Inside the Vesalius, everyone was back on the bridge after their mini down time. "Well it seems like thing taken another turn of event. Look like the earth forces have their new warship up and running from out last scan on the colony interior." said Le Creuset.
"Damn those naturals. They think they can outwit us. Commander, let us go to take them down." said Yzak.
"Yzak you've already completed an important mission. Let the other team go, they want to get their honor back after they got their butts smack around from the earlier battle." said Le Creuset.
"Yzak just let it go. It's not like we wouldn't have any more fun from this point on. The other team always messes up. We will just come in and do the cleaning when they fail." said Dearka.
Yzak groaned. "Yzak you got to take it easy sometimes or you'll blow a gasket eventually. Captain Ades, tell the hanger bay to equip the Ginns with equipment D and get my Gouf custom ready." said Le Creuset.
Almost everyone on the bridge who had heard the commander's comment had their jaw dropped. They didn't know he had a sense of humor since he was normally the creepy commander with that mask he always wears.
"Commander the D equipment is for destroying whole colony, you can't be serious." said Ades.
"Well the main the target will be the new warship, nothing else. And I will personally take out or capture the last unit myself." said Le Creuset.
"Commander let me sortie too. I have unfinished business to take care of." said Athrun in a demanding tone.
"Athrun just like I have told Yzak. You will remain on the ship on standby." said Le Creuset.
"Sorry commander." said Athrun with a salute and walked out of the bridge. Quickly went to the locker room and change into his combat uniform and then headed towards his new machine.
'They might be Special Forces worthy but I am stuck with a bunch of hot heads.' though Le Creuset.
Back inside Heliopolis, the Archangel was on the ground and currently having a meeting while the Mobius zero is being move in and the Strike is being reconfigure with new equipment.
"Commander La Flaga, will you take command of the ship, since are also known as the Hawk of Endymion." said Murrue.
"I might out rank every officer here but I have no knowledge of the ship or even how to command the crew. Plus I would be more useful in battle. I would say the captain seat would fit you best since you have been involve with this project since the very beginning lieutenant Ramius." said Mu.
"Then everyone let's get ready to get out of here in piece." said Murrue.
Suddenly an alarm has gone off on the ship. "The scanner is picking thermal patterns, a team of Ginns and an unknown commanding unit is with them too. Bring up the visuals now." said Chandra.
The main screen lit up and everyone was shocked at what they were seeing. "Damn that Le Creuset and those damn Ginns are equipped with heavy artillery for taking out colonies." said an angered Mu.
"Level 1 battle stations everyone. Arnold get the ship ready to launch. Ensign Badgiruel get the defense system for anti-mobile suit combat. Commander, take over the CIC since you don't have a unit to use. Have the Strike ready for launch for melee combat, we can't damage the interior more than it already is." said Murrue.
Down at the hanger bay, Kira was in the Strike's cockpit after hearing the alarm. 'Now they are giving me the sword package.' thought Kira.
Through the cockpit com. "Kira once you get out there. Take out the enemy as quick as possible. They are fully equipped and the ship can't fight inside the colony. And be careful of the commanding unit, he is a very powerful foe." said Mu.
"I'll try to do my best." said Kira with the thought if Athrun is going to be in this fight too. The catapult hitch opened and the Strike launch into action.
The Strike quickly flew to the nearest Ginn, took the anti-ship sword and slice the Ginn in half. Quickly flying away from the exploding unit. An alert had sound off inside the cockpit, the Strike threw the sword to its left hand and used the right hand to take out the beamerang and threw at the enemy Ginn. Slicing through the left leg, but was still flying towards the Strike. The beamerang came back and slice at an angle through the propulsion system, making the Ginn fall to the ground still intact.
"Two down and two more to go." said Kira to no one.
The last two enemy with the commanding unit came. Just before they were able to reach the Strike, the front two Ginns was hit by the valiance's cannon. The commanding unit was on the edge of the shot which burned off its left arm. "That is one troublesome ship." said Le Creuset, while retreating.
Back on the Archangel, "It's over." said a relief Murrue. Another alert had gone off.
"Another enemy incoming, checking thermal pattern. Damn it's the Aegis." said Chandra.
"They have only stolen it and they are already sending it into battle." said a shocked Murrue.
"Kira brace yourself, the enemy have send out the stolen machine called the Aegis." said mu.
Back at the Strike, Kira groaned, "Not at a time like this." He flew off to meet with the Aegis for their clash. Not even pleasantry was given as the two machines clash a few times with their swords before holding each other in a stalemate.
