Gundam 00: The Meaning of Zero
Chapter 18: Take up Arms
It was official
Nena was scared.
Sure, she had been piloting the Drei for a while, even against that monster of a Meister Lelouch....but this was totally different. For one thing, she knew exactly what Kallen could do. And worse, Kallen knew exactly what she and Johan could do too.
"Nena! MOVE!" Johann yelled as the Vier moved in, Annihilation Claw out and grasping. The Drei dodged, the tips of Vier's Claw gouging the armor, one wrecking a storage pod. At that moment, the Eins fired, blood-red beam streaking towards the scarlet Throne. Nena's brief spark of victorious joy was quenched as the Claw moved in front of the beam, palm facing outwards as the anti-beam coating deflected the Tau Particles.
"Come on, I thought you'd guys would have a bit more innovative tactics!" Kallen said as the Vier's hand reached behind it, gripping the Beam Daggers. The next instant had the Vier drawing the Daggers and tossing them (in a move so Setsuna that if he copyrighted it, he'd be able to sue Kallen for a fortune), one creasing the Eins head and the other embedding itself in the left shoulder.
"Damn it!" Johann hissed, backing the Eins away from the dangerously close Vier.
"What's the matter Johann? Nervous now that you don't have your little brother Michael to protect you?" Kallen laughed, rather pleased with the ease by which she was dominating the two. If ever there was a clear reason Lelouch was the Command Authority in Celestial Being, it was the way he managed to position everyone so that they'd work to their strengths.
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This isn't the best day of my life. Lockon thought, maneuvering the Dynames through many, many, many red particle beams, some fired by the GN-Xs, others by the four Fangs the mercenary had on him. Thankfully, Haro was quite proficient with the shields, good enough that Lockon decided to send the programmer for the little balls a thank-you note if he managed to survive this battle. Gritting his teeth, the Sniper Rifle flashed again and again, each beam it fired hitting, or at least nicking, a GN-X or Fang. He also had the GN-X Rifle he'd managed to snatch during the previous battle, and it was now firing the signature pink-white beams of the True Gundams. Although, it still hadn't been completely calibrated for the Dynames' use in the time frame between the two battles. The most significant effect of this was an extreme inaccuracy at ranges exceeding 200 meters.
"Haro, can you do anything about the Rifle's settings? It's kinda screwing up my aim." Lockon asked.
"Working shields! Working shields!" Came the little orange balls almost terse reply, the shields managing to intercept no less than ten beams the next instant.
"Oh yeah....." The Dynames rocked as a beam darted past the edge of the shields to slam into its shoulder, although it surprisingly failed to penetrate the armor. "What the-" Lockon was cut off as the Zwei AC darted right in front of the Gundam, Battle Rifle Bayonet raised to deliver a slicing blow.
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"Y'know, this really isn't as fun as I'd hoped it would be." Michael noted sourly. Currently, the two remote-controllers were at a bit of a standoff, a total of twenty-two machines on a single battlefield. The Zwei and Angelos were engaged in a blade lock, while the Aggelos and Fangs swirled around in a storm of flashing beam sabers and silvery streaks.
"Really? I can't imagine why." Lelouch gritted out, sarcasm flooding his speech. The G-forces exerted in both directions were taking their toll on the somewhat physically inadequate Meister. Also, while it was indeed a potent weapon compared to most mobile suits, the Angelos was NOT a front line fighter. It quite simply wasn't made to handle the same stresses that Exia, Virtue or even Kyrios are put through. He could literally hear the creaking of the Angelos' arm joints through his cockpit.
"Anyway, from the looks of things you'll be done soon. Who knows, after the Boss is done with you, I might get to have some fun…."
"How droll. Where's Suzaku by the way? I'd think that he'd want to confront me again."
"He's been laid off. Told to take a short break. Besides, I'm all that's needed to take care of you."-
What Lelouch saw over the Zwei's shoulder made him grin somewhat insanely as he replied.
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Setsuna grimaced as he fought the AEU detachment. While Trans-Am had been active, he'd been more than able to disable maybe a third of them, although in the interests of defense he had stayed back and dealt with the attacking ones. Now though, with his capabilities somewhat reduced, he could barely stay alive as the seemingly lightning fast GN-X units attacked again and again, only Lelouch's modifications to the Operating System in conjunction with his own skills keeping the Krugis Meister alive.
"Die Gundam!" Came the cry, over an open channel no less. Setsuna was given more than ample warning to dodge the rather lackluster attack, Tau beam saber flashing by. Huh. This must be Patrick Colasaur. Setsuna vaguely remembered the AEU pilot from the original intervention....and from after-battle reports. Despite that, he had personally only fought the man once.
