Bonus chapter! This is partially in celebration of this fic hitting 100 reviews (105 at the time of this post), thanks to the massive flood of reviews on the last chapter. On a side note, the posting of this chapter will also push this fic to over 80000 words, about three times longer than any of my previous fanfics have run. This is also to give you people not only this chapter that everyone seemed so eager to see, but also allows the story proper to continue next Saturday. A total of six flashbacks are in this chapter, the latter three focusing on more recent events in the last two chapters that weren't seen in the chapters themselves, to show people what happened there. The first three flashbacks are the most important, and the overall focus of the chapter, really, though some other developments occur here.

On a side note, much of the beginning of the chapter can be disregarded as insignificant compared to the rest. That was the initial version, which I wanted to remove, but found it was the only way I could get this chapter going at all.

Also, we have cameos! Gilbert Durandal and Rey Za Burrel from Gundam SEED Destiny appear here, along with a mention of Talia Gladys, captain of the Minerva from the same series (for those of you who have never wanted anything to do with GSD). The cameos are all flashbacks, except for the phone call near the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny, or any of the associated characters. I do not own Saul Kessel, Ajay Cortez, or John Alaric, who are all the intellectual property of Akatsuki Leader13. However, this chapter features two significant characters, one of whom, Reine En Creuset, is one hundred percent mine.


February 13th, CE 71, Chambers of the PLANT Supreme Council


"The Committee of the Supreme Council shall now commence its inquiry into the attack on the Silverwind," announced Siegel. "Miss Reine?"

Reine sighed slightly. Maybe she had requested this inquiry herself, but it was still troubling. She stood up and approached the council table. She bowed before straightening and beginning her 'report'.

"Your excellencies," she said. "As you know, the Silverwind was attacked just inside the boundaries of the Debris Belt. We encountered an Earth Forces battleship, and they requested permission to inspect the vessel—ships in the Debris Belt are an oddity, after all. I approved the inspection, and things were going well, until they heard of our mission. Several of them began to argue, and a fight broke out between the Earth Forces soldiers and several of my bodyguards. The soldiers retreated to their ship, and they began an attack."

Zala snorted. "It was a mistake letting them on in the first place," he said. "Naturals can't be trusted."

Reine fought the urge to glare, and merely shook her head. "I do not believe that was the case," she said. "From what we overheard, it seems they were given information to suggest the Silverwind was, in fact, a disguised military vessel. I have reason to believe they were intentionally misinformed."

The giant display screen suddenly activated, displaying a mobile suit reminiscent of the Earth Forces G-weapon prototypes. The machine was red and white, and armed with the same basic equipment as the G-weapons.

"This machine came to our rescue, but was attacked by an unknown third party soon after arrival," said Reine. "We were able to escape, and saw this machine escape as well, after dispatching the attackers. However, the Silverwind was still badly damaged. We drifted further into the Debris Belt, eventually arriving at our destination, the ruins of Junius Seven. There, we discovered a second Earth Forces warship, the Archangel, a prototype mobile assault ship that had fled to the Debris Belt after the fall of Artemis to the Le Creuset Team."

Whispers began amongst the council members, and Reine was distinctly pleased to see the angry scowl on Patrick Zala's face.

"I sent a request for assistance, which they accepted," continued Reine. "It seems that, during their journey through the Debris Belt, they came upon the ruins of Junius Seven by accident, and stayed to pay tribute to the fallen." Zala sucked in an angry breath while Siegel and the moderates all smiled slightly. "During the twelve hours in which they assisted with repairs, I also had an opportunity to meet a number of civilian refugees, rescued after the collapse of Heliopolis. As I had been unaware of the events before setting out to Junius Seven, I was understandably confused."

Now, Reine did allow a glare to settle on her features. "Upon inquiring into the matter, I was informed of the events leading up to the collapse," said Reine. Zala's eyes widened in sudden horror. "Video records and the words of several students who circumstances forced into boarding the Archangel before the collapse confirm the use of heavy artillery by ZAFT forces within the colony interior."

"What?!" exclaimed Siegel in shock. "Heavy artillery? Inside a colony?"

"Preposterous," said Zala, hoping to shoot Reine down. "I received the report from Le Creuset. The Earth Forces were responsible for the collapse."

