I do not own Gundam Wing

The year is After Colony 196.

In an attempt to end all conflicts brought about by the recent war with the Space Colonies, a treaty was formed and agreed upon by both the Representative of the Space Colonies and the President of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation to dismantle all military operations and lay down all weapons.

Relena Peacecraft was at the for front of these negotiations, stating that peace can only be maintain by throwing away all weapons. Her reasoning that mankind fights only because they have the means to fight, and so, by removing the temptations of war and violence, pacifism can become a reality.

And so, six months after the war with the White Fang, a gathering of all the world leaders were called together to be present for the birth of the Preventors, the only organization that will be granted any kind of military power in order to protect the people.

Chapter 02: Assumptions

Duo Maxwell stretched long and hard, tipping his chair back even further then his kicked-up feet on his desk usually allowed and yawned. It wasn't that the events going on with the Earth Sphere Unified Nation didn't concern him, the recent attack on the Presidents life, but it was just that those events seemed so far away now. His war was over, let the new kids do something about it.

He finished his stretch and glanced up to the towering Mobile Suit, chrome black shielding stretching around its shoulders, giving the illusion of a giant bat from Hell resting peaceably next to him. The Gundam was, of course, an inanimate object, a creation of science and certain extraordinary humans but to Duo, the Gundam Deathscythe was as much a reflection of his conscience as it was his fighting spirit. "Hey old buddy," Duo called out to his machine. "What do you think we should do?" He waited a moment. "Yeah, 'suppose your right. It is up to us with power to do the right thing, I guess." He paused again. "What about the others? I'm sure they'll try ta do somethin, too. Wanna just wait to hear from them?"

From behind him, entering the makeshift Mobile Suit dock/command room Duo had personally set up, Hilde walked in, her heels clicking slightly on the cold stone floor. "Talking to your Gundam again, Duo?"

"Just trying to decide what to do. I mean, what's the point in fighting for peace if someone else is just gonna turn around and try to destroy it?" Duo shook his head, exasperatedly.

"Ah, come on, Duo," Hilde said. "Some one has to keep fighting the good fight."

"I guess your right," Duo said, standing up and looking at Hilde with a smile. "After all, we've gotten pretty good at these losing battles." He chuckled slightly and turned to his machine. "Guess I'll have to go it alone as the God of Death. At least until the others catch up with me, that is."

Hilde frowned, knowing what was coming next. "I guess that means you'll be leaving now?"

"That's right," Duo said. "Better than sitting around here, I guess."

Hilde lowered her eyes. "Alright. Will you at least be safe?"

"Come on," Duo laughed. "Not really in the job description."

With a flicker of green light, Duo raised Deathscythe's mechanized head. Duo looked up as well, giving one final regretful wish to this whole mess. Spreading his bat-like wings, he slide the thrusters forward. With a wash of exhaust from the back-mounted rocket, Deathscythe lifted off and headed out of the colony into space.

************

"Heero," Trowa Barton said softly, walking up behind Heero as he stood in a high balcony over looking the mass of people representing each of the Colony leaders as Relena presented her proposal for expanding the Earth Sphere Unified Nations into a more encompassing nation that would include all the Colonies. "I just was in contact with Noine. She wants us to rendezvous with her and the Preventors at Colony X-18987 in three days."

Heero remained motionless but focused his eyes on Trowa from the corner of is eyes. "Has she found any information about the shooter?"

"She says there are indications that the attack may be sent out by the Colonies."

Heero turned his head to look straight at his fellow Gundam pilot. "Figures. There are sure to be enough people in space with resentment towards Earth that don't want a steady relationship with Earth. If that's the case, I don't think there is too much to worry about. Those people do not speak for the Colonies as a whole and would need heavy financial backing in order to take on Earth, the Colonies, and the Preventors. Une and her team should be able to handle this without us having to interfere."

Trowa nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face, partially hidden behind his clawed hair. "I was thinking more along the lines of White Fang remnants stirring up trouble. They no doubt still have military power to some degree. If that is true, than they wouldn't need the financial backing required to start a campaign. "

Heero turned back to watching the assembly, eyes racking the balconies for any potential threats that might take a shot at Relena. "That possibility has crossed my mind, too, but they way I see it, the White Fang had no reason to with hold any of their forces for that battle. Zechs wasn't the kind of person to hold back in a battle like that." Heero shook his head. "No, the White Fang may be apart of this, but they aren't the ones pulling the strings."

