The jungle was quiet now, though the air still hummed with tension. Smoke drifted lazily from scorched treetops, and the ground, churned by mobile suits and missile fire, smelled sharply of burnt metal and ozone. Tanya stood at the perimeter, Zaku's mono-eye scanning the dark horizon where shadows of fallen GM Variants lay scattered like broken toys.
Mila hovered nearby, visor reflecting the glow of emergency floodlights. "They've pulled back," she reported. "The Federation's retreat is complete. No sign of further movement from their forces."
Tanya's jaw tightened. "For now." She adjusted her Zaku's controls and peered deeper into the trees. "That pilot… he wasn't just skilled. He was precise. Calm. Deliberate. He fought like someone who knows exactly what he has to do."
Richter grunted as he approached, his armor scarred and dented. "Lucky for us they left. If we'd been caught off-guard for another minute, more of us wouldn't be standing."
Mila's hand tightened over her Zaku control stick. "One isn't. One of the GED units… it's gone."
Tanya's eyes flickered to the empty space in the squad formation. Her voice, sharp and cold, cut through the thick night air. "Then we take note. We survive, and we learn. Nothing more, nothing less."
From the smoke and debris, a small figure approached. Her movements were measured, almost regal. She wore the uniform of Zeon research staff, but there was a weight to her presence that commanded attention. Tanya recognized her immediately from Dozle's briefings.
Aina Sahalin stopped a few meters from the Zaku line. Her gaze swept over the ruined battlefield, then landed on Tanya. "You held the line," she said softly, voice steady but carrying a hint of sorrow. "You and your unit… you prevented disaster."
Tanya's response was calm, almost imperious. "I don't accept thanks. Lives were lost. Orders were executed. That is my duty."
Richter stepped forward, helmet under arm. "Commander, she's… Ginias' sister, isn't she?"
"Yes," Mila said quietly. "Aina. She's involved with the Apsalus Project. Don't make assumptions about her role here."
Aina nodded at Richter, then her eyes drifted toward the scorched Zaku of the fallen pilot. Her fingers brushed the cracked armor, as if trying to read the story of the man who had fought so hard and vanished. "Every loss weighs on us," she murmured, voice more to herself than anyone else.
Tanya glanced at her, expression unchanged. "We don't mourn here. We adapt. That's the only way we survive."
The engineers had begun repairs on the Apsalus hangar doors, welding panels and checking the massive hull for fractures. Tanya walked the line of machines, stopping to inspect each GED unit. Richter's Zaku had suffered multiple beam saber scars, but the mechanics assured her it was still combat-ready.
Mila approached with a data pad, reading off repairs needed for the other suits. "Two units are critical. We need new servos and armor plating. The rest can continue under caution."
Tanya's gaze swept back toward the jungle, thinking of the Federation ace she had faced. His voice lingered in her mind: "This is the only way I can get back…" She clenched her fists inside her cockpit. Another displaced soul, perhaps. Someone who understood what it was like to fight not just for orders but for survival.
"I want perimeter rotations doubled," Tanya said finally, breaking the silence. "Night drills, sensor sweeps, everything. No surprises next time. Mila, coordinate with Aina for supply and support. Richter, lead patrol Beta."
"Yes, Commander," they responded in unison, crisp and efficient.
Aina's voice cut in, steady but earnest. "Commander von Zehrtfeld, the Apsalus needs inspection. Minimal risk, of course. But it may need recalibration after the raid."
Tanya nodded, though she didn't speak the thought she carried: Nothing in this project is minimal risk. She followed Aina toward the hangar, noting the efficiency of the support crew. Sparks flew as mechanics adjusted targeting arrays and armored plates, engineers whispering to each other over the constant hum of machines.
Once inside the hangar, Tanya allowed herself a moment to breathe. The Apsalus, despite the recent attack, remained largely intact. Its massive form loomed above them, the symbol of both Zeon's ingenuity and the reason they had fought so hard tonight.
