There is one major advantage to this fanfic: it is extroardinarily easy to write chapters for. I watch the episode in question as I write the chapter. Copy down dialogue and simpler actions, making adjustments as needed for changed character histories and Lacus's presence. Of course, there are other changes beyond those small ones, as you can plainly see here. An interesting tidbit: this chapter is about a hundred words longer than the previous. Well, 'announcements' regarding this fic will be listed at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I don't own SEED or the characters, or the mecha. I do own this fanfic (or perhaps certain elements of the plot), as well as the Murakumo Gundam. I will mention any OCs I take from other authors (WITH PERMISSION ONLY), crediting them to their creators. Enjoy the chapter.

"X105 Strike, X110 Murakumo, please respond," said Natarle over the radio. "Strike, Murakumo, can you hear me? Please respond."

Kira and Lacus, now beside one another in space, ignored the calls, looking out from the cockpits at the ruins of the colony.

"Heliopolis… is gone… why?" asked Kira, his hands shaking on the controls. Lacus was much the same.

Aboard the Archangel, red lights flashed throughout the ship. In the mess hall, the students and others from Heliopolis stared at the viewscreen in shock, looking at the ruins of their home.

"I can't believe… it was so fragile," said Mu softly, looking out the viewport on the bridge.

Murrue clenched a fist before turning to look down at Natarle, trying to contact Kira and Lacus.

"X105 Strike, X110 Murakumo," she said. "Lacus Hirano! Kira Yamato! If you hear me, if you're okay, respond!"

"X110 Murakumo, Kira here," came Kira's voice over the radio.

"X105 Strike, Lacus here," came Lacus's voice an instant later. Natarle sighed in relief.

"You alright?" she asked.

"Yes, we seem to be fine," said Lacus.

"Do you have our position?" asked Natarle.

"Yes," said Kira, sounding strained.

"Then return," said Natarle. "You're able to, right?"

"Then return," said Natarle over the radio. "You're able to, right?"

"Yes," said Kira, as the radio shut off. He looked out at the ruins.

Mom, dad, you're safe, right?

Kira closed his eyes.

"Kira, you okay?" asked Lacus, somehow sensing Kira's apprehension.

"Not really," he said. "But I will be. Let's get back." As the two were about to leave, an alarm started beeping in both cockpits.

"What?" whispered Kira, as he brought up a zoom image on a blinking red light in the distance.

"Kira," said Lacus. "Isn't that…?"

"Yeah," said Kira. "A Heliopolis lifeboat." Kira and Lacus put away their swords, and took off in the direction of the lifeboat.

On the bridge, there was a brief argument with the two Coordinator teens about bringing the lifeboat aboard, but not wanting to waste time, Murrue approved it (A/N: I didn't think you wanted me to waste time recounting the argument, since even with Lacus here, there wouldn't really be much of a difference). Meanwhile, they were also discussing what to do next.

"I know we're in a critical situation," said Murrue. "But I have no intention of surrendering." Mu turned in his seat to look at Murrue curiously. "I refuse to hand over either this ship or the Strike to the ZAFT. We must get them safely to Atlantic Federation HQ, no matter what the risks are."

"Captain," said Natarle, after a moment of silence. "I recommend we select Artemis as our destination."

"Artemis…?" said Murrue quietly, and somewhat doubtfully. "That's a Eurasian military satellite, right?"

"The one with the umbrella shield?" said Mu, turning his chair completely.

"Hm," mumbled Natarle, nodding slightly. She then turned to the primary display screen, which brought up a general map of the area. "Given our present location, it is the most easily accessible allied outpost."

"Both the G weapons and this ship lack a recognition code acknowledged by our allies, right?" said Murrue. "The question remains: would Eurasia…?"

"I'm certainly aware," said Natarle, interrupting Murrue. "Of the fact that the Archangel and the Strike are both considered to be sensitive military secrets of the Atlantic Federation, and the same for the Murakumo with Orb. However, should we set a course to the moon, you can't expect us to arrive there without encountering at least some resistance along the way. In addition, we left in a hurry and we weren't sufficiently supplied, which means were urgently in need of provisions."

"I realize that," said Murrue.

"I have to say that even Eurasia will be sympathetic to our situation," said Natarle (A/N: Eurasia maybe, what about the jackass in charge of the base?!). "As it stands, the most practical course of action would be to avoid confrontation as much as possible, and re-supply at Artemis, where we could also attempt to contact Lunar Headquarters."

