SailorStar9: Figured was about time I got this chapter out before anyone of you kills me. Anyway, this is Chapter 6. Read and review.

Disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon and Gundam Seed since if I did own them both, the Planetary Senshi will have equal footing as Sailor Moon and Cagalli won't exist. But you don't see that happening do you?

Chapter 6: Flay's Decision

On the Vesalius...

"What a pity." Lacus remarked. "We are finally able to meet, but now we have to part.

"The people of PLANT are worried about you." Athrun told her.

"Commander Klueze has also done a lot for me." Lacus looked at the commander who was seeing her off to the shuttle.

"Laconey will be responsible for your journey back." Rau informed her.

"Will the Vesalius be returning for the memorial ceremony?" Lacus inquired.

"Well, I don't know." Rau replied.

"War may be important, but I hope you will not forget those who fell victim to the war." Lacus voiced.

"I'll remember that by heart." Rau noted.

"'What is it that you must fight against?"" Lacus quoted from the Goddess of Just War. "War is difficult to understand."

"Well then, I'll be looking forward to the day we can meet again!" she beamed at Athrun.

"What to fight against... eh?" Rau mused as Lacus' shuttle was transferred over to the Laconey. "You've heard about Yzak, right?"

"Yes." Athrun replied.

"The Strike." Rau added. "You might his next victim if you don't take him down."

Leaving the pilot to his thoughts, the blond commander drifted off.

In the Archangel's cockpit...

"Turn 180 and reduce speed." Murrue instructed. "Reduce speed by another 20% to match relative velocity."

"I wonder if it's okay." Arnold mused. "To sail alongside the flag ship, Menelaos."

"I guess Admiral Harverton wants to have a good view of this ship." Murrue guessed. "He'll probably come here later. He's the biggest supporter of the development of this ship and the Gs."

In the corridor of the Archangel...

"Civilians will be moving into the Menelaos and board the shuttles there." Kuzzey noted. "But what's going to happen to us?"

"Of course they'll let us off!" Miriallia remarked. "Even though we're wearing uniforms, we're still civilians."

In the Archangel's cockpit...

"I've leave things to you for a while, okay?" Murrue remarked as Natarle took over her shift.

"Captain!" Natarle called as Murrue prepared to leave in the lift.

In the lift...

"What are you going to do about the Strike?" Natarle asked once the door slid shut.

"What do you mean?" Murrue inquired.

"Because of its capability," Natarle started. "And because he piloted it. We managed to get this far. Everyone on this ship knows that. Are you going to let him go too?"

"Captain!" she shouted as Murrue drifted off once the door opened.

"I understand what you're saying, Natarle." Murrue replied. "But Kira-kun isn't military personnel."

"However, his abilities are extremely valuable. We can't just give him up..." Natarle protested.

"Even if he has the ability, we can't force him to volunteer, right?" Murrue voiced, stopping at the T-junction before drifting off to the right..

In the hanger...

"We've already met up with the fleet." Kira burst out of Mu's Moebius Zero cockpit, startling the older pilot. "So why do we have to be in such a hurry?"

"I'd feel uneasy if it remains damaged like this!" the floating Mu protested.

"Although they're the 8th Fleet, most of this pilots are rookies." Murdoch added. "When anything happens, we still have to rely on the Lieutenant.

"But what is going to happen to the Strike?" Kira asked. "Is it really okay to leave it like that?"

"Yeah, I know, but..." Mu trailed off, looking at the Mobile Suit. "Going through the trouble to return it to its original state and lower its performance is somewhat..."

"If possible, we would like to have someone to continue using it in its current state." Murrue cut in.

"Captain!" Kira blinked.

"Oh? You actually came?" Mu teased.

"I'm sorry," Murrue landed beside Kira. "But I have something I must talk to Kira with."

"Eh?" Kira frowned.

"Don't look at me so suspiciously." Murrue chided. "But I guess it can't be helped."

"I really didn't have the time for a chance to sit down and talk with you." she admitted. "I wanted to thank you. I really put you in a bad position. Thank you for all you've done so far." and bowed. "I said many unreasonable things, and you still did your best. I really appreciate it."

"Uhh, it's okay, Captain." Kira replied.

"Although they probably didn't say it out loud," Murrue added. "Everyone is grateful to you as well. Because of the current situation, even if you down to Earth, it'll be hard on you, but..."

"Do your best." she raised a hand for a handshake. The older woman smiled at Kira returned the handshake.

Meanwhile, a shuttle landed in the hangar bearing Halberton and his assistant, Captain Hoffman.

