Chapter 13

The Resurrection of White Fang

(Mendel Colony C.E. 53)

In the infirmary where Noin laid; Zechs entered the room and pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. He had a dispersed look on his face that was a clear sign to Noin that the news he had was nothing short of good. Several moments passed as it seemed Zechs was in deep thought about what he was going to tell Noin as he finally said.

"I am afraid I have unpleasant news."

"Just spilt it. I knew it was something bad the minute I saw your expression."

"I have learned that the long sleep in the stasis chamber has caused some injury. It's not serious now, but unless it's treated soon it could become fatal and kill you someday."

"But…if it can't be treated then why are you so depressed?"

"It's because there is a complication that threatens the life of another. Noin…you're pregnant with our two month old unborn child."

The news was very shocking to Noin, but also sad for her as she was starting to see just as Zechs had; knew where he was going with this conversation. She was at first happy she was going to give birth to Zechs's child, but at the same time troubled because of something she had a feeling her love was going to tell her.

"However if the treatment is preformed the child will die, but if it's not preformed you will die after you give birth to him. I want to save you both, but I don't know what to do." The Lightning Count informed his lovely wife as he knew of a possible solution, but he wasn't sure if Noin would agree with it. In fact he didn't feel too comfortable about the idea himself.

"I see, but I take it you may have found a solution to the problem did you?"

Noin had a hopeful gleam in her eyes as she was praying that Zechs had found a way to help them both. She didn't want to die and leave Zechs alone nor did she want her child to die, and she didn't want to leave her child without a mother. "I think I may have, but I am very uncomfortable with it. According to what Professor Hibiki has told me the only way we can save both of you is to move your child into an artificial womb so he can develop while you are treated. I do not like the idea myself, but its only option open that could save you both."

Just as Zechs had predicted; Noin was very uncomfortable with the idea, but she laid there thinking it over carefully for several minutes until after much careful debating she spoke up and said. "Zechs I am not too sure about it, but I want our child to be born into this world and I want it to be with a mother and a father. Although I don't like, but I am willing to go through with it so we can have a family."

"It is your choice…I wanted to leave it up to you."

"Thank you."

(Present day C.E. 71)

As Nicholas Tatsumaki although his real name is Nicholas Merquise son of Lucrezia Noin Merquise and Zechs Merquise was now following the bloody path of revenge just as his father did many years before he was born. Although his reasons aren't known yet, but from this moment on as he would go about his plans he would call himself Nicholas Peacecraft named after Milliardo Peacecraft. Although there was more than getting revenge in his plan; Nicholas was going take the Epyon and use it as his main weapon in his own war and battle for what he believes in. As he remembered some of the things he had heard a man named Treize Khushrenada once said: a soldier who is not afraid to die, is what I believe to be the closest thing to perfection.

Having faced death many times in his life; many could say that he has faced death everyday of his life, but when he first took Epyon into battle years ago. It was an experience he couldn't forget. He had been driven mad by its Zero System, but he slowly and began to understand how it worked which became his first steps to mastering it. However the young man stopped reflecting on the past as he continued flying over Junius Seven in Epyon in its bird mode.

He suddenly stopped as Epyon transformed; it landed on top of a hill as its cockpit opened up, and Nicholas was standing there with a signal paper flower in his hand. He let it float away as he saluted the site where so many had die as he was paying his respects to them. He looked down at his own hands for a moment and said to himself "My hands are stained with blood, but despite the things I have done I will live to the bitter end. Just watch me!"

I refuse to die until I have won my al of my battles. Until then I will survive, and live.

Nicholaus thought, but before he left he looked at ruined buildings that once housed dozens of people on Junius Seven as another thought passed though his mind. Forgive me for spilling blood on your resting ground. I hope I never have to do it again. The young Peacecraft turned around as he got back into Epyon and began to take off, but before he could transform into its other form he saw something in the distance coming. He grinned as he recognized it. Meanwhile on board the Archangel; Lowe Gear and his crew left the area seeing there was no reason to stick around, and Liam had warned him getting him involved with the Earth Alliance would have been a bad idea considering what has already happened. Inside one of the cabins; Lacus Clyne, Mwu La Flaga, Murrue Ramius, and Natarle Badgiruel along with Heero Yuy were gathered there.

