Disclaimer: I do not own the anime series known as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED or its Manga side story Mobile Suit Gundam ASTRAY nor do I own anything from the SEED MSV that I may include in this Fanfiction. I only own my own characters and mecha that I have created for the purpose of this story. At least all but the Character of Brian Carter for he is owned by my old friend RX-79(BC) and is not owned in any part by yours truly.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED AU: Angelic Dawn
A Gundam SEED AU Novella
Written by: William R. Woods
Aka"Deathzealot"
Co-Written by: SethMKlein
Part One of the Angelic Saga Series
Chapter BGM is Wanna Be An Angel by Akino Arai
Phase Three: On the Side of Angels!
Many have told me that the Archangel and the rest of her crew had a guardian angel watching over us. Well to some it was Kira Yamato, and Fiona Alexander to those powerful Gundams of theirs. Well to me the Captain of the ship I think it was the entire crew of the ship from the lowly mechanic to our wonderful pilots that where the angels protecting us, since we were all working together to make it through alive. It was that reason that we made it through the war the way we did. Since we were on the side of Angels...
- From an interview of Fleet Admiral Murrue Ramius-La Flagga
October 14, CE 75
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AFS Archangel
Space Dock Two
Colony Harbor
Heliopolis Colony
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With the battle around and inside the colony raging on, the Marines of the 51st Independent Booster Company, aboard the Archangel prepared for their own portion of the overall battle. It did not take long for the various Booster Marines to get ready, since every Marine in the Company was a veteran and this was not their first rodeo as the old saying goes. It was quite a sight for Captain O'Neill as he approached the Marines of the 51st as they awaited their orders, for every Marine wore the iconic Marine Hardsuit, which helped give the Alliance Marines and Booster Marines their fierce reputation. The Marine Hardsuit was basically a modified version of the Alliance Flight Suit which was armored with Kevlar and other lightweight armor materials making the Hardsuited Marines big and lethal looking to anyone who see them. While the Captain had worn Hardsuits before it had been a very long time ago, therefore the sight of the Hardsuit equipped Marines gave him shivers despite their obliqued faceplates being left open, making them quite a sight. With a shake of his head, the Marine Captain turned to address Lieutenant Locke who awaited his orders.
"Alright Lieutenant are you and your Marines ready?" he asked looking up at the towering figure of the hardsuited Marine Lieutenant. The bare face of the other Marine simply smiled grimly down at him making the poor Marine pilot shiver in response. Jonathan thanked god again that the 51st were on their side, for they were quite a scary sight.
"Aye, sir we are ready. I sent my Corpsman Squad to ship's med-bay in case of any trouble, and my MP Squad are going to be patrolling the ship in case of anyone making it past us. Not that I believe they will of course," the Booster Marine reported nodding to a group of non-hardsuited Marines that where hidden by the bulk of the other Marines in their hardsuits. These Marines all wore the typical tactical vests and helmets over gray and white fatigues normally worn by Marines; they also had the iconic MP armbands around their left arms. Jonathan nodded before starting to say something but was interrupted by a member of the ship's crew, one Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackie Tonomura running up to the group.
"Captain O'Neill! One of the remaining Morgenroete Techs reports that they spotted around fifteen ZAFT Commandos entering the dock," the Petty Officer reported after stopping and catching his breath. Captain O'Neill slowly started to grin before looking up at the towering figure of the Hardsuited Lieutenant Locke.
"I do believe that is your cue Lieutenant," Jonathan said with a grin on his face one that was copied by the other Marine. With a wave of his hand, the other Marines slammed down their face shields and picked up their combat rifles.
"Alright you Wasps, let's go give those Commandos a warm reception shall we," Lieutenant Locke said to his Marines and Captain O'Neill only stared with a nod of his head at the Marines.
"Ooh-Rah!" the Marines started to chant out using the age-old cry of the United States Marine Corp, which the Atlantic Federation and later the Alliance Marines adopted as their own. With a final Ooh-Rah, the Marines started to walk off towards their arranged positions. The MPs started to split up into smaller fire-teams and to start their patrols around the ship. Captain O'Neill only chuckled lightly before looking over at Petty Officer Tonomura.
"I feel really sorry for those Commandos right now," he said with a final grin before he walked off himself leaving the poor Petty Officer behind blinking in surprise before he shrugged and walked off as well to see what else he could do.
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Space Dock Two
Colony Harbor
Heliopolis Colony
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Inside the port office of one of the large docks located at the colony, bodies floated everywhere. A bomb had been placed under the overhang looking over the dock below it and had literally shredded the gathered personal located there, which included the majority of the senior officers of the still intact ship laying in the docking berth located just below the office itself. However, luckily one of the apparently dead figures located near the entryway of the office started to move, because the person was startled awake from being knocked unconscious by the blast. Moaning the figure started to move arms to feel the back of her head where she had hit her head against the bulkhead next to her.
"Ouch! What happened?" Ensign Natarle Badgiruel asked herself as she finally came to and started to look around, and as if answering her self-asked question, the last ten minutes of her memories came back. Gasping in surprise, she looked around to see her fellow crewmembers drifting around her dead. It was then that an officer's cap floated past her, and once she gasped in surprise when she saw the Captain rank pins on it. Sobbing she grabbed the hat as it floated past her and brought it close to her heart in distress. It was the only thing left of her mentor, and friend, that had helped her all through the academy. Not to mention giving her an assignment on his new command and would have been her brother-in-law since she was going to marry his younger brother.
"The Archangel!" she exclaimed as her mind went back to her professional nature and she pushed off the bulkhead to head over to shattered window to look down on the remarkably intact ship laying peacefully in its dock waiting to be used against its master's enemies. However, she did not notice any of the bodies floating in the dock itself for her entire attention was on the ship. Smiling in relief, Natarle turned and started to make her way towards the door with the Captain's hat still in arms. As she approached the door, it was kicked open and an armored form floated into the room with two lights shining from positions on either side of the figure's armored helmet. A white uniformed figure followed the armored person into the room holding a simple hand light, while another armored figure entered behind the uniformed person. It was then that all three noticed her staring at them in surprise, holding out a hand to block out the light from the five lights.
"Ensign Badgiruel! Thank god you are alive, we feared the worst," the man said with a relieved smile as he turned the light away from her eyes. Natarle sighs in relief and floats over the man, who she remembers is Petty Officer Tonomura, who was one of the men who met her at the space sport when she arrived earlier that day.
