Chapter 11: The Duel of Orbit
Archangel Shuttle Area
Kira stared at his discharge papers, contemplating on what has just transpired. The Archangel has gone into level one battle stations. He looked at his papers and the orgami flower in his hand and crumpled the discharge papers in his hand. With that he took off and turned to the shuttle. "Go on without me!" he called out, as in the shuttle, Savir next to little Elle, looked out the window.
"And he goes to protect his friends again." Savir commented, as Elle stood up, to see Kira leave, as she gave a wave to him, even though Kira did not see her do so.
Eighth Fleet Space, Earth Orbit:
The Jade Frame, floated beside the Menelao's as it got the red alert from the Archangel, still using its radio frequencie on the ship. Mina had a serious look on her face, as Samuel's grip tightened on the controls infront of him. "So, this is how they are going to do it." Mina pointed out, as Samuel just replied to her with a nod, as he began to turn the weapon systems online, as the machine continued to float beside the eighth fleet's flag ship.
The Jade Frame turned from its dull gray state, to its white and jade colors, with the green add on parts, for its re entry trip. "Listen Mina, I want you to be ready for anything, I may be fighting, but this is going to be a bit of a challenge for me, as this machine is a bit over weight." Sam told her, refering to the weight of the bonus equipment and all its packs equipped to the machine. "What's this? we're being hailed by the Menelaos!" Sam said amazed at this, even though he was not a part of the military, he has a feeling that these are orders.
"Menelaos to the Jade Frame, Colonel Samuel, do you read me?" the communications officer called to the mobile suit, as its Hyper Impulse Cannon, snapped into position, under its left arm.
"Yes I hear you, what's going on?" Samuel asked him, as he looked back at Mina, who just stared back, almost emotionless, something the Sahaku's do, before going into battle. Something they say as, there is no Emotion on the field of battle. However, her hand was trembling a little, do to fear, of what is to happen, to the Orb Civilians that are going to be caught in the middle of all this.
"Admiral Halberton, wishes to keep you and the Civilians, and the Archangel out of this battle, please, begin phases for re-entry." the officer told him.
"No can do, we are not leaving, until we are sure those Civilians are safely on their way home, got that?" Samuel told him, which caught a spark into Mina's eyes, he was not even of Orb blood, yet he is doing everything to protect it.
"Yes sir, then hide beneath our ship, your nation cannot suffer the lost of your machine got that." The Admiral's voice cut in.
"Alright Admiral, we will try to stay out of this battle, but once that shuttle launches, I'm cutting in." Samuel told him, as the Hyper Impulse Cannon, went back into its position, as the Jade Frame drew its Tatsumasa, in other words, the Dragons Sword, into its position, as the sword shined in what sunlight could touch the blade.
Just then, the Admiral's voice, spread through the fequencie to all the Earth Alliance ships. "Alright all ships, close in formation, protect the Archangel, now, Miss Ramius, do not move the Archangel, let the Eighth Fleet show, ZAFT how much power she holds." The Admiral ordered, as the ships, began to use themselves as shields.
"Launch Mobius Units." Hoffman ordered.
"Valkyrie One, Valkyrie two Launch" The mobile Armor compliment officer ordered.
"Ready for Anti Beam Deph Charges!" another soldier relayed, what he was doing. To Samuel this battle was going to be a losing one. Mobile Armors were not even a match for a standard GINN, and without his help, or that of the Strikes and Archangel's, this fleet would be put down for good. Or they would eventually join the graveyard known as the Debris belt.
Jade Frame, cockpit:
"This is a losing battle." Mina commented, as Samuel nodded, as he kept his hands on the controls, as his machine floated beneath the ship, waiting for the shuttle to be jettosened.
"Yeah, however, our primary concern is those civilians, get out of this battle alive. Even if I have to destroy the ship, to get them out of it." Samuel told her, as the monitors continued to watch the formation of the ZAFT machines heading there way. 'Yzak, are you among them, please I don't want to put mom through another son's death.' Samuel told himself within his mind.
