He powered down non-essentials. No radar—gave away position. No comms unless encrypted burst. Just the hum of the reactor and the slow drip of hydraulic fluid from a bullet graze on the GM’s left thigh. He watched the Zaku.
Ensign Rolf Kessler, Federation MS Ground Team 08
Silence.
Rolf killed the engine. The cockpit opened with a hiss of stale air. He climbed down the emergency ladder—no time for the lift—and his boots hit the mud.
Rolf saw it through his GM’s primary camera—a flicker, then a dead glass orb. He didn’t cheer. He’d learned not to. A disabled Zaku wasn’t dead. It was a trap. Mobile Suit Gundam- MS Sensen 0079 -Normal Down...
“Copy. Pull back to Nav Point 7. Don’t engage anything.”
“He’s dead. For real this time.” Rolf’s hands were shaking. He flexed them inside the control gloves. “I’m Winchester. Zero rounds. Legs are yellow. Request immediate extract.” He powered down non-essentials
“Yeah. No kidding.”
The Zaku’s mono-eye died first.