Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED/Gundam Seed Destiny
Start of Phase 49: Those Who Oppose Destiny
The episode opens up showing the Archangel and Eternal heading around the moon. The camera shifts to the interior of the Eternal's hanger bay.
"This first relay station is the key. We have to take it out first. Otherwise they'll be able to fire at anyone, anytime." Athrun informed as he pressed buttons on the Infinite Justice.
"I agree. This is a critical point." Kira said as he did the same with the Strike Freedom. Off in the distance you can see Zaft forces gathering around station one. At the same time another, larger Zaft fleet is defending the Requiem itself, and some ships can be seen near Messiah as it approaches the Moon.
"So the faster ORB vessels, as well as the Archangel and Eternal are going to attack the first station, while the Alliance and Zaft ships will head and assault Requiem directly?" Cagalli asked, her body already in it's flight suit. "And we know that Zaft's Lunar Fleet is somewhere nearby..."
"Yes, it's not like we have a choice, Lady Cagalli. No matter what happens, we have to come out victorious." Murrue said.
"We will not lose this battle. At the same time we need to be quick. If we're not... we will lose it all." Cagalli said.
"We must destroy their relay station before the reinforcements can surround us." Lacus said.
"Mister Chairman, the Archangel and Eternal are approaching station one." A man on Messiah's bridge informed the Chairman.
"There are also forces headed for Daelalus sir, a fleet consisting of Alliance and defected Zaft vessels." Another man said. Durandal hummed for a moment as he thought of his next actions.
"I understand. Tell our forces at station one to hold them off as long as possible. The Minerva, the Gondwana, and the rest of our forces are to focus around Requiem and defend it. They are to be divided in half. One half is to hold off incoming vessels from a distance, and the other is to defend the Requiem directly." Durandal ordered. 'They won' try to take out station two, it's too far away. However, if we hold them off for long enough for the Minerva to take care of the forces at Requiem... then it's checkmate.' Durandal thought.
"Upgrade to condition red! All defensive forces are to launch immediately!" A Zaft officer in a white coat aboard a Nazca-class vessel ordered as the forces defending Station One redied themselves for battle.
"Lacus, I'm going to head out now." Kira announced.
"Good luck." Lacus replied.
"Athrun." Kira turned to his friend.
"Yeah, let's go." Athrun responded. The Eternal's catapult turned on and opened up, extending its launcher to maximum.
"Activating Meteors." Andrew Waltfeld announced as the two Meteors on the Eternal activated. "All hands, level one battle stations!"
"We'll move ahead of the Eternal." Murrue ordered as the Archangel increased its speed. "Activate Gottfrieds and Valiants. Load all missile tubes with Corinthos. Prepare to launch all mobile suits!" Murrue said as the Archangel activated all of its weapons. The camera now shows a comm link between the Akatsuki and Strike Freedom.
"You good with this Cagalli? Are you sure you can..." Kira asked as his stubborn sister interrupted him,
"Yes, Kira. I'm okay. I know how to use these damn things. Just like how you told me!" She replied.
"Okay then. I'll be busy trying to take out the station. I suggest you not drift far from the Archangel." Kira ordered.
"Pfft. Fine then." Cagalli responded as the Strike Freedom was loaded onto the mobile suit catapult.
"Kira Yamato, Freedom, let's do it!" He said as the Strike Freedom launched from the Eternal, the Infinite Justice coming next.
"Athrun Zala, Justice, launching!" The bluenette announced as he also launched, followed shortly by the three DOM Troopers.
"Cagalli Yula Attha, Akatsuki, launching!" The Akatsuki launched from the Archangel.
"Meteors lift off." Andrew Waltfeld ordered.
"I want to broadcast on an open channel." Lacus requested.
"Yes ma'am." A bridge crew member of the Eternal said as she pressed some buttons. Soon, Lacus could be heard not only by the ORB forces, but by the Zaft forces defending the Requiem.
"This is Lacus Clyne speaking from the Eternal. To all Zaft soldiers defending the relay station: We are about to begin the annihation of this useless weapon of mass destruction. That thing serves no real purpose. It cannot be used to protect anyone, or even to fight battles. If you happen to take pride in the uniform you were, you will let us through. All around the Zaft forces you could see the soldiers looking pissed off at what she said. Suddenly, the channel was filled with the sound of angry Zaft pilots.
"You arrogant little girl!"
"How dare you even attempt to tell us what to do!"
"Who are you to tell us what we need to do to take pride in our uniforms?"
"Useless weapon of mass destruction? I beg to differ."
"Screw you. You just want to stick things in the past, don't you?" All of those lines could be made out from the soldiers at Station One as the ORB forces descended on it, then, a man who seemed to be the supreme authority over the defending forces spoke.
"Alright that's enough. These people are logos sympathizers! Take them out! Shoot them down! For the sake of Zaft! That's an order!" He yelled as the mobile suits defending the station began to move towards the ORB forces.