"Oh, really?" said Reine coldly. "I find it hard to believe that Commander Le Creuset lied to you, Chairman Zala. He did send you a preliminary report, right?"

Zala glared at Reine, but no one spoke up about her speaking out of turn, still reeling from the sudden new information.

"Obviously, the video records were falsified, and the Naturals were lying to you," said Zala. Here, Reine smiled thinly.

"Ah, but you see, that's just it," she said. "I got the personal account from their mobile suit pilots—two Heliopolis college students in the wrong place at the wrong time, forced to utilize the mobile suits in an attempt to protect the colony and their friends. Two Coordinator, college students."

Sharp intakes of breath were heard throughout the entire council chamber.

"Even assuming they lied to me—which they had no reason to do—I ask myself why the Earth Forces would destroy Heliopolis," continued Reine. "I found the crewmen of the ship to be very kind individuals, doing their best to protect who they can. And why would they need to destroy Heliopolis? Having been allowed to look over the reports of Commander Le Creuset, I find it hard to believe that the Archangel would have any reason to destroy Heliopolis. On the other hand, I find it very easy to believe that someone such as Rau Le Creuset would use heavy artillery within the colony."

The screen activated again, this time showing Reine's meeting with Rau in the hangar, from Athrun's inquiry into the events onwards.

"Given his reaction here, I am only further inclined to believe that the Earth Forces told me the truth about ZAFT's responsibility in the destruction," said Reine. "However, I also find it difficult to believe that Commander Le Creuset would not submit a full report to you, Chairman Zala. That leaves the question of why he didn't report it to the rest of the council, though."

"That's enough," said Zala. "Are you accusing me of altering the reports?!"

"I said nothing of the sort," said Reine. "I merely questioned why Rau Le Creuset would lie to the Supreme Council on a matter as serious as this."

Several moderates glared at Zala, hardly blind to who would be behind it, while the radicals all sent questioning glances his way.

"That's enough!" said Siegel. "We aren't here to question the previous reports. That will be handled at a later time. For now, I believe our inquiry into the matter of the Silverwind is complete. Miss Reine, you are free to go."


"I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and judge from your expression that things went well?" said John as Reine's limo carried the two to her home next door to the Clyne Residence. Reine had a distinctly smug expression adorning her features.

"Oh, yeah," said Reine. "Things went quite in my favor. Zala's in trouble… but how big is something I can't say. I did manage to reveal that the pilots of those mobile suits are Coordinators, but they'll never realize that Lacus is one of them."

"Hmmm…" murmured John. "I intercepted a transmission from Le Creuset. They apparently wiped out the 8th fleet in their attempts to reach the Archangel, but the ship managed a descent to Earth. Le Creuset observed the ship shift course in order to pick up its mobile suits, which during the course of the battle got separated from the ship. He estimates the landing point as somewhere in the African region."

"Africa, huh?" said Reine. "Isn't that the stomping grounds of the Desert Tiger?"

John nodded. "Yes, it is," he said. Reine nodded as well.

"Alright," said Reine. "For now, do nothing. But monitor all reports from the Tiger. If the Archangel is in his territory, I want to be ready to contact him at a moment's notice."

"Understood," said John. "How much will you tell him?"

"As much as is necessary," said Reine. "The Tiger's a member of the 11th fleet—whether he knows it or not. This war's already turning into a genocidal mess thanks to people like Zala. The trouble I stirred up will slow him, but I doubt it will stop him. Much as we may not like it, it's vital that the Earth Forces manage to develop new mobile weapons so that they aren't so heavily outclassed. At the same time, we need to do what we can to make sure ZAFT keeps the technological edge."

John nodded. "The LaGOWE will no doubt help with that on Earth," he said. "Up here in space… well, I hear MMI is working on a new model armed with beam weaponry, built to be even superior to the CGUE, but who knows how long that'll take."

"Months, at least," she said. "I'm no engineer, but I've studied that beam technology. It's no simple matter. The LaGOWE was built to support beam weapons from the start. Hell, its design is close enough to the BuCUE that it probably wouldn't be difficult to adapt beam weapons to the BuCUE as well. But mass-producing a mobile suit with beam weaponry won't be as easy. Sure, we overhauled CGUEs into the DEEP Arms model, but that was only a handful. They'll need to build the machine practically from the ground up, experiment with who knows how many different forms… How long would you estimate?"

