File 25 – Into the Depths.

A submarine cruiser moves along under the ocean.

"I was surprised by Waltfeld's death in combat."

Inside Rau speaks via satellite to Captain Marco Morassim who poured himself a cup of coffee.

"It was my fault in the first place, to have let that legged ship get to Earth. It's a very complicated feeling."

Morassim turns, "Hmph." He moves to sit on his cot right next to the monitor.

"I will be down on Earth soon for Operation Spit break. I request your help Captain Morassim, when that time comes."

Morassim slams his fist against the button and the image turns off. "The Creuset bastard. A communication like this already proves to be a pathetic taunt on your part." He glances at a map on his wall of the Indian Ocean. "All right fine... I'll play your game. I'll sink that Legged Ship in the Indian Ocean."

Romero looks over Jackie's shoulder, "No that's wrong. The passive sonar..."

Chandra glances over, "No way that's not how it is."

Jackie glances from one to the other, "Wait! Shut up!"

Natarle places a hand to her forehead.

Romero reaches over, "Hey look at that."

Millie laughs to herself as she watches them.

"Idiot that's why I told you not to touch it!"

The radar screen begins to detect interference. Kuzzey gasps, "There's something on radar."

Murrue glances over her shoulder.

Chandra and Romero head up.

"Is it another civilian ship again?"

Chandra leans over Kuzzey's shoulder, "It's fast. The interference is high, so it's difficult to identify it, but it's definitely not a civilian ship."

Murrue glances forward, "All hands to second battle stage! Hurry and identify it!"

Alarms sound as Cagalli walks down the hall.

"All hands to second battle stage."

Kira holds onto Flay as he hears the message, "I repeat all hands to second battle stage!"

Kojiro looks up.

Mu growls, "I thought there weren't any ZAFT in this area."

A pair of DINN skims across the water toward the Archangel. A visual of it comes onto Morassim's monitors, "Alright, it definitely that legged ship. GOON squad, make launch preparations."

Inside the submarine the Goon mobile suits prepare for launch. They blast out.

Sai checks his monitors, "Checking with library." Analysis of the oncoming DINN comes onto screen. "It looks like ZAFT's inner atmosphere unit DINN."

Murrue furrows her brow. "All hands to first battle stage! Major Flaga and Lt. Yamato to boarding!"

Natarle leans forward, "But Captain the Strike."

Murrue glances down at her, "I know it can't fly or swim!" She turns forward, "But we have to do something."

Jackie glances over at Natarle. "The DINN are approaching at 10 o'clock and 4 o'clock."

Natarle nods, "Load missiles... fire!"

The missiles miss target.

Morassim heads in closer, "Legged ship! I'll destroy you!"

The Ingelstellungs fire keeping it back.

Mu heads out in his Sky Grasper. Cagalli races into the hanger bay. The second unit was damaged.

Kojiro glances at her, "This one can't go out." He motions to Sabine and the others as they lift the damaged wing. "You go somewhere and stay put."

The Sky Grasper engages the DINN, he passes by and glances at the two suits,

"Troops from Carpentaria?" The DINN comes up behind and raises their guns they fire.

Jackie holds his hand to his earphone, "Oh? Something is coming up on sonar. Four no two..." His eyes narrow, "This speed is propulsion tone." He turns, "IT'S a mobile suit."

Natarle glances at him, "What an underwater mobile suit?"

The underwater suits fire missiles.

Jackie turns, "Burst tones on Sonar. It's a torpedo this time."

Natarle calls out, "evade!"

Arnold glances aside, "It's too late!"

Murrue gasps, "Full thrust. Take off from the water."

Arnold pulls back on the controls and the Archangel begins to rise. Everyone inside bumps around.

Kojiro glares up, "What the hell are they doing?"

The Archangel clears the water just as the torpedoes pass underneath.

The pilot of one of the undersea units glares up, "Did they ascend? Fine."

It pops free of the water and begins to fire.

The Strike stationed on deck fires at the suit but it ducks down. Kira furrows his brow, "I can't do it here. MSgt Murdoch."

