Prologue - Zaft's Greatest Weapon
Hi there my faithful readers. I'm so sorry to do this to you when I was so close to finishing the story originally but I reread it and decided that I could have done so much of a better job on this so I'm rewriting it in a way that I think is so much better. I hope you like it, I know I do ^.^ Enjoy!
In year 54 of the Cosmic Era, the ZAFT Supreme Council decided to take a path on which there was no coming back. It was a path that would change the course of the world forever. This course is something they though would aid them.
The Council was suspicious of the Earth Alliance and they had a right to be. The Earth Forces' assassins were trying to infiltrate the PLANTs and ZAFT Forces. They were gaining Intel without the ZAFT Forces' knowledge. This was causing tensions to rise.
A few of the ZAFT Forces' highest ranking military officials, most trusted by the Council decided that they needed to do something. They needed a weapon.
One man, Rau Le Creuset had a spark of genius: instead of a literal weapon to help them defeat the Earth Forces' assassins but what about a metaphoric weapon. To be precise they would create a coordinator to be their prize assassin. The coordinator would be faster, stronger and smarter than every other coordinator. They would have perfect shooting abilities, they would be a martial arts master, they would be able to read peoples' minds, and they would have flawless lying skills as well as having their problem solving abilities higher than anybody else's allowing them to escape from difficult situations. They would be a ruthless killing machine who would never be caught.
The council accepted this endeavour and the military designed the assassin's abilities. They chose a couple to be the child's parents. It was year 55 of the Cosmic Era by the time that the assassin was finally conceived. She was born in the October of that year and her parents christened her Arliania. She was a beautiful child. Nobody could possibly see her as being able to kill somebody but this child was going to grow up to become history's most feared assassin.
Arliania grew up. When she was five she began her training and she went on her first mission when she was ten and by the time she was thirteen the Dragon of Space was a name that made every higher-up in the Earth Alliance shiver slightly with fear.
At fourteen Arli joined the Le Creuset Team as the only female red jacket pilot. She used the team as a cover for her missions. But a year later tragedy struck and the world would never be the same…
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CE 70, February 24 - PLANT Supreme Council, Aprilius-One
Arli clasped her hands in her lap and tried to ignore the many voices of the Supreme Council all trying in vain to be heard over each other. They all had something to say and they wanted to say it at that exact moment.
Arli clenched her eyes shut behind the amber glass that covered her eyes on her mask.
Why won't they be quiet? She tossed her head, her blonde pony tail swishing behind her as she tried desperately to block out the voices of the twelve council members. She was entirely clad in black.
Arli dressed mainly in her mission suit rather than her official uniform which was a black and gold version of the Elite Pilot's uniform. Her mission suit was tight. She wore gloves and tight boots that were stretchy enough for her to strap a gun to her right calf and a knife to her left. She also carried several guns on her waist, a silencer with them and several knives. She sometimes carried a rifle on her back but only when it wouldn't inconvenience her.
A mask covered the young assassin's eyes. It was black and tied around her head with ribbons that were pinned to her hair and fell down through her pony tail. The edges of the mask were spiked to resemble a dragon's wings and were patterned with a red and gold curl that travelled up each edge and met in the middle of the top where the mask spiked up. The eyes were made out of an amber tinted glass to protect Arli's identity further. She was number one on Blue Cosmos leader Muruta Azrael's hit list. And he was number one on hers.
Right at this moment Arli was about to lose it.
Ten days ago the Earth Forces had released a nuclear missile at Junius-Seven. Over two hundred thousand coordinators had died among them was Arli's mother who had been visiting her friend Lenore Zala at the time. Arli still couldn't believe it had actually happened and just eight days afterwards, PLANT declared war on the Earth Alliance and ZAFT launched Neutron-Jammers into the Earth's surface to prevent any nuclear-fission reactions from taking place, stopping the disaster of a nuclear war from happening.
But before that, only the day after the Bloody Valentine incident, the Council had sent Arli on another mission and she'd returned and the next day war was declared and the attack took place.
Everybody, even Arli herself, assumed that this war was going to be short and sweet and that the Earth Forces would come out the victors but right now Arli had a more pressing matter: she wanted to quit her assassin job.
The babble of voices was increasing in volume and Arli just couldn't take it anymore.
"Would you all just shut up?" she screamed and stood up. Beside her Commander Rau Le Creuset looked up in interest. He had been becoming increasingly bored with the proceedings and the Dragon of Space always seemed to lighten things up.
Every member of the PLANT Supreme Council turned and looked at Arli. Her father's eyes were saddened. Beside him Patrick Zala looked up angrily at Arli. Siegel Clyne however motioned to the Council members. He had been the only one not shouting. Siegel had just become Chairman of the Supreme Council and Arli's best friend was his daughter, Lacus Clyne so she knew him well and trusted him.
"What is it Lady Dragoness?" Siegel asked.
