Enjoy :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Seed Destiny

Shiho followed her first-officer through the halls of the ship. She knew the blueprints by heart, but it still helped having a tour of the Coursica.

"...this is the mess hall." Commander Fredricksen continued, "The cook's name is Fritz. He's a nice guy, but don't catch him on a bad day."

Fritz was a short, slightly balding man standing behind the counter in the mess hall. He waved to Shiho, and she smiled and waved back. She would have to go introduce herself personally later.

Remi Fredricksen was a very cheerful soul. He talked a lot, which was good because Shiho was usually uneasy in new situations. She generally nodded her head, asked him a question here and there, and waved to people. He was a first generation Coordinator, and from his file, she remembered that he had spent the greater part of his life in the military. His parents were dead, but he had on younger sister. His emphasis was intellegence, and from what she was told he was very good at what he did.

They entered the bridgeroom, where she was greeted with smiling faces.

"This is the CIC Controller, Leutinant Saahl Hehn." Remi said.

Saahl Hehn was an east indian man from New Dehli. His expertice was communications, and he had the ability to crack any encryption, which would come in handy. She shook Saahl's hand, he bowed his head slightly, "Welcome to the ship, ma'am."

"Thank you." she smiled.

Fredricksen continued around the room. The technical officer, Sargent Maria Yukishiro, was a run-away from Sextillius 9. She was a short teenage girl, Shiho guessed that she probably was no older then 19, who had a speciality for computers. The weapons officer Leutinant Amon Lothaire was a very tall, dark-haired, cajun man from the United States. He had a thick southern accent, and Shiho had the feeling that he could brench-press twice her own weight.

"Here's you're seat." Fredricksen smiled, pointing to the captain's chair. He handed her a file, "We'll be departing soon."

"Thank you." Shiho took the file and looked it over, "Has my Deep Arms been loaded?"

"This morning." he replied, "Everything is functioning in top condition. The engineer was impressed. Saying something about soldiers from the old order were taught better mobile suit ediquette."

Shiho laughed, "I don't know about the old order part, but I've had many squad leaders. All who expected top shape on mobile suits."

"I can believe that." he folded his arms, "Although, I never really was able to get completely used to the idea of fighting my battles in a giant robot."

Leutinant Lothaire snorted from his post, "That's cause every time you get in one you fall on your ass."

There was a wave of giggling and laughter around the room.

"That's rich, Lothaire." Fredricksen sneered, "What was your favorite pastime in that Louisana swamp you grew up in? Hog-tying alligators or something? You're one to talk about being graceful or not."

Lothaire smirked, "Up yours, sir." then glanced at Shiho, "Sorry, ma'am."

Shiho shook her head, still laughing. Everyone on the bridge got along so well, it was like she had known these people all of her life.

Sargent Yukishiro giggled, "We're soldiers, who cares about being graceful?"

"I care." Lothaire said, "Hey, Hehn? You got anything to say on this?"

Hehn smiled, "I have no desire to join in on this conversation."

Fredricksen glanced at Hehn, his smirk never fadded, "You're just saying that because back at your homecountry you were nationally ranked for ballroom dance."

"As I said." Hehn smiled, "I have no desire to argue."

Shiho scribbled some notes on the report and was about to say something when Hehn annouced that all hands checked in. They were ready to depart and head for space. Shiho handed the report back to Fredricksen, her engagement band caught in the room lights, and Sargent Yukishiro smiled.

"That's a beautiful ring, captain." she smiled, "How long have you been engaged? There wasn't anything in the report."

"Just a little under a week." Shiho said.

"Well, well." Lothaire clapped, "I'd say that's reason enough for a little party in the mess hall after everyone's shifts!"

"You nut." Yukishiro made a face, "You just want an excuse to get drunk. Last time you did that, Hehn and I had to haul your drunk butt back to your room on our shoulders."

"As I said, parties, cherie. Good times."

There was another wave of laughter, and Shiho smiled.

I think I could get used to this.

Sue stood in Djibril's office.

"Any luck with Rhinner?"

"None, sir. The rebels have him hid well. Our contacts from the underground were caught last week, and since then it's been difficult."

"Ezaria Jule is no fool." he said, "What about my other demand?"

"The Coursica is launching from earth today." she looked at her clipboard, "Squads 6-8, as well as a Naszca-Class warship have been sent. They will be tracking the Coursica for a while before they can get enough data to gadge an appropriate attack.."

"Great." he frowned.

"There's nothing that can help that, sir." she said, "Our informent from the Coursica has warned us about Hahnenfuss. She's a ZAFT specialist. Trained by the top instructs, squad leaders and-"

"I know all about her military history. Is there anything in her personal file?"