Aina stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Your squad did well. Despite the losses, you kept them from reaching the heart of the project. Ginias will be relieved to hear it."
Tanya's lips pressed into a thin line. "Relief won't honor the dead. It won't make the next encounter any easier. We survive. That is all."
Richter's voice, low but edged with concern, broke the tension. "Commander… are you all right? You've been pushing hard since the raid."
Tanya's eyes flickered toward him, masking the swirl of emotion inside. "I'm fine. The GED squad survived. That's what matters. We'll make the next pilot regret stepping onto this field."
Mila added, "We should send a full report to Dozle HQ. Reinforcements, medical units, and additional supplies—everything they promised needs confirming."
Tanya gave a sharp nod. "Do it. Aina, ensure Ginias understands the state of the hangar and our readiness. Every detail counts."
Aina inclined her head, pulling up a data pad and beginning to review post-raid diagnostics with meticulous care. Tanya watched her, assessing the project leader's sister as she had assessed so many pilots before: calm, precise, and capable.
The night stretched on as crews worked tirelessly. Tanya oversaw patrol rotations, ordered additional sensor sweeps, and mentally cataloged the Federation ace's tactics. That line from him haunted her: "This is the only way I can get back…" It was a thought she couldn't dismiss.
As dawn crept over the horizon, the jungle was eerily silent again. The base had endured, the Apsalus remained, and Tanya's GED squad, bruised but unbroken, prepared for the next inevitable assault.
Inside her Zaku, Tanya allowed herself a single, fleeting thought. If he's out there, I will find him next time. And then I'll know… who else is like me in this world.
Aina, standing nearby, glanced at Tanya, sensing the fierce determination in her gaze. "I have a feeling you'll handle that," she said softly.
Tanya's eyes did not waver. "I always do."
Outside, the jungle continued its timeless hum, bearing witness to survival, loss, and the cold efficiency of soldiers bound by duty. The Apsalus hungar stood sealed, a monument to the cost of war, and the whispers of the night carried the promise of battles yet to come.
The briefing room was dim, lit only by tactical displays and a few overhead lamps. Tanya sat across from Ginias Sahalin, both of them quietly reviewing reports from the base. Outside, the dense jungle pressed close, a reminder that the world beyond these walls could not be trusted.
Ginias' voice was calm, measured. "Commander von Zehrtfeld, your handling of the raid was exemplary. The GED squad held their ground, and the Apsalus hangar remains intact. Your report confirms the base sustained only minor damage."
Tanya's gaze was unwavering as she pointed to the readouts. "Two units were lost, three more heavily damaged. Casualties like these cannot be ignored. If the Federation decides to return with similar force, our current strength may not suffice."
She tapped the map overlay showing the Federation's retreat paths. "Their ace pilot moved with unusual precision, far beyond typical GM performance. He nearly penetrated our defenses. If another like him appears, Zaku II units alone may not hold the line."
Ginias' brow furrowed slightly. "You intend to request reinforcements?"
Tanya's voice was sharp, disciplined. "Not only reinforcements, but also deployment of advanced mobile suits. Gouf and Dom models would provide the versatility and firepower necessary to counter both guerrilla MS units and elite Federation pilots. Their presence could prevent another near-breach."
Ginias nodded thoughtfully. "I will pass this to Dozle. He values your assessment, and I trust he will authorize additional units for this region."
Tanya leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "We also require medics and supply resupply immediately. The GED squad must be fully operational, and wounded personnel stabilized. Every second counts in maintaining readiness."
The room fell quiet as both commanders absorbed the weight of the mission. Ginias' voice broke the silence, softer this time. "The Apsalus Project's success depends on leaders like you, Tanya. The Federation cannot anticipate everything you've prepared."
Tanya allowed a brief nod, her composure firm. "Then we ensure it remains that way. The base holds. The Apsalus remains intact. And our control of Southeast Asia stays unchallenged."