The two had finished listening to her story about how her ship was attacked by an Earth Alliance ship attacked their ship. During the battle she explained that she was pushed into an escape pod and launched out into space to be safe. Heero listened as the others soon discovered that she was the daughter of Siegel Clyne the Supreme Chairman of the PLANT supreme council. Heero was slightly surprised by her immaturely and foolishness, but he suspected something else about her that made him think otherwise. He always remembered the saying that said never judge a book by its cover.

"Well we got a Princess here, but would someone mind tell me just who the heck is this guy is?" Mwu asked as he looked over to Heero.

"Well before I go into" Heero was saying, but was interrupted by Neumann calling over an intercom that was in the room.

"Captain…you better come see this. I also think you should bring that other guy too."

"We're on our way."

After Murrue's reply the group; with the exception of Lacus, all went up to the bridge. After arriving they saw a very distributing site. Not only were they looking at the remains of Junius Seven, but they saw something drifting around the area. They saw the remains of the fleet of ships Nicholas had destroyed only moments ago. The wrecks were still fresh as signs of a battle had taken place here. To Heero and Natarle this sight was all but too familiar to them. This wasn't the first time Epyon under Nicholas's control had taken out a group of ships and mobile armors like this.

"What happened here? Those wrecks look new."

"They are new…this is Epyon's work. Look some of the smaller ships had been cut completely in two." Heero informed Pal as he noticed some of the Drake class ship wrecks adrift in the area. "This couldn't have happened too long ago. Epyon can't be far from here." Everyone was shocked by the devastation of the ships Nicholas had destroyed, but suddenly Pal detected a faint heat source from above.

"Heat source detected! It's above us!"

Kira entered the bridge just in time to see Epyon appearing in front of the bridge with its beam sword drawn. Glaring down on them Murrue and everyone on the bridge was looking Epyon in the face. Its beam sword was raised ready to hack the bridge in two, but instead it held back its hand. "What is that thing?" Miriallia shouted as she was terrified that Epyon was going to kill them.

"It's Epyon!"

"That's Epyon!" Mwu said after Natarle gave them the identity of the mobile suit before them. Its form was almost menacing up close, Kira was worried that the mobile suit would destroy them, but it didn't.

"We are receiving a communication from the pilot." Pal said as he looked to the captain with sweat falling down from his forehead.

"Put him through."

Nicholas's face appeared on the screen as he chose to reveal himself since the Alliance already knew he was behind what had been happening here. He wasn't wearing his ZAFT elite flight helmet as his blue eyes moved scanning the crew on the bridge. "I am Nicholas Tatsumaki. You must be Captain Murrue Ramius are you not?" The name Nicholas Tatsumaki sent a wave of shock to Kira, Sai, Kuzzey, Tolle and Miriallia.

"I am, but why did you destroy that group of Earth Alliance ships?"

"Simple…they came here to kill me, so I lured them to a trap and killed them."

"Nicholas…Operation Meteor why are you dropping Junius Seven?" Heero shouted demanding some answers.

"I had considered dropping Junius Seven, but…I decided not to. Wiping out all life on earth isn't my true objective. However the false idea of its true purpose worked out to my favor in rooting out spies and traitors in my organization. Once I found them all I lured them all here and killed them."

"Then what is the True Operation Meteor?"

"See for yourself?" Nicholas said as he showed an image of what looked like a large linear catapult on the side of a large chunk of debris of what seemed to have been parts of a ship. "This is specially built Rail Gun we built that uses electromagnetic forces like most rail guns, but instead of firing specially made ammunition. I have been using it hurl considerably large objects into the atmosphere at such velocities that the places I am targeting have no time to react. We have already destroyed several targets already. In fact we destroyed most of the targets we needed to take out. Operation Meteor was a complete success."

"What targets?" Heero asked as he was disappointed in himself for not being able to stop Nicholas from carrying out his plans.

"Why don't you all catch up on current events?" Nicholas said as he played a recorded news report from earth.