"My, I thought it was over when I heard that Heliopolis fell." Halberton remarked, floating down to greet the Archangel's crew. "It's good to meet you people here."

"Thank you very much." Murrue replied, saluting Halberton. "It's been a long time, Your Excellency."

"I received reports about the battle and I was worried." Halberton admitted after returning the salute.

"Is everyone okay?" he asked the crew.

"I am Natarle Bajirul." Natarle stepped forward and saluted.

"I am Mu La Fraga from the 7th Mobile Fleet." Mu followed her example.

"Ahh, how fortunate to have you with them." Halberton went over to the the Mobile Armor pilot.

"No, I didn't really help much." Mu returned Halberton's handshake.

"Ah, what about those people over there?" Halberton asked, looking over Natarle's shoulder.

"Yes, they have been helping with the operation of the ship." Murrue replied, turning her head at the teens from Heliopolis. "Students from Heliopolis.

"It's been confirmed that everybody's family is safe." Halberton told the teens, brushing past Natarle.

"Thank goodness!" the students beamed.

"You've been working so hard in such a harsh situation." Halberton added. "My thanks to you too."

"Athena-sama," he saluted the Goddess of Just War. "Everyone on Earth has been waiting for your return."

"Your Excellency, it's about time..." Hoffman whispered.

"I'd like to talk to you people again later." Halberton noted, after giving Hoffman a nod.

Kira blinked as Halberton and Hoffman floated off with Murrue, Natarle, and Mu.

On the Vesalius...

"The Ziegler and the Gamow have joined us." Ades reported.

"They haven't been discovered, eh." Rau noted.

"Most of the fleet is closing on Earth." Ades added.

"We thought they were heading for their Moon HQ." Rau remarked. "But it seems that they are dropping off that Ashitsuki on Earth.

"So their drop-off point is Alaska?" Ades asked.

"We should shoot it down while it's still in our backyard," Rau suggested. "What do you think?"

"Ziegler has 6 GINNs." Ades added. "We have 5 units here, including Aegis. Buster and Blitz from the Gamow can join in too."

"Admiral Halberton..." Rau mused. "It's about time you retire."

On the Menelaos...

"But just for this one ship and one G, Heliopolis and Artemis were destroyed." Hoffman remarked in Halberton's office.

"But, because of the fact that they at least saved the Strike and this ship," Halberton pointed out. "This will be an advantage to the Earth Alliance sooner or later."

"Apparently, Alaska doesn't think so..." Hoffman noted.

"What do they know about the war in space?" Halberton snorted. "Lieutenant Ramius understands my intentions. There shouldn't be any problems."

"Your Excellency..." Murrue blinked.

"Are you also going to overlook the case regarding this Coordinator kid?" Hoffman asked, picking up Kira's file.

"Kira Yamato simply wants to protect his friends." Murrue replied. "That was the only reason he piloted the Strike. We probably wouldn't have made it this far without him. But, because of the current situation, he had to fight against his own kind. It made him suffer somewhat. He's an honest and kind boy. And I have faith in him."

"But if we release him like that..." Hoffman pointed out.

"Excuse me for intruding, but I agree with Captain Hoffman." Natarle cut in. "His abilities aren't something we can leave alone. And because he saw the secrets of the G, we can't just let him..."

"Four have already fallen into the hands of ZAFT." Halberton remarked. "What secrets are there?"

"B...But...!!" Natarle protested. "His abilities are valuable! I think if it is possible, we must make him a strength of our army..."

"But from what Lieutenant Ramius said," Halberton pointed out. "It doesn't seem like he has any intention of joining."

"His parents are Naturals." Natarle replied. "They were evacuated from Heliopolis and are now on Earth. If we can take them into custody..."

"Stop this nonsense!" Halberton snapped, slamming his fist on the table. "What use is a soldier like that? Do you think Athena-sama would agree to this!?"

"My apologies!" Natarle bowed and stepped back.

"Forget about whatever happened in the past." Halberton noted. "The question is what we are going to do now. Later on, we have to put the Archangel down on out Alaskan HQ with its current crew."

In the Archangel's hanger...

"Two Skygraspers?" Murdock read off the armory report as he watched as the two machines were loaded onto the hanger. "Oi, oi, aren't they atmospheric crafts?"

On the Menelaos...

"The advance party we've sent for resupply had been shot down." Hoffman remarked. "Now, we don't have any more staff to transfer to the Archangel."

