Cosmic Era 75
After leaving Earth and returning to the PLANTs, the crew of the Ceres earned a few days of R&R. With the addition of two brand new Gundams, the Paladin and the Rebound as well as Garret's sudden proposal to Victoria, the crew's morale is higher than ever. With Operation Lightburst set to begin, the war against Purity seems to be coming into its final stages. The joint operation against the Purity dreadnaught Crucifix by ZAFT, Orb and the EAF will prove the largest operation yet. But what secrets is Alastair Masamune hiding and what will it mean for the crew off the Ceres and the entirety of humanity?
The ZAFT force was quite an impressive site. The Ceres at the head with eight Nazca-class ships, seven Laurasia-class vessels and the Minerva following behind. Although the Purity fleet outnumbered this initial fleet, the reinforcements coming from Earth would even the numbers. The Crucifix was a tremendous site, spanning the length of six Agamemnon-class ships and stretching approximately half as wide. The black and white dreadnought was a rather daunting presence. The Purity fleet was encircled around the Crucifix with the Cherubim at the head.
The Ceres began to slow as they got closer. The Purity ships had already launched their mobile suits. Littered throughout the ships was a sea of Gundams. Not a single mass-produced mobile suit could be seen in the Purity force. Captain Richard Phillips knew it would be a startling site for some of the other ships, but he also knew that skill-wise, the ZAFT pilots were far better. He looked around to the Purity fleet's flanks, the Orb and EAF forces were still yet to appear so the Ceres would have to leave the Crucifix alone for the time being.
"Captain Phillips, we're receiving a transmission from one of the Nazca-class vessels sir. It's the Bayonet" one of the bridge crew called. Richard nodded and a familiar face came up on the screen. It was an older man with grey hair who wore a black eye patch over his right eye. He wore a white ZAFT uniform.
"Ceres, this is Commander Terrance Kingston of the Kingston Team. It is good to see you still alive" the man spoke.
"You're from the Lions Team" Richard said, a little surprised.
"Yes, that is correct. I took over this team after we returned and I was promoted. I hear the Bayonet is your old vessel, I assure you that I will take good care of it" Terrance said with a smile.
"I thank you for that. Is your team still the same?" Richard asked.
"Yes, nothing has changed. We will be backing you up with the final assault on the Crucifix later on. Good luck out there" Terrance said.
"Same to you Terrance" Richard said with a nod. At that the transmission ended.
"Another incoming transmission Captain, this one is from the Minerva" the same bridge crewmember called. Richard nodded again and the face of a green haired man appeared on the screen.
"Captain Arthur Trine of the Minerva. I just wanted to wish you luck as the head of this operation and I will ensure that my pilots give you any backup that you require" the man spoke.
"Thank you Captain Trine. It's good to know we'll have a lot of support" Richard responded.
"A lot is riding on this operation, we can't exactly have you getting shot down now can we?" Arthur asked with a smile.
"I guess that's true" Captain Phillips laughed. "Just ensure that the Minerva isn't sunk either, Phillips out" Richard said and the transmission was ended. "We're starting this operation! All hands go to level one battle stations, all machines launch immediately. Send out the flares to signal the other ships!" Richard called, getting to his feet. The alarms sounded through the ship and the Sword Calamity was loaded onto the catapult.
"Nuclear engine running at full capacity, with this my Scylla can fire at full power and my operating time won't be a problem. All systems green, time to move out. This is Aston Falcon in the Sword Calamity Gundam, cutting through the darkness!" the crimson haired Commander called. The Perfect Strike was next to launch.
"It's finally time, Victoria Mays in the Perfect Strike Gundam, taking the stage!" Victoria called out. The Saviour was loaded next.
"So like all the others this thing now was a nuclear engine as well as more powerful thrusters for increased speed and maneuverability. Let's see how much it's improved, Hilde Regent in the Saviour Gundam, dashing through the stars!" Hilde called. The Rebound was the next to get on the catapult.
"The final fight huh? Marcel North in the Rebound Gundam, let's blow 'em away!" Marcel called eagerly. The Paladin was the final suit to launch.
"It's time to end all this once and for all, I'm coming Alastair. Garret Kross in the Paladin Gundam, taking to the skies!" Garret called and The Paladin joined its comrades out in space. Garret to quickly dodge to the right as a beam rifle round past where he had been. He quickly raised his Moralltach, the blade opening and a shot shooting out and destroying the Aegis that had fired on him.
"Garret, if you spot the Tyranny make sure you engage it immediately!" Aston called as his double-ended sword tore through a Raider and then a Gaia seconds later. "There are a lot of these guys" the Commander spoke. "Heads up Victoria!" he called. He fired one of his rocket anchors, ensnaring it around an Impulse and flinging it at the Perfect Strike. Victoria pulled back her massive sword like a baseball bat and swung, the beam edge ripping through the Gundam's fuselage.
"Hilde, let's show off some girl power!" Victoria called. She landed her Strike on the back of the Saviour's mobile armour form and the two flew off. Hilde fired the main cannons of her suit straight ahead while Victoria used the Agni to take out the enemies on their flanks.
"Yeah that's right, don't mess with us!" Hilde called. She did a barrel roll and Victoria pushed off, using the momentum as she rammed her sword through the cockpit of a Forbidden.
"Wow, everyone is so fired up" Marcel commented, watching the battle around him as ZAFT forces clashed with Purity. "I better not disappoint!" he said, sending his mirrors flying. He pulled out both of his beam rifles and fired multiple shots into them, sending the shots into Gundams far away from himself. The battle raged on with both sides losing soldiers. By the time the ZAFT forces had managed to take down two Purity ships, four of their own had already been sunk.
"Dammit, we're so outnumbered it's ridiculous. We can't get close to the ships because there's just so many mobile suits out there" Captain Phillips groaned, watching the battle. "Where the hell are Orb and the Earth Forces?!" he roared, slamming his fist down on the arm of his seat.
"Captain, multiple ships sighted! It's the EAF fleet!" one of the bridge crew called.
"Give me a visual!" Richard ordered and a video feed came up on the screen. "There are eight ships there, that's all they could send?" he grumbled. "Whatever, if they're here then the Orb ships must be coming around to the left flank. Signal the Bayonet, we're attacking the Crucifix!" Richard commanded. "All hands prepare for heavy resistance while we ram through the Purity forces! Ready the Tannhauser and get all friendly forces out of the firing line!" the Captain called. There were a few seconds of delay as ZAFT forces evacuated the line of fire of the Ceres' positron cannon before it fired. The beam tore through numerous Purity mobile suits as well as one of their 250m-class ships. The Ceres, the Bayonet and all of their mobile suits quickly took off down the path the cannon left.