The Eighth Space War: A Light in the Black

by Aldaeus

Fifteen years have passed since the end of the seventh space war, with the UNE's ultimate weapon the GX-9900 firing a shot that shook the world to its very core. During those fifteen years many wars have occurred across the galaxy, and with them have seen the rise of the Gundams, and the Preventers. Now finding this shattered world, will they be the light in the black for the A.W.?

14. Chapter 14

Hey guys, here's the disclaimer: I do not own any part of Gundam Seed, Wing, X, or 00, all credit goes to their respective creators.

Okay, life got in the way a lot more than I thought it would in recent history… but in any case, the chapter's here! As always, please read, review, and enjoy the chapter!

"Hello, is anyone here, we've come to inquire about the temp positions!" A female voice called from the hall.

"Temp positions?" Fa blinked looking over at Ald who just grimaced a little as the others all wheeled on him.

"Ald, we haven't been in for how long, and you've gone looking for temps…" Natarle glared at him.

Hang on, let me expl…

*WHACK* *FWHUMP* *THWACK*

"You know, beating him up for no reason is just gonna make him mad…" A girl with short jet black hair sat her bag down as she entered the room.

"Hell, even I or Noin could have filled the role for a chapter!" Natarle pointed directly at the female temp.

"But the ad said it was for a temp minor role with possibility of future appearances." The girl looked at her. "It would be odd having you in the same scene playing two people…"

"Whatever, lets get this over with…" James plopped down next to Ald who was just rubbing the sore spot on his face. "Since he doesn't seem able to talk at the moment, enjoy the chapter folks!"

xxxxxx

Ch. 14

Eagles under the Stars

(August 5th A.W. 0015)

"This is a meeting to assess the current state of affairs." Flay looked around the table at the officers.

Yzak looked at her. "Let's get this over quickly. We're still in the middle of NUNE territory."

Flay nodded. "It's been a little over a month since the New United Nations Earth announced their presence to the world. The coalition has been observing their progress through Asia, and we're now falling back again towards the coast."

"We've gotten our butt's handed to us over and over again, just because of sheer numbers." Graham looked at her. "We even have eight Gundams and we're still being pushed back."

"Every nation we've come across has been either overrun and absorbed by the NUNE forces, or has been crushed by overwhelming military power." Heero looked at her then to Graham.

"And then there is the rumor that Orb's fleet had to withdrawal from Sains Island yesterday, after taking heavy damage from a battle near the coast." Athrun sighed. "We aren't even at war and yet…"

"I think everyone's forgotten…" Wufei spoke up causing them to look at him. "This is just like the Eve war, when OZ and Romefeller reunified the world after they broke up the Alliance."

"Which is why the coalition is so divided on how to deal with this." Flay looked at him before turning to the others again. "It's causing each of our nations to ask some very uncomfortable questions. Specifically when it comes to unified world governments. The Earth Sphere Federation, Earth Sphere Unified Nation, the Mars Federation, the Earth Alliance."

"Just because it's how some of our nations unified the worlds under their rule, doesn't make it morally right." Yzak looked at her. "Even the Earth Alliance isn't truly a united government. The other issue is that whenever we've come up with a nation that we could call a nation, they just seemingly capitulate before we can pull the strings we need to, to get them help."

"I think there is another problem." Kira looked at them finally breaking his silence. "Do the people back home really know what's going on here?"

"Would they want to know what's going on here?" Flay countered.

"Yes." Athrun looked at directly at her. "Cagalli has kept the Orb Union at least informed as to what's been going on near Sains Island."

"We're getting nowhere with this meeting." Yzak got up from his seat at the table. "And we're still in the middle of NUNE territory, with them probably hot on our heels while we run for the little bit of area not controlled by them, and the coast."

Xxx

The Leopard, Airmaster and Double X stood guard on the Freeden's deck, while it led the way through the path in the region with the Astarte and Artorious in trail. "Jamil is reckless sometimes." Roybea grimaced as he kept watch on the area ahead of the ship. "We just landed in a combat zone…"

"We've got no choice." Witz came back over their frequency. "We're running out of water and food. Heck even the Astarte's provisions are starting to run low."

Garrod kept watch towards the stern and he wasn't really paying much attention with the two ships trailing them. "Do not repeat the same mistake again." Katokk's words from a month earlier drifted through his mind again. He remembered destroying Zonder Epta, and the terrifying power that the Double X had.

"At that moment, I couldn't fire the Satellite Cannon at the New Federation. Was that the right thing to do?" Garrod asked himself. "What's the mistake that must not be repeated?"

Xxx

"We've finally found them." Olba smiled as he looked down from the ridgeline overlooking the pass the three ships were heading through.

"That's right." Shagia replied with his arms crossed, smiling as he looked at them.

"What are we going to do now?" Olba asked in turn, and Shagia just smiled a little more and let out a light laugh.

"I see. We're going to do something evil." Olba just returned the smile.

"Yes, something evil." Shagia opened his eyes and watched the ships now distancing themselves from their position.

Xxx

"Status report." Yzak ordered as he entered the bridge.

"All quiet so far." Feldt looked over at him.

"Good, let's keep it that way if at all possible." Yzak took his seat.

"Yzak, I think it's been too quiet for too long, something's up, we have to be heading into an ambush or something." Miriallia looked over at him.

"We're almost into the region, still not under control of the Federation forces." Yzak brushed her comment off. "They wouldn't bother with this out of the way pass on the edge of their territory…" He looked up at the monitor showing the region ahead of them with a large clearing as the pass widened.

A loud explosion erupted from in front of the Freeden as two more detonated on the port side of the Astarte. "WHAT?!" Yzak shot up and in the process lost his footing, causing him to nearly fall.

Xxx

"Stop the ship!" Jamil braced himself.

"Roger!" Shingo killed the engines as the three ships ground to a halt.

"Can we use the ground sonar?" Jamil asked.

"I'll try." Sala nodded as she activated the system and brought it up on the main monitor, before them in the wide angle ahead of the ship were hundreds of white dots have appeared all over the area.

"What the heck's this?" Toniya gaped.

Jamil glared "It's a mine field." He looked over at Toniya. "Relay it to the other ships."

Xxx

"A mine field?" Graham glared. "Great…"

"It shouldn't be a problem right, we can fly over it…" Billy glanced over at him as he continued going over the numbers Mina had sent him.

"Yeah, but the Astarte and Freeden can't." Graham shot back at him, causing Billy to realize their problem.

"Well then, what should we do?" Billy asked looking at him before Hanayo walked to a terminal and started pulling up a stream of data.

"We can possibly do overhead passes to sweep for a safe passage through, for the other ships."

Xxx

The young crown Prince of the People's Republic of Estard, Willis Aramis, looked out the window of his jet at one of the escorting fighter jets.

"I have finished setting up the mines." General Lee Jackson looked over at the Prince as he spoke. "Now, the Federation won't be able to enter our territory so easily."

Willis turned to him and nodded before his aid, Rooks Hanomark, spoke to the General. "Well done, General Lee."

"I am talking to Prince Willis, born to Estard's throne!" Lee kept his eyes fixed firmly on the Prince as he spoke, before finally glaring at Rooks. "Not to his close associate!"

"Oh, excuse me." Rooks smiled politely before closing his eyes. "Then, Prince Willis, a word to the General."

Willis snapped back to his senses and out of his own thoughts, looking at Rooks a little alarmed before looking at Lee again "I appreciate your action."

General Lee smiled and nodded, placing his hand over his heart for a moment before an explosion from outside caused him to look out the window towards the ground, where he saw explosions erupting from one of the mine fields his troops had placed.

Xxx

"Fire type eight fragmentation shells!" Yzak commanded as the Astarte's main batteries opened fire.

A line of all of the mobile suits stood ahead of the ships sweeping a path with their weapons as they proceeded through the minefield.

"This is the best way to remove mines." Roybea smiled as he just continued firing, sweeping the ground ahead of the Freeden back and forth with the Leopard's weapons.

"Can you really say this is "removing" them?" Garrod asked as the Double X also fired with its beam rifle, placing shots on areas indicated by the ground sonar.

"Anyway, this is refreshing." Witz stated over their channel.

"Tieria, what's taking you so long?" Lockon asked as the Virtue Physical finally joined them.

"Reattaching the armor after maintenance takes some time without the proper equipment aboard." Tieria stated calmly as the Virtue Physical's legs opened revealing the forty eight GN Missiles. "Particle missiles, launching!" All of the small missiles rocketed out, spread and dropped down over a wide area detonating a huge number of the mines in a single blast.

Xxx

"The New Federation?" Willis looked out the window with Rooks and the General.

"No, it doesn't seem to be." General Lee stated as he looked down at the small force.

"That's…" Rooks blinked as he looked through a pair of binoculars at the ground.

"You know them, Rooks?" General Lee asked.

Rooks lowered the binoculars. "I heard that a Vulture took a new type of Gundam, from the New Federation facility in the Pacific Ocean." He passed the binoculars to the Prince who looked for himself as Rooks continued. "The Freeden, I believe."

"Its accompanied by two other ships." The Prince blinked.

"The Astarte, and Artorious." Rooks nodded looking at the General.

"I've heard of them, too." Lee nodded.

"So, they're that Vulture?" Prince Willis sat back for a moment in his seat looking at the two.

"Most likely." Rooks nodded.

Lee pondered for a moment before looking forward in the plane. "Open a communication line." He yelled forward.

"What are you going to do?" Rooks asked, as he and the Prince looked at him.

Lee turned back to the two. "They have power. They also oppose the New Federation. At any rate, I want to meet and talk to them. Would that be okay?"

Prince Willis blinked for a moment perplexed, and then he looked at Rooks. "I am speaking to Prince Willis!" Lee snapped at him.

"Okay, let's meet them." Willis was taken aback by the sudden harsh tone.

Xxx

"Commander, there is a line from someone trying to get a hold of us!" Meyrin looked over.

"What do they want, and who are they?" Yzak looked back at her.

"They say they're representing the People's Republic of Estard, and they want to talk with our group here." Meyrin looked at him.

"I see…" Yzak nodded. "Let's see what the others think."

"They're already agreeing." Miriallia looked at him.

Yzak sighed. "Well, at least it's a place to try to resupply…"

"We've detected two fighter jets escorting a plane above us." Feldt relayed. "The signal is coming from them."

"They say the invitation is from a Prince Willis Aramis." Meyrin looked over.

Yzak pondered for a moment. "So, it's a constitutional monarchy then... Get a hold of Heero, I want him with us for these talks."

"Huh… why?" Miriallia blinked at him.

"We don't know what nobles are like here, Heero has a little more experience than most of us… and if it's just some Prince, we may be able to use this to our advantage." Yzak smiled.

Xxx

The bridge crew and pilots of the Freeden, along with officers from the Preventers sat at a long table for the talks. "I appreciate your help in getting us supplies and repairing my ship." Jamil looked down at the young Prince Willis. "But we're Vultures. I would like some time to think about whether or not we join your operation."

"I see, and what about..." Willis sighed a little as he looked down for a moment.

"We are not at liberty to be deciding to take military action without our home nations' consent, please understand our circumstances." Heero stopped Yzak as he spoke calmly for them.

"You're being too easy on them, Prince Willis." General Lee Jackson glared at him again, causing the Prince and Rooks to look at him. "Your father would have decided immediately."

"But…" Willis looked at him.

"Prince Willis, you must become a man of decisive action." Lee looked at him directly.

"Now, General, let us talk peacefully." Grant Stewart another of Prince Willis' advisors looked across the table at his counterpart.

"The "pigeon" that is too used to a peaceful state is twittering again." General Jackson glared across the table at Grant, causing him to choke back what he was going to say.

Rooks looked at the Prince for a moment, before looking at Jamil. "Mr. Jamil, we grant you and your accompanying ships three days to stay. During that time, we would like your answer."

"I understand." Jamil looked at Rooks and nodded.

Prince Willis cast his gaze downwards again at the table causing Garrod to look at him, as well as Heero.

Xxx

The group drove back through the city towards the area where their ships were. "War. I'm not in the mood for this." Roybea tucked his arms behind his head as Witz drove them.

"But…" Witz glanced at him for a moment. "…what we've been going through, is kind of like a war."

"I don't like the idea of having to deal with politics." Roybea stated flatly, he glanced back through the crook of his arm. "How about you?" He looked at Garrod riding in the back seat.

"Oh, sorry, I wasn't listening." Garrod looked forward again, taking his gaze from the retreating palace.

Witz smiled. "I envy your optimism."

Roybea smiled as well. "It's no use asking a kid."

"I'm sorry, I'm just a kid." Garrod crossed his arms and huffed a little.

Ahead of Roybea, Witz and Garrod, Yzak, Heero and Athrun rode together.

"Why did you stop me?" Yzak asked.

"Because you know as well as I do that without back home saying we can go on the offensive, we can't. We can't declare war on the Federation, without our governments' decision on the matter." Heero stated calmly.

"We can deploy our forces how we want to, without back home's approval. We can use our Gundams as we see fit." Yzak retorted.

"No, we can individually take action when we are at war. When not at war, our hands are tied to our mission." Heero stated calmly.

"There has to be some loophole somewhere." Yzak grumbled. "I'm getting pissed off about having to fall back again, and again."

"I haven't heard anything lately regarding the fleet in the Pacific near Sains Island from Cagalli either. It bothers me that she isn't telling us everything." Athrun grumbled a bit from the back seat.

Ahead of them Jamil and Sala led the small convoy of jeeps through the streets.

"What are we going to do, Captain?" Sala glanced over at him as she drove, and he didn't even reply.

