Yo everybody. I'm sorry for taking so long. It's because of a couple of reasons. The biggest being that I've been helping my younger brother with his own Avatar fanfic. But this chapter's done.
Though I do have to say that I've enjoyed the response that I've gotten so far. Especially, some of the comments involving Treize and the Third Generation Extended. You'd be surprised by some of the unused ideas I had for him. The biggest of which being where Mu doesn't 'die' and Treize replaced Neo as a more brutal and vicious commander of Phantom Pain. Though I enjoy what I've decided to do with him.
And I want to say something. A lot of you appear to not like Shinn. Which I understand. But I actually mind Shinn all that much. I didn't like him as much as other characters, but I didn't hate him either. I'm not going to bash him or get him beaten all that much. He will get into fights, like in this chapter, but only a few over the course of Destiny. And all will be minor little fights.
Also, most of you were partly right about who was returning in this chapter. But only SOLDIER-MS was only one to guess right. The Druggies and my coffee-drinking commander, John. Needless to say, Shinn's reaction to the Druggies will be amusing.
Phase Three: Warning Shots
The Minerva's Bridge
"Pressurization normal. FCS, contact. All stations normal ma'am." Arthur said.
"Scan for the enemy and our machines." Talia ordered.
"Single unidentified ship at Indigo 53, Mark 22, Bravo. Distance: 150." the radar operator reported.
"That must be their mothership." Durandal commented.
"Input it's data into the database. From now on, we'll refer to it as Bogey-1." Talia said.
"Ma'am! I've found the Impulse and the ZAKUs." Meyrin called out. "Sector 157, Mark 80, Alpha. They appear to be in a battle."
Talia turned to the girl. "Can you contact them?"
"Negative. Radio interference is too severe."
"How many opponents?"
"Just one. But it's a mobile armor."
"Deploy the GuAIZs." Talia ordered. "Tell them to move to support the Impulse and the ZAKUs. And if need be, cover their withdraw to the Minerva."
"Captain Gladys has ordered you to launch and support the Impulse and the ZAKUs." Meyrin said over the comm.
"It's about damn time." Gekido growled as his GuAIZ mounted the catapult. "And of course we're bailing out Asuka. You'd think that since they decided to give him the Impulse, he wouldn't need grunts like us to bail him out."
"Yeah. The Reds always get the glory while we Greens end up spilling our blood so they get their glory." Shawn added as his mobile suit was loaded on to the second catapult.
"Knock it off, you two." Tristan said with a sigh. "Besides, if we do end up saving Asuka's butt, he'll have to live with the fact that he owes us one."
The four Green Coats laughed as the catapult doors opened.
"Gekido Jaeger. GuAIZ R taking off."
"Shawn Anderson. GuAIZ R launching."
The first two GuAIZs took off, heading for their comrades, quickly followed the remaining two. "Alright guys, let's go kick some ass." Gekido said.
"The GuAIZs have been launched ma'am." Meyrin said.
Talia nodded. "We will engage Bogey-1. Lower the bridge."
The bridge started to drop down, where it would shielded behind the armor of the ship's hull. "Maintain course Indigo Delta. Accelerate twenty percent." she ordered. "Prepare to fire signal flares and anti-beam depth-charges." Talia turned to her XO. "Arthur, what are you waiting for?!"
Her voice knocked Arthur out of his daze. "Ah... yes ma'am." he said, heading for his console. He quickly sat down, his fingers dancing across the console. "Launcher Eight. Load missile tubes 1 through 4 with Neidhart missiles. Activate Tristans 1 and 2. Activate Isolde. Target: Bogey-1."
Neo pressed his attack, his gunbarrels firing on the Impulse and the two ZAKUs. The ZAFT pilots struggled to evade the beams coming from seemingly everywhere. Shinn twisted, narrowly avoiding a barrage of beams. But a single beam gazed the Impulse's ankle. Shinn cursed as he continued to struggle against the beams. "This guys hitting us from everywhere."
"Calm down Shinn." Rey said as he fired his rifle at a pod, but missed. "If you lose your focus, he'll shoot you down."
"Yeah. This guy's different from most of those other pilots." Suiren added. "Losing your focus right now is a death sentence."
