Episode Three: Trembling Destiny

"So you let our enemy just waltz right in and take one of our Gundams?" Captain Jones said, looking into the cold dead eyes of Ben. The Captain raised his hand and quickly back handed the lower solider. Ben jerked the other way, touching his face to feel the effects. "Damn it boy! When I ask a question, you answer me!" He yelled. Ben stood straight up looking his Captain in the eyes.

"Sir, they..." Ben started. He was quickly shot down by the sound of the Captains voice yet once again.

"I want no excuses. You let the enemy walk right into our back yard and steal one of our own mobile suits. Not just was it a mobile suit, but a Gundam! Do you have any idea how much paper work I now have to do because of you?" The Captain yelled, though it wasn't a question. Ben stood in silence. The older man turned away from the lower solider, looking out his portside window view of space. He put his hands behind his back and began to speak once again.

"I'm also told that the particular Gundam they stole was the only one with the 'Destiny' system," He said. "That Gundam was our future. We could have lead the Federation into a new era. A new era of control and domination over all of space! Because of you, we will never reach that era."

His words stung like a venomous snake bit straight to Ben's heart. His head hung low to the ground as he sighed. The Captain said nothing for a moment, letting Ben absorb his punishment. After a few moments of waiting, he began to speak again.

"Lt. Johnson I will give you one more chance. You fail getting back the Jove Gundam and you will wish you were never born." Captain Jones said with no compassion or remorse. Ben said nothing...at least he was given another chance to prove himself to the Earth Federation.

"I'm leaving you in charge of the Krachtig for the time being. I have some matters to attend to down on Earth. You are responsable for everything that goes on here. Find those damned Pirates and destroy them. Take what is rightfully ours." Captain Jones added. A small measure of satisfaction came to him as they was told he would be in charge from now on.

"Leave," Captain Jones ordered. Ben did as he was told and exited the room. As the door slide behind him, Ben flashed a quick devilish smile.

"I know your face...trust me, kid. I will find you and kill you." Ben whispered to himself. The thought of taking revenge enlightened Ben to some degree. In a short matter of time Jove Gundam would be back in the hands of the Federation.

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2 Days Later...The Titan

The RX-98 Jove Gundam stood tall with pride. In many ways it was like its predecessors. It's samurai like helmet with gleaming green eye with its red tipped chin. Painted white, red, and blue. Weighing in at exactly 63 tons with a generator output of 98,200. It's armaments included two head vulcans, two beam sabers, beam rifle, six missile tubes, and a beam cannon. But what was most impressive was the 'Destiny' system. After extensive hours of going over the system and learning out its true purposes, the scientists of the FF had figured out that it had the power to enhance a pilots abilities, newtype or not. Yet they weren't fully aware of the extent of its powers.

Ryan leaned against the catwalk, looking at the Jove Gundam head on. He had successfully stolen it from the Earth Federation Space Forces. It almost felt like a dream. He knew that the EFSF would be after them soon...and finally he could test Jove Gundams true power.

Ryan's eyes gazed at the lifeless Gundam. "Soon enough, you'll be awake." Ryan said, talking to the Gundam as if it was a person. The docking bay was dark and quite while everyone was sleeping. The crew knew what was coming. So did the Independence and Odysseus.

"The calm before the storm," A voice called out from the other side of the catwalk. Ryan turned to see Christy slowly walking up beside Ryan.

"You should be in bed," Ryan told her.

"Why are you up?" Christy asked ignoring his remark.

"Couldn't sleep..." Said Ryan. They remained quite for a moment, waiting for something almost. Finally, Ryan broke the silence.

"When they come...it will be dangerous. Are you sure you want to be out there on the battlefield?" Ryan asked looking at the young woman. She shrugged, taking her pony tail holder out of her hair. Her long pink hair fell out and touched her back.

"I'm a pilot just like you. Just like Gabriel or anyone else. I want to due my part. Besides, you'll be out there to protect me...right?" She asked with a smile. Ryan sighed and shrugged.

"I don't know about that..." Ryan said, trying to keep a straight face. Christy's jaw dropped as he couldn't hold it any longer. He laughed as she began to push him. Ryan began to grab her hands trying to stop her. She pushed him down on the catwalk and fell on top of him. Both Ryan and Christy's eyes connected as their faces were inches apart. Ryan slowly moved his head into a kissing position.

"Er...guys. If you haven't figured out this is a catwalk and not a bed...I feel sorry for you." Gabriel said as the end of the walkway. Ryan stopped as Christy quickly got up.

"Its not what you think. Umm...you see I-" Christy began.

"Hold it. I know what I saw." Gabriel laughed. Ryan sighed, smacking himself in the head.

"Its not like that, you see we-" Ryan was also cut off by his friend.

"Call it want you want." Gabriel said.

"What are you doing up anyways?" Christy asked.

"Shouldn't you be asking yourself that question? I got up to go get something to eat and I heard something so I thought I might come take a look. What I find is my two friends on top of each other licking each others faces." Gabriel said, taking bit from his sandwich he had been holding. Both Ryan and Christy gave up on trying to explain and just let him think whatever he wanted to.

