Author's Notes: I'm trying something rather different and ambitious compared to previous fics, and that is converting the SpaceBattles Forum RP Sieg Zeon into a full-fledged tale. For those unfamiliar with it, it's a quest game started up by user ForeverShogo that ran from 2013 to 2016 set in the original Universal Century/UC universe of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. More specifically, it follows the space-based, Germanic/Axis-inspired Principality of Zeon (often considered the "villain" faction though it's nowhere near as clear cut as it seems) largely through the eyes of a young woman named Valeria Caine and her comrades, who go on to help change the course of UC history. Needless to say, things start changing from canon over the course of the RP with increasing magnitude.

What's most fascinating about the UC works and Gundam in general are how complex and for all their sci-fi and mystic elements have grounded elements of realism or at the very least believability, such as the beauty and horrors of war. As this an adaptation of the RP, I try to keep as much of the narrative ForeverShogo's written down, or at least the spirit of it as intact as possible while also (whenever appropriate and necessary) reworking it into a more coherent whole and making it understandable for those not necessarily familiar with Gundam lore. Given how the RP was pretty well written to begin with, it makes things a little easier. While it's also being posted on both SpaceBattles and DeviantArt, now you too can get to experience it here.

That said, best to be safe than sorry. This is a work of fiction. Mobile Suit Gundam belongs to Sunrise, Namco-Bandai and other respective owners.

Sieg Zeon:
An Alternate Tale of the Universal Century

Prologue

It is the year 0078 of the Universal Century. Generations have passed since Earth began moving its burgeoning population into gigantic orbiting space colonies. A new home for mankind, where people are born and raised. And where the shadow of death looms ever closer.

Side 3, the cluster of colonies furthest from the Earth has since proclaimed itself the Principality of Zeon and stands on the precipice of war with the Earth Federation, all in the name of independence. One such person living in such tumultuous times is a young woman named Valeria Caine.

As a result of the government's decision to enter into a state of national mobilization, she like many others had been conscripted into Zeon's armed forces. She can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, she should have acted sooner to get into college or find a job that would have let her avoid conscription. But then again, that would have been a selfish, easy way out. For despite being the daughter of low level officials in the government - and with a good education and decent upbringing to match - even she had experienced first hand the economic hardships forced upon Zeon by the Earth Federation's Bardot Policy. For a girl of 18, she's also well aware of the many other families made to suffer due to the Federation's economic terrorism. It is for this reason, among others, that she did not consider fleeing Zeon to get out of the draft.

Zeon called on Valeria to defend its people and, no matter your own beliefs on war, she decided to answer that call.

Undergoing basic training and taking a number of rather thorough aptitude tests, Zeon decided that this young conscript would best serve her country as a "Mobile Suit" pilot. A relatively new technology, the Principality has clearly decided that the humanoid mobile suit will be the key to victory over the Federation in the event of war. Against the might of an entire world, the military – and the ruling Zabi family – is almost totally dedicated to deploying and supporting weapons destined to change the face of warfare forever. And the people set to pilot them, like Valeria herself.

It's easier said than done. At least with the vast majority of time spent running or doing push ups, she didn't feel like a total fool when it's clear all the other conscripts felt the same way. But when she's actually sitting in the cockpit of an actual Zaku - a mono-eyed, mass-produced "workhorse" - knowing fully well that all eyes were on her as she attempted to demonstrate what she's learned, every single mistake made just feels that much more pronounced; mistakes that could cost her life had it been in combat. Still, as far as the instructor's concerned, she's shown potential, even if at times it seems like he's just trying to make her feel better.

As December draws closer and her time at the academy ends, she still works hard to be a better pilot. She would not shut down completely to failure, not with what's at stake. Yet while she hopes that those running the Federation will come to see reason and normalize relations with Zeon, war seems inevitable at this point. Even with all the mobile suits at their disposal, talk of Colonel M'Quve's ambitious "United Maintenance Plan" being implemented, and all kinds of rumors among the other conscripts, it would undoubtedly be a hard fight.

What's certain is that new chapter is about to begin. For Valeria, her homeland and the entire Earth Sphere.

While the RP intro does a good job setting up a general introduction into the UC timeline (and it's recommended that one checks the link as it's fairly substantial), for some further context:

The Bardot Policy is an economic embargo by the Earth Federation enacted in UC 0059, halting all resource shipments to Side 3, aka "Munzo," aka what would be known as Zeon.

The United Maintenance Plan is a reference to the mass standardization of Zeon's mobile suit production and development conceived by Colonel M'Quve, a very high-ranking figure in their military. In canon (first introduced in the OVA Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket) the plan was implemented several months into the war...and several months too late for it have really helped. In this version of events though, it's implemented before the war even begins, which would be one of myriad small changes that gradually leave larger repercussions.