"When you mean 'we', you mean what is left of the crew, am I right?" she asked from behind her professional facade she wears when she is on duty, though she eyed the armored figures recognizing them as hardsuit equipped Marines.
"Yes ma'am! Though those that happened to be outside the ship where killed in the explosions. Only those who were on the ship itself lived, which is not that many, mainly techs and a handful of crew. Luckily we had the 51st with us for some more Commandos tried to attack the ship directly," the man answered waving at the two silent armored figures who saluted her as she approached the small group.
"Right, lead the way Petty Officer; we need to get the ship out of its dock. It can't do anything here after all," she ordered with a wave of her hand towards the shattered window, and the ship outside in the dock.
"Yes ma'am, right this way," he mentioned with a wave his hand towards the corridor behind him, she nodded and started to follow him out of the office. The two Marines following behind them, how she stopped briefly for a moment to stare back into the room silently to say a final good bye to her beloved friend, before she turned away to follow the petty officer towards the end of the corridor with the two hardsuited Marines trailing behind.
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Bridge
ZS Harrington
Remains of Pallas Colony
Nova Shoal Zone, Lagrange Three
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Floating peacefully above a ruined colony is another ZAFT Laurasia Class ship who was on a clandestine mission to hunt down a facility that had been constructed in this often overlooked area and as the ship cleared the debris surrounding the derelict colony a battle could be seen not far from their position. The Captain of the ship looked on in disbelieve at this for he knew which exact colony was under attack. The ship's sensor officer frowned at his station for a moment before turning to address his captain.
"Sir, according to the thermal patterns there are two other Laurasia class ships, two Luna Class and a single Nazca Class attacking Heliopolis Colony. We are too far to pick up thermal patterns of any further units," the man reported with a frown looking over at his shocked captain, and the others on the bridge who looked equally shocked at this report.
"ZAFT is attacking Heliopolis! But why? Who authorized it?" the captain said almost to himself before he turned to look at another officer on the bridge with him who was now shaking off her own shock at the report.
"Lieutenant do you know which units were in this area?" he asked after recovering from his own shock trying to figure out who could be attacking a neutral colony like Heliopolis. The Lieutenant who he asked frowned as she started to look over the data at her own station and after a few moments she turned back to look at her captain.
"Only the Le Crueset and Cain Teams are currently in the area. The Cain Team was the team chosen for the new combined anti-piracy patrol through this area while the Le Crueset Team were deployed out here after we reported on the readings we got when the ASDF Third Fleet arrived for their own part of the anti-piracy patrol," she reported with a frown not liking this any more then her commander did.
"Should of known Le Crueset is behind this, but the question is what made him attack Heliopolis? Something had to at least made him attack it," another person said with a snort, the Captain turned his seat to see a woman standing at the back of the bridge staring hard out of the view-port. She unlike the others on the bridge wore the uniform of a Red Coat Elite Pilot, and also had an ancient Japanese Katana at her side, something not really seen often in ZAFT though those few who went through the Academy's Kyojin Haitou Program did carry Katanas sometimes. The Kyojin Haitou was a program or rather a style of combat, which taught mobile suit pilots to better use their close combat weapons instead of ranged weapons. The top five to go through the program received both a MA-M2 "Joukai Ken" Katana to use on their mobile suit, and a more human sized Katana to keep with them, though this pilot was one of the few who kept the sword with them at all times.
"That is the million dollar question isn't it?" the captain replied with a frown before turning back to look at the battle with the rest of the bridge crew, along with the Red Coat who crossed her arms over her chest eying the battle with an unhappy look on her face.
"Master Seraphim will not be happy about this," she said out loud to bridge which made the others only nod in agreement. For this was not something anyone wanted to happened even those in ANGEL.
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Special Projects Hanger
Main Morgenroete Complex
Heliopolis Colony
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In the Special Projects Hanger, Kira looked over the various screens of the Vanguard Mobile Suit as he typed on the machine's control keyboard. While the machine had a normal Coordinator OS System, in fact a modified form of the one from an Altairan AMD-02A Guardian, it still had many problems with it. Kira was actually lucky that he had experience in programming, for if he did not he would have been in big trouble when he piloted the machine. He briefly wondered how the test pilot could actually move it with the sub-par OS it has, but the young lord soon shook it off as he finally finished his modifications setting aside the keyboard. With that out of the way, Kira looked outside the Vanguard to see the fire that had broken out around the Hanger had been finally put out thanks to the automatic fire sprinklers around the hanger. With a sad sigh, the young man looked over to the door where his father's body had been taken through by the remaining Fusilier Guards.
"Father, I promise that I shall protect our people till my last breath. ZAFT shall not get away with this," he promised with narrowed eyes and with that vow said, Kira turned to look over the controls to start familiarize himself with them. He thanked god for his father's idea to get some mobile suit piloting experience, granted it had been in a Guardian but the Vanguard had a similar set-up to the Altairan Machine. It was not a lot only around eight hours in a simulator and only five hours in the mobile suit itself, however it was a lot better than nothing. With a final look around the cockpit, Kira grasped the controls and took a deep breath before nodding his head setting himself back into the cockpits seat.
"Kira Yamato, Vanguard lifting off!" he called out pushing the controls forward. Outside to any observers watching, the Vanguard's eyes flashed once and the two shoulder mounted thruster units started to glow faintly as they powered up. As the Vanguard activated, the scaffolding around the large war machine started to retract towards the wall freeing the Vanguard from its embrace. With a flash of light from the thrusters, the Vanguard shot up, through the partially opened hanger roof, and into the open air of the colony. As soon as it did so, a pair of ZAFT GINNs who had just returned from escorting the captured G-Weapons to the ZAFT ships, spotted the Vanguard and started to move towards it. Not really noticing the approaching GINNs, Kira could only look around the cockpit in silent awe of the machine he now controlled. Its sheer power was almost overwhelming to the young Orb noble piloting it.