However, on the Archangel's bridge, things had become hectic with the Eighth fleets orders, as they were to sit out of this battle, just like with the advance fleet, a week or so prior to now. "Damn, why is the Admiral making us sit this one out to?" Jackie asked, as Murrue had no idea, until the door to the bridge opened behind her.
"Sorry were late." Tolle called out, as the four teenagers came floating into the bridge, heading to the posts they have been doing for such a long time.
Murrue was surprised to see the group of teens on the bridge. She knew Flay has officially assigned with the Earth forces, but not these four. "What. . . What are you doing here?" she asked startled with their appearance.
"They have officially enlisted into the Earth Alliance." Natarle pointed out to her, from her post in the supervisors seat, of the CIC. "Captain Hoffman accepted them, and I approved it." she told the bridge crew.
The captain watched as the four teen settled into their stations once again, ready for the current combat situation that has just begun.
Down by the hangar in the pilots room. Flay Allster, now sporting a pink earth forces uniform, that is much like crewman Haws own uniform. She was reaching into a locker, holding a Earth Forces pilots uniform, right until Kira came through the doorway. "Kira!" Flay called out, as the two were the only occupants of the room. She launcher herself from where she stood, right into the young man, and his arms. Kira's back bounced off the wall of the room, as he was surprised to see her and with her arms around him like this no less.
"Flay, what. . . What are you doing here?" Kira wondered as the two floated in the room, in such an embrace.
Flay looked at the coordinators eyes, with tears forming within her own. "You were going to leave. . . or at least I thought you were going to, and everyone. . ." Flay began to explain. "I decided as everyone except for me is participating in this fight. And I'm the only one who isn't doing anything. . . So I. . ." she began, as Kira looked behind her, seeing his old Earth Forces pilot's uniform floating in the zero gravity.
"Flay, you shouldn't be getting foolish ideas like that." Kira told her, as he looked back into her watery eyes. "A girl like you, in the seat of a mobile suit. You couldn't possibly pilot it."
"But Kira you see. . ." Flay tried to tell him, as he just shook his head to her.
"You don't have to worry Flay. I'll get back into the cockpit of the Strike, and fight for the both of us." Kira told the girl.
"Really Kira?" she asked him as he nodded.
"Yes, I was going to leave." he began as he continued to look at her. "I took what you said to heart, and I wont run away now, or ever again. I will fight to try to end this war." Kira told the red headed girl.
"Then let us fight together." she said almost seductively to Kira, who just looked at her as she touched his shoulder.
"Flay. . ." Kira began as all of a sudden the lips of the two connected.
In space, the Jade Frame began to pick up the singles of the four G-Weapons, until one vanished, signalling that it was the Blitz. "Where is it?" Samuel asked himself, as Mina looked at him.
"Your brother's machine?" Mina asked as Samuel nodded to her.
"Yeah, if he is searching for anyone in the battle its me." he told her, as he kept a channel for what has been going on with the ships in the battle. A moment later, Halberton's voice filled the radio with what was happening between to two large ships.
"What do you want?" he asked curtly; he was in the middle of battle operations at that very moment.
"We wish to move away from the Fleet," Murrue replied to him. "It's imperative that we begin our descent sequence now, Admiral. Please authorize it."
"You can't be serious! Are you people trying to flee this battle to save yourselves?" Halberton demanded.
"This ship is the enemy's target," Ramius said stubbornly. "We must move away from you! Or else the whole fleet will be destroyed." She continued to explain to him, "Alaska is out of the question, but from here we can still reach Earth Forces territory. We can shake off the GINNs and ZAFT vessels at the Earth's atmospheric interface. Admiral!"
Halberton paused for a long moment, as another of the ships was blown away not far from the Jade Frame intself. Finally, the admiral looked gave into his protoge. "Murrue Ramius, you haven't changed a bit. Still reckless as ever."
