Opening Theme: 'Strength' by Abingdon Boys School
Link: http : / www . youtube . com / watch?v=Kw8LGEUYRqU
Gamow, Bridge
"You're to be transferred to the ground and assist Commander Waltfield with his operation to destroy the Archangel." Victor ordered to a group consisting of Lev, Yzak, Dearka, Johann, Nena, Jacques, Naleen and Mark "Nicol you're returning back to the PLANTs on leave with Athrun and Rau, once my suit is repaired I'll be rejoining you all back on the ground. Also the Mercenary Gary will be joining you when you reach the surface."
The red coats saluted before leaving the bridge "I hate that guy," Naleen declared once they were out of earshot "Didn't even approve of a Search and Rescue for Yuuka."
Mark sighed "Still orders are orders," he said "But at least we'll be working with a reasonable commander this time."
"You mean Waltfield right?" Yzak asked "He and Commander Crueset were the ones to defeat the Dragon right?"
Mark nodded "Yeah, not only that he's one of the few honorable Commanders I've met." He explained "He tries to not cause civilian or non-combatant deaths."
"He's also obsessed with coffee." Jacques added quietly "He makes it pretty well too; he often sends me a bag of his coffee."
The younger red coats blinked and looked at the silent pilot who ignored them while Mark smirked and Naleen giggled.
"I hope I get a chance to fight that GINN pilot again…" Nena said quietly.
"Oh, is Nena developing a Crush on the E.A pilot?" Johann teased, causing Nena to blush. "N-no!" she stuttered. "I Don't!"
"That Blush says otherwise!" Naleen added, causing most of the other pilots to snicker at Nena's increasingly red face.
Outside Tatsil
"Is it over with? Were there any casualties?" asked Waltfield as DaCosta returned to his jeep.
"Why would there be? It's not like we were actually fighting anyone," said DaCosta.
"I meant on both sides."
"Well, there may have been the odd person who took a tumble or were signed by the heat, but that's about it," said DaCosta.
"Then let's get out of here. The men will be returning soon."
"Wasn't the whole point of this to ambush them as they return?"
"What, are you kidding? That's not exactly fair, now is it?" said Waltfield. "We didn't burn down their homes just to ambush them."
"But still—"
"Our objective has been achieved. We'll be returning now."
A Short While Later
As the jeeps of the resistance drove for the burning ruins of Tatsil, a GuAIZ Fury Custom, a GINN HM type, and The Silver Frame armed with the Astray Buster pack and Riding on a Guul came up behind them. Meanwhile, the Specter, Hero, Thunder, and a Skygrasper flew over them.
"Whoa… this is bad," said Mu. "Total destruction."
As Jade flew over the destroyed city, she couldn't help it as memories of Oratorio flashed through her head. 'Not again…' she thought. 'Please…please not again.'
"Jade, you alright?" Drake's voice came through on the Radio. "You look a little pale."
"I-I'm fine, Drake." Jade said. "I'm just…"
"I know, Jade." Drake said. "If we're lucky, not many got killed this time."
"Ya…" Jade said, trailing off. The two didn't know that Jordan was listening in on their little talk. 'Hmm, those two remind me a lot like me and Amy…' he then smirked. 'I wonder…'
"Huh? Guy's, do you see that?" said Amy, banking the Thunder to come over a large group of survivors.
"Yeah," said Jordan as he, Jade and Mu flew their machines over the survivors as well.
"La Flaga here," said Mu, transmitting back to the Archangel. "There are survivors from the town. Or more precisely, a large number of people seem to be fine. I don't understand how or why."
"And the enemy?" asked Murrue.
"No sign of them anywhere," said Amy.
"Well don't let your guard down," said Jordan.
Below, the resistance fighters' jeeps stopped near the survivors, the two groups greeting each other with relief. Taking the lead, Mu landed the Skygrasper, while Jordan, Amy and Jade shifted their machines to mobile suit mode and landed as well.
"Commander!" exclaimed Natarle as her own jeep stopped next to Mu's fighter as he climbed out of it. "What's going on?"
"Anyone who can move, give us a hand!" shouted Sahib. "Gather up the injured and bring them to this area!"
"Sahib!" Came an elderly call. Sahib gasped slightly when he saw a slouched over figure holding a cane, being held up by a young boy.
"Yaru! Chief, you're alright!" cried Cagalli as she caught sight of the two and ran up to them.
"Father! Cagalli!" said Yaru happily.
"Yaru, I'm glad that you are okay," said Sahib. "Where are your mother and Enna?"
"Old man Shanzidan tripped and fell down while we were escaping, so they're looking after him," said Yaru. Sahib smiled slightly.
"Is that so?" he said, leaning forward and ruffling his son's hair slightly before turning his attention to the chief. "How many of our people were killed?" he asked, dreading the answer.
"Not one life has been sacrificed," said the chief, drawing gasps of surprise from Sahib and Cagalli. "They issued a warning to us ahead of time. They said they were setting fire to the town and told us to run away."
"But… how can this be?" muttered Sahib.
Jade let out a massive sigh of relief. 'They're safe.' She thought. 'It's not like before…their safe.'
John smiled a bit. He knew Waltfield personally; this was how he did things.
Jordan and Amy were relieved. It would certainly have been simpler for the ZAFT forces to just burn the entire town to the ground, but hadn't. They'd issued a warning, saving who knew how many lives. Their commander, clearly, was a decent person.
"And then they set everything ablaze," continued the chief. "Food, ammunition, fuels… everything. Granted, we suffered no casualties. But what happens now? How are we expected to live?"