Suddenly a beep attracted Kira's attention from his inspection of the almighty machine of war and spotted the approaching GINNs. With a narrowed gaze, Kira tapped a single button near one of the machine's control sticks switching the weapons. The Vanguard paused slightly before two hilts suddenly appeared out of the machine's forearms, and with a cross of its arms two swords made out of high-energy plasma appeared in the its hands. The beam swords activated just before the two GINNs started to open fire with their rifles aimed towards the Vanguard, however with an almost practiced ease the large machine gracefully evaded the shots before lunging forward and slashing through the middle of the first GINN. The blade of the beam sword sliced through the armor of the opposing machine effortlessly with the machine's armor providing no resistance at all. After a brief pause, the two halves of the GINN exploded as its battery plants overloaded. The second GINN tried to once again attack the Vanguard to avenge its partner but it soon found itself without hands as the two beam swords sliced forward taking the other machine's hands along with its rifle. Without any means to attack further the pilot of the GINN decided that it would be better to retreat for now, and started to head away from the floating form of the Vanguard as it stared at the retreating GINN as if daring it to come back. Inside the cockpit, Kira took a deep breath and sheathed the two swords before taking a long look around the area. Suddenly another beep turned his attention towards a section of the main factory.
"Well this is very interesting. That is most likely one of the G-Weapons that the Alliance were building. In fact I do believe it was one of the two I saw in the hanger earlier," Kira noted to himself as he saw first a gray machine jump out of a flaming factory section, before a second unit followed. However, Kira's attention was attracted to another two GINNs that suddenly appeared heading towards the now floundering first machine. With narrowed eyes, Kira prepared himself to intervene.
"That pilot may be Alliance but right now I am against ZAFT, therefore the old saying of the enemy of my enemy is my friend holds true here," Kira said dropping the Vanguard down towards the growing battle bellow him and the Vanguard, and into yet another battle.
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Outside Main Morgenroete Factory
Colony Proper
Heliopolis Colony
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The destruction of factory brought a pause in the still going battle between the colony defense forces and the ZAFT GINNs which where wiping the floor with their opponents. However, shocking those around the still on fire factory district a large object burst through the flames to stand tall and proud in the car park in front of the factory. It was the Earth Alliance prototype Mobile Suit Strike. Inside its cockpit, its sort-of-pilot and her single passenger sighed in relief after managing to make out of the inferno that had once been the Factory.
"You alright kid?" asked Lieutenant Murrue Ramius, the Mobile Suit's current pilot to her younger passenger. Fiona Alexander, her passenger, only nodded in answer as she caught her breath. With Murrue looking back at her she did not notice the two GINNs approaching them, however Fiona soon did.
"Watch out!" she yelled out pointing at the view-screen, Murrue blinked and turned back to see the GINNs in question. Cursing she threw the Strike into some sort of clumsy side-step barely missing the bullets buzzing towards it. Gritting her teeth, she pressed a button on the panel in front of her. Outside the Strike, color started to appear across its body, replacing the dark gray with white, red, and blue. This happened just in time as the two GINNs corrected their aim and hit the Strike shaking the two inside the cockpit. Luckily, thanks to Phase Shift Armor that Murrue had just turned on, there was no damage. The bullets only bounced off the armor, surprising both the GINN pilots and Fiona inside the Strike.
"What was that?" she asked with a gasp looking at the view-screen in surprise, however Murrue had no time to answer as one of the GINNs switched his weapon from his rifle to a large sword. Cursing she jumped away from the other Mobile Suit as it lunged forward with its sword, however she crashed into the building that was behind them. This concussion threw Fiona nearly into Murrue's lap; cursing to herself Fiona started to drag herself back to her previous position. As she had been getting herself away from the others personal space, the pilot had gotten the Strike back onto to its feet. She was slowly backing away from the slowly advancing GINN knowing that she had little chance against it. However, she forgot its buddy, and the Mobile Suit was sent flying once more this time crashing fully into the building. This sent Murrue flying against one of the supports besides the pilot chair, cring out in pain since she managed to hit the support with her still injured arm before she passed out from the pain. Fiona had once again been thrown towards the controls, but before she could say anything about she soon noticed two things. First, one of the screens showed five familiar figures running away from the battle, and second was that the pilot of the Mobile Suit was had passed out. Gasping in surprise, Fiona shook her head as she started to get herself back together after from the surprises. After a brief moment, she started to pull the Alliance Lieutenant off the cockpit seat and behind the seat itself. With that done, the young teenager slipped into the seat herself and took a deep breath before starting to get the machine back onto its feet. As she did so, Fiona frowned wondering what the heck is the problem with the OS for the machine. However, she had no further time to reflect on it for the first GINN started to move forward with its own sword making Fiona curse as she evaded one strike from the other machine's sword. Gritting her teeth, Fiona's pressed the trigger on one of the control hand-sticks sending a stream of bullets heading towards the advancing mobile suit, however the bullets went wide not even getting close to the enemy machine.
"Crap! The guns calibration is way off!" Fiona mumbled angrily as she eyed the two machines coming towards her, and really wished that Kira was here right now for he could most likely rewrite the OS himself in record time. Granted Fiona could do it herself but she was not as fast as Kira, therefore it would take time that Fiona did not have right now. However before Fiona could do anything else one of the approaching GINNs stopped in its tracks as a beam of red energy sprouted from the machines cockpit. Fiona blinked in surprise as she watched as the other machine slumped down showing that the pilot is in fact dead and she wondered what had just happened. The second GINN turned in surprise to see what happened to its partner and as it did so, the machine crashed to the ground showing another mobile suit standing there with two glowing swords in hand.
"Another one? How many did the Alliance build?" Fiona asked in confusion but she soon blinked in surprise when she saw something on the shoulder of the other machine. Pressing another control made the view-screen zoom onto the shoulder of the blue and white machine. Fiona's eyes widened before she slowly started to smile, because she recognized that emblem. However as she watched the remaining GINN shook off its surprise before charging forward to avenge its comrade. Its pilot, and Fiona for that matter, was shocked when suddenly the other machine suddenly blurred and reappeared in front of the GINN with one of its swords plunging underneath the head of the GINN. The GINN froze and after a few terse moments, the cockpit door blew off and a green suited figure with a thruster backpack jumped away from the now sparking GINN. The White and blue machine drew back its sword letting the GINN slam into the ground next to the other GINN. The new machine then just stood there over its defeated foes as if it was an ancient warrior doing the same. It was quite a sight to Fiona and the five civilians watching the entire battle.
