Miriallia walked through the bright and lively halls of the Archangel in silence. She paused as she heard the animated voices of the civilians in the cafeteria.
"You think it'll be the moon first once we join up with them?"
"I have relatives living in Orb, so I ought to be okay," another says. She gives them a fleeting glance and continues her little stroll.
Not even two seconds after she entered the women's room, she halted. A doe-eyed Flay turns around to see a surprised Miriallia. It was a fair reaction, considering that there was skin cream all over face.
"What is it?"
"What do you mean, Flay? What are you doing?"
"It's a face pack. Can't you tell?" Flay deadpanned as she tore the face pack from her face and crumpled it into a ball.
"Of course I can tell. What I'm saying is… Ugh, nevermind!"
With that said, she walks over to the shelves. "I've got to admit, I'm surprised that you had something like that with you."
Flay rested her chin onto both of her hands and spoke with a smile. "Well, since Dad's coming with the advance force, I wanna look my best. My father wouldn't want me looking shabby. I have a reputation as the daughter of the vice minister to uphold, after all."
Miriallia gave the girl a quick glance before stripping herself naked.
"I haven't seen him in such a long time, so it's the least I could do."
"Whatever," Miriallia said as she entered the shower.
"I just wish I could do something about my hair," she said, tugging at it for emphasis. She let out a sigh and let it go. "Well, I guess it'll have to do. We're in a crisis, after all."
Miriallia gave the girl a look of disbelief. Friend or not, she had to admit that she could act so spoiled.
On the Bridge
The stern face of Captain Withers appeared on the viewing screen.
"Arrival time at the rendezvous point with our fleet will be as planned. Once you join us, the Archangel will come under the command of this ship, and we'll proceed to the main fleet together. You're almost here. I pray for your safe arrival."
The screen zooms out to reveal another man in a suit.
"I'm Vice Prime Minister George Allster of the Atlantic Federation. First, I'd like to thank you for your efforts in rescuing civilians. Oh, and one more thing! I was surprised and happy to see the name of my daughter, Flay, on the list of rescued civilians."
A wide mouthed Murrue held her drink just out of her lips, much like everyone else on the bridge at the revelation; Dear god, was there anyone even remotely normal on this ship?
"I'd be more than grateful if I could get a glimpse of her."
"Vice Minister, sir, you'll see her as soon as they join us," Withers said.
Sai smiled. "That's Flay's father, all right."
In the Hangar Bay
Cagalli typed away feverishly at the Strike's keyboard. Kira watched over the girl worriedly; he had insisted on letting himself do it, but she wouldn't have any of it. Murdoch floated over to the dormant mobile suit and smiled at what he saw. Cagalli seemed to not notice his presence and kept typing. Kira turned to him and asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing, just wondering how it is."
"Just making a few adjustments to match the offset levels," Cagalli deadpanned, earning a blank expression from both Kira and Murdoch.
"Isn't that a little unnecessary?"
Murdoch let out a hearty chuckle and brought an arm to the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Just do what's needed. It's still your job until we join the others."
"I wasn't aware we were being paid," Cagalli shot back.
Murdoch gave another laugh before pulling out of the mobile suit slightly.
"Touche. But if you want, you're free to volunteer and remain in the military. The pay's good."
Kira looked on with wide eyes at the man's words before muttering his reply under his breath.
"No chance in hell."
Cagalli remained silent and continued her work.
Back on the Bridge
An oddly relaxed and happy atmosphere could be felt all throughout the bridge. Miriallia hovered down to the CIC and met up with Sai. the two greeted each other with a celebratory high five. As for everyone else, you ask? Dalida and Romero were recounting everything about the 8th Fleets reputation, Murrue and Natarle were discussing how shocked they were to know that the Vice Foreign Minister's daughter was on this ship, Gary and Ryan were chatting about what they were going to do after all of this was over.
"Me?" Ryan asked. "Well, I've got a kid at home. I've been meaning to visit her for a long while."
"Busy with work?"
"Yeah. It's been so long since I've been home…"Ryan paused as he looked over to see Kuzzey and Tolle were telling Arnold about all the good stuff that was in the Orb Union.
"It's shocking...just how fast kids are growing these days."
"Definitely," Gary replies, also looking towards the kids. "They sure are brave, fighting like this. I know I wouldn't have been able to do half of what they've done at their age."
"Yeah...So, what were you saying about this special lady friend of yours?" Gary asked with a mischievous smirk, much to Gary's embarrassment. He chuckled a little and picked at some imaginary dust on his sleeves.
