The calendar on my desk read January 5, 0081. A full year had drifted by since the fires of the One Year War supposedly went out, but for those of us still in the cockpit, the embers were still burning. The year 0080 had been a whirlwind of chaos and bureaucratic nightmares. The news was dominated by the scandal of the "Nemesis" Instructor Corps out of Vancouver—Major Saki Dessau and Captain Hawk Reuser being branded as spies, all a smokescreen for Lieutenant General Dunmel Waynes' corruption.
Then there was the "Ghost of Garma Zabi," who turned out to be a man named Martin Shamaran, also known as Second Lieutenant Tara I. Cicero. It all culminated in that horrific riot at the North American Federation Military Courthouse that February. The scars on the Earth were just as deep; Los Angeles and San Francisco were gone—ghost cities beyond repair, abandoned as the Federation funneled resources into the colony drop zones. Even my friends were scattered; Ensign Katarina Banks was stable now, but with her home in LA erased, she was stationed at Augusta. Meanwhile, China had fractured into three warring Federation factions in a messy internal power struggle.
My own year had been a struggle for survival. My RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type had finally reached its structural limit, battered by Zeon remnants who ignored the peace declaration like wild animals. I'd been downgraded to a standard RGM-79G GM Command in its original colors. 0080 was a "year of peace" only on paper.
It was noon, the sun hanging high over the Chicago base. I sat on a bench, staring at my phone. No messages. No missed calls. Just the same silence I'd lived with for a year.
"Lydia... where are you?" I whispered to the clouds.
"Still waiting for a ghost to call?" A voice broke my reverie. I looked up to see Captain Barry Abbot standing there. He'd been overseeing the rehabilitation of the "Black Dog" squad—specifically Lydia Mercer.
"Her progress has been... transformative, Aaron," Barry said, sitting beside me. "She's changed. Day by day, she's clawed her way back from being a monster to being a human. Just like I tried to do for Lilith Aiden".
He handed me a small book: XiangLei's diary, sealed with a silk ribbon. My heart hammered against my ribs as I untied it and flipped to the very back. There, in handwriting I'd recognize anywhere, was a letter.
"Dear Aaron Smith, long time no see. I'm writing this in XiangLei's diary because I've missed you so much during this year of rehab. I've finally become a 'human' version of myself, not the monster you first met. I'm no longer a criminal or a psychopath. I've decided to remain an official Federation soldier after Major Michael Colmatta asked about my future. After my program ended, I visited XiangLei's tomb in Taipei and visited my old teammates in Vietnam. I'm no longer in North America; I've transferred to the Naha Base in Okinawa, Japan. Captain Abbot helped with the transfer to get me away from the problematic personnel in the States. Sadly, the phone you gave me broke and won't turn on. I'm taking it to a service center, but I wanted to write this before I left. I hope this diary reaches you, Aaron. Love, Lydia."
Okinawa. The "United States Forces Japan" hub—a tropical island paradise that had largely escaped the colony drops. I didn't care about the tourist spots like Kokusai-dori or the Shurijo Castle. I just knew I had to get there.
Barry warned me that I couldn't just request a transfer to "see a girlfriend". I marched to Commander Earl's office and requested a "Tour of Duty" transfer.
"I want to broaden my tactical experience in the Asian theater, sir," I lied through my teeth. Earl was skeptical but promised to contact Commander Emiya Mitsurugi at Naha.
Outside, Barry leaned against the wall. "I'll pull some strings, Aaron. I'll frame it as a Newtype exchange program. Just... keep the 'missing my girlfriend' part off the official paperwork. It's embarrassing for a Captain".
Two days later, the miracle happened. My transfer was granted—partly because Naha wanted a Newtype on their roster. There was a catch: I would no longer be the Captain of my current squadron.
The reaction from my squad was explosive. "Okinawa?! Why the hell are you leaving us, Aaron?" Cody yelled.
"It's because of her, isn't it?" Karla said, her eyes piercing right through me. "The girl from Black Dog squad".
"I... I just need a change of pace," I stammered, turning red.
"You've been staring at the wall for a year, Aaron," Mariah added. "Go find her. Just don't embarrass us over there".