"This is Janet Mitchell reporting live from JOSH-A Earth Alliance HQ here in Alaska where for the past fifteen minutes reports are pouring in from all over the world where numerous reports of massive meteorites have fallen from the sky and destroyed more than a dozen Earth Alliance bases. We have heard reports of four bases normally used for weapons and research development have been destroyed in the Central Eurasia. But the most damage was done on the Atlantic Federation where a total of fourteen Lieutenant military facilities used to train new soldiers and construct new weapons and mobile armors were destroyed. All though military casualties have been counted in the hundreds; however we have heard there wasn't a signal civilian casualty was reported. All of the bases were destroyed were hit by the meteorites which were far away from any civilian populated area. Right now the total decease count at the moment is estimated over thousand. We will have more later as more reports come in." The report showed scenes of destroyed Alliance bases as virtually nothing of them remained expect for a crater marking where they once were.

Nicholas turned off the recording he was sending to the Archangel; "I had similar devices set up throughout the debris belt, but now that Operation Meteor has succeeded. I don't need them anymore." He pulled out a remote and pushed the button as explosions were seen in the debris belt. The giant rail guns he used exploded. "I am surprised what I had done made breaking news already."

"How could you do such a thing?" Kira roared. "In fact why are you doing this?"

"I am fighting for what I believe in, as Treize Khushrenada once said when he had built Epyon; this machine will show the pilot the face of his enemy, and it will show him his own future. He also went on to say that he thought that continuous fighting was humanity's reason for living. But he could not find the answer he sleeked. With his battles over he kept trying to discover for the reason for the act of fighting as he put it. Therefore, he built this Mobile Suit. He thought a Gundam would be most appropriate, because he wanted to grant a blessing to the victors and the defeated. This is a machine makes that possible. Do you remember what else you said to him when he said these words Heero when you told them me when I asked about Epyon?"

"Yes…he was trying to create a god."

"Correct… For a pilot whose will to fight is pure, this machine is able to erase all uncertainty. A soldier who is absolutely sure is sublimely beautiful. In a sense, you can say that soldier is very near to being a god. Those were the words he said to you Heero when you became the first pilot of Epyon before my father did."

"Yes, but you were defeated."

"True, but that was with Wing Zero's help you were able to beat me that time. But as Treize also said; for defeated men like me restrictions become the foundation for new strength. Even since I was defeated I gotten much stronger than I was, and now I am ready to fight my own war. I will fight for my beliefs." Nicholas replied as he looked to Kira and said.

"Kira you are still young and very new to fighting in battles. I am sure you have taken lives already, but I will give you one piece of advice. A saying my mentor once told me was that; do as your heart tells you so you won't regret the decision you made later. Isn't that right Heero; after all you did teach me how to survive before I went off on my own?"

"What is that suppose to be mean?" Kira shouted as Murrue and Mwu were a little interested to hear that Heero was the guy who had taught Nicholas how to survive as it was apparently put. "Tell me this was it you who told ZAFT about the mobile suits being built in Heliopolis?" Nicholas looked at him for a moment until finally he answered him.

"Yes it was me. I told ZAFT about the whole project. They had known about it for months. I gave them periodic updates on the progress the project made and even gave what research data I acquired to them. It was even me who led the attack on the factory to disable the security systems and clean out the data of everything regarding what had been done at Heliopolis thanks to some inside help. I disabled all of the security systems and communications so ZAFT's infiltration and attack on the colony to steal the machines would be easier. You could say I helped them orchestrate the whole thing." A series of shock and grasping filled the bridge as Kira shouted.

"How could you do that? Heliopolis was destroyed because of you and ZAFT?"

"Me…no Kira; Heliopolis was destroyed when the Earth Alliance and ZAFT decided to have a battle in there. You caused them to grow concerned after you blasted a hole in the colony. If you were a command of a military group trying to capture new weapons for your country wouldn't you be worried about a new weapon capable of that kind of destruction. ZAFT was worried about the damage you did to Heliopolis could have been done to their own colonies which is why they attacked you as soon as they could to prevent you escaping with those weapons. So the one to blame for Heliopolis's destruction would be you, everyone on that ship and I suppose ZAFT gets a share of the blame as well since the plan was to captured the mobile suits, destroy the new ship and leave with what we hoped would be no civilian casualties. But I suppose I should have planned more thoroughly. I was long gone from Heliopolis before the attack happened."

Kira was still angry about what happened, but it hurt him even more when he learned that someone who he thought was his friend had helped ZAFT plan the attack on. "I will ask you again; what are your true plans?" Heero demanded. Nicholas grinned as he replied.

