New Phase 3

Kira stared in awe at the sheer scale of the ship. It was unlike any class of ship he'd ever seen before. Multiple missiles fired and streaked towards the CGUE. It released decoys to throw off the missiles, while shooting down several others. One broke through, but missed the ZAFT mobile suit, instead striking the vulnerable Central Shaft. The ground quaked.

He called up the data, swiftly reading the information before him. He adjusted the scope, bringing the CGUE in his sights. His finger went to the trigger.

"No, don't fire that!" Murrue warned, but it was too late.

A blast of ruby and sapphire colored energy shot out as a large beam. It melted the CGUE's right arm, then puncturing a hole in the colony's outer wall. Kira felt his face go pale as he looked at the gaping hole that he unintentionally made. He never imagined that a single mobile suit could possess such power and do this sort of damage. He quickly shut down the Strike, letting the enemy escape.

Le Creuset zipped out of the hole that the Strike had made. He contacted the Vesalius. "Ades, prepare our forces for another attack." He said, "Ready the type D equipment."

"Type D?" Ades stammered. It was the heaviest weaponry in their arsenal, specifically designed for attacking large fortresses. Using such weapons on a colony meant that it was now a different scenario that anyone had thought.

Meanwhile, Athrun busily typed away, gathering all the data on his new machine. He was almost done when he heard that all GINNs were ordered to be loaded with Type D equipment. He thought of Kira, trying to deny that it was actually him he saw. He had always hoped to see him again, but not like this. However, he recognized those eyes and his voice. There was only one way to find out for certain, he had to go back inside the colony.

Elsewhere, Yzak, Dearka, Nicol, and Cade sat back in the changing room overlooking the mobile suit hanger, watching as the GINNs were aimed with heavy missile launchers and long barreled particle guns.

"Define overkill." Cade said, "Using type D equipment to attack a lone battleship and its single mobile suit. That's just a waste of material and too much trouble."

"According to you, slacker." Yzak retorted.

"He has a point." Nicol spoke up, "What'll happen to Heliopolis?"

"It cannot be helped at this point." Dearka muttered.

"Right, they're going to get what's coming to them." Yzak smirked, "Serves them right for claiming false neutrality."

Natarle rushed down the ramp, trailed by the other survivors. "Lieutenant Ramius!" she called, "It's a relief to see you're right all."

"Likewise, Ensign." Murrue replied. "Excellent work in safeguarding the ship; and thank you. You helped us greatly."

Natarle was about to explain what had happened, when she spotted the group of civilian youths, especially the young man exiting the Strike's cockpit. Before she could ask what it was all about, another man stepped forward.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He grinned. "I am Lieutenant Mu La Flaga of the 7th Mobile Fleet. It's an honor to meet you all."

"The honor's ours, sir." Murrue saluted. She felt excited to meet someone with the Hawk of Endymion's fame.

Mu returned the salute then turned to Natarle. "I'd wish to request permission to come aboard, as my ship was destroyed by the ZAFT forces during the last battle. Who would be in charge here?"

Natarle looked down. "The captain and the senior officers were all killed. Therefore, I believe that Lieutenant Ramius is the one whom should assume command."

Murrue couldn't believe what she heard and just froze. A few hours ago, she was eager to be finished with her task of transporting the prototypes, and now she had to take on the burden of having the responsibilities of captain.

"I was also escorting the recruits who were assigned to pilot the prototypes." La Flaga went on, "Any chance that they…?" Natarle shook her head, and that answered his question. "I see." He then turned his focus to the youths and walked up to Kira.

Kira unknowingly took a step back. "Yes?"

"That was impressive, young man." La Flaga complimented, "You wouldn't happen to be a Coordinator, would you?"

"Yes, I am." Kira felt his chest tighten as a number of soldiers raised their rifles and aimed at him.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tolle demanded, throwing himself in front of Kira. "Weren't you all watching just now? Kira is a Coordinator, but he's not an enemy! He fought off the ZAFT guys, you know!"

Now the soldiers aimed at him.

"Lower your weapons." Murrue order, her tone matching her new authority. Slowly, the soldiers obeyed, but it was clear they were untrusting of Kira. "Heliopolis is a neutral colony, so it's no surprise that Coordinators who wanted to escape the war would end up here."

"That's right, however my parents are Naturals." Kira explained, though he didn't why he felt he needed to.

