Disclaimer: Again, all I own is Sam, and the Jade Frame (As I designed it before I even KNEW about Green Frame) Vyse, and Silver Frame
Dragoon and Stormwolf own the things seen in this story that they had put in their own thanks.
Chapter 10: Utter Defeat Pt 2
Valkyrie Corridors:
Sam and Mina floated down the corridor, "What are you planning Sam?" the Sahaku questioned, as Sam had a look of determination on his face.
"The Advance Fleet." he began, in a low tone. "The ones that are in command of Admiral Halberton." he told her, as she came to the elevator that would take him to the hangar. "Listen Mina, I'm just heading down to help out on the repairs to Jade." he explained, as he grabbed a hold of her hand. "I have a feeling they will all know the truth soon enough." he told her.
Mina nodded in agreement. "What are we going to do about the Lacus situation?" she asked.
Sam sighed, "I'm hoping Alex asks them if Lacus could be moved here." he admitted. "At least if she is on this ship she will never be thought as a hostage." he admitted. "Well at least to the inner circle of this temporary Alliance." he told her as the sliding doors opened. He then looked over Mina, "Mind keeping an eye on things up here while I work on Jade?" he asked her.
Mina nodded, "I'll try my best, with my limited freedom on this ship." she said with disgust. With that, she got a nod from Sam as the sliding doors cut them off from each other.
Valkyrie Hangar:
Sam came in, as he began heading to the Jade Frame. Its shoulder armor had be replaced, and it was laying on the ground. The mechanics were currently replacing its leg. "Hey Malcom!" he called as he floated closer.
The head mechanic looked up, to see the Silver haired pilot of the Jade Frame coming to him. "Ahh its you. Whatcha need?" he asked as Sam shrugged.
"Tell me what to do sir, I'm here to help with the repairs." he told Malcom as the head mechanic nodded.
With that, he begun telling Sam of things needing to be done, as both Jade Frame, and Stormbird took heavy damage in the past battle.
Argama Hangar:
Vyse was getting close to the elevator alongside Char. "You handled those units of yours rather nicely." he told Vyse in his calm tone. "Just what did you do in order to use them like that?" he questioned.
Vyse shook his head, "It wasn't me captain. Fiona rigged it that way without me knowing." he admitted.
Char smirked, "You chose a rather talented girlfriend." he began, as it stopped Vyse in his tracks, blushing and everything that went with it. "There is no need of that." he admitted. "Besides the open affection, we knew it quite well. I just wonder when she was doing that?" he began.
That was when the woman in question came closer, "Perhaps during the time we were on standby outside the Debris belt." she answered him, as she stopped and gave her captain a salute. Though with the wrong hand, it was very understandably why.
Char smirked, "Well that is a definite surprise." he concluded. "Even more so against the enemy." he added.
Fiona nodded with a smile on her face, tilting her head to the right. "Well, better to surprise the enemy, then allies with such weapons." she admitted. "Though do to the N-Jammers on Earth, and the fact Silver is only powered by a battery, those units can only use them for thirty seconds. A minute tops!" she explained.
Vyse nodded, "Gotcha, good to know if they are detatched from my machine." he admitted. "Thank you Fiona." he told her, as she blushed a bit.
Char nodded, "I'll leave you two be." he began, as he went on past.
As Fiona turned to watch him go, Vyse placed a hand on her good shoulder. "What other tweaks have you done to my machine?" he questioned.
Fiona looked at him from the corner of her eye, "Oh wouldn't you like to know?" she told him in a teasing tone.
Vyse sighed, "That could either mean really good or really bad." he admitted.
Fiona shook her head, "You know what the best thing is about Prototypes?" She questioned. "You can always make them better." She began, as she began walking towards something in the corner. "I've been working on a few things, but most require Nuclear power and unless we are far away from Earth, that is kinda useless." she told him, leading him somewhere. "Though, this, can be optional." she told him, as she lead him to, a very large shield. Four Silver plates sticking out from the circular center.
Vyse whistled, "Is this thing for me?" he asked her, looking at it. Thought it was only half finished so to speak. "What is it?" he asked her out of the blue.
Fiona looked at him with a bit of an angered look. "This is called Divider, its a anti beam coated shield, that mounts a pair of thrusters, and beam weapons." she told him. Vyse looked at her, then to the shield, "Though its an energy hog, you have to be careful and use the weapon so just use it, as a last resort alright?" she asked him.
Vyse crossed his arms, "I'll use it when its unexpected and sparingly alright?" he asked her.
Fiona looked at him for a second, "All I care about is that you come back to me." she told him. Vyse smiled, as he forced her to look at him, as he planted a lip lock onto hers. Fiona was startled, but melted right into it. The two broke the kiss as Fiona blushed a little.
Vyse smirked, "Well?" he asked.
With that Fiona pushed him away, "You know I don't like to kiss in the open like that!" she told him.
Vyse just floated backwards, laughing the whole while.
Valyrie Bridge:
"It seems Miss Lacus is settling in just fine," Lia said. She and Alex had returned to the Valkyrie minutes earlier. "She's even got Flay Allster out of her shell."
Alex snorted. "Only a convinced misanthrope -or a Blue Cosmos operative, if there's a difference- could dislike Lacus Clyne. Normally I'd be concerned about her being on an Earth Forces warship, but since your aunt is in command, I don't think there'll be any problems."
He crossed to his own chair on the starboard side of the bridge. Flay's reaction to Lacus had taken care of one of his last worries. Since she was the daughter of an important Atlantic Federation official, Alex had feared that her attitudes could cause trouble. Fortunately, those attitudes seemed to have vanished; apparently her time on the Archangel was doing her some good.
Alex sipped from a coffee mug at his elbow (he didn't have Andrew Waltfeld's obsession with coffee, but he did enjoy a good brew, and one of the few things he hated about free fall was having to drink through a straw). There was still the possibility of a ZAFT attack, but he highly doubted that even Rau Le Creuset would open fire if he knew the daughter of the Supreme Council Chairman was on the Archangel. No, his worries were far more personal, and not just about his cousin.
If only Zala hadn't gone off the deep end. Then Yzak and I could be fighting side by side. Few people alive knew that Alex had almost joined ZAFT himself. The deaths of his parents, his sister's abduction had combined with the Bloody Valentine Tragedy which went along with what he thought was Sam's own Death, filling him with a desire to see the Earth Alliance destroyed.
Then he'd learned of Patrick Zala's plan to exterminate the Naturals. Feeling betrayed, Alex had vowed that he would never serve under Zala; he knew better than to blame all Naturals for the actions of a few deranged fanatics.
Alex sighed, fingering the collar of his black coat. If it hadn't been for Zala's madness, that collar would have borne the insignia of the PLANTs, and the coat would have been a different color, green or perhaps even elite red; he was confident enough in his abilities that he could have won the red uniform.
It should have been green at the very least, he thought. But Zala took that away. As a patriot, having to leave the PLANTs in order to stop a madman from having his way hurt more than he cared to admit, but that didn't make him an Earth Forces sympathizer. Indeed, were it not for the fact that he saw the Archangel as separate from the Earth Forces as a whole, he would almost certainly have opened fire on them.
A hand on his shoulder jolted Alex out of his reverie. "Hey, you awake there?"
He looked up, somehow not surprised to see Cagalli standing over him. She'd changed from the drab outfit she'd worn at Heliopolis to khaki pants and a red t-shirt. "Isn't that an unusual outfit for a princess?" he asked mildly. "You're not exactly incognito at the moment."
She glared at him. "What, you think I should be in a dress? You know I hate that. And don't call me a princess, got it?"
"As you wish," Alex said with a shrug. "From what I remember of that party, you looked good in a dress, but the fact that you visibly hated it spoiled the effect somewhat. So no, I don't think you should be in a dress."
Cagalli shook her head. "I'm still not sure what to make of you," she muttered, but there was a glint of humor in her eyes. Her voice softened. "Brooding again?"