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Hawk One
Colony Airspace
Heliopolis Colony
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Outside the colony, the battle still raged on as the combined Alliance and Orb defensive Forces tried to keep the ZAFT forces away from the colony. However, it was not going well for the defense forces since both the Alexis and Colonel Taylor had been taken out earlier. Therefore, Lieutenant La Flagga became the nominal commander of the defenses, which had shrunk to a single Moebius and three Orb Raptor Units along with Mu's own Moebius Zero. Mu had lost his other two units and the Orb Forces had lost the majority of their mobile armors, and their three mobile suits due to a surprise attack from two GINNS that had returned from the colony itself to join the battle. This surprise attack had really gutted the colony's defense forces and killed Colonel Taylor. Although luckily for the defense forces, they had managed to cut the opposition down to just three enemy GINNs. However, as the old saying goes, the stupid die first and leaves only the truly good pilots to survive. All this was on Mu's mind as he watched one of the GINNs destroy one of the last remaining Mistral Pods leaving only just the Mobile Armors to deal with them.
"Damn can't we do anything about this difference in battle strength," he remarked with a curse as he blasted towards an enemy GINN and opened fire on it using the Zero's patented multi-vector attack making GINN suddenly find itself without an arm before turning towards Mu's approaching mobile armor. Lieutenant Goddard flying alongside his superior on the other hand took this to his advantage and blasted the mobile suit's right leg off. It paused for a brief moment before turning and heading back towards the waiting ships.
"Alright one down, two to go," Mu call with weary chuckle and zoomed over to rally the other Mobile Armors, against the remaining enemy mobile suits. The two groups had now paused to eye the other, since both sides were exhausted and almost out of power.
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Bridge
ZS Vesalius
Colony Nearspace
Heliopolis Colony
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"Olor Unit is now returning, pilot is reporting heavy damage to unit!" reported the MS operator in a shocked tone as the gathered bridge-crew watched the damaged GINN return to the ship without an arm and a leg smoking all the way. Captain Ades shook his head in shock before looking over at his commander to see his reaction to this.
"I cannot believe this Commander, we have lost five GINNs to the battle and this is only a small skirmish," Captain Ades said with a shocked tone in his voice looking up at the commander.
"It looks like you where right Ades, we should have gotten more forces to take on the Garrison of the colony. Those new Mobile Armors came as a surprise to our pilots; we didn't even know that Orb had built any Mobile Armors and the appearance of three Guardian mobile suits were a surprise as well. Though it does make sense, this is a war after all. Anyways we have a very annoying fly hanging around. Recall the remaining Mobile Suits and I shall go out there myself," Commander Le Creuset said shocking Ades and his crew. Ades tried to protest but his commander had already gone down the lift towards the hanger. Sighing Ades turned to look at the MS Operator.
"Operator send the recall order and tell the hanger to prep the Commander's CGUE for him," he ordered before turning his attention back to the battle just in time to see two flares shoot from his ship and explode throwing the entire battle with an eerily light. The entire battle paused at this before the remaining intact GINNs started to pull back along with another GINN which had its hands cut off which had just exited the colony.
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Hawk One
Colony Airspace
Heliopolis Colony
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Out in the battle Mu was about to turn to target one of the remaining two GINNs as it opened fire on one of the Orb Raptors destroying the poor mobile armor, when flares started to go off in front of the ZAFT ships telling the deployed MS to return to the ships.
"What they are retreating, they had us!" Ian mentioned over the radio in a shocked voice as he brought his damaged MA right up next with Mu's Zero. The two remaining Raptors brought up the rear, and their pilots were shocked as he was.
"I don't know, but I got a bad feeling about this…" Mu mentioned as he started to look around the area trying to find what was making him nervous. However, it soon became apparent when something like a buzz happened in the back of his head. Only one thing got that reaction out of him and that was the presence of the Ace ZAFT Pilot Rau Le Creuset.
"Ian, take the remaining Raptors and retreat. I think I know exactly what was going on here," he ordered as he brought the Zero around to face the approaching feeling that he had in the back of his head.
"Lieutenant La Flagga, my sensors are reporting a ZAFT CGUE MS is now approaching," reported one of the Raptor pilots, giving Mu a good idea on the Orb Unit's sensor capability, and verifying what his weird sense was saying.
"Ian, get them out of here, I will take him on," he ordered as he released his gun pods and started to head for the approaching CGUE. Ian could only bring his Moebius around and started to head for the Raptors.
"Gold Three and Blue Six follow me, let's get out of here," Ian ordered as he pulled the damaged MA through its paces. Only a pair of double clicks answered him telling him that the two pilots understood his order and will comply. Mu sighed in relief before turning his entire attention to his nemesis.
"I wonder if he can feel me like I can feel him," murmured Mu as he avoided the enemy CGUE's first attack by rolling away from the gun volley. He then returned the favor by firing all four of his Pods at the enemy unit. The fight was now on between the two rivals.
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Secondary Entrance
Morgenroete Main Factory
Heliopolis Colony
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As the battle continued to rage on, Major Brian Carter along with a few injured Morgenroete and Alliance techs had made their way through the debris filled passageways towards the secondary entrance of the Morgenroete Factory. Along the way they had managed to pick up a few other techs as well as a group of Fusilier Guards carrying a grim burden. Major Crater sighed with relief and turned the corner towards the entrance only to find various assault rifles and large spot lights now pointing towards him and the people following behind him. Brian blinked in surprise and from the lights before slowly raising his hands against the light's glare. The techs behind him seeing his reaction followed his example.
"Is that you Major Carter?" a voice suddenly called out in surprise. Brian surprised, narrowed his eyes for he knew that voice, for it was the voice of Sergeant Julio Vega the Orb soldier who had meet him at the spaceport when he arrived all those days ago.
"Sergeant Vega? Yes, it is me, now can you get those lights and guns out of my face," he ordered with a frown and soon the lights turned away from the group of techs and guards allowing Brian to see the gathered troops around the secondary entrance. He was surprised to see only a handful were wearing the light blue and silver uniforms of the Orb Defense Forces, the other troops wore the deep forest green and silver uniforms of the Heliopolis Colonial Guard. However the majority of the gathered Colonial Guard sported the gold lining of the Fusilier Guard instead of the silver of the regular Colonial Guard among them was the grizzled form of Sergeant Vega. Whatever the uniform, all of the troops wore tactical vests and helmets, not to mention held assault rifles in their gloved hands. A few of the regular Orb Defense Soldiers sported the armbands of medics and started to help the injured techs as they appeared from around the bend.