John shrugged. "A couple of months… I'd guess they'll be ready within six months or so, but mass deployment won't be as easy for us as it will be for the Earth Forces when they finally get a Natural-use OS built."

Reine smiled softly. "I know," she said. "I just hope they don't get Orb… you know as well as I that if we lose Orb…"

"We lose the world," said John. "I know. Even with Heliopolis, Morgenroete didn't put their full might into the project. I shudder to think what would happen if Orb were to be annexed like the USSA was."

"They won't be," said Reine with certainty. "They'll destroy themselves before they let the Earth Forces or ZAFT get Orb."

John sighed. "I know."


Justice and faith… freedom and hope… tranquility and… destruction.

Rau sat in his quarters aboard the Vesalius, watching again the recordings of the 8th fleet's destruction… and the destruction of the refugee shuttle.

Damn you Zala… if only you weren't so important to my plans…

Rau knew that, somehow, Zala would get Zane out of trouble. He knew, in fact, that Patrick Zala would likely be privately overjoyed about the destruction of a shuttle filled with Naturals. Vaguely, he wondered what Zala's wife, Lenore, would think of the man now.

In spite of his plans, Rau was disgusted by the meaningless destruction. Even when Rau did similar things, he had a genuine purpose to it all. Zane had destroyed the shuttle only because he wanted too, only because he enjoyed the pointless slaughter and killing. He was the epitome of what Rau wanted to wipe out, but for his plans to proceed, he still needed the young madman.

I wonder what Reine is doing… thought Rau, mind straying to the wayward young girl he'd adopted all those years ago. The girl was… different, in Rau's mind. She had the power to bring a smile to his face. She'd given him something to live for… for a time.

And now… she gave him something to die for.


Begin Flashback

A young Rau surveyed the destruction. It had been mere hours since Blue Cosmos struck the medical research facility. The doctors had been researching how to fix the genetic flaw they discovered in Coordinators. Because they lacked the genetic input of Naturals, Coordinators would become sterile over the generations, with few third generation Coordinators able to have children, and no fourth generation Coordinators. The doctors, however, had been on the verge of discovering a 'cure', and Blue Cosmos had set out to wipe out the previously non-descript facility.

Rau wandered through the ruins. Despite the widespread destruction, much of the facility was surprisingly intact. The terrorists were horribly organized. Did they truly fail to realize that the research might have survived?

Moving on, Rau debated whether to destroy the research or not. On the one hand, it could interfere with the fate that awaited mankind… but on the other hand, perhaps Coordinators truly could bring about peace? With this research, it would be possible to create a world with only Coordinators. What would happen then?

Well, of course, Rau knew. Evolution would stall entirely, and the cycle would repeat. Fixing the flaw of genetic input would not counter the inability of Coordinators to evolve, unless they utilized further genetic engineering.

Continuing his wanderings, Rau stopped as he heard something. Was that… crying?

Following the noise, Rau gasped softly as he found a woman, lying on the ground, breathing hard, her once smooth brown hair matted with blood.

And in her arms, a baby, crying softly.

The woman looked up at Rau, her breathing heavy as her gentle violet eyes locked with Rau's sky blue orbs.

"Please…" she breathed, panting as she held the child out towards him. "Get her out of here…"

Rau stared at her, uncertain what to make of all this. Then, the woman suddenly stopped breathing, her eyes drifting closed, and her arms falling. On instinct, Rau reached out and grabbed the child.

Rau was getting a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, one that told him to keep watch on the child. He glanced at the nametag on the woman's labcoat, then walked over to an active computer terminal. He looked through the database for her, and put his rudimentary skills as a hacker to use breaking through the already horribly damaged security systems. What he found caused him to gasp openly.

He looked at the child… blue eyes, light, reddish brown hair… he took it all in. And began to chuckle.

That slight chuckle turned into full-blown laughter. How perfect!

End Flashback


Yes… thought Rau. How perfect indeed… for everything.