Kojiro's face appears on monitor, "What is it?"

Kira stares at him from the wall monitor, "There was a bazooka in the supplies of the 8th Armada right?"

Kojiro nods, "So what if there was?"

Kira nods, "I'm going to need it I'm going into the sea."

The Strike takes a hit from one of the suits and fires back but the suit ducks down again.

Kojiro gasps, "You're going down? Even if you do the Strike..."

Kira nods, "I know but I have to or else..."

The sea unit leaps up preparing to fire again but Mu chases the DINN past them and they duck down again.

He glares over at them, "Damn them."

They come up again and charge some sort of particle beam. The Strike emerges carrying a bazooka. It crouches down and then leaps up soars off the deck. The GOON fires at it but Kira turns and fires the bazooka. The GOON ducks down. A huge splash comes out of the water. Kira takes the Strike in.

Natarle looks up, "The Strike has gone into the ocean. Make sure the Variants don't hit it."

Under the water Kira engages the GOON. One fires on him but he dodges and fires the bazooka. The GOON dodges and zooms toward him.

Kira grits his teeth, "They're fast."

One zooms behind him. The pilot smirks, "Hmm. Using an outer space unit."

The other pilot approaches, "Do you think you can win against an underwater GOON?"

The GOON bumps against the Strike. Kira gasps. He begins to get pummeled by both taking knocks and blasts. His return fire misses. He growls and pulling put an armor Schneider her grabs hold of a GOON and stabs the knife into the hull. The GOON begins to decompress and then implodes.

The other pilot gasps, "Bastard!" He charges toward the Strike.

Above water Mu battle against Morassim in his DINN. The Archangel continues to fire its variants and wombats. The other DINN gets hit and is destroyed.

Morassim growls, "What is the GOON squad doing?"

Debris from the DINN fall into the water as the GOON charges firing at the Strike. The Strike dodges a few blasts but several hit straight on. Kira tries to block with arms and in doing so his second Schneider is lost.

He gasps, "Crap!"

The GOON charges at him and rams the Strike back as it passes.

Kira activates the thrusters stabilizing the Strike and blasting forward.

The GOON turns in pursuit, "I'm not letting you escape!"

Kira scans the area through the falling debris for some weapon. He catches the arm of the DINN and pulls the rifle free. The GOON tackles him. Kira raises the rifle. The pilot inside the GOON gasps. Kira fires a couple shots and falls away from the GOON.

An explosion blasts out of the water. Morassim's DINN swoops over, "Did Hans' GOON get destroyed as well?"

The Grasper comes up at it firing. Morassim gasps and dodges. Mu fires the Strikes buster rifle. The blast hits the right wing.

Morassim growls, "Retreat for now!"

The DINN takes off. Debris from the GOON floats to the surface of the water.

The Grasper heads back in. The Strike heads up. Kira watches the debris pass and thinks of Waltfeld.

"I know but... if I don't fight we're..." His eyes water.

Nicol stands facing his parents. His mother furrows her brow, "Be careful."

His father stares sadly at him as well.

Nicol lifts his suitcase, "I'll be back." He nods at his parents and enters the ship. He heads down the hall.

"Nicol!"

He turns to see Athrun floating toward him. "Hey Athrun." They hi-five one another.

Nicol smiles, "Thanks for coming to my concert."

Athrun shakes his head, "It was a good concert."

Nicol stares at him, "You didn't fall asleep?"

Athrun's eyes widen, "No... Of course not." Nicol smiles. Athrun tilts his head, "I'm sorry... I tried to invite Rena but..."

Nicol tilts his head, "Oh... she called me to apologize for canceling. I'm just glad she's not hurt."

Athrun stares at him, "I know."

Nicol glances forward, "I wanted to play the piece we were working on but it just wouldn't work without her there." Athrun nods. Nicol glances at him, "I also wanted to play a more appropriate piece but..."

Athrun glances ahead, "Well in our current situation. Once this Operation Spit-Break is over, the state of things will also change."