Sue glanced at her notes, "Apparently, she's engaged."

Djibril's eyebrows instantly went up, "That's useful. To whom?"

"It doesn't say. Apparently it was too recent to be recorded in to reports, however, it's suspected that it's someone important in ZAFT, and maybe Orb as well."

"I see." he said, "See if you can figure out who it is. Maybe we can use this whole situation to our advantage somehow."

"Yes, sir."

Michael sat on his bed, looking at the picture that was now sitting up on his nightstand. It was the same picture he kept in his room. How the hell did they-

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

It opened, and Meyrin smiled, "You ready for your first day?"

He stood up, and followed her out of the room. Today, he was going to spent most of the day simply researching things for Ezaria Jule. There was not much else he was going to do till they trusted him more.

Michael pulled his jacket over his shoulders. It was cold on the base, and the rooms were on limited heating to conserve energy. He wore a pair of black slacks, a grey dress shirt, and a black windbreaker over it.

"Cold?" she asked.

"A little. Aren't you?"

She was wearing her regular t-shirt and skirt mix.

"I've gotten used to it." she smiled, "Last night was chilly though."

He found a smile creeping on the ends of his mouth, she always made him smile for some reason.

They reached the doorway to the control room, and Meyrin stopped.

"Ready to be shocked and amazed?"

"It's just a control room. How can it be that big of a deal?"

Meyrin shook her head, "It's the control room for the ENTIRE network. It's pretty cool."

"Well, let's see it."

She chuckled, and swiped her card.

Michael's mouth dropped open.

It was filled with computers, desks, wires, screens...everything was connected together to a large flat-bed screen in the middle of the room. It displayed everything from war plans to a data map. There was also a large communication screen in the front of the room. There were sounds of computers, rustling papers, and people talking furiously.

"This room is the center of control." Meyrin smiled, "It's connected to the main computer that was originally used by PLANT supreme council. It's the second most powerful computer in existence, next to Orb's supercomputer."

"Wow."

He meant it. Michael was impressed.

"Come on, Ezaria-sama is waiting for us in her office."

Ezaria Jule sat at her desk in the far end of the control room. It was a clean office, despite the number of people constantly running in and out of it. On the wall, her council uniform and commander's uniform hung on the wall. There were a few things on her desk, but the one noticeable thing was a framed picture. It was really the only personal item in the room other then the bamboo plant sitting on the shelf next to her desk.

It was a picture of herself, her husband, and her son. From what Michael knew from records, she married a member of the Supreme Council the first year she was inducted into the council. He was politician of PLANT nobility, although, he had also been a legendary soldier in ZAFT. It probably explained how their son Yzak turned out.

According to records, Michael also knew that Admiral Jule had been killed in a battle two years before Bloody Valentine. Michael also knew that Yzak Jule was currently a fugitive.

"Sit down, Mr. Rhinner." she said.

He sat down.

"I have a few tasks for you to begin on for me." she handed him a few files, "All of them require you to hack into the Blue Cosmos mainframe. Can you handle that for me?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good." she said, "If you need any help, ask Meyrin. She's the best hacker we have on the base."

Meyrin smiled, obviously happy with the little praise.

"Alright, you two, dismissed."

As Michael was about to leave, waiting till Meyrin was out of earshot, he turned.

"I've been tracking Yzak Jule for some time, Ezaria-sama."

She froze, looking up at him.

"He's in Orb right now, Zala is going to put him in management of Carpentaria for the time being. He spent the greater part of his time in Windside." he said, "He's engaged."

She gasped, her hands shaking slightly, "Why did you never tell Djibril this?"

He gave her a sad smile, "I know about the well-being of your son, it's not my information to tell. I just thought you might want to know that he was alright."

"Thank you, Michael."

"Welcome." he nodded, leaving the room.

Ezaria stood up, and took a small glass from the shelf. Taking a bottle of blackberry brandy from one of the cuboards, she poured herself a small shot. Looking over at the picture on the desk, she smiled to herself.

"Our son is getting married, Nick." she held up the glass, "I guess we can drink to that."

Cagali sat on the bed in her room, brushing out her hair. She would be lying if she said she was really that happy at the moment. Aside from all the meetings, conferences, and other things...those were all every-day events that she could deal with. But, if the military advisors denied Athrun's request, he was going to be sent back to the front tommorrow. There were a series of battles breaking out in the Phillippines, and although his presence was not required, it would insure victory.

The door opened, and Athrun walked into the room.

"What did they say?"

Athrun stared at her grimly a moment. She frowned, a feeling of panic and dread washed over her. She could not loose him again.

"Athrun-"

"I'm staying."

She stared at him a moment, and then taking a pillow she chucked it at him.

