Chapter 11 And Then There was None

"Archangel you are clear to leave." said the Orb operator as the metal doors opened showing the early morning sun rise over the ocean. As the gates opened Kira stood above deck making sure that all the gangways had been cleared as he stood there, they passed by the control room. He looked up to see both his parents standing there, along with Cagalli in a dress near her father as the ship left the harbor.

"You should have seen them." said Heero as he walked up to Kira.

"They would only see a soldier." said Kira sadly.

"From my understanding of what parents do they would only see their son." said Heero "Come on let's get ready we will be attacked the moment we leave Orb water."

"Wait how do you know that?" asked Kira as he followed Heero down below as four Orb warships pulled alongside in escort.

Miles away in a submarine carrier stood Athrun and the Le Creuset Team. "How do you know they are still there?" asked Nicol "We didn't see any sign of them."

"It's just a feeling." said Athrun "We will wait here for them. Since the Commander is preparing for operation Split Break they can't spare any other mobile suit so it's just us four."

"That's just fine with me." Snapped Yzak "I'll destroy that legged ship and the Strike if it's the last thing I do."

"Well first you will have to deal with the Wing Zero." said Athrun "And I know he will be almost impossible to bring down."

"What do you suggest we do then great leader." Said Yzak

"Simple instead of focusing on him or the Strike we do what we did before, hit them in the engines after that we can keep up the fire until they are gone." said Athrun as an alarm went off.

"Five ships approaching. 4 Orb cruisers and the legged ship." said intercom "The Orb ships are breaking off."

"Alright get to your machines." ordered Athens unaware that the Archangel higher ups where planning their own defense.

"So what is your plan to deal with those mobile suits if we run into them before we get into Alaska air defense?" asked La Flaga

"Well we do have those new smoke launches that Morgenroete put in." said Badgiruel as she ran through her plan. As she was speaking an alarm went off.

"Four enemy mobile suits approaching." said the voice

"Looks like we will have to do your plan on the move." said Ramius as she and Badgiruel made their way toward the bridge while La Flaga head toward the hanger only to see Tolle sitting in Skygrasper two.

"What are you doing here?" asked La Flaga

"Well I am going to spot for the Strike." said Tolle

"Did Lt. Badgiruel put you up to this?" asked La Flaga

"No, I asked for this." said Tolle as La Flaga looked at him for a second.

"Alright." said La Flaga as he jumped into his machine. Meanwhile out in the second launcher stood Kira inside the Strike with the beam cannon in hand.

"I'm attaching power cup link." said Kira as he attached the cannon to the ships power supply.

"Launch smoke canisters lay down a smoke screen." ordered Badgiruel as smoke machines activated and small rockets shot out before exploding causing more smoke. Soon the ship had disappeared behind the smoke. "Alright send out the skygraspers and hold Wing Zero in reserve."

"Alright kid, remember all you have to do is spot for the Strike." said La Flaga as he launched "Don't get shot down."

"Skygrasper two ready to launch." said Miriallia "Be careful."

"So they are using smoke." said Dearka

"Cowards." said Yzak as two Skygrasper flew out of the smoke. "What two of them?" With that he fired at the two small aircraft but missed.

"Nice kid." said La Flaga "Now spot for the Strike I'll take care of the rest."

"Ok." said Tolle as he flew up above the flying mobile suit. "Skygrasper 2 to the Strike can you hear me Strike."

"Yes." Said Kira

"Sending you the targeting data." said Tolle.

"Roger that." Said Kira as he took aim through the smoke when he pulled the trigger he missed Athrun by inches.

"Disperse!" yelled Athrun as all the mobile suits moved apart from each other.

"Lt. Heero is ready to launch." Said Miriallia

"Tell him to return to the hanger and exits his machine, he will not be needed." said Badgiruel as even the Captain looked at her. "We can't trust Heero for everything. What will happen to this ship after he is gone? We have to learn to fight without him."

"Alright but keep him on standby." said Ramius.

