AN: Hey everybody, we're back for another round of Destiny Sentinels, and not only that but we are drawing closer and closer to the end of this story. There's still a few more twists and turns left, but we'll be at the final chapter soon enough, and then the epilogue and then it will finally be time to wait for the final story. Only one thing to do then...PARTY! [hits control that triggers major party music and decorations as the cast appears with drinks and party favors]
Shinn: Now this is what I'm talking about. Finally, a moment where him hitting that control doesn't lead to me nearly getting killed.
Rey: Glad you think so. You're not the one who's going to end up stuck as Durandal's obedient little dog until the end still, or at least until after...
AN: DAH! SPOILER! [hits control and Helicarrier appears and opens fire on Rey]
Kira: Wow Shinn, you're two for two today.
Shinn: I know right! But I'm really looking forward to the things that this chapter will be bringing about in the final stages of this story.
Bumblebee: Tell me about it. The battles, the opponents, the final aftermath...it's all really going to bring everything together both for the end of this adventure and the beginning of the final one.
Arcee: Uh Bee, hasn't the author been throwing around ideas of a story that take place between this one and the final story where you hold a star role?
Cagalli: In case you haven't noticed, he kind of already has that along with you, Optimus, Kira, and a lot of others.
AN: Not the point, and that's not important right now. I've got some reviews to answer real quick. So could someone...
Bumblebee: I've gotcha covered. First up is from "Ice Wolf Fang"
AN: Ah you mean his question about an OC protagonist in the final story. Yeah, to be honest, that's not likely to happen, mostly because I would kind of like to keep our Earth side characters line up as they are, and I honestly feel like the final story will have its focus on nearly all the heroes that have appeared up til now.
Optimus: I believe that there was also a question from the guest reviewer "King Mack"
AN: Right, the one about Cagalli sticking around to fight. We'll be answering that question in this chapter.
Shinn: "Lone Gundam" also had a request involving Grimlock.
AN: Well I can honestly say that idea may not be done as requested, but it will definitely find its way into the story, and in a way that I hope will make it even better, or at least funnier in my opinion. That said, let's get the readers onto the story, and ourselves back to the party.
I do not own anything from any of either the Gundam or Transformers franchises or any other franchise mentioned in this story.
Chapter 21: Return to the Truth
The day after the battle on Onogoro, much had happened since the end of the fighting. Ratchet had all but forced the Minerva crew to accept specialized suits like the ones that Kira and the others used, while at the same time assuring them that they would not be any different in basic design than what they were used to appearance wise, and Cagalli and Kisaka were having everyone of the ministers who supported the Seirans interrogated to see if they were still loyal to the ideas and efforts of Unato and Yuna while also having all those who had connections to LOGOS brought in for questioning. Needless to say, the minute the two had confirmed that any of those people were who they had been accused or suspected of being, they were immediately imprisoned for treason and stripped of whatever power they had once held, and Kira was certain that there was a chance that the Orb government would be going through some major changes after all of this was finally over. The biggest thing that had happened after the battle had ended though, had involved Optimus.
After everyone had completed the casualty surveys and damage assessments of the island, Optimus had revealed that using the Forge of Solus Prime had ended up rendering his old vehicle mode unusable, and as such, Optimus was now in need of a new vehicle to scan so that he could transform properly again. That matter was easily taken care of by Erica Simmons, who had brought an ideal vehicle to Optimus as soon as she had heard that he needed it. The minute she had driven it up, Kira and the others all thought that it looked like a large battle truck of some type with six wheels and jet engines, and Erica was quick to explain that the vehicle was actually a state-of-the-art, experimental, all-terrain, expeditionary fighting vehicle designed by the finest engineers in Morgenroete. When Optimus saw the vehicle, he simply said thank you and that it would most certainly do before he scanned the truck and then transformed into his new vehicle mode in order to test it out. They did not see him again for quite a few hours after that, and Bumblebee was quick to say that meant Optimus liked the new vehicle mode and had elected to break it in.
The only other major moment that took place amidst the hard working frenzy had actually happened on the Archangel's upper deck when Neo Roanoke had found himself up there alone with Murrue. The two were both silent for a minute until Neo finally said, "Neo Roanoke: born November twenty-ninth, C.E. forty two, from North Leuba in the Atlantic Federation, blood type O. Enlisted in C.E. sixty, assigned to eighty-first autonomous mobile group, also known as Phantom Pain, captain, or so I thought. But now, I'm not so sure if that's who I really am."
"What," Murrue gasped.
Neo then turned to the woman next to him and simply stared at her for a minute before he told her, "I think that maybe…I know you…Yes, I know you. My body knows, my ears, my arms, my…and that's why I couldn't just fly off. I think I know how hard it's been for you, because it's been hard for me too. I would like to stay right here…with you, by your side."
Murrue could barely believe what she was hearing, as the whole time Neo was saying that last bit, she found she could only stare in shock, as it just seemed to further prove that Neo Roanoke was in fact Mu La Flaga. She was so shocked by this sudden revelation that Murrue could do nothing more than nod in acceptance of Neo's request, and then ended up returning the hug he had embraced her in after a moment. The moment the two were sharing was interrupted shortly after that when Wheeljack walked over and called out, "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but we could use a few human sized helping hands with something over here. Us Autobots can't do everything you know."