Xxx

"The Captain's become even more silent since the New Federation appeared." Toniya grumbled as she leaned against a container.

"The Captain was a Federation soldier before." Shingo took stock of what they were taking onboard for supplies as he spoke. "People tend to become silent when they have doubts on what they should be doing."

"Oh, yeah." Toniya nodded. "You're right." She looked in the direction of the palace where the talks were happening.

Xxx

"How is it? Your wound is barely noticeable now, right?" Dr. Tex asked as he finished examining Ennil's chest wound.

"Yes." Ennil pulled her top back up covering herself again.

"Do you still have doubts?" Dr. Tex asked, causing her to blink at him for a moment as he made a few notes. "Toniya and the other girls are still asking you to join us, aren't they?" He looked at her and she nodded. "Well, you should think about it carefully."

Xxx

"So you see… I wanted to know how you can determine what's going to happen… like…" Amia looked at Tiffa, who was just sitting in the chair at her easel drawing lightly with a piece of charcoal. "I want to understand these abilities better."

Tiffa looked at her for a moment before her eyes widened, and she just dropped the charcoal. "Danger… everyone's in danger." She got up and bolted for the door.

"WOAH!" Sam nearly got knocked into the wall as Tiffa threw the door open as she ran out. "Don't' scare me like that, Tiffa!"

Tiffa grabbed Sam by his shoulders. "Everyone is in danger!"

"What do you mean by…" Amia blinked as she felt a sort of sinking feeling in her stomach before an alert klaxon started sounding. "What?" She looked around.

Xxx

The three Jeeps came to a screeching halt as people began to flood out of the buildings and into the street around them, running in the opposite direction. "What's going on!?" Jamil yelled at one of the people starting to pass his jeep.

"It's the air-raid siren!" A woman yelled at him, before pulling her daughter along again at a quick pace.

"An air-raid?" Garrod looked back as she ran past them. Roybea and Witz looked up and saw six formations of five heavy bombers each, flying in massive V's towards them right over the mountain range just outside of town.

"Captain, we should get to the Freeden quickly!" Sala looked at him.

"No, we don't have enough time." Jamil got up. "We should find shelter."

"Thirty bombers… don't tell me they're going to carpet bomb the city?" Athrun got up as Heero and Yzak abandoned the Jeep while joining the others as they ran for the nearest shelter with the civilians.

They entered the massive chamber below the ground and looked around, women children, men, some family pets all huddled together on the floor. Some praying while other's screamed as the dull thuds and explosions shook the bunker.

Xxx

Shagia laid down the clipboard with the summary of the orders given to the captain in charge of the operation in the region. "I understand most of what is going on."

"By the way, Colonel." The captain looked at him.

"Hmm, what?" Shagia gave him a sharp glare.

"No, it's nothing." The Captain withdrew what he wanted to ask quickly.

"I know what you're thinking." Shagia looked at him. "Why did someone from the General Staff Office come to the front lines?"

"Well…" The captain looked at him for a moment.

Shagia looked at him calmly. "It's a top secret mission. I will leave at 0600, but do not worry about me."

Xxx

Garrod pushed the door open for the group from the Freeden and they got their first glimpse of the outside an hour after the bombing run had started. "Ahh…" Garrod's eyes were wide as he stepped outside, shakily looking around at the devastation. Fires burning in some of the rubble around them that released thin wisps of black smoke, a short distance away a toy charred and burnt from the bombing lay on the street.

"Jamil, we can't let those bastards keep doing things like this." Garrod looked back at him.

Yzak walked over and picked up the charred teddy bear with its torn leg and held it out for Heero, causing the others to look at him. "Tell me Heero… How many times will it take? How many civilians will have to die before the nations back home get off their asses? How many times will I have to watch as innocent civilians are murdered? Their lives turned upside down and made homeless by this, and being able to do nothing about it?!"

Heero took the bear and looked at it for a moment, thinking. "I may have a loophole. I don't like it, but it may work."

"And that would be?"Yzak asked.

"There is one force that is outside the jurisdiction of the ESUN's regular forces, and even then doesn't entirely have to adhere to the Treaty's requirements." Heero looked at him for a moment. "Just one force. But, there are a few things that need to be approved first."

"Get it done." Yzak looked at him calmly before looking at Jamil who also nodded.

Xxx

"I am surprised you requested to meet again so soon." Prince Willis glanced over at Heero who was now wearing a different outfit than he'd initially come in, a deep Prussian blue uniform, with a gold and blue sash and a silver eight pointed star.

"I would like to ask if you would be opposed to a proposition, would you be willing to sign a mutual defense pact between my homeland, and yours." Heero asked calmly.

Willis looked at Rooks who looked at Heero calmly. "I am uncertain if this would be wise, we are already at war with the New Federation…"

"That is exactly the point." Heero nodded. "I have it within my authority to establish relations and agreements with a foreign power, while my wife is indisposed. I believe it is within our mutual interests to oppose the New Federation."

"You wear the sash and star of some order… I do not recognize where it's from?" Rooks gestured to Heero. "I do know that before you were referred to as Colonel Heero Yuy, but now you come to us on your own with an offer for a defensive pact? A Colonel could hardly hold such authority."

"Colonel is merely my rank within the combined military forces of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, I believe you have already heard the rumors, and we presented you with our information." Heero looked at them. "I do not use it unless for a formal occasion, however through my marriage, I became the Archduke of the Sanc Kingdom. My wife, is the technical ruler after her elder brother abdicated the throne to her, however she chose to only retain the crown until his children are ready to rule."

"And what does your brother in law, think of this then?" Rooks asked, taking over for the Prince in the semi-delicate situation.

"He has been briefed on what I present to you here, however it is my wife who holds the authority not him, and by proxy myself while she is indisposed due to her pregnancy." Heero looked at him, then to the Prince. "If you would rather, I can make arrangements for her to be available to talk, however it may be too late for the operation you plan."

"That won't be necessary." Prince Willis looked at him then to Rooks who nodded. "I…" The Prince stopped himself, before starting again. "The People's Republic of Estard shall accept this mutual defense pact, as a sign of friendship from the Sanc Kingdom."

Heero walked around the table to the younger Prince and shook his hand. "I was hoping you would say that." He gestured to the balcony and the Prince along with Rooks followed him as he opened the doors for them, and then gestured to the sky.

"What in the…" Rooks blinked as he looked skyward.

"The Royal Life Guards Regiment, better known as the 133rd Air Space Mobile Fighter/Bomber Squadron." Heero smiled as the white and red, Aquila and Cygnus Mobile Suits under his command flew in over the city, heading directly for the palace.

"Your majesty there's another…" General Lee Jackson burst through the door into the meeting.

"It's fine General." Heero turned to him. "They are my soldiers."

General Jackson joined them on the balcony as the squadron began coming in for a landing in the main courtyard of the palace grounds, transforming mid-flight before touching down.

Heero turned and saw something that caused him to blink. "I didn't remember calling for…" The gust of warm air cut him off as the massive white and blue suit touched down directly in front of them.

The cockpit of the Tallgeese III opened and the pilot climbed out, causing them to blink as he stepped across the Mobile Suit's hand before dropping down onto the balcony with them. "It's good to see you too, uncle." Milou smiled. "Father sent me to assess the situation further for aunt Relena."

"I see." Heero smiled. "However, the troops are still under my command, Milou." He turned to Prince Willis. "This is my nephew, Milou Peacecraft, Crown Prince of the Sanc Kingdom."

Milou stepped forward and shook hands with Prince Willis. "I look forward to getting to know you and your people better."

"That Mobile Suit… Will you be joining us at the front then?" General Jackson asked.

"One does not simply learn to lead from only sitting in meetings." Milou looked at him and to Heero.

"Milou is already a combat veteran, of two wars, and a highly skilled pilot. Though I am wondering why you brought your father's old mobile suit, instead of your own?" Heero looked at the Tallgeese III.

"I was told something by mother, that the Tallgeese type Suits put demands on its pilot, much like your Gundams did in Operation Meteor, having that same reckless design, unlike my own." Milou smiled at him. "I intend to be like father in this respect, and conquer its unforgiving nature."

"So, its limiters have been disengaged then, don't kill yourself." Heero looked at him before looking up at the Tallgeese III.

Xxx

"Heero pulled some strings then…" Shiho looked over at Yzak as he watched the 133rd's mobile suits being prepared for combat.

"He found a loophole." Yzak smiled. "The Sanc Kingdom's Royal Guard is technically part of the Preventers; however they are under the authority of the crown of the Sanc Kingdom, not the ESUN's government, or by proxy the main Preventer's command structure. Essentially making them an autonomous military force outside of the regular military's control."

"You know they'll close that loophole after this is all said and done, right?" Shiho glanced over at him.

"That all depends." Yzak smiled. "The ESUN isn't at war, however for the first time in almost fifty years the Sanc Kingdom is no longer entirely a pacifist state, because of this they can aid us. Heero should be given more credit, he's the one that pulled the strings."

"Only after you pushed him." Shiho nudged him. "What now then?"

"We go to the briefing on the operation, hear what this country's general has cooked up, and act accordingly." Yzak smiled at her.

"We can't get involved like the 133rd can though." Shiho looked at him as he started to walk.

"You're wrong there." Yzak smiled calmly. "We're technically using article fourteen to justify this by forcing our home nations hands. The Sanc Kingdom is part of the ESUN, however the 133rd is not under the military's command of the ESUN regular forces or Preventers technically. So a nation within a world nation established a defensive pact with another nation that is at war with the new Federation, as a result putting the ESUN in a proxy war, by coming to the aid of a non-treaty nation."

"That is the most backwards way of…" Shiho just shook her head before covering her face with her hand. She blinked as she heard a jet overhead "Wha…"

"What in the…" Yzak blinked as he saw a jet with Earth Sphere Federation markings making a vertical landing as a Michi prototype mobile suit closed a quantum hole behind it and its bits returned to it.

Xxx

"Why in the heck is there a…" Lockon blinked as he walked down the ramp from the front of the Astarte.

"Neil!" A voice shouted and he looked just in time to see Kinue running up to him before half jumping into his arms, and almost tackling him in the process.

"Kinue…" Neil blinked at her. "Why are you?"

"I'm here to cover the 133rd's surprise deployment. It's drawn a lot of attention back home after the Palace Guards of the Sanc Kingdom were called up to war." Kinue smiled at him. "It's also because they wanted to use it as an excuse to see exactly what this place is like. All we've been getting are written reports, about… Well, what you've been up to, that's about it, nothing really interesting." She smiled as she gestured to the plane. "It's full of journalists from the other nations."

"Well that's all well and good, but if you don't mind, Miss. Crossroad, Lieutenant Dylandy needs to attend the operation briefing." Yzak passed him before nearly coming under assault from all of the other reporters a short distance away.

Xxx

"Lieutenant Poe, are there any stragglers to the meeting?" Heero asked.

"No, sir." The younger lieutenant saluted him.

"Good, let's take our seats then." Heero gestured to where his unit was.

"Are we just going to go along with whatever they have planned?" The lieutenant asked.

"Yes, we're in a defensive pact with them, it's their lands, they know it and the situation on ground better than we do." Heero smiled at her, causing her to blink at him.

General Lee Jackson took his place on the main stage in front of a large monitor showing the topological map of the region. "The objective of this operation, is to destroy the airbase in order to prevent them from launching airstrikes on our country." He looked around at the assembled mobile suit pilots. "We will join our allies, Gastar, Northernbell, and the Sanc Kingdom's forces and attack the airbase. Of course, the New Federation will fight back. But that is our aim. As soon as the enemy approaches us…" He turned and gestured to the attack angles on the map approaching the airbase through the mountains. "A small group of mobile suits will take a different route to the airbase and destroy it."

Estard's soldiers broke into a murmur in the room as the General turned around to face them again. "Naturally, it's impossible to destroy the airbase with mobile suits alone. But we have courageous comrades who can make that impossibility possible." He looked at the Freeden's pilots. "We're counting on you, you are our star of hope."

"It's not a bad plan…" Milou leaned over to Heero who nodded. "But who will be going to attack the airbase, the Tallgeese can take it out, you know that… but does he?"

"The Double X." Heero nodded towards Garrod.

"You mean that little kid with the black hair…" Lieutenant Poe looked at him.

"Pilots the Gundam Double X, which I'm sure you've seen the footage of it in action at Zonder Epta." Heero looked at her and Milou. "One shot is all he needs to knock it out."

"Then what about us?" Milou asked.

"We play the role of the distraction, and as an added perk, get to bloody the nose of the Federation." Heero nodded calmly. "Get your suits ready, we're the primary air support. All of theirs are ground suits."

"Wha…" Lieutenant Poe gaped at him.

Xxx

"What do you make of all of this?" Kinue asked looking at Amia. "I mean you're a civilian on this mission right?"

"I was…" Amia smiled as she cut her roast beef in half. "But then as it went on I decided more and more that the military might actually be a good career path for me." She smiled as she took a bite of her dinner.

"So you're not a civilian anymore?" Kinue blinked at her.

"Technically I'm an officer cadet now." Amia smiled at Kinue before Kathy sat down next to her.

"Cadet Lee, what is the current degree location of magnetic north in the ESUN?" Kathy asked calmly as she started with her meal, adding some dressing to her salad.

"Ma'am, Magnetic north in the ESUN is currently eighty two point five degrees north, one hundred thirty degrees west." Amia stated almost stiffly.

"Very good." Kathy nodded calmly. "As you were."

"Do you get asked questions like that often?" Kinue blinked looking across the table at the two of them.