He shrugged again. "Something like that," he admitted, fingering his collar. "It's strange how things turn out sometimes."
She frowned. Something in his voice... "What do you mean?"
Alex stared out the forward viewport for a moment before responding. "If I hadn't learned about Zala's madness, I would probably be helping track down the Archangel; I was literally on my way to a ZAFT recruiting center when Kyle stopped me." His fist clenched. "I don't think I've ever felt so betrayed. I wanted to join the fight, make the Alliance pay for what it did to my family, what it did to Junius Seven."
"So instead, you went underground, fighting your own fight," Cagalli said. "Against both ZAFT and the Earth Forces."
Alex nodded. "To be honest, if it wasn't for the fact that Lia's aunt is in command of the Archangel -and of course Mu La Flaga's involvement- I would probably have attacked that ship at Heliopolis." He shook his head. "Like I said, it's strange how things turn out."
He's got that right. Though she supported her father's insistence on keeping Orb neutral, Cagalli's sympathies for the most part were with the PLANTs, especially after Junius Seven. Her time on the Valkyrie had reinforced that, though she too liked the Archangel's crew (especially the pilot of the Strike, as everyone on both ships knew).
"It must be frustrating," she said at last.
"To put it mildly. I should be wearing a ZAFT uniform, but Zala made that impossible," Alex said bitterly, then shook himself "What's done is done, and there's no point in moaning about it," he said in his usual tone. He punched up a schematic on his terminal. "A more immediate concern is what they'll do with the stolen G-weapons. Especially this one."
Cagalli stared at the black-and-red machine on the screen. "The Blitz? What about it?" Then it hit her. "Mirage Colloid."
"Exactly. I shudder to think what a man like Patrick Zala would do with such a system." He glanced out at the Archangel. "But even that isn't our biggest problem. Recall that the Archangel has Lacus Clyne aboard. Lacus, in addition to being the Supreme Council Chairman's daughter, is very famous as a singer, which means ZAFT will be searching for her; Lacus, in addition to being the Supreme Council Chairman's daughter, is very famous as a singer, which means ZAFT will be searching for her; Infact, I have no doubt the Chairman has likly hired a few freelance Mercenary's to find her." he said. "Though to be honest, I don't really doubt that Sebastian's and Lacus' engagement was broken." he admitted. He then took a bit to think. "Also I don't think Creuset has had his fill of us."
She winced. "Rau Le Creuset will come out in person."
"Most likely," Alex agreed. "And not just with the Vesalius, either. With the defeat of that ZAFT team outside the Debris belt." he began. "Le Creuset won't be taking chances. At the very least, he'll have the Gamow along."
Cagalli knew exactly what was bothering her friend there. "Which means you'll have to fight your cousin again."
He sighed. "Almost certainly. Yzak and I won't actually be trying to kill each other, but you know as well as I do that a mobile suit can be neutralized without killing the pilot."
She squeezed his shoulder gently, silently cursing both Zala and the Earth Forces. Most of her ire was directed at the Earth Forces; while Zala wanted to exterminate the Naturals, his views weren't widely held, even in the wake of the Bloody Valentine. The Alliance, on the other hand... Cagalli shook her head in disgust. The more she learned of the Earth Alliance, the more convinced she was that the men and women on the Archangel were too good for them.
Not far from the two, Lia Ramius watched from her command chair, smiling to herself. While Kyle Perry was Alex's de facto second-in-command, she actually knew Alex far better than he did. They had first met ten years earlier, when she visited the PLANTs with her parents.
The two had quickly become close friends, though few were aware of it; Alex had told Yzak he had a friend in the Junk Guild, but had never mentioned Lia by name. This had been at the request of her parents; given that the Junk Guild was stubbornly neutral, they preferred that Lia's friendship with a relative of a Supreme Council member not become widely known. (This was before her father's sister Murrue Ramius joined the military.) Alex and his parents had agreed readily enough.
In any case, Lia was one of the few people with whom Alex would drop his emotionless mask. The only people who truly knew him better than she did were Andrea Strassmeier, who was missing, Yzak Joule, whom he now had to fight, and the most recent member of the ship Sam.
Which was why she was glad to see Cagalli taking an interest in him. Lia could see the pain Alex had been going through ever since the Mandelbrot Incident, and facing his cousin in battle had only compounded it. He needed someone who could help him keep going, and Lia knew she herself couldn't do it; they were very close, but there had always been a certain distance just the same.
But Cagalli can get to him without any trouble, she thought, somewhat bemused. And he doesn't even realize it; I'll bet he didn't notice the line about her looking good in a dress slipping out.
Cagalli seemed to sense her scrutiny. She glanced over her shoulder, giving Lia a look that unmistakably said, "What are you looking at?" Lia just shrugged, looking innocent. The princess frowned, then turned back to whatever she and Alex were talking about.
Those two... Valkyrie's Captain thought, suppressing a chuckle.
Archangel Lacus' Quarters:
Laying on the bunk, Sebastian was laying down, with a pink haired girl. She was wearing an oversized shirt, and Haro was on the floor next to them. Lacus could be found resting her head on the muscular body of her loved one. Sebastian smiled as he placed his right arm over her back. "Sebastian." Lacus whispered.
He looked down, as Lacus looked up at him, "What is it?" he asked her, sliding his hand over her face.
She smiled, laying her head back down, "I've missed you so much." she told him, as she listened to the rhythm of his hearbeat.
Sebastian moved to be leaning up, Lacus followed, as she looked at him, her hair a bit messy. "I've missed you to." he told her, as Lacus smiled at that.
"Missed you Missed you!" Haro began, as it flapped.
Sebastian rolled his eyes, as he placed an arm around his girlfriends slender waist. Lacus was giggling as she knew how much Haro annoyed Sebastian, and yet its one of the funniest things to see. "I like this." she told him.
Sebastian smiled, "Same." was is only answer as he gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I should go to the bridge though." he told her, as he got off the bed. "Mind sleeping for a while longer I'll be back soon."
Lacus just sat there and watched as he left. "See you later Sebastian." she told him, as he left the room. She layed back down, "Hey Haro?" she began.
"Haro." The pink ball flapped as it turned around. "I'm really glad to see him again." she told the robot, as she layed down attempting to go to sleep.
The Bridge:
Acting Crewman Kuzzey Buskirk sat up as his board beeped at him. Hmm? A signal? He tweaked his controls, adjusting the gain, then looked down at the Captain. "We're receiving a signal, ma'am. Header indicates it's from the Montgomery, assigned to Eighth Fleet."
Murrue sighed with relief. "That's Admiral Halberton's command. We're almost there."
"You are, at least," Lia said from her own bridge.
Murrue raised her eyebrows at her niece. "I take it you have a longer journey in mind?"
The younger Ramius nodded. "We're making for Orb, since we've got the princess with us." Behind her, Cagalli Yula Athha rolled her eyes. "Besides, as far as we're concerned, Orb is the only sane nation left on Earth. No offense, Ensign," she added, glancing at Badgiruel.
Badgiruel shook her head. "None taken, Ms. Ramius; I may have my doubts about who was responsible for the abduction of Strassmeier's sister, but I don't blame either of you for feeling as you do. Particularly since your friend is a native of the PLANTs."
"That reminds me." Murrue shifted her gaze to Cagalli. "Miss Cagalli, how are we supposed to handle your presence? Given the role you have on the Valkyrie, you're not exactly inconspicuous."
"When I'm out on my own, I drop the last part of my name," the princess responded. "I'll go by Cagalli Yula."
Murrue nodded. "That should work."
"Another message from the Montgomery, ma'am," Kuzzey said. "Vice Foreign Minister George Allster is on board."
"Tell him that his daughter is safe," Murrue said. "Kira saw to that."
Behind Lia and to her right, Alex Strassmeier snorted. "I'm not sure how grateful he'll be," he said. "The Vice Foreign Minister's opinion of Coordinators isn't exactly a secret. Which explains Flay's former attitude; she practically absorbed it through osmosis."