Many of the townsfolk and guerillas scowled angrily, and Sahib's hand curled into a fist.
"That dirty mangy dog," he said. "What must be going through that maniac's head?"
"Survival is possible y'know, as long you're alive," said Mu.
"What?" gasped Sahib, looking back the mobile armor ace with Cagalli.
"It appears that the Tiger has no intention of engaging in a serious battle with you," said Mu.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Sahib.
"This is likely payback for what you did to their forces last night," explained Mu. "I have to say, it's pretty generous of the Tiger to let you off with something as relatively minor as this."
"You're kidding me!" exclaimed Cagalli, rushing into Mu's face. "You call this minor? Having a town burnt to the ground is nothing to you? How can you even think of someone who'd do this as generous?"
Jordan, as much as he wanted to, decided not to get involved. Cagalli was just too stubborn and difficult to be reasoned with in a way that was befitting of allies.
"You're all idiots!" Surprisingly, Jade shouted. "You all don't know how lucky you are! That-" she pointed at the burned down town. "Was Merciful compared to what Victor Amsel did to my home at Ontario! When he attacked, he never issued a warning; instead he used heavy weapons and slaughtered everyone there because he wanted too! The city was blown to ashes, and only a handful of people survived!" she then gave a glare that caused several of the people, even Cagalli to flinch. "And here you are saying Waltfield is a monster. When there are people that would do far worse than this." With that, she stormed off, with Drake following.
"She's right," said Mu. "I meant no offense, and I apologize if I upset you in any way, however, Jade's right. I'm sure even you can concede that if they were serious, it would've turned out much worse."
"That guy's nothing but a lousy, stinking coward," said Cagalli. "He burns down this town while were not even here and thinks of it as a victory? Every time we go into battle, we manage to fight with courage! We even destroyed their BuCUEs in that last operation! That's why that jerk commander can only get us back with a cowardly response like this, to hell with the Desert Tiger!"
"No. You're mistaken. He doesn't call this a victory. He calls this a merciful punishment," said John. "And what do you truly know of war and honor? Did you really expect him to sit back while his men are killed? No. Honor demands that he avenge them. And he did so, honorably and mercifully. Tell me Cagalli, what would you do if you were him?"
"I…"
"A group of rebels just ambushed and killed several soldiers under your command. You now have to write to their families that their loved ones are dead. And you don't know where the central base of these rebels is located, meaning you can't attack them directly. So what would you do?"
"What Waltfield did was the most honorable thing he could have done," continued John. "He attacked a town supporting the rebels but warned the population beforehand, so they could escape. He could have easily wiped out this town and any other town that he believed was aiding us with ease."
"The Tiger's still a coward!" shouted Cagalli, glaring at him.
Desert Dawn fighters and many of the people of Tatsil shouted their own agreements while glaring at the mercenary, though Sahib and Kisaka were the most notable to remain silent. John shook his head. "Fools." He muttered to himself.
Archangel Bridge
"You know, I'm really starting to like this John Cypher character," said Matthew. Natarle had had Jordan start recording and transmitting what was going on back to the Archangel, so the crew wouldn't be in the dark to what was going on.
Murrue nodded in agreement.
"He's intelligent and experienced," she said. "And he understands the enemy."
"And a lot of other people I think," added Chris. "Ah, geez, things don't look good over there."
"What'd you expect?" asked Jordan on the Comm. "Anyways, captain, think we can hire the Saber Team when all this is over? I imagine they'd be a tremendous help."
"We'll see," said Murrue.
With Jade
As Jade made her way towards the Specter, she just couldn't help but continue thinking about how arrogant the rebels were. When she reached the Specter, she punched it's hull once. "Damn it…" she muttered. "Idiots…their idiots…"
"They don't know what it's like, Jade." Jade turned around to see Drake approaching her. "They…they don't know what it's like to loose the people they…care about. They haven't seen how bad this war really is."
"But still!" Jade shouted. "Why can't they realize that as long as their alive, they can survive?"
"They just don't understand, Jade." Drake said, sighing. "This is why I hate groups like the Desert Dawn…too focus on their emotions, and not thinking logically. They can't see the big picture here."
Jade sighed. "That's…not the problem." She said. "It's that…they…Why…"
"Why do they get saved, and not you and your family?" Drake asked, and Jade nodded, a few tears forming in her eyes.
"Just…It doesn't seem fair…" she whispered.
"Life isn't always fair, Jade." Drake said, as he walked up towards her. "You, me and most of the other's know that life isn't perfect. But we just gotta keep moving forward, and hopefully, the others can talk some sense into them." Jade smiled a bit, and nodded. "Alright, anyways, we should get ready." Drake said, making his way towards the Silver Frame. "I have a hunch that John's gonna need us in a few." Nodding, Jade climbed up into the Specter as Drake headed towards the Silver Frame.
"You seem too be attracted to Ryu's sister." Drake twirled around and noticed Jordan standing there, grinning.
"Wha-what are you talking about?" Drake said, blushing a bit.
"Don't play dumb, Drake." Jordan said sternly. "You have that same look in your eyes that I had whenever I thought about Amy. You more than just like her, you love her, don't you?"
Drake sighed. "Fine…alright, I do…more than Like Jade." He said. "But…I don't think she likes me that same way."
