1Chapter 38

Annihilation

The sun had just risen over the Panama Mass Driver port as Earth Alliance personnel and soldiers were going about their regular daily business, but that daily routine was interrupted when a distance object was fast approaching them. A closer view of the object would reveal that it was the Wing Zero. No one at the base could imagine that death was coming for them on swift wings. Before they had a chance to react to the approaching engine of destruction: Raww brought out its twin Buster rifle and began charging the rifle to fire a shot at the base. After the shot was charged: Raww fired it off and watched as the yellow beam tore through the port where more than three dozen Earth Alliance destroyers and carriers were docked.

Yellow beam reduced virtually every ship and the base's docks to burning, smoldering slag. Ships were either blasted clear into oblivion or were melted to the point that they were beyond recognition before sinking to the bottom of the ocean. As for the ocean itself within the boundary of the dock: the water that the Buster rifle shot across turned it into a boiling sea of flash heat as a result of the super charged plasma beam. Dead fish that had been boiled alive by the quick moment of intense heat along with other forms of life were killed in that instant floated up to the surface for a short time.

Those on the ZAFT vessel watched with awe while others had expressions that were depicted in horror at the raw power unleashed by Rau with the Wing Zero under his command. However the masked pilot wasn't through with the Earth Forces yet. He spilt the rifle into two halves as he targeted areas of the base and Mass Driver port he had missed and opened fire. He used a continuous beam from the two rifles to coat and cover the area with an almost endless barrage of continuous Buster rifle beams over the entire Alliance base.

In minutes nothing remained; the Earth Forces didn't have the defenses or the time to counter attack against the Wing Zero as the sweeping beams from the two Buster Rifles destroyed everything. The once lush coastline that held a military base, mass drive space port, and a docking space for the ships of the Earth Forces along with a beautiful forest surrounding it was now reduced to a lifeless wasteland existing as a graveyard to those who died within Rau unleashed his devilish bombardment from above.

But Rau wasn't satisfied; the Mass Driver itself was still mostly intact, and it needed to be completely destroyed. He recombined the two rifles and prepared to fire another charged shot to destroy the Mass Driver. A minute or two of charging later; Rau fired his shot and watched as what was left of the Mass Driver that wasn't destroyed by Wing Zero's initial attack disappear into a massive explosion that blanketed the area within mere seconds. When the smoke from the blast vanished; Rau looked down upon the large crater that marked the place where the Mass Driver was once located. Sadly: this still didn't satisfy him. He saw some military fighting planes coming at him. He charged up a third shot and fired it at them, but the planes barely escaped the beam as it engulfed six enemy planes before the beam shot across a mountain top and hit the metropolis behind it; destroying it in one shot.

With the city gone: Rau drew both of the Wing Zero's beam sabers after putting away its Buster rifle. With high speed maneuvering and rolls in the sky; the Wing Zero hacked apart the enemy jet fighters following which the rest were shot down by the Wing Zero's machine cannons. Jet fighters against the Wing Zero didn't last no longer than two minutes against the Gundam, but although a few of them managed to land a hit or two. However due to the Gundamium alloy armor the machine was covered with; their weapons were useless against it.

Once it was confirmed that all enemies were destroyed; Rau opened up communications with the command ship of his fleet. "Captain...the battle is won; their mass driver has been destroyed along with their base and a near by natural settlement included." The masked commander declared as he heard cheering in the background within the sub. However the masked commander paid no attention to it as his attention was more focused upon what had happened in the cockpit of the Wing Zero. As the effects of the Zero System took him: the machine and the effect the Zero System had on Rau Le Creuset was difficult to describe at most.

That was a...quite a rush. Never did I think the affects of the Zero System would be this invigorating. Since the logic the Zero System of the Wing Zero and I share is the same. I suppose that was my saving grace to keep my sanity. It knows as well as I know what ultimate future awaits humanity including my own. I have no fear of death.