"Why are you all shouting like this?" Arli demanded. "This isn't going to get you anywhere. I've just returned from Washington D.C, the capital of the Earth Alliance and let me tell you, they are no better organised than we are and they're the ones who started this damn thing!" After I provoked them…
"Lady Dragoness is right, please, everybody sit and wait for her to speak," Siegel said, gesturing to the members of the Council. Every member seemed to realise themselves and they sat. It was then that Arli noticed how dishevelled they all looked and she didn't blame them. This time was hectic.
"The Alliance is preparing for whatever ZAFT throws at them and they seem worried about another large killing by the Dragon of Space but they will be pleasantly surprised when that doesn't happen because I've decided that I'm quitting," Arli explained.
Silence.
"Excuse me?" Patrick Zala demanded.
"I'm quitting!" Arli snapped. "I can't stand this anymore! The Dragon of Space can only fan the flames of this war but Arli Elthsman, Elite Red Jacket of the Le Creuset Team can fight in a war. I want to help bring a swift end to this war but I can't do that as an assassin. I can do it as a mobile suit pilot."
There was more silence and then murmurs of discussion broke out and Arli frowned as her father look at Siegel pleadingly. Siegel seemed to be doing some serious thinking.
Then Commander Le Creuset cleared his throat and stood.
"If I may speak, Chairman Clyne?" he requested.
"Go ahead Commander," Siegel replied.
"I agree with Lady Dragoness," Commander Le Creuset explained. "We've had a large increase in the number of volunteers to join the military but I can almost guarantee that there will not be very many who can measure up to Arli's capabilities in a mobile suit or as a soldier."
Arli looked at the blond commander and frowned. She wasn't sure what it was but she just didn't trust the Commander. Perhaps it was because she couldn't see his eyes so she didn't know what he was thinking. Whatever it was though, he made her uncomfortable sometimes and she suddenly wondered if her decision to join the military full-time was a good idea after all. She would be stuck with him all of the time.
It was a sacrifice she was willing to make though. After the Bloody Valentine there was no way that she could be the Dragon of Space again… She should have quit a long time ago. When she was eleven and had first seen Muruta Azrael… She would have quit then. It was too late for that though. She could quit now. She could stop being a… There wasn't even a bad enough word in her vocabulary to describe what she thought of herself.
"I don't know Le Creuset," Ted Elthsman said. "She's safer as the Dragon of Space."
"I beg to differ," Arli replied. "The Earth Forces don't know that Arli Elthsman is the Dragon of Space. It'll be harder for them if the Dragon doesn't show her face anymore."
It'll be better for my mental health if I never have to see a member of Blue Cosmos again, Arli thought coldly, ignoring the dark shadow at the back of her mind that was struggling to make itself heard.
"What if we need your services again?" Ezaliah Joule asked. Arli looked at her. One day that woman would be her mother-in-law. It was planned by her and Arli's father. And Arli hated Ezaliah. Everytime she looked into that woman's eyes the only thing she could see was hatred. Arli knew that mother-in-law was an acronym for woman-Hitler and thought that it applied directly to her future mother-in-law.
"I have ten assassins trained who are almost as good as I am," Arli replied. "They are loyal and true." To me that is… "Call on them if you need assistance. I will tell them that they have strict orders to work as I would have."
Siegel looked at Arli over his clasped hands. "Arli… I think that if this is what you want then we will have to grant your wishes," he decided. "You will stay as a Red Jacket Elite and I would like to induct you into the Special Forces FAITH group."
"No," Arli replied. "The Dragon of Space is a FAITH soldier. I am not."
"But-"
"Chairman Clyne, I accepted the Order of the Nebula last year and that is all I am willing to do on behalf of who I was born to be. I am no longer that person and therefore I will not carry any semblance to her. I'm not a FAITH soldier; I am just an Elite Pilot of the Le Creuset Team."
The Council members all looked at Siegel who sighed and nodded.
"Very well, as you wish," he murmured. "Le Creuset, are you in agreement with this?"
"I am, Chairman," Commander Le Creuset nodded. Siegel smiled.
"Arli, you're freed from your duties as the Dragon of Space."
"Thankyou," Arli sighed and bowed.
A few more words were passed around and Siegel stood and adjourned the meeting. Arli and Commander Le Creuset stood outside the council room and saluted as the members walked out.
Patrick Zala and Ezaliah Joule went passed discussing something about the war. They were on the defence committee after all. Siegel and Ted, however, stopped in front of Arli.
"Lacus will be very upset about this," Siegel told Arli and she dropped her arm from her salute.
"I know," she sighed. "Let me tell her, please Siegel."
"Of course," Siegel replied with a smile. He glanced at Ted whose amethyst eyes were worried.
"The military Arli? Why?" Ted questioned.
"I told you why," Arli replied and sighed. "Don't worry Dad, I'll be fine."
"Dearka volunteered yesterday," Ted explained and Siegel looked at him sympathetically.
"So have Patrick, Ezaliah and Yuri's sons," Siegel replied. "As Commander Le Creuset said, a large number over the average have volunteered. Junius Seven has shaken up our nation."