'Lacus... what did you do.' Cagalli thought from the cockpit of the Shiranui Akatsuki as she headed out behind Kira and Athrun, preparing to fire her beam rifle, the Zaft ships beginning to open fire on the fleet.
"Gottfrieds, Valiants, fire!" Murrue ordered as the Archangel began to open fire with its main weapons on the Zaft forces, the Eternal firing its main gun, and the ORB Izumo-class ships opening fire with their own Gottfrieds. Missiles headed for the ships, and their CIWS did the best to shoot them down. The Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice each target a large amount of units and opened fire with a full burst from their meteor, annihilating a large amount of mobile suits.
"Gah... here goes nothing!" Cagalli said as the Shiranui Akatsuki deployed it's seven DRAGOONs and began to shoot at Zaft mobile suits, taking out several of them before blocking the Archangel from taking fire from a Nazca-class ship, breaking she shield a split second later so the Archangel could fire it's Gottfrieds into the distance. 'Hey, I'm kind of good at this...' She thought as she noticed something on her radar. "Oh yeah, take this!" She yelled as a Gunner Zaku fired it's beam cannon at her, only to have it be deflected back at it.
"Cagalli, are you alright?" Athrun asked as the Infinite Justice swung it's large Meteor sword at a Zaku, taking it and several other suits out.
"Ready as I'll ever be." She replied as she fired her beam rifle.
Minerva bridge:
"Message from Fleet Headquarters, ma'am." The person who had replaced Meyrin informed her Captain.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Station One has come under attack from the Archangel, the Eternal, and several other ORB vessels. We've been ordered to take part in the fortifications of the Requiem while they buy us some time." The officer informed.
"I see. Understood."
"The... the Archangel?" Arthur Trine asked.
"Arthur, did you honestly expect them not to come out and interfere as they have before?" Talia turned and asked her Executive Officer, who looked a little stunned.
"Uh... no ma'am." Arthur responded.
"I didn't think so. It won't be long before Station One falls. Inform Shinn, Rey, and Luna that we will head into battle soon. Once their done here they'll head for us." Talia ordered as the communications officer announced something else.
"Oh, and we've also received reports of a fleet of defected Alliance and Zaft vessels headed for the Requiem. We've been ordered to stop them."
"I see. Arthur, bring the ship to condition red." Talia ordered.
Minerva pilot lounge:
The ships three pilots each had their pilots uniforms on and were preparing to launch when they needed to.
"We're not going to launch yet, you know." Rey said, the other two pilots looking at him.
"What?" Luna asked.
"Why not?" Shinn also asked.
"Because we need to save our strength. The real threat will be coming for us soon, and we need to be prepared to take them out." Rey said. Shinn was clearly a little sad about this. "Shinn, what's wrong?" Rey asked.
"It's just... I thought I killed both of those bastards already, and now look at them. They're alive and well, and coming for us. I don't know... how I can beat them." Shinn said. Rey looked at him before turning to Luna.
"Lunamaria, standby in the Core Splendor. I need to have a personal chat with Shinn." He ordered. The Elder Hawke sister pouted before heading towards the elevator.
"Shinn, listen to me. You are a better pilot than both Athrun and the pilot of the Freedom, Kira Yamato." Rey said.
"But... what happened at ORB... when I fought Athrun." Shinn said. Images of the ORB forces engaging battering their way through the Zaft defensive lines could be seen. Beamspam, Gottfried fire, missiles everywhere from directions. It was a fierce battle but it was clear who was winning, and it wasn't Zaft.
"You didn't let me finish, Shinn. When you are calm and focused, you are unstoppable. I have fought with you this entire war, and I have observed something. When you are focused, you do not lose. You light the sky with your fury and break your way through all who stand in your wake. You are a weapon without equal. However, when you lose focus, and become consumed by rage, like when you fought this... new Freedom for the first time, or Athrun, you lose. You lose yourself, and you nearly lost your life." Rey informed. Shinn looked a little shocked at this.
"So what you're saying is..." Shinn tried to say.
"Stay calm. Remain cool. Remember what I said at ORB. They want you to lose control of yourself; because that's the only way they can hope to beat you. This is the truth. Accept yourself for who you are: The greatest pilot of this time." Rey said.
"Rey... I wouldn't go that far..." Shinn said.
"I would. As someone who has fought beside you all this time, I would. Now... as much as you are a good pilot, I am a good tactician. Remember I told you how to beat the Freedom." Rey said.
"I remember that perfectly well, actually." Shinn said.
"Now, I intend to take on the Freedom myself with the Legend, and you are to take on the Justice. However, should I fail, as Rau Le Creuset has failed before me, then the task will be in your hands..." Rey said.
"Don't say that! You are not going to die!" Shinn yelled.
"I will one day... regardless of how. I will do my best but before I do I must warn you of what I think this new Freedom is capable of doing." Rey said.
