Trent and Gerardo's Travels
Chapter 1: The Lake Victoria Battle
The Lake Victoria Base, in former Tanzania, is run by the famous Minotaur; Commander Montero, who managed to stop a small Solarist uprising in the south of France without fire a single shoot, and is situated at one of the many the borders between New Lunar Republic controlled Africa and Solar Empire controlled Africa. Though small in size the base has great strategic value as it controls the fresh water supply for most of Africa.
“You can talk a break now if you want.” A Gryphon soldier said getting the attention of a Human one. “I hear they're serving chilli in the cantina if you’re hungry.”
“Huh? Oh thanks.” He said turning to face him.
“Hey, are you alright?” The Gryphon asked a little worried.
“Y-yeah, just a little nervous is all. We got a report in this morning that some Solarists troops have started to mobilize in our direction.” The Human soldier said.
“Don’t worry this is a small base. There is little to no chance they’ll come out here. Cigarette?” The Gryphon soldier said offering him one and taking one for himself.
“Thanks,” The Human said taking the cigarette, sitting down and lighting it. “And I know that but I can’t help but fear for my family. They live in the next town over; I transferred here last month so I could be closer to them.” He explained as the Gryphon sat next to him and he took a photo out of his pocket and showed it to him. “This is my wife; Zuri,” He said pointing to a Zebra standing next to him in the photo. “We met at a cafe in Captown when I was studying abroad; we sat and talked for a while and real hit it off. We started dating and eventually got married and had a couple of kids. Our eldest; Yejide,” Pointing to a Zebra filly standing in front of him. “And our son; Ryan.” He said pointing to a human boy on Zuri’s back.
“Nice family.” The Gryphon said looking at the picture.
“Ya, they are." The Human solider said putting it away.
"I hope to have a family like that someday." The Gryphon solider said with a sigh.
"I’m Trent Clark by the way.” Trent said extending his hand.
“Gerardo Lanzo.” He said shaking Trent’s hand.
“Anyway,” Trent said standing up and putting out the butt of his cigarette. “I’m going to get some lunch. It was nice talking to you.”
“Same.” Gerardo said also standing up to take his post.
(Music Starts)
“This is Bomber 1 to base. We are nearing the drop zone, over.” The pilot of a stealth bomber said as it flew in formation with 3 other bombers.
“Roger that Bomber 1. F-16 and ground troops will move in once you make the drop.” The Base commander said to the pilot.
“Roger that, commencing radio silence.” The pilot said as he shut off the radio and sped up.
(Music Ends)
The sounds of something moving through the air started fill air around the base, as Trent came back from lunch.
“What the hell is that? WAH!” Trent screams as a bomb hit a fuel tank and exploded a few feet from him sending him flying and knocking him out.
(Music Starts)
“What hell was that?” The Base commander, Commander Montero, asked angrily as the room shook.
“Sir, we’re under attack!” A random Solider replied.
“Blast!” He shouted slamming his fist on a nearby desk cracking it. “You, get a message out to the other bases.” He said pointing to the, communications officer. “You there, round up as many troops we can spare and help evacuate the nearby towns.” He said to a Zebra soldier. “Everyone else, get to your battle stations. Defend the base at all costs.”
“Yes Sir!” Everyone in the room shouted before doing as instructed, as another bomb went off.
“Get up man. Come on get up.” Gerardo said shacking Trent’s shoulder in an attempt to get him to walk up. “Come on, you can’t die here, you have wife and kids, you have to stay alive for them.”
“Freeze!” A Human Solider in a gold and red Uniform said pointing a gun at him.
“Oh Hell No!” He said before shooting the Solarist solider in the head with his Beretta M9.
“Hugh, what happened, what’s going on?” Trent asked holding his head and sitting up.
“Good you’re alright. Come on we’re under attack!” The Gryphon explained.
“What!” He said standing up only to stumble.
“Hey easy now, you've sprained your ankle in that explosion” Gerardo said helping to support him.
“Look out!” Trent said firing his M16 that was strapped to his side and hitting a Solarist coming at them.
“Come, we got to get out of here.” He said as they began to walk through the battle field as another bomb went off a few feet from where they were standing.
“*Cough* Damn these Solarists bastards.” The Human solider said as smoke from the many fires filled the battle field. “Can’t you fly?”
“Wish I could. But My left wing got dislocated in the first explosion.” The Gryphon explained wincing as he tried to move it.
“GET DOWN!” Trent shouted well pulling Gerardo down as an F-16 tried to shout them from the air. “Just as well,” He said when the fighter jet passed. “With those F-16 it would be nearly imposable to take off.”
“If we could take them out, we might just be able to get out of here and help others.” Gerardo said shouting a couple of nearby enemy soldiers. “But how?”