The young woman could be heard sighing in relief. "As you well know, a subordinate learns from her superior."
"All right, then. Begin preparations for the Archangel's descent now. We'll cover you up to the entry interface." He told her. "We'll make sure not one single enemy gets past us."
"All hands, prepare for atmospheric entry interface." Echoed in the Jade Frame.
"Oh my, things are about to get busy." Mina said with surprise tone within her voice, even though it sounded a bit emotionless.
"Yes I agree." Samuel told her, as the Jade Frame began to pick up the thruster signature of the machine he was looking for. "The Duel, and my my, upgraded with some additional armor." Samuel commented, as he got the image of the Duel Assault shroud, firing various missiles which all detonated on the side of an Earth Forces ship.
With that, the Duel detected the Jade Frame as well, causing Yzak to see exactly who he intended to find, for the scar that continues to burn under various bandages. "There you are." Yzak began to curse under his breath. "You will see what it is like to feel the pain, mom and I have felt over the year, you damn bastard." the silver haired pilot told himself, as the Duel flew towards the main fleet, destroying Mobius Units that got in his way.
"Mina hold on, were going in." Samuel told her, as he hit the thrusters on the machine, as he sped off towards the Duel.
"Samuel! what are you doing, get back here!" Halberton's voice called out.
"Sorry Admiral, but this is family business." Samuel told him, as the Jade Frame made its way towards the duel. With that, he changed frequincie to that of the duel. "YZAK!" Samuel called out, as the Duel came forward, with beam sabre in hand, and slicing another mobile armor in half.
"Ragh DIE!" a Ginn pilot yelled as it opened fire on the Jade Frame.
"Not today!" Samuel yelled back, as he had the anti ship sword, go right on through the GINN, killing another of an old comrade, or would of been comrade.
"Damn!" Yzak called, as the beam of the anti ship sword, and the beam sabre connected between the two suits, as another of the Drake Class ships explode beside them, thanks to the busters hyper impulse attack. "Damn you Samorei! have you joined the Earth Alliance now?" Yzak yelled, as the two machine's faces were right infront of each other. "Even after what they did to you?" he asked.
"I would die before I'd join the Earth Forces!" Samuel yelled back, as the two machines broke their engagement, with the Raiden cannon coming up and fired its red and white beam missing the Duel completely and hitting a Earth Forces, Nelson class ship. "Do you truly think that such pain like what they did to me that I even enjoy it?" he asked, as Mina was wondering, and knew he meant the spasms from the aftermath of that last battle.
The Duel dodged a railgun attack from a Mobius unit, which did a fly by attack. However, the Duel took part in an attack of its own, firing his five missile tube launcher new from the Assault Shroud. One missile destroyed a Mobius ad a Drake Class ship was hit hard by the other four. "Then why are you still with them?" he asked.
Mina then reached over to the radio. "Because he is protecting the civilians of my country!" Mina scowled towards the brother of the man infront of her.
"And who the hell are you?" Yzak asked, not knowing who he was even speaking to, as the Jade Frame put away its anti ship sword, and brought out its beam sabre.
"Someone who is a lot scarier than me when she gets mad." Samuel answered, as the beam ignited in its frozen fire state. "Now lets do what your name suggests. Lets DUEL!"
Archangel Hangar:
Mu La Flaga shook his head for what the orders were for the Archangel, "Damn, descending in a battle like this!" he complained as Murdoch just shrugged to Mu's rants.
"What is it going to solve by yelling at me?" Murdoch told the pilot with a shrug. "While I think it's better than just sitting around doing nothing." he told him.
"Yeah thats true but. . ." Mu began until he saw a familiar face enter the hangar.
Which was Kira, floating in, heading for the Strike. "Even if we can avoid the GINNs, and the ships, we still have those machines." Kira mentioned.
"Hey Kid." Murdoch said, full of shock just to see the kid floating by.
"No matter, I'll stand by in the Strike, we are still on level one status right?" the smiling lad asked, as the two Earth Forces personel nodded.