Murrue pulled away from Neo after a minute and then told Wheeljack she would ask Natarle to send someone out to help him in just a moment. After Murrue had climbed back into the ship, Wheeljack was about to walk off when Neo called out, "Wait a minute. Before, you said that I was your wingman. Care to explain what you meant by that?"
Wheeljack stared at the blonde man for a moment, thinking that maybe Mu really was in there, and then finally smiled and said, "I honestly think I'd be better off showing you than I would be telling you about it. If you're really going to stick around that is."
Neo smiled in thanks for that and Wheeljack then moved to leave again until he stopped and said, "Of course, we'll have to get you a new mobile suit, since your old one got blown up."
"My Windam wasn't that badly damaged," Neo immediately told Wheeljack.
"Right, forgot about your situation for a minute there," Wheeljack apologized. "I was actually referring to the Perfect Strike."
Neo stared at Wheeljack in confusion for a minute as the Wrecker walked away, and for some reason, Neo suddenly saw the image of a white and blue machine with a red backpack, a large blue sword, a green cannon, and shoulder armor that had mismatched colors fighting alongside the sword wielding Wrecker in battle against the Decepticons for a minute, all from the position inside the cockpit.
Later that same day, Shinn and Lunamaria were hanging out with Kira, Athrun, Lacus, and Meyrin while the rest of the Minerva crew was getting themselves acquainted with the Autobot base. Shinn had tried apologizing multiple times to Athrun and Meyrin for shooting them down, and to the Autobots for the part he played in Operation: Omega Angel Fall, but all of them had insisted that there was nothing to apologize for, and told him not to worry about it, a fact that Shinn was rather grateful for. Of course, aside from seeing Kira and Athrun's little brotherly relationship in action, there were really only two interesting things that had happened since their arrival at the base in Shinn's opinion.
The first of those two things was that Optimus had decided that it would be best if the Minerva pilots continued to have Autobot guardians for their protection, since there was a strong chance of Sentinel wanting to come after them with a vengeance now. Lunamaria and Dearka both ended up sticking with Crosshairs and Drift since they were already partners, and Yzak ended up being paired with Ironhide, but Shinn's new partner was what really made the young pilot happy to have joined up with them, because the young man had ended up being partnered with none other than his hero, Bulkhead. A little while after he was told of this, Shinn had found out that Bulkhead had actually requested that the two of them were paired up, and that just made the fact that he was going to work with the large Wrecker all the better for Shinn. The second of those things had actually been a bit entertaining for Shinn and the others while also being painful to watch.
Ever since they had arrived and joined up with Optimus's team and Orb, Dearka and Miriallia had been avoiding each other as best they could, and when they were unable to do that, Dearka could only look a bit awkward around the young woman as he seemed to struggle with thinking of something to say, while Miriallia just glared at him that whole time before she finally just huffed and walked away with her nose up. Looking at this, one could naturally understand why it was so difficult for Shinn and the other members of the Minerva crew who did not know the two from before to understand how Dearka and Miriallia were ever a couple. Eventually though, one particular female pilot had finally had enough of watching this go on for almost twenty four hours and finally put her foot down. "Stop being such a child and just talk to her already," Lunamaria scolded Dearka after Miriallia had huffed away again.
"Easy for you to say," Dearka immediately shot back as he shot a nervous yet slightly irritated glance in Miriallia's direction. "You don't know how that girl can be."
"No, but she does know as well as the rest of us do that this has gone on long enough," Athrun immediately cut in. "You two just simply refuse to talk to anyone about what happened between you guys, let alone each other, but now you've got a chance to set things right and try again, and you're both blowing it."
"No kidding," Shinn agreed. "It's simple, just talk to her and get everything out there. I mean you clearly still have feelings for her, so let her know that and that you want to set things right."
"Yeah, like I'm going to take relationship advice from the guy who had to face a serious life-or-death battle before he finally confessed his feelings to the girl he likes," Dearka reminded Shinn.
"Wait, hold on a minute," Athrun immediately interrupted the two before they could get into an argument. "You mean Shinn and Lunamaria are a couple now or something?" The following silence and blushes that both Shinn and Lunamaria gained were more than enough confirmation for Athrun. "Well, it's about damn time!"
"I know, that's what I said," Dearka chuckled, much to Shinn and Lunamaria's embarrassment and slight irritation.
"Can we please get back on topic," Lunamaria demanded as she glared at the two chuckling veterans.
"Trust me, you don't want him to go and talk to Miriallia when she's like that," Kira then informed Lunamaria. "She'll eat him alive if he does and then use what's left of him to pick what's left of him out of her teeth."
"I heard that Kira," Miriallia shouted irritably.
"And yet, you're not denying it," Kira called back. After everyone had gotten a good laugh out of that little moment of quip-pro-quo, Kira looked over to Dearka and said, "Trust me, you'll be able to work things out, and I'm sure that Miriallia will be more than willing to give you another chance, Dearka. You'll be walking on eggshells for the first bit of that chance, but it'll still be a chance."
"Thanks Kira," Dearka sighed with a grateful smile.
"So," Yzak started to say. "Now that both parties in that are here, any chance we could finally find out…"
"NO," Dearka and Miriallia both shouted at the same time.