In One of the Resting Quarters
Lacus sang her song once again with a shaky voice as the others mostly slept. What else was there to do? Read the same books for the thousandth time? Wander around the ship and get herself in trouble?
She put a hand over a trembling fist as she stopped singing. It'd only be a little longer, she'd tell herself. She wouldn't have to be locked in this boring, small, suffocating room.
She wouldn't have to look to a small bookcase of three books for entertainment. Soon, Athrun would come and take her away from this ship, and things would go back to normal...why did that thought sound so disappointing to her?
Lacus found herself frowning at the thought. Call her childish, but she believed that this event was something meant to happen. While she didn't exactly know what, she could feel it; something had changed.
She found herself thinking back to Kira and Cagalli, and smiled.
In the Hangar Bay
Kira punched in a few more keys and stopped as the lower screen said, 'COMPLETED.'
With that done, he pushed the keyboard aside and turned on the cameras. Cagalli looked on with boredom as the boy tinkered with the giant death machine. Silence reigned all throughout the ship, much like a calm before a storm.
On the Vesalius
Athrun, Ades, and a pair of green coats gathered around the hologram table displaying a digital map of space routes. Floating in front of them is Rau.
"This is the estimated route of the Earth Forces' naval vessels," he explains. "The Laconi and Proto teams are behind schedule. If the vessels are delivering supplies to the legged ship, we mustn't overlook them."
"Are we gonna stage an attack?" Athrun asks. "But I thought we're ordered to…"
"We're soldiers, Athrun. That truth most definitely holds more priority than finding Miss Lacus right now."
Athrun remained silent at the comment.
On the Bridge of the Archangel
The radar on Romero's console yields the locations of one Nelson-class ship and two Drake-class ships.
"Silhouettes of three ships appearing on the radar!" he informs with a smile. "They're the escort ships Montgomery, Bernard, and Law!"
Everyone spreads gleeful chatter at the news. Murrue heaves a sigh; soon, all this madness would be behind them. It took quite a few trials and improvisations, but they managed to pull it off. She looked to the kids and smiled. They wouldn't have to sacrifice their conscience for their survival any longer.
Romero looked at the scene with before quickly turning his attention back to his console when it started buzzing and turning on and off. Noticing her comrade's distress, Murrue asks, "what's the matter?"
"A jammer! It's messing with the whole area."
Everyone sobers up at the revelation. Sai and Miriallia each let out gasps while Natarle grimaces.
On the Vesalius
The Nazca-class ship Vesalius finally reaches its prey and sends out two GINNs, each equipped with a 500mm recoilless rifle as they launch from the hangar bay. Inside the hangar bay, Athrun Zala finishes calibrating the Aegis. Well, he would have, had he not been interrupted by one of the GINN pilots (also equipped with a recoilless rifle) already prepped to launch.
"Hey, Athrun."
"Yes?" Athrun asked.
" Our commander really has a knack for sensing these things. it's almost like he's got some kind of telekinesis or something."
"You read too many comics, Nash," Athrun states as he finishes with his suits' adjustments.
"Ha, ha, ha! Anyhow, just shows us how that thing performs. It may be an Earth Forces machine, but it still looks cool as hell."
"Sure."
With that said, Nash launches from the ship. As Athrun begins to launch, he thinks back to the words of his commander, his father, and his childhood friend. He comes back to Earth as he hears from the CIC officer that he is ready to go.
"Athrun Zala, taking off!"
The stolen G-Weapon transforms its dormant gray to red as it's flung out of the ship and joins up with the three GINNs. Meanwhile, on the bridge, Rau Le Creuset gasped. He sensed a strange aura coming directly from the direction of the Archangel. This strange presence seemingly rivaled his own, but he couldn't tell who it was coming from on the ship.
'What is this? It feels as if the vacuum of space is in a state flux of light. Could this be Mu? No, this feels... different. I can sense a few more waves of pressure besides Mu coming from that ship...and one of them feels familiar...but which one?
Well, whoever it is, this light...sickens me. It seems that I'm going to have to snuff out this light myself in order to keep this vacuum of space in complete darkness, as it belongs.'
And with newfound resolution, Rau leaves his seat and heads over towards Captain Ades and speaks.
"Captain, I'm heading out there as well. Have the men prepare my CGUE for takeoff."
"Why? Athrun and the others can handle this one," Ades states.