Nicol nods, "Yeah but at least this time we were able to have a nice break."

Athrun nods, "Yeah..."

Nicol tilts his head, "This is my first time in a descending mission."

Athrun nods, "It's my first too."

Nicol nods, "That's right."

Several soldiers pass down the hall ahead of them.

Nicol catches sight of Amara. "Ah, new recruits." Athrun glances over and just catches a small glimpse as she disappears past the wall. The engines on the Vesalius fire up.

Lenne opens Verena's door. "Lacus Clyne is here to pick you up."

Isamu stood staring out the window. He looks over his shoulder at her, "So she's heading back to Earth. We've missed each other again."

Lenne glances downward, "I'm sorry. You can stay here with me if you'd like."

Isamu glances at her and then Lacus. He shakes his head, "No, thanks I think I'll stick around Lacus for awhile."

Lacus smiles.

The Vesalius heads out of dock. Amara floats near a window, along with a few other soldiers, watching as Plant gets smaller.

"It'll be awhile before we see them again."

They all salute. She tilts her head.

The Archangel skims across the ocean.

Murrue walks down the hall, "You say it's a submarine carrier?"

Mu follows behind carrying a small sandwich. "Well it's too difficult for them to hit us from Carpentaria. Plus since we're moving. If they fought so far away from the base they wouldn't be able to return. If they're ships or planes we probably won't miss them. But underwater combat isn't something we're used to yet."

Murrue glances off.

Mu stares at her, "If they come next time we'll probably have to go underwater and if we slip up they'll keep trailing behind us." He finishes his last bite.

Murrue looks at him, "Looks like it. However..."

She places a hand to her temple.

Mu slaps her on the back, "Cheer up something will happen. If possible we'll go toward shallow waters. Anyway we've made it this far somehow."

She places her hands at her waist, "You're saying things like that again without proof."

He had a huge smile on his face and points a finger at her and pushes at her forehead, "That's what you call encouragement."

She gasps, "Seriously."

He walks off she smiles.

The Vesalius along with several other cruisers prepare for the descent.

"Gibraltar service, clear. Temperature 12. Humidity 45. Wind 27 degrees WNW."

Athrun and Nicol head into the hanger together.

"Low atmospheric pressure at Verona, open sea."

Amara enters with another group of pilots.

Rau catches sight of her, "That girl? When did she board?"

Ades glances downward. "During the general board I suppose. Is there a problem?"

He tilts his head, "No but there's something familiar about her."

Ades glances down at a hand held monitor, "Her name is Amara Valorous. She's quite an adept pilot; top of her class at the last graduation."

Rau glances at the picture on the monitor of a raven haired dark-eyed girl. "Hmm."

Amara leaps up to the cockpit of her DINN. She glances aside, "The Aegis and Blitz."

The tech glances over, "They are cool."

She nods.

He pats her on the back, "Good luck."

She nods at the tech and climbs in.

The pods begin to drop.

Alarms sound at an Alliance orbital traffic monitoring center.

"Drop warning on the antenna radio. The targets are descending mobile suit containers. They are currently at Yacht over... descending Chomoranma's route."

A commander stares at a map of the Iberian Peninsula, "Isn't there going to be one day without warnings?"

Another person glances over, "Are they heading toward Gibraltar? If so there's nothing we can do."
An advisor glances over, "Crap. How dare they look down on us because we don't have any air supremacy." He furrows his brow, "The scum."

The commander sighs, "Just as I thought the rumors of ZAFT starting a large scale operation doesn't look like it'll end as just a rumor."

The advisor stares at him, "Are you referring to Panama?"

He stares forward, "They'll probably invade in swarms once they capture our space ports. Panama is the only thing left. However I can't allow them to have Panama."

Kira runs a cloth underneath water and enters the room.

Flay lays on her back, "I don't feel so well."

He crosses over, "Flay? Here." He places the cool cloth to her forehead, "Does that feel better?"

She places a hand to forehead, "Yes feels so good."

He crouches down next to the bed.

