New Phase 21
"What the hell is command thinking?" Waltfeld demanded, tossing the documents aside. "I specifically requested BuCUEs and instead they send us ZuOOTs."
DaCosta felt the same way, however neither had expected to lose the number of BuCUEs they had, four destroyed and two badly damaged, in such a brief time. "I'm sorry, sir. Gibraltar said that's all they could send."
The TFA-2 ZuOOT was a terrestrial combat artillery mobile suit. In desert conditions, it could transform from a humanoid configuration to roll on caterpillar treads. In spite of its firepower, it was cumbersome compared to a BuCUE. Waltfeld was dissatisfied with the equipment he was given, especially since he was preparing for a critical battle. Apart from the newly arrived ZuOOTs, the only other mobile suits he had available were GINN OCHER units and one TMF/A-803 LaGOWE.
DaCosta looked the gunwale's window to see a transport carrier unloading the red colored ZuOOTs along with two mobile suits he had never seen before. He then saw two young men wearing red flightsuits that identified them as ace pilots.
"Well, they've also sent us two members of the Le Creuset Team."
Waltfeld rolled his eyes. "Oh I'm sure they have experience in desert combat." He said sardonically.
"They are from an elite team." DaCosta reminded him.
"I just don't like that Le Creuset fellow." Waltfeld suddenly said, "I don't trust a man who hides his face behind a mask." He then stood. "Oh well, let's go meet the new arrivals." He, along with DaCosta, went down to the Lesseps' deck.
When they arrived, they found the new pilots holding their hands to their faces to block the sand-laden wind.
"This place is awful." The blond pilot grumbled.
"You're get use to it." Waltfeld said, waving to the newcomers. "Welcome to the Lesseps. I'm Commander Andrew Waltfeld."
Both pilots stood at attention and saluted. "Yzak Joule of the Le Creuset Team, reporting for duty."
"Dearka Elsman, the same."
"I heard you had a somewhat difficult time adjusting from space." Waltfeld said, then he took notice of the scar running down Yzak's face. "It's said when a soldier doesn't correct a removable scar that it's something they've sworn something on it. A symbol of disgrace, perhaps?"
Yzak grew enraged. "Never mind my face!" he rudely replied, "Where is the legged ship?"
DaCosta sighed at what happening in front of him. True, the Commander shouldn't have prodded the boy with such a question, but Yzak was at fault for snapping at a superior officer so disrespectfully.
Waltfeld only smirked. "It's currently located one hundred and twelve miles to the west. We've sent out unmanned recon drones to take photos. I trust you'd like to see them?" He then stepped past them to look over the pair of mobile suits being unloaded. He was took a sudden notice of the Duel, noting its similarities to the Strike.
"Excuse me, Commander Waltfeld." Dearka spoke suddenly, "We've heard that you've engaged the Earth Forces' mobile suit as well."
Waltfeld turned and shrugged. "Yes, I've fought against it, the same as you." He then chuckled.
DaCosta suddenly felt anxious. It was like the Commander seemed nervous. He shook away that thought, as he believed that no one could ever defeat the Desert Tiger.
The Archangel's engines came to life, while men hurried to make one final check on weapons and load their vehicles. Some said quick good-byes to their families. Though none said anything, they all feared that it may be their last. Amidst the activity, someone called out Cagalli's name. Cagalli then went to the source and found Ahmed's mother. She pulled a green colored stone and gave it to Cagalli.
"What's this?"
"It's something that Ahmed wanted to give you." The older woman explained. "This stone is said to protect against danger. Please take it with you, it'll keep you safe." She smiled and put her hand over Cagalli's.
"Thank you." She said, almost at tears, and she bid Ahmed's mother farewell.
"Everyone!" Sahib's voice boomed, "We're moving out!"
Cagalli held the stone close as she leapt into her vehicle. There was so many things riding on the outcome of the approaching battle and she needed all the strength she could muster to fight it.
Back on the Lesseps, activity surged as sensor lit up.