"Oh, so you're a first generation, then." La Flaga said, scratching his head. "Well, I'm sorry if I stirred up a hornet's nest, I was merely curious." He gave Kira a pat on the back. "I watched many cadets work hard to become mobile suit pilots, but in all the simulations they hardly could get the thing to stand. "You're a damn good professional, kid."

Later, Murrue, Natarle, and La Flaga gathered on the bridge to discuss the current dilemma. With all the shelters sealed off, there was nowhere for the civilians youths to go. There was also the question of what to do with the Strike and the ZAFT forces' next move.

"Are you kidding me?" Mu asked in response to Murrue's suggestion that he take charge of the Strike. "There's no way I could even hope to operate that thing. The kid completely rewrote the OS."

Murrue had to agree if that statement. It was almost confounding the way Kira had revised the Gundam's operating system. He worked calmly and with lightning speed under extreme pressure. The fact of the matter was that the second he touched it, the Strike was like an entirely different machine all together.

"Well then, make him change it back to its original state." Natarle said, "We cannot let a civilian, let alone a Coordinator take responsibility for the mobile suit.

There was no mistaking the scorn in her voice. She no doubt had a deep hatred of Coordinators, as did many Naturals. Murrue really didn't have an opinion on it, as she viewed Coordinators as people with amazing capabilities. Still, she did understand the views of her fellow Naturals.

"So, what would you like for me to do?" La Flaga spoke again, "Go out there and hope I don't get my ass shot up?"

Murrue and Natarle were slightly stunned by an ace such the Hawk of Endymion talk down his own fighting abilities; however he had a valid argument.

"Look ladies," he sighed, "the kid's got more than just technical knowledge and he isn't a mere engineering protégé. He's got mechanical instincts to boot, and he can manage programming and possible maintenance. In my opinion, without him, your precious mobile suit is a piece of junk."

Meanwhile, Kira and the others sat in the mess hall; there wasn't much else they could do. However at that moment Murrue and La Flaga entered.

"Excuse me Kira." Murrue said, "We need to discuss something. Could you please step out here for a moment?"

Kira slowly crept out behind the Captain. The other waited, wondering what it was about.

"No, I won't do it!" Kira's voice boomed outside, and the filed out to see what was happening.

Kira's features hardened and he clenched his fists. "Why must I pilot that mobile suit again? Sure, you're right when you say that we're now part of the war, but we didn't choose it. That's the reason we decided to live here! Please don't involve more than you already have."

Murrue looked into the boy's eyes for a short moment. She then took a deep breath. "Kira, you're the only one capable of operating the Strike."

"But I am not a soldier."

La Flaga then got right up to his face. "So when the next battle begins, you and your friends will die because you were too scared. Is that what you want?" When the boy didn't answer right away he added, "As it stands, you and I are the only ones who protect this ship and those on board.

"I know, but…" Kira wavered. Murrue could see the conflict within him.

"Listen, you have an amazing ability." She told him, "Just trust yourself and you'll make it through. I know this is asking a lot of you, but will please help?"

Kira thought about it, he knew that she was right. He looked to his friends, knowing that he could protect them. He had to. "Yes." He nodded, "I'll do what I can."

Murrue smiled and La Flaga breathed a short sigh. The mood was broken by a nearby intercom squawking. Murrue rushed to answer it.

"Yes?"

"Captain," Natarle reported, "enemy mobile suits are closer in fast! You're needed on the bridge to assume command immeadatily!"

"I'm on my way."

She ran to the bridge, La Flaga right on her heels. Kira quickly made his way to the hanger to board the Strike once again. Murrue dropped into her seat and La Flaga took control of the ship's CIC. On the monitors, everyone saw a group of GINNs swarm into the hole in the colony's wall. Murrue gasped when she saw the weaponry the mobile suits carried, each was equipped with either heavy missile launchers or long barreled particle guns.

"They're using the kind of gear against us?" La Flaga gawked, "Haven't those guys heard of moderation?"

Another shape appeared behind the formation of GINNs. Tonomura looked at the readings and blinked. "It's the X303, the Aegis!"

Gloom spread among the bridge crew at the thought of one of their weapons being used against them. Murrue was concerned for the crew. They were all untested; the only person who had experience was La Flaga.

"They're already sending it out into combat?" Natarle gasped.

"Well, it's their now, so they can use any way they wish." La Flaga commented and then turned to the others. "All right, it may be an enemy machine now, but most of us know it well. So use that knowledge to take it down!" His defiant words spurred the crew into action.

"Ready the Corinthos cannons to fire; align laser sights!" Natarle commanded.