"Then find out." Jordan said, walking forward. "Drake, I was in the same boots as you were a while ago. I had a Crush on Amy for well over a few years, but I could never summon up enough courage to tell her." He then smiled. "But a few weeks ago…I finally told her, and she said she felt the same." He then looked right into Drake's eyes. "Your situation with Jade is just like mine was with Amy." He said. "You gotta tell her."
Drake sighed. "It's…more complicated than that." He said, and Jordan raised an eyebrow. "When…when her Brother Ryu went MIA, I…I made a promise to her that I would find him for her even if it was the last thing I did."
"Let me guess…" Jordan said. "You plan on telling her how you feel after you found him?" Drake looked down to the ground, and nodded. "Ya…At first, I was pretty young back then, and just made it so that it would just make her feel better but now…with Ryu missing again…I…"
"You wanna uphold to that promise now more than ever?" Jordan asked, and again Drake nodded. "Drake…I'll leave you with something my own brother told me." He said as he started to walk away. "Tell her how you feel before it's too late…before you may never be able to tell her how you feel." Drake blinked in surprise, but before he could say anything, Jordan was gone.
Ruins of Tatsil
"Sahib," called one of the guerillas.
"What is it?" asked Sahib.
"Over this way," said the guerilla, leading Sahib away.
"What is it? What's going on?" asked Sahib again when he reached the jeeps where some others were apparently waiting for him.
"It hasn't been that long since they withdrew from the area," said a guerilla sitting on the jeep. "We could still catch up to them!"
"What?" said Sahib incredulously.
"They'll be low on ammunition!" said a guerilla. "So now would be the perfect opportunity to attack them!"
"We will strike back at ZAFT," said a masked guerilla. "We can't just sit around here if we're being treated like this."
"Don't be ridiculous!" said Sahib. "If you're wondering what to do with your time, take care of the injured! Stay here and protect your wives and children. That is most important of all!"
"And how is that supposed to help our cause?" asked a third guerilla. "Look!" he said, pointing angrily over Sahib's shoulder at Tatsil. "The Tatsil we once knew is gone! Our homes, food, everything has been burnt to the ground! Are we supposed to sit back and weep with our wives and little ones?"
"You can't be saying that we should reconcile ourselves to being the Tiger's lapdogs," said the masked guerilla. "Is that the case?"
"Please, listen to reason!" said John, rushing over to them. "No one died today, but if you go after the Tiger with just those weapons and no planning, then you wives and children will be burying you!"
"Coward!" shouted one of the guerillas.
"It's not cowardice to avoid blindly chasing after an enemy with a superior force," said John, reigning in his frustration. It may not have been his job to point out their inherent stupidity, but he wasn't going to sit back while these people tried to convince everyone to rush off and get themselves killed.
"Shut up, you damned Merc! What would you know?"
Sahib was quiet, trying to restrain his anger over the stupidity and blind anger his men were showing.
"Time to go!" called one of the guerillas as the first of the jeeps drove away in pursuit of the ZAFT forces before anyone could get another word in. Several more followed them.
"Ah great," said John. Sahib growled.
"Pedoru!" he shouted to one of men sitting in one of the few remaining jeeps.
"Are you planning to go with them, Sahib?" asked Cagalli.
"They can't go alone," said Sahib grimly as Pedoru pulled up his jeep and Sahib climbed in.
"Huh? Sahib, wait, I'm coming with you!" said Cagalli, running up and trying to climb in the jeep, only to be knocked back by Sahib.
"Not now, you stay behind!" said Sahib
"Alright, once I get back to my Fury, I'll join you," said John.
"No. You stay as well," said Sahib. "If I don't come back, take command of the Desert Dawn."
"What? I'm a mercenary, not a rebel leader!" said John.
"You're the only other person with the skill and cool head to lead the Desert Dawn if something happens to me."
John sighed. "Fine. Just do us both a favor and don't get killed. You still have to pay me."
"Sahib!" called Cagalli as his jeep drove off in pursuit of the others. Suddenly, another jeep pulled up in front of her.
"Climb aboard!" said Ahmed, the jeep's driver. Kisaka stood in the back of the vehicle. Cagalli nodded, and climbed into the passenger seat before the jeep drove off.
"I have to say, this is a land where both the wind and the people get very heated," commented Mu, walking up to John with Natarle and Amy, Jordan, Jade and Drake as the jeeps drove off.
"They're going to be wiped out," said Natarle. "With they're mediocre equipment; they don't stand a chance against the BuCUEs."
"If they had those ORCHER's, they could stand a chance." Jordan said. "But those are still back at the base."
"It's always been the most passionate that are the most heroic. And the most foolish," said John. "The question is, what are you going to do?"
"Don't you mean we?" asked Amy.
"No. I know what I'm doing, Jade and Drake are coming with Me." said John as they turned and started walking to their suits. "I suggest that you guys do the same. The Archangel is safe where it is, but if Sahib dies, you may not be escaping the desert at all."
Archangel Hangar
"What did you just say?" asked Murrue. In the Warrior, Matthew was just as shocked. The last of the events hadn't been recorded for them. "They went after the enemy? But don't they realize how crazy that is? Why didn't you try to stop them, commander?"
"Like I could," said Mu. "They were so determined that if I'd tried, they'd attack us. John, Jade and Drake went after them, and suggested we do the same. More importantly… there are many injured here who need treatment. And there's the problem of food, especially water. What'll we do?"
"It's clear there isn't a second attack force," said Murrue. "I'll have Matthew and Liz check up on them, and tell the others to do the same. We can't sit back and let them get killed. I'll have our remaining vehicles deliver water and medical supplies."