"Ten to port, Corinthos, fire!" Murrue ordered as the Archangel evaded and shot down incoming fire while unleashing it's own weapons on the enemies. The Strike Freedom had unleashed another full burst on the enemy as Kira closed in and sealed the deal on a Nazca-class ship with his massive beam swords, the Justice following it, and the Akatsuki in the rear providing it's shield and reflective capabilities to aid in the battle.
"We haven't seen that mobile suit use its wings yet, but from what reports are saying they are just like the DRAGOONs on my Legend." Rey said.
"You mean deployable devices that race around and take out slow enemies?" Shinn said.
"Yes. Now... these will present a problem to you fighting them for the first time. However I need to tell you how to beat them." Rey said.
"I'm all ears..." Shinn said.
"We've almost broken through! Just a little longer!" Andrew Waltfeld shouted from the Eternal as the ship fired its main guns as well as a barrage of missiles into the enemy lines. The DOM Troopers were seen flying around the Eternal, keeping it safe. The Archangel approached Station One, the rest of the ORB ships along with it.
The Zaft forces at Requiem had engaged the rebel forces some distance away from the super weapon itself. The Minerva, as well as the Gondwana and several other ships had stayed on guard near the Requiem itself, and were being told to intercept the ORB forces after they defeated the Zaft forces at station one and made their way towards the Moon's surface.
"Speed, and ranged weaponry, Shinn. That's what you need." Rey informed his friend.
"What do you mean, Rey?" Shinn asked.
"If you fight the Freedom you have to realize that it will come after you fast and try to take you out with its DRAGOONs. Use the Destiny's Wings of Light to avoid them, and used your ranged capabilities to take them out. It'll be a hard battle should you fight him, and I'm counting on you, Shinn." Rey informed. 'As much as I want to kill Kira Yamato myself... if Rau failed... I don't see myself winning...' He shook his head as he thought.
"I understand Rey." Shinn said.
"Good. Understand that you can beat those two. Now, let's get ready. Something tells me that Station One won't stand for much longer, and when it falls, we shall be the ones fighting." Rey said as the two of them walked towards the elevator that would lead them to the flight deck. 'Well... calm as in he's not screaming dammit all the time and being wildly out of control.' Rey thought.
"It's looks like we've cleared enough of a path." Athrun Zala said as the Infinite Justice used it's Meteor to finish off a Nazca-class with missiles.
"Miss Murrue, are you ready?" Kira asked.
"Yes, we're ready. Open a com line to all of our ships." Murrue ordered from the Archangel's bridge. One the line was established she began to give an order to the fleet. "All vessels capable of firing positron cannon are to do so at once. Target this location on the station. Fire on my command." Murrre ordered as every ship in the ORB fleet received information telling them where to target Station One. "Ready Lohengrins. Target the relay station ahead of us." The doors on the front of the Archangel opened, as well as the doors on the sides of each Izumo-class ship that held their positron cannon.
"The fleet's responded Captain. They're ready to shoot." Dalida reported.
"Right then. Give the fleet orders to fire their main guns. Lohengrin, fire!" Murrue ordered as the Archangel and all the ORB ships fired their anti-matter beams at Station One, hitting the relay point at several points in a line. As a result of this, the giant cylinder broke open and was inoperative.
"We've done it!" Lacus cheered.
"It's not over yet, Lacus. We still need to deal with Requiem itself." Cagalli said as the Shiranui Akatsuki flew near the Archangel.
"How's the other fleet doing right now?" Andrew Waltfeld asked. Meyrin Hawke, who was sitting at the Eternal's communications station, gave him a replay.
"They're holding steady above the weapon itself at a high altitude. From what they say Requiem won't be able to fire as long as they're blocking it's mouth." Meyrin reported.
"Good, then we've got time. Athrun." Kira turned to his friend.
"Ya, let's go. Time to finish this." Athrun said as the two gundams detached from their Meteors as the devices went back to the Eternal.
"Set course for Requiem. Maximum thrust!" Murrue ordered as the Archangel, Eternal, and the rest of the ORB forces changed direction and headed for the Moon's surface.
"Station One has been destroyed." An officer onboard Messiah informed the Chairman, who was still sitting back in his chair.
'It wasn't needed. If anything we'll have enough time to fire Requiem at ORB using Station Two. Speed is the greatest factor...' Durandal thought.
"Uh... Mister Chairman?"
"Oh, right then. How is Station Two doing? What's the status of Requiem's line of fire?" Durandal asked.
"Station Two is still a little ways away from firing."
"The rebels have blocked Requiem's line of fire! Output will be reduced if we fire now." A purple uniform said. Durandal clenched his fists.
"Right then. When Messiah is in firing range I want you to clear the cannon's mouth. Once that and Station Two has been aligned, we'll annihilate ORB and bring this battle to an end." Durandal ordered.
