All Hail Zeon (Ch 21: King to D1) part 1

A/N: Thank you to EchoWing for your comment last chapter. The support is very much appreciated.

Garma having Icelina would have been quite important for someone so obsessed with the love of others, since Garma in MSG shows signs of insecurity and weakness beneath his Princely facade. A stepford smiler in a way, who has to act a certain way but has deep issues effecting them. Icelina would bring Garma up from that point, but here Garma is without a new girlfriend following his New York expedition like he would have in-canon, so expect it to have an effect on him.

I hope you enjoy, and I hope to hear your thoughts in the comments below on the longest chapter we've had yet! (So long I can't even submit the entire thing in one piece, so be prepared for part 2!)

Character: Garma Zabi

Date: May 0079

Fire.

Fire.

My Gaw is on fire.

Why is my Gaw on fire.

I was expecting to fly to a diplomatic meeting that could help foster relations with certain members of the Federation leadership, but instead my would-be method of transportation is being drenched in water.

Fortunately for whoever likely tried sabotaging my Gaw, they blew up the wrong one. The one beside my Loki was destroyed rather than it, but due to their proximity it caused damage to the Loki as well. So while my Gaw is being saved from further damage, its sister carrier the Thor is gone now and will need replacing.

If I hadn't taken my time today to train in my new Gouf, I would have been at the airfield earlier. While I cannot say I would have been on the Loki yet, I certainly would have been a lot closer to the danger than I otherwise would have been. I was one mobile suit exercise away from perhaps joining my brother Sasro...

Is this the nature of our politics now? To prevent me from meeting with their own forces who might help their war effort edge towards surrender, the Federation would try to assassinate me? Do they not realize how poorly that would turn out for them? My own care for my life aside, I would almost pity them after what Dozle, Kycilia, and even Gihren would do to those responsible.

Standing around and watching my Gaw burn with my mobile suit loaded inside of it will not do any good though. My soldiers know their duties and they will take care of this, though it means that I won't be going. Not when the Federation has tipped their hand. They may have been able to sneak a saboteaur onto our base or turn one of our members traitor, but they cannot attack us in full force.

Some officers try to all describe the situation to me while my bodyguards are sweeping the area for further threats. I don't have anything to do here now that things are ruined for the rest of the waning day, so I may as well go back to my office and call Father like I meant to earlier but came to put off until later. I wonder how he'll take hearing this news...

"Die!"

It is fortunate that this would-be assassin, likely the man who rigged the Gaw to explode, was foolish enough to announce his presence just as I reach the entrance of the base closest to the air field. Throwing myself to the side saves me from gunfire, and there is not exactly time to appreciate his seemingly poor aim as I rush to my feet and tackle him into the doorway.

"Don't fire, you may hit Lord Garma!"

Oh good, so my soldiers know what's happening now. Unfortunately that does me little good as I grapple with this Federation infiltrator who happens to be fairly larger than me: I'm not Dozle, I am not a heap of upper body strength, so while I had the initial advantage from my counterattack I am now actually being pushed back as he pushes back against my attempts to get leverage on him. Since I cannot fight him with strength alone, I can abuse the right leverage on him to stall for time and win by default: I have backup coming, and he doesn't most likely.

"Were you the one who did this?"

The question I was able to get out through grit teeth was met with his skull crashing down into mine, knocking me back and giving him the slight freedom he needed to pull out a knife and send it lunging towards me.

Fortunately my previous action in trying to gain leverage gave me the position I needed to grab and divert his attack, his fist sliding past me and the knife cutting through the air rather than my flesh. His hand strikes one part of the doorway and his grip on it weakens ever so slightly, bringing our relative strengths to an even balance as he prepares his next attack. His seemingly hurt wrist and the pain in his hand bringing him down to my level proves useful, as it lets me twist his arm as he swings the knife in towards my body.

Moving his arm however changes the arc of his swing, and while he did not cut into me, I just made him stab his own chest. His blood begins to spill out from his body as he furiously tries to grab for my neck, the only thing protecting me now being my arms. Using the training I have received from Urabe, I manage to bash away one of his arms by hitting it at the right point, and then shove forward the same arm to jab the knife in his chest.