"Have they begun moving out?" Waltfeld asked as he walked inside the bridge.
"Affirmative, sir. They are currently advancing to the eastward."
Waltfeld checked the map and studied the possible course. "They must be heading for the ruins of the old Talpatia factory. That is an interesting move." He paused. "I'd do the same with I were in their shoes."
"Commander, your orders, sir?" DaCosta asked.
His superior rubbed his chin. "Hmm, I had planned to wait a bit longer, but now things have changed."
"So are we going to fight or what?" Yzak blurted out as he and Dearka stood by.
Waltfeld nodded and turned to his crew. "Prepare to launch the Lesseps, code two. Contact the Petri and Henry Carter as well and relay the orders." As he crew obliged, he folded his arms. If the enemy wanted a fight, then he and his men were going to give them one.
"Come on, eat!" La Flaga urged.
Kira had taken very little bites of his meal, when the older pilot placed even more onto his plate. He looked to find that they were donel kebabs.
La Flaga took a bite and smiled. "This local dish is amazing."
"Uh, haven't you already had enough to eat, sir?" Kira asked, as La Flaga had gobbled down a full plate of food.
"We gotta keep up our strength." Like other pilots, La Flaga liked to raise his blood sugar level prior to battle. He then passed a bottle over. "Here, yogurt sauce is great with these."
"That's what he said."
La Flaga paused, food halfway in his mouth, before swallowing. "I see he's a man with excellent taste."
Kira could almost taste the yogurt and chili sauce blend.
"Look, kid," La Flaga told him, "it's better not to know anything about your enemy. Do what you can to forget it."
"What?"
"It's hard to kill somebody you know and you may hesitate at the wrong moment…" he warned.
Kira realized that it wouldn't be long until he'd face the infamous Desert Tiger. He now understood what Waltfeld had meant be they last parted ways, I've enjoyed our conversation, though it might have been better for us all if it hadn't happened."
Did he feel the same, regretting that he had been friendly with someone who was labeled his enemy? Then he thought back when he was asked, "I take it that you're a lonely person?" He had said it in such a sympathetic manner, but more of his question ran through his mind? "Unlike in sports, the game of war has no set time limit and no points are awarded, so how do you determine the winners and the losers? Does it end when all your enemies are dead?"
If that indeed was the case, would the war be over when every Coordinator was dead? If so, then that would mean even Atrhun and Lacus had to die. His thoughts were then interuptted by the thundering boom of a faroff explosion.
Cagalli's ATV came to an abrupt halt and she stood to look to the horizon. She saw that the minefield had errupted in several explosions. Moments later came a sound like rolling thunder.
Sahib stood and turned to the others. "It's all right!" he shouted, "We aren't under attack!" He looked back to where the landmines had been set. Now they were useless and hadn't dealt any damage to the enemy. "They knew where they were and sat them all off at once."
Cagalli clenched until they hurt as she thought of Waltfeld and that tacky Hawaiian shirt of his. How was it that someone who acted so ridiculious was such a brilliant tactictian? The faces of her slain comrades flashed in her mind. Even though he had shown mercy to her and Kira, she wouldn't do the same. She was going to make Waltfeld pay with his life.
"That's right, equip the first with the launcher and equip the second with the sword!" La Flaga yelled into the intercom as he changed into his flightsuit. Beside him, Kira was doing the same. "It's easier to switch machines than switch equipment." He was talking about the Striker Packs and the Skygraspers. If the battle ran long, he had the extra task of delivering the weapons to Kira. He then turned to the youth. "You know we can't count on the resistance to do too much, right?"
Kira nodded, knowing the enemy would do whatever it took to keep the Archangel from breaking through.
La Flaga smirked. "Anyway, just do your best out there." He turned to leave.
"Have you ever heard of a berserker?" Kira suddenly asked.
La Flaga seemed puzzled. "Where'd you hear that?"
"Oh, it's just something I've heard about recently."
