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10: A Brief Respite
Roux: Neyla, what are you doing?
Neyla: We're gonna speak again, gotta make sure I'm ready to speak again
Kira: All of our mobile suits aren't finished being repaired yet.
Roux: [slapping Neyla upside the head] Back to work
Neyla: [whimpering and pouting] You're no fun.
Morgenroete Underground facility, Onogoro Island, Orb Union
3rd Person POV
"I believe what Cagalli's father said was true," said Kira as Cagalli handed him and Athrun a hot beverage, "if Orb were to side with Earth Forces then the PLANTS would just attack them and the same thing would happen if Orb sided with the PLANTS. The only difference would be which nation Orb would be considered as an enemy." Kira and Athrun had small conversation as Cagalli and a few of crew members of the Archangel listened to their conversation. When Kira mentioned Toelle's death, Miriallia turned away in shock and started to walk away from the conversation when Dearka caught up to her and tried to comfort her to no avail and made things a little worse. Miriallia turned back to Dearka and reminded him that Kira said killing wouldn't bring back loved ones who were lost in battle. Neyla smiled as Miriallia took Kira's words to heart and then she returned to doing maintenance on her Gundam.
"Well Fang, you should get some rest," Neyla said to her mobile suit as she patted Fang on her foot, "those monsters from Blue Cosmos will be back and they're a coming with more mobile suits."
Then Fang's eyes came to life on their own as she then looked to her pilot and asked, "Is the new Striker pack ready?"
Neyla gave a slight nod and answered, "Yeah, but Erica wants to test it before you use them in actual combat. One other thing is that the Striker pack can be divided into two separate packs if need be."
"What's the name of the Striker pack?" Fang asked Neyla.
"Ultima Striker," answered Neyla. "The pack divides into Haos Butterfly Edge and Darkus Ragnarok."
Fang nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Are you alright? You look disheartened by something; are you thinking about what happened on the hillside?"
"Uh… no," answered Neyla nervously. "Come on, Erica wants us out at the testing grounds right away."
Fang slightly nodded and knelt down to pick Neyla up and put her in the cockpit. Fang walked past the group and as she exited the base through the waterfall, she transformed into her fighter mode and headed to the testing grounds. Neyla's thoughts were on the family that been torn apart by the death of two parents, the younger girl who nearly lost her life and the poor boy who had to flee from the battle and wasn't even able to bury his parents. The task had fallen to her to bury them and save the life of the younger girl, who happened to be his sister.
"Neyla, are you alright?" Fang asked her pilot.
"Oh, sorry Fang," apologized Neyla. "I guess you're right about me thinking about what happened on the hillside."
"There's nothing to apologize for," said Fang. "You saved a life; that's all that matters right now."
"Yeah… you're right," agreed Neyla. "Alright let's head to the training field and get those tests completed."
"Now we're talking," said Fang as she transformed into her fighter mode and flew a short distance from the frontlines.
The next morning, Fang had her Striker pack on her back even after the testing had been completed. During the night, AEUG reinforcements made their way to Orb after a brief but hair raising battle between the AEUG reinforcements and an Earth Alliance resupply fleet. The reason it was brief because Heero Yuy launched in Wing ZERO and wiped out the fleet with one blast of his Buster Rifle. Once the fleet was destroyed, Heero returned to the Argama and the Earth Alliance escort fleet arrived five minutes late and noticed the Argama leaving the wrecked resupply fleet. The captain of the escort fleet looked at the destruction in horror as he realized that he was more than likely to face execution for failing to protect much needed supplies and now that much needed supplies and mobile suits were destroyed by their new enemy. Once the Argama reached Onogoro Island, the Argama unloaded their Gundams on board. Titan Mk II, Wing ZERO, Epyon, Turn A and ZZ Gundam disembarked from the Argama and joined the ranks of the defending allied forces. Three Astrays approached the new mobile suits and made contact with them.
"Unidentified mobile suits, please identify yourselves," said the lead Astray pilot Asagi Caldwell.
