Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam series, from the beginning to the SEED trilogy… not even a single piece of scrap metal or orbiting debris…
A/N: Unlike before, I would like to put in a few twists with regards to pairings for this second… err… third version of Gundam SEED Reverie. Like before, this will start as a side story to GSD and may probably end up as a continuation-fanfic of GSD, which means I will make up stuff that may occur after the Destiny time-frame. This is the fanfic "Gundam SEED Reverie" rewritten for the third time. I'm abandoning my other account and canceling it once I'm done moving. XD
The following would be the Equatorial Union's military ranking system. Quite short though:
High Admiral / Grand General / Navarch
Admiral / General
Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral
Colonel
Captain
Commander
Lt. Commander
Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
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Gundam SEED Reverie
AzureStrike – MidnightReverist - Azure.Rouge
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Clark Airbase, Equatorial Union…
"All personnel are ordered to evacuate. I repeat, all personnel are ordered to evacuate." the PA said over and over again as sirens rang through the base. What may be a typical scene during war is currently occurring in the base. There was chaos everywhere, but not because of an attack, but because of rain… the rain of debris from the falling Junius 7.
On one particular hangar was Silve Almana, a soldier of the Equatorial Union and former Moebius pilot of the Earth Alliance Forces under training of the Hawk of Endymion, Mwu La Flaga and the only survivor, aside from Mwu, at the Battle of Endymion in which Mwu shot down five Mobile Suits. Unknown to the EAF, another one survived the battle, and was rescued by an EU medical ship. A few years later, he found himself face to face with death again, this time, not in the hands of enemies but in the form of a falling colony.
"Damn… they want us to evacuate, but there's nowhere to go to." the crimson haired soldier complained as he ran around the base looking for a means to leave the place. He first ran towards the armory, but a few hundred meters away, the armory was hit by a piece of debris and the ammunition stored inside generated a powerful explosion. Next, he rushed to the tarmac to find an aircraft to use. Most of the aircraft were already airborne. A few FX-550 Skygraspers that were left during the last war were still in the hangar and Silve took out one of them. He taxied the Skygrasper into the runway and took off, but the right wing took a major damage from the falling debris. The Skygrasper made an emergency landing next to an old hangar. As soon as Silve got out of the stricken plane, another piece of debris hit the old hangar, leaving a large hole. Silve peeked into the hole and saw one of the first suits equipped with N-Jammer Cancellers, the ZGMF-X03A Azure Strike, designated as EUMF-X03A in the Equatorial Union. Having no other option, he boarded the Azure Strike and activated it. The OS booted and the screens activated. The first thing he saw through the screens were the aircraft of his comrades that were crashing after being hit by debris, turning the scene into a sea of fire.
"If I'm going to die… I'm making sure that it's not here." he whispered to himself as the Azure Strike stood up and flew off, activating its Phase Shift Armor in mid-air. However, after a few seconds in the air, the Azure Strike plummeted back to the ground and landed on its feet.
"Thrust is too low…" he mumbled as he adjusted the settings for the Azure Strike's legs and ran off instead.
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Command Center…
"Unit activation detected. Designation, EUMF-X03A." one of the personnel reported.
"EUMF-X03A…? What's the probable purpose of activation? Is it authorized?" the OIC asked.
"Activation unauthorized. Probable purpose is relocation or evacuation. We have received reports that Clark is currently suffering heavy damages from Junius 7."
"I see… so that's the reason… Very well, open Gate 02-C. Equip the STRIDE Flyer with AS-SS01A. Give order to launch as soon as the Flyer's ready."
"Roger." the operator activated the PA, "… open Gate 02-C. Prepare launch catapult. Equip STRIDE Flyer with Skies Striker Pack. Flight to Clark, ASAP."
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Cafeteria…
Unaware of the current situation that the Union was facing hundreds of kilometers away, some of the soldiers were having their 30-minute break from their daily routine when their peaceful time to relax was interrupted by a call through the PA.
"Calling 2nd Lt. Natalie Mia Halcyone, proceed to Hangar 02 for immediate mission briefing. This is a top priority. I repeat, 2nd Lt. Natalie Mia Halcyone, proceed to Hangar 02 for immediate mission briefing. This is a top priority." The PA repeated itself. Out of the entire group of soldiers in the cafeteria, a blonde, somehow tomboyish, female pilot jumped up and ran out of the cafeteria.
