A low hum vibrated through the hangar bay, a constant testament to the work underway. After weeks of travel, the remnants of the Zeon fleet had finally arrived at Axis, their new home. A week had passed since the brutal battle of A Baoa Qu, and the wounds were still fresh. Mobile suits, their ships nd and mobile suits scarred and dented, were being meticulously repaired. The injured were recovering, their bodies healing, but the psychological wounds ran deeper. Hope was a fragile thing, and it was quickly cracking.
In a makeshift command room, a tense meeting was taking place. A man, his face flushed with frustration, slammed a fist onto the metallic table. "We have to fight back!" he roared, the sound echoing in the confined space.
"No, we can't do anything yet," another person countered, their tone a stark contrast calm and measured. "We need to strengthen ourselves first. We have to recuperate before we even think about another offensive."
A heavy sigh filled the silence that followed. "What about our people still trapped down on Earth?" a third voice asked, laced with an agonizing plea. "Are we just going to leave them there?"
With that question, the fragile peace shattered. Officers and soldiers erupted into a heated debate, each side arguing for what they believed was the best course of action. They were fighting for the future of Zeon, but their passion was turning inward, splintering them from within.
"What fools!" a new voice cut through the chaos, commanding attention.
The room went silent. An officer, his face a mask of annoyance, turned to confront the interloper. "What? Who said that?" he demanded.
A young woman stepped out from the shadows, her eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "I did!" she declared, her posture radiating defiance. It was Vertin.
"You've got some nerve, soldier!" the officer spat.
"We're just bickering amongst ourselves," Vertin said, her voice rising with each word.
"That's exactly what the Federation wants us to do! Don't you see? They want us divided, but when we are together, when we are united, we are stronger!"
A low murmur started in the crowd, growing louder as Vertin's words resonated with them. Soon, the scattered murmurs became a unified roar.
"Sieg Zeon!" came the cry from multiple voices, their fists raised in solidarity.
"We need a strong leader to lead us," Vertin proclaimed, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "And I say that leader will be me!"
Her declaration angered the officers, who had long considered themselves the rightful authority.
"Who decided you would be the leader?" one of them challenged, his voice laced with indignation.
Vertin turned to face the officers, her expression hardening. It was a cold, terrifying gaze that promised no quarter.
"We need a strong leader, not leaders who fight amongst themselves," she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"And you... how do we know you're not just going to stay here at Axis while we grunts fight for our freedom? But me... I will fight side-by-side with my people. Together, we are stronger than the Federation. It doesn't matter if they have numbers or have the Gundam. It doesn't compare to us if we work together. We can beat the Federation to its knees. Now I ask you... will you follow me?"
A long silence hung in the air, the crowd's eyes fixed on Vertin. The tension was palpable, so thick it could be cut with a knife.
Then, a single, unwavering voice broke the silence.
"Sieg Zeon!" a woman named May yelled, raising her fist high above her head.
The silence shattered. "Sieg Zeon! Sieg Zeon! Sieg Zeon!" the crowd roared, the chant a thunderous echo of their renewed hope.
A man stepped forward, a wry grin on his face. "Haha! You are a leader I will follow!" he said, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.
"And you are?" Vertin asked.
"My name is Herbert von Kuspen. I'm a Colonel with the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit," he said, the grit and determination in his voice unmistakable.
"You have the soul of Zeon in you, so I will follow you, Commander." as he saluted
Vertin's gaze swept across the officers.
"Does anyone object?" she asked.
The silence was the only answer she needed.
"Very well," Vertin said, her voice now filled with the weight of authority. "All officers... let's have a chat."
The newly appointed officers of the Zeon remnants entered the makeshift office, a hush falling over them as Vertin took her seat at the head of the table.
"First, we must establish our foothold here," she began, her gaze sweeping over the group. "That means repairing our mobile suits, our ships, and all other equipment. While we're doing that, we need to establish contact with Side 3 and any other units that were scattered after the battle of A Baoa Qu."
She paused, leaning forward slightly. "Any suggestions?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.
One of the officers spoke up. "If I may, Commander, we should focus on recovering all our equipment, mobile suits, and personnel from Side 3. The home fleet is still there."
"That's a good point," Vertin said, nodding in agreement. "We should also get Zeonic and Zimmad over to Axis. We need to continue developing our technology if we're going to stand a chance. Any other suggestions?"
Silence filled the room. The officers had been caught off guard by her decisive and logical approach.
"Very well," Vertin said, rising from her chair. "We will continue this tomorrow. For now, focus on the tasks I have given you."
As the officers began to file out, Vertin stopped Herbert. "Wait, I almost forgot, Herbert von Kuspen. I want you to train the troops. I want them to be ready for anything."
"Yes, Commander!" he replied with a sharp salute, a grin spreading across his face.
Once the last officer had left, Vertin was alone with May.
She let out a long sigh and lay down next to her friend. "I also need to fix the command structure," she murmured, her eyes closing. "But for now, I should rest."
"You did just take over Axis, you know," May said, her voice filled with pride. "And that speech you gave... it was amazing!"
A faint blush touched Vertin's cheeks.
"Thank you," she said softly. "It was also because of your help convincing some of the people."
May smiled, gently nudging her. "Now rest. You've got a big day tomorrow."