"Easy ladies," Neyla called to the three Astray pilots, "they're the reinforcements I called for."
"Heero Yuy, pilot of the Wing ZERO," Heero answered Asagi's request.
"Loran Cehack, pilot of the Turn A Gundam," said Loran.
"Milliardo Peacecraft, pilot of the Epyon Gundam," said Milliardo.
"Juddau Ashita, pilot of the ZZ Gundam," said Juddau.
"Lieutenant Jerid Mesa, pilot of Titan Mk II," said Jerid as he saluted.
"Alright," said Asagi, "sorry for the misunderstanding; welcome to Orb."
Earth Alliance Main Carrier, Powell
Off the coast of Onogoro Island, Orb Union
"How the preparations coming along?" asked Murata Azrael, leader of Blue Cosmos.
"Well there are two things you need to be aware of," answered Captain Sutherland.
"Oh? And what might they be?" asked Murata Azrael in curiosity.
"The first is that we've received repeated requests from Orb reopen negotiations," answered Captain Sutherland as he turned his head back a little.
"No, I think we've gone past negotiations," said Azrael as he briefly sighed. "We could never control a nation like them with our kind of power; it'll be our best interest if we slaughter them all and let their blood stain ocean."
Captain Sutherland sighed and then said, "The second thing is that our resupply fleet was completely wiped out by one of the AEUG's Gundams. The escort fleet sent to guard them was ten minutes behind the resupply fleet and wasn't able to join the fight to protect them."
"Do we know which one it was that destroyed our resupply fleet?" asked Azrael.
"Yes, it was Wing ZERO," answered Captain Sutherland.
"So Orb got reinforcements?" Azrael asked himself as he pondered what to do next, now that the resupply fleet had been destroyed.
"Uh, Mr. Azrael?" asked Ensign Yuki.
"What do you want, woman?" asked Director Azrael as his mood went from calm and relaxed to irritated.
"Sir, I suggest that we pull back from Orb; say about 100 to 120 miles from the border," answered Ensign Yuki.
"Why would we do that?" demanded Azrael.
Captain Sutherland looked at Ensign Yuki puzzled and then realized that she was talking about.
"Mr. Azrael, I agree with Ensign Yuki," said Captain Sutherland as he set his hand on Ensign Yuki's left shoulder. "We need to wait until we can get supplies and I just got word from San Diego that they sent another supply fleet to give us fresh supplies."
Director Azrael cooled and gave a slight nod to Captain Sutherland as he said, "Very well we'll pull back until we can get supplies from San Diego. Oh, and Ensign Yuki, nice thinking. That kind of thinking is what the Earth Forces needs in order to stay a leg up on those Coordinators and these traitors here in Orb."
"Sir, thank you sir," said Ensign Yuki as she saluted Director Azrael. Then Ensign Yuki turned her back and gave a disgusted look when no one else was looking at her. Ensign Yuki, I mean Motoko headed back to her station and locked the door. As soon as she locked the door, Motoko powered up her private line and began working her cybernetic wizardry. She left her cybernetic body and entered the network where she met with Shelke to discuss new Intel gathered in field or in cyberspace.
"Report Major," requested Shelke.
"The Alliance is pulling back to receive fresh supplies from San Diego," reported Motoko. "After their resupply fleet was destroyed, I suggested to them that they should pull back from Orb territory to receive those supplies."
"I see," said Shelke. "Very good Major, report back when you have with new Intel."
"Yes ma'am," acknowledged Motoko as Shelke left their meeting place. After their meeting, Motoko reentered her cybernetic body and went back to work on her other duties as an Earth Alliance soldier.
Orb Command Center
Onogoro Island, Orb Union
"What? They're pulling back?" asked Cagalli in disbelief.
"Yes," answered Shelke over the monitor. "After Wing ZERO destroyed the resupply fleet, Major suggested to the leaders that they should pull back about 120 miles from the Orb border in order to receive their supplies."