"Yes sir!"
Nazca-class battleship Rousseau:
"Damn them! They've already destroyed Station One!" Yzak raged from his bridge. The fleet that his ship, as well as the Minerva and Gondwana were in were now able to see a visual of the ORB fleet heading for them.
"And now we know why they didn't contact us. I mean... we are part of Zaft." Dearka informed. Yzak just looked like he was going to blow his top off.
"Get out there in your machine, now. I'm heading out too!" Yzak ordered. The black suit who was sitting in the Captain's Chair turned.
"Umm... Commander?" He asked.
"Just have the Voltaire cover us from behind, got that? You'll be killed if you go up front!" Yzak ordered as the elevator door shut.
"Uh... yes sir..."
Minerva bridge:
"Captain, we now have a visual of the enemy forces." The communications officer announced as an image showed up on the center monitor showing the Archangel and Eternal in front heading for them, the rest of the ORB forces following behind.
"Umm... Captain..." Arthur turned his head as he said that. Talia was locked in thought right now.
'Yes... it is true that we have no way of knowing what awaits us in the future... and yes we can only pick the path that suits us. However, this madness must end. I have made your choice, and so have you, Murrue Ramius.' Talia thought.
"Captain? Orders." Arthur asked.
"Right... sorry. This ship will now enter battle and engage the enemy. Send out the Impulse and have it guard the ship. Tell the Destiny and Legend to launch. Activate all weaponry. Target, the Archangel!" She ordered as the Impulse's Core Splendor platform was raised, Lunamaria fiddling with the controls. The Minerva's missile launchers opened up as the Tristans activated and the Isolde was raised and extended to firing position. "For the honor of Zaft, we shall face that ship today and DESTROY it!" She said.
"Yes ma'am!" The Minerva's bridge crew said as they prepared for battle.
Archangel bridge.
"The Minerva is closing and locking weapons on us."
"Ten to port. Target the Minerva with the Gottfireds and Valiants. Prepare to fire Corinthos. For the sake of our nation and for the sake of our world we shall face Zaft and stop them once and for all." Murrue ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" The Archangels bridge replied.
'Captain Gladys...' Murrue thought with a look of determination on her face.
"Gah! You'll pay for doing this! Is this really worth it if it means many people need to die?" Cagalli asked as the Akatsuki unleashed its DRAGOONs and had them fly all over the place, taking out several GOUFs. The Strike Freedom was also helping out with its DRAGOONs and the Infinite Justice closed in on the two. "Kira... Athrun..."
"Cagalli, I want you to guard the Archangel." Kira said.
"What? No! I'm going out there!" She raged.
"Cagalli... listen..." Kira tried to calm his sister. "The Archangel will be fighting the Minerva in this battle. I'm sure of it. This will be the hardest battle that Captain Ramius has fought in since they destroyed the Dominion, I can guarantee you that right now. I want you to stay near her and give her the upper hand." Kira ordered.
"I'm going to guess right now that Shinn and Rey are onboard that ship and will be launching. Try to avoid them... Cagalli. We'll take care of them." Athrun said.
"Shinn...? That BRAT? THAT ARROGENT LITTLE..." She raged.
"Is the pilot of the machine that nearly killed you in ORB..." Athrun said.
"Errgggg!" She growled. "I'll get him!" She raged.
"No! I will... you take out the Impulse. It's piloted by the girl with the short magenta hair that was on their ship. If you go against the Destiny again, you may not come out alive. Shinn is a very tough opponent, and the only reason I managed to hold him back in ORB was because of his temper." Athrun said, not knowing that Lunamaria was Shinn's girlfriend and having her attacked, even by Cagalli, would set off his fuse.
"It's true, Cagalli. Even I had trouble with that gundam when I fought it. Whoever is piloting it is no pushover. Do not attempt to take it out alone. I'll handle the other one with the DRAGOONs... that thing... it's personal." Kira said as he remembered a little flashback of the Providence gundam and his fight with it and its pilot, Rau Le Creuset.
"Fine then. The Impulse is mine!" Cagalli said as the Shiranui Akatsuki thrusted towards the Archangel.
"Well Kira..." Athrun said.
"I'm good. Let's go. We're not going to win this battle by standing still and discussing tactics." The Strike Freedom blocked an incoming beam shot with its beam shield and fired it's chest cannon, killing the opposing ZAKU.
"Lunamaria Hawke, Core Splendor, I'm taking off!" Lunamaria said as the Impulse's Core Splendor left the Minerva, the chest flyer, leg flyer, and Force Silhouette following it before all four pieces combined into the Force Impulse and she headed out.
"Rey Za Burrel, in Legend, taking off." Rey said as the Legend gundam left the Minerva, it's phase shift changing its color slightly.
"Shinn Asuka, Destiny, launching!" Shinn yelled as the Destiny gundam launched from the Minerva's starboard side catapult, activating it's bright pinkish-red wings of light and creating many afterimages as it flew away from its ship.