"Hold on," said Jordan, quickly thinking everything over. "All of us would be WAY overkill, especially with half of Saber Team going after them. Plus, that's the sort of force you use for a counterstrike, not a rescue operation. We need to make it clear to them that we aren't supporting their attempt at payback."
"So what do you propose then?" asked Natarle.
"Simple," said Jordan. "I'll head over there with Chris, Darknal and Liz. This gives us a significant force, given the numbers you'd likely be facing, and makes it clear that we're only there to bail them out. If we send our full force, it's practically screaming that we agree with them, even if we only stick around to deal with the BuCUEs."
"Politics?" asked Chris from the Raven. Jordan nodded.
"Exactly," he said. "My aunt, who I was living with before going to Heliopolis, is a politician, and she sort of hammered it into me, so I have at least some understanding. We have to send the message with actions as well as words: we're allies, but we're not their soldiers. We've joined forces only because we have a common enemy, and not because we're driven by the sort of apparently idiotic passion they fight with."
"Makes sense," said Mu. "Everyone agreed then?"
"Yes," said Murrue. "Jordan's right. Crewman Haw, prep the Raptor for launch."
"Roger that," came Mir's voice.
"Let's go ahead and launch the Warrior and the others too," said Jordan. "Graham, Hikari, Matthew and Amy will help Mu with delivering supplies."
Elsewhere
"Can't we go a little faster than this?" asked DaCosta as the strike force proceeded steadily through the desert.
"You're eager to get back, huh?" asked Andy.
"At the speed we're going, they'll catch up to us!" said DaCosta.
"Then we're meant to meet, its fate," said Andy. "They're artillery trucks are no match against our BuCUEs." He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against his hands. "Whenever people are put to the test, I often hear them boast "I'd rather die". But do you think they honestly mean it?"
"Commander?" Came the voice of the lead BuCUE pilot over the radio. "There are vehicles approaching us from behind. Six… no eight vehicles. They appear to be those of the resistance fighters."
"Huh?" said DaCosta.
"Maybe those people would rather die after all," commented Andy.
Begin Playing: 'We Rise' from the Command and Conquer 4 OST
Link: http : / www . youtube . com / watch?v=bNXJskykUQ8
Behind them, jeeps flew over the dunes and a familiar blonde resistance fighter launch an RPG at the jeep that DaCosta heard coming and evaded.
"What now commander?" asked DaCosta.
"We have no choice, we're fighting back," said Andy calmly as DaCosta wheeled the jeep away.
"Go after the jeep," said a resistance fighter. "This time, we're hunting the Tiger!" With that, he launched another RPG towards the jeep, but one of the BuCUEs moved in the way, the projectile exploding harmlessly against the mobile suit's armor before it lifted one of its legs and attempted to crush the jeeps. The drivers pulled away in time, and Cagalli fired a grenade at the BuCUEs head, the explosion blinding the pilot, while Kisaka blasted another grenade at an exposed joint at the ankle, causing the BuCUE to collapse to the ground.
"Yeah!" said Ahmed.
"We did it!" cried Cagalli excitedly.
A missile truck fired at a BuCUE, but it jumped into the air, directly above the truck, and converted its legs to their high-speed caterpillar track mode. The BuCUE landed on the offending vehicle, crushing it entirely, and turned its attention to the remainder, chasing them.
The jeeps couldn't keep up with the BuCUE, and the two vehicles were crushed as well.
As the BuCUE converted back to its standard combat walking mode, Ahmed pulled his jeep underneath it, allowing Cagalli and Kisaka to fire grenades into its belly. Unfortunately, while the pilot was slightly shaken, the explosives inflicted no real damage to the BuCUE.
The BuCUE slowed down, getting behind the jeep, and lifted its leg.
"Jump off!" shouted Kisaka.
"Huh?" said Ahmed. Kisaka grabbed Cagalli and leapt from the jeep an instant before the BuCUE crashed its foot into the vehicle, sending the car and Ahmed flying.
"Ahmed!" cried Cagalli as the BuCUE set its foot back on the ground right next to the blonde and Kisaka. Seconds later, however, an RPG hit the BuCUE's shoulder.
Sahib shouted a battlecry of anger as he shouldered two more RPG launchers and fired, both grenades hitting the BuCUE directly, and drawing its attention away from Cagalli and Kisaka. As the BuCUE attempted to charge them, Sahib's jeep evaded it for a moment.
Sahib glanced at the downed BuCUE and a third BuCUE which had largely ignored them up to this point, and thought back for an instant to the earlier complaints of his forces—forces now lying dead for meaningless, failed vengeance.
"Sahib!" called the driver, breaking the guerilla leader from his brief reverie as the combating BuCUE moved behind the jeep. Sahib shouldered his rocket launcher.
"Damn you!" he shouted.
At that instant, a shot rang out, and a seventy-six millimeter anti-armor round pierced the head of the BuCUE.
"Boom! Headshot!" Calista cheered as she fired another two rounds into the BuCUE's missiles launcher, destroying it. "Why don't you try someone who can actually fight back!" Then the GuAIZ-F came up from behind it, followed by the Specter.
In the distance, the Silver Frame stood with his 350mm Gun Launcher, and 94mm Energy Rifle in Long-range cannon mode. He fired off a shot; which didn't hit any of the BuCUE's directly, but caused some splash damage from the shockwave knocking a few off balance. "Try to pick on someone your own size!" Drake shouted as he prepared for another shot.
Watching from his jeep, Waltfield smirked.
"Perfect," he said.