By the looks of things, he hadn't improved much. If at all.
Still, even he was a considerable threat when Exia was reduced by Trans-Am aftereffects. Moving quickly as he could, Setsuna pulled the Exia away from the GN-X, although he still kept close to Virtue to preserve the defensive field. As the Exia's GN Sword locked into position, Patrick upped the Vernier output, Tau Particles flaring as they increased in speed and number. The Tau Drive-powered mobile suit surged forward, beam saber held high in one hand as Patrick cried out in expectant joy.
An orange blur slammed into him sideways, throwing him into both Hit and Arse's GN-Xs, sending all three flying into a nearby asteroid, perfectly imitating a dog-pile in zero-gravity. The teenager could only stare as the three struggled to untangle their units from each other, sending small bits of armor floating away.
Setsuna's brief moment of astonishment cost him dearly, as the remaining AEU mobile suits assaulted him at once, Beam Rifles firing along with GN CIWS. Just as Setsuna thought he was going to die, a green sphere intercepted the shots, before swinging around to fire at the GN-Xs with GN Cannons, disintegrating one unit and damaging another.
"Setsuna! Hurry up and get the Exia docked!" Lasse's voice sounded over the communications system.
"Lasse! You and Ian got the GN Arms?" Setsuna asked as he moved the Exia over to the E-type GN Arms.
"Yep. Types A, D and E." Setsuna quieted as Exia docked with the GN Arms, Drive connecting to the Particle Condenser and Capacitor, arms grabbing the blades and legs hooking in to the thrusters.
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Just before the GN Bayonet bisected the Dynames, an enormous beam consumed the weapon, as well as one of the Zwei AC's hands.
"Huh?" Was Ali's query, just as another beam came, right between the two Gundams.
"Hey Lockon! I thought you needed some help!"
"Ian? Is that you, you sly old bastard?" Lockon laughed, a somewhat nervous undertone from the close breath of death in his voice.
"Get the Dynames over here and dock with the GN Arms!" Not one to argue, considering the conditions, Lockon forced the Sniper Gundam into a sudden dash, moving towards the fighter-like GN Arms, the D-type with heavy ranged weapons. As he approached, the Mobile Armor seemed to fold out, 'arms' and 'legs' appearing from the weapons and thrusters, respectively. In the center was a space perfectly sized for the Dynames, into which Lockon maneuvered the Gundam, Drive-first. There was an audible thud as the GN Drive connected to the port. And a series of screens opened and closed in rapid succession on the HUD before a box opened announcing the success of the docking operation.
"Alright, so now what, old man?"
"Well, you destroy them of course!" Shrugging, Lockon aimed the Sniper Rifle at the Zwei AC and its swarm of Fangs. Retaining partial control, Ian aimed the 'shoulder' Beam Cannons, leaving the two extended barrel Beam Blasters in the right 'arm' to Lockon.
The Union GN-Xs, which had been creeping up and wondering if they should attack, scattered before the array of firepower the GN Arms/Dynames spread, Cannons, Blasters, Sniper Rifle, and Beam Rifle firing. One GN-X, piloted by a guy named John "the Bullseye" Bull (for his impressive marksmanship), was blasted neatly through the cockpit, Tau Drive unscathed.
"Bullseye!" Lockon cried out, accidentally on an open channel. Sorrowful groans from the Union pilots greeted the sniper, although Ali laughed at the irony.
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Johann had always told Michael that his bloodthirsty nature would come back and screw him over one day.
Quite frankly, Michael had always thought that his older sibling was nuts. But, as the remote-controlled GN Arms had come up from behind, throwing the Zwei away like a toy, he had begun to believe that his brother was right.
The GN Arms Type-A folded out like the other two, thrusters turning into leg ports, side-mounted weapons into arm ports, and the center revealing a GN Drive docking port. The Angelos docked with the Mobile Armor, wings folding in front like the Dynames did with its shields. The Aggelos retreated from the melee with the Fangs, holding in formation around the combined Angelos and Type-A Arms.
"I am so screwed." Michael muttered
"Indeed."
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A/N: Cliffhanger!!! ahem.
Well, the new episode has cleared up much of what I'm going to do with Lelouch's character. No, I'm not telling what. I will tell you this unrelated tidbit: GN-001 through GN-005 will reappear in Gundam 00: The Meaning of Zero version of S2, completely operational, if slightly changed.
Also, Funny thing. I have to go back and count how many GN-Xs Celestial Being has killed off now, to make sure there's still some left for the Final Battle (of S1).