"True, but this is the advanced fleet we're dealing with here, under the command Admiral Halberton, might I add. Not to mention they have well trained Moebius pilots. With them teaming up with that legged ship and mobile suit (as well as that mobile armor), Athrun and the others might have trouble with them."
"Very well, commander. Good luck to you."
"And to you, Captain."
With that said, Le Creuset heads for the door and smirks at the thought of what he'll soon find on the battlefield.
The Alert signals blared to life as the enemy neared their position. An air of tension loomed over the dimmed bridge as the captain and lieutenants ordered their mobile armors be sent. The place was abuzz with business. Everyone typed away hastily at their consoles. At this point, the captain speaks.
"Load all missiles and anti-beam depth charge tubes!"
Soon enough, Moebius units are seen blasting away from the ships. At the Montgomery, an operative informs the crew of their incoming heat sources; five mobile suits.
Sweat fell from Withers' face as the MS squad came closer and closer. Athrun looked on in wonder at why the masked commander had suddenly decided to join. He let out a sigh; just more questions for later.
"What's going on?" George demanded. "How couldn't you have noticed the enemy until now?"
Withers ignores the man's complaints and continues with his orders.
"Lower bow, pitch angle 30 degrees. Turn to port, yaw angle 20 degrees!"
Everyone lets out a small grunt as the ship quakes. "Send a message to the Archangel to turn around and withdraw!"
George stands and looks to the Captain with unbelieving eyes. "What? But then…"
"If you have any better suggestions on what to do, I'm all ears, Mr. Allster," Withers countered.
"There's no meaning to any of this if I don't meet up with them!"
"Then our actions would be even more pointless if we let them get sunk."
George let out a growl, but otherwise said nothing further in protest as the mobile suit team finally make contact with their foes.
Space is illuminated with the brilliant white and pink lights of battle.
This is quick to be detected by a certain legged ship.
"The heat distribution we're detecting ahead looks like that of a battle!" Dalida informs. "It appears to involve the advance force!"
Gasps and startled grunts waft throughout the room.
"A battle?" Sai repeated.
"Damn. Should have known this was too good to be true," Ryan says with a wry smirk.
"A message from Montgomery!" Romero starts, garnering everyone's attention. "Message reads, 'Cancelling rendezvous! The Archangel is to turn and leave!'"
Natarle calls out to Murrue, who turns to her and asks, "What's the enemy's fighting strength?"
Before Natarle could reply, Dalida speaks. "A Nazca- class at yellow 257, mark 402! Matching heat characteristics. Three GINNs and a CGUE...wait a moment, one of them's...it's the Aegis!"
Everyone turns to him in shock at the revelation. Soon enough, Murrue regains her composure.
"It must be that Nazca-class!"
Athrun dived under the gunfire of an approaching Moebius unit with ease.
Seeing this, the Moebius launches its missiles.
The red mobile suit swerves aside from them before cutting them down with a CIWS burst.
The weapons erupt in a pinkish ball of light as the Aegis flies ahead. Athrun narrowed his eyes at the small thing, which now had support, it seemed. He took them out with two beam shots and soldiered on through the ashes.
On the Archangel
Natarle looked up to Murrue and once again called after her. At this point, Tolle turns around and speaks.
"But on that ship…" he didn't finish, as his point had already gotten across. Finally, Murrue spoke.
"There's no guarantee that we'd get away, even if we turned around! All hands, level one battle stations! The Archangel will proceed to reinforce the advance force!"
In the halls, Civilians looked on in horror as the ship's announcer gave them the news they'd been fearing the most. They still weren't out of this just yet.
Kira ran out of his room and quickly made his way to the hangar. Lacus looked out through her opened door to see the boy running about. Kira stopped and turned around as he heard the chirping of Haro.
"Again?" He cried to no one in particular as he made his way to Lacus.
"Things are so lively around here...Oh my, is this a battle?"
"Yes. Now please, go inside."
With that said, Kira gently shoves her back into the room, much to the girl's surprise. He then turned his attention to the door.
"What the heck's wrong with the lock on this room?" Not one to be ignored for long, Haro started bouncing and chattering loudly. Sure enough, Kira turned his attention to the machine. All of Haro's efforts were quick to go to waste as Lacus grabbed his attention again.
"Kira...will you be fighting as well?" She asked, obvious worry in her voice.
He looked at the girl for a moment; she never ceased to surprise him. It was quite astounding how concerned she seemed to be for him, considering she barely knew him.
At last, he gave her a comforting smile and spoke.