Suddenly, Neo found himself under fire. Four GuAIZ Rs appeared, firing their beam rifles on the Exus. Neo expertly piloted his mobile armor through the beams. He glanced at the newcomers. Not only that, he saw the new ZAFT warship heading for the Girty Lue. "We don't want to lose what we already have by being too greedy." Neo commented as he recalled his gunbarrels.
Once his weapons had docked back onto the Exus, Neo took off, heading back to his ship. As he fled, the Minerva fired off it's signal flares, ordering the mobile suits to return. "Come on. Let's head back." Suiren said.
Gekido grunted. "Figures. The second we get here and save our asses, we get recalled."
"Hey. We didn't need your help." Shinn shot back.
Shinn and Gekido were on the best of terms. The two had frequently butted heads at the Academy. And in one case, literally. Their graduation and assignment to the Minerva hadn't changed things at all.
"Knock it off, both of you!" Suiren yelled, stopping any possible fight in it's tracks. "This isn't the time or the place to pick a fight, Gekido Jaeger. And we needed their help, so show a little gratitude Shinn. Unless of course, both of you would like to sit out the next couple of sorties."
Both pilots grumbled.
"Excuse me. What was that? I didn't hear you."
"Thank you for your help." Shinn said with forced politeness.
"Sorry for trying to pick a fight with you." Gekido grunted.
"There. Now let's head back before the three of us start running out power." she said, taking off for the Minerva.
As they traveled back to the Minerva, Shawn made a whip cracking sound over the comm. He, Dale, Tristan, and Suiren all started to fight back laughter. Even Rey struggled to fight back a chuckle.
The Minerva fired it's missiles at the Girty Lue. The Earth ship countered by taking an evasive maneuver and firing it's CIWS guns, taking out the missiles that the Girty Lue couldn't evade. "Target it's engines. Fire!" Talia ordered.
The Minerva's Isolde triple cannon fired, narrowly missing the Girty Lue. A moment later, the Exus landed in the Girty Lue's hanger. "Withdraw now Lee!" Neo shouted.
The Girty Lue took off, heading away from the PLANTs. "Bogey-1 retreating ma'am." the Minerva's radar operator said. "Yellow 71, Alpha."
"What's the status of our machines?" Talia asked.
"They're returning now ma'am." Meyrin answered.
"Tell them to hurry. We need to continue pursing Bogey-1." the Captain said. "Set course heading: Yellow Alpha."
Aboard the Girty Lue, Neo entered the ship's bridge as the Minerva fired it's cannons at them. The ship shock from the force of the near impacts. "Captain! Enemy ship still approaching. Blue 0. Distance: 110." an officer reported.
"That ship is quite fast." Lee commented. "It could give us a lot of trouble."
The Minerva fired another spread of missile at them. "Incoming missiles!"
"Hard to port! Dodge it!" Lee ordered.
The ship turned to port, firing it's CIWS. Shooting down the missiles dangerously close to the ship. "Detach side propellant tanks! Prepare to detonate them!" Neo ordered. "Detach the whole arm assembly! Let them get a taste of that! Meanwhile, rise bow 35 degrees, port 10 degrees! Engines at maximum!"
The Girty Lue rose to port, evading another barrage from the Minerva's guns. As it moved, it detached it's propellant tanks. The tanks floated back, towards the Minerva, surprising it's crew. Save for Talia. She had an idea on what those were and wasn't going to take a chance. "Cease fire!" Talia shouted. "Starboard 10 degrees! Engines at maximum!"
The tanks neared the Minerva when they exploded. Fortunately, they were far enough away and the Minerva's hull was strong to safely weather the two explosions. Though the ship shook violently from the force of the two explosions. "Burt! What's the position of the enemy ship?"
"Just a moment ma'am."
Activate CIWS. Fire anti-beam depth charges." Talia ordered.
"Found them! Red 88, Mark 6, Charlie! Distance: 500." the radar officer reported.
Arthur glanced back. "They got away?"
Talia scowled. "The nerve of them. Escaping like that."
"We seem to be facing a first-class unit." Durandal commented.
Talia turned her chair to face the Chairman. "All the more reason we cannot allow them to escape." she said. "We've passed the point where you can disembark, but I believe that we should continue our pursuit of that ship. What are you thoughts, Chairman?"
"Please. Do not concern yourself with me, Captain." he answered. "If we where to neglect these embers, imagine the inferno they could become. Frankly, the thought frightens me. It's our duty to recapture those machines, or failing that, destroy them."