"Artemis, is it?" asked Mu. "I wonder if everything will go exactly as planned."

"Hard to say," said Murrue. "But it does seem to be our only viable option right now."

In the hangar, Kira and Lacus both opened the hatches for their mobile suits and stepped out of them, as Archangel crewmen assisted the Heliopolis refugees out of the lifeboat. They emerged just as a red-haired girl in a pink dress emerged from the lifeboat.

"Huh?" murmured Kira, recognizing her as Flay Allster.

"Tori!" chirped the mechanical bird Tori, given to Kira by his friend Athrun when the two parted ways. Tori flew out of Kira's shirt and down towards Flay, catching her attention, and Kira ended up floating towards her as well in his attempt to catch the robotic pet.

"Oh, I know you, you're one of Sai's friends, right?" said Flay excitedly as she launched herself at Kira.

"Uh, Flay," said Kira, as the redhead ran into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Over by the Strike, Lacus's face darkened slightly, and she failed to notice a small pink ball bounce out of a pocket on her own dress. "Is it really you, Flay Allster?" asked Kira, a little uncertainly, particularly given the way Flay attached herself to him, though in retrospect, it made sense. "So, you were on this lifeboat?"

"Please," said Flay, as Lacus began to float towards them. "Tell me what happened to Heliopolis. What was going on? What happened there in the end?"

"Uh…" said Kira, uncertain how to respond.

"I was with… my friends and I were…" said Flay, stumbling over her words some. "I lost Jessica and Misha in a store and ran alone to a shelter. And then everything…"

Lacus reached them and was about to say something when she was interrupted.

"Haro! Haro! I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT!" shouted the pink ball robot, Haro, made for Lacus by Athrun, much as Tori had been for Kira. Flay flinched as Haro made its opinion of Flay's presence known.

"Haro, stop that," said Lacus admonishingly, though she knew Haro was simply reflecting her own thoughts… though probably quite a bit more aggressively. Lacus grabbed Haro, and turned her eyes to Flay. "I apologize. I thought he was turned off…"

Flay shook her head, looking between Kira and Lacus. "This is a ZAFT ship, right?" she asked, her tone worried. Lacus's slight anger and jealousy at Flay for holding Kira like that disappeared, reminded by the words and tone of how scared Flay probably was at the moment. "What's gonna happen to us? And what in the world are you two doing on this ship anyway?"

"Actually," said Lacus. "This vessel belongs to the Earth Forces."

"You're lying," said Flay. "There are two mobile suits on board." Flay looked at the Strike and Murakumo.

"No," said Kira. "They also belong to the Earth Forces… well, actually, I'm told one of them belongs to Orb, but as things stand…" Flay looked at Kira, surprised.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay, at least," said Kira. "Hey, guess what? Sai and Miriallia are here too. I know you're gonna be just fine."

"Who could of anticipated this?" asked Ades aboard the Vesalius. "What will you do now? The council won't overlook the annihilation of a neutral nation's colony."

"How can a colony that was building new weaponry for the Earth Forces be considered neutral?" said Rau.

"But commander…" started Ades.

"Most of the residents had enough time to escape," said Rau. "So it really isn't an issue." Rau turned to face Ades. "Especially in light of the Bloody Valentine Tragedy."

Those words silenced Ades. The Bloody Valentine was the greatest tragedy since the Reconstruction War that led to the Cosmic Era.

"Have you been able to locate the Earth Forces new battleship?" asked Rau.

"Not under these conditions," said the sensor officer (Enemy Search & Detection, if you prefer).

"You still intend to pursue them?" questioned Ades. "But how can we when we've lost our mobile suits?"

"What do you mean?" asked Rau with a smile. "We have the four machines we acquired from the Earth Forces.

"Are you suggesting we use those?" asked Ades. "But…"

"Now that we're finished with the data extraction, I don't see why we can't use them," said Rau, moving over to the tactical display screen behind the captain's chair. "And besides, the repairs on my CGUE are going well. If we're lucky, it will even be ready in time for the next battle." Rau smiled in anticipation of another showdown with La Flaga. "Bring up a map of the area," he ordered calmly. "Send a message to the Gamow to expand its search radius.

The Archangel mess hall doors opened as Kira arrived with Lacus and Flay (it sounded better like that…), drawing the eyes of Kira's friends. Flay smiled and ran up to Sai, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sai smiled, somewhat embarrassed. Kira and Lacus smiled, happy for the two.