“Their!” He said pointing to an anti-aircraft missile launcher that had managed to survive.
“Good eye.” The Gryphon said as they made their way over. “Damn it, it needs a clearance code.” He said turning it on and looking at the screen.
“Use mine; Clark Trent 261.” Trent said laying agents the side of the missile launcher as Gerardo punched it in.
“Got it! Locking on to enemy aircraft and…” Gerardo said typing in the commands. “Fire!”
Five anti-aircraft missiles shot out and flew after their individual targets and shouting all of the F-16s down except for one that was managing to avoid the missile.
“Yes!” The Human shouted watching the plains fall out of the sky.
The remaining F-16 fired a rocket at the anti-aircraft missile launcher before being blown up.
“Uh-oh, we got go.” The Gryphon said throwing Trent onto his back and ran away right before the rocket hit the missile launcher blowing it up.
“Sir!” The Communications officer called.
“What is it?" Commander Montero asked as the base shock again.
“Sir, I’ve gotten through to the other base in the area. They say they can’t provide help but they’ve sent a message to the princess and can help evacuate civilians and provide cover for our escape.” The Officer said.
“We will not-“ The Minotaur started but was interrupted when a huge explosion cased most of the lights and some electronics to die. “Give the evacuation order, the base is lost.”
(End Music)
Most of the base went up in flames as the remaining Lunar Solders evacuated to the southwest, except for two; one human solider and one Gryphon solider, who fled to the northeast.
“Where *Cough* where are we going? We have to meet up with the others.” Trent asked when he noticed they weren’t going the same way as the others.
“Don’t worry; we’ll regroup with them latter. Right now we have to get as far away from the base as we can. Trust me I know what I’m doing.” Gerardo said as he walked into the forest still carrying Trent on his back.
Author's Note
Here we are the first chapter of the second book in The Years Of After Unity Series. It's an extended version of the third chapter of the first fic.
Trent and Gerardo's Travels
Lieutenant General Soris Septem is one of the highest ranking officers in the Imperial Military and Princess Celestia’s second in command. Known for her ruthlessness and low tolerance for failure on the battle field she is the head of the Solar Empire’s African and Middle Eastern Forces.
“What have you fond?” Lieutenant General Soris Septem asked as she moved through some of the ruble from their earlier attack.
“Well,” A dark red earth pony with a bullet Cutie Mark began, shifting through some papers. “It doesn't look like a whole lot survived the fires and what little did is highly eligible.” He said handing her the papers.
“These are obviously written in code you idiot.” She said throwing the papers back at him. “Send them back to base to have them analyzed. What else?”
“Well, despite being banged up, the computers seem to still be in working order.” A human solder said clearing some debris off of one.
“Good, start them up and hack in. If those plans are anywhere they’ll be here.” Septem said looking around. “Everyone else get to work. Celestia wants this place refortified and ready for use yesterday.”
“YES MAM!” Everyone in the room said before caring out their orders.
“General Septem? We have a problem.” The human soldier at the computer said.
“What is it?” she asked walking over to him.
“I hacked into the base’s database and there appears to be no trace of the plans anywhere.”
“What! They have to be here!” The Lieutenant General said angrily.
“Well there’s no trace of them. It seems they were whipped from the database prior to the battle.” He said.
“General Septem?” A voice on a radio asked.
“What is it?” She asked pulling it out and answering it.
“We have reports that though most of the enemy troops fled to the south east, two enemy soldiers where spotted fleeing to the North during the attack.” The voice on the other side explained.
“To the North?” Soris asked.
“Yes mam.”
“They must have entrusted the plans to them.” She said to herself. “Send a team after them and bring them back for questioning.” She said into the radio.
“We’ll make camp here.” Gerardo said stopping by a river and helping Trent off his back before making sure the flashdrive he was caring was alright.
“That’s good.” Trent said yawning. “But we should really do something with that wing of yours and my ankle.”
“Your right. We’d both be useless if we’re attacked.” The Gryphon said looking at his busted wing. “Let’s start with your ankle it will be easier.” He said ripping off a piece of his uniform to use as bandage and breaking a stick in half to use as a brace.
“Alright.” The human said pulling up his pant leg.
Using the makeshift bandage they supported Trent’s sprained ankle giving him a long stick to use as a crutch. They then moved on to fixing Gerardo’s wing.
“Ok, bite down on this and hold sill.” Trent said putting a small stick in the Gryphon’s mouth. “Ready?”
“Ready.” The Gryphon said biting down on the stick.
There was a sickly popping sound as Gerardo’s wing popped back into place.
“Ah,” Gerardo winced as he stretched his sore wing. “Ok now that we have that taken care of, it looks like it’s going to rain so we should find some shelter and get a fire going.” He said looking at the clouds forming and seeing that it would be dark soon.