Murrue shrugged. "We'll just have to hope Flay can convince him otherwise. She and Kira have become fairly close since we got out of Artemis." she then sighed, "And then after the events in the Debris belt."
"You might prove more of a problem," Badgiruel put in. Alex raised an eyebrow questioningly, and she shrugged. "I intend no offense, but as you yourself have pointed out -several times- you are related to Ezalia Joule."
Alex nodded. "Believe me, Ensign, I am acutely aware of the potential difficulty. I'm not a big fan of the vice minister, but I'm perfectly capable of restraining myself." For a moment, his face had a wry look. "For Flay's sake, if nothing else; I never thought I'd say this, but I consider her a friend."
Murrue shook her head, bemused. He's certainly changed in the past couple of weeks. She was inclined to agree with her niece's belief that Cagalli was responsible for the change. Alex still seldom showed emotion in public -by now, everyone knew why- but at the same time, he seemed more approachable somehow.
And if he can warm up to someone like Flay Allster... She glanced over her shoulder at Kuzzey. "That reminds me. Given that we have a number of Coordinators with us, we should probably have Flay present when we speak to her father. As Alex just pointed out, Vice Minister Allster isn't very fond of Coordinators."
Neither was Montgomery captain Koopman, as it happened. Much as some people -notably Natarle Badgiruel- would have liked to deny it, anti-Coordinator sentiment was pervasive both in the military and the government. "Space monster" was a common epithet, implying that Coordinators (the majority of whom lived in space) were inhuman and dangerous.
Such attitudes played into Patrick Zala's hands. In his speeches, he often cited them as proof that the Naturals, despite (or because of) their "inferiority", recognized that Coordinators were a new species. Though he stopped short of calling for a campaign of extermination, Zala did his best to incite hatred against Naturals in general. Thus far, it had only worked on the most hardcore.
"Zala isn't helping matters," Alex said, voicing Murrue's thoughts. "I don't know if you've seen any of his speeches, but I can tell you, even though he hasn't actually called for the extermination of the Naturals, he manages to make it abundantly clear that it's what he wants."
Mu La Flaga snorted. "No kidding. I saw the one from just after the Bloody Valentine. Man, his glare could punch through the Archangel's laminated armor."
Alex's lips twitched in what might have been a sneer. "And he's not exactly known for moderation; if anything, he's even worse in private. Aunt Ezalia's told me quite a bit." He shook his head, visibly disgusted. "I swear, the only good thing that guy ever did was have a kid."
"Perhaps so," Murrue said, "but we don't have to worry about that right now. We have more immediate things to deal with." She looked at Kuzzey again. "Inform Captain Koopman -and Vice Minister Allster- of our situation. Make sure they understand that the Valkyrie is a friendly."
"Yes, ma'am." With that however.
"Crewman Buskirk, you can put Koopman on." Murrue told him, as Lia's image disappeared, with that Captain Koopman came onto the vidscreen.
"The Arrival of the eighth fleet's advance fleet, at the rendezvous point is going according to schedule." Koopman informed the occupants of the bridge as Murrue took a drink from her container. "After your arrival, your ship will be under our command." he briefed the crew. "It's just a little bit more Captain Ramius, we pray for your safe arrival." he hoped, as the screen got bigger, another person was in the picture. He looked like a goverment figure, as he wore the suit, and had the face of one, his hair color was a dark grey. "This is the Vice Minsiter of the Earth Alliance, George Allster." The Captain introduced the man.
"First off Archangel, I would like to thank you for taking care of the civilians." George pointed out. "I had a pleasant surprise, that one of the names on your list was of my daughter's name upon the list." He commented, as only Sai knew that this was coming. "If its at all possible captain, I would like to see my daughter." he told her.
"Vice Minister." Koopman turned to the man. "You can see her immediately after we rendezvous."
Sai smirked at the notions of George. "Its just like him." he commented. With that, Natarle just looked at him with a erie look.
Bismark:
So, Daniel Bartlett thought, gazing at the tabletop display. The game's afoot He thought as he was on the bridge of his new flagshipHe had given his old ship the Mendeleev to Evans. That will make this whole trip worthwhile, even if we have to work with the Le Creuset team. Favored though he was by the high command, Rau Le Creuset had more than his share of detractors. Bartlett himself was among them (one of the few cases where he agreed with Alex Strassmeier); others ran the gamut from feckless incompetents like submariner Marco Morassim, who often referred to Le Creuset as a punk, to highly skilled warriors like Andrew "Desert Tiger" Waltfeld.
"From what we've heard, the legged ship and its companion were almost certainly responsible for the Coast team's disappearance," Michael Harriman said. "They may well be nearby."
Bartlett nodded. "I agree. Le Creuset does, as well, or so I judge by our current status. Whatever else Alex Strassmeier might be, he isn't stupid, so such a large force is common sense."
Evans was on screen, "We've also got the famed Serepent Tail with us." he said full of sarcasm. "But will Joule be willing to open fire on his cousin?" Evans asked. "That could be a problem."
"Le Creuset has already given Joule permission to use disabling attacks if we do encounter those two ships," Bartlett replied "Though Le Creuset is in charge, so it's his decision to make." A feral light showed in his cold gray eyes. "I, on the other hand, am under no such constraints. If I get within range, Strassmeier is doomed."
Gamow Hangar:
Yzak Joule sat in the cockpit of his Duel Gundam, hands flying over the machine's keyboard. As a group, ZAFT soldiers were more individualistic than their Earth Forces counterparts. Mobile suit pilots were allowed great leeway in personalizing their machines; Miguel Aiman, for example, had customized his GINN for higher performance. (Unfortunately, he'd also had more breakdowns than most.)
Even more than regulars, the four Gundam pilots were expected to make whatever modifications they felt necessary to bring out the best in their one-of-a-kind machines. So it was that Yzak found himself in his cockpit, tweaking the OS.
He sighed. His main reason for working on his machine was to try to distract himself, but it wasn't working. Yzak's mind was only half on the task at hand. He couldn't stop thinking about the coming battle; he knew as well as anyone that they'd soon be facing the legged ship again. And facing the legged ship meant another confrontation with the Valkyrie.
Alex, why do we have to keep fighting each other? Yzak was profoundly grateful that Commander Le Creuset was allowing him to use disabling attacks on the Stormbird, but that was only part of the problem. He knew perfectly well that Alex would never surrender, that his cousin would prefer death to falling into the hands of ZAFT as it now was.
"Hey, Yzak."
Yzak glanced up. "Nicol? What are you doing in here this late?"
The pilot-cum-pianist shrugged. "Same thing you are; I had an idea for an improvement on the Blitz's OS, so I figured I'd better take care of it ASAP. We never know when we'll run into Earth Forces units."
"Especially when we're searching for Lacus Clyne," Yzak agreed. He frowned suddenly. "But there's something..."
Nicol blinked. "Yzak?"
"You can bet the legged ship's going to turn up again," Yzak said slowly. "The captain's older brother is in the Junk Guild; the guy's daughter is in command of the black ship, and she's one of Alex's closest friends..." He trailed off, then abruptly snapped his fingers. "Of course!"
"What is it?"
"About ten years ago, Alex told me he had a friend in the Junk Guild," Yzak explained. "He didn't mention her name, but he did ask that I keep it quiet."
Nicol frowned. "Why would he do that?"
Yzak shrugged. "You know the Junk Guild: they're stubbornly neutral, even more than Orb. The girl's parents didn't want her friendship with a Supreme Council member's nephew to be widely known. Anyway, I think that she must be the black ship's captain."
"Makes sense," the other agreed. He drifted towards his own machine.
Yzak watched him go. Initially, he'd thought Nicol a coward, though Sebastian Conner was on the Legged Ship. He was in the same situation. And much like Nicol more and more of his cousin. Alex Strassmeier had a soft core, however much he tried to hide it; Yzak was one of the few people who'd actually seen it.
He sighed and resumed typing. Whatever happened, he had to make sure the Duel was ready for the next battle.