"I am not telling you, but you will find out soon enough. Yet sadly its time for me to go I have places to be and things to do, but I will give you and the crew of the Archangel one piece of advice they should heed. Through the Zero System I can see my enemies clearly now. If you become my enemies, I'll kill you. That is my warning you all. I have no wish to kill anyone unless I must, but since you have citizens aboard I don't wish to harm so I will give you this fair warning not to get in my way otherwise I will destroy your ship."

"The Earth Alliance military will not let you get away with this." Murrue shouted at the young man angered by the things that he had caused.

"Oh please…what I did to the Earth Alliance was our official decoration of war against the Blue Cosmos Organization and anyone involved with it namely the Earth Alliance. We supported ZAFT during Heliopolis since they were making weapons on a neutral colony, but now we are ready to wage our own war against you. I Nicholas Tatsumaki hereby declare the resurrection of White Fang, but reformed for the purpose to bring a bright future to this world and eliminate those who threaten it. My organization will create a bright future for the world." Nicholas shouted out proudly as Epyon transformed and took off into the debris belt leaving the Archangel behind.

"I take it another terrorist organization was just born then right?" Arnold asked after watching Epyon disappearing into the distance.

"It appears that why, but I want some answers. Heero Yuy and Natarle you two have got some explaining to do? In the meantime I want you and Kira to lead a team in some worker pods out to Junius Seven. Kira I want you to take the Strike out there just in case something happens. We need to search the surrounding area for supplies, but while I am doing that I want Lieutenant La Flaga to accompany me to my cabin we have something to discuss." Murrue said as she gave some orders to Neumann who followed by Kira left the bridge to head down to the hanger to prepare to leave while at the same time put together a group to go with them to Junius Seven. Murrue left the bridge with Natarle, Heero and Mwu following her.

As the hanger crews were preparing the Mistrals to head out; Epyon returned to the Laurasia Class Ship and began leaving the debris belt. He left Epyon as he returned to the bridge and he took his seat in the captain's chair. He turned to one of his men and asked "Take us out of the debris belt. We need to make contact with the other sensor members of our organization. I want to be able to send a clear transmission."

"Yes sir. We should be out of the debris within the hour."

"Excellent…prepare to contact Kenov, and some of the senor members of our organization. Operation Meteor was just the opening act, now its time to make things more interesting. Also arrange for a meeting with Patrick Zala; I have to tell him the bad news."

Meanwhile back at the PLANTs; Athrun and Rau had finished meeting at the council while the masked Commander had returned to the ship to rest. Almost an hour had passed since Operation Meteor began, and he awaited word on what happened. Suddenly he was receiving a secured communication from an unknown location. He took the message in his cabin as the face of Nicholas Peacecraft appeared on the screen. "Ah Tatsumaki I was expecting your call or should I call you Peacecraft from now on?" Rau asked with a smirk on his face.

"I don't care, but I have come to report on Operation Meteor. The plan was compromised due infiltration and spies within our mists, but we were able to eliminate them all along with a fleet of Earth Alliance ships and destroy more than dozen military bases belonging to them around the globe. The drop of Junius Seven may have failed, but we did manage to cause some considerable damage to them."

"That is unfortunate to hear, but I am pleased to hear the damage as you put it you have caused the Alliance."

"Indeed…I managed to help your pups deal with Artemis by making it look like the Archangel sabotaged their mobile armors and fired their weapons inside the fortress. I am sure this will cause more friction between Eurasia and the Atlantic Federation. However we may have a problem?"

"Problem?"

"Yes…remember my former mentor I told you about?"

"Yes I believe his name was Heero Yuy wasn't it?"

"Correct…take a look at this. It appears he has joined with the Archangel or rather the legged ship you people at ZAFT have come to call it." Nicholas informed Rau as he shown him video images of Wing Zero taking out the Serpents. "If your men in current pursuit of the Archangel face Wing Zero I grantee you that they will be killed within a matter of seconds. Wing Zero and its pilot are in a whole new league of their own; it's too powerful for them to face."

"I see so the Zero System is as powerful as you told me."