With the large serrated knife now penetrating his chest and exiting his back, he slumps back and falls to the ground lifelessly. Of course this is the moment that my soldiers manage to reach us, their attention having probably been too captivated by the chaos of the explosion and the resulting fire to really notice that someone was trying to kill me.

Seeing the man beneath me and the blood now spilling out onto my boots makes me realize that with this man dead, I likely won't find out the details behind this attack, "Damnit."

Still, this man missed me at point blank range...he almost was as bad at combat as Darota. I am lucky for that I guess. If he had been an expert in close combat like Amir or Urabe, I would be dead right now, but somebody trained in sabotage is more along the lines of what is in my fighting capabilities.

Speaking of them, where even are my guards at this point? I look around, and it comes to my attention that gunfire has been going off during my fight. Oh. So that's where they are, fighting other people trying to kill me. That makes sense now.

The gunfire dies down soon enough, right alongside those who started the affair by attacking us. Once the other assailants are taken care of I am met by Urabe, who salutes me and gives me a quick report on the situation.

"Sir, we located two other Federation soldiers. Unfortunately we could not take them in alive. One used a grenade to try to take Amir with him, while the other died from his bullet wounds. The only allied casualties presently are some mechanics who were near the Thor and the pilot of our Gaw, Turner. We are now searching for other possible threats, be they explosives or be they further attackers."

Good, so the base is going to be in an uproar for awhile...I honestly don't want to be a part of that. Particularly since I am the target it would seem. Still, I am glad that they were able to get a handle on the situation this quickly even if I did come across one would-be killer...and I am quite grateful that I have been taking the time to train with Urabe now. When I heard he was teaching Miss Crossroad to protect herself, I figured it would be a good practice to take up on my own. It's not as if I really do anything else in my supposed free time here, and with how many times I come under direct threat it's a worthwhile investment, as this man bleeding on my proves.

"Please look into it."

Urabe salutes me again, but before leaving he poses an important question.

"Sir, what will you do?"

To be honest I don't know what the answer to that is. I suppose I will go and talk to my father now...I don't really know what else to do. With my soldiers knowing what to do here, I am not needed, and I could probably use a conversation with family...I don't get to do that all too often these days.

"I cannot go to the meeting I intended to tonight, so I may as well go and call my Father earlier than I thought I would."

My guard captain nods to this, but then sends a small army of soldiers to accompany me. I suppose I understand the reason for them, but having a dozen people surrounding me is a bit suffocating. We leave for my office, but I make the soldiers stand outside: not only do I not want to deal with them, but no-one except my top officers and aides have been in my office so it should be safe, and I really don't want normal soldiers being privy to personal conversations with my father.

It takes a couple minutes to set up my call to outer space, and the static and interference is horrible, but I manage to get through to my father as intended. He appears on the screen and I can see that he is in his office, likely keeping himself busy much as we all have been these past months. At his age he could retire and no-one would blame him, but he continues working, showing just why he is the man who Side Three has relied upon all this time. Another man in his position could have just deferred all tasks and duties to others and ruled as a simple dictator who did as they pleased, but not him. He actually does care about the future of our people, of the goals set forth by his friend, Zeon.

"Father."

He smiles at me when my image becomes clear on his own monitor, the communication flaws appearing on his end as well, "Garma, how are you?"

How am I?

Alive. That's important I suppose. I almost wasn't just a few minutes ago.

He'll find out sooner or later I think about this incident, so I may as well just tell him now.

"The plane I was going to be taking today is currently on fire."

He is taken aback by this, seemingly shocked in horror at the thought that I had been on a fiery Gaw, "Are you alright?"

To dispel some of his fear, I explain the situation a bit further, "Yes, I fortunately was not on board yet. There were only a few casualties, three of which were Federation soldiers who infiltrated our forces."

Despite my efforts, he still appears to be put off by this situation. His face is holding a simple scowl that is not directed at me, but which still shows that he is sad, "It was a mistake to let you go to Earth by yourself. Dozle or Kycilia should be there with you..."

While I must admit that I would loathe being away from my family a moment more than is necessary, I would not want to have them diverted from their important duties that carry life and death consequences just because I am lonely.

