The 10th PzK and the Titans nearly turn Hameln's Remembrance Day into its Armageddon, as Kaempfer battles Barzam on the bridge across the Weser, while the Church's plan to stop Mellenthin reaps a bitter harvest.
So goes the summary of Mobile Suit Gundam: In Vain Doth Valour Bleed, a Fan Fic set largely in the year 0087 of the Universal Century, aruond the same time as the events of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Instead of the major characters from canon however, this focuses mainly on the men and officers of the 10th PzK, a largely German-descended battalion of Zeon remnants from the One Year War who reemerge from hiding to initiate "Operation Nemesis." What follows is a tale of glory, horror and valor as they struggle to crush the Federation in the name of Zeon and their homeland...or die trying.
The sadly unfinished story can be found here
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This fanfic contains examples of:
- Ancient Conspiracy:
- The Teutonic Knights seemed to have had a hand in manipulating European history before the Federation came into the picture. It's also implied that Neu Koenigsberg's founding is connected to them having certain German factions exiled.
- Neu Koenigsberg itself seems to be one as well, if the 10th PsK are anything to go by. As its inhabitants are descended from exiled Germans, many of whom also belonging to old Kaiserreich nobility and more esotetic orders. It comes as no surprise then that their plans for Zeon and Spacenoid supremacy is heavily inspired by that tradition.
- Black-and-Grey Morality:
- The men of the 10th PzK emulate (and are lead by men from) a culture that blends Gihren Zabi and Zeon Deikun's ideals for Spacenoids with what can be best described as Imperial Germany mixed in with Nietzsche's Übermensch visions, which come across at times as anachronistic if not unsettling. On the other hand, aside from a few genocidal loose cannons they are to a man professional and decent people with a sense of honor.
- Most Federation characters run the gamut from incompetent glory-seekers and self-centered Jerkasses to well-meaning, talented officers and dutiful soldiers just doing their jobs.
- The Titans meanwhile are much as they are in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, who by and large don't flinch at committing atrocities or excessive measures in order to secure their power.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer:
- De la Somme is a Newtype with an easygoing, almost childlike personality who also happens to be a very skilled mobile suit pilot.
- Camael Balke, a disgraced Federation officer until he's reinstated is hedonistic, nigh perpetually intoxicated and in many ways the opposite of what a "proper" military man is supposed to be like. Yet he also has a very sharp mind, good intuition and was the only one in the One Year War who realized the real threat Neu Koenigsberg and the 10th PzK posed to the Federation. Thanks in part to his connections with the Teutonic Knights.
- Continuity Nod:
- Aside from the One Year War's continuing legacy, Delaz, Gato and Operation Stardust still cast a long shadow over the plot. With one character even using the remains of Delaz's flagship as a reentry shield while another wondered whether his Gelgoog once belonged to Anavel Gato.
- Colonel von Seydlitz at one manages to contact Haman Karn before Operation Nemesis begins, though he's not all that happy to learn about Axis "allying" with the Titans.
- Custom Uniform: The 10th PsK, unlike the rest of Zeon have a preference for grey and much more overt Germanic influences in their uniforms and mobile suits. Justified in that General von Mellenthin earned that privilege.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Neu Koenigsberg's culture and worldview comes across as both abhorrent and anachronistic to the Federation. A point that is lampshaded by Balke and other Feddie characters.
- Dead Fic: The story was last updated in 2005.
- The Dragon: Colonel von Seydlitz is one to General von Mellenthin. While von Seydlitz has one as well in the form of his half brother, de la Somme.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Many of the 10th PsK are essentially Kaiserreich Spacenoid Germans with a dash of The Empire from Legend of the Galactic Heroes as well as elements from Nazi Germany.
- Four-Star Badass: General von Mellenthin, the head of both the original and Zeta-era 10th PsK.
- Godzilla Threshold/Enemy Mine: It's made clear that a good deal of the Federation military isn't comfortable with the Titans. In fact, the only reason Camael Balke and his fellow Feddies even consider deploying the Titans against the 10th PzK is precisely because they're the only ones who could.
- Happily Married/Battle Couple: Angela and Lief Dyson, a pair of Federation mobile suit officers are shown to be this. They also become the sole survivors of their unit after it's utterly crushed by Von Mellenthin.
- Mauve Shirt: Quite a few of both the Zeon and Feddie characters are these.
- Putting on the Reich: Aside from the usual Zeon stylings, the 10th PsK (and the Side 3 colony of Neu Koenigsberg where many of them came from) have a culture reminiscent of Imperial Germany and Nietzsche's beliefs.
- Psychic Powers: De la Somme is a Newtype, though he'd rather call himself just a regular guy with special talents.
- Gratuitous German: Justified. The original 10th PsK and its Zeta-era remnant is largely comprised of soldiers from a Side 3 colony settled by Germans.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Von Seydlitz and de la Somme. One is nigh Prussian in his mannerisms, while the other is much more laid back and casual (though no less competent).
- Small Name, Big Ego: Haman Karn seems to consider the 10th PsK as a glorified band of survivors, given how their resources and manpower look much smaller than the Delaz Fleet. On the other hand, von Seydlitz seem's to think of her as one while trying to prove her wrong.
- Spell My Name With An S: The author seemed to have had a peculiar approach on spelling some of the canon characters' names (Zavi for Zabi, Kahn for Karn, etc.).
- This is due to the story originally being written before the turn of the century. Just before the original Mobile Suit Gundam was brought over and the English terms and spellings were all formalized.
- State Sec: The Titans.
- Stay in the Kitchen: Part of the Deliberate Values Dissonance as compared to the Earth Federation and most Spacenoids, Neu Koenigsberg seems to view the notion of women serving in the military as unthinkable. Which goes to explain Von Mellenthin's rather condescending if not sexist attitude towards Angela Dyson. And his initial underestimating of Haman Karn.
- Underestimating Badassery: Von Seydlitz doesn't exactly have a high regard for Haman Karn, considering her as a spoiled traitor. General von Mellenthin meanwhile suspects that Haman's "alliance" with the Titans may be a clever ploy, though he's unaware of her skills on the battlefield.
- Villain Protagonist: The 10th PzK in general, given that they're all from Zeon.
- Xanatos Speed Chess: This is Von Mellenthin and to a degree, von Seydlitz's MO, which gives the Zeon remnants a fighting chance against the Federation forces and Titans.