Yzak just growled in annoyance of this, while his new Autobot partner could only laugh at the silver haired pilot's misfortune in his attempt to find out what happened between the two. Seeing that Yzak was probably going to lose it in a minute, Kira quickly looked to Ratchet and asked, "Hey Ratchet, do you mind bringing up a news channel? Cagalli's going to make a statement to make sure that her intentions are clear."
"I was actually just preparing to do that," Ratchet informed Kira as he tapped the controls of his computer, and everyone quickly gathered around.
"Are you sure that this is a good idea," Shinn asked, worried that whatever Cagalli would say might lead to further action against Orb on Sentinel and Z.A.F.T.'s part.
"Not really, but Cagalli was insistent on doing this," Kira replied. "Trust me, when Cagalli sets her mind to something, it's almost always impossible to change it. Don't worry; we'll be able to deal with any repercussions that come later."
"Quiet you two. It's starting," Bumblebee then hushed as Cagalli appeared on the monitor seated in her office.
"This is the chief representative of the Orb Union, Cagalli Yulla Athha," the young woman began. "Today, I'm using the media of the entire world in order to deliver a message to Chairman Gilbert Durandal of the PLANT Supreme Council, and Sentinel Prime of the Autobot ship Xanthium, regarding their demands to hand over Lord Djibril and the Eradicons, and their subsequent decision to invade our country. Chairman Durandal and Sentinel's recent speech announcing the groups known as LOGOS and the Eradicons, along with the various pieces of evidence supporting their accusations, had a great impact on all of us, especially when coupled with the revelation of the Transformers. The chairman and Sentinel called for the destruction of LOGOS and the Eradicons, and an end to all war in this world, if not in this galaxy. These were fine sentiments, and I certainly can't deny that I found them appealing, both as a politician dealing with the world's present state of confusion and as an individual, especially after having fought alongside some of the Autobots myself in the previous war. However, there is more to this situation than…"
"What's going on," Yzak demanded when the screen suddenly began to cut out and interrupt Cagalli's speech. Unfortunately, they got the answer to Yzak's question when the image was replaced with one that was clearly from Gibraltar and had a girl with pink hair standing in the center of the image.
"My friends, it is I, Lacus Clyne," Meer announced, causing everyone to gasp in wide-eyed shock at her interruption, and the Minerva crew to stare at the equally shocked and slightly appalled Lacus in surprise.
"I knew that there was something really off about her," Lunamaria stated as she turned to Lacus. "Just for the record, I've always preferred your real style over that fake's."
Lacus smiled at Lunamaria in thanks for her words as they all continued to watch and see what Meer would be telling the world. "The other day, there was fierce battle that took place at Orb. I'm sure that everyone knows of it. Why would a nation that was once such a good friend to the PLANTs make the decision to shelter this Djibril person and these Eradicons within its borders? I'm still having a difficult time understanding this. Why would Orb be willing to go to war to protect these people, this leader of Blue Cosmos and these beings that have caused so much suffering, a man who doesn't hesitate to fire nuclear or energon weapons at the PLANTs and beings who terrorize other planets while inciting war among their people, who use massive weapons of destruction to burn down entire cities if not planets, who use mere children as tools in combat? Because Orb protected these beings, we failed once again, and we were unable to apprehend them, and this was also in part because of a group of Autobot rebels who cannot see that the foolish cause they claimed to stand for was all in following of a foolish librarian who wished to incite a new form of chaos among his homeworld."
"Okay Kira, I think I've heard enough," Laucs finally said. Kira nodded in understanding to his girlfriend before she turned to make her way down off the deck she and the other humans in the base were standing on.
"Uh, Miss Lacus," Shinn asked, clearly confused about what the songstress was doing.
"Don't worry Shinn," Lacus told the young man. "Just like you and the others, I know what I have to do."
"Then allow me to accompany you," Optimus then said, gaining everyone's attention. "I believe that it is time that I too showed the world the truth about Sentinel and Durandal's intentions."
Lacus smiled and thanked Optimus for his aide, and then climbed into his cab after the Autobot leader had transformed into his new vehicle mode and then rolled out through the Ground Bridge as soon as Ratchet had opened it. "He's really liking the new vehicle mode," Sai commented.
"Told you so," Bumblebee reminded them in response. Everyone then continued to watch the broadcast for a minute as Meer continued to fool the world into thinking she was Lacus while leading the world to believe that Orb was an evil place by reinforcing how terrible LOGOS and the Eradicons are, until finally, the broadcast cut out again until it showed Lacus standing alongside Cagalli in front of Optimus's vehicle mode at the Orb Cabinet building at last.
"Please do not be deceived by the appearance of that person," Lacus immediately began when she appeared on the screen. "Hello my friends. My name is Lacus Clyne. I know that there is someone out there working together with both Chairman Durandal and Sentinel, someone with the same face, the same voice, and the same name. However, I am the real daughter of Seigel Clyne, and I was the one who joined forces with the Archangel and the Autobots and fought in the last war, just like I stand united with that ship and the true Autobots these days, along with the representative of Orb. She and I are two completely different people, and our beliefs are just as different as well. I want everyone to be aware of that. I agree with neither Chairman Durandal and Sentinel's words, nor their actions, and my feelings are shared by another that you should all know quite well. He is a hero to our world, the one who fought so hard against Megatron and the Decepticons in the last war, and who has once again realized that he truly is the last true Prime. My friends, I would like to present to you the true leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime."