"It's standard procedure, we need to know these things." Kathy mixed her salad slightly, getting the balsamic dressing thoroughly through it all.

"Only when…" Amia started before Athrun took a seat across from her next to Kinue.

"Cadet Lee, when engaging enemy mobile suit forces engaged from defensive ground positions, what is the best tactic given the current forces we have available here?" Athrun asked calmly as he began to work on his dinner as well.

"Sir, based on current force strength and composition, there are two options depending on opposing force composition. Firstly, long range bombardment using the land battleships' primary and secondary armaments for supporting the mobile suit assault on the position. Secondly there is the option of area bombing using the Cygnus type mobile suits. I would recommend a combined approach of both tactics, using the Cygnus mobile suits to drive them from the positions, as to allow the other mobile suits and ships to end the conflict." Amia stated stiffly again.

"Very good, Cadet Lee." Athrun stated calmly. "Additionally, you are permitted to disregard further questions this evening, you meal is getting cold."

"Thank you, Admiral Zala, sir!" Amia stated before returning to her meal quickly.

"So Amia, did you ask about working with Tiffa?" Kathy asked as she took another bite of her salad.

"I did, though I didn't get an answer really, because the bombing happened just after I got there." Amia looked at her.

"Bombing?" Kinue looked at Kathy and Athrun.

"Actually that was a deciding factor that pushed Heero into action, the new Federation was carpet bombing the city, not strategic targets, and they were hitting civilian homes and businesses." Athrun looked at her. "If I could just get in touch with Cagalli I could probably convince her to send some of Orb's forces as well…"

"Doubt it." Kinue looked at him. "Didn't you hear? Orb's Second Defense Fleet was attacked directly by a large opposing force from the Federation, and lost the battle taking serious damage and some heavy losses in the process. Orb is dealing with it directly in the Pacific at the moment, trying to get reinforcements to Sains Island."

Athrun dropped his fork as he heard it. "What?"

"Orb's second defense fleet… lost?" Yzak stopped behind her.

"Yeah, yesterday, it was impossible for them to cover it up when ten badly damaged ships limp into the military harbor at Onogoro." Kinue looked up at him. "The last I heard before being sent here was that Orb was readying all of its surface fleets to respond. The only thing is, the majority of the coalition is still on the fence, but Orb is actually possibly going on the attack."

"Cagalli did get very close to them in the negotiations, their geographic locations are similarly placed to one another. And she was the first to reach out with a trade agreement. I doubt that she would go so far as to form an alliance with the government there outright…"

"The last I heard, she had…" Athrun looked at her. "Then that means one thing, Orb is in a defensive war with the New Federation."

Xxx

Garrod stood in the hangar looking up at the Double X thinking about the mission he had to do. "Hey, kid!" He nearly jumped out of his skin as a female voice came from behind him.

"What who…?" Garrod blinked looking at the female pilot wearing the navy blue uniform of the Sanc Kingdom's Royal Guard.

"You're it's pilot right?" She gestured to the Double X.

"Yeah… what about it?" Garrod looked at her a little surprised.

"I can't believe they'd let some undisciplined kid pilot a Gundam…" She almost glared at him. "I mean do they really think you could pull this off, you're not even a military pilot."

"Hey!" Garrod started.

"Still…" She looked up at it. "Even though you're lacking training, the power of the mobile suit makes up for it."

"Just who are you?" Garrod glared at her.

"Lieutenant Ali Poe, I'm one of the 133rd's pilots." Lieutenant Poe looked at him. "Honestly I don't know why the other pilots didn't just take it from you, they're more experienced."

"And we're more experienced than you as well, Lieutenant." A voice caused her to jump a little, as James stepped out from the shadows.

"Major Vashti, I… I…" Lieutenant Poe grimaced a little.

"First, you have no combat experience, you joined up after the ELS War, as one of the recruits to fill the ranks after the war. Second, just because you have training, doesn't mean you're better than he is. Garrod unlike yourself, from my knowledge of your records and performance scores, is a better pilot." James walked past her as he stopped in front of the Double X. "So don't go shooting your mouth off as if you know everything."

"Yes… sir." Lieutenant Poe whimpered a little causing James to blink at her.

"Are you…" Garrod blinked at her. "Crying?"

"I am not!" Lieutenant Poe snapped back at him.

"Get to bed, the operation starts tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn, and I mean both of you." James grumbled as he made his way and passed them again, heading for the hangar entrance.

Xxx

"Wow…" Kinue and the reporters stood on the upper deck of the Astarte as it moved, taking pictures and footage of the surrounding forces as they amassed and headed towards the New Federation's airbase.

"Gastar, and Northernbell have come right on schedule." Kathy smiled.

"What does the mission plan entail?" Kinue asked calmly looking over at her. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Sorry, but that answer is above my pay grade." Kathy smiled at her as she sidestepped the question. "Oh, look the 133rd's suits have caught up." She pointed skyward at the formations of Aquila and Cygnus mobile suits slowed overhead, and began circling the forces.

Xxx

"Your Highness, are you certain you can handle the Tallgeese?" Lieutenant Poe asked over their frequency.

"Relax Lieutenant, it won't be that difficult."Milou smiled at her on the monitor.

"Don't be so certain Prince Milou, that machine's predecessor killed Lieutenant Otto, and nearly killed your father. The original Tallgeese was three times faster than an Aries, the Tallgeese III was developed from it, and has been updated along with the other suits." The male voice came over the frequency.

"Captain Philip, I refuse to bow to this mobile suit as my father did, I will conquer this monster."Milou smiled as he appeared on his monitor. "Please, do not worry."

Xxx

Tiffa opened the door to find Garrod smiling at her. "Yo."

"Garrod." Tiffa smiled at him, seeing him for the first time in almost a few days.

"It's time for me to launch, and you know, I wanted to see you before I go." Garrod scratched his head a little.

"I'm glad." Tiffa smiled, causing him to blink at her. "I feel like you have been far away from me these days."

Garrod sighed a little as he smiled at her. "That's not true. I'll always be with you, Tiffa." Tiffa smiled and nodded.

"Well, I gotta go." Garrod nodded before turning to leave.

Tiffa smiled. "Take care." She watched as he took off down the hall heading towards the hangar.

Xxx

"You sure this is a good idea, going along with that General's plan that is?" Kathy asked over the frequency as Yzak looked at her on the monitor. "We could easily mop the Federation Forces up alone and push on to the airbase."

"It's not that easy…" Yzak looked at her for a moment before continuing with his final adjustments. "We're supporting the 133rd, and Heero is the one calling the shots because of that, or we would be breaking the treaty limitations."

"And we aren't already?" Kathy almost rolled her eyes at him.

"Technically no, we're in that grey area at the moment." Yzak smiled. "And until otherwise stated, or the treaty is changed, then we're going to leave it that way just to tick off the bureaucratic red tape pushers that seem to have it in for us."

Xxx

Garrod hopped down into the cockpit of the Double X and clicked the G-controller into place as a line opened on his monitor. "Garrod, our Pyrons will lead your Double X." General Jackson looked at him. "Please hurry, so we can minimize our casualties."

"I understand." Garrod replied as he looked at the General on the main monitor.

"I wish you luck." General Jackson saluted him, before closing the line with him.

Garrod smiled "Double X, going out!" He activated the Gundam's thrusters and rocketed out of the rear of the Freeden.

Xxx

"Oooh!" The assembled reporters gathered in the Astarte's recreation room gasped collectively as they watched the Double X launch from the Freeden.

"I heard about that one from Neil, the one with those two cannon's… is it really as powerful as the Libra?" Kinue asked herself as she watched it forming up with a group of Pyron mobile suits, and heading for the mountains, while the sun began to set, casting the region in a crimson glow.

Xxx

"I'm surprised they're attacking us after just three airstrikes." The captain blinked at the digital map table seeing the formation of Rocky-class land battleships, Astarte, Artorious and Freeden heading towards their lines.

Shagia was at the back of the CIC and observed the Captain silently, for a moment Shagia seemed to concentrate his thoughts and then smiled lightly before turning and making his way out to get to his Gundam.

Xxx

Shells rocketed in from high above, slamming into the ground around the forward most Pyrons and even reaching a few of the lead ships. "AHH!" The soldiers in the General's command ship winced.

"Put up a barrage!" General Jackson commanded, and the Rocky-class ships all opened up with their main batteries, along with the Astarte opening up with its main guns. "Mobile suit units, advance!"

As the order was given all of the Pyrons in the lead marched ahead of the ships, in a wide loose formation opening fire with their machine guns as they made their way through the battlefield against the enemy Daughtresses and Balients.

Xxx

"Engage at will!" Milou commanded as he rolled the Tallgeese III and killed the Plasma Jet thrusters, allowing it to drop towards the battle below. "The mobility of this heavy mobile suit depends on the Plasma Jet thruster output. It's gonna be tough." He activated them again and pushed them beyond the cruising speed he had them at before. "THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT!" he strained against the controls as he rocketed downward. "BUT I CAN'T FALTER, NOT WITH THE WORLD WATCHING!"

A Daughtress turned its attention to the Tallgeese III as it rolled drawing its beam saber, the Daughtress lifted its machine gun only to be cut in half before it could even fire as the mobile suit roared past it.

A Balient closed in from behind, and Milou spun the Tallgeese III in less than a quarter of a second before shooting off to the left out of the enemy's line of fire. "This speed is deadly!" He strained against the controls, trying not to black out. He activated the Mega Beam Cannon and fired a quick shot through the enemy mobile suit, blindsiding it. "I could get away from these mobile suits by increasing the output… then why… why am I hesitating?" He breathed heavily as more mobile suits began to take notice of him.

A group of Balients streaked overhead and unleashed a barrage of beams and missiles striking some Pyrons behind his mobile suit, a short distance from the ships.

"Holy… they really brought out the artillery eh…" James blinked as he launched, seeing a Pyron using a heavy machine gun mounted on a bipod and spraying high velocity shells through anything that dared get near the mobile suits as they launched. It turned its attention directly on a Daughtress wielding a rocket launcher and tore it to shreds.

"Engage at will!" Heero gave the order as the Wing Gundam charged into the battle, followed closely by the Exia and the Sandrock.

"Setsuna F. Seiei, eliminating targets!" Setsuna activated the GN Sword Kai and charged a pair of Daughtress, one drew a beam saber as he ducked under it, and then he brought the GN Sword Kai through its torso in a clean slice before rolling back and sending it through the side of the other Daughtress.

"This is really it, we're at war again." Quatre closed his eyes for a moment before spreading the Sandrock's arms wide and activating the heat shotels. "So be it!" He flung the two massive shotels forward, carving through two Daughtress mobile suits, before coming under fire from a pair of Balients firing their beam rifles and trying to pin him down.

"Quatre!" Triton opened up with his Serpent R's twin Gatlings, ripping through the two mobile suits, before firing the Serpent R's missiles in a wave towards the enemy suits closing on their location.

"Triton!" Quatre smiled as the two pushed forward and he reclaimed the Shotels from the remains of the Daughtress suits.

"Don't let up, keep them off balance!" Graham's voice came over the frequency as the Sol Braves dove in for a strafing run, peppering dozens of mobile suits with their GN Beam Rifles.

"Roger!" Neferu replied as she and Andrei shot off after two Balients.

Amy and Viktor pealed off in the opposite direction after a few more of the airborne suits.

"Commander I'm with you!" Akira relayed to him.

"Roger that, keep the ground units suppressed!" Graham rolled over and dove almost vertically down right over a Daughtress Commander, and fired directly down through its head.

"Finally, those two launched…" Heero rolled back to join Witz as he and Roybea launched from the Freeden.

Xxx

"Hurry up!" Garrod relayed to the Pyron unit escorting him. "We'll reach my firing range soon!"

A light green flash came from behind the mobile suits in the trees as the Ashtaron and Virsago activated their cameras, and started following the suits.

Xxx

"Call for a ceasefire?" Prince Willis looked back at his advisor Grant Stewart.

"That's right." Grant nodded in reply. "If our operation succeeds, we should negotiate with the New Federation."

"But…" Prince Willis turned back to looking at the night skyline of the city.

Grant looked at him. "The General will eventually destroy our country." The door clicking open caused him to look back into the room to see Rooks entering. "We will discuss this later." He bowed politely before excusing himself, and Rooks nodded as he passed.

"I didn't think you would be here." Rooks spoke as he walked over to the doorway to the balcony where the prince was.

"I know." Prince Willis sighed. "When I think about the soldiers, I cannot bear it."

"Soldiers are just pieces to protect the country." Rooks stated calmly. "You must think of it that way if you are to lead a country."

"I guess a man must be cold hearted in order to be a good close associate." Prince Willis looked at him for a moment. "I wonder why that other Prince decided to go into combat…"

"Some nations, before the Federation came into existence in the old calendar period, would be led into battle by their nobles and rulers." Rooks looked at him calmly. "It is quite possible that where they are from, this dated tradition still is the norm."

Xxx

A Pyron ahead of Tieria cracked the butt of a stick grenade on the skirt armor of his suit before chucking it towards the group of three Daughtresses firing on them, it blew up on impact enveloping the three mobile suits.

"Watch out!" Tieria yelled as a pair of Balients dove on them from above and opened fire with their beam rifles, ripping through the Pyron and others around him. "Damn it, I've had enough of this! Trans AM!" He shouted as the Virtue Physical activated its Trans AM and opened fire with its GN Panzer-Faust mounted on the left arm. The pair of Balients were caught off guard by the speed of the large Gundam and each caught one of the two GN Panzer-Fausts in the torso.