Laurasia Class Cobra:
Elijah Kiel watched over the Holographic table, he was thinking the same thing he normally does when it came to working with ZAFT he kept on thinking of a former comrade of his. Goud Veia. "Hey Kid." a bellowing voice called, earning Elijah too look up. "You thinking of your old teammate again?" Reed Wheeler asked. He wore an Earth Forces uniform with the sleeves off. He sat at the Captains chair, feet up on the arm, and a container of alcohol in his hand.
Loretta looked at him, "Hey leave Elijah alone Reed. He went through a rather hard hardship at Literia." she told him. The girl was rather beautiful, and wore an Earth Forces uniform. "Leave him be will you?" she asked him.
"Listen Loretta, its something you'd have to go through at some point being a Mercenary." he told her. "Elijah just learned that."
"That is enough Reed." Came a voice behind Elijah. Gai came in, wearing his uniform and orange sunglasses. "Elijah, if you wish, you can sit out of the upcoming battle with, the Archangel." he told the younger pilot. The only one wearing a ZAFT uniform on the five member crew.
Elijah shook his head, "No Gai, I'll help you out, till I fall." he told Gai. "That is how I feel now, Goud was a good friend, the best out of Miguel and I. If Miguel was here, we could show them how to do things." he added his voice going lower with each word.
Gai nodded, "Its your choice Elijah." he told him. "Reed, what statistics do you have on the Advance force that is meeting up with the Archangel?" he questioned.
Reed turned around, "A Nelson and a pair of Drake Class ships, coming with a full compliment of Mobius mobile armors." he informed them.
"They'll be simple enough, unlike them ambushing us like last time." Elijah admitted.
Reed nodded, "Though the Archangel and its Dark twin are another story. The Archangel holds two mobile suits and a single mobile armor." he informed them, "The Dark Twin little is known but as its a copy, it likley has similar armaments. And from the info of the Archangel's this ship should have about eight to ten machines at least. Though only two launch repeadedly, two are for sure. One of which is like the Blue Frame." he added.
Gai stroked his chin, "I see, so more have survived." he noted. "Any other idea of their machines?"
Reed nodded, "One similar to the Buster." he noted. "Though that is all we got."
Gai nodded, "Alright, I am going to use the Missile Launchers again, we are facing a good amount of ships, those will come in handy." he admitted.
Vesalius:
"So," Rau Le Creuset said, "it appears we have company."
"Yes, sir," Ades agreed. "A Nelson-class ship, and two Drakes."
"Hmm." Le Creuset gazed thoughtfully at the display. "Given that there's nothing nearby that the Earth Forces care about, I would have to say they're here to resupply the legged ship. In which case, we have a golden opportunity."
Athrun Zala looked up in surprise. "Sir, aren't our orders to-"
"I'm well aware of our instructions to search for Miss Clyne," Le Creuset said. "However, we cannot afford to pass up a chance to destroy the legged ship." His voice softened a little. "I don't blame you for being anxious, but first and foremost we are soldiers."
Athrun swallowed hard, then nodded. "I understand, sir."
"In any case, we might find your fiancée at the same time," the masked man went on. "I would not be at all surprised if those two ships passed through the Debris Belt after they escaped from Artemis, and from what Yzak has told me, Strassmeier, despite his cold-blooded exterior, would happily perform a rescue operation. Therefore, if we encounter the black ship, only its weapons and engines will be targeted."
Assuming we can even see it, Athrun thought sourly.
None of them realized they were worrying about the wrong ship...
Archangel Bridge:
Having reached communications range with the advance force, the two mobile assault ships coasted along at a relatively slow speed. The Archangel flew slightly ahead; Captain Koopman of the Montgomery was slightly nervous about the Valkyrie. As Murrue had requested, Flay stood on the Archangel's bridge, and she smiled when her father appeared on the screen. "Hi, Daddy."
Atlantic Federation Vice Foreign Minister George Allster slumped in his chair, visibly relieved. "Flay, thank goodness you're safe." He looked at Murrue. "Thank you, Captain Ramius. I owe you a great deal."
"And not just for that," Koopman put in. "You've done well, keeping both your ship and the Strike intact." He frowned. "But what of the other ship?"
"The Valkyrie joined forces with us just before Heliopolis collapsed," Murrue responded. "My niece Lia is in command."
Koopman nodded, and shifted his attention to the younger woman. "You have our thanks, as well."
"Don't mention it," Lia said cheerfully. She jerked her head at the expressionless Coordinator behind and to her right. "Alex doesn't much like the Earth Forces, but he's not a fan of ZAFT, either. And he really hates Rau Le Creuset."
The Earth Forces officer blinked. "Alex?"
"Strassmeier," Lia supplied.
Allster surged out of his chair. "Strassmeier? Ezalia Joule's nephew?"
"Correct, sir," Alex said, speaking for the first time. He cocked his head. "Is there a problem?"
The vice minister ignored him, addressing Lia instead. "What is someone like him doing there?" he demanded. "A Coordinator, a relative of one of the biggest radicals in the PLANTs, no less?"
Lia's eyes narrowed. "It was Alex's idea to build this ship and its attendant mobile suits, Vice Minister. All of this was part of his plan to stop Patrick Zala from wiping out all Naturals." Her expression hardened. "And for your information, sir, I too am a Coordinator."
"And so's the pilot of the Strike," Flay put in. "If he hadn't picked up the lifepod I was in, I'd be dead."
That rocked Allster back a little. A Coordinator...saved Flay? But they're... Now he was confused. He disliked Coordinators (to put it mildly), and yet one of them had saved his daughter's life. "They are not the only ones." Sebastian noted.
"The storm Wolf." Koopman noted.
Allster looked at him closely, "You look familiar storm Wolf, but I can't quite put my finger on it." he took note.
Sebastian merely grinned, "Well, I would think you would not remember me. You should remember my parents though, especially mom. Wouldn't you? Uncle George." This earned silence in the whole room.
Though with a trained eye however, one can see a vein forming on Allster's forehead. Flay was the first to start backing away then suddenly. "You. . . . HOW DARE YOU CALL ME UNCLE YOU BLIGHT UPON THE FAMILY TREE!" he said, with blood pressure rising, and his voice going with it.
Sebastian looked at him, "Wow, did you know the vein above your right eye swells up when you get really mad? My dad's left eye would always bluge out when he got mad. It was always so creepy to see how red the blood vessels in his eye were." he pointed out.
"Shut it." he told Sebastian. "I now see why you have had so many hardships. Two Coordinators onboard." he began. Murrue made sure Lacus was unknown to them when the list was sent over. "And a ship likley full of them with you, no wonder you have had so many battles." he noted as well. "This is. . . Unthinkable, Unforgivable."
"Daddy stop!" Flay screamed out.
George was suddenly stopped. Then he looked at her, "Flay, don't tell me they have poisoned your mind with their words." he growled. "As soon as I can, I'm taking you back to America, going to Private College." he told her. Flay looked on, saddened.
Unknown to many of the ones talking, in the Valkyrie's Hangar, the Jade Frame's pilot was inside listening in on the conversation. Though the Jade Frame was the main focus, as its normally golden eyes began to glow a ghostly white. George though was not done, he then looked at the image of Alex. "Let alone one of their supreme council's close family members is with you!" he continued.
Alex crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have a problem with me sir." he began, as he strained to say, Sir.
"Of COURSE!" George called out. "I have a problem with you, is that you clearly are another one to blame for the trouble for everyone on the Archangel, you and your ship." he told him.
Alex was rather calm, as his eyes narrowed to slits; Lia and Cagalli, both of who knew the signs, were ready for an explosion so to speak. "Just what are yous accusing me of?" he asked in a deceptively soft tone.
George looked at him, "No one with a background like yours would work alongside the Earth Forces, you are obviously the very one that had Heliopolis attacked! You damn spy!"