The minute Lacus had finished introducing Optimus, the Prime had transformed from his new vehicle mode to stand to tall and proud behind both of the young women in front of him for the entire world to see, right at the same moment as the broadcast from Gibraltar had cut off the confused and despairing Meer. "Greetings citizens of Earth," Optimus said. "I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. Some of you may remember me from an encounter in the previous war, while others of you are seeing me for the first time, but whatever the case, I assure you the intentions that my Autobots and I hold are just as true now as they were then, for we still fight in the belief that freedom is the right of all sentient beings, a lesson that Sentinel had once taught me, but has now clearly forgotten. From the moment the Xanthium had arrived on Earth, Sentinel has been leading others to believe that I and all Autobots who followed me were rebels against our own kind, while in truth; it was Sentinel who was leading others in a betrayal of the Autobots. Because of this and many other reasons that we have discovered, as Miss Lacus Clyne has said, like her, I do not agree with the chairman and Sentinel's words nor their actions. Those who fight are not to blame and neither are those who choose not to fight, but rather it is the ones who force us to fight who are to blame. LOGOS, the merchants of death, and the Eradicons, the evil that exceeds that of the Decepticons, but is what the chairman and Sentinel are saying the entire truth, or do they simply wish to conceal that they are aligning with the Decepticons, who once threatened your world in an even greater plot?"
"Naturals are not to blame, neither are the Coordinators, nor any of the Autobots who decide to stand with someone other than Sentinel," Lacus then carried on. "Just blame someone else. Blame the world itself and even the galaxy itself. They tell you you're not to blame, but please do not become trapped in Sentinel and the chairman's web of lies. Before we are misunderstood, rest assured we are not defending Mister Djibril or Lockdown and his forces. However, we simply do not trust Chairman Durandal and Sentinel Prime, a Cybertronain who has lost all right to bear the title of Prime. Friends please, we must look beneath the surface and discover what Sentinel and the chairman's real objectives are, assuming that the chairman still has a say in those objectives."
Optimus then spoke up once again as he said, "Recently, we have discovered that there is a likely chance that Sentinel has seized power from Chairman Durandal in a way that would lead the world to believe that Durandal is still in power, while in truth, Sentinel is the one now giving the orders. It is a method that he has designated the Pretender Program, a program in which Sentinel would use Cybertronian technology to create artificial replicas of a person or persons to replace the person that it was created from. Using this program, Sentinel would be able to fool anyone into thinking that the replica was the person it was replacing, but despite this, it is not. While you could not prove that it was a fake by merely looking at it, running a DNA test, or even so much as seeing if it could bleed, there are ways to discover the truth. People of the Earth, my kind and I have already witnessed the destruction of our own home, and during the time we have lived among you, hiding in plain sight, we have found that like us, there is more to your kind than meets the eye, and we have thus come to call your world our second home. Should you continue to follow Sentinel and Chairman Durandal blindly without discovering the truth for yourselves, you will eventually bring about your world's downfall, and that is a fate that I do not wish to befall this wonderful world that my Autobots and I have to come to care for so greatly."
With that being said, anything more that was stated in the broadcast became irrelevant, as the pieces all started to fall into place for everyone. The chairman's strange behavior, Sentinel allying with the Decepticons so easily, and everything else that had happened since Junius Seven, but that still left one question for everyone to wonder about. "Do you think that they'll believe any of this," Shinn asked.
"The fact that Lacus appeared alongside Optimus should stand in our favor, along with the fact that we're able to present some serious evidence supporting their claims," Athrun replied. "However, others will find a way to make it seem like this was all a lie to others and that may lead to something even more terrible."
As much as they all wanted to argue with this statement, they all knew that Athrun was right in what he said, but they could stop themselves from hoping that it was not true.
Up on the moon, Djibril and Lockdown had just finished watching the broadcast the rest of Earth and the PLANTs had just seen, and while they were a bit happy to hear Lacus and Optimus speaking out against Durandal and Sentinel at first, they were still a bit infuriated by the fact they made it clear that they also did not support or defend them as well. Still it mattered little to them, as the Requiem was nearly ready to fire. "Are you serious about firing this weapon," the Alliance admiral in charge of the Lunar base asked Djibril.
"Of course I am," Djibril answered. When Lockdown gave a small cough, Djibril quickly amended the statement as he said, "I mean, we are, after all that's why we went to all this trouble to get here."
"Now that's the kind of answer I like," the admiral smiled. "It's good to know our efforts are appreciated even way out here and our work won't have been in vain."
"What do you mean by that," Lockdown asked.
"There are too many soft politicians who spend fortunes building these things. They say they're necessary, but then they don't have the guts to use them when its time. When that happens, soldiers like me tend to wonder what are we out here for anyway."
"Don't worry," Djibril assured the man. "We're no cowards like the president is, nor are we dreamers like Durandal and Sentinel. In order to protect, I'll pull the trigger when I have to."
"Truer words have never been spoken, Djibril," Lockdown commented. "After all, one does not get anywhere in life by being a weak, fearful coward. Something that fool, Megatron, never did learn before his demise."
The three could then only grin in anticipation of what firing this weapon would mean, and what would happen when they finally began to play this particular requiem for Durandal and Sentinel.