Talia nodded her head. "Thank you." She turned to the radar operator. "Do we still have a trace on them?"
"Yes ma'am."
"In that case, this ship will now continue it's pursuit of Bogey-1. Course Yellow Alpha. Engines at maximum."
Elsewhere, two men watched the distant flashes of the space battle from aboard the bridge of a ship. "Captain. Detecting two unidentified warships leaving ZAFT territory. One appears to be pursuing the other." an officer of the ship reported.
"It's seems that ZAFT has been attacked. Send word of this to Terminal." the first man said. "Undoubtedly, the unidentified ship in pursuit of the other, is a ZAFT ship."
"What of Lady Cagalli? Do think she has gotten involved in this?" the second man asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"Knowing her, yes. We better set course for that ZAFT ship. And have the mobile suits prepped, just in case."
The Girty Lue
A Short While Later
"You idiot!" Treize shouted, slamming Auel against a wall. "You used Stella's block word without authorization."
"If I didn't, she wouldn't have stopped fighting that white one!" Auel yelled back.
Treize threw him to the ground and put his foot to Auel's throat. "Do something like that again, I'll be sending your head back home to your mother."
Auel started screaming and thrashing the instant he said the block word. Treize stepped off him as several of the doctors rush to pick up Auel and take him to their lab. They carried him to their lab as he entered the lab for his generation of Extended. Mariemaia, Rezin, Reccoa and Gyunei were already there, replacing the drug cartridges of their implants. Mariemaia instantly rushed to him and hugged him. "Hey big brother!"
Treize barely tolerated her affection. They weren't blood related, despite her claims. Though they been in the same test group as they went through the Extended process. Most of his memories of that time were foggy, disjointed and unclear. But he knew that her young mind had been fractured in process. To survive, she had clung to him, declaring him her older brother.
"Aw... Isn't that sweet." Gyunei mocked.
"Shut up Gyunei. Before I shall remove your tongue." Treize threatened.
"Like you could defeat me."
He despised Gyunei. He was an arrogant little punk. Gyunei believed that he was superior and should have been in command. Not him. Maia broke her hug, allowing him to approach Gyunei. He walked towards Gyunei, looming over the younger teen. In one shift motion, he grabbed Gyunei by the throat and slammed him on the ground. "How many times have we done this? Every time you've lost Gyunei."
Gyunei grunted.
"Still you persist with this constant, pointless struggle to see who is superior. When the answer is and always has been the same." Treize said. "You will always be inferior to me. Like an animal grasping at the full moon, you will never reach me. No matter how desperately you grasp, I am beyond you."
Gyunei let out a snarl. "No! I am strongest Extended ever created! You are inferior to me!"
"03 Omega Red."
Just as with Auel, Gyunei started screaming and flailing around in agony. Treize turned to one of the doctors. "My drugs."
"Here you are." the man replied, handing him a cartridge.
Treize pulled off his shirt and replaced the near empty cartridge from his injector and replaced it with a fresh one. Without even glancing, he left the room, heading for his quarters to change into his uniform.
Captain's Quarters
The Minerva
A Hour and a Half Later
"Words cannot express my regret, that you were caught up in these events, however, I would like you to please understand our situation." Chairman Durandal said.
Sitting across from him, Cagalli nodded. Her two attendants standing at her side. "Have you been able to find anything about that enemy unit?" she asked.
"Actually we haven't." Gilbert admitted. "Nor do we have any leads on the carrier ship as well. Which is why we must take control of the situation as soon as possible. Before it become irreversible."
"Yes, I understand. That goes without saying, Chairman Durandal. Right now we can't do anything that would disrupt our fragile world." Cagalli said, bowing her head.
"Thank you Princess. I had believed that you would feel the same way." Durandal said before he stood up. "If you would like, please allow me to give you a tour of the ship."
"Chairman-"
Durandal waved Captain Gladys off. "It may be temporary, but they are putting their lives in our hands. I'm merely offering a gesture of good faith from our country to a sworn friend."
Suddenly, the room's intercom panel started to beep. Gladys pushed a button and Arthur's face voice came through. "Captain! An Izumo-class battleship is approaching."
"What? What is an Orb warship doing out here?" she asked.
"Unknown ma'am. They're hailing us."
"Patch it through to this room."