"Projectile weapons won't be effective against Phase Shift armor!" Murrue reminded her, "Link the main guns to radar and utilize the scattered focal points! Our objective is to escape, but do all possible to not damage the colony!"

Kira anxiously waited inside the Strike, ready to launch when he was ordered. His attention was fixed on the oncoming GINNs and their weapons. If they hit the already weakened Central Shaft, it could spell disaster. He watched as the Sword Striker equipment was attached. The main sword was close to fifty feet long, powerful enough to tear through the armor of a battleship. With this melee weapon, at least there'd be less of a chance of dealing serious damage to Heliopolis. He launched quickly, ready to defend himself and the colony.

An alarm warned him immeadatily of the approaching GINN. It was aimed with a particle gun, a weapon strong enough to punch holes in the Central Shaft. It fired shot after shot at him, yet he was able to instinctively evade them. Another fired two heavy missiles, the projectiles racing straight for him. Kira shifted the Gundam around, streaking away. The missile pursued him shortly, before abruptly looping about and colliding with an axial shaft. The resulting explosion tore the shaft, sending it crashing down and crushing several buildings. Kira couldn't bear seeing the destruction, the colony wouldn't be able withstand such abuse for much longer. He had to act fast. He drew the Schwert Gewehr and went after the closest GINN. Narrowing his eyes, he charged at the enemy, bringing his weapon down, taking off its arm. He reeled back and swung once more, this time slicing the GINN in half. The second enemy mobile suit launched two more missiles, but Kira cut them down. He pulled out the Midas Messer beam boomerang and hurled it. The GINN dodged it, but the Midas Messer looped around and decapitated the mobile suit from behind. Kira took the opportunity to heave the Schwert Gewehr and brought it down, splitting the GINN down the middle, its fuselage exploding immeadatily. Kira was now panting as he looked up to see the same red mobile he first saw in the factory coming towards him.

Over his radio, he heard a familiar voice. "Kira? Kira Yamato, is that you?"

Kira couldn't hold back his shock. "Athrun?"

"So it really is you, Kira." Athrun's voice replied. He almost sounded sad.

The Archangel was having no better luck with the battle. The remaining GINNs surrounded it and swarmed around like hornets. The ship shook violently as weapon blasts mercilessly impacted its hull.

"Fire Gottfrieds and Igelstellungs!" Natarle shouted, "Automatic track and fire!"

The air defense weapons' barrage was sloppy, as the mobile suits avoided the onslaught. One streaked along the Shaft, an underhanded move. The Archangel's guns blasted the Shaft as their target continued to maneuver along. Axial shafts crumbled from the damage inflicted to them.

"You're hitting the Shaft!" Murrue cried to the crew.

"If we don't fire, we'll be the ones shot down!" Natarle countered, "The ZAFT forces aren't holding anything back for the sake of the colony!"

Another volley was launched, this time catching one GINN in midair, but its propulsion fuel sparked, and the mobile suit was engulfed in a fireball. It crashed into a nearby axial, dismembering the structure. The remaining GINN was caught in the crosshairs, a beam cannon shot blasting through it, tearing it apart. The shock unintentional set off the four missiles. Each flew erratically, but all hit the Central Shaft with thunderous force. The damage was now too great.

"Oh, shit!" La Flaga yelled, seeing the Shaft begin to warp and the entire structure shudder.

The Central Shaft finally gave way, the few remaining axial shaft snapping one after another. The Shaft frame rapidly twisted as the colony walls started to break under the weight of the spinning centrifugal force. Fissures resembling spider webs ran through the entire structure.

The Strike and Aegis stayed in midair amidst the spreading carnage. Kira was horrified to watch the tragic event unfold in front of him.

"Why, Athrun?" he yelled, "How could you do this to a neutral colony?"

"What about you?" Athrun countered. "You're a Coordinator, so why have you sided with the Earth forces and now pilot that Gundam?"

The atmosphere inside the cylinder blew out of openings in the walls, picking up large pieces of debris and entire buildings. Houses, shops, and vehicles were swept away. Roofs blew off and glass windows shattered. The size of the holes increased, drawing more debris out. Explosions erupted, but were quickly extinguished as they too were blow out into space.

Various chucks of debris pelted the Strike Gundam. Below him, Kira saw many of the shelters eject like small lifeboats. The colony had broken in half. The increasing force pulled the Gundam up, and Kira lost all control. Screaming, he tumbled helplessly among the ruins of Heliopolis. He heard Athrun call out his name, briefly watching the Aegis being carried off in another direction. The Strike was swept out into the cold vacuum of space.