"The Dread Fortune Pirates?" asked Arik as he, Sesha and Cyclonus headed outside once Silver Blackwater had made her announcement and was being brought down to the mining site in one of the Black Modified GuAIZ suits used by her men. Around 20 of the had launched and surrounded the sight with various weapons and ten more were positioned on the ship as cover fire.
"Decepticon and Nebulon Hunters, they consist of Humans and former G.H.F military who left after Gaea was taken" explained Cyclonus, "they make their fortune from plundering the technology from attacks and selling half"
"That explains the modified G.H.F Dreadnaught Ship, that things fitted with weapons that aren't standard" said Arik. As they headed outside Tori squeaked at them in wanring as Arik grabbed Sesha and with Cyclonus took cover behind the ship. Gelpa was stepping forward as the Miners who were in Mobile Suits were wary and ready for if trouble occurred.
"I'm assuming you lead these bunch from your guard announcement?" Gelpa asked as Silver was let off the GuAIZ and approached him.
"I am" she said, "your planet is a huge provider of Coal in a lot of the galaxy, explain please why your helping this ship full of Decepticons"
"They crashed landed here, they came peacefully so we offered to help repair their ship. Look listen we don't want any trouble, plus you know conflicted on planets like ours is forbidden by the law of the council. If you allow us to repair their ship or if their willing to surrender we can avoid conflict" Gelpa said, trying his best to calm the situation.
Silver slowly walked past him as she looked at the Alpha, Arik watched her, as if he was eyeing up a enemy. Inside the ship Nemesis watched everything from a screen, the crew were on edge.
"You offered to help repair their ship yes?" asked Silver.
"To get them on their way yes" said Gelpa, before he could explain more a shot rang out as Silver drew a handgun and shot him in the head, killing him instantly. Arik covered Sesha's eyes as his teeth gritted.
"Then you are helping Decepticons, alright men, kill everyone here, no survivors" ordered Silver as she turned back and boarded her GuAIZ as the offeres began their attack, opening fire and some even extending beam sabres as the Miners tried to fight back.
"Scumbags!" shouted Drift as he charged outside into the fight.
"Swerve, Fixit, man the turrets, everyone else, lets go out and show them why we shouldn't be messed with!" shouted Nemesis as the others ran out guns blazing.
As this went on Cyclonus had Sesha and Arik in his hand as he raced into the tunnels. Sesha was shaking as Tori played with her hair to try and calm her down.
"He tried to act peacefully" said Arik, his own hands shaking as his fists clenched and teeth gritted, "she killed him in cold blood, their gonna butcher them all"
"The others will try to hold them off and get people to safety, I'll rejoin them once I get you two a good hiding spot and…" before Cyclonus could finish a shot barely hit him as a pair of GuAIZ were following them. Arik looked back then realised were they were.
"Cyclonus, turn right here and follow the tunnel!" he shouted as Cyclonus used his free hand to fire a shot at the save ceiling to bring rocks down to block the enemies path temporarily. As per Arik's instructions the former Decepticon followed the tunnel as it led further down till it reached the Carrier that Arik and Sesha had found.
"Why are we back at this?" asked Sesha as she slowly was placed back on the groun by Cyclonus as Arik just leapt off and put on his goggles and grabbed his torch to begin looking round the carrier.
"This thing is a Mobile Suit Carrier, I don't know why it's here, but I can't watch them just get killed out there, this planet didn't do anything to those pirates" he said, "come on, come on, where's the way to the cockpit?"
"Arik, please stay calm" said Cyclonus as he looked at the carrier, "it's not part of a carrier, it looks more like a Cybertronian storage crate to me"
"I don't care what it is!" Arik snapped, "right now people are dying again because short minded people with vendettas are getting a kick out of killing! No one deserves to be treated like this! Why won't this thing open for Booting Up Cold!"
A blue light flickered and beep as Arik shouted at the top of his voice.
PASSCODE ACCEPTED, VOICE PRINT RECONGNISED, ARIK YAMATO, WELCOME ABOARD THE VANGUARD
Arik was nearly knocked off the Crate as a door slid open slowly, several lights inside flickered open as lying on the ground was something a little unexpected.
"Is that a Gundam?" asked Sesha.
The Gundam in question had a Black and Red colour scheme, its appearance was very similar to the Red Frame Gundam. Arik looked at it with surprise as he looked at the others before getting Tori on his finger.
"Look after Sesha" he said as he let the little bird fly over to her as she was moved away by Cyclonus before she could ask questions. Arik flipped the switch to open the cockpit as he leapt in and switched on the suit. The whole cockpit came alive as it hummed into action and the GUNDAM word came across the screen.
"No company or military symbol" said Arik as he examined the data on the suit.
MS CODE: G/OMEGA-777
DESIGNATION: VANGUARD GUNDAM
DESIGN: CYBERTRONIAN ALLOY MIXED WITH PHASE SHIFT ARMOUR AND A NUCLEON REACTOR
WEAPONS: EXPERIMENTAL MIMIC SYSTEM
"And no weapons either except…whatever mimic is" Arik sighed, "well better improvise"
Slowly the Vanguard Gundam began to rise, its eyes lit up a beautiful emerald green as it rose from where had been lying and stood upright in front of its small audience.