The bridge of the Izumo class battleship appeared on the screen. "Greetings. I am Captain Vincent Toth of the Orb Izumo-class ship, the Susanoo. We were pursing a band of pirates that had been harassing Orb interests when we detected your battle. We are aware that Chief Representative Athha was visiting the PLANTs. We wish to know if you have any information on the whereabouts and wellbeing of our Chief Representative."
"She and her attendants are-"
"Captain Toth!" Cagalli yelled, moving in front of the screen. "Why are you here?! I told the rest of the government that I would visit the PLANTs without any military escort."
"With respect ma'am, Commander Alaric felt that there should be someone around just in case something happened."
Cagalli let out an annoyed sigh. "Of course. Where is he?"
"Currently, he's in the cockpit of his mobile suit."
"Let me talk to him."
"Yes ma'am."
The screen changed. Now it displayed John Alaric, in his old black ZAFT flightsuit and his helmet on his lap, sitting in the cockpit of the Farsight II. "Ma'am." he said with a nod.
"I told that I didn't want any additional protection."
"I know ma'am. But I felt that it was better to be safe than sorry." John said. "And it looks like I was right. Now we can take you back-"
"No. I'm staying."
"Very well then. At the moment, it would be better if the Susanoo did not accompany this vessel. As the Alliance would very displeased if they learned that Orb was lending military power to ZAFT." John said. "However, I request that my team as well as Miss Alster's mobile suit, be transferred over to the ZAFT vessel as your bodyguards, Lady Cagalli. There will be little reason to complain about a small team being sent to protect the leader of our nation. Of course, I guarantee that my small team is a match for anyone on board that ship."
"Wait. You're not talking about them?"
"Of course."
She sighed. "Fine. So long as they accept your assistance." Cagalli said, turning to the Chairman.
"I have no objections." Durandal said. "Any assistance that you prove would be greatly appreciated. Do you have any, Captain?"
"No. But allow my hanger crew some time to clear up some space for your mobile suits."
"Alright then, prepare your hanger to receive five mobile suits." John said, closing the channel.
"Arthur." Talia said, switching the channel. "Inform the hanger that we're receiving five mobile suits from the Orb warship."
"Yes ma'am."
The Susanoo's Mobile Suit Hanger
"Alright. I'll launch first. Afterwords, launch the Strike Raven. I'll carry it to the ship. Then you guys launch." John said, putting his helmet on and powering up the Farsight.
The Farsight II stepped onto the catapult. "John Alaric, Farsight taking off."
The catapult launched the mobile suit into space. A few minutes later, the Strike Raven was loaded onto the catapult. "Launching the Strike Raven."
The mobile suit was launched and John caught it with ease. Then one by one, the three members of his team launched. Then the mobile suits took off for the Minerva.
The Minerva's Hanger
"Athha from Orb?"
Luna nodded. "Yeah. I was surprised too. What are the odds of meeting a big hero from the last war out here?"
Shinn didn't say anything. "What's wrong Shinn? Is it that ZAKU?" Luna asked, gesturing to the green ZAKU behind her.
"No. Nothing's wrong." Shinn replied. "I was just wondering who's ZAKU that is, since it's not one of the Minerva's."
"It was her bodyguard. He said his name was Alex." Luna said before she leaned in close to him. "But, he might be Athrun. Athrun Zala. I heard her call him that in the heat of the moment." She glanced back at the ZAKU. "It would make sense. I heard he moved to Orb after the war."
"The first two mobile suits are in Catapult 2. Pressurizing airlock now." a voice said over the hanger intercom.
Moments later, the doors to the catapult opened and the Farsight, carrying the Strike Raven in front of it, entered the hanger.
"That's...That's Farsight! John Alaric's mobile suit!" Lunamaria said, her eyes filled with shock and excitement. "The legendary Black Hawk! I never thought I'd actually get to meet him!"
"A third mobile suit has entered Catapult 3. Pressurizing airlock now."
"I wonder if the next mobile suit belongs to the Desert Tiger." Lunamaria said. "Wouldn't that be amazing, Shinn? Fighting alongside such legendary aces as the Black Hawk and the Desert Tiger."
"I don't know." Shinn said. "Does it really matter?"
The airlock door opened, revealing...
...the GAT-X252 Forbidden.
Shinn's face immediately changed from indifference to shock.