With the proud thought of having survived the Zero System, Rau Le Creuset returned to the flagship of his small fleet as he was welcomed back by a cheering crowd of ZAFT soldiers and crewmembers. Meanwhile further up the coast: Epyon was at work as it was invading the MS factory and hidden base discovered by ZAFT intelligence. Like Le Creuset he began his attack at the crack of dawn, but not having the advantage of long-range weapons like the Wing Zero; the battle dragged on as Nicholas encountered some heavy resistance.

To be more precise; a considerably large number of Strike Daggers mobile suits. The Earth Alliance new mass-produced mobile suit. They were coming at him like a rushing river of water. Judging by the sight of their numbers there must have been at least more than a hundred of them. Nicholas managed to take down more than thirty since they unleashed their new machines upon him after most of their base defenders had been crushed. Now Epyon was hacking away at the enemy MS units as he fought off one Strike Dagger after another. Despite their beam rifles: they were not powerful enough to damage or inflict any short of harm upon Epyon since the Alliance doesn't quite know how durable Gundamium Alloy is. They managed to hit him several times with their beam rifles, but when they got the idea that they were useless; they changed tactics and brought out their beam sabers.

Epyon used its whip to slash through seven Strike Daggers attempting to surround it in a bad ass fashion, but Nicholas knew that with their numbers and the fact that if they managed to overwhelm him with those number that he could be killed by the enemy MS beam sabers. He knew maintaining this battle, as a close quarters fight with the numbers he was up against was too risky. Even the Epyon's Zero System came to the same conclusion. They too needed to change their tactics.

In a stunning display of lighting reflexes and high speed maneuvering: the Epyon rocketed into the air and transformed into its mobile armor mode and flew off into the sky. For minutes after disappearing high into the clouds; the Alliance assumed it must have chased Epyon away, but their fear returned when the sound of a sonic boom was heard as a high speed moving object moving fast enough to break the sound barrier was heading straight at them like a speeding bullet. Without enough time to react; Epyon mowed straight through the large force of Strike Daggers at record breaking speeds that turned the Gundam into what Nicholas had hoped; a gigantic mobile suit size bullet.

Enemy MS units were smashed in half or heavy damaged to the point where they lost a limb. Some of the upper halves of the destroyed or rather decapitated MS that Nicholas rammed through fell onto the top of Epyon making useful shields against beam rifles and a beam saber sweep one of the Daggers attempted. After he made it through the group he transformed Epyon back into its MS form and flew towards the remains of four Strike Daggers he had slain earlier in the battle.

As he flew towards the wreckage he saw what he was hoping to find. A pair of beam rifles lying near by just opposite of one another. He seized both weapons and took off into the air to get a good vantage point as he waited for Epyon's computers to hack the energy plugs of the beam rifles so he could use them. As the Strike Daggers tried in vain again to shot down the Epyon with their beam rifles: Epyon succeeded in hacking the beam rifles and was now capable of using them. It took aim with the rifles and fired a volley of shots at the Strike Daggers.

He took down three more enemy machines as he scored a couple hits at their cockpits destroying the enemy machines. He kept his distance as he reduced the enemy numbers further by gunning down Strike Daggers from a distance. Enemy machines were falling two at a time, but after which seven more were shot down; Epyon ditched the two beam rifles and eyed a beam saber still attached to the back of a Strike Dagger. He sliced off the arm of a Strike Dagger that attempted to bar his path, but after kicking it out of the way he seized the beam saber with his other hand while its beam sword was still remained in the other hand. He charged head on into the force of Strike Daggers before going into a sword wielding frenzy.

He hacked and slash at enemy machines left and right; some were just lucky to have lost their limbs such as one Strike Dagger that lost both of its arms from an upward reverse handed swipe by crimson Gundam's beam sword. Another machine was cut in half from the waist down followed by a third unit that lost his head along with most of his left shoulder after loosing its right leg to Epyon's newly acquired beam saber.

As another Strike Dagger tried to engage the red Gundam from behind, but a reverse kick to its chest that resulted in the pilot being crushed alive stopped it. The length of the beam sword suddenly increased in size as a great deal of power was routed to it making the blade of the sword large enough to slice down a row of ten Strike Daggers in one sweep. As explosions erupted signaling the end of the Alliance machines: a group of linear tanks and missile placements began firing on Epyon.