Alex looked at him. "The whole reason for the existence of this ship, and the mobile suits are to stop Patrick Zala from commiting genocide do to his current focus. As for my association with the Archangel, we currently have common interests, at the moment, I have friends on that ship-including- Its G-Weapon pilots, and Captain Ramius is my best friends aunt, are you satisfied."
"Bull. We know that is what the PLANTs want. And likley what you want."
Flay looked on, "Daddy Stop it! Please."
"The girl is right Minister." Koopman told him, "Sit down." he told George. Mr Allster began to do so as Koopman sighed, "I apologize for my passengers choice of words." he told Alex. "Though some sentiments of his words I had thought as well. But that is not the case right now."
Cagalli gazed at the vice minister with thinly veiled contempt. 'What an idiot. Hard to believe Flay's his daughter; she's such a nice girl.'
Alex's thoughts were much the same. 'Flay's actually related to this bigoted fool? The mind boggles.' He stood, his face somehow more hawk-like than usual. "Sir, if you'd bothered to read any reports of the final moments at Heliopolis, you'd know that your accusation is baseless. As the crew of the Archangel will confirm, I personally struck down the Magic Bullet of Dusk, Miguel Aiman, in that battle. Even Patrick Zala isn't ruthless enough to sacrifice his own people just to maintain a spy's cover."
"He's right," Mu put in. "Zala's a nut, but he wouldn't try something like that." His gaze sharpened. "And Alex isn't the sort of person who'd kill without a good reason."
"In any case, you have nothing to fear from me at this point," Alex said. "You may find it hard to believe, but I consider Flay a friend, and I have no intention of bereaving her if I can possibly avoid it."
Allster sat back, stunned. After hearing what had happened at Heliopolis, he wasn't that surprised that Flay and the Strike pilot would have become friends -Kira did save her life, after all- but someone like Alex Strassmeier? "Strassmeier, what are you-"
He never got a chance to finish, for at that moment, "Captain Koopman, N-Jammer interference!"
With the said words, the Vesalius, Bismark, and Mendeleev launched two GINN's each. With the Aegis also heading out, as it was best equipped to destroy entire ships.
The seven units, went for the group of three ships. Though of the ships, Cobra was laying back, it was undermanned in terms of crew, so it would be not as effective as the fully staffed ZAFT ships in a ship to ship battle. Montgomery, Bernard, and Law each launched the complimentary Mobius units. The mobile armors all going to meet the mobile suits in combat.
Archangel, Hangar:
"Geesh, so close to the Advance Fleet, and then this!" Murdoch called out. As Kira floated past him, putting on his helmet. "Guess you called it kid." he added.
Kira nodded, "Yeah, though I wish I didn't." he admitted.
"Kira!" came a voice from the catwalks.
Kira looked up to see Flay, looking down at them. With that, he jumped off the floor and up to the catwalk. "What is it Flay?" he asked her.
Flay looked at him, "You probably already heard, but my father is on the Montgomery, could you, please protect him." she told him, tears coming out of her eyes.
Kira nodded, "Flay, I'll do everything I can to help him." he told her.
"Thank you." she said with a small smile. She then saw Sebastian come out, "Sebastian!" she called out. "I'm sorry for daddy's words, could you still protect him for me?" she asked him.
Sebastian stopped looking up, "I'll do my best Flay. Count on it." he told her with a thumbs up. Flay smiled at him for that, a tear floating in the hangar.
Kira jumped from the Platform heading for the Strike. "What happened?" he asked Sebastian.
"Don't worry about it Kira. Just a short version though is that, her father wasn't happy about me being here. But Flay still cares for us but still cares for her father." he explained to Kira. "Well discuss it later, right now, we are to be in our suits." he told him, with the two going into their cockpits.
Out in the battle,
A GINN flew underneath a Mobius and opened fire with its heavy machine gun. Three bullets scored direct hits, with the Mobius turning into a ball of fire just after it. Athrun though moved in for the ships, though he fired his beam rifle with the beam of fire seared through the main fuselage of the mobile armor, turning it into nothing more the debris floating throughout space. Athrun turned to two of the GINN's, "You two come with me." he told them, as the two of them did, the Gundam and mobile suits heading for the nearest Drake Class ship.
The three mobile suits first target was none other then the Bernard. Athrun flew to the engines, and opened fire upon them, dealing heavy damaged, and slowly stopping the ship, which was now only trapped in its own inertia. Athrun left the two GINN's to handle the ship, as he transformed into his mobile armor form, and went towards Law.
Valkyrie's hangar:
The Jade Frame had already touched down on the catapult waiting for the all clear to launch. Alex on the other hand just climbed into his, with Cagalli coming on screen. "What are you planning to do Alex?" she asked him.
Alex was activating his mobile suit after strapping in. "We are heading out." he told her.
Cagalli looked at him, "Alright just to tell you, the Archangel has been ordered to withdraw, though I doubt they will." she informed him.
Alex nodded, "Gotcha, I'm hoping they join in though, its stupid of them ordering the Archangel to stay out of it." he told her.
That was when Sam's face came on, "That's the thing though, we are not abide by their foolish orders, despite what they said about us." he told Alex.
Alex nodded, "Exactly right. Despite what they said, I find Flay a friend, and I wont let her father go and die out there." he commended.
Sam nodded, "I actually want that gluttonous jackass to say those things to my face." he admitted, as he selected the Binsoku pack again, with Valkyrie's equipment equipping it to the mobile suit.
Alex winced a bit, "That would not be good." he added.
Cagalli nodded, 'Sam is already having issues of the Earth Alliance, hearing that face to face would not be good for that man' she admitted. Alex was then set to launch, "Jade Frame, and Stormbird, you are both clear for launch." Cagalli informed them.
With that, Sam's screen began to show some static, do to his own use of the Jade Frame. Though he could still be heard, "We're heading out!" both Alex and Sam called out in unison , as both machines took off from the linear catapult. Stormbird changing colors, and both machines activating their thrusters to go after the attacking ZAFT forces.
Soon though, the two machines were joined by the remaining compliment, of Devastator, Scorpion, Shinobi, and the Inferno Gundam. The six mobile suits heading for the conflict ahead of them. "Alright people, show me that you did not cheat through those simulations!" he ordered.
"Right!" the four other Gundam's called out.
Sam though quiet, and flew on with them.
With this though, the ships retaliated, with the original Seven machines launched, Sixteen more mobile suits had launched, three of which were the other Stolen Gundams. The last ship though launched a single mobile suit, fully loaded with missile launchers.
Gai looked on, as he detected the mobile suits. Yzak made communications with the Mercenary, "Listen Merc, leave the Stormbird to me, Got that!" he told Gai.
Gai nodded, "My mission is of no concern to that unit, my target is the Legged Ship as you call it." he told Yzak. Gai then looked on, "I will attempt to leave it to you, but I make no promises if he goes after me." he told him.
Sam flew towards them, the six machines were met with a few GINN's, though Sam quickly dispatched the one that came after him, as did Alex. Sam then got a signal from one of the machines, his monitor was displaying a new foe. "What?" he began.
Alex turned, "What is it Sam?" Alex called to him.
"Alex, its another Astray Frame!" he called out, as his monitor was saying Frame?.
The Inferno Gundam got a view of the machine. "Alex, its the blue one." the Red headed Chris Madsen informed his friend/commander. He then zoomed in on the emblem on the blue machines shield. "Oh shit." was all he said once he recognized it.
Alex looked on screen, "Well who is it?" Brian, the pilot of the Scorpion asked.
"They hired Serpent Tail." Chris informed them. "I am so not ready to face this pilot though." he added.
"What do you mean?" Kyle Perry asked, as the Devastator, combined his weapons into the beam sniper rifle, and fired at the machine in question. The blue machine dodged the attack.
"Its Gai Murakamo." was all Chris told them.
Alex sneered, "How do you know this?" he questioned.
"No time!" Sam told them, as he went for the Blue Frame.
