GROUND BATTLESHIP DIAMOND PRINCESS, TAKLAMAKAN DESERT
"How are you liking our ship, Colonel?" Kisaki Nishikino asked Hanayo Koizumi.
"It will do well for the upcoming battle," Hanayo replied.
The Diamond Princess was chosen to be the leader of the fleet that will attack Celestial Being. It is well armored, armed with the HRL's latest weapons, and is also capable of launching mobile suits.
On the ship's deck were Colonel Hanayo Koizumi, Lieutenant Colonel Kisaki Nishikino, and General Theodore Allen, who was busy talking in hushed tones in his phone. The other two have been eyeing him with suspicion but decided not to say anything.
"It's almost time," Nishikino said.
"Yes, they will arrive soon," Hanayo replied. She turned to one of the bridge crew. "Kiriya, open communication lines with the ground battleship Koi Signal."
The crew complied and soon Rin's face filled the display screen.
"Rin-chan?" Hanayo said.
"Kayo-chin! Why must we be on separate ships?"
"I have to be here, as one of the commanders of this mission," Hanayo said. "You must be there do your role as the leader of the Enact squadron. I know you can do it, Rin-chan. I'm confident in you."
Rin blushed. "Of course! I can do it! I'm Rin Hoshizora, after all, AEU's ace!"
"Now, Rin-chan, can I talk to Captain Maeda about some last minute details?"
"Alright then! See you later, Kayo-chin!"
Hanayo smiled. Ever since meeting the energetic girl she's started feeling a lot better.
"Colonel."
Captain Maeda was a no-nonsense man who has been through many battles.
"I'm sorry we have to go through this plan, Captain, but we have no choice; it's the best strategy."
"Don't go backing out on me, Colonel," Maeda replied. "We agreed to this. Every man in my command is ready for this mission. Now let's not disappoint them."
"Of course, Captain. Thank you," Hanayo said.
Nishikino looked at the Colonel and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. It will turn out alright."
A soldier approached Nishikino.
"Colonel." The soldier saluted, which Nishikino returned.
"Here are the papers you requested."
Nishikino accepted them and as she read through them she smiled. When all this is over she'll have a good surprise for Eriko.
In the locker room of the Diamond Princess, Eriko was thinking about the orange gundam; the one whose pilot affected her.
Will I meet her again? Who is she, and why does she have an effect on me?
No matter. She is prepared now. She has taken certain precautions.
Now I will not lose to her. I will be the one to capture that gundam.
AIRCRAFT CARRIER PROMISE
"Yes, everything is going according to your plan," Haruka said. "Don't worry, I got this. Ah, and if they show up? I'll be ready! I nearly beat those two before, I'm gonna do it again."
She closed the phone. Her bosses were getting nervous that she might fail. Ha. Haruka Amami never fails.
GROUND BATTLESHIP END OF SORROW
Eli looked at her picture of Arisa. Celestial Being took her away. Now's her chance for revenge.
"Thank you for this chance, Honoka…."
She never expected that Honoka lied about her past, let alone be this powerful; she was accepted into the ranks of the Union easily, and was even given her own unit.
After dragging her out of the site of the explosion, they settled in a small café.
"Lied?" Eli asked. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not human, Eli-chan. At least not a natural one. A lot of things happened in my past, but now my goal is to destroy Celestial Being. They took out my family, who took me in the cared for me. I'm giving you this chance to join us, too."
"Who, me? I can't pilot a mobile suit," Eli said.
"You're a great Kendo practitioner, Eli-chan," Honoka said. "All you need is a crash course on MS piloting and you'll be fine."
Eli thought about it. She thought about Arisa; her kind sister… the Kousakas, who died because of a Celestial Being attack..
"Fine. I'll do it."
As a reminder of those horrible events, Eli put on a mask to hide her scars. It symbolizes her shame for not being able to save her loved ones before. Well now, things are different. While she can't save her loved ones anymore, she sure can take revenge for them.
INNOVADE BASE
"So your plan is starting?" Honoka asked Tsubasa.
"Yes. Thank you for helping us out. Eli would be a great asset in this operation."
Tsubasa could tell from Honoka's expression that she still hasn't warmed up to the idea.
"Look, Eli has the skills we need. She's a great swordsman. Plus, like you, she also lost someone to Celestial Being. She deserved a chance too."
Of course, what Tsubasa didn't tell Honoka was that Celestial Being wasn't the one who attacked the Ayase's apartment or the wedding. It was their own people. But Honoka didn't need to know that. Otherwise they might lose Honoka's support.
"What if Celestial Being ends up losing here?" Honoka asked. "I haven't got the chance to fight them yet."
"If they do, then they're not even worth your time," Tsubasa replied.
Honoka was silent.
"I know it's hard for you to accept that your family is gone. But this is the best we can do. Also, we are working to finish your mobile suit as well. When it's done, it will be the best we'll have."
Honoka nodded. Even though she agreed with all this, even though she herself contacted her old friends, deep inside her she still felt that something was wrong.
Erena and Anju approached them.
"I just got off the phone with our darling general," Anju said. "I made it clear that the operation has to be a success."
"Good," Tsubasa replied.
"Honoka, how are you liking it so far?" Anju asked.
"Ah, I'm fine, don't worry," Honoka said. "All this is just getting some used to, is all."
"Don't worry. When your suit will be finished, we'll have you in the front lines in no time," Tsubasa said.
Honoka nodded. She looked at the sky and hoped that Celestial Being would survive the assault. After all, she needs to be the one who fights them herself.
Next chapter should be action-packed!
The ship names are all references to songs sung by the characters. The exception is the Promise, which is named from one of Chihaya's songs and not Haruka's. Mainly because at one point I was contemplating on putting Chihaya in the villain role (because of her role in Xenoglossia).