Gundam:  Dragon Wars
Episode 3:  The Way of the World
	A cold morning awoke the pilots from their sleep.  They quickly got dressed and 
all set for their journey to start today.  Little did they know that this would be one of the 
greatest challenges that they would ever have to face.  Ever since the technological 
advancements, several new colonies were formed.  So many of them joined the Colonial 
Federation, a federation of representatives from the different colonies.   Earth was just 
way too small to support the population growth that they faced after Heero and his 
friends went out and saved the world.  They needed more space, so they looked to space 
for the answer, creating several new colonies on new worlds.  Pretty soon, the worlds 
became colonies themselves.  Whole new Earths were being formed.  But, with great 
power comes great responsibility.
	Of course a few colonies would happen to slip through Earth's control.  
Therefore, the Colonial Federation was formed.  But, even that was way too large.  It was 
inevitable to see that someone would create an evil federation underneath their noses.  
Therefore, the Gundam force was created to defend the Earth and the other colonies out 
there.  Several mobile suits were created to match what would go best for the planet's 
habitat.  In charge would be Gundams, customized to match the needs of each of the 
different pilots.  Only the best of the best were chosen to become a Gundam pilot.  Mike 
was sure one of them, but he got passed up on the assignment.  He constantly thought 
about this, thinking should he even be with his fellow pilots or not.
	But, then he thought, what would have happened if he did become a pilot at first.  
What about all those journeys that his friends took even before he was helping them out.  
How would history change?  How would that night be different?  Would the networking 
system still be created?  Would some one else have piloted those Gundams that night and 
scare Dev out of here?  All those questions filled his mind, but he had to put them out of 
sight and out of mind.  He was now chosen by James, the leader before him, to go out and 
lead these Gundams out to victory over Dev and his minions.  But was he ready?  Was he 
really sure of himself?
	Of course he was sure of himself.  If he wasn't, he was dead.  The networking 
program took a talented pilot to actually pilot 3 Gundams at once.  Only 2 people could 
do it.  Dev and myself.  After all, they did create the networking program together.  They 
knew the ins and outs of each task of the networking system.  However, when Dev was 
"killed" with his Gundams, people lost faith in the network.  Therefore, the head of the R 
& D division and I worked to create a new program that would be faster than the Diablo 
Gundams.  Making sure of safety of the pilot was top priority.  Everything was made 
computerized.  No more pull a lever and wait for the response on the networks.  Touch 
pad screens made commands even easier to give to other Gundams.  The armor was made 
heavy and double-plated to ensure that if a command was not given in time, the Gundam 
could survive.  Test runs were going to be run on the Gundams, but that night was the 
true test of the new networking program.  Faster and more efficient, the Blizzzard 
Gundams were the best of the best.  They could knock out Dev in an instant.
	The pilots reported to the launch pad ready to take off into space.  They had on 
casual clothing, knowing that the cockpit was designed to take the pressures of space and 
repel them easily.  The cockpit was designed with oxygen vents, of course, and had 
plenty of air to last for about a day.  A normal mobile suit could only last about 8 hours 
before the oxygen gave out.  Several of the new mobile suits were able to have 12 hours, 
but that was if you wanted to sacrifice different systems, like better shields or heavy-duty 
weapons.
	The first one to get in their Gundam was Guy.  He was always the one to follow, 
but had so much potential to lead.  He was wearing a loose tee shirt and some slacks.  He 
always admired his father telling him stories about the adventures of Heero and his gang.  
Of course, Mike also heard those stories, too, being a great-great grandson of Heero and 
all.  The next one to enter was Andrea.  Wearing her hair long and with a tee shirt and 
tighter slacks on, she was very proud of being one of the first women ever chosen to be a 
pilot of a Gundam.  After all, women weren't allowed into training until she came 
around.  She proved that women could pilot Gundams as easily as the men could.  This 
really opened a huge door for all women who dreamed to know the thrill of piloting a 
Gundam.
	The next one to enter was James.  Standing tall wearing a typical pilot's suit, he 
was proud of the battles that he fought.  He had gained everyone's respect.  Of course, 
though, the way that his Gundam was designed, it seemed harder for anyone to actually 
believe he could go out into space in that thing.  However, the humanoid mode of his 
Gundam was equipped with engines and everything to make it space ready.  Many people 
called his humanoid mode of the Gundam the space mode and the dinosaur looking mode 
the Earth mode.  Several people admired the craftsmanship of the Gundam, but never 
really knew the true power that it holds.
	Finally, I walked in, wearing my typical clothing attire, being my tee shirt, jeans, 
and my desperado coat.  Several people told me I looked like an old-fashioned sheriff 
ready to take out evil at a moments notice.  Now, I was able to truly fit that profile, now 
that I became a Gundam pilot.  I climbed up a ladder and then got into the cockpit of my 
Custom Gundam.  Then, all of the old questions started to fill my mind again.  Could I 
really lead them better than James?  Could he be a better pilot than me?  After all, he was 
chosen before me to lead this force.
	No, not now.  Now when I am needed to lead off the launch of our force.  Not 
now.  Not ever.
	After I built up my courage and seen that everything was ready to go for takeoff, I 
said, "Alright, Gundams!  Launch off."  After I said that, you could hear the roar of each 
of the Gundams' engines booting up and getting ready for takeoff.  I launched off first 
along with James following me.  Andrea then launched off next, followed by Guy.  We 
all started to move into a defensive formation.  I knew that we might run into trouble 
along the way.  I wasn't going to take any chance of that happening.