"Sam!" Alex called out, though the Jade Frame was already gone and after the Blue Frame. "Chris you are telling us what this is likely about, after the battle." he told him. Just then he caught sight of the Duel, "Sam becareful." he commented, as he turned, and went after the Duel.
Sam opened fire on the Blue Frame, though was surprised, that the Blue Frame only moved only a little, and only just enough to dodge the beams. Gai smirked, "You can't hit me from that distance!" he called out, as he was heading for the machine. He then fired from his Cattus Recoiless rifle.
Sam moved out of its way, and fired again at the blue machine. "This is the famed Mercenary?" he questioned, as he dodged the attack. "Wait a second, Kenov, knew about this!" he called out, eyes wide. "Wait, how?" he wondered, as he dodged another shot from the recoilless rifle. "That bastard Kenov, I'll kill him!" Sam began, as he kept on firing at the Blue Frame.
Gai instinctively dropped the rifle he had been firing, and soon drew a knife from a holster that was on the from of the upper leg armor. Sam continued to fire rapidly at the blue machine though was missing each time. Gai on the other hand, was right where he wanted the Jade machine, and Forced the thrusters to get face to face with the mobile suit. Sam was caught off guard, as the knife came in. Though rather then going to the cockpit of the non phase shift unit. The Knife was instead jammed as it pierced into the armor of the mobile suits right shoulder. As soon it was lodged in, the Blue Frame let go, and continued onward towards the ships.
"What?" Sam questioned, as he raised the arm up to fire at the Blue Frame. Unknown to him, Gai smirked a little, just then, the bottom of the knife had an indicator light, that turned from a blinking green to red. The weapon exploded, on the outside, and inside the machines right shoulder. "Arghh!" Sam called out, as the knife exploded, disconnecting the mobile suits arm completely from the unit. "What the?" he questioned. After the smoke was cleared, the Jade Frame's right arm was blown off, as the sparks from the systems there was gone. "Damn." he said, as the arm slowly floated away. "Archangel! Mobile suit heading your way! With Heavy Missile Payload!" he called out.
Archangel Hangar:
"Mobile suits scramble!" Murrue's voice radioed into the hangar.
Sebastian nodded, "Hurry, equip the Launchers anti ship vulcan!" He called, as the Predator got it on. "Predator, launching!" he called out.
Kira nodded, "Strike heading out!" he called as the Strike launched.
Murrue looked on, "Ship, full speed ahead, its time for us to get into this battle." she ordered.
Arnold nodded, sending the ship at maximum thrust, towards the battle. Its two mobile suits were heading out.
The battle had become fierce, as the Valkyrie's Gundam's were fighting with the GINN's of the ZAFT ships. Sebastian stayed near the Archangel, as Mu and Kira went for the battle, staying away from the Blue machine. Gai looked on, "Interesting." he began. "That's him." he added, with that, the missile launcher on his left shoulder got ready to fire. With that, the Blue Frame fired eight missiles at the Predator, along with another six from the leg mounted missilelaunchers.
Sebastian smirked, "I don't think so!" he called out. On the right shoulder of the mobile suit, the Predator opened fire the 120mm Anti-ship vulcan gun, of the Launcher pack, and his machines igelstellungs on the missiles that were targeting the Archangel. Along with the Archangel's CIWs, helping out. With that amount of firepower, the Archangel, and Predator easily detonated all fourteen of the missiles fired from the Blue and white mobile suit.
Gai smirked, as he then fired another missile from a hidden weapon underneath his shield. Sebastian smirked, "It did not work with a bunch, it wont with one." he called, as he opened fire with his Igelstellungs, striking the missile. Though this one was different, there was no fragmentation explosion, no, it was an eruption of a blinding light.
The Archangel's bridge crew covered their eyes, "A Flash missile!" Murrue called out.
Sebastian was able to cover his own eyes, but the monitors of his mobile suit were completely white. "Shit, that fucktard he blinded me!" he told himself, as Predator was floating backwards, unsure of what it should do.
Meanwhile, Alex clashed his beam saber with the Duels, the two mobile suits close together. "Alex, why do you insist on helping these naturals?" Yzak questioned.
Alex forced the mobile suit away for a second. "Yzak, I have no intention to stop what I am doing with Zala still in charge of the Military!" Alex told him once again.
"So you work with them?" Yzak questioned, as he swung again, his beam saber clashing against the mobile suits shield.
Alex sighed, as he fended him off. However unknown to him, the Bismark had launched another mobile suit, a CGUE. Equipped with an Ion cannon. Inside Bartlett smiled, "Get the ship in position, and fire when ready." he began, as he went for the Stormbird.
Alex took notice immediately, as the machine opened fire, despite Yzak being there. "Bartlett!" Yzak yelled.
"If you are not going to take your beloved cousin down Yzak, I will." Bartlett called out. Alex quickly found himself engaged by two machines at once, his cousin Yzak's Duel, and Daniel Bartlett's custom CGUE. The CGUE was clearly the greater threat; he knew Yzak wouldn't be willing to shoot to kill, at least not yet. Ignoring the Duel, he fired one shot at the CGUE, which simply splashed on the ZAFT machine's shield.
Bartlett laughed harshly. "You'll have to do better than that, Strassmeier!" He returned fire with both his beam rifle and shield Gatling, the latter intended merely as a distraction.
Alex took the beams on his own shield and ignored the bullets completely. "You persist in underestimating me, Bartlett. One day that sort of thing will get you killed."
While the two rivals exchanged gunshots and verbal barbs (watched by a very nervous Yzak, who was unable to intervene), the larger battle continued unabated. Athrun ignored the Valkyrie's mobile suits completely, concentrating on the Earth Forces warships. Kyle and Dearka found themselves trading artillery shots, while Hiro played hide-and-seek with Nicol's Blitz. Brian, meanwhile, gave the ZAFT ships' CIWS fits with his unpredictable maneuvers.
'Scorpion's mobile armor mode is just what the doctor ordered,' he thought with a tight grin.
Alex spared him a brief glance. 'You're doing well, Brian. Keep it up'. Boosting away from the Duel and Bartlett's CGUE, he pulled his plasma cannon and leveled it at the Bismark. "Try this," he muttered, and fired. The red-orange blast cored through the ZAFT ship's starboard engine pod.
"You'll pay for that, Strassmeier!" Bartlett shouted, his beam rifle spitting emerald darts. When they struck the Stormbird's shield without any noticeable effect, he cursed. "Just go down!"
"Once again, you underestimate your opponent." Alex spun his machine and fired past his cousin's Duel, striking one of the Vesalius's GINNs. One spectacular detonation later, he turned back to the red CGUE. "Here's a piece of free information: my shield absorbs energy, channeling it into the Stormbird's battery. In other words, you're recharging my machine for me."
Bartlett raised his eyebrows. "Why tell me this?" he asked suspiciously.
"Because it doesn't help you any. You still have no choice but to use beams, since projectiles are useless against Phase-shift."
A dry chuckle from the ZAFT commander. "Perhaps so. But even your shield can only take so much." He laughed harshly and abruptly boosted away.
Alex didn't realize the danger at first. What is he up to? Then he suddenly found himself looking down the barrels of Bismark's cannons. Uh-oh. He kicked in his verniers just before the ship fired. Stormbird made it out untouched; the Bernard wasn't so fortunate. The Earth Forces vessel vanished in an instant, destroyed with all hands.
Sam was looking towards the fight between Bartlett and Alex. "Alex." he began, as he began to move again, rather then standing in shock. He discarded the anti beam shield, and went for the floating severed arm, he then ripped the beam rifle from the hand, and had it ready. He then cut all power that was going to the right arm, which had the sparks that were flying from there suddenly stop. "Alex, I'm coming." Sam whispered, as he blasted off back into the fight.
While at the same time, with Sebastian, he was looking every which way of where the Blue Frame was. His screens still unable to see, though suddenly the Blue Frame appeared. Using its recoilless rifle as a melee weapon, knocking the beam rifle from Predator's hand, sending it floating off.