The trip was a grueling 14-hour flight to Haneda, Tokyo. I spent my layover exploring "Edo Market" and soaking in an airport onsen to wash off the Chicago grime. I ate Oni Himokawa Udon—thin, wide noodles that felt like silk—and realized how far from home I truly was.
By the time I landed in Naha at midnight, the humid salt air hit me like a physical weight.
The next morning, a taxi driver pointed out scenic spots as we drove to the Naha Base. I was met by a cheerful Ensign named Kisaki Shinomiya, who led me to Commander Emiya Mitsurugi. He was a stern, bald man with a presence that commanded the room.
"We need your experience, Captain Smith," he said. "The remnants in the Pacific are getting bold". "Ensign Kisaki, please show the Captain to his quarters," Emiya ordered.
Ensign Kisaki Shinomiya was a cheerful teenage girl who seemed to be perpetually smiling. After I changed into my uniform, she gave me a tour of the base—the mess hall, the simulation rooms, and finally, the hangar.
During the base tour, we reached the hangar. There, standing tall, The hangar held several RGM-79C GM Type Cs and a Guncannon. But then, I saw it: an RX-78-2 Gundam. My heart skipped a beat. It looked like Amuro Ray's suit, but the colors were different., but a messy-haired pilot named Kyosuke Benimaru corrected me.
"It's actually a FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam," a male voice said behind me. A mechanic with messy-hair approached. "I'm Lieutenant Junior Grade Kyosuke Benimaru. This unit was piloted by Captain Ittou at A Baoa Qu. The armor was purged, and we replaced the damaged V-fin with parts from a Ground Type."
Kisaki then led me to the training grounds where I met Captain Isao Ittou. He was training recruits with kendo sticks and had a rough, "Yankee" delinquent style—complete with a pompadour hairstyle and a modified pilot suit that looked like a Japanese school uniform. He was known as the "Federation Delinquent."
"So, you're the Newtype from North America?" Isao barked. "I want to see what you can do. Let's spar."
We hopped into Mobile Suits—me in a GM Type C and him in his Gundam. It was a brutal match. Isao fought like a street brawler, using two beam sabers with terrifying unpredictability. I managed to disarm one of his sabers by punching his Gundam's arm, but he responded by throwing his second saber as a distraction and literally punching my GM in the head. The "sparring" turned into a wrestling match on the ground until the crew had to pull us apart.
"You fight like a damn thug!" I yelled as we opened our cockpits.
"And you fight like a pansy! Watch the paint job!" he shot back.
By evening, I was tired and frustrated, wondering if Lydia was even there. Then, a Medea transport landed. Three tan Zaku II F2 units and a Guncannon stepped off the ramp.
Commander Emiya took me to meet them. Two male pilots hopped out, followed by A woman with wavy blue hair, Lieutenant Emma Kasumi, led the group. But it was the pilot behind her who caught the light. She pulled off her helmet, revealing hair that had been cut into a sharp, clean style. Her face was bright, the shadows of the "Black Dog" era finally washed away.
"...It's been a year, Aaron," she said softly.
I froze. "L-Lydia?!"
She had changed. Her messy long hair was now a neat, short cut. Her face, once gloomy and hidden, was bright and visible. She was beautiful. I didn't care who was watching; I ran to her and lunged forward and pulled her into a crushing hug. She smelled like ozone and salt air. Tears prickled my eyes as the weight of 0080 finally lifted.
"Aaron?" she gasped, surprised.
"...I'm so happy to see you... God, I missed you so much Lydia," I whispered, tears blurring my vision.
Lydia hugged me back, whispering into my ear, "I'm home, Aaron. I missed you too."
Commander Emiya cleared his throat, telling us to save the reunion for later. He announced that I would be the new squad leader, with Emma and Lydia in my platoon. New Mobile Suits were arriving tomorrow.
Later that night, I waited for Lydia outside the female barracks. When she emerged in her uniform, she looked stunning. We took a private walk away from the main buildings.
"I can't believe you're here Aaron, any reason why you come here?" she ask.
"I read your note in the diary," I said, handing it back to her. "I transferred here to be with you. I don't want us to be apart ever again."
Lydia took my hand, her skin warm against mine. "Thank you, Aaron. I'm so glad you came."
We stopped in a quiet spot under the stars. As our lips met, the year of silence and rehabilitation vanished. I was finally back where I belonged—by her side.
To Be Continued.