Out in space, Nicol and Shiho had been dispatched along with the rest of the Joule Team that had remained in space, though some were joking around and saying that they should rename themselves to the Amalfi Team or the Hahnenfuss Team, to investigate a gathering of Alliance Forces near the remains of an abandoned colony just outside the defensive early warning area. Their ships had just arrived on site, and the two had launched in Shiho's Rosso Aegis and Nicol's new ZGMF-X207SR Nero Blitz Gundam when they suddenly encountered the escort fleet, and needless to say it was not a friendly welcome.
"What're these guys even doing out here," Shiho demanded as she dodged the barrage of beam blasts that were sent here way.
"Doesn't matter right now," Nicol immediately replied. "We've seen enough to know that it's not for anything friendly, and whatever it is, it clearly involves those colony remains, so let's take them out and try to put a stop to it."
"Roger that," Shiho replied as she charged her machine forward alongside the Nero Blitz. As soon as she was in range, Shiho switched the Rosso Aegis into shooting mode and opened fire with the Scylla beam cannons, tearing apart multiple units when she did. A minute later, a small group of Eradicon drones suddenly appeared and tried to take her out, but Nicol was quick to intervene and use the Nero Blitz's Variable Arm Units in their crystallized state to absorb all the blasts that were sent Shiho's way and then redirected the blasts back to the source.
"I can't believe I almost forgot how exhilarating it feels to be piloting a Gundam," Nicol commented to himself as he fired a shot from the Nero Blitz's Trikeros, and then a small barrage from the launcher on the machine's right arm. The Nero Blitz then swooped down and used the Variable Arm Units to grab hold of and crush some enemy mobile suits and drones in their powerful grasp just as the Rosso Aegis was slicing into the enemy with her suit's beam sabers.
Shiho was about to comment on Nicol's proclamation when she noticed that the colony had suddenly halted in its movements. "Why are they stopping it here," Shiho wondered aloud. "What're they going to do with this thing?"
"I don't know, but we're stopping it," Nicol replied as he smashed another mobile suit apart. "Go around to the engines."
"Roger." The two then led a team to that destination and began to open fire on the engines, hoping that whatever the enemy was planning would be averted by their efforts, and it seemed that they may be successful, when the enemy suddenly began pulling back, and their sensors picked up a high energy beam being fired from the far side of the moon. Both Gundam pilots had to wonder why they would be firing such a weapon from there when they saw the beam itself enter another set of colony ruins and then curve towards them.
"All forces, evade now! Get out of here, fast," Nicol immediately shouted as he and Shiho blasted away from the colony as fast as they could. "What is this thing?"
"Did the beam actually just bend," Shiho asked, but they were both interrupted from their musings when they saw the beam curve a few more times, hit its target, and tear through the PLANT colonies, Januarius One through Four. The resulting destruction then caused the remains of the colony to crash into Decembers Seven and Eight and then collapse.
"Januarius and December," Nicol gasped in quiet shock. "Who would've imagined…and from the far side of the moon…"
"Nicol," Shiho shouted. "We're destroying this damn thing. If they get off another shot like that, then the PLANTs are finished. We're destroying this thing no matter what the cost!"
"Right," Nicol and the other soldiers who heard her replied as they all began to move to attack the machine that held a great part of responsibility for the destruction of one of the colonies that made up their home along with the escort fleet that was still present. As the machine collapsed, they could all only wonder if it would be enough.
When news of what had happened in space had reached the group in Orb, everyone was appalled and horrified by what had happened, and they all knew that it would not be forgotten, like GENESIS and Megatron. It all made them stop and contemplate how no matter what they did, they always seemed to repeat the cycle of destruction and fighting. Eventually, it led Lacus to reveal all the details of Durandal's Destiny Plan, and how it would decide everyone's fate and roles in life from birth based on their genes, and that if someone did not agree with their role they were weeded out and adjusted, all according to the destinies that were set by Durandal.
When the Autobots heard of this, they were infuriated by the concept, as it reminded them all too much of the caste system that Cybertron had used before the war had broken out, the very thing that Optimus had stood against and wanted to change so that they could live in a free world, but even so, since the Destiny Plan was originally Durandal's and he had been replaced by a replica at some point by Sentinel, it led to one question that Smokescreen had ended up voicing for everyone. "Is it really still the same as his original plan," the young 'Bot had asked.
"Given how strongly Sentinel supported him before, I am unsure if that is the case," Optimus admitted to everyone that had gathered in the Autobot Base. "However, when considering the words that Sentinel and others who shared his way of thinking had expressed in battle, I believe that there is a likely chance that after replacing Durandal, Sentinel has in fact made some changes to the original Destiny Plan that would suit his and the Decepticons' needs."
"But just what kind of changes would those be," Bumblebee asked, even though he was not entirely sure he wanted the answer, a feeling that was shared by Kira, Shinn, Athrun, Cagalli, and everyone other important member of the crew from both the Minerva and the Archangel.
"Given what we have now learned and seen, I suspect that Sentinel wishes to reinstate the caste system from Cybertron, and reform it in a way that includes humanity in some small way," Optimus revealed. "It would seem that in Sentinel's eyes, we should be as gods to both humanity and even the rest of the universe, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to restore that which he had lost after the war had begun. Or rather, after Megatron and I first appeared before the High Council with the ideas we had of restoring Cybertron to what it once was."