	After about 3 hours or so, we reached Colony 1332.  There was a space station 
that was ours orbiting the colony.  I opened a com. link to the head of the station.  I 
started out by saying, "With all do respect, the Gundam force would like to have a dock 
space so that we could recharge and rest up.  We need some food, also, so if there is a 
cantina in there, could you also supply us with food?"
	The leader of the station said, "Sure.  All of your Gundams except the Q-rex can 
park on the orbitals.  The Q-rex will park in its designated spot.  He'll know where it is."
	"Okay, Mike Blizzzard over and out."
	Orbitals were not very fun to dock to.  You had to get your hatch over the opening 
just right or it would lock onto a different part of your Gundam.  Strange they were, but 
efficient for space they were also.  Although normal Gundam pilots didn't have much 
trouble, Mike had 3 times the trouble.  However, he docked all 3 easily.  Mike opened up 
his cockpit and climbed up the ladder into the station.
	The commander of the station was there to greet them.  At first, he thought that 
the commander of this group was James, but after a short conversation, it was convinced 
that Mike was the commander.  For now.  Thoughts like that made him feel very uneasy 
about the position that he carried right now.  Were James's intentions real or was he 
trying to make sure that his own position that he held would be more secure?  I told 
myself again to put it out of my mind for now.  If James were really after me, I would 
have known it because James would have attacked me in space.  I decided to just go out 
to the cantina to get a bite to eat.  By now, the power was back to full in all of the 
Gundams and they were flight ready.
	As I walked into the cantina, I saw the enormous amount of people in the cantina.  
I thought that the food must be that good.  I got in line and picked out a turkey and cheese 
sandwich along with a glass of water and a piece of angel food cake.  Just as I sat down 
to enjoy my meal, an alarm went off.  I had to get up out of my chair real quick and head 
out to the control station, but I wasn't the only one trying to get out of there.  Once I 
made it through to the control station, I said to the commander, "What's going on?"
	"We've detected some Taurus III's heading down to the surface.  They aren't any 
of ours, so we suspect that they are from the New OZ," replied the commander
	I thought for a moment.  The New OZ?  Here?  This seemed too strange.  Maybe 
Dev left a few of his men behind just to make sure that we are busy enough so that we 
can't follow him back to where he was heading.  I then asked the commander, "Are any 
of the other pilots available?"
	"Well, James is awake and is out supervising his Gundam's recharging.  Andrea 
and Guy are out in their temporary quarters asleep for now.  I guess that 3 hours of 
piloting can tire out some pilots, eh?"
	"Yeah, I guess so.  Well, contact James and tell him that I am heading down to the 
surface with my Gundams.  Tell him to prepare for battle and head down with me.  
Okay?"
	"Okay, sir.  I'll relay the message."
	I then left the control room and headed down to the hatch where I came in.  I 
climbed back down into the cockpit of my Custom Gundam and I started to boot up all of 
my Gundams.  Just as I released my Gundams from the orbitals, I saw a familiar Gundam 
starting to fly down slowly past me.  I opened a channel to him and said, "So, decided to 
come along for the ride?"
	"And a rough ride at that, Mike," James replied.
	"Well, let's get at them.  We can't risk the colony being in danger."
	"I follow, Mike.  Let's get them."
	We flew down to the surface about a mile away from where the Taurus III's were 
landing.  Although they were a whole lot faster than the Taurus and the Taurus II, they 
had one huge drawback.  Their armor.  Armor was weaker on them, so any projectile, or 
even a fist with the right amount of speed and force, could tear through it like a pencil 
going through paper.  Taurus III's were questionable to use, but I guess Dev was 
desperate.
	After a quick head count of the mobile suits, I seen that there were about 16 
Taurus III's landing on the surface.  I quickly opened a com. link to James and said, 
"Well, fun for everyone.  You take 4 and each of mine will take 4."
	"Are you sure you are up to it?"
	"Hey, I still have the ability to switch a few into mobile doll mode.  Don't worry.  
I'll be fine."
	"Okay."
	James started in with his space mode and started to attack them with no mercy.  
James fires a few punches at a few of them, but it seemed that their armor was stronger 
than usual.  James then fired out a few missiles, taking out 2 of his share of the battle.  
The other two felt the wrath of his shoulder vulcans as a high-energy blast just obliterated 
the other 2 that he had targeted.
	I was doing alright myself.  By the time he was done with his four, each of my 
Gundams had destroyed 2 of their share.  Then, I made my Normal Gundam use his 
blasters to pierce through the armor of the suits attacking it to take out 2 more suits.  I 
then put out a signal to my ZERO Gundam saying to use his breast vulcans to destroy a 
few.  The Gundam responded and shot out blasts at 2 more suits, lowering the numbers 
even more.  Then, I piloted my Custom Gundam to boot up his scythe and slice through 
the Taurus III's that were left.  The Gundam that I was in charged out and sliced right 
through the rest of the suits, destroying the suits completely.
	"Well, I guess that's all of them," James said.
	"Yep, but those were all in mobile doll mode," Mike replied.
	"How could you tell?"
	"My scanners didn't pick up any life forms inside the cockpits of those suits.  This 
was just a prelude to come."
	"Yes, the way of the worlds is strange at times, isn't it?"
	"Indeed.  War seems to rule over all, but there will always be peace in everyone's 
heart."  After that, I gave the order to head back to the station and recharge again.  I 
needed some food and some sleep, and I am sure that my friend felt the same way, too.
End of Episode 3