Begin Flashback

"Really, daddy, you shouldn't be doing this to yourself all the time," said Reine as she finished bandaging the wound on Rau's shoulder, one he'd gotten as a result of forgetting his medication while training. The spasms of pain had caused him to mess up and injure himself.

"Indeed, Rau," said Gilbert Durandal, Rau's physician and friend, as he packed up his medical equipment. "Unlike Reine and I, neither you, nor Rey, are Coordinators. You simply can't stand up to the sort of beating that we can, nor do you heal as fast. Even with the mild enhancements given to fix as many of your genetic flaws as was possible, you're still a Natural. A gifted one, but a Natural nevertheless."

"I know Gil," said Rau as he inspected Reine's job. Perfect, as always. The five-year-old was simply amazing. "But it is my only hope. You know that as well as I."

"Yes," said Gil sadly. "I do. Well then, I'm off. I'd like to pay a visit to Talia before heading back home."

Rau smiled. "Of course," he said. "I'll see you later." Gil nodded and left. Rau sighed as Reine moved up to him and glared in his face.

"Daddy, please stop," she said. Her features softened. "I'm worried about you. The medicine… and you're trying to push yourself so hard. Why?"

Rau patted Reine's head lightly. "Because I wish to be of use," he said. A lie, of course, but she didn't need to know that. "You're talents as a Coordinator are far too pronounced to live on most Earth nations, and unless I push myself like this, I can't be of use here in the PLANTs."

"You're lying," said Reine, frowning. Rau smiled. Perceptive child. "Please, don't lie to me. It's okay. Everything will be alright." Reine reached forward and wrapped her arms around Rau, hugging him tightly. Rau's eyes widened. He hadn't been entirely kind and fatherly to her…

"Stop worrying me," said Reine. Unconsciously, Rau lifted his arms and returned the hug.

It was the first time he ever hugged her. He wouldn't do it again for eleven years.

End Flashback


Rau smiled at the memory. It was at that moment that Reine had truly changed him. After that, he worked harder, but with a more definitive and absolute purpose in mind. For Reine's sake. Everything Rau did, he'd sworn he would do for her.


Begin Flashback

A ten-year-old Reine smacked Rau. Hard. Gil and Rey Za Burrel winced in sympathy at the sound of the resounding smack, and Rey gulped when he saw the distinct outline of Reine's hand on Rau's cheek.

The brunette glared at her adoptive father, fire dancing in her once soft blue eyes. Rau had the good sense to take several steps back.

"What… have I told you… about your crazy exercises?" said Reine, her voice dripping venom. Rey glanced nervously between Rau and Reine, while Gil prepared himself to bolt out of the house.

"I know," said Rau. "But I'm done, now. There's nothing more for me to do." Reine's glare didn't let up, and Rau sighed. "Reine, please understand why."

"Why? Why you pushed yourself to the brink of death simply so that your abilities could compete with those of Coordinators?!" cried Reine, tears of anger and fear forming in her eyes. Rau knelt down next to her and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

"For your sake," said Rau. "Everything I do is for you. They don't know yet, but you are the greatest hope for the future of the PLANTs. That means people like Blue Cosmos will come after you. I have to be able to ensure your safety—no matter what the risk to me."

"D-daddy?" gasped Reine, shocked by the heartfelt words… and the truth she could feel within them.

End Flashback


Reine sighed.

It was the first time that she'd really had an opportunity to sit and think about the events on the Silverwind, and remember her father's declaration of how important she was to him.

With everything that had happened, she'd come to the impression that her feelings that he was telling the truth were wrong, and that, in fact, he had simply been using her. Now though… well, she was simply curious as to what changed him.

Pulling an old photo album off of the shelf, she opened it and looked inside, a smile on her face as she saw the picture of her with Rau, Rey, and Gil. They looked like… no, they were, a family.

Turning several pages in the album, Reine saw a picture of herself and Rey from two years ago, and it was immediately apparent that Reine had, in fact, slapped the blonde.

Reine smiled fondly. Rey had just confessed to having a crush on Reine, and asked her out. The prompt response was a very painful rejection that had Gil laughing and smiling for days. She'd later apologized to Rey for overreacting, and declined the date much more politely. It was strange, because Reine normally wasn't a violent person. She guessed it was because Rey reminded her so much of her father, whom she'd become estranged with by then.