Lonely...a funny word to use for myself, given that I am surrounded by an army, but how else can I explain the feeling of isolation I have? The only people I can talk to like normal Human beings are my guards, and Kinue, but they are also my subordinates and so that dictates just how they act back towards me. It's part of why I appreciate having Kinue around here actually, since she is the only one who is willing to regularly question me.

Well, sometimes others do question me, but it's not in the constructive back-and-forth debate matter I have come to expect from my media expert. There are high ranking soldiers who actually would be giving me orders if not for my command over the Earth invasion which puts them under my umbrella. This has bred some resentment towards me from these individuals, who see taking orders from me as taking orders from a naive child. Whatever my merits may be, I cannot change the fact that I am only twenty, and others judge me based on that fact.

If I win this conflict though, if I succeed at defeating the Federation here on Earth, then maybe I will be able to earn their respect. I need to prove that I deserve this rank I hold, that the nepotism shown to me is not misplaced privilege.

Still, Father probably thinks that I am completely isolated here since everyone else is in Space. Kycilia sometimes comes to Earth, but her activities mostly remain in Space, and she doesn't go out of her way to visit when she does come to Earth. Understandable, as time is an important resource right now.

While I do not have my family here with me, I at least have some others who are easing the pain of our separation.

"I am not alone, Father. I have Dozle and Kycilia's soldiers looking after me, remember. They saved my life tonight."

He nods, but I can tell that he is unconvinced. He likes hearing of my accomplishments, like when I captured California and New York, but he loathes hearing of the hardships I face here, but admonishes me when I try to hide them from him.

"I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you."

As much as I know he will, I do not want him to worry over me. I can take care of myself, and the times I cannot I have others who will, "I'm fine, Father. Don't worry. I just have felt a bit numb since the incident and don't know what I should do now."

I do need to have a word with whoever was in charge of our base's perimeter defense though...I can't have Gaws I am supposed to be on exploding.

"You should be with your family at a moment like this, but unfortunately that is not possible..." my father pauses as he seems to see something on my face, "Oh, I did not even notice through this static, but you appear unwell, Garma."

I'm glad it wasn't something worse...I mean, how does he expect me to look a short while after an assassination attempt? I am not as stoic as Gihren or Kycilia, I can't just ignore the fact that I am coated in someone else's blood, "I almost just died, I think I have cause to look the way I do. Though I suppose I should change uniforms..."

My father had noticed the blood much earlier I suppose, since he doesn't bat an eyelash at my reasoning, "No, I mean that you look like you have not been eating or sleeping enough. Is something the matter?"

"I..."

I don't actually have an answer to that.

My father is a great man. Gihren is the most intelligent man alive. Dozle is an accomplished battlefield commander. Kycilia...well, I can't truly say I know of all her accomplishments since that would defeat the purpose of secretive missions, but I am positive she has done many things for our nation. But me? What have I done?

It has been months, but Earth is still not under our control. The Federation is catching up to us in technology with each passing day, and I am surrounded by commanding officers who only listen to what I say when I am in close proximity, only to go and do their own objectives and goals when I leave them. I have a world trying to spin propaganda about me like I am the devil incarnate, while common people take up arms against our forces who are trying to help them with aid and relief efforts. Each day I am informed of our increasing casualties and the rising difficulty we possess in taking territory. New reports come in about more civilian casualties of those caught in the crossfire between zealous Federation forces and our own zealots, of which there are a disturbing many. Each success may be attributed to me, but each failure also comes to rest at my head in some way.

On top of my professional life being a mess, I have the fact that I feel that in my absence I have finally lost the last vestiges of my family. Father doesn't usually call with one of the others anymore, while the only other one to try and keep in contact with me is Dozle. I haven't truly heard from Gihren in any personal manner in months, with Kycilia only rarely contacting me in any manner outside of our official duties. Dozle and Kycilia have a growing feud that I fear may escalate and hurt not only them, but our soldiers who are caught in the crossfire of those two refusing to work together. It is an open secret that Kycilia is seeking to also oppose Gihren one day, and as much as I wish it was not the case I cannot see the two of them reconciling before that becomes an actual bloodbath.