"You okay in there Arik?" asked Cyclonus when from behind him beam shots rang out as the two GuAIZ had caught up to them as one began firing at them all.
"Dunno where you found that Mobile Suit but it won't do you any good Con Lovers!" the other pilot shouted as he had his ignite its beam claws on its shield and moved in for the kill against Cyclonus who couldn't move to protect Sesha.
Flashes went through Arik's mind, the burning buildings, the death, the destruction, the moment the Destiny Gundam fell.
Before the blade could strike its target the Vanguard moved like lightning as it grabbed the shield.
"No more Death" Arik snarled as he moved to punch the GuAIZ when suddenly its shield began be covered in blackness as if being consumed. Then to everyone's shock it began to reform and take on a new appearance. It now looked more like the shield used by Freedom Gundam but in the Vanguard's colours and attached itself to its new owner as the beam claws ignited up.
MIMIC SYSTEM SHEILD CONVERSION COMPLETE
"That's new" said Arik just as he turned the shield to guard against incoming fire as the second GuAIZ opened fire. Arik's eyes showed focus as he launched Vanguard forward, tackling into both suits as they were slammed into the wall. Before one could fire back Vanguard had already grabbed its gun and as before the gun began to be consumed by blackness and then reformed into a more advanced weapon
MIMIC SYSTEM FIREARM CONVERSIONCOMPLETE, BULLET MAGAZINE REPLACED WITH BEAM TECHNOLOGY
"This is unreal" said Cyclonus as the Vanguard looked at the two GuAIZs and aimed its gun at them, Arik flipped the switch for the outside speakers.
"Ten second head start, go" he said
Back outside Nemesis at the others were holding off the Dread Fortune suits but were clearly outnumbered as they were split with Drift and Red Wing trying to protect the civilians evacuating. Silver had returned to her ship and was watching everything from the bridge.
"They fight bravely, but our cause is just and will be completed" she said, "once they are worn down fire the ships weapons"
"Yes My Lady" said one of the crew when an alert went off as from one of the tunnels the two GuAIZ suits came flying out towards the ship.
"My Lady!" one of the pilots shouted, "they have a new ally!"
Before silver could even ask with amazing speed Vanguard Gundam came flying out and rose above the battlefield and began firing paid beam shots at the Dread Fortune troops, disabling a number of them, starting with the ones attacking Drift and Red Wing.
"What in the name of Kaon's smelters is that?" asked Flamewar as they watched Vanguard go into action. Closely following it was Cyclonus as he landed near the others and joined the fight.
"It's Arik! He found it in the caves" he explained.
"That's all the explanation I need" Swerve joked from the turrets. Slowly the tide began to turn, as Arik made an opening the others followed his suit and pushed forward. Grabbing a chance Arik grabbed a second shield and gun which were at once converted to match the others. With a combination of beam blades and guns he moved with great skill to help fend off the enemy as their suits began to fall back.
"Glad to see you haven't lost your touch" said Cyclonus as they two fought side by side, Arik smiled and chuckled.
"I've missed this" he said when all of a sudden from above came gun fire, the Dread Fortune ship began firing down at the anything it could hit. Standing on top of the ship was what appeared to be a black three headed BuCUE, at the controls was Silver as she watched everything.
"This ends now!" Arik shouted as he launched Vanguard with Red Wing and Cyclonus behind him.
"Go after their boss, we've got the ship handled" said Red Wing as he began flawlessly started shooting out some turrets. Arik pushed Vanguard full throttle as it flew above the BuCUE and the two opened fire on the other without even exchanging words from either pilots. The BuCUE leapt and bound around the top of the ship as its long range cannons on its back kept Arik n his toes.
"This must be Blackwater, she's good" Arik thought, "military training no doubt"
Finding a opening Arik launched Vanguard forward at the BuCUE with the shields in front as they took the hits with small damage. Silver moved her BuCUE fast as Vanguard hit the ship a mighty thud and ignite the blades on the shields. The pair staring each other down in silence, trying to read the others next move.
"You're talented" said Silver over speakers, "but Cerberus Gundam is not down yet"
"Gundam?" Arik said confused as the BuCUE transformed into a Black Gundam with some similarities to the Gaia Gundam, only armed with the cannons on its back and the two side BuCUE heads as gauntlets with double beam sabres. Both pilots had their stances ready for an attack from either. Then at full speed they launched at each other. From below the sparks and lights of sabres clashing could be seen and heard. The Vanguard able to keep moving fast enough to block and dodge, but in turn the Cerberus refused to give up.
"Does your hatred for losing Gaea sting so bad innocents have to die? We didn't want any trouble caused!" Arik shouted as the two locked blades with other in a tense grapple staring each mech in the eyes.