Taking cover behind a group of attacking Strike Daggers; Nicholas used his machine to punch one through its cockpit after throwing away the beam saber he had taken a short time ago by sending it flying: blade first into the chest of a Strike Dagger. Lifting it into the air while the enemy machine was still stuck to its fist; Epyon flew up into the air high enough before removing its hand from the Dagger's chest and then throwing it down to the ground at Earth Alliance weapon placements destroying them. The battle dragged on fir about ten minutes more before the last Strike Dagger fell to Epyon.

As the smoke began to clear from the wreckage of the numerous enemy units destroyed by the Gundam; another machine was arriving on the scene. It was a mobile suit, but it wasn't a Strike Dagger. It was a GAT-01D Long Dagger complete with equipment components. The long dagger was a machine based off the Duel Gundam as was the Assault Shroud currently used by the Duel. However: this knock off of the Duel was painted white and its Assault Shroud was painted red. Nicholas was receiving a transmission from the pilot of the Long Dagger.

"Pilot of unknown mobile suit. Do you read me?"

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, and was curious why this pilot would contact him.

"I read you."

"Your machine: a whip, red armor, and a large green beam sword. I take it you must be the mobile suit called Epyon which would make you Commander Nicholas Peacecraft of ZAFT."

Nicholas smiled as he answered. "White armor...if I am not mistaken you must be Jean Carry also known as Glittering Star J correct."

"That is one name I am known as, but yes I am Jean Carry."

"I see. Former professor of engineering and a member of the ZAFT armed forces, but now severing in the Alliance."

"So you know my reputation as well as my former allegiances extensively. I am slightly surprised you would go through that much trouble to know that much about me."

"Even as a warrior as well as a military commander; one should at least know the basics of possible opponents he or she may face. I anticipated I would face one of the Alliance more note worthy figures in combat. You were no exception."

"I see you are not just some skilled hot shot soldier or commander, but someone with a keen intellect and a cool and a keen sense of judgment and observation as well."

"The same could be said about you."

"As much as I am interested to continue this conversation. I believe its time we cut to the chase." Jean answered as he prepared himself for combat.

"Good point. I believe we should proceed with the battle. En garde!" Epyon drew its beam sword once more as it charged head on towards the Long Dagger as Jean drew his machine's own beam saber and rushed Epyon. The two blades met as sparks from the energy discharge of both weapons were sent flying. Epyon's own strikes were so strong with each swing and getting stronger that the Long Dagger was getting pushed back. But this didn't stop Jean from fighting back as he fired a volley of missiles from the left shoulder of the Long Dagger followed by four shots from its rail gun. Epyon reacted and blocked the incoming attacks by swinging its beam sword in front of itself creating a shield of energy. The beam sword caught most of the missiles and the rail gunshots while the remaining shots had missed Epyon.

In a retailing move; Epyon kicked the Long Dagger in the groin sending the enemy MS falling backwards as the red Gundam was ready to strike with its whip as it began glowing red hot. Jean found that his machine's legs were unable to move since that it seemed that a Gundamium Alloy foot caused unforeseeable amount of internal damage to his machine's legs in affect crippling it. Had his machine been protected by Phase Shift armor; the Long Dagger might have been able to endure that. But mass produced machines like the Long Dagger did not carry Phase Shift Armor. As Jean knew this was probably it; he closed his eyes and waited for Epyon to strike him down with his whip, but instead of being killed. Epyon only took out what weapons the Long Dagger had left. The crimson Gundam turned its back on Jean and began to walk away.

"You're letting me live?"

"Well you are defeated...I have no reason to kill a defenseless opponent."

"Or maybe you never had any real intent of killing me in the first place. Why?"

"Because I think the battlefield requires those like you. Men you can think for themselves at times. Besides I enjoyed our conversation so those are the two reasons I spared you."