Both of the com link opened up. "Pilot of the Strike, Kira. Kira Yamato is that you." demanded Athrun.
"Athrun? Athrun Zala." said Kira with a shock strong tone. Both machines backed up and clash swords again to get the upper hand but to no avail.
"Kira, what are you doing in that machine and with the earth alliance forces." said Athrun.
"Me? What are you doing? Joining the ZAFT forces and stealing these mobile suits. And you used to tell me, you'll never join the military." said an emotional Kira.
"I'm doing this to bring this war to a quick end. And it was the earth forces that created this monster." yelled Athrun, while thinking back to the day which he had lost his mom and felt like he had to do something.
"Are you telling me this is your answer to end the war quickly? Stealing and using it against them. And what have you done to actually put this war to a quick end. This war have been go on for a long time already. You're nothing but talk." said an angered Kira. The Strike backed up and flew, delivering a kick to the Aegis in the face, sending it flying.
On the ground of Heliopolis the still intact Ginn fire off all its heavy missiles. "Died! You damn Naturals." Said the pilot of the Ginn.
One missile hit a support tower, another hit the gravity ring, the third explosion caused the plate connector to crack, the last one another hole at the opposite end. The whole colony started to shake, the colony emergency system kicked in. releasing all the relief pods to flow through space to their computerize destination.
Inside the colony, a huge wind vortex was created, shaking everything violently to its core. Plates shattering, cars flying, lands ripped apart. The Aegis caught the edge of the vortex and his machine back into space like a light breeze.
Like a concern friend, Athrun couldn't help but scream when he saw the Strike getting throw violently into space. "Kira!"
Inside the Strike. "Ahh!" yelled Kira. Closing his eyes and waiting for the violent shaking to stop and didn't know which direction he or the Strike was going.
After a few minutes, the violent shaking had finally stop. Everyone on the Archangel look at the surrounding. They saw nothing but debris and space.
"Heliopolis is gone." said a shocked Mu.
'Got to stay calm and collective." thought Murrue. "Where's the Strike?"
"There is too debris and heat to get an accurate reading on the Strike current position." said Chandra.
"ZAFT would be in the same situation. We better hurry up and find the Strike and use the moment of interference to help us escape." said Mu.
"We will. Just keep on trying to contact with the Strike." said Murrue with a concern voice.
"Kira can you hear me. Kira." said Mu repeatedly over the com link.
Inside the Strike's cockpit, Kira was beginning to wake up and heard the com going like crazy. "This is Kira, I can hear you fine commander La Flaga."
"Good, come back to the ship so we can escape this battle zone and away from ZAFT." said Mu.
"Yes sir, heading back after I get a lock on the ship's location." said Kira. Flying slowly through space until something caught his eyes. "A life pod."
Meanwhile, somewhere still in space the Vesalius crew member was shock to see that the commanding unit lost a left arm. Athrun shortly came in, even though he disobey orders and sortie on his own. With everyone in the bridge.
"Well that was definitely unexpected. Their new legged ship is nothing to be trifle with. It's definitely out class the Vesalius." said Le Creuset.
"The legged ship." asked a confused Nico.
"Yeah since the ship looks like a person sitting on the toilet taking a dumb, just without the top half of the body." answered Le Creuset.
"Since when did you get a sense of humor?" said Ades lightly laughing, while the others just drop their jaw like how can their creepy commander be funny at the same time.
"Ades, we always fight but sometimes it's good to have a laugh even if it's about the enemy." said Le Creuset with a smirk. "With the joke over, how are things outside, did we find the legged ship or the last machine?"
"No, there is too much debris and heat that our thermal sensor isn't working properly." said Ades.
"They would likely have the same problem, just keep a look out for anything suspicious." said Le Creuset. "Athrun come with me to my office."
Athrun and his commander walked to his office. "Athrun I understood why you sortie without command when I heard the conversation over the open link com. And I don't think you should sortie next time since you are against a friend." said Le Creuset.
"No that won't do. I have to sortie. I'm the only one who can convince him to leave the earth force and come over to us since he is a coordinator." said Athrun.
"Alright. You may go now." said Le Creuset. Athrum left the commander's room. 'Oh how fate have started to turn Kira Yamato.' thought Le Creuset with a sick laugh.
Inside the Archangel. The com link was up again. "Commander La Flaga, it is ok to bring back a life pod, the propulsion system got damaged in the process." said Kira. Mu didn't know what to say but look at the captain of the ship.
"Captain we can't just go and pick up life pods, this is a military ship." said Natarle.
"Permission granted, Kira just get back here quickly." said Murrue.