"If that is the case, then where would humanity be among such godlike beings, if that is Sentinel's intention," Neo asked.
"I doubt it would be hard to figure out," Talia admitted grimly. "Compared to the Autobots or any Transformer in general, save for the Mini-Cons, we're nothing more than small insects beneath their feet. With that in mind, what sort of use do you think that Sentinel would find for our species?"
No one wanted to answer that, because the answer was too horrible to even think about, but they all ended up either cringing or shivering in fear anyway as the thought did enter their minds. "It would all be pointless at this point," Athrun muttered.
"Like you've never done pointless things before," Dearka chuckled.
Athrun paused for a minute to think about those words, and all that had happened since that day in Armory One when he first met the chairman, Smokescreen, and the others from the Xanthium and the Minerva, until he finally smirked and said, "You know, I'm not the type of person who gives up."
"I'm the same way," Kira admitted with a smile.
"Me too," Cagalli declared proudly.
"Me too, right," Neo asked Murrue and Wheeljack.
"You know it, wingman," Wheeljack told him with a thumbs up in reply. "We're all the same as well."
"Definitely," Shinn agreed, along with everyone else.
"Then it would seem that our path forward is clear," Optimus then said. "We must return to space, stop Sentinel, and show him and others who think as he does that freedom is still the right of all sentient beings, and that we create our own destinies."
"We're with you, Optimus," Kira declared. "Right Athrun?"
"Yes," Athrun immediately agreed as he and Kira clasped each other's hand in brotherhood.
"Then what're we waiting for," Cagalli asked.
"Cagalli, you can't go," Arcee immediately said. "You're needed here in…"
"Arcee, I swear to God, don't you dare even think of finishing that sentence," Cagalli immediately argued. "I've told you guys before that I can't just stand back and watch anymore. I'm going with you, whether you like it or not. Maybe this isn't what my father would have done, and maybe it is, but I do know that it's what I would do, and that's what really matters."
Arcee was about to protest along with Optimus when they both saw Bumblebee smiling at Cagalli proudly, knowing that she was simply acting on the words he had once spoken to her and which she had spoken to him not too long ago, and in the end they both had to relent and allow Cagalli to carry on with her decision, but there was still one matter to deal with if she truly was going with them. "What about Orb? Who will be acting as its leader with you gone," Yzak ended up asking.
"I get the feeling she's already taken care of that, haven't you Cagalli," Bumblebee suddenly said with a smirk.
Cagalli nodded in affirmative and then turned to the door to the office that was in the base as she told someone in there that they could come in now. A minute after the door opened, a young man and woman both stepped into the room and stood before the gathered group. The woman had orange-brown hair, fair skin, and green eyes, and wore a white shirt under a pink dress-like coat, black pants and brown shoes, while seeming to carry herself with an almost regal essence. The man with her had pale brown hair, brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin like Athrun, and wore a tan shirt, black pants and shoes, and a navy blue coat with black shoulder patches, and seemed to carry himself with a kind of confidence in what he did while also questioning his role. "It's been a long time Audrey," Cagalli said to the young woman as soon as she had approached her. "Or should I call you Mineva now?"
"Audrey is fine," the young woman replied with a small smile. "And it's good to see you too, Cagalli. I just wish it were under better circumstances."
"Um, care to explain who these people are to those of us who don't know, please," Lunamaria then asked.
Cagalli simply coughed to clear her throat for a minute before announcing, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my old friend, Audrey Burne, but she's better known as Mineva Lao Zabi."
"The long lost daughter of one of the Orb Navy's greatest colonels," Kira asked.
"And the niece of one of my father's strongest supporters and friends," Cagalli then revealed. "Our parents were good friends for a long time and were determined to ensure that Orb would always remain a great nation no matter what happened, and they would even talk about one day sharing Orb's ideals with the rest of the world so that there would be no more war among Earth and the PLANTs. At least, that was the plan until Audrey's uncle was found dead in his home due to mysterious circumstances, and the same was true for her father, who would have stepped in to take his brother's place. For a long time, my father had suspected that there was foul play at work and did everything he could to help Audrey and her mother go into hiding until they discovered the culprit and made sure it was safe for them to return. She and her mother actually stayed with us while my father was setting that up and that's how the two of us met and became friends."
"My mother was actually killed when someone discovered us a few years ago," Audrey then picked up. "And I thought for sure that I was going to join her and my father and uncle soon after, but luckily Banagher had been passing by the house we were staying in on his way home from school and heard the commotion inside. Ever since then, he has been keeping me safe, acting as my protector while still somehow managing to find time to finish his education online."
Before anyone could ask who Audrey was talking about, the young man who had come in with her stepped forward and said, "Uh…that would be me. I'm Banagher Links. Nice to meet you all."
Everyone nodded in return to his greeting and then Cagalli then revealed, "After the previous battle, we discovered that it was actually the Seirans who had orchestrated the deaths of Audrey's family with help from Blue Cosmos, and upon realizing this, I immediately phoned the number that Audrey was currently using and had secretly sent to me recently and let her know of the news. Thankfully, they were close by and they were able to return to Orb just a few hours after our announcement to the world."
