MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN –PHOENIX HUNTING–
機動戦士ガンダムUC 不死鳥狩り

Jonah is thinking back to a particular day when both he and Rita were on the beach overlooking the ocean before their adoption. It was the usual scene but the birds that flock there were overly noisy and their sounds indicated something was off. Rita asks Jonah if he thinks there really is something like heaven, to which he says there isn’t. Rita asks him why and he says he doesn’t believe in it.

She asks him what happens if they die. He says he doesn’t know and that it’s probably like going to sleep, only you don’t wake up, like switching off a machine. Rita ponders that unlike a machine, humans have dreams. Jonah counters that it’s just how the brain works and that once that is gone, there will be no dreams.

The two were around 13 years old at the time of the conversation. Priests came to the facility they were at to spread the word of Christ. He considered it to be a rather funny story when he thought about it. The Earth Federation eliminated the walls of nations, ethnic groups and religion but people like them still remained.

When they asked their teacher why, they were told that it was to guarantee the diversity of culture. A “relic of mankind” like small ethnic groups protected in the old century on small islands in Africa and the Pacific. The priest was a corpse of what was lost long ago.

Part of the reason why he doesn’t believe is because he witnessed the “sky falling” at the age of 8 when the Zeon’s dropped a colony. It was then he realized there was no God in the world. Both good and bad people were killed without distinction. If there really is a god that said the One Year War was his will, then they’re one hell of a homicidal maniac. But being told that it was God who saved them because there are things left to be done in the world and to take what happened as a trial to become stronger was something he couldn’t help but think of as a joke. He lost his three year old sister, father, mother and his grandparents. Rita’s family suffered as well.

Rita is a bit steadfast in her beliefs over there being another side. She even says that there’s records of people peering back from beyond into their world. She wonders if it’s not unlike what a Newtype would be.

The two discuss Newtypes and what they really are, even going so far as to mention “that man” (aka Amuro knowing how to read the enemy and what not). Jonah puts a stop to their discussion lest they earn the ire of their new father… a man in his 40s dressed in a Titans uniform accompanied by his wife in her mid-30s.

Rita asks Jonah whether he is going to hate it if he goes. He goes to answer but she then asks him if he says he doesn’t want to, what would he do? He turns his head down and tells her that he can’t not do anything and that he can’t afford to stay at the facility all the time.

Picking herself up off the ground and brushing the sand off her, Rita walks towards the sea. She says that she isn’t sure about heaven but she absolutely believes in having a soul. She says that now is not everything and that even from that point forward she would be reborn many times. The next time she is reborn she wants to be a bird and asks Jonah what he wants to be…

As he goes to answer, Rita runs off and jumps into the flock of birds, spreading her arms out just like them. For a moment it looked like she was taken away by a myriad of birds. The foster parents standing by the levee seemed frightened. He wanted to answer her question, and it may have been his second chance, but he didn’t. He kept his mouth closed.

He really wanted to say it. He wanted to tell her. If she wanted to be a bird, then he would be–

Suddenly a voice pierced his thoughts and his eyes shot open. “I heard you.” it said. The phantom vision is destroyed and he’s snapped back to reality. “Rita?!” he cries out.

Jonah is inside the cockpit of an RGM-89S Stark Jegan. Warning beeps start sounding in the cockpit. A larger window opens automatically on the panoramic cockpit monitor. A humanoid figure is seen on the screen. Its back is equipped with two large binders and in the distance it looks like an angel spreading its wings. While the head was that of a Federation style, most of its face was covered with a mask-like armor so it didn’t give off the styling of a GM or Jegan. And while the blade antenna protruding upward from its forehead reminded you of a unicorn, the suits color was the most extraordinary thing.

Except for the joints, heel and other parts, the humanoid form is almost golden. It’s a refined golden color that reflects the stars in the universe like a mirror. With its glistening armor, the jet black of the universe is hidden and the suit is blended halfway into the void of space. It moves straight ahead. Blue light seeps out of its inner parts, the light resembling phosphorescent light like a tail feather.