"Indeed which is why I will confront the Archangel with your team in Epyon. I will meet up with the Gamow in a short time, but in the meantime I will transmit you the coordinates of the legged ship's current whereabouts. After which I will remain near the debris belt until further notice."

"Understood; I will be meeting with you shortly."

"However sir there is one more thing I should report?" Nicholas said as he Rau seemed interested. "We discovered a civilian ship in the debris belt which had been attacked. So far all of its crew members have been discovered dead, but we noticed it was from the PLANTs. I was wondering if this was the ship Lacus Clyne was traveling on."

"It could be, but I will look into the matter just to be sure."

"Alright, but in the meantime the present I have for you will be with me when we meet up in a day or two."

"Excellent I am eagerly waiting the present." Rau said with a grin as he cut communications with the young Gundam pilot. With a wide grin on his face he thought only these words in his mind. You have carried out the plan perfectly my boy. I taught you better than I thought, but I wonder. When the time comes to execute the Original Operation Meteor will you be ready to go through with it?

At that moment after a heated conversation with Kira and the others about taking water and supplies from Junius after the discovery of all of the coordinator remains they discovered. Many of them were not really happy about it, but eventually they all agreed to do what had to be done. While efforts to collect water and other supplies from Junius Seven; Heero, Natarle, Mwu were in Murrue's cabin waiting to hear how Natarle knew Heero.

"Well I suppose the best way to start the story is to have Natarle go first. I will fill in the blanks when it becomes necessary." Heero said as he looked to Natarle as Mwu offered a few comments.

"I guess you have the floor ensign."

"I suppose I should start." Natarle said as she began explaining her first encounter with Epyon and Heero which took place about three years ago at Mendel. C.E. 68; Mendel Colony Largepoint four a investigation group comprised of a few Drake class ships and a Nelson class were dispatched to the area to investigate what happened to a investigation team sent by the United Nation to look into the bio-hazard incident that claimed the lives of hundreds, but no reports was ever heard from the team so the small group of ships out on practice maneuvers volunteered to go and investigate what happened. On the Drake class ship called the Apollo; its captain although not yet known by many was however well respected by his crew.

"Captain Halberton we have reached the vicinity of the Mendel colony."

A crew member turned from his station to let his captain know of their location. Halberton turned to his crewmate and replied "Ok. Now that we are here search the area for the team that was dispatched here to investigate the situation that occurred at Mendel a few hours ago. I want all commutation frequencies check, and let me know if you find something. Have our Moebius units sent out to help with the search."

"Yes sir."

The team that was originally meant to be out training new pilots and crewmembers for the Atlantic Federation was now on what was going to become a rescue mission judging by what was happening. The team searched for about an hour until one of the Moebius out searching the area around the Mendel colony started picking up something. It was a signal carrying a coded transmission.

"Captain I am picking up something. Its faint, but I am retransmitting it to the Apollo."

"Good work Cadet. We're receiving…Cadet decode this message immediately."

It took the bridge crew filled with cadets and some experienced crew members; all of which were in training about twenty minutes to finally decode the message they were receiving. "Captain we have decoded the message. We're putting up on the main monitor." A few moments later an image of a panicked looking man was seen with smoke in the background.

"Attention to anyone who can hear this. We are the UN investigation team sent to survey the damage done at Mendel. We tracked an unknown object to this area, but we were suddenly attacked by a…my god its fast. Our troops can't stop it. Please someone help. They destroyed the last ship that was assigned to protect us. I beg you…anyone help us!" The message ended when a scream was heard over the line as the image blanked out into static before dying out all together.

"Did the Moebius pilot get a point of origin of that message?"

The Captain said as he turned to another crew member for an answer "We a report saying he has already done that he is transmitting the coordinates to us." Moments later they were receiving the location of the message as it they compared them to a map of the area trying to pin point the location and the distance from here. "According to our estimates sir that message came from beyond Largepoint three. No ship has ever gone that far out. Many thought it was too dangerous to go that far out. It will take about an hour or two to reach that area."

"What should we do captain?"

"Recall the Moebius and head out to that location. If there are people in trouble then we must do what we can to try and help them. The UN team was in danger so we must hurry there to do what we can. Now let's move people." Halberton ordered as his crew worked quickly to carry out his orders. Once they were ready they left the area to head to the last place where the UN investigation team was. Almost one hour and thirty minutes later they were almost to the area when they detected something in the distance.