The Minerva and Archangel closed in on each other, entering the range of each other's weapons as they faced each other down.
"FIRE!" Both Captains yelled as their ships began to unleash hell, the Minerva firing it's Isolde, launching it's Neidhardts, and shooting it's Tristans and the Archangel shot a bright yellow blast from each of it's Valiants, four beam shots from the Gottfrieds, and launched many Corinthos missiles from it's reach launchers. The camera now shows the Minerva take a direct hit to the middle of its starboard side wing from the Archangel's port side Gottfried and Valiant. That part being severed from the ship. However at the same time the Archangel also suffers damage, having it's port side catapult door blow open violently.
"Uggh..." The Minerva's bridge crew groaned as they suffered that hit.
"Twenty to port. Evasive maneuver. Fire anti-beam depth charges, stat." Talia ordered.
Closing in on the Moon, slowly but surely, was the Messiah space station...
The Legend gundam raced around the battlefield, taking out several ORB mobile suits at once with its many DRAGOONs until Rey spotted his target.
'There you are... Kira Yamato!' The pilot of the Legend said as he raced towards the Strike Freedom gundam and deployed his DRAGOONs and firing them at Kira, the Ultimate Coordinator dodging the beams and deploying his own DRAGOONs.
"What is this? Who are you? Why are you doing this?" Kira said as the Strike Freedom defended and counter attacked with its chest cannon, the Legend raising its beam shield to block the blast as each of the suits DRAGOONs fought each other.
"You, Kira Yamato, have to die! Your existence must come to an end! For the sake of the new world! For the sake of humanity!" Rey shouted as the Legend charged at the Strike Freedom, Kira pulling out his own beam saber and clashing blades with Rey.
"What? Who the hell are you, you sick minded person!" Kira kicked the Legend away and fired his Rail guns at it, Rey rolling out of the way and ascending slightly, dodging some fire from the Strike Freedom's DRAGOONs.
"I am... RAU LE CREUSET!" Rey yelled as he gathered all of his Dragoons around him and fired in one direction at Kira, who raised his beam shield and blocked the attack but was pushed back as both pilots brought back their DRAGOONs to recharge the batteries.
"Rau... Le Creuset... well that explains it!" Kira put away his beam saber and pulled out his two beam rifles, combined them together and shot them at the Legend, Rey strafing to avoid the blast before he tilted his smaller DRAGOON pods towards the Strike Freedom and fired at Kira.
The Infinite Justice gundam blitzed through the battlefield. Athrun went up to a Zaku and kicked it from the side, destroying the machine with the Justice's leg beams.
"Dammit! There's a lot of them! An overwhelming number!" Athrun said as he heard his controls beep and moved out of the way. "Huh?" He looked up to see where the beam cannon shot, which had come from above him, was. All he saw was a pair of massive pink energy wings. "Shinn..." Athrun said as he prepared himself to fight the Destiny.
"Athrun Zala, you worthless traitor! Today's your last day! Today's the day the world is reborn!" Shinn yelled as he pulled out his anti-ship sword and came at the Justice full force.
"Err..." Athrun said as he raised his shield and blocked Shinn's downward swing. "Why are you doing this, Shinn? Is this what you really want?" Athrun asked as the Infinite Justice attempted to cut off one of the Destiny's legs with it's leg beams. Shinn saw this and raised his legs and body, avoiding the swing and flipping the Destiny over the Infinite Justice and turning around so that Athrun has his back to Shinn's front as Shinn attempted to swing the sword again, Athrun thrusting forward and dodging it as Shinn took his left hand off of the sword and fired his Palma Fiocina at the Justice, Athrun strafing to evade.
"Why yes, it is. Unlike you it didn't take me forever to pick a side. Unlike you I am not going to back out and be a fucking traitor. And unlike you, I am going to survive this battle." Shinn said as the Destiny backed off and redied its massive beam cannon, shooting Athrun from a range where the Infinite Justice had little fighting capability.
"There will be no 'new world'. You're new world is one where people are slaves to their own genes. Is that what you want? Is that what you think is good? How? How the hell could you possibly come to that conclusion, you idiot!" Athrun said as the Infinite Justice detached its Fatum-01 flight pack and launched it at the Destiny.
"How dare a traitor like you attempt to talk down to me!" Shinn said as he 'jumped over' the incoming flight pack and pulled out his sword again and came at the Infinite Justice, Athrun moving out of the way and having his sublight lifter dock with him as he pulled out his beam naginata and engaged Shinn in melee combat. "Athrun Zala. I can tell you right now what is going to happen today. Today you die, and I will be the one to kill you for treason!" Shinn said in a cold and serious voice as her entered SEED mode and pushed on at the Infinite Justice, knocking it back as Athrun activated his own SEED mode and came at Shinn, the two of them engaging in a fight of swings, slashes, and dodges.