“Phenex!”

For three days they had been searching for it. Even though they were certain it had seen them, it made no effort to change its course. Kicking in the Armed Armor DE on its back, it flew across the sky.

Attempts to snare it with weapons known as “sea serpents” fail. Sea serpents are weapons that resemble an anchor on a ship. A wire is attached to the back end of an arrowhead and it is possible to induce an electric shock of tangled with the target. Even when surrounding the unit their attempts proved futile.

A voice comes on the radio authorizing all units to open fire in order to stop it. It was their commander, Iago Haakana. He too piloted a Stark Jegan that was much like their own except his was equipped with a sniper rifle.

As their commander fires off shots at the runaway Phenex, the shots come up short. They ponder what the blue light is emanating from the suit as it’s not from the thrusters.

Just then a “target lost” alert cuts across their comms. Jonah sits in his cockpit certain that he heard Rita’s voice. As he ponders this, all traces of the Phenex disappear.

The scene moves to the briefing room on board the Clop-class cruiser “Damascus”. A recorded image that was shot six months prior is displayed on the screen. It was edited in chronological order, limiting the number of images shot by multiple camera balls on the ship. The Phenex, however, looked different than when they saw it before. Its horn was now split into a v-shape, it’s face mask was released and its twin eyes were revealed. But the blue light they saw before was emanating from inside.

The Phenex also had a transformation function. While the “Gundam” was always developed as a state-of-the-art weapon ever since the One Year War where the Zeon Forces referred to it as the “white devil”. However, the Phenex, a direct descendent, is considered by some as a devil for the Federation.

The Phenex, which rolled out as RX-0 Unit 3, was transported to conduct a mock battle training along with Unit 2. Vice Admiral Larson was on board the mothership “Shallot” along with the testing crew as the suit entered into the testing sector. A few minutes after the test started, however, an actual enemy craft entered the training sector and the Phenex started acting strange.

It is unknown as to why the Neo Zeon mobile suit wandered into the training sector. Originally, the limiter on the mobile suit had been controlled by the mother ship, but for some reason it was released. The suit transformed into “Destroy Mode”. Unit 2 followed suit. Both units pursued the Neo Zeon unit which later ended up with drawing.

Despite the Neo Zeon suit withdrawing, the Phenex began to assault Unit 2. Once the suits entered Destroy Mode, tracking them became impossible. While the golden suit left Unit 2 incapacitated following their battle, it didn’t end. The suit indiscriminately attacked the bridge of the “Shallot,” killing Vice Admiral Larson and crew.

Lieutenant Commander Iago sympathizes with the men after telling them that he understands that they’re tired of seeing the footage but that (the Phenex) is their target.

Over the last six months there has only been a few isolated sightings of the suit that surveillance sats just managed to pick up. It’s no joke that the suit has been flying about for the last six months, they figure there has to be a mothership or supply base somewhere that the Neo Zeon or other rebels are using. They suspect the runaway accident is a false flag operation.

They feel that the pilot originally met with the enemy and that the contact with the Neo Zeon suit during the mock battle, however inadvertent, made sense. Iago goes on to explain that the problem is their state of the art mobile suit was handed over to the hands of those who don’t understand it. Although it’s hopping all over a shoal zone with no damage occurring, it’s killing officers and crew and they need to capture or disable it promptly.

Everyone’s face in the room tightened as Iago mentioned their duty. He dives into the features of their target: the gold coloring has unexpectedly high stealth effects. It has an emulsion paint for beam-resistant coating. So long as they’re able to latch on with the sea serpents, they can attack and bring it down.

However, as one of the men in the room points out, the problem is whether the Stark Jegan can catch up to it. He also asks why Unit 2 can’t be utilized. The captain explains that he put in for a recommendation and Staff Headquarters answer was to dispatch a second task force like the first.

Others question whether it’s related to the Dakar incident that happened recently. They know that a Gundam-type mobile suit took part in the battle but it’s a case of mistaken identity on their part. The events of Dakar happened ten days prior and they were just transferred to the ship three days ago.