"I thought he got off, with the civilians." Murdoch pointed out.
"At such a young age, and he has already seen his share of battles." Mu commented.
"Yeah, I wonder if the Jade Frame is doing well out there, it is still in the middle of battle." Murdoch added in, as the pilot of the Mobius Zero nodded.
While in space, the duel between the Duel and the Jade Frame continued, as both machines connected their blades together again spitting sparks of fire, when the two connected. Samuel was using the weapons of the Jade Frame to his advantage, as he opened fire with his missile launcher, while adding his beam boomerang into the attack. Yzak used the Duel's shield to take the hit of each weapon, and another beam sabre attack. "Why are you still fighting us? Why not return to the PLANT's?" he asked.
"Because I am suppose to be dead!" he called back, as the two sabres connected to the other mobile suits shield. Just then, a high powered shot from the Busters Sniper shot by the Jade Frame, as the Buster came in after them. "Damn, the buster." Samuel whispered, as he dodged the missiles from the mobile suit, as he counter attacked with is own, and with the impulse rifle of the Raiden.
"Dearka Stay out of this!" Yzak yelled at his friend as the two mobile suits flew beside each other, as the Jade Frame looked at both machines.
Dearka on the other hand was confused, even though somewhat glad, as the Jade Frame was not even attacking as the two machines exchanged words. "What's going on here Yzak?"
"Just shut up, and let me do this Dearka, go and fight off the rest with Athrun and Nicol." Yzak told him, as the Buster began to float away.
"Alright, I'll go for the Legged Ship." Deraka reluctantly told his friend.
The Jade Frames hip mounted Raiden went into position. "Oh no you don't, I still have friends there." Samuel yelled, as he aimed at the Buster.
"I knew you joined the alliance!" Yzak yelled, as then both machines came charging at Samuel.
"I told you I would never join the alliance!" Samuel yelled, as his own eyes changed from what Yzak spoke of moments ago. And from what has been happening since the battle with the Advance Fleet. His eyes become as blank as a person who would go Seed, however crows feet formed around his own eyes. As outside, the golden look of the Jade Frames eyes, changed to there erie white. With that, the three machines, two G-Weapons, facing off against an Astray Prototype.
In the hangar, Kira and Mu waited within their machines, waiting for the word to launch into combat. 'This is insane, we should of been ordered to launch, Sam's one mobile suit will not be able to win this battle. Heck he got pretty damaged up facing Duel, Buster, and Blitz, how will he stand against all four?' Kira asked himself, as he was very impatient within the Strike. All the Strike pilot knew, is that Samuel had engaged with his brother, and that the Eighth fleet, is being torn to shreds by the G-Weapons. That was when he heard on the radio the worst news yet.
"The Duel and Buster are broken through, the Jade Frame is engaging them, and seems to be on the ropes." Chandra radioed throughout the ship. "A Group of GINNs have came in with them, the Menelaos is engaged in COMBAT!"
Kira cursed under his breath, until he made radio contact witht he Mobius Zero. "Mu, if we don't do something now-" Kira began as Mu knew what he was thinking.
"Your right kid. La Flaga to the bridge." Mu called to them. "Captain we need to be out there, how much time do we have left?" he asked the bridge.
Murrue's face appeared on the monitor of the Zero, however Kira could hear the exchange. "What are you thinking, you want us to-" she tried to get out.
"According to the specs of the Strike, it should be able to make re entry on its own, like the Jade Frame." Kira pointed out, earning small gasps from people on the bridge noticeing Kira has returned to them.
Murrue was just plainly confused with his appearance. "Kira what are you- I thought you left!" she said, still in disbelief.
"It does not matter!" Kira told her. "Samuel can only hold those machines off for only a little while. If we don't do something, Orb would go to chaos, knowing that its civilians, and one of their Nobles die here in battle. And surely if we don't try, the Menelao's will be destroyed!" Kira shouted at her.