"Whoa..." Lunamaria said. "I've never seen a mobile suit like that before. It must be a new model."
Lunamaria pushed off her ZAKU, heading for the Farsight.
Unlike Lunamaria, Shinn had that mobile suit before. It was one of the mobile suits that had ravaged Orb when the Earth Forces invaded. To his horror, the Forbidden was soon joined by two of it's cohorts, the GAT-X131 Calamity and GAT-X370 Raider. Only the GAT-X151 Massacre was missing. To Shinn, those mobile suits were the embodiments of death. The Forbidden, slicing through waves of people with it's monstrous scythe. Raider, striking from the air like a wicked predator upon the defenseless. The Calamity, spewing fiery death from it's many cannons upon the innocent. By the time the three mobile suits had been secured and their pilots exited the cockpits, the shock had worn off and Shina was angry...No. Furious. What the hell was Orb doing with those monstrous machines?!
Shinn pushed off Lunamaria's ZAKU and headed towards the pilots of those three machines.
Elsewhere, John climbed out of his mobile suit and reached the hanger floor. Suiren and Luna where there to greet him. Both girls saluted him and John returned the salute. "Commander John Alaric of Orb."
"Suiren Kyusai."
"Lunamaria Hawke. Commander Alaric, it's an honor to meet a living legend like yourself. I hope you don't mind if I ask you for your autograph."
John chuckled. "A living legend? I don't know about that. But I will give you an autograph later." he replied. "Now, who is the commander of this ship's mobile suit complement?"
"That would be me." Suiren answered.
"Then we have much to discuss before the next sortie."
"I imagine we do."
"What the hell is Orb doing with those machines?!" Shinn shouted as he reached the trio. "And what the hell are Orb pilots doing in these machines?! Don't you know what these things have done?!"
"What the hell are you yelling about?" the first pilot said, taking off his helmet, revealing his olive green hair and blue eyes. "We've had these machines since they were built."
Shinn froze for a moment, realizing what he just said. "YOU BASTARDS!!!" Shinn screamed as he grabbed the pilot's black and light blue flightsuit. "IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT THEY'RE DEAD!!!"
"What the hell?!! Let go of me!" Orga shouted just before Shinn punched his face.
"Hey buddy, if you wanna fight, then you got it!" Clotho said, grabbing Shinn in a headlock.
Shinn elbowed him in the gut a couple of times, causing him to let go. Orga punched Shinn in the gut, knocking back Shinn. Then Shani tackled Shinn and punched him in the face. But at that moment, a couple members of the hanger crews rushed to help Shinn. One grabbed Shani from behind, pinning his arms. Shani headbutted the man, breaking his nose and his grip. Another crew member lunged at Clotho with a metal hand tool. The red haired pilot caught the man's arm and in one quick motion, knocked the makeshift weapon from his hand.
"Shani! Clotho! Orga! That's enough!" John Alaric shouted.
"All of you stand down!" Suiren yelled out as well.
"Hey! Don't yell at us! This kid started it!" Clotho said, gesturing at Shinn.
John turned to Shinn. "Well?"
"How can Orb just let these bastards live after all they did?!" Shinn demanded. "After all the people they killed?!"
"Jeez kid, do you only come in loud and louder?" John said, rubbing an ear.
Shinn scowled at him. "Alright, alright. Stop with the death glare. It's a rather long story. The short version is, they have no other purpose but to pilot these machines. So when we captured them, we rehabilitated them and put them to use for Orb. To redeem themselves of at least some of the pain and destruction they brought to Orb. As well as the pain and suffering they endured." John said. "They're harmless unless provoked. Most of the time."
"There is no way they can pay what they've done." Shinn shot back.
John stared at him for a moment. "You're from Orb, aren't you?"
"What if I am?"
"Nothing." John answered. "It really doesn't matter. Now if you excuse us, I need some coffee. Shani, Clotho, Orga, come on, we're leaving. Miss Suiren, if you'd be so kind as to find me once you are done with your duties, we have a lot to discuss."
The four took off, leaving the hanger. Shinn stood there, squeezing his fists to the point that his fingers cut into his palms, drawing blood. "Shinn, I don't know what your problem is with those guys." Suiren said. "But if you wish to keep on piloting, I suggest you stow it."
Shinn glared at her. "Is that an order, ma'am?"
"Yes."