"Damn." Sebastian sneered, as he regained his balance. Vision had returned as the light faded, and he was out of it. Infront of him though was Blue Frame. Sebastian was thinking of what to use, he dropped his anti beam shield, and grabbed the hilt of the Katana. Predator drew the Katana, and brandished it towards the Blue and white machine.
Gai saw the blade, "Well it seems this guy is a swordsman." he stated, as the Missile launchers all detached from the Blue Frame, as he then drew a single beam saber. The pillar of frozen fire ignited, "Steal or beam, I wonder?" Gai questioned as the two Gundam's began to size each other up, flying to the side of each other.
Elsewhere, Bartlett dodged Plasma fire from the Stormbird. "Alex!" Sam called as the Jade Frame was rushing in, rapidly firing its beam rifle. The CGUE had to evade the attacks. "Yzak, get rid of him." Bartlett ordered.
Yzak looked at Stormbird, and then went after jade Frame. "Yzak wait!" Alex called out, but then the Stormbird was hit hard from a shoulder tackle from Bartlett's machine.
While with the Duel and Jade Frame, Same instantly recognized the machine, "Yzak, why you?" he questioned as he placed the beam rifle on his machines hip. He took aim towards the Duel and forcibly ejected his beam saber. Upon giving a little more juice in his speed, the Jade Frame grabbed its only beam saber and ignited the beam invertedly."Who is this guy?" Yzak questioned, as he was firing, though being dodged by the machine. But once Sam was close enough he changed his direction and flew overhead the Duel. But at this time, the barrel of Yzak's beam rifle was sliced off by the heat of the beam saber. "What?" he question turning. "Fine then." he noted, drawing a beam saber. "Your mine green machine!" he called out.
Sam braked, and brought his arm up with the inverted beam saber to block the Duel's own saber. Sam's mind raced of what he could do, he was already at a disadvantage thanks to Blue Frame earlier. "Yzak." Sam quietly said, as he brought his saber up, forcing Yzak to do the same, and then made the Astray do a roundhouse onto the mobile suit.
"Argh you bastard!" Yzak yelled. "What do you take me for you damn fool!" he growled, as he flew towards the Jade Frame again. Sam got ready to defend himself but rather then attacking with the saber, Yzak rammed the Jade Frame with his machines shield.
Sam was surprised, and bewildered of Yzak's unexpected move. It also forced the Jade machine to drop its beam saber, as the item's beam flickered away. Sam then looked at him with a stern eye, "Ok, time to try this." he began. With this the Jade Frame slowly moved its arm around the back of the Duel's head. "Just a little more!" he called out.
With this, the Jade Frame grabbed the Duel's spare beam saber. "Hey that's mine!" he called out, as he stopped, and was about to cut the machine in two, but Sam flew back.
"Now to change the Algorythms of the Jade Frame's hand to match the Duels beam saber and. . ." he began, then suddenly the stolen beam saber came to life like the one that the Duel was using.
"What!" Yzak called out surprised.
Sam smirked, "Let us continue." he began, as he flew towards the Duel, ready to clash blades once again.
Closer to the battle, Law was being hit hard by GINN Assault types, as the macines fired revolvers and gattling guns at the ship. Eventually the ship was destroyed by their onslaught. Athrun had broken off to defend them from the Strike. The two units were doing fly by's of each other firing their beam rifles, though both units were only barely missing each other. Not far, Mu and his Mobius Zero mobile armor opened fire with its linear gun destroying one GINN. Its wingman however fired and damaged the main body of the mobile armor. "Damn, this is going to make me look bad." he noted. With this he retaliated in firing his Gunbarrels onto the GINN.
While at this time, Kira and Athrun continued their dance of death. "Kira!" Athrun called out. "What are you doing, you said you were not apart of the military!" he called out to him.
"I'm not!" Kira informed him, "I'm just protecting a friends family!" he called as the two machines continued. They either dodged each others attacks or took the attack to their shields.
On the Archangel.
Flay came onto the bridge with Lacus. "What's going on?" she questioned. "Is my father's ship ok?" she asked.
"What are they doing here?" Murrue questioned. "Get them out of here!" she ordered.
Sai let down his headset. "Flay." he began.
"No, What's going on, is my father's ship ok?" she asked.
"Everything will be fine." he told her.
"Captain, the Montgomery!" Kuzzey called.
"Daddy!" Flay shrieked, as she pushed Sai off of her. "What's going on?" she asked Kuzzey.
"Um Flay." Kuzzey began.
With that, Flay pushed him out of his seat, and grabbed the boys headset. "Daddy, are you there?" she asked.
"Wait, who's this? I wanted the lieutenant!" Koopman demanded on the other side.
"Daddy!" Flay called on the mic.
"Flay?" George's voice came on.
"Daddy, are you alright?" she asked over the mic.
"Flay honey, I!" he began, just then.
"We lost the starboard engine!" a voice called from the background.
Flay looked scared, and Sai could see it, as did Kuzzey. "Daddy, I'll think of something." she began, as she franticly looked, around, her eyes fell upon Lacus. She then turned to Murrue, "Miss Ramius, I need your help." she pleaded, with Murrue giving her a questionable look. "Please, for daddy's sake, can we use her as a hostage!" she cried.
Lacus looked on surprised. "Miss Flay?" she questioned.
Flay was looking at Murrue with watery eyes, "Please!" she pleaded.
"Captain, if we did, this battle can be stopped." Natarle informed her.
"No, I wont allow it." Murrue told the bridge crew. Flay just had her eyes wide open with shock.
As outside Mendeleev had stopped from that battle and was heading towards the Archangel, and had launched three more Machines. Two GINN's, and a CGUE that seemed to had a color scheme that resembled that of a pattern of an African Hyena. Outside, Sebastian's sword force the Blue Frame's saber away. Gai smirked, "You're good." he admitted, as he blocked it, "But being good, is only half the battle." he pointed out, as he had lured Sebastian to his abandoned gear. Gai then activated something. Within a few seconds the gear began to self destruct.
Sebastian looked around, "What the?" he asked. As the smoke cleared though, as Gai had left and went for the Archangel.
Onboard the ship, Flay grabbed Lacus by the arm, "Please, radio ZAFT to stop!" she called. "If daddy dies, I. . . I'll Kill this girl!" she called out in desperation. "Tell them that!" she began, as tears began to go down her cheeks.
"Flay hold on!" Sai began as a Disagreeing way. Just then, the bridge shook from a sudden impact, everyone turned. Standing infront of the bridge was the MBF-P03 Astray Blue Frame.
Gai had the Blue Frame, aim its rifle right at the bridge, the rifle's beam began to glow from the inside, as he looked on within the ship. "What?" he began, as he saw her. On the bridge, he saw the Chairman's daughter, "Damn." he began, as he looked at the fear on everyones eyes.
Just then Gai looked to his right, "Aurlooo!" came the howl of the wolf, as Predator was racing in from the left, with the Gerbera ready to cut the Blue Frame in half. Gai quickly dropped the beam rifle and his shield, and produced something. The sword clashed with metal. Though in the hand of the Blue Frame, Gai blocked the Gerbera. With a Knife. . . Sebastian looked on with surprise.
"This. . ." Sebastian began, as his eyes seemed dialated and gold, "Whatever, I wont let you harm them!" he growled. They both took notice that the CIWs were opening fire, the Mendeleev had come into attacking distance. "That ship." he growled again.
Gai took the sudden distraction, to jump off the Archangel and away. "This is Gai, the mission is unable to be completed, do to things out of our control." he radioed to his ship.
Elijah came on, "What's going on Gai?" he asked.
"To fullfill our second objective, would mean that we would have to fail our first." he informed Elijah. "Lacus Clyne is onboard the White Legged Ship." he added.
This earned a look of concern from the ships crew. "What do we do about it?" Reed questioned.
Gai took a moment to think, "Our primary objective is to keep Miss Clyne Safe. Protect the 'Legged ship'" he called.
Reed coughed a bit, "Gai its called the Archangel." he informed Gai.