Idly, she wondered what it was that had led to the degradation of their relationship. It had almost seemed to collapse overnight, when she thought back on it. She couldn't even remember the last time they had spoken, and had practically blocked every memory she had of him out of her mind.


Aboard the Vesalius, Rau was looking at a similar photo album to the one Reine was looking through. Despite the estrangement, Rau had held onto everything involving his daughter. Strictly speaking, he shouldn't have had something such as the album with him on a warship, but there were definitely benefits to being a commander. And, oftentimes, the album was the only thing that allowed him to remember what the point of everything for him was.

Perhaps the only thing that kept him from degrading into the sort of monster that Zane Scirocco had become.

Thinking back on Zane, Rau grimaced. He blamed himself for what Zane had become. Zane had—briefly—been Rau's protégé, but the madness that seemed to have been born from the Bloody Valentine within Scirocco's mind fed on the darker aspects of Rau's teachings while ignoring the reason humanity still lived, and ignoring the hopes of people such as Reine and the Clyne family. That had led to a partial estrangement of sorts between the two. However, despite all the problems that had arisen, Zane was still a useful tool. However, Rau would delight in eliminating the problematic teenager when the time finally came. Hopefully by his own hand, but one of his subordinates—or even one of the Archangel's pilots—would do just as well.


Begin Flashback

"Ades," said Rau through grit teeth over a private communiqué as the remaining mobile suits returned to their motherships. "I want a security detachment readied. As soon as Scirocco steps out of his machine, I want him detained, and thrown into the smallest, coldest holding cell we have."

"C-commander?" questioned Ades, uncertain why Rau seemed so angry.

"He knowingly fired on a retreating shuttle full of civilians," said Rau. "Don't hide the security either… I want him to see it. If I'm lucky, he'll try to escape and we'll have a good excuse to simply kill him."

"Understood," said Ades firmly, his own eyes narrowing. He could understand Rau's anger.

End Flashback


Begin Second Flashback, a short while later

"Commander, if I might ask, why'd you order Scirocco taken prisoner?" asked Saul. He was the only one of the Le Creuset team's redcoats who hadn't been close enough at the time to catch Zane's relatively short range communiqué, too busy by that point with dealing with the rest of the 8th fleet. His machine didn't have the power of the X numbers, nor did he have the sheer bloodthirsty ruthlessness and experience of Zane.

"Because he's a murderer," said Rau, mask of composure carefully held into place. "At the end of the last battle, he shot down a shuttle full of civilians. Need I add that he delighted in it?"

"What?!" exclaimed Saul in shock. Athrun nodded grimly.

"Yeah," he said. "None of us were in a position to stop him. I was getting the commander out of there, Yzak and Dearka were falling into the atmosphere, and Nicol was too far away. The Murakumo tried to intercept the shot, but both it and the Strike were too far away and going through too much turbulence to stop him either."

"That bastard…" said Saul quietly, clenching his fist.

Rau couldn't help but nod in agreement. "I'll do everything I can to make sure he's properly punished," said Rau. "Though I fear he'll get off far too lightly. As I said to Ades, I'd hoped he would try to resist arrest—and give us an excuse to simply end him. Unfortunately, it seems that Zane, in his own twisted way, is simply too smart for that. A shame."

"Why would he get off lightly?" asked Nicol, confused and angry at the very thought. Rau was silent a moment before walking away.

"It's something I'd prefer not too discuss," he said simply. In truth, he didn't want them to know just how depraved Patrick Zala was becoming.

End Flashback


Rau opened his eyes and sighed slightly. Things could never be simple.

Not for the first time, the masked ZAFT commander questioned if he should've done everything in his power to prevent the war after all.


"Miss Reine? You have a phone call," said Ajay Cortez. He was a member of the 11th fleet, and another of Reine's bodyguards, but mostly worked in the guise of her attendant… and butler.

"Who is it?" asked Reine, raising an eyebrow.

"Rey Za Burrel," responded Ajay. Reine's breath momentarily caught, and she walked over to Ajay. She picked up the phone.

"Hello?" asked Reine softly.