Audrey then told everyone, "Don't worry about Orb. I'll be taking care of things in Cagalli's place, and I promise that I won't make a disaster of things like the traitor Yuna Roma Seiran did. I also intend to restore Cagalli's position to her immediately upon her return."
"Or you could end up taking up the job right alongside me," Cagalli teased with a knowing smile.
"Perhaps we should leave that discussion for another day," Audrey replied while Banagher did his best to hide a small smile and a bit of laughter from her.
"Well that's great that someone we can count on will be taking care of things in Orb while Cagalli's out there with us, but there's still one other matter to deal with," Hound then brought up. "In case you guys haven't noticed, we've got one more pilot than we do mobile suits, and I doubt that Neo here will want to settle for a basic, mass produced model."
"I've already got that covered as well," Erica then revealed as she walked over to the large door that led to the Akatsuki's underground hangar. She then pulled down on a lever and the doors opened up as a large object was suddenly transported into the room as she said, "This new model is actually a remade version of one of the original five Gundams, but with a few new features and a special system as well. The problem was, we could never quite get it to work until Banagher came with Miss Mineva and filled in the final pieces for us."
A minute later, the object had been full brought into the base, and everyone was instantly gazing on in wide-eyed shock at a Gundam class mobile suit that bore a striking similarity in resemblance to the old Strike Gundam. Upon closer inspection, they could all see that it seemed to have its phase shift armor active, much like the Akatsuki normally did, and while it did have the old blue and white colors of the original Strike, this new machine also had red highlights on the skirt, legs, and shoulders, and some blue highlights on the lower arms and knees. A pair of beam sabers where now stored in the machines skirt, and the machine also carried a white, red, and yellow shield with a raised center, a new beam rifle, and a large white backpack that seemed to carry a pair of beam cannons and even detach from the machine to form some type of fighter.
"Is that a new version of the Strike," Yzak eventually asked.
"Yes it is," Erica confirmed. "This is the GAT-X105B/ST Star Force Strike Gundam. Like the other Gundams, it's equipped with an Energon Reactor Core, and like the new Justice and Freedom, it also has an artificial T-Cog, but it also possesses a very special system as well. The suit is equipped with an absorption system that allows it to absorb the energy of any kind of energy attack, including a positron beam or an energon blast, and then use that power to either give itself a boost for its weapons, thrusters, or defensive capabilities, or simply restore any power it has already lost in battle. It does this through the special absorption duct in the center of its shield, so as long as it isn't destroyed or blocking a physical attack, like say from missiles or an anti-ship sword, it will be able to absorb the blast."
"And you've tested this feature," Talia asked.
"Well, we've tested it on your basic level energon blasts and beam weapons from both mobile suits and battle ships, but as for the battle ship grade positron cannon, that's the only thing we're unsure of," Erica admitted. "We did not fully complete the system until Banagher showed up, and we did not want to take any risks in doing so since the blast would completely destroy the suit if it failed, but we're ninety-five percent sure that it will work against such a weapon," Erica admitted.
"It'll work," Neo stated. "That is if you're sure there's no problem with me using this thing."
Murrue and everyone else that had known Mu La Flaga all nodded in reassurance of this, and with all that needed to be settled now dealt with, Optimus then declared, "Then we'd best begin all final preparations for our departure. Autobots, Archangel Crew, Minerva Crew, prepare to roll out!"
Sometime after they had returned to Gibraltar, and almost instantly after they had heard about what happened in space, Sentinel and his forces, as well as those few who had left the Minerva after its defection, had all immediately returned to space both to pursue Djibril and the Eradicons, and so that they may assist in destroying the Requiem before it was used to destroy anymore of the PLANTs. Everyone knew that this was not going to be an easy task for the Xanthium alone, and with Rey being the only Gundam pilot from the Minerva who did not betray them, it seemed as though the chairman and Sentinel were now grasping at straws to end this long battle. That is until one saw the large, crimson ship that held such a strong resemblance to the Minerva.
"This new ship will certainly do nicely," Sentinel commented as he looked on at the vessel. "Are you confident that you can handle it properly, Captain Trine?"
"Yes sir," Arthur immediately saluted to both Sentinel and Durandal in reply. Shortly after returning to Gibraltar, Arthur had been promoted to the rank of captain for his services and loyalty. That, along with the fact that he knew the Minerva so well made him the ideal person to captain this new ship of the same class. Now, one could argue that it seemed Sentinel was making the same mistake that Azrael and the Earth Forces had made with the Dominion in the previous Bloody Valentine War, but Sentinel would have been quick to argue that this new ship was far superior to the second ship of the Archangel Class, or would have simply taken more brutal measures to silence that doubt.
"Then allow me to introduce your new ship's ace pilots," Durandal then stated robotically as he gestured to a young man and woman who were both wearing Z.A.F.T. red uniforms. The young man had slightly tanned skin that was expected of one who lived in the PLANTs, silver blonde hair, and dark colored eyes, and seemed to have a vicious aura of furry around him that practically screamed that he was a man who hated the way things were and was dealt a serious blow to his life at some point in the past that he could not let go of. As for the woman, she had similarly colored skin, black brunette hair, and silver colored eyes and seemed to hold a similar aura to the man next to her.
"Evan Stanson, pilot of the ZGMF-43SC Arch Destiny Gundam, reporting for duty sirs," the young man said in a deep, baritone voice.