"YOU CRAZY BASTARD!" Athrun yelled.
"Take this! And this!" Lunamaria said as she fired her beam rifle at a Murasume, taking it out as the Force Impulse blazed across the battlefield. Unfortunately for her she was about to meet an enemy machine that was out of the Impulse's league.
"What the? You murderer!" Cagalli said as the Shiranui Akatsuki noticed the destroyed Murasume and rushed at the Force Impulse. "I'll get you for that!" Cagalli said as she pulled out one of her beam sabers and swung at Lunamaria, hitting her shield. Lunamaria took a swing at Cagalli but the Princess of ORB pulled back and blocked with her own shield before deploying the Shiranui pack's seven DRAGOONs.
"Huh? Ah!" Lunamaria said as she did her best to avoid the incoming fire; however the Impulse did take a scratch at it lower left foot and right arm, but no major damage. "What the hell is this thing?" Luna asked as she fired her beam rifle at the Akatsuki, the shot being deflected back.
"This thing? This is what will defend ORB from people like you! People who want to enslave humanity! How disgusting!" Cagalli fired her beam rifle at the Impulse, Lunamaria blocking as she came at the Akatsuki head on with a beam saber and tried to slash at it, but was blocked when the golden gundam created a beam shield with its DRAGOONs, blocked the hit, lowered the shield, and then fired it's beam rifle at the Force Impulse, blowing up the gundam's head.
"Ahh! Shinn!" Luna yelled as she evaded the Akatsuki.
"Shinn? You like that guy? That brat? That rage filled punk ass murderer? You're disgusting!" Cagalli unleashed a full burst from her DRAGOONs on the Force Impulse before calling them back to recharge.
"You don't understand. I love him, he's a nice guy!" Luna said as she pulled out her beam saber and came at Cagalli again. 'Fucking thing... I can't kill it with beams at all!' She said as she clashed blades with the Princess.
"Ya... sure he is. A man who cannot ever hope to escape from the past... a man who makes grudges and is controlled by his own blind and irrational hatred... a man who kills just because another has killed, never realizing that the cycle will never end that way... you love him?" Cagalli kicked the Force Impulse away.
The Archangel fired both of its Gottfrieds and fired a barrage of missiles at the Minerva, which was no longer facing it, but rather the bow of the Archangel was facing the Minerva's center section where the Isolde was and the Minerva was facing the area to the Archangel's port. The smaller ship's CIWS tried to take out the missiles, shooting as fast as they could. Several missiles made it through and hit the bow port side CIWS, destroying them as the Gottfried fire collided with the port side missile launcher.
"Port side launchers damaged. Bow CIWS operating at 50%!" A bridge officer yelled.
"Raise bow thirty five. Fifteen to port. Calibrate main weapons!" Talia ordered as the Minerva shook.
"Tristan two, fire!" Arthur yelled as the Duel beam cannon on the Minerva's port fired, taking out the Archangel's starboard side Gottfried.
"Sealing off bulkheads in Gottfried one." Dalida informed as he pressed buttons on his console.
"The Minerva is coming at us and looks like it will pass us as it fires." Neumann said.
'Damn does she intend to take us out with her artillery gun as she passes by?' Murrue thought. Helldarts, fire. Target the Minerva's triple gun! Aim Gottfried two!" Murrue ordered as the Archangel fired its bridge missiles, the small projectiles looping around and heading for the Minerva as it approached the Archangel.
"Target their bridge with the Isolde. Fire on-" Talia tried to order.
"Incoming missiles headed for the Isolde." Bart informed.
"Belay that order. Arthur, shoot down those missiles. Tristan two, target the Archangel's port side." Talia ordered.
"Starboard side launchers and Isolde, fire!" Arthur yelled as the Minerva fired some missiles and its triple gun in addition to its CIWS at the missiles, taking them out.
"Gottfried two, fire!" Murrue yelled.
"Tristan two, fire!" Talia yelled. The two ships fired their double beam cannons as they passed each other, the Gottfried hitting the body of the Minerva below the Isolde and the Tristan hitting the Archangel on its port leg.
"Roll ninety to starboard and pull away. Aim Valiants!" Murrue ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" Neumann said as he changed the Archangel's direction.
"Get Cagalli back here, stat!" Murrue said.
"Mimic them. Roll ninety to starboard. At least we'll make sure our weapons don't get hit." Talia ordered as Malik turned the Minerva to face away, when the Valiants fired they hit the Minerva's underside, doing some damage but better than having them hit the weapons, engines, or bridge. "Good. Continue to turn until we're facing them again. Make sure we don't get hit."
"Roger." Malik said.
"Neidhardts, fire!" Arthur ordered as the Minerva fired off some more missiles.
The Eternal was taking fire from incoming Zaft suits. However at the same time its three DOM's were doing a good job of holding them off. A Zaku threw a grenade which although it didn't hit the pink vessel due to its CIWS did shake the people inside of it a little bit.