"But, now that Heliopolis is destroyed," Halberton added. "The Archangel and the G must bring their data back to Alaska."

"But... we are..." Murrue protested.

"We have to get its development underway." Halberton told her. "ZAFT will be continuously throwing out new units. Even though that's the case, those idiotic people who throw in funds on useless affairs for their own benefit, only know the number of soldiers who have died on the battlefield!"

"Understood." Murrue replied.

"Your Excellency, I will pass on your thoughts to Alaska." she saluted.

"As the only surviving member of the armor unit, I can't refuse." Mu followed her example.

"I'm counting on you." Halberton bowed.

On the Archangel...

"A Discharge Permission?" Sai echoed.

"We were in the army?" Miriallia inquired.

"Belonging to the Archangel of the 8th Fleet?" Kuzzey read off the discharge papers.

"Where's Kira Yamato?" Natarle asked.

"Never mind, pass it to him later." she headed Kira's discharge papers to Tolle.

"Even if it's in an emergency," Hoffman added. "It is a crime for a civilian to enact the role of a military personnel. To prevent that, we've made it that you were volunteer soldiers before the incident. Don't lose it. In addition, any information you have learnt during your service, even after your dismissal..."

"Excuse me!" Flay cut in.

"You didn't fight, did you?" Natarle looked over at the redhead. "There is no need for you to undergo the same process as the others."

"No, it's not that." Flay stepped forward. "I'm... volunteering for the army."

"Flay?" Sai blinked.

In the hanger...

Kira looked at the Strike Gundam, recalling his first battle in it.

"Feeling reluctant to part with it when you're about to leave, right?" Halberton voiced. "Kira Yamato-kun, right? I've read about you in the report."

"Yes?" Kira blinked.

"I am surprised once again," Halberton admitted. "By you Coordinators' abilities. Even though they're designed to rival ZAFT mobile suits, when you people pilot it, it becomes an unimaginable super weapon."

"That's not..." Kira protested.

"Your parents were Naturals, aren't they?" Halberton cut him off.

"Yes." Kira replied.

"What dream were they embracing when they made you into a Coordinator?" Halberton mused. "Regardless, I hope this war can end quickly."

"Your Excellency." a soldier floated in.

"You are requested to return to Menelaos immediately." he reported, saluting.

"My, my." Halberton sighed.

"I don't even have the time to have a good chat with you guys." he looked up at Kira. "I express my gratitude for protecting, Athena-sama, the Strike and the Archangel until now. Don't die until the good times come."

"Excuse me!" Kira shouted before Halberton walked off.

"Umm, what's going to happen to the Archangel, Lieutenant Ramius and the others?" he asked when Halberton turned around.

"Archangel is descending to Earth." Halberton told him. "They will go into the battlefield again."

"Ummm..." Kira added.

"I know what you are concerned about." Halberton noted. "Your abilities are definitely appealing to the army. But that doesn't mean that we can win if we have you, the war that is. Don't think too positively!"

"Bu... But..." Kira stammered. "Isn't it sad that if you have the strength to do it, just do what you can...?"

"Your Excellency!" the soldier started.

"Only if you have the will." Halberton replied, raising a hand to stop the soldier's protest. "One without will cannot win anything. I'm sure you've felt it in Athena-sama's Cosmo." and walked off.

Back in the teens' shared quarters...

"What are you talking about?" Natarle frowned.

"I'm not joking." Flay insisted. "After my dad died, I've thought about a lot of things."

"Then... you're the daughter of Vice-Minister Arystar?" Hoffman blinked.

"Yes, my name is Flay Arystar." Flay replied. "I was in a shock when my dad was killed. 'I don't want any more of this.', 'I don't want to be in a place like this.'. That was all I thought about. But, when we met up with the fleet, and I thought I'm finally able to go to Earth, I realized something very strange."

"Strange?" Natarle echoed.

"Will I finally have a peace of mind?" Flay continued. "Is this really peace? Not at all! The world is still at war...! Being in a neutral country, I didn't realize it. My father was working very hard to end the war. If fighting is the only way to bring true peace and relief, I'll carry on my father's will and fight on!"

"Although my strength might not be of any help at all..." she broke down crying.

"Flay..." Sai pulled her into his arms.

Meanwhile, Kira had arrived at the shuttle port.

Back in the teens' shared quarters...

"The world is still at war, eh." Sai echoed after Flay was led off.

At the shuttle port...

"Eh, El-chan?" Elle's mother blinked when her daughter removed her hand from her grip and floated towards Kira.