Arli looked down guiltily as the sadness flared in her father's eyes. They didn't know. How could they know? Nobody knew except Arli herself. The tragedy. It was tearing her apart inside and that was one reason she was joining the military. She was going to stop this war. She was going to finish it… or die in the process. Both options felt right to her.
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Three months later, December City Space Port, Vesalius
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Arli floated onto the Vesalius, saluting the soldier ticking names off at the front door. She knew that they were gaining a bunch of new recruits but she didn't particularly like the idea of having to baby-sit a bunch of newbie pilots straight of military school.
Arli went to her room. She didn't have to have a bunk room because she was the only girl on the Le Creuset Team so she got an upgrade and had a room to herself. After making sure everything was in place, Arli left her quarters and made her way to the briefing room where Commander Le Creuset was waiting.
"Arli," he greeted, pleased.
"Commander," Arli replied, saluting. She grabbed the podium to stay herself. Commander Le Creuset was sitting at the table over to the side. He was waiting for the new pilots and Arli was supposed to speak with the new Red Jackets when they arrived. She hated the idea of new pilots. She really did.
"You seem upset," Commander Le Creuset noted.
"Of course I am," Arli replied. "We don't need new pilots."
"Yes we do. I believe that they've been assigned to keep an eye on you. After what happened last time…"
Arli rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I don't need a babysitter and it really wasn't my fault that my GINN was destroyed."
"Five babysitters actually," Commander Le Creuset replied. He tilted his head slightly. "And we don't have an actual mission yet. We're just on PLANT and Lunar orbit until the Team is accustomed to each other and a job comes up."
Arli glared off to the side.
"I wish we didn't have to take a bunch of newbies," Arli groaned. "Graduates are frustrating."
"I think you'll be pleased with the pilots we've been assigned." Commander Le Creuset smiled slightly.
"I don't think I will," Arli replied.
There was a buzz at the door and both Le Creuset and Arli looked over.
"Commander, the new pilots have arrived," Miguel's voice said on the other side. Miguel had been with the team since just before the Bloody Valentine and Arli liked him. He was funny.
"Let them in," Commander Le Creuset called. The door opened and five teenage boys filed in. Arli blinked and stared and a smile spread across her face.
"Dearka? Athrun? Yzak?" she questioned, her rose-pink eyes sparkling.
"Hey Arlz," Dearka chuckled. Her brother was a year older than her and looked just like her with tanned skin, blond hair but with dark purple eyes instead of pink ones. Arli smiled at seeing him in a red uniform.
With her brother was her childhood friend Athrun Zala. He looked the same as ever with his indigo hair and bright, emerald eyes. He smiled at her and Arli grinned in response. On her fourteenth birthday, Athrun had made her a robotic cat named Lily. Arli kept her with her all of the time. Lily lived in her quarters on the ship during missions.
"It's good to see you, Ath," Arli smiled.
"And you," Athrun replied.
Arli's eyes moved to Yzak, her fiancé. They were engaged but rarely spent any time together. They'd known each other most of their lives and seeing him now made Arli's stomach tighten and her heart jump a little. She had always harboured a little crush on her brother's best friend and when their parents engaged them, she'd been ecstatic but not once had he shown that he cared about her. He probably didn't. He had neat silver hair and the most beautiful blue eyes that Arli had ever seen.
"Yzak," Arli greeted. He nodded in response. Why does he always have to look so angry?
Arli shook her head and looked at the other two pilots. One of them was shorter than the others but not shorter than Arli- this fact had her gritting her teeth, why did she have to be so small?- with curly green hair and warm mahogany eyes. The last was a tall red-head with grey-blue eyes. When Arli looked into them she found kindness and maturity. She decided that she liked both of these boys very much.
"You already know Yzak, Dearka and Athrun," Commander Le Creuset said. "These other two are Nicol Armalfi and Rusty Meckenzie. Boys this is Arliania Elthsman, she'll be your superior. I'll leave you to brief them on our team and what we're going to be doing for the next couple of months."
"Sir," Arli replied. They all saluted as Commander Le Creuset left them. Arli returned her eyes to the boys in front of her and smiled. "When they told me we were being assigned some graduates, I never imagined it would be you."
"Dad probably pulled some strings," Dearka chuckled.
Arli smiled. "Yeah, you're right."
Athrun smiled and even Yzak's expression softened as they looked at Arli's happy face. They hadn't seen each other in a while and the last time Dearka had seen his sister she had seem so depressed that he'd barely recognised her.
"So, Arli," Yzak said. "Sorry, ma'am, what's our objective?"
Arli rolled her eyes. "Arli will do, thanks, Yzak. And right now? Well, we're just on orbit. We aren't even doing anything interesting… For now anyway."
Dearka, Yzak and Athrun all looked at each other. They knew the truth about who Arli was and so they knew that if they had the Dragon of Space on their team, it wouldn't be long before they were given something interesting to do.
But right at that moment, Arli was just so glad to be with her brother, her fiancé and one of her very best friends- as well as two people who were going to become very close to her over the next few months- that she really didn't care.