She glances at him, "how come no one is getting seasick besides me?"

Kira glances aside, "It doesn't feel like it's rocking that much."

Flay sighs, "It's rocking." Flay turns on her side.

Kira glances back at her, "Do you want me to get Millie? She's better at this than me..."

Flay places her hand on his, "That's ok... I just need you by my side."

He furrows his brow.

Torii flies around the room and perches on his shoulder. She reaches out to him, "Juice... Can you get me some juice?"

He smiles, "All right just wait a minute." He turns to exit. Torii flies off and lands on the edge of the bed.

Flay watches him go, "And the towel isn't cool anymore." When the door closes Kira sighs.

The pods break apart and the mobile suits begin a free fall.

"Wow it is a beautiful day, smooth sailing." Amara activates her monitors. The sun penetrated through the clouds. She gasps.

Kira pauses down the hall. His eyes widen. Rena. His heart was racing. He glances over his shoulder.

"Is this your first time on Earth Lt?"

Amara shakes her head, "No..." She resumes a serious mood, "Receiving landing coordinates prepare for landing sequence."

The other soldiers nod, "Preparing for landing sequence."

She activates thrusters bringing the DINN to an upright position.

Kuzzey typed into a laptop, "Is it really impossible?"

The screen showed maps of ORB.

Sai leaning next to Kuzzey watches, "Well our destination is Alaska."

Sabine stood behind him looking over his shoulder. Cagalli sat at a table behind them with Kisaka.

Miriallia sat next to Sai, "But what can we do? We're soldiers right now. You've already heard that we can't be discharged when we're on a mission."

Kuzzey leans over, "But we didn't know it was going to be like this. They said we were going to Alaska so I signed up thinking, "I'll do it too.'" He continues to type.

Sabine tilts her head, "It's a war, and things never end up how you plan them."

Sai rises upright and furrows his brow. Cagalli rises and leaves followed by Kisaka.

"Cagalli!"

She turns, "I know don't say anything. I haven't said anything ok."

He nods, "That's fine but..."

She glances away from him, "I thought there would be something..."

He steps forward, "Cagalli."

She turns, "What do you want me to do? I know the situation but... I just can't let this ship or that guy get shot down." She sighs and turns to head down the hall.

Kira comes toward her from the opposite direction.

She waves at him, "Hey."

He smiles and waves, "Hi." They both pass one another. Kisaka watches both walk off.

The descent is successful. Amara comes down on a keel line from her mobile suit. Other soldiers come around her. A soldier approaches, "You're group is to follow me. You'll be given temporary quarters to rest in."

When Kira enters the mess hall the group looks over at him. Sai turns his face quickly and sits down between Miriallia and Kuzzey. Kira scowls and then proceeds toward the kitchen.

Sabine smiles, "Hey Kira." She crosses over to him, "How's Flay? I heard she got seasick."

Kira shrugs, "Yeah she took some medicine and she's whimpering a bit but...."

Kuzzey glances at Sai, "Are you ok with this?"

Sai glances down at his drink bottle. He smiles at Kuzzey, "It's fine. Either way I can't win against Kira."

Sabine leans against the counter chatting with Kira as he fills a bottle up. She returns to the table and smiles at Sai, "Let's go out on deck, it's beautiful out."

He glances over at her and smiles. Kira heads off. Miriallia watches him go. Kuzzey also glances over at Sai, "Sabine's right. We need some air."

Sabine glances over, "Aren't you afraid of the sea monsters?" He glares at her.

Athrun lowers out of the Aegis. Nicol rushes over, "The Le Creuset team is being asked to meet in the second briefing room."

Amara sat at a computer console and typed quickly. Reports about the Archangel flashed onto the screen. She went through each report quickly. The Desert Tiger was defeated. Morrasim's squad is pursuing them through the Indian Ocean. The door to the room opens and a female soldier enters. Amara shuts off the connection and furrows her brow.

She rises, "I'm going out for some air."

The other girl nods.

An alarm beeps for a second on the monitor of a tech. He glances over, "Hmm?"