The chatter goes on an Industrial 7 is brought up and the incidents surrounding that. Limited attacks occurred following Industrial 7 but it was the major terrorist attack at Dakar that got things going. But, it still took six months for the task force involving the Phenex to be formed yet they were unrelated to the current situation. Nonetheless, it was comprised of some of the best pilots around.

The question of who the pilot is and the fact that it cannot be a normal human due to the difference in performance comes up. Whispers of it being a Cyber Newtype circulate and that Neo Zeon are still researching them. One of the team members is a bit baffled that it wasn’t just a runaway test pilot before another follows up with the fact that the test pilots life ended when the suit went berserk.

Delao, one of the pilots, asks how he knows the pilot is dead. He responds by saying he’s watched the footage countless times and despite the pilot wearing an anti-G suit, their lungs were crushed due to the movement of the Gundam.

Someone asks who was piloting it then and someone responds with the devil is operating it before a chorus of laughter breaks out.

Jonah had left the briefing room and was heading down the hallway to the mobile suit deck before he’s stopped by Commander Iago. His commander asks him what was wrong when they were out in the field and why he jumped out of the debris field so fast. Jonah writes it off as not being accustomed to the Stark Jegan just yet. His commander asks if he piloted a D type in his previous unit and chides him that it’s really no different than a GM III or a Jegan.

Jonah promises to master it and tries to get away before the conversation goes any further but is unable to. His commander says that his name wasn’t on the first list and that he was just added to it a week ago. Jonah says he wasn’t aware but the commander doesn’t buy it. A week after the incident at Dakar the alert level of the entire military was raised yet there was a sudden transfer, one that a direct request of General Staff Headquarters wouldn’t be calm about.

Jonah was unable to say anything as his commander continued. He says that he isn’t a member of the intelligence bureau and that he’s a spy who sticks out too much and he’s clearly hiding something about the mission.

Blocking his way he reads off some intel on him. “Jonah Bashta. Victim of a disaster in Australia during the war. Raised in an orphanage in North America. Adopted by foster parents at the age of 14 and entered military school at the age of 18. There’s nothing special about your marks, your rewards or punishments. So why did the very definition of an ordinary Federation officer get assigned to my unit with an official stamp from General Staff HQ?”

Jonah knew he had to say something but he turned to flee as Iago grabbed him by his elbow. He whispers something in his ear.

“I don’t like this mission. Everything about it is confidential and information on the target is almost entirely undisclosed. I don’t know whether the psycommu is a runaway or it’s a rebellion but there must be some kind of talk about it behind closed doors. The military is hiding something, and you know that don’t you?”

Jonah unconsciously clenched his fist. He was at war with himself in his own mind not to strike back but he didn’t receive that kind of training from the beginning and socks him. Iago is surprised that he’s assault a superior officer.

A flashback. Commodore Eskola Gedda’s office. The Commodore is brutally thrown against his desk. He lays on the floor, his face contorted in fear. It didn’t matter how loud he was, no one would hear him. His family was out and there was no help at the home. He tries to pull the phone off of his desk but fumbles.

“Go ahead, try it. But I’m gonna talk too. I’ll tell them you’re a former Titan’s executive.”

Frozen, with his hand holding the phone, Eskola turns towards him as if his face had seen a ghost. The Lieutenant JG had come to his house under false pretenses with a message from staff headquarters and instead uses his fists to uncover a past that should’ve been eliminated.

“I heard that all of the soldiers who joined the Titans were disposed of after the Gryps War. But yet there are still a few bastards left roaming freely at General Staff HQ.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“I don’t know what kind of connections you have but when the press asks, I won’t keep quiet. Especially with the newspapers and magazines that lean towards the Spacenoids. When they make some noise, the big shot members of the Diet that protect you will fall away and you’ll be eliminated…”

Jonah tried to take another step towards him but a picture on the desk got to him. It was a family photo. Eskola was clad in his uniform, smiling and holding his wife’s shoulder. Another photo was of his son an daughter, roughly college age.