Murrue was surprised at Kira's tone towards her. However, Natarle took this time to do what is right, and give the Strike Permission. "Alright Kira, prep for launch. Just remember to return during phase three. The specs may say it can, but it was only tested in the lab. We don't know how hot it will get in there." she warned the pilot. "Keep a constant eye on the Altitude and temperature gadges, if they alter to fast, get back here!" she told him.
"Yes ma'am" Mu added in, as the hangar came abuzz.
"Ensign Badgiruel!" Murrue said in surprise of what she had done.
"Captain, if this ship is destroyed, then the sacrifices made here today, will be in Vain." Natarle told her. And with that, both officers looked at each other with angered looks.
Back in the hangar, Mu's Zero was set on the Starboard catapult, as his machine prepped for launch. "Hey kid becareful out there, this scenario is new to me as well, so we can expect anything." he told the coordinator.
In the port side, as usual, the Strike set onto the linear catapult, as the side areas began to move, to equip the Strike. "Kira Yamato, Strike Gundam, heading out!" Kira called, as the fully equipped Strike launched.
Mu, lowered his visor as he began to do the same thing. "Mu La Flaga, Mobius Zero, heading out!" Mu called out, as both the Mobile Armor and Mobile suit shot off into the battle.
As a battle was faught, the Jade Frame dodged an attack from the Buster, as the three machines were getting close to the gravity well of the Planet. Soon, they would be in the point of no return of the Planets gravity. "Mina, prepare to get a bit warmer, we are already heading into Re Entry." Samuel told his passenger, as his shield blocked a double assault from the Busters two guns. As it then dodged an attack from the Duel's own weaponry. Both of the captured weapons even knowing full well what was happening, was not letting up on the Jade Frame. "What's this?" Samuel asked, as his equipment showed the Gamow heading off course, and was actually heading towards the Archangel. However, the Menelaos was contemplating this as well.
Aboard the Vesalius, Ades and Creuset were confused with the tatics there comrades were now doing. "Gamow you are out to far, you will be caught in the well!" Ades warned his comrades. "Just what are you doing?" he asked.
Captain Zelman appeared on the screen of the bridge. "We know, and we are willing to pay the price for what we are about to do. We are going to get rid of that Legged ship here and now!" Zelman called back. "For the Glory of ZAFT!" He yelled, as the Lauraisia class ship opened fire with all its weaponry, as its engines went to full, taking right towards the Archangel.
As in space, the ship was heading towards the Archangel, however the Menelao's did what it was meant to do for this battle as it got into the path of the two ships. "Not if I can help it." the Admiral said with a sneer on his face, with his ships own weapons opening fire. "Launch the shuttle!" he called out, as the shuttle with the Archangel's rescued civilians launched from what the Admiral, and his crew knew that the ship was doomed. "Murrue." the man whispered. "God speed to you, and hopefully your ship will end this war." the Admiral concluded, as outside, everyone of the ships, and forces saw, the Lauraisa and that of the Menelaos collided with each other.
"No, damn it!" Samuel called out, thinking the shuttle with the civilians never even made it out in time. Kira however, knew that the sadness of the lost ship will go on for days, however, now was not the time to wheap, as he came in slashing at the Duel. "Kira!" Samuel called in surprise.
"Samuel go, I'll hold of the duel, the Menelao's launched its shuttle!" Kira called franticly, as Samuel then noticed that Kira spoke the truth.
"Go kid, we will handle this!" Mu called out, as all four of his gunbarrels came out, as he spun his machine in a barrel role, sending a shower of live ammo upon the buster.
"Right." Samuel said, as he used his main thrusters, to turn and head for the remains of the now lost ship. With that, the Duel tried to go after him.
But before he could the Strike got in the path. "Get out of my way Strike, or you will Strike out!" Yzak called out, as the two machines faught in the Melee of Death.