"In any case, you're not to leave this room again. Make sure of that this time, okay?"
Lacus looks on at the retreating silhouette of the boy. She saw a faint blue aura surrounding the boy, but she could tell. Little by little, it was getting stronger. She smiled to herself,no longer worried; she knew he'd be fine.
Kira paused as he once again found himself being delayed by a voice. He turned to see the worried face of Flay. "What's this about going to battle stations? What about the advance force?"
"I have no idea! I don't know what's going on," he says and begins once again on his trip to the hangar, only to be stopped by a surprisingly strong hand on his shoulder, turning him to face an obviously frightened Flay.
"My dad's ship won't be destroyed, will it? Everything's gonna be fine, right?"
Kira gave the girl a soft smile and told her, "Everything's going to be okay, Flay. We'll be there, too."
The redhead looks on as the boy runs off, taking solace in his words, hanging to them like a lifeline.
Kira meets up with Cagalli, and the two run off together.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," Kira replied with a smile. Cagalli furrowed her brows as she replied.
"Hey, I asked you first."
"Well, I ran into Lacus, and Flay was worried about her dad."
Cagalli's expression soured at the mention of the spoiled redhead.
"So, what took you so long?"
"I overslept."
He let out a laugh. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.
A GINN raised its rifle at a fastly approaching Moebius unit that opens fire on the mobile suit before it could.
The GINN swerved under the stream of bullets as the mobile armor passes by.
At this point, another Moebius arrives, firing its own stream.
The GINN dives under the fire and finally takes it own shot in response. A missile rips through the fleeing mobile armor with ease, erupting in a ball of flames.
This is soon noticed by nearby comrades, and before anyone could prevent it, a squad of Moebius units had banded together, firing a concentrated volley at the GINN.
The GINN began to pull back and took one final shot (nailing a single Moebius unit) before reinforcements arrived in the form of the Aegis and another GINN.
Athrun stormed through the fire unscathed and made his way to the rear side of a Drake-class ship Benard. He took a few shots from his beam rifle and scurried along as the ship began to blow.
He then transformed into his mobile armor form and flies over to the Law.
This is quickly noted by a CIC officer, who relays the information to the crew as a blinding explosion erupted, rocking the ship and its inhabitants.
Withers growled and George looked up at the main screen in disbelief.
"We're being destroyed by our own machine?!" George asked incredulously as his expression of fear and confusion soon turned to one of frustration and anger. "This is ridiculous!"
Inside the CGUE, Rau smiles in almost manic glee. "I'm impressed Athrun. Behind all of that angst and shyness is a decent fighter."
With that said, he flew off to find the Archangel...or more precisely, that damned light.
In the Hangar Bay of the Archangel
The guidance crew made way as the slowly approaching Moebius Zero made its way to the catapult. Soon enough, the Zero shoots out of the launch bay. Elsewhere in the hangar floats Murdoch, floating patiently by the Strike. He turns to see Kira in a pilot suit along with Cagalli.
"You're late!"
Kira quickly speaks his apologies as he hops into the already opened cockpit of the mobile suit.
Once inside, he turns on the machine, and Miriallia came on the screen. She spoke as the boy strapped himself in.
"The enemy consists of a Nazca-class, three GINNs, a CGUE, and the Aegis. Be careful."
As the Strike is transported to the catapult, a solemn Sai chimes in.
"Kira! Flay's father is with the advance force. Please keep that in mind."
The boy activates the visor on his helmet and replies.
"Sure thing."
With that said, the Strike is finally lowered onto the catapult. Soon enough, the mobile suit is outfitted with the Aile Striker. The lights shift to go, and the Strike shoots out of the launch bay and activates its phase shift.
All hell was breaking loose on the battlefield. A damaged Drake-class valiantly set all its weapons ablaze.
A pair of Moebius units fire at the CGUE; Rau hissed in irritation as he sprung over the shots and stormed towards the units; he broke one's cockpit in with a punishing kick before quickly turning his attention to the remaining Moebius, who fired a rapid burst.
To Rau's surprise, the mobile armor hadn't aimed for him, but the sparking Moebius right next to him.
'Using your deceased comrade to knock me back? You'll have to be a little better than that!'
The CGUE had indeed been knocked back from the ensuing explosion, but was at a far enough distance to come out unscathed. The Moebius pilot sweared; that sacrifice was for nothing! He's quickly torn from his self loathing reverie as the CGUE drew its blade and charged to him.
He fired his missiles in response.