On the bridge, things were different, though.

"Prepare decoy," ordered Murrue. "As soon as the decoy has cleared the ship, we'll start the main engines and lay in a course directly to Artemis. We will then switch to inertial flight in order to avoid enemy detection. Now, level two battlestations. Reposition the ship as quickly as possible."

"A silent run until we reach the Artemis base," commented Mu. "It should take us about two hours," he estimated. "Now, it's up to luck."

"Perhaps they hid amidst the debris of Heliopolis and left this area undetected," suggested Ades.

"No, we can rule that out," said Rau. "They're probably sitting very still somewhere." Rau looked down at the display table. "A net… why not?"

"A net?" asked Ades. "What do you mean by that?"

Rau pressed a button, causing the markers on the display map to move.

"The Vesalius will launch first and wait here for the enemy ship," he said. "The Gamow will follow them along the orbital course while avoiding detection."

"Artemis…" said Ades. "Are you sure? But wouldn't it be more logical for them to head for the moon?"

"Large heat source detected," announced the sensor officer, drawing both Rau's and Ades's gazes. "Projected route: vessel will circle around the Earth and head to the moon to Atlantic Federation HQ." Ades's eyes narrowed. Rau's may have as well, but it was impossible to tell behind his mask.

"Commander!" said Ades, turning back to Rau.

"I'm convinced that's a decoy," said Rau.

"But perhaps we should confirm with the Gamow!" said Ades as Rau floated towards the front of the bridge.

"No," said Rau forcefully. "They'll be heading out to Artemis. I'm more sure now than ever before. Launch the Vesalius! Get Zelman on the line!"

In one of the Archangel's main corridors, the soldiers were checking the ID cards of the refugees they'd brought onboard. Kira, Lacus, and they're friends, including Flay, were in a room next to the station where the cards were being checked.

"Wish they'd let us know where this ship is headed," commented Kuzzey.

"They changed course, didn't they?" asked Sai, referring to the way the ship had shaken earlier. "There could still be ZAFT around."

"They're intent on getting this ship," said Tolle. "And those mobile suits. So I betcha there still huntin' us down."

"Huh?" said Flay, looking up. "They're still doing what? You mean were less safe now that we're onboard? Say it isn't so!"

Kira glanced at Flay before looking down, feeling slightly guilty about that. Lacus squeezed Kira's hand reassuringly.

"Well," said Mir. "Would you rather be stuck aboard that broken lifeboat?"

"N-not exactly," said Flay, leaning against Sai to reassure herself.

"I sure hope my parents are safe," said Kuzzey after a moment, while Kira and Lacus watched the refugees walk by.

"All districts were ordered to evacuate," said Sai. "I'm sure they're okay."

"Kira Yamato? Lacus Hirano?" came a voice, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Mu La Flaga stood in the doorway.

"Yes?" asked Kira for both of them.

"Mr. Murdoch is pretty upset y'know," said Mu. "We don't have enough people. So… you maintain your machines. 'Kay?"

"Our machines?" questioned Kira. "Wait, what do you mean our machines?"

"Let's just say that's what's been decided," said Mu. "Fact is, you're the only ones capable of piloting them. Can't be helped."

"Well, sure, we drove those things, but only because we didn't have any choice," said Kira. "Look I don't anyone saying that it makes me—and especially Lacus—a soldier or anything."

Mu shook his head. "So, when the fighting starts again, and you refuse to use them, are those gonna be your last words, huh?" he asked. "At the moment, you two and I are the only ones that can protect this ship."

"But I don't…"

"Kira, you have the power to make a difference," said Mu. "Why not put it to good use? We have precious little time. Including time to think it over." With that, Mu began to leave.

"Sir," said Sai suddenly. "Excuse me, but where is this ship heading now?"

"To a Eurasian military base," said Mu. He shrugged slightly. "We'll be lucky if they let us in without a fuss." With that, Mu left.

"It isn't…" said Kira. He closed his eyes and ran off.

"Hey, Kira!" called Tolle. Lacus didn't hesitate, and ran off after the boy.

"Wait, what did he say?" said Flay. She looked at Sai. "Hold on, what was that all about? So then, that Kira guy and that Lacus girl, they were in…?"

"You heard about how the lifeboat you were on was carried in by mobile suits, didn't you?" asked Sai. "My friend Kira, and his friend Lacus, were the ones piloting them."

"What?" asked Flay. "They're the ones… but why? Why would someone like them be in a mobile suit?"