Gabriel looked at the Jove Gundam while munching on his sandwich and smiled.

"You gonna test that thing out?" Gabriel asked as his mouth was filled with food. It was a little hard to understand. Ryan nodded in reply. Gabriel gulped his food down and looked at his friend.

"Do we even know what it does?" Gabriel asked.

"Not really,"

Gabriel sighed and took another bite of his sandwich. He sighed and spoke once again with his mouth full. "Adventures Ryan...always wanting to risk his life! Just like that time in the Shoal Zone. We had that battle won and you wanted to take out that last mobile suit. You could of..." He takes another bite. "You could of died in the atmosphere. But no! You had to be heroic for your little girlfriend over here!"

Ryan and Christy had already turned away, walking away from there friend who was still talking about some of the times he tried being brave. Ryan looked at Christy and sighed. She laughed a bit and continued walking with Ryan. Gabriel stopped in the middle of his sentence and looked at his half eaten sandwich. Choosing not to eat it anymore, he threw it over the ledge.

"Hey! Don't you guys walk away from me!" Gabriel called from behind as Ryan and Christy ignored him.

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"The Freedom Fighters? They call themselves the Freedom Fighters? Couldn't they find a better name then that?" Asked the young inspiring reporter. Her name was Samantha Andrews. She was young and in her view...had the best job in the world. A job she wanted to have all her life. She always was dressed in some business attire and always had her hair pulled back. She looked very smart.

"Nevertheless, they seem like a challenge to the Federation. That's why I want you to get some more dirt on this stuff," Said her boss. He was a chubby man that always had a good old fashion cuban cigar planted in his mouth.

"Are you sure this information is reliable? Seriously. Could a small group of rebel fighters manage to steal three of the Federations new battleships?" Samantha asked, sitting across from her boss. The only thing between to the two was the desk. The room was pretty uncomfortable and hot. When it got hot in the room, that meant her boss sweats. That's not a good thing.

"I don't know, that's why I want you to go find out. Report back to me when you found something," He said, puffing away on his cigar. She slowly got up and made her way to the door. She opened it and just before she could walk out her boss called her name.

"Sam, be careful." He said.

"Yes sir," She smiled.

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The hum of the battleship engines vibrated softly as Lt. Ben Johnson shut his eyes. It was nice knowing that he was now in charge of the Krachtig. Soon enough he would dispose of this rebel factor, take back the three ships and most importantly...the Jove Gundam. For the last three days Ben had been in charge they had been searching for the pirates. His right hand man, Alexander Zimmer was assigned to protect the newly assigned 'Captain' of the Krachtig at all times.

In many battles Alexander had saved his neck. Ben thought assigning him this special privilege would make up for all those times.

"Sir, we've got our three stolen ships on rader." Called the operator. Ben's eyes shot open with a rush of excitement.

"Where are they?" Ben asked form above in the Captains seat. The operator looked down at the rader screen.

"About 19 kilometers,"

Ben stood silent for a moment thinking upon what he should do. It would be obvious that if they had just spotted them, they had done the same. Which means they could be preparing for a battle. Ben picked up the comm. unit to all the ship and began to speak.

"All pilots to your mobile suits. I repeat all pilots to your mobile suits. The enemy is within range. We are to engage the and destroy them. If you see the Gundam, do not I repeat do not destroy it. I will handle it. All other hands to your battle station!" Ben called out. The whole ship seemed to be rushing in every which way. Ben stepped down from the captain seat and told the next commanding officer to take charge in his leave of absence.

He and Alexander began walking down to the hanger.

"Alexander, I want you to fly out in the Gundam Libitina. I'll take the Juventus." Ben ordered. Alexander said nothing and did as he was told.

I've found you. There is no escaping now...you will die, Ben said to himself as if he were talking to the robber of the Jove Gundam.

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Ryan looked at Christy eyes which were filled with worry. He stood in his pilot suit as did she on the catwalks like a few nights before. They knew what each other was thinking.

"I'll watch out for you," Ryan told her. She nodded.

"I know,"

Ryan flashed a quick smile and kissed her on the check. She also smiled as well and both of them made it towards their mobile suits. Ryan climbed into the open hatch watching Christy climb into her mobile suit. For that brief moment, once again their eyes connected. The hatch slowly closed, leaving Ryan in the dark. He reached for the helmet that was attached to the system and slowly fitted it onto his head. A perfect fit. Suddenly the control monitors sprung to life as the view of the main camera light the cockpit. Ryan buckled himself in as the system checks began on the screen of his helmet.

"Ryan...be careful out there. Were counting on you," Admiral Maxwell spoke through the comm. unit.

"Rodger that sir. Jove Gundam ready for launch." Ryan stated. The Jove Gundam stood ready to shoot out into open space.

"All systems go! In five," Said the operator of the Titan. Ryan gripped his controls tighter as the countdown began. "Four...three...two...one, Launch!"

Ryan looked down at the controls and pushed the Gundam forward out into the oncoming battlefield.

To Be Continued.