"There is definitely more going on here than meets the eyes. But Heero, if you think that, don't you think we have to get involved?" Trowa asked, knowing what Heero would say. Whenever Relena might be in danger, Heero was always ready to take action.

"Noine and Lady Une have put together a capable group of people for the Preventors. They can handle this themselves." Heero glanced back at Trowa, who hid his smile quickly. "But the least we can do is hear what they have to say."

"Agreed. We will leave as soon as this meeting is over."

************

Sally Poe flicked one of her long braided braids to the backside of her shoulder and looked over at Noine. She was staring uncharacteristically silently out the forward viewport. Unlike anything seen from Earth, the stars of distant galaxies and solar systems shown clean and clear without any atmosphere to soften the glow and without light pollution to mask the beauty. Unfortunately, without that softening touch, other things like space trash and floating bits of rock were also apparent. It had been nearly 200 years since the first Colony was created and set into orbit and the first of the Colony citizens took their place among the stars and humanity had clearly left their mark.

"Noine," Sally said softly.

"It just doesn't make sense, Sally," Noine said, continuing to stare at outer space. "Why would someone want to assassinate the President at a peace conference? After the terrible war we just fought, the people we lost."

Sally looked out the forward viewports too. "It may be hard to imagine this, Noine, but not everyone hopes for peace. If peace was everybody's objective, human kind would have reached peace a long time ago. There are some people who simply love fighting and just don't care about the results. Others fight to obtain a sense of satisfaction." Sally lowered her head and closed her eyes. "To be honest, I have given up hope for any kind of lasting peace."

Noine looked over at her friend, shocked by the statement. "Sally, I believe that under Miss Relena's guidance, the human race can attain a sense of true peace. And as long as the Preventors exist, we will fight to protect that peace."

There was a ping from the console, telling the two women that they were approaching Colony X-18987. It was the work of only a few minutes for Preventors Cruiser to receive landing instructions and with a his of released gases, came to a smooth landing. The landing bay was of the secured variety, complete with security detail and sensor analyses to ensure that the ship was safe with its military weapons onboard.

Sally and Noine finished locking down their stations and sent a message to Heero and Trowa asking for their ETA. With that accomplished, Noine and Sally headed to the refresher and the restaurants.

************

"Transport Tundrabar requesting clearance and landing instructions."

Trowa, sitting in the co-pilot seat next to Heero glanced amusedly over as Heero turned the transmitter into receiver mode to receive instructions. "Tundrabar?" he asked. "Where did you think up that name?"

Heero turned to look at Trowa. "It was the name of Relena's first dog she could remember having," he said, his ever present monotone giving nothing away.

"And how, exactly, did that ever come up in conversation?"

"Transport Tundrabar, what is your cargo and destination?" the brisk voice of Control hissed over the low quality comm. that Heero liked to use for situations like this. Of course, the real comm. unit were of a much more militaristic grade that would probably raise a few eyebrows.

"Control, cargo is composed of mining equipment and a single personal shuttle. Nothing special. En-route Colony engineering for minor mechanical failure." Heero glanced at Trowa as he switched the old, out dated comm. unit back to receive mode. "Trowa, did you complete the adjustments to the shuttle?"

Trowa nodded, not taking offense to having his job questioned. He knew that Heero never really liked working with others and more often than not preferred doing things his own way with his own hands. "Yes. Everything should be ready." Heero nodded.

"Tundrabar, you must understand that your cargo must complete and pass full examinations once arrived before your unloading can take place."

"Understood, Control. Nothing to hide here." Heero stood and transferred the comm. over to Trowa and headed back to make the final preparations in making the deception hold together long enough for Noine, Sally, Trowa and himself to meet.

Entering into the cargo bay was like taking a step back in time to pre Colony mining years. Tools and high density drills hung on racks and in cases, scattered around on the floor in some cases. Huge asteroid drills reached from the front of the transport all the way into the back, spanning a hundred and fifty feet long. The lights, mostly hidden on purpose by the large tools, gave the cargo bay a rust colored tinged to the area, making close examination of any single object a difficult task.

Sitting in the center of the mechanical mess was a single shuttle, the same rusty red as the abused equipment all around it. There was nothing special about the shuttle, a standard transport found in use all around mining camps. Neither Gundam was was visible, HeavyArms was left hanging in orbit in a small, unmarked container. There was nothing that would attract undue attention. Even as Heero made the final adjustments to the shuttle, the transport settled smoothly to the floor of the Colony.

To be continued...

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