Down at the city in Gulnahan, the growing city-town was seen with few people walking around, mainly uniformed people.

Blue Cosmos was written on their shoulders, and it could be seen that they were unofficially siding and fighting for them. Still, they held blue and white Windams surrounding the town.

There were also some Mobile Suits hiding in the abandoned base hidden in the mountains.

It was a weak set up but to them that didn't matter, simply because they did not believe that anyone would go after that small town. Of course, they'd been wrong before and they would be wrong once more.

Stratis, Hiro and Saunders were preparing their launch pads with all of their mobile suits. Captain Holsen of the Stratis Battleship had ordered that the United Team would set out before them.

"All ships, we will begin to move forward now. Be on the lookout for anti-ship cannons and the possibility of a Lohengrin." Holsen said as he felt the ship sluggishly crawl forward.

Wes, Coniel, Trent, and Ikros were all on their way down the mountainous ravene, heading along the coastline.

The Savior and the Murasame were both in Fighter mode, speeding between the higher planes, and skimming the surface. While the Zaku III followed with long bursting jumps, keeping up with the two and saving a great deal of fuel.

"First action in a long time…anybody nervous?" Trent asked with a shaky voice, to which Coniel scoffed at and spoke through the com-link. "You're supposed to be a pilot for Orb? What a wimp!"

"Hey that's coming from someone taking a ride with the Captain!" Ikros shouted in defense of his friend.

"Well I'm not trained to fly a mobile suit!" Coniel shouted in return and Wes sighed in sadness.

"That's enough…we've got targets coming up!" Wes said as he looked over his radar, spotting spots right at the edge.

"The signal's pretty weak isn't it?" Ikros stated as he looked over his own radar and took another jump with his Zaku.

Wes nodded and called in. "Trent, what do you make of it?"

"Stealth units?" Trent responded unsure, and Coniel replied. "I don't remember seeing any of those in action"

"Maybe their not mobile suits, but weapons being hidden by Myoski (Sp?) particles." Wes said as he turned his Savior towards the target.

"Anti-ship?" Trent asked as he followed and looked behind to see Ikros doing the same. "It would be the best defense, and it's along the coastline. Let's hit it hard and fast, we need to clear the way as fast as possible."

"Roger that Wes" Trent responded as he followed closely, just below his Captain. Ikros also responded and followed the two as best he could.

"Targets coming up!" Wes said, seeing his view screen magnify on the target automatically.

"Can you see it?" Trent said suddenly as he looked at his own magnification.

"No joy…but the radars says it's there…" Ikros said, when a beam fired towards him.

"What the?" "No questions, just fire! Fire!"

Wes commanded as he opened fire on the target with his four beam cannons, creating an explosion and a recoil that weren't expected.

"Whoa!" Wes shouted and looked over at Coniel to make sure she was fine before regaining his heading and passing over the destroyed target.

"How's it look Wes?" Trent asked as he followed, his plane wavering slightly.

"Weapon all right, but I'm not sure of what kind…"

"Let me take a look…" Ikros called as he stopped his Zaku in front of the charred weapon. "You guys keep going, I can catch up later."

"Roger, don't take too long!" Wes said as he and Trent continued on their way.

Ikros looked over the weapon, pieces of it scattered on the desert sand. There weren't any bodies, but Ikros noticed bits and pieces of uniform scattered everywhere. The gun-barrel had been melted by the beams, but it was definitely the right size to create a good hole in a battleship.

"Computer, give me a spec search for a Manned Anti-ship Beam gun…four cylinder coolant, and spherical movement. Search." Ikros' computer beeped in reply and began a search, coming up with several matches. Most of them were Orb and Zaft, but there was one Earth Force spec.

Choosing that one, he was given a map of the guns specs. He nodded, deciding it was the right kind of gun and looked over the summary of the gun.

"…weapon designed for mass destruction of a large scale over a long distance. First weapon capable of beam curvature, although completely new and unperfected form of firing…"

Ikros shook his head and sighed before he continued to read and widened his eyes at one sentence.

"…specs insist that the gun be covered by a special Minovsky particle covering, and that more than one be installed in a specific spot…"

Ikros moved out of the way as another beam fired. "Shit!"

He threw his axe in the direction of the beam, the explosion showed him that he'd done his job correctly. Ikros then groaned in realization that his Axe was now gone.

Another shot was soon fired, and the Zaku ducked before firing his beam gun straight at the gun, creating another explosion.

"This won't end very well…better get up high!" Ikros launched into the air, hoping for a better view of the surroundings, he ducked just in time as another few beams headed in his direction.

"Damnit!"

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"Trent, we're coming up on the town. Make sure you're ready to send the all clear once we engage"

"Copy that Captain, let's do this!" Trent shouted.

Coniel rolled her eyes and spoke, "Oh now you act all brave…you'd better keep an eye on him!"