Meanwhile Kira had left the ship hitting the Duel's flier, the Guul with his cannon. As he was falling Athrun and Nicol where coming after him only to run into the main cannon of the Archangel. As he landed he powered down and dropped the cannon system as La Flaga flew overhead.

"I hope this works." said La Flaga as he dropped the Aile package as the Strike attached himself to it.

"He changed his equipment in midair." Said Nicol as Kira shot another hole in Yzak's flier causing him to go down. In an instant he pulled out his energy sword and in one quick attack he kicked Nicol's mobile suit's arm off.

"Nicol!" yelled Athrun as Heero sat inside his mobile suit watching the battle from the video feed from the gun camera.

"I know Zero, one of them has no future." said Heero as Kira landed back on the Archangel.

"Kira, I am sending the sword to you." said Tolle

"Target the Aegis and fire!" yelled Badgiruel as the two main cannons aimed at the red mobile suit in front of them. Athrun's armor barely took the hit and was forced to land on a small island. Only to find himself under fire from the Archangel as his alarm started to go off.

"Crap I am almost out of power." thought Athrun as suddenly he noticed Kira coming down at him with a sword. He aimed his gun at him only to have it cut off.

"Athrun!" yelled Kira as he pointed his sword at Athrun

"I'm not falling back Kira, you will have to shoot me." said Athrun as he turned on his beam sabers only to have the power go out on him. "NO!"

"Athrun get out of here!" yelled Nicol as he charged at Kira with one of his only remaining weapons a long rod designed to spear his enemy. As he tried to stab him, Kira ducked under the attack and sliced the sword into the cockpit.

"NICOL!" yelled Athrun as his friend went up in a huge explosion. Meanwhile Kira just sat there looking at his hands.

"What have I done?" asked Kira as Athrun retreated.

"Fall back." ordered Athrun as he held back the rage within him.

"What happened to Nicol?" asked Dearka

"He was murdered!" said Athrun "We will fall back and get our revenge later."

Kira returned to the ship shaking as he lowered himself to the deck only to be surrounded by a happy mob of people. He just forced himself through the crowd as Heero sat watching from Wing Zero. He just sat there as Skygrasper two arrived and Miriallia appeared to great her boyfriend. "I know Zero they have no idea what they will lose soon."

Back on the Zaft carrier Yzak slammed his fist into the wall. "Damn it! Damn it!" Athrun was just looking at the ground. "Why did he have to die?"

"Just come out and say it Yzak it's my fault. He was trying to save me!" yelled Athrun as he grabbed Yzak by the hem of his flight suit.

"Nock it out you two, our enemy is the Legged ship and the Strike not each other." said Dearka

The next morning Heero walked toward his machine just as chief Murdock walked into the hanger with his first cup of coffee. "Hey what are you doing here so early?" yelled Murdock as Heero looked at him.

"Get the Strike ready we are about to be attacked." Stated Heero as he hopped into Wing Zero before the alarm went off.

"All hands three enemy mobile suits coming from behind all pilots' man your machines." said the alarm as the activities began.

"Alright, keep Wing Zero in reserve again." Said Badgiruel

"To late Lt. Wing Zero is launching." said Miriallia

"What, how?" asked Badgiruel as the Captain finally made it to the bridge.

"Lt. he hacked the code and ordered a launch without clearance." Stated Miriallia

"That is ok, order the rest out." said the Captain as she took her chair.

"Yes, Captain" said Badgiruel as both skygraspers and Kira launched. Kira and the Strike stood on the back of the ship firing his rifle at the coming enemy.

"Today we avenged everything this ship has done!" yelled Yzak as he fired.

"For Nicol!" said Athrun as he fired at the ships engines. Meanwhile Dearka aimed at the engines only to see a blur pass by. Suddenly his flier exploded and he was sent tumbling to the earth.

"Dearka!" yelled Yzak as he looked behind them only to see Wing Zero. "You again?"

"Don't worry about me, take down that ship!" yelled Dearka as he landed on a small island.

"Alright." said the two other Zaft soldiers as they flew after the Archangel. Dearka turned his suit around only to see Wing Zero standing there.