Nivek Beldo: GNL-000. Three zeros. And no, there's no lance. The only reason I actually chose Longinus is because it fit two criteria
1: It had a religious link that most Celestial Being units have. ("Actually, all of their names derive from angelic stuff, excluding 0 and 00") That's still religious K'GoN.
2: It had a weapons link that all of the pilot's previous units have. ("Exactly what is an Arb - erk!!!") Stuff it!!
As for any of your ideas, you can just post them in your reviews.
Going back to the Longinus, the special features actually lies in its Alphanumeric Designation: GNL-000
Kojiro Kun: I dunno, Lockon (1)'s survival is kinda in the air at the moment. I'll flip a coin later if I can't come up with a reason for or against his survival.
As for the BCUE replacement, do you mean it transforms between shark and bipedal mobile suit or shark and quadruped mobile suit? Or is it like some kinda digging land-shark? The exploding teeth sounds like a materially expensive idea to be applied to a mass-production unit. I like it.
Velshard: Thank you. As for your Buster replacement....I like it. Although, why a periscope? I don't see anything that heavy going underwater. At least, not without sinking to the bottom. I'd like to see your other ideas.
Infinite Freedom: I figured you would.
Animefan29: The primary reasons I'm looking for new designs to use in the SEED fanfic is because I kinda got bored with the Canon ones, and Original Designs provide a bit more artistic (literary?) freedom. (I have to say, Maderfole's designs from Cosmic Chaos and Eden Disaster are rather refreshing, and technologically interesting.) Two questions: Why put the anti-infantry guns in the feet? And what does fire-linked mean, precisely?
Considering Kira's mercy....even if his targets take the proper precaution, that doesn't mean they'll work. And the entire point of the Omake was to apply some realism to Kira's "mercy". ("Y'know, I always wondered how he and his enemies would react if he "missed", so to speak.")
High Lady Solaris: I'm going to kill and skin all three of them, lightly roasting over a white-hot fire for an intermediate amount of time, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and soy sauce and then serve along with fried rice and orange chicken. Then, I'm gonna use the parts from the Thrones to build a super-Gundam and start World War III. Happy? ("We've got a good sauce for them too,")
As a blanket reply to all the guesses for Suzaku's S2 Gundam.....No. What? Did you think I'd make it that easy after you guys guessed the Longinus so quickly? (Although, in retrospect I probably should have come up with a different clue than "famous weapon, religiously speaking", as it is rather obvious.)
In regard to the designs.....I'd hate to sound like some kinda fussy, something-or-other, but, if it's not too much trouble, could you guys do them in a format somewhat similar to my files? Cause otherwise I'd have a tough time compiling them all, and I'd hate to mix them up, or write them in a way that is completely different from your ideas. Template:
Alphanumeric Designation (e.g, ZGMF-922, from Animefan29's design) ("I've been wondering: What exactly does the ZGMF stand for? Or GAT?") Well, I'd guess that the Z in ZGMF is ZAFT......I dunno, what do you guys think?
Common Name
Pilot (If applicable. As in, "La Flaga pilots this!" Generally only to be used when major characters or notable minor characters use the unit):
Height:
Weight:
Power Source:
Propulsion:
Systems (Actually, you don't need this part unless it has some kinda special system, like the DRAGOON Quantum Coms system, or the Regenerate Gundams parts replacement system Etc. This is also where I'll put the Operating System for the Gundams)
Equipment:
Bio (Optional. This would be where you'd put stuff like the armor, special ammo for the weapons, development history, combat history, and so on and so forth.):
Actually, Animefan29 did his rather professionally-looking ("By your standards at least."). Maybe I should add Unit Type to this format....although I usually put the machine's purpose in the Bio.....
Regarding the Gundams:
I've got the Operating Systems that I'll be putting for the G Project Units.
Kira's Gundam's is: General United Neo-construct Dynamic Assault Module.
Athrun and Co.'s Gundams' are: General Unilateral Neuro-link Dynamic Auto-Maneuver System.
And they'll be using the XGAT-### Alphanumeric Designation system. Already taken are XGAT-115, XGAT-304, and XGAT-133.
("Man, you really are a jackass!") Shut it you. ("Oh come on! Now you're forcing them to put their designs in your format! Next you'll be doing patents.....plus you sound really arrogant.") Shit. You're right. Anyway, you guys really don't have to do that above. It's just that it'd make it easier for me to put in the files, cause it'd be tough to organize all that data....("Damn, you're lazier than I thought") Shut. Up.
Knightmare Gundam of Ni
("K'GoN too!")
By the way, K'GoN was playing those Bishonen Hentai Adventure games in the Omake of Laziness. ("God damn you! You....you....") Payback. Sweet, sweet payback.