"Thank you for protecting us till now." Elle dug into her sling-bag and presented an origami flower to him.

Back in the teen's shared quarters...

"Sai!" Tolle gasped when Sai ripped his discharge papers into half.

"What Flay said, I've also felt it, in Lady Athena's aura." Sai confessed. "Besides, I can't leave Flay here."

"Tolle!" Miriallia blinked when her boyfriend tore his papers up as well.

"Archangel is short on personnel." Tolle added. "If it gets shot down afterwards, I'd feel somewhat sorry, especially if Lady Athena is still on board."

At the shuttle port...

"Thank you." Kira took the paper flower.

Back in the teen's shared quarters...

"Miri..." Tolle turned to her when Miriallia tore her papers up.

"If Tolle's staying, I will too." Miriallia replied. "Besides, Lady Athena is important to this world."

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's affected by Lady Athena's great love for humanity." Kuzzey remarked when the couple's eyes turned to him, his discharged papers already ripped into half. "Since everyone's staying, I might as well."

"Idiot." Sai muttered.

"You too." Tolle added.

"You're the one." Tolle retorted.

"I see." Sai agreed, the four chuckled.

"He's really getting off, isn't he?" Tolle noted, looking over at Kira's discharge papers on the bed.

On the Vesalius...

"Mobile suits, launching in 3 minutes." the intercom droned as Athrun entered the Aegis' cockpit. "All units, please perform system check."

"All hatch doors closing." the intercom continued. "All hands, at your stations. I repeat. All hatch doors closing. All hands, at your stations."

"No, you can't!" the medical personnel tried to stop Yzak from leaving.

"Shut up! Let me go!" Yzak demanded.

At the Archangel's shuttle port...

"Kira." Tolle called out as Kira joined to end of the queue to board the shuttle.

"What? Everyone is gone." Kira remarked.

"Take this, a Discharge Permission." Tolle handed the rolled-up paper to him.

"We've decided to stay." Sai informed him.

"In Archangel, in the army." Tolle clarified.

In the Menelaos' cockpit...

"One Nazism Class, two Laurasia Class, Green 18 distance 500." the radar officer reported. "Estimated 15 minutes before contact."

"They're heading this way!?" Hoffman exclaimed.

"Damn, at this time!" Halberton cursed.

In the Archangel's cockpit...

"Stop all work, close bay doors." Murrue instructed. "What about Menelaos' launch?"

"Not yet!" Pal replied.

"Hurry it up!" Murrue requested. "All personnel, Level 1 Battle Alert!"

At the Archangel's shuttle port...

"What do you mean 'staying'?" Kira blinked.

"Flay volunteered for the army." Kuzzey replied. "And then we joined too."

"All hands, Level 1 Battle Alert!" the intercom came on. "I repeat, all hands, Level 1 Battle Alert!"

"Hey you over there! We're leaving!" the shuttle pilot hollered.

"Ah, wait a second for this guy." Tolle shouted.

"This is also our destiny." he assured Kira. "Because Lady Athena is important to this world, it's vital that we protect her. See ya. Please take care and land on Earth safely."

"Live on!" Sai added, the four floating back to the ship's cockpit after sending Kira on his way.

"No matter what happens, don't join the ZAFT!" Kuzzey shouted.

On the Vesalius...

The GINNs begun to launch. then Dearka and Nicol from the Gamow.

"Athrun Zala, heading out!" Athrun took off.

"Wait Yzak, you're not ready!" the maintenance personnel tried to dissuade the injured pilot.

"Shut up!" Yzak snapped. "Just start the guidance!"

Damned the Strike! He fumed, a bandage over his eye. I will get revenge for my humiliation!

With that, he took off.

At the Archangel's shuttle port...

"hey, if you want to get on, hurry up!" the shuttle's pilot urged.

"Lieutenant Fraga is heading out in his Zero!" one of the maintenance personnel reported. "It's okay, it's ready!"

Looking at his discharge papers, then at the origami flower, he recalled what Elle told him.

Flashback

"Thank you for protecting us till now." Elle presented an origami flower to him.

"Because of the current situation, even if you down to Earth, it'll be hard on you, but..." Murrue told him. "Do your best."

"You have the power to do it." Mu remarked. "Just do what you can."

Crushing his discharge papers as the ending credits rolled in, Kira made his decision.

"Please go." he told the shuttle's pilot and drifted off.

SailorStar9: Wow, guess you guys never thought Athena could influence people that much, did you? And to think you people complained that I never give Athena any screen time. Now that's done, read and review.