The Southeast Asian jungle seemed almost oppressively still, the heat clinging to every inch of skin and metal. Tanya von Zehrtfeld's boots crunched over debris-strewn paths as her unit retreated, their MS damaged, armor scorched, and weapons battered from the recent engagement. Smoke drifted from scorched earth in the distance, twisting like ghostly fingers into the sky. Every footstep felt heavy with fatigue, yet Tanya's eyes burned with the same cold determination that had carried her through countless battles.
Beside her, Mila adjusted her Dom's shoulder plate, grimacing as hydraulic systems groaned. Richter's Zaku II had scratches and scorched armor plates, a testament to how close the fight had been. Tanya could sense the unease in her pilots — she herself felt it, though she refused to let it show.
Her thoughts, however, drifted unwillingly to the battle that had devastated their position: the arrival of a Gundam unlike any she had ever faced. A sudden flash of memory made her freeze mid-step. Smoke and fire, the deafening roar of energy cannons, and the sheer impossible speed of the Strike Gundam that had torn through the Apsalus Project's defenses. Tanya's breath hitched, her gloved hands tightening on the controls of her flight-type Gouf, though it wasn't in motion now.
"I can't believe that thing…" she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible to those around her. Mila glanced at her, eyebrows raised. "Commander?"
Tanya shook her head, trying to dispel the image. "Nothing… just—remembering. Keep moving. We need to reach Odessa before nightfall."
Richter's voice was hesitant but steady. "It's… hard to forget, sir. That Gundam—our defenses didn't even scratch it."
The flashback engulfed her fully, unbidden. She saw the Apsalus, towering and monstrous, its weapon systems firing indiscriminately. The ground trembled as the massive energy cannon discharged, obliterating two entire GM squads in an instant. The Federation formation had faltered, the White Base crew struggling to maintain cohesion.
Then it appeared: the Gundam. Sleek, impossibly fast, and equipped with armor that seemed to shimmer in defiance of her weapons. Tanya could still feel the shock — conventional rounds, missiles, even direct Zaku fire glanced harmlessly off its hull. Beam attacks would have worked… if not for its uncanny evasion. The pilot moved with preternatural precision, striking with devastating efficiency.
"Impossible… it moved before we even fired," Mila had said during the battle, her voice tense over the comms. Tanya had gritted her teeth, commanding her pilots to fall back and focus on damage control, but the Strike Gundam relentlessly advanced, methodically tearing through the Apsalus' defenses.
The memory stung as vividly as if it were happening now. Ginias Sahalin, desperate, had attempted to control the Apsalus manually, his face twisted in panic and determination. Tanya had yelled at him to hold position, but the massive mobile armor was already compromised.
A thunderous flash, and then Ginias was gone. The energy blast had struck, disintegrating his position in an instant. Tanya remembered the surge of anger and disbelief that had gripped her, the nausea at seeing a brilliant mind snuffed out so carelessly by an enemy whose skill was beyond comprehension.
Zhou Wei and Richter had barely escaped the Apsalus' destructive field. Mila had managed to coordinate a withdrawal, salvaging what she could, but the memory of the scorched battlefield burned in Tanya's mind. She could still hear the screams of the remaining Zaku II pilots as the friendly fire from the Apsalus' blast tore through them.
And the Gundam had not slowed. It had pursued White Base itself, ignoring the smaller defensive units, striking with surgical precision. Tanya remembered cursing under her breath, gripping her controls so tightly that her knuckles ached, as she prepared to intercept the Gundam herself.
Now, standing amidst the battered remains of her own line, Tanya could feel the residual adrenaline from that encounter. "They weren't just fast… they were calculating every move, predicting every counter," she said quietly, speaking more to herself than anyone else.
Mila's voice cut in softly. "Commander, we survived. That's what matters. We need to focus on the retreat and regrouping."
Tanya's eyes narrowed. "Survived, yes… but at what cost? The Apsalus is gone, Ginias is dead, and our line is shattered. We can't let the Federation learn from this. We need to regroup at Odessa and plan our next move carefully."
Ahead, Ramba Ral's unit maneuvered with precision, providing rear coverage while Norris Packard flanked the retreating line. Tanya noted the efficiency and discipline, though every step back reminded her of what had been lost.
Aina approached, her flight-type support unit skimming the ground. "Commander, we've confirmed most of the survivors are holding formation. We're clear to proceed, but the Federation's scouts are still active."
Tanya nodded sharply. "Good. Maintain communication with Ramba Ral and Norris. Every piece of information is vital. Did you recover any critical data?"
"Yes," Aina replied, handing over a storage unit. "The Apsalus Project files. Everything we could salvage. Dozle will want to see this immediately."
Tanya's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then that's our priority. Odessa first. Regroup and report. Leave nothing to chance."