"Because Kira and Lacus are actually Coordinators," explained Kuzzey. Sai glanced at Kuzzey uncertainly.

"Kuzzey!" said Tolle, somewhat scoldingly.

"Kira and Lacus may be Coordinators," said Sai. "But they aren't with ZAFT."

"They're still two of us," added Mir, though Lacus was an infrequent visitor. "Cherished friends."

"I see…" said Flay softly, though there was a bit of unconscious animosity in her voice.

Kira stood in the hangar, looking up at the Murakumo, thinking on La Flaga's last words to him.

"I may know how to operate the mobile suit," said Kira. "But that doesn't mean I can fight in a battle."

"Then what will we do?" asked Lacus, coming up behind Kira. Kira looked at her.

"I know you don't want to fight, Kira," said Lacus. "Neither do I. But there are people on this ship, caught up in all this, who we need to protect. Those people from ZAFT… they chose all of this. Many of us on this ship didn't. Circumstances simply forced it." Lacus looked over at the Strike. "I truly don't want to fight the people from ZAFT… I can understand why they are fighting. And I haven't forgotten Junius Seven, either. But how many innocent lives may be lost, if this ship is destroyed?" Lacus looked down at her hand.

"Lacus…" started Kira. She gave a sad smile.

"Our innocence, Kira, is already lost," she said. "Even if I didn't bring down either of those GINNs, I did drive them to a point where they were vulnerable to attack by the Archangel. Until we reach Earth Forces allies who can get us safely to Orb, everyone on this ship is a soldier, and must do his or her part to help us survive. And we can't simply tell the ZAFT team that I'm here… I'm already guilty of collaboration, and that would be proof of it. I helped to kill two ZAFT soldiers today. My presence here would weaken my father's position, and Representative Zala can't be allowed that kind of edge."

Kira looked down, feeling guilty, knowing that Lacus was right, and that it was because of him that she was even here. If only they'd never met…

"Even still, I will never regret knowing you, Kira Yamato," said Lacus, startling him. It was like she was reading his thoughts. "Our friendship means everything to me. You know that. And I'm glad to be doing something more than just trying to get people like Representative Zala to see things more clearly. I want to protect people… and now, though the circumstances of it—fighting—are sad, I'm more than happy to do it." Lacus gave Kira a sad smile.

"I'm sure that Miss Murrue would be happy to just have one of us to help," she said. "But… we made a promise. 'Where you go, I will go. And where I go, I will take you with me'. Remember?"

Kira did remember. It was a promise they'd made to each other when Athrun had been recalled to the PLANTs by his father. Aside from Kira and Lacus, the only ones who knew about it were Kira's parents and Lacus's father. Athrun's mother Lenore had known as well, but had perished in the Bloody Valentine. Kira returned Lacus's smile.

"Yeah," he said. "I remember… and I'll never forget."

"Large heat source detected, indicating a warship engine," said Romero Pal, manning the Archangel's fire control systems. "Distance, two hundred, yellow thirty-three seventeen, mark zero two. Charlie, course zero shift zero."

"Beside us?" said Mu, sounding somewhere between incredulous and annoyed. "But it's heading in the same direction!"

"Are they onto us?" asked Murrue.

"They're a fair distance," said Natarle confidently.

"Object outpacing us," said Jackie. "Identified as a Nazca-class vessel."

Mu gritted his teeth. "They're positioning themselves ahead of us to cut us off at the pass," he said.

Natarle looked at Pal. "Where's they're Laurasia-class?"

"Hold on a moment," said Pal. "There's a heat source following us. Three hundred to stern." He looked at Murrue and Natarle as they shared a concerned glance. "When'd that appear?"

"We know the Laurasia-class will eventually overtake us," said Mu. "But if we use our engines to outrun it, the Nazca-class will double back and come right at us." He was quiet for a moment. "Hey, bring me up a space map and the data on the two vessels," he said suddenly.

"Do you have a plan?" asked Natarle.

Mu turned his seat to look at her and Murrue with a smile. "Eh, I'm getting ready to think about it," he said.

Red lights flashed and alarms sounded throughout the ship.

"Silhouette detected, enemy unit," came the voice over the speakers. "Silhouette detected, enemy unit. Level one battlestations. All military personnel, take your positions at once. All military personnel, take your positions at once."

In the mess hall, Kira's friends heard the announcement, as well as the concerns of the refugees about the ship entering combat with them onboard.