She looked straight at Wes, who looked back and stated, "He's a pilot, he can make his own decisions and he's fighting for your town…I don't want to hear another word out of you!"

"Well you can't just-"

"Please…" Trent said softly through the com, quieting Coniel down slightly as he continued. "Let me show you…just how good I can be!"

Trent charged forward, and Wes followed, allowing him to take the offensive as they came right on the Blue Cosmos mobile suits.

"Let's take'em down Trent!" Wes said as his Savior curved in the air over the town and transformed. "Don't hit the reactors, let's make silent kills while we can understood?"

"Roger! Let's clear the way!" Trent pulled out his beam saver and ran through the cockpit of a Strike Dagger, watching as it fell to the ground with a clatter but not explosion.

"1 down, 7 targets left!" Wes yelled as he transformed and pulled out his own beam sabers, stabbing through two other Windams.

Trent looked around as he was fired upon by two beam weapons. He raised his shield in time to block the attack before charging once more. Using his shield, he pushed one of the enemies weapon into the air before running through the cockpit. And then turned as he used his shield to crush the other cockpit.

"3 left…they're running!" Trent shouted as he saw them take off into the air and towards the mountain.

"Trent call for reinforcements, I've got these…" He pulled out his four beam cannons and clamed the Saviors feet to the ground as he fired.

Red and blue beams sliced through the air and curved slightly in the desert sun. They were powerful enough to melt through the armor and destroyed the mobile suits mid-air. The beams finally stopping as it hit the mountain side, miles away from the town.

"That should wake them up, get ready to defend!" Wes said as he kept two of his beam cannons ready to fire, and his two beam sabers ready to fight.

"This is where we need Ikros…" Trent said as he looked around for any other enemies.

Wes nodded as he kept his cameras open for any enemies. "Coniel, I think you should probably seek some shelter and tell your people to do the same…does that work for you?"

Coniel nodded as the cockpit opened, "Don't leave without me, I've still gotta talk to Athrun after this."

Wes nodded and Coniel was taken down as Wes continued to watch for any other enemies. "Trent, keep an eye on her. If she needs help, you'll be the one taking care of her."

"What!? Why?"

"Cause she might like you."

"What!? Wes what are you talking about? Wes?"

Wes didn't answer as Trent began to babble slightly and blush profusely. Wes grinned as he closed the cockpit and looked as Coniel entered a house.

Then a transmission came through, "Wes! This is Ikros! I just took out a good deal of guns. This is not any unofficial Blue Cosmos group. They actually have curvature beam weapons! Be ready for that! I'm on my way right now!"

Wes growled as he called over to Trent, "Call Stratis, I need Last Hope launched now!"

"Roger that Wes!" Trent yelled as he quickly began to call through his com-link as Wes took off and headed outside of the small town.

The Savior landed and bent its knees as its feet clamped down and its four beam cannons were ready to fire.

"All right, let's see what you've got BC…" Wes whispered as he waited for the enemy.

Trent finished his message, receiving the ok from the Captain of the Stratis. He sighed in relief as he moved his Murasame and prepared to launch. He was stopped when a small stone hit his camera.

He looked down to see Coniel standing with an expression of anger and her hands right on her hips. Trent sighed as he opened the cockpit and lowered the rope.

"Wes…I'm going to kill you…" He whispered as he noticed the rope become tight and begin to rise with Coniel at the end of it.

As Coniel entered, the cockpit closed and Trent prepared to move his mobile suit closer to the Savior.

"Great…I can't believe I have to go with you…" Coniel whispered, making Trent look up at her and grit his teeth in anger.

"You could have just stayed in the town."

"No way! I have to make sure that you guys don't make any mistakes," She stopped and poked her finger into his cheek, "Especially you wimpy boy."

Trent growled as he landed his Murasame into the ground rather roughly. He smiled inwardly as Coniel fell over in the cockpit screaming.

Wes listened in on what was occurring inside of the cockpit. Trent hadn't turned off the mike, but Wes was interested in what was going on.

"Huh!? Wait, what are you doing!?" Wes heard Trent yell out suddenly and then Trent groaned suddenly.

"That wasn't funny!" Coniel shrieked through the com-link, and then Trent responded, "Well you didn't have to punch me!"

Wes sighed as he turned off the radio, he didn't want to hear anymore. It would be an interesting relationship if it worked out for the two of them, but he wouldn't interfere.

He'd only watch.

He looked back up at the mountains, seeing no change or additional mobile suit units appear. He was beginning to wonder what Blue Cosmos was planning when his com started up again, "Captain! Please get here, I can't fight like this!" Trent yelled out, rather pathetically.

Wes smirked but didn't laugh as he answered, "A good soldier should be able to fight in any situation. She's staying in your cockpit until the battles over."