“I saw a small cave back there that we can use and my lighter still has some fluid in it for a fire.” Trent said leaning on his makeshift crutch.
“Alright lets go.” He said as he and Trent started to walk in the direction of the cave.
“Ok so what do we have for food?” Trent asked laying his C-Rations on the cave floor once they got a fire going, Gerardo doing the same.
“Let’s see… a can of beans that expired 8 months ago, a can of spam that expires today, two tins of bisects, lighter fluid better not eat that, two flasks of water and a can opener.” Gerardo said reading the labels on the cans. “Oh,” He said throwing his knife at something moving. “And one snake.” He said cutting the snakes head off.
“Great.” The human said. “So who gets what?”
“Well the beans are out but they should be good as bait for catching small animals.” The Gryphon said looking at the expired food. “We should be able to split the spam, as for the snake it looks like it only has enough meat for one person or gryphon.”
“Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock for the snake?” Trent suggested.
“Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-What?” Gerardo asked confused.
“It’s a variation on Rock-Paper-Scissors that my grandpa taught me. It`s quite simple; Scissors cuts paper, Paper covers Rock, rock crushes lizard, Lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, Scissors decapitates lizard, Lizard eats paper, Paper disproves spock, Spock vaporizes rock and as it always has Rock crushes scissors.” He said making the hand gestures for it.
“*Sigh* Ok.” The Gryphon said tuning to face him. “Best two out of three, Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock!”
“Stupid talons and their inability to do the Vulcan salute.” Gerardo grumbled as he ate his spam.
“Don’t wine, I through lizard, I would have won anyway.” Trent said as he cooked the snake meat over the fire.
“Whatever, ah here comes the rain.” He said as the rain started to pour.
“Here.” Trent said handing him half of the snake meat.
“You don’t want it?” Gerardo asked.
“I’m still a little full from lunch.” He said taking a bite of his dinner.
“Thanks.” The Gryphon said mixing it with the spam.
After dinner they put a little more wood on the fire and got ready for bed.
“Too bad we don’t have something softer then limestone to lie on.” Gerardo complained.
“Hey compared to the beds back at the base this is a cloud.” Trent said using his military jacket as a pillow.
“Hey, don’t joke about that. Those things are awesome.” He said doing the same.
“Ha, ha, whatever man, see you in the morning.” Trent said before rolling over and falling asleep.
“Yeah, the morning.” Gerardo said clutching the flashdrive.
“You wanted to see me sir?” Gerardo asked walking into Commander Montero’s office.
“Yes, take a seat.” The Minotaur said offering him a seat.
“Ok.” The Gryphon said sitting down.
“You hear the news?” He asked pouring himself a glass of scotch.
“You mean about the Solarists troops?” Gerardo asked.
“Ya.” Montero said taking a drink.
“What about it, they’re not actually going to attack are they?” He asked worriedly
“*Sigh* what do you know about Mobile Suits?” The Minotaur asked standing up.
“Not much, just that their giant robotic suits used for military peruses in the Gundam anime series.” The Gryphon said wondering what all this had to do with why he was in the commander’s office.
“What I’m about to tell you must not leave this room, understand?” The Commander asked.
“Yes sir.” Gerardo said nodding.
“For the past ten years the best scientists in the Republic have been secretly developing plains for real Mobile Suits like the ones in the anime. They recently managed to develop plans for a working one that can be used for battle if, Princess Luna were to ever authorize it, and have been storing the data here at this base.” Commander Montero explained.
“Wow!” The Gryphon Solider said in amazement. “But what does that have to do with me?”
“I've read your file son,” The Minotaur said putting a file folder on top of the desk. “Top of your classes at the academy, did some training in the Gryphon Homeland that must have been fun, top notch survival skills and everything else needed for this mission.” He said pulling a metal box onto the desk.
“What mission?” Gerardo asked still confused.
“I’m not going to lie to you son. The likelihood of a Solarists attack on this base is pretty high. In the event that the base is captured, I’ve already whipped all data related to the Mobile Suit from the database and stored it in this flashdrive.” Montero said unlocking the box and pulling out the flashdrive. “So if this base is taken it is your job to travel north and safely deliver the planes to our manufacturing plant in Turkey.”
“North? But that would take me directly through-“ The Gryphon started but was cut off when the commander raised his hand.
“Enemy territory, I know but it is the fastest root. That’s also why I’m not ordering you to take this mission, you don’t have to take it if you don't want to or if you don’t think you can do it.”
“I’ll do it.” Gerardo said after a minute.
“Alright, here’s the flashdrive, remember to keep it safe.” The commander said handing it to him.
“I won’t let you down sir.” He said standing up and saluting.
“Good luck, Dismissed.” Montero said dismissing him from the office.