"Kira Yamato and Lacus Hirano to the bridge," said the voice suddenly. "Kira Yamato and Lacus Hirano to the bridge."

"Kira…" said Mir softly. "I wonder what he decided." All of them already knew that if Kira refused to fight, Lacus wouldn't fight either.

"If Kira decides not to fight, our future won't be looking too good," said Sai.

"Listen Tolle," said Mir suddenly. "We're always sitting on a bench, waiting for Kira to get in the game and protect us." Tolle looked down.

"If we have the ability to make a difference," he said, quoting Mu. "Why not put it to good use. Right?" He looked up at Sai and Kuzzey, who both nodded as well.

"So that's it," commented Ades, a pleasant smile on his face, as he looked out the forward viewport at Artemis.

"The Umbrella of Artemis," said Rau with a smile almost identical to Ades's. "It appears they've already caught on to us. It's active."

"Well, we've finally arrived here, but we've failed to catch the Earth Forces new ship," said Ades.

"We've cut them off," said Rau. "The time is now."

"Rotate, one hundred and eighty degrees!" ordered Ades. "Match velocity to Artemis! Then proceed astern at low speed."

As Ades ordered, the Vesalius rotated, and turned completely around, facing back towards Heliopolis. The Vesalius activated its engines, halting its previous momentum, and propelling it back the way it came.

Straight towards the Earth Forces warship.

In the pilots lounge—which also served as a locker room—Kira and Lacus both finished putting on pilot suits. It might restrict their movement slightly, but it would protect them from the vacuum of space if the cockpit of one of their machines was compromised.

"Huh," came Mu's voice, drawing their attention to the mobile armor ace in his own purple and black pilot suit. "Well, if those outfits are any indication, I'd say you decided to do it."

"You said so yourself, Lieutenant," said Kira as he grabbed his helmet. "That right now, we're the only ones who can protect this ship. It's not that we wanna fight—all we want to do is protect. Because of the people onboard."

"It's the same for everybody," said Mu. "You won't find many people who wanna fight for no reason at all. We fight because it's the only way we can protect ourselves."

Kira and Lacus both nodded in agreement, but the eyes of all three pilots—the rookie, teenage Coordinators, and the veteran adult Natural—showed that they agreed about something else: there were also those who were too cowardly to fight themselves, and only had others fight because of their own hatred. All of them were thinking of Blue Cosmos and the Bloody Valentine, in that regard, and they all knew it.

"Okay," said Mu. "Let me explain our strategy."

As soon as Mu explained his strategy to them, the three left the lounge for their machines.

"No matter what, only think about protecting this ship, and yourselves," said Mu.

"Right," said Kira. "Be careful lieutenant." Mu gave a slight smile and clambered into his Zero, Kira and Lacus pushing themselves off towards their respective machines.

"Moebius Zero, La Flaga to the linear catapult," came the intercom as the Zero was moved into place in the starboard catapult.

"Mu La Flaga, launching!" said Mu as he closed his visor and the Zero was released to fly out. "Don't let them get ya before I return." With that, the Zero shot out of the catapult.

"Laurasia-class, closing in," announced Pal on the bridge. "Fifty to stern."

"Fire main engines in two minutes," said Murrue. "Strike, Murakumo, prepare for launch now."

"Strike, Murakumo, proceed to launch position," came the intercom again, as the Strike and Murakumo were dropped onto their respective catapults. "Catapult connected. System all green."

In the Murakumo, Kira thought over their strategy.

The lieutenant will sneak ahead and hit the enemy in front, he reviewed as he shut his visor. Meanwhile, we'll protect the ship from the enemy behind us. This is gonna work.

In the Strike, Lacus was also reflecting on the strategy as she closed her visor, and though she was no more comfortable than Kira, she was also less uncertain, and that allowed her to look between the lines and see something else.

After all, wouldn't it make more sense to send the Strike with the Launcher pack to attack the Nazca-class ahead of them, while the Murakumo and Zero stayed behind to defend? The answer, to Lacus, was obvious.

Even though Mu fought for the same reasons as Kira and Lacus, he was a hardened veteran soldier, while they were just rookie volunteers. He wasn't going to burden them with the task of taking such an aggressive stance, particularly one that could cost a large number of lives.

"Kira, Lacus?" said a familiar voice suddenly, drawing both Coordinators from their reverie, and they looked up at the small communications screen in their cockpits.

"Miriallia?" asked Kira. Although Lacus had been the one to convince Kira to pilot the Murakumo, she certainly hadn't anticipated this.