"…I am gonna die…"

"Don't say that while I'm in here!" Coniel shouted at Trent's thoughtless statement.

Wes laughed finally, beginning to relax in the tense atmosphere. "And here I was beginning to think he'd never loosen up!" He heard through the com-link suddenly.

"Ikros, you're pretty late…"

"Sorry Cap, just bumped into the "Last Hope" and led them over this way."

"Captain, this is Jessica. We're late because Kuzzy had to go to the bathroom after we took off!"

"I did not!"

Wes laughed once more before stating, "Well enough pleasantries. Ikros take position next to Trent. You don't have a high-beam cannon today, so you'll just have to deal with a normal rifle and back-up duty."

Wes looked around, not seeing any more enemies for some reason. "I want 'Last Hope' to set up a perimeter around the town as we wait for reinforcements. They'll be here soon, but not sooner than the enemy."

"Heads up!" Trent yelled suddenly as he looked up at the mountains, noticing two squadrons of Strike Daggers.

"Fast little chumps…Fire!" Wes yelled as he fired his four beam cannons towards the squadrons.

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"Captain, we're nearing Panama!" Dearka heard from Miriallia as he placed it on screen. The view was that of mainly the ocean and a green and brown piece of land.

"Any enemies?" Dearka asked as he looked and Miriallia didn't answer as the screen focused on several mobile suits standing on guard and flying around.

"What the!?" Yzak yelled as he noticed how many were armed and prepared for battle. Shino and Prine looked at their Captain in surprise at the look on his face. Yzak growled as he picked up his radio, "Athrun, what the hell is this?"

"They knew we were coming…" Athrun said in reply quite simply. "I told you to be prepared for just about anything…we were bound to have a spy somewhere working for Blue Cosmos."

Yzak growled in response as he ordered the preparation of all the mobile suits to launch from his ship. "Get my Gouf ready as well!"

"No, Yzak! The plan is still in effect!" He heard Athrun yell from his Captain's seat. "Take command of your fleet from your seat, and send your second in command in your stead. Understand?"

Yzak growled in reply once more, and Dearka listened scratching his head at the same time. He wasn't able to cope with the same plan, his second in command was able to do battle in a mobile suit.

"Dearka?" Dearka heard from beside him, he looked to see Miriallia looking at him with concern. He smiled in return before he stretched his arms and then stood up.

"Mir, you're in charge now. Get my mobile suit ready and launch all other suits!" Dearka said as he walked away, leaving Mir to sigh sadly before sitting down on his chair. She took a deep breath, happy to smell the scent of Dearka lingering from the chair before she took a serious face.

"All crewmembers, assume your battlestations!"

Similar orders flew around in different ships. Yzak sat by as he ordered Shino and Prine to take charge of the four squadrons of mobile suits sitting inside of his ship. They took their orders and walked away with a simple nod.

"Athrun…don't let this go too far…" He whispered as he looked at their ships preparing for the firefight that would begin soon enough.

"Captain?" Yzak heard someone speak and he replied simply, "We don't know where the base is…we need to draw them out not go charging in blindly. That's the plan quite simply, we go in at a later time…"

Athrun sighed as he looked over at Chris and Kira. "Chris, you're to take lead in Kira's place. For now, you need to make them think that we aren't willing to hold back anything, try to draw them out. That means, that there are to be no complete kills until Kira takes off."

Chris nodded before he ran off to his Freedom.

"Jaken…be careful…" Menla said simply as she saw his blue Gouf launch into the air and land on top of the ship.

"All right men! This ones for Captain Menla, let's make her proud!" Jaken shouted as he lifted his Gouf's sword into the air, eliciting a war cry from the rest of the pilots.

"They're all in high spirits" Cassidy said as she felt a small picture of peter that was sown onto the inside of her collar. He'd been assigned as the reinforcement squadron for Wes and his men. He would soon take part in the battle near Gulnahan, and at the same time he too was feeling a small picture of his beloved which was placed inside of his cockpit.

The sky was filled with mobile suits, but there was a deadly silence between the two major armies. What would happen next was a bloodshed between mobile suits that would be remembered for all time.

And so it began, when Chris aimed his beam cannons and fired them all at the heads and arms of several enemy mobile suits.

This was war…

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How am I doing so far? Seriously, I've been cutting it short a few times, but I feel I can't make them any longer for some reason. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel that I should just end chapters when it feels right, even when not much has happened. And I'm pretty sure that right now, not much has happened.

Anyhow, next chapter will be a major battle, hopefully I'll do it right. 

Until then however, please review and tell me how it's going.

Hawk Strife

PS. Two new characters that I thought I'd put in today will have to wait until next chapter. There just wasn't a very good situation to put them in at the moment.

Sorry to the reviewer who gave them to me, I'll be sure to put them on soon!