Jean wasn't sure how to reply to that, but before he could do so Epyon took off into the air and disappeared into the distance as he also eyed a group of DINNs and GINNs coming in from the same direction Epyon is heading in. No doubt a party sent in to examine and check out the base and Mobile Suit factory for any useful information. With his mobile suit rendered useless: Jean opened the cockpit of his machine and abandoned it before fleeing into the forest before the ZAFT team arrived. Meanwhile back on the submarine commanded by Rau Le Creuset; the said commander arrived back in his cabin after laying Panama to waste and taking care of a few matters.

There waiting for him was Fllay Allster with a gun pointed at his head. She held it steady as Rau barely giving her any attention made his way over to his desk and took a seat. "Are you going to keep pointing that thing at me every time? It is pointless you know." Fllay's hands were shaking as she managed to get out.

"Why are you keeping me? Why didn't you send me away with Sai?"

"Because it doesn't matter. You two are living on borrowed time as it is. Even if he hadn't taken you with him you would have been just as equally as dead at Alaska when the base self-destructed. That I am certain of. I saw many of your possible futures Fllay Allster, and all of them...lets just say...ended with your death. First by the Cyclops Bomb, ZAFT soldiers for shooting me, or...you killed yourself. Those were the top three ways you died in each the visions I saw regarding you."

Fllay's expression changed into one showing how horrified she was by these revelations.

"If you were to kill me now; the soldiers on board would hear the shot and come in here to finish you off. Or if you didn't want them to kill you: you could turn the gun on yourself. Either way if you wish to extend your godforsaken life a little longer. Then stick with me, and I will reward you now. You may even defy your doomed destiny."

"I...will...live?"

"Yes, but you must do what I tell you. Although you wear the uniform: you are no soldier. You are not meant for battles or killing. Like the men out there today. Life is cheap on the battlefield Ms. Allster. It is lost in an instant, but yet people keep fighting and killing one another for their justified sense of fighting for their country or their own sense of justice. A never-ending cycle of bloodshed that is engulfing the universe just as well as this planet. This stupid war is just an example of it, and even if all coordinators were destroyed by the Alliance. Humanity's never ending desire to better itself through whatever means possible will cause their recreation years later. Maybe in twenty or hundred...I can't quite guess when."

"What?"

"Since civilization began as well as humanity was born during the dawn of time. Humans have always fought and competed against one another to satisfy their own desires, and even devour one another. Did you honesty think coordinators just popped up from the ground like daises? Tell me you didn't think that?" Fllay was speechless at the information Rau was giving her. "Naturals gave birth to coordinators due to their desire to be better, stronger and more capable of going further than others. Now those who are still normal according to natural standards; deem those who are better than them to be evil while in truth they say so to justify their own jealous rage. To feel better they try to destroy them. Makes me wonder if George Glenn had any idea how much chaos was unleashed when he told the world about his secret."

Fllay was feeling frightened as Rau stood over her as he looked down upon her intimidating her. "But you are a child and as such you are incapable of understanding a thing I am saying to you. So I have a means to make you understand. We at the PLANTs have been experimenting with the Zero System and we have recently made a remarkable break through. We have discovered another means of using in. In fact...a couple. These means I am going to use on you so I can make you understand the truth about humanity. They say men and women are made through their experience in life...I wonder what would happen if you were to experience my own experiences?"

Fllay's eyes went wide in fear as suddenly Rau's hand came down and knocked her out with a single blow. A she fell to the ground Rau looked down upon her and said, "You dear girl will be...what would be the most appropriate thing to say. My unknowing pupil. Your mind is nothing but useless clay that only needs molding, and I shall be the one who molds it to suit my purposes for my plans and to use you against Kira." Rau walked back over to his desk and pushed a button. A few minutes' later two female nurses carrying a stretcher walked in accompanied by a soldier.

"Commander Le Creuset?" The soldier asked while presenting the masked commander with a salute as the two nurses picked up Fllay's unconscious form and laid it upon a stretcher.

"Take her to the prepared laboratory we have set up and let the nurses tend to her from there. I will join them shortly once the girl has been prepared. Then we can proceed with the experiment."

"Yes sir." The soldier said as he gave another salute. He left moments later followed by the nurses who carried Fllay away. Rau lay back in his chair as he smiled; he was looking forward to the experiment.