I still remember when we all would sit around our small dinner table in our similarly small apartment on Side Three, father watching baseball while Kycilia tried to keep us all from going hungry as Dozle and Sasro fought over food.

We were a family then, and even if we squabbled, it did not have the consequence or implications of a future civil war: it was just the common arguments that any family would have. I miss when Gihren and Kycilia were openly hostile to one another in a sort of playful way, rather than how they currently smile to one another while plotting the other's downfall.

The irony of being a Prince of such a powerful nation is that, as much as I want to have that normal life, to have that normal family again, it's the one thing I know I never can. Each day I am gone from the others, I can feel their tensions rising, but nothing I can say or do will make them change from their current paths. They are set to collide with one another, and I don't even know what I would do with the fallout. It almost feels as if they were only staying together for my sake, for I can say with certainty that I am the only member of our family other than Father who each of the others likes. As cold as Gihren can be, I still know that he cares in some part for me, and that is why I haven't given up on him yet even after all he has done.

Kycilia already is opposing him...I don't think I can be the one to take that burden. To be the one to break the already weakened bond between us all...as much as what Gihren has done this war has sickened me, I can only imagine how worse things might get if I took any actual measures against him like Kycilia. There would be no going back from that, and Zeon is already struggling to maintain its advantage against the Federation.

Maybe when this war is over we can confront Gihren about his methods...but until then, I have to suffer the knowledge that we have driven Humanity halfway to extinction and each day we get closer and closer to a point of no return. I cannot change the past, so I have to take the only solace I can in the hope that the future might somehow be the better place we hope it will be.

If I could though, I would rather be a normal twenty year old living a normal life. Not one with the shackles that come from the position I hold, privilege I have never asked for and power I never wanted or needed. I am not like Gihren or Kycilia in that I do not actually want to be the supreme dictator of the world one day, I just want to live a life as I see fit. I know it is selfish to wish for a normal life when I have duties to and expectations from our people, and I know I am fortunate for having been given all I have been, but we each have our desires, and mine is for the normalcy I once knew.

To everyone else though I am the smiling handsome, beloved Prince of Zeon who embodies our future and the righteousness of our cause. While maybe there is some truth in some of that, I wonder just how they would react if they knew this.

I cannot stay silent to my father's question forever, but I also do not want to let him know just how insecure I am about this, so I give him a piece of the truth without fully answering his query, "I don't know. Perhaps I have been from you all too long. Things are different here on Earth, and I don't just mean the thunder and snow. I don't know nearly any of the commanders I have been placed in charge of here on Earth, people who technically outrank me but who have to listen to me all the same."

"Do you wish for me to send Gihren to assist you?"

That would certainly deal with the problem of insubordinate commanders, but no, no it wouldn't fix this feeling I have inside of...well, I don't know what to call it. Forlorn despair? Depression? While some would disagree, I am a man like any other and thus am not immune to such things. After all, when even was the last time I spoke to Char, my closest friend?

But no, I can't have Gihren come here and do this all for me. Not only is he busy coordinating the war effort, but it would leave me in disgrace my entire life would not be able to overcome should he come down to Earth and conquer it when I am the one supposed to be doing just that.

"I do not think I could face our people if Gihren had to come do my job for me," to return to what he was saying though about my being unhealthy, I try to find a justification that will satiate him for the time being, "I just suppose that when surrounded by so many people I do not know, in a place I am only just now growing used to in a sense, it is a bit taxing on one's health."

In some ways, I wish I had someone to share this burden with. When I was at the academy I had Char with me the entire way as another student, an equal in station if not social status, but now I have no-one as an actual peer.

I must be poor at hiding it, or he must be quite adept at reading others, for Father gives me a sad look, "That is not all, is it?"

If I look him in the eye I fear I may lose the mask I have made for myself, so I look away from the camera and screen. This too is revealing, but not as much as meeting his gaze and showing him that things indeed are not alright.

"Garma, if there is anything I can do for you, you need only ask."

I am fortunate to have such a loving father...I owe to him everything I have, and I feel that nothing I could ever do would match up to either his accomplishments or repay him for all he has done for me.

Because of his words, I look back up to meet my father's eyes and give him a smile, weak as it may be, "Thank you, Father. I mean it."