"Thank you." said Kira and the com was cut.
"Captain!" said Natarle.
"Now is not the time to bicker over small matters. We are still in the middle of battle and ZAFT can come striking any time. I'll take full responsibility for this once we reach Alaska. Plus he is just being his earnest self, helping others in need. I don't like what I am about to say but we need him since he's the only on this ship that can use the Strike full capability." said Murrue.
Everyone on the fall into silence from what they just heard from the captain. A lone civilian coordinator saving them from doom on more than one occasion.
A minute later, the Strike returned to the ship with a life pod. The captain stood up from her seat and started to walk out the bridge. "Arnold since we still have the heat distraction, get us out of here at maximum combat speed." said Murrue.
"Then where are you going captain." said Mu.
"To see the people that Kira had brought back in the life pod." said Murrue. Beside Arnold, the rest of the officers on the bridge followed Murrue as she walk to the hanger bay.
Down in the hanger area, most of the officers were and even Kira's friends were there. The pod's door opened and out comes families. Little girls, boys, people of every profession seems to be here in the tiny pod. The last one to leave the pod was a real shocker.
"Flay." said a very surprised Sai.
Flay running near the group of friends. "Sai, Miriallia, Tolle, and Kuzzey." said Flay. When Kira was near his group of friends. Flay jumped in shock. "You're a coordinator." Pointing at Kira.
"Flay Allster! That's not nice to treat our friend like that. And it shouldn't matter if he is a coordinator or not" said Miriallia.
"Flay don't be like that to Kira. He saved you and a lot of people." said Sai.
"But my dad told me that coordinator are evil and trying destroy us all." said Flay with a frighten look now.
Kira is shocked beyond believe right now. He walked back over to the group of alliance officers feeling like he shouldn't be near them right now after the revelation of Flay.
"Mu take Kira to a room to relax." said Murrue. She also can't believe the mind set of someone so young even if she is the daughter of vice minister Allster.
Mu walked next to Kira and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go to a room so you can relax after your long day."
Kira didn't say anything but let Mu guide him to the sleeping quarter of the ship. Once they had enter a common sleeping quarter. Kira just jump into a bed and had a sheet over his body and facing away from the commander.
Mu stood there for a moment and thinking what he can do to comfort the young coordinator. But nothing really come to mind since most of his life was on the battle field and not handling kids. But maybe some soothing words can help him as he think. "Kira don't take to heart with what vice minister Allster's daughter said. The world is very complex and not everyone can understand or see everything. Just get a few hours of rest so you can clear your head." With that, Mu walked out of the room.
Kira closed his eyes but was not able to sleep yet. 'The world is complicated. Like why do coordinator exist? Or why did my parent made me into a coordinator. So many questions that I can't find the answer to.' After some more thinking, Kira eventually fell asleep from exhaustion.
Mu walked back down into the hanger. "How's Kira." asked Murrue.
"I'm not sure since he didn't talk and just jump into bed. I gave him a small talk but we will have to wait until he is rest up or if he is willing to talk to us." said Mu. Murrue nodded in understanding the situation.
"Ensigns can you two and few other officers, take everyone to the resting quarters. We need to accommodate as much as possible till we need get to an ally's base." said Murrue.
"Yes captain." said Natarle. They went and grabbed a few more officers and started to prep everyone for their bumpy stay.
Kira's group of friend except Flay walked up to the captain of the ship. "Yes, how can I help you four." said Murrue.
"We could like to volunteer our help to the ship since we talked and agreed that Kira shouldn't be the only one doing the fighting." said Miriallia.
Murrue taken aback by this. "Do you really know what you're asking for. Kira from the beginning is very adamant about not joining or fighting."
"We understand but Kira will also understand us once we talk to him." said Tolle.
"I'm sure everyone can use the spare help since the Mobius zero is fixed and ready for action." Said the mysterious voice.
"And you are." asked Murrue.
"I'm Murdoch, the chief mechanic back at Mogenroete." said Murdoch.
"I'm starting to think everyone is against me." said Murrue.
"No, you're just a big softy of a captain." said Mu with a grin.
"Commander, I'll consider that as verbal harassment." said a smiling Murrue.
Mu dropped his grin. "Come on captain you can't be serious."
"Haha commander you're an easy one to fool." said Murrue continue with light laughing. And so anyone who heard the conversation also let out light laughter. "I don't have any objections. Commander, go and get them situated with uniforms."
Mu took the new volunteers to get their uniform and give jobs that will accustom to any type of training that they might have.
'Having all these young adults around doesn't make this ship feel military, make like a family.' thought Murrue.