Norris, still seething from the recent encounters, grumbled. "I'd like another crack at that Strike Gundam… but I'll follow orders for now."
Tanya cast him a pointed look. "Orders are for survival. Ginias' fate is a reminder — recklessness gets people killed. Remember that, Packard."
Ramba Ral, calm and collected as always, offered a rare smirk. "The boy has spirit. But even spirit won't make a difference against that kind of opponent. Focus on what we can control."
The march continued, thick mud and debris slowing their progress. Tanya's mind remained on the Strike Gundam — the pilot's speed, evasion, and precision haunted her even now. "How could one pilot move like that… and survive such engagement?" she muttered.
Aina's voice was steady, almost soothing. "Commander, we may not know, but we survived. That counts for something."
Tanya exhaled sharply, brushing away the sting of lingering frustration. "Survival isn't enough. I need to know who or what we're dealing with. Lelouch must be informed… if anyone can counter this, it's him and his brother."
Norris, still nursing minor damage to his suit, muttered, "You think they'll have a plan for something like that?"
Tanya's gaze hardened. "They will. And if they don't… we'll adapt. But we won't repeat the mistakes that cost Ginias his life."
Mila offered a reassuring glance. "We've done all we can for now, Commander. Odessa is close — just keep the unit intact."
Tanya's thoughts drifted briefly to Being X, the silent observer in all these battles. She clenched her fists. "I know you're watching… this is your doing. But I won't let it stop me. I'll make sure Lelouch knows. And I'll find a way to counter whatever else you throw at us."
Ramba Ral, leading the vanguard, kept his voice low but firm. "The enemy expects us to scatter and falter. We'll give them nothing. Maintain formation, follow Tanya's lead, and every life here has a chance."
The unit moved as one, battered but not broken, each member aware of the cost and yet determined to survive. Tanya's mind remained partially in the past, replaying the devastation wrought by the Strike Gundam. Every movement she ordered, every glance over her shoulder, was measured against the memory of that impossible machine.
Aina, sensing the commander's tension, spoke gently. "Commander, Odessa is our priority. Worrying over the past won't change it. Focus on what's in front of you."
Tanya nodded slowly. "You're right. Odessa first. Then we plan… and then we strike back. But I'll not forget the lessons of this battle. That Gundam… it has set the standard for everything we must be prepared for."
Norris, grudgingly following the retreat path, muttered to no one in particular, "I'll be damned if I don't get another shot… someday."
Tanya didn't answer, her eyes fixed ahead. Odessa was far, but every step brought them closer to survival, to regrouping, and to the chance to turn the tide against forces that had shown them just how formidable a single Gundam could be.
The shadows lengthened across the jungle floor as the unit continued its slow retreat. Tanya allowed herself a moment to glance at the remaining soldiers, injured but alive. Every battered suit, every scarred pilot reminded her of the battle they had survived — and the battle yet to come.
She tightened her grip on the controls, her mind already working through contingency plans. "We'll make it," she whispered. "We have to."
In the distance, the smoke of the destroyed Apsalus still rose like a grim monument. Tanya's mind lingered on the massive energy discharge, the impossible speed of the Gundam, and the fatal precision that had claimed Ginias. She vowed silently that she would find a way to counter such power, and that she would inform Lelouch, trusting that together they might finally gain the upper hand.
The wind carried the faint scent of charred metal and burnt earth. Tanya inhaled deeply, letting it fuel her determination. She would not falter. She could not.
The retreat continued into the growing dusk, a battered line of survivors moving toward Odessa, carrying with them the memory of the Apsalus, the devastation of the Strike Gundam, and the unwavering resolve of Tanya von Zehrtfeld.
Being X watched silently from beyond sight, sensing her fury and resolve. He frowned, frustrated that she placed blame on him when all she knew was the outcome, not the cause. Yet even from afar, he could not quell the fire in her — the same fire that would push her, and Zeon, into whatever future she chose to fight for.
Tanya's eyes narrowed. "This isn't over," she whispered. "No matter what, I'll be ready next time."
Mila placed a hand on her commander's shoulder, a quiet gesture of support. "We'll be ready, Commander. Together."
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the jungle. Tanya led her survivors forward, each step a promise of vengeance, survival, and a reckoning yet to come.
Odessa awaited, and with it, the chance to regroup, rebuild, and face the Federation once more. But the memory of the Strike Gundam, and the loss of Ginias, would remain etched into every plan, every maneuver, every strategy from that day forward.
The battlefield was silent now, save for the rustle of the retreating troops and the faint hum of damaged MS. Tanya allowed herself a brief moment to reflect, knowing that survival was just the beginning — and that the war was far from over.
She would tell Lelouch everything. And together, they would prepare for the next impossible challenge.