"Do you want us to attack the resupply fleet?" asked Sergei. "I can have my group ready to move out within the hour."
"Lord Uzumi?" asked Neyla as she turned to the Chief Representative of Orb.
He shook his head and said, "No we need all the mobile suits can get."
"I just spoke with Carpentaria," spoke up Neyla, "and ZAFT mobile suit pilots I recruited. They're ready to strike at the resupply fleet on my command. Officially, Carpentaria's commanders aren't helping us for fear of being ratted out to by Rau Le Creuset. Unofficially, they approved the team to strike the resupply fleet."
"I don't like this idea," said Lord Uzumi uneasy.
"I understand Lord Uzumi," began Neyla, "but we need to cut off their supplies and force them back while you and Morgenroete prepare the contingency plan for when the Earth Forces come back with the force to overwhelm us."
"Very well then," said Lord Uzumi as he finally agreed. "But I have no knowledge of this attack from Carpentaria and if the Earth Forces demand to know if I knew about this attack, I will deny it."
"Yes sir," acknowledged Neyla as she saluted and then turned away.
Earth Alliance carrier Powell
120 miles from Orb territory
"Damn it!" snarled Captain Sutherland as he watched the escort fleet coming in front of the resupply fleet going up in flames and sinking.
"Captain, we've got GOOhNs attacking the escort fleet and Strike Daggers on Guuls attacking the escort fleet," reported a radar operator.
"This 42nd Resupply Fleet," reported the captain of main ship leading the resupply effort, "what the hell is going on here? We're under attack from our own mobile suits and WAAAHHH…"
"Oh God," the CIC operator said aloud as he saw their supplies go up in smoke or get stolen from the ships, "the 42nd Resupply Fleet… its gone! They're gone man!"
"Keep it together Ensign or I'll have you thrown in the brig," ordered Captain Sutherland as the bridge officers quickly regained their composure and focus. As focus returned to the bridge, Director Azrael entered the bridge after hearing explosions.
"Huh? What the hell?" demanded Azrael as he saw the carnage for the first time. "What just happened? I thought we were getting resupplied."
"We were about to receive fresh supplies," answered Captain Sutherland, "until ZAFT showed up and stole supplies from us using those damn GOOhNs and some stolen Strike Daggers."
"Someone told ZAFT about our position and the resupply fleet coming here," said Ensign Yuki as she entered the bridge. "Or the most likely possibility is that ZAFT must've picked up on our radio chatter and we carelessly slipped up and mentioned our intention to receive supplies so we can renew our attack on Orb."
"I'll take the second opinion," said Captain Sutherland, "we have been known to slip up here and there from time to time." Director Azrael gritted his teeth as he had to accept Ensign Yuki's explanation as she radioed the headquarters again.
"I can't keep sending supplies to your fleet if they keep getting attacked by ZAFT and some traitors piloting our mobile suits," said the head of the Earth Alliance's Pacific Fleet.
"Just hurry up and send those damn supplies!" roared Azrael. "I want Orb SLAUGHTERED! AND I WANT TO SLAUGHTER THEM NOW!"
"Alright, alright," relented the fleet admiral, "I'll send you more supplies."
"Good," said Azrael as he calmed down. "I knew you'd see things my way." The fleet admiral sighed as he shut off his terminal.
Morgenroete Underground Facility
Onogoro Island, Orb Union
"Commander, those setbacks the Earth Alliance has been having has really helped us out," Erica reported to Neyla.
"I assume that all mobile suits have been repaired," Neyla said to Erica. "Even the fallen Strike Daggers were repaired too?"
"Uh huh," said Erica as she gave Neyla a slight nod. "And some of the Earth Alliance mobile suit pilots have agreed to defect from the Earth Forces and fight with us. Now that those Strike Daggers have been repaired, we painted them over with the same colors as the Astray mobile suits."
Neyla whistled in amazement and said, "Not bad Erica; not bad at all." Erica smiled at Neyla's complement was about return to assisting in making adjustments to some of the Astrays when Neyla stopped her.