"Reine? Hi," came Rey's voice. Reine couldn't help but smile, feeling somewhat amused that Rey would call at a time like this—particularly since they hadn't spoken to each other in a year.

"So it is you, huh, Rey?" said Reine. "What brought this on all of a sudden? As I recall, the last time I saw you, I nearly broke your neck when you tripped and fondled me by accident in your attempt to stop yourself from hitting the floor."

"Uh, yeah, well…" said Rey nervously. Reine laughed.

"Don't worry, I've forgiven you," she said. "So, what's this all about?"

"Actually, Gil wanted me to call you," said Rey. Reine's jaw tightened. She hadn't spoken to Durandal since before the aforementioned groping incident. This worried her.

"Why?" she asked.

"It's… about Rau," said Rey. "Gil's worried about him. Something about concerns that Rau might be becoming suicidal."

Reine frowned, outwardly hiding her worry. "I see…" she said. "He only realized it today? That seems strange, since my father is currently in orbit over Earth."

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger," said Rey. "I don't know why he didn't want me to call you earlier or anything. Maybe he just wanted to be certain? I'm not a doctor, so I wouldn't know."

Reine sighed. "Okay, I'll give you that," she said. "Thanks for letting me know."

"Not a problem," said Rey.

"Bye," said Reine.

"See ya."

With that, the two hung up. Reine sighed.

Why would her father be suicidal?

"Reine," came John's voice, snapping her out of her thoughts. "We're ready."

"Okay," said Reine. Thoughts on what she was about to do reminded her of why she was doing it… and, consequently, Siegel's reaction to the news that Lacus was piloting an Earth Forces mobile suit.


Begin Flashback

"What?!" exclaimed Siegel in shock. "She… why…?"

"Wrong place, wrong time," said Reine. "She couldn't reveal herself to the ZAFT forces, either, without the risk of compromising your position. We know how bad things with Zala are getting. And you know how she is about Kira. The two couldn't stand the thought of sitting by and doing nothing, when they could actually make a difference in stopping the ZAFT forces threatening them, Heliopolis, and their friends."

Siegel sighed. Somehow, he'd almost expected this. "I see," he said. "But Lacus doesn't belong at the controls of a weapon like that."

"No one does," said Reine, a sad smile on her features. "Yet, here we are, fighting this war. But, to be honest, I don't think there's anyone I'd be more reassured to know was using one of those machines than Lacus. Someone who won't use it needlessly… and will put it to good use."

Siegel smiled softly, fondly. "I suppose," he said. "I just hope she doesn't get hurt."

"Don't worry," said Reine, smiling. "She won't. Lacus is too strong for that."

End Flashback


A short while later, Reine reemerged from the dressing room, and was satisfied by the gasps of her bodyguards and Siegel. She smiled at them.

"Is something the matter?" she asked. John shook his head.

"Not at all," he said. "Miss Lacus Clyne."

Reine glanced at the mirror… and saw the face of Lacus Clyne looking back at her.


"It's time," said Rau, having sent a request regarding Dearka and Yzak to Gibraltar and completed his final report to the Supreme Council. He pressed the intercom button on his desk. "Ades, we're moving out," he said. "Back to the homeland. There's no point in remaining here."

"Yes sir," said Ades.

Moments later, the Vesalius and the Ziegler both activated their thrusters and turned for L5.


Author's Note: Well there we go. The first--and probably only--"flashback" phase of this story. We get an interesting look into the past of Rau and Reine's relationship, and learn more about how they've affected one another. We also see a bit about what Reine's been plotting, a look back at Siegel's reaction to the revelation of the Strike and Murakumo pilots, and a bit of humor in the form of Reine's relationship with Rey (who I actually derived her name from... ^_^).

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed that. We see a bit more about Rau's motives, but this makes his logic, potential plans, and the entirety of his motives an unknown. Many of you can probably figure it out, or see it clearly, without even realizing it. On the other hand, just as many of my readers will probably see straight through everything, see everything there is to see about Rau, only to stick around and make sure their certain.

Next chapter, we see the reactions of the Archangel crew to the chaotic Battle of Orbit, as well as the more personal reactions of Kira, Lacus, Chris, and Flay to the destruction of the shuttle. Ja ne!