"Well, if my memory serves me, a berserker was kind of warrior in mythology that seemed to be the most docile and kind person, but when they went into battle, they were unstoppable killing machines. It was like they loved fighting."
Kira shivered. Waltfeld must've thought of him as some sort of crazed soldier. It didn't go along with his own mental image of himself, but he had destroyed numerous enemy machines to the point he had lost count. He recalled the times his focus seemed to sharpen and he fought in a very different way. Were those times that he became a 'berserker'? He knew that the second he got into the Strike's cockpit, he became part of the weapon. Waltfeld had seen that before Kira even realized it, and it frightened him.
"What is it, kid?" La Flaga asked.
Kira looked up to see the older pilot was genuinely concerned. "Oh, it's nothing really." He lied, "Forget I even brought it up."
Miriallia's voice then came through the PA system. "Lieutenant Commander La Flaga and Ensign Yamato, proceed to the hanger immeadatily."
As they dashed down the hall, Kira thought about how he didn't want to become a crazed killing machine, but that the same time, he knew he'd have to do what it took to protect the ship and crew.
"I have enemy contact!" Kuzzey shouted, looking at his console, "The signal's weak, but there is something approaching from 0-1-0!"
"I've got two large heat sources!" Chandra added, "It looks like one carrier and one destroyer."
Murrue figured that they were the Lesseps and an escort ship. "Begin the ambush!" she ordered.
Down in the hanger, Kira was ready to go.
"Are you sure you'll be fine with just the Aile equipment?" Murdoch asked.
Kira nodded, "In this battle, I know I'll need mobility above all." With that, he sealed the Strike's hatch.
La Flaga was the first to launch in Skygrasper 1, equipped with the launcher striker pack. Kira stepped onto the linear catapult and right after the Aile equipment was attached, too he sent out. Immeadatily he encountered ZAFT fighter copters and VTOLs. The enemy vehicles opened fire, but he got his shield up to deflect the shots. Below, the Desert Dawn fighters fired with RPGs and brought down a number of the aircraft.
Kira hurried to assess the situation. The Lesseps and its escort were closing in and more ZAFT aircraft entered the battle. He knew any hesitation today would get him killed, so he acted fast. La Flaga in Skygrasper 1 was already making short work of the ZAFT aircraft. He nimbly maneuvered around the enemy and opened fire, taking many of them down in a single pass. Whether in a mobile armor or fighter plane, the Hawk of Endymion was a force to be reckoned with.
The Lesseps' hatch opened and launched its mobile suit force. Kira recognized the GINN design, but noticed some different armaments. GINN OCHERs came equipped with three smoke dischargers mounted to their right shoulders, a hyper velocity rifle, and a heavy axe weapon in place of a sword. He knew counted five of them before firing his verniers and entering the battlefield.
Waltfeld now donned on his signature orange and black striped flightsuit. Fangs and eyes were painted on the helmet, making it appear a tiger's head. He was making his way to his new mobile suit when…
"This is ridiculous!" an angry voice yelled.
Waltfeld turned to find both Yzak and Dearka. The former looked very agitated.
"Why are we stationed on the Lesseps?" he demanded, "We sent here to fight the Earth Forces, you know!"
"You're staying on the Lesseps because those are orders." Waltfeld answered, "It's that simple."
"But we have more experience in fighting them."
"From what we've heard, you have more experience losing to them." Aisha interrupted. She too wore a custom flightsuit, only hers was a pale pink.
Waltfeld gave her a look which told her not to aggravate the young pilots anymore than they already were. He then turned back to them. "Your machines haven't had their operating systems tuned for this sort of combat. You wouldn't be any use out there."
"That's-" Yzak started, but was halted by his comrade.
"That's enough, Yzak." Dearka said, "We have our orders." He led his comrade away as Waltfeld and Aisha climbed aboard their machine.
Had the two pilots have the capability to rewrite an OS in the heat of battle, then Waltfeld would've considered allowing them to join. However if they did, he was concerned that they'd only get in his way. He wanted to fight the Strike one-on-one.