"What in the?" Witz blinked as he saw the Virtue Physical rocket forward and began utterly ripping apart anything near it with its GN Beam Cannon and GN Physical Bazooka. "What's with that red glow?" He blinked at it for a moment before an alert popped up on his screen and he transformed the Airmaster, knocking out two Balients as he passed between them with the Buster Rifles.

Roybea fired on a third from below with the Inner Arm Gatling Cannon as it rolled and dodged getting closer to his Gundam, he just couldn't find the right placement until it landed a hit on him. "Ah…" He glared before directly putting it dead center on the Balient, ripping through it with ease, prior to letting out a sigh.

"What's wrong, Roybea?" Witz asked as Heero rolled in near him to join up with them. "You're not doing as well as usual!"

"You're right." Roybea replied over the frequency. "I'm not in my usual mood."

"Well get in that mood then." Heero dove towards a group of three Daughtresses and transformed the Wing while taking aim with the Buster Rifle at the same time, as one fired a shot with its bazooka it stood and began withdrawing, causing him to blink. "They're falling back?"

"Push the advantage!" Milou charged down on the three of them, rocketing past the two mobile suits before using the Tallgeese III's heat rod to crush the cockpit of the one carrying the Bazooka prior to ripping through the next two with ease.

Xxx

"The New Federation forces are pulling back!" Sala relayed to Jamil.

Jamil watched as the units of mobile suits pulled back from the front line. "I'm worried about their movements."

"What?" Shingo glanced back from the helm as the other bridge crew members looked at him. "I think we're just driving them back."

"Do you think they're pulling back intentionally?" Sala asked.

Toniya looked over at her a little alarmed. "Don't say such scary things!" Before bracing herself as the ship came under bombardment, and explosions erupted around all of the ships.

Xxx

"What's going on?!" General Lee asked.

"Trenches!" The sensors operator yelled over to him. "The enemy mobile suits are in trenches!"

Xxx

"Well that's just great…" Kathy looked at the monitor. "Load type six shells." She looked over at Chen who nodded.

"But type six is armor piercing…" Romero looked back at her from the other fire control station.

"Type six shells in ZAFT are high explosive fragmentation." Kathy corrected him.

"Amia, can you calculate the trajectory to bombard their lines directly overhead?" Chen asked and she nodded as she started running the calculation algorithms for the main guns.

"MRSI bombardment trajectory's transferred to fire control station." Amia relayed the firing solutions for the main guns.

"Firing first salvo!" Chen relayed, as the ship shuddered as all four main guns fired.

"Changing elevation to second level!" Romero relayed as he changed the elevation of the guns for the second shot.

Xxx

The Daughtresses in the trenches opened fire with everything they had from their rifles to bazookas. A Pyron took a shot from one of the bazooka rounds directly in the upper torso as it tried to shield itself from the fire, and was knocked out instantly in a massive explosion.

"Damn them, we can't take them out when they can just duck down into those trenches!" Tieria glared.

"Oh yes we can." Heero relayed over the frequency. "Lieutenant Poe, commence overhead bombing runs on their positions! All other Cygnus units, follow in with her!"

"Roger!" Lieutenant Poe pulled higher before rolling over and coming in almost directly over the top of the central trench line. "All units, on my mark, release!" She commanded as the five Cygnus suits released their payload of ten laser guided bombs each, directly over the first two trench lines.

Xxx

"The Fifth and Sixth units have begun firing." An operations officer relayed to the Bandaal's Captain.

"Move them, to get around the enemy's flank!" The captain ordered as the positions of the nine warships and their mobile suit forces were displayed on the tactical map. "Surround them!" He turned to look over at his communications officer. "Order an airstrike to annihilate the Alliance forces!"

"Yes, sir!" The officer ran over to the communications post and relayed the new orders to their forces.

Xxx

"They'll envelop us at this rate!" Yzak glared as he fired on units of Daughtresses to their right before a group of Pyrons came under fire from directly behind them.

"What!?" Wufei put himself back to back with Yzak as more suits got blindsided from the other flank. "Great they're on three sides now!"

"Setsuna how long till you're…" Yzak started before the Duel took a hit. "Oh forget it, just keep fighting if you can!"

"Trans AM won't be ready again for another ten minutes at the very least!" Setsuna relayed.

Xxx

"The Enemy is getting around our flank!" Sala relayed to Jamil. "At this rate, they'll surround us soon!"

Jamil glared as the Astarte fired another salvo.

Xxx

"Firing on final elevation!" Chen relayed as the Astarte's guns fired the fourth salvo.

"MRSI Impact in five seconds!" Amia relayed.

Kathy looked up at the monitor and paled a little. "Cygnus squadron break off!" She shot out of her seat seeing the five massive mobile suits coming in over the target for their bombing run.

Xxx

"Pulling back for rearmament Lieutenant Poe relayed as she pulled back, rolling to turn back towards the ships and Estard's military base. "What the!?" She yelled as alarms began blaring in her mobile suit, before a concussive blast knocked her suit end over end as the other Cygnus suits pulled up and away.

"You alright Lieutenant?" Heero asked over the frequency as Lieutenant Poe righted her suit.

"Yeah I'm… AHH!" Lieutenant Poe screamed as her mobile suit's tail assembly took a direct hit from three rockets. "Ejecting tail unit!" She punched the ejection switch and purged the burning unit, before it detonated directly below her Cygnusas its remaining missile armament cooked off. "AHH!" Her mobile suit plummeted to the ground in a hard landing and it skidded to just over two hundred yards ahead of the first trench line.

Instantly her mobile suit came under fire from almost all directions in the trench lines.

"All units converge, protect the Lieutenant's mobile suit!" Heero relayed as the Wing dove along with the other Aquila units under his command, transforming and forming a defensive wall around the downed suit.

"It's because of my clumsy piloting… I let the Cygnus get damaged…" Lieutenant Poe shook her head furiously as tears started to slip down her face.

"Pull it together Lieutenant!" Captain Philip relayed as she looked up at her monitor to see all of the four undamaged Cygnus suits unleashing the full barrage of forty missiles, which they had in their tail boosters before purging them and coming in for landings themselves. The large top heavy mobile suits activated their massive high output long range beam cannons. "Remember what I told you!"

Lieutenant Poe blinked. "The Cygnus is a heavy bombardment suit, it's meant for air and space combat… but can be used on the ground, while it's not graceful much like its namesake while on land, it's just as mean…"

The four Cygnus suits still in the fight took aim. "That's right, fire!" Captain Philip commanded and all four mobile suits opened up with their high output beam cannons, enveloping Daughtress mobile suits trying to converge from ahead of the group guarding the Lieutenant's downed machine.

Xxx

The Double X emerged out of the woods on a high mountain cliff flanked by the Pyron escort, overlooking the Federation airbase. "Good. This place will be okay." He put his thumb on the switch to activate the satellite cannon when beams erupted out of the woods behind them, taking out two Pyrons directly behind his Gundam and knocking him forward. "Eh!?" Garrod looked behind them alarmed as the shadowy outlines of the Ashtaron and Virsago appeared.

"Long time no see, Garrod Ran." Shagia smiled lightly.

"It's the first time we get to fight your Double X." Olba chimed in calmly, as the DX spun and took aim at the Ashtaron, one of the Pyrons stepped between them and also took aim at the two Gundams and opened fire, forcing them back.

Shagia lashed out with the Virsago's right claw seizing the Pyrons head and ripped it off, sending it to the ground right in front of Garrod. "Shit! You two again?!" He paled as the base's klaxon began sounding and the airstrip's runway lights began coming online, illuminating the heavy bombers along it.

Shagia smiled. "They're ordering to scramble for a heavy airstrike."

"To annihilate your allies." Olba chimed in as the two suits stood their ground.

"What!?" Garrod snapped at the two of them.

Xxx

Heavy fire came in from the remaining trenches still knocking out any mobile suits that attempted to get close to them. Roybea gaped as a Pyron charged past him towards the forward most trench. "Stop!"

The pilot didn't even bother listening as it charged forward ahead of the lines and was immediately focused on by three of the enemy suits, ripping it apart with machine gun fire.

"I'll attack the enemy from the air!" Witz rolled in for a strafing run of the trenches, firing the two buster rifles slung under the Airmaster's wings. "Eh!?" He rolled right, avoiding a pair of beams that rocketed past his Gundam before a pair of teal blue and white mobile armors arched past his Gundam, coming back around quickly to drop on his tail. "A new model?" He glared as one of the mobile armors fired its beam rifle, and he turned to face them. "AHH!" He returned fire putting shots right over the two.

Suddenly the mobile armors reversed their thrust pulling back in an odd aerial maneuver as one dove and the other climbed, Witz traded shots back and forth with the two mobile armors.

Milou looked down on the battle from the Tallgeese III and glared as shots forced back the Sol Braves mobile suits, to a larger distance as the Federation units took air supremacy with the new model mobile armors. "Why am I acting like such a coward!?" He snapped at himself. "I could defeat them with the Tallgeese, I could ignore their beam rifles, and take back the field for our side!" He activated the suit's thrusters again and charged headlong into the middle of the battle once more.

"Lieutenant Milou!" Captain Philip saw the flash of the Tallgeese III's thrusters as it roared downwards into the battle at its maximum speed.

Milou glared as his hands shook on the controls, straining against the seat. "I've mastered numerous mobile suits before! So why!? WHAT AM I AFRAID OF!?" He punched the suit's afterburners, dumping more power into them andincreasing the rate at which the plasma jets incinerated their fuel, and instantly broke through the sound barrier.

"AHH!" Milou strained to keep from blacking out when he felt it. "I'll die if I keep going…" He saw almost in slow motion as mobile suits in the trenches began firing on him, their shots harmlessly bouncing off of the Tallgeese III's armor."The Tallgeese series is capable of defeating any opponent it faces… but it does have one weakness, its pilot is still a human being." He coughed and saw his blood on the monitor ahead of him. "Is this it?!" He pulled back on the Plasma Jet thruster control before adjusting the angle, and pulling up out of his dive, drawing a few of the mobile armors skywards into a tail chase.

"Get them off his mobile suit!" Captain Philip yelled, as the Cygnus squadron opened up with their beam cannons, ripping through two of the mobile armors as the others pealed off of him.

Xxx

Garrod fired twice at the Virsago before it rolled right under one of the beams and launched its right claw, knocking the Double X off balance.

Olba spun and fired one of the Scissor Beam cannons through the head of one of the remaining Pyrons before the other turned and fired on him from the side. He stepped back, spun and launched the closed right scissor right through the torso of the Pyron, impaling the cockpit.

Shagia spun and brought the Virsago's beam saber down onto the Double X as Garrod brought the shield up blocking it. He grabbed the large beam sword from the hip of the Gundam with the other hand and activated it, forcing the Virsago off of him and back to avoid being cut in half, before putting some distance between them. "No! At this rate…" He glanced towards the airbase, he could see the lights starting to illuminate the runway as the heavy bombers engines came online. "I can't let those planes take off."

The Ashtaron stepped forward having finished off the Pyrons. "Can you stop us?" Olba chuckled over the frequency.

Xxx

The pinned Pyron units around the Aquilas defending Lieutenant Poe's mobile suit took heavy fire and some were destroyed, as they came under fire from Daughtresses wielding bazookas.

Roybea opened fire with the shoulder missiles, and activated the two large missiles housed in the front armor of the Leopard's legs. "Got'em!" He smiled lightly to himself as the missiles struck the trench where the two Daughtresses were. "EH!?" His eyes shot wide as three bazooka rounds came out of the smoke and struck right in front of him, knocking him back.

Witz continued to trade shots with the two mobile armors above the battle on the ground. "Ahh!" He dove in on them firing, his Gundam sparking slightly from spots where the beams had actually stripped away the armor.

Both of the mobile armors passed very close, lowered a small arm and activated a beam saber, cutting through the outer edge of the wings of the Airmaster. "Eh!?" Witz glanced back alarmed that they even had close quarters weapons on these high performance mobile armors, as they rolled back and got right on his tail again. "I won't lose!" He transformed the Airmaster, flipping it in mid transformation and fired while inverted six times through the lead mobile armor, destroying it.

The remaining mobile armor just charged him and rammed into the upper torso of the Airmaster, causing a few more components and bits of the armor to splinter under the impact. Witz didn't let go of it despite the speed. "AHH!" He roared, furious at this point, and just rammed the fist right down through the head of the mobile armor, and its engines blew out as the two just fell towards the battlefield, before crash landing in the dirt.

Xxx

"Let's see… this has to be it!" Kinue punched in a code and brought up the images from the main cameras of one of the mobile suits for the other reporters. "This has to be the one… What in the?!" Her eyes were wide as she saw another Gundam she didn't recognize lashing out at the Double X.

"This is a feed from one of Estard's mobile suits right?" A reporter asked.

"Yeah, but it's from the ground, it must be still transmitting after being knocked out. Two Gundams fighting one another!" Another one of the reporters gaped.

"Those have to be the other Gundams they've been fighting. That one looks a little like the Epyon… the other…" Kinue blinked as she saw the Ashtaron. "Look out!" She yelled.

Xxx

Garrod parried Shagia and forced him back, before he spun and saw the Ashtaron closing at high speed prior to its Scissors clamped down on the arms of the Double X. "This is the end."

"Damn it!" Garrod's eyes were wide as he saw the Ashtaron holding firm on his Gundam, before looking back to see the Virsago level its beam saber and charge to run him through.

"Die!" Shagia glared as he punched his thrusters.