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Hangar 02…
Less than a minute later, the tomboyish blonde arrived at Hangar 02 where she was immediately sent to the locker room to put on her flight suit. After she finished, she was briefed by the OIC behind the aircraft.
"2nd Lt. Natalie Mia Halcyone, reporting, sir." She gave a salute to the OIC.
"Carry on." The OIC returned the salute, "…I'm sure if you are aware of this but Junius 7 is currently heading for Earth. What you need to do now is to fly to Clark and deliver the Skies Striker. Upon completion, you have two options. You can either merge the Flyer with the Azure Strike or return here."
"But, sir… what will happen to this base? Isn't this base in danger of being hit by debris?"
"As a matter of fact, it is. However, the installation of a lightweight barrier system similar to the one used in Artemis was finished a few hours ago. It's fully operational and will be enough to defend this base when debris hit." The OIC cleared his throat, "…your primary mission now is to rendezvous with the Azure Strike and deliver the Skies Striker. If you choose to merge with the Azure Strike, your new mission will be to return here with the Strike. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir."
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Gate 02-C…
A few seconds after she boarded, the STRIDE Flyer was loaded into the catapult and gates behind the aircraft closed.
"STRIDE, this is Flight Control, pre-flight report please."
"FC, this is STRIDE. Systems are all green. STRIDE is ready to launch." Mia replied through the radio.
"Roger that, equipping Auxiliary Fuel Tanks." Two panels on both sides of the aircraft opened as a ceiling panel opened and lowered two fuel tanks that linked at the sides of the STRIDE. Guide lights activated on the walls and floor. Front gates opened and the catapult tilted upward, pointing to the sky.
"STRIDE Flyer, you are clear to launch."
"Right." Mia closed her helmet and leaned back on the seat, "Mia Halcyone, STRIDE Flyer, taking off!"
The Flyer was shot out of the catapult. After being released, the thrusters of the Skies Striker activated and drove the Flyer through the atmosphere at very high speeds.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Earth's Ionosphere…
The largest portion of Junius 7 was currently starting to burn up in the atmosphere. The Minerva moved closer to Junius 7 and aimed it Tannhäuser positron cannon at the falling colony. The large piece was broken into smaller bits, most of which were destroyed during atmospheric entry. Some of the larger pieces managed to get through the atmosphere and many places on Earth, including Athens, Philadelphia, Quebec, Rome and many other locations. Others that hit the ocean, mostly at the Equator, generated huge tsunamis and destroyed everything along the shorelines.
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Command Center…
Just as everyone thought that the worst was over, ORB and Equatorial Union radar detected something big entering the atmosphere.
"Unidentified object detected above Indonesia. Distance, 95 kilometers. Size is estimated to be 250 meters long and With its current trajectory, it's bound to hit Manila in a matter of minutes." the operator, with a horrified expression, then shifted his gaze to the OIC.
"That's not very good…" the OIC fell back to his chair, "… give orders to both the Flyer and Azure to intercept the object as soon as unison has been achieved. Enable the remote launching of Clark's undamaged SAM. We have to make sure that the object doesn't touch the ground at all costs!"
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Pampanga, Equatorial Union
Aboard the Azure Strike, Silve Almana managed to get a few kilometers away from Clark when the rain of debris stopped. Silve stopped the Azure Strike on top of a dormant volcano and looked down on the ruins that was once Clark Airbase.
"That was close…" Silve sighed and let out a sigh. He almost drifted off to sleep when an incoming voice message woke him up.
"EUMF-X03A Azure Strike, as part of the Equatorial Union, you are ordered to rendezvous with the STRIDE Flyer in a matter of seconds. Unison is a top priority after rendezvous. Further orders are to come in short after unison is achieved." the message was finished.
"That's a pretty weird order to give." Silve sat up straight and checked the radar, "STRIDE, huh? I don't see anything…"
Just after he said that, a sonic boom hit the Azure Strike. Then a transmission came from the aircraft that passed.
"EUMF-X03A Azure Strike. This is the STRIDE Flyer, do you copy? Over." A female voice said on the radio.
"Roger. This is EUMF-X03A Azure Strike, I copy you loud and clear, over." Silve answered.
"Azure Strike, launch into the air please."