"Sakura Regale, pilot of the ZGMF-X56S/Ω Fury Impulse Gundam, sirs," the woman then identified afterwards.
"At ease," Arthur then ordered. "From this point on, you'll be receiving orders from FAITH Operative Rey Za Burrel when in combat."
"What," Evan exclaimed. "We gotta take orders from the guy who lost to both traitors and a bunch of old fossils?!"
"Is that a problem," Rey asked in a demanding tone that just dared him to say yes.
Evan took a minute to compose himself before he finally said, begrudgingly, "No sir."
"Good," Rey stated. He then turned to Durandal and asked, "Chairman, about their machines…"
"Frankly, I was hoping that they would not be needed," Durandal stated in answer to Rey's unasked question. "They were developed in case the Destiny or the Impulse ever went rogue or were seized by the enemy. I had hoped that would not occur with Shinn Asuka and Lunamaria Hawke as the pilots, but it seems clear that I was mistaken. That is why your new ship's first mission after helping to deal with the Alliance weapon that had been fired on the PLANTs is to track down and eliminate the Minerva and its two traitor pilots along with anyone aligned with them."
Arthur could just barely contain a small gasp in shock at this order but immediately shook it off and said, "Yes sir, understood." With that said, Arthur moved to begin looking over his new ship to see if there were any differences between this new Minerva Class ship and the first one when he suddenly paused and asked, "Sir, what is this ship's name? I'm sorry, but I just realized that I had neglected to ask until now."
Durandal stared out at the crimson colored version of the Minerva and then finally looked back at its new captain and replied, "It is known as the second ship of the Minerva Class, the Mars."
Arthur then nodded and continued on to his ship with both Rey and the two pilots in tow, never noticing how Durandal seemed to glance at Sentinel for a moment as though he were awaiting orders as they did. As soon as they were out of hearing range, Sentinel muttered to himself, "There is no doubt that Orion will be coming to space with his allies soon enough, but then again, that's why the Reliant and it's mobile suits are being deployed now. Still, there's also other matters that must be dealt with. Djibril and the Eradicons are one of course, but there's also the matter of the young lady, Meer Campbell, or should I say Lacus Clyne. She may very well be another loose end that we can't afford to have. Ensure that its dealt with as soon as we have received word that the Alliance weapon is taken care of."
With his orders now received, the Durandal replica simply nodded and then moved on to the office that Durandal would have occupied on the Z.A.F.T. Fortress Messiah should he have lived to this point, and if one were in the room at that moment and not aligned with Sentinel, they would have felt an ominous aura that reeked of danger that was still yet to come.
AN: So there you have it. Remember the authors note a few chapters back when I said that Audrey and Banagher were going to be in this continuity? Well, here they are. You didn't really think I was going to have Cagalli stick with the team and go into space while leaving behind some random government leader that she likely couldn't trust in charge did you? Also, yes the Star Force Strike is the Star Build Strike. I just changed the name because I thought that calling it the Star Build Strike would be more appropriate if this story took place in Gundam Build Fighters.
Finally, the Reliant matter. Well I wasn't going to just kick Rey and Arthur off the Minerva and not have them appear again until the final battle, plus I wanted the fight to be a bit more evened out.
Shinn: No kidding, because otherwise it would be a bunch of faceless ships and one Gundam against a new Four Ships Alliance and six Gundams. Talk about your mismatched fight. Still what's the deal with the two mobile suits and their pilots?
AN: Ah yes, well remember a few chapters back when I responded to a question involving the Arch Destiny, well after having you and the others switch sides, I figured it would be a good idea to add someone new that could, theoretically, counter your machine, and thus, Arch Destiny found its way in. As for the Fury Impulse Gundam, that's an original mobile suit I came up with. Think of it as like the Titans Gundam MK II from Zeta Gundam, and as for its characteristics and Silhouette packs, well we'll go more into them in the next chapter.
Murrue: And the reason for the Reliant?
AN: Well, I did need a new ship for Z.A.F.T. to depend on now that the Minerva has joined the right side, and I know that I'm just repeating what was done with the Dominion in a way, but this really seemed like the best option in a sense.
Bulkhead: What about those two pilots? They don't really seem all that friendly.
AN: Good, they're not supposed to. They're both my own OCs that I came up with for this story. I like to think that Evan is like a reflection of this story's Shinn, or rather, the version of Shinn that we all know from the original continuity had he gotten the right character development, or at least my view of it. Same goes for Sakura if you were to compare her to Lunamaria, or had given Luna a backstory similar to Shinn's. More on them another time though. Before ask when though, I shall simply say that I can only answer that by saying, Onto the preview!...
The Reliant and her pilots are off on their first mission, but just who are the two pilots that have taken the places of Shinn and Lunamaria on this new Minerva Class ship? Brief glimpses will be given into the history of Evan Stanson and Sakura Regale as the mission proceeds, and the true devastating might of their machines will reveal them to be a dark contrast to the original Destiny and Impulse Gundams. Meanwhile, Optimus, Kira, Shinn, Bulkhead, and the others arrive on the moon and find themselves caught in the midst of an encounter that will decide the final fate of one sad and confused person. Next time on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Prime: Destiny Sentinels…Chapter 22: Within the Shadows. Arch Destiny, Fury Impulse, show the might of your rage and vengeance!
Please read and review, and I'll see you next time!