"Gah... how are we doing? How long until we break though?" Andrew Waltfeld asked.
"We're still a ways away. The good news is that the other fleet holding them off above Requiem are still holding out fine." Meyrin said.
"That's good. As long as they stay there Zaft can't fire an uninterrupted burst from the Requiem." Lacus said.
"Incoming mobile suits from port side. Incoming Laurasia-class dead ahead." Meyrin warned. 'Sister... where are you out there...'
"Evade! Fire all launchers! Main cannon, fire!" Andrew Waltfeld ordered as the Eternal fired its weapons.
"Yes, I am Rau Le Creuset! Mankind's dream! Mankind's desire! Mankind's Destiny! You are the splendid result of this, Kira Yamato!" Rey yelled as the two gundams circled each other while firing their beam rifles as their DRAGOONs chased each other around, ever one gundam getting a true advantage over the other.
"Even still, why do this? Why follow his path? What's the point?" Kira asked as the Strike Freedom moved out of the way of beam fire, it's blue wings of light glowing.
"AHHHHH!" Rey yelled as the two gundams each unleashed a full burst with each of their weapons on each other, although both of them blocked the attacks with their beam shield and were pushed back. "Ahhh!" Rey screamed as the Legend was pushed back.
"That doesn't mean you have to share his past!" Kira said, his eyes changing as he activated his SEED mode. Rey sent both of the Legend's largest DRAGOONs directly at the Strike Freedom. Kira put his beam rifles away and pulled out his beam sabers as they closed in. "Just because I may be this specialized 'Ultimate Coordinator', doesn't mean I have to have my life dictated by someone like you!" Kira swung his beam sabers down as the Legend's larger DRAGOONs passed by him. There was a split second pause as the devices passed the winged gundam before they exploded. "AND THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IS STILL WORTH PROTECTING!" Kira yelled as he pulled out his beam rifles again and began to target Rey's DRAGOONs directly with both the Strike Freedom and his own DRAGOONs.
"I disagree with you to every extent possible!" Rey said as the Legend did the same as the Strike Freedom. "I AM RAU LE CREUSET. I WAS GIVEN A PITIFULLY SHORT EXISTANCE BECAUSE OF YOU, AND THEREFORE YOU WILL DIE WITH ME!" Rey yelled as the Legend dodged fire from one of the Strike Freedom's DRAGOONs before quickly turning around and taking another one of them out.
"I won't go down without a fight! IF YOU ARE RAU LE CREUSET THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU FOUGHT AGAINST ME BEFORE IN AN ATTEMPT TO TWIST HUMANITY AND YOU HAVE LOST. IT WILL BE THE SAME NOW!" Kira yelled as the Strike Freedom stretched out both of it's arms and fired it's beam rifles, taking out two of the Legend's DRAGOONs as Rey took out one of his. The Strike Freedom and Legend continued to fire upon both each other and their DRAGOONs in a storm of beams until all of the Legend's DRAGOONs and all of the Strike Freedom's DRAGOONs were destroyed.
"TODAY I CHANGE THE PAST!" Rey said as the Legend pulled out it's beam sabers and charged at the Strike Freedom.
"TODAY I DEFEND THE FUTURE!" Kira said as he charged at Rey with both of his sabers.
"NAAAHHHH!" Both pilot's yelled as they clashed blades. Swung downwards at Kira with his right hand and Kira raised his left hand to block before kicking the Legend away with his left foot. Rey put his left arm over his body and tried to block his cockpit but Kira swung downwards with his right hand beam saber and cut that arm off before firing his beam cannon right into the center of the Legend gundam, piercing it's cockpit and ending Rey Za Burrel's life as the Strike Freedom made use of it's wings of light and flew back as quickly as it could to avoid the incoming blast from the Legend's nuclear reactor.
'Shinn... it's up to you. You can beat this guy...' Rey thought as he died.
"Eternal, I'm coming back. Get the spare DRAGOONs ready." Kira said as the Strike Freedom headed back to the Eternal, it's wings of light shinning a bright light blue.
"We've just lost the signal from the Legend, Mister Chairman." A man on Messiah's bridge informed. Durandal was a little shocked.
'Rey has been defeated?' Gilbert thought before looking a little pissed off. "What's the status of Station Two? And how long till we can fire Neo-Genesis?" He asked.
"Still a bit sir. We've giving the engines all they got."
"Fine then! But hurry it up!"
The Infinite Justice and Destiny gundams clashed blades once again. Athrun backed off away from Shinn, who was holding his Arondight sword prepared to come at him as Athrun launched the claw that was in the Infinite Justice's shield at Shinn, grabbing onto his right arm.
"Why do you want to kill me, Shinn? Why do you want this plan to go through?" Athrun asked.