"Anyways, Sergeant let's get out of here, there is nothing left of the factory. ZAFT pretty much destroyed it," Brian ordered with a shake of his head but was shocked when Vega and the other Fusilier Guard troops frowned in disapproval at him.
"I am sorry sir, but Lord Yamato is somewhere in there and we where about ready to start searching when you arrived," Vega responded with a shake of his head looking over at Brian, who only blinked in surprise before shaking his own head before looking over at the party of handful of injured Fusilier Guardsmen who started forward with grim faces.
"I don't think that will be a problem Vega," Brian mentioned sadly nodding to the party making the older man turn to look over to see that the burden carried by the Fusilier Guards, the body of Governor Hamura Yamato much to the shock of the gathered Fusilier Guard, Colonial Guard, and regular Orb Defense Force Troops at the secondary entrance.
"No," Vega managed to say mournfully as he started to head towards the group of his fellow and grim-faced Guardsman however before he could he spotted something at the corner of his eye and he turned to watch as several ZAFT commandoes rushed around the corner towards the surprised Orb troops.
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Hawk Three
Heliopolis Nearspace
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After retreating from the battle at the orders of Lieutenant La Flagga, both Lieutenant Goddard and his two Orb wingman found themselves cruising along the skin of the colony to make sure no one could see them at all. In his cockpit Ian himself looked over his displays with a frown for it looks like he would have to land somewhere and soon for his battery power plant was almost empty. With a sigh he turned away from the displays before keying his radio.
"Gold Three and Blue Six please report on your power supply?" he called out to the other mobile armors following behind his own.
"I am at about twenty-percent Lieutenant," the voice of Gold Three replied a moment after his request.
"And I am at twenty-five percent currently," came the voice of the other Orb pilot a few moments later. Ian frowned at this before nodding knowing he was about in the same straights.
"Dammit! Well we need find somewhere to land so we can recharge somehow. Any ideas?" he asked in frustration looking around at the sight of the slowing spinning colony in front of them.
"Well Lieutenant my family has been living on the colony since it was first built, and I know that there is a secondary work pod hanger nearby the asteroid resource," Gold Three reported a few moments later making Ian blink in surprise before shaking his head with a grin as he looked forward a bit to see the large resource asteroid attached to the end of Heliopolis.
"That will work perfectly! Alright Gold Three take lead and take us there then," he ordered started to slow down allowing the mobile armor of Gold Three to the lead position of the group before starting to lead them towards the resource asteroid.
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Secondary Entrance
Morgenroete Main Factory
Heliopolis Colony
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As the ZAFT Commandos rounded the corner behind him, Major Carter at first did not notice them, he only noticed the widening eyes of Sergeant Vega and the other troops near him which were raising their rifles once more. However, before the Orb Major could turn around to see what was happening behind him, Vega tackled him to the ground just as the other Orb troops opened fire onto the ZAFT Commandos who were just as surprised as the gathered troops at the appearance of an enemy armed force in front of them. While a few of the Commandos managed to get a few shots off, none manage to connect with any of the Orb Troopers and many Commandos fell as they were hit. A few of the Commandos managed to survive and retreated back around the corner from where they came. Once the Commandos had retreated, the various Orb Troops stopped firing and almost as one heaved a deep sigh of relief that they where faster on the trigger then the commandos. Brian meanwhile got up from the ground with Sergeant Vega alongside him. With a shake of his head, Brian realized that Vega saved his life, for he had in the direct line of fire from both sides.
"Thanks Sergeant," Brian said looking over at the older man who only shrugged in response before turning to back towards the body of his Lord which was now being sealed into a black bodybag by the somber faced medics along the group while the remaining Fusilier Guard gathered around the bay with bowed heads.
"Let's get out of here Sergeant. There is nothing else for us here," Brian mentioned sadly as he patted the shoulder of the older man.
"Yes your right Major," the veteran Guardsman replied with a shake of his head before turning away from the bodybag and started to gather up the other guardsmen.
"Alright then let's get out of here, I want to get out of this mess and see what is happening with the rest of the battle," Brian ordered after another moment or two of silence between the group. With that said, the entire group started to get ready to move out, with a distressed air.
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Near Tanabarra District Park
Colony Proper
Heliopolis Colony
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Inside the Vanguard's cockpit, Kira nodded as the two mobile suits where just about to reach the Tanabarra District Park, which according to the Vanguard's radar and radio was the location of a large group of Defense Troops. Kira turned to look over at the other mobile suit following him and smiled once more. For he had been quite surprised to find out that Fiona was piloting it and after a brief reunion between the two, they had started to head towards this park where Kira managed to find out was the location of a rallying point for the Colony's Defense Troops from the splotchy reports over the radio. With a shake of his head, Kira looked down towards the Vanguards hand that his friends were riding in. He was even further surprised to see them after he took out the GINNs and thanked god that the GINNs did not explode when he attacked them. For if they had the others would have been injured or worse from the explosions due to how close they were to the battle. With a sigh, the young lord turned his attention back to piloting the Vanguard. However, suddenly out of nowhere a shot screamed over the right shoulder of the Vanguard and hit a nearby building. Kira cursed throwing the Vanguard to the side to avoid any following shots and brought up the other hand of the mobile suit to cover his friends as they screamed out in shock from the attack, while at the same time looking for the source of the attack.
"Unknown approaching Mobile Suits, you are to immediately halt and dismount or we shall open fire and we won't miss again," a voice called through a loudspeaker towards the two mobile suits. Kira blinked before shaking his head in surprise at the attack on them though he did understand it for as far as the normal Orb Forces knew they had no mobile suits in their forces. With a sigh, Kira turned the Vanguard towards the direction from where the shot came from to see five Orb built Type-80 Po Linear Attack Tanks approaching the group with a supporting group of Type-85 Veles Light Attack Tanks and Type-87 Loki Missile Trucks.
"Orb Forces this is Lord Kira Yamato, I am piloting one of the two mobile suits now approaching your position. I need to talk to your commanding officer immediately," he said over his loudspeakers towards the Orb forces.
"Lord Kira...but...how," a sputtering voice started to say over the channel from the lead Po tank which made Kira laugh lightly in response for it was kind of shocking before he shook his head and hit the radio control again.