"All affiliated with any form of Decepticon, past or current is guilty, no matter how small" Silver responded but seemed put off when she heard Arik's voice.
"Many of them have families! You give our race a bad name!" Arik shouted as he pushed Vanguard's thrusters to full and started pushing Cerberus back as its legs gripped to the ship's metal. Silver snarled as she tried to hold ground but then gasped.
"Arik" she said as she broke free and contacted the bridge, "retreat at once! Fire the forward cannons at that Gundam!"
As the Cerberus made for the ship's MS hangar the top cannons fired on Arik as he was forced to fall back as the ship began to pull away. The Cerberus stopped and took one last look at the Vanguard before its doors closed. As the Vanguard landed Arik got out and looked at the retreat ship then at the Vanguard Gundam.
TWO DAYS LATER
With the Alpha fully repaired it was time for it to depart, following the attack the surrounding Crota Planets sent aid to those attacked and the families were given full compensation for their loved ones deaths. A report was also sent out to the galactic Council, with the decision not to mention the Vanguard or the Alpha. However this meant one thing in particular which broke Sesha's heart.
"Your leaving?" she said holding back tears as Arik packed the last of his bags before loading them into Drift's alt form with Tori on his shoulder.
"If the message they found is authentic then something bad maybe round the corner, plus I want to find those Dread Fortune Pirates" explained Arik as he went back in and went underneath his bed for one last bit of luggage in the form of a long oak box with Kanji symbols on it.
"But they are thinking of offering you Gelpa's position" said Sesha.
"I know, but I already gave it to someone more deserving" said Arik as knelt down in front of Sesha, slowly he took off his goggles and gave them to her, "I've already signed away ownership of the Ginn to you"
"But, why?" Sesha asked, her tears showing fast as she gripped the goggles. Arik smiled as he un did the box to reveal inside two things. A Katana Blade with a black and red sheath and handle, and a photo of himself as a young boy holding the blade with Lowe Gear by his side.
"Because I've been running Sesha, I've been in exile for too long. There are people who I need to see, need to protect, need to reconcile with. I can't run from my demons forever. To stand for what you truly believe in, that is what My Sensei taught me" he explained as he closed the box and picked it up.
"Besides" he added looking at Sesha, "you know how this place runs better then me, so keep it going till I can come back"
Sesha broke into tears as she hugged Arik and stroked Tori's head before walking with them to the Alpha where Tori said his final goodbyes before boarding. As the Alpha launched Sesha put on the goggles and turned to look at Arik's old Ginn, her fists clenched and a smile on her face she approached the other workers who stood ready to hear her orders.
Watching from afar someone found cover to not be seen as they made contact with their leader.
"Soundwave to Galvatron, do you copy?" Soundwave asked.
"Affirmative Soundwave, it seems as if these traitors have a new ally" said Galvatron.
"Shall I attack?" asked Soundwave.
"Negative" said Galvatron, "these Decepticon Hunters and that Gundam intrigue me, dispatch Ratbat to continue investigations and return to Charr"
"As you command Galvatron" said Soundwave as he deployed Ratbat who at once took flight and stowed upon the Alpha. Making sure no one had noticed his minion Soundwave made his escape and took flight to rejoin his fellow Decepticons.
"Welcome to the Alpha Arik" said Cyclonus, "Nemesis maybe a slave driver, but even he appreciates the help"
Nemesis merely snorted as he sat at his chair, Arik floated up to a nearby window to see the Crota Planets slowly disappear.
"We've already set up a area in the storage hangar to act as a place to do repairs for your new Mobile Suit, and also converted one of the smaller supply crates into a makeshift quarters. You'll be largely into the hangar until we make proper accommodations" explained Fixit.
"Already got you a tab set up in the bar, we stock drinks for all species" said Swerve.
"So aside from that, welcome to this crazy party" said Red Wing.
"I appreciate it" said Arik, "by the way does this group have a name?"
"Why would we need a name?" asked Nemesis.
"I dunno, just maybe be fun" chuckled Arik, "just hope things are going smoothly back home"
"Speaking of which Arik" said Cyclonus, "how caught up are you on recent news?"
"Barely at all, I wanted to be off grid after all, why?" asked Arik.
A awkward silence filled the ship before Nemesis spoke up.
"The G.H.F and Nebulos are caught up in their own civil wars" he said.
It is said that in space no sound can be emitted, just the silence of the stars, but there was a high chance that surrounding systems heard Arik Yamato that day.
"WHAT!?"
IN ANOTHER PLACE
A cloaked and hooded figure sat looking at a orb, they sat in silence until someone appeared behind them, a Knight clad in golden armour.
"It's begun"
"It has indeed my friend, does that mean you are ready to return?"
"No, not just yet, it is not time, we have already done a large amount to help them, but now we must see how things unfold till we make our next move"
"Our time is short, remember that, if we do not act then the breaches will open and then…"
"Don't worry, I am fully aware, I promise you soon we will make our move, then I pray reality itself will be safe"
NEXT CHPATER: Reunions of intentions Good, Bad and of the Heart