Elsewhere
The elevator doors, Chairman Durandal, Cagalli, Rey and Athrun exited while Flay stayed behind. Durandal turned around. "Are you not coming, Miss Allster?"
"No. I just want to check over my machine." Flay answered.
"Very well then. If you need a hand, don't be afraid to ask someone for help."
Flay bowed. "Thank you." she said before hitting the down button on the panel.
Durandal cleared his throat as he moved towards the edge of the catwalk overlooking the hanger. "The ZGMF-1000 ZAKU. As you are already aware, it's currently the backbone of ZAFT's mobile suit forces." he explained. "And then we have the Minerva's most distinguishing feature, the ZGMF-X56S Impulse and it's launching system. According to our engineers, this is the newest, most efficient mobile suit system. Although personally, I don't quite understand such technical matters." He paused, taking note of Cagalli's expression. "I take it that you don't much care for it, Princess."
"Well, you certainly seem happy about it, Chairman." she replied.
"Happy isn't the word I would use. My feelings stem from the thought of how hard everyone has worked. To come so far from such chaos and to gain such strength."
"Such strength. You said strength was necessary because there would always be conflict."
"Yes."
"Then how do you rationalize what's happen?" Cagalli asked. "The damage your country and it's people have suffered, is due to the presence of those new mobile suits."
"So then you are saying that we should not seek to acquire power?"
"Why is it necessary in the first place? Especially now!" Cagalli said. "We swore not to repeat the tragedies of the past. We were committed to a path that we could all walk together!"
"True Princess. But-"
"Making excuses has been a specialty of the Athhas!" a voice called out, interrupting the Chairman.
Everyone turned to source of the voice. "Shinn." Rey said, jumping down to hanger.
Shinn glanced over his shoulder, glaring at Cagalli. But before anyone could say anything, alarms went off.
Crew Lounge
Shani, Clotho and Orga were off in their own little worlds, relaxing. Orga was laid out on a couch, reading his latest paperback novel. Clotho was sitting on chair, playing his latest video game for his handheld system. And Shani was also sitting, listening to his music, his head bobbing up and down with the music. John was leaning on a wall, attempting to drink the crap in a can they called coffee.
John took a sip and winced. 'You'd think that with all they've put into this new warship, they'd be able to stock it with some decent coffee.'
Meyrin entered the lounge. "Oh. You must be the pilots from the Orb that transferred over." she said. "I'm Meyrin Hawke."
Only John acknowledged her. Shani, Clotho and Orga remained obvious to the girl. "Hawke?" John said with a chuckle. "Well Miss Hawke, I'm the Black Hawk. John Alaric. You'll have to forgive Shani, Clotho and Orga. They're not exactly the most sociable of people."
Meyrin took note of their clothes. John wore an Orb uniform with a black, leather trenchcoat over top. The others however, where a bit different. The one reading the book wore an Orb uniform without any sleeves and dark shirt underneath the uniform. The red head's uniform was open and it's sleeves had been trimmed. Making it look like a short sleeved vest over a red t-shirt. The last one had ripped knees on his pants and his coat was open, revealing an orange t-shirt underneath. It was odd seeing soldiers wearing uniforms that clearly violated military regulations.
"Hello John...Wait!...The Black Hawk?! You're the Black Hawk?!"
"Yes. Do you want my autograph as well?"
"No. My sister's a big fan though." she said.
"Lunamaria? I know. The second I set foot on the ship, she asked for my autograph."
"Sorry about that."
John waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. Though it's not-"
"Enemy ship sighted. Distance: 8000." a voice over the intercom interrupted.
"Enemy ship sighted. Distance: 8000. Condition Red. All hands to your stations. All pilots are to stand by in their units."
Gekido cursed as he threw his cards on the table. "Is this going to happen every time I'm winning?"
"Looks like." Dale said, standing up. "Guess you're just unlucky that way."
"Come on. We got to get to our machines." Shawn said. "Can't let the Reds and those pilots from Orb get all the action."
"Knowing our luck, we'll be the last to deploy and stuck supporting the Minerva." Tristan added as they headed to the hanger.
The Minerva's Hanger
A Short While Later
All of the mobile suit had quickly suited up and boarded their machines. Suiren looked around at their force of mobile suits. Hopefully, it'd be enough to deal with the stolen prototypes and whatever else Bogey-1 had. "Commander Alaric." Suiren said, powering up her ZAKU. "I'm going to temporarily relinquish command of the mobile suit team to you. If you're okay with it."
