of his battered Zaku II, hands steady despite his unease. "Man, everyone's so calm it's creepy. Either I'm underqualified, or they're overconfident."
> [System: Probability—87% you are underqualified.]
Jason groaned. "Thanks, tin brain. Great confidence booster."
He checked his displays, systems green. "Alright, you bucket of bolts. Let's not burn up on the way down."
Char's crimson machine drifted forward. "Once we breach the atmosphere, separate by squadrons. Scatter their radar net, then regroup over Odessa's rear sector. Efficiency is our weapon."
Then, the comm crackled again. A second voice — colder, mechanical, absolute.
Griveous.
"Forget their radar. Drop directly on the Federation's rear. Cut off their command. The HQ must burn before the sun sets."
For a heartbeat, silence. The air in every cockpit seemed to still. Even Zeon's veterans hesitated.
Then Char chuckled softly. "A ruthless move, General. But perhaps effective." His tone was amused, almost approving. "Very well. Adjust course. Our target is the Federation command center."
Jason's eyes widened. "We're… dropping blind? That's suicide!"
> [System: Updated mission parameters. Probability of survival reduced to 22%.]
"Perfect! Love those odds!" Jason muttered.
Char's voice flowed calmly through the channel again. "All units, prepare for descent. Zeon's fate burns with us today."
Engines ignited. The fleet tilted toward the blue planet, and one by one, Zeon's ships began their fiery fall.
Jason swallowed as fire bloomed across his viewport. The Zaku rattled violently. "Alright, Jason. You wanted to see the stars? Congratulations — you're falling right through them."
> [Hull temperature rising—]
"Shut up! I can feel it!"
Char's Zudah sliced ahead, its crimson thrusters blazing. Around him, the Doms and Zaku IIs held formation like a single organism.
"Maintain vector. The ground awaits," Char said, voice smooth despite the chaos and little smile at his lips.
The flames of reentry painted their machines gold.
---
Back in the stratosphere, the Strike and the Gelgoog clashed again. Gary's breath came heavy, sweat dripping down his brow. The heat from the fight fogged the cockpit glass.
"System, give me an opening."
> [Analyzing enemy movement… pattern locked. Counter-strike in three seconds.]
"Perfect," Gary said, smirking. "Let's make this count."
He shifted his thrusters just as Griveous swung, sidestepping the incoming beam and driving his saber up. The Strike's blade sliced through the Gelgoog's knee joint, sparks bursting like fireworks.
Griveous hissed, metal grinding as he stabilized. "Impressive."
Gary grinned despite the shaking. "What can I say? Plot armor's a hell of a drug."
> [Correction: No such function detected.]
"You'd be amazed," Gary shot back, firing his vulcans to cover retreat.
He darted away just as Griveous's saber split the air where he'd been. "No you don't, robo-Sith. I'm not done with this series yet."
The two machines vanished into the storm, their trails lighting the sky like dueling comets.
---
Above them, the Zeon fleet finally broke through the clouds.
Char's Zudah led the descent, gleaming red against the grey. "Commence drop formation. Wings two and three — take the flanks. I'll spearhead."
"Understood!" replied his subordinates.
Jason's Zaku rattled as he followed. His sensors flared; atmospheric turbulence screamed across his hull. "Oh, great, we're going in hot."
> [Temperature 1,200 degrees and rising.]
"Fantastic. Always wanted to be a shooting star."
Char's voice cut through, steady and clear. "Remember, men — precision before passion. We strike the enemy heart, not its armor."
Jason looked at his radar, seeing dozens of friendly blips holding tight around him. "You guys really trust that mask guy this much?"
> [Char Aznable combat record: 92% mission success rate.]
Jason blinked. "Yeah, that explains it."
The clouds split open below them. They could see the battlefield now — Odessa, burning, choked in smoke. Explosions rippled like heartbeats across the plains.
Char raised his rifle. "For Zeon."
"FOR ZEON!" the fleet roared back, their voices uniting through static.
They plunged through the atmosphere like a rain of fire.
---
Jason could barely breathe. His entire cockpit shook like it might rip apart. The glow outside turned blinding white.
He glanced at his system's display — and froze.
> [Store Available: Newtype Potential — 10,000 points.]
He blinked. "You're… selling psychic powers now?"
> [Affirmative. Enhancement improves spatial awareness, perception, and reflex.]
Jason barked a laugh. "You're insane. But… what the hell."
He hit confirm.
A soft pulse rippled through him, like static across his skin. His eyes widened. The world around him slowed — or maybe his thoughts sped up. He could see the battlefield below, sense trajectories, movements, like invisible currents of energy.
> [Upgrade complete.]
Jason whispered, "So this is… Newtype sense."
His Zaku steadied, perfectly balanced despite the descent. Flames danced harmlessly across the armor as he leveled his controls.
"Alright," he said, smiling faintly. "Let's go be a hero."
> [Clarification: You are statistically unlikely to survive.]
Jason chuckled. "You really can't read the room, can you?"
The first Zeon reinforcements pierced through the clouds, their descent shaking the Federation lines below.
Gary looked up from his duel, sensors flaring. "Oh, come on. Backup? Now?"
> [Alert: Multiple Zeon signatures inbound.]
"Figures," Gary sighed. "Every boss fight needs a mid-battle reinforcement scene."
He re-armed the Strike's saber, eyes narrowing. "Alright, let's give them an encore."
Above, Char's red Zudah blazed across the sky like a second sun, leading his army into the fire.
And within the descent's storm, Jason Arkadi opened his eyes fully — his mind wide with new awareness — as Zeon's reinforcements howled down toward Odessa like the wrath of gods.
——————————
Sorry, i was sick yesterday so enjoy the two chapters today