"HAA!" Garrod pushed the controls to their full power, and ripped the Ashtaron's Atomic Scissors off at the joint.

"What the!?" Olba's eyes shot wide as it happened.

Garrod glared as he brought the leg up quickly and kicked the Virsago square in the chest, knocking it completely off balance, and then sending it flying back.

"Brother!" Olba yelled alarmed, before the Double X spun and opened fire with the two breast launchers and the vulcans at the same time, peppering his suit and forcing him back as well.

"Now!" Garrod saw his chance and flipped the switch, activating the Satellite System.

Xxx

"They're cannons… that thing has two cannons…" One of the reporters blinked at the Gundam.

"What's he aiming at?" Kinue blinked as she looked to the monitor, trying to see what it was. "An airbase!?"

"That must be the airbase that was launching the air raids on Estard!" Another reporter blurted.

"But he's miles away, and a single mobile suit can't knock out an airbase…" Another reporter shrugged. "We heard him, he's just some kid from that freelance ship… He doesn't know that Gundam…"

"That thing has the Libra's firepower… if it really does…" Kinue gulped a little. "A laser circuit from the moon?!" She blinked as she saw it make contact with the Double X.

Xxx

"The Satellite System!" Shagia glared.

"Brother!" Olba yelled as the two of them charged trying to stop the Double X.

The microwave connected with the Gundam sending a surge of energy into it, the vents and array panels caused the ground slick with fluids from the downed Pyrons to catch fire, with the brush of the forest sending a wall of flames up around the Double X, forcing the Ashtaron and Virsago back.

Garrod took careful aim over the center of the base and saw the planes beginning to lift off. "GO!" He pulled the trigger, and unleashed the Twin Satellite Cannon's full power. The high powered beam roared right in over the runway diagonally before striking the center of the base. The massive energy built up in the shot detonated on impact in a massive bloom of an explosion enveloping the entire base, as it splintered the buildings and runway in the massive jet black plume of the explosion.

Shagia and Olba quickly fell back, knowing they couldn't take on the Double X in damaged suits.

Xxx

"What? Is that confirmed?" The captain of the Bandaal asked the communications officer who nodded in response, and he hung his head.

"Commander Romanov… Orders, sir?" The communications officer asked.

"Call back the forces, we can't afford any further losses today." Commander Romanov replied calmly.

Xxx

"They're retreating?" Heero blinked as he saw the Daughtresses falling back, before turning and retreating as fast as they could.

"That means… we won!" Yzak smiled before cheers started to erupt from the other pilots, as the Double X flew in from the area near the mountains.

Pilots began clambering out of their mobile suits and cheering as the Double X touched down. The General's Rocky-Class ship slowed near where it touched down as the Airmaster and Leopard joined Garrod's Gundam, they all left their mobile suits. Jamil drove out from the Freeden and joined them, as the General walked out of the hangar to meet them.

Garrod looked at him before General Jackson extended his hand for him. "Thank you, people of the Freeden." He shook Garrod's hand. "You're the reason we were successful."

Xxx

Tiffa blinked before she stood up and went to the window in her room, looking out she saw the retreating back of Ennil, leaving the ship, she put her hand on it, feeling that Ennil was still conflicted as she left.

Xxx

"This is a small victory, you know that right?" Yzak nudged Heero who nodded.

"Small victories add up." Heero looked at him. "They also draw attention. The kind of attention we need."

"They also can draw unwanted attention…" Athrun walked over to them. "From the enemy… we just took out an airbase. They will send reinforcements, lots of them probably."

"And we'll do what we have to, to stop them." Yzak nodded to him.

"Heero!" Graham ran over from his suit. "Milou is injured!"

"Great… I told him not to push it too hard…" Heero grumbled before hurrying off towards the Astarte.

Xxx

"The Double X… he was better than I thought." Olba sighed.

"It will be a good match against them." Shagia smiled as he looked at the four experimental suits they'd been given from the General Staff Office for their mission.

"Then, we're finally going to do it, Brother?" Olba asked calmly.

Shagia almost smirked "That's right, finally."

Xxx

"What do you mean?" Milou asked looking over at Katherine.

"What I mean, Milou. Is that your sister is capable of more than you are." Katherine took a sip of her tea, and smiled lightly at him. "Despite what you may believe, you are still lacking."

"I am a more capable pilot than my sister, and you know that!" Milou got out of his seat.

"You may have the skills, but unlike you, your sister is not content staying in the shadow of your parents." Katherine watched calmly as he started to leave. "And that is why I will push you away until you do."

Milou winced a little before leaving. "I will show her… that I am better than my father, sister, even my uncle."

Xxx

Shagia smiled as he took a seat at the table and picked up a deck of playing cards. He shuffled them lengthwise in his hands a few times. "Then, we'll let the god of fate decide who will face the Double X first." Before looking at the darkened figures in the dimly lit room that where sitting at the other seats around the card table, he flicked one card each to the three men with his thumb from the top of the deck. And sat the cards down on the table.

"Open." Olba nodded to them and each of them flipped their cards over, revealing what they'd been dealt.

The one on Shagia's left had the two of hearts, to his right the four of diamonds, and directly in front of him, the ace of spades.

Shagia himself flipped over one card and saw the two of spades. "It has been decided." The two others sat back in their chairs as the winner stood up and followed the two out of the room to the hangar, spotlights came online showing him the mobile suit that had been prepared for him.

The dark grey, blue, and red suit had long arms and legs, giving it a very elongated appearance as it towered there over them. "This is the Correl, a test model developed by the General Staff Office." Shagia gestured to it. "I want you to use this."

"And defeat the Gundam." Olba finished for his brother.

The blonde haired man himself was hunched slightly like the mobile suit standing there. "Make its color white."

"It doesn't matter." Shagia replied calmly.

"I want white!" The man snapped at them, causing them to look at him a little alarmed.

Shagia sighed a little. "Very well, Lieutenant Demar. We'll do as you say."

Demar smiled calmly. "That's fine then." He chucked lightly. "I will defeat the Double X."

Xxx

"You want to know about your great great grandfather?" Katrina blinked at Milou.

"Not just him, I want to know what our country was like before it was a pacifist nation." Milou looked at her standing there. "I know you didn't believe in pacifism at one point. What was our country like back then, before the UESA?"

"My father once said that a nation must have a strong military to maintain control in its region." Katrina looked at him. "He believed that might makes right, in the simplest form. But in reality, the Sanc Kingdom came into being under his grandfather's rule, during the great breakup of the European economic bloc as the colonies began being constructed." She turned and pulled a book from the shelf and brushed some dust off of it, before flipping it open for him.

"The second great war?" Milou blinked as he began looking at it.

"The Sanc Kingdom came into being when military forces in the northern part of Europe formed a small coalition around a group of old noble families. As the nations collapsed economically around them, military units abandoned their bases, and went where the money was." Katrina looked at him as she propped herself against a table, as he looked over the book. "What ultimately happened, was a massive economic depression that was global. It was one of the major sparking points for further space colonization."

"The people went to where the work was then?" Milou looked at her and she nodded. "But that doesn't explain exactly what happened to us before becoming a pacifist nation."

"Your ancestor who became the first ruler of our nation, united the military forces in the North Western Europe, and establishedahegemony over the other powers in the European region by employing age oldwartactics used in the past to great military success. And unlike some who employed those tactics, he did not allow greed to get the best of him."

"If Heero Yuy never came into existence, what would have happened?" Milou asked her, causing her to blink and ponder it for a moment.

"The Sanc Kingdom would have probably heldout,much like some forces in Asia, against the United Earth Sphere Alliance forcesfor some time probably, until ultimatelycoming into a head to head confrontation with them. Which by that point would have been a very bloody war for both sides."

"You think that the Sanc Kingdom's forces could have defeated the Alliance?" Milou blinked.

"I know they could have. Remember I was there. Some of the Alliance's finest commanders were disgruntled officers that left after I disbanded the army."

"Like General Onegall?" Milou asked.

"Exactly, officers just like Onegall would have been in command, using the past's conventional arms. Despite how we may look now, we did have a small stockpile of nuclear arms at one point. We were a thorn in the side of the Alliance to say the least. And equipment wise possibly the best equipped outside of the Alliance itself."

"And what if we went to a neutral armed stance again?" Milou asked.

"You are asking about the request for the guards to be sent to the After War Earth, so that is what this is really about." Katrina looked at him for a moment and he nodded. "Considering the true pacifism Heero could have wanted, most likely is nothing more than a childish dream, and he even realized that to some extent I think, by covering up Jack's work. I think flexing a bit of muscle would draw some attention in more than one way."

"Is it legal?" Milou asked calmly.

"Well, this is a grey area politically." Katrina pondered it for a moment. "It challenges the centralization of government in the ESUN. Which already is in a tedious spot, after the reformation of national borders for other reasons, it would further weaken the centralized power of the parliament, which, ever since the assassination of the late President, has been internally dysfunctional."

"So we could do it then?" Milou asked again.

"Technically, yes, Heero is within his powers to call up our forces to defend an allied Nation if we had such a pact, but that actual power rests with your aunt."

"Who is also pregnant." Milou pointed out "And preparing for a political campaign for the Presidency."

"But this would weaken her position…" Katrina pointed out.

"No, it would weaken the central government, if we pull it off, and she can spin it politically as a victory." Milou pointed out.

"You have spent too much time with your aunt and uncle." Katrina nodded as Milou picked the book up and made his way out past her.

Xxx

"You're going where?" Noinstared in surpriseat her son.

"I'm leading our forces to answer Heero's request." Milou looked at her for a moment as he continued to pack his uniform.

"So, that's the actual reason then?" Noin looked at her son skeptically.

Milou stopped for a moment knowing that tone she had. "I feel useless, I have to do something. Naina is over there and has been for months."

"I see… you know you are more like myself than Naina is." Noin looked at him from the spot she'd taken on the wall next to his door.

"No, I am not more like you than Naina is." Milou finished up his packing and turned to face his mother. "And if I have to prove it to my own family that I am not some sheltered little Prince, then I will."

"None of us ever said anything like that." Noin looked at him.

"No, but the way I have been treated after the end of the war implies it." Milou picked up his bag and hefted it over his shoulder, before walking out past her.

"He's being reckless like his father…" Noin sighed. "I guess even though he wasn't born through natural means, he still does have Peacecraft blood in him."

Milou cracked his eyes open and groaned a little as his vision adjusted to the light. "Where am…"

"So you're finally awake." Heero looked over at him. "You nearly killed yourself."

"No, I didn't." Milou muttered calmly, feeling the pain in his chest as he saw Heero from outside of the medical capsule.

"Three cracked ribs, and a minor concussion." Heero looked at him. "I'm going to get an earful for this."

"Quit treating me like I am some fragile boy that needs protected." Milou glared at him.

"I'm not, you're injured. And despite your opinion that you don't need to be protected, you do because of who you are." Heero pressed two buttons and the capsule opened. "Now get up, we are expected at the palace."

"Wha…" Milou blinked.

"I am not going to treat you like you are some child, you may have some cracked ribs, but you are still able to get up and move, and talk, besides most of the injury was dealt with over the past three days in the capsule, they are probably just badly bruised now." Heero looked over at him from the door. "You are only a year or two younger than I am physically, you are not a child, so, do not act like one." He exited leaving Milou sitting there a little stunned.

Xxx

"The Republic of Estard is filled with joy because of this victory; their country no longer needs to fear the New Federation's airstrikes." Miriallia looked over at Kinue, who nodded as she continued to write her article that she was going to submit.

"The crews of the ships, who played a major part in the operation, are being treated like heroes and as national guests." Kinue noted, causing Miriallia to blink a little.

"That may be what they think, however we're only doing our job." Miriallia looked up at her from her own work.

"Well you may feel that way, but as civilians, they feel differently." Kinue smiled.

Xxx

"Our most sincere apologies for being late, Prince Willis." Heero nodded politely to him as they entered the room, where Willis and his advisors were waiting.

"Please, you do not need to worry… though I heard that he was injured during the battle." Willis glanced at Milou.

"He will be fine." Heero smiled calmly as they walked further into the room.

"I believe it is time to greet the people, your majesty." Rooks gestured to the balcony.

The group made their way out to the balcony and were immediately assaulted by the cheers of the people below, as Prince Willis waved and smiled to them.

Xxx

The Freeden's bridge crew and some of the officers of the Astarte and Artorious sat eating breakfast at a long table in a hotel's ballroom. "Will it take much longer to repair the ship?" Dr. Tex asked Sam, who was sitting next to him and practically inhaling his food.

"It won't be long, since their people are helping us." Sam looked at him as he talked with his mouth half full.

"With those table manners, I'm surprised they'd be willing to help us at all…" Billy blinked at Sam.

"Are the Captain and the others with the Government leaders?" Shingo asked looking across the table at Sala and Toniya.

"Yes." Sala looked at him.

"Yzak, Heero, and Graham are with them as well." Kathy spread some strawberries across her pancakes and started to carve into them.

"This is the third day in a row." Toniya lifted her fork up from her food as she continued to eat. "After all, guys just like to talk about politics and wars."

"Mechanics, too!" Sam exclaimed gaping at her.

"Medicine isn't too bad either." Dr. Tex crossed his arms and looked across at Toniya.

"No, no, no. Ships are men's great romance." Shingo chuckled a little from his seat.

"Clearly you're all missing the point, astrophysics and engineering are the best topics." Billy chimed in causing a few of them to look at him.