"Hey Erica, I need help in syncing a new system for Fang to use in battle," Neyla said as she handed Erica a blueprint of a bit system she acquired in an unmentioned adventure that seemed to last for only ten minutes because of temporal distortion after the Earth Alliance left Hawaii. "The bits are already built and have the functions that I want to have."
"What kind of functions are we talking about?" asked Erica.
"Long range attack, energy shield and daggers," answered Neyla. "Fang said she wants to use her Fangs as soon as possible before the Earth Alliance returns; and I'll help you too."
"Well we aren't going to have much time if the Earth Forces get their supplies quickly," said Erica, "but of course I'll see what I can do for Fang."
"Thanks Erica," said Neyla as she ran to go get Fang and bring back into the facility.
Outside the facility, Fang stood there looking at ocean waiting and sensing what the waves would tell her. It was quite amazing for a mobile suit to have a mystic ability.
"Fang, hey Fang." Fang turned around, looked down towards the ground and saw her pilot standing and looking at her.
"Erica's waiting to look at your Fang bits," called Neyla as she motioned her to pick her up. "She's going help get them working for us to use in battle."
Fang knelt down to pick up her pilot and both of them went back to the underground facility.
A few hours later, Fang was doing a test run with her improved Fangs. The only modifications that were necessary were to replace the power source, engines and rewrite Fangs' OS to make it compatible with Fang.
"I'm very pleased with the modifications," Fang said to Erica as she released her fangs and destroyed a group of severally battered Strike Daggers that couldn't be repaired. "The Full Burst mode definitely has the power to take on multiple opponents."
"Do you think it's just as powerful as the Freedom's Full Burst mode?" asked Neyla.
"I'm not sure yet," answered Fang. "We'll have to wait until the next battle to find out."
"Alright Fang, let's move into making sure that your shield function works properly," chimed in Erica. "You can't have a shield that doesn't work in battle."
"That's true," agreed Neyla.
"Alright the Duel, Zeta Rouge and Epyon are coming to test how much punishment your Fang Shield can take," said Erica.
Just then the Gundams appeared out of their hiding spots and began attacking Fang to test Fang's shield system.
"Alright Neyla time to see what your new system's got," said Roux as she opened fire on Fang.
"Fangs," Neyla gently called out as Fang's bits came out of their leg holster and formed into to certain formation and formed an energy shield.
"Alright Fang let's hope our shield doesn't fail on us," Neyla said to her mobile suit as Fang nodded.
"I think we should test out using the Fangs as daggers," added Fang.
"Agreed," said Neyla as the Duel began to open fire on Fang as well. "Is that all you and Yzak got?"
"Don't underestimate us," snarled Yzak as he kept firing.
While the test was going on, Neyla pulled out her IPod and began playing a playlist when she usually worked out.
"Is that your 'Techno Workout' music?" asked Roux as she switched to her beam saber and began lashing at the shield.
"Yup," answered Neyla. "It really helps Fang stay loose before we go into battle."
"What, you mean your mobile suit exercises?" Yzak asked in confusion.
"Fang isn't just a mobile suit," answered Neyla, "she's my partner just like the Duel is your partner. And to answer your question, yes she does exercise."
Yzak stood in place for a minute and thought about what Neyla said as he remembered what she had told him when they talked about Gundams being alive and having a soul of their own. He took a deep breath as he was going to give Neyla's advice a try.
"Alright Duel, let's give Commander Kaiou a run for her money," Yzak said to his Gundam as Duel suddenly came alive and his eyes flashed for a split second and he started to charge at Fang.
"Now you're getting the hang of things Yzak," Neyla said with a smile on her face.
"Fangs!" called out Neyla with fierce intensity. One of Fang's bits broke off from the shield formation as Fang plucked the bit from the air and called off the shield formation.
"Huh? Why did she stop using her shield?" asked Milliardo as Fang charged towards him and lunged at Epyon thrusting her Fang Dagger. "Man, she's fast with that dagger."