"What? Are you kidding? This thing can't even stay airborne!" Silve complained over the radio.
"Just do it. We don't have time for arguments!" the female voice shouted.
"What do you mean?" Silve asked, but a warning on the screen interrupted him, "What the… unidentified object? It's huge!"
"Just launch into the air. We'll proceed into unison in mid air. I'll explain the rest after we're done with that."
"Alright, fine." Silve sighed as he adjusted the thruster output and stepped on the foot panel that activated the thruster, launching the Azure Strike into the air.
"Good." the circling STRIDE Flyer headed towards the Azure Strike. Mia slammed her palm on the wall and hit the red button. The STRIDE Flyer separated from the Skies Striker pack and attached itself to the front of the Azure Strike's torso. The Skies Striker pack aligned itself with the falling Azure Strike and attached itself to the back.
"Now, try to remain airborne." Mia ordered through the Strike's integrated communications system.
"Right." Silve adjusted the thruster outputs a bit and stepped on the panel again, keeping the mobile suit airborne, "So, what about the explanation?"
"Oh, right… but first, head towards the south. That's where we'll receive our next orders."
"Whatever you say…" Silve turned and flew off.
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On the skies above Luzon…
"So, explanation please." Silve said through the intercom, voice only.
"Oh, right. Let's start with this suit. I'm sure you know that this is the EUMF-X03A Azure Strike. When using the Skies Striker pack, it becomes the Azure Skies."
"Azure Skies, huh? That's quite flashy." Silve said as he searched around the suit's MOS and saw the new equipments and their specifications.
"Well, yes. Anyway, I'll tell you about the current situation. ORB and EU radars detected a large object above Indonesia and it's heading straight for Manila."
"Indonesia? How the heck is this suit able to detect something that far away? Not to mention that the other radar systems except ORB's and EU's radars were unable to go that far!"
"Actually, this suit was built with a series of support satellites. A total of 12 are in space and one of them must have detected the large object, in turn setting off the warning in the Strike."
"I see." Silve stopped snooping around the MOS and focused on flying the Azure Skies. Then, the screen bleeped and another message came in.
"EUMF-X03A Azure Strike. Do you copy?"
"Roger." Silve replied, "…This is EUMF-X03A Azure Strike, changing callsign to Azure Skies, over."
"Copy that, Azure Skies. Here're your new orders. You are to fly to Sulu Sea and intercept the unidentified object. Skygraspers are on their way to do the initial intercepting. You will proceed with the secondary interception. Is that clear?"
"Roger. Over and out." Silve closed the line.
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Command Center…
"Unidentified object, ID-ed as Bogey 1 is currently 60 kilometers above Celebes Sea. Estimated time before impact, 5 minutes." The operator read the readings on the screen.
"Very well. Begin interception. Commence the Skygrasper interception!" the commander ordered.
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At the skies above Mindanao…
Ten Skygraspers flew through the atmosphere carrying a Launcher Striker pack each, constantly ascending, getting into a collision course with the unidentified object.
"Spratley, this is Meteor Breaker 1, we have clear visual of the object." The commander of the Skygrasper Wing reported to Spratley Naval Base.
"Roger. Identification?" the operator asked.
"It's not a meteor. It's a piece of debris from a colony… Junius 7…" the commander reported.
"I see… please proceed with interception." the operator said before closing the line.
"Right. Meteor Breaker team, you know the drill." the commander's Skygrasper flew ahead, followed by the rest. At a distance of 20 kilometers away, the 10 Skygraspers flew parallel to each other forming a straight horizontal line. At a distance of 15 kilometers away, all 10 Skygraspers fired the Launcher Striker pack's high-energy beam cannon at the debris that was currently burning up at the atmosphere.
"Bull's eye!" the commander shouted as the beams hit the debris. Then, much to their surprise, the beams went around the debris and failed to scratch the debris.
"What happened?" the commander stared in astonishment.
"The air around it is super heated… probably high enough to cause the refraction of beams…" one of the pilots answered, then all their warning systems went berserk.
"What's wrong?" another pilot asked, trying to get an explanation.
"We're heading straight for the debris! Everyone, scramble!" the commander ordered. The planes flew in different directions, avoiding the debris. Three of the ten Skygraspers' wings scratched the side of the colony, unable to turn away fast enough. The speed of the super heated air around the falling colony burned through the metal on the Skygraspers, igniting the fuel and blowing them up in mid-air… one of which is the commander's aircraft, making fireworks out of the multi-million dollar fighters.