"It is fine; I would have done the same thing in your place. Now do you have a Radio Truck with you?" he asked interrupting the other before he could get going, hoping that they had a Radio Truck so he could get in contact with the remaining Orb Forces. Kira hoped that the Radio on such a vehicle should have the power to pierce some of the radio jamming and rallying some of the nearby Defense Forces around them.
"Even better Milord. We have a Type-90 "Olympus" Mobile Command Vehicle here," another voice responded and Kira blinked before nodding thanking his lucky stars for a MCV was much better than a simple Radio Truck, for it would have the needed equipment needed to help counter-act the ECM and communication jamming from the attacking ZAFT Forces.
"Very well then I need to see about gathering any forces for another attack maybe around the corner," he said as he continued to move the Vanguard towards the park itself. The various vehicles and tanks turned to follow him at some unheard order along with the Strike with Fiona still at the controls. Kira knew that there was a lot to do to get the Orb Forces together.
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Outskirts of Factory District
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Not far from the large park that soon became a temporary base camp for the Colony's Defense Forces a small convoy moved on away from the burning and ruined Factory District. This convoy was quite small only numbering three Type-87 Missile Trucks, and two Type-68 Armored Personal Carriers. In the lead APC, Major Brian Carter fiddled with the vehicle's radio but like before he only got static and a few bits and pieces of messages. With a sigh, the Orb officer turned to look around the packed APC to see the others watching him with anguished face or trying to get some sleep. However before he could say anything the radio starting squawking and Brian turned to look at it in shock before a strong signal came through the tiny radio.
"All Remaining Orb and Heliopolis Defense Forces! This Lord Kira Yamato, I am now activating Case Omega. All Forces are to gather at Tanabarra District Park immediately we are not through this attack yet. Again this Lord Kira Yamato..." the radio said with a few hisses of static before repeating itself a few more times. The gathered Orb soldiers looked at the tiny device in shock before they started to talk all at once.
"What is Case Omega sir," one of the younger regular Orb Defense Force Troopers looking over at the Major having noticing his pale features and knowing that it was something do with that code.
"Case Omega is an emergency code where Lord Yamato is either incapacitated or dead therefore command falls to his son and heir, Lord Kira Yamato," he replied with a sigh making the others in the tiny vehicle nod in understanding, though the few Orb troopers which hadn't known about the death of Lord Yamato looked shocked. However, it soon passed as the little convoy almost as one turned on a heading towards Tanabarra District Park.
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Hawk Three
Secondary Work Pod Hanger
Heliopolis Colony
Thirty Minutes Later
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In the tiny Word Pod hanger Lieutenant Goddard nodded at the two other mobile armor pilots from the top of his Moebius as he slid into the cockpit once more. The last half-hour had been a lesson in patience as the three pilots waited for their units to recharge while they tried to repair the minor damages they could using parts from the handful of aging SP-W3 Hornet Work Pods that called the hanger home. Finally they were ready to once more launch and see how the battle had been going in their absence. With a rush of g-forces the three mobile armors were once more mobile and heading out.
"Lieutenant we can use the nearby transport dock to get into the colony, and then perhaps through the dock itself. That should surprise ZAFT," Gold Three, which Ian now knew to be Lieutenant Shin Kikuchi of the Heliopolis Colonial Guard, reported making Ian nod in understanding.
"Alright then Gold Three take lead again," Ian ordered letting the other mobile armor lead once more through the various connected large passageways built into the large resource asteroid to allow work pods access throughout the asteroid. Before long the three mobile armors flew into the large transport dock of the resource asteroid and through another connecting passageway back towards the attached colony. However none of the three pilots noticed the darkened form a warship berthed in the dock itself waiting for someone to claim it.
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Temporary Orb Defense Forces Camp
Tanabarra District Park
Heliopolis Colony
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The first thing that Lieutenant Murrue Ramius saw when waking up from comatose was the concerned face of a female Navy Corpsman. The next thing she realized that she was lying on a cot and that they were inside a portable tent. However, her memories soon returned and she wondered how she got here.
"Easy Lieutenant everything is fine," reported the Corpsman frowning. Blinking, Murrue took the time to look around to see that they were indeed inside a tent. Other then the corpsman there were a few Alliance techs she knew had left with Major Carter lying in cots like she was. She turned slightly and saw that an outline of someone stood at the entrance of the tent, as if guarding it. They however where not alone for long as the tent flap flipped opened and Major Brian Carter entered the tent, the first thing she realized that the man was limping and was using a branch to support himself over to a nearby chair.
"Yeah Lieutenant you are looking better," he remarked with a smile looking her over. Murrue frowned when she saw that his leg was bandaged and that the Corspman shooting him a pointed look.
"Well anyways Major care to report to me what is going on?" she asked with a small bark in her voice. The man only smiled at her and chuckled slightly before nodding in reply.
"First, Doc is she good enough to be about? Since like a wise man once said, a picture is worth a thousand words," Brian asked the corpsman with a frown, the woman only sighed before nodding her consent. Nodding in understanding Brian helped her out of the cot and onto her feet. At first, she was a bit woozy before she managed to stabilize herself.
"Alright let's go my dear lady," Brian said with a saucy grin on his face, Murrue only rolled her eyes but his comment did manage to get her to smile. Before long the two where outside the tent and the first thing that Murrue saw was the Strike along with an unknown but similar mobile suit where kneeing side-by-side. She then noticed that every single soldier around the camp wore an Orb Uniform. It looked like the corpsman, the injured techs, and herself were the only Alliance Personal in the camp. With a shake of her head at this, she turned to inspect the rest of the camp around her. Beside the tent they just came out of, they where two other portable tents. Next to the largest tent was what looked like the motor pool, surprisingly enough there where was one of the large Type-95 Camion transport trailers used to transport the G-Weapons, and not to mention four Type-89 Support Trucks, which she knew, carried the Strike Packs and other weapons for the G-Weapons. These large trucks took more than half of the motor pool; the other half was taken up by five Orb Type-80 Po Linear Tanks, distinguished by the single ball like turret that made it look far different from the normal Alliance Linear Tank she was used to. Sitting in front of these large tanks where a mix of smaller Missile Trucks, with both Type-85 Artillery Truck models and its slightly larger brother the Type-87 Light Attack Tanks, and a few large APCs. Along the perimeter of the small camp were pairs of patrolling soldiers. While the four corners of the camp stood four more Type-85 Missile Trucks. Lastly, Murrue saw a group of teenagers resting in front of a large Type-90 Mobile Command Vehicle. One of the teenagers that she saw was the girl she shoved into the Strike while the others were unfamiliar. She did wonder why there was a pair of green uniformed soldiers standing behind one of the teenagers with hands on their slung rifles. Once she had her fill of the area, Brian started to report on what happened since the two separated at the factory and her being knocked out in the cockpit of the Strike. Finally, he stopped after reporting everything what happened to Strike known to him thanks to him looking through the data-recorders of the mentioned machine and his little side-mission to get the trailers from the ruined factory district where he managed to injure himself, before staring off at the second Machine.