Back at Orb; more than three hours later, Uzumi had updated the Archangel on the state the world was in now following events at Alaska, but following those events. Word about Panama reached them as Murrue, Kira, Cagalli, Mwu, Zechs, Heero along with Wufei and Quatre had gathered inside a large conference room where Uzumi himself was brining everyone up to date. Duo wasn't present.

"We heard Panama was attacked Lord Uzumi. Is the battle still in progress?" Mwu asked.

"I am afraid the battle ended in less than ten minutes."

"What?" Mwu said as he expressed his surprise, as did everyone else in the room.

"Take a look at this. An informer of ours managed to collect this footage. The Panama Mass Driver as well as it's military base and ports around the area including a near by city were destroyed by one Gundam, and one you are all familiar with." As Uzumi paused a button on a remote he held in one hand. A wall monitor activated and it began showing the images of Wing Zero laying Panama to waste. It didn't take everyone long to clearly express how terrified they were by the scene. Heero wasn't pleased with the fact that Wing Zero was being used in a campaign of mass murder.

"Was Nicholas piloting it?" Kira asked the gathered group.

"No." Uzumi answered. "We received word that Epyon attacked a Earth Forces base and MS factory that was discovered further up the coast. The battle there ended some time ago. Currently a ZAFT time has been strip-mining the place of any information and any new data on the Earth Force's new mobile suits held there."

"But if Nicholas wasn't piloting Wing Zero then who was? Can't be Trowa?" Quatre asked.

"No...Trowa wouldn't attack a military facility like that, but then again I don't think he was capable of using the Wing Zero. Does ZAFT have someone who can use the Zero System?"

Athrun? Kira thought to himself as he recalled the pilot of the Aegis from what he heard from Heero was using the Zero System in his fight against him and the Wing Zero, which was the reason it ended up captured in the first place.

"I don't know, but whoever it is. Uses the raw power of the Wing Zero without any remorse or care. Or perhaps the pilot simply agreed or allowed the Zero System to influence the pilot and destroyed Panama in the most effective way. But never have I seen anyone use Wing Zero without having trouble the first time, but I believe whoever is using it. May not have trouble with it this time, but sooner or later the effects of the Zero System will catch up to that pilot." Zechs added to the conversation.

"First the propaganda spread by the Earth Alliance and now this. It has been barely a week since Alaska, and now this. How much blood must be spilled before both sides are satisfied?" Wufei questioned.

"Both sides are being influenced by extremists leaders." Heero added.

"I know." Uzumi noted as he continued. "The stakes in this war have now been escalated further, and soon Orb's swords will no longer be used as simple decorations."

"But fighting won't help anything?" Kira added.

"I know, but I fear doing nothing is just the same."

"There are some things you have to fight for." Mwu added as Wufei and Quatre agreed with him.

"The question is what do you fight?" Zechs asked the others.

"I think you should take what you have learned now and decide what path you will all take. You are still young, and you can still choose." Uzumi said as he looked at Mwu, Kira, and Murrue.

"I know what I want to do, but the odds just seem pretty stacked against us." Mwu commented.

"I know it seems impossible, but I am going to try." The young coordinator stood up from his chair. "I'll fight to bring a peaceful end to this war and I will fight with Orb if this country comes under fire from either side." Kira declared.

"You know what kid." Mwu said with one of his signature smiles. "If it is impossible then maybe I can change that. I am the one who makes the impossible possible. Both sides are too extreme for my tastes so I'll take my chances."

"Well you can count on us to provide a hand as well." Quatre added as Wufei nodded in response.

"Well Ms. Ramius I guess your two companions have made their choice. What about you?" Uzumi asked.

"Well...wherever those two go I guess I'll end up taking up the rear." Murrue joked, but she acknowledged that she would aid them.

"Well that was quick." Heero noted.

"Indeed, but are you sure your hearts as well as your minds are in the right place?" Uzumi asked.