"From this point on," said Mir, as both pilots observed Natarle looking over the teenager's shoulder. "I will serve as the combat operator for the mobile suits and the mobile armor. I'm counting on you!" she finished with a wink and peace sign.

"We're all counting on you," came Sai's voice.

"But what are you…?" started Kira.

"We didn't want to let you do all the work," said Mir. "So we volunteered to help out with the ship's operation."

Kira and Lacus both smiled slightly in appreciation. For Kira especially, this served to reinforce his belief that what he was doing was right.

"Mount the Aile Striker," ordered Natarle. "The enemy will appear when the Archangel fires its engines. Be ready."

"Right," said Kira. In the cockpit of the Strike, Lacus did a quick review of the Strike's current equipment set.

"Fire engines," ordered Murrue on the bridge. "Now activate the assault cannons. Target the Nazca-class dead ahead."

As instructed, Arnold fired up the engines, finally regaining true control of the Archangel's movements.

"Lohengrin, fire!" ordered Natarle as the ship began moving under its own power. Twin streams of fiery, positron anti-matter particles shot out from the Archangel, disintegrating space debris as they lanced through space.

"Heat source approaching from ahead," announced the Vesalius's fire control officer. "And a larger heat source detected behind it. It's a warship!" His voice became slightly panicked at the end.

"Take evasive action!" ordered Ades.

"I see we spooked them, and they fired off a round," commented Rau, smiling.

"Heat source detected ahead," announced the Gamow's fire control officer. "Assuming from enemy warship."

"Have the mobile suit team launch on the double," ordered Zelman, the Gamow's captain.

"Nazca-class vessel ahead of us has launched a mobile suit," announced Chandra. "Just the one."

"Captain?" said Natarle, her request obvious.

"By all means," said Murrue. Natarle turned to Miriallia.

"Have Kira and Lacus launch in the Murakumo and Strike," she said.

"Kira, Lacus?" said Mir, certain they'd heard the order.

"Okay then," said Kira, closing his eyes and flexing his fingers, adjusting his grip on the Murakumo's controls. He thought back to everything that had been said, remembering Mu's words about protecting the ship, his friends' decision to support him by helping on the bridge, and most importantly, Lacus's words of encouragement. Kira looked up, determination shining from his eyes.

"Kira Yamato, Murakumo Gundam, heading out!" he called, launching from the catapult.

"Lacus Hirano, Strike Gundam, heading out!" called Lacus as she too shot forth from the catapult.

As the two cleared the catapults, they activated the Phase Shift armor on their machines, and recalled once again the promise they had made to each other, only now truly beginning to realize just how binding and absolute that promise was.

Author's Note: No action this time around. Most of this chapter revolves around dialogue, so a glance at the scroll bar size makes this chapter seem a little longer than it actually is. In any event, quite a bit stays the same as in the anime, but some definite and clear changes are also easily visible, the most apparent and important being Athrun's lack of knowledge regarding the identites of the Strike and Murakumo pilots, and Lacus's conversation with Kira, convincing him to go ahead and pilot the Murakumo again. Kira also has a few less reservations, since he's unaware that Athrun is out there, but he still lacks skill. Fortunately for him, Murakumo is close combat, so he won't run out of power quite the way he did before (even if he does have a rifle). The next chapter also features a very special surprise for readers, so I hope you enjoy it.

Even though it hasn't been brought up often, one important question people ask is "what about Flay"? I will tell you all right now that I am not a Flay-hater. In fact, I actually have only one objection to the Kira-Flay pairing: Kira and Lacus were made for each other, and I can't stand the thought of her with anyone else (except Athrun, and then, only just barely). Anyways, a major change--perhaps the biggest change beyond Lacus being the Strike pilot--is going to occur in the next six chapters or so, and Flay will be right in the middle of it. It'll cause a major shift in her character, as well as radically alter her relationship with Kira and Lacus.

I feel it should be noted that I did briefly toy with the idea of having Flay pilot a mobile suit--perhaps the Strike Rouge (in the original draft/script of the series, she was going to be Rouge's pilot)--I decided against it, and Flay's ultimate fate is something you will have to wait for.

On a side note, I'm still awaiting a reply from Solid Shark regarding the possibility of employing his OCs from Birds of a Feather.

Next chapter will feature another mech spec listing. You can actually find the specs for all non-OMSs on sites, but I'll list them here in chapters where I consider the machine 'prominent' somehow.