Chapter 7
Rivalry and Sorrow
Murrue, Mwu and Natarle were seated on the bridge discussing most of the events that had taken place at Heliopolis since the attack. Murrue informed the two of what happened thus far, but she was unable to find out if ZAFT was reasonable for the theft of the information from Morgenroete. All she knows is that attack was carried out swiftly and whoever planned it had intimate knowledge of the facility and its security measures. Next they had cleaned out the entire database of all information probably most likely all information regarding the G-series machines.
"Well I didn't expect something like happening. But you're right whoever led the raid pulled off one heck of a job. No one knew it was happening until it was over. I am convinced the only way a raid like this could have been pulled off was if an insider had helped them out. But real questions right now are who did it and who the insider was." Mwu asked the two female officers.
"Yes, but do you think ZAFT was involved?" Natarle asked the mobile armor pilot.
"I can't say for sure, but if they were why didn't they try to steal the machines when they had a prefect opportunity to do it. Something about this whole thing just doesn't really add up. Unless they were with ZAFT and their job was just to steal all of the research data and then allow the raiding party to capture the machines themselves which seems a little odd too." Mwu answered as he had his hand on his chin trying to figure out the whole situation.
"Well with the entire computer network and the security systems completely destroyed we have no real leads to really prove what happened." Murrue said with a sigh.
"And to top if off the insider could have been anyone. It could have been someone in the Earth Alliance or someone in Morgenroete. I mean I doubt anyone in the Alliance would have done it, but Morgenroete has lots of possible suspects as well so the list is pretty long." Mwu said with a troubled look.
"Well there isn't much more we can do, but right now ZAFT forces are still out there." Natarle commented as she reminded everyone of the situation.
"Especially with Le Creuset commanding those guys things are going to get a lot more difficult." Mwu said as he figured that the next attack would be tougher than the last.
"The Le Creuset team…then our next objective should be leaving Heliopolis as soon as possible." Natarle suggested.
"Yeah, but once we get out there I doubt this ship will be able to handle those two ZAFT ships and plus those mobile suits they have. My Zero is still damaged and needs time to be repaired so we got a problem. This ship maybe well armed and fast, but I doubt it will be enough for us to escape." Mwu said as he remembered the shape his mobile armor was in.
"Then commander why don't you pilot the Strike and use it to defend the Archangel?" Natarle advised.
"Hey have you seen what that kid did to the OS of the Strike? No ordinary human being could handle that thing now." Mwu answered with a surprised expression.
"Then we have no choice but to ask Kira to pilot it for us then." Murrue suggested with some reluctance.
"Lieutenant Ramius…giving such valuable piece of military hardware to allow a civilian to use it strictly prohibited let alone a coordinator child." Natarle said to object to Murrue's decision.
"Do you have any other better ideas? I mean without that mobile suit helping us I doubt we will get far from Heliopolis." Mwu said with a serious expression.
"I suppose, but will he even agree to help us?" Natarle said as she admitted defeat and went forward with agreeing with the two.
"I don't know, but the only way we'll know for sure is to ask him." Mwu said as he looked at the two military officers.
"I'll try to convince him." Murrue volunteered. Meanwhile outside of the colony aboard the ZAFT ships Rau Le Creuset was going over the video showing Miguel's battle against Kira. Three other ZAFT pilots were standing there along with Miguel and Athrun who was also present at the meeting.
"If it wasn't for this footage then I would have been a laughing stock. I am not sure how this natural pilot got the OS of his machine to work properly for him since the OS of the other machines were incomplete, but aside from that we can not allow a powerful weapon like that to remain in the hands of the Earth Alliance. We must capture it or destroy it by whatever means necessary. Olor, Bill and Mathew will accompany Miguel on the surprise attack mission to destroy that mobile suit and the legged ship is that understood?" Rau asked his men.
"Yes sir!" the four pilots said firmly with a salute.
"Excellent…for your mission your GINNs will be loaded with D-type weapons since we have nothing else that can damage that mobile suit and that battleship enough to destroy it." Rau explained as Athrun was slightly shocked by the proposal to use such powerful weaponry in a colony.
"You heard the commander head to the hanger and go and take care of that enemy mobile suit and that new ship." Captain Ades added to the matter.
"Sir I request permission to join the attack please." Athrun asked as he approached Captain Ades. Rau and Ades turned to Athrun with skeptical expressions on their faces as Rau replied to his question by saying.