"Meteor Breaker 4, report. We just lost Meteor Breaker 1, 2 and 6 on the radar. Please confirm." the operator called.
"Operator, this is Meteor Breaker 4… we just lost them. They're gone.", and with that, the pilot cut off the communication link.
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Command Center…
"Bogey 1, now identified. J7-1 is still heading for Manila. Damages aside from burn-up in re-entry is zero." The operator reported.
"I understand. Inform the Azure Skies the situation. Send them to intercept."
"Yes, sir." the operator contacted the Azure Skies, "Azure Skies, you have orders to intercept. I repeat, you have orders to intercept."
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Sulu Sea…
"Roger, Spratley. Over and out." Mia closed the channel and talked to Silve, "We have orders to intercept. You know all this thing's weapons, right?"
"Yeah… I had enough time to get through the MOS. Let's go!" Silve said, flying the Azure Skies toward the debris at speeds greater than sound.
"Distance, 19,000 meters." Mia held on to her seat.
"Right…" Silve grunted. He brought the Azure Skies to a sudden stop and aimed the 2 Xiphias 3 waist-mounted rail cannons. He fired consecutively at the debris before flying towards it again.
"Distance, 5000 meters." Mia closed the glass of her helmet.
"Here we go!" Silve shouted. The Azure Skies pulled something that resembled a handle from the STRIDE Flyer attached at the front. He then pulled out the Azure Skies' 14.20 meter long Balmung anti-ship sword and attached it to the top of the handle, with the beam edges on the inside. He took the beam swords attached to the shoulders of the Azure Skies and put them at the center, perpendicular to the Balmung. He attached a wire from the Azure Skies' back pack to the sword and activated it, forming the 37 meter long "Endymion" beam sword.
"That colony won't even touch the ground!" Silve shouted as he flew the Azure Skies directly into the debris at full speed and Endymion aimed forward. The Azure Skies collided with the debris in mid air, causing a very powerful shockwave to be released. Silve turned the thrusters beyond maximum and drove the sword deeper into the burning debris.
"Internal temperature, 146 degrees and still rising!" Mia held on to her seat.
"Don't worry! Once we get through, the hot air that will flow through the hole we made will be enough to shatter this thing into pieces!"
The Azure Skies carried on, pushing deeper into the debris. A few more seconds later, the temperature inside the cockpit rose to 200 degrees, and to Silve who wasn't even wearing a flight suit, it was unbearable. A little later, the Azure Skies pushed through, leaving a 15 meter wide hole in the debris. The hot air rushing through the hole pushed the Azure Skies at great forces, and divided the debris into 8 smaller pieces.
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Equatorial Union Naval Base, Spratley Island, Command Center…
"Breakup of J7-1 confirmed. 8 smaller pieces have been detected." The operator sighed.
"Very well. Activate the remote launch sequence of Clark's remaining SAMs, prepare the fire-control."
"Done." the operator declared as a panel opened on the table in front of the OIC, revealing a large red button.
"Alright… Hopefully, this will finish the job…" the OIC hoped as he pressed the button.
And with that, all twelve clusters of Clark's remaining missiles were launched, adding up to 29 large Surface-to-Air Missiles or SAMs, destroying the remnants of the debris.
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Uncharted Island, Sulu Sea…
As the missiles intercepted the chunks of Junius 7, Silve and Mia looked down at what seemed to be a beautiful destruction. After the destruction of the last piece of debris, the extreme heat and extreme G-forces have taken their toll on Silve. Silve blacked out, leaving the Azure Skies to plummet towards the ground. The STRIDE Flyer, being unable to separate from the Azure Skies due to unstable movements, crashed to the Earth with the Strike, though the machines were undamaged because of the Phase Shift Armor. A few hours later, Mia regained consciousness. She remembered what happened and hurried to the Strike's cockpit and opened it from outside, where she got her first look at the pilot's face. She stared at the pilot, who without a flight suit, suffered extreme temperatures and extreme G-forces, and survived, though heavily injured, though in minor terms, after being battered around in the cockpit.
Glossary
STRIDE Flyer – STRIker DEployment Flyer
OIC – Officer In Charge
SAM – Surface to Air Missiles