"Hey! He's not a ZAFT Commander anymore. Why should he be in command?" Shinn argued.
"I would believe it's because I have the most experience here. I have fought more battles than anyone else here. In fact, I believe that the Academy still teaches some of my tactics. So, why wouldn't I be in command? Are you really that uncomfortable with me in command? Or is that you're uncomfortable with the fact that you'll be fighting alongside those three."
Shinn didn't reply.
"Now, Suiren, you and the other ZAKUs will remain behind with the Minerva and protect it should they try to ambush it as we engage the enemy ship."
Suiren nodded. "Roger."
"Shani, Clotho, Orga, Flay, the GuAIZ team, and you, Mr. Anger Issues, will come with me. We'll head out and hunt down the warship. Shani, Clotho and Orga will take point and I'll take the rear."
"I thought Commanders were suppose to lead their forces into battle, not bring up the rear."
"True. But let me point this out. The Raider, the Calamity and the Forbidden, all have Trans Phase Armor. Which can take more of a pounding than any of the other machines here. So why not have them in front? Don't you want them to die anyway? As to why I'm in the rear, it's because it would be better that I function as a sniper in this battle. As there's a lot of debris out there that they can hide behind and ambush us with. So I'm going to try to spot them before they can ambush us. So shut up and get ready. They're waiting for us. They'll likely doing to try to cut us off from the Minerva."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because, if I was their Commander, I would draw the bulk of the mobile suits from the Minerva, and then attack. The question is, who will they target, us or the Minerva?"
The Strike Raven and the Farsight were loaded on to the catapults. "John Alaric. Farsight launching."
"Flay Allster. Strike Raven, taking off."
The two mobile suits were launched into space as the Calamity and the Raider were loaded into position. John opened a private channel to the Calamity, the Forbidden and the the Raider. "Hey, you guys ready for this? It's been quite some time since you've fought in combat."
"Yeah yeah. We're ready." Orga said.
Clotho nodded. "Yeah. Let's kick some ass!"
Shani just grunted.
"What about you Flay? This is your first time in combat."
"No it's not." Flay replied as the next two mobile suits launched.
"Right. First time in combat, in a mobile suit."
"I'll be fine. You taught me well."
John chuckled as the remaining mobile suits launched. "If only he could see you now. You've come along way from that little girl."
At that moment, the Impulse's Core Splendor was launched, followed by the Blast Silhouette, the Chest Flyer and Leg Flyer. The four components assembled, creating the Blast Impulse.
"Alright everyone, listen up." John said to the assembled pilots. "Bogey-1 has entered the Debris Field. There's places to hid in there. Also, they know we are after them and they will set a trap for us. So keep your guard up and your fingers on the trigger. Good luck out there."
The Minerva's Bridge
Durandal, Cagalli and Athrun stepped onto the bridge. Talia glanced over her shoulder at the group. "Chairman?"
"Ah Captain. Can I ask a favor of you? I would like to have our guests from Orb on bridge as well. Will you allow it?"
"Ah... But that's-"
"As you know, the Representative commanded a ship in the last war and has fought in many battles." Durandal explained. "I would like to have her perspective of our combat methods."
"I understand. If that's how you feel Chairman." Talia said.
"Thank you Talia."
The three took their seats. "Distance to target: 6000." an officer reported.
"Lower the brigde." Talia ordered. "Prepare for anti-ship and anti-mobile suit combat."
The bridge dropped down into combat position. "Ma'am. The Impulse, the GuAIZs and Orb mobile suits have launched and moving to intercept Bogey-1. Suiren, Rey and Luna are remaining on board for defense." Meyrin said.
"Bogey-1. I wonder what the real name of that ship is." Durandal mused. "A name reflects it's owner's nature. But what if the name is really a fake? If something goes by a false name, does that mean that thing is fake? False by nature? It that what it would mean?" He turned to Athrun. "Alex? Or is it Athrun Zala?"
And done. Those who want to see Druggie vs Extended, the next chapter will have that. Though I did find a Youtube video called 'Orga, Clotho and Shani VS. Sting, Auel and Stellar' which as it's name implies, what such a fight would look like using clips from SEED and Destiny. It's worth a viewing.
As always, review!