"But Athrun you do not have a mobile suit to use. Besides the other ones we have are in reserve for the other pilots. Also you have already completed your part of the mission so there is no need for you to head out there." Athrun seemed disappointed by his commander's reply judging by the expression on his face.
"Besides Miguel has some aggression and frustration to release." Ades also added to Commander Le Creuset's answer.
Meanwhile inside the hanger of two of the three ZAFT ships D-Type weapons such as Heavy missiles were being equipped onto two GINNs. Miguel's GINN was being equipped with a heavy energy recoilless cannon and the last GINN was being given the same weapon. Meanwhile back at the Archangel Mwu and Murrue were walking down the hall together looking for Kira while Murrue asked the mobile armor ace pilot.
"So the shelters have been boosted up to hazard level nine, so even if we could allow it we can't let these kids go and be dropped off inside a shelter."
"Yeah…so this will probably be tough on them, and not to mention dangerous for them." Mwu replied.
It wasn't long before the two reached the cabin where Kira, Sai, Kuzzey, Miriallia and Tolle were all gathered. They were talking about various things and subjects while Kira was asleep. The two entered the cabin and the minute they did the room went silent as all eyes were on them. Mwu was the first to speak as he asked "how is the kid?"
"He's alright, but I think piloting that machine has put him through a lot." Sai replied firmly.
"So will you be letting us off the ship?" Kuzzey asked.
"Sorry, but the shelter hazard levels have gone up to nine so they are not accepting any more civilians as a result of the damage done to the colony." Murrue replied with a sadden expression.
"What! Oh that's just great." Tolle said with a sarcastic expression.
"Well if you thought that was bad it gets worst. ZAFT forces are still in the area, and if we stay here then things will only get worst. However with ZAFT out there this ship is underhanded and I doubt it will be able to hold its own against a large force of mobile suits and those three ZAFT ships out there. So we were kinda hoping we didn't have to, but we need Kira's help again if we are going to leave this colony in one piece." Mwu said as he shot a serious glare at Tolle and the others trying to push onto them how serious the situation was.
"Three ZAFT ships and mobile suits; I don't know if Kira can even handle those even if he agreed to help you." Sai said in his defense.
"True, but it would better our chances of making it through this alive." Mwu commented.
"But I don't want any part of your war any longer." Kira said as he woke up and he had overheard most of the things Mwu and Murrue had asked.
"We can't force you to do it, but right now you maybe our only chance of making it out of this alive." Murrue warned as she continued to comment by saying "If there was another way out of this then we would have used it. We could to try to escape without your help, but we will be at a disadvantage."
"Look I am came to Heliopolis because I hate war, and I don't want to get involve." Kira answered firmly.
"Look Kira…if the Archangel goes down then everything is lost." Mwu said as he turned to Murrue and said "I am heading up to the bridge. I better check on things. It's only a matter of time before ZAFT attacks again." Mwu walked off as he made his way back up to the bridge. Murrue turned to Kira and asked.
Meanwhile four GINNs armed with D-type equipment flew out and made their way towards Heliopolis, but before the Vesalius could close its hanger doors the Aegis piloted by Athrun flew out of the ship heading for the colony. Ades was notified of what had happened as he turned to Rau who saw the Aegis flying towards the Colony. "Commander Athrun has taken the Aegis and has left for the colony. I'll have him called back at once sir."
"Don't bother Ades let him go." Rau said with a smile on his face while the captain was confused by the commander's orders. "Besides have you ever wondered what it would be like for two Earth Alliance mobile suits to fight one another? I think that is a battle which should prove interesting and besides it data has already been extracted." Meanwhile back at the colony aboard the Archangel; Murrue was still trying to convince Kira to help them by piloting the Strike.
"But Kira, but." Murrue was saying, but was cut off by Kira who replied by saying.
"No and that's that. I don't want to be involved with your stupid war anymore."
Kira's were worried about the situation while Murrue was also concerned about what may happen next. Suddenly Chandra detects N-Jammers are in effect as he turns to alert Mwu. "Commander; I am detecting more N-Jammers in effect." Mwu sits in the captain's chair and he opens up a channel to a communications station where Murrue is standing near. Murrue notices that someone is attempting to contact her so she answers the communications signal from the bridge.
"Lieutenant Ramius; looks like ZAFT isn't going to wait for us to leave the colony; we just detected more N-Jammers in effect. ZAFT is launching another attack." Mwu warned as alarms were going off all over the ship alerting everyone of the impending danger.
"Is your Moebius Zero ready yet?" Murrue asked.