"With that out of the way I need to mention that other Mobile Suit is the ORB-00A Vanguard, a mobile suit designed using technology gleaned from the G-Project to protect this colony when needed, it is an Orb Machine and its pilot, young Lord Kira over there, don't fall under yours or any other Alliance officer's orders. I just want to make it clear to you before you go do something that may cause a larger international accident," the Major said with a frown nodding to the unknown machine before waving at the young man with the two soldiers standing behind him. Murrue sighed but nodded for she had known for a while that Orb was using the G-Project to help produce their own Mobile Suits so that didn't surprise her, for it was the price that she along with a few other Alliance officers gladly would pay in exchange for the Alliance getting their own mobile suits.
"Who is this Lord Kira by the way, and why does he have guards around him?" she asked what had been brimming in her head since she saw the group of teenagers and the lonely two guards standing at the back of the mentioned teens. Major Carter only chuckled lightly before clasping his hands behind his back and looked around briefly before turning to address her.
"He is Lord Kira Yamato the new Lord Yamato after his father died during the attack. The young lady you saved from the factory and is now sitting next to him over there is his fiancée, one Fiona Alexander who happens to be a cousin of mine. The reason behind the guards is that the Yamato Household Guard have already lost one Lord Yamato today they were not about to lose another," the Orb Major responded nodding to a pair of forest green and silver uniformed soldiers as they passed by the two. Lieutenant Ramius eyes widened in surprise before turning to look back at the young man and wondered how he could be so carefree right now while the title of Lord Yamato suddenly dropping onto his shoulders. With a shake of her head, she turned to look back at the Major to see him studying her as she recovered from her shock.
"Don't worry Major, I am not too dense that I don't realize that all of the soldiers around the camp are wearing Orb Uniforms, not Alliance, therefore I would be stupid if I did anything," she said with a brief smile making a point of looking around the camp once more at the soldiers throughout the small camp. The Major could only nod in relief before waving at the teenagers once more.
"Anyways, Lord Kira would like to meet you and Fiona would like to thank you for saving her life," he said before starting to make his way over to the group. Murrue started to follow behind him with a small smile on her face once more for she quite eager to meet this young lord and the young woman who took upon herself to take the controls after she herself passed out saving the two of them from certain death or capture. With a final shake of her head, the young Alliance officer turned her attention to the group of teenagers.
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Hawk One
Harbor
Heliopolis Colony
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Inside the Harbor, the two sworn enemies where still at each other throats, the only reason why not one of them were damaged yet was thanks to them fighting each so often that they had the other's moves memorized. Not to mention the two men had playing cat and mouse games throughout the colony's dock for quite a while. However, the two where starting tire and now only one had to mistake for the other to win the battle. However sadly Mu was the first one to make a mistake and it cost him a gunbarrel to his annoyance.
"Crap! Things are really starting to get hectic here," Mu mumbled to himself as he dodged another attack from his rival letting it hit a parked freighter in the harbor itself. However Rau did something extremely unexpected and dived towards the opening towards the rest of the colony. Blinking in surprise Mu followed him, and kept on fighting but not before he lost a second Gunbarrel, though luckily for him in favor of the other's rifle. Therefore the fight continued as it went deeper into the colony.
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Hawk Three
Secondary Transport Dock
Heliopolis Colony
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On the other side of the colony, Ian and his two Orb wingmates made their way back into the colony from the transport dock. Before long the three Mobile Armor where racing through the colony interior and flying above the center shaft of the colony. As they flew past numerous buildings on the ground Ian sighed in relief when he saw a pair of destroyed GINNs on the ground nearby the now destroyed Morgenroete factory.
"Looks like quite a fight they had," Lieutenant Kikuchi mentioned with a whistle as they flew over the dead GINNs and further into the colony. As they did, Ian hoped they find something as they kept going on.
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Main Bridge
AFS Archangel
Space Dock Two
Heliopolis Colony
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While all this was going on, the remaining crew of the Archangel where now slowly gathering on the bridge waiting for instructions from Ensign Badgiruel, who was now looking over the diagnostics for the ship on the console next to the commander's chair. She had not sat in it for she respected her friend and mentor too much to sit in it right now. Nodding in relief, she turned to look over at gathered crew, flinching when she saw that the group was pretty small.
"Is this all of them Mister Tonomura?" she asked the enlisted crewmember floating not far from her. He blinked before looking over at another crewmember who stepped forward to answer her question.
"No ma'am, Chief Petty Officer Fang and his men are in engineering looking for any damage from the explosions, while Senior Chief Petty Officer Murdoch and his techs are in the hanger finishing storing all the cargo that they had been loading when all this started. Senior Chief Corpsman Fraiser and her team are getting setup in the med-bay; Senior Chief Warrant Officer Fields is looking over the Burros in the transport hanger along with his team. Captain O'Neill is helping Murdoch, and finally Lieutenant Locke and the rest of his company are patrolling the corridors in case we have any more surprise visitors," Chief Petty Officer Arnold Neumann reported expertly from his position next to entrance to CIC. Natarle nodded at him before turning her glance at the gathered personnel waiting for her orders.
"Alright then, get to your positions. We need to start launching the ship," she ordered as she took the seat next to command chair. The others looked at her in shock, and Chief Neumann cleared his throat before looking over at her.
"But ma'am, we have no idea what is going on out there. We should run a thorough check on all the ship systems and wait until we are sure that the ship is in top condition before we head out. Besides the exit is blocked by some falling debris, it will take a while to move the ship anywhere," he reported waving his hand out the view-port at the exit to the dock, which was covered by a few feet of debris. Natarle shook her head before glaring at Arnold and the rest of the crew.