Alarms went off in the GINN's cockpit as the BuCUEs charged at it. Calista's eyes widened, and he spun around, an act which likely saved her life, as a barrage of missiles missed her machine, instead taking out only her sniper rifle.
"Guy's, we've got incoming contacts!" Drake said on the Comm. "I'm picking up additional enemy forces. Four GeGET's with Rot squadron colors, and a team of Helicopters."
"Attack helicopters?" question Calista. "Have they been hiding around here the whole time?"
"Looks like Andy has been expecting us." John said as he flew up to engage the GeGET's. "Jade, you're with me. We'll handle the Rot Team. Drake, cover Calista."
"Understood sir-AH SHIT!"
"Drake, what is it? What's happening?" Jade asked, worried.
"Bastards snuck up on me!" Jordan shouted. "I've got a CGUE DEEP arm over here!"
"Dammit…" John muttered. "We should have brought Jake too."
Another alarm in the GINN's cockpit had Calista turning, pulling one of her machine's swords free and lashing out, driving the BuCUEs back. The choppers fired again, and the GINN dived out of the way, springing an assault knife from its shoulder. Calista grabbed the knife and tossed it at the lead helicopter, destroying it.
Meanwhile, John and Jade accelerated towards the four GeGET's. they split up with Jade taking on two, and John taking on two of his own.
The GeGET's fired their 110mm's at John's GuAIZ, however he deflected them off of his shield. He fired a blast from his Rail cannons to force them back, but they evaded. Meanwhile Jade fought her own two GeGET's in MIX mode while flying just above the sand firing up at them, using the Dunes as cover.
Jade fired off a few Alpha missiles at them; however the GeGET's used their machine cannons and shot them out of the Skies.
Meanwhile, Drake had put away his Long Range rifle, and was now squaring off with a CGUE DEEP arms with a beam saber in his right hand, and his Combine shield in the other.
The CGUE charged forward with its Laser sword. Drake reacted quickly and caught the attack with his Beam Saber. He snapped up his 30mm Gatling on his shield, and fired off a few rounds. But the CGUE side-stepped to the right and fired off it's own shoulder-mounted beam cannon, that nearly missed his suit's head. "He's good; I'll give him that…" Drake muttered.
In Waltfield's jeep, DaCosta saw something on the radar.
"Heat sources approaching from above," said DaCosta. "Commander, it's coming from…"
An instant later, a green dart of energy cut across the sky, hitting the desert sand near the BuCUEs closing in on them, drawing looks of shock from Sahib, Kisaka, and all the present pilots, who looked up to see the Hero, GINN Sniper, Raven and Raptor on approach. The GINN riding on the Raven's back.
"You missed Darknal?" questioned Jordan in surprise.
"The heat convection must be causing it," Darknal said, "So shut up."
"Excuses, Excuses." Chris said, chuckling.
Darknal, with the help of the A.I, quickly inputted corrections to the OS. He fired again, this time blowing off the missile pod of one of the BuCUEs, while Chris let loose on the remaining choppers, destroying them.
"Are you okay, guys?" asked Jordan, landing next to the two Mobile suits, while the Raven and Raptor landed next to Jordan with the GINN hoping off the Raven.
"I'm fine," Said Calista.
"Just P.G" said John. "Glad you boys could join the party. Where are the others?"
A barrage of missiles streaking towards the group interrupted Jordan's reply, the mobile suits scattering in all directions. The BuCUE earlier beheaded by Calista leaped at her, the pilot intend on finishing things.
"No you don't!" Jordan said, firing his Dagger/Pistol's three times in rapid succession, the three beam blasts tore through the armor like tissue paper.
The four-legged machine exploded as me, Calista fell back slightly, moving to defend the surviving guerillas and the others moved forward towards the enemy. Chris and Liz moving to help John and Jade, while Darknal and Jordan moved in with Calista to aid them.
Meanwhile, the BuCUE earlier disabled by Kisaka's attack on its joints finally regained the use of its foreleg. However, before the pilot could move to aid his surviving comrades against the Strike, the radio crackled.
"Kirkwood, let me get in and pilot that BuCUE," said Waltfield.
"Commander?" asked DaCosta.
"Some things you can't be sure of until exchanging fire with one another," said Waltfield.
The BuCUEs let loose with one barrage of missiles after another, the GINN, Hero, GINN-HM evading or shooting them down. Darknal and Jordan fired back, but the BuCUEs were too fast, and dodged their shots with little apparent effort.
"Damn!" said Darknal. "These BuCUEs are just too fast! I can't get a good lock on them!"
"Have you ever tried leading your shots?" Calista asked. "As a matter of fact, YES!" Darknal replied. "But it's kinda hard to hit your enemy that way if the area ahead of them blocks my shots!"
Suddenly, another barrage of missiles came in from behind, gunning for Darknal GINN's. Seeing this, Jordan reacted purely on instinct, and shouldered Darknal's Mobile suit out of the way, taking the missiles with the Hero's PS armor.
"What was that?" Jordan asked, moving the shaken Hero back to its feet. He then looked to where the barrage came from, and four Black/White striped CGUE's on Guul's lead by a Black/White striped GuAIZ Fury were heading our way.