A supervisor approaches, "What is it? A hack?"

The tech shakes his head, "No... it was a brief alarm but nothing's there so... an error I think. I'll look into it."

Yzak stood in front of Rau, "I'm begging you Captain let me take care of that bastard."

Rau nods, "You're too emotional Yzak."

Yzak grits this teeth, "But!"

Dearka sat silently at one of the tables. The door opens and Athrun and Nicol enter.

"Excuse us."

Athrun eyes widen, "Yzak that wound." Yzak glares at him and turns his head.

Dearka smiles, "What's up? It's been awhile."

Rau tilts his head, "His wound seems fine but he said he won't remove the scar until after the Strike is destroyed."

Athrun glances aside. Nicol sensing it glances at him.

Rau continues, "No matter what we must stop that legged ship before it gets the data to Alaska. However that duty has already been assigned to the Carpentaria troops."

Yzak gasps, "But that's something we should be doing Captain. That bastard is something we should be taking care of!" He makes a fist.

Dearka rises, "I agree Captain."

Nicol glances over, "Dearka?"

Dearka glances at him, "I also tasted humiliation." Athrun and Nicol stare at him.

Rau nods, "Of course I too feel the same as you do but since there are preparations for Spit Break I can't be on the move but..." He strokes his chin, "If you guys are willing. Should I just send you guys off?"

Yzak and Dearka stand at attention, "Yes."

Rau nods, "Then form a squad composed of you four. The leader will be... let me see... Athrun I leave that up to you." Athrun gasps. Dearka's mouth opens slightly. Rau continues, "I'll call ahead so that Carpentaria prepares carrier for you." Yzak glares at Athrun with disdain. "Start your preparation for immediate departure."

Amara leans against the wall outside the briefing room. She furrows her brow and heads down the hall.

Athrun glances at Rau, "Captain I..."

Rau crosses and places a hand on his shoulder, "We are bound by destiny to this ship. I feel that it may be difficult but I'll expect the best from you Athrun." He exits.

Yzak glances away, "Zala squad huh? I'll observe really closely the way in which you are able to command."

Athrun's mind was elsewhere. Flash. Rau stands next to him, "You'll need to shoot the Strike down before you're next." Back. He furrows his brow and clenches his fist.

Rau heads down the hall and turns the corner. He notices Amara standing among other pilots. He tilts his head and crosses. The pilots salute. Amara turns and also salutes.

"Captain Creuset?"

He turns as an advisor approaches, "You are needed in briefing room 3. You pilots are dismissed."

Rau turns his head and watches as Amara heads down the hall with the rest of the group.

An alarm sounds on the Archangel. "Reaction confirmed on the sonar, it's a mobile suit."

Natarle turns to Jackie, "Are you sure? How many?"

He stares at the screen, "Matching sound prints, two GOONS. I don't know the location but there's no mistake."

Murrue glances up, "All hands first battle stage!"

An alarm is sounded and the crew mobilizes. Kuzzey and Miriallia rush toward the deck, "We're under attack."

Sabine and Sai glance over from where they leaned on the railing. They rush in. Sabine seals the hatch. Kuzzey and Miriallia head off.

Sai glances at Sabine, "Be careful."

She nods, "I will. You stay focused." He nods and follows after the other two.

Cagalli and Kisaka head down the hall.

Mu enters the hangar.

Flay sits up, "Kira?"

He rises, "I'm sorry, I need to go."

She nods, "Yeah... protect me. Kill all of those people."

Kira furrows his brow and then heads out of the door he turns, "If you get sleepy just go to sleep. It's better for you that way."

Sai and the rest head toward him and stop. Kira gasps and turns his head as the door shuts, "Uh."

Sai glances away, "Take care of her."

Kira's eyes widen and he glances down, "Mm."

Sai and the others race off. Kira watches them pass and then runs after them.

Meanwhile underwater, two Goons and an unidentified mobile suit head toward the ship. Morassim smirks, "Going into shallow waters makes it easy for my Zono. Creuset is down here now. I'll definitely shoot it down today." He fires torpedoes as do the Goon.