Rau smirked at his prey's futile attacks and dived under them with ease.
The Moebius pilot swallowed a breath he knew would be his last. It was hopeless, he realized, as the monster drew nearer. He dropped his thrusters and waited for the inevitable.
"Giving up already?" Rau said with a sarcastic grin. He brought his sword up menacingly, but just as he was about to finish the job, a thought ran through his mind. He regarded the mobile armor for a moment, or more specifically, its pilot.
He had learned his place quickly and had put up quite an effort. It'd be a waste to put someone so promising seven down, wouldn't it?
The pilot gasped as the CGUE sheathed its blade and flew off. He watched as the mobile suit flew towards the Archangel...Which he just now noticed wasn't turning away and running like it was supposed to. His chattering teeth managed to stable as he formed a scowl.
"S-stop right there!" he cried, firing up his thrusters.
Rau looked on in amusement at the mobile armor's antics.
"Oh well. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
With that said, Rau raised his rifle at the Moebius, and-
Gasped as he felt a new presence on the battlefield. He's here! The CGUE darted away to seek out the new presence, the Moebius forgotten once more.
Inside the mobile armor, the pilot lets out a tired sigh, and evaluated his weapons before finally returning to his ship. Well, they can't say he didn't try.
Natarle ordered the fire of Valiant's one and two as the Archangel neared the battlefield.
George and Withers look on in shock as a pair of GINNs are blown apart by the blasts.
"The Archangel...it came to help us?" George asks in wonder.
Withers slammed his fist on the arm of his chair, seething with frustration.
"They shouldn't have."
the Earth Force massacre continues with the Aegis in MA cruise mode wreaking havoc on the battlefield, blasting the Law at its lower port with its "scylla" beam cannon.
Athrun then changes back to MS mode to finish the Drake-class ship before spotting something. In the distance, he sees the Strike approaching. He let out a sigh, knowing very well who the pilot is. He reached for his beam rifle...and did a double take as a flurry of bullets cut off the Strike's path.
Athrun turns to see Rau's CGUE floating adjacent to him.
"Athrun! With the mobile suit out here, that mobile armor is sure to follow closely. Find it, and take it out!"
"But-"
"Listen. That mobile suit is simply too dangerous, being able to fight off all of you. You had your chance, Athrun. Now go. That's an order."
A look of frustration appears on Athrun's face seeing Rau's resolve about fighting his friend.
Kira gasps in confusion as the Aegis lowered its beam rifle and jetted off, before looking back to his remaining guest.
Rau smirked devilishly at the Strike as he brandished his sword; he was going to enjoy this, now that his suit had a little more "Oomph".
Mu glared at a GINN as he chased it away from the Drake-class and released his Gunbarrels.
The GINN swerved aside and fired its recoilless rifle at the mobile armor; the shot hit nothing but air. The pilot growled as he surged forward from the nearing Moebius and once again took aim, completely forgetting about one Gunbarrel floating menacingly behind it. The Gunbarrel opened fire on the unsuspecting GINN; the suit staggered back.
At this point, another GINN arrives after noticing his comrade's distress. It swoops down to the Mobile armor, ready to take a killing blow.
Mu glared at the mobile suit and called upon three Gunbarrels. Two intercepted the GINN's cannon blast, and one attacks. The Moebius is slightly knocked back from the ensuing explosion, but quickly rebalanced itself and finished off the mobile suit with a linear rifle volley concentrated on the cockpit, leaving behind a cloud of light pink.
Storming through the cloud was the Aegis, beam rifle blazing. Mu's eyes grew the size of saucers as he ducked under the shots.
He quickly sends the Gunbarrels and fires a linear rifle salvo at the now approaching Aegis; the mobile suit shifts to its MA Cruise mode.
Even with the added mobility, the Aegis had trouble keeping up. Athrun twisted and turned left and right, and jettisoned the thrusters in a desperate attempt to avoid the Moebius' attack.
Then one hit him...Then almost all of them did. The Aegis staggered back from the small explosions and regained its balance.
Just seeing how those shots were fired told Athrun what happened before was no fluke.
With that in mind, he goes under the Moebius in an attempt to catch it off guard and quickly switches back to mobile suit form. He fires a CIWS burst, but with a quick swerve, the Moebius managed to get past it.
Athrun swore and turned his attention to a Gunbarrel that caught up to him; he raised his shield just in the nick of time to block the shot and blasted it apart with his beam rifle before it could escape.
Mu's eyes gleamed as he speaks.