"Of course, Garma. We all care for you, remember that. And remember that we are not the only ones who do. The people of Zeon love you...even some of the Federation, from what I understand," he smiles at me, as if he knows something I am not aware of. Perhaps he has been watching the news? I need to catch up on some of it...call it petty or not, but I do like seeing what others have to say about me. Particularly when it's a certain reporter who always gives me fair praise and even criticism when needed. But mostly praise, since Kinue seems to like how I do things in comparison to the other major figures in this war.

Still, a part of me wishes that for the sake of the common people that the support I have within the Federation perhaps would branch into their leadership so we could just end this fighting already, "Unfortunately it is the ones who don't care for me who are in charge of their military."

My father gives me a wry grin, "You did steal one of their bases a few years back I do remember..."

That reminds me, I was wondering about something that my father might be able to help somewhat with. While I search for the enigmatic Federation soldier "Galan Mossa", he is not the only inquiry I have into their organization. I had actually hoped to uncover some information about Ronan Marcenas, the Federation official I was to meet with tonight, before we met but had not heard back from those researching on my behalf yet. It seems that he has his connections all over the Federation, since his family's power dates back to the beginning of this Universal Century, where his ancestor served as prime minister and founded it.

Then said family member was assassinated, the Federation used it as cause to start repressing its new citizens of Space, and the rest is history. But not only was I looking for something to use against him personally, I was looking into an assassination that happened about a decade ago which I believe he may have had some role in. Since I hold a lot of gratitude for the service rendered by our Federation born reporter, I thought I would repay it by unveiling the people who had Mister Crossroad assassinated.

"Speaking of the Federation, I have started looking into some matters regarding them that I may need your help with. I have arranged for some of it to be observed by Kycilia and her soldiers, but I may have to ask for your aid too if it comes to it."

Taking priority over that discovery though is locating the man who disrupted the Antarctic Treaty. Not only would I have him punished for the attempted murder of Miss Crossroad, but the killing of Gaia, Mash, and Ortega along with other Zeon forces at the treaty. His freeing of Revil and the resulting chaos may have cost us the war by allowing the Federation to get a second wind. That event brought us to our current invasion where thousands upon thousands more will die, and all because of the actions of one man.

I will not let someone who accomplished such a feat to go free. He will be brought to justice, one way or another. Even Kycilia is willing to aid me in this matter, for she too knows the danger such a competent enemy can spell for us.

Father has more contacts than either of us, and he has been in the game longer, so perhaps if he looks into things he will be able to piece together something that Kycilia and I are not able to. We may find things out on our own, but I would rather Father aid us rather than not use his wisdom when it is available to us.

"Just send me whatever files, reports, or anything else you feel the need to, Garma."

"Thank you Father. I believe I should go now though, for there is a lot on my mind I need to think about."

He gives a nod and smile, "Of course. I will leave you to your work and mind. Remember though Garma, you are my son. If there is anything I can do for you, you need only ask."

I open my mouth to give another goodbye before turning off the computer, but something came to his mind and his smile widened as he explained his renewed interest in talking, "Oh, and Dozle was speaking of it earlier, but you do know that the female population of Zeon is in love with you? Why have I not heard of my youngest son having a lover of his own by now?"

Oh great. This again.

Father expects me to come home with a bride one day, and he is quite insistent that I also give him grandchildren like Dozle now is. And Gihren I suppose, but no-one is supposed to know about that.

It's not that I am resistant to the idea, but who would I even marry? It's not as if I just have possible wives sitting around waiting for me here on Earth. A good deal of the planet hates me after all, and I don't think I would get along well with those shallow enough to sell out their faction for flattery. I do have principles after all.

I am waiting for the "right" woman so to speak, and an old crush notwithstanding I have yet to come across said wife material. Not because I do not know any intelligent, competent women, no I have met plenty of those especially this past half year in my time serving Zeon, but rather I am not going to engage in any relationship where my status or position may either play a role in earning their affection, or any relationship where my pedigree and rank may cause unprofessional connotations such as undue favor.

After all, who would assign someone I was involved with to the frontline? It would be improper, and so I will refrain from causing such an unnecessary issue, even if it would be nice to return from the battlefield with someone waiting for me...