Silber Team
Dietrich Killerman Flew in lead of the formation of four Custom CGUE's and his own Fury GuAIZ. "This is Silber lead to Tiger, do you read me tiger?" He said. There was laughter on the COMM. "I knew I recognized those Suits!" Andy's voice came in. "Boss, how you doing?" Dietrich chuckled. "Just another patrol in the desert and faith seems to have me saving your ass." Andy chuckled. "Apparently." He said. "But those are not normal enemy suits, as you see. We're dealing with not just the Merc's of Saber Team, but also the Marksman of Heliopolis, the Midnight Raven, Rising Raptor, and the Golden Hero." Dietrich raised his eyebrow. "The Hero, eh?" he said. "So are the rumors true?"
"Half true." Andy said. "That's not Alen who's Piloting the Hero, it's his Son." Now Dietrich chuckled. "Well then." He said. "Let's see how good he really is. Silber team, move in!"
Jordan
Jordan then got a good look at the five incoming suits. Silber team. He thought. Commanded by the White tiger of Endymion Dietrich Killerman.
"Guy's, I'll handle the new ones." Jordan said. "You guys take care of the BuCUE's."
"You sure about that kid?" John said. "I know who's-"
"I do as well" Jordan said. "But you guys need to take care of the BuCUE's. I've handled Aggressor squadrons before." There was a pause. "Give e'm hell kid!" John said.
Silber
What this? Dietrich saw as the Hero readied its Exia Kai III's. Is he trying to hold us off on his own? He smiled. "He's brave, I'll give him that." He said. "Rupert, Stefan, flank him left. Sebastian, Sven, flank him right. I'll take him down the middle." Quick responses of "Yessir" came to his ears as the Zaft Suit's descended to the Hero.
Hero
The shots from the White Tiger were incredibly precise, hitting the most lightly armored sections of the Hero.
Jordan's attempts to return fire consistently failed as he grit his teeth. The White Tiger's GuAIZ was no different from any other, but the man's handling of it was superb. Jordan closed in, evading fire from the shield Vulcan's mounted on the CGUE. Jordan stabbed forward, but the Tiger intercepted with his shield, deflecting the blade upward.
Undeterred, Jordan turned the Hero's head to face the GuAIZ's waste, and fired the Igelstellungs, piercing the left RAIL cannon with a half-dozen rounds. Jordan immediately activated his Verniers, pulling the Hero back. The Tiger disconnected his weapon and jumped back as well, as the Rail gun and its ammo exploded between them. He's good. Jordan thought. A lot better than most of the other Aggressor squadrons from space.
As undeterred by the destruction of his weapon as He was by the failure of his Sword attack, Dietrich simply activated his Beam Claws and activated his Verniers, pushing himself towards the Hero at full speed. He stabbed forward, but the Sabers was intercepted by the Hero's left Exia, and I in turn slashed down with his right sword.
He intercepted with his shield, and for a moment, their machines seemed to be at a standstill.
Silber
Not bad. Dietrich thought. Alen's son is good. Maybe even better than Alen himself. He smiled. Let's see if you can keep it up.
Katana
Jordan panted heavily as he fought the White tiger. 'He's really good'. He thought. 'He's really making me push it'. That's when he started getting a strange feeling. It wasn't that vision he experienced twice now, it was like a focus, like his mind was trying to get him to focus entirely on the GuAIZ and his team. Battle Lust. Jordan thought. He looked back at the others, they were fairing well against the BuCUE's, and didn't seem to need his help. Alright then. Jordan thought. No more messing around! And he let battle lust take over.
Begin Playing: 'Zips' by T.M Revolution
Link: http : / www . youtube . com / watch?v=QM1hCou3vCU
Then, He punched up his Verniers, and used the superior strength of the Hero to push the GuAIZ back. Dietrich grimaced slightly at the fact that the task was made easier by the soft sand of the battlefield.
Jordan then jumped, Drew out, and Took careful aim with his Exia Kai's in Rifle mode, He shot off two rounds in rapid succession, but his maneuvers caused his to miss the evading GuAIZ's.
Jordan then began firing the rifle somewhat wildly, and one shot actually ended up piercing one of the CGUE's supporting the Tiger, the pilot blinded for an instant by the sand kicked up from the erratic shots.
As the machine exploded, Jordan turned his attention back to the White Tiger.
Setting his Exia Kai's aside, He drew the two Katana swords from his hips, and connected them into a duel-bladed sword.
Jordan wasn't surprised when the Tiger holstered his RAIL cannon and assumed a similar stance with his beam Sabers.
Silber
Dietrich smirked when the Hero drew its swords. 'As I thought'. He thought as he drew his own Sabers. 'My time is over. A new generation has inherited the skies. He's still not perfect, but he's come to fully understand the true rule's of Combat'. He then punched his GuAIZ's thrust forward to the Hero.
Katana
As the GuAIZ charged forward, Jordan returned the favor and charged right back into him. Time seemed to slow down a bit as we charged. As we neared each other, his Claw's rose to slash down on the Hero, as Jordan's own katana blade neared his cockpit. In the last few moments before the Katana hit the cockpit, Jordan tipped the sword up so that it would not hit the cockpit, but simply disable the enemy suit. His sword met with the GuAIZ, sparks flew in the hole he created, and the GuAIZ fell to the ground.
Silber
Dietrich smiled as he exited the cockpit of his GuAIZ. Good work, kid. He thought, as he headed towards Andy's jeeps. I'm intrusting the new generation, to you.
End song
Meanwhile
Drake's duel with the DEEP arms continued, and he knew he was in trouble as his power was almost out. However that also showed that the DEEP arms but be close to empty as well as it was using its beam weapons more than the Silver Frame was.