"Truthfully though, what guys rank highest isn't any of those, right?" Toniya laid down her silverware and smiled at them, and the others looked at her a little confused before she struck a slight pose in her seat, putting her arms behind her head along with smiling as her figure became slightly more apparent. "What guys like most is…"

"Eh…." All of the guys leaned in a bit.

"Stop it!" Sala berated Toniya a little.

"Billy! You're married…" Hanayo stated flatly taking all of the wind out of him.

"Boys will still be boys…" Amia shrugged.

"Even if they act more like dogs every minute?" Kathy added, causing Amia to almost gag as she stifled a giggle.

"Sorry." Toniya grimaced a little as she and the others laughed.

Tiffa looked over at Toniya "Toniya is forcing herself to act happily in order to not think about that person leaving."

Amia glanced at Tiffa. "You get it too, huh…?" She nudged Tiffa, causing her to jump a little.

"Uhh…" Tiffa blinked.

Amia nodded towards Toniya and Tiffa sighed a little before nodding. "It'll work itself out… Hopefully, we all like Ennil." Amia stated hopefully.

Xxx

Ennil rested on the stern railing of the passenger ferry leaving the mainland for Sains Island. "Sorry, Toniya. I can't stay on that ship. There are too many memories there." She sighed a little. "He probably won't forgive me."

"Whoa, it's some of those ships from that fleet near Sains Island!" Another passenger exclaimed causing Ennil to look, there rising out of the water from the harbor was the white and red form of a ship type she'd never seen before, being escorted by some odd cruisers with a single long cannon mounted on the bow of the ships.

The massive ship appeared as if it had a pair of long legs coming from its bow. "Attention civilian transport, we're now commencing escort duty until you safely reach the island." A female voice came over the external announcement system. "Please do not be alarmed."

"It's…" Ennil blinked as she saw the massive white ship break free from the water and take flight.

Xxx

"Escort duty for our first mission after leaving dry dock…" Natarle walked up to Murrue's chair in the updated bridge of the Archangel.

"Considering that most of our veteran pilots, and crew are inland dealing with the same threat that we're fighting out here. It's better than I'd expected." Murrue nodded looking around the bridge at a good number of unfamiliar faces manning posts that had long been held by those aboard the Astarte.

"Can we protect that ship without them?" Natarle asked calmly.

"We don't have time to ask ourselves that, we have to be prepared, and beat the Federation to Sains Island."

Xxx

"Continue to fight!?" Grant gaped at General Lee. "Our country doesn't have a future unless we make a peace treaty!"

"We cannot be cowards!" Lee snapped back at Grant. "I want to ask the people of the Freeden, and the Sanc Kingdom to help us in the next operation."

"Next operation?" Jamil asked as Lee sat back down.

Lee nodded. "We will fight until the New Federation approves our independence." He looked at Jamil before turning to Prince Willis. "Isn't' that right?"

"It's…" Prince Willis couldn't exactly find the words for it.

"No, we must make peace!" Grant looked at Prince Willis as he slammed his fist on the table.

"Prince Willis, it's your decision!" General Lee looked at him, and at the same time Grant also held his gaze on the Prince.

The sound of one of the chairs moving broke the tension in the air. "I'm getting bored." Roybea got up, causing a few of them to look at him as he made his way around the end of the table. "I'm leaving."

"That jerk." Witz glared a little. "He doesn't realize how serious this is."

"I must apologize that this discussion was not suitable for our guests." Rooks interjected as he stepped in before the entire meeting fell apart around them. "I beg your pardon."

"In relative terms, the combined military might of the allied forces may be enough to defend the region. However… in an industrial standpoint we cannot stand forever against the New Federation, with an entire planet at their disposal." Yzak leaned into Heero who nodded. "We need more help from back home."

The meeting adjourned for a break and the officers and pilots left to contemplate on their own for a bit.

Xxx

"Convince him? Me?" Roybea leaned against the base of a tree as the Prince's Advisor Grant Stewart looked at him.

"Yes." Grant nodded. "I want you to convince him to make a peace treaty."

"Why me?" Roybea asked calmly.

Grant straightened up a bit. "You stood resolute against the General. That's why I would like to ask you."

"That's…" Roybea blinked as Grant knelt down and placed his hands on his shoulders.

"We of Estard are allies with Gastar on the surface, but we're not friendly with each other." Grant looked at him. "The General is just trying to defeat the New Federation before Gastar, to be a leader in this move towards independence."

Roybea sighed for a moment. "Fighting for the sake of pride."

"Do you understand me?" Grant asked him, and Roybea nodded.

Roybea nodded. "Yes, I understand you." Before pushing himself up and getting Grant to let go of him. "But I won't do it." He planted his hands on his hips as he took a few steps away from Grant. "The old man isn't the only person I don't like. I don't like you, either." He looked back over his shoulder at him with a slight glare, before walking off.

Grant stood and began walking off back towards the palace interior, passing someone who he'd not noticed before. "So, there's more to this than we initially thought." Lyle muttered softly as he pushed himself off the tree.

Xxx

Rooks started making his way down the hallway after the meeting formally adjourned, having only a few remaining parties discussing some continuing issues. "In truth, how is it?" Jamil asked as he caught up with Rooks, and fell into step with him.

"You mean…" Rooks glanced sideways at him.

"Does this country have a future?" Jamil asked calmly.

Rooks focused his gaze forwards again. "It depends on him."

"Decisions like this are difficult." Heero's voice caught them both off guard as they reached the end of the corridor, where it intersected with another hallway to find him leaning against the wall.

"War, or peace." Heero looked at Rooks directly "Remember what was in that pact between our nations. It may hold more water than you'd think."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jamil looked at him.

"It may determine the course of history, that's all." Heero stated calmly before he walked past them both and down the corridor, towards the palace's balcony overlooking its front courtyard.

Xxx

Prince Willis hadn't budged from his seat at the head of the table, looking at his hands the entire time and trying to contemplate the matter. The Prince blinked and looked up finally seeing Garrod standing there, and Milou starting to get out of his seat. "What is it? Is there something you want?" He asked calmly.

"No, it's nothing." Garrod looked away as he noticed he'd been staring at the Prince.

"Well, I wanted to ask you something." Willis smiled at him, causing Milou to stop and blink at him.

"Ask me?" Garrod blinked.

"Yes." Willis smiled. "I wanted to ask you how it was when you lived back on the North American continent?"

Milou looked over at Garrod. "I'd be interested as well, we don't get very much from the reports that are being sent back to us." Causing both Garrod and Willis to blink back at him.

Xxx

General Lee entered the hangar, where the Freeden was being repaired, and a good number of the military mechanics stopped and saluted him, before he glanced around at them. "Continue your work."

"Yo, Pops!" Sam called from a lift that came down closer to ground level and Lee. "Because of your help, the repairs are going well!" He smiled as he leaned against the lift's railing.

"Watch your mouth!" One of the soldiers escorting the General glared at Sam.

General Lee held out his hand stopping him. "It's okay." He turned to Sam again. "Say, what do you think about making your ship stronger?" He smiled at him. "With our technology, it would be an easy job."

Sam grinned at the prospect before mentally berating himself down. "That's a good idea, but I need to get Jamil's permission."

"I see." General Lee sighed.

"Hey, old man." Witz called, causing Lee to turn to face him as he walked over from the hangar door. "I'll take that offer."

Sam hopped down from the lift and the group walked over to where the Airmaster was, all of its armor had been stripped off and most of the internals were removed already for repairs, and nothing but the bare frame of the Gundam stood there. "Upgrade the Airmaster?"

"That's right." Witz looked up at it. "Unfortunately, the New Federation's new models have greater performance."

"Well, it makes sense." Ian walked up behind them. "They have years of data to build from, including the data of the Airmaster. Gundams are prototype weapons mainly, and the data from them is used to develop new models for mass production."

"Then I have a good idea!" Sam grinned at Witz.

"We will provide the resources and labor." General Lee looked at Witz who was looking at Sam.

Witz's head snapped back around so sharply that it caused Ian to jump a little. "Really!?" He blinked.

General Lee smiled. "You're much like me when I was young… Hot tempered and straightforward."

"Your praise won't lighten me up." Witz grimaced a little.

"In addition, ill-mannered. Much like I was." General Lee crossed his arms for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Kinda funny, reminds me of a certain unruly brat I know…" Ian chuckled before placing his hand on his hip. "I'll chip in too, a little technical data doesn't hurt… and it's been a bit since I've tinkered on a mobile suit. The Karels do most of the work onboard the Astarte unless a heavy overhaul is needed."

"You…" Sam blinked at him.

"Yeah, what about it?" Ian looked at him.

"You worked with my dad right…" Sam looked at him. "So…"

"I know the ins and outs of Ables' work, or at least I did back when we worked together. Modernizing this Mobile Suit won't take much. Some new verniers, a new reactor; heck with the right tuning, I could probably make it as maneuverable as the latest any of the Coalition Nations have."

"All except for my Gundam that is." A voice caught Ian cold and he glanced back to see James standing there. "Nothing, and you know it, can match the Deathscythe Hell for speed and maneuverability without sacrificing one for the other. Selatiel may be able to break mach eight, but it can't turn worth a damn. Trowa may be able to spin Heavyarms under a fraction of a second, but I'm faster. You designed my mobile suit, and you know it's the best."

"Yeah, but your Gundam isn't here." Ian looked back at his son. "And the old mushroom head built it with his specs. Not mine. He emphasized stealth over speed and maneuverability." He cracked his knuckles and smiled. "Airmaster here was built to Able's specs. His were insane compared to mine. I told him they'd be too high maintenance, but he managed to make it work. It's why the Satellite Cannon for the GX couldn't be repaired. It would need to be rebuilt from scratch to do it. Yours were made for easy maintenance with readily available parts. By comparison, the Airmaster is in another league. And I'll let it show off its ability with just some minor upgrades to bring it into the modern age of mobile suit tech."

James chuckled. "Keep dreaming… Nothing will ever match the Deathscythe Hell." He turned and walked back towards the Astarte.

"Are you sure, you can…" Sam trailed off a little as Ian just gave him a smile and nodded.

Xxx

Dr. Tex looked up from his paper as he saw Tiffa looking around. "Garrod isn't back yet." Causing her to look over at him. "There's still a talk going on."

"Is that so?" Tiffa looked down a little prior to turning and walking back towards the stairs, up to their rooms.

Dr. Tex watched her for a moment before lifting his paper back up. "I guess what Toniya said about what guys rank highest wasn't dependable." He flipped the page of the paper.

"No, it's just that business is keeping them apart." Amia sighed as she walked past him towards the entrance, causing him to look up and blink for a moment. Thinking he caught a metallic sheen to her hair.

Xxx

"Mobile Suit pilots face death every day?" Prince Willis asked as he sat next to Garrod on one of the garden benches.

"That's right." Garrod nodded with his arm draped over the back of the bench as Milou leaned against a tree across from them. "But I have to do this in order to live, and the Freeden is like a home to us."

"I'm jealous." Willis looked down a little at the comment. "If it were possible, I'd want to live like that."

"You're joking." Garrod smiled at him. "You're the ruler of such a great country. This way of life is much better."

"But I don't have anyone I can truly trust." Willis looked down, causing Garrod and Milou to blink at him. "You saw that, right? I'm just window dressing. I became ruler because my father was. I don't have the power to lead these people. I'm just a puppet that answers yes or no to what others have decided."

"I know what you mean." Garrod replied calmly before getting up. "Others often treat me like a good for nothing kid."

"You're still an interesting person." Willis got up himself.

"You think so?" Garrod smiled at him and Milou just watched. "I think I'm just normal."

"I envy you both…" Milou pushed himself off of the tree. "You may be a figurehead, but at least you're not in anyone's shadow. And they may treat you like a good for nothing kid… but you don't have to prove yourself to others." The two of them blinked at Milou this time. "My father, technically the rightful king, abdicated, however my aunt is passing the throne to myself and my sister when we're old enough. Yet, my father has a military record as an ace pilot, it's hard to stand out against that, even my mother was in the military and was just as skilled. My sister stands out more than I do as a pilot… I can't even prove my own strength to my family, let alone the nation I'm supposed to be the head of one day. My aunt is a politician, but even her husband, my uncle, Heero is better at politics than I am."

"Prince Willis… It is time for the meeting." Rooks called from the door cutting their conversation short, before heading back inside.

"Garrod, Milou I want to talk with you both some more." Willis looked at both of them.

"All right. I promise." Garrod smiled at him.

Milou nodded. "Certainly."

Willis held out his hand for Garrod, causing him to blink at it prior to taking the handshake and before Willis headed back inside towards the meeting.

Xxx

"Tiffa." Toniya's voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she stood on the hotel balcony. "You were thinking about Garrod, weren't you?" Toniya stepped out and joined her at the railing.

"No…" Tiffa replied softly.

"You can't hide it from me." Toniya smiled at her. "Have you been talking to Garrod lately?" Tiffa just shook her head in response. "I thought so."

"Can you tell?" Tiffa asked.

"You have the same kind of aura I have." Toniya looked at her. "You know, the aura that says, "I'm lonely.""

"Is it about Ennil?" Tiffa asked calmly, and Toniya sighed.

"Hey, have either of you seen Amia?" Kathy asked as she joined them on the balcony.

"I thought she went out earlier… said something about makeup." Toniya glanced back at her. "I offered to let her borrow some but…"

Kathy's eyes widened. "Oh…" And she just mouthed the expletive as she covered her mouth a little, thinking about what she'd gone out for.

"Why?" Toniya asked.

"Uhh, she just needs a special type of makeup, allergies." Kathy sidestepped the comment. "I don't know if she'll be able to find what she needs though."