Jackie turns, "Torpedoes approaching eight of them!" Natarle glances over.

Murrue stares forward, "Leave the water! Ascend!" Arnold pulls up on the control.

The Archangel barely avoids the torpedoes but the Goon start firing at the surface hitting the ship.

"Aft prepare interception! Aim the variants! Fire!"

The Goon dive down just as the blasts hit the surface of the water.

The Strike is loaded on the catapult.

"Sword Striker?"

Kira nods, "Yes. If I turn off the beam I can use it as a substance sword." He closes his visor.

"I understand."

Murrue nods, "Major I leave it up to you."

Mu's voice, "Ok! CIC what is the estimated location of the enemy's main ship?"

Sai stares down at his monitor, "I'll send the estimation data obtained by the resistance."

Mu sitting in the Sky Grasper nods, "Ok."

He activates the computer onboard. Sabine rushes into the hanger. "I'm sorry for being late."

Mu glances down at her, "No big deal. Check out the monitors." She nods and heads off.

Cagalli's voice, "So why are you letting this plane stay here?"

Mu glances over. Sabine looks up from her station.

Cagalli stood with Kojiro, "I told you I can pilot it!"

Kojiro shakes his head, "But you're..."

Cagalli raises her fist, "Everything is over if the Archangel is shot down, right? Are you going to take responsibility when we get shot down, after not doing anything about it?"

Kojiro grits his teeth and leans back. Mu laughs. Kojiro glances over. Mu leaned over the cockpit looking over, "Looks like the lady wins MSgt. Hey Sabine? Prepare unit two for her."

Sabine crosses over, "Ok…" She glances over at Kojiro who stood staring at Mu.

Mu continues, "We're off to destroy their main ship we need all the firepower we can get." He waves his hand to her, "But this isn't a game missy. You said it yourself you know what to expect, right?"

She glares at him, "My names Cagalli! And I know."

Sabine hands Cagalli a helmet. "Be careful out there." Cagalli nods at her.

The GOON still continues their assault.

Murrue grips her arm rest, "Execute random evasive maneuvers."

Natarle leans forward, "Variants fire!"

A pilot looks into the engine of a transport along with a tech.

"I just can't get it!"

The pilot looks in, "What could it be?"

Electricity sparking.

"Ahh!"

Amara among other pilots nearby glance over to see both the tech and pilot electrocuted and knocked off the plane. Amara stares up at the open compartment.

"Someone get a medic!"

Unit one is placed onto the launch area and takes off. As the Strike is loaded with components Cagalli launches in unit 2. The goon fire onto the Archangel from underneath. The Strike launches and takes to the air. The phase shift comes up just as a Goon fires on it. Kira brushes the blast aside and fires down at the oncoming Goon before diving into the water.

The transport planes begin to take off one by one with Nicol, Dearka, and Yzak seated inside. Athrun watches the three planes taking off. Athrun turns and presses the button on a speaker, "This is Athrun Zala, what is taking so long?"

There is a silence then a tech comes on, "We've had a bit of an incident with an electrical problem."

A tech sighs as the med team rolls the pilot and tech off. "Sorry for the delay but the problem is being repaired stand by and we'll contact you when everything is set." The tech crosses toward the transport; a crew was repairing the compartment. His radio clicks,

"Sgt. Fujimiya? We need a replacement co-pilot. Locate a Lt. Valorous as a replacement pilot; she's an elite so she should have no problems."

He glances over and spots Amara dressed in her Red flight suit, "Excuse me Lt?"

She turns her head, "Yes Sgt?"

He smiles, "Are you Lt. Valorous?"

She nods. He motions to the transport, "You'll need to get changed you're piloting this transport to Carpentaria."

She furrows her brow, "What? But I'm a mobile suit..."

He cuts her off, "I'm sorry but its orders. You have about 10 minutes to change and Uniform will issue you a flight suit."

She nods and runs off, a smile crosses her lips.