Drake drew out his Combine shield's beam boomerang, and tossed it at the CGUE. But it jumped up, and evaded it. Jordan fired a burst of rounds from his Gatling while it was in the air, but the CGUE evaded the shots. However, then the Boomerang made its returning trip, and the CGUE didn't see it as it sliced its legs off.
Drake caught the Boomerang with his hand, and placed it back into his shield. "That…was too close." He muttered. It was then Jordan and the Hero arrived after finishing off the GuAIZ and the rest of the Silber Team. "Drake, you alright?" Jordan asked.
"Ya, I'm fine." Drake replied. "That DEEP arm is down for the count though. Hey, did you install those energy cable things into your suit yet?" Jordan nodded, and from his wrist a cable latched onto the Silver Frame, and his power readings went back to 100%. "Thanks buddy!" he said. "I owe ya one; now let's get back to the fight." He then readied his Long-range rifle again, and prepared to support the others while the Hero headed for Darknal.
Meanwhile
John fired his RAIL cannons at the GeGET's only for them to evade yet again. He then dodged to the left missing another one that fired its beam rifle his way. He fired off a volley of his Pictus's into the GeGET, impacting against his beam rifle, destroying it. But the GeGET survived.
As the first one moved in with its beam saber, John growled as he caught it with his left Beam Claw. "Don't get cocky!" he shouted as he kicked the GeGET away and did a back-flip. He then simultaneously drew his Beam Claws again, and sliced the second GeGET's arm off, forcing it to retreat.
He then heard a low whistle. "Wow, I guess you're not the Demon Lord for nothing, right?" Chris said as the Raven flew next to them. John chuckled a bit. "True." He said. "But my suit is almost out of power. Care to give me a lift?"
Meanwhile
Jade flipped her suit into MA mode as she ascended into the skies. She then transformed back into MS mode and got off a few shots with her 55mm Gunpod against her opponent, a GeGET. However this GeGET was piloted by none other than the Red Swallow himself.
Jade fired her remaining shoulder missiles against the GeGET witch backed away firing both of it's 110mm machine cannons to avoid getting blown out of the skies. Jade then transformed into MA mode and headed against the GeGET. When it destroyed her missiles, Jade flew past the smoke of the explosion, switched to MIX mode, drew her Beam Saber, and sliced off the Swallow's left leg.
"Jade, behind you!" Liz shouted out. Jade turned just in time as the second GeGET charged towards her with its Beam Saber's drawn.
However, the GeGET was then hit by a yellow beam from the distance, blowing away its head and arm. "Ha! I'm back in the Game!" Drake shouted on the Radio. "Jade, you alright?"
"I'm fine, Drake." Jade said. The Two GeGET's decided they had enough, and decided to retreat.
Jade sighed as the Raptor transformed next to her in MS mode. "I can already see a lot of Ryu in you, Jade." Liz said, causing Jade to smile. "I guess it runs in the family." She said. "Come on, let's finish the fight."
Meanwhile
"That fourth machine is back up," said Calista as she turned to face the BuCUE Darknal downed earlier in the fight. Lifting her machine rifle, she opened up on the machine, but the quadruped mobile suit evaded the shots with little apparent effort. "What the…? This guys better than all the other pilots!" Said Calista.
The BuCUE surged forward and tackled Calista's GINN, tearing apart the chest armor with its forelegs. "Ugh! That fighting style…It's the Tiger!"
Darknal ducked under the tackle of one of the other BuCUEs and aimed his rifle, ready to destroy the machine. But as he pulled the trigger, missiles streaked and hit Darknal's GINN, throwing his aim off, and the beam went wide. Luckly, the shot didn't do too much damage to his suit, but his thruster's were damaged from the shot.
"Formation Delta now!" ordered Waltfield
Obeying the orders, the other two BuCUEs formed up alongside their commander.
Then the Hero appeared next to the two GINN's. "You two alright?" Jordan asked.
"Ya, we're fine Jordan." Darknal said. "But my thrusters took a bad hit."
"I lost my sniper rifle earlier." Calista said. "But I still got my back-up rifle."
"Right, you two form up on me." Jordan said as they took up flanking positions with Jordan.
Calista then fired Twin rounds from her rifle, but the BuCUEs dodged them, and the left one slammed into Calista, while turretless right one rammed Darknal's, trying to tear into its chest armor.
The lead BuCUE attempted to tackle the Hero, but Jordan angled it away with his left Exia Kai. Still shaken, though, he couldn't react in time before the BuCUEs spun around and let loose a barrage of missiles, one impacting on each faceplate.
While the Hero managed to block most of the others with its shields, Darknal took almost the entire payload of twelve missiles in the torso.
"Damn it!" cursed Darknal, struggling to keep his GINN upright even as his power readings dived towards the red zone. "Jordan, we have to get up into the air or we're toast!"
"I know!" said Jordan as the two machines jumped into the air.
Unfortunately, their actions had been anticipated, as the BuCUEs leapt up after them, ignoring Calista's downed GINN all together. The Tiger shifted his BuCUE's shoulder out of the way of the Hero's Igelstellung and tore at its PS armor the same as he'd done for Calista's GINN earlier, sending the white and blue mobile suit careening towards the ground. Darknal, meanwhile, was in even bigger trouble, as the armed BuCUE let loose two waves of missiles, most of them hitting the Composite shield he had, while the last BuCUE once again tackled its target, slamming the mobile suit into the ground with the quadruped ground-based powerhouse landing atop it.
"Damn, I'm out of power!" shouted Darknal.