"Captain we are detecting a large object up ahead. It extract size is unknown, but it's at least more than several miles long. It's a gigantic asteroid, but there is something odd about it?"

"Odd?"

"We are detecting large heat sources from inside that rock."

"Can you get me more of a close up image of that asteroid?"

"Give me a moment sir." The crewmember replied as Halberton the crewman worked to bring up a magnified image of the asteroid they were looking at. What they saw on it surprised them. There were signs of metal pipes and objects attached throughout its whole body while a pair of engines could be seen on its back. It appeared to be some kind of mobile asteroid, but judging by the looks of the rock it was old…really old. However in reality it was the disposal satellite that was originally intended to send the Gundams Wing Zero and others into the sun. However; when the satellite came under ownership of a collector just as Wing Zero and Epyon did. An event happened that sent them along with the satellite into deep space which was lost for unknown number of years until finally it arrived here in a system similar to the one it was from.

"What on earth is it?"

"I have a feeling it's not even from here? Deploy the mobile armors and tell them to be ready for anything. I want a sweep of the area. Finding the UN team is our first priority we can investigate whatever that rock is another time." Halberton ordered as mobile armors were deployed to search the area, but they didn't need much time to search the area when the wreckage of a drake class ship came into view from behind the asteroid soon wreckage from more than a dozen mobile armors. With that two more Drake class ships were found, but what troubled Halberton that made those two wrecks different from the rest was the fact that the ships seemed to have been completely cut in two. Lastly the ship carrying the UN team; a Nelson class ship was destroyed as its wreckage was now in visible view. Whatever had happened here the team as well as their escorts was taken out most brutally by something unknown.

"What did this?" a bridge operator asked.

"I don't know, but I want everyone alert just in case whatever did this is still around."

"Yes sir."

"Also I think we should prepare an armed group to head over to that asteroid. If there are any survivors then that's where they could be at. I will lead the team; Lieutenant I want you to take over for me while I am over there. I will wait down in the hanger for the team to gather. Ensign you will come with me." Halberton gestured a young female ensign to accompany him. The woman followed him as he left the cabin. A short time later the ensign and the Captain were waiting by shuttle in space suits while the team was checking their weapons and suits. "Are you men ready to go?" Halberton asked, but before he could get an answer a sudden explosion shook the ship which was followed by a large green blade cutting into the ship which was sent penetrating the hanger. As the beam blade cutting all the way though the hanger a large hole was left that was pulled people and objects into space.

The Captain along with the ensign with him was pulled into space; although they would survive, but their fellows weren't so lucky because they didn't have enough time to don their helmets on their suits. The force of the suction pulled the two sending them hurling towards the asteroid. Minutes later as flashes of explosions were seen the two roughly landed on the asteroid's surface. They were able to grab hold of its surface just in time to look up and see the destruction of the group of ships Halberton had with him. He saw with wide eyes filled with horror a red and black machine with wings, but its body was humanoid shaped. It was unlike anything he had seen before; Epyon was hacking the ships and mobile armors apart with ease. Due to the crew and pilot's inexperience in a battle they were quickly slaughtered.

Epyon used its heat rod whip to smash apart a group of mobile armors charging it as it then flew over to the last Drake Ship left and sunk it by cutting it in two with its beam sword. The ship had been spilt into two halves as what remained of the two halves exploded. As the last of the mobile armors were sent into oblivion by Epyon it floated in space surveying the damage it caused.

"What is that monster?"

"That is what the UN team must have encountered?" Halberton replied as he looked to his left and found an airlock. He gestured for the ensign to follow him as the two found a control pad next to the door. Once they figured out how to open it; the two went inside. After the room was pressurized the group went into the asteroid. As they walked around the dimly lighted halls they searched them for any sign of survivors from the attack by that red machine. "Hello is anyone here!" Halberton shouted hoping someone would hear him. The two kept their helmets on just in case as they journeyed though the halls. Finally they entered a massive hallway meant for large vehicles judging by its size to travel through.

Suddenly the two heard a gun click behind them as they both turned around and saw a man standing there before them with a pistol pointed straight at them as he informed them coldly "Trespassers on Vulkanus…I cannot allow you to venture any further."