Aisha giggled as if she could read his mind. "Remember this isn't personal. He is the enemy after all."
"Yes, I know."
Aisha took her seat in the front gunner's chair while Waltfeld took the pilot's seat. Much to the surprise of many, Aisha had the best aim of the entire squadron, outperforming everyone one else. They were now settled in the cockpit of the beast-like TMF/A-803 LaGOWE. The yellow-orange colored machine was similar to the BuCUE, but vastly more powerful. Twin beam cannons were mounted to its back and beam sabers were placed within its "jaws".
"DaCosta, take care of the ship while we're away." Waltfeld ordered.
"Yes, sir." DaCosta replied, looking at his superior's face on the monitor. He swore he had never seen Waltfeld so excited in all the time he had served with him. "You're clear to launch, sir."
"Fire Gottfrieds and Valiants!" Natarle shouted. At her command, the Archangel's weapons unleashed a fury of firepower at the enemy in a brutal back and forth clash.
Outside, the ATVs continued to shoot down the ZAFT aircraft. The enemy's attack was primary on the Archangel and they didn't focus on the seemingly insignificant vehicles for the time being. The riders of one ATV brought down three VTOLs in one pass. They cheered, but their vehicle disappeared a moment later, destroyed by the fire of a GINN OCHER's hyper rifle.
Back on the bridge, the gauges at Sai's station flashed. "ECM and ECCM strength is up seventeen percent!"
"The Valiants' barrel temperature is reaching dangerous levels!" Officer Pal ordered.
"Captain, permission to use the Lohengrin?" Natarle requested.
"No, it'll cause too much damage and contaminate the surrounding area!" Murrue shouted, "Coordinate the output of the Valiants via the charge cycle!"
"But-"
"That's an order, Lieutenant!"
Natarle obeyed, but with great reluctance. She wanted to make the point that everything would be lost if the ship was destroyed.
On the screen, everyone could see the Skygrasper concentrating on the destroyer. The intense beam of the Agni obliterated the ZuOOTs stationed on the deck and dealt severe damage to the hull. A fiery explosion quickly followed and the destroyer abruptly slowed its speed and changed course, veering away from the battle.
"They're retreating!"
The crew let out a cheer at the sight of the ZAFT ship falling back. Now all that remained was the Lesseps, or so they thought. As though on cue, a tremendous shock shook the ship. Something had hit them from behind.
"What was that?"
Tonomura looked to the radar. "There's an enemy ship coming right at us from one-eighty!"
"They had another ship waiting to ambush us." Natarle growled.
Murrue realized she had underestimated Waltfeld's tactics. While attacking from the front, another ship moved around and snuck up behind them. Suddenly, a barrage of missiles stuck the Archangel, causing it to tilt and plow into the Talpatia ruins, the site of an old mining station. The ship slammed into the remaining structures and then to the sandy soil. Now immobilized, it was a sitting duck as the Lesseps closed in.
"Fire the Heldarts and Corinthos!" Natarle ordered, trying to get some sort of counterattack underway.
Tonomura had just finished analyzing the data of the enemy ship. "This can't be, the Duel and Buster are on the deck of the Lesseps!"
The crew couldn't believe the news.
"Give me full thrusters and ascend at once!" Murrue ordered, "The Gottfrieds' firing line can't hit them from here!"
"I'm trying, Captain!" Neumann called back, "The ship's caught on something!"
When they collided, part of the ship became tangled in one of the old buildings' skeletal structuring. They were now unable to move and couldn't bring their weapons up to defend themselves. They were helpless.
Cagalli brought the ATV she was riding to a sudden halt when she and Kisaka witnessed the Archangel's crash. "Why aren't they moving?" she asked, "Have they lost all power?"
Kisaka searched for the Strike, when he saw Cagalli leap from the vehicle. "Cagalli, wait!" He tried to follow, but a wayward missile struck the ground between them, nearly causing the ATV to topple to its side. When he had recovered, he caught a glimpse of Cagalli safely climbing into one of the Archangel's hatches.