"You idiot! You scared me for a moment!"

Athrun was laughing now, holding the pillow in his hands. He set the pillow aside, slipping off his jacket and shoulder rig, piling them on the chair. Unbuttoning his collar he crawled onto the bed with her. She curled against his side, resting her head on his shoulder.

"If I had stayed in ZAFT, I would have had the option of retiring this year." he said, "I've wracked up enough good feelings in the council that they trust me as a full-time Orb leader."

"That's good." she said, playing with his tie that hung loosely on his neck.

"You know what else that means?"

"What?"

He smirked, "I get to stay here as long as I want. I can go and fight whenever I want, but I also have the choice of never stepping into a mobile suit again."

Cagali stared at him, "Whatever makes you happy, Athrun. I won't ask you to do more then you can."

"Hm?"

"I know you. Kira is the same way." she said, suddenly grinning at him, "You like to stand in the background, but once someone is in trouble you have to be the hero."

"Of course." he said, "That's the way it goes."

She pinched his nose, "Athrun, how did I ever end up with someone as wonderful as you?"

He gripped her hand that was in front of his face, rolling over, he pinned her to the sheets. Touching his lips to her neck, he raised his head and kissed her. One of her hand pulled the tie off his neck, tossing it aside as she wrapped one of her legs around his. The kiss that he had originally intended to be gentle quickly turned into a linger. Her skilled fingers were beginning to undo his shirt.

Feeling her touch his bare chest, he smiled at her, and spoke the last coherent thought he would have for a while.

"You forget, Cagali. I'm the lucky one."

Shiho walked around her cabin, unpacking things. As she ruffled through her bags, she stopped on a small, red-paper wrapped box that had been stuck in her things. Staring at it, and not remembering putting it in there, she sat on her bed as she began to unwrap it.

A piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Reading it, a smile crept across her face.

I thought this would be something you'd like to have. Brag about me, I don't mind.

I always thought that a week of dish duty is a better punshiment that reporting people. Trust me. And it's funny as hell.

Yzak

Shiho chuckled to herself, and looked at what he had put in the box. It was a picture in a simple, black frame. It had been taken a month after the festival at Windside, the first picture she ever had taken with him. She was wearing a billowing shirt and a sweater, but it had been cold that day. Someone had snapped a shot of Yzak slipping his jacket over her shoulders.

Touching the picture gently, she set it on the nightstand next to her bedside. There was a beep at her door and she stood up, opening it, Maria stood on the other side.

"Sargent?" Shiho looked at her, "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing." she said, "Come on."

Shiho walked with her down the hallway.

"So, what's the deal with Lothaire and Fredricksen?" Shiho asked, having noticed earlier that the two men did not get along.

"Well, Commander Fredricksen is french and Leutinant Lothaire is cajun french. Lothaire thinks the Commander is stuck up, and the Commander thinks Lothaire is a barbarrian."

"Ah."

"Don't worry, though. They don't beat on each other or anything that extreme."

"Thank goodness." Shiho said, "I would hate to be writing referrals for two of my top officers right off the bat."

Maria smiled, "Leave managing them to me, ma'am. I do pretty well."

Shiho laughed, "I hold you to that, Sargent."

The door to the mess hall opened, and they were met with soda, cake, and poker.

Dearka half-awake, his arm curled around Miriallia. Her hand was knotted up in his chest as she slept. He could lay awake for hours just listening to her. Most nights, he would fall asleep being hypnotized by her and the sounds of the waves in the distance.

He could not stop thinking about the message he had picked up in the GINN. Miriallia still did not know about it, but he planned on telling her tommorrow. Till then, it was something that was running around in his head. Part of him wanted to get up and rush head-on into battle, part of him would rather be shot then give up his life.

As he was about to fall asleep, his eyes snapped open. There something creeping on the outter edge of his senses. He slowly edged Miriallia off him, she groaned as she settled back into the pillows. Sliding out of bed, he opened the balcony door and walked out onto the deck. Listening to the air and sounds around him, he frowned,

"Shit."

"Dearka?" Miriallia whispered, sitting up, "What's wrong?"

"8 scouting Zaku's headed this way." he said, "An aircraft carrier, all are armed with a buster rifle, probably sabers..."

Miriallia was quiet, "Is it Blue Cosmos?"

Glancing off at the Pacific Ocean off to the east, Dearka let out a sigh and headed to the closet to pull on his clothes.

"Yeah."

Now that I look at this story, I laugh becuase originally I didn't think too much about it. When I was first beginning to write it, it started off with a oneshot, and for some reason that I started getting ideas from. I had no idea people would actually like it that much.

Thanks for all the reviews. They really make my day :D

Arigato

Lilith