"Don't think I'm finished just yet!"
With that said, he called all the remaining Gunbarrels to surround the Aegis, much to its pilot's dismay.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Strike continues its desperate attempts in fighting off the CGUE.
Kira swerves aside from the CGUE's sweeping slash and raised his shield in time to block its following attack.
Re-facing the Strike, Rau smirks. "Not bad for an amateur."
Kira's eyes widen as the CGUE surges forward and knocks him back with a kick, before raising its heavy assault machine gun and firing.
The Strike dashed aside from the blast before firing its own rifle in response. Much to its pilot's surprise, however, the CGUE simply blocks the shot.
'Damn! They must've had it upgraded!'
Rau smirks at his foe's apparent surprise. It was hilarious really. The pilot's already tearing his hair out, and he hasn't even begun to fight.
The CGUE takes initiative and rushes at the Strike.
Kira screamed and fired a volley in a futile attempt to keep it at bay. Rau barrel rolled under the shots, never stopping his advance. Finally closing the distance between them, he swatted the rifle aside with his blade.
Kira cried in shock as the ensuing explosion sent him staggering slightly. He looked on at that thing charging at him and glared.
He brandished his beam saber and swung at the mobile suit; his blade caught air as the CGUE dashed around him and slashed at the Strike. Kira jetted away, but was too late. The blade cut through the Aile pack, and the following explosion sent Kira careening towards an unlucky ship.
After regaining his balance just before he could hit the ship, it was to his horror that he discovered how low he was on power. If this kept up, he wasn't going to make it.
He remembered everything he said before launching; the promises he made, the chances he'd never get, goals left unaccomplished. Death was glaring him in the eye, but he wasn't ready to meet him.
...No, he thought with seriousness almost surprising him. He couldn't die here. There were still things to do, things to say…! He wouldn't die just yet.
Right then, he felt the strangest thing; he saw what looked to be half of an amethyst seed shatter in his mind's eye. It was like a small guide in his mind, telling him what to do.
before he knew it, he was locking blades with the CGUE.
Rau grunted in shock; just what was this feeling?
The two parted blades and the CGUE pulled back slightly, taking out its rifle and firing.
Kira tilted away from the shots. That tilt grew to become a full spinning slash that tore into the CGUE's rifle. With the rifle out of the way, the Strike pulled the blade back for a killing thrust.
"Don't get cocky!" Rau cried as he swerved away from the attack and sent the mobile suit reeling with a punishing reverse roundhouse. Kira grunted, but quickly flipped himself back to balance. There was a voice whispering in his mind, drowning out everything else as he charged towards the CGUE, CIWS blazing.
Destroy.
On the Archangel, Flay quietly entered the bridge to hear the stern voice of Ensign Badgiruel. "Gottfried number 1, aim and fire!" She barked.
"Where's Lieutenant La Flaga?" Murrue asked.
"The Zero's engaging the Aegis!"
Flay looked on in helpless horror as Dalida informed the crew of an attack from the Vesalius aimed for the Law.
At that point, she floated over to the CIC to make her presence known to everyone in the bridge.
"Flay?" Sai asked.
"Dad...Where's my father's ship?" Flay asked, making no attempt to hide the obvious worry in her voice as she made her way over to the Captain. At this point, Sai floated over to the girl and held her by the arm. Murrue wiped the surprise off her face and replied.
"We're in the middle of a battle right now! Non-combatants aren't allowed in the bridge!"
Ignoring the Captain's words, Flay asked, "Which one's my dad's ship?"
"Flay!" Sai said scoldingly. The girl squirmed and squealed under the boy's grip.
"Let me go!"
At that moment, everyone's attention was grabbed at the sound of a thunderous explosion. They looked up to see footage of a Drake-class ship going down in flames.
"The Law's been sunk!" Romero reported. Flay floated about limply with an expression of shock. Taking notice of this, Sai gets a firm grip on the girl and speaks.
"Let's go! You mustn't be here! Come on!"
With that said, he escorts the troubled girl back to her quarters as Dalida informs the crew of a pair of GINNs heading for the Montgomery. Even worse, there were only two mobile armors left. Sai looked at the girl with worry, before steeling himself; you know what they say about tough love. He shook the girl to action, calling her name. Unfortunately, this didn't spur the action he was hoping for. Flay clung to the boy, hysteria in her voice.
"Where's that boy Kira?"
Sai looked on in horror; was there anything he could tell her? Anything he could say that would cheer her up, that wouldn't be a lie?