Twelve years ago the Titans were formed to hunt down Zeon remnants. Their infamy was comparable to the Nazis in the old century. Most of the higher ups died in battle but those who survived were imprisoned and sentenced to death by a military tribunal. Eskola falsified his past and settled into his position at Staff Headquarters and calmly took photos with his family.

“A lot of people have grudges against the Titans. It’s easy to cover it up, making it look like the work of hoodlums. This doesn’t have to end with you, there’s your family too–“

“What’s the basis for what you’re talking about? Where’s your proof that I took part in the Titans?”

“You don’t remember me?”

Eskola furrowed his brows and his eyes gave off a new bewilderment.

“I supposed it’s hopeless… it’s been over ten years now. But, you should remember this name: Rita Bernal.”

He mouthed the name Rita and took his eyes off Jonah. They searched for that name in the recesses of his mind but came up empty.

“You really don’t remember?”

It was a feeling he couldn’t believe. He swore that he could come around as soon as he heard that name, but he really didn’t remember anything. He grabbed Eskola by the lapels.

“Twelve years ago at St. Fergus orphanage in New Florida! It’s the name of the girl you took in as your adoptive daughter. You used a pseudonym but I recognize your face! That woman acting as your wife… was she a member of the Titans too? Were you working together on that beach?!”

The man who once stood above the levee, the man who became the gray haired man was quiet as he looked back at Jonah, remembering somewhat but slightly unfamiliar.

Jonah didn’t know why he came. He was hit by a feeling of guilt as he let go of his collar.

“How could you… How many people? How many people did you do the same damn thing to?”

He desperately wanted to beat it out of him again.

“Answer me! How many orphans have you sold to the Newtype Labs?!”

At that moment, Eskola let out his breath. A look of astonishment mixed with fear emerged on his face. Would he finally talk? Jonah no longer had the strength to yell at him and looked away from the man. There was a risk of him fighting back at that moment but it was clear that Eskola couldn’t risk it, not with the pale complexion on his face.

The phrase “Newtype Labs” carried a lot of weight. A race of humans adapted to outer space, a Newtype. A deep insight to understand others without misunderstanding, an ability to anticipate where the enemy would appear on the battlefield. During the war, if pilots with these supernatural abilities were seen, whether enemy or ally, the military deemed it necessary to study Newtypes as a weapon for them. Based on that theory, several Newtype Labs were established under the military after the war. The Principality of Zeon was dedicated to researching this in the middle of the war and had more experience, even developing the psycommu, a brainwave control system presumed to be used by Newtypes. The Federation Forces research introduced them to actual combat from the beginning. Instead of investigating the pros and cons of Newtypes, they steered their biological experiments to create a Newtype-like person.

If psycommu induction waves are understood to be related to the abilities of the frontal lobe, then surgical treatment to the brain would happen without hesitation. If the body cannot tolerate the rapid movements of machines, it is remodeled into a body that is able to even if it’s replaced with artificial organs. How many people were killed and how many people were crippled in biological experiments that ignored ethics and human rights until they were closed with the collapse of the Titans. Yet, the source of these experiments was…

Eskola was trembling, his mouth shaking as he tried to say something. Jonah grabbed him by the lapels again.

“Overmedicate them and mutilate their brains alive! Out of all those you treated like experimental animals, was a single Newtype produced?! And just what is a Cyber Newtype? You make children out to be invalid tweakers!”

“I-It’s a misunderstanding! Yes, I was doing work collecting subjects for the Newtype Labs, as ordered by the military. However, I didn’t know what the labs were doing at the time and the Titans had just taken over–“

“That doesn’t matter! You were the one that made Rita…!”

Jonah shoves him away and pulls out his pistol from his holster, pressing the muzzle into Eskola’s forehead. He wasn’t acting. At that moment, he forgot the purpose he came here for yet removed the safety on the pistol without hesitation.

Had Eskola not screamed out “Wait!” he may have actually pulled the trigger.