Xxx

"So, they've started to move." Shagia looked at the electronic map in the command center of the Bandaal land fortress.

The Captain nodded. "This operation was planned by the General Staff Office. Code name "S", it stands for "Sacrifice." The objective is the independent country of Northernbell." He placed his hand on his hip. "We are to send our entire force to take their capital, Berude, but…"

"Don't you understand?" Shagia mused a little at the operation's name. "This is the sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" The captain asked wondering what Shagia had figured out.

"Estard and Gastar have a history of ethnic hatred for each other since the Old Federation." Shagia mused. "That's why we just have to take Northernbell and show them how strong our force is. Then we offer a peace treaty to one of them."

"I see." The captain looked at the map table again.

"We have no need to start a fire." Shagia smiled. "All we have to do is pour oil on the existing one."

Xxx

"Think you can dig anything up?" Lyle asked looking at Kinue.

"What are you insinuating?" Neil looked at his brother from his seat at the table. "That we're being played?"

"That old advisor thinks the General's rush to war is because of their ally." Lyle looked at her.

"Well, I'm not sure." Kinue looked puzzled. "There isn't much to go on here. From what it sounds like, Northernbell is the one holding this small coalition together. At least that's what I get from the local reporters. And that this country's forces don't work too well with the forces from Gastar. But everyone is reluctant to say anything more."

"What kind of history do the two nations have?" Miriallia sat down next to them.

"Well, that old advisor said they weren't friendly with each other." Lyle looked at her.

"That could mean any number of things. But in this case, in a geopolitical sense..." Miriallia stopped herself as she almost froze on the spot.

"What?" Kinue asked.

"It's the same." Miriallia blinked. "The same kind of air as back home."

"What kind of politics?" Neil asked.

"Well, if I'm getting the gist of everything." Miriallia cut into the chicken breast on her plate. "Old hatred for a number of different reasons, however they're reluctant to talk about it, because they're both like that. Just how ZAFT and the Alliance are back on our Earth."

"ZAFT and the Earth Alliance forces get along pretty well." Neil shrugged.

"No… they don't." Miriallia looked at him. "There was once a term by a radical group of the Earth Alliance forces known as Blue Cosmos, which was a guiding hand in the Alliance forces during the first Bloody Valentine war. For the preservation of our blue and pure world…"

"Talking about those genocidal bastards eh…" Dearka plopped himself down right next to Miriallia. "Those Blue Cosmos guys still deserve to be tracked down and strung up, every last one of those bastards, just like how they wanted to "cleanse" us from existence."

"What was the First Bloody Valentine about?" Neil blinked as he asked.

"It was the PLANT's independence, but more so, our right to exist as coordinators. The Earth Alliance, and Blue Cosmos didn't even want us to exist, they didn't even see us as having rights as human beings. It was an ethnic war you could say. Because our side had our fair share of radicals as well. Patrick Zala, Athrun's father, was the radical faction leader, and nearly fired Genesis at earth to wipe all Naturals out." Dearka looked at them and snapped his fingers. "Just like that. If it would have been just those Blue Cosmos guys, I would have been all for it."

"So you think that this is possibly an ethnic war we're sitting in the middle of?" Kinue asked.

"It wouldn't surprise me, reporters aren't too keen on talking about things like this. Those kinds of wars are nasty, and neither side is completely perfect. Genocide takes place during that kind of war." Miriallia looked at her. "Northernbell is probably all that is holding the two nations from being at each other's throats. Just like how Orb was a neutral power that had enough advanced technology to maintain its neutrality during the first war. Northernbell has enough political power to get the two nations to cooperate even if it's begrudgingly."

Xxx

"Ehhh…" Garrod, Roybea, Toniya, and Sala all gaped seeing the Airmaster gleaming like it was brand new.

Witz grinned with his arms spread wide as he stood in front of it. "What do you think of the newly reborn Airmaster?"

"Wow, you changed the colors, too!" Garrod gaped, the rebuilt Airmaster being white Blue and Black now.

"I've had the idea for a while." Sam smiled with his arms crossed. "It became possible with the help of this country's resources."

"You received help from this country?" Sala leaned down and asked him directly.

Sam looked at her. "Well, yeah. Is that a problem?"

Sala sighed. "I didn't mean it that way, but…"

"Won't they say we have to help them in return for this?" Toniya asked.

"You idiots!" Witz glared at them. "That old man isn't that kind of miser! In addition, I feel like I understand what he's talking about."

"Witz." Garrod blinked at him.

"There's nothing wrong with fighting to gain freedom…" Witz looked at them "Right?"

"It isn't wrong… but…" Toniya looked at him.

Roybea just turned and walked out of the hangar, leaving them without saying a word about it.

"Well, okay, its shiny, still can't outperform my Gundam." James walked over and looked up at it.

Ian just grinned at his son. "With high output plasma jet engines, modernized electronics, and targeting systems, it can." He turned and gestured to the Airmaster. "The Airmaster Burst is the result of just modernizing the tech within the frame Able built. His designs, like the initial concept, are easy to modify and upgrade with new tech, as long as you keep it within the tolerances he built it."

"Yeah, but that still means that the frame can only take so much before it breaks." James shrugged.

"And if you put the kind of stress that the Airmaster can take on the Deathscythe Hell, it would damage the frame beyond repair." Ian grinned. "Face it, it is better."

"Keep dreaming old man." James just shrugged him off before heading back for the ship.

Tiffa ran into the hangar almost out of breath. "Something bad is going to happen!"

"What?!" Garrod looked at her alarmed. "What do you mean something bad is going to happen? What in the world could happen?"

"I don't know. But…" Tiffa looked at him.

"But?" Garrod walked over to her and the others just stood there.

"I just have a bad feeling about what's going to happen." Tiffa looked down.

Xxx

"It has begun, Brother." Olba announced from the terminal in the hangar of their transport. "Do you think the Gundam will appear?"

"More than likely." Shagia replied calmly before looking out at the gantry with one man standing on it, painting the head of the lanky looking Correl standing in the hangar.

"He's an eccentric man." Olba looked up at him as well.

Shagia nodded. "In the African Campaign he was called "The White Death." He is a proven pilot."

Olba looked at his brother. "Then we must test whether he has the power."

Shagia nodded. "Yes, fighting against a strong opponent will be a good test."

Demar finished spraying the last hint of red paint that had once adorned the Correl, and lifted the filter off of his face. "Perfectly white." He smiled before laughing lightly as he admired the gleaming white head of the suit.

Xxx

"Are the repairs finished yet?" General Lee asked as he looked at Jamil.

"We can't move the ship yet." Jamil looked over at him.

The General looked down. "I see." He sighed. "I wanted to ask for your help, how unfortunate."

"Old man." Witz called to him. "I'll go."

"Really!?" General Lee blinked at him.

Witz nodded. "You've done a lot for us, and I want to test my new Airmaster. In addition, the city has been turned into a war zone, right?"

General Lee knew what Witz was getting at, he walked over and took his hand. "I'm grateful." Witz nodded in response.

Tiffa glanced over at Garrod and knew what he was feeling, he was going too.

"You know… maybe it is a good opportunity." James glanced over at the Air Master Burst. "We can finally see which Gundam is better."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Witz looked at James as the hangar doors began opening.

"It means, time to prove my old man wrong." James smiled as he walked out into the daylight right in front of the hangar. "Isn't that right, old buddy?" He looked up and Ian's face paled as the active cloak deactivated, and the Deathscythe Hell materialized before them.

Garrod blinked at the slate grey and black Gundam. "Better hurry if you think you can catch up." James called as he ascended the lift to the cockpit.

"When the hell did he get his Gundam here?" Ian gaped at it as the Deathscythe Hell stood up.

Xxx

"We've been requested to assist in an operation to defend Northernbell?" Lieutenant Poe blinked at Heero from the monitor.

"That is correct." Heero readied his Gundam for takeoff. "All pilots will be in formation, our target is Berude. We are to disable their capability to drop reinforcements and fight off the Federation troops that are attempting to conquer the nation."

"And what if we're unable to do that?" Lieutenant Poe asked.

"We have to, or there may be a chance this nation will burn." Heero stated calmly as he closed the outside lines and the cockpit became black around him.

"You know she's right, the chance of pulling this off is slim at this point." The voice echoed around him.

"Why did you come here?" Heero asked calmly.

"To protect my foolish great grandson, and his even more foolish uncle." The cockpit began to illuminate around him as the systems came online again. "The newer equipment isn't even fully field trialed yet." Katrina smiled at him. "But that doesn't bother you one bit."

"Astarte and Artorious can't move, we're on our own, just like back then." Yzak's voice came over the channel as the Duel began to move out.

"We just have to stop them like we did to the Alliance." Quatre's voice came over the frequency as the Sandrock activated.

"With our Gundams." Setsuna relayed as the Exia's cameras flickered to life.

Xxx

"When the heck did they…?" Ian scratched his head.

"Last night." Lyle walked over as the Gundams and Sanc Kingdom's mobile suits took off. "They were sent in with the repair components for the damaged Cygnus, and parts for the Tallgeese."

"The governments must be wanting to make a move without really letting the public notice too much." Ian looked over at the General. "Now we have to hope that they can pull this off alone like they did during Operation Meteor."

Xxx

Witz kept pace with James easily. "You just watch." He glared as he edged ahead of the Deathscythe Hell.

"That all you got Witz?" James laughed a little over the frequency. "I've been holding back." He pushed the verniers to their full power and just pulled away from the group with ease.

"This isn't a race James." Yzak relayed from his spot while keeping pace towards the rear of the formation.

"So what's with that equipment on the Duel?" Heero asked glancing back at the strange flight equipment it was using.

"They were developed at Armory One for high speed in-atmosphere flight for normal mobile suits like the ZAKUs." Yzak replied, "Because everyone kept finding out the hard way that the Guul's continued getting shot out from under them."

"Looks sorta like a DINN flight unit." James commented as he rolled to take a better look at it.

"They probably reused the flight components design, heck maybe even some of the components, since they've retired most of the DINN's already." Yzak replied.

Xxx

"Roybea hasn't returned yet?" Sala looked out of the Freeden's bridge's windows at the retreating forms of the Gundams, which were heading towards the country to the north.

"He's probably loitering about." Toniya shrugged.

Xxx

"Our forces joined Gastar's to go help." A reporter's voice came from an electronics shop, causing Roybea to glance over at it as a crowd gawked at the interview with their Prince. "About this move, Prince Willis…" He just turned and kept walking.

Xxx

"Our forces are battling the New Federation in the capital of Northernbell, Berude." Rooks read the report to the Prince.

"What about the Freeden, and the Sanc Kingdom forces?" Willis asked.

"The Freeden is still under repair, two Mobile Suit pilots from the Freeden went with the Sanc Kingdom's Mobile Suits. Garrod Ran, and Witz Sou volunteered."

"I see." Willis glanced out the window in the direction of Northernbell.

"There is also the matter of the call from earlier, about the Sanc Kingdom's new Mobile Suits that arrived." Rooks looked at him.

"From Her Royal Highness, Archduchess of the Sanc Kingdom, Relena Peacecraft Yuy…" Willis looked at the letter on his desk that had been delivered at the crack of dawn that morning. "Please keep the deployment of the two new Gundams from prying eyes."

"They seem to be playing a political power game of sorts." Rooks looked at him. "Or it could be a move to antagonize the other Nations in their Coalition into action."

"Then there's the other report that was delivered. A request for formal terms for the creation of a supporting alliance with this United Emirates of Orb, who are at war with the Federation in the Pacific, and are also allied with the Sanc Kingdom."

"It all hinges upon the result of the battle." Rooks looked at him. "If we are victorious, we may receive the backing of their Coalition in its full force."

"If we lose… or Northernbell surrenders, then what?" Willis looked at him.

"We hope they offer their aid." Rooks nodded.

Xxx

A group of Pyrons from Northernbell came under attack from the Daughtresses dug into the city already and from the air by a squadron of Balients.

"We must defend the government leaders!" Garrod passed on to Witz as the formation dove on the attacking Balients and opened fire, forcing the formation to scatter. "But it'll be hard with so many enemy units."

"Don't complain!" Witz snapped at him. "What we have to do is drive the New Federation out of the city!" He ripple fired the nose beam cannon and booster beam cannons on the wingtips, shooting down three Balients in quick succession.

"Bring anything that isn't allied down with full force!" Yzak ordered calmly "Operation Meteor Orders, got it!?"

"Roger." Heero rolled the Selatiel and fired the twin buster magnum, vaporizing three Balients in one shot. "All units, spread out, drive them from the city!"

"Just our lucky day!" James rolled high and went after the mobile suit carriers. "Stop the reinforcements, and they'll have to fall back."

"I'm with you!" Quatre rolled and pulled high with the Sandrock's flight equipment, straining to keep up with him.

"Exia, eliminating targets!" Setsuna dove down, followed shortly by Garrod and Milou as the others kept to the air and engaging targets that were supporting the ground forces, he charged headlong down the street holding the Exia's shield at an angle, continuing charging recklessly into the three Daughtress type mobile suits at the intersection ahead of them before activating the GN Sword Kai, spinning and carving through the three of them, one after another slashing directly across the center of the torso on each one, cutting straight through the cockpit, and sending them to the ground before he shot off down the next street, not even waiting for the other two.

"There's no way I can use the Satellite Cannon in a place like this." Garrod glared as he and Milou dodged some fire coming in from the opposite end of the street.

"Shouldn't matter all that much in close quarters." Milou relayed back to him. "We just need to stick together."