"No, but you need to get up here to take command." Mwu informed as Murrue was slightly surprised. "I may be rank higher than you, but I don't know anything about this ship so you should take command." Mwu answered after figuring that Murrue would be surprised.
"Alright, but I would like you to take command of the CIC. I'll be up there shortly. Tell everyone to prepare for battle." Murrue said as she closed communications with the bridge, but before she left for the bridge Kira turned to her and said.
"You're despicable you know. I'll pilot the Strike, but not because you told me to. I'll do it only because I want to protect the things that are dear to me."
A short time later Kira is inside the cockpit of the Strike as the Sword Equipment is loaded onto the machine. Once equipped and ready for launch the Strike took off for battle after getting launched out of its Lunar Catapult; meanwhile a large hold is blasted into the colony by one of the GINNs. The four GINNs flew into the colony with Athrun following them. It didn't take them long to locate the Archangel. Miguel contacted the other members of GINN squad with him as he ordered.
"Alright you three attack the ship. You two hit the engines while the rest of you go after the bridge. But watch yourselves for that new machine. Athrun and I will deal with it if those Alliance bastards send it out." Miguel opened up a channel with Athrun's machine as he said "Alright Athrun you stay with me; time to see how you can fight in that machine since you were so eager to disobey orders and come all the way out here Athrun, so you stick with me."
As the five machines approached the Archangel on an attack run; the Strike flew towards the attacking GINNs as it drew its anti-ship sword. One of the GINNs armed with Heavy Missiles got a lock on the Archangel as it opened fire by launching its missiles at it. On the bridge Murrue ordered "Lock on Igelstellung guns and shot down those missiles. Target those mobile suits with the Gottfried cannons and fire." The Archangel fired its Igelstellung cannons shooting down the missiles while the Gottfried cannons opened fire on the GINN.
The GINNs and the Aegis easily evaded the Energy cannons as they flew around the Archangel planning to flank it from behind. "How pitiful." One of the GINN pilots said as he was taking aim to fire his missiles at the Archangel. However before he could pull the trigger A spinning glowing pink disk appeared out of nowhere as it sliced through the GINN's cockpit killing the pilot and causing the machine to explode, but its missiles launched as they flew out of control and collided with the central shaft damaging it in the process. The beam boomerang thrown by the Strike returned to its sender as the Strike turned to deal with Miguel and Athrun.
"Damn it those GINNs are armed with anti-base equipment are really that serious. If they fire those in here then they could destroy the whole colony." Mwu commented as he saw the weapons the GINNs were carrying.
"We have a confirmation on the five machines with them. It's the Aegis." Pal noted as he detected the Aegis moving to engage the Strike. Upon hearing the Aegis would be sent into battle again so soon Murrue and Natarle were a bit surprised about it, but right now they have other problems to deal with.
"Take down those GINNs quickly, and be careful not to hit the central shaft." Murrue ordered as the Gottfrieds fired at a GINN that was aiming to hit the ship with its energy cannon, but it flew to the side to avoid getting shot down. However the beams fired hit the central shaft right behind it causing even more damage to the colony. "I told you to avoid hitting the shaft." Murrue shouted.
"If we don't fire then we will be destroyed." Natarle snapped back.
Meanwhile Miguel and Athrun were closing in on Kira and the Strike. "This for my defeat you damn Natural!" Miguel shouted as he began firing his energy cannon at Kira, but his careless aiming was causing more damage to the colony as all of Miguel's shots missed his target badly. Kira was able to avoid getting shot easy enough, but with each shot more damage was done to the colony. Damn how this guy be so quick. Miguel thought as he fired another shot and missed again causing more damage to the colony.
"More I run the more damage is done to the colony." Kira said as he decided to go on the offensive.
He flew towards Miguel's GINN while ready with his anti-ship sword. Miguel saw his target moving to attack him as he shouted "So you're going to attack me head on huh. You were better off running away like a coward!" Miguel fired another shot from his cannon as the beam blew another hole into Heliopolis after Kira evaded it. The recoil of each shot Miguel fired pushed his machine back as Kira moved to get closer to his foe. "Damn you! Get behind it Athrun!" Miguel shouted as the Aegis moved towards Kira to flank him.
Kira detected the Aegis's approaching him from behind as he thought it's that mobile suit? Athrun rushed towards the Strike as the pilot of the Aegis was thinking.
"Kira is that you?"
The Aegis quickly rushed by the Sword Strike as Kira moved to the left to avoid the Aegis as it passed him. Meanwhile; one of the other GINNs armed with an energy cannon fired a shot at the Archangel aimed directly at the bridge. "Hard to port!" Murrue shouted as the ship did a hard turn to the left to avoid getting hit as the beam of energy missed them and hit the colony.