“You want to know what happened to her since? I can find out!” With a force to push back the muzzle on his forehead, Eskola’s eyes became bloodshot as his mouth moved. Jonah’s finger trembled slightly on the trigger.

“The Newtype Labs were shut down, publically at least. Few facilities remain to care for Cyber Newtypes that were produced at the time. Her records are likely there too. It’s easy if you know her real name. With my authority we can quickly…”

Jonah let out a fit of laughter, so much that he takes the muzzle off of Eskola’s forehead. “You really don’t get it, do you?” Jonah says between laughs as Eskola continues to tremble with his mouth half open, his eyes unaware.

“You really don’t remember anything… But surely you heard about it. The Shallot incident where 27 people under Vice Admiral Larson were sacrificed. It was supposed to be an accident that occurred during training but in reality it was caused by a runaway psycho machine.”

Eskola gasped, “There’s no way… that was…” he moaned in reply. He should’ve heard the name six months ago, but he paid it no mind.

“There were those among the crew of the Shallot who survived that just happened to grow up in the same facilities. A mechanics on the ship. I heard from him that the test unit was a psycho machine… and the pilot of the RX-0 Unit 3 was…”

The mechanic confirmed without a doubt that it was Rita. Jonah had followed her trail and learned that there were a number of war orphans who were sent to the Newtype Labs at the same time. There was nothing wrong on the facility side. From the family registry to the residence cards, individuals visited the facility after forging the necessary documents and searched for particular examination subjects. They went from facility to facility without arousing suspicion. Kids in the facility were subjected to ESP tests and the ones who were the most accomplished were picked up…

“You should have received a report. You might not remember it, but that enough is ample evidence you brought them to the Newtype Labs. Just like parts moving on a conveyor belt, that’s the only reason Rita existed for you.”

Despite this, Eskola was just one man obeying orders. Ir was an organized kidnapping with teams of people moving at the same time.

“I didn’t know…” Eskola muttered.

Eskola was a man who silently performed his job with the sole intention of providing for his family. He didn’t know, and if he did what could he do? Even if he knew, he had no choice but to do it. That’s why it is painful and quite sad.

“So let’s make a deal. They’re going to be organizing a search team for the missing Unit 3, aren’t they? I’d like for you to add me on as a member.”

Eskola’s eyes grew wide.

“You should be able to make that happen. If so, they nothing of your past will come to light. I promise to never show myself before you again. That’s really not a bad deal, is it?”

Jonah waited for Eskola’s reply.

“That’s, well… You see, the lifesigns of the pilot of the Phenex ceased during the calamity of the berserker incident… There’s a possibility that the pilot of the suit that was seen in the debris cluster is the one you are looking for…”

“That is something that has nothing to do with you. So what’ll it be?”

Jonah stared hard at Eskola.

“I’m not sure I can wait much longer. So why not give me a reason to kill you sooner?”

Jonah pointed the muzzle of his gun at Eskola’s forehead again. He was surprisingly calm, even by his standards. Outside, the rain started to come down harder with thunder cracking in the distance and lightning flashing in the study. The rumbling of the wind drowned out Eskola’s voice as he began to spill everything…

Cutting back to reality, an alarm began to resound throughout the ship.

“All hands, level 1 combat alert. Sensors have picked up something. Mobile suit teams, prepare to launch. I repeat–“

There was one reason why the alarm would’ve sounded on the ship, one that struck terror in the voice of the bridge member making the announcement.

Iago tells Jonah that they’ll talk later. As they kick off the floor and head to the mobile suit deck, Jonah realizes that he’s been clenching something in his fist. Inside was a silver brooch of a seabird spreading its wings. He failed to give it to Rita twelve years ago so it has the same gloss on it now as it did back then.

To him, she’s still the same thirteen year old girl. A simple child who wanted nothing more than to become a bird. If it wasn’t the case, then what was that voice? If he gave it to her, would he be able to gain time that was lost? As he followed Iago, the alarm continued to blare and reminded him of the birds singing on the beach that day.

PART 1 END