The Strike meanwhile battled one of the GINN OCHERs, beam saber against axe. Kira leapt into the air and brought the saber straight down, splitting the ZAFT mobile suit in half. Without wasting time, he hurled the saber, piercing the mono-eye of another of the ZAFT machines. He fired a shot from his beam rifle at another of the GINN OCHERs, the shot striking the cockpit and causing a violent explosion. In a short time, he had been able to destroy all five of the enemy mobile suits. Though panting hard, he looked to see the Archangel under attack from the rear. He turned to help, but suddenly he saw an energy beam coming right at him. He almost didn't raise his shield to block it. He didn't know where the shot could've come from, as he was certain all the GINN OCHERs were destroyed. He had learned his lesson from the previous engagement and made sure that he didn't simply disable the mobile suits. He turned to find an orange colored mobile suit the likes he hadn't seen before.
"Is that him?" he whispered to himself and dodged another volley.
"You were right, Andy. The boy is very good." Aisha said as she kept her eyes to the scope.
Waltfeld observed his opponent's movements. "He seems to be fighting calmer today. He seems to be in more control." He maneuvered the LaGOWE with great ease. "If worse comes to worse, do you think he'd surrender?"
"No."
Waltfeld knew that it wouldn't be any fun if Kira simply gave up. "And neither will we."
Murdoch flailed his arms when he saw Cagalli running across the hanger and right for the gangplank leading to Skygrasper 2. "What do you think you're doing?"
Cagalli was already starting up the engine and commencing a quick systems check. "I'm taking this thing out! Now open that hatch before I take off!"
"Ah, hell…" Murdoch grumbled and punched the controls that would open the hatch.
Cagalli began to lift off and streaked out of the hanger. She felt her chest constrict as the G-forces hit. After a moment she was able to fully breathe again and strained to move the controls. Piloting the real thing was different from the simulator. After her initial awkwardness, she began to handle it like a pro.
"Captain, Skygrasper 2 has just launched!" Tonomura shouted.
"What, whose piloting it?" Murrue demanded.
Cagalli switched on her radio. "It's me, Cagalli Yula!" She then tilted the controls and headed for the Lesseps, where La Flaga was already fighting. She fired her guns, the rounds blasting a turret, and blowing it to smithereens.
"Well, not bad, girl!" La Flaga complimented, "Just don't crash!"
The two Skygraspers flew across the sky like a pair of birds of prey, concentrating their new attack on the destroyer. La Flaga fired the Agni while Cagalli fired the Panzer Eisen anchor, grappling onto the hull. Swinging like a pendulum, she slashed another turret with the sword. She shouted in triumph and went for another pass. But then, she saw several missiles coming up behind her. She evaded, but two collided with each other, exploding. Bits of shrapnel hit her right engine.
"Damn it!" she yelled striking her console in anger. "I was on a roll!" Black smoke streamed from the fuselage and the thrust was dropping quickly. She pulled the controls with all her might to ensure a soft landing in the sand. As soon as her hit the ground, she checked the radio frequencies to hopefully overhear any chatter being broadcasted between the Strike and the Archangel.
The ship was in grave danger. In spite the efforts of Neumann, the only results of his attempt to break the ship free was the sound of grinding and bending metal. Suddenly, a shot from the Buster missed and instead hit the building that trapped them. Then the ship was freed and rose into the air. Their field of vision expanded and they finally got the Lesseps in their sights.
"Starboard, sixty degrees!" Murrue ordered, "Ready the Gottfrieds!"
When the order came, the Gottfrieds fired, sending high powered energy beam at their target. The Buster and Duel leapt into the air, narrowly dodging the shot. The beams struck the Lesseps' main gun, taking both it and the unfortunate ZuOOT next to it out. Thick smoke billowed from the ship's hull.