"Because..." Shinn took his left hand and grabbed the wire that connected the Infinite Justice's claw to the shield loosely, well, more like he placed the hand near the wire, and used his palm beam cannon on it, breaking the wire before grabbing the claw off of his right arm. "You've gotten away with far too much, Athrun Zala." Shinn redied his anti-ship sword and activated the Destiny's wings of light. "You've changed sides so many times it's not even funny." Shinn charged at Athrun, who clashed blades with him as the two passed by, the Destiny's wings of light clearly putting out more thruster power than the Fatum-01 could produce at maximum output. (Because the Destiny is faster than any other CE mobile suit with wings of light activated, derp.)
"So, what's your point? I should die because of that?" Athrun said as he turned around, only to find Shinn closer to him than he thought.
"You come to back to Zaft, as an ex-pilot and a traitor to both the PLANTs for what you did last war and for ditching that Princess Cagalli Yula bitch. Yet for some reason you were pampered and given a high ranking and new top of the line machine instantaneously." The two gundams blitzed by each other again, clashing blades, except this time the large camera horn on the top of the Infinite Justice was severed off, as was the top the gundam's left shoulder armor. "Imagine how I, someone who worked their damn ass off and had been loyal to Zaft since he joined felt once he heard that happen. And what's worse, when you came back you could order me around!" Shinn said as he turned around and came at the Infinite Justice again.
"Yes, I came back to Zaft... until I found out that the Chairman had no good intentions for the world." Athrun said as he saw the Destiny coming at him with his green SEED mode eyes.
"No good intentions? The Chairman wants to end war forever! He wants all this pointless conflict gone, as do I, yet you so arrogantly stand in my way, our way." Shinn said as he swung at Athrun, but the Infinite Justice ascended at the last second and leapt over the Destiny, getting behind it and facing upside down as Athrun pulled out his beam boomerang.
"You're just mad because your family unfortunately died. Everyone dies. Yet you think this plan, this slavery to our own genome would fix everything?" Athrun said as he tossed the beam boomerang. The Destiny quickly turned around using its wings of light and slashed the boomerang with its sword.
"If it wasn't obvious enough already. You continue to defend ORB, the nation that let them die." Shinn and Athrun clashed blades again, strafing past one another. "And you also imply that the Chairman forcing his own views on humanity is a bad thing, yet you are hypocritical." Shinn said as the Destiny swung around and headed at the Infinite Justice again.
"Hypocritical? How? How the hell am I HYPOCRITICAL?" The Infinite Justice crossed blades with the Destiny again. 'This is going nowhere. I'll use the lifter next time around.' Athrun thought.
"Because you betray the people who have grown to trust you until you get on the side that matches your views perfectly. If they don't you defect again. And then, once you've found that side, you help them force their views that you share, on society, at least until they decide to have a change of pace; to change their opinion from something differing from yours, and then you leave. You worthless scumbag!" Shinn said as he turned around he saw the Infinite Justice's Fatum-01 sublight lifted heading right for him. "It will take more than that..." Shinn ducked and avoided getting his by the flying backpack as he quickly turned around and pulled out his beam cannon. "To beat me!" Shinn yelled as he fired his beam cannon at the Fatum-01, destroying it as the Infinite Justice came at him and tried to slice him in half, but Shinn ascended and avoided the attack.
"So I should just let you kill me because of that?" Athrun asked as the Infinite Justice and Destiny distanced themselves, the Infinite Justice holding it's beam naginata and the Destiny holding it's Arondight sword. The two pilots then came at each other full force, the Destiny's wings blazing as it left after images in it's wake.
"You should let your actions finally catch up to you. You should accept that time has caught up to you, Athrun Zala, and you will be punished for the many times you have betrayed others to further your own goals. You should accept what Justice has deemed your fate instead of cheating death again. You WILL accept..." The Destiny and Infinite Justice came at each other and slashed at each other as they passed by in a fury of light and energy. All sound stopped as the two mobile suits stopped with their backs to each other. The camera cuts inside Athrun's cockpit to show the pilot of the Infinite Justice looking okay until he coughs up some blood. Outside you see that when the Destiny passed by the Infinite Justice it cut the two beam sabers where they were connected and went through the cockpit afterwards.
"...Your Destiny." Shinn said as the Destiny gundam deactivated it's wings of light and sheathed it's Arondight anti-ship sword as the Infinite Justice gundam exploded behind him, destroying the machine and ending the life of Athrun Zala, the Red Knight, permanently. "The guilty have been punished and Justice has finally been done on this day." He said to himself as the communications line on the Destiny.
"SHINN! COME HELP ME!" Lunamaria screamed at her boyfriend. Shinn's eyes opened up wide as he heard this.
"Luna, I'm coming. Hold on for a little longer! Don't die on me!" Shinn thought as the Destiny pulled out it's beam rifle and activated it's wings of light as it headed for the location on its radar that showed where the Impulse was.
-To be continued-