"Stick together, right." Garrod gulped as several Daughtresses rounded the corner and opened up on them. He opened fire with the buster rifle, sending several shots back at them.

Xxx

Olba smiled as he spotted the Double X and the Tallgeese. "As expected, he's here, Brother." He looked over at Shagia.

"Right." Shagia nodded before turning back to Demar. "Lieutenant Demar, if you'd please."

Demar looked at the two of them. "I want to fight one-on-one. Can I count on you to set it up?"

"Roger." Olba nodded to him.

Demar looked at the monitor. "He is white and beautiful, but I'll defeat him."

Xxx

Garrod charged the three Daughtress mobile suits firing on him and Milou, shooting twice he knocked out two of the suits, sending up a massive cloud of debris. "Almost there." Garrod blinked as he came under fire and the Double X was forced to touch down and immediately drop to a knee to avoid being hit. "Ahh!" Garrod pulled the shield up just in time as the Virsago opened fire with its claw beam cannon, directly hitting at the center on the shield.

"Him again!?" Garrod glared as he returned fire with the buster rifle.

Shagia punched the thrusters, getting the Virsago into a hover just above the ground, and skimmed back and forth while retreating down the street, before shooting off down the next.

"Wait!" Garrod punched his thrusters and charged after him.

"Garrod!" Milou yelled as the Tallgeese III punched its thrusters to catch up to him, but due to it being a larger machine the Tallgeese had to almost land at every turn the Double X made, in order to change its course in the narrow streets."Damn it! Don't chase him!"

"It won't do any good Milou…" Kinue slipped forwards in the cockpit.

"You're still crazy, you know that, right… asking me to help you cover the battle." Milou glared at her.

"How else did you expect anyone to know what's going on here?" Kinue looked at him. "I'm also concerned about something Lyle brought up."

"Like what?" Milou asked as he rounded the next corner.

"Bad blood between Estard and Gastar, Northernbell is the peacekeeper of the three." Kinue sighed "Which is why both rushed to defend it."

Shagia glanced over his shoulder and smirked a little. "I got him." He punched his thrusters and rocketed into an open plaza, before making an abrupt maneuver and disappearing out of the line of sight.

The Double X touched down at the end of the road into the plaza a moment later, tall three story buildings flanking all sides of the old square, with a large fountain in the center. There was no place to hide in the square itself, but there were many roads that led off of it. "Where? Where's he hiding?" Garrod glanced around watching for any movement.

Suddenly out of the street directly to his left rear side a mobile suit lunged, striking directly above the waistline as it passed at a blinding speed.

"What the!?" Garrod's eyes widened as the suit leapt into the air past him prior to lightly bouncing off of the roofs, leaving almost no damage to them, almost as if it were an afterimage due to the speed, before its lanky form touched down in front of him.

"First, the arm!" Demar grinned wildly as he lunged again with the Correl's beam knife. Hacking off the Double X's left arm just above the elbow joint.

"Son of a bitch!" Garrod glared and leveled the buster rifle at almost point blank range, and fired, only to watch the Correl jump right over the shot. "He dodged?!" Leaping right over his suit before touching down behind him.

The Correl brought the beam knife down fast directly into the thrusters of the Double X, causing a small explosion.

"Ahh!" Garrod screamed as it knocked the Double X forward.

Xxx

Witz rolled around beams coming in from a formation of three Gadeel type mobile armors. "Here come those new models." He glared as he flew through their formation and transformed, quickly firing down through the one directly on his right with the buster rifles, forcing the other two away from it as it blew up, they rolled back on him and he just spun planting another shot into the one trailing behind the leading one, sending the last a little out of control.

Witz glared as it buzzed past him. "I won't lose this time!" He fired four times as it came back for another pass, hitting it directly center mass in the camera and causing it to explode in a massive fireball. "I told you so." He glared before coming under fire again from above, this time from the Ashtaron.

Olba smiled as he saw the Airmaster. "Changed a little? You're moving pretty good now. Brother, I won't be able to hold him for long… WHA!?"

"Neat trick huh?" James smirked as the Deathscythe Hell joined the battle, kicking the Ashtaron in a dive and almost knocking it from the air.

"Don't get cocky." Witz charged Olba.

"Who's the cocky one?" James activated the scythe while bringing it down, and forcing Olba to block with the atomic scissor claws.

Olba glared as he was forced back. "Just what in the hell is this Gundam!?"

"An absolute masterpiece!" James couldn't help but laugh as he activated the buster shield's beam blade on the forearm. "Piloted by an ace!"

Olba's eyes widened as he saw the beam coming from the forearm of the Deathscythe Hell, and he broke off quickly, as the Deathscythe Hell struck downwards with a strike that would have cut through the Ashtaron in a single stroke. Now Witz was on him as the two Gundams pressed their attack against Olba.

Xxx

The Correl kicked the Double X, knocking it to the ground with ease. "Ahh!" Garrod yelped as he clenched his eyes shut from the impact as it came to rest right in front of the Virsago.

"I shouldn't have told him that if he defeats the Gundam, he'd be promoted two ranks." Shagia looked at the Correl as it leapt high into the air. "He's rushing more than I thought. That might not be good."

Garrod punched the thrusters forcing the Double X to roll out of the way to the side before firing the buster rifle from the ground almost with the back of the suit against a building, the Correl dodged the shot, coiled up against a building and sprung off of it spinning as it went before opening itself up as it brought a kick across the upper torso of the Double X, sending Garrod off balance again.

"Shit!" Garrod glared as he saw it, the Correl expertly touched down before leaping forwards while bringing the knife up as it did, and in three quick strikes he'd slashed deep gashes across the microwave receiver and through the chest armor of the Gundam.

"Its mobility is beyond common sense for most mobile suits." Shagia watched as the Correl moved with almost blinding speed. "But because it's extremely lightweight. It can only hold one beam knife."

"How does it feel to be destroyed by only one beam knife!?" Demar yelled over an open frequency.

"I don't know, how does it feel to be vaporized!?" Milou shouted as Demar saw the Tallgeese III leveling its Mega Launcher from the street that Garrod had come from.

Demar acted quicklygetting behind the Double X before kicking it towards Milou, who changed his firing angle and sent the massive beam roaring skywards to avoid vaporizing Garrod as well.

"He'll beat me if I keep fighting like this." Garrod glared to himself.

Xxx

"Shit they're gaining ground here!" Yzak glared while he was forced back as three Pyrons blew up while they came under heavy fire from Daughtresses that where in a dug in position.

"Yzak, up high!" Heero rolled in from above while flanked by two Aquila's, and immediately the Daughtresses opened up on them.

"Activating the new equipment." Heero closed his eyes as the system activated, and the two long bits launched free from their docking locations.

Yzak blinked as the two bits dropped towards the enemy mobile suits, almost seemingly lifeless for a moment before they erupted outwardly sprouting wings of light of their own, one unleashed fire down upon them from above, while the other rolled low and fired a bluish white beam that split in smaller ones and hitting each suit center mass before a massive explosion erupted from their position, splintering several buildings' walls around them.

"Holy shit…" Yzak just blinked in amazement, and in a bit of fear, as the Selatiel vaporized five mobile suits with just two bits.

Heero opened his eyes and saw the display arch in front of him around the Selatiel's cockpit with the two names, Gabriel and Michael, illuminated in gold. "There are supposed to be five more of these then?"

"That's right." Katrina smiled. "Michael, and Gabriel, they were in the initial plans for the Gundam, but we never got around to developing them due to the outbreak of the Mars War. A set of seven bits each with different properties and weapons, named after the Archangels."

"Better than the seven dwarfs…" Yzak muttered over the frequency.

Heero grimaced a bit remembering the ridiculous name they'd came up with for the project's cover title, in order to keep it hidden from the public's and even regular military's eye.

The two bits returned to the Selatiel and docked. "The Michael bit that uses a combination of hot plasma and strong microwaves to fire thermal attacks, along with microwave emissions around the Bit to create an area of effect weapon, and the other, the Gabriel that uses cold plasma collapsed in a small Bose-Einstein condensate and into a beam doing the exact opposite, along with being able to split the beam and hit multiple targets." Heero read over the data a little as it was pulled up. "The two used in tandem can produce a vapor explosion in atmosphere."

"Or individually, weaken the armor of mobile suits to be as brittle as glass, or so hot that it fuses the metal and electronics completely." Katrina smiled a little. "It's a shame the other five aren't anywhere near ready yet. The Selatiel could almost single handedly rout this entire army."

Xxx

"Our force is fighting to protect Berude, our ally in the search for justice…" The reporter's voice came over the television in the bar where Roybea sat at the end, the only one whose eyes weren't glued to the television in the entire place.

Xxx

"I must go for his cockpit." Garrod watched as the Correl bounced around the far end of the square, always on the move, never stopping for an instant, keeping its momentum up. He glared. "I only have one shot left in the rifle."

"Then get the heck out of there, I'll fight, just fall back down the street." Milou relayed as he stored the cannon and drew one of the Tallgeese III's beam sabers.

"Can't, because of his mobility… I can't retreat, and using the sword isn't an option." Garrod glared. "What am I gonna do?" He opened up with the vulcans in the head and raised the rifle at the same time only to find it heavier than normal. He blinked almost in shock.

"My God… it's standing on the…" Milou was staring amazed. "How light is that suit?"

"It's standing on the rifle!?" Kinue was in shock. "Does it not have any armor or something?"

Demar's voice came over their frequency. "I never met an opponent this good during the Africa Campaign." He chuckled. "This is fun. Truly fun!" He lashed out knocking the Double X off balance by kicking it square in the head.

"Garrod!" Milou punched the thrusters charging towards the Correl that was now above the Double X, which was almost flat on its back.

"This is the end!" Demar roared.

"The cockpit!" Garrod almost leaned back further and brought the rifle across, shielding the Gundam from a direct hit, while causing the buster rifle to explode with the energy from the last shot still in it.

"WHAT!?" Demar's eyes shot wide as the Correl was flung across the square to the fountain, where it crashed hard.

"You bastard!" Garrod roared as the Double X got up, and just opened fire with the breast launchers and the vulcans. The amount of bullets and ammunitions streaming down on the Correl was astounding, as they seemed to flash while they tore through the Mobile Suit with ease and ricochet off of the stonework of the fountain behind it.

"AHHH!" Demar screamed as the Mobile Suit went critical around him and sent Milou flying back down the street, while trying to regain balance.

"Holy crap…" Milou looked ahead just in time to see the Virsago take flight and fall back from the battle.

Xxx

"Olba, the first one died before waking up." Shagia relayed. "We'll go back to our base."

"Roger, brother!" Olba fired as he fell back from the Deathscythe Hell and the Airmaster Burst, before rolling and transforming the Ashtaron and rocketing away from them.

"Running away!?" Witz glared at the Ashtaron.

"Think you can outrun death? Think again!" James activated the beam scythe again and prepared to charge after it.

"Wait, Witz! James!" Garrod's voice came over the frequency, causing them to look back and they saw it.

"That's…" Witz gaped seeing the Double X in its badly damaged state.

"Damn, you got thrashed." James blinked.

"We ran up against some ace pilot in a supped up machine. Apparently he was a veteran of their "African Campaign", the Federation has some tough pilots." Milou looked at the Deathscythe Hell.

"All forces, fall back!" Yzak passed over the frequency.

"What!?" James blinked as an image was relayed to his monitors, showing a unit of Daughtresses hoisting a massive New United Nations Earth flag over the parliament building of Northernbell.

"The United Kingdom of Northernbell has surrendered unconditionally to prevent further loss of civilian life, all forces, fall back." Heero stated calmly. "Fall back to the transports, if a mobile suit is too damaged to fall back, detonate it and link up with a working one."

Xxx

Garrod watched as dark plumes of smoke rose over the city as the transports took them away from the region at high speed. "What more could we have done?" He looked skywards to the formation of Aquilas and Cygnus mobile suits in the trail of the Selatiel and Deathscythe Hell under the stars.

"Don't say anything!" Witz snapped at him.

"It won't change anything." Yzak looked at him "We lost. Get over it, there's still a war to fight."

The two of them looked at him, looking defiant wearing his uniform while several other Preventers pilots standing around on the transport had similar looks but none looked defeated. "Get up and brush yourselves off, we can and will beat them."

Xxx

The lilting tune coming from the piano caught Roybea's ear, causing him to look over at who was playing, a young woman with raven black hair in a white halter top cocktail dress caught his gaze, and she smiled back at him as she continued playing.

Xxxxxx

Well, shenanigans!

And yes, if you can figure out who the temps were tributes to, you get a cookie, because you know your Gundam characters.

"You only put us in one scene… and it wasn't even with the temp…" Natarle glared from her spot on the couch.

You'll get plenty of scenes soon, so don't get your panties in a knot.

*WHACK!*

"Wow, I didn't think he'd fly like that…" James watched as Ald plummeted over the horizon from the massive slug to the face Natarle gave him.

"He'd better, or next time he'll be the temp getting shot at." Natarle had an irritated twitch as she cracked her knuckles.

"Easy Natarle…" Murrue smiled a little at her "You'll scare the newer cast members."

"She already has…" The temp girl was hiding behind the other temp bawling her eyes out.

"It'll be okay." Kamille glanced over at her "I think…" he glanced at the others who just shrugged.

"We'll have to wait till next time to see. Which will be when we track down Ald, wherever he flew to…" Heero looked over at Ian who was triangulating the shot with a satellite transmitter.

"Low earth orbit and still going!" A transmission came in from the radio in the room.

"May be a while… soon...ish." Dearka shrugged.