"What's he doing?" She demanded.
"He's fighting the best he can. But he's up against a CGUE, so things aren't going quite so smoothly."
"But he told me everything was going to be alright!"
Sai turned his head away from the girl, unable to meet her eyes as she continued.
"He said it'd be okay because we'd be there too!"
Sai remained silent and walked her to her quarters. Sai looked at her as they made their way through the halls. Against his better judgment, he said, "Everything will be fine, okay? Your dad's ship is unharmed."
Sai's words did little to calm the girl down, but at the very least, she wasn't protesting anymore. Suddenly, the ship started to quake. The two stopped until the trembling subsided. Once it stopped, Flay tried once more to get to the bridge. She was quickly stopped by Sai, and once again, the squirming and squealing commenced.
"Flay!"
"No! Let me go!"
At this point, the couple pause as they hear the voice of Lacus singing her song. The girl sang beautifully, but there was definitely a tinge of exhaustion in it, Sai noted silently as Flay made her way to the girl's room.
Lacus looked up in confusion as the door opened, meeting the frustrated eyes of Flay.
The Montgomery continues firing its beam cannons at the Vesalius as the GINNs continue shooting down Moebius units. A certain pilot from earlier came out with a freshly loaded unit and knocked a preoccupied GINN back with its missiles, only to grimace when it turned around and raised its blade at him; why did they always have to go up close?
He swerved aside from a sweeping slash and fired a salvo in desperate attempt to down the GINN. To his large relief, his attack succeeded. So lost in joy was he, that he forgot to back away from the explosion. He cried as his mobile armor was knocked back sending himself spiraling out of control into a pink light. Quickly, he unfastens himself and hopped out of the sparking mobile armor, landing on a piece of scrap.
Back on the bridge, Murrue demands preparations for firing the Lohengrin be made.
"A GINN's coming! Where's the Strike?"
At this point, the bottom screen on Murrue's console flickers up, and Mu appeared.
"This is hopeless! We've gotta scram if we don't wanna get destroyed!"
Looking up from the screen Murrue starts.
"But…"
In the still raging battle, Kira throws a fist at the CGUE; the punch is caught, albeit with some difficulty, and the CGUE raised its vulcan system.
'This may not finish him', Rau thought, 'but I'll be damned if it doesn't afflict some sort of damage at point blank range.'
Kira's half dilated eyes widened as the shots pushed him back slightly and he quickly found his eyes turning back to normal. He glanced at the power; It wasn't finished just yet, but he'd have to do something, and fast.
With that in mind, he raised his beam saber and swung. Once again, his attack was caught firmly in the hands of the CGUE. Was there anything that would work against this guy?! He'd never know, but Rau found himself thinking the same thing.
Meanwhile, the Montgomery was hanging by a thread. Another GINN shows up, firing its recoilless rifle at the ships' cannons.
The bridge quaked as one of the operatives informed the crew that their main turret had been destroyed.
"Engine section's been damaged! Sealing bulkheads!" Another said.
Needless to say, Withers and George were not happy about this.
"What are they doing?" George asked. "Why can't they shoot down a single GINN?"
Turning to the man, Withers spoke. "Vice Minister, proceed to the lifepod!"
Athrun narrowed his eyes at the Mobile armor before him, beam tonfa raised. He'd taken out three of those damned Gunbarels, but that still left the speedy thing with three weapons. The Aegis' eyes gleamed as the bluenette charged, CIWS blazing. Mu dived under the stream and jetted away from the mobile suit's blade.
Athrun growled and swung again.
At this point, Mu fired his remaining Gunbarrel...which was right under the mobile suit. The Aegis staggered slightly; against lesser fighters, this would mean little. Against Mu, however…
A strangled scream escaped Athrun's throat as the Mobile armor pummeled him with a linear rifle volley.
The Gunbarrel jetted back near Mu as he prepared a final attack.
Athrun dashed back and transformed into MA mode, firing a scylla. The blast tore clean through the gunbarrel, but missed the Moebius, causing Mu to pull back.
Flay made her way through the bridge with a hopelessly lost Lacus in tow. Everyone turned to her in confusion, and wondered where Sai was. She propped herself on Kuzzey's console and spoke, the seriousness in her voice not betraying her expression.
"I'll kill this girl! If they fire at my Daddy's ship, I'll kill this girl!"
Tears streamed down her eyes as she continued. Lacus stared at the girl in shock, unsure what to make of this situation.
"Tell them that!"