Aboard the Archangel, the destruction of the Rear Admiral was the hardest on the ships captain. Her Mentor was now gone, and he was the one that had the ship she is now in created, along with its strongest weapon. Now he was gone, as time seemed to slow down to her.
However, for the others, time was right on track, as Jackie reported the next step in their re entry plan. "We are nearly at phase three."
"Alright, recall our machines." Murrue said becoming her captain self again. With this, the only things left, was the Archangel and her machines, along with all four of ZAFTs machines.
Out in space, Kira and Mu got their orders to return. "Damn, this is all the time I got." he cursed, as the Mobius turned around and went back towards its ship, useing its Piton, as an anchor to draw himself in. However, the Buster had no such luck, as it went at Maximum thrust, however he had passed through the point of no return. "Damn, I just hope that these things are as versatile as they say!" Dearka yelled, as the Buster fell towards the Earth.
However, back with Kira and the Duel, Kira got the upper hand in the sword fight of the two, as the Strike kicked the machine in the head, knocking it back even further. With this, Kira began his own retreat. "Your not getting away from me!" Yzak yelled, as he took aim, which was then faltered, as the shuttle of Heliopolis refugees passed through his aim, which threw it off from hitting the Strike. "What?" Yzak wondered as he saw the shuttle. "You dare run away from this battle?" Yzak asked, as Kira turned to see the Duel aiming at a very familiar shuttle.
"No." Kira thought, as he wondered where the Jade Frame was. No matter, if it was not there, he would have to do it himself, as he hit his veiners to their maximum output, to go intercept the Duel once again.
To Yzak, the ones in the shuttle were fleeing soldiers, just because of the shuttle that was being used. "How dare you get in my way!" he called as his rifle took aim. However, as time began to slow, the rifle never fired, infact it vanished in a pillar of energy, as the Jade Frame came down with the Raiden under one arm, and the anti ship sword in the other.
"No you DON'T!" Samuel yelled, as the beam melted away the gun, as the Anti Ship Sword, came crashing down, destroying the railgun on the shoulder that the rifle was in the hand of.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Yzak yelled, as the blast knocked him down further, causing his mobile suit to head towards the Planet.
"Yzak!" Sam called out for concern of his brother, who he had just sent plummeting down to the Planet below.
"Samuel we got to go now!" Kira called out, as both machines went towards the Archangel, the shuttle was alright, however earlier in the fight, many of the add ons, have already begun to melt away because the Gell was not administered in time.
The two machines flew side by side, until they were blocked by a group of GINNs, but what was worst about it, was that each one was equipped with an Ion Rifle. And even though heading down to Earth, the Buster was a long ranged machine, as it combined both of its rifles. "Kira look out!" Samuel called, as he pushed the Strike into the Atmosphere, as it dodged and got caught as well.
"DAMN!" Kira yelled, as his machine fell into the Atmosphere as well.
"Mina! prepare for a bumpy ride!" Samuel called out.
African Community, Desert Waste Land
The Jade Frame continued its descent with its speed increasing. "Damn, changing all emergency power into the thrusters." Samuel informed Mina, as the machine began to put its feet down, and began to detach the melted equipment, even some of its own. The Missile Launcher and the beam boomerang, melted away with the Re-entry which were now just stumps which were ejected to get rid of some friction. The Jade Frame was now just its ordinary self, with its sword, Launcher, and Binsoku pack, the only things that were left. "Just hold on tight." he told her, as the ground came ever closer.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" The two yelled, as the Jade Frame hit the sand, and began to cool the machine, as it went right into a Sand Dune, only having half its Binsoku Pack, and the left half of the machine still visible to anyone that could see the machine.
However, for the Occupants, the both of them, were kept with their harnests on, however they were no longer conscious.
A/N: Woot, took me 2 days to write this, and I know it seems rushed, I was just well, feel a bit rushed wanting to update this as fast as I can, even with Work interfereing with it.
I hope you all enjoyed this, and Review it to your pleasure, I always love getting them, and to me, they make more of a interesting read, than re reading the chapter itself.