"I'll take you down." said Dearka as he slammed his rifles together forming an even stronger cannon. He aimed to straight at Zero as he pulled the trigger. At the same time Heero raised his buster rifle and fired. The two massive energy blasts hit each other square in the center forming a quickly building ball of energy.

Back with the Archangel things where not looking good against the two enemy mobile suits. Even with the Strike and two skygraspers, they had lost all their AA guns on their right side and the anti-air hell dart missile launchers.

"All bulkheads are sealed from section 21-29." Said Kuzzey as Athrun flew overhead.

"The Aegis is above us!" said Sai as Athrun's mobile suit transformed into its attacking form and charged its main cannon.

"Evade!" ordered Ramius as the cannon fired. The beam of light came shooting down missing the main body of the Archangel but hit the side Valiant canon, causing a huge explosion.

"We've lost lift control and aviation control." said the helmsman.

"Keep us up Ensign Newman." ordered Ramius

"I don't think I can Captain." said Newman

"Alright take us toward those islands. Where is Wing Zero?" asked Ramous

"Heero is fighting with the Buster other than that we have no idea." said Sai as he saw the dotes on the edge of his radar screen.

Dearka screamed as his suit flew backwards. The two beam shots had hit each other before exploding sending his suit crashing into the side of a small hill. For a bit he just closed his eyes as he felt blood run down his face. Slowly he willed his damaged machine to its feet only to see Wing Zero standing there with a start. "What is that thing made off?" asked Dearka as he looked at his power supply what was beeping in the red line.

"I better get out of here." said Dearka as he pushed his engines only not to move and his armor deactivate. "No my engines are damaged and my other weapons are out."

"You're not going anywhere." said Heero's voice over the radio as he raised his rifle straight at Dearka's cockpit as the energy gathered at the tips of the rifle. Dearka just sat there waiting to die as Heero pulled the trigger but to his surprised nothing happened. As the beam rifle began to power down as Zero's eyes flashed.

"I see Zero, he needs to live in order for Orb to live." said Heero as he pulled out Zero's beam saber.

"What is he doing?" asked Dearka before Heero's saber plunged into the Buster on the right chest above the cockpit. As soon as Heero did that all the power went off inside the Buster. Dearka quickly tried to arm the self-destruct but found it wouldn't arm and the door wouldn't open. Suddenly his mobile suit shook and started to move.

"Looks like I'm a prisoner now." thought Dearka "Better that then dead."

Meanwhile the Archangel was forced to land on the small island, while La Flaga and Yzak shot each other. La Flaga was forced to land in the ocean water and Yzak's leg was blown off. On a nearby island Kira was fighting Athrun.

"Come on!" yelled Athrun as he charged forward with his beam sword out. His sword crashed against Kira's sword. "How could you have done it Kira, you murdered Nicol!" With that he jumped back.

"Kira!" said Tolle as he flew forward firing missiles out of his Skygrasper.

"No Tolle get back!" ordered Kira as Athrun threw his shield at the Skygrasper ripping through it. Back on the Archangel Miriallia's heart stopped as the signal lost sign appeared on her screen.

"Tolle no." said Miriallia

"Captain, Wing Zero is raising us." said Sai

"Put him on." said the Captain as Heero's face appeared on the small screen.

"I've captured the Buster, send armed crewman to the hanger." stated Heero

"Yes, can you get Skygrasper 1 from the ocean?" asked Ramius as Heero nodded.

Tolle's death had forced Kira into full attack mode. He cut Athrun's arm off but Athrun returned the favorer. Athrun transformed his mobile suit back into the grabber mode. He shot forward and wrapped its arms around the Strike as he charged the main cannon but just as it was about to fire the power went off. Athrun ground his teeth as he turned to a panel near his seat, out of the panel shot a key pad. He quickly typed in the numbers as the self destruct system armed. When it armed the hatched opened and using his personal flight packs he left. At the same time Kira's eyes widened as he figured out what was happening. Before he had time the Aegis went up in a huge explosion.

Well I hope you liked this chapter. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I ask that you keep on reviewing. Thanks Wilkins