"Lieutenant! Give me manual control of the ship's Gottfried cannons." Mwu asked Murrue as he sat at a CIC control station.
"Switching over weapons control to CIC. Its all yours commander." Murrue said as she completed the task from her station. Mwu took aim with the Gottfried cannons as he began targeting the two GINNs as one of them were aiming the heavy missiles it had at the Archangel from the right hand side of the ship. Mwu turned one of the Gottfried to hard right as he pulled the trigger without even waiting to see if he had a lock and fired. The green beam struck the mobile suit's chest and right arm vaporizing them both and the missiles it had. All expect for the ones on the left arm.
The two missiles flew off into two different directions; one missile flew towards the Archangel, but was quickly shot down by the ship's Igelstellung while the second missile flew out of control skyward until it collided with the Colony central shaft setting off a chain of explosions while some large cables and metal bits from the shaft were falling down onto the colony destroying many building and causing a great deal of damage to the colony.
Shit…that bastard Rau knew we couldn't fight without damaging the colony. Mwu thought as he became frustrated with the thought so much damage was being done to the colony. Mwu managed to aim the last Gottfried at the last GINN as it continued to fire carelessly at the ship, but thanks to Murrue and the quick reactions of the bridge crew on the Archangel they were able to maneuver the ship out of danger barely. The recoil from the GINN's last shot moved it into Mwu's range of fire at the moment he fired the Gottfried and the recoil push got the GINN killed as it was blown apart by the Gottfried. Most of the GINN was vaporized as only an arm and parts of a leg and various parts were seen falling from the sky towards the colony, but the energy cannon it was carrying survived as well as it was falling with the barrel pointed upwards at the shaft.
At the same time Miguel was trying disparately to kill Kira, but he always missed the novice pilot. Miguel had managed to get behind Kira, but before he could send Kira into the next work the Strike dropped down as it fell just in time to avoid getting shot at point blank range. Miguel now in a berserker's rage fired widely at Kira with each chance he had. Once of his shots caused more damage to the central shaft. One more hit like that would destroy the shaft. As more pieces and broken metal followed by some very large cables fell destroying more of the colony. Kira grabbed the beam boomerang and he threw it at Miguel.
Miguel moved to the right to avoid it, but the glowing spinning disc came around just as Miguel was taking aim. The boomerang sliced off the legs of the GINN causing it to fall backwards slightly. Before Miguel could react Kira shouted these words before cutting the GINN in half and killing the ZAFT pilot with one blow. "Stop it now!" With that Kira sliced into the GINN's chest killing its pilot in a quick, but painless manner. A second later Athrun watched the GINN explode.
"Miguel!" Athrun shouted as he saw smoke and some small flaming bits of shattered metal and machine parts fall to the ground which was all that remained of Miguel and his GINN. Athrun moved to confront the Strike as Kira stood ready to fight the mobile suit with his anti-ship sword. "Kira…Kira Yamato!" Athrun said as he opened up a communications channel with the enemy machine. Kira was surprised at first, but hearing his surprise Athrun immediately figured it was indeed Kira. "So it is you isn't it Kira!"
"Athrun? Athrun Zala?" Kira said as he recognized the voice.
Meanwhile at that moment the energy cannon the GINN had held hit the ground while the barrel was still pointed upwards at the shaft and its accidentally miss fired sending a powerful shot up towards the shaft itself. On the Archangel's bridge Murrue, Natarle and Mwu thought the worst was over. Although serious damage was done to the colony it was still holding itself together barely.
"Madam…the only enemy unit left is the Aegis. The Strike is currently engaged in combat with it." Pal said as he turned towards Murrue.
"Thank goodness the colony wasn't destroyed." Murrue said with a sigh of relief, but it was only seconds later that a powerful heat source coming from the ground below.
"Lieutenant Ramius…heat source detected. An energy cannon shot from one of the cannons the GINNs were carrying is coming up from below." Pretty officer Pal said as he also noted "Madam one of the energy cannons the GINNs were carrying must have hit the ground missed fired. It's the only explanation."
"Stop that shot before it causes any more damage to the colony. Shot it now." Murrue shouted desperately.
"Too late we can stop it. It's going to hit main shaft!" Pal shouted as the green beam hit the shaft blowing it in half. Within seconds the whole shaft fell apart as wires and various debris and metal fragments were falling down onto the colony. Inside the shelters Cagalli heard the announcement saying the hazard level had been raised to level ten and the shelters were going to be jettisoned into space as lifeboats. The crew of the Archangel could only watch in horror as Heliopolis was breaking apart while the lifeboats were launched into space.