"Don't worry, I've got your back!" came Calista's voice as her GINN shouldered the BuCUE off Darknal and took up its Bayonet, ready to defend the vulnerable machine in spite of the tremendous beating the GINN had already taken.
"Leave those two alone, for now." Waltfield said. "This last one and the Hero is one of the toughest in the Legged Ships arsenal. Now let's go!"
"Yes sir!"
"Now, you weird and wonderful pilot," said Waltfield, grinning like a maniac as the three machines charged in at the Hero. "How are you gonna get outta this mess?"
Instead of worrying, Jordan took a deep breath.
"I am not…gonna let you win!" Jordan shouted as a Jewel-like golden seed bounced in his mind, and a feeling of calmness washed over him.
Begin Playing: 'Hero' by skillet
The Hero immediately started glowing, and its eyes changed from Emerald to Sapphire.
The Hero suddenly blazed forward at full speed, leaving behind a glowing after-image as it weaved through the missiles so easily that it almost seemed as though it were mocking the ZAFT pilots. Eyes widened as it tossed its first Katana sword into the turret less BuCUE in the face, the pilot too stunned by the Hero's sudden increase in ability to properly react.
Jordan spun his machine around and fired twice with his Sword/Rifle's. The BuCUE evaded the first shot, but literally leapt right into the path of the second one, the beam piercing its hind leg, destroying it.
"Whoa…" said Calista, blinking in utter amazement.
"Amazing…" Jade said as she and the others just watched as the Hero fought them all off. John's eyes narrowed slightly. 'So he's awakened…' he thought.
"Okay, now were in trouble," said Waltfield as he and his still moving wingman raced back towards the Hero, firing missiles the whole way. The white machine flipped, kicking up sand that detonated the missiles. Waltfield went around the sand cloud while the other pilot leapt over it. As he passed over, though, the Hero emerged below him, and fired a shot without spending even a second to aim, piercing the BuCUEs power plant and turret, destroying it.
Eyes widened further in disbelief. It was the same sort of split second marksmanship that the Hero pilot had shown in his last battle, when he took out the Lesseps cannon shells before they could hit the Archangel.
"Now you've taken this way too far!" said Waltfield, charging at the seemingly oblivious Hero from behind. Cagalli tried to shout a warning, but before the words could even form in her throat, the Hero disappeared, leaving just it's after image as it dodged Waltfield.
A second later, Waltfield's BuCUE limped away with its surviving companion, both machines lacking one of their legs, though Waltfield's had also lost both wings and its head in the final engagement with the Hero.
"DaCosta, we're withdrawing!" said Waltfield. Then, he chuckled slightly as he looked over the damage readouts on his BuCUE and looked at his surviving wingman's turret less, three-legged machine. "Now that's my kinda guy. Been awhile since I had this much fun."
End Song
The Hero's ARC system deactivated, and it stood like a lone sentry in the desert as the ZAFT forces fled the area, before Jordan turned the machine to face the others. The other's were all standing, but the two GINN's didn't looked to be in good condition—Calista's GINN's chest armor was almost completely shredded to pieces, and the vulnerable metallic faceplate of Darknal's had been destroyed, exposing the inner components of the head.
Then, the Hero's head turned to face the Desert Dawn survivors.
John, too, looked out at the survivors and shook his head. This is why he some-what hated groups like the Desert Dawn. Few members of rebel groups ever truly understood the art of war. Most fought ruthlessly to kill their enemy regardless of the cost and most were passionate to the degree of blind fanaticism.
And worse, they prescribed to the eye for an eye philosophy. Such people were simply fuel for the fires of war.
Jordan moved the Hero next to the Desert Dawn fighters and descended on the zip line, removing his helmet and settling a glare on them.
"You trying to get yourselves killed?" he asked, somewhat coldly. "In a place like this… maybe now you've learned something from all this."
"That does it!" said Cagalli, angrily rushing forward to grab the front of Jordan's pilot suit. "You heartless moron! Look!" She motioned to the still body of Ahmed.
"They all fought desperately!" said Cagalli, voice just short of shouting. "We're all fighting desperately! All so that we can protect the people and things that are so important to us!"
Jordan had had enough.
SMACK!
Everyone stared, wide-eyed, none more so than Cagalli, as she delicately touched the cheek Jordan had just slapped in an almost brutal fashion.
"Wow. He didn't strike me as the type to hit a girl," said Calista.
"Well, someone needed to slap some sense into her anyway." John said.
"Sure, but I never thought it would happen so literally," Chris said.
"What the hell can you protect when your feelings are the only weapons you've got?" demanded Jordan loudly. Cagalli remained silent, merely staring at him with wide eyes that held an odd spark of fear in them—a fear Jordan recognized instantly.
"Right now you may have the will, but you do not have the strength, I understand you wish to protect those things, but sometimes to protect you shouldn't fight, I'm not saying to give in, only there is a time and place, what if we weren't here today? What would have happened?" He looked around at them with a hard glare "You all would've died, and there would be no one left to protect you loved ones."
Shrinking back slightly, Cagalli nodded her head almost meekly, while Jordan turned around and returned to the Hero.
Once inside, he activated his radio—his machine was the only one with enough power to cut through the N-jammer interference.
"Jordan here," he said. "Archangel, we could use a pickup. Darknal's GINN is out of power, and both his and Calista's GINN's took heavy beatings as well."
"Understood," said Mir. "I'll forward that to the others."
"Thanks."
Ending Theme: 'Unlimited Sky' by Tommy Heaveny6
Link: http : / www . youtube . com / watch?v=QhDlnWE9qCQ