This is my second fan fiction. I admit, it's not as exciting as the first one, but it was not meant to be. It's a tribute to Nicol Amalfi, one of my favourite characters in Gundam Seed. His death was so unexpected, and apart from his talent in music, not much was shown about him. So, I have taken this opportunity to give my impression of Nicol. There is much more on the way. I hope you enjoy it so please read and comment.

The control room had been quiet all evening. Other than the muffled conversations between soldiers and the hum of machines, it was almost silent. So everyone was startled when one of the soldiers jerked forward in his seat. "What's up Joseph? You gave me quite a scare there." The man looked at his screen hesitating before answering.

"There seems to be something approaching us.", he said nervously. Two other men stood up and came over to look at the screen.

"What! But those are GINNs? Where are they coming from? ...Hold on! They are accompanied by the Aegis, the Buster, The Blitz and the Duel! They're using our own weapons against us!". The room was suddenly alert with fear and panic.

"All hands to level one battle stations! I repeat, all hands to level one battle stations!" Soldiers rushed frantically out of bed and ran to their posts. The EAF base in Alaska had recently defeated some ZAFT forces in a battle that day and had not expected them to return so soon. Explosions rocked the ground and the hanger shook. From above, the Le Creuset Team, followed by several GINNs bombarded the base.

"Alright men, let's take 'em out!" Yzak's voice called out to his fellow soldiers. He dove down and fired at the Earth forces mobile suits that were making their way to the air. "Let's show them that no one messes with the Le Creuset Team!". He was answered by the cheers of several pilots. Yzak smiled at this and continued his assault. Nicol flew up from behind regarding the Alaska base sadly but not regretfully. They were fighting a war, it was required of them. Besides, thinking of all the lives that would be lost would only make their job harder. The Buster came into view alongside the Duel.

"Hey, Nicol, hurry it up. The attack's already begun.", came Dearka's voice as he shot at the mobile suit that had made its way behind Yzak.

"Leave the coward alone.", Yzak snickered. "Commander Le Creuset expects us to wipe out these Natural's with or without his help." Athrun cut in calmly, although his face didn't hide his annoyance. "Maybe you should direct your attention to your enemies Yzak.", he said dodging the beam saber of a strike dagger and firing at it with his beam rifle. Yzak frowned at his comment and moved out, distancing himself from his rival. Nicol's pleasant face appeared on Athrun's screen.

"You don't have to defend me Athrun; it will only make them dislike you.". Athrun kept his eyes on the battlefield as he replied.

"You shouldn't be putting up with it Nicol; you're a soldier too.", he now looked back at the screen to his friend and smiled. Nicol looked at him in awe for a moment and then drew his attention to the mobile suit advancing towards him. He dove under the fast moving beam blade of a strike dagger. The Blitz quickly shot at it and kicked it away in the torso. For a moment, Nicol paused and thought about what Athrun had said. Even though Athrun's position made him the superior to Nicol, Yzak and Dearka, he never let his authority over his teammates get the better of him. Nicol smiled and Athrun looked back looked back at him quizzically.

"It's nothing Athrun. Let's hurry up and get this battle over with."

In the mobile suit hanger, Sreymao awaited her orders. Her instructor Lt. Gengling had rushed out after the alarms had sounded, a look of mixed anger and fear creased his otherwise flawless face. Many of his students admired his daring, his remarkable good looks, and his sense of humour in such tragic times. Gengling was a war hero, but even he had managed to lose his wits in the confusion.

"All of you stay here until I come back!", he ordered his students. Sreymao and the others nodded as he quickly took off. She sat against the wall watching as the other pilots left the hanger and listened as the other students occupied themselves with gossip about the attacks.

"They say it's the team we defeated earlier." "So soon? We lost a lot of men in that battle. Do we even stand a chance?" "What do you mean? Of course we do. We are the best of the best; that's why we're here." There were a few snickers after that as one of the soldiers looked at Sreymao.

"Of course, most of us are. Why did they choose her?" Sreymao hugged her knees trying hard to ignore what the two pilots were saying. "Look at her. She looks like she's waiting to die. She's never cut her hair since they died. I guess she's only here because she wants to join her parents. Did you hear? She's the only one who had to take the simulation tests twice." Sreymao focused on the tapping of feet against the hard concrete floors. The footsteps were approaching her, and suddenly all of the talking stopped. She looked up and quickly jumped to her feet. She didn't know the man who stood in front of her, but she recognized him as an important commander. She remembered seeing him once before barking orders to people who had a had even more authority than Lieutenant Gengling.

"Where are the other reinforcements!", he barked. Sreymao looked at him blankly and he looked around at the other soldiers sitting idly as they waited for Gengling's return.

"Get these men launched within the next half hour! We have plenty of mobile suits just sitting here…" The commander stopped talking as soon Gengling returned. "What's going on, sir?", Gengling asked, not bothering to salute. His voice was sickly sweet with mock respect. The commander glared at him. "I've ordered your men to be launched out." Gengling didn't try to hide is anger.

"My men? These are all novice pilots!" The commander gave him a look of mixed disgust and disappointment.

"Are you saying they aren't ready Lieutenant Gengling? You've had ample time to prepare! They are EAF soldiers, and right now they are needed out there!", he said pointing to the hatch of the hanger. Gengling felt his cheeks burning but held his tongue. What was the use of fighting with his superior? The commander would easily win and have his way. Besides, he had to set a good example for his students. He sighed and moved aside as they filed and got seated in their mobile suits. Only Sreymao remained. "Lieutenant, do you think I'm ready?", she said fiddling with her fingers as she spoke. He smiled sheepishly at her. "Does it matter? You're going out there whether I like it or not." Sreymao looked at him worriedly and he sighed. "You're chariot awaits.", he said as he led her to a Dagger L and helped her to her seat in the cockpit.

"Okay kiddo, just like we practiced.", he said as he handed her a helmet. Sreymao looked at the helmet. Gengling had always been kind to her, even though no one else had been. He had even permitted her to redo her test although most pilots were sent home after failing it the first time. "I know you have potential. We could really use someone as dedicated as you on the front lines", he had told her. She looked up at him and smiled, her bright green eyes twinkling. She was determined to make him proud.

"I promise, I'll do my best.", she said softly. Gengling smiled at her as she placed the helmet over her long black hair and strapped herself in.

"That's all I expect from you.", he told her as he stepped back and reached for the cable. Sreymao stopped suddenly and undid her safety belt. "What's wrong?", he asked assuming she was chickening out. She hopped out and hugged him tightly. Gengling looked down at her in surprise. She reminded him of a delicate flower, plucked from a meadow and thrown out onto the battlefield. He felt pained as he silently pushed her away, back into the cockpit of the Dagger L and gave her shoulder a good squeeze. She was a kid, only 16 years old, and here she was going out to fight. He hoped his face didn't betray his guilt. "Be safe...", he said as he closed the door of her cockpit. From inside the dagger L, Sreymao exhaled nervously. She knew very well she could be killed; her own parents had died that way. But, she wanted to survive and return to the Lietenant. She closed her eyes and placed her hand over her heart. "As long I live, I'll fight for those I love…Ensign Sreymao Fang! Ready to launch." The mobile suit finally moved out to the dock and launched out. Gengling watched as it flew out into the night sky.

"...be safe...", he said again.