"Like it matters!" Elijah interjected.
Gai nodded, "Changeing mission plan." he began, as he dodged the Predator. "Archangel mobile suit, I am no longer your enemy." he radioed to Predator's pilot.
Sebastian was surprised by the sudden statement. "Is he trying for a ploy?" he wondered, as he stopped his attack, though his sword was still bared ready for any sudden move. "What are you getting at?" Sebastian questioned Gai.
Gai smirked, "Listen Storm Wolf." he began, "My mission has become a failure do to certain reasons." he began. "I have no more reason to fight you." he began. Just then Predator came under fire from the incoming GINN's. He then looked on.
Sebastian cursed, "Damn, Alex, Sam, the Archangel is in immediate danger!" he radioed.
Alex looked over, he did not notice the fact that Mendeleev was getting to close. With its position, the Valkyrie was unable to support without blasting the Archangel with it. "The Archangel!" he called, as he dodged the Ion cannon from Bartlett's CGUE again.
Sam cursed as well, as he ad the Duel clashed beam sabers. "Yzak!" Sam called out.
Yzak heard that voice, "What?" he questioned clearly confused. This sudden confusion allowed Sam to grapple with the Duel, forcing the Gundam towards the Archangel and the ships.
On the Archangel though, Natarle was barking out orders do to the incoming ship. Flay was still scared, but then she heard her daddy's voice. "Daddy?" she asked, getting Kuzzey's mic again. She looked on the vid screen where he was, "Daddy!" she called.
""I hate to say it, but it looks like I wont be able to see you again. So I must tell you one thing. Its about your mother, she is a. . AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" George called out to her, as infront of their eyes, the Montgomery, was lost, in a large pillar of fire, from the result of the Vesalius' High Energy beam cannons.
Utter silence fell upon everyone, as the ship was destroyed. Flay stared in shock, as did Sebastian. The Nelson was destroyed, and Flay began to go backwards, full of shock on her face. "No, no, NO!" she screamed as she soon passed out.
Yzak saw his opportunity with this, dropping his shield and saber, and put both of the Duels hands together. With this, the mobile suit, slammed both hands onto the Binsoku pack on the Jade Frame. Sam was hit hard, and was forced to let go. "Now you're mine!" he called.
"Samorei!" Alex called out, this startled Yzak, as he had just grabbed his beam saber. "Samorei?" he questioned, as he was suddenly rammed by Stormbird. "Sam, protect the Archangel!" he called.
Sam shook his head, as he looked over. Sam was confused a bit, as he ejected his pack, "Right." he began, as he used the machines normal thrusters to go for the Archangel.
Yzak growled, "Alex, why did you call him that!" he demanded the answer. The Duel placing its hands on the shoulders of Stormbird. "Tell me!" he roared, as he had the Duel's head smash into Stormbirds, bits of the armor flying off of both mobile suits.
Alex had his machine back away. "I wish I could answer that Yzak." he began. "But. . . I'm sure someone else will." he added.
With this, Sam flew to the port side of the Mendeleev, as he flew by he plunged the beam saber he had stolen from the Duel, into the large oval compartment of the Nazca. The compartment in question for sure began to explode as he flet on by. During the flight the machine flew infront of the three mobile suits that were about to attack the Archangel. "All Forces, cease this battle at once!" he called out.
Kyle Evan's growled, "Why should we!" he began, as he fired his Ion cannon at Sam's machine. Sam moved.
"Fine, if you wish to continue the attack, you will be a hated group of people, to all of the PLANTs!" he called out.
Bartlett sneared, as the ships were getting ready to attack. "You are doing nothing but buying time. Continue the attack!" he ordered.
"Fine, but even like this, I will not let you bring harm to Lacus Clyne, or any of the people onboard this ship!" he called out.
Athrun stopped, "Lacus?" he questioned.
Sam looked on, "She has been onboard the ship since we found her. And I will let no harm come to her."
"Why should we trust you!" Yzak questioned.
Sam smirked, as did Alex. "You should know why you should trust him." Alex told Yzak, as Stormbird flew around.
"I swear on my name and grave, as Samorei Lancelot Joule!" Sam declared, this earned some unbelieved eyes, with smiles from those that knew the truth of his identity. With any non believers, he removed his helmet, and allowed his image to display to all forces.
Yzak, watched, his eyes completely wide, "No, no, Impossible!" he called out, the Duel stationary as he watched on out. He remembered that one day, when Sebastian had came to his home shortly after the Bloody Valentine.
Joule Residence February 17th
Sebastian Conner had come to the living room of the Joule household. "Hello Lady Joule, Yzak, You're Alex right? Sam mentioned you," Sebastian said slowly, trying hard and failing to hold the tears back, "I'm sorry, Lady Ezalia! He's gone." He thrust Sam's uniform into her hands, collapsed to his knees and started bawling. "I wasn't strong enough! I couldn't save him! Or my own family!"
Ezalia looked at him, "I don't blame you." she told him.
Alex nodded, "Sam attempted to save all those lives. Though its, cliche, he died a heros death." he told them, though the tone of his voice was full of sadness. "Those Earth Forces, Bastards will PAY!" Yzak growled.
"I see that spark in your eye, Yzak. If you wish, I'll sponsor your application to the academy."
"You think I'm going to reject that?" Yzak questioned.
"I'd like to do my part as well." Alex commented.
"I'll sponsor both of you, and together...we'll rip the throats out of the Earth Alliance!"
Space, the Current time:
The crew of the ZAFT ships, were struck with disbelief as well, Creuset did nothing but smile. "Now this is certainly a new twist." he admitted.
Kyle Evans looked on, "I don't care who the hell you are." he declared, "I'm taking down that ship!" he took aim, as his ion rifle locked onto the bridge. However, as he was about to pull the trigger, the incoming object alerted him. Coming at him was none other then the Blue Frame. A single beam rifle fired, blowing off the arm that had its finger around the trigger of the Ion cannon. Blue Frame also had saber in hand, and forced the saber into the CGUE's optical sensor. He then removed it.
"I cannot allow that." Gai radioed him.
"What the hell, we hired you to. . ." he called.
"Search, and bring Lacus Clyne back alive if she is. So I cannot allow you to kill her." he told Kyle. "And that is how I intend to finish the mission." he finished.
"You actually believe such garbage this man is throwing. Samorei Joule died at Junius Seven, he is lieing there, so why should we believe that Lacus is on that ship!" he declared.
Gai smirked, "That is because I have confirmed his story in being true, I saw her on that ships bridge." Gai told him. "And any further attacks on that ship, I will defend it." he informed Kyle.
"Very well." a transmission came from the Vesalius. "All mobile suits, and ships, pull back." Creusets voice ordered everyone.
Evan's cursed, as he pulled back with the Mendeleev. "Yzak!" Dearka called, as the buster came near. "Yzak?" he questioned.
Yzak was still in shock, "Alex, is it true, is that?" he questioned.
Alex nodded, "Yes, Yzak, that is Sam, your brother. I'm sorry I did not tell you sooner." he radioed, as he took off towards the Valkyrie.
Yzak watched as everyone began retreating, and soon did as well.
Athrun, could not believe Lacus was there, "Lacus, she is safe, as long as Sebastian is with her." he quietly noted. "Kira!" he called out.
Kira turned, "What is it Athrun?" he asked.
"Keep Miss Lacus safe will you." he asked Kira. "As a request from your old friend, please protect her." he radioed.
Kira nodded, as the Strike and Aegis parted ways. All the mobile suits returning to their respective ships.
A/N:
Wow, Sam has spilled his beans for all to hear like he did in his own story. Gai Murakumo took part in the battle. Things have been getting hectic and will only grow further. Those worried, These events is what I believe would have been going through Flay's head during this time. So if anyone has any hate, vent it onto me, and not her. Nuke Dawg out
Also, Storm Wolf will be posting a small prologue for Alex, Sebastian, and Sam before the events of this fic. See you with your reviews, and any questions be answered soon. Later!