"Don't you mean 'They're fast,' Milliardo?" asked Fang as she added herself. "Both of us fight together just as you and Epyon fight as one." Epyon's eyes flashed in agreement with Fang.
"Then let's get them Epyon!" exclaimed Milliardo as Epyon roared to life and charged at Fang.
"Zeta Rouge, let's get her!" exclaimed Roux as Zeta Rouge also came to life and charged at Fang.
"Alright Fang time to do a little test with the shield," said Neyla. "Fangs retract!"
Three of the six Fang bits returned to their holster in the legs as the other three remained deployed in battle. Two formed a smaller shield, while the other Fang bit was used as a dagger for Fang to use against the incoming mobile suits.
"That's impressive," commented Yzak as he noticed the two fangs in Fang's right hand activating a shield.
After a couple hours of testing and retesting, Erica cleared Fang to use her Fang bits in battle when the Earth Forces returned. Once Fang was cleared, Erica began making modifications to Yzak's Gundam. The power packs were replaced with a Gundanium cold fusion reactor as was the Blitz and Buster. The only difference was that the Duel was having its original Assault Shroud armor removed and replaced with Gundanium armor like the other Duel that Cecily Fairchild piloted before.
"Alright Yzak we're going to test out the Duel's new upgrades in the same place we tested Fang's attack bits," chimed in Erica.
"Have you decided what do with the replacement mobile suits we built for you guys?" Yzak asked Erica.
"Yes, we've given them back to the AEUG pilots who piloted them first," answered Erica.
"Yeah, I remember those guys," said Yzak as he remembered the five AEUG pilots who piloted the replacement Gundams Orb took from the Archangel. "I'm also impressed that you made different variations of all five machines."
"The staff here at Morgenroete is really proud of the work we did with the Astray type models," said Erica as Yzak took Duel to the testing ground.
The next day
Earth Alliance Carrier Powell
100 miles from Onogoro Island
"Damn space monsters!" snarled one of the bridge officers. "If they hadn't attacked and stolen that second set of supplies we would've been back in Orb territory and wiped them out faster."
"Shut up and concentrate on finishing our preparations," ordered Captain Sutherland. "We're already behind schedule because of damn Coordinators and traitors. So shut your mouths and GET BACK TO WORK!" The bridge officers drooped their shoulders in disappointment because Captain Sutherland took out his anger on them.
"Now, now Captain Sutherland we're all just as pissed at ZAFT and the traitors who attacked us," began Azrael calmly, "we just have to direct that anger out at those traitors against humanity."
Captain Sutherland sighed and agreed with Azrael at his last statement. Then Captain Sutherland said, "Now that you mentioned traitors, I think that I saw the Archangel fighting alongside Orb."
"Huh? The Archangel?" asked Azrael in confusion. "Are you sure the Archangel was fighting? I thought they were destroyed in Alaska."
"No Mr. Azrael," said Captain Sutherland. "I got reports from a reliable source that the Archangel deserted the frontlines in Alaska, helped ZAFT escape their destruction, aided ZAFT in destroying the Mass Driver in Panama and took possession of an illegally created mobile suit that the leader of the AEUG now pilots."
"I see," replied Azrael. "Is your source reliable?"
Captain Sutherland handed Azrael a disk his source gave him with all the evidence of the Archangel's betrayal against humanity. Azrael took the disk from Captain Sutherland's hand and walked off the bridge to his personal quarters. Once he was in his quarters, Azrael took the disk in his pocket and put it in his computer.
"Hmm," said Azrael as he looked at the reports from Alaska, Panama and Oahu. "Now what would make the Archangel want to betray humanity by helping those space monsters?" He wondered this as he actually held some doubts that they were forced to betray humanity because of that space monster who piloted the Strike. He shook his head shaking that doubt from his head; the crew of the Archangel betrayed their species and the only penalty for betraying humanity was death.
"Now only if I could get data on that mobile suit or even capture it," Azrael said to himself as he smiled with a big grin.