"After seeing what happened in Alaska and Panama...we rather stand with Orb and fight against whatever we need to bring what we hope may be a more peaceful resolution to the war." Murrue added as Kira and Mwu were in agreement.

"Then I am glad you three have no doubts about the choices you have made." Uzumi said as he finished his conversation with them as Cagalli looked upon the gathering concerned and worried for what was bound to happen next.

Deep underwater moving away from Panama was the submarine commanded by Le Creuset, and on board inside a set up laboratory prepared within one of the cargo holds. Only a few members had access to this area of the ship, and Rau was one of them. He stepped inside after performing a retina scan, a voice check and finger print check in order to be let inside. The room was dimmed to a low light setting, but as he proceeded inside he saw a large metal machine in the heart of the chamber connected by wires and cables lying on the ground hooked up to various control consoles and machines. Fllay was strapped to a chair with a strange device attached to her head. The girl was still unconscious.

"Commander Le Creuset." A man in a white lab coat asked.

"Professor...tell me how this machine is suppose to work again."

"Well commander as the Zero System can transmit data into the mind of the pilot inside a machine equipped with the Zero System. We have secretly developed a way to transmit a person's thought patterns into another person's mind. This in turns in a rather surprising twist sir we can even trade information contained within a person's mind into that person's mind in a form of an exchange. The subject that gives the information maintains what is sent while the receiver acquires the knowledge sent."

"Short of like copying and pasting information from one data storage container into another."

"In a matter of speaking sir...she'll possess all you want her to know."

"Interesting? Is there any danger if I were to be the one to donate information from me?"

"No sir, but there is potential danger to her. We are unsure if her mind can endure it."

"We'll just have to find out won't we? That is what science is about isn't it? Taking chances."

"I suppose you have a point commander." The scientist remarked as he placed one hand on his chin.

"Anything else I need to know?"

"Well sir the Supreme Chairman was considering using her in enhancement experiments if she survives this one."

"Interesting...can you tell me more about that?"

"Not here sir, but maybe once we return to the PLANTs."

"Of course...I'll be looking forward to it."

Another man gesture for Rau to take a seat in another chair with a similar set up in terms of machines and devices hooked up to the chair like the Fllay was sitting in. Rau downed the headband as the scientists began activating their machine to begin their experiments. In a few months or so. Sai will be pitted against Fllay in our main experiment. If this works then ZAFT may be on the verge of perfecting a new way of training new soldiers within a week than undergoing training for months. This will be truly interesting. Le Creuset thought as he closed his eyes. His mind slipped into some form of unconscious, but his mind was still active and the Zero System was linking his mind and Fllay's. Rau soon found himself standing inside the hallway of a ship. Its design and architect didn't appear to be anything he recognized. Wondering where he was he began to wander the halls of the ship until he stepped into an elevator.

He rode it until it stopped and the doors opened. Rau found himself on the bridge of the ship he was in, and he was surprised at what he saw. He saw Captain Murrue Ramius and her crew on the bridge of what was now clear to be the Archangel. He didn't recognize anyone on the bridge save for three people. One was Lacus Clyne, Sai and Fllay. It didn't take Rau to realize that the link between him and Fllay that was created seems to work both ways. Rau was experiencing one of Fllay's own memories. Fllay held Lacus as she began shouting.

"Tell those ZAFT guys to stop firing on my daddy's ship or I'll kill her."

Fllay watched with a smile, as he knew what was going to happen next. In the distance he saw Epyon slash into the bridge of the Montgomery dealing the finishing blow to the ship as it finally erupted into a fireball as the red Gundam flew away. As a crewman was announcing the complete destruction of the advance Fleet: Fllay was beside herself.

"Destroyed? No that...that...can't be true; Kira said he would protect him. It's impossible!"

Rau watched as the rest of the memory unfolded, and during these moments of Fllay's life he seemed to be reliving. A grin appeared on his face and thought. Well now there is something here I can use. I wonder what else this girl hides in her mind. The possibilities of how I can use her against Kira has just become...limitless. Rau continued walking down Fllay's memory lane taking into account everything she has suffered and lived through. Looking for the slightest thing he could use to his advantage to manipulate her.