As the Colony was falling apart around them Kira shouted out to Athrun Zala "What are you doing here Athrun?" Athrun heard his childhood friend's remark as he firmly replied with a question of his own.
"What I am doing here. I should ask you the same question. What are you doing inside that thing?"
Before the two could answer the other's question Heliopolis came apart and the two machines were sucked out into space onto opposite sides of the colony. Both pilots cried out to the other as the vacuum of space sucked them out of the collapsing colony. The lifeboats were able to clear the colony as it came apart. On the Vesalius; Rau and Ades were surprised by what happened as the colony fell apart. Ades was horrified by the destruction caused while Rau on the other hand was smiling with a sly grin.
Heliopolis was completely destroyed in a matter of minutes as various remains of the colony were scattered across the emptiness of space surrounding the area with the ruin of the once Orb controlled resource colony. Athrun and the Aegis managed to survive the destruction of Heliopolis unharmed, but he couldn't detect Kira due to all of the debris. With no way of being able to find Kira; Athrun turned around and he flew back towards the three ZAFT ships.
Meanwhile floating helpless amongst the ruins of Heliopolis was Kira in the Strike which also survived the colony's destruction unharmed. However Kira's mind was in a state of shock while at the same time Kira was horrified at what had happened to the place he called. His eyes saw it, but his mind was trying so hard to reject it. Kira had no choice, but to expect the cold reality that was before him. Heliopolis was completely destroyed and with that in mind. Kira was also concerned about the safety of his parents who could have died in destruction of the colony. All he could do was hope for the best and that his family had survived.
Suddenly Kira hears Natarle's voice over a communication's channel asking "Kira…Kira come in do you read over? Kira please respond." Kira was still in a state of shock, but after hearing Natarle repeat the same lines over and over again Kira slightly recovered mentally from the shock to reply.
"Yeah…I am here."
"Good…is the Strike damaged?" Natarle asked.
"No its fine…nothing seems to be wrong with it." Kira answered as his mind was recovering from the shock of seeing his home destroyed.
"Excellent. Return to the ship. I'll transmit our coordinates to you." Natarle said as Kira received the coordinates he needed to find the Archangel, but before he returned to the ship Kira detected a distress signal from an escape pod that seemed to have broken down. After thinking about the matter for a few moments Kira grabbed the pod and began carrying it back with him to the Archangel.
Meanwhile in space near the remains of the destroyed colony. A few more broken down escape pods were located by Athrun as he was flying back to the ship. The pods were damaged by some debris while Heliopolis was breaking apart. Athrun saw them and considering what had happened to Heliopolis he opened up a communications channel with the Vesalius and in moments Rau's face appeared on the screen.
"Report Athrun…was the enemy ship destroyed?" Rau asked with a serious expression on his face.
"I am sorry to report that the mission to destroy the legged ship and the Strike failed. The colony was destroyed by a miss fire from one of recoilless cannons one of the GINNs had. After it was destroyed the GINN dropped it and it fell and hit the ground. It fired a shot and the beam stuck the central shaft after the Earth Forces damaged the central shaft with their weapons while fighting us." Athrun reported.
"I see…what is the status of Miguel and the others?" Rau asked.
"I am sorry to also report that all of them lost their lives in battle." Athrun said sadly.
"That is unfortunate to hear. I want a full report when you return is that understood?" Rau asked, but before he could say anything further Athrun spoke up and said.
"Sir there is one more thing. I found three lifeboats that were damaged by the collapsing debris. They are intact, but they are adrift in space. I would like to request that a team be sent in to recover them otherwise I doubt the civilians inside will be able to survive let alone be found by the time rescue teams arrive. I thought we should rescue them due to the destruction of their colony that we had a hand in although we are not directly responsible for it. I am sure this incident will stir up some trouble back at the home so I believe lending these people aid will show our good faith and sincere condolences for what happened."
Ades was about to protest against Athrun's suggest, but Rau stopped him with a hand gesture as he said "Very well…I will have the Alexandra send out its GINNs to recover the lifeboats and make sure the civilians on board receive fine care until they can be returned to their nation. Just stay there for now with them so the team can locate them easier."
"Thank you sir." Athrun said as he remained with the three lifeboats to watch over them until the GINNs arrived. While waiting Athrun's thoughts were on Kira as he had a feeling he would be seeing him again soon.