So basically I am going to have to wait for this all to be over before I find a wife, at least at this rate. Still, that does not mean I cannot have some fun with the idea.

"If the rumors were to be believed, then it would be because I love my dear friend Char or have a fascination with Kycilia," my Father rolls his eyes as he is reminded of just how low our enemy is willing to sink in terms of their morality, "But Federation slander aside, I don't feel comfortable with how others treat me based on what I am. I am nothing special, and yet some believe me to be a living god it would seem."

"Forgive me for having to ask, but have I told you how I came to meet your mother?"

Naliss Zabi, a woman who from what I have heard was beautiful, with all of Kycilia's positive traits and far less of the stoicism. She passed away when I was born, and no-one in my family tends to want to talk about it, but from what I have managed to gather the conditions on Side Three may have played a part in that. If Side Three's medical technology was not run down and ancient compared to what was the standard of the time, she would have lived.

Instead, I was born at the cost of her life. Learning that wasn't exactly something I enjoyed growing up, and while I know it was not my fault I cannot help but feel guilt stemming from how I took my father's wife and my siblings' mother away from them all.

"You do not usually speak of her, so I don't believe you have."

My father's eyes close, his mind obviously now focused on the memory of his deceased wife. I can see the signs of his age on his face as he then yawns and his eyes droop a little as he opens them. With his health concerns, he really ought to get more rest.

"We should talk about her sometime, then. She was the sort of person I think you would be looking for. A woman of substance who sought substance in others, and who loved me for what others would pass over in favor of my social trappings."

That does sound about right...but I am not even so sure of what I am looking for. Someone to support me? Someone to be there and tell me that everything is going to be okay? To laugh and enjoy myself with? To challenge myself?

My father continues speaking, now grinning after giving a small but amused breath, "After all, you certainly don't get your looks from me. One would have thought a woman as beautiful as her would marry someone richer than a laborer, but some people value things other than wealth," memories of Naliss must be playing before his eyes now, as beyond his glasses I can see Father reminiscing, "She also was a far better cook than I could ever hope to be."

Once he was done, Father shook his head wearily and then returned to smiling at me, his attention restored.

"It's just something to think about. One of many things I am sure is on your mind now after all that has happened today."

He is right, I do have a lot I want to consider. Who was it that tried killing me? What would have happened if I was killed unceremoniously? What would happen to Zeon? To my family? What of my friends? Would they bear the brunt of the punishment should something happen to me? It is their duty to protect me, but what if it had just been because of something like the Gaw being sabotaged? No amount of standing by my side could prevent that. What would Gihren do? What about Kycilia?

Dozle would be furious, I know that much, but there is so much to consider...so many ramifications relating to my own mortality...not to mention of course the fact that I am coated in someone else's blood. I killed a man in hand-to-hand combat, not at a distance like would happen when I ordered the Loki to fire upon an enemy position. I had done it with my own hands, I had taken a life without any of the impersonal barriers that normally got in the way between me and those who...

I...

I don't want to kill the Federation soldiers. That is not why I am here. What I want is to serve and protect my people, but that means I have to take the lives of others...if I could I would not kill anyone, but I know that is not possible.

Still, to my father's point, yes one of the things on my mind is indeed my lack of a spouse. If I died, I would leave behind no heir. I would never know what it is like to love or kiss a woman. What it's like to return home from work and have your wife and children greet you. I may be young, but what better time to start a family than when you are young enough to devote your energy towards it? I know my father regrets having me when he was so old that he could not go out and do things with me like he wished he could. That he was stuck watching as I was outside playing, unable to keep up with me due to age finally beginning to catch up with him.

"Maybe when this war is over I can take the time to find someone you would approve of."

The conversation over, my father speaks in a soft and warm voice, "Take care, Garma."

"I know you must worry, Father, but take care of yourself as well."

The call ends, and I am left sitting in my office with all of those million and one questions and thoughts from before on my mind...

Come to think of it, maybe staying here in my office is not a good idea. If someone still is looking to kill me here, I think staying away from where they would expect me would be smart...

So, with that in mind, I get up and begin what would come to be the longest walk I've taken in my life.

(Continued in Part 2)