A frustrated and slightly disgruntled Sai entered the room with one of his hands holding his privates (where he was kicked) and called after her.
"Tell them!"
Murrue just stared at the girl; A lot had happened in recent events. Unimaginable, absurd things, and even more absurd revelations had been told.
In hindsight, she guessed it was only a matter of time before this happened; a situation that truly left her speechless. All throughout the ship, radio silence.
The Vesalius aimed their cannons. Then, with a sound of thunder, large beams of light pierced the Montgomery. Everyone was frozen still, if only for a moment. For that slither of time, George screamed in terror. When that was over, because it was only just a moment, the Montgomery and George's cries were gone, and in their place was an enormous ball of flames. Murrue looked on in shock at the explosion before turning to Flay.
The girl shrieked as she floated back into Sai's arms. Sai looked on in worry, feeling more helpless than before. The girl once again struggled and flailed in his grip, making quite the scene.
Lacus gave the girl a look of equal concern and confusion, the thunderous explosions quaking around the bridge completely gone to her. Forgive her language, but what in the goddamned blazes was going on in here?
A flurry of thoughts welled up in the girl's mind as she watched Flay's tormented explosion.
At this point, the GINNs began to make their way to the Archangel. Natarle called after Murrue, and once again was met with silence. She sighed, took off her headset, and made her way to Kuzzey's console. The boy leaned back in surprise as the Ensign snatched his headset. Seeing this, Murrue finally reacts.
"Ensign Badrriguel?" she asks worriedly.
Ignoring the Captain's words, Natarle spoke.
"Attention, ZAFT forces! This is the Archangel of the Earth Alliance Forces!"
On the Vesalius, an operative informs the crew of the Archangel's broadcast.
Rau smiled as he backed away from another blade locking, and the broadcast continued.
"Currently on this ship is PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Clyne's daughter, Lacus Clyne!"
Athrun ceased his chase on the Moebius and turned his head to the ship.
"What?"
Mu took this chance to flee; as much as he hated to admit, there's no way he could continue fighting in this condition.
The main screen displayed Natarle and an obviously nervous Lacus.
"Miss Lacus?" Ades cried in disbelief.
"We came across a lifepod with her on board," Natarle explained. "And took her in for humanitarian reasons. However, should you choose to attack this ship, we shall consider this as abandonment of your responsibilities to protect Miss Clyne and take care of this situation as we see fit!"
Athrun stood there, glaring at the ship before him. How dare they? Must they take away everything from them? From him?
"You bastards!" he cried.
Kira froze as well, listening with a blank look on his face.
Mu hopped out of a slightly scorched Moebius in the hangar bay. Within seconds, the maintenance team was on it. This goes by unnoticed by the Lieutenant as he looks up with a depressed smile on his face.
"I didn't expect this one."
Cagalli looked on at the scene, before being shoved by Murdoch.
"If you can work on a mobile suit, you can help with a mobile armor."
Cagalli growled and went to work. She hated this...she paused. Dammit, there really was no other way to describe this other than a job, was there?
Rau simply smiled at the Strike.
"That's gotta feel awkward for you. Coming to help only to find yourselves in danger and resorting to this."
The radio crackled to life, and the slightly worried voice of Ades came through.
"Commander!"
"I know, I know," he said before pressing a button, relaying his voice to all his allies.
"All forces, cease attack!"
He turned to leave, but not before giving the Strike one last glance. It was a shame that he didn't get to finish him off, but there'd be more opportunities. Another day.
On the Archangel
Natarle put the headset down as the ZAFT forces took their reluctant leave, and looked up to the angry face of Murrue.
"We cannot have the Strike or the Archangel destroyed here!"
Murrue let her eyes cast down to the side as she replied. "I know that, Natarle."
Natarle regarded the woman a while longer before finally replying, "Someone! Take Miss Lacus to her room."
Today was, by all means, awful. Their hope was snuffed out by the cannon of a GINN, once again leaving them with an uncertain future. Flay was put to bed by a worried Sai, and Lacus was finally escorted to her room by Jackie. The troubled songstress walked down the halls in complete quiet. There were a lot of problems here; she knew that for sure now. But that wasn't the biggest question on her mind. She turned slowly over to Jackie and asked hesitantly…
"That...was what just happened my fault?"
Jackie regarded the girl with a look of surprise before finally answering her.
"No, it's not your not at fault...this damn war is at fault," he said. Silence returned to the halls as Jackie walked the songstress back to her quarters.