"We have no choice we need to know what is going on out there, and if we stay here any longer ZAFT may be able to make off with the G-Weapons. We cannot let ZAFT take them Chief! As for the debris, prepare the Assault Canons to clear the way, you forget this is a warship. We have weapons to take care of stuff like that. Now get to your post Chief," she ordered with a glare, which made the man gulp before running to seat down at the piloting station. Nodding to herself as the rest of the crew scrambled to their positions the few that had posts outside the bridge rush out heading there. Chuckling, Natarle picked up the phone next to the commander's chair, while she sat down in the smaller chair next to the center chair usually reserved for Flag Officers or other officers.
"Attention! All personnel prepare the ship for launch! Chief Fang get the engines ready! All other personnel to your posts!" she ordered over the ship's inter-com, which sent the bare crew rushing to battle-stations.
"Ma'am! Powering up now, but we will need a few minutes to finish!" reported Chief Neumann from his position, which was verified by Tonomura at the Operations panel.
"That will take too long, do we still have power connections with the colony?" she asked with a frown, hoping that they did or they would have no choice while the ship powered up. Arnold only nodded at her before turning back to his console to find out.
"Yes ma'am! The connections are still up and running, they are undamaged! Using them will lower to one minute ma'am!" he reported a few moments later as he swung around with a smile. Sighing in relief Natarle sighed in relief before nodding at him.
"Alright once we have power start charging our cannons Mister Pal!" she ordered looking over at the fire-control station above her. The man only nodded before doing as she commanded.
"We are good to go ma'am! All stations report ready!" Arnold reported with a relieved smile on his face. Nodding at him, Natarle turned to look back at Pal who only nodded his readiness.
"Very well then, FIRE!" she ordered and outside the ship the large Lohengrin Assault Canons located on the bottom of the legs that where their catapults fired sending a large anti-matter force towards the exit. The glare made the entire bridge crew turn away from the shot, but turned back once it is over to see daylight shining through the now open exit. Several sighs of relief where heard.
"Mobile Assault Ship Archangel Launch!" she ordered looking out the exit and to a new start of her life and towards her destiny.
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Temporary Orb Defense Forces Camp
Tanabarra District Park
Heliopolis Colony
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Murrue was talking with the teen-aged Lord Yamato and his friends when a sudden explosion somewhere made her and the rest of the camp look up in surprise to see yet another ZAFT Mobile Suit enter the colony. However, an Alliance Mobile Armor followed this one. Which was some good news, however that hope did not last long as the Mobile Suit sliced through the Armor's Linear Canon, its last weapon, before blasting off towards the two grounded Mobile Suits. Murrue turned to look at the two young pilots who were already rushing towards their machines. Brian meanwhile was barking orders into his headset and the gathered troops around the larger tent started to sprint over to their vehicles. Murrue however knew that it was hopeless even with the four active trucks now swinging their weapons towards the enemy, and that it would soon be over with the ZAFT mobile suit causing a massacre. Luckily for them it was not over as an even larger explosion announced the arrival of the Archangel to the playing field. This attracted the attention of the sole ZAFT Mobile Suit, allowing the pair of teens to jump into their Mobile Suits while the troops revved up their vehicles.
"Thank god the Archangel!" she exclaimed in excitement as it soared out of the dock and into its new destiny. This in the coming months would make a large impact on the war ahead.
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Author's Post-Chapter Notes: (Chapter Edited on 10/9/2012)
Alright here is the new version of Phase Three of Angelic Dawn! And as you can see there are quite many different changes from the original. The major one being the removal of the Odin and its crew from the story entirely which is something I decided on thanks to them not really all that, important story-wise. The Odin Class will be seen later on in some form or another but the Odin sadly will not have a place in this story anymore sadly However even then there is an unknown ship gracing the transport dock, and we shall be introduced to it later on in the story.
Anyways, the other changes are thanks to my changes from the earlier chapters, and nothing else major is really changed all that much. That said I believe that is it folks and I shall see you all in the next chapter.
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Omake 04: A Little To Late
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Standing on the bridge of his team's flagship Commander Rau Le Creuset could only watch with some smugness as his forces literally destroyed everything the colony threw at them. He wondered why the defenders fought so desperately to defend the G-Weapons and that ship. He didn't know but really didn't care as he watched as three of the five G-Weapons slowly made their way towards the ZAFT ships, with two GINNs escorting them. The Commander simply grinned at this but was suddenly distracted when the ship's sensor officer cried out in shock before a large storm of beam-fire crossed the gulf between the three ZAFT ships and the colony itself. The Commander looked in shock at this display of power and turned to order something when a click sounded over the bridge speakers as it received a communication signal.
"Attention ZAFT Forces! This is the Altairian Self-Defense Forces Third Fleet retreat at once or the next barrage shall start putting some holes into your ships and our Mobile Suits shall even the odds," a stern voice said over the channel making the various officers on the bridge look around in shock. Commander Le Creuset himself gritted his teeth as he managed to see several Altairan Guardian Mobile Suits and a handful of their newer Sentinel machines entering the battle between the Colony's Defense Forces and his team. At the corner of his eye he could the see approaching Altairan Ships and knew he was outnumbered and outclassed therefore turned to look at Captain Ades who could only look in astonishment at the entrance of the Altairan Forces into the fight.
"Captain Ades order the retreat we cannot fight against the Altairan Forces," he ordered with gritted teeth making the Captain look at his superior in shock for a brief moment before shaking his head.
"But sir we still have forces on the colony we cannot..." he started to say but was in turned surprised once more as the Commander snarled in rage before advancing on the helpless Captain.
"We have no choice in the matter Captain, we cannot enter battle with Altairan Forces for if we do that may swing the Republic into the war on the Alliance's side, therefore order the retreat Captain," the Commander said seething making the Captain gulp before nodding his agreement.
"Very well sir, Communications order the retreat and send a message to any of our forces you can reach in the colony and order them to surrender to either the Altairan Forces or any surviving Orb Forces. They are to take no hostile actions against the ASDF or remaining Orb Forces and are to immediately surrender," he ordered looking over at his communications officer who could only nod in response while the Commander nodded pleased with the Captain before making his way to exit the bridge.
"I shall be in my quarters let me know we are away from the colony," he ordered before leaving the bridge behind him and the mess that is the Battle of Heliopolis, at least a mess for the ZAFT forces. For it was a little too late for ZAFT to attack the colony if they had attacked even a few hours before they would have gotten away Scot-free without no face-offs with the ASDF.
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END
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