Kira did all he could to fend off his enemy's attacks. It was definitely different from a BuCUE and its pilot had unparallel skill. He suddenly recalled Waltfled's words, "There are those who think of war as a complex game, but they are very wrong. Unlike in sports, the game of war has no set time limit and no points are awarded, so how do you determine the winners and the losers? Does it end when all your enemies are dead?"
Was this the only choice he had, kill or be killed? Kira looked down to his gauges to find them nearing zero. Soon he'd lose power and be defenseless.
"This is bad, Andy." Aisha said, seeing all the damage the Lesseps had sustained.
"How can the ship still be moving after everything we threw at it?" Waltfeld hissed through his teeth. There were no more ZuOOTs or GINN OCHERs, and now the Buster and Duel were sluggishly trudging through the sand as Kira had done early in the first fight. They wouldn't be any use. He shouted in frustration and sped the LaGOWE forward, charging the Strike. The Gundam sidestepped the charge and fired, taking off the LaGOWE's right forearm.
"Watch it, he's going to get us!" Aisha cautioned.
"I know, I know!"
The Strike aimed for another shot, but Aisha fired first, hitting the rifle's engery clip. Kira tossed it away as it exploded. Waltfeld saw his chance and rushed forward again. The Strike pulled out a beam saber and the two mobile suits clashed, resulting in the LaGOWE's being cut apart and rendered inoperable. Waltfeld pulled back and hailed the Lesseps.
"DaCosta!"
His subordinate's face came on the screen. "Yes, Commander?"
"DaCosta, give the order to retreat. Gather what forces we have remaining and withdraw back to Banadiya. After that, contact Gibraltar and inform them of the situation. He switched off the channel, not waiting for a response. "You should get away while you still can, my love."
Aisha turned back and smiled. "I think I'll stick around and see what happens."
"Don't give that, you know what's going to happen."
"Right, and I'll stay right with you until the very end."
Waltfeld had to smile. He gazed into her eyes and every feature of her beautiful face. "All right!" he shouted and charged the LaGOWE once more.
Cagalli switched through the channels on her radio until she picked something up. After some more adjusting, she could hear Kira's voice clearly.
"Waltfeld, please stop this! This battle's over!"
"Not for me, it isn't!" Waltfeld's voice snarled over the channel. Somehow, Cagalli had patched through a channel for both Kira and Waltfeld. "This isn't over until one of us is dead!"
Kira couldn't understand why Waltfeld was still fighting. His forces had retreated, the Lesseps wasn't in any condition to fight, and the Archangel was safe. The LaGOWE's beam sabers came close to cutting into the Stirke.
"It's as I told you, there are no clear rules for ending a war!"
Kira dodged the attack, but not without having one of the Aile pack's wings sliced off. He parried and sparks flew from the LaGOWE's back. Before he had shown mercy, but this was the battlefield, and this was to be a fight to the death. Suddenly, the guages went blank and the Phase Shift died, with the Stirke's fuselage turning dull grey. Acting fast, Kira tossed away his shield and ejected the Aile equipment. With the decrease in the extra weight, he could manuever nimbly as he grabbed an Armor Schneider kinfe. When the LaGOWE closed in, Kira didn't hestitate to plunge the knife in the mobile suit's neck as he was slammed backwards.
The Strike now lay on the ground. Kira recovered his senses and checked his monitors. The LaGOWE collapsed and smoke and sparks spewed from the knife had stabbed.
Waltfeld pulled at the unresponsive controls as warning alarms blared. He knew what was going to happen next. He reached down and took his lover's hand. "Aisha, I'm sorry I dragged you into this." He couldn't that she had been too good for the likes him, but at the same time it was good to be by the side of someone who deeply loved him.
"I have no regrets, Andy." She said, "As long as I'm with you."
Suddenly, Cagalli saw a huge fireball erupt from behind a dune. She wondered if it was the Strike or Waltfeld's machine that had been destroyed. Just then, she heard a voice crackle through the radio. It was Kira